The Healing Heart
Chapter 2
by
Nina



Disclaimer: All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are © and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities.All rights reserved.




His smell of woods and earth awakened her from her fugue. His warm, thick arms felt good; she inhaled deeply and shuddered, tasting his sweetness. But as clarity came, she shook the thought away.

"How long have I--?"

Logan swept her damp hair from her eyes. "Longer than the rain.An hour."

Ororo struggled to rise, but her body was too weak; Logan guided her back down and helped her sit up.

"An hour? Goddess . . . "

He chuckled. "You're entitled. Hell, I get worried if one of us doesn't lose it once in a blue moon. Yer way overdue for yours, Windrider."

"No, I - I can't lose control."

"Can't, or won't?"

She glanced at him before rubbing her temples. "Both," she said honestly. "I would say the same applies to you."

"TouchÈ," Logan said. "But at least I let it out. Sometimes I let loose when nobody's around, which works great. I just gotta make sure I give myself a road back."

Ororo glanced over the sky, and at the broken tree her lightning destroyed. A small tear welled in her eyes. Such wanton destruction, such severity--! The earth mourned, and she caused it.

"What if you don't want a road back?"

If it had been anyone else, her whisper would not have been heard. But Logan's sensitive ears caught her delicate voice. He touched her cheek and swiveled her chin to meet his eyes, but her gaze fell to the ground.

"What're you sayin'?"

"Nothing, Logan." She rose, and wrapped her cloak around her; it felt heavy and unnecessary, like an actor's costume. She tried smiling but her lips were cruelly twisted. "The others are waiting."

"Forget 'em. They can wait. Xavier may be the telepath, but I can smell it when things ain't right. I don't like what I'm smellin'."

She bit back her retort and started walking. "I'm fine, Logan."

"Like hell you are."

She trembled when he grabbed her arm. He felt her tiredness; picked up on her thoughts. He could smell it. An aura of death swam through her, and he smelled it. So? Life was too damn hard. And if she couldn't control the destruction from her fear and anger, and no longer wished to control it, then what purpose did she serve? She had her mad times before. She killed before - wantonly killed. But what she felt now was a hollow emptiness that threatened to engulf her more than any foe. And she cared less for herself than the tree she destroyed.

"Logan - "

He shook her. "Stop it, 'Ro. Snap out of it."

Let me go . . .

"He's not worth it. You're worth more than that, and you know it."

"It's not just Forge," she snapped. She noticed that Logan's arms were still around her shoulders and her body's own warm reaction frightened her.

"Then what else?"

She turned to him. His eyes were genuinely frightened for her, and it touched her. When was the last time someone really, honestly asked how she was? How many times had they mistaken her serenity for true inner peace? How often had they left her alone because they feared awakening the demon within? Of all, it seemed only Logan understood. He, too, had two halves, with one under constant guard.

Her lips trembled. "I'm empty, Logan. I can't feel anymore, and it frightens me. I simply . . . do not care."

"You've got to."

She ripped herself from his grasp. "Then give me a reason! I'm tired of fighting, tired of death, tired of our team ripping itself apart. I'm tired of the petty bickering. Tired of couples tearing one another to - "

Her voice stuck and Logan instantly came too close. His scent intoxicated her, and suddenly she knew that he found a good reason. His beard scratched the back of her neck but his lips were soft as tissue paper.

"No, we shouldn't. Mustn't . . . "

"Mustn't, or won't?"

She gulped and shivered as his lips caressed her neck.

"Mustn't," she whispered, but she let him continue. A good reason indeed, her mind said, and her body gave in to his kisses . . .



CHAPTERS:   1   2   3   4




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