Restive Nature
Rated: NC-17
Disclaimer: I in no way, shape or form own the characters of Dark Angel or X-Men or anything related to them. I simply like to play with them for a short while.
Timeline: This is a slightly AU story. It takes place more in Max’s timeline, with the pulse occurring. It begins after the episode ‘Blah Blah, Woof Woof" It doesn’t affect the X-men much, as Professor Xavier is affluent enough to afford the best in life. It also takes place after the first X-men movie, but as I haven’t seen the second one, I’ll leave that stuff alone.
Pairing M/L
Summary: Once again Max is on the run. But this time she is led to a safe haven.
Chapter Nine
Logan made his way back to his room, his mind spinning around. It was extremely rare to be a mutant. But for two mutants to have the same power? He decided that it wasn’t likely. But then he thought better of it. He had dealt what he considered to be a killing blow to Mystique, yet she had survived. And he certainly didn’t know every mutant on the face of the earth. Maybe it was possible. As he lay back on his bed, he resolved to ask Jean about the possibilities of it in the morning. He drifted off, finally content to let sleep take him.
Max wasn’t so lucky. Logan’s kiss had affected her more than she wanted to admit. It had been awhile since her unfulfilling relationship with Eric had fizzled out. Not that she was upset about that. There was the veiled flirting with Eyes Only, but it had never panned out. And it wasn’t as if she had done anything with Eric. He had passed out from all the beers he’d consumed while waiting at the bar for her that first night. And she couldn’t bring herself to stoop so low afterwards. But Logan was different. Somehow Max had the feeling that the majority of the guys she had dated before weren’t quite men. They all seemed to be boys, playing at being grown-up. But Logan was definitely all man. He was handsome, in a rugged, outdoorsy way. He was aggressive as well. Max didn’t usually find the cave man routine appealing, but Logan managed to carry it off.
In relationships, Max had either been the aggressor or she just floated along, not caring either way. She wondered how she should play this. On one hand, Logan might be a guy she could count on. One who would protect her, not that she needed it. But on the other hand, with what she already knew of him, he could become overbearing in the process. And she didn’t want the burden of commitment right now. Of course, all this conjecture might be pointless. He might not even be interested beyond a roll in the hay, if even that. Max began to wonder if she were coming into her estrus cycle a little early. ‘Another one of the great mysteries of being me,’ she thought in disgust.
All thought of previous lovers and Logan’s close proximity began to needle at Max. She decided to find a decent book and soak her sorrows away. She picked through her limited selection, not wanting to venture out and encounter anyone else. Then she made her way to the bathroom and sat on the edge of the tub as she filled it. She noticed the basket resting on the shelf and pulled it closer. It was filled with fragrant bath beads and she inhaled in pleasure. She picked out a light floral scent finally and dropped a few in the tub. As the water reached the perfect level, Max stood and disrobed, leaving her clothes where she stepped out of them. There would be plenty of time to pick them up later. She slid into the water, moaning in pure enjoyment. If there was one thing she cherished, it was a hot water heater. Squatting in an abandoned building made you appreciate the comforts that other people took for granted. She soaked for some time before she remembered her book.
After Max was finally able to relax, her night passed more swiftly. She cleaned the tub after it was emptied, then picked up her clothes. She found her long tee shirt that she usually slept in and put it on. She lay on the bed to finish the novel. It was a murder mystery and she figured out the culprit by the end of the second chapter. She finished reading just to see how the author would reveal the murderer.
Before she realized it she was waking up to the sound of the birds chirping outside her window. With a glance at the clock, saw it was a few minutes before six. She’d managed to get a few hours of sleep in. She swung her legs over the side of the bed. Before she could stand, she recognized the tremors shaking her legs. She reached for the bottle of pills in the nightstand. Struggling to remove the childproof cap, she grunted in frustration. Finally, it came loose and pills spilled into her hand. She jammed the cap back on, dropping the bottle into the drawer as her other hand threw the pills into her open mouth. She swallowed convulsively, then waited.
The seizure came before the tryptophan could work. She tried to hold herself still, but the bed shook anyway. She managed to lock her arms around her drawn up legs. The shaking continued even as the lamp on the nightstand fell to the floor with a resounding crash.
Logan was awoken from his sound sleep by the crash. It took him a moment to orient himself. He sat up on his bed, realizing finally that the noise had come from Max’s room. He barely debated the wisdom of checking on her. He padded quietly to her door and knocked politely. He called her name softly, but there was no answer.
Max heard Logan at the door and felt panic rise in her chest. She couldn’t let him see her this way. She continued to shake, cursing the blasted door for not having a lock on it. Logan knocked again, this time a little louder.
"Max, are you okay?" he called in a stage whisper. Finally the seizure ebbed. Max went with the only option she felt she had left. With preternatural speed, she pulled the blankets up over herself, placed her hand where the lamp had been and let her head loll into a natural position. She closed her eyes just as the knob began to turn.
Logan turned the doorknob, fully expecting the door to be yanked out of his hand and his ears blistered for this intrusion. H was pleasantly surprised when he pushed the door open to see Max curled up tighter than an egg roll at the top of her bed. One arm lay across the nightstand. ‘She must have knocked the lamp off the table in her sleep,’ he realized, seeing the object lying on its side on the floor. He tiptoed forward before it occurred to hi that someone who slept through the crashing of a lamp would probably sleep through a quick check. He picked the lamp up, placing it beyond her reach.
Staring at the prone young woman, all his feelings from the previous night came surging back. With hesitant fingers, he brushed her hair back from her sweat-dampened face. His fingers burned a trail along her cheek. He gritted his teeth as a hint of arousal coursed through him. ‘Damn it, she wasn’t interested,’ he reminded himself sharply. He pulled his hand back and retreated from her room, his breathing ragged. He pulled the door shut with a soft click, then leaned back against it, running his hand over his face. He heard another door open and glanced down the hallway. He cursed his luck when he saw Scott’s smirking face briefly, before the door shut again. He hurried back to his own room.
Max waited until she was sure that Logan was completely gone before she opened her eyes. Her cheek was warm where his touch had been. She had been hard pressed not to feign that state between sleep and full awareness. She’d been tempted to pull him down to the bed, just to see how he’d react. ‘Knowing my track record,’ she thought, ‘he’d probably wake the whole school screaming rape.’
She let loose her legs and once again sat up. She pushed her hair back over her shoulder, then stood and padded softly to the bathroom. She splashed some water on her face, then patted herself dry with a hand towel. She stared at her reflection and cursed silently at the lingering blush.
Logan sat on his bed, his thoughts coursing rapidly. He wondered what conclusion Scott had drawn. Maybe Logan had better explain the circumstances. But then again, Scott may not believe him. He cured softly at the situation he had created, then cursed again for even caring.
Max descended the stairs an hour later, heading for the dining room and the waiting meal. She paused outside the room to collect herself. She pushed the door open to see everyone seated and already beginning their meal. "Sorry," she apologized lightly, "I’m not sure about your schedule here."
"Perfectly all right," the professor dismissed it with a wave of his hand. He gestured to the last remaining seat. Of course it was right across from Logan. Max slid into the chair with a silent groan. The housekeeper set a plate before her and she dug into the food with relish.
"That was quite a dream you were having this morning Max," Logan’s voice was low and only vaguely concerned.
"What?" she asked, trying to look somewhat surprised.
"I woke up this morning from a crash," he began. "I thought I’d better check it out. It seemed you knocked your lamp over."
"I did?" she asked. He nodded. "It was fine when I woke up," she stated, wondering how far this would play out.
"Yeah," he answered. "I picked it up so you wouldn’t step on it by accident. Glass in the foot is not pleasant."
"No," she agreed, amused. "It isn’t." She was intrigued by this public performance. Maybe he suspected that she hadn’t been asleep and was trying to suss her out. But the furtive glare he shot Scott was telling in its own way. "Well, thank you then. I’m not usually such a heavy sleeper." She glanced again at Scott, who was trying to control the smirk on his face and not succeeding. Her gaze fell to Jean and the woman was watching her in a thoughtful manner.
"Perhaps your trip is catching up with you," Storm suggested kindly. Max nodded slowly in agreement.
"It did take a bit out of me," she stated. She studiously ignored the looks that Logan was sending her. Turning to the professor, she asked, "is there some way I could borrow your computer today? I’ve got to send some information to Seattle."
"By all means," Charles replied. "The study is free until nine."
"Thanks," she smiled. She finished her meal and rose to complete her Eyes Only job. She hurried up to her room to retrieve the disk she’d made. She found the study again easily. After logging on, she prepared the information and sent it to Logan Cale. She included a note, explaining that she’d send the hard copy that day. She logged off, deciding to finish her task now instead of later. That way she could check out some upgrades for her room as well, realizing belatedly that she had definitely decided to stay.
Chapter Ten
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