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 Two
"Jean said that I should come see you," Rogue murmured, peeking her head around the corner of the study door. She then noticed the dark, moody presence in the corner seat. "Logan!"
"Hey kid," he smiled a lopsided grin, amused at her exuberance.
"When did you get back?" she demanded, her excitement exhibited in the sudden deepening of her Southern drawl. Nervously, her hands went to the dog tags still secure around her neck.
"I just got in this morning," he replied gruffly, eyeing his old tags. They were the oldest, that he could remember, of all his external possessions. "Classes had just started. I’ve been waitin’ on you all day, kid." Charles hid a smile as Rogue shifted nervously from foot to foot. The affection between these two was deeper than that even of siblings.
"Oh," Rogue smiled as well. Her heart lifted when she realized that he had taken her into consideration. With some pain, she began to remove the dog tags, but his sudden movement stilled her. He stood before her and stilled her hand.
"I don’t need those back yet," he said quietly. Rogue was obviously confused. "The professor and I are trying to think up a few new leads on my past. So I’ll be here for a few days, before I take off again."
"That’s good," Rogue breathed a sigh of relief, concentrating on the first part of his speech. She wouldn’t think about his leaving until it actually occurred. She felt slightly giddy, her hero-worship for this man was almost overwhelming her. It wasn’t as if she lacked for male companionship. But she and Logan shared a bond, forged through many unbelievable events. "Did you want to get some dinner?" she invited softly. As if on cue, his stomach growled. Everyone chuckled, relaxing, as they hadn’t really been able to before.
"I think that’s a good idea all around," Charles began to move around from the desk, towards the door. Logan held the door open for them as Rogue launched into a description of the events transpiring each week since Logan had left. ‘Leave it to a teenager to make history class sound like the social event of the year.’ Logan glanced down at the professor; sure when he saw the man struggling to maintain his dignified mien, that he’s caught Logan’s bemused thought. Rogue sensed that she’d lost her captive audience.
"What?" she asked, seriously concerned for her friends. Her eyes were pained as she considered them with such determination. Both men broke out laughing. "What?" she demanded again.
"Nothing, nothing," Charles laughed. "Perhaps you’ll understand when you’re older."
"You’re laughin’ at me?" she gasped, her accent even more highly pronounced in her emotional state. Logan struggled to contain himself. The opportunity to really enjoy a good belly laugh was rare.
"Nah," he gently nudged her covered shoulder. "We’re just enjoying the fact that you, uh… have a healthy social life in the middle of all this…um, scholastic environment." Logan realized belatedly that when he had first met Rogue, runaway that she was, she had been forced to grow up fast. And while she’d never lose that little bit of haunted look she’d acquired from that time, she was better. Now, in the relaxed surrounding, with other kids her age and culture, she could be the girl she should have been. At least to some extent. Her mutant gift was no gift at all. The sobering memory of Rogue’s lifeless face still haunted Logan. He had barely been able to save her, almost dying himself. He shook himself out of the moment and the three continued on to dinner.
There was a general consensus between adults and students that this evening be lighthearted. The kids gladly took any opportunity to shed the responsibilities of their studies. Although Logan still considered himself an outsider, he didn’t show the disdain he had once carried for this group. He realized as the evening wore on that through working with these people to save Rogue, and ultimately the world, he had formed a bond of sorts with them.
All too soon, Jean and the professor were herding students up to their rooms in the dorms. Their curfew was nearing. Logan received stares, pats on the shoulder, and even a hug from the Asian girl, Jubilee. Logan felt a yawn of his own coming on and tried to smother it with his hand. Storm leaned forward and motioned for him to follow the students up the stairs.
"We kept your room for you," she smiled, speaking softly. "Perhaps the professor had an inkling about your return."
"I just wanted to make sure Rogue was doing okay," he mumbled, not comfortable with the way these people tried to claim him. Storm was as determined as ever to get him involved in their cause. It was enough for Logan to simply exist. He didn’t want attention; all he wanted was his past. And as time went on, he wasn’t so sure that knowing would be the end of his torment. With a distracted ‘good evening’ to the room in general, he mounted the stairs. He headed to his room, wondering if there were still pajamas or even sweats in the armoire. To his mild surprise, someone had seen fit to stock it with some new clothes. He rummaged through the packages until he came across a cotton pajama set. He pulled the bottoms out, leaving the shirt behind with a sneer. It was a warm night that didn’t call for more than the minimal amount of clothing. He smiled to himself as he envisioned Jean shopping for him. His brain reminded him sharply that it could have been one of the others, but his heart was determined on its course.
Logan awoke a smile on his face. Whatever his dreams had been, they must have been pleasant and not of the nightmare quality that they had been lately. Again. They had been especially bad after visiting the compound. He had wondered about keeping that from the professor. But they had been unable to help him the last time and he had ended up shish kabobing Rogue. Sighing, he threw back the covers and swung his feet out to the floor. He padded to the adjoining bathroom and splashed water on his face. He dried himself off, staring at himself in the mirror. Sometimes he got flashes when at himself so intently, studying who he was. But today there was nothing. Shrugging off the failed attempt to recover himself, he busied himself picking out clothes. Whoever had picked them out knew his tastes well. They were precisely what he would have chosen. He decided that it had to have been Jean. Only women were that considerate, and she did have some mind reading ability.
With his good mood restored, he left his room to make his way down to the dining hall. Once there, he found what he assumed to be everyone in various stages of their meals. Rogue was just finishing, swallowing the last of her juice. When she saw him, her eyes lit up and she hurriedly joined him by the door. "You found your clothes," she smiled, holding the plate and glass before her, as if protection from any disapproval.
"You knew about this?" he asked, gesturing to his outfit. She nodded happily.
"I figured you might still be short on clothing," she explained quickly. "What with your truck blowin’ up and then takin’ off and all."
"Well," he muttered swallowing his disappointment that Jean hadn’t been as concerned as he’d thought. "You did a good job kid. It’s exactly what I would have picked."
"Well, if you recall, I do have somewhat firsthand knowledge of what you like. Having absorbed your personality and all."
They smiled at each other, their bond once again renewed. Rogue moved to put her plate away. Logan found an empty seat near Storm. He ate quietly, trying not to garner attention. The group respected his silent request. Accustomed to the daily routine, they all ate quickly. Then they moved off to their respective classes. Charles made a point of inviting Logan to spend the day relaxing. And with no other distraction in sight, Logan resigned himself to just that.
Chapter Three
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