Title:
The Glory Of Manticore
Author:
Restive Nature
Disclaimer:
I do not own the rights
to Dark Angel or to X-men. They belong respectively to Cameron/ Eglee
and to Marvel Comics. No infringement is intended and this fiction is
for private enjoyment only.
Rating:
up to NC-17
Chapter
Rating: PG-15 (for language)
Genre:
Crossover
Type:
action/ Romance
Pairing:
Max/ Logan
Summary:
Max is once again on the
run. But this time a safe haven awaits her in the form of Professor
Xavier’s School for Gifted Children.
Spoilers/
Time line: Post the first movie, for X-men. First season for DA,
starting off from Episode “Blah Blah Woof Woof”
Feedback:
Always welcome!
Distribution:
Ask first please.
The
Glory Of Manticore
Chapter
Twenty-seven
“You
were right,” Max groaned in pleasure. “That was amazing.”
“Have
to agree with you there,” Logan grinned as he stretched his arms
above his head, his feet correspondingly curling under a little as he
stretched out his upper body as much as possible in the cramped space
they were in. Instead of complaining or worrying about it, he let his
hands down to rub across his stomach and momentarily wished he had a
cigar to enjoy.
Max's
eyes twinkled in the low light as she watched him for another moment
before she turned to Jean. “It almost makes me wish I knew how to
cook, just to try and recreate those crab thingies.”
“I
told you,” Jean smirked as she reached for Scott's hand that was
resting closest to her. He held her fingers loosely. “It's the kind
of food that's so indulgent that you feel guilty for feeling so good
for eating it.”
“I'll
have to agree with that,” Max nodded. And then shook her head,
“except I don't feel guilty. It's okay to indulge once in a while.
I'll just have to find something to do that'll work off all these
extra calories.”
“I
can help with that, darlin',” Logan immediately jumped back in as
he leaned forward, his elbows on the table to brace himself. He
ignored Scott's mild look of alarm and the frown that followed,
compared to Jean's amusement. “I was thinkin' maybe tomorrow
mornin', we could get up early for another small road trip before we
head home.”
“A
small road trip to where?” Max mused, tilting her head enticingly
to regard him.
“Half
an hour south, give or take,” he teased, “depending on traffic.
Plenty of chances for walking, sand, surf, maybe a few games...”
Max's
eyebrows were furrowing as she tried to realize or figure out what he
was talking about until finally the possibilities set in and narrowed
until she thought she knew what he was referring to. “Coney
Island!” she burst out and knew she was right when Logan chuckled.
“Are they still operating?” She glanced at Scott and Jean, both
of whom were nodding.
“There
aren't as many rides and a lot more transient stores,” Jean
supplied, “but they've still got lots up there. And the boardwalk
is always fun.”
“It
sure is,” Scott agreed and then glanced at his girlfriend,
squeezing her hand again. “Remember when we went up there that one
summer?” he prompted. “The class trip, right after high school,
before you went off to university.”
“I
do,” Jean nodded. “You refused to leave until you had won me at
least something and we ended up missing the last bus.”
“And
we didn't have enough money left for a cab,” Scott laughed. “So
we decided we would just walk back to the hotel we were all staying
at.”
“And
we made it exactly twenty-three blocks before Charles was there with
the town car and Storm, who did not look at all pleased at having
been woken up so she could come find us,” Jean was giggling. Max
glanced at Logan, who seemed to be enjoying this recounting as much
as she. But not so much as the lovebirds. “I still have that teddy
bear.”
“My
glasses were still a work in progress,” Scott explained across the
table to Max, his lips curved softly. “It was difficult to see
properly with depth perception as evening came on, but I didn't want
to admit that to Jean.”
“Oh,”
Max sighed softly. “So it was a matter of pride, huh?”
“And
it was towards the end of the season,” Jean added. “College was
just a few weeks away. I think we were feeling that weighing down on
us more heavily every minute, as our parting got closer.”
“See,
I like that,” Max pursed her lips for a moment and saw they were
waiting for her explanation, rather than assuming they knew what she
was talking about. “Not to put too fine a point, but with the
statistics of marriage and divorce, it's actually nice to see an
exception to what you could assume is almost a rule. It's good for
people to have something to aspire to, and you guys being together
and working through obstacles, it's sets a good example for all those
kids you work with.” She paused for a moment and then laughed.
“That wasn't too condescending, was it?”
“Not
at all,” Jean assured her. “I guess it seems that way, but Scott
and I learned long ago to commit to each other regardless of how the
world saw things. It's worked better than trying to conform to
society's standards.” No one missed the way her eyes lingered on
Logan for a moment, but it was understood that perhaps he represented
one of those larger issues that all couples had to work through.
“Although
some of those standards can be a real comfort,” Scott threw in. The
other three noticed too, but did not point out, that his thumb was
rubbing over the bare ring finger of Jean's hand that he held.
“There's
too much in society that I just don't care for,” Logan sighed,
which was another obvious fact that sort of went without saying.
“High
society or as a general whole?” Max wondered, leaning her head to
the side, catching herself on her curled palm, to watch him.
“I
think it's pretty obvious that I live my life by my own code of honor
and screw the rest,” Logan grunted, not worried at all, because as
he had suspected, it amused her. His words didn't make her laugh, she
just gave him a smile of approval. Before she could say more though,
the singer, the friend of Jean's that they had all come out to see,
had made her way over to the table.
“Jeannie!”
she greeted with a small trill as Jean spun around in her chair. “I'm
so glad you made it!”
“Laura,”
Jean sighed as she stood, letting go of Scott's hand, to hug the
woman closely. When she pulled back though, her head tilted
questioningly. “Okay, we really have to talk.”
“Of
course,” Laura laughed. Still with one arm around Jean's waist, she
reached with her other hand to greet Scott. “Hello Scott. You're
looking well.”
“As
are you,” he returned politely as he stood. “We brought some
friends with us tonight. Logan, Max, this is Laura Alcott, Laura,
Logan and Max,” he indicated both parties as he mentioned their
names.
“It's
a pleasure to meet you,” Laura nodded to each. “Any friend of
Jean's is welcome.”
“And
you greeted us so wonderfully,” Max smiled. “You're voice... I
still have shivers up and down my spine.”
“Oh
thank you,” she crooned. “Aren't you so sweet. Oh, I hate to cut
this short, I was just on my way to freshen up. But I didn't want
Jean to think I hadn't noticed you were here.”
“Well,
we'll go with,” Jean decided. “I'd like a moment too.” She
turned to the last woman of the party, who was already retrieving her
bag and standing from her chair. Logan, even as he had just protested
societies rules, but reminded them that he had his own, stood as Max
did and even reached to help her with her chair so that she didn't
bump into the person seated behind her.
“Won't
be long,” she assured him.
“I'll
be waiting,” he returned. “Maybe we can take another spin on the
floor and discuss Coney Island some more.”
“Sounds
good,” she nodded and then moved after Jean and her friend Laura.
Scott and Logan resumed their seats, both watching their respective
girls as they made their way through the crowded club, with little
problem.
“Max
might have miscalculated that,” Scott smirked at Logan, who simply
grunted, wondering if he had time for a cigar out back. Or at least
part of one. This was still a strict non smoking area. It wasn't
worth possible problems to buck the rules.
“What
d'ya mean by that?” he grunted. Scott simply jerked his chin up
towards the back, where the women had disappeared behind a beaded
curtain that marked off the hallway.
“There's
always a longer line for the women's than the men's,' Scott pointed
out reasonably.
“Oh,
yeah yeah,” Logan nodded. That was just a fact of life. “One of
the great mysteries of life, huh?”
“It
actually isn't,” Scott chuckled. Logan raised an eyebrow at him and
Scott leaned in. “When you grow up in a house that's full of women,
you start to figure it out. Women travel in packs, not for just their
own safety, but a couple other reasons too.”
“You
don't say,” Logan grunted. He hadn't really given this too much
thought, considering it just another feminine mystery that he wasn't
really fussed over.
“Yeah,
you see it especially in group or double dates,” Scott nodded,
seemingly mellowed out by the evening. “They get to a natural lull
in conversation and they decide it's a good time to retreat and
discuss the evening thus far, fix their make up, assure each other
that things are going well or not and decide to continue with the
evening or not.”
“You
sound like they're planning a battle,” Logan barked out a laugh and
Scott joined him.
“Aren't
they?” he prompted easily. “And all the while, the men sit out in
public, mostly completely oblivious, wondering for the most part,
what we already know. Or at least what you know now.”
“And
what if they just have to pee?” Logan wondered, smirking. Scott
shrugged one shoulder.
“They'll
still wait until a lull in the conversation,” he decided. “They're
just more polite like that.”
“Yeah,”
Logan agreed. He toyed with his bottle of beer for a moment, noting
it was almost empty. He glanced at Scott. “You about ready for
another?” he grunted. Scott looked down at his own beer, nearly
emptied, as he'd imbibed through dinner
“Yeah,
another sounds good,” he agreed. “Since we're taking a cab. Let
me go, I need to stretch my legs.”
“Sure,”
Logan decided. He glanced over to see Max's drink was low as well.
“Maybe grab another for Max. That way it'll be here if she wants
it.”
“Can
do,” Scott assured him as he moved off to the bar. Logan didn't
mind being left alone, though his eyes strayed continuously to the
area of the lounge where it branched off to the bathrooms and back
rooms. He finished his beer and set it on the table to play with the
label absently. He heard Scott's laughter ring out and when he
glanced over his shoulder, saw the skinny male leaning on the bar,
chatting with the male bartender. The man was working, but obviously
entertaining Scott like he was an old regular.
Satisfied,
he turned his attention back to where his thoughts always seemed to
be these days. But she still hadn't emerged. He noted that some of
the band members were returning to the stage, so it was likely that
the singer friend of Jean's would be returning as well. Logan watched
with apathetic interest as they quietly retuned their instruments for
their next set. He watched as Scott returned to the table with a beer
for each of them, followed by a waitress bringing the drinks for
their dates. She had to step around a young blond guy that was moving
away from the bar as well. His profile looked slightly familiar, but
then the woman stepped into his eye line.
“Thanks,”
he muttered as the waitress deftly settled the glasses onto the table
from her tray. She gave a hearty smile before she disappeared to take
care of the rest of her tables. The blond guy had disappeared, before
Logan had realized, but maybe jazz wasn't his thing.
“Okay,”
Scott chuckled and Logan glanced sharply at him, wondering what the
slim mutant found funny now. “I guess I should have expected that.”
“Expected
what?” Logan demanded. Scott shrugged one shoulder before lifting
his beer bottle to take a pull off it.
“In
the two minutes you were left alone, you reverted right back to your
broody self,” Scott pointed out, with just an underlining hint of
amusement, and a tiny spot of accusation.
“Which
is a cumulative word for quiet, introspective and thoughtful,”
Logan grunted. “None of which, on their own, are all that
objectionable.”
“Wow,”
Scott drawled, clearly in a baiting mood, “so many big words. Why
aren't you teaching again?”
“Because
I've got much better uses of my time than trying not to rip those
hormonal time bombs apart because my span of patience in shorter than
a gnat's dick,” Logan retorted and instead of the shock, dismay or
disapproval he was expecting, Scott simply laughed. True, it did
sound a little shocked, but that could have just been the imagery.
Maybe partly drunk, mellowed out Scott wasn't such a bad guy.
“What's
the joke?” Jean wondered as she made it to Scott's side.
“Just
guy talk,” Scott smiled up at her before pushing his chair back so
that he could politely rise. Logan didn't bother with that crap at
the moment because he was too busy looking behind Jean for his date.
His suddenly elevated mood dropped instantly when he didn't spot her.
Jean, who was seating herself, with Scott's polite help, leaned
forward naturally.
“She'll
be just a few more minutes,” she assured him. It wasn't clear and
Logan didn't particularly care if she was using her powers or her
feminine intuition to read the situation. He jerked his chin once in
acknowledgment. Jean, not feeling slighted, turned to her boyfriend.
“Remind
me to send a card to Laura when we get home, thanking her for
tonight,” Jean asked of him, her eyes twinkling.
“Of
course,” he nodded, “although you usually remember those sorts of
things without any prompting.”
“True,”
Jean nodded. “But it has to be just the right card.”
“All
right,” Scott agreed without any further argument. “I had the
waitress bring you another,” he stated, gesturing to her glass.
“But if you'd prefer something else...?”
“This
is fine,” she shook her head before reaching for the libation.
“Thank you. Logan, seriously, she's a big girl!”
“Whose
got who knows what trouble on her ass,” he growled out softly, his
worry. Jean's eyes went wide.
“Is
this what had you so upset the other...?” she started to ask and
knew she had hit the nail on the head by the look he gave her.
“What's
going on?” Scott demanded suddenly, but quietly.
“There
was someone in her hotel room,” he supplied. “Before we got back,
maybe when she got there. He was gone when I went back.”
“You're
sure it was a he?” Scott asked sharply as he caught up on what they
were discussing and Logan simply tapped at his nose. He glanced at
Jean and saw that her eyes were slightly unfocused.
“She's
not there anymore,” she hissed and started to turn in her seat.
“Stay
here,” Logan warned even as he came to his feet, his chair tumbling
back slightly. He didn't offer any apologies to the person behind
him.
“Logan!”
Scott whisper shouted. Logan's hand was stretched out to stop him.
“I'll
'scream' for Jean if I need help,” he told the other man
authoritatively.
“He's
right Scott,” Jean warned, her hand on her boyfriend's forearm,
even as he was in the act of rising from his seat. “We don't need
the attention.”
Logan
tuned their conversation out as he stepped lithely over to the bar,
where that punk kid had been sitting. It hadn't been that long since
he'd been there and Logan inhaled deeply. The same scent that he had
sniffed out before, in the hotel room, at the museum. It was right
there and he wanted to punish himself that he hadn't seen it. That
was the kid that had been at the bar when he and Max were playing
pool. The one that had taken her receipt that she had lost.
Shit!
How could he have not seen it. Jean's sharp hiss in his mind reminded
him that they were in a crowded lounge and he had to pull the tips of
his claws that had started to emerge on instinct, back in. Without
wasting any further time, he headed to the back, where the bathrooms
were located. Her scent was strong in the hallway, but past the
women's restroom, it was also heading in the wrong direction.
He
continued on in that direction, heading away from the main lounge and
Logan saw an Exit sign hanging at the end of the hallway. The
stranger's scent wasn't in the hall and Logan wondered what the hell
she had walked out into. Before he had even reached the door, he
heard her voice, and something akin to relief washed over him that
she didn't sound panicked.
“...
where we stand,” she was saying.
“Well
I for one am relieved you're finally doing the right thing,” the
male chuckled. “Seriously Maxie, Seattle wasn't good for you.”
“Says
you,” she laughed and the knot of tension in Logan's chest eased
just a little. It didn't disappear completely though. “I've got
some good friends there.”
“Sketch
and Herbal?” the guy scoffed and Logan's face tightened. This guy
certainly sounded like he knew her pretty well, but why would she...
Or wouldn't. He wanted to storm out there and find out who the hell
this kid was. One of her friends that just happened to be in New
York? There was still something fishy as all hell about this.
“And
Cindy,” she reminded him. “That girl had my back more than you
know. I'm not having this argument with you again,” her voice was
cooler now and Logan smirked.
“Fine,”
the male sighed. “Give me a little time to take care of a few
things and then we can get the hell out of here.”
And
right there was the last straw. This punk ass kid was taking her
nowhere! Logan shoved the door open and stepped out into the night.
But rather than startling either of them, they simply glanced over
towards him calmly. Logan was interested to see that the male's eyes
narrowed even further as he crossed his arms over his chest. Max
however... Satisfaction blazed through his chest as her eyes lit up
upon seeing him move towards them.
.
“Hey
Logan,” she smiled her greeting. “Is Laura back on yet?”
“Not
yet,” he answered carefully. “The band is warming up again, so we
might want to take our seats right away,” he offered as a
suggestion, but there was enough steel in his voice that it also
wasn't.
“Okay,
just a second,” she nodded and turned back to the other male. “What
things?”
“Huh?”
the kid asked, thought he didn't turn back to Max as she had to him.
He was still eying Logan... like a rival would. Logan didn't need to
do the posturing that other males did because anyone with an ounce of
instinct still left in them, seemed to know that he was no one to be
messed with. In fact, just to piss the kid off, he relaxed against
the back wall of the bar, hooking his thumbs into the pockets of his
slacks and pasted a slight smirk on his face.
“Zack!”
Max snapped, drawing his attention finally. He turned to her, though
his eyes darted to Logan. “What other things?”
“It's
nothing important Maxie,” the young man waved away her concern.
Logan wasn't sure if it was information gathering, jealousy or an
attempt at distracting her when he waved one hand his way. “So do I
get to meet your new friend?”
“Of
course,” Max nodded, but her lips were pursed and Logan could see
that she wasn't going to let go of her inquiry. She gestured to Logan
and said, “Zack, Logan.” She turned to grin at him. “Logan, my
big brother Zack.”
Logan
was definitely startled at that information and as subtly as he
could, took another whiff of the air around them. They didn't exactly
smell... but having them here together, he could smell undertones
that were amazingly similar. Maybe they weren't full blood siblings,
or a cousin that she called brother. The relief he felt, to know that
this kid was someone that was partially acceptable to be in Max's
life, was enormous. It was only partial though, because there was
something about Zack that sort of set Logan's teeth on edge.
“Jeez
Max,” Zack was chortling, though Logan could see that he wasn't
actually pleased. “Another one?”
“What
the hell's that supposed to mean?” he growled. He had been about to
step forward and politely greet the kid, after all, he was Max's
family in some way or another. Someone she loved. But now he was
advancing on the kid for the slur he had put in his tone.
“He's
just referring to Logan Cale,” Max sighed holding her hand up and
catching Logan at the chest. He glanced down at her and calmed once
more with just that simple, warm touch. He gave her a half smile and
forced himself to relax. “He didn't mean anything bad.”
“Given
what the guy had you doing barely seconds after you hit town here,”
Logan grunted, “I'm not sure he doesn't. Guy sounds a little
obsessive to me, you know?” He had directed the words to Max, but
it was Zack that chuckled.
“Yeah,
definitely,” he agreed. “Logan needs a reality check about Maxie
here.” He glanced at his sister. “She doesn't exactly run with
his crowd, nor should she.” Logan smirked, feeling and knowing
somehow that it wasn't just Cale that Zack was referring to. He
opened his mouth to speak further, but Max stepped between them, her
back to Logan. He wanted to move her out of the way, just in case
they got into it. The way the kid was deliberately acting, pushing,
it could still go either way.
He
didn't want to, but he was more than ready to take a strip out of
Zack's hide if he upset Max. But a quiet voice in his mind was
telling him to let her handle it. This was her brother. It might have
been the way that Max settled comfortably with him at her back, like
she knew he'd back her if she needed it and that said so much to his
senses, his instincts. She trusted him and his, he'd trust her.
“Zack,
just stop,” she said tiredly, her tone telling Logan that they must
have hashed this out several times, probably to neither's
satisfaction. “Look, you go take care of whatever it is you need
to. You have my digits, you know where I'm staying. Call me when
you're ready and we'll go from there.”
“At
that school?” her brother asked suspiciously. His eyes darted over
her shoulder to Logan's pleased countenance and the kid groaned.
“Seriously Maxie?”
“Don't
Zack!” she commanded, her voice frosty. She was tensing up, causing
Logan to tense up. Her brother reached for her, but before Logan
could respond, she had spun her wrist out from under his and threw
his hand back towards him. Logan's smirk turned into a full blown
wolfish grin. “I'm not being sentimental. I'm not being foolish.
This is me being careful, smart, all the things you wanted me to be.
But your concept of the ideal life is not mine and I would appreciate
it if you would stop pushing it on me. I've accepted that you can't
or won't change your mind. You need to do the same for me!”
Logan
was satisfied with those words and even more so with Zack's response.
“Can't
do that Maxie,” the kid sadly shook his head. “It's always been
my job to watch out for you. That's never gonna change.”
“That's
obvious,” she sighed and then chuckled. “Just as long as we're
clear.”
“Crystal,”
Zack assured her and then stepped a small bit forward. This time Max
went to him and gave him a hug. Logan couldn't argue with that. The
kid glanced at him over Max's shoulder and spoke directly to Logan
again. “Watch out for her, huh? If she'll let you.”
That
got him a light slap on the back from his sister and a nod from
Logan.
“Already
done,” he assured the kid.
“Somehow
I believe that,” Zack grunted as he released his sister. His tone
was assured but wary. “Catch ya later,” he finally sighed.
“Bye,”
she murmured quietly in return and then watched as Zack departed. The
kid didn't look back as he moved out of the alley and around the
corner. Max sighed again, staring after his form until he disappeared
and then slowly turned to look up at Logan. “You came after me?”
“Yeah,”
he grimaced and wanted to rub at the back of his neck, a little
nervous now that the confrontation was done. “About that...”
“I'm
not mad,” she assured him quickly. “I thought you might come out
here, when I didn't go back with Jean. But Zack said he might check
in with me tonight. He was here, he just doesn't like crowds.”
“I
noticed that,” Logan nodded, in the same boat as the kid, though
probably for different reasons. “So when did you arrange this? At
the hotel, or the museum?” he asked as gently as possible, not
wanting to piss her off. She did look amused still, at least.
“You
caught that, huh?” she muttered before sighing. “Yeah, Zack
doesn't have the best interpersonal skills. Although I'm not sure yet
which one of you is worse.” Logan didn't let the criticism bother
him. He was what he was. “Yes, he came to see me in my room at the
hotel. And yes, we arranged this meeting when he caught up with me at
the museum.”
“And
you thought you couldn't tell me. Why?” he wanted to know. She
shrugged one shoulder.
“Because
like I said,” she pointed out. “I respect Zack's right to do
things for himself, his way. He didn't want anyone to know that he
was there. So I didn't tell. I don't think either of us counted on
your amazing sense of smell,” she grinned, though her eyebrows had
pulled together with slight irritation that quickly smoothed out as
she added, “but if you'll recall, I didn't lie to you.”
“No,”
he agreed slowly as he recalled their conversation about things. “You
just carefully manipulated your words to make me think I was insanely
imagining things.”
“Well
then it's good to know you were spot on,” she teased. He shook his
head a little.
“I
guess how I feel about this depends on why he was here,” he
admitted. Max inhaled sharply, glancing away for a moment and then
squared her shoulders. Logan tried not to wince. He wasn't sure that
he wanted to hear this.
“He
told me that he had been checking out the situation in Seattle,”
she offered. “The cops have discovered that it was a male that
killed P.I. Vogelsang, not a woman, which lets me off the hook as far
as suspects go.”
“Shit,”
Logan breathed out, relieved that she wasn't in trouble with the law,
but taken aback slightly that this was the trouble from Seattle. He
had the sense that it wasn't the whole story though. “So... you can
go back now?” he asked sadly, his mind whirling with how quickly he
could be ready to go. He'd have to have a vehicle, some clothes
packed would be good, and there was the issue of cash. Always needed
cash.
“Not
necessarily,” Max spoke and it was like his brain cleared
instantly. “I mean,” she frowned, “they might still want to
talk to me about any information that I have and I really don't want
that. Not hugely impressed with Seattle PD. I think it might be
smarter just to let the whole thing resolve before I ever head back
that way, you know? And I...”
“You
what?” he asked softly, holding his breath while he waited for her
answer.
“I
like it here,” she said simply before she caught her lower lip
between her teeth for a second. “I feel...” she swallowed
heavily, the pulse in her neck picking up as the sound of her
pounding heart reverberated in his ears. It matched his own, nearly
perfectly. He moved slowly, like she was the wounded bird, terrified,
needing gentle, sure handling so that it wouldn't hurt itself trying
to escape. He lifted one hand to cup her cheek softly before sliding
it into the tendrils of hair at her temple.
“I
feel it too darlin',' he assured her huskily before his lips
descended to hers.
He
had been wanting this for so long and it more than lived up to his
hopes and his expectations. Her lips were so soft and warm and he
didn't waste time testing the waters. He plundered her lips as his
arms automatically wrapped around her waist to bring her as close as
possible. Her hands reached to cup his jawline, her back arching as
her body molded to his. She met his enthusiasm with her own her
tongue touching to his lips and his body reacted hotly. It felt like
his blood was surging everywhere. That little voice that had warned
him earlier, was now singing exultantly in his head, 'mine,
mine, mine!'.
It took several minutes
before Logan recalled that they were in a freaking alley for crying
out loud. Not that it mattered to him, but she most definitely
deserved more than that. He pulled back slightly, pleased that her
lips followed after his a little before she opened her eyes to look
inquiringly up at him. Whatever expression his pleasure and
satisfaction created on his face, in his eyes, it must have been
extremely evident as the slow smile curved her lips upwards and he
felt her fingertips stroking down his throat, "Yeah," he
groaned softly, "that's about what I'm feelin'."
"Good to know I'm
not alone there," she laughed lightly, though her voice was
husky. "So…" she looked suddenly nervous and she fidgeted
in the circle of his arms for a moment before tilting her hips
slightly so that her hip was leaning into his. He had no intentions
of releasing her just yet. He waited, his heart fluttering in his
throat as he waited for her next words. Her eyelashes were quivering
a moment before she lifted her eyes to meet his again. “Am I
forgiven for not telling you who it was in my room."
"Well," Logan
grunted immediately, "seeing's how you knew you weren't in
danger from your brother, I can understand why you weren't so
worried. But I didn't know that, which is why I was so…"
"Pissed off,
freaked out… territorial?" she supplied for him with a small
laugh.
"Yeah, all of
that," he agreed. He gave her a long look and then shook his
head slightly. "I don't know that I can rightly explain. Doesn't
mean I might not try." He sighed, feeling the darkness that
hovered in the back of his psyche trying to take over, just at the
thought of someone dangerous entering her vicinity, aside from
himself. Any not so little thing like that had the blackness
threatening to take over.
"Whenever you
want," she assured him, her fingernails scratching lightly,
gently at the underside of his jaw, bringing all attention back to
her, in the pleasure of that slight touch. Somehow, she had this
power over him and he wondered how far it could go. "I'll listen
and now that you know," she offered, "then there really
aren't a lot of things about myself that I feel the need to hide."
"But there's still
a few things," he reasoned and felt her slight tensing. He knew
he was right and she nodded.
"But there are a
lot of things I still don't know about you," she defended
herself, sounding rational at least about it. "And I'm not
talking about your missing memories. I know there's nothing you can
do about that, but just where you are now. If that makes sense?"
"It does,"
Logan agreed with relief. "But we've got all the time in the
world darlin'." He chuckled briefly and then ended on a soft
sigh. "You know," he drawled and she shifted again, feeling
more like she was trying to snuggle in closer and Logan noted that a
chill had kicked up. In her dress, he should be getting her back
inside, but having her squirming was just too delicious to deny. "I
overheard you talking' with your brother about goin' back to Seattle,
I was ready to grab a bag and follow after you."
"Oh?" she
sounded surprised and the pleased smile returned. "Well, I can't
say I'm entirely ready to yet. But maybe that's something we could…
discuss. You know, if we ever need to get out of Westchester for a
while?"
"That'd be fine by
me," Logan agreed. "I'd be happy to have you show me your
home, your friends, which I gotta say, I don't know what the hell is
possessin' me."
She laughed again,
though it was chased by a small shiver and Logan, keeping one arm
around her waist, turned them so they could head back inside. "From
what I've heard from other sources…" she began teasingly,
"yeah, that doesn't sound like you at all."
"Well maybe,"
Logan teased right back as he reached for the back door, "I've
just haven't found the right person recently, for me to do that
with."
"And you think I
could be?" Max asked, her tone light but the question serious as
she stepped into the back hallway, as he followed immediately after.
"I'm not gonna let
another second go by without trying to find out," he promised
her.
TGoM~TGoM
"Do you think
every thing's okay?" Scott asked lowly of his girlfriend. She
was rubbing her fingertips over her temples. And she didn't look
pleased. But that could be for any number of reasons, he knew. He was
only partly reassured when Jean gave him a soft look.
"I
really don't know," she made to try and smile, but it was marred
by the sudden frowning grimace that wouldn't release her from it's
grips. "I'm trying not
to listen in and it's making everything else louder." Scott
nodded, even though he didn't quite understand how it was all
working. But then, her body relaxed some and she sighed softly. "Here
they come," she murmured and Scott glanced up. He pursed his
lips as he saw Max first and Logan attached to her shoulder. But
then, with two quick steps and a slight maneuver, Logan was leading
her into the main room, taking her out onto the dance floor and
turning to take her in his arms as Laura smiled widely and lifted a
hand in their direction as the notes of her song swelled in
crescendo. Max was laughing and then rested her head on Logan's chest
and Scott heard Jean's happy sigh. He reached for her hand, now
resting on the table. Squeezing her fingers, he leaned towards her.
"Shall we join
them?" he whispered in her ear. She nodded, watching the pair
for a moment before she directed her attention totally back to him.
"I'd love to join
you," she announced and then they were rising from the table.
Scott led the way to the dance floor and after just a pause, they
stepped out, swirling in and among the few couples that couldn't deny
the sway and power of the lyrics and music combined. As they
circulated slowly around the dance floor, it brought them near enough
to overhear their friend's conversation.
"… have no
problem with instinct, when I understand where it's coming from,"
Max was saying.
"And I don't
bother to think it through," Logan was arguing, but his voice
was gentle, amused, as hers had been. "I just act."
"But I can figure
things out retroactively, if I don't let myself fly off the handle
about it," she giggled and Scott glanced down at Jean, who had a
repressed smirk trying to break out on her face.
"Sounds like
they're working things out," he muttered. Jean nodded.
"At least being
open minded enough to try and…" she shrugged one shoulder.
"Let's just let them be and concentrate on something much more
interesting."
"And what would
that be?" Scott teased. Her arms tightened around his shoulder
and her hips swiveled in a light, teasing brush of her own and his
arms squeezed her right back. "Oh that! Yes, much more
interesting." He knew that the mood and their words had been
caught, high probability of that when he heard Logan's booming
laughter and was very pleased to finally, at last, getting to see a
lighter side of Logan. He had really thought, having seen Logan's
dark humor and gruffness, only ever, that he didn't have one. It was
nice to know that he might be wrong.
TGoM~TGoM
“So
I gotta ask,” Logan began, ambling towards the window of her hotel
room as Max put her purse away. The evening, once the hiccup of
Zack's introduction to him had been overcome, went smoothly. They'd
enjoyed another set by Jean and Scott's friend and then, as Jean was
starting to feel overwhelmed, called it a night. The ride home had
been quiet in the cab and while no one was feeling the excesses of
drinking, it had made Jean and Scott tired. They had gone immediately
into the elevator, leaving Max and Logan to follow, but as the
elevator doors slid shut, Jean had thrown the couple a broad wink.
There
was no sign of them in the hallway when Logan stepped out before Max,
but their scents were heavy in the air and he had no concern for
them. Scott and Jean were long used to being able to take care of
themselves and did not need him for anything. He had seen Max to her
door and before he had even said a word, she had invited him in for
'a while'. He had agreed happily. And now, was staring at the window
that Zack had gone through.
“Ask
what?” Max prompted. Logan half turned and tilted his head towards
the window. “Oh, that,” she frowned and then her mood turned and
she chuckled. She moved towards him. “Zack, as I said does not have
the best interpersonal skills. He's also extremely paranoid. So,”
she drawled, “he most likely came up through the hotel to case the
danger and since I got back while he was waiting for me, he probably
figured that you were all back too. He has this tendency to watch me
for a while before he lets me know he's around.”
Logan
nodded. “He must be pretty good then, because I didn't think much
about him back at the bar,” he noted. “Or was that something
more?” he asked, realizing now in hindsight that the whole innocent
act of dropping her receipt and Zack picking it up was probably an
exchange of information. He wanted to blame it on watching television
and seeing spy shows, but this felt more intimate, more familiar to
him.
“I
saw Zack come in,” she admitted. “It... startled me, because the
last time I had seen him was in Seattle. And... he wasn't too pleased
either. Something else was going on, which is why I voluntarily gave
him the information of where I was staying, rather than make him
chase me down.”
“Okay,”
Logan sighed. “You think he was here for some other reason?”
“Ninety-nine
percent sure,” she nodded slowly, wrapping her arms around her
waist and staring down at the carpet. She seemed contemplative more
than apologetic. He understood. “He told me that he got the
information from Cale as to where I went when I left Seattle. But he
came to New York first, not Westchester. There had to be a reason for
that. And none of his answers satisfied me and when I pressed, he
kept changing the subject.”
“So
what d'ya think he's hiding?” Logan wondered, because the same
suspicion would play in his mind, from the clues she had mentioned.
“What
I think, because this has been a big bone of contention between us,
is that another member of my family might be in the area,” she
admitted slowly, unable to meet his eyes as she glanced over his
shoulder, out the window.
“You
don't know?” he asked gently, stepping forward to rest one hand on
the hand of hers that rested on her right hip. She shook her head and
swallowed heavily.
“I
haven't seen them since I was nine,” she told him. “We were in a
bad situation. Zack was the one that made us separate, into pairs. We
were going to meet up once we got clear of the area, but I got
separated from my sister Jondy. And then I was picked up by a nurse,
who got me out of there. I found her again later,” she smiled
wistfully, recounting the time, “to thank her for that.”
“Did
you stay with her long?” he wondered. He had been in similar
situations, using a person or family for a time, short or long to get
his bearings before moving on. Max shook her head.
“No.
She dropped me at her house and told me that she was going to go deal
with the situation,” Max sighed. “She didn't come back. I found
out later that she was delayed by the road blocks and search they had
on for us.”
“Who
was searching?” he wanted to know, his fingers stroking gently over
hers until finally they loosened the grip on her hip and her arm
swung down. He followed, lacing his fingers through hers and she gave
them a solid squeeze as she smiled sadly at him.
“I'd
rather not say at the moment,” she offered quietly. When his eyes
narrowed, she rushed on to say, “coming here, meeting Charles? I
never imagined that there were mutants as powerful as he is. Mind
readers,” she smiled to soften what might have been seen as a
criticism. “And I know you say that you have nothing to fear about
being hurt, but what about the others? What they don't know, they
can't reveal. Which is why I'm extremely... cautious about what I
say.” She chuckled darkly then. “I've already told you more than
I've told anyone else ever.”
“So
you didn't tell this to Cale?” Logan grunted, feeling slightly
jealous, because from what he understood, this guy had maybe too much
information on her.
“He
already knew,” Max explained, tugging on his hand and turning to
lead him back to the sofa. He let her sit and then molded his own
body next to hers, angled towards her. “He picked up a few clues
from seeing me and started adding things up. He already knew things
he shouldn't and I have my suspicions about where he learned about
it. When he got the chance, he confronted me.” She frowned heavily
and shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “I've always had my
suspicions about that too. Hiding, holding back information until it
can do the most damage is something that he seems to have gotten very
good at. Even if he won't admit it”
“You're
worried about his knowing more than he should?” Logan clarified and
she nodded. “Well then, darlin', maybe it's a good thing you
cleared out of there, especially since it sounds like it was startin'
to bring you more trouble than it was worth.”
“I
guess,” she admitted, though Logan could hear that she didn't
precisely want these ideas to be true or valid in any way.
“Besides,”
he chuckled, trying to lighten the mood, “if you hadn't come this
way, I'd have never had the pleasure...”
“Oh,
that's very sweet,” Max grinned up at him. “And very smooth
Logan.”
“I'm
a smooth guy,” he deadpanned, his face straight and she cracked up
instantly. “Except for the moments that I'm rough,” he continued.
“Can't deny I've had a few of those.” Max continued to giggle,
her eyes sparkling before she finally calmed. Though the smile didn't
fade.
“I
guess I can't deny I've had my moments too,” she admitted,
threading her hand through her hair. It caught a moment and pulling
her hand loose, she quickly reached up to let it all down, which
Logan liked. Of course, having her hair up too gave her exposed neck
a graceful line that drew his eye and often. “Do you mind if I get
out of these things?” she asked and then quickly added, “into
something definitely more comfortable.”
“That's
fine darlin',” he agreed, knowing full well that it was highly
doubtful that she'd come out in something slinky and bedroom geared.
“If you don't mind me slippin' out of my shoes.”
“No,
make yourself comfortable,” she invited and then slipped into the
bedroom, the door shutting behind her. Logan slipped off his boots
and thoughtfully gathered them up to take to the door, so that she
wouldn't trip over them. She didn't seem especially clumsy, but why
chance it. On his return trip to the sofa, he unbuttoned his
dress shirt about halfway down and pulled the ends from
where they were tucked in. It gave him a slightly rumpled look, but
he didn't particularly care. Clothes and other fabrics were meant to
be rumpled, he decided. He reclaimed his seat and stretched his feet
under the coffee table, crossing them at the ankle as he waited for
Max to come back.
She
emerged from the bedroom just minutes after he had sat, wearing the
familiar sleep clothes that she had worn before, though these weren't
as worn as some that he had seen her in before. The tank top and yoga
pants did look comfortable, as did the matching slipper socks that
she had thrown on. “Are you sure you don't want to change and come
back?” she wondered.
“I'd
love to,” he responded immediately, “but I think if I do, I may
end up here on this couch all night talkin' to you and you never did
tell me if we were goin' to Coney Island tomorrow morning.”
“Oh,
that's right,” she smiled. “Well, seeing how I never did go, or
really get the chance to do things like that, yeah, I think I'd like
to.” She settled in again next to him, sitting sideways and pulling
her feet up under her.
“Seriously?”
Logan guffawed. “You never once in your life went to an amusement
park?” She shook her head in the negative and he felt wary. She had
said that it had been a bad experience that had caused her and her
siblings to cut and run. Probably lived on the streets, or was in the
system. Could explain where her street smarts and burglary act came
from. Of course she wouldn't have had time to be a normal kid. “Well
we'll fix that tomorrow.”
“What
about you?” she wondered. “I know you don't have all your
memories, but still... it just doesn't seem like the kind of thing
you'd be into.”
“Going
to, no, not really,” he divulged. “Working for, a few times yeah.
It was a good way to earn money and retain some anonymity while I
tried to figure out what the hell caused me to lose those memories.”
“Wow,”
she drawled, leaning her head on her hand once more, pulling the
front strands of her hair up and back as she regarded him. “I can't
imagine how difficult that would have been, not just for all the
personal stuff, but not knowing what you'd have done to support
yourself, if you had a house, a family...”
“I
exhausted a lot of resources tryin' to find that out,” he agreed.
“Never did find anyone looking for me, so I guess bein' a lone wolf
came naturally before I lost my memories.”
“I
guess,” she sighed. “So did you manage to make some good memories
after that?” she wondered with a teasing smile and Logan responded
in kind.
“Some
moments were better than others,” he shrugged. “I don't think
I'll ever stop wonderin' or looking, but sometimes there are things
that are important enough to make me pause.”
“Like
Rogue,” she hinted, still smiling, her nose crinkling, but she
didn't seem upset about it.
“I
felt bad for the kid and responsible, since I was giving her a ride
after she ran away,” he explained simply. “Didn't need it, but
she tried to watch my back before she even really knew me.”
“Because
you were both mutants,” Max nodded and then waved her free hand.
“Don't have to answer that. None of my business.”
“Don't
mind,” Logan shrugged. “I don't bother explaining myself when
people push. Doesn't feel like you pushing. Just a natural
curiosity.”
“I'm
like a cat that way,” she offered and then a laugh burbled up out
of her and Logan wondered why it was so hilarious, but his lips were
twitching with amusement too.
“Well
maybe I am too,” he commented, shifting to turn towards her and
bringing his inside leg up in the very little space that was between
them. “You asked, so my turn. What was your favorite memory,
growin' up?”
“Oh
that's easy,” she declared, her face clearing of the hesitation
that his question brought. “Ben. He was another brother. And the
stories he told? Oh wow, we used to all go to bed and then, after
midnight, we'd all run down to Ben's bed and climb on and he'd tell
us the scariest stories. His imagination was amazing.”
“Scary
stories, huh?” he chuckled. She nodded.
“It
wasn't so much the stories, but just all sitting, huddling together,
getting the willies from whatever he told us and then, if I was
especially scared, he'd let me sleep with him. I think maybe that's
what I like best, was having my big brother protecting me.”
“Is
that why Zack's attitude hurts so much?” he asked quietly, and she
smirked at him.
“Hard
to miss that, huh?” she retorted. “But if Ben wouldn't wake up,
then Zack would let me climb in with him. Tinga did too, but she
kicked a lot in her sleep.”
“How
many kids in your family?” Logan scoffed then. Add those to her
sister Jondy that she had already mentioned.
“A
lot,” she sighed. “I wasn't technically the baby of the group,
but I was the youngest girl. And I was definitely treated that way.”
There
was quiet for a moment and then Logan mused, “I always wondered if
I had a brother or sister. Don't know why, but I always felt like I
was an only child or maybe if I had any siblings, there was maybe
just one. Brother or sister, not sure, but just one. Although I tend
to think it was just me.” She nodded. “Doesn't hurt so much now
to wonder, because logically, odds are, if I had any family, they'd
have passed away by now.”
It
didn't escape his notice, her sudden stillness and he wondered who
she had lost. But he didn't want to press her. He couldn't do to her
what others had done to him with their prying and nosiness. She had
already shared so much about herself and her past, just by this
gentle easiness that they were developing. “And like you said,”
he offered, “family is what you make it these days. People you can
choose, rather than having to, by blood.”
“That's
true,” she nodded. “Logan?”
“Yeah?”
