First chapter of my first story. Let's see how it goes over.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my own characters. And even then, they're not much to lay claim on. So I don't own squat
As Logan walked out to the garage he allowed himself a small smile, away from the prying eyes at the school. It had been nearly five years since Jean had risen and died again, and Logan did all that he could to forget her, keeping himself busy helping Orora with the upkeep of the school.
But even a teacher as well-liked as Mr. Logan needed a break.
He ran a hand through his unruly hair and stepped into the cool holding area. Since Scott had been killed, Logan had taken over his collection of bikes and cars – to no ones objection, save a few hotshot students who had their eye on a motorcycle. The man grabbed one of the machines and revved the engine, the noise causing the garage door to open.
He was off! Speeding out the door and down the long lane that led to the back road the school was located near. Eyes narrowed in anticipation, he watched the iron gate open as automatically as the door. Suddenly, his over-sensitive nose caught a scent and his eyes were narrowed for a very different reason.
Stopping just outside the iron gate of Xavier's, a light breeze pushing through the summer morning, Logan glanced to the side of the entrance, his eyes narrowing further. He could smell mutant a mile away, and a stranger from two.
Another one?
Leaning against the column that bore the name of the school, hunched down on the ground, skinny arms curled around legs that were drawn far too close to the chest to be comfortable, huddled a slight girl.
Logan growled under his breath. Why couldn't it be someone else to find the abandoned ones? Somehow it always ended up being him – damn his nose.
Kicking the stand down he got off the motorcycle, his jeans and boots shuffling in the mid-morning light. She had probably been there all night, judging from the damp clothes. He ran his hand through his hair again, standing off to the side of the girl. She had her bag leaning on her and her dirty brown hair was up in a frizzy ponytail. Logan reached out a toe and nudged the girl's bag, shaking her a little.
"Hey kid." He said, his voice almost a growl. "Kid." Another kick, a little harder.
The girl stirred, hands tightening on her legs and then relaxing. She looked up at Logan, her brown eyes full of tears, she had obviously been in some sort of pain the entire night.
"Hey" She said, loosening up, spreading her legs out in front of her. Logan noticed that her jeans were a few sizes too small, the cuffs pushing up her ankles. She crossed her arms over her chest, then thought better of it, grabbing her bag to her body.
Logan frowned, and the girl flinched.
"Alright kid, what's your problem?" He asked, annoyance clear in his voice.
"I'm insane." She said, quite clearly, her brown eyes wide as she stared into Logan's face. It must have been the way she said it, but Logan frowned again. She looked about fourteen or fifteen, a little young to be talking so morbidly. But it was just his luck that he always got stuck with the crazy ones.
"Good, you'll fit right in." He said, grabbing her arm to pull her up. All of a sudden, a feeling washed over him, calm and peaceful, a tranquil mood all things considered. The girl instantly relaxed, the tears drying up as she was hauled to her feet. Logan let go of her arm and the pained look on the girls face returned, a hand instantly clutching her chest while the other held onto her bag.
"Jesus." Logan muttered. "You could warn a guy."
"Sorry." She muttered, looking at the ground.
They stood there for a while, the man confused and the girl shuffling her feet, embarrassed.
"Alright. I'm Logan."
"Ant."
Another raised eyebrow.
"Some nickname that stuck in Junior High?" He asked, crossing his arms and staring down the girl.
"Nah." She shrugged.
"Get up to the school then kid. I don't have time to hold your hand." Logan said, turning back to his bike. He looked back and Ant hadn't moved, her hand clenched tight against her chest, right above her heart.
"I can't go up there." She muttered. Logan turned.
"Why not?" He asked, his voice measured. Ant flinched.
"There's too much up there." She explained. "I feel everything. And it's . . . painful." Ant said, clenching and unclenching her hand. Logan's eyes narrowed and her shoulders hunched up. He walked over to the girl and took her hand off her chest, the serene feeling flooding through him again. The shirt was nearly worn through, a clear sign that she did the action a lot. Through the slight grime of the gauze-like shirt, Logan could see – and smell now that he was close enough – that blood was seeping through. Ant had been worrying at this part of her body so much that it was covered in bruises, cuts and dried blood. Unable to feel anything but peace at this revelation, Logan stepped back from the girl, dropping her arm.
Instantly he felt disgust, worry and annoyance, and Ant cried out a little, her eyes widening.
"Okay kid." He said slowly. "I'll take you up to the school."
Ant looked at him and then at the ground.
"What? Isn't that what you wanted?" Logan asked, crossing his arms at the girl.
"You don't have to. I can feel that you don't want to." She muttered, not meeting his eyes. She was so shy, it seemed that she might disappear into the ground – an act not uncommon at Xavier's.
"You can explain this feeling thing to Ororo. I'll take you up and that's it, alright?"
Ant nodded. She opened her mouth to say something then closed it, thinking better of it.
"Jesus." Logan muttered. Ant flinched again. "What is it now kid?" He asked, frustrated.
"I told you." She said softly. "I can't go up there without someone holding my hand. I'll feel too much. And you already said you weren't going to hold my hand."
Logan nearly screamed, his eyes narrowing as the only sign of his irritation. Ant, though she couldn't see it, felt his anger as if he had shot her, she collapsed to the ground, hands at her mouth as she fought back the urge to retch.
"Jesus."
Ant was up in a second, barely having time to grab her bag. Logan had grabbed her wrist and was pulling her to the school. They were both overcome by a disturbing peacefulness, all of Logan's anger seeping away as, even through her dilapidated long sleeved shirt, her power overtook him.
As Ant was dragged up to the school, she allowed her eyes to wander. 'It looked so beautiful!' She thought, glad that she could be calm as she saw the academy for the first time. They attracted a few stares from some of the other kids, but luckily it was a weekday and most of the others were at lessons.
It was only too bad that word got around quick when there are physics in nearly every class.
Logan got to the head office, glad that Ororo had her break this period. He didn't even bother knocking, just shoved through the door, pulling Ant in front of him.
"Here." He said, wishing in the back of his head that he could feel angry, frustrated, annoyed, anything but this damn tranquility that overwhelmed him. Ororo looked up, surprised, then slightly angry at the way Logan was treating the girl, who only looked happy, a small smile on her face.
She got up and Logan let go of Ant's wrist.
A bad idea, as it turned out.
Ant gasped, and her eyelids fluttered, her eyes rolling into the back of her head as her legs went out from underneath her.
"For Chrissake." Logan muttered, catching the girl as she fell. Ororo had let out a small scream and had run over to Ant, her eyes full of worry.
"What happened?" She asked Logan, as Ant began to recover.
"Hell if I know." Logan said, wanting to growl in annoyance, his voice instead filled with the peace and calm that again flooded his mind. "She feels things apparently."
A few minutes later found Ant sitting in a chair across from Ororo, one of Logan's hands on her shoulder. It he didn't feel so damn calm he would be annoyed.
"Why don't you tell us what these feeling are honey?" Ororo asked nicely, leaning forward.
"I feel the emotions of other people. Happiness, sadness, annoyance, anger." Having a hand on her made Ant more outspoken and confident, especially knowing that she was around adults much older and wiser than her. "Everything. It just comes in at a rush. I can feel jealousy – it tastes like copper. Hate – that feels like I'm being bitten by bugs everywhere. Love smells like roses and tastes like tea and feels like soft sheets all at once." She described. The look of interest on Ororo's face urged her on.
"But normally I'm around so many people I can't feel an individual emotion – it normally doesn't work that easy with people anyway," She shrugged "Most people have more than one emotion at once and it's confusing." Ant searched for a way to explain it. "When I'm around other people. . .it's like. . ." She paused again as Logan's hand, which had grown steadily tighter on her shoulder, relaxed. "Like I'm a radio, but I'm tuned into every station at once." Ant stopped, satisfied at her much-used metaphor.
With the pause Ororo took the chance to ask Ant another question.
"What's your name?"
"Ant."
"No honey, your real name."
Ant looked down and then back up at the head, her legs swinging slightly on the chair, large for her small size. "Antennae?" She said hopefully. A look from Ororo and Ant sighed.
"Francis Bell."
"I can see why she wants to be called Ant." Muttered Logan. Another look from Ororo and he stopped talking.
"What about your parents Francis?"
Ant looked up apologetically. "Ant please?"
"What about your parents Ant?"
"Mother's in Pennsylvania." She said. "My dad died a few years ago."
Ororo leaned forward again, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Does your mother know you're here?"
Ant bit her lip and Logan suddenly felt a wave of worry through his mind.
"No." Ant said, eyes fixed at the ground. "I had to leave. One night. One night – I don't even really remember what happened – but I was scared and angry and confused. I felt dizzy and nauseous and I felt my mother like I never had before. She was. . .discontent. It tasted like mud. She was angry and upset and I had so much pressure on my temples. I know she didn't mean it. That she was just frustrated for having to deal with me. That it was just a small adult temper tantrum.
"But I couldn't stay any longer after that. It was too. . .strange. She always felt guilty and it felt like my entire body was doused in cold water constantly. Whenever she was confused I felt dizzy and tasted something like ammonia. It was disgusting. I puked all the time and lost a lot of weight. I just decided one day to leave." Ant finished, a finger picking at a small hole in her jeans.
Logan felt regret and sadness as Ant related her story.
Ororo sighed. "Ant, we're going to have to work this out with your mother-"
"No!" Ant cried. "She'll just take me back! She was so protective she won't let me stay here for anything!" Her hand began to claw at her chest and Logan felt the worry and fear clutching at his chest like a vice. "Please! You can't tell her!" Ant yelped, her dark eyes filling with tears.
Orora took a few deep breaths. This girl obviously needed some help.
"Alright. We'll keep you here for a month. If you want to stay here after that fine – but you'll have to tell your mother where you are. If you want to leave, you can, no questions asked." Ororo stood up. "Deal?"
Ant nodded furiously.
"Good. Now, let's see if we can't do something about your accomodations."
Logan and Ant shared an emotion at the same time. Relief relaxed both their bodies – Ant grateful she could stay, Logan glad that Ant would become someone else's problem.