Nobody's Perfect
by Darlin
Looking into the mirror Ororo Munroe actually screamed. It's wasn't every day that she woke up and startled herself but she hadn't slept well after grading papers well into the night. They'd been due that Friday but she was a few days behind. Puffy eyes and dark circles were the proof of that, but what alarmed her was a pimple on her right cheek that looked like it was growing larger and larger, second by second. Fortunately Jean had prepared her for combat. If she hadn't known Jean suffered from the same adult acne from time to time she would've given into total despair. She turned the faucet on and waited for the water to get hot then washed and dried her face. She didn't look much better, in fact, her nose was reddish now.
Ororo honestly didn't know why Jean didn't have puffy eyes when she woke up and how she found time to sleep after all the battles with villains and aliens and the usual saving the world from crazed would be gods and dictators or simply even having to deal with every day life as a teacher dealing with hormonal teenagers. She didn't even want to think about the amount of laundry, ironing and cleaning they all had to do when it was their turn, all the general household chores that had to be done if they didn't want to live in a pig sty. Throw in regular danger room sessions, hobbies such as gardening, exercising and trying to stay in touch with friends, and she just didn't know how any of them managed.
Of course the men helped. Everyone had to do their share but she couldn't deny that car maintenance and general repairs just weren't her forte. She felt some of the men got it easier sometimes, easier in everything. After all, when they woke up she was pretty sure they didn't scare themselves when they looked in the mirror. Nope, they just dragged a comb through their hair, shaved, threw on some after shave, flexed their biceps a bit as they admired their flawless physique then winked at their reflection and went on about their day. She sighed. It didn't seem fair. Men grew old with dignity and looked sexy with graying temples but a woman with graying temples! Ack! No one thought that was sexy. Poor, Jean, she thought as she picked up a tube that's markings had mostly rubbed off. Jean had to dye her hair that fiery red she liked in order to hide her gray. That thought actually made her feel a little bit better even though she knew it shouldn't. But with a shrug she opened the bottle and slathered the contents on her face. It wouldn't take much to beautify herself, she hoped. Well, it shouldn't, she thought, as she heard a sudden unnerving sound behind her. She wrinkled her nose in distaste as the smell of sulfur filled her room and flowed into the bathroom.
"Guten tag – aaiiieee!" Kurt screamed when he saw Ororo turn and look at him.
"Out!" she screamed in return and pointed at the door.
Kurt, eyes wide, bamfed out immediately.
Kurt bamfed into the living room looking horrified. But he didn't say anything so Logan, who'd been watching the news and grading papers on a couch, trying not to get behind. It was hard to keep up with all that after having to deal with the superhero part of their lives off and on.
"'S'up Elf?" Logan asked, barely looking up.
"I . . . I . . ."
"Ya look like ya seen a ghost or somethin', what's goin' on, we ain't under attack are we?" Logan asked as he dropped his papers and stood up.
"Nein! Nothing like that! We – she – Ororo – it is Saturday morning, time for her face lesson – I mean, I mean her fencing clothes – I mean – ach, never mind!" Kurt groaned and bamfed away.
Logan scrunched up his nose. He'd never gotten used to Nightcrawler's unique smell when he teleported and with his hyper senses it wasn't pleasant. Kurt was acting out of character, he usually tried not to teleport around Logan unless it was absolutely necessary. He'd found out that Ororo had suggested it to Kurt a while back. And speaking of Ororo, he thought, what did their fencing practice have to do with him? Curious, he scooped up his papers and strode out of the room. After locking the student's tests in his room he headed to Ororo's room.
"Hey, Ro, you in there?" Logan asked then let himself in when she didn't answer.
Ororo was sitting on her bed looking through some of her student's essays to grade which were all due Monday. She glared at Logan as he gawked, his jaw dropping. He tried to speak but only unintelligible sounds managed to come out.
"Out!" Ororo cried.
"Whoa, now wait a minute!" Logan said, his voice almost an octave higher. He cleared his throat.
"Out!"
"Come on, Ro. It ain't every day I get ta see ya with a green face. What is that stuff anyway? Smells kinda minty, not bad."
"I am on a deadly mission," she said with a smirk. "For your information this is my weapon of choice, a facial masque, and I am attempting to kill a pimple or at least reduce it from the size of Texas to the size of Illinois."
Logan chuckled. "Ya look a little scary there, darlin'."
Her glared returned.
"I'm just kiddin', darlin'!" he quickly said. "But ya scared Kurt."
"So I'm not really scary to you?"
He hesitated. He tried to think of the best thing to say but when he was around Ororo, just the two of them, he found that a lot of times he just couldn't think straight. She did something to him that he'd been trying to ignore for a long time now.
"I am not my usual seductive self, is that what you're saying, Logan? Hmm? Wow, what was I thinking?"
"Ya weren't thinkin' too clearly if ya were tryin' ta look hot for me, darlin'. Except I'm lovin' the outfit!" Logan blurted out as he'd been taking advantage of her lack of modesty and admiring her gorgeous body.
Ororo rolled her eyes. "You would. Has Kurt never seen a naked woman with a facial masque on before?"
"He thought you were dressed probably. Don't you two have fencing today?"
Ororo nodded. She'd forgotten because she had a giant pimple on her face! She pulled her robe off the end of the bed, slipped into it then marched into the bathroom, ignoring Logan. She glanced in the mirror and saw the masque had finally dried. So she picked up a wash cloth, turned the water on and started washing her face. Logan had followed her and he handed her a towel when she began to fumble around for one as she blinked water out of her eyes.
He watched as she dried her face and didn't mention that her pretty face still had a few patches of green here and there. Finally she looked at her reflection and he couldn't keep from smiling when she frowned then pouted at her reflection. He was enjoying watching her like this. He hadn't really done that before. She always came down for breakfast looking fresh and bright, her skin glowing. But today he noticed dark circles & puffiness under her eyes. He figured she was doing too much and needed to cut back on something.
"I just woke up and unfortunately I am at my utmost worse," Ororo explained and hoped he'd go so she could finish washing up.
"Hey, darlin' ya always look beautiful ta me. Ya just look like ya need some down time 's'all."
"Really."
"Yeah, you should take a long, hot bath – bubbles an' wine – well, maybe too early for wine, for you anyway – but candles an' all that junk." He laughed at her look of astonishment. "I've heard Jeannie go on about all that, anyway, enough ta know," he said, satisfying her curiosity.
She just looked at him. He couldn't tell what she was thinking. But he knew what to do.
"Reschedule yer fencing lesson with Kurt an' just relax for a change."
"Well, I would certainly like that but I have breakfast duty today with Rogue."
"Switch with whoever has lunch detail an' then order pizza for lunch an' it's a done deal."
Ororo looked as if she were considering his suggestion.
"I'll even give ya one of my famous massages ta help ya relax, darlin'."
"Hmm. You are certainly tempting me."
Just then a loud bamf and the explosion of foul odor filled the room and Kurt materialized before them. His eyes were closed this time.
"Why are your eyes closed, Kurt?" Ororo asked while Logan grinned.
"She's dressed," he told Kurt.
"Oh, good! Oh! Ororo! You – you look so different!" he said as he stared at her, thankful that she'd put a robe on but not sure why she had green splotches on her face this time.
"Am I that horrifying to look at with my acne?" she said through clenched teeth.
"Acne?" Kurt exclaimed then quickly shook his head and looked more closely at her face. "You just look different, tired, green. Are . . . you ready?"
"No I am not, Kurt."
"Reschedule, Elf," Logan said.
"Huh? Oh, oh of course! Yes, tomorrow same time then, Ororo?"
"Perfect," Ororo replied. Kurt nodded and disappeared in a cloud of acrid smoke.
"Gotta love the Elf," Logan chuckled.
"He certainly is more honest than you."
"How so? I call it as I see it, darlin' an' you know it."
"Then you think I look fine, green splotches and all? Still beautiful even?"
He grinned and said, "Yer the most beautiful woman I know."
"I am?"
Logan went up to her, took her hand then led her to her bed. He pushed her into a sitting position.
"Lay down," he instructed.
"Logan . . . ?"
He pushed her back onto the bed. She would have complained but instead she yawned. She really was tired. And when he turned her onto her stomach she felt her body sinking into her soft mattress comfortably and she didn't want to get up.
"Scoot up on the bed, darlin'," he ordered.
She scooted. He kicked off his shoes then sat on top of her and she let out a little gasp.
"Shut up, Ro an' just relax," he ordered.
Shut up she did and he started massaging her back. Ororo gave into his exquisite, expert touch and was drifting to sleep when the door was thrown open.
"Oh! Hey y'all!"
They both looked up as Rogue stood in the doorway with wide eyes. She belatedly reached over and knocked on the already open door.
"Ah hate ta intrude but you didn't answer my texts an' we gotta start breakfast, Ororo!"
Logan got off the bed and smacked Ororo on her bottom.
"Ow!" cried Ororo.
"Ro's on a mini vacation," Logan said.
"What? Ah ain't fixin' breakfast all by myself now!"
Ororo chuckled as she rolled over and sat up. "I think we should simply order from Panera," she said.
"Ew. Ah hate that place! It's overrated an' too expensive!"
"À chacun son goût," Ororo murmured.
"Really? Like ah know what that means! You been hangin' out with Remy too much," retorted Rogue.
"She said to each his own taste, more or less, so why don't ya stop by Mickey D's an' get somethin' fer you plus extra an' it's a done deal."
"Alright, sounds good ta me. It's easier ordering online than cookin'," Rogue said, nodding. She then did something Ororo couldn't quite comprehend. She brought a finger up to her face and slowly jabbed her finger at it a few times while jerking her head to one side repeatedly. "Can ah talk to you a minute, Ro?"
"Thank you, Rogue but I know," Ororo said. "Mask residue, pimple, bags, puffy eyes, basically hideousness has won this day."
"Oh." Rogue shrugged. "Well, if ya don't care what ya look like alrighty then. Ah'll go hunt the Swamp Rat down an' we'll pick up breakfast. Hmm, y'all just gave me an' idea too! He can try out his magic fingers on me. Y'all carry on now – bye!" And with a wink she backed out and shut the door behind her.
"Doesn't anyone ever knock?" Logan asked as he started for the bathroom and forgetting that he hadn't knocked either.
Ororo yawned. She was used to intrusions. She wondered what he was doing when she heard water running. He couldn't be that bold as to be taking a bath! Could he? She got up to investigate and was surprised to see that he was doing just that, running a bath. Curious, she just watched. Then after a minute she shrugged and leaned over the sink and looked at herself again. She thought she didn't really look any better than she had before the mask – same puffiness, same dark circles, same zit only now it seemed to be the size of the whole United States of America.
"What?" she snapped when she saw Logan looking at her, his arms crossed against his chest as he leaned against a wall.
"You look fine, darlin'."
"I look like death warmed over."
He wagged a finger at her. "Get more sleep an' yer be fine." He bent over and tested the water then opened one of her bottles of bath salts and let the entire contents fall into the running water.
She was baffled.
"Take yer clothes off," he said when he straightened up.
"What?"
"I'm going, I'm going! Enjoy yer bath," he said with a smile and stepped past her and gave her a swat on her bottom again.
"Stop doing that!" she said because that's what she knew she was supposed to say. Secretly she was amused and then she was flabbergasted. He rushed back in with a finger held up to his lips.
They both heard knocking. And then a loud pounding on her door. And then, "Ororo, is Logan in there?"
Scott.
"Sshh," Logan hissed, shaking his head and hoping their fearless leader would go away.
Scott just let himself in just as Kurt, Logan and Rogue had.
"You need a lock, darlin'," Logan growled.
"Logan! Kurt said I'd find you here. You were supposed to take the van into the shop today!"
"I'm gonna kill Kurt then Scott," Logan muttered under his breath.
Ororo covered her mouth so Scott wouldn't see her amusement. Scott's mouth dropped anyway when he saw her.
"What?' she asked defensively.
"Uh – um – nothing?"
Ororo sighed. "Yes, yes I need a lock," she said.
"Uh, are you okay, Ororo?" Scott asked hesitantly.
"I am perfectly fine. Do I not look fine? And how about you, Scott? Are you having a good morning?"
"I am – it's just – well, you look . . ."
"Different," she said.
"Yeah, different." He wanted to say weird. He just wasn't used to seeing her looking so ratty. Even when they were in battle she always looked perfect.
Ororo felt like screaming but instead she simply gave up. With a shrug of her shoulders her robe slid to the floor and she stepped into the tub then submerged herself completely into the hot water.
Logan and Scott's jaws dropped. They both watched her for a bit before they came to their senses. Then Logan went in and turned the water off. Ororo reemerged and splashed him.
"Okay! Well, I didn't mean to interrupt you two. See you," Scott said then looked aghast. "I mean, not see see you but be around, talk to you later. Okay! Well, take care. Bye."
Ororo and Logan laughed as Scott hurried out. His face was almost as red as his visor.
"Why is it that yer the only one in this school that doesn't have a lock on yer door, darlin'?" Logan asked as he grabbed a towel and dried himself after her prank.
"Why is it that you are the only one in this school that thinks I look fine when I really look like hell?" she asked in return.
"They're all used ta you being perfect in everything all the time so that's how they see ya, as perfect all the time. It throws 'em when you're normal."
"Normal?"
He grinned and shrugged but had nothing else to say she saw. He lingered there in the bathroom after putting the towel back and for a minute she thought he was going to join her. And then she laughed. Logan might get a little frisky with her sometimes but it was never anything more. Sometimes she wished it were. But when he got a washcloth off her towel rack and dipped it into the water then gently dabbed at the damp, peeling green spots on her face she thought that maybe he was joining her. She closed her eyes. She wanted him to but she didn't. With Logan she wanted more than a quickie in the tub.
When he was finished he leaned over and kissed her. Her eyes opened and she looked at him curiously. His eyes were closed so she closed hers again and enjoyed the moment. It was a long satisfying moment.
"All ya need is some sleep an' ta put some of that zit stuff on that thing growin' on yer face," Logan said when he pulled away.
"Out!" Ororo yelled, reaching for the nearest object which happened to be the empty bottle of bath salts. She threw it at the retreating Wolverine but it missed the fast moving target and fell to the floor, bounced once then stuck its landing.
Once outside Ororo's room Logan groaned. Just when he'd thought he'd died and gone to heaven, seeing Scott thoroughly embarrassed and seeing the lovely weather goddess butt naked all up close and personal just ready for the taking and he had to go and blow it by mentioning the zit! Shaking his head he knew he'd broken the number one rule when it came to women when they were worried about how they looked.
"Pretend ya don't see nothin' even if it's just a little bump 'cause they're gonna freak out if you do an' it ain't like I don't know that by now!" he said as he shook his head.
He'd forgotten that, been too preoccupied with Ororo not being okay after talking to Kurt who'd barely been able to talk coherently after seeing her naked and with that green stuff on her face. He grinned. Man, that body! She was one good looking babe. He wouldn't mind massaging her when she got out of her bath either. But then again if he wanted to enjoy the rest of his weekend without spending it recovering from serious and maybe continuous lightning burns he knew he'd better steer clear of the weather goddess for a while so he headed out to the garage to see if Scott had taken the van to the shop.
Meanwhile Ororo was soaking in the tub, a little mirror in hand. Logan had done a good job of riding her face of the rest of the green mask and she was relieved to see that she didn't look like the walking dead now.
"Okay, it is not as bad as it was," she tried reassuring herself. "And with a little makeup and a much needed power nap, I believe I will be able to call a truce with this persistent enemy."
So after her bath she retrieved a bottle of wine from her mini refrigerator – it was never too early for wine somewhere, she mused then laughed. Logan didn't know her as well as he thought. She poured herself a glass, applied acne medication to the problem area then stretched out on her comfy bed. She reached for her iPad, tapped her Pandora app and chose her Alicia Keys station then closed her eyes as she sipped her wine. Soon she sat the empty glass on her nightstand and rolled onto her side, stretching a little as she yawned. She fell asleep almost immediately after that, waking a full four hours later feeling refreshed and ready to order pizza. After that she applied a little concealer and makeup thankful that Jean had taught her all her makeup tricks. And when she went downstairs she was back to being the same perfect Storm that everyone was so used to, albeit she had a small bump on her face but nothing anyone noticed, least of all Logan when he sat down beside her for lunch.
"Lookin' good darlin'," he said. And to his surprise and pleasure she kissed him on the cheek.
"Thank you," she whispered.
He beamed like a kid at his first ballgame. So he hadn't messed up as bad as he'd thought! He got mixed up when he was around Ororo sometimes but now he just went with it because he didn't care if she was perfect or not he just cared that she was his Ro. He took her in his arms there at the table and kissed her despite Bobby and Jubilee throwing bread bits at them and telling them to get a room. And just because of that it was an even longer and deeper kiss.
~Finis~