An Institutional Fairy Tale

Need a break, need to do something funny. Work sucks, I'm in an odd spot for Spring Break, and trying not to get distracted on a new story. So this is just to work out the cramps in my brain.

This is shortly after Spring Break, but there are no spoilers.

---x

They'd been quietly involved for a few months now. They hadn't told very many people, only a few of those were closest to them. Here, that was very close indeed. Of course, those who knew them could see it. Especially when they were alone and thought no one could see them.

Ororo had the knack to make anything look elegant, even jeans and a sweatshirt. Or maybe it was just that anything looked elegant on her, made to flow with lithe body language that was regal and hinted at great power under the skin.

Logan was always going to look like a roughneck. Yes, he'd shown on one or two occasions that he could clean up extremely well, but he could never cover up a rough and tumble life built on a solid bedrock of physical labor.

When they were together, he always felt slightly like a caveman before a goddess. There were those who thought she was, even now. If his regenerative powers worked as well as some thought, maybe he had been a caveman. Wind and water, earth and fire. They were elemental. The very thought made Logan chuckle.

Some of the kids had chuckled seeing them looking over their shopping list at breakfast. They'd shared a look and a shrug- they'd both heard a lot of the rumors about them. Much racier than reality, and worthy of a chuckle at best. They just wouldn't respond past a shrug were the kids could see them. Let the kids think that lightening bolt in the night had been something more than it really was- he'd found out she didn't like being tickled.

They'd spent the morning running errands, starting with the lumber yard, then the greenhouse, and finally the grocery store. It shouldn't have surprised them, but the kids could eat. They were both getting ready for the spring's rebuilding and replanting. April and May were transformational months on the grounds of the Xavier Institute- as they prepared for the new students who'd be joining them in the summer and through the year, the land as well as the home changed.

Then Remy and Kurt had seen them and had done their best to keep straight faces. But it wasn't enough. When Storm asked them who was they were pranking this time, the two had grabbed their sandwiches and bamfed for parts unknown.

"What's gotten into them?"

"I don't know, but I'd be careful opening my door if I was you." Someone was in for a demonstration that with age and responsibility didn't always come maturity. Those two could bring the the mischeviousness in each other, but it was understandable- Kurt hadn't had friends until he got to the Institute, it hadn't been possible, and Scott was his friend but also his team leader. Since Evan left, Kurt hadn't had someone who was his equal, Scott could still give him an order on a mission, and Kurt had accepted he might have to lead the younger students. And Remy hadn't had a chance to be anything normal as a boy either. They were 19 and 20 respectively, but if the girls weren't watching them, those two could act like they were about to turn 13.

Then Kitty came into the kitchen. She couldn't look at them. She started giggling.

"Kitty, what is it?" Storm was confident that Logan would have told her if something was amiss.

"Ya gonna let us in on the joke, Halfpint?" More giggles made Logan growl. That just made Kitty laugh harder. She had to sit down, putting her head on her crossed arms.

"Whats so funny?" The glare of both senior instructors brought Rogue up short as she came into the room along with the Professor. They'd been rearranging room assignments to try get the new students in, and hoping that there would be any crisis enrollments. As much as Rogue was opposed to barracks-like bunk rooms, they were facing the possibility of just that, and in the lower levels where the were no windows.

Logan's answer was wordless, jerking a thumb toward where Kitty was trying to get her laughter under control. "Oh. That." Rogue knew she couldn't hide the grin. She turned an interesting shade of pink, trying to find a safe way to answer and not laugh.

"I'm sorry Ororo, Logan, that might be my fault. I may have made a pun at your mutual expense this morning." A sheepish grin was not what one often saw on the Professor's lips.

"What did you say, Chuck?"

Before Xavier could answer, Rogue giggled as she gestured vaguely at Ororo's red, hooded jacket and shrugged. "Storm, it was yah sweatshirt. He called yah two 'Leggy Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolverine.'"

Ororo's left eyebrow twitched up.

Logan's right eyebrow twitched up.

---Author's Notes:
Most of the staff is a little squirrelly.

Rogue and Remy were both raised to be tools to used, as weapons. (No wonder they get what is in Laura's head.) Kurt was the loved monster who was hidden away for his own safety. The only one of the four junior instructors who was normal was Kitty. The four of them present a very versatile and powerful team for quiet activities.

As for Charles making a joke, I remember when he used to laugh in the printed Marvel'verse. He had a wicked wit, once, a long time ago. It has been burned out him.

It was good to have Charles Xavier laugh again.