Disclaimer: The X-Men are very cool but unfortunately they are NOT mine. They belong to Marvel comics. Everything I write
here is completely non-profit and solely for the purpose of making my lovely muse happy :)

Sibling Rivalry?
by Beloved8411

Logan walked into the kitchen for a beer. His boots were dragging across the floor with loud thuds and
as usual, he was mumbling grumpily under his breath. Kitty peered at him from the between the cracks in the
door of her hiding place, watching his flannel-clad form lean against the counter as he downed the beer in one
gulp and wiped his mouth on his sleeve. Placing the empty can on the counter, he pounded it flat with his fist
and threw it away. Kitty leaned back and hugged her knees to her chest, looking away from him into the
darkness through her tears. She heard the thud of his boots again and then silence. She assumed he'd left.
She assumed wrong.
" Ya mind tellin' me why you're in the pantry, Kit Kat?" he asked. Kitty wiped her eyes and stuck out her
hand to push the door open. Logan stood directly in front of her.
" Uh, hi Logan," she said sheepishly, looking up at him," How did you know I was here? Nobody else heard
me all day."
" I could smell ya clear across the mansion, Darlin'. You're upset. But that doesn't answer my question."
He held out his hand and she took it, squirming herself out of the small space below the first pantry shelf and
standing up beside him.
"It's nothing. Really. I just come here sometimes to think. It's quiet, ya know? And since I'm the only one
who can fit back there I kinda dubbed it my space. I'm sorry if I wasn't supposed to be there or I bothered
you or something. I'll find someplace outside instead." She turned to go but he caught her by the shoulder and
spun her around.
" Kitty," he said gently," I don't care about the flamin' pantry. There's never any food in there anyway.
But I do care 'bout you and there's somethin' you ain't sayin'. What's goin' on?" Tears filled Kitt's eyes but she
quickly wiped them away when she heard voices from down the hall coming in their direction. Logan sensed her
hesitation.
" Ya wanna go for a motorcycle ride?"
She nodded gratefully.
" Then run an' get your helmet and I'll meetcha at my bike in 5 minutes."
" Ok." She took off, almost running into Remy, John, Kurt, and Bobby, who were coming in after a long
game of 2 on 2 basketball. They looked after her questionably, but were distracted when they saw Logan. He
was rarely in the kitchen.
" Hey Logan! Wassup?" Bobby greeted for the group, dribbling the basketball on the linoleum between
each syllable. Logan nodded at each of them.
" Popsicle... Gumbo... Zippo... Smurf." He raised his eyebrows and took out a cigar. "Not that I care but
who won?" he asked, lighting it.
" We did," Remy replied, motioning over to Kurt." It seem dat accents make all de difference."
"Ja," Kurt agreed, grinning.
" Hey geniuses, where does that leave John then?" Bobby demanded.
" De Pyro over der don't count cause he don't got game," Remy smirked. John pondered for a moment
with aussie pride.
" Well I bet I could whip alla you if it evah came to surfing, mates," he responded. They stared at him in
silent mockery. He decided to change the subject. " Hey Logan, you wouldn't have any cigarettes on you, would
you? I'm all out." John sent him his most pitiful look. Logan was about to respond with a sharp glare and an
equally sharp no when the kitchen smoke detector went off, making a horrible beeping noise.
Logan grunted a curse and clenched his teeth. " Old One-Eye's gonna be here in a second lookin' for a
fight. Tell ya what Johnny, " he said quickly," I've got somethin' to take care of." He tossed him a cigarette
from his jacket. " Cover for me with Scotty and you've got yourself a week's supply."
" No problem," John nodded. He caught the cigarette and placed it safely in his pocket, quickly setting
a nearby potholder on fire. By the time Scott made it to the kitchen to check things out, Logan was long gone
and four young men were found laughing histerically at the story they'd made up to tell their fearless, yet
clueless, leader.