The overwhelming heat was causing the already restrictive leather to press into Logan's skin serving as a second, uncomfortable skin as he moved through the murky water in the caverns that Cyclops had decided that they must tread through in order to make their way down to the plantation compound's central sewer system in order to launch a surprise attack on the latest anti-mutant terrorist group that had taken a group of young mutant teens hostage. So far the plan was in motion, yet it was anything, but a fun endeavor as Logan took in the foul stench of the excrement in the sewers in their already cramped quarters.
"Remind me again why this was necessary," Logan snarled pushing through an even more claustrophobic tunnel as his eyes honed in on Cyclops up ahead moving through the cavern with the grace and precision of a cat twisting his lithe, sleek frame in such a fashion that almost made Logan almost appreciate the leather—or more specifically the way that the leather cupped the taut, muscular bottom that the uptight leader unknowingly flaunted more often than not in Logan's face on their missions Charles had given them. Now as Logan snarled feeling his foot splash into an even more foul smelling substance beneath him that he dared not to think about, he watched Scott pause only long enough to glance over at Logan with that same, smug, shit-eating grin that Logan loathed so very much.
"Because this is how we're going to save those children," Scott stated matter of fact not bothering to wait for any more of Logan's complaining as he turned around to face forward once again, "Keep moving Logan!"
"There could've been an easier way," Logan mouthed to himself thinking about how he'd initially suggested a more blatant plan of attack tearing the compound down from the inside out, but much to his dismay he'd been shot down almost immediately by the X-Men's fearless leader when his less aggressive approach had been met by Chuck's approval. Now, however, Logan still doubted that this was the best approach even if he found himself focusing on Scott's tight, perky ass all over again imagining what it would be like to take a nice bite out of it or perhaps make himself at home between those long, lean thighs before throwing them up over Logan's shoulders as Logan found new ways to loosen good old Slim up for a night or two. Yes, that almost made the mission a bit easier indeed as Logan thought about how long it had been since he'd even come close to having a good old fashioned wild night out on his own with a willing companion. Then again as Logan watched Scott preparing to climb up one of the vents near the end of the cavern, Logan couldn't help, but admit to himself that none of his other recent companions had been enough to really hold his interest as much as Cyke's leather clad bottom suddenly had.
"It's been too long," Logan mouthed to himself realizing that once they were done with this mission, he was going to set out to get himself laid. Desperate or not he took note of the fact that being hot, horny and grudgingly following Cyke's orders was the last place he'd wanted to be. Frowning he tugged at the collar of his uniform finding himself at the bottom of the all too tight vent staring up at Cyclops in his climb. Frowning Logan tugged at his collar again, "Remind me again which one of you decided that leather was a good idea for the uniforms."
"Not now Logan," Scott silenced him with a hiss. A few seconds later Logan looked up the vent to discover Scott staring down at him with an outstretched hand, "Are you coming up here or what?"
"Not a chance," Logan shook his head and snarled.
"Now isn't the time for arguing Wolverine," Scott spoke up sternly. His lips were pinched together in a tight scowl, arguably revealing the first hints that he'd begun losing his cool again in Logan's defiance, "Get up here! Now! That's a direct order!"
"Have you taken a look at me Slim?" Logan puffed his thick arms and chest out, "There's no way I'm going to be able to fit up that tin can. You could barely make your way through it."
"Don't tell me you're claustrophobic," Scott hissed gripping the side of the vent as if he'd expected Logan to simply sit back and blindly follow him through the death trap of metal and heat pouring out from above.
"Nah just smart enough to know I ain't going to fit," Logan explained reaching for the bottom of the vent, "but I'll see you on the other side, okay Slim?"
"Logan," Scott snapped at him from the top of the vent, but Logan wasn't having any of it. Enough was enough and whether Scott liked it or not, Logan was about to find his own way inside. Stepping back he waved at Scott once again before grinning up at him with a defiant smirk.
"You won't wait too long for me," Logan waved opting instead to return down the path they'd taken into the cavern in the hopes that it wasn't too late for him to work his way inside of the compound in a more direct approach.
xxxxx
"What the hell is this place?" Logan mouthed to himself as he managed to work his way around the compound taking out two guards in the process. He could vaguely recall half listening to Scott's explanation of the group they were taking on—revealing they'd carried with them a more occult approach when Captain America and the Avengers had stepped in to offer their assistance on the particular mission at hand. At first Cyke had been hesitant to accept their assistance, but with a little prodding from Chuck it seemed that the X-Men and Avengers were working together side by side attempting to save the abducted children.
"They wouldn't make Banner go through those sewers," Logan muttered under his breath thinking about Cyclops and his not so brilliant plan for a sneak attack. It seemed that Cyke was well on his way inside as Logan stood at the back servant's entrance to the old plantation turned military compound over the last few years. It was much nicer than Logan had anticipated after his unwelcome introduction to the sewers below, yet there was something about the place that felt wrong—sinister even as Logan looked around at the peach colored walls and marble countertop of the servant's kitchen area he'd entered.
"Wolverine, where are you?" Logan could hear Cyclops questioning in the back of his mind as it was clear that Chuck was working to make a connection between them in spite of Logan's absence.
"Near the pantry," Logan sniffed the air around him when suddenly he found himself met by an overwhelmingly tantalizing scent. It caused him to stop dead in his tracks suddenly taken from his objective when he turned towards the source of the scent.
"Hank's made his way in from the front," Scott's voice barely registered as Logan staggered closer to the pantry, "Storm is outside waiting for my signal and…"
"Uh huh," Logan replied lazily moving towards the intoxicating scent that had suddenly taken control of his actions.
"Captain America and the others are waiting for my command," Scott continued to inform him, "so I'm going to need you to work your way into the atrium area and…"
"Got it," Logan replied pulling at the collar of his uniform again when his eyes focused on the door before him suddenly convinced that whatever that delicious aroma was coming from within held the key to all the secrets in the world before him. Clearing his throat he rolled his shoulders back, puffing his chest out and unsheathing his claws as he looked to the lock on the door before him. Suddenly it seemed like the most offensive thing in the room as he slashed his claws through the thick metal watching it peel away like paper when he reached for the doorknob.
"Whatever you are I'm not going to walk away without taking a look," Logan murmured more to himself than anything when he opened the door to discover a glistening bottle of what he strongly suspected was the most enticing bottle of home brewed beer before him. The scent in itself was enough to drive Logan to distraction, to cause him to peel away his leather glove and reach for the liquid temptation knowing only too well that he'd met his match with the beautiful golden brew before him. Sitting alone on the shelf in its oversized glass bottle it called to him—speaking a siren song that only Logan could understand and appreciate.
"Where've you been all my life beautiful?" Logan questioned gripping at the long, frosted neck of the bottle as jolts of electricity and excitement carried over him. Temptation coiled over his every synapse making his mouth water and his pupils dilate with want. Oh yes, this baby was his. Mission be damned now that he had exactly what he was looking for. Heaven was his wrapped up in a beautiful, brazen bottle meant for him alone.
"That's right baby," Logan peeled the top off of the bottle feeling the first hints of froth just waiting to dance over his tongue as he raised the bottle closer to his lips to take the first sip, "it's just you and me from here on out."
xxxxx
"Where the hell is Logan?" Scott questioned making his way into the foyer of the compound long after he, the X-Men and the Avengers had cleared the place out and brought the abducted children to safety. As it stood Storm was helping them onto the Blackbird making sure that they would soon would be a far distance away from the horror they endured as Captain America and the others were rounding up the last of their abductors before they could flee the premises after the X-Men had intervened.
"Last I heard he was following you. You told him what the plan was and…," Hank noted moving in to stand before Scott.
"When does he ever listen to a damn thing I have to say?" Scott remarked surveying the area once again, "Although this isn't like Logan to just up and disappear."
"No it isn't," Hank agreed with him, "which begs the question of just what happened to our reluctant companion."
"We've got the last of them all rounded up and ready to be taken out of here," Steve Rogers explained entering into the foyer to look over at Scott and Hank, "Once again we thank you for your assistance and…"
"Wolverine's missing," Hank blurted out as Scott shot him a warning glare. Rolling his shoulders back Hank continued to speak up with concern in his voice, "He last made contact with Cyclops right before we closed in on the kidnappers, but now…"
"We'll find him," Scott offered up as Steve looked to him with concern.
"We'll help," Steve answered readily as Scott shook his head in refusal.
"We X-Men can take care of it," Scott explained in a stoic voice.
"And we Avengers never leave a man behind," Steve added readily before speaking into his communication device, "Natasha, see if you and Clint can work your way around the perimeter once again. Logan's missing and given the nature of this situation at hand with this mission…"
"Say no more. We're on it," Natasha answered as Steve focused on Scott once again.
"What exactly is the situation?" Scott demanded catching the expression on Steve's face, "You asked us to take part in this mission, but the last time I checked mutant rights and safe keeping weren't on the Avengers or even S.H.I.E.L.D.'s top list of priorities."
"Let's just say that this mission is a bit personal in nature," Steve answered evasively.
"Meaning?" Hank inquired.
"One of our own was taken hostage as well," Steve replied with a stiff expression. His eyes shifted away from Scott before speaking up again, "That's all I'm at liberty to say right now."
"In other words it's the same government bullshit we get each and every time around here," Scott mouthed with an exaggerated groan as Hank turned to look at his old friend with surprised eyes, "Maybe Wolverine is right about all of you."
"Scott," Hank gasped, "that's no way to talk to our friend here who…"
"Who isn't giving us answers," Scott felt his impatience growing as he thought of the time they were wasting in trying to find out where Logan was, "Charles might trust this situation, but I don't especially now that Logan's nowhere to be found."
"I have two of my best on it," Steve piped in readily with a wide grin.
"Your best aren't as good as my best," Scott added thinking about the last exchange he and Logan had with one another, "I'm going to see if Charles can help on this one."
"From what I've heard this sounds like a typical situation with Wolverine," Steve noted as Scott stepped away from the other men, "It's no secret that everyone knows about Logan's disposition as it seems he likes to go off on his own agenda behaving as a rogue and…"
"He's got a bit of a problem with authority, but that doesn't mean that he would just up and abandoned the team. He never walks away from a mission," Hank continued to brief Steve in on the situation when Scott heard a crashing sound from the back of the room.
"What was that?" Steve questioned looking towards the source of the sound.
"I don't know, but I'm on it," Scott rushed forward preparing to follow the source of the sound when it was clear that their mission to safely retrieve all lost mutants was far from over.
xxxxx
A warm, soothing sensation washed over Logan's body as he twisted on the cool panels of the wooden flooring practically purring as relaxation coiled through his body. He felt good—damn good as his fingers stretched out across the floor in what he was convinced was the most perfectly divine movement his body had ever made. Stretching out further he could feel every inch of him crack, muscles popping with fluid ease as a yawn carried over his lips. Keeping his eyes closed he could feel the warmth of the sun's rays upon him, guiding him from his slumber to a place where pure liquid heat and leather enveloped him in his own cocoon away from the rest of the world.
"Would you like another?" Scott's voice beckoned Logan from his slumber as his lazy eyes opened to reveal that the wooden flooring was replaced by the sheer material of the double reinforced red and white striped hammock he'd been stretched out upon. His leg was draped over the side as he held the long neck of the nearly empty beer bottle between his thick fingers. An umbrella was tucked in between the trees beside the hammock offering up a hint of shade as Scott stepped forward wearing only a blue and yellow pair of swim shorts and a smile on his face. Behind his visor there was something brewing, but Logan didn't care. All he could think about was Cyke standing at his side holding out another one of the most heavenly creations known to man with its glistening, golden invitation coaxing Logan to drink again and again. Sitting up straighter Logan's outstretched fingers curled out in Scott's direction, coaxing him with a curl of his index finger to move in closer, to let Logan take a look at the bottle and his body beneath those wonderfully tight swim shorts.
"How about a dip?" Scott's voice slurred as Logan's fingers released his nearly empty bottle opting instead to let it fall to the ground when he reached for another squeezing it tighter than before.
"It would be my pleasure Slim," Logan answered lazily gripping at the neck of the new bottle in his hand, "but only if we agree that it'll be a skinny dip."
"I don't know about that Logan," Scott's face grew a crimson color that matched the ruby quartz on his visor as Logan brought the bottle up to his lips once again.
"Let's see what we can do," Logan slurred swinging his legs over the side of the hammock and motioning for Scott to move in closer, "Now why don't you come over here and kiss me Slim? That's a direct order."
"Since you put it that way," Scott smirked making a small movement towards Logan, "who am I to argue?"
"You aren't in a position to because I call the shots now," Logan explained arching up off of the hammock and seeking out the warmth of Scott's lips when another sound carried over him.
"What's happening to him?" Hank's voice questioned worriedly as Logan suddenly felt the room spinning around him.
"This isn't good," Steve's words hit Logan like a pulsating throb in the back of his head as the beach faded completely to reveal the plantation again around him. Groaning Logan's eyes attempted to focus when he felt the warmth of a leather clad hand on the side of his face.
"Logan, can you hear me?" Scott questioned pushing his fingers into Logan's cheekbone in a motion mean to steady him, "Logan, hey are you listening?"
"Slim," Logan spoke up groggily, "what's going on?"
"I don't know yet," Scott admitted revealing the first hint of worry in his voice. He released the side of Logan's face long enough to reposition himself over the older mutant when Logan gripped at Scott's wrist with a pleading sigh.
"No, don't go just yet," Logan practically begged of him. He closed his eyes and sighed as he guided Scott's hand back to the side of his face, "I was just enjoying yer touch. Felt good."
"Logan?" Scott blinked back behind his visor, unable to mask the confusion that carried over him when Logan coaxed Scott's fingers over the hair that covered his jawline. The movement caused Scott to tense up, to exchange glances with Hank as Logan let out a long sigh.
"Missed ya already," Logan mused in a lazy slur, "Damn you smell good Slim."
"Now I know someone knocked you out too hard considering that we just went through the sewers," Scott noted focusing on Logan once again as Steve moved over to the pantry area to inspect another part of the kitchen, "Hank keep an eye on him. I need to update Charles."
"Will do," Hank promised as Scott reluctantly pulled himself away from Logan.
"Slim?" Logan's voice spilled out with a newfound urgency. His eyes widened as worry coiled through his body as he sat upright, "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back," Scott answered in his business as usual voice when Logan reached out to collect Scott's wrist once again.
"Don't be long," Logan's voice grew quieter almost childlike as he squeezed at Scott's wrist once more, "Okay?"
"Sure Logan," Scott replied exchanging glances with Hank and Steve before exiting the room.
"It doesn't appear as though you've been outwardly attacked. I see no marks or blood upon you, which is a strong indication that your healing factor was in play," Hank noted with a frown as he moved to help Logan sit up straighter on the floor, "Do you remember any of what you were doing before you wound up here?"
"No," Logan replied blinking a couple of times before he brought his hand up to the back of his neck. There was a momentary stiffness before he let out a small sigh. Twisting his neck he groaned before tipping his head up to look at his old friend, "I just came in through the back and…"
"This is not good," Steve's voice bellowed from within the pantry. A few seconds later he exited it with two empty bottles in hand, "Logan, did you drink all of these?"
"What?" Logan moaned feeling an uncharacteristic ache in his temple, "No…I just…"
"Just what?" Hank questioned reaching for another empty glass bottle on the floor beside Logan. He picked it up and eyed it closely.
"It smelled so good," Logan admitted rubbing at the back of his neck with his thick fingers, "Just had to have a taste."
"That's what I was afraid of," Steve spoke into his communication device once again, "We've got a situation here."
"What kind of situation?" Hank asked worriedly.
"The group we were infiltrating today has been working in biological warfare. The government has been trying to pinpoint their location for months given that some of their potions and formulas have been known to have devastating consequences," Steve divulged with a crease in his brow, "Part of our mission here today was to seek out the source of these weapons and…"
"Weapons?" Logan shook his head and groaned, "What are you talking about? I just had a beer."
"More like ten of them," Steve quipped under his breath.
"Logan, you have to tell me where you found them," Hank snapped his fingers in front of Logan, "You have to let me know just what you took in when…"
"I don't remember," Logan answered as Scott reentered the room.
"We have to move him back to the school. Charles wants to take a look at him and…," Scott began approaching the trio in the kitchen. With a quick glance around the room Scott stopped speaking long enough to frown, "What? What is it?"
"We have to get him under quarantine. We can take him back to S.H.I.E.L.D. headquarters and…" Steve stated firmly as he raised one of the empty bottles up for a closer inspection.
"What's that?" Scott asked wearily.
"Logan decided to go on a drinking binge," Hank replied as Logan attempted to pull himself up off of the floor.
"With potentially hazardous biological weapons," Steve finished impatiently, "which is why we're taking him back with us to…"
"Yer not taking me anywhere bub," Logan slurred staggering to pull himself up off of the ground, "I'm fine."
"No you're not," Steve argued with him, "and as soon as we get you back into one of our labs…"
"He's not going anywhere with you," Scott announced in a firm, authoritative tone, "Whatever it is that he's ingested we can take care of it back in our labs and…"
"Don't be silly we're the ones with all the research on what's been happening and…" Steve interrupted him.
"Just what has been happening that's suddenly made us a priority on the Avenger's agenda?" Scott arched a curious brow from behind his visor as Logan managed to pull himself up from the ground. He stumbled over towards the pantry door moving as if he'd had one too many drinks at the bar.
"I'm fine really," Logan waved his hand behind him as he pressed his head into the door, "Seriously don't worry about me. I just need a good night's sleep and…"
"I'm afraid I have no choice, but to make you understand that you're coming with us," Steve stepped in closer to Logan with a scowl, "Once we get you into our labs, then we can diagnose the problem and…"
"No!" Logan's voice rose in a panic, "No labs. No experimentation."
"We're just going to try to help you get this sorted out," Steve reached out to touch Logan's arm only to prompt Logan to roar and shove his hand away.
"No!" Logan snarled as he twisted around to push himself into a defensive stance. His arms were down at his side, fingers clenched into fists as a snarl carried over his features.
"Relax Logan," Scott stepped forward placing his hand on Logan's shoulder in a bold attempt at calming him, "you aren't leaving with him. You're coming home with me."
"Really? You promise?" Logan tipped his head to the side and smiled. His goofy grin felt out of place as he twisted on his heel to look up at Scott, "You want to take me back home with you?"
"Of course," Scott answered in a neutral tone, "Hank and Captain America can exchange notes while we get you settled in back on the jet out of here and…"
"I'm afraid I can't allow that," Steve added sharply.
"You don't have a choice in the matter," Scott wrinkled his nose at Steve, "and if S.H.I.E.L.D. has a problem with that, they can take it up with me later."
"Yeah, what he said," Logan twisted his head around so that he could glare at Captain America. Within a matter of moments he stuck his tongue out at Steve before buzzing his lips together in an uncharacteristic sound, "so there. Cyclops has spoken."
"That's right I have," Scott stepped forward offering up his arm to steady Logan before nodding towards Hank.
"My hero," Logan murmured spinning on his heel so that he was facing Scott fully. Without hesitation he draped his arms around Scott's shoulders, drawing him into a clumsy, eager embrace as his grin expanded, "Whatever did I do to deserve you riding to my rescue?"
"Um Logan," Scott began with an uneasy tone as Logan pressed his head on Scott's shoulder and offered up a tight squeeze. His hold intensified around Scott's body practically crushing him as Scott stood up straighter with his arms down at his sides and a pleading expression on his face, "Um Hank a little help here."
"Easy there," Hank moved forward in an attempt to pull Logan away from Scott only to find himself on the receiving end of a snarl.
"Don't even think about it furball. He's mine," Logan warned sharply. He raised his hand up extracting his middle claw before twisting his wrist so that it was pointed at Hank, "I'm only leaving with him."
"Fine Logan," Hank raised his hands in the air and took a step back, "whatever you want."
"I want…to go home now...with you," Logan's voice shifted again when he lowered his arm and turned to Scott, "If that's alright with you."
"Sure Logan," Scott nodded wearily, "that's fine."
"But…" Steve opened his mouth to protest.
"I said its fine," Scott cut back sharply as he wrapped his arm around Logan once again and began guiding him towards the door, "Our ride is waiting for us Logan. Come on now."
Xxxxx
"What have you got for me Hank?" Scott questioned making his way into the lab where Logan lay beyond the glass window sleeping on one of the hospital beds tucked in the medical bay deep beneath the school.
"I've been going over the information that the Avengers have sent over on their findings, but it's all pretty inconclusive at this point," Hank explained pointing to the computer screen before him, "Everything I've seen thus far isn't good Scott. It's bad—really bad."
"How bad?" Scott asked worriedly as he looked behind his visor to discover Logan shifting on the bed before them.
"One of their concoctions managed to wipe out an entire village with just a drop," Hank informed Scott with a sudden seriousness, "and given the nature of Logan's healing factor if I'd have to speculate why he hasn't had much of a reaction to all that he'd ingested is because his mutation has come into play."
"What are we dealing with?" Scott folded his arms in front of his chest and frowned, "What was he drinking?"
"The tests I've run on the empty bottles show nothing more than beer," Hank rolled his shoulders back and sighed, "Every analysis I've made is clear that it was an exotic form of the brewing process, yet ultimately the trace amounts I've analyzed are in fact beer."
"And Logan?" Scott stepped forward when Logan began to shift around on the blanket a bit more urgently than before.
"If I can work up a blood panel on him I can tell you more about what's going on with him, but by all measures it would appear that for once in his life Logan finally wound up getting," Hank paused letting the word roll on the tip of his tongue, "drunk."
"He's drunk?" Scott glanced over his shoulder at Hank once again.
"I can't be sure about the levels of blood alcohol in his system given that he's refused to let me take a sample, but from what I can see…" Hank paused contemplating his words, "he shows all the classic signs of intoxication."
"I don't buy it," Scott's lips pinched together tightly, "I've been with Logan when he drank everyone else out of a bar without any hint of intoxication carrying over him. There's no way that he's drunk. It's not possible Hank."
"Until I can work up a blood panel on him I'll have no idea of what's really happening. All I can tell you is based on my trace analysis and…" Hank watched as Logan sat upright on the bed. He let out a roar, releasing his claws as he slashed at the table beside the bed. With a leap he hunched down on the ground snarling and glaring around the medical bay as if he'd awakened in a foreign place.
"That's not drunk," Scott noted watching Logan turn around to slash at the hospital bed he'd previously occupied. He roared so loudly that the walls shook in the room Scott and Hank were in, "We need that blood panel."
"Scott when he's like that he won't let me near him and…" Hank's words were lost as Scott moved forward making his way into the hospital room just in time to discover Logan tearing it to pieces. His claws were slashing through the sheets and the mattress when Scott approached him with a hand slowly making its way towards his visor.
"Logan stop," Scott spoke up in a firm, authoritative tone watching as Logan reached for another one of the trays preparing to launch it over towards Scott, "Logan that's a direct order. Put the tray down."
"Scott?" Logan tensed up, his shoulders bunching as he immediately released the tray. It fell to the ground making a loud popping sound as Logan spun around on his heel to face Scott fully. For a moment his face had been twisted with anger, caught up in confusion and rage, but almost as soon as he noticed Scott watching him he straightened up his posture and sheathed his claws when one hand moved up to his wiry, dark hair, "Hey Slim."
"What's going on here?" Scott motioned to the room around him in disarray.
"I had a bad dream," Logan grew unusually quiet as he lowered his head down. He slid his foot across the floor, pushing at one of the medical tools that he'd discarded in his rage, "Sorry about the mess."
"I'm not concerned with the mess," Scott softened his tone when he took note of Logan's unusual response to him, "I'm worried about you."
"You are?" Logan rose his chin as a grin carried over his lips. Almost as soon as it started he cleared his throat and reached out to the tray he hadn't touched in his rage. Leaning against it, he shifted on his heels in an attempt to be casual about the situation, "I mean…um, you are, huh?"
"Very much so," Scott nodded moving forward, "We still have a lot to talk about in regards to the mission earlier today. Do you remember what happened?"
Logan nodded silently.
"Want to tell me about it?" Scott took a tentative step forward to join him.
"Not really," Logan shifted on his feet again. He kept his head tucked down, his eyes avoiding Scott as Scott bridged the distance between them.
"I realize that, but at the same time we need to talk about it," Scott spoke up smooth and evenly, "If you aren't sure on all of the details, then we're going to need Hank to help us figure it out."
"Don't want him here," Logan huffed impatiently, "No tests."
"I know you don't want any tests," Scott stretched his arm out tentatively contemplating the best approach to work on opening Logan up when Logan finally lifted his head up again. He seemed lost, almost vulnerable in the moment when he spoke up again in a small voice.
"You angry with me?" Logan asked nervously shifting on his feet again.
"Angry with you?" Scott repeated with a shake of his head, "No, why would I be angry with you?"
"I shouldn't have been drinking—not on a mission," Logan's face seemed to grow a shade darker as red carried over his cheeks, "Should've just listened to you."
"Yes you should have, but since when have you ever done that?" Scott couldn't help, but reveal a hint of teasing in his tone when Logan's fingers pushed up to his own dark hair once again.
"I always listen to ya Slim," Logan answered sheepishly, "Just don't always like behaving."
"That's the understatement of the year," Scott agreed placing his hand on Logan's bare shoulder, "but right now I'm going to need you to do something for me. Do you think you can do that?"
"Anything for you," Logan agreed readily, "Just name it."
"I'm going to have Hank come in here and take some blood from you," Scott informed him as his fingers squeezed over Logan's shoulder, "He's going to be very careful doing it, but you need to work with him. Do you think you can work with him?"
"Will you be here when he's doing it?" Logan's eyes widened with curiosity.
"Of course," Scott nodded bringing his left hand up and motioning for Hank to join them in the room, "I'll stay right here."
"Promise?" Logan asked again.
"I promise," Scott agreed as Hank entered the room preparing to run the tests that were needed to discover what was happening with their usual gruff, grumpy companion.
"Is it going to hurt?" Logan questioned glancing over at Hank once again.
"No more than a pinch," Hank smiled over at Logan when Logan stepped in beside the torn up hospital bed. He took a seat upon it before eyeing Scott expectantly.
"Will you hold my hand?" Logan inquired stretching his thick fingers out towards Scott in a moment of urgency, "Please?"
"I…um.." Scott looked to Hank and then back to Logan again, "sure. If that's what you'd like."
"Would I ever," Logan's cheeks rose upward in the beginnings of a wild smirk. Eagerly he collected Scott's palm in his hand before coaxing Scott to take a seat beside him, "Join me."
"Alright," Scott agreed sliding onto the bed beside Logan. He watched as Logan focused on the needle in Hank's hand. The sight in itself caused Logan to tense up, weary and worried as his thick fingers clenched tighter around Scott's long, slender fingers, "Logan…hey."
"Huh?" Logan replied watching Scott again.
"Look at me," Scott instructed soothingly, "forget about the needle and talk to me. Tell me about what happened today."
"I was working on the mission," Logan sighed as his grip on Scott's hand intensified, "I walked in through the back and there was this smell…"
"What kind of smell?" Scott prompted him further as Hank reached for Logan's arm. The movement caused Logan to yelp twisting on the bed to glare over at Hank again.
"Look at me Logan," Scott coaxed him on, but Logan remained frozen with eyes widening in horror. He gulped down hard as Hank brought the needle in closer—making no move to look away when Scott took the initiative to touch the side of Logan's face, "Look at me."
"Slim," Logan breathed leaning into Scott's touch as Logan's eyes focused on Scott's visor before him, "hey."
"Hey yourself," Scott smiled back at him, "I promise you that Hank's not going to hurt you. Everything is going to be okay."
"I know that," Logan whispered gritting his teeth together when Hank pushed the needle into his arm to extract some of Logan's blood. Logan tensed up snarling as Scott brazenly reached out to touch the side of Logan's face, stroking the hair-covered jawline in an uncharacteristic move before Hank stepped back.
"Finished," Hank announced bandaging Logan's arm before labeling his samples, "I'll get right on it."
"Thanks Hank," Scott nodded as Hank stepped out of the room leaving Scott and Logan alone with one another. Taking in a breath Scott focused on Logan again attempting to make the situation a little more comfortable between them when it became evidently clear that Logan's hand had settled in over Scott's thigh in the few seconds that had passed. Looking down Scott attempted to be casual about the situation, but when Logan's fingers squeezed at his thigh, he cleared his throat, "you should rest."
"Not tired," Logan replied behind heavy eyelids.
"Yes you are," Scott noted giving him another long look. Something was certainly different as he watched the way that Logan's eyes were glazed over with something that Scott couldn't quite read. It was as if he was finally getting another look at the man who had worked overtime to make him miserable now that Logan's palm was brushing over Scott's leather clad thigh silently coaxing him to relax beside him, "You should rest."
"Don't want to," Logan's lips widened apart as a yawn carried over him, "Still have to talk with ya."
"We can do it later," Scott offered up simply, "I'm sure that Hank will have answers for us soon enough."
"Yeah, I suppose," Logan looked down to where his hand was over Scott's thigh. The movement seemed to surprise him as he seemed to be contemplating withdrawing from the touch. Scott could see the contemplations taking place in Logan's head until finally Logan released him, "Sorry."
"No worries," Scott cleared his throat, "you should sleep."
"Will you stay with me?" Logan questioned tipping his head down to look at the bed he'd torn apart, "Guess I made a bit of a mess."
"It's okay," Scott decided, "In fact, why don't you rest now and we can get you out of here when Hank comes back with the test results? Maybe we can have you go up to your room in a little while?"
"You sure?" Logan yawned again as Scott reached for the blanket.
"We'll see what we can do," Scott replied helping Logan stretch out over the mattress before him. He helped Logan reposition himself before reaching out to the blanket again.
"Will you stay here until I fall asleep?" Logan asked again.
"Sure Logan," Scott's voice whispered as Logan's eyelids came to a close, "Just rest."