It was way beyond disgraceful and she'd had enough. It was high time someone told him about himself and his immature, disgusting behavior. His fascination with Jean was totally eerie and borderline obsessive. The chaos he had unleashed in Scott's and Jean's lives and relationship was just too much for her. From the moment he had arrived at the mansion, he was like a one man wrecking crew. When he wasn't busy flirting and soliciting Jean, he was offending sensibilities or insulting and threatening others. Scott and Jean were to her the siblings she never had. They were among the very first students of Charles Xavier and had forged a tight bond. Scott and Jean had loved each other from their very first introduction and she had seen that love strengthened and blossomed. Now, to have an uncouth, unfeeling hothead attempt to destroy it was unacceptable. Jean and Scott were now at each other's throats and it was always over the same person. Logan. It was a tragedy seeing their relationship on troubled waters and sinking. Their constant bickering threatened to tear her family apart and she wasn't going to stand for it anymore.
Yes, she knew Jean was partly responsible for the fiasco and should be held accountable for her reaction and to an extent her reciprocation of Logan's flirtations and advances, but it was just simply easier for her to blame Logan for everything. Ororo had even confronted Jean about her behavior and responses to the Wolverine, but Ororo had to admit that she wasn't prepared for Jean's rebuttal and had no forthcoming answers. Jean had laughingly asked her if she wanting Logan for herself was her reason for being so concerned about the entire affair. The telepathic redhead had no way of knowing that she had hit the nail on the head. Ororo had in turned offered the lame excuse of no longer being able to stomach witnessing her family fighting and with a maddening calm she certainly wasn't feeling, had left Jean to her own company.
Jean's seemingly innocent inquiry had floored Ororo and had brought to the forefront feelings that she had hopelessly sought to bury. Her desirability for the feral disturbed her immensely and quite frankly, instilled fear in her. When Charles had brought him aboard the X-Men train, the connection she felt to him was instantaneous. Never before had she felt such a potent mixture of feelings, desires and needs. She was bewildered at that reaction because as they all adjusted to each other, she assessed him to be a surly, brusque, mean, coldhearted brute. At first, she denied it, casting blame on her emergence from the aftereffects of a painful relationship and her distrust in men and love. However, her bewilderment would only continue as time went on and the strength of that mixture just grew in intensity. So, to keep her mental faculties in check, she purposefully avoided him whenever and wherever possible. But it was all in vain. Her feelings grew rapidly, like an uncontrollable blazing wildfire. By the Goddess, she had no control over it, as it completely engulfed and suffocated her.
Minimal relief, but relief nonetheless came after a period of introspection. She had no choice but to accept the fact that her feelings for the hair-triggered mutant were beyond normal logic. She had no choice but to accept that her feelings for the feral were primal and natural, deeply rooted within her and would have only erupted with someone of Logan's caliber. It became logical the more she thought about it and realized that as both products of nature, they were connected to something deeper and superior than both of them. Something, quite possibly ancient.
Next came her decision to understand the enigmatic Canadian better and even initiate a friendship with him. But he had rebuffed all of her attempts at that, at times appearing downright suspicious of her motives. The still popular consensus around the mansion was that he was no good, a man who only cared about furthering his own agenda. But from what she had observed during the times she wasn't avoiding him or pretending to ignore him, she quickly realized that he had a loving, nurturing side that he kept well hidden. Oh, he was quite competent, the best at what he did, courageous and brash, but underneath all of that was a fierce loyalty and honor he possessed. That was one of the reasons why she was puzzled about his dogged pursuit of Jean. His seeming lack of respect for Jean's and Scott's relationship. It boggled her mind that he seemed oblivious to the fact that Jean was completely in love with Scott and that he refused to respect the sanctity of their marriage. Ororo, after much thought, arrived at the conclusion that she would never ever be able to figure out the complex nature of the feral man.
Out of desperation, she had approached Charles about him speaking to Logan, but to her surprise, he had told her to do nothing, that the entire situation would eventually work itself out. But so far it didn't look as if Charles' prediction would come to fruition. An end needed to be put to the situation once and for all and since no one else would even think about doing it, or as she suspected, not willing to confront the Wolverine, then she would. So, with steely determination, she went in search of him to put this matter to rest once and for all. He was still on the premises, which meant he was either in the Danger Room or the garage. Her instincts told her that he was in the garage, probably tinkering on the engines of one of Xavier's many vintage vehicles. So, it was to the garage she headed with one purpose in mind.
The satellite radio he had purchased online and received just one day ago was set to a classic rock station and blasting the Eagles Hotel California, while he fidgeted with the engine of Xavier's vintage 1978 Mercedes-Benz 450SL. He had already fixed two cars since he started earlier in the morning, the 1984 BMW 633CSI and the 1998 Bentley Continental. Not long after, he was grunting along with Stevie Nicks melodic voice crooning Dreams when he smelled a heady scent rushing towards the garage. Logan growled softly. Ororo. That potent mixture of sandalwood, vanilla and freshly fallen rain was enough to give him a hard-on for days. Dammit! He was hoping to avoid her as much as possible as he had been successful in doing a lot lately. The only times he had seen her were at dinner, training sessions and the occasional mission.
Avoiding her had become his norm for the past three months. She had woven her witch's spell on him and she had gotten to him, in ways he didn't want to think about. It was Nightcrawler's seemingly innocent compliment to Ororo at dinner three months ago that had brought feelings and desires he had thought he was successful at suppressing to the forefront. The fuzzy elf had leaned over to her and whispered how much he appreciated her beauty and friendship. It was meant for her ears only, but Logan's enhanced hearing had enabled him to hear every word. At that instant, his beast had risen ferociously and was rambunctiously calling to be released to maim and injure Kurt for daring to venture on its territory. Suffice it to say, he had lost his appetite and left the dining hall more confused than before.
It all started two years ago, when Charles had offered him membership on the X-Men. From the very first moment he was in her presence, he had scented her and desired her. What his eyes feasted on when he saw her for the first time was a living, breathing, modern-day Goddess. Her unique, powerful scent had lured him like a siren's song and his feral half laid immediate claim to her as its mate. He knew he had to have her as that singular word resonated itself over and over in his head. Christ! The woman was perfect in every way. Beauty, intelligence, grace, strength and so much more was wrapped up into a unique package. And he wanted, no, needed her.
He did his best to become part of her life, a part of her tight knit circle, in hopes of becoming one of her trusted friends. But it wasn't meant to be, as his efforts were thoroughly rebuffed. She was like an ice queen, always looking at him with contempt and treating him as he held no value. Whenever he came too close for comfort, or what she considered close, she would immediately become cold and indifferent. Her reaction had bothered him greatly, so to deal with her rejection, he had focused his attentions on the beautiful redheaded doctor. Sure he knew that she was in a committed relationship with the fearless leader, but Jean's responses to and encouragement of his blatant flirtations kept his mind off of the resident weather manipulator. He knew that the entire mansion's population thought that he was in love with the telepath, but they couldn't have been far from the truth. He was never in love with her as they all thought, but he cared for her. For some reason, Jean stirred memories of another redhead from another lifetime. Seeing that his life was still a chaotic, amnesiac mess, the memories were welcomed and he saw Jean as a lifeline to retaining something of his lost past.
He continuously threw himself at Jean knowing in his heart of hearts that she did not love him. Truth be told, Jean kept his beast at bay. Whenever the beautiful redhead was around, his beast stayed quiet, never fighting to be released. With Ororo, it was a different story. His beast was always restless, yearning to come out whenever the wind rider was in their presence. The beast let Logan know, every time, in no uncertain terms that they had met their match in Ororo. So, yes, he stuck to Jean like glue and felt no shame in doing so. It was an added bonus that he got a kick out of getting under Scott's skin whenever he was around Jean. The X-Men leader was such an easy target and Logan enjoyed it immensely.
He grinned when he heard the introduction to Hall & Oates Do What You Want, Be What You Are. It amazed him that he knew so many of these classic rock songs. Another piece of the puzzle that was his lost memories, he guessed. His gruff voice rang out in tune with the duo's voices. Do what ya want girl, be what ya are. Ain't no right or wrong way…His voice was then replaced by his whistling, as he awaited Ororo's imminent entrance.
Ororo heard his booming voice singing along to music as she poised herself to open the garage door. Her heart jumped at the sound of his voice and she flushed. Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door opened. In a clipped tone, she announced herself. "Logan? I would very much like to speak with you. Do you have a few minutes?"
He retreated from under the hood of the car, his sterling gray eyes fastening onto her cerulean ones. One look at the ice queen's stunning face and he knew this wasn't a social call. He sighed inwardly. He sure as hell wasn't up for one of her exhausting lectures. He cocked a bushy eyebrow at her. "Yeah."
Her eyes never left him as he walked over to the cluttered table where the radio was on and turned it off. She cleared her throat of the lump that formed there upon the sight of him in his tight distressed denim. The man was a walking sex symbol. "I would like to speak with you about Jean." There was no point to be made wasting time. So she decided to just throw down the gauntlet.
Straight to the heart of the matter, eh Goddess? Logan thought. He folded his massive arms across his equally massive chest and took a defensive stance. "What 'bout Jeannie?"
She arched her perfectly shaped eyebrow and delved right in. "Why do you insist on making advances towards her, knowing full well that she is in a committed relationship?"
"What's it ta ya?" He huffed.
"You need to let them be, Logan," she retorted. "They are in love and are married. Respect that."
"I still don't see what any 'o that got ta do wid me, Goddess?" He knew she hated it when he specifically called her that. He smirked when he was rewarded with a flash of anger across her face.
"Are you so thickheaded or do you not care?"
Logan quirked his eyebrow at her, tapping the side of his head. "Adamantium-laced skull, remember?"
Ororo glared at him hotly. Damn, but she was sexy when she was pissed. "Alright. I will say this in simple words, even you can understand. Leave Jean and Scott alone. I will not have you of all people disrupt this family."
She knew she struck a nerve when his nostrils flared and his eyes dilated, but she pushed on. "Go and get your jollies elsewhere, or else you will have me to answer to."
Logan growled menacingly and slowly made his way over to where she was standing. He purposefully approached her threateningly, driving her back until she ran out of space and was trapped between the wall and his hard, muscular body. She muffled a groan and held his gaze steadily. He placed one hand on the wall on both sides of her head and held her stare. "Are ya threatenin' me, darlin'?"
She stared at him, temporarily speechless. Her heart was hammering in her chest and her breathing was shallow, as she frantically tried in vain to squash the raw desire that took over her body with him being so close. She took a few breaths to gain some aspect of control. By the Goddess, she started this and she was going to see it through.
She regained her power of speech after a few tense moments. "I am not threatening you, Logan. I am just letting you know the reality of the situation."
He laughed, a harsh sound in the stillness of the room. "That's funny 'cause from where I was standin', it sounded like a threat ta me." He growled. "And ya know I don't take lightly ta threats." He pushed himself away from the wall and away from her. He was overwhelmed by her drugging scent and his beast was raising a raucous. His jeans tightened as he grew hard and he quickly turned away from her, hiding his reaction to her being so close.
Ororo used the opportunity to get a grip on her emotions. She took several deep calming breaths. "So are you going to leave them alone and let them enjoy their relationship in peace?"
"Why don't ya tell me the real reason ya came ta chew my ass out?"
She muttered incoherently before reiterating her reason for seeking him out. "I have already told you. I would really appreciate it if you would let Jean and Scott be."
"Appreciate? Let's be real, Storm, ya sure as hell ain't gonna appreciate anythin' I do." Logan chuckled. "Anyway, when did ya become the twosome's spokesperson? Scooter wasn't man enough ta step ta me?"
"They are my family and if there is something bothering them, it bothers me too."
"Why ain't ya talkin' to Jean 'bout her behavior?" He tilted his head to the side and asked. "It takes two ta tango, darlin'. If ya think Red is innocent, ya better think again."
"Jean is and has always been in love with Scott," Ororo replied instantly.
Logan snorted his skepticism. He walked over to the cooler he had tucked away neatly into a corner and grabbed a beer. Uncorking the bottle, he tilted his head back as he brought the bottle to his mouth. In one long gulp, he drank half of the beer. Lowering the bottle, he leveled her with his patented Wolverine glare. "So let me get his straight. Ya want me to stay away from Jean and leave Fearless alone? So no more flirtin' and no more name callin'. Correct?"
All Ororo could do was nod. She was enthralled by the way his throat bobbed up and down as he drank the beer.
"Sorry, darlin', can't help ya there. Jean doesn't mind me flirtin' with her and Scooter is a prick."
She quickly snapped out of whatever captivating feeling that had come over her and slowly and bravely made her way over to stand in front of him, keeping her eyes leveled with his. "What in Goddess' name is your fascination with Jean?"
If she wasn't standing so close to him and if he wasn't a master at reading people, he would have miss the look of utter devastation he momentarily glimpsed on her face when she rushed out her question. His eyes narrowed. He didn't just see what he saw, did he? Why would the Goddess be devastated by his pursuit of Jean? Before him wasn't the ice queen he was used to, but an unsure woman who was dreading the answer to her questions. To say he was confused was an understatement.
"Maybe because Jeannie is one of the very few that don't treat me like I don't matter," he answered as honestly as he could.
The subtle tensing of her body wasn't lost on him. He saw her flushed and her head lowered in…what? Shame?
She was woman enough to admit that she wasn't completely innocent of treating Logan like the animal that was part of him. She knew it was offensive and cruel and she was neither of those things. Her conduct towards him was unbecoming, which was so far away from the person she was.
"I hear the whispers all the time. That I'm an animal. I'm a killer. I had no choice over how I was born and I sure as hell didn't have a choice when the government decided ta make me their lab rat and killin' machine. But it ain't no excuse fer treatin' me like shit."
Ororo rose apologetic eyes to him. She carefully gauged his reaction to her next words. "Well Logan, can you honestly say that you have tried to be on good terms with everyone here?"
He visibly stiffened and blinked rapidly, his hackles raised. There was no way he was about to fall into her trap. It wasn't his fault that they all had preconceived opinions about him, before and after he joined their ragtag band. "None of ya have ever given me a reason ta approach ya. Since I got here, every single one of ya have looked down yer noses at me."
"You have managed to offend everyone here at some point in time, Logan." She looked at him closely, observing all of his reactions. Irritation was most evident on his ruggedly handsome face.
"Ev'ryone has offended me too, but ya don't see me bellyachin' 'bout it?" He snapped. He guzzled the remainder of his beer, toss the empty bottle in the trash can and went to reach for another one. Viciously unsnapping the cork, he downed the bitter liquid in a matter of seconds. "It's ok fer them ta pile on me, but not the other way 'round?"
He kept his eyes trained on her, trying to figure out her game. He scented no deceit or other bad vibes roiling off of her. Aww, hell! She was genuinely worried that he would destroy the golden couple's happiness. Then, again, what did he expect? This was Ororo, the caring, mother hen of the mansion. She really wanted Scooter and Red to have their happily ever after. Not to worry Goddess, Cinderella's and Prince Charming's relationship was and has always been safe from the likes of me.
In a flash, he moved closer to her, his penetrating gaze dissecting her. Feeling completely bare under his stare, Ororo took a few cautious steps back to put distance between him and the sudden desire that erupted in her. She didn't move fast in throwing him off of her scent and she knew he smelled it if his smirk and cocked brow were any indication. She continued to put distance between them, but it was hopeless as for every step back she took, he took one forward.
Her pungent scent coupled with her arousal was slowly driving him mad. His jeans were cutting off the circulation in his lower half, as they grew tighter around his swelling erection. Dammit all! He wanted her desperately. His beast roared to life and began clawing for escape. It took all of his will to keep it under control.
Suddenly fed up with the absurd conversation, Logan gave her what she came for. It was the only way to get her away from him. He was hovering on the edge, with his beast vying for control and seemingly winning. The sooner he got her away from him, the sooner he can go back to ignoring her and repressing his feelings. "Look, Storm. I'll leave yer precious golden couple alone. Ok? Ya can tell Scooter that his woman is safe from me. Now can ya leave me be?"
Ororo was pleasantly flabbergasted. She didn't think that it would have been this easy to extricate the Wolverine's promise to stop pursuing Jean. She narrowed her eyes in suspicion. Was this a trick? Did he want something in return for his vow? She had to find out.
"It is that easy?"
Her reply laced with suspicion was his undoing. "Ya got what the hell ya wanted from me," he barked. "Why they hell are ya still in my face 'bout this shit?"
Ororo can feel her temper rising, if the sudden change in the garage's temperature was any indication. Mentally she counted to ten, lamely attempting to hold on to some vestige of control. "There is no need for you to be upset with me, Wolverine."
He had to give it to her, she had guts. The woman was standing up to him, the big bad Wolverine, with no fear. "Ya came seekin' me out, ta lecture me on the merits of leavin' Red and her prick alone. And now ya're tellin' me I have no reason ta be upset?" He scowled, turning his back to her. "Did I miss the memo that said, Wolverine has no right or reason ta be upset?"
Ororo stood staring at him for what seemed like an eternity. She knew that the honor he possessed will make him stay true to his promise. So why was she still pressing the issue? She had received what she wanted by seeking him out, so why in Goddess' name didn't she leave him be? Why was she standing here goading him into a fight? Damned if she knew. "I am sure you will bounce back."
Logan's head swiveled around to face her before the rest of his body followed suit. His eyes narrowed chillingly. "What are ya sayin'?"
She held up both hands in front of her as if to wear off an attack by him. "Nothing. Nothing at all." She realized her mistake when he was suddenly before her, gripping her arms and yanking her off her feet, up into the air, dangling her like a rag doll. He knew that she would more than likely fry his ass, but at that moment, he couldn't say that he cared. He needed to know what she was implying.
He snarled, baring his massive canines as he brought her face leveled with his. His voice was deceptively soft when he said, "Ya know, I'm gettin' sick and tired of ev'ryone makin' their snide comments 'bout me. If ya got somethin' ta say ta me, just say it." He growled and roughly released her, backing away from her. He had to get away from her. He was on the brink of letting his beast loose and let the chips fall where they may.
His actions rendered Ororo speechless and immovable. They were so quick that she had no time to react. She rubbed her arms to bring back the circulation in them. So he wanted her to just say it, did he? She was more than happy to oblige. "If you will open your eyes and see that there are other women around whom you can possibly build something with, then maybe, just maybe you can start walking around without your head up your hairy Canadian ass!" Her tirade was punctuated with the rumble of thunder heard in the distance.
Logan quirked an eyebrow at her angry display. "No offense, darlin', but the women here have no substance."
A spasm of hurt gripped her heart. She did her best to ignore it. "Maybe if you will stop long enough from sniffing around Jean like a dog in heat, then you will see that your statement has no merit."
There was no disguising the hurt he heard in her voice. He peered into her eyes and…yes, there is was. He had hurt her. But why in the flamin' hell would she feel hurt? He was getting a headache just thinking about it.
"What do ya want from me, Ororo?"
His soft voice and use of her name spurred her on. "Why have you not taken the time to pursue any of the other women here, Logan? There is Rogue, Cecelia, Betsy, Allison." With every name she mentioned, her chest tightened. It hurt her to the core to suggest he begin a relationship with any one of those X-Women.
"I've heard all the X-Women's names 'cept yours." He grunted. "What? Ya think ya're too good fer these hands ta touch?" He held his hands up to emphasize his point.
"I did not think that you would ever be interested in me."
"How would ya ever think that when every time I tried ta get ta know ya, ya shut me down?"
"I have tried to form a friendship with you too, but you have eyed me with suspicion at every turn."
Logan scoffed. "Was that before or after ya told Jean that ya don't know if ya like me?"
And there it was coming back to haunt her. An answer given in desperation to an innocent question asked by Jean, when she was still attempting to grapple with her feelings for him. Exactly how good was his hearing? "Logan, I…"
"Save it, Ororo." He raked a frustrated hand through his already disheveled hair. "Ya got what ya wanted in the first place, so just go back ta hatin' me and feelin' disgusted with me."
"Logan, please. Can we talk about this like rational adults? Please?"
He tried. He really did try to get her to go away and leave him alone, but her timid supplication snapped his already teetering control. He was already on the edge and she just had to go and push him over. His jaw went hard with rage and he exploded.
"What?! What do ya want me ta say? Ya want me ta say that I never thought I stood a chance wid ya?!" He roared. "Everyone here put ya on a damn pedestal, made ya the untouchable one. Drop not so subtle hints fer me ta not even think 'bout ya that way."
Ororo squelched the rush of joy that threatened to gurgle to the surface. She swallowed the knot that lodged itself in her throat. "What..." She cleared her throat. "What are you saying, Logan?"
He ignored her question, seemingly caught up in his thoughts. He stared at her as if not seeing her for a moment, muttering soft curses under his breath. His eyes swept back to hers. He sighed and said, "Can't say I blame 'em. Who would seriously want a murderous animal touchin' their Goddess?"
She was jumping for joy on the inside, but careful to not let her joy show. She wanted, no needed him to say outright, what she believed he was trying to say. She remained silent, watching him intently.
Logan, as if shocked out of a trance, finally realized that he had said too much. Angrily, he turned away from her. He grabbed a used towel off the cluttered table and jerkily wiped off whatever remnants of oil and sweat he had on his body. Wordlessly, he tossed the towel down, not caring that it landed on the floor and stalked to his motorcycle, knocked the kickstand up with his booted heel and walked the machine out of the garage.
"Logan." His name was a soft plea falling from her lips.
He heard her. Ignoring that sweet, seductive, husky timbre of her voice at that moment was one of the hardest things he had to do. What he really wanted to do right then and there was lift her into his arms, carry her to his room, worship her like the Goddess she was and make love to her nonstop.
As if the devil himself was on his tail, he took his seat on the motorcycle, thumped the vehicle to life and rode away from the lovely cloud-colored hair woman, standing with a look of utter disbelief marring her face and her right hand over her chest, feeling the loud, excited thumps of her heart beating.