Authors Note: Hey all, if any of you have read Wandering Souls, you'll recognize Meranda here. Where that one is based on X-Men: Evolution, this one is based more off of the movie and is a brief look into a possible past for Logan. Oh, and Logan's name was Jason Howlett. I looked it up. So, without further ado, I give you another piece of madness from my twisted mind.
Tortured Hearts
Chapter One: First Meetings and Shity Jobs
"Hey Meranda, you're order's up," Dave's gravely voice shouted out over the counter of the small diner in a town in southern Canada.
"Yeah yeah I hear ya," Meranda breathed as she grabbed the greasy plates off of the counter and turned toward the tables and bar. She sighed as she walked out from behind the bar and over to a table of overweight and under bathed truckers.
Meranda was hot and tired and her white canvas shoes had eaten blisters into her feet. Her skirt was thick heavy cotton that went down past her knees and was the ugliest shade of pink in existence. She had on a matching button down shirt that's collar was stained with sweat. Her thick black hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail that made her temples throb. A stained white apron finished the fashion causality that she had become since moving into town three years ago.
"Here you go boys. Three cheeseburgers, extra fries and double pickles. Can I get you anything else?"
"Yeah," one of the bigger, hairier and dirtier guys said leaning over so he could get a better look at her legs. "You to go."
His two friends laughed like caged hyenas.
"Cute, but I'm not on the menu," Meranda replied through clenched teeth as she turned back toward the register. Before she took two steps her eyes met a mans who had just walked in. He wasn't much taller than Meranda was and had deep brown eyes and black hair that was cut high on top with muttonchops coming down the side. She usually thought that was the most unattractive look, but on this guy it seemed to work. Before Meranda could return to the counter she felt a hand hit her hard on the butt and heard the hyenas break into another fit of laughter.
Meranda's cheeks burned red and her eyes flashed pure black for a fraction of a second, during which the shadows on the wall began to grow. She quickly returned her composure before anyone could notice and walked quickly back toward the counter, murmuring an array of curses under her breath as she passed the man who had walked in. She caught the faintest smile play at the corners of his mouth as she returned to her place behind the counter and retrieved the coffeepot and a clean cup for the new comer.
James Howlett watched as the young woman flustered under the uninvited advancements of the three big guys at the table. He could have sworn he'd seen her eyes turn black a moment ago but they were now back to a brilliant jade green that he had never seen before. And he'd never heard the words she was saying come out of such a beautiful voice as she passed.
"Hi, can I get you some coffee sir?"
"Yeah," James leaned forward as he sat, reading her nametag, smiling up at her, "Meranda. And it's not sir, it's James."
She smiled back and the room seemed to glow. "Okay, James," she replied emphasizing his name. "Can I get you anything else?"
"I don't know, what's good here?" James asked watching her as she poured the coffee.
"Nothing really," she replied, turning and putting the coffee back onto the burner. "The hamburgers are tolerable, but nothing I would call good."
"Hey Sweet cakes! Why don't you bring that cute little ass over here and let us order some dessert." The big trucker called over patting his knee invitingly, his entourage still laughing like he was the funniest being in creation.
"Be right there," Meranda said and then added under her breath, "dumbass."
James chuckled slightly. "Why don't you stand up to them?" he asked as he watched her, one hand on her hip, her weight distributed almost entirely on her left leg, her right extended to the side and a completely pissed off expression on her face.
"Yeah that's easy for you to say. Just laugh it up. You're not stuck putting up with being groped on a daily basis," Meranda said through clenched teeth. She began to walk over to the table as James grabbed her hand. All the humor having faded from his face. "Hey bub, wait your turn," he said toward the table.
All the laughter stopped as the trucker got up from his table and looked threateningly over at James. "What did you say shrimp?"
"I said," James replied, dropping Meranda's arm and getting up and turning to face the other man. "Wait your turn. And maybe try treating her like something more than a piece of meat." James squared his shoulders. The man was at least a foot taller than him and a lot wider.
Meranda watched in awe. This was the first time anyone had ever stood up for her.
"Really. And what if I don't little man?" the large man leaned down in James's face with breath that smelled like onions and French-fries.
Behind them they heard a shotgun safety being released and the weapon cocked. Both men turned their heads to see Dave standing there, gun leveled and sights aimed on the two of them.
"There won't be any fighting in my establishment you understand me?" Dave asked, his belly hanging out over his jeans and his white shirt covered in grease, ketchup and some other unidentifiable substances.
"Perfectly," James said, looking levelly at his challenger, completely calm.
"I was just about to ask for my check," the other man replied shaking slightly under the stare of the gun barrel.
Meranda quickly slammed the check down on the table and accepted her money and watched the three men slink outside to their trucks.
"Do I need to worry about you causing anymore trouble?" Dave asked James as he watched the others leave.
"No sir. Just came to get some dinner," James replied, remaining calm.
"Good. Let's keep it that way. And Meranda, stop causing trouble."
"I didn't cause any trouble Dave. He brought it on himself," Meranda replied, referring to the departed truck driver as she placed the money in the cash register and watched Dave go back into the kitchen.
"So, how bout that hamburger?" James asked, turning and sitting back on the stool. He looked around and noticed that everyone else in the diner seemed to ignore the events that had just transpired.
"What were you thinking back there? That guy could have tied you into a knot and used it as a new hood ornament?" Meranda was trying to sound angry but was failing completely.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't think you deserved that. And besides, I can handle myself," James replied, smiling at the excitement in her voice. "I'm stronger than I look."
Meranda's face softened for a moment as she blushed. "I...I didn't mean you couldn't defend yourself," she stammered. "It's just," She leaned over, lowering her voice, "No one's ever done anything like that for me before."
"Well they should have," James replied looking deep into her eyes and reading her soul.
Meranda blushed again and straightened. "What do you want on your burger?"
"Everything works."
"'Kay. I'll go order that for you." Meranda turned and walked quickly over to the window and relayed his order to Dave behind the counter. She brought it to him when it was ready and then busied herself with the other customers stopping occasionally to refill his coffee cup and ask if he needed anything else, blushing every time he looked at her.
James sat and ate, listening to Meranda's heart beat change whenever she was close to him. He smiled to himself as he ate, for once happy that he was a mutant.
The bell above the door rang as a woman ran in wearing the same uniform Meranda had on. She was out of breath and a dark circle was already well formed under her eye.
"Cece!" Meranda exclaimed placing the coffee-pot back on the burner and rushing out from behind the counter.
"I know I know, I'm late and I'm sorry," Cece replied, her rich southern accent filling the near empty diner. She pulled off her purse and shoved it next to Meranda's under the counter, and started walking toward the back of the restaurant. Meranda followed as Cece clocked in and tied her apron. "Did you cover for me?"
"Cece what happened? Did Mark do this again?"
"It's nothing. I fell." Cece replied brushing her hand tenderly at the bruise.
"You've got to stop this. You have to get away from him," Meranda said, her voice filled with concern.
"Easier said than done. I'm fine Meranda, really. Don't worry about me so much."
"I can't help it. I know what it's like to be in your situation."
"Really, what did you do?"
Meranda hesitated the events of the night she had finally had enough flashing before her minds eye. She didn't want to tell her friend what had happened. It would raise too many questions and make her vulnerable. "I got away. That's all you have to do."
"What are you both doing back here? We've got customers!" Dave yelled.
"Oh shove it Dave!" Cece replied pushing open the door and heading out to the dining area. "Meranda, why don't you go ahead and clock out. Your day should have ended 4 hours ago."
"No, it's okay. You need my help," Meranda said as she started her clean up, letting her eyes meet James's for a minute. She smiled at him and kept filling the sugar containers, her cheeks a light scarlet.
"Meranda," Cece said coming over and taking Meranda's hands in her own. "I'm okay. Go home and get some rest."
"Okay, just let me give James his check."
"James?" Cece asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'll tell you later."
"You'd better."
Meranda walked quickly over to the bar as James got up brushing the crumbs off his hands. "Here's your check. Thanks for earlier." She turned and quickly ran toward the back and into the kitchen.
James opened his mouth to say something but she was gone. He started to walk over to the register, reaching for his wallet when he looked down to see how much the bill was. A phone number stared back at him. He smiled as he walked out the door.
Cece watched him leave and then rushed to the back where Meranda was leaning against the wall next to the time clock, her card in her hand, breathing heavily.
"I gave him my phone number," Meranda said shakily. "What was I thinking? He probably thinks I'm insane."
"Meranda I'm proud of you. And he doesn't think you're insane. He was smiling as he left," Cece said reassuringly.
"He was?"
"Yeah."
"I think I'm going to walk home now. Night," Meranda replied dreamily, replacing her card and walking happily out of the kitchen. She stopped at the register and grabbed her purse, the dreamy expression still on her face.
Tortured Hearts
Chapter One: First Meetings and Shity Jobs
"Hey Meranda, you're order's up," Dave's gravely voice shouted out over the counter of the small diner in a town in southern Canada.
"Yeah yeah I hear ya," Meranda breathed as she grabbed the greasy plates off of the counter and turned toward the tables and bar. She sighed as she walked out from behind the bar and over to a table of overweight and under bathed truckers.
Meranda was hot and tired and her white canvas shoes had eaten blisters into her feet. Her skirt was thick heavy cotton that went down past her knees and was the ugliest shade of pink in existence. She had on a matching button down shirt that's collar was stained with sweat. Her thick black hair was pulled up into a tight ponytail that made her temples throb. A stained white apron finished the fashion causality that she had become since moving into town three years ago.
"Here you go boys. Three cheeseburgers, extra fries and double pickles. Can I get you anything else?"
"Yeah," one of the bigger, hairier and dirtier guys said leaning over so he could get a better look at her legs. "You to go."
His two friends laughed like caged hyenas.
"Cute, but I'm not on the menu," Meranda replied through clenched teeth as she turned back toward the register. Before she took two steps her eyes met a mans who had just walked in. He wasn't much taller than Meranda was and had deep brown eyes and black hair that was cut high on top with muttonchops coming down the side. She usually thought that was the most unattractive look, but on this guy it seemed to work. Before Meranda could return to the counter she felt a hand hit her hard on the butt and heard the hyenas break into another fit of laughter.
Meranda's cheeks burned red and her eyes flashed pure black for a fraction of a second, during which the shadows on the wall began to grow. She quickly returned her composure before anyone could notice and walked quickly back toward the counter, murmuring an array of curses under her breath as she passed the man who had walked in. She caught the faintest smile play at the corners of his mouth as she returned to her place behind the counter and retrieved the coffeepot and a clean cup for the new comer.
James Howlett watched as the young woman flustered under the uninvited advancements of the three big guys at the table. He could have sworn he'd seen her eyes turn black a moment ago but they were now back to a brilliant jade green that he had never seen before. And he'd never heard the words she was saying come out of such a beautiful voice as she passed.
"Hi, can I get you some coffee sir?"
"Yeah," James leaned forward as he sat, reading her nametag, smiling up at her, "Meranda. And it's not sir, it's James."
She smiled back and the room seemed to glow. "Okay, James," she replied emphasizing his name. "Can I get you anything else?"
"I don't know, what's good here?" James asked watching her as she poured the coffee.
"Nothing really," she replied, turning and putting the coffee back onto the burner. "The hamburgers are tolerable, but nothing I would call good."
"Hey Sweet cakes! Why don't you bring that cute little ass over here and let us order some dessert." The big trucker called over patting his knee invitingly, his entourage still laughing like he was the funniest being in creation.
"Be right there," Meranda said and then added under her breath, "dumbass."
James chuckled slightly. "Why don't you stand up to them?" he asked as he watched her, one hand on her hip, her weight distributed almost entirely on her left leg, her right extended to the side and a completely pissed off expression on her face.
"Yeah that's easy for you to say. Just laugh it up. You're not stuck putting up with being groped on a daily basis," Meranda said through clenched teeth. She began to walk over to the table as James grabbed her hand. All the humor having faded from his face. "Hey bub, wait your turn," he said toward the table.
All the laughter stopped as the trucker got up from his table and looked threateningly over at James. "What did you say shrimp?"
"I said," James replied, dropping Meranda's arm and getting up and turning to face the other man. "Wait your turn. And maybe try treating her like something more than a piece of meat." James squared his shoulders. The man was at least a foot taller than him and a lot wider.
Meranda watched in awe. This was the first time anyone had ever stood up for her.
"Really. And what if I don't little man?" the large man leaned down in James's face with breath that smelled like onions and French-fries.
Behind them they heard a shotgun safety being released and the weapon cocked. Both men turned their heads to see Dave standing there, gun leveled and sights aimed on the two of them.
"There won't be any fighting in my establishment you understand me?" Dave asked, his belly hanging out over his jeans and his white shirt covered in grease, ketchup and some other unidentifiable substances.
"Perfectly," James said, looking levelly at his challenger, completely calm.
"I was just about to ask for my check," the other man replied shaking slightly under the stare of the gun barrel.
Meranda quickly slammed the check down on the table and accepted her money and watched the three men slink outside to their trucks.
"Do I need to worry about you causing anymore trouble?" Dave asked James as he watched the others leave.
"No sir. Just came to get some dinner," James replied, remaining calm.
"Good. Let's keep it that way. And Meranda, stop causing trouble."
"I didn't cause any trouble Dave. He brought it on himself," Meranda replied, referring to the departed truck driver as she placed the money in the cash register and watched Dave go back into the kitchen.
"So, how bout that hamburger?" James asked, turning and sitting back on the stool. He looked around and noticed that everyone else in the diner seemed to ignore the events that had just transpired.
"What were you thinking back there? That guy could have tied you into a knot and used it as a new hood ornament?" Meranda was trying to sound angry but was failing completely.
"I'm sorry, but I didn't think you deserved that. And besides, I can handle myself," James replied, smiling at the excitement in her voice. "I'm stronger than I look."
Meranda's face softened for a moment as she blushed. "I...I didn't mean you couldn't defend yourself," she stammered. "It's just," She leaned over, lowering her voice, "No one's ever done anything like that for me before."
"Well they should have," James replied looking deep into her eyes and reading her soul.
Meranda blushed again and straightened. "What do you want on your burger?"
"Everything works."
"'Kay. I'll go order that for you." Meranda turned and walked quickly over to the window and relayed his order to Dave behind the counter. She brought it to him when it was ready and then busied herself with the other customers stopping occasionally to refill his coffee cup and ask if he needed anything else, blushing every time he looked at her.
James sat and ate, listening to Meranda's heart beat change whenever she was close to him. He smiled to himself as he ate, for once happy that he was a mutant.
The bell above the door rang as a woman ran in wearing the same uniform Meranda had on. She was out of breath and a dark circle was already well formed under her eye.
"Cece!" Meranda exclaimed placing the coffee-pot back on the burner and rushing out from behind the counter.
"I know I know, I'm late and I'm sorry," Cece replied, her rich southern accent filling the near empty diner. She pulled off her purse and shoved it next to Meranda's under the counter, and started walking toward the back of the restaurant. Meranda followed as Cece clocked in and tied her apron. "Did you cover for me?"
"Cece what happened? Did Mark do this again?"
"It's nothing. I fell." Cece replied brushing her hand tenderly at the bruise.
"You've got to stop this. You have to get away from him," Meranda said, her voice filled with concern.
"Easier said than done. I'm fine Meranda, really. Don't worry about me so much."
"I can't help it. I know what it's like to be in your situation."
"Really, what did you do?"
Meranda hesitated the events of the night she had finally had enough flashing before her minds eye. She didn't want to tell her friend what had happened. It would raise too many questions and make her vulnerable. "I got away. That's all you have to do."
"What are you both doing back here? We've got customers!" Dave yelled.
"Oh shove it Dave!" Cece replied pushing open the door and heading out to the dining area. "Meranda, why don't you go ahead and clock out. Your day should have ended 4 hours ago."
"No, it's okay. You need my help," Meranda said as she started her clean up, letting her eyes meet James's for a minute. She smiled at him and kept filling the sugar containers, her cheeks a light scarlet.
"Meranda," Cece said coming over and taking Meranda's hands in her own. "I'm okay. Go home and get some rest."
"Okay, just let me give James his check."
"James?" Cece asked raising an eyebrow.
"I'll tell you later."
"You'd better."
Meranda walked quickly over to the bar as James got up brushing the crumbs off his hands. "Here's your check. Thanks for earlier." She turned and quickly ran toward the back and into the kitchen.
James opened his mouth to say something but she was gone. He started to walk over to the register, reaching for his wallet when he looked down to see how much the bill was. A phone number stared back at him. He smiled as he walked out the door.
Cece watched him leave and then rushed to the back where Meranda was leaning against the wall next to the time clock, her card in her hand, breathing heavily.
"I gave him my phone number," Meranda said shakily. "What was I thinking? He probably thinks I'm insane."
"Meranda I'm proud of you. And he doesn't think you're insane. He was smiling as he left," Cece said reassuringly.
"He was?"
"Yeah."
"I think I'm going to walk home now. Night," Meranda replied dreamily, replacing her card and walking happily out of the kitchen. She stopped at the register and grabbed her purse, the dreamy expression still on her face.