Ain't No Sense in Sugar-Coating It

Chapter 2

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe."
― Albert Einstein

Victor had developed a facial twitch, Victor was gritting his teeth and Victor was part way to losing his damn mind. He stared down the pup trying to teach his fucking guard dog how to dance to a shitty Christmas song and he scowled at his brother.

"Make it fucking stop," he snarled, gulping down his beer.

Logan smirked and kept an eye on the time. "Hey, I'm waiting on the food," he told him, listening for the sound of the delivery driver's tyres on the snow.

"Canada Land, Jingle bells an' Canada Land," the little girl sang in a loud, heartfelt manner, leading the wolf in a circle by his heavy, chain link collar. "Jingle all the way! Santa's comin' for bells an' carrots."

The older feral sunk further in his seat and his eyes snapped shut. He was gonna kill the pup if she didn't catch a tune and take it back to America. Growling, he cracked open an eye and the girl was standing in front of him, leaning against his knees and smiling.

"I ain't singing," he grumbled, wanting to kick the crap out of his brother for bringing this shit to his door. "Now get away from me."

Logan growled at that. "She's just a tyke, Vic."

Frowning, Marie poked at his arm until the grumpy man looked at her again. "Ya have a really big doggy an' he likes dancin'," she told him.

Victor's brow furrowed at that. There was no way his wolf had a thing for dancing. No guard dog of his was fruity and he didn't like the accusation neither.

Not at all put off by the lack of reply, the small girl continued to talk to the man Logan said was her uncle. "Is ya doggy called Rudolph?"

Exhaling deeply, Sabretooth could sense the smirk his brother was wearing. "No."

"What's his name then?" Marie asked, pushing for an answer as she continued to poke and prod him like a child who enjoyed walking on the wild side of life.

"Morrok," the dangerous feral muttered, standing and stalking over to his cigarette pack and lighter.

Satisfied with the answer, Marie knelt in front of the wolf and rubbed noses with it as she giggled.

Logan sighed. "Kid, don't kiss the dog," he called to her, heading for the door when he caught the sound and smell of pizza. Paying the driver, he grabbed the box and brought it over to the counter, snorting when he was joined by Marie and the wolf trotting at her heels.

"Rudolph wants pizza!" she announced, bouncing happily on the spot.

Wolverine glanced down at the girl. "He doesn't like pizza, Darlin', it'll make him sick."

"But Logan," Marie whined, using her favourite pout. "Rudolph told meh he wants pizza."

"You're closing in on strike two," he warned her, plating up a slice of pizza and handing it to her. "I don't wanna hear you whining. Now go eat."

"Atta boy," Victor smirked, throwing his two cents in when his brother tried to tame the brat.

Logan shook his head and decided to ignore the dick. He grabbed yet another beer and went about lighting a cigar as he watched to see if Marie would do as she was told. When he was satisfied she was doing just that, he deposited his ass on the recliner chair and eyed the crackling fire. He'd have to buy the kid some gifts for Christmas. Hell, what was he going to get a kid her age?

Noticing Victor had gone to hang out and smoke on the frozen over porch, he went to join the fella with a deep frown. He smoked in silence, stopping every now and then to chug his beer.

"She's yours," Victor said quietly after the silence had eaten away at his thoughts.

Logan grunted, his cigar hanging from his lips and his gaze focusing on the line of snow crusted trees in his eye line. "What's your point?"

"Ain't got any point, Jimmy," he shrugged, flicking cigar ash in the cold breeze. The enormous man looked around. "Snows on the way."

"That it is," Logan replied, scenting the change of weather and glancing through the window. He spied the tyke singing to the slice of pizza and the wolf. "Think we'll be snowed in?"

"Figured on it," Victor shot back, scowling. "We're going to need more beer."

"I'm going to head on out to the store anyway." He scratched his mutton chops in frustration. "Have you any idea what to buy for a kid her age? You know, for Christmas."

Sabretooth gave his brother a dark stare and followed his line of sight. He could hear the girl singing a tuneless tune again. "I look like the type of asshole that knows what to buy a pup like that?"

Logan shrugged. "It was worth a shot. I'll hit the stores tomorrow. Alone."

Victor's eyes narrowed and he grabbed his rival by the front of his flannel shirt. "You leave her with me and I'm hogtying her and stuffing her in the woodshed to freeze to death."

The manhandling reared Wolverine's animalistic side. "Victor…" he growled fiercely, not taking too kindly to the threat concerning the kid.

"I ain't a babysitter, Jimmy!" he barked, snarling when Logan pinned him against the wooden cladding of the cabin. "And I meant every fucking word about the brat!"

The brothers soon started trading punches and growls, falling into the nature that had always dogged them in their adult lives. Claws were shown, teeth were bared and both of them dropped down the porch steps and crashed into the snow as they each attempted to gain the upper hand.

Logan pinned his brother down, then Victor turned the tables and the time dragged on as they each gained injury after injury. Bruises, bumps, gashes and split lips were handed out roughly and their healing factors were working in overdrive. Clothes were torn, warnings were shot down and they soon calmed when the clouds broke over them with snow.

Logan panted deeply, climbing to his feet as a deep scratch across his left cheek started to heal. "You're a dick," he stated darkly, stalking for the cabin.

"Right back at yer," Victor snorted, grumbling when he found he'd squashed every one of his cigarettes. "And you better gimme a cigar."

Marie was completely oblivious to any trouble outside. She had spent every second sweeping the floor with a broom she had found as she sang all about bells, dirty floors and a doggy called Rudolph. She beamed and giggled when the wolf bit down on the end of the brush and tried to steal it away.

"Naughty doggy," she said, shaking her finger at him. "This isn't yours."

Grabbing his stuff from the truck on the way to the cabin, Logan rolled his eyes. "Kid, quit playing with the wolf and eat your food."

The adorable girl turned around and dropped the broom to the wooden floor. "Logan," she started, looking at his naughty boy clothes. They were all messy and wet. "Did Santa's sleigh hit ya?" she asked excitedly, skipping to the window and standing on her tip toes.

He watched the girl peering out the window with a sigh. "Something like that," he muttered, tossing his bag on the counter and producing a crumpled shirt in his search for clean clothing.

"Jingle bells, Canada Land, bells an' farts an' Canada Land!" Marie warbled, jumping up and down to see if she could spot Santa anywhere.

Victor stalked in and snatched up his bottle of beer. He noticed it was empty and the pup was doing that singing thing again. "Now might be the time to start on the whiskey," he grunted.

Working the recliner, Logan brushed a hand through his wild hair and was a million miles away. He leaned back in the leather seat and his legs rose as he thought about Christmas. The gruff man couldn't say he was a fan of the holidays and would much rather have drunk, screwed , fought and gambled his way through the next two days or so, but he had the kid to think of.

Thinking of the kid, he closed his eyes and didn't know what to do for the best. Picking out gifts wasn't his strong point and what the hell did a six or seven-year-old want anyway?

A small smile suddenly tugged at his lips. She seemed to have a thing for dogs, stuffed toys and singing, so all he needed to find was a toy dog that sang like a cat getting strangled. Yeah, that wouldn't be too tough to find now, would it?

He slowly opened his eyes when a little tyke clambered on him. "Hey there, Darlin'," he greeted, wrapping an arm around her. "You and the wolf best buddies now?"

Marie nodded and tapped Logan's nose. "He's mah favourite doggy in the world," she told him sweetly, a tiny yawn tickling her tongue and making her curl closer to his chest.

Logan rubbed her back and fell silent for a bunch of minutes. He was pleased to hear she had finally made a friend, even if it was a dog. He'd rather that then her shooting the breeze with a toy bear.

"The naughty man's playin' with bubbles an' singin'," she whispered, her nose wrinkling.

He snorted in amusement. "Nah, he ain't. He's taking a shower and harping on 'bout me and my ass kicking skills," he joked, waiting for her to drop off to sleep.

"Ya a dick an' so is he," Marie remembered and quickly mentioned to Logan.

The man frowned. "There you go greeting strike two, Kid. I guess it's time for bed, huh?" He left the seat and carried her to one of the bedrooms, snagging her bag as he went.

The cabin was spread across one floor with two rooms, both doubles, one bathroom, a kitchenette come living space and a front and back porch. There was a woodshed down the way packed full of logs for the fire and a forest surrounding them. They were in total seclusion and he was happy with that.

"Ah don't want tah go tah bed," she whimpered as her lower lip wobbled.

"Tough," Logan grunted, putting her down on the bed and tapping her feet. "Shoes off, Darlin'." When she didn't move, he tugged her boots off for her and shook his head. "You're tired, I get that, but you best start being a good girl."

Marie started to sniffle because she thought Logan was being mean to her. She wasn't ready to go to sleep. Santa didn't know where she was yet and she wanted to dance with Rudolph the doggy again. He was a really good dancer and liked it when she sang about carrots and Canada Land.

"C'mon, kid," he sighed, unzipping her duffle. "We'll get your pyjamas on, tucked up in bed and you'll be-" He stopped talking and rifled through the junk she'd gone and packed. "Hell," he grouched, looking her way. "Where are your clothes?"

She crawled closer to him and picked out her socks, holding them up to show him sadly.

Logan dragged a hand down his face and counted to ten. "Christ," he muttered, going to grab one of his own shirts. "Let's get you ready for bed, kiddo."

Marie was cuddled to his chest and he ruffled her hair gently. "Best get some sleep, Darlin'," he told her, shifting her under the sheets and tucking her in.

"It's scary here," she whispered, clinging onto his shirt. "Ah don't like it, Logan."

Wolverine kissed the little girl's forehead, happy to be a gentle bastard while he was alone with her. "Hey," he grunted, handing her the bear. "There's nothing to be scared of, kid. Nobody out there's as tough as me," he added jokingly.

She cuddled Logan's arm tightly. "Ya couldn't fight Santa an' win," she pointed out.

Logan chuckled. "I think you've gotta point there, Marie," he smirked, leaving her to hang onto his arm and use it as a pillow.

He listened to her whispering about "reindeer carrots" and "Santa farts" as she slowly embraced a life of drowsiness and sleep.

After waiting patiently for her breathing to even out, he slowly untangled her arms from his and stroked her messy hair. "Night, kid," he snorted softly, standing and fumbling for a cigar.

Logan stepped quietly for the door, his thoughts centred on a certain mission he'd be undertaking tomorrow. The feral mutant was starting to get a grip on taking care of the kid and he didn't hate it either. He'd also have to gain footing on Santa that was for sure because nobody would hold him down or beat his beard.

JosephineX - Thanks and I love the name Mr Bojangles. Isn't it perfect for a teddy bear? Ha, I bet you agree. I'll have you know I stole said name from your thoughts. ;)

cjm184 - Thank you for taking the time to review!

gaben - Oh yes, swearing is fantastic. My lips find swear words liberating. Thank you for the review!

jamiekid9 - If it wasn't for you bashing my muse and chasing me with words, this story wouldn't exist and I never would have put this out there. So thanks for that, thanks for RPing with me and thanks for reviewing. :)

Booklover9477 - Aw, thank you. I hope you love this newest chapter too.