Mansion: Outside
The smell of earth awakened her from her fugue. His warm, thick arms felt good; she inhaled deeply and shuddered, tasting his sweetness. But as clarity came, the thought disappeared.
"How long have I--?"
Logan swept her damp hair from her eyes. "Longer than the rain. About a hour."
Ororo struggled to rise, but her body was too weak; Logan guided her back down and helped her sit up.
"An hour? Goddess..."
He chuckled. "You're entitled. Hell, I get worried if one of us don't lose it once in a blue moon. I think you deserve to be crazy by now darlin'."
"No, I—I can't lose control." She said attempting to rise to her feet once more
"Can't, or won't?" he asked stopping her
She glanced at him before rubbing her temples. "Both," she said honestly. "I would say the same applies to you."
"Tough," Logan chuckled. "I gotta let it out. Sometimes I let loose when nobody's around. You aint got no idea what these woods have seen,"
Ororo glanced over the sky, and at the broken tree her lightning destroyed. A small tear welled in her eyes. Such destruction, such severity--! The earth mourned, and she caused it.
"What if you don't know want to know what the world sees?"
If it had been anyone else, her whisper would not have been heard. But Logan's sensitive ears caught her delicate voice. He touched her cheek and swiveled her chin to meet his eyes, but her gaze fell to the ground.
"What're you sayin'?"
"Nothing, Logan." She rose, and violently pushed her waist length locks back. She tried smiling but her lips were cruelly twisted. "The others are waiting."
"Forget 'em. They can wait. I can smell when things ain't right"
She bit back her retort and started walking. "I'm fine, Logan."
"Like hell you are."
She trembled when he grabbed her arm. He felt her depression; picked up on her efforts to push it away. An aura of nothingness swam around her, leaving her gloomy and dark. Life was too damn hard for her, the expectations of an X-Man, to high. And if she couldn't control the destruction from her fear and anger, and no longer wished to control it, then what purpose did she serve? She had her mad times before. She's killed before, regretfully. But what she felt now was a hollow emptiness that threatened to engulf her more than any foe. And she cared less for herself than the tree she destroyed. The man that broke her, returned, and only continued to stomp on the pieces that he so viciously destroyed.
"Logan—"
He shook her. "Stop it, 'Ro. Snap out of it."
"Let me go!"
"He's not worth it. You're worth more than that, and you know it."
"How do you know?" she snapped. She noticed that Logan's arms were still around her shoulders and her body's own warm reaction frightened her.
"What has he done to you?"
She stared at him. His eyes were genuinely frightened for her, and it touched her. When was the last time someone really, honestly asked how she was? How many times had they mistaken her serenity for true inner peace? How often had they left her alone because they feared awakening the demon within? Above it all, it seemed only Logan understood. He, too, had two halves, with one under constant guard.
Her lips trembled. "I'm empty, Logan. One of the few men that have entered into my life fell for me. I had love, something that I have longed for, and in one swoop, it was taken from me. No one ever noticed when he left, but now that he is back, all of you treat me like glass. Where were you all when I needed you? I hate him for who and what I am today. I feel as if I will never get the opportunity to heal. I want to lash out at him, all men for that matter"
"I'm sorry darlin', I didn't know. Maybe that's what you need to do darlin'."
She ripped herself from his grasp. "Then give me an opportunity! I'm tired of fighting, tired of destruction, tired of our team ripping itself apart. I'm tired of the petty bickering. Tired of couples tearing one another to—"
Her voice stuck and Logan instantly came too close. His scent intoxicated her, and suddenly she knew that he found a good reason. His beard scratched the back of her neck but his lips were soft as tissue paper.
"No, we shouldn't. We can't..."
"Can't, or won't?"
She gulped and shivered as his lips caressed her neck.
"Both," she whispered. She pulled away from him, not allowing it to get any hotter. She looked at him, staring into his dark steel grey eyes. She continued backing away from him, fearing what could develop from their selfish passions. Ororo turned on her heels and headed back to the mansion hurriedly. Only looking back once. Logan stared at her and cocked his head to side. A gentle smile played across his lips.
Patience bub, patience
Ororo ran back into the mansion, bumping into a strong figure, standing before the entranceway. He turned around, standing 6'1, muscular, ravishing long golden caramel hair united in a waist length braid. His sky blue eyes, meeting her own, a half smile playing across his delicate lips. He had a red rose behind his left ear, a real Casanova.
"Ororo I would like you to meet Vega from Catalonia, Spain. Apparently he is a former Shadaloo assassin," Charles informed. Vega quickly gave Ororo the beautiful rose, taking her hand and kissing it, bowing before her. He kept continuous eye contact with her, loosing himself in her gaze.
"A pleasure" he said. Ororo was speechless, she found Vega to be…well…beautiful. Logan walked into the mansion only moments after Ororo, noticing the stranger holding her hand. Logan arched an eyebrow, curiosity and irritation flooding his brain.
"Whose rico suave?" he asked gesturing to Vega.
"This is Vega, Logan" Ororo introduced. Vega continued to hold her gaze, taking in her beauty as a landmark to his mind. Logan stepped to Vega feeling territorial, and somehow disrespected.
"Give her some space bub" Logan said stepping between them.
"She must be your obsession. I highly doubt a woman as beautiful as that could interest herself in someone like you " Vega said amused. Ororo centered her eyes on the wild man before her. Logan didn't like Vega already; he was too much like him.
"You wanna repeat that bub?" Logan's claws made their appearance, threatening the newbie. Vega chuckled at the retort, turning his back on Logan.
"We will finish this later," Vega walked towards Charles, glancing back at Ororo. She looked on, watching a beautiful work of art leave her sight. Logan turned to her and growled, walking away from her. Ororo grabbed Logan's shoulder, confused.
"What was that Logan?" she asked curious.
"Nothin' 'Ro" he said snatching his shoulder from her grasp. He continued on his walk, leaving Ororo confused and rejected. What had she done to him? Ororo wanted to chase after Logan, say some kind words to confirm his anger is not with her. She went to her room, deciding talking to Logan later would be wise.
Hours Later: Danger room
Logan decided to use the danger room for his advantage and release some of this frustration. He smoked his cigar as he traveled throughout the mansion. He couldn't get this new dick out of his mind. Vega had his nerve stepping to him like that, and he didn't even know him. Not that Logan gave a damn, but someone like that needed an ass beating in their life. As Logan approached the danger room, he could hear the commotion on the other side of the doors. Logan put his code in and saw the asshole in question. Vega was ripping at a holographic Wolverine. Logan's eyes bugged, almost falling out of his sockets, that son of a bitch. Logan made himself known, flicking his cigar towards Vega, but with quick reflexes, he catches it, crushing it in his hand. Vega dropped it, revealing the burn in his palm, ignoring the stings that evidently sung through his mind.
"How about the real thing?" Logan asked walking to Vega extending his claws.
"I never turn down a good workout," Vega said. Logan noticed the tiger claw adorned on his left hand.
"Take the mask off, or are you scared to mess up that pretty face of yours?"
"Thanks for noticing" Vega said, jumping into the air, disappearing. The danger room was in its original form, only weapons hanging from the wall. Logan sniffed around attempting to detect where Vega was exactly. He was on the laser beam; Professor needs to get rid of these giant weapons.
"You gon' come down?" Logan asked
Vega leaped extending his clawed hand, attempting to drive it into Logan's chest. Logan moved to the side, only getting scratched. The wound healed in a matter of seconds, catching Vega's attention. Logan ran to him throwing his left after his right, at speeds Vega has never seen. Vega dodged each slash by a matter of seconds, sweeping Logan to the floor. Logan rolled and back flipped to his feet.
"You're a fast little man," Vega said with a smile. He jumped twisting his body in mid-air, pushing his feet to the ground, stomping on Logan's chest, and quickly jumping off. Logan recovered, slowly. Vega walked in circles around him, waiting for his recovery. Logan stood to his feet, wiping the sweat off his face. Vega striked, dodging it, Logan kneed him, grabbing his neck, choking the life out of him. Logan ripped the mask off, wanting to see the suffering he was causing.
"Anytime you want me pretty boy, come get me" Vega extended his leg, getting Logan's chin. Coughing, trying to catch his breath Vega fell to his knees. Logan grabbed his jaw, pain shooting throughout his skull.
"Stop this, both of you" Cyclops shut down the danger room, all the weapons disappearing. He walked down to the entranceway, both men finally standing to their feet, wanting more of eachother. Vega stepped infront of Cyclops attempting to get at the Wolverine. Scott put his hand to Vega's chest stopping him.
"Vega, I know Logan gets under your skin, he gets under mine, but he is your teammate now, and we do not fight each other for blood. You two will learn how to get along, " Cyclops led Vega out of the danger room, Wolverine following, sheathing his claws.
Vega's Room
Vega quickly got out the shower after washing the stench of the fight off his body. He stared at himself in the mirror, red marks on his neck and bruising on his chest, but nothing on his face. He shook his head, disgusted with his image. He stepped away from the mirror and put on his sleepwear. As he pulled his pants up, a knock at his door caught his attention. He opened it and saw three attractive young women at his door. Jean, Rogue, and Jubilee.
"Woa! Storm wasn't lying" Jubilee said stepping into his room.
"Excuse me?" He asked as the women bombarded into his room.
"Ororo said 'you were attractive,' " Jean said
"Yea, and she wasn't lying" Jubilee said staring at him, and his body. He long flowing hair cascading down his back. "So, what is this we have here?" she said running her finger along the snake tattoo across his chest and arm.
"Give him some space sugah" Rogue said grabbing her.
"We had to see if Ororo was delusional or telling the truth" Jubilee said
"Excuse her, she's just a teenager. We'll leave you alone now," Jean said using her telekinesis to carry Jubilee out of the room.
"Hey" Jubilee squealed. The three women left, leaving Vega shocked. He rubbed his hands together, feeling the moisture in his palms. He wanted to find Ororo, wanting to get to know the white haired, blue-eyed beauty. Vega put on a t-shirt, and swayed along the halls of the mansion. He went towards the rec room, only seeing the students, and Wolverine. Vega could take this opportunity to rid the mansion of its biggest pest, but decided against it. There, he spotted her, sitting in the library, meditating. He walked to the entrance, standing and staring. He stared at her chest, as she inhaled and exhaled. Her eyes, peacefully shut, and her full lips tastefully perched. Her gorgeous floor grazing lengths cascading along her back in its natural state of extremely tight curls, white silk adorned atop her head. A skintight tank top, and short shorts also caught his attention, a beauty that not even she can see. As if sensing him she opens her eyes to see him staring, studying her.
"Vega" she said nervously. He gave her butterflies, extreme anxiety, and yet he was intriguing.
"I did not mean to impose," he said backing away.
"No. I just…Please sit" she said gesturing to a chair in front of her.
"May I?" he asked as he stood beside her. She nodded and sat on the floor next to her, not even considering the chair she had offered. She fumbled with her thumbs nervously, unsure as to how a conversation should start.
"You are an extraordinary person Ororo. I find myself drawn to you," he said staring at her. She blushed, heat rising to her cheeks turning them to a charming pink color.
"Oh, I am not that exciting" she said waving him off.
"Have you ever seen yourself from another person's eyes?" she shook her head. "Well, then how can you give an honest opinion if you haven't seen what the world sees?" he finished. He studied her, like a book. Watching her eye movements, hand movements, and body language. Perfectly shaped long legs, chocolate drums, soft and smooth. Arms, slender, yet toned, and a stomach flat, defined, curving into a perfectly round rear surrounded by curvaceous hips. Eyes, as blue as the ocean surrounded by long thick dark lashes, hair as white as snow, soft and long, twinkling with shine. Her sweet plumped mouth curved into a smile, her lips begging to be touched. Vega leaned forward then stopped himself, putting a tender hand against her cheek, taming himself from his inner passions. He hasn't felt this way since…well…Chun Li. He wanted to be careful about his approach, caution being his main influence. He was becoming consumed with her, her very presence affecting him.
Ororo on the other hand, loved the attention. No man has ever shown her such attention. She didn't want to leave his sight, although he intimidated her. She wanted to get inside of his mind, understand this stranger before her.
"I must go for a walk," she said standing to her feet.
"Would you like company?" he asked.
"Yes, that would be lovely." She watched Vega tower over her as he stood to his feet, His hair hanging loose like long strands of gold silk. He crossed his arms, allowing Ororo to lead the way to the yard. The fresh air welcomed him, sweet scents of nature filling his nostrils. The grass felt cool against his bare feet. Ororo looked gorgeous as the wind caressed her, like a lover to its love. Unbeknownst to them, a watcher lurked in the trees, quietly following them, using the trees and bushed to hide him.
"So tell me, how do you feel about the Wolverine?" Vega's curiosity flooded him. He needed to know if she had attachments to him.
"He is a dear old friend, someone who has helped me in so many ways. I believe if not for him, I would not be here today" she bragged.
"He's saved you life before?"
"Many times, but he has saved my mind many more times. Saved my sanity. Although he is a wild, untamed man, he is a kindred spirit as am I"
"Some would say, you two are meant to be" Vega said.
"Yes. I would be a liar if I told you that I never imagined us together, living happily ever after" she said kicking the dirt with each step.
"What happened?"
"Well, it never happened, as a result, the fantasy died. He is infatuated with Jean, obsessing over her, always trying to seduce with his wild ways. I believe it works. Jean may be a telepath, but you do not have to read minds to know that, that man has a way with her" she said. Ororo's tone changed, a sense of frustration driving away the serenity that once drowned her soft voice.
"And you"
"No, not anymore" she said. Vega held his hand out, offering it to Ororo. She took it, continuing to lead him through the yard, taking him to her favorite part, the peak of the hills to watch the sunrise.
Logan jumped out of the trees, after seeing them disappear into the night. He couldn't believe his ears, a part of him wanted to hear what else Ororo thought of him, but decided against it. Getting rejected three times was more than enough for him.