Fire and screams ripped through the night, tearing into the sky when Logan heard the cries of the world around him. There was pain—so much pain and misery, yet he found himself focused on the one beacon of light before him. It was blinding—hot and threatening, yet he moved forward feeling as if his flesh had been ripped from his bones. In some way it had when muscle became gnarled and torn. His metallic bones ached, feeling as if he'd been twisted and turned inside out, yet he stayed focused pushing forward until he found himself facing the cold, dead eyes before him.
"You would die for them?" words hissed in the back of his brain causing him to break apart from the inside out. There was rage and fire and…
"No," Logan gasped opening his eyes to discover himself in a cold, impersonal room. There was a chill in the air accompanied by a brightness overhead indicating that he was in the center of some sterile environment.
"A hospital," he mouthed to himself when he heard the sounds of beeping machines in the distance. He waited listening to their pattern when he became fully aware of the sudden warmth against his chest. Tensing up Logan closed his eyes and waited wondering if this was another dream, yet the warmth beside him felt real—almost too good to be another illusion.
"Mmm…" Logan heard the soft sound of a murmur carry over his companion's lips when Logan reopened his eyes to discover his companion pressed up against him with his soft, silken, dark waves of hair tickling against the side of Logan's neck. His arm was draped over Logan's bare chest in a curious fashion as his slender thigh was interlaced between Logan's powerful legs beneath the thin sheet over them. For a moment Logan felt content—at peace in his own way when the boy beside him nuzzled further into his chest. Instinctively Logan curled his bicep around the boy's waist and smiled.
"Must've been some night," Logan mused to himself when the boy twisted in his arm to reveal the most beautiful, full, lush lips he'd ever had the privilege of kissing. His solid, defined cheekbones gave way to a perfectly sculpted nose, yet the curious thing about the boy was his eyes—or rather Logan's inability to see them as the boy had somehow drifted off with a pair of glasses on it seemed.
"That doesn't look very comfortable," Logan thought to himself when the boy shifted beneath the sheet once again. His arm still remained draped over Logan's chest, holding him close yet his head twisted on Logan's shoulder. It dropped back further onto Logan's arm when Logan got another, more complete glance of his bedmate. The boy by far was the most beautiful bedmate Logan could ever recall having at his side through the years.
"Interesting," Logan mouthed thinking about their surroundings and wondering if the boy had some kind of medical kink as they'd been surrounded by machines and gadgets, yet given how innocent the boy beside him appeared to be, he'd doubted that very much. However curious the situation may appear, Logan found himself met by a momentary disappointment when he realized that the boy beside him was still dressed.
"Damn," he cursed contemplating his current situation when he found himself struck by a curiosity in realizing that he, however, was very naked beside the beautiful stranger. That in itself prompted him to twist beneath the blanket, leaning in to take in his scent over the boy's neck. It was there lingering as a strong indication that they'd been intimate with one another. Clearly Logan had known the boy—had somehow invited the boy into his bed or maybe it was the boy's bed as they lay together sleeping in one another's arms. Truth be told that aspect of things puzzled Logan the most given that he'd almost never invited anyone he'd taken home with him to stay. Sure, on occasion there were a few stragglers he could remember on the road, but none as fascinating as the creature beside him.
"Who are you?" Logan questioned unable to refrain from reaching out to touch the boy in his arms. He felt the boy shift again, sliding back onto the tiny hospital bed they shared with a sigh.
Watching the boy's dark hair fall onto the pillowcase Logan twisted around so that he hovered over the boy watching and waiting for a response out of him. When he found none, he focused on the boy's mouth again. It seemed to keep calling to him like a siren song drawing him in until he took in the faint, lingering scent of his mouth over the boy's. They'd kissed. That much Logan was certain of as he'd found himself anticipating doing it again. Leaning forward Logan brushed his fingertips over the side of the boy's face rousing him from his slumber when Logan felt the boy tense up beneath him.
"Logan?" he questioned in a breathless yawn. He stretched his long legs out beneath Logan when Logan's fingers pushed into his thick, dark hair.
"Morning beautiful," Logan whispered giving in to instinct and dipping down to kiss the boy in the hopes that the action would awaken memories from the inevitably hot night the two must've shared with one another. It was almost cruel that Logan couldn't recall how he'd wound up in such a position with temptation beneath him, panting and gasping as Logan's lips crashed into his.
At first Logan felt a whimper vibrate on the boy's lips causing Logan to question his actions, but soon the boy's whimpers shifted into a soft moan when his lips parted inviting Logan to take a taste of the mouth he was quite certain he'd want to spend hours exploring. Suddenly everything around Logan felt hazy with his mind unable to fill in the blanks when the boy's fingers stretched out onto his shoulder gripping and holding him with uncertainty. Their tongues teased and explored each other, lips colliding in a heated frenzy when Logan finally felt the boy tense up beneath him.
"Stop," his companion whispered breathlessly, "Logan. Wait…"
"What?" Logan questioned lazily when there was a sound coming from behind the bed they were in. Suddenly another scent filled the air when Logan sprung off of the mattress and onto the floor. Sliding his claws out, Logan met their new arrival with a snarl. A part of him half anticipated it being the mob or the last man who'd come to collect on feeling hustled by Logan, but instead Logan found himself staring at another young man with black framed glasses on his face.
"I see you're awake now," the man smiled politely, but his eyes spoke volume of the disapproval that he'd experienced in entering the room, "Logan."
"How do you know my name?" Logan grumbled under his breath. He shifted his gaze over his shoulder to discover his companion shuffling out of bed with a bright blush carrying over his features, "Who are you?"
"My name is Hank," the new arrival held his hands up in the air, "and that's Scott. We're here to help you."
"Scott," Logan redirected his attention to his bedmate again. He could see that the kiss had visibly shaken the boy causing him to turn away from Logan without so much as a second glance. Suddenly everything felt off when Logan focused on the slender youth he'd been wrapped up in moments later, "Who are you?"
"We pulled you out of the sewers," Hank answered for Scott. He stepped into the room doing his best to sound neutral when Logan spun around to discover Hank closing in upon him.
"What did you do to me? Where the hell am I?" Logan's face twisted defensively.
"You're safe now," Hank offered up making another step towards Logan. The movement caused Logan to step back, claws still extended and prepared for whatever was around the corner.
"No," Logan shook his head and frowned, "I was back at the facility and…"
"I rescued you," Scott finally broke his long silence when Logan looked across the room to see Scott had moved to the far corner away from the bed. He brought his hand up, brushing his index finger over his bottom lip in an uneasy movement. A second later he raised his chin up forcing himself to look at Logan behind his glasses, "I found you in the water and…"
"You hit me with something," Logan gasped in realization when it suddenly became clear where he'd seen the boy before. Remembering the way he'd attempted to rescue the boy, he could see them trapped together in the water when the boy had done something—had hit him with a force that had knocked him across the stone walls, "What did you do to me? Who are you?"
"Who do you think I am?" Scott questioned finally regaining his bearings and taking a bold step forward, "How do you know my name?"
"I don't know you," Logan snarled shifting his positions when he finally took in his surroundings. It was a lab of sorts—not like the one he'd escaped from not long ago, but with the medical equipment and the needles on the counter, there was no mistaking what was happening to him again, "Stay away from me! Both of you! I'm warning you!"
"We aren't here to harm you Logan," Hank's worried eyes shifted over to where Scott was standing, "We just want to help you."
"Like hell," Logan roared charging at Hank when time suddenly stood still. For a moment Logan felt his body tense up, his limbs becoming useless when another man entered the room in a wheelchair. Behind his blue eyes there was a sense of concern and amusement when he stared up at Logan.
"We mean you no harm my friend," the man's voice echoed inside of his head, "I'm Charles Xavier and although you don't remember me, we are old friends."
"No," Logan attempted to shake his head, but found himself immobilized in the moment. He struggled feeling the weight release itself when he was able to move. His arms lowered down beside him with claws returning to his body. Wearily his eyes shifted between Hank and Scott wondering why they still weren't moving in the moment, "What are you?"
"I'm a mutant much like yourself," Charles answered finally speaking up outside of Logan's mind. He moved into the room with a smooth fluidity before addressing Logan again, "I realize that your mind is jumbled at the moment my friend, but you and I were close not long ago. We have a history with one another."
"No," Logan shook his head and grumbled, "I don't know you."
"You do," Charles stated plainly when the room around Logan seemed to spring to life once again, "You just aren't aware of it yet, but I can help you clear up the confusion if you'll allow me to."
"Charles," Hank spoke up preparing to move in closer to Logan when Charles raised his hand up in the air to prevent Hank from moving at Logan.
"I can take care of this Hank," Charles answered dismissively with his eyes still on Logan, "Logan and I are going to have a civilized conversation with one another, now aren't we?"
Logan stood silent watching as Scott's hand moved up to his visor and served as a reminder of what the boy had done to him inside of the hell he'd been trapped in. For a moment he found himself met by anger and rage preparing to lash out at the boy he'd been kissing moments earlier, but when Charles spoke up in a smooth and even tone, Logan relented relaxing his posture a bit.
"Yeah sure," Logan huffed.
"Scott," Charles called to his student, "why don't you and Hank go upstairs with the other students? You aren't needed in here right now."
"But…" Scott opened his mouth to protest.
"Professor, I really don't think that…" Hank offered up his objection.
"Logan and I will be fine," Charles smiled over at Logan, "won't we?"
"Yeah," Logan huffed taking a seat back on the edge of the bed. Suddenly aware of his nakedness Logan thought about the situation he'd awakened to. However, with everyone else seemingly unaffected by his nudity, Logan simply made himself more comfortable on the bed allowing his thighs to stretch out over the thin sheet. He sensed movement to the left of him indicating that Scott was walking towards the room's exit. Almost immediately Logan's eyes were upon the boy sizing him up now that he was in a disappointingly more vertical position making his way towards the door. Unable to refrain from staring, Logan's gaze fell upon Scott's tight, perky bottom inside of his jeans wondering if his scent would linger there as well as it had upon Scott's lips. Unable to refrain from smirking, Logan reached down to tap the hospital bed with his fingers tauntingly, "though you know if Slim wants to stay with us, I don't have any objections."
"Slim?" Scott repeated turning around to face Logan fully. The movement caused Logan to realize that the blush in Scott's features had intensified, undoubtedly compounded with the embarrassment he'd felt when his chin tipped down to steal a glimpse of Logan naked. Although Logan could sense how uncomfortable the boy was, he couldn't help, but tease further with a slow, slide of his thigh across the sheet to reveal his manhood to a now gasping Scott. He watched the boy's lips part with his tongue teasing out over the top of his bottom lip before Logan's hand patted over his own thigh.
"You can take a seat right over here on my lap if you'd like," Logan smirked at the boy only to elicit a groan from Hank.
"Charles," Hank scowled disapprovingly, "I told you that this was a bad idea. Right now I don't think that…"
"What if I did?" Scott stepped in closer to Logan calling him on his lewd behavior, "What then? What would you do in front of the others?"
"What?" Logan watched as the tempting boy he'd awakened in bed with crossed the room with a stoic expression on his face.
"What would you do to me if I stayed?" Scott challenged him further catching the rest of the room off guard with his boldness. He moved in closer to Logan reaching out to slide his index finger over Logan's thick shoulder blade. The movement caused goose bumps to form on Logan's flesh, rendering him speechless when Scott licked his own lower lip once again, "What is it you think that I'd have to gain by taking a seat on your lap?"
"Well I…" Logan found himself at a loss when Scott's gaze dropped down to Logan's lap for a brief, dismissive glance again. It gave nothing away about Scott's thoughts, but rather puzzled Logan when Scott leaned in closer to him to whisper in his ear.
"It's not all that impressive," Scott mouthed loud enough for Logan alone to hear before he pulled back with a wicked smirk.
"Bullshit," Logan called his bluff, preparing to offer another set of words to coax Scott back into bed with him again when Charles cleared his throat uncomfortably.
"Scott, that's all for now," Charles explained waving his hand in the air and bringing the sheet over Logan's body to cover him up. The movement caused Scott to step back and avoid Logan's eyes with the sharp turn he made on his heel, "I think you and Hank should tell the others that our new guest is awake and will be joining us for dinner."
"Of course," Hank nodded following Scott out of the medical bay to give Charles and Logan a moment of privacy.
"That was highly inappropriate," Charles chastised Logan once they were alone with one another, "He's just a boy Logan."
"A boy who was in my bed this morning," Logan tipped his head to the side to give Charles another curious once over, "Why is that?"
"Why don't you tell me?" Charles moved in closer to Logan.
"What is this place?" Logan questioned feeling himself overtaken with apprehension all over again in Scott's absence.
"It's a school—a sanctuary for others like us who have sought out solace," Charles informed him in a smooth and even tone, "Not long ago you found your way to us Logan and made a very special request out of Hank and I."
"What kind of request?" Logan's jaw tensed up at the expression on Charles' face. Thinking about Scott in his bed, Logan couldn't help, but inquire, "Does Scott—does he work for you? Are you his…?"
"Heavens no," Charles mused with laughter in his voice, "My you do have quite an active imagination my friend. It seems it would serve to lead you down a dark path if you aren't careful."
"Careful and I don't go hand in hand," Logan scoffed sliding off of the bed and looking around the room, "Where are my things?"
"This is how we found you," Charles answered observing as Logan walked around the room in search of his clothing, "What were you doing in that building Logan?"
"Escaping," Logan cut back sharply, "which is what I intend to do right now once I get on a pair of pants and…"
"Where will you go?" Charles inquired, "Who will you see?"
"I'll figure it out," Logan marched over to one of the cabinets. He pulled it open only to discover medical supplies before him. Closing the door, he moved on to the next cabinet and opened it to discover neatly folded piles of gray sweatpants before him. He selected one from the top of the shelf before attempting to put them on, "I always do."
"Yes, but what kind of life has that been for you Logan?" Charles questioned observing him from across the room, "It must be lonely going from place to place and not knowing what brought you there."
"What do you know about any of that?" Logan snarled back at him.
"A lot more than you can imagine my friend," Charles answered simply, "As I explained before you and I have a history with one another—one that I'd like for us to explore in a less clinical setting if you will."
"Is that right?" Logan asked wearily.
"Stay for dinner," Charles suggested, "It will give you time to get acquainted with the others."
"No thanks bub," Logan insisted pulling the pants up to his waist. He focused on the cabinet again and spotted a matching gray sweatshirt on the shelf as well. Reaching for it, he wrinkled his nose at the looks of it, but attempted to put it on regardless.
"At least take the time to enjoy a hot shower and a meal," Charles paused when Logan felt the press of the man in his mind somehow as if he'd stepped inside of Logan to read his thoughts, "or a beer for heaven's sake."
"Beer," Logan repeated as if he'd finally heard Charles for the first time since his arrival.
"I have some stored in my office—locked away from the students of course," Charles flashed him a small grin, "They're Canadian."
"In that case," Logan discarded the sweatshirt when it proved to be too small for him, "throw in a halfway decent shirt and you're on."
"I'll do you one better," Charles assured him with a nod, "I'll show you to your old room where you stayed the last time you were visiting here."
"I was here before?" Logan questioned wearily. His eyes shifted around the room, taking in his surroundings once again before his gaze lingered to the bed he'd awakened in, "What about the others?"
"If you stay for dinner, then you can have the opportunity to speak with Scott again," Charles suggested as if he'd read Logan's thoughts again, "It'll give you the opportunity to apologize for your rudeness with him."
"Hmm," Logan pondered his thoughts before finally nodding, "I'll think about it—after that beer."
"Of course," Charles nodded as he found himself wondering just what he was getting himself and the others into in bringing Logan to the school again under such strange circumstances.
xxxxx
"You alright Scott?" Hank questioned as Scott leaned up against the back of the elevator. He tipped his head back closing his eyes behind his visor as he let out an uneasy breath.
"Of course," Scott lied fighting to keep his thoughts under control as they prepared to go speak with the others, "why wouldn't I be?"
"I know Logan's a bit of a handful," Hank began apologetically.
"I'd say he's more than a handful," Scott gulped down harder than he'd anticipated when he thought about Logan's naked body over him. Suddenly feeling flushed again, Scott tried to turn away from his friend, "Um, you know what I mean."
"Logan has this way about him," Hank frowned, "I don't know why the professor brought him here again."
"What happened the last time he was here?" Scott questioned forcing himself to look at Hank, "Why doesn't he remember the both of you if he and Charles are longtime friends?"
"It was a very complicated situation the last time Logan was here," Hank shifted on his feet and avoided Scott's questioning, "It was a very dire time at the mansion."
"He was here before you and Charles found Jean and me though, right?" Scott couldn't help, but ask.
Hank nodded, "It was quite a while before the both of you were here."
"But he knows us," Scott searched Hank's features further, "He was dreaming and he said her name and mine."
"He did?" Hank's brow perked with sudden interest, "What did he say?"
"Not much," Scott rolled his shoulders back and shrugged, "He just called out our names before…"
"Before what?" Hank asked.
"Nothing," Scott folded his arms in front of his chest to close himself off from the memories of the night before with Logan, "He's just a very restless sleeper."
"Speaking of which," Hank cleared his throat again, "with what he was saying to you Scott… I know you spent the night in there watching him for the professor, but if Logan said or did anything appropriate... I mean beyond what he said when we were leaving."
"No," Scott lied knowing full well that Hank had undoubtedly walked in on the two of them kissing, "he didn't."
"Scott," Hank opened his mouth before nodding, "alright, but if you ever want to…to talk about anything, you know that you can always speak to me, right?"
"Why did the professor bring him here?" Scott questioned focusing on Hank again, "What does he want from Logan?"
"I don't know Scott, but whatever it is," Hank's lips curved downward in the beginnings of a scowl, "I hope Charles knows what he's doing."
"You and me both," Scott replied bringing his hand up to his lip once again. Closing his eyes he traced his index finger over his bottom lip where Logan had kissed him wondering how in the world his thoughts could be returning to the crass, blatant man he'd awakened in bed with. There was something brutish about his approach—something disgusting and repulsive in ways that Scott would've balked away from in the past, yet in thinking about the way that Logan's eyes carried over him, watching him like the cat who ate the canary, Scott couldn't help, but find himself curious.
"You know what they say about playing with fire Scott," Hank's words cut through Scott's thoughts about Logan naked and taunting him from the hospital bed.
"Trust me," Scott cleared his throat and stood up taller. He tried to shield his thoughts—to bury them down deep when he focused on the task the professor had requested of him, "I won't get burned."
"Or so you think," Hank mouthed when the elevator doors opened and Scott stepped out into the hallway leaving Hank to wonder if the professor was about to open the door to trouble in ways that neither one of them could imagine in inviting the man from the past back into their lives all over again.
