Rogue's eye fluttered open as her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. Strangely she'd awoken at the start of her acquired nightmare from Logan's mind when usually it was only once she was screaming herself hoarse that she stirred.
Her breath came out in quiet pants as she recalled her lie to Logan. She knew how important it was for him to find his past so she'd let him believe she was okay alone at the school. Yet it still took everything in her not to call him back the minute the door closed behind him.
It wasn't as if she didn't have nightmares of her own, some including a different ending to the Liberty Island incident where Logan died and hadn't been able to stop the machine in time or the ones where Jean dumped Scott and finally decided to accept Logan's advances causing Rogue herself to fade completely from Logan's mind. It was just that his nightmares were worse.
Probably because they both knew that they were more than just nightmares - they were memories. Painful memories.
She briefly wondered if the nightmares would have been easier to deal with had she not let him go or if she'd gone with him but she was positive he didn't want an annoying kid like herself at his side as he searched for his past. A past he knew nothing about - something which had to be way too intimate to be shared with her.
After all he was only supposed to give her a lift to the next town - not get dragged into the insane kidnapping plot against her.
Finally awake enough Rogue startled as she registered a warm arm wrapped tightly around her waist and the fact that her back was pressed against a very naked, very defined chest. Feeling her skin tingling an indicator that her power was very much activated she was utterly confused when no sounds of pain were released from the body pressed against her.
That confusion quickly turned to fear as she realised her first line of defence was gone and within seconds she was squirming, madly trying to pull away from it desperately wishing Logan had taught her more self defence.
Instead of escaping her actions had the opposite affect as the arm only tightened further around her. Halting her breathing completely as fear clouded her mind she was surprised when a small moan of discomfort left the person's mouth followed by a quiet and slightly agitated 'Marie' mumbled into her ear.
Her body instantly relaxed immediately recognizing Logan's voice before she consciously processed it.
Focusing her mind, she quickly sifted through what she dubbed her 'Logan files' noticing the new memories now present. A small smile prickled at her mouth and she couldn't help the way she turned in his arms so her face was facing his chest.
Cautiously her hand ran gently over the skin that had been slowly stitching itself back together feeling a pang of pain deep within herself as she recalled how he'd been injured.
Pushing past the flair of anger that was pulsating inside her as she imagined exactly what she'd do to Sabertooth when she could get her hands on him, she focused on his now only slightly pink skin and his memories of the last month.
A burst of smug satisfaction flooded her as she realised how much he spent wondering how she was doing and wishing she was with him. Excitement quickly joined in as she figured that maybe, just maybe, he didn't just see her as some annoying kid like she thought he did.
Reaching up Rogue stroked his cheek softly as her eyes roamed over his delightfully peaceful and open face. She knew she shouldn't be surprised that he hadn't changed in the month he'd been away but she was. Though that didn't stop the fact that in her crazy changing life of the last year he still stayed constant, something that reassured her more than she could ever express.
Her eyes widened as she felt the dull ache from her earlier attack against the wall disappear, instantly followed by the tingling sensation ceasing, letting her know her skin was no longer active.
Gazing at his face again, she traced every vein in his face with her fingertips feeling them perfectly in place. There was no bulging veins, or widened eye. No gasping last breaths or desperate clutches. He was just Logan.
Rogue burrowed further into his arms, tears of wonder prickling at her eyes as her eyelashes brushed his chest.
Curling her hand around his dog tags that were nestled in their place between her breasts, she sighed in a mix of confusion and joy, not sure how she was supposed to deal with this new development.
Logan's brow furrowed in his sleep as he nuzzled his nose against the space between her neck and collarbone, breathing in her scent. As if sensing her unease, he wrapped his arms tighter around her. Feeling the soft feminine body pressed firmly against his own he happily sighed her name, staying wrapped around her like another blanket.
Soothed by Logan's acceptance of her presence in his bed, even if it was his subconscious, Rogue rested her free hand on his chest. Feeling him press a soft kiss to her collarbone her breath caught in her throat as she slowly drifted back to sleep with her hand flattened against his calmly beating heart.
A/N Thanks to the reviewers and favorite-ers and followers from the last two chapters, sorry about the long wait and I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Next time look forward to some other characters making an appearance.