„So is that Logan/Wolverine guy single

„So is that Logan/Wolverine guy single?"

Rogue came to a halt. Sure she knew Logan had some certain charm and was popular with the ladies. Sure Rogue knew Logan's love affairs were none of her business. Sure she knew there was nothing wrong in Lucky being attracted to Wolverine. But still – it was her Logan!

Rogue didn't know for how long had she been staring at Lucky's innocent face with obvious surprise. Lucky seemed to catch her signal for she said: "Oh! Don't worry. I didn't know you two were together. Just that I had an impression that you and the younger X-man were an item…"

Rogue snapped out of it and walked closer to Lucky. "Yeah, I and Bobby are dating. Absolutely. And Logan is single as far as I know," Rogue said trying her best to sound casual. Gosh, this felt awkward!

Lucky didn't buy it though. "Why did you look so pissed then?"

Rogue sighed. "Me and Logan go way back," she said quietly. "Not as lovers! More like best friends… And I wasn't pissed off, just a little surprised maybe."

Lucky wasn't buying that either, but decided to let it drop. It wasn't her place to snoop around for everyone's dirty little secrets or something like that. If Rogue had a crush on someone else than her boyfriend, then Lucky didn't feel like stepping in the huge drama.

"OK. He just looked kind of sexy. If you don't want me to – I don't know – make a move on him, then that's totally cool by me. Just natural interest," Lucky told her. The friendly smile she gave to Rogue would have melted the whole North Pole. Rogue didn't know how someone could resist her simple honesty and frankness.

"No, no. He is free to do whatever he wants. As are you," Rogue told the other woman. "But be careful. Logan isn't exactly the most reliable of guys."

Lucky shrugged. "And it's also not exactly as if I proposed to him, honey!" They both laughed at that. "Listen, I'm gonna be here for like two days. All I had in mind was a little flirt, little laugh. Maybe getting one night's worth of good memories to take with me to Acapulco."

Rogue observed her with open interest. It's not every day she met people like Lucky – so open about what they want, so natural in their shamelessness, so interesting.

"Good luck hunting," Rogue wished to her newest friend.

"Thanks, R." Lucky told her. "Do you think I might stand a chance with him? After the shower that is."

For Rogue the answer was clear and simple. Logan went out every chance he got. Rogue knew what kind of women he spent his nights with. If those were good enough for Wolverine, then Lucky had to be more than OK. With or without the shower.

But all Rogue chose to say about it, was: "I know you do."

Both of the young women smiled to each other. One was glad there hadn't been a major catfight; the other felt relieved the sting in her heart had been only temporary. Peace.

After a few more minutes Rogue left Lucky to go check out what's for dinner. She almost bumped into the one person she didn't feel like talking to at the very moment. Logan. The whole previous conversation seemed to rush back to her and made her blush.

"What's up, kid? You look a little flushed," Logan said with less barking voice than what was his usual way. He was in the middle of eating his huge sandwich and reading some auto magazine.

"Umm… Nothing's going on," Rogue said and helped herself a soda. Inside she was debating over whether or not she should tell Logan about the little fact that Lucky was interested in him. She wanted to see if it ran both ways. Why, Rogue did not know.

As her womanly possessive nature won over the ethics towards her new friend, Rogue said: "I helped Lucky with her unpacking. We talked a lot."

Logan didn't look up. He had a feeling Rogue was leading him into something since she never gossiped about other girls at the mansion with him. Since there were very few things Logan minded about Rogue, he decided to fallow her path. "About?"

Rogue shrugged. "Just girl talk. You know – boys and stuff."

Logan snorted and turned his full attention back to the more important issue in hand. Food.

Rogue was disappointed that Logan didn't ask her more. Wasn't he curious what exactly did they talk about boys? She tried one more time: "He fancies someone in this house…"

Logan only snorted again.

"Ok, ok – she fancies you!" Rogue shouted out and kept looking intently at him to see any reaction. There was none to mention.

"What's there not to fancy?" Logan asked in the cockiest way possible and munched the last piece of his sandwich. But inside he was smiling. Smiling wide! Girls were funny to him. Why did Rogue make such a fuss over such a natural thing though?

"Why are you telling me this?" he asked.

Rogue blushed again a little and hid her face behind the wave of her long black hair. "I don't know. Thought you might want to know…"

Logan didn't say a thing. He knew Rogue was acting all weird, but… It wasn't his concern anymore, right? She wasn't his anymore, right?

"Well, I'll better go up to her then and see if she fancies me enough to go out for a ride then," Logan said with the most manly tone he could mustard and got up. No need to waste a good opportunity to spend some time with a steaming hot female body.

Mean time Xavier was still at his office. He let his mind wonder. Something was very off with Lucky and that made Xavier tick. In a good way though. He could very well understand Lucky's defensive behaviour – it wasn't that long ago he had to tame Wolverine. And that was much, much worse. Xavier thought whether or not Lucky and Logan were cut of the same cloth. What would do the trick with her?

And the other problem – Xavier didn't know what to do about Lucky's powers. They were there, he was sure of it. Even much stronger than the most! But… Is it possible to use mutant powers without being aware of it? If so – Lucky was getting the best of both worlds. The normality of human race and the benefits of mutation. Something most people dreamed of.

Xavier decided it had to be the luck-factor. That is something people tend to take for granted. Something that might go unnoticed, historically accepted as a gift, something to sheer about instead of considering oneself a freak. It had to be it.

Xavier was puzzled. If good luck is her mutation then how to make it work for the team? Is she their charm?

--

Lucky was thrumming her guitar. Nothing special. It was something to calm her nerves and make her feel a bit more at ease with this absolutely crazy turn of events. This morning she was looking at the dust dancing on the nearly deserted highway and thinking how the hell did she end up there. Now she was sitting on a king size bed in a house royalty could live in. What a fucked up world indeed.

She started to hum and without much effort she sang:

Poisonous fire in my eyes
lures you, my butterfly.
My love's your prison cell
or heaven sweet – you can't tell.

You think you're playing the game
but in the end I leave you in shame:
I've used you,
I've cursed you,
I've taken it all and left you
with an addictive taste
of my love you can't waste.

Snowstorm in command hides my trail.
When you want more – bound to fail.
Cruel curb of my blood adorn lips
says I'm the best you always will miss.

Logan was walking down the hall with an insolent smile when he heard her voice. The Wolverine pricked up his ears and listened. It wasn't much like him to stand behind someone's door and eavesdrop, but... Deem, this redhead had some voice!

"Knock, knock," he said mockingly half away across the room already. Logan leaned on a window-sill and his piercing dark eyes monitored his pray. She put down her intument and it didn't look as if she minded the interruption. Logan liked her cool attitude and the way she seemed somewhat distant. Made him want to hunt her down and ...

"Who's there?" Lucky asked playfully and tilted her head on one side. And – yes – she was aware it's a flirtatious move. Logan in his tight fitting jeans and worn leather jacked could get anyone in a playful mood.

Logan crooked his lips and the two spent a second that felt like an hour just staring at each other. They knew. The way animals always know. It was only the matter of time and effort about how to play this game. And playing the game is always the best part of the short way from first glance to spending the night together under the immortal stars. Lucky knew it, Logan knew it. So how it's gonna play out?

"I don't see any poisonous fire in your eyes, girl," he said with his resonant manly voice.

"You're not a butterfly either, are you... Wolverine?" she asked innocently, but then leaned a bit back and there was this gloom to her eyes that only a woman has when she is after a real man's man. She was letting him know – the hunt is on.

"No I'm not, "Logan sneered while keeping his eyes glued on Lucky. ""I'm something much more... interesting. Much more. Care to go out with me?" he asked and for a second there he really felt like a schoolboy. He had to hide his own surprise for he had never expected to feel so shaky. Since when did Wolverine care if the girl number 10065543 or something so says yes or no?

Lucky smiled, as if she knew exactly how he felt. "I might."

Logan wasn't the type of a man to beg a womans attention. He wasn't going to start being so pussy now either. "Ok, let me know then," he sayd, shrugger his shoulder and pushed himself off the window-sill.

Lucky didn't like the feel of playing her cards wrong. She liked to act somewhat hard to get, but not when it meant having no fun because of it. "After dinner then?"

He was at the door already, but after hearing her cool and confident question, turned back to look at her. "I'll introduce you to local nighlife. I hope my favorite bar is open."

Lucky smiled at him and looked straight to his eyes. "I hope we'll get lucky."