"Tonight I want you all to read the conclusion to Les Misérables," Scott announced closing the book on his desk. He looked across the classroom from behind his glasses realizing that half the students appeared to be less than enthralled by the assignment. A few of them groaned, while others looked simply bored out of their mind, "Oh come on. It's a classic and one that I think we can all take something from Jean Valjean's plight."
"Yeah a nap," one of the students chortled with amusement.
"Only if you're planning on learning through the process of osmosis," Scott frowned with heavy disapproval, "We're going to be having a pop quiz tomorrow on it, so I strongly suggest everyone brush up on the reading."
"A pop quiz?" one of the girls spoke up from her seat near the left of the classroom, "A pop quiz would imply that we don't know about it, but by you telling us in advance…"
"I'm feeling generous," Scott circled around his desk, unable to ignore the headache that had been driving him crazy all morning. He brought his hand up to the side of his face wanting nothing more then to take the ruby quartz glasses off. The day had been beautiful when he'd awakened, one to truly appreciate in every way imaginable. It was something he would've savored for all it's warmth and charm, but given the lengths he'd gone to hide his secret, he knew he would be forced to deny himself the pleasure. That mixed with the nagging worry over Logan's nightmare had him tense. He was wound up tightly and not even a night of great sex with Logan could change that.
"I'll say," another student quipped.
"Guess Logan drilling it to him caused him to lose that stick that was up his…" Scott heard a muted voice echo in his mind.
Immediately bristling at the comment, Scott's eyes wandered over the student's faces with a frown.
"Who said that?" Scott questioned with a glare behind his glasses.
"Said what?" Marie questioned looking up from her book.
"You know what you said," Scott's frown intensified.
"No one said anything," another student announced as Scott's headache began to pulsate in his temple more with each passing second.
"What?" another questioned.
"Just make sure you read the novel," Scott sank back into his chair, doing his best to try to banish the throbbing ache inside of him. He heard the sound of the clock alerting that class was over. Students began to pile out of the classroom, chatting eagerly with one another over their plans for the day. It seemed life hadn't changed. The cycle continued in it's own way, constantly moving as it had been before Scott had disappeared from the school.
"Are you alright?" Marie questioned approaching Scott tentatively. He raised his head up to see the worry crease in her brow.
"I'm fine," Scott lied behind gritted teeth, doing his best to keep his tension to himself. He sat up straighter in his seat before smiling at her, "I guess I'm just a little bit rusty with my abilities to charm a room."
"You weren't ever really able to charm a room," Marie confessed sheepishly, her cheeks curling upward in a teasing smirk, "Most of the class just thought you were cute."
"Cute," Scott leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms back over his head with laughter, "is that what my appeal was?"
"That and that you were unavailable," Marie nodded in confession, "those are always two elements to drive young hearts aflutter."
"Young hearts," Scott couldn't help but laugh, "as opposed to an old soul like yours?"
"Ah, I think you're cute enough, but you know Logan's more my type," Marie waved her hand dismissively, "At least he was when I was a kid."
"You're not that old Marie," Scott sat up straighter seeing a sadness behind her eyes.
"I feel like it sometimes," she admitted with a heavy sigh, "I've done more living then most people my age have and…"
"And what?" Scott watched her words taper off.
"I just wonder sometimes if…" she paused biting down on her lower lip nervously.
"If what?" he questioned seeing her close herself off from the moment.
"If maybe things would've been different with life on the other side," she finally blurted out, finding the courage to meet his eyes again. "When I thought there was a cure, I was ready to take the leap. I wanted to be able to be free, to never have to worry again about almost killing someone. I thought it was the answer, but…"
"Running away never truly provides an escape," Scott noted catching the expression on her face, "only more complications."
"Is that how you felt?" she asked timidly. "When you were away did you feel like life was more complicated?"
"It didn't feel like it was mine any longer," Scott divulged candidly, "Nothing about where I was seemed like it was my life any longer."
"Until Logan found you," Marie noted with the beginnings of a smile.
"Something like that," Scott nodded in confession thinking about Logan's presence in his life. Having Logan find him had changed everything, but now that they were back in the middle of school so much was still changing with everyone else, "but I really don't want to go around shouting it from the rooftops considering that…"
"You and Logan are keeping a low profile for now," Marie added quickly with a knowing smirk, "Yeah, I kind of figured as much."
"It's not so much about having a low profile, but rather keeping certain things personal," Scott sighed drawing in a breath as his headache began to ease up ever so slightly.
"Understood," Marie pretended to zip her lips.
"Look," Scott started shifting on his chair when he thought to her questioning, "I heard rumors about what happened with you and…"
"Their so-called cure," Marie let out an ironic laugh, "I thought it was going to be the answer to my prayers, but I was wrong. I've had longer naps over what I experienced in their 'freedom'. I guess I'd just hoped for more, but when it came down to it, I had to face the fact that I am who I am. As hard as it was to come to terms with that, it's who I was meant to be."
"Accepting who you are is tough especially when you don't understand it, but at the same time," Scott paused thinking about the weight of their conversation, "there's no greater power in knowing what you are and embracing it."
"Power," she repeated with a small laugh, "yeah, well some have mutations that they might appreciate that sentiment, but with mine, well, as much as I'd like to say those few weeks weren't special to me, the truth is that I savored every single second of them. I always feared it wouldn't last, but in that time when I was 'normal' I experienced a lifetime full of memories that won't ever leave me. Even if I did it for all the wrong reasons, I can't ever forget how wonderful that was. Of course as you said freedom always comes at a price."
"Unfortunately that happens more often, then not," Scott sighed heavily thinking about the dreams he had carried in the past when he had once been wishing his mutation away. Thinking about the level of severity of Marie's mutation, he was overtaken with guilt at how much he'd condemned his own mutation through the years. Yes, it had been something he'd adjusted to, but he'd still been lost in self-loathing. Marie, on the other hand, seemed to come to terms with things, even in her sadness and it gave Scott all the more reason to vow to keep his altered mutations a secret. The last thing he wanted to do was rub it in to someone like Marie, who had been once hoping for her own 'miracle'.
"I've talked your ear off enough already," Marie waved her hand in the air dismissively. "I'm sure you have plenty of things to do since it's just your first week back in the classroom. With therapy ending and…"
"I don't mind the conversation," Scott smiled at her warmly, "Hell, I welcome it after the last few months I've had. It shows me that people don't think I'm unapproachable like they did before."
"They didn't think you were unapproachable," Marie opened her mouth in protest.
"I heard their whispers," Scott tipped his head to the side, "I know what they were saying about me when I lost Jean or even before that when I was running things around here."
"People have a tendency to balk at authority figures," she shrugged her shoulders, "It's just the way things are."
"Balking I can take," Scott confessed nervously, "but the name calling and whispers…"
"Weren't meant for your ears," she added quickly, "Besides, the longer you're here, the more I think people are going to see that you've changed."
"What do you mean?" Scott questioned defensively. He sat up straighter wondering if he'd given himself away in the moment of conversation.
"I mean you're just more relaxed," Marie waved her hand around in the air quickly, "I didn't mean anything by it other then you seem less guarded and more social. Before it was like all you had on your mind was business as usual, putting together the team and running things. Quite frankly you were sort of lacking in the personality department. No offense, but now, well now you seem more relaxed, more comfortable in your own skin."
"I'm far from it sometimes, but like we discussed, I'm learning to accept who I am and what that means for my future," Scott revealed in reflection, knowing only too well that life was certainly different since his return. No more was he burdened by the fear of the world falling apart without him being perfect. He'd spent most of his life in control, on the top of his game and putting everyone else before himself, but now, well now he was trying to take the time to smell the roses. He was branching out to open his heart to the possibilities of what was out there in the world that surrounded him. Yes, he was always trying to keep the reigns of control, but just not as tightly given the changes in his life. He was finally in a place where things, aside from the confusion over his powers, felt right. With Logan he'd found the peace he'd been missing out on in his life.
"Logan's been a good influence on you," Marie decided, her grin expanded as she turned to leave. She paused glancing over her shoulder with a teasing wink, "and for what it's worth, I happen to think you and Logan are great together."
"Thanks," Scott answered sheepishly, "and Marie?"
"Yes?" she turned around to face him again.
"Look, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you stepping in to help me with class," Scott smiled genuinely, "you're undoubtedly the best teacher's assistant I've had in a very long time."
"I remember what it was like being on the other side of things," she motioned to the desk chairs behind her. "It's a bit intimidating to be the new one in the classroom. Even though you aren't new, I know it's been a while and a little help can go a long way."
"I appreciate it," Scott smiled back at her, watching her exit before he sank back into his chair.
Rubbing the side of his head he thought about the changes that had taken place in his absence. He closed his eyes and took in the moment of silence. There was a time when he would've believed that everything would crumble around him if he hadn't been there to pull everything together. He'd imagined that if he slipped up even once that chaos would follow. The world would simply fall to pieces, yet without him they had thrived. The school continued to bring new hope to young mutants and…
"Scott," he heard a voice beckon him through his thoughts.
"Jean?" he questioned snapping out of his daze to look around the room. He sat up straighter in his chair, his head spinning from the sound he'd thought he'd heard. Looking around the room he realized that he was alone, that he'd been alone since Marie's retreat, yet something felt different in the room surrounding him.
Standing up Scott started to pull at his tie, adjusting the collar when a warmth spiraled over his senses, penetrating his muscles and guiding him towards the classroom door. He stood frozen, unable to explain the feeling that had overwhelmed him, yet when his feet started moving, he found himself overtaken by a new instinct, by an invisible force pulling him away from the classroom to take him somewhere he hadn't anticipated visiting ever again.
XXXXX
Logan sat on the sofa in the corner of the game room with the adamantium rock in his hands pondering just how much of it was out there. While Bert had been vague and evasive in his answers, Logan couldn't help, but wonder what new monsters were waiting and ready to strike in using the material to create chaos. Knowing Stryker's purpose in seeking it out, Logan couldn't help, but be worried about what Victor might consider doing. Still in knowing that he couldn't change things just yet, Logan leaned back, legs stretched up on the coffee table while enjoying a few minutes of silence. While he'd planned on getting a jump start on the day, hoping to look into a few things with the team about trying to locate Victor, he'd opted instead to take a little time to himself. Even though he'd said he was alright in the morning when Scott had left for class, deep down he knew that he wasn't. He couldn't be fine knowing that Victor was still out there waiting for the right moment to strike. That in itself left Logan feeling very unsettled as he reached into his pocket pulling out a cigar. Looking around the room, he contemplated not lighting it considering the wrath he might endure from Charles. However, not one to be guided by his fears, Logan settled into the couch further opting to light it after all. With the first puff Logan felt the sweet taste of fulfillment carrying over him in his silent indulgence.
"So what if it isn't allowed?" he could hear his voice encouraging him when he looked across the room to the pinball machine set up a short distance away from the pool table. "Since when have you let that stop you?"
Closing his eyes Logan thought back to the last time he was in this very room, to the one moment when he'd entered into the forbidden with the one man he was never able to forget. Now settling in further on the couch, Logan allowed the memory to linger taking him back to the beginnings he shared with Scott.
"I'm not in the mood to play games Logan," Scott had protested, practically digging his heels into the flooring at being dragged into the room. "You know as well as I do that I have a lot of work to do and…"
"Your work will still be waiting when we're finished in here," Logan had nudged Scott into the room, guiding him over towards the pool table, "Besides we both know you've been slacking on it more often than not lately."
"Don't start," Scott issued him a small glare.
"Lighten up Summers," Logan had taunted with a brief once over, unable to believe that Scott was so uptight about simply learning to relax and enjoy himself, "the world isn't going to fall to pieces if you give up on hating yourself long enough to enjoy the simpler things in life."
"Fine," Scott folded his arms in front of his chest, "then let's go for a few rounds in the Danger Room. I think I'm up for that and…"
"As tempting as that sounds," Logan's ravenous eyes gave Scott a long once over, "let's try something small tonight. You could afford to give yourself a break."
"Logan," Scott's lip curled in protest, preparing to issue another disapproving complaint.
"Hey," Logan threw his hands up in the air, "you were the one who was hoping we'd give this a try at something real."
"This wasn't exactly what I was…" Scott opened his mouth to say something more before finally giving up and settling into their environment, "fine, what do you want to play?"
"That's a loaded question," Logan smirked, his eyes taking in Scott ravenously. Although it had only been a couple of days since their round of heavy kisses outside by the pool, Logan couldn't help, but find himself increasingly eager to push things to the next level-to get back to the beginnings that he and Scott had entered into before Jean's death. Now that he was aware that Scott readily felt it too, Logan had been guided by lust, ready to do everything in his power to shed Scott of his composed demeanor in order to reveal the wild, wanton man beneath the surface who was every bit as hot for Logan as Logan was for him.
"I meant the game," Scott wrinkled his nose, causing his glasses to shift ever so slightly on his face, "What one interests you?"
"How good are you at cards?" Logan questioned thinking about how a nice round of strip poker would do wonders in having Logan shed Scott of his neatly pressed slacks and blue pinstriped button down shirt. Yes, that would be a plan indeed given that Logan was a master poker player. It would certainly make things interesting and…
"I'm not in the mood for cards," Scott shot down Logan's suggestion. Turning his back to Logan, Scott let out a long sigh, "or really much else."
"That's because you've spent too much time being a buzz kill," Logan scowled realizing that this was going to prove to be an increasingly difficult task in seducing Scott given how hot and cold the leader of the X-Men was turning out to be. Still with his gaze settled in on Scott's firm, muscled bottom, Logan knew full well he wasn't one to back down from a challenge. "Live a little."
"Logan, I already told you that…" Scott finally turned around to face Logan fully.
"I know Slim," Logan took the initiative to step forward, bringing about an end to the distance between them. His eyes beckoned Scott's attempting to tempt him with an enticing taunt, "you haven't allowed yourself the time to live a little, so it's up to me to fill in the blanks in your life."
"I've lived a very rich, rewarding life," Scott curled his lip in offense, "I've seen a great many things and…"
"That's great, but let's see how good you are at pool," Logan stretched his arm out behind Scott, reaching for the cue sticks on the wall. His arm brushed up against Scott's side, feeling Scott shiver at the faintest of contact. Instantly lust spiraled into the air, springing to life the encouragement Logan needed with Scott's want intoxicating his senses.
"Better then you think," Scott stood up straighter, clearing his throat and reaching for the cue stick. His face twisted in determination before the beginnings of a smirk carried over his features, "I've been known to have a bit of a reputation in this arena."
"Ah, so I'm dealing with a hustler," Logan winked at him suggestively, "and here I thought you always played things by the book all straight and narrow."
"On the contrary, I'm just one hell of a mathematician," Scott explained in a casual shrug, turning his focus to the table beside them.
"In that case let's rack it up," Logan decided ready to see what Scott was made of when they began their first game with one another.
Now unable to hold back on the smile that overtook him, Logan looked to the pool table again thinking about how Scott had talked of trajectories and angles to the point of Logan simply drowning him out in order to focus on Scott's more desirable assets, namely that beautiful body of his that Logan found himself more eager to discover. Closing his eyes again Logan returned to the conclusion of their game when he'd purposely allowed Scott to win.
"So as you can see knowing your agenda and having a game plan is really the best course of action when…," Scott had started to boast, preparing to set his cue stick down when Logan stepped in behind him.
"No one likes a know it all Summers," Logan's arms wrapped around Scott's body, hands pressing down flat on the side of the pool table to cage Scott in front of him.
"I'm not a know it all. I'm just merely stating what math and science dictate along with a little logic that…" Scott's words were brought to a halt when Logan eased one hand up over the cue stick, wrapping it up with his fist over Scott's hand. Scott gulped, a breath catching in his throat when Logan's fingers squeezed in over his. Logan smirked casually urging Scott to loosen his grip over the length of the stick, lowering it in an intimate press mimicking the things Logan would prefer to be doing to Scott in the moment. The slow, tentative movement of their fingers together gliding downward in a subtle brush before rising upward again over the stick in a blatantly sexual fashion did the trick. Logan felt Scott tense up in front of him, breath growing uneven when Scott spoke up nervously, "What are you doing?"
"What do you think?" Logan questioned repeating the movement. Knowing only too well that Scott was uncomfortable heightened the moment, bringing a rush of forbidden thrill to Logan when he noticed the color rising on Scott's features. Seeing Scott hot under the collar was always a turn on, but now with Scott's fingers pressed up against his, silently complying to Logan's instructive movement, Logan couldn't help, but feel a charge of electricity press in over him. Logan's thumb brushed up against the underside of Scott's palm in a possessive sweep causing Scott to take a small, agonized breath.
"I think it's time for us to finish the game," Scott decided releasing the cue stick with a jolt. It tumbled forward nearly colliding with the top of the pool table when Scott detangled himself from Logan's arms, "How about a game of pinball? I used to be pretty good at that once upon a time."
"Pinball," Logan repeated with a frown suddenly feeling as if Scott was putting up another wall between them. Although Scott had admitted to having feelings for Logan and wanting to explore them, Logan could still feel the lingering guilt over Jean's death preventing Scott from letting loose. Now Scott used it as a roadblock to any progress that either one of them would take with one another. Sure, Scott hadn't said it, but it was in the air between them, hanging like a dark cloud with Scott's bristling refusal to fall into the moment with Logan.
"It's actually a fun game," Scott started to ramble nervously, "when I was younger I used to spend a lot of time playing the game, trying to beat my top score and…"
"What was your top score?" Logan questioned in an attempt to placate Scott for the time being.
"Pretty high although Jean was always able to beat me every time," Scott let out an ironic laugh, "She didn't even try to show mercy on me. She simply wanted to engage in a challenge, to let me know what she was capable of…"
"And I'm sure her telekinetic powers didn't at all influence the outcome of the game, right?" Logan couldn't help, but roll his eyes at Scott's mentioning Jean to put up another brick wall.
"She wouldn't do that," Scott frowned, turning around to face Logan fully.
"How do you know?" Logan questioned raising a curious brow.
"Because that wasn't who she was," Scott mouthed defensively indicating that Logan had clearly pushed the wrong button inside of him, "She wasn't a cheater."
"No," Logan finally conceded wondering if Scott was still referencing the game or something deeper when Logan thought to his and Jean's flirtations with one another, "I suppose she wasn't although from what you're saying it doesn't exactly sound like she was eager to have you winning."
"She knew that I liked to be challenged, to be pushed to my limits," Scott shrugged, raising his chin to meet Logan's eyes behind the glasses before he turned his back to Logan. "She knew that I didn't want the world to take pity on me for my condition."
"Pity," Logan repeated with a hint of laughter in his tone, "Scott, the things that you can do are amazing. To think what you are capable of…"
"So much destruction and pain," Scott sighed placing his hands out on top of the pinball machine thinking about all the things he'd fought to avoid in his time with the X-Men. "When I think of how I tried to control it, how I tried to keep it in check until Stryker manipulated me-when I think of how out of control I was when I attacked Jeanie…"
"Scott," Logan couldn't help, but frown at the mention of the man who had tortured Logan in ways Logan still couldn't process. Stepping forward, Logan moved in closer to Scott, wanting to alleviate Scott's concerns, "Jean knew that it wasn't you when you did those things."
"I pride myself on being in control Logan," Scott sighed heavily, "on doing everything in my power to protect those I love even if it means great personal sacrifice. When I was there at the compound I should've been stronger, I should've found a way to fight it and…"
"It wouldn't have mattered," Logan sighed knowing only too well how many times he'd been down the same road Scott was on, "It wouldn't have made a difference considering that Stryker was calling the shots."
"I vowed that I'd never be like that again Logan-that someone couldn't steal my control away from me and…" Scott's words tapered off.
"Jean didn't hold it against you," Logan spoke up soothingly, "No one here did."
"Even so the very idea of losing control again terrifies me," Scott finally conceded finding the courage to turn around and face Logan fully. His face was still flushed, lips curving downward as he leaned up against the pinball machine, "it's exactly how I feel when I'm with you Logan."
"With me?" Logan questioned with surprise.
Scott nodded, biting down on his lower lip nervously, "When I'm with you I feel completely out of control, unable to show any kind of restraint and…"
"You've done a hell of a job convincing me otherwise lately Summers," Logan stretched his hand up, touching the side of Scott's face gently. Scott shivered upon the contact, opting to lean into Logan's touch with a shivering exhale.
"It's because I've been good at pretending, at denying myself what I want," Scott admitted painfully, his words raw and broken in the moment, "I've spent years trying to be what the world expected of me, to learn to live in self-sacrifice, but when I'm with you that all changes."
"How so?" Logan couldn't help, but ask while sliding his fingers into Scott's dark, neatly combed hair.
"For starters I start thinking about things, doing things that I normally wouldn't-that I know I shouldn't," Scott's words fell to a muted whisper, "I start fantasizing about letting go of the control and…"
"And what?" Logan prodded him further.
"Giving in to temptation," Scott answered painfully, his chest rising and falling with a desperate breath. His arms fell behind him, hands pressing on top of the pinball machine in an effort to refrain from reaching out to seize Logan in his arms. He was trying to keep a hold on the restraint, to do what he perceived to be the safe thing in gripping the top of the pinball machine, but Logan wasn't in the mood to play it safe. Certainly not after months of waiting for something more to happen between them. Yes, maybe Logan had grudgingly accepted their boundaries with one another after they'd experienced a few encounters that Scott wasn't ready to face fully, instead opting to bury his desire for Scott in flirtations with Jean, but now that there was no longer a reason to pretend, Logan couldn't hold back any longer.
"There's nothing wrong with giving in," Logan slurred, leaning in closer to Scott, their lips a breath of a whisper apart now that Scott remained firm beside him, curiosity surrounding him in the moment.
"There are always consequences to letting go," Scott's words caused him to tremble, to reveal the trepidation he'd carried with him over the years.
"Not this time," Logan promised dipping down to steal a slow, languorous kiss from Scott's lips. At first he felt resistance, a simple involuntary hesitation to the moment, but as Logan's mouth forced Scott's lips apart, coaxing the stoic leader of the X-Men to release his inhibitions long enough to enjoy the simple pleasures kissing could provide, Logan felt himself rewarded by a small victory. Scott half whimpered, half moaned when their tongues crashed and collided with one another, stirring up erotic sensations from within.
Kissing Scott harder, Logan was pleasantly rewarded by Scott mimicking the movement, matching Logan's intensity with his teeth and tongue. Logan purred approvingly, wrapping his arms around Scott's muscled torso, savoring the feel of Scott's body pressed into his. There was no mistaking the longing and desire that surrounded them, no escaping the scent of lust that radiated off of Scott's heated skin. It matched Logan's own hunger, setting Logan's senses ablaze when Scott scratched lightly over Logan's shoulders.
"You're beautiful Summers," Logan slurred feeling their mouths part in a moment of breathless anticipation. Logan dragged his thumb over Scott's bottom lip, savoring the tiny ripple of impulses that guided Scott to tremble beneath his touch.
"Really?" Scott questioned with surprise in his voice.
Logan nodded encouragingly, "I've never wanted anyone like I want you. That in itself should say something."
"It does," Scott blushed, "I mean…"
"Don't over think this because you'll spoil it if you do," Logan instructed leaning in to kiss Scott ravenously. He stepped forward, hips sliding in an involuntary thrust to pin Scott against the pinball machine without hesitation. Scott whimpered, arms surrounding Logan's shoulders, fingers clawing at Logan's back to draw him nearer, yet when the sound of the pinball machine bounced beneath them it succeeded in tearing them from the moment.
"The game," Scott gasped snapping out of the lust induced haze long enough to stiffen beneath Logan. His features shifted in an attempt to regain focus and clarity, but Logan knew full well the last thing he would be able to concentrate on was a game with Scott so readily available to him.
"Scott," Logan opened his mouth in protest, preparing to toss out another flowery line to recapture Scott's attention, but it was no use when Scott turned around to focus on the machine in front of him.
"You're going to enjoy this," Scott cleared his throat in an attempt to be casual. He placed his fingers on the buttons, beginning a round of sending the ball bouncing within the walls of the machine before him. He tipped his head down, pretending that the game was the most interesting thing in the room as Logan groaned outwardly.
"I was rather enjoying you," Logan noted seeing Scott's trembling hands working frantically to keep focused on the game before him. Smiling to himself, Logan stepped forward, sliding his groin in against Scott's bottom, gyrating ever so slightly to show Scott what alternatives there were to playing it by the book.
"Logan," Scott hissed, clearly effected by Logan's raging hard on brushed up against the small of his back. Scott's fingers stilled on the buttons, taking a moment of reprieve from the game when Logan's hands circled around his body, pressing firmly down on Scott's upper thighs in a possessive grasp.
"Don't tell me that you really want to ignore this," Logan slurred dipping in to kiss the side of Scott's neck.
"Logan, it's just…" Scott bit down on his lip, teeth sinking into his lip, gnawing at the nervous flesh.
"We can't keep carrying on like this isn't happening with us Scott. We both know that it's something we've both been sweeping underneath the carpet for a while now. Pretending it isn't happening doesn't make it any less real," Logan continued as his tongue flicked over Scott's skin, teeth grazing at Scott's earlobe when Logan moved one hand over the center of Scott's muscular chest. He eased one finger underneath Scott's shirt between the buttons feeling a modest, cotton t-shirt against his touch and he laughed lightly, "Leave it to you to dress in layers."
"I happen to like my t-shirts. They're comfortable and they were a gift from Jean that…" Scott curled his lip in protest all the while bringing up the woman that Logan was hoping they could leave out of the night between them.
"Comfortable or not, it has to go," Logan decided removing his hand long enough to make a decision. He felt Scott stiffen before him, knowing Scott was hesitant, but that realization only further served to propel Logan into the lead for their seduction. In a flash, Logan's claws revealed themselves, pressing in over the front of Scott's button down shirt. He flicked his wrist, tearing the buttons off of the shirt before using his other hand to slash the tattered fabric off of Scott's body. Scott silently complied to the movement, dropping his arms down to his side to assist Logan. Once Logan had finished disposing of Scott's button down shirt, the t-shirt soon followed. It shredded easier then the pinstriped shirt had, it's prissy white fabric dropping to the ground around both men, pooling at Scott's feet in the moment.
"Logan," Scott spoke his name heatedly, his breath forced and labored when Logan's claws retracted. Logan kissed Scott's shoulder, tongue tasting the raw, primitive heat of Scott's smooth skin free to be his at long last. Logan bit back on his reaction knowing it was all he could do to refrain from burying himself in Scott then and there. Summers was perfect in every way imaginable, tasting even better than Logan had anticipated in all the times he'd stolen glances or forbidden moments with the sexy, repressed leader of the X-Men. Now Logan's palms returned to Scott's chest, massaging and teasing Scott's excited skin until Logan's fingertips danced over Scott's abdomen, dropping down to the top of Scott's slacks in silent contemplation.
"Wait," Scott's fingers pressed over the top Logan's hand, coaxing him to stop from following through on his mission to see how far he could test the limits with Scott.
"What?" Logan growled, biting down on Scott's shoulder again, his inner beast wanting to imprint himself over his new would be lover in every way imaginable.
"Logan I've…," Scott's words tapered off, embarrassment surrounding Logan in the moment when Scott lowered his head shamefully, "I've never…I've never done this before…"
Scott's face grew an even deeper shade of crimson, his fingers still squeezing Logan's hand tighter to prevent Logan from seeking out the prize inside of Scott's trousers. There was a nervousness in the air, a thick, unsettling emotion radiating from Scott when he spoke up again anxiously.
"With…with a man I mean," Scott gulped down in a small voice, so soft that if Logan hadn't been standing behind him, he wouldn't have heard it.
"No shit," Logan could feel himself ready to toss out at Scott flippantly, but fearing it would turn Scott away and spoil the progress they'd made with one another, he tried a different approach, "It's okay. I knew what you meant."
"Even so aside from that time before when we almost…," Scott bit down on his lower lip once again fighting his words, "I'm not sure that…"
"How many lovers have you had Scott?" Logan couldn't help, but ask with curiosity overtaking him in the moment.
Scott fell to silence again, refusing to settle into an answer for Logan.
"Just Jean?" Logan questioned already knowing the answer before Scott could give it to him. The truth radiated in Scott's hesitance, in his awkward disposition, giving way to the moment when Logan thought of how he'd wanted nothing more than to pound into Scott, bending him over the top of the pinball machine Scott loved so very much to have his way with him completely. Still in realizing what offering himself to Logan would mean for Scott, Logan softened his approach.
"Jean and I were together for a very long time. We were both very young and…" Scott's blush intensified, his words shaky and uncertain.
"It doesn't matter," Logan replied, bringing his arm around Scott's waist, squeezing Scott back in against his chest and smiling inwardly. "It just shows me how perfect you truly are."
"Oh please," Scott rolled his eyes behind his glasses. Forcing himself to turn around and face Logan completely, he spoke up in a nervous breath, "I'm sure there's some kind of teasing barb you're just eager to toss out at me. I know you."
"Then you should realize that I'm not out to humiliate you Scott especially when all I want is to be with you," Logan decided earnestly, moving forward to collect a kiss from Scott's tempting mouth, "If it means taking things slow, then so be it. I'm not going to lie and say that I'm one for slow, but…"
"That's just it Logan," Scott mouthed desperately, his arms surrounding Logan in the moment, "I don't want to take this slow. We've wasted too much time already and knowing that it can be stolen from us at any time…"
"Are you…?" Logan half questioned searching Scott's features once again. He could feel the hunger radiating over Scott's body, the desire eating away at Logan's half hearted attempt at restraint, lending itself to the moment when Logan anticipated all the ways he'd wanted to claim Scott again and again as his.
"I just wanted you to know in case you didn't see it before that I wasn't exactly an expert at this right now," Scott answered sheepishly, his words a bit more determined then they'd been earlier, "I know I pride myself on being on top of my game-on knowing everything there is to know about something I enter into, but…"
"Trust me Summers," Logan collected Scott in his arms completely, "by the time we're through you'll be well beyond expert status. That much I can promise you."
Now returning to the moment, Logan shifted uncomfortably on the couch knowing only too well that night had sparked a new beginning for him and Scott. While they hadn't thrown caution to the wind and made love in the game room, it had given Logan enough encouragement to warm Scott up to the possibility of what was to come for them. Their night had began with an erotic dance followed up with the promise of pleasure in Logan's bedroom. Still finding himself overtaken by the memory, Logan decided now would be a good time to seek out Scott and perhaps explore that trip down memory lane with one another. However, as Logan rose to his feet he found that fate had other plans for him.
"Logan," Storm pulled him from the memory, to the reality that there was more happening at the school beyond Scott and Logan's relationship, "I've been looking all over for you."
"Something wrong?" Logan asked impatiently all the while doing his best to regain some kind of focus.
"Sort of," Storm nodded in confession, "have you seen Scott?"
"Not since this morning," Logan shrugged his shoulders, "He had class this morning and…"
"A training session in the Danger Room," she finished impatiently, "but he never showed up."
"What do you mean never showed up?" Logan frowned thinking about Scott's return to life at the school.
"He's not there," Storm stressed her words for impact, "He's over half hour late and the students are getting impatient."
"I'm sure he's on his way," Logan frowned moving past her to the doorway, "Let's just go down there and see what's happening. I'm sure there's a logical explanation for…"
"The last time this happened it was anything, but logical," Storm mouthed in a tentative breath.
"Maybe he simply has first week jitters," Logan suggested knowing that Scott was still adjusting to the return to the school. Still with worry bristling over his senses, Logan and Storm started to return to the students in the Danger Room while he hoped like hell they would discover that Scott had simply lost track of time in something else. That had to be all it was, Logan reasoned silently knowing full well that none of them could afford a repeat of what happened the last time Scott's world came crashing down around them.
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