Sabrina1204- thanks for the support momma, this story's been rough going. Jayne and Kaylee are together and Simon will pop up a few more times throughout the story but only as a minor player and lol so far I haven't killed any of the customers with my brain yet, although it has occurred to me to try LOL. Much luv.
Carcrafter7: thanks for the review on the old chapter 3, and throwing one or two of the Serenity crew on the side of Magneto isn't a bad idea, I'm toying with the idea, but who knows we may wind up with just Kaylee and Jayne, though I'd like to throw Wash in the mix since my other stories take place post BDM and I've never really gotten a chance to place with him, so keep an eye out for him.
EternityInYourArms: Super big thanks for the support hope you liked the updated versions as well!
PLEASE READ THE UDATED VERSIONS OF CHAPS 1-3 IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY RIVER"S GIFTS HAVE CHANGED SLIGHTLY AS WELL AS A FEW RELATIONSHIS AND SCENCES.
Don't own a thing…
The mansion kitchen and dining hall were deserted by the time River and Logan made their way back, two plates however remained covered on the counter, their names written on post it notes in the Storm's elegant script.
"Any chance there's a beer?" Logan asked hopefully.
River snorted.
"Take that as a no." He grumbled, only half heartedly attacking a slice of meatloaf.
"Perhaps if the Wolverine is nice to the man named Jayne he will share his secret Whiskey stash."
Logan mentally thudded his head against a wall.
River giggled, "He is quite sensitive about his name, but his sunshine will make him share."
"Sunshine?"
"You have met her, the girl called Kaylee who converses with machines and metal."
"Why you call her sunshine?"
"That is how this girl sees that girl, she likes to be around the Sunshine, her whispers are yellow and orange, her whispers are hopeful, they are a pleasant change," she ended with a sigh.
"Makes sense," and after a moment's pause he continued, almost afraid of the answer, "What are my whispers like?"
"They are familiar, the girl hears you in her blood, they are angry, they are rage, but it is cold, it is focused, the Wolverine's whispers are flashes of colors and images, the man thinks much like the animal, instinct, reaction, there is no contemplation, no hesitation, but they are not violent by nature, it is situation and circumstance, the Wolverine would be surprised to learn he is very much a pack animal, given the opportunity."
Logan grunted, studying his plate, though seeing or tasting nothing on it, "Think you're confusin' me with somebody else."
"The whispers do not lie, they cannot."
/I will need to see you all below/
Logan started when the Professor's voice suddenly tore through his mind, "What the hell was that?" He snarled.
Storm walked through the door, "Welcome to life with telepaths Logan," She chuckled, "You get used to it after awhile." She added hopping up onto the counter. "So what's this about Riv?"
"The Professor calls the X-men to observe the Wolverine."
"Run that by me again?" Logan asked in a semi growl.
"The X-men are a team Logan," Storm explained, "we need to watch you fight, learn your style, your strengths and weaknesses so we know how to fight together, every new X-men goes through it, think of it like a tryout."
Logan snorted, wishing like hell he had a beer, at least he'd get a fight tonight, after all it'd been a hell of a day and he couldn't think of a better way to blow of some steam. "Who am I fighting against?"
River smirked.
"No," Logan answered firmly, wasn't no way in hell.
Storm outright laughed, "She's kidding Logan, you really actually aren't much of a challenge for Riv, she'd probably have you bent backwards and sideways before you could blink, you'll be running through a training sequence in the Danger Room."
Logan looked insulted, and in truth he was, "I think I can take a ninety pound girl." He snorted.
"The girl is more than she seems, do not underestimate her because of her size," River giggled, as a drawer behind them opened on its own accord and three large kitchen knives floated out, spinning in circles around Logan's head.
"Okay, ya got me there, but hand to hand I doubt you could hold your own."
The knives halted their orbit; River's face darkened, "Is the Wolverine issuing a challenge?" Her eyebrow arched.
"Oh dear god," Storm rolled her eyes, "Look Logan before you go and do that you might want to ask Jayne what happened to him."
He ignored her, "Yeah," he smirked, "Yeah the Wolverine is challenging the girl, and don't worry darlin' I'll go easy on ya."
The knives trembled, and then flew away and to their homes, their plates disappearing in the same fashion into the kitchen sink as River pushed herself away from the table, "The girl is waiting."
"Hand to hand, no telekin.. whatever the shit is called."
"Agreed, the Wolverine may use his claws if the girl is allowed her katanas."
Wolverine snorted, "Swords darling? Ain't that a little medieval?"
"The Logan should know he was there."
Logan growled, "Ain't that old darlin'."
/Professor/ Storm pushed through her mind.
/I am aware Ororo, let us be grateful they both are capable of regeneration/
"Alright you two, down to the Danger Room, Professor will be mad if you get blood on the carpets."
River snorted, "If blood is spilt it will be his and not the girl's."
Logan laughed, "I hear a whole lot of shit talkin' hope you can deliver girl, be disappointed if I took ya out in the first ten seconds."
"The girl advises you familiarize yourself with the floor, as you will be spending the majority of our time together there."
Logan smirked, enjoying the girl's blush as she realized what she had said and Logan's accompanying thoughts, he made no apologies.
River and Logan stood twenty paces apart, staring each other down, the others watching from above in the control room.
"Scott, run the forest sequence," the Professor asked.
"Does he know what he's gotten himself into?" Kaylee asked nervously.
"Did Jayne realize what he was biting off?" Scott smirked.
"Girl didn't beat me that bad," Jayne scowled.
"Jayne you were in the infirmary for two days," Hank reminded him.
"Well nobody warned me I was fightin' crazy killer woman, once I fully encased I held my own."
"Keep tellin' yourself that," Storm laughed.
"They are more evenly matched, especially if River isn't using her telekinesis." Jean offered.
"Yeah but she can still read his mind, kinda hard to catch your opponent off guard if they know every move your gonna make before you do." Scott countered.
"We gonna do this?" Logan yelled from below.
"Careful what you wish for Logan," Scott smirked as he booted up the forest sequence.
Logan couldn't help but be slightly awed as the metal walls of the Danger Room melted away, a dense overgrown forest growing in its place.
"Rules Logan, and you too River," The Professor spoke through the comm., "There will be no use of telekinetic power against an opponent, levitation is allowed, begin on the buzzer and end on it as well, and while I do realize you both are fully capable of regeneration and healing I ask for Kaylee's sake, as well as my own you refrain from acts of excessive brutality."
Logan snorted.
"Do not worry Sunshine, the girl is more indestructible than her Jayne is," River smiled up at where she knew the control room was although it was no longer visible.
The buzzer sounded.
Logan smirked, his excitement building as the familiar *snikt* of his claws filled his ears, River had yet to draw her blades. "Promise darlin' I'll go easy."
"You must find her first," River giggled, levitating to the tree tops, and disappearing completely save for the slight echoing of her laughter.
Logan growled, he fuckin' hated climbing trees.
"Wasn't really worried about River,' Kaylee remarked absently, able to see the two clearly from the control room, River barely restraining her laughter as she watched Logan swear and stab his way up a tree.
"Man, oh man," Jayne chuckled, "This is gonna be good."
Logan perched himself on a strong branch, scenting the air, girl was close, quiet as hell but close, couldn't cover up your scent though, nor the slight whisper of fabric as she moved. He knew where she was, up slightly and to his left, one tree over, but he kept his gaze to his right, tryin' like hell to not think that he knew exactly where she was.
River bit her lip against the laugh which threatened to break through her lips, silly silly non telepaths, always thinking they could hide their thoughts, the whispers were never silent, the whispers were thoughts unthought-of, truths buried deep, and the whispers were her oldest and dearest companions.
Logan's head jerked slightly at the sound of metal being unsheathed, the girl was about to make her move, and Logan dropped from his perch, hands still wrapped around the branch his body dangling as one of River's katanas planted itself into the spot he had been crouched on a moment before.
River released her grip on her katana, leaving it imbedded in the branch she somersaulted smoothly to the ground, landing crouched in a defensive position unsheathing her second sword, she made a come hither gesture with one hand, "The Wolverine wishes to dance, let us dance."
My kind of girl, Wolverine smirked, releasing his grip he landed on all fours, claws out and they lunged for each other.
The seven observers above watched in silent admiration as metal clashed against metal, in a blur of spinning liquid movements, each strike flowing seamlessly into a block, each block spinning out into an attack, they danced through the forest environment.
"Shouldn't have dropped your other sword darlin'," Wolverine smirked as he pinned her blade between his two sets of claws and twisted wrenching it from her hands.
River laughed, back flipping and catching his jaw with both feet, "The girl does not require weapons to defeat the Wolverine."
Logan cracked his jaw back into place, "Nice trick, gonna runaway all night?" He taunted.
"The girl does not run," River's face darkened and as he lunged she spun clear dropping low and sweeping her leg out she dropped him to the rocky ground, bringing her leg up parallel to her body she dropped it, slamming her heel into his nose, "The girl told you to acquaint yourself with the ground."
The seven observers flinched.
Logan swore flipping himself back up he attacked, catching her side with his claws, three long gashes tearing through her tank, three ribbons of crimson in their wake.
"Qing wa kao de liu mang," River swore looking down in a mixture of fury and amazement, he had actually hit her.
"Dear Lord, she's swearing Chinese." Jean said.
"Translation Hank?" Ororo asked.
Hank cleared his throat uncomfortably, "I would rather not."
"Frog humping son of a bitch."
Six heads turned in Jayne's direction.
"What? I asked her to teach me some good cusses, never know when you're gonna need to swear internationally."
Six pairs of eyes rolled.
"What?"
River took off, moving up the tree with her discarded sword with an ease and agility Wolverine had rarely seen, he picked up the sword he had wrenched from her hands and tossed it to her, "Let's keep it interestin' shall we?"
River caught it easily as she flipped back out of the tree, landing on her feet, blades at ready, "The girl has only begun," the three slashes in her side disappearing completely, the only evidence she had been hit, the bloodstains left behind on her tank.
"What was that about the only blood being mine?" He smirked and River lunged.
They met on a low rock cropping, spinning and dancing their blades clashed again, the seven observers unconsciously leaning forward, "Twenty bucks on River," Scott said to Jayne.
"Ain't bettin' against the girl, I been in that boy's spot down there."
River dropped low once more, moving for the leg sweep, but the Wolverine was prepared this time, and deftly leapt above it, she came up spinning, her blades moving behind her like dancer's ribbons, she caught his chest, parallel lines of scarlet forming in their wake.
Above the Professor's mind churned, the likeness between the two as they fought grew tenfold, River's swords almost an extensive of her body as Logan's claws were of his. He had always wondered on the girl's preference for blades, it seemed self explanatory now.
Sweat dripped into River's eyes, but she ignored it, she didn't need to see with them anyway, the Wolverine's screaming mind pinpointed his location better than her vision could have. She should not have been so smug, she was as guilty of assumption as the Wolverine was. Though his thoughts allowed her to accurately pinpoint his location they did not offer much else, as the Wolverine fought his animal nature took over, his thoughts becoming images, the whispers instinct, harder to read, more difficult still to predict.
Wolverine rolled away, giving himself distance, close up the girl was nearly unstoppable, her movements flowed one into the next without hesitation, she drove on relentless, another creature entirely than the one he had first encountered in the forest earlier. Her scent filled his nostrils, magnified a thousand times by the exertion of battle, her eyes gleamed with intensity, he was enthralled, who was this beautiful creature?
River faltered slightly as the last of the Wolverine's thoughts translated through, his claws ripping into the flesh of her forearm she cried out, making a break for the tree tops to regroup.
Kaylee flinched, bone had been visible on that last strike.
"She is fine child," The Professor told her reassuringly and to illustrate his point he brought up a close up of River on a computer screen, whose arm had nearly healed itself completely by the time the image was fully focused.
Kaylee relaxed slightly, "Still has to hurt somethin' awful."
Jayne tucked her into his side, "Ain't a thing for River girl, nothin' for you to worry that pretty little head over."
River did not remain long on her perch before leaping to the next branch, concealment, distance, going after the Wolverine directly was futile, without her telekinesis they were too evenly matched. A lesser active part of her mind was irritated, she had come to rely too heavily on her mental gifts and had been neglecting her physical training, it would have to be remedied, but now was not the time.
Below her the Wolverine stalked the ground, unwilling to return to the treetops where the girl had the undeniable advantage, he would wait.
River's mind ran in a thousand directions at once her mind quickly tabulating effective avenues of attack, while simultaneously discarding them for one flaw or another, selecting the best possible course, she would wait, the Wolverine did not wish to meet her in the trees, but his patience would run out long before hers.
Jayne yawned, "They're just sittin' there."
"No, it's more than that," Jean explained, "River knows she has the advantage in the trees, they are too evenly matched on the ground without her other powers, she's waiting for him to come to her."
Jayne snorted, "Typical woman." Three pairs of eyes glared at him, Kaylee accompanying hers with a punch to his shoulder.
"What I'd say?"
"It's actually quite brilliant, not what you said Jayne," Hank interjected before Jayne could put his foot even farther in his mouth, "Her levitation gives her a decided advantage, no matter how good Logan's balance is you can't beat not being able to fall at all, he doesn't want to do it, but see he's getting impatient."
And Logan was, restlessly he circled the tree he knew the girl was hiding in, "Can't sit in a tree all night little monkey," he called up.
"If the Wolverine wants her he must come and get her," She giggled, dropping a handful of acorns down on his head, "Tag you're it!"
Logan growled, fucking simulation was a little too real if he could feel the goddamn acorns hitting him in the face. He eyed the tree, swearing he stepped back a few feet, and taking off at a run he was up the tree faster than River could have anticipated, forcing her to swing around the large trunk and flip herself into a higher branch to avoid the quick swipe of his claws.
The dance began anew this time from branch to branch and tree to tree, katanas and claws imbedding into tree trunks and slicing away branches which dared to interfere.
"This could go on all night," Jayne complained, "got the little ones first thing in the morning."
Ororo smiled mischievously, "Could always make it a bit more interesting?"
"Very well Ororo, let's see how Logan handles a team situation, Jayne how do you feel about joining in?"
Jayne was instantly encased, "I'm in."
"Um, sweetie," Kaylee giggled, entirely encased with him, he had forgotten to release her hand when he changed.
"Oops." He pulled back his metal from her. "Sorry."
"Ain't a thing, go kick some butt!" She kissed his forehead.
River and Logan froze, River mid duck, Logan mid swipe, neither able to move.
"What the fuck?"
River giggled, "The Professor has a change of plans."
"That he does child," The Professor spoke over the comm., "Jayne and Ororo shall be joining you, obviously Logan you can hold your own, let us seen how you do with a team, Jayne will be joining you against Ororo and River."
"What the hell does she do?" Logan demanded having been unconscious during his rescue.
"The Storm is her namesake, she sings to the winds, calls the lightning and the rain."
"Are you fuckin' kidding me? There's actually mutants who can do that?" Logan asked slightly frustrated by his inability to move as an itch had developed on his nose.
River giggled again and floated a small twig over to scratch his nose. "The Wolverine is welcome and he should not be so surprised after all the Logan lives forever."
Logan snorted, girl had a point. "Hey Chuck plannin' on releasing us any time soon?" The question was followed by a mumbled swear as control of his body returned instantly causing him to lose his balance and drop from the tree, landing with a thud at a metallic Jayne's feet.
Jayne snickered, "You ready to do this boy?"
"Boy? I'm older than you." Logan snorted accepting the hand and pulling himself up.
Jayne shrugged, "Al'right you ready to do this old man?"
"Watch it." Logan warned.
"Ain't no makin' you happy."
"Let's just do this, can up get me back up there quick?"
"Sure." He lifted Logan easily and tossed him up.
Just as Logan was about to latch up to a branch there was a giggle, and a blinding flash of light, his body dropped once more like a rock to the ground, electricity coursing through his veins. "Holy shit."
"Ain't pickin' you up all night," Jayne teased laughing, hoisting Logan back up and to his feet.
Logan dusted himself off, "What the fuck was that?"
"Lightning," Jayne shrugged before yanking Logan by the collar and pulling them both behind a large rock just as another bolt of electricity struck the ground they had been standing on only a second before.
A chorus of laughter rang out, bouncing off the artificial trees and the men risked a glance upwards to see River and Storm hovering twenty feet up, crackles of lightning hitting the ground below their feet, wind coming from nowhere gusting from behind them tangling together their respective masses of white and brown hair.
Jayne snorted, "Fucking skirts, always need to make an entrance."
Logan actually laughed, "Well let's give 'em an exit. Can you lift this rock?"
"That and ten more just like it, hell could juggle it 'iffin' you want ain't seein' your point."
"Gotta separate 'em, throw 'em off."
"You do realize she's reading your thoughts right now, knows 'xactly what you're thinkin'."
Shit, he had forgotten that part.
The girls shared another laugh as River conveyed their conversation to Storm, perfecting their tones and accents perfectly. There laughter only increased as River lifted the rock they were hiding behind, the looks the men gave absolutely priceless.
"Shit!" They yelled in almost perfect unison.
"Thought there was no tele-whatever!" Logan roared rolling for cover through a patch of over grown roots.
"Parameters have changed, no such rules were stated." River chimed, uprooting his protective roots from the ground her katanas chased him as she levitated comfortably above the ground.
"A little help Jayne!"
"Got my own problems Bub!" He yelled back hurling a large rock up at Storm, which a sudden gust of wind batted away as if it was nothing more than a fly.
/Time to end this River/ Storm thought to her teammate.
/The girl agrees, she is bored/ River answered, a dramatic yawn escaping her lips as Logan struggled to fend off her dual swords.
/You take Logan, I'll take Jayne/
Logan swore, Enough of this shit, and sliced clean through one of the attacking katanas, it did not deter the metal, the hilted end bonked him on the head.
"That was the girl's favorite," River said evenly touching down gracefully on the ground.
"Welcome back," he grinned sarcastically, narrowly dodging a lunge at his head, "Plan on putting down your toys to play for real?"
"But the girl plays so well with her toys," River laughed, joining the battle with a flurry of kicks and strikes which Logan struggled to defend against while also dodging the one whole Katana and the two pieces of the other he had broken, making a mental note to not do so again as all he had succeeded in doing was giving the girl another damn weapon. "The girl tires of this." She smirked flipping away and raising her right arm Logan found himself once more off the ground, this time under River's complete animation.
"Jayne!"
"Got problems of my own still!" Jayne snapped back as he picked himself up off the ground after yet another lightning strike had sent him wheeling.
"Jayne darling you know this is useless," Storm chided sending a ferocious gust of wind at him slamming him against the far wall.
Above Jean merely laughed shaking her head, "It really was unfair to team the two of them up together against Jayne and Logan."
"But so damn funny." Scott chuckled.
Kaylee winced as Jayne was bombarded by a mini cyclone of rocks and loose branches. "He did volunteer," she reminded herself.
Even Hank flinched as they watched Logan be slammed back into the ground by a very smug looking River who looked to be examining her nails.
"The girl can do this all day," River said absently as Wolverine dangled upside down in front of her, growling and unable to reach her, she leaned in teasingly close but still just out of reach, "but she is bored," and with a flick of her wrist she sent him hurling across the forest into the trunk of a tree which groaned and snapped from the force of the hit.
Logan collapsed on the ground beneath it, ribs cracked, and he was pretty sure his left leg was broken, but he pushed himself up unwilling to give.
River released an annoyed huff, and jerking her head brought the tree down on him. "The girl wins."
A second later Logan was his feet snarling, shards of bark sticking out of his skin and hair. "Ain't over yet girl."
"Yes it is," River smirked.
"Hollllyyyyy ssshhhhiiittttt!" Jayne yelled as he found himself flying through the air.
"Aw hell," Logan managed before a solid metallic Jayne collided with him sending them both flying and crashing into another boulder, which too also cracked under the force of the impact.
River and Storm joined them a second later, hovering superiorly above them, River pinned them to the ground with her mind, lightning crackled around them, large rocks spinning in the air in orbit around the pair.
"Give." Storm demanded.
"Or be electrocuted and then crushed." River smirked.
"That's enough." The Professor's voice called over the speakers. "The win goes to River and Ororo. Well done ladies."
There was a low hum, and the forest, melted away once more into the Danger Room, River and Storm touching ground in a fit of giggles.
Kaylee appeared almost instantly flying across the Danger Room, knocking Logan back down as she threw herself at Jayne, "Sweetie, are you okay, come on let Hank take a look, HANK!" She yelled.
Logan snorted as Kaylee fussed, cracking his neck as his ribs reset themselves, "Him, I got a goddamn thousand pound wad of metal hurled at my head."
"Sorry Logan," Kaylee distractedly apologized, "You heal, you'll be fine."
"Gee thanks." He turned to look for River who was already headed out of the room Storm's arm around her as they laughed together.
"Don't let it upset you boy," Hank joked slapping him on the back, "No one's been able to take River down in the Danger Room, add Storm to the mix and you never had a chance."
"Woulda had her 'iffin' she hadn't turned on her mind shit." He grumbled.
"No Logan you wouldn't have," Xavier corrected, "But I think you would do well enough against our students in the defense classes, I'll have you assist Jayne until you are comfortable enough with the students to teach your own, I think smaller classes more oriented around skill and mutation levels rather than age would benefit the students greatly."
"You're kidding right?"
"Not in the least, breakfast is at nine thirty Logan, Jean if you would be so kind as to show Logan to the teacher's suite prepared for him," he answered and turned to leave.
"Hey Chuck you're joking right?"
"See you at breakfast Logan," The Professor called without looking back.
"He's kidding right?" Logan asked Jean.
"Welcome to Mutant High." Scott smirked slapping him on the back.
River slept restlessly. The Wolverine had been given the suite next to hers, and his nightmares seeped through the walls and into her mind. Nightmares which ran so close to her own they bled into one another. Concrete walls and needles dripping with poison, shiny medals of false honor, pain, searing metal forced through veins encasing bone, death though a impossibility still hurt like hell. Her body contorted suffering under the weight of memories, and finally she could bare it no longer.
The teacher's wing was silent, the hall dark, and River nothing more than a darkening of the shadows and a whisper of fabric as she moved. His mind was practically screaming, and she could hear him thrashing, trapped in a hell he could not rip himself from. The door was locked, an obstacle not even worth being called an inconvenience, as she closed her eyes and a second later, a satisfying click as she opened the door from the inside.
She crossed his sitting room quickly, his bedroom door was opened, and his moans now audible. Cautiously, River approached, stilling his thrashing body with her mind's hold to avoid the wrath of his claws, healing or no, pain was still pain. Gently she leaned over him, and touched the center of his forehead with a single pale finger, "Peace," she whispered, pushing feelings of warmth and comfort, she wrapped her mind around his like a cocoon, solidifying her hold with an emotion she had not truly understood until she had come to the mansion, compassion.
There had beeping, the sensation of drowning, and then pain, all consuming and encompassing pain, and then in the throes of agony there had been a whisper, a whisper he was sure had never been there before. Quiet at first, and then louder, a song which did not make a sound or melody, but it was a song none the less. The beeping was gone, the large needles pumping liquid fire into his veins vanished, and there was light and warmth and serenity.
The Wolverine stopped fighting her mental hold on his body, his breathing evened, the rapid movement of his eyes beneath his closed lids stilled, a moment later they opened.
"River?" Logan was slightly startled to see the girl leaning over his bed, his gaze travelling upward he realized next her finger was pressed against his forehead.
"Sshhh, sleep, and do not dream, rest and be weary no longer," She whispered.
"That was you, you did that in my…" his voice trailed off as his eyes became too much of a burden to bare any longer and he allowed them to fall closed.
River took a quiet step back, watching the man sleep for a few moments, testing his dreams to ensure her suggestion took hold before wearily retreating back to her room. The Professor made mind control seem tedious and simple, and yet it escaped her grasp completely, a dream she could manage, dreams were more tied to the realm of subconscious emotion rather than decision and thought and even that took most of everything she had in out of her.
Almost with relief she collapsed back into her bed, noting with satisfaction the peaceful silence now emitting through the walls, she allowed herself to bask in it, smiling as she drifted off. Throughout the mansion the dreams of all the sleeping no matter the original subject matter turned to that of warm sunshine, the exhilaration of wind against the skin, and the scent of a spring forest mid bloom, more vivid than any dream every encountered before.
Logan woke slowly, a delicious and unfamiliar sensation he rarely experienced, usually he woke thrashing, claws out pillows destroyed. Yawning as he stretched, the image of River leaning over him as he slept invaded his mind, had that just been a part of his dream, he couldn't remember what had come before it, just the image of her, and then he was running through a lush forest, fresh rain and warmed earth. He didn't have time to think on it as a loud knocking came from the door to his suite, stumbling out of bed and wiping the sleep from his face he pulled on his t-shirt and answered the door.
"Not much of a morning person are we?" Storm smirked, stepping past him and dropping a black duffel bag on the floor she plopped down onto the couch in his sitting room.
"Come on in," he yawned sarcastically, "what time is it?"
"Nine am, breakfast is in a half hour, we keep some extra clothes and stuff around for the strays, that's what's in the duffel, everything of yours was destroyed when your truck exploded, except for the stuff you were wearing, that's been cleaned and it's in there too, which by the way you're welcome for saving you from."
Logan groaned, he had half forgotten about that, "Thanks," he said kneeling to rummage through the duffel she'd brought, the fact he still had his leather jacket brightening his mood considerably.
"You're looking well." She commented off handedly.
"Slept like a rock last night."
"Yeah, you can thank River for that, when she sleeps well we all do."
Logan paused in his rummaging and looked up, now really beginning to wonder if his vision of River was a dream or not.
"Empath thing, she can sense emotions and manipulate them, sometimes her emotions spread without her realizing it, and you just can't help but feel how she's feeling."
"Huh," Logan grunted, filing away that little bit of information for later.
"Well go on, get dressed, I'll wait, Professor wanted me to get you to breakfast so he can introduce the new teacher to the student body."
"Teacher?" Logan quirked an eyebrow, hoping to hell it was some kind of terrible joke.
"Scared of a few kids Logan?" Storm laughed. "I'll get the files to you after lunch and Jayne will get you the class schedule."
"Don't know how long I'll be stayin'." He tried an evasive technique, never depend on the wanderer.
"As far as River says you will be with us for quite a while," Storm answered, not deterred in the slightest.
"Does she now?" He quirked an eyebrow, "Where's she this morning?" He asked trying to sound indifferent.
"River's been up for hours already, she teaches a sunrise yoga class."
"Sunrise?"
"It's a wonderful way to wake up in the morning, you should try it."
Logan snorted, not fucking likely, he thought to himself before asking out loud, "What else she teach?"
"Art and dance, now if you're done with the twenty questions, you should really get dressed otherwise we're going to be late for breakfast and I'm starving."
"Sure you are, worked up quite an appetite last night electrocutin' my ass," he snorted, heading back into his room to get ready, Storm's laughter following him as he wondered for the hundredth time why he was still here playin' school house with a bunch of geeks and freaks, and then the image of River leaning over him as he slept entered his mind. Oh yeah, he snorted, that's why, a skirt. That thought was immediately followed by another as he pulled a fresh shirt on, something about a remark the girl had made in the forest last night, "The Wolverine is cursed to walk this earth until the end of time, this is a burden the girl shares as well."
The dining hall was in its usual state of orderly chaos, the only kind of atmosphere possible when one considered the forty plus adolescent mutants who took up residence there. Four long rectangular tables ran horizontally dominating the space, while the teacher's table stood at the front, on top of a raised platform keeping close watch over their charges.
"Charlie Mason should you choose to commit to your next action, the girl will see you in detention for the next three weeks." River suddenly shouted, rising from her chair.
A twelve year old blonde boy seated at the second table had the decency to look ashamed as a chorus of "ooooooooos" rose up from the kids sitting around him.
A few of the teachers chuckled as River took her seat again. She sipped her tea, in her usual place, sandwiched the Storm and the Beast, the only change being the seat across from her, once vacant was now filled by one Wolverine, who sipped his coffee at the same pace she did her tea, his mind screaming the question he would not allow his lips to speak, and River could not bring herself to answer.
Gratefully the Professor broke the tension only he was aware of, by refocusing Logan's attention elsewhere. "Children," He called out to the room, and an immediate hush fell over the students, all heads turning. "Some of you may be aware of a new face amongst us this morning, I would like to introduce you all to Logan, he will be assisting in your Self Defense classes and subbing elsewhere when necessary."
A hand shot up.
"Yes Lucy?" The Professor asked pointing to a small dark haired girl, with extremely pale watery looking skin and large glassy eyes.
"What's his trick?"
Logan raised an eyebrow.
"They wish to know you're mutation," River offered from across the table, the first words she had spoken to him besides a brief good morning.
He smirked, and stood turning to face the room, the *snikt* of his claws extending was followed by a softly mumbled uproar, echos of, cool, neat, and holy shit (by the older students of course).
"Aside from the obvious children Professor Logan is a Feral as well as a regen, I am sure he will be more than happy to answer your questions as he meets each one of you through his classes."
Logan raised a metal eyebrow at the Professor, who ignored him completely.
"Also another announcement children, and for this I would like you to hold all questions until you make it to you group rooms, your teachers there will be able to answer them then. You are all aware as we have discussed it heavily in our Current Affairs classes of the upcoming vote on the Mutant Registration Act," The room froze, hunger dissipated, fear settled, and River doing her best to counteract it sent waves of calm towards the students and teachers alike. The Professor mentally thanked her before continuing. "I do not usually promote a disregard for the law, but here we will draw our line, neither the school nor the teaching staff will be registering themselves with the government, but it is for each one of you to decide for yourselves."
He paused for a moment, overcome be the overwhelming waves of relief and gratitude coming from his students, many whose own parents did not know they were mutants.
"There is the possibility of consequences for this decision and we need to prepare ourselves for it, and so I have promoted five of our Senior students to the roles of Junior X-men, in case of an emergency," Xavier pointedly avoided the word attack, "these students will be prepared to help get you all out to safety, should the ground alarms be triggered you are to locate one of them or a member of the teaching staff immediately and do as instructed, no questions, am I understood?"
A chorus of "Yes, Professor," rang out solemnly through the dining hall.
"Very well, Bobby Drake, Kitty Pryde, Jubilation Lee, John Allerdyce, and Piotr Rasputin, please stand." He paused giving them a moment, "These are your student leaders and you are to adhere to them as you would your teachers. We face uncertain times children, and I regret that you must know these things and live through them, but remember there is also hope, and we will always have each other." He allowed his final words a few quiet moments to sink in, before adding, "That is all children, let us begin our day."
"Logan!" Rogue called running over from her table as breakfast dismissed.
"Hey kid."
"You stayin' then?" She asked.
"Gotta keep an eye on you don't I?"
Rogue laughed, "Next time wear your seatbelt and maybe you'll stay conscious long enough to do that sugah."
He smirked, "Yeah kid I'll keep that in mind."
"Rogue, come on we're gonna be late," a girl in a yellow trench appeared by her side.
"Go on kid, ain't gonna nowhere, and apparently I'll see ya in class."
She laughed again and lowered her voice leaning in to whisper, "Betcha didn't think you'd go from cage fighting to gym teacher in less than a week."
Logan snorted, "Go on get to class, make something of yourself won't ya."
"I'll see ya later than sugah," she called over her shoulder as trench coat pulled her away.
"He is her knight in tarnished armor." River said softly appearing at his side.
"Don't know why, only knew her a couple of hours 'fore the attack."
"Kindness is rarely forgotten by those who experience little of it."
"What's her story?" He asked, not having gotten much outta the girl while they had been driving.
"Those are not the girl's secrets to tell." River answered, "You must ask the Rogue that yourself."
"Know I woulda had you last night if little miss lightning hadn't stepped in."
River snorted, "He may believe what he wishes," she smirked at him sideways before walking away.
Logan watched her go, enjoying the lingering traces of her scent, maybe stickin' around wasn't gonna be so bad after all.
Logan shifted uncomfortably, barefoot on the floor mats of the small but well equipped training center, while Jayne tossed out several dozen small rubber balls around the room. "What the hell are you doing?"
"Got the youngest first thing in the morning, don't need and don't want them to know nothin' 'bout fighting 'sides the basics, their defense classes are strictly that, defense, today a little duck and dodge training."
"You're playin' dodge ball?" Logan asked unimpressed.
Jayne snickered, "Ever play dodge ball with a bunch of mutant ten year olds?"
"No," Logan answered cautiously.
"You read through any of their files yet?" Jayne snickered.
"Haven't had the chance."
Jayne's snicker turned into outright laughter.
**
Logan eyed each one of the eight students who returned his gaze with a matched intensity, Jayne was about to blow the whistle and had refused to tell him what they were capable of, and to be honest he was a little pissed he was getting nervous about facing a room full of ten and eleven year olds, how much damage could they possibly do?
A faint giggle caused him to break the stare down first, "Logan would be wise to not underestimate them based on their diminutive state, he has made that mistake once already."
"Miss River!" The same girl who had asked what Logan's trick was at breakfast called out, "Are you going to play today too?"
"Please?" One of the boys pushed.
"Teachers versus students!" Another one chimed, an idea backed by the others.
Jayne smirked, encasing himself, and nodding at River, before turning to Logan and asking, "You ready for this buddy?"
Logan snorted, "Just a couple of kids," he however immediately regretted that remark as one of the said kids levitated and another leapt up running a lap around the room and halting right in his face to shoot him a raspberry before speeding off again in less time than it took Logan to blink, the most troublesome however, was the little girl who clapped her hands together, tiny sparks of electricity crackling out from between her fingers.
"Thanks pal, ya just pissed 'em off," Jayne scowled.
River giggled, sensing the Wolverine's immediate discomfort, and levitating herself slightly as well as several balls which began spinning in tight loops around her, she said, "The girl warned you against underestimating them."
Before Logan could reply Jayne blew the whistle. What followed was quite possibly the most humiliating and pride crushing hour of his life, and at the end of it he limped past the pack of snickering snot nosed brats swearing to god he'd never crack another midget joke again.
Jayne chuckled, turning his skin off and striding past him towards the locker room, "Got the Danger Room training next, don't die on me yet. Could you get the balls for me River?"
River rolled her eyes and with a flick of her wrist the balls rolled home.
"Thanks girl," and then to Logan, "See you below in twenty."
Logan waited until Jayne was completely and totally out of earshot, before collapsing to the ground on the mats, "Oh god, fucking kill me."
River snickered.
"Ain't funny, what the hell are you people feeding those kids? They're like little crack head supermen."
River laughed harder and despite himself Logan laughed as well, pinning it on the girl's empathy.
"That why you showed up? To watch me get crushed by a bunch of kids, doing it yourself last night wasn't enough?" He asked smirking and pushing himself up from the mats he cracked his neck.
"The girl could not resist." She confessed.
"Don't think my ego can take another class. Don't know why you're all concerned about their safety, any idiot dumb enough to try to walk on these grounds uninvited is in for a hell of a surprise."
River sobered instantly.
"What I say?"
River let out a sigh, "What Logan saw was a child's game, make believe and nothing more, asking children to be brave in the face of a rubber ball differs greatly from asking them to face a soldier with a gun, and intent to harm."
Logan grunted in agreement realizing the inherent truth in her words. "Even still, that speed freak's got a nasty curve ball."
His offhand remark played itself well and the hint of a smile returned to River's face. "The Logan whines like a child, and he does not even bruise, the girl does not feel sorry for him, beware the wrath of the little ones!" She joked.
"I bruise, for a couple of seconds." He shrugged enjoying more than he thought possible the sound of the girl's voice as she laughed.
"Logan will be late for his next class if he does not hurry, to warn him, because the girl knows he did not read the files the Storm gave him, Bobby is ice, John is fire, Piotr is as the man named Jayne, Kitty can pass through solid matter and carry others with her, and Jubilation produces plasma blasts from her finger tips."
"You're kidding?" He quirked an eyebrow.
River smirked, "The girl wishes you luck."
**
Endnote: Whole lotta fluff but got some setup still left to do, much luv ya'll thanks for stickin' with me. By the by any requests for mutant appearances or powers? No promises but I'm open to suggestions.
'Til After Now.