Xavier's School for the Gifted stood peacefully atop the rolling hills of Westchester as the sun set on yet another wonderful day. The sky was just turning black as the campus settled into a silent retreat. Most of the campus that is. Around the corner in the South Hall dorms, chaos ensued.
"He said NINE, Rachel! You are so gonna be late!" Crystal shouted from outside the closet door. Rachel had locked herself in two hours before, and they hadn't seen her since. "Come on; just throw on some Soffes and go!"
"We really need to go shopping, sometime, for my own clothes. Although I have absolutely no money." Rachel reached for the handle of the door, and stepped out into the room. "I could pay with my good looks, maybe?"
"Um... I would say a big 'Hell Yeah' to that one!" Dani exclaimed.
Rachel had finally decided on a pair of Dani's jeans (the ones that she called her 'Sexy Drawers') and a black tee shirt of Crystal's. She was considerably lucky that all three of them were around the same size, or she would be going naked. This, in the long run, might not be so bad, since that is how she had pictured Logan all day through class. Rachel had given up concentrating about five minutes into her morning class with Professor Summers. By the end of the day, she had tuned out Professor Monroe, Professor McCoy and almost everything Crystal and Dani had said that didn't pertain to Logan. She was completely head over heals for the big lug!
"HELLO! Earth to Rachel! Crystal just said she could get money from her dad to go shopping for clothes! For future reference, never turn down free money."
"Oh, I'm so sorry guys." She turned to Crystal and gave her an awkward hug. "Thank you so much. You guys really are the best."
"No big! I can always help out my friends."
"Ok, you two saps! Rachel needs to get her sexy ass over to Logan's so they can get to the horizontal mambo-ing!"
"Dani!" Crystal shouted.
"Horizontal mambo-ing?" Rachel thought about it for a moment and then finally received the mental image... and it wasn't too terrible at all! "Oh you mean ridin' the bronco! I gotcha!"
"Bronco? Hmm... Seems sexier that way." Crystal contemplated her own image as Dani pushed Rachel to the door.
"Ok, go get your steer... or bronco or whatever the fuck it is! Just fill us in when you get back!" Dani went to close the door, and then snatched it back open again. "And remember, Logan is a bad boy, so spanking may be required!"
And with that, Rachel was left all alone with just a few halls between her and the sexiest man on the planet. And she had his key. To his private room. Hell, what was she waiting for!?
Rachel headed off towards the faculty rooms in a dead sprint. It was usually a ten minute walk at least, but she managed to be in front of Logan's door in three. The hall was completely empty. The air was thick and heady making it hard for Rachel to catch her breath. It was as if no one dared to interrupt what was about to happen. Like this night was sacred. And as Rachel reached into her pocket and pulled out Logan's key, she began to believe in destiny.
"Logan? Are you in here?" Rachel stepped inside the dimly lit room and closed the door behind her. A fire crackled in the corner of the room providing the only source of light. It took her eyes a moment to adjust, but once they did, she stood frozen in place, gawking at the room spread out before her.
The room was spacious to say the least. A large fire place and sitting area were set in the back corner of the room. The marble tiles around the mantle were a rich cream color that accented the deep mahogany floor. The chairs were covered in burgundy suede and a crystal ash tray sat on the side table, a silver cigar cutter gleaming from the inside the dish. Rachel turned her sights to the beast of a bed that dominated the large space. The bed sat high off the ground on a four-poster support made of the same mahogany as the floor. Each poster was elegantly carved in simple spiraling patterns. The bed spread was burgundy with cream trim and accent pillows. The room was purely Logan. Smooth colors, solid wood, and a warm, raging fire.
Rachel could imagine him sitting in one of the large wing back chairs, starring at the flames as he contemplated his day. And the white fur rug in front of the fireplace brought more sensual images to her mind. Logan spread out, the warm light glowing in his eyes, his wide chest bare and open for discovery, his jeans slung loosely around those delightful hips, and a full bottle of Chablis on the mantle for drinking and other tasty act...
"Kid?"
"Shit! Logan you scared the crap outta me! You can't just go sneaking up on people like that!" Rachel yelled as her heart desperately tried to start beating again.
"I called out three times for you. I hardly consider that sneaking up." Logan mused. He tilted his head, a mischievous grin sliding across his face. Uh oh, she had been caught. "What were you doing any way?"
"Oh, nothing. Just admiring the fireplace, that's all." Rachel said weakly.
"The hell you were."
"Whatever Logan, we need to go train. That's what I came here to do right?" Stupid! Stupid! Stupid! She was five feet from Logan's bed and Rachel wanted to train!? What kind of idiot was she? Logan didn't answer. Instead he took a few steps toward her, his eyes locked onto hers. "Logan?"
His hand reached out, his body leaned into hers and Rachel closed her eyes, waiting for the kiss she knew was coming. His hand brushed by the side of her head... and went right past her! "Logan? What are you doing?"
"Grabbing a cigar from my humidor." He wiggled the Cuban in front of her. "What did you think I was doing? You got all puckered up like you thought I was gonna kiss you."
"Oh, not even!" Rachel stormed past him, heading for the open archway on the other side of the room.
"Alright, Kid, whatever you say." He said, smacking her butt as he passed by her. Logan knew desire when he saw it. She had practically melted when he came towards her. Just as he intended her too. She had teased him earlier, and now it was time for pay back. He just hoped he could keep a tight leash on his lust or things could go way beyond teasing.
"And you said I'm a tease!"
"Yeah, well. It's time you learned your lesson."
'Two can play that game,' Rachel thought as she followed Logan into the training room. He was right; this wasn't just any old work out room. This was a training dream come true. Each wall was lined with two layers of padded mats, as was the ceiling and floor. A set of pull-up bars took up residence on the wall of one corner of the room, and opposite them in the other corner was the largest punching bag Rachel had ever seen. Ropes of various shapes and sizes hung from the ceiling along with steel beams that stretched across the entire expanse of the room. And finally, sitting all around the main area of the room, were steal plated boxes, discs, pipes and chains. The room was defiantly battle ready.
"Impressed, huh?"
"Well, yeah! Logan, this is incredible!"
"You ain't seen nothin' yet kid." Logan clapped twice and the lights snapped off, and a door slid shut over the entrance. Then, bright flashes of light began to spring to life around the room, like indoor lightning, making it even harder to see clearly. "Now you have to use your senses. You can't see, you have to feel." A hand brushed over her lower back, making her jump.
"Logan, I don't think I can..." Suddenly a large black mass came hurdling towards her, striking her directly in the chest and throwing back against the padded wall. Rachel began to protest but saw another black object coming toward her. She unsheathed her claws and jumped into a round-house kick in the knick of time. The object went soaring into the opposite wall with a loud crash.
"Nice moves, kid."
"I am not a kid, Logan!"
"We'll see about that."
He lunged forward out of the darkness, coming straight at Rachel, claws extended in deadly accuracy. Instinct automatically kicked in as she used his momentum to send him flying over her head. She spun on her heals, her foot landing square in his gut. They stood there for a moment, battle-ready, circling one another. The air was thick and tension was high. Then Rachel slashed forward, punching and cutting with deadly precision. Logan met her every advance. The distinct clang of metal rang through the room as they matched each move the other made, claw for claw. Sparks began to fly wildly as they increased the speed of attack, the friction causing the Adamantium to heat up quickly. And just a fast as the attacks began, they all but ceased as Rachel missed a step and Logan's claws connected with her thigh.
Rachel fell immediately, the pain intense through out her body. Logan clapped and the lights came surging back to life, and then he was right there beside her, his hands running over her body trying to find the wound. When his hands touched blood, he went still, his eyes wide and his face ghostly pale.
"Rachel... I..."
"Hey, it's ok. Look." Set sat up and picked up his hand in hers. The fabric of her jeans was shredded revealing the now healed skin underneath. "See, I'm fine." Seconds ticked by but Logan just sat there, unflinching, starring down at her leg as if it were mangled beyond repair. "Hey, look at me." She placed her hand under his chin and lifted his face until his eyes met hers. "I am fine."
"Rachel... I really didn't... I mean... Aw hell." Logan surged forward, grabbing her behind the head, his lips crashing down on to hers. His mouth was hot and demanding as his tongue ruthlessly captured hers. She moaned in protest, but that only fueled his hunger. He pulled her onto his lap trying to get closer still, shoving their bodies together in a perfect fit. She could feel his chest heaving for air, his rock hard stomach and the thrusts of his pelvis, perfectly in rhythm with his lips. And just as Rachel thought she might pass out from the intensity, Logan pulled away, his eyes hot with lust.
"You scared the shit out of me, kid. I thought I had really hurt you." He ran the back of his hand down her cheek, relishing in the softness of her skin. "I will never let anything happen to you. I promise."
"I know, Logan, I know."
Something flashed across Logan's face at the sound of his name. He immediately reeled back, releasing his hold on her. What the hell was going on?
"Logan?"
"No, just don't say it." He ran a shaking hand through his hair as she stood up and came toward him. But the second he realized she was coming closer he turned away, stalked back into the bedroom and yanked open the door. "Lesson's over. Go back to your room, kid."
"But Logan, I don't understand! We were just kissing and..."
"Just GO!" He yelled making Rachel jump. Her eyes were wide and she looked like she was ready to burst into tears. Hell, he didn't want to make her cry, but he had to get her out of his room before he let something happen that he knew she would regret. "Look, just go to bed, ok? Get some sleep and let that leg heal. You'll have one hell of a bruise tomorrow."
She moved slowly out into the hall, trance like, and as Logan let the door come to a close, he heard an almost silent sob. Shit! Now he had really hurt her!
Rachel stood on the other side of the door, a lump forming in her throat, her heart pounding in her chest. What had just happened? First they were kissing and then he just threw her out like... like... an unwanted whore.
A distant memory flashed in Rachel's mind. It was dark, the streets were wet with grime, and a younger version of her sat shivering in the corner behind a dripping cardboard box. She was all alone, and deathly afraid. Then from around the corner came the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Long brown hair spilled out from a high ponytail and the tight mini skirt she wore hugged the most gorgeous figure a woman could have. Her skin was pale and soft, and her smile made Rachel's heart swell. But before the woman could reach her, a dark man ran around the corner, grabbing her arm and yanking her down to the ground. And it was from that hidden spot that Rachel watched that ugly man beat that woman to death. He yelled things about money and unsatisfaction as his hands struck her frail, lifeless body. That woman had been a prostitute. And he was an unhappy customer. Then that night floated away, as Rachel reached the end of the one memory from her childhood.
An overwhelming grief tore through Rachel's body and she reached into her pocket and pulled out a small photograph. The edges were tearing and the quality had faded over many years, but the woman in the picture was clearly visible. Her long brown hair and pale skin was still as beautiful as it was in Rachel's mind. This was the prostitute. Rachel turned the picture over in her hand and re-read the message for what had to have been the thousandth time in her long seven years.
To my sweet Rachel,
Life has never been good to me, but I know
That if you put your mind to it, you can change
the world. Be brave little girl! Reach for the things I
never had... a warm bed, a loving family, a kiss under
fresh mistletoe, and a man who will love you until the end of time.
If you try Rachel, you can reach the stars!
I will see you again, my little angel.
Love,
Catherine aka Mom
"I reached for the stars, Momma." A small tear traveled down her cheek as she looked back at Logan's door. "And I was so blind; I couldn't see that I was falling."
Rachel placed the photograph back into her pocket, savoring the sweet words from a woman she couldn't, for the life of her, ever remember knowing. The halls were quiet as Rachel began to walk back to her dorm room, holding the frail remnants of her pride. Well, if Logan didn't want her, then she would move on, find a better man out there for her. But as her mind nodded in agreement, her heart gave a shuddered sigh. There would never be anyone better than Logan.
A tiny red light blinked from high above the hall. The shiny black lens followed the young girl as she walked away from the mutant's door. Thousands of wires and plastic pieces transmitted the image to a location not to far away. The time was coming. Soon, everything would be ready.
The fire in the corner of the room had long since died, leaving a few smoldering ashes in its place. The moon was waning, slowly growing weaker as the sun made its way to the horizon. Logan hadn't moved since she's left. He sat against the door, nearly empty flask in hand, trying to drown his confused emotions beneath endless waves of rum. What had he done? They had been training and then he stabbed her, but she had been fine, so why did it scare him so much? Why had he kissed her? Out of fear, loneliness or... no it couldn't have been anything thing else. It must have been battle-lust. Yeah, that made enough sense to his rum-filled brain. Battle-lust. So the battle had been done now for about 6 hours... why hadn't his lust died? Logan looked across the bedroom at his training area, remembering how it felt to have Rachel on top of him, the feel of her mouth on his. She had tasted so sweet just like he knew she would. Like strawberries on his tongue. And all he could think of was how the rest of her body tasted.
"Damn it, Logan, she's just some kid. Get a fuckin' grip!" He yelled to himself and the dark expanse of his room. He had to stop seeing her! Logan downed the rest of the rum, feeling the normally scorching liquid flow numbly down his throat. He could never have her. Rachel was young and needed a man who could love her and care for her, not some animal who reminded her of the hell in her past. Come tomorrow, he would put his plan into action. Logan wouldn't speak to her, or touch her or even see her unless they were training, which he would make sure was in the gymnasium where all the other sparring lessons took place. If he cut her out of his life, maybe he could go back to the hard, callus man he use to be. As his eyes drifted shut into an alcohol induced slumber, a part of Logan's heart slipped away into the confines of his deeply troubled body. The part that secretly belonged to Rachel.