Rogue spent the morning on the couch, her arms propped up on pillows, watching movies while people offered to bring her things. By lunch she seemed a bit pale so Storm sent her to her room to rest after eating. "I think it's time we had that talk." Logan said to Storm.
"Shouldn't Rogue be part of the conversation?" Storm asked.
"She can't be asleep yet." Logan argued. Storm eventually sighed and knocked on Rogue's door. They heard her tell them to come in. Storm closed the door behind her, then sat on Rogue's bed. Logan was in her chair.
"Logan wants you to use your mutation and his to heal yourself." Storm said.
"Does he?" Rogue replied. She was trying to preserve her dignity, she felt rather like a child with her parents in the room. It wasn't helped that she was in her pyjamas, in bed, and exhausted.
"What do you think about it?" Storm asked her.
"Well I certainly don't enjoy healing the old fashioned way."
"It's not like I won't recover." Logan said to Storm.
"That's not really the point Logan, I'm not concerned about your physical health." Storm told him.
"What's the problem then?" He demanded, he knew he was being obstinate but he didn't care.
"You two are like addicts and I don't want you falling back into old habits." Storm said, her usually calm voice starting to show emotion.
"That's over with." Logan said, his voice deep.
"Is it?" She replied.
"Yeah it is." Logan told her, his body language getting more aggressive. "She hasn't used her powers on me in months." Logan was embarrassed to be speaking about this to anyone else but he wanted Rogue to be healed. He had every intention of having her use his mutation but he wanted to give Storm the courtesy of approving.
"I'm not sure the addiction is done with." Storm told him.
"What do you mean?" He demanded.
"So you're not using your powers anymore but when's the last time you spent a night in your own beds?"
"Wait a minute! There's nothing improper about that, we're just sleeping." Logan said.
Storm resisted the strong desire to roll her eyes, "Are you sure you're not just replacing one addiction with another?"
"No…" Logan couldn't really think of a good reply.
"Guys?" Rogue interjected. They both looked at her and she wondered if they'd forgotten about her for a moment. "I don't think either of us wants to go back to the way things were Storm." Logan nodded, "We realize that it wasn't a healthy way to deal with things. And I don't think it made either of us very happy. As for replacing one addiction with another; I don't think one can really be addicted to sharing one's sleeping space." Now she was sure of it, Logan did blush.
"This would be a pretty big test Rogue." Storm said.
"I know, and so does Logan, but if he's willing to risk it, then so am I." Storm looked at the both of them for a few moments before speaking.
"All right. But if I see any signs…" She trailed off, not needing to finish.
"Good, let's get going." Logan said. The ladies seemed surprised at his enthusiasm. Logan would have preferred to be alone with Rogue for this, but as long as she was going to get healed he didn't really care who was there. He sat down on the bed, his back to Storm and he took Rogue's hands in his. "Ok darlin', I'm ready." He held her eyes with his so she wouldn't be distracted by Storm.
Rogue smiled slightly then started to pull, as slowly as she could, closing her eyes to concentrate. Logan again focused on positive things. This time he found that most of this thoughts were of Rogue. He focused on her smile, her eyes, her hair, her laugh. The way it felt to sleep keeping her safe in his arms. He then focused on his feelings for her, he didn't direct them, he just let them flow as they came. It was over before he knew it.
Rogue opened her eyes and he saw a question in them before she turned her focus to Storm. "It's over."
"Really?" Storm then studied Logan for signs of distress, she was shocked to find almost none. "What? How?"
"Later." He said firmly, "We should go to the lab, you'll want those casts to come off." Rogue grinned at him and got easily to her feet, then she immediately blushed as she realized she wasn't wearing a whole hell of a lot.
"I'll wait outside." Logan said chuckling.
Rogue was able to get dressed with minimal help now that she wasn't in pain and in moments the three of them were on the way to the lab. "Hello." Storm called out. The doctor appeared and seemed surprised to see them all.
"Good afternoon, did you need something?" he asked politely.
"She needs her casts off." Logan said, jerking a thumb in Rogue's direction.
"Oh no, I'm afraid she'll have to be in them for several weeks."
"Just look at her arms." Logan said. The doctor gave him a patronizing glance, rather brave of him thought Storm, then he did as he was bade. A shocked look came over his face.
"How?" He asked. Storm nodded her head from Logan to Rogue and understanding dawned.
"I see. Very, very handy I say." He said, "Have a seat, I'll get my saw." Rogue grinned and sat up on a table. The doctor returned in a moment and carefully cut her casts off. "Remarkable." He commented as the trio left his lab.
"I need a shower." Rogue proclaimed and disappeared in the direction of her room.
"Logan?" Storm said.
"What?"
"Why aren't you in need of a long nap?" Logan appraised her mood and found that he probably couldn't avoid answering.
"Rogue's gotten good control of her powers. She had lots of practice." He added.
"I know, and that used to leave the two of you practically drooling." Logan gave her a hard look but answered amiably enough.
"I think part of that might have been because of me."
"You?" Storm was surprised.
"Misery loves company. This time I decided to try focusing on good things."
"Think happy thoughts?" Storm was clearly incredulous.
"Something like that." Logan was getting tired of this conversation.
"All right." She said slowly. "How are her nightmares?"
"Getting better." Storm nodded and Logan turned to go.
"You know you're in a relationship Logan." She said it quietly but his enhanced hearing had no trouble picking it up.
"Am not." He shot over his shoulder, not slowing down.
Logan went to the garage and hopped on his motorbike and went for a ride. A few hours later he was back at the mansion for dinner. He'd been thinking about what Storm had said. Relationship. Logan snorted. But the more he thought about it the more he came around to that line of thinking. All that was missing from it was the sex. And it wasn't like he didn't think about that.
He and Rogue spent most of their free time together, they slept in the same bed, and they'd shared their thoughts and feelings with only each other for a long time now. Their friendship was more intimate than most marriages. But was he really ready for a true relationship? He hadn't one in his recent memory, and though he'd loved Jean, she hadn't loved him back. That pain was no longer as fresh as he'd thought it would be given how he'd spent so long dwelling on the loss.
Rogue had helped him forget, first by taking his memories, then by giving him something else to focus on. He supposed it was timed he moved on. He would never forget Jean, not the way he loved her, or the way she died. But maybe he could get past it, move on, build the life his love for Jean gave him a glimpse of. Build that life with the only woman who accepted him for what he was. If she would have him.
There was a list of reasons a kilometer long why they made a bad couple, but Logan hoped that the reasons why they should would count for more. Maybe you should bring this up with Rogue before you go buy a house with a white picket fence there bub. Logan grinned and gunned the throttle back towards the mansion.