Ten
"You sure dodged a bullet today, Rogue," Kitty teased while they were suiting up for their training sessions in the girls locker room.
Rogue stuffed her feet into her boots and then pulled on her brown gloves. She snorted. "How do yah figure? Ah'm trainin' in the danger room with Professor S himself." She rolled her eyes.
Kitty smiled brightly and adjusted her ponytail. "Yeah, well like, at least you're not with Mr. Logan today. He's sure to be extra grumpy after what happened this morning."
Rogue groaned and slapped a hand to her forehead. "Ugh, don't remind me. Ah'm gonna try an' avoid him for probably the rest of my life." She waited for Kitty by the door. "Who're you trainin' with?"
Grimacing, Kitty followed Rogue into the corridor and mumbled, "Mr. Logan."
"Ah feel for yah," Rogue uttered sympathetically, patting Kitty on the shoulder.
Suddenly, Kitty was feeling a little more worried about her upcoming training session than she was before. "You don't think he's, like, still mad at me for accidently poisoning him do you?"
"Nah," the southerner shook her head and smiled reassuringly. "He was never mad at yah, Kit. Don'tcha worry."
"Really?" she asked uncertainly.
"Yeah. Now g'won. Yah don't wanna be late."
Kitty smiled brightly and resisted the urge to hug her friend. "Thanks, Rogue. See ya later." She took off, running toward the elevator so she could meet Jean and Logan out in front of the mansion before they went out to the cliffs.
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"Alright, both of ya get yer harnesses on. We're gonna do a repelling exercise," Logan said gruffly, tossing Jean and Kitty each a rock climbing harness.
While Jean began to step into her harness, Kitty moved a little closer to the edge of the cliff and glanced down at the water below uneasily.
"Careful over there, Half-Pint," Logan warned, waving her toward him. "I want you harnessed up before ya go anywhere near there."
She pursed her lips and hung her head apologetically while quickly moving away from the dangerous cliff edge. "Sorry, Wolverine."
He grunted with a nod and gestured toward the harness in her hands. While she started to put it on, Logan went to set their anchors on some nearby trees and then strapped into his own harness before clipping in.
"Good to go," Jean informed him a moment later, and he walked over to the girls to make sure all the straps and buckles were secure before clipping them into their anchors. He had to tighten up a few of Kitty's straps, but Jean's were all done correctly, and soon they were both ready.
"Alright," Logan clapped his gloved hands together. "Now I don't want either of y'all usin' yer powers during this exercise unless it's an emergency situation, got it?" Jean and Kitty both nodded at him. He grunted. "Okay, stand near the edge and watch me go first. Then I'll signal when it's safe to come down. One at a time, though."
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For nearly two hours they practiced repelling down the cliff face and climbing back up, worked on helping out their climbing partner in need of assistance, rescues, and climbing/repelling while simulating an injury. By the time they were done, both Kitty and Jean were pretty exhausted. Logan called an end to the session and the girls rested by the trees, drinking their water while he gathered up the gear.
Just as they were about to start the trek back to the mansion, Logan was alerted by the familiar sound and stench of the elf's teleportation, and turned around to see a very nervous-looking Kurt by the edge of the cliff.
Realizing how precariously he was positioned, Kurt hopped forward and looked desperately at Kitty. "You need to come vith me!"
"Elf," Logan barked, pulling back the cowl on his uniform. "What the hell's goin' on?"
Kurt's panicked yellow eyes flashed toward him. "One of the tunnels below the mansion collapsed while we were training! Ororo got trapped, and we need Kitty to get her out!"
The sky above them suddenly darkened, deep, growling thunder rumbling in the distance. Logan felt his heart clench. She was alive, and she was losing control, her fear of confined spaces taking over. "I'm goin' with you," Logan demanded, stepping toward both Kurt and Kitty.
Probably noticing the dangerous look in the feral's eyes, Kurt didn't refuse him, nodding sharply. "Okay, but we were deep underground and it took me a few jumps to get here. Taking two passengers on the way back won't be pleasant." He warned them.
Logan growled. "Just do it."
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Shaking off the disorientation and momentary nausea from the multiple 'ports, Logan quickly took in his surroundings as his eyes adjusted to the lack of bright light within the tunnels. He grimaced in sympathy as Kitty stumbled into a corner to vomit and Kurt wavered on his feet.
"Logan!" Evan called his attention to a pile of displaced boulders that he was attempting to dig through using a large bony spike as a lever. "Auntie O's trapped behind there!"
"Kitty, go," Logan ordered, rushing over.
"Uh, right. Okay!" Kitty was biting her lip in concentration as she sucked in a deep breath and walked through the pile of rock to the other side.
Logan had to remind himself to breathe as tense seconds passed, then Kitty finally phased back through the rock, but she was alone. "Half-Pint, where's—"
"She's okay!" Kitty said quickly, holding up her hands. "Well…sort of okay. I mean, I don't think she's hurt bad, but she's unconscious. I'm just not strong enough to lift her and phase her out."
"Take me with you. I'll care her," Logan decided, reaching out to the teenager.
Kitty nodded, then grabbed his hand and started back into the wall of rock. "Just don't let go until we're on the other side," she reminded him.
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As soon as they were on the other side of the boulders, Kitty became tangible again and Logan instantly let go of her hand to scramble to the unconscious wind-rider's side. Ororo moaned softly as Logan brushed the hair away from her face, revealing a bruise near her hairline. As the unconscious woman's breathing grew harsher, panicked, Kitty noticed the sudden feeling of electricity in the air as strands of her hair floated up from static. "Mr. Logan!" she cried in warning.
His nostrils flared and his eyes shot wide, already aware of what was about to happen. "Kitty! Phase, now!"
She went intangible instinctively, but was unable to get to Logan before Ororo woke in renewed panic as lightning crashed through the confined space, blasting the feral mutant hard into a wall of solid rock. More stone and debris shook free on impact, dust and rocks raining over Logan's crumpled form.
Kitty had to wait until Ororo lost consciousness again before un-phasing and tentatively crawling over to Logan. She brushed rocks and debris from his face and chest before shaking his shoulder gently. "Mr. Logan? Please, Mr. Logan, wake up! I can't get Ororo out without your help, and there's like no way I can drag you out of here, either! Please!"
Logan came to with a groan and sat up, holding a hand to his head and then his chest, growling as he opened his eyes.
"Oh, good, you're awake!" Kitty cried with relief, tugging on his arm. "We, like, really need to get out here! This tunnel's not so stable ya know!"
Grumbling, her instructor shakily got to his feet and then wobbled determinedly toward Ororo. He lifted her up with relative ease, and Kitty grabbed onto his elbow, phasing the three of them through the thick wall of collapsed boulders.
"Jeeze, what took you guys so long! It feels like the whole place is coming down!" Evan cried frantically as they emerged on the other side.
Kitty looked worriedly at Logan when he didn't move or utter a word as she let go of his arm. He didn't bark out any orders, just stood there, swaying slightly and breathing hard as he held Storm tightly to him, a blank look on his face. She chewed her lower lip and glanced to Kurt. "Teleport Ororo to the med lab, and take Mr. Logan with you."
The fuzzy blue teen nodded with brows furrowed in mild confusion and put his hand on Logan's shoulder before disappearing in a flash of smoke and brimstone. Kitty instantly grabbed for Evan's sleeve. "C'mon, let's get out of here!" She kept hold of him, staying phased as they ran out of the shuddering tunnels.
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Reappearing in the med lab, Kurt watched hesitantly as Logan numbly carried the unconscious Ororo to the bed and gently set her down. Her uniform was dirty and roughed up, and Logan's wasn't any better. His orange and black X-Men uniform was filthy and torn slightly in some places, Logan's dark hair turned dusky from dirt and debris. The feral mutant still hadn't uttered a word.
Kurt waved his hand in a vague gesture behind him. "I'll, uh, go get the professor." As he crouched slightly in preparation to teleport, he noticed Logan stagger back half a step before crumpling to the floor in a boneless heap. "Mein Gott!" he gasped, leaping toward the fallen man instead of disappearing like he'd meant to. He rested a three-fingered hand on the older mutant's chest briefly, then, satisfied that he was breathing, 'ported away to find Professor Xavier.
It didn't take Kurt long to find him and explain everything, then the two of them quickly went down to the med lab where they were met by Scott, whom Professor Xavier had contacted telepathically. Scott pushed a gurney into the med lab, then he and Kurt managed to lift Logan onto it with effort. The metal-boned mutant was quite heavy, and it was no easy feat to move him when he was just dead weight.
"How's Storm?" Scott asked once they got Logan settled, turning around to where the professor was looking Ororo over.
"She'll be alright," Xavier said calmly. "I don't think she has a concussion, just a small bump on the head. From what Kurt's told me, I'd surmise that her unconscious state is more a result from the panic of her claustrophobia rather than a head injury."
Scott nodded, then glanced behind them again at Logan with confusion on his face. "What happened to Logan?"
Kurt shrugged. "I'm not sure. When he came out through the rocks carrying Ororo, he looked kind of unsteady and Kitty just told me to take them both to the med lab. He just put Ororo on the bed and then collapsed. Kitty would probably know what happened."
"Kurt," the professor called to him. "Would you mind finding Kitty and telling her to come down here? Oh, and if you see Evan, let him know his aunt will be alright."
He nodded. "Sure, Professor."
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"Ororo?"
Groggily opening her eyes as she dragged a hand up to her aching head, Ororo moaned softly and blinked slowly in confusion at the man sitting beside her bed. "Charles?"
"How are you feeling, my dear?" he asked quietly, his blue eyes calm and serene.
"Alright." Ororo gingerly prodded her forehead around her hairline and frowned at the faint bump she felt. "My head hurts a bit. What happened?"
"You were training down in the tunnels with Evan and Kurt; there was a collapse. Do you remember?"
She closed her eyes again, trying to think. Yes, now she remembered. Goddess, she'd been trapped. Ororo remembered feeling overcome with panic, walls closing in on her, barely able to catch a breath, then…nothing. "Goddess," she murmured aloud, opening her eyes again and glancing at the professor seriously. "I lost control and I—" She started to remember more. Waking, panicking again, a scream, a flash of lightning, familiar voices— "Logan and Kitty," she gasped, sitting up, eyes wide.
"Kitty's fine," Charles assured her calmly, lightly touching her hand with a small, comforting smile. "She managed to phase in time."
Ororo swallowed the lump in her throat. "And Logan?"
The professor sighed softly, gesturing to her other side with a tilt of his chin.
"Oh, no." She turned around, her heart constricting at the sight of Logan reclined on a nearby gurney in a filthy, torn uniform.
Charles reached for her hand. "He's alright, Ororo, just resting. You gave him quite a shock, that's all. According to Kitty he was thrown rather hard against a rock wall from the lightning strike, but thanks to his healing factor he'll be fine."
Ororo pulled up her knees and hunched forward, pressing her forehead into her legs and sighing shakily. She couldn't believe she'd electrocuted Logan twice in less than a week, both times during a claustrophobic episode. At least this time he apparently hadn't stopped breathing, thank the Goddess.
"I'll go get you something for your head."
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Logan turned on his side, growling softly in his sleep. Ororo watched him, smiling at the way his nose and ears twitched subtly when he was waking. She knew he was using his enhanced senses to get a feel for his surroundings before he fully woke up. It was probably a tick that just came naturally, and she doubted he realized he was doing it.
His dark eyes opened, mesmerizing brown orbs fixating on her features. "Hey, 'Ro," his deep, gravelly voice rumbled.
"Hello." She sat up, facing him and smiling apologetically. "Logan, I'm so sor—" Before she could finish he was up off the gurney and standing between her knees, his warm, callused hands cupping her cheeks.
"Darlin', are you alright?" he asked huskily, dark eyes searching as his thumb brushed aside some of her long, white locks to reveal the bruise at her hairline.
Covering his hands with her own, she looked seriously into his eyes and smiled reassuringly. "I'm alright, Logan. It's just a little bump. I was panicked, that's all. I'm so sorry for electrocuting you…again."
He pressed his forehead to hers gently and heaved a sigh, still holding her face. "I don't care about that, 'Ro," he insisted. "I jus' care that yer alright."
Ororo smiled up at him, a genuine, heart happy smile as she leaned in and kissed him.
Logan kissed her back, one of her legs hooking around his calf to draw him closer. He growled against her lips, arms sliding down to wind around her shoulders before reluctantly breaking off. He let out a shaky breath and took a step back. "I need a shower."
"Me, too." Ororo stood, putting her hands on his waist. "Want to join me?"
He cleared his throat and swallowed audibly, his eyes drifting down to stare at his scuffed boots. "If we're still takin' things slow, I don't think that's such a good idea right now, darlin'," he murmured huskily.
She tried hard not to smile proudly at the affect she had on him and nodded, dropping her hands from his waist. "You're probably right." Ororo leaned forward one more time to plant a chaste kiss on his cheek.
Logan grinned crookedly and moved to the door where he paused and glanced back at her. "Hey, uh, if you're feelin' up for it later… You wanna…go out to dinner or somethin'? Nothin' fancy, but…" He shrugged.
Ororo smiled brightly, finding his boyish hesitance endearing compared to his usual gruff assertiveness. She nodded. "I'd like that."
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Note: Because a few of you asked, the next chapter will feature a RoLo date! :) Thanks for reading!