High up in the air was the closest feeling to heaven that Ororo could imagine. The warm sunshine and cool breeze swept over her as she rode the wind, reveling in a moment of freedom over the school's grounds. After checking a few seedlings in the greenhouse that she was in the process of cultivating, the weather goddess had decided to let loose for a while and take a flying break. From her bird's eye view it was even more beautiful than usual, with sprawling lawns and landscaping meshing with the wooded areas on its fringes. The coming autumn had started turning some of the leaves, providing smudges of color against the green that made the whole thing look like an impressively large impressionist painting. Storm paused in her flight, hovering as she caught a glimpse of something down below and dropped a dozen feet to get a better look. At the edge of a wooded area was someone sitting on a bench. It was Logan, his distinctive physique and hair the perfect identifier. Surprisingly, he wasn't taking an opportunistic smoke break; he was just sitting there, with his forearms resting on his thighs and hands lightly clasped together, staring at the ground. He looked so alone that her first thought was to drop down and give him some company, but caution override the impulse. She would hate to intrude upon some private time if he… wait, did he just wipe his face? No, his eyes, to be more precise. An icy feeling gripped her heart before dropping into her stomach. Oh no, was he reliving some terrible memory? There was no thinking after that, Ororo simply lowered from the sky, landing gently on the ground several yards away from the feral. It was a testament to how truly distracted he was that he didn't even notice her, just stayed there looking as if he had some heavy weight on his shoulders.
"Hey," Storm said softly, not moving. Logan's eyes jerked up, meeting hers with a startled expression at having his thoughts interrupted by the very person he was thinking of. He spared a moment to be glad he'd already dried his eyes, or else she'd have seen the dampness on his face. He straightened up, taking in a little gulp of air to steady himself.
"Hey 'Ro," came the rumbling reply, his voice deep and a little hoarse from the emotion clogging his throat. Of all the bad timing, having Storm come across him right when he was in the middle of a good mental talking-to, telling himself he might have to live with seeing her every day while keeping his feelings a secret. He knew he'd be able to do it, but damn if the thought itself hadn't made him die a little inside, and the part of him that died had ended up trickling down his cheeks. Despite what Jean had said, he couldn't shake the thought, the fear, that Ororo was simply being her usual, kind self and that there was nothing but friendly concern behind the tenderness she had shown him.
"Communing with nature?" The soft teasing words came from beside him, and he was taken aback to find she had sat down on the bench while he was again distracted by his mental wonderings. Oh hell. He was losing it, wasn't he? The feral gave her a weak smile and shrugged half-heartedly.
"Thinking." Logan winced internally, staring back down at the ground. Well he was certainly winning no awards in the conversation department. He was floundering, caught between wanting to say things that might be better left unsaid, or just playing it safe and never revealing a thing. Luckily, she didn't seem put off in the slightest, sitting there quietly and looking over the grounds toward the school. He could just feel the warmth of her body, an awareness of her leg so close to his and her pure scent calming the whirl of his thoughts. Logan didn't feel quite as anxious, letting himself drift on the contentment that her presence brought. Would he ever be able to keep on living without this feeling? Without her? He hated to think what life would be like without this only glimpse of peace he could remember. Sure, he had done it before, but it was impossible to miss what you'd never had. Now that he'd experienced this… Without knowing it, the feral gasped out loud as a thought hit him right between the eyes, making her turn toward him with concern.
"Are you all right?" she asked, position even closer with her body angled so their knees touched. Logan simply stared at her, having come to a startling realization. Just like the power inherent in her name, she was the eye of his personal storm, sheltering his battered soul from the chaos and rage that surrounded him. Hadn't she reached him even through the hurt that threatened to drown him completely?
"How do you do that?" The words leapt from his mouth, slightly plaintive, startling the both of them.
"Do what, Logan?" she asked, looking confused at his reaction. His attitude appeared both lost and amazed, a strange mix coming from the warrior in front of her. Logan could only stare into her eyes, unable to stop himself from speaking, because he truly wanted to know the secret
"Make me feel human." Storm jerked back a little, shock and anger chasing each other across her beautiful features.
"You are human Logan! You should never think you aren't! I swear, if I could get hold of Stryker again I would…"
"I know, I know," he soothed, placing a hand on her knee to stop the burgeoning tirade. Her instinctive reaction, one ready to rage and support him at the same time, was enough to make him smile. "I really do know. Magneto kept trying to convince me I was an animal, was hurting me to make me an animal. But I knew better. I wouldn't give in because I really know that I'm more than that. And a big part of that was because of Marie, how she cares for me and sees the best in me. But in that moment, when I was so drowning in pain that I felt the rage rising up, I stopped myself… and it was thanks to you." He could just see her startled look out of the corner of his eye, but wasn't sure he was ready to fully face her while talking about something so precious to him. That memory, of overcoming the maddening anger when he'd worried about proving Magneto right, was like a cleansing rain to his soul, but he didn't want to share it with just anybody. Jean had to have noticed the end result, his realization of some utmost importance being placed on Ororo. That much was obvious from their conversation in the med lab, but he knew she would give him his privacy and not go telling anyone. Jeannie was okay. The hardest part was Storm. It meant so much to him, she meant so much to him, that he was worried he'd screw this up simply because he was so damn afraid of screwing it up. "You're pretty amazing…" he finally said, settling for something complimentary and hopefully vague enough that she wouldn't immediately, but kindly, set him straight about the wonderful and frustrating feelings he was having for her. Logan belatedly realized his hand was still on her knee and moved it quickly. Hazel eyes glanced up when she didn't say anything at first, meeting her speculative gaze, and he got worried. Uh oh. What was she thinking? He hoped she'd take what he'd just said at face value, as a friendly kind of thing. The feral couldn't remember everything from his rescue, but definitely saw in his mind the startled look in her eyes when he'd opened himself up, said words he couldn't take back. He sure wanted to, even though he'd really meant them. Two words… just two damn words and he was teetering between hope and heartache. Logan could only pray that she'd brushed off what he'd said in the basement as shock, or delusion, so please, don't let her bring up the-
"And I'm home… right?" Shit. He'd hoped to have more time to come to grips with his own fear and uncertainty before even coming close to this conversation, but true to Storm's nature she had cut to the heart of the matter. Logan's shoulders hunched a little as he gave her a wry smile.
"Is it too much to hope you'd believe me if I said I was out of my mind?" He took refuge in humor, quirking one eyebrow as he spoke. Storm gave a smile in return, and then placed her hand gently on his denim-clad bicep, knowing he seemed uncomfortable, but also knowing they needed to finally talk.
"I actually would believe that. You'd been through quite a lot of something by the time we found you. But I also believe that you know your own mind, and no matter your mental state, you were speaking from the heart. I felt it, Logan." She didn't want to bring Jean into the conversation and how the telepathic woman had been able to feel his thoughts in his distress; whether he already knew of her knowledge or didn't, it would only embarrass him needlessly. "Please don't belittle the moment by lying, even in jest." Her heartfelt plea made him sigh.
"Sorry 'Ro. I just… it's hard to explain. Ever since the team got me out of Stryker's base, I've been feeling… you…" Apparently having trouble organizing his thoughts, he glanced up at her, almost shyly she noticed. "Hell darlin', you knocked my feet out from under me when you gave me that kiss down in the med lab. And my world hasn't been the same since." Storm's mouth opened in surprise. She hadn't given a second thought to the gentle peck on his cheek months ago, offered in an impulsive desire to prove the truth in what she had told him and so reassure the feral that he was cared for and had a home. One simple act had led to this unexpected influx of feelings for the both of them. She couldn't stop the short laugh that escaped her and Logan looked at her sideways, almost hurt. Storm caught a glimpse of his wounded expression before he covered it up and immediately felt bad.
"I'm sorry Logan, I wasn't laughing at you. I was just laughing at how one small action can cause so many ripples in the pond." Hazel eyes filled with confusion.
"So many ripples…? How does this messed-up mind of mine rate that kind of wording?" he asked dryly with a hint of wry smile. It was her turn to be puzzled for a minute before she realized he must think he was in this alone, that she wasn't affected the same as he had been. Or maybe he hoped she wasn't… that would be easier in a sense, wouldn't it? Loneliness was an old friend of Logan's. But happiness? That was probably far scarier, seeing how transient it could be. Ororo faced him fully, liquid brown eyes boring into hazel.
"First things first, nothing about you is 'messed up', so don't even go there," she warned sternly. Logan's lips quirked slightly with humor.
"Yes ma'am," he replied, sensing the impending dressing down he was going to get, just like when she'd laid it out for him in his room at the school. Storm couldn't quite stop the chuckle that left her, but smothered it in favor of looking like a teacher faced with her most troublesome student. She mock-scoffed slightly at his teasing, enjoying the playful banter, but refusing to be distracted.
"I know I don't show much in the way of my feelings, just like you…" she pointedly said as he uttered a soft bark of laughter. He immediately looked contrite and stilled himself, letting her continue. "But in spite of how it may seem, I'm certainly not without emotion. And believe me, Logan, I am very much affected by you." His lips parted slightly with surprise, face open and allowing her to see that vulnerable man inside of him again, the version of himself she hadn't encountered since watching over him in the med lab after his rescue from Stryker. The knowledge that he would allow her to see that much filled her with delight, a smile spreading across her face. Storm took his hand, her slender mocha-colored fingers looking small and fragile against his own larger digits. "I feel like my eyes have been opened, Logan. And my heart opened with them. I've always seen you as a loyal friend and teammate, with many good qualities. Yes, good," she insisted as he almost pulled away, keeping his hand firmly in her grip. Those beautiful hazel eyes weren't looking at her though, and she forced herself to remain calm and keep talking. Logan was still having trouble with compliments, it would seem. "But now I can see more. A surprisingly gentle man who would bring a troubled girl under his protection, who defends fiercely, perhaps with love in him to match that?" The question was posed with raised white brows, a hint of flirtation warming her gaze. "I see a man I could imagine spending a life with." Her dark eyes looked up into his. Logan was speechless, hearing her say aloud the very words he'd thought to himself at the bar earlier that day.
"'Ro, I-" She cut him off by placing two fingers on his mouth before her index finger lightly dragged over the smooth skin of his lips, making him shudder. A little groan rumbled in his chest as his eyes half-closed.
"No more thinking, Logan. Time for a little more action." His heavy-lidded gaze caught her expression as it left 'sweet' and headed more toward 'sultry', the transition sending heat coiling through him. It was a side of Storm he couldn't have imagined, a woman who would wholeheartedly ignite the passion that was escalating between them. Her hands gripped his muttonchops, gently pulling his face down to her level before she met his mouth with hers, and they shared a soft, slow kiss. Logan's arm snaked around her waist, arm muscles bunching as he pulled her close. Storm felt so light, as if she weighed no more than the wind she liked to ride on, but it was enough as she settled astride his lap, enough to feel her sleek form pressed into his harder physique as the kiss began to deepen. Logan's sharp hearing then picked up something, just barely audible above the sound of his own pounding heart and ragged breathing: gasps and giggling. He jerked back slightly and canted his head to look over Ororo's left shoulder, eyes widening as he saw a small cluster of kids at the edge of the nearby English garden.
"Oh damn," he ground out, both embarrassed and amused at being caught in a pretty heated make out session with the lovely weather witch.
"Logan, what…?" Storm of course didn't have heightened senses, and was worried at his change in demeanor. Her question was cut off as he suddenly stood up, making her gasp and grab onto his neck. He easily held her weight and set her down gently on the ground before taking several stalking steps forward in a vaguely threatening manner. Logan saw the children's expressions change from laughter to shock as they realized they were actually spying on the Wolverine himself. It was then Storm caught the sounds of squealing and running footsteps, turning around and following his gaze to the retreating forms of about five students who were racing back to the school. A hand covered her mouth, laughter filling her eyes.
"Oops. Busted," she commented teasingly.
"Aw hell…" Logan grunted, bending down to pull her up into his arms, her feet leaving the ground as he cradled her tightly against his chest with brawny arms. "In for a penny…" he quipped, before their mouths met again and there was no more talking.