Ch 14- Affection

Logan could hear the hushed laughter from the abandoned classroom across the hall. It was soft, almost unnoticeable, unless your mutation dealt with heightened senses, and was accompanied by a murmur and a gasp before quieting completely. The feral grinned, classes were in session, so whoever was in that room should be in class with others, which meant those kids in there were going to have to suffer some embarassment from Logan and Professor X.

Striding toward the door, the Wolverine smirked as he heard the soft gasping of two kids trying to be quiet, knocking once before throwing open the foolishly unlocked door, only to be met with Bobby and Harry, the smaller mutant's back pressed against the wall. The teen remained oblivious to the intrusion, obviously trapped in a lust induced haze as he continued to undulate againt his partner. Bobby's shirt, once pressed and neat, now torn and wrinkled, exposing the welts littering his shoulders and back, the culprits now white knuckled, gripped at prominent shoulder blades.

The older mutant watched the pair, unsure as what to do, he was in the room, which given normal circumstances should have stopped the couple from continuing to copulate, but seemed to have opposite effect as Harry looked over the taller boy's shoulder to lock eyes with Logan, smoldering a dark forest green, before wrapping his legs more securely around the boy and pulling him closer to his body. This seemed to cause something in Bobby to snap, driving him on harder, faster against Harry, making the small form slid roughly on the wall, leaving them both gasping as they neared completion.

Throughout this Harry's eyes never looked away from Logan's, even as the couple reached their peak, Bobby stilling his movement as he buried his face into his conquest's neck as he came. Those eyes continued to bore into the older mutant, shuddering through his own orgasm as he did so, his fingers reaching up from Bobby's shoulders to brush soothingly through his hair as the pair panted against each other trying to regain some control. It was here Logan intervened, clearing his throat, though it seemed useless since Harry was still looking right at him, it was Bobby who reacted, spinning around quickly to face the intruder, though he made sure to keep his arms wrapped securely around his paramour so he didn't fall.

"Logan!...It's not what you think...well it is, but not like that...I mean we wouldn't...it's just that Harry wanted...ugh-"

"It's all right Bobby, I'll take care of this. Ya go on and run along ta class now." Said Harry, gently pushing Bobby away from him so he could place his feet back on the floor, adjusting his clothing into the neat genteel way he had, before turning to do the same to Bobby.

The teen studdered, trying to push the small hands away from the ruins of his shirt, "I can't just leave you here." he said, as Harry tutted at the now offensive garment before moving on to the slightly damp pants, all this while Logan stood silent.

"Bobby suga', ya need ta go to ya room and change ya clothes. I won't have ya walkin' 'round like some ragamuffin." Soothed Harry, his voice taking on a honeyed edge that rang through Logan's head as the small feral's main offense.

The ice mutant nodded woodenly, turning and walking awkwardly past the large feral on his way out the door, leaving Harry and Logan alone.

The pair stood in silence for a few moments, Harry straightening out his shirt collar smiling smugly as his fingers brushed over a slowly fading hickey left by Bobby. "So Mr. Logan, what can I do for you?" The boy slinked forward lying on the large oak desk that stood at the front of the classroom next to Logan, his pheromone lying just on the surface of his skin, a satisfied smile stealing over his features as he watched the older man.

Logan stood there watching the boy, the smell of lust and copulation still heavy in the air, trailing his eyes down the debauched form, the pouty lips, tousled hair, the apples of his cheeks flushed from his earlier exertion. It made a lovely, tempting picture, one that the larger feral would have easily indulged in if it had been anyone else. "You're lucky it was me who walked in here and not Jean, or Ororo, they would have had your head." He said, voice coming out rougher than he had intended as Harry arched against the desk, an audible crack resound throughout the room.

"It wouldn't have mattered. They 'understand' ma condition, I can't be held responsible for ma actions if I'm in a state... At least that's what yawr Professor tow me. Besides, it's not like we actually had relations in here, it was just a bit of fun." Harry simpered, preening under Logan's gaze.

"So you didn't...lure him in?" asked Logan.

The small male frowned, looking hard at Logan for a moment from his position on the desk before swinging his body up and around to allow his legs to hang over the side, not even close to the ground. "Nah, he came lookin' for me, all hot and bothered, askin' for a moment. He's adorable like that. Anyway, I heard from a lil' birdy that ya was gettin' your memory back. Didn't know it was even lost." Harry said this casually, though Logan could see the twitch at the corner of his mouth, a sure sign that he was nervous of what Logan would say.

The older man nodded, walking forward to sit next to the tiny form, "You're there a lot." he said softly watching Harry for any reaction. Logan was not disappointed.

The smell of salt came heavily, while the pheromone disappeared entirely, any trace of arousal and satisfaction gone, the petite feral turned to face the older man, his eyes once a deep ocean green now reflecting the emerald green of Logan's memories. "I know, but that was another time." He said, choking on the sobs lying thick in his throat, blinking furiously to try and hide the tears welling in his eyes, his pheromone rising and falling with his emotions, unsatified.

Logan felt a stab in his chest at the sight of his former charge, who for so long had probably been left alone, forgotten by Logan and abandoned by Victor for Strykker and bloodshed. Though Harry was at times solidary, according to Logan's memories, he would seek warmth and affection from both the brothers and Sherman, staying close and cuddled up with Logan for hours, tramping through the thick underbrush with Victor, or lean into Sherman's side waiting until the older man pressed an arm around his waist to pull him closer.

"I'm so sorry, I never came for you like I promised."

Hayden looked up at the older man, searching his face for something, his breath blowing gently across Logan's face he was so close, his tears now drifting down his face like rain. He pressed his lips chastely against the older feral's, a sobs finally tearing itself from his throat as he pulled away, Logan reaching around the tiny form to pull him close again, tucking the head of riotous curls under his chins as Harry body heaved with emotion.

The pair sat together for a long time, Logan wrapped around Harry rocking gently, nearly enveloping him entirely in his arms as the smaller feral sobbed, the soft shushing noises he attempted doing little to stem the emotional flow of tears. It was a long time before Hayden quieted to hiccups, lifting his head from under Logan's to look into that familiar face, his green eyes puffy and red around the iris, his face flushed, cheeks rosy and wet from tears. "I've got your shirt all wet." He said, still distraught from his crying fit, but calmer now, seated on Logan's lap, wrapped in his arms. There was a feeling of security that had always blanketed Hayden when in those arms, nothing could touch him there and nothing else mattered.

Logan smiled at the small form in his lap, a familiar yet foreign sense of calm overcoming his usually rough exterior. He felt himself again, for the first time since...before he had left Harry for the Vietnam War.

"It's okay. I have more."

It was then that Harry looked at him, but all he saw was Hayden; the sweet, innocent, feisty, at times ridiculously emotional feline feral that had Victor tamed and Logan made think of retiring from war. That was all he wanted now, to settle down in some quiet little town with Hayden, live in a small house with trees all around, make a little garden and live quietly waiting for the rest of the world to end.

"It's not too late ya know." Said Hayden, his eyes glistening desperately up at Logan.

"What do you mean?"

"We can still go away together, right now."

Logan sighed, his shoulders slumping as he thought of all that he would leave behind, "I can't, there are people here who depend on me."

"So? Ain't I worth it."

"It's complicated, we're on the verge of war right now-"

"There's always been a war. All the more reason to leave, before we get in too deep."

"I already am. I can't leave." Said Logan, laying his chin back atop Harry's head in comfort, the soft curls tickling the underside of his face.

Hayden shifted away leaving the warmth of Logan's embrace to stand looking at the older man sadly, "So you have to stay?" he said.

"Yeah I have to stay, old habits die hard. You know that." Said Logan, smiling bitterly as his newly returned memories came to the forefront of his mind, playing scenes of dragging brothers in arms out of danger, never having to worry about getting hurt himself, or Harry who stayed safe with the big brass.

"...I understand," Harry said looking thoughtfully out the window, "well, not really, but I get it." It had to be late afternoon now, with the sun shining such a warm hazy color against the deep blue autumn sky, Harry seemed to be encased in a beam of light.

Logan nodded, his eyes soft as he watched his old friend steadily ignore him, probably embarassed from the undivided attention and his earlier outburst. "I should get back, the Professor wanted to meet with me." Said the larger man, his eyes tracing the delicate features of Hayden's face as the paramour nodded.

"I need to get back to Bobby. He wanted to some help with his literature paper from Summa's."

"Til later then." Said Logan, his hands slipping into his pockets in an attempt to not brush his hand against Hayden's hair as he had done so long ago.

"Ta-ta."

-break-

The house was quiet. The time of night ensuring most everyone was asleep in their beds, but still Harry stayed low, moving silently so as not to disturb the tranquility of the manor as he slipped away.

Outside, the sky was clear, though the wind blew harshly against the thin button-down that he had stolen from Bobby after their usual tryst, but it was better than nothing and he hadn't had time to go to his own room without raising some suspicion. Besides, a little cold ahd never hurt him before.

He walked a good distance from the silent mansion, just outside the gates, before he dared place the call. It had been awhile since he was last in contact with them, but that only made the circumstances that much more stressful, as time had gone by they grew more anxious, more desperate. The risks were getting higher and Harry couldn't waste anymore time.

The seemingly fragile hands shook, partly from cold, partly from anxiety as he brought the small hand-held phone up to the light of the moon, pressing the one number programmed on speed-dial, before lifting the plastic device up to his ear as the tone sounded. He could hear his breath gasp out of his chest as he waited, hoping that they had reconsidered this whole thing.

"Hello Mr. Potter. I trust you've been well?" A voice answered, cold, masculine with an edge of disgust lingering around the vowels.

"Strykker, listen this is gettin'-"

The voice on the other end laughed, the sound coming out harsh and strained, like the action wasn't performed as part of a routine. "Getting cold feet already Mr. Potter? We've barely begun."

"I don' think I can do this. There are kids here, young ones, they can't do nothin' to hurt anyone."

"I believe, Mr. Potter, that you are forgetting what is at stake here. I have your spawn in my keeping and therefore I call the shots. That is if you want to see her again."

Harry grimaced, his eyes tracking the scenery frantically, hoping to find some solution in the falling leaves and stars. "I wanna talk to her. I won't do anything else until I talk to Charlotte."

There was a brief pause on the other line before the man spoke again. "I'm sorry Mr. Potter, but I cannot allow that. You see, it doesn't matter whether you hear the child again, I know for a fact that you will continue to do you work as long as she is in my custody. Therefore, I see no point in permitting you to speak with Charlotte."

Harry could feel the rage racing through his form followed closely by tears as he thought of his baby held by that man. He had no other choice left and he hated it. "Alright," his voice sounded weak and heavy against the bile he felt in his throat, "I'll do it."

"I thought you would. Do try not to worry too much Mr. Potter, Charlotte is being very well cared for." The voice sounded smug as he spoke, chuckling softly into the phone before hanging up entirely.

The small mutant stood for a moment before he felt light headed and sunk to the ground, the bile, once resting just at the bottom of his esophagus now rapidly making its way up and out of Hayden body, his shoulders heaving with the effort. It burned, but he refused to make a sound, standing slowly from his position on the ground, he looked at the mansion as it shone under the moon, a safe haven in dark time. There wasn't much time left before that tranquility, so newly installed, was shattered, the lives that dwelled within its walls destroyed, with Hayden the harbinger of chaos.

It was necessary. He had told himself, for the happiness of those he loved it was necessary. He didn't have to like it, but it didn't change anything.

Harry sighed, his shoulders slouching so that shirt collar, improperly buttoned, rolled off the silken skin, it was time to continue, no more turning back. This was necessary.

The moon lit his path back to the manor, its light a little less bright against the pitch black sky.