My story is drawing to an end, just a few more chapters, sorry this one is so long. I hope it was worth the wait.
Part Fourteen
Fighting with daggers was quite a bit different than fighting with a sword. While there could certainly be poetry in the movements, it wasn't nearly as elegant. With a sword full maneuvers were planned out, even if they were in the blink of an eye, because the power of the weapon came in the swing, the parry and the follow through. With a dagger, like a bayonet, the power came from the thrust, the stab, and the tearing. It was more animalistic, more similar to claws, and thus a perfect gift, and compliment to the Wolverine.
I practiced with regular blades from the school armory. I had no wish to harm Kurt with my inexperience or enthusiasm. With Logan he insisted I use the adamantium, but we always fought as partners, so there was less chance of injuring him. I think the first time I stepped into the Danger room in the black, with the scabbards strapped to my thighs he nearly fainted. I guess I looked ok.
Logan taught me the principles of bayonet fighting; go in high and use gravity and the weight of your body to tear down your enemy. It was brutal, even more so with the adamantium blade, which would slice through flesh and bone like water, but this training wasn't for fun or interest, it was to keep Logan and I alive; and quite possibly a lot of other innocent people. We practiced alone, in the Danger Room, though more than once I caught a glimpse of Professor Xavier staring down at us from an observation window. I was uncomfortable with him seeing me as the killing machine that Logan was turning me into, even if it had been on his orders. Xavier had always appealed to my humanity as his student, and as my guardian. I guess I wanted him to remember that image should I ever have to leave. But that was being melancholy, and it would distract me from the facts. While he was good to me, he had his own reasons for keeping me here, and assigning me a protector in Logan. My powers were an asset to him as well, and though I didn't hate him, I knew that he would use me to increase the chances of his side winning, just as sure as Magneto would.
I hid the animal side from Kurt as well. We would practice in the quad, with various different blades; he certainly had the advantage of being ambidextrous with swords, and being able to use his tail as well. I took one blade at a time, he taught me to fence, and to use the broadsword. I think he really did fancy himself to be Errol Flynn, especially one afternoon when he let me chase him up a flight of stone steps, only to battle me backwards. He may have very well said something to me in French; my Cajun was pretty rusty, but I think it might have been something like 'one for all'. That was my Musketeer.
The weeks of training with the blades were some of the happiest of my life. I know that sounds odd, but it really wasn't. I was learning a new skill, with an amazing set of weapons, that to my knowledge, no one else on the planet possessed; that made me proud. They were a gift from a man I loved: even if I hadn't told him that yet. I had a friend in Kurt, who I could really talk to about how I was feeling, because he really cared. And I had Logan. We didn't spend every night together, though it was a good many. It's not that we were sex crazed, many nights it was simply him knocking on my door at night or me at his, and just crawling in together for the sheer joy of having each other's company. Though I have to admit the first night he came by unexpectedly was kind of funny. I had drifted off early, just exhausted from the training, and classes. But I slept with the blades under my pillow. Logan actually had a key to my room, all the student rooms in fact, all the professors did: not that they abused the privilege, but it was for emergencies. Logan thought he might just slip in, but I had heard the doorknob turn, even as I slept, and I pulled out both blades to confront the intruder. He came face to face with me, crouched on my bed, blades drawn ready to take him out. All he could do was smile to see me, pull me into his arms, and praise everything he had taught me. That had been a good night.
Before I knew it Spring semester classes were wrapping up, I had enrolled in a few more distance courses for the summer. Of course Dr. Grey and Logan would continue their training courses over the summer months, but there were no more credit courses at the school per se. Some students were heading home for the summer, others were organizing specialized locums; Hank was going overseas to work for Doctors Without Borders; apparently that organization had no trouble with a blue doctor, as long as he knew what he was doing. His X-Men training might even have been comforting to his colleagues in a war zone, certainly would have been to me. I think a few other students were going to Italy to study the Fine Art in person. Professor Xavier tried to give all of us whatever opportunities he could. Kurt was staying at school, as much as he would have loved a chance to go on a dig somewhere. But Xavier had mentioned that he had a few students working on something for him, no guarantees, but maybe our resident technological geniuses could figure out a portable holographic projector for him, so he could disguise himself virtually. He had told me about it, trying not to get his hopes up, but desperately wanting it to work out. Logan took us out to a few more drive in movies; the two of them were becoming good friends, and it made me very happy to see, though I still had no idea what they were talking about, they seemed to find my confusion quite amusing, but I was willing to let them have their little jokes, I knew that they weren't at my expense, not from these two. But they were up to something.
I didn't have too long to wait to figure out what it was.
The day started out normally - oh good grief I can't believe I just wrote that, how totally campy. Yes it was my birthday. I still wasn't old enough to drink in New York State, but Logan had told me that I was old enough in a number of Canadian provinces, so I had asked him about a road trip. He had laughed at me, and said he'd think about it, maybe after black fly season; I didn't quite know what that was, but I figured I could look it up. He was going to take me out to dinner, just he and I, someplace nice, he had promised. He also promised me a bottle of champagne afterwards, back in his room. I know that was a big stretch for him, he was a beer and spirits man; champagne was a girly drink as far as he was concerned, but for me, well even he could put up with it.
So I got myself ready, put on a dress in fact, vintage, so I could wear my long gloves and not look too out of place. I brushed my hair down, and curled it a bit, did up my makeup, even heels, which I never wore. Logan knocked on my door to pick me up, and he stepped inside so we could share a few kisses before we left. He told me I looked beautiful, and that was all that mattered to me. I probably should have realized that something was up when we didn't heard for the garage straight away. But I was happy, and enthralled with my company, and I would have followed him anywhere. When he ushered me into the dinning room I knew I'd been had. There were decorations everywhere, the professors were there, and my classmates, and they yelled Happy Birthday, and I dissolved into tears. Logan, behind me at this point, pushed his handkerchief into my hand so I could dab at my eyes without ruining my makeup entirely.
I knew that not everyone was there to celebrate because of me; a special meal, cake and music, with the promise of dancing overcame a lot of fears. But it didn't matter. Kurt was at the front and center, wearing a tuxedo, the tails splitting just above his, and a top hat. Tonight I guess he was Gene Kelly. His grin said it all. He dragged me away to a table he had set up for me, brought me a glass of punch, all the while grinning at the coup he had managed to pull off for me. I was still so overwhelmed at all of this as students I hardly knew popped over to wish me a Happy Birthday. Kitty and Bobby; yes they were a couple for sure now, came over with a box, wrapped in a ribbon for me. I pulled it open, noticed the Victoria's Secret label, and closed it up again, much to the disappointment of Bobby and a few of the other male students. Kurt popped over with a package too, a German – English Dictionary and a set of language CD's so I could start practicing over the summer. The professors had gotten me an iPod, which was so generous, I told them over and over, but I loved that they had thought of me, and got me something I could never have afforded on my own.
We had a very nice dinner, and Kurt and Logan managed to flank me at the table, which worked out well for me, because I could slip my right foot out of my high heeled shoe, and run it around and up Logan's leg just a bit as we were eating. He smiled at me a lot during dinner. Kurt brought over a cake, and everyone sang for me, which brought out the tears again, and not for the last time that night. When the dishes were cleared the music started up again, and Bobby, who was playing DJ, got on the microphone.
"Now who will be the first to dance with our birthday girl?" He asked. Logan had ended up on the other side of the room, talking to Storm at that point, I had noticed. But I was being discrete so I tried not to look his way when Bobby made his request. True to form, my knight in more blue, than shinning armor stood up, swept down his hat, and offered me his hand. I took it, nodding graciously at him. After all, I could play pretend too. But instead of taking me to the cleared spot that would serve as the dance floor he took me directly across the room, meeting eyes with Logan, and placing my hand in his. Logan was smiling at me; they had planned this all along. Before letting go of the both of us, Kurt spoke quietly to us, in English.
"You belong together my friends, I wish you much happiness." Logan nodded at him, and then led me out to the dance floor. Kurt had already bounded back to Bobby to instruct him which song to play. Joe Cocker filled the room and Logan swept me around; who knew he could also dance? I felt like a princess with my prince charming. Some people were starting to look at us oddly when we came out to dance, some hadn't noticed at all, and we were joined on the floor by Scott and Jean, Kurt asked Storm to dance, and Kitty and Bobby came out too. Slowly a number of pairs began to dance, until we were lost in the crowd.
"You are so beautiful to me
You are so beautiful to me
Can't you see
Your everything I hoped for
Your everything I need
You are so beautiful to me
Such joy and happiness you bring
Such joy and happiness you bring
Like a dream
A guiding light that shines in the night
Heavens gift to me
You are so beautiful to me"
It was like the whole world vanished for those moments I was in Logan's arms on the dance floor. And when the lyrics were at an end, he bent down to my ear and whispered to me.
"Happy Birthday Marie." And then he kissed me, right on the mouth, in front of everyone in the room, and if they hadn't stopped to stare at the moment he did it, they stopped in response to everyone else stopping. It was the longest kiss we had ever shared, and I knew a dozen pairs of eyes were on us, and that a few jaws had dropped. Though in the background, as we broke apart, I heard a couple of catcalls and some applause, quickly stifled by the icy looks of the other professors. We were quickly surrounded.
"Logan? What the hell are you doing?" Scott was speaking through clenched teeth. Jean was looking at us in matronly shock. Kurt had tried to hold Storm back, but quickly enough they joined us as well.
"Relax Scooter, " that was Logan's condescending name for Scott, "she's a consenting adult now." His arm never left my waist.
Eyes turned to me. I nodded at them all, smiling. Storm turned to Kurt, not quite menacingly, but more in a disappointed manner.
"You knew about this didn't you?"
"Indeed I did my Lady," his gallant manner wasn't at all fazed, "it is quite obvious to anyone who would take the time to look, that these two are meant to be together. They bring each other great happiness; and what greater gift can we wish for, for any of our friends?"
I don't know if any of them took the time to re-examine how they had looked at our relationship over the last two months, or if any of them felt any guilt because they hadn't noticed before. Bu they were silent for a good many moments before Scott dared to speak again, and again in his angry, hushed whisper.
"She's your student for God's sake Logan."
"She stopped being my student a long time ago Scott. She's my partner." Jean stepped in between the two men. She spoke to me, in my head.
'Rogue?'
"Look into my thoughts if you must Dr. Grey, he has not taken advantage of me, or coerced me. I am insulted that you would think so little or him, and of me.' She did not look into my thoughts.
'But child, he is so much older than you, so wild, what will you do the next time he leaves?'
'He won't leave me behind if that time comes.'
'But how do you know this child?'
'Because I trust him, because he promised me.' I reached a gloved hand to my neck, easily found the chain and drew forth the dog tags, I held them, shinning against my white gloves and flattened palm, and presented them to Jean, and all the others. The significance was not lost on any of them. Even in his worst state Logan had worn these, they were his link to his humanity, and now I was. Jean was quiet inside my head for a bit, and I knew, that if I could have heard inside Logan's right then, there would have been some type of 'hoo-yeah!', or its Canadian equivalent, his smile to me betrayed that.
"You suspected anyways Dr. Grey." I said it out loud, for its effect. "The photograph." She hung her head, but nodded.
"Jean?" came the outrage from Scott, though I could not understand its source right then. Was it embarrassment that he had not sensed it, anger that no one had told him, especially his wife, jealousy, failure as the team's leader to control Logan?
"Leave it be Scott." Came Jean's softened response. He ignored her, and took a threatening step towards Logan. I saw Logan shift his weight; it would have been imperceptible to anyone but me, who had spent the last two months watching every muscle on him move. I had to stop them, right then, so I stepped between them, placing a hand on Logan's forearm. He would not extend his claws while it was there.
"Outside." I was actually a little shocked that all the professors, and my friend Kurt, of course, followed me into the darkness outside the dinning hall. I heard Bobby start up the music again; bless him. Whatever spectacle we were, it was not going to interfere with a party.
The night was becoming cool, Logan wrapped his arm around my shoulders, and drew me to his side, not likely because of the temperature, but from the continuing desire to protect me. We faced off against the others.
"Say what you have to say Scooter." I could feel Logan's arm around me stiffen.
"Rogue is a child Logan. She deserves to find someone her own age that she can be happy with, not someone with," he stopped searching for the right word, "issues."
"You mean someone who isn't damaged like me, dontcha? Someone who hasn't had their mind ripped apart and slapped back together more times than you can count? Someone who doesn't have nightmares? Someone who lives by your moral code? Well I have news for you! Everyone in this whole place has nightmares, and everyone has had their mind fucked over, and your moral code might just get us all killed one day." The anger was palpable.
"Scott isn't saying any of that Logan." Storm's musical voice wafted over the crowd, "he simply wants what's best for Rogue, just as you do, just as all of us do."
I was getting a little tired of being spoken about, instead of spoken to, so I piped up. "How about Rogue decides what's best for herself?" Logan squeezed me closer, and I wrapped my arms around him as well. Non-verbal was one thing, but I had to say my piece and put all this to rest.
"You are all good people, and I appreciate your concern for my well being, but this is my choice, my choice and Logan's. None of you know anything about us: not what we give to each other, and not what we share. Please don't presume to guess. We have so much more in common than any simple differences that you might imagine. Please, let us have this happiness for as long as we can. I think we have earned it, and that we deserve it." And then I was done talking, Logan leaned down to kiss me on the top of my head, I closed my eyes and enjoyed every second of it.
Jean pulled Scott away, he was muttering about Xavier not being happy with this, but it was becoming apparent that his outrage was coming more from within, whatever its true nature. Kurt offered Storm his arm, to take her back inside to the party, which left Logan and I alone.
"You're not angry with the things that I said are you Logan?"
"Naw, you put it a lot better than I would have. For a minute there I thought I was gonna haveta punch Scooter." It was funny to me how he reverted back to his more colloquial English mannerisms at times of anger, and times of stress.
"Well, I'm certainly glad you didn't have to hurt anyone." I changed tack completely. "So, you and Kurt planned this out eh? You had to know Scott was going to freak out."
"Yeah, I figured he might, but it was time, and I promised you."
"And you always keep your promises."
"That I do Marie. Did you want to go back inside, or did you want to call it a night?"
"I'd like to dance with you some more Logan. Besides, it'll drive Scott nuts." My grin mimicked his.
"Now there's girl after my own heart." And we kissed again.