Laura's Journal

An X-Men Fanfic by Quill N. Inque

I do not own X-Men.

Chapter 12: Blood Debt

I didn't say a single word to anyone when Scott picked us up late in the afternoon. The entire school day had passed in a blur, almost as though I were seeing it through water, and I was so focused on one, singular thought that kept repeating itself in my brain that I didn't pay much attention to anyone or anything else. The lessons crawled by, the instructors' voices a distant, unfocused drone, and the more I was forced to wait, the more my anger grew.

My blood boiled with fury at the thought of what Chase had told me, of how Logan had so thoughtlessly hunted him down like a common animal just to intimidate and frighten him. I was practically chafing at the bit at the prospect of returning to the Institute and throwing Logan clear through the nearest wall, of hauling him up from the rubble by the scruff of his smelly neck and beating the living crap out of him. I was daydreaming of making Logan pay, not only for what he had done to Chase, but also for sticking his damn nose in my business! Who gave Logan the right to decide what I do and who I associate with, I thought, clenching my teeth so hard that I heard them creak. I felt anger at Logan of a strength I'd never experienced before, a wrath of blistering heat that I could not and would not control until my bloodlust had been satisfied. My vision literally turned red as my eyes glazed over, and my entire body shook with the force of the vitriolic fury that sizzled in my veins. I clenched my fists over and over, feeling and reveling in the adrenaline-enhanced strength that flowed all the way down to my fingertips, and every cell in my body cried out with an unshakeable, unquenchable, all-consuming desire to make Logan pay for what he'd done. I wanted, lusted, needed to hear the satisfying smack of my fist as it pummeled his face, I hungered for vengeance like a ravenous animal, and with all this in mind, I seethed and stewed in my dark thoughts the entire way home.

I guess I must have been giving off a subliminal message of ill intent, because no one sat in the seat next to me, including Kitty. That was fortunate, now that I think about it, because in my current mindset I may very well have skewered someone just for saying hello.

Scott pulled into the oversized parking garage and claimed a gap next to Logan's prized motorcycle, and a vindictive smile crossed my face as I bounded out of the vehicle and sliced the Harley almost completely in half. Motor oil and gasoline, still hot from the engine, burned my face with searing droplets, and I relished the screeching, grating sound of the ripping steel as my adamantium claws cut through the motorcycle's chassis like a link of sausage.

Logan's once-prized possession fell to the floor in a ruined heap of twisted metal, and I had gone about destroying it so swiftly that I didn't even break my stride. I disdained the knob on the kitchen door and opted to kick it clear across the room and over the couch; I guess I could have just opened it, but kicking the door in was much more satisfying. The flimsy, false wood was broken almost clean in two, and my claws were still extended as I whirled on a thoroughly startled Gambit. The Cajun had evidently been cooking something, seeing as how he was clad in a ridiculous chef's hat and was curled over a pot that steamed on the stove.

I grabbed him by his lapel and pulled him in so close that our noses were almost touching. "All right," I growled, "Where's that miserable pile of hairy, beer-slugging rat bait?"

"Y'mean Logan?" Gambit asked, gulping. "I think he's somewhere upstairs. Why?"

I dropped him on his rear and stalked off, not bothering to answer Gambit's question. I practically thundered up the stairwell and down the hall as my nose picked up the telltale scent of Logan, and I felt my lips curling into a snarl as I saw my intended victim emerge into the hallway. He and the Russian (I think his name is Colossus) were in the middle of rearranging furniture, presumable at the request of Jean or Storm. They carried a large, three-seated couch between them, and that was all for the better because Logan couldn't hit me back if his hands were full.

Colossus paused in mid-step, nodding cordially at me. "Welcome back, miloshka," he said, in a voice laden with a heavy Russian accent.

I lifted my middle finger at him in a universal symbol of contempt and tapped Logan on the shoulder.

Instinctively he turned around with an irate expression. "Can't ya see I'm-"

My fist made a sound like an iron bar smacking into a wet side of meat as I pulled my elbow back and slugged him with all the force I could muster. The skin of my knuckles became ripped and bloody as they collided with Logan's adamantium jaw bone with a metallic clang, and I felt several of his teeth come loose in their sockets as his lip was nearly split in two.

Logan staggered drunkenly, blood running out of his mouth, and he spat out a tooth as he fought to clear his head-

-I didn't give him that chance. I casually elbowed Colossus in the stomach and seized the piece of furniture he'd been lugging before using it like an oversized flyswatter to send Logan literally flying through the air. A portion of the elaborate wooden banister was crushed to splinters as he crashed through the railing and tumbled down the stairs, and I vaulted over the edge after him with an audible, bestial growl of vicious satisfaction.

Logan stopped rolling about halfway down, but I was on him again before he could even try to get back on his feet. I felt a jarring, numbing feeling shoot down my arm as I drove my fist into Logan's chin with a powerful uppercut, and even though the stinging sensation was uncomfortable, I paid it no heed. Giving Logan the ass-beating of a lifetime was the priority right now.

I grabbed him by his hair and laid open his cheek with a single swipe. Blood began to run down Logan's face as he instinctively clapped a hand to his wound, and I kneed him in the groin just before lifting him bodily and, as promised, heaved through the adjacent wall as plaster dust made my nose sting.

Logan got up unsteadily, and I knew at once that I'd taken him off guard. "The hell're you doin'?" he shouted, unsheathing claws of his own as the wound on his face closed like a jacket's zipper. "What was that fer?"

"Don't play stupid, you son of a bitch" I hissed, and there was so much venom in my voice that Logan took an involuntary step backward. "You know exactly what this about! Does the name 'Chase Lancaster' mean anything to you?"

Recognition glinted in his eyes. "I jest wanted t'make sure-"

I cut him off as I drove my blades into his torso. "I don't care!" I yelled. "You practically ran him out of town and you know it! YOU HAD NO RIGHT, LOGAN!"

Logan opened his mouth to speak again, but I spoke first as I grabbed Logan by his hair and slammed him face-first into the hardwood floor. "Who I spend my time with is none of your goddamn business, you asshole! Chase didn't do anything to warrant suspicion from either of us, but you just couldn't resist the chance to scare the crap out of him, could you?"

"Wouldja just lissen fer a moment-"

BANG!

Logan's metal-covered skull began to show through the broken skin as I forcibly shoved his nose into the stairwell, and the sickening crunch it made as it broke gave me a thrill of fierce satisfaction.

"I'm through listening to you," I spat, my vision going blurry with something approaching tears. "It was my choice! My decision! Mine! I chose to start 'dating' him, but now he's probably going to be afraid to come anywhere near me and it's all because of YOU! YOU'VE RUINED EVERYTHING!"

I was so busy ranting that I didn't see Colossus come up behind me with Professor Xavier in tow. The Russian's huge arms suddenly grabbed me like a coiling snake, and even as I struggled to break free I could feel Xavier using his telepathy to try to calm me down.

Logan gurgled something through his broken teeth as I felt a tickle at the base of my neck, a sure sign of Xavier's presence in my head. I think Logan swore at me as the Professor rolled up in his wheelchair. I am reasonably certain of it, but I suppose I could be wrong because it was hard to understand him with a mouthful of blood.

Baldy's face was absolutely blank as he steepled his fingers under his nose. "That is quite enough, you two," he said, and though he were addressing us both, he liked directly at me as he spoke. "I will not tolerate violence on Institute grounds, Laura, not from you or anyone else. I believe this discussion would be better continued in my office…now. Come with me, please."

I glared daggers at Colossus. Snitch, I thought venomously. I'm going after you next!

Cue-ball grinned wryly. "Don't blame Piotr," he said, and I knew at once that he'd read my thoughts. "He didn't need to give you away; the dreadful racket you were making up here was more than enough to do that. And while we're on that topic, I would like to ask you to please refrain from breaking things unnecessarily. Contrary to what you or Logan may believe, I do not take pleasure in the continual repair and remodeling of this school."

"Bite me," I snarled back.

"A generous proposition, but I think I'll pass," Xavier replied politely, gesturing for Colossus to wheel him down the hall. I picked up on the nonverbal hint that I had no choice but to follow, so I gave Logan a moment to pick up his teeth and fell in step behind the Professor's chair.

Logan glared at me, and his expression was so fierce that I bet it would probably turn Medusa into a freaking garden ornament.

I stared coolly back at him. I regretted nothing.

I still…regret nothing.

A/N: Ouch…I don't think the little spat between Logan and Laura is over just yet; after all, Logan's not the kind of person to take an ass-beating lying down! XD And what will the Professor have to say? Will there be consequences for Laura? And what exactly is the dark secret that Chase Lancaster is hiding? Find out in coming chapters! And PLEASE REVIEW! If you have ANY suggestions or ideas, LET ME KNOW! ^^

To those who may be wondering about any concerns to my health that I mentioned in my last letter, you need not worry any longer. I assure you, I am feeling much, much better, and I thank you all for your concern. God bless you. ^^

Your humble servant,

-Quill N. Inque