Logan didn't offer any explanation about how he knew Lori on the way over to her house, but he wasn't exactly the sharing type, so I hadn't really expected him to anyway. I kept my bare hand on top of his while he drove. It had sort of become a habit, when I wasn't reading or playing Pokemon or something. I liked just being able to touch him, and he never complained. It started to snow lightly on the way over, and it would probably get worse over the night. We made it Lori's house before the weather got really bad though. Bikes and balls and general kid stuff littered the lawn, despite the snow.
We parked off to the side, and I tugged my gloves back on while Logan walked around the truck to my side. He helped me out and kept an arm wrapped around me while he walked me up to the front door. Lori pushed against it, but it barely budged. The house didn't look bad or anything, but it did look old and a bit...worn. Logan shoved the door open, and we all hurried inside, out of the cold.
"Mommy, mommy, tell him—"
"No, I didn't!"
"Yuh, huh! He's the one who—"
"My dolly!"
Lori's three kids immediately appeared, two boys and a little girl with tear tracks down her face and a ripped doll. Lori didn't waste any time in grabbing the boys and making them stand off to the side while she talked to the girl.
"It's okay, Elizabeth. Just calm down and tell me what happened." She said, kneeling in front of the little girl.
The older boy stood in front of his younger brother, who kept trying to get out in front of him to look at us. His older brother kept an arm out protectively in front of his little brother though, standing in between us and him. I never had an older brother like that. He looked upset and even a little mean, but I could tell he was younger than me, and if I had a little brother, I'd probably be wary of strangers coming into my house too. I tried to reassure him by giving a little wave. He just shoved his brother further back behind him and kept glaring at me.
In the meantime, Elizabeth worked up a pretty good wail. "They ripped my dolly!"
The older brother turned his attention away from me and shouted that he did not, just as the younger brother tried to claim it was an accident. They should have gotten their story straight earlier.
"Alright, I don't care how it happened, you two know the rules about rough housing around your sister. Say you're sorry." Lori ordered.
"M'sorry, Lizzie." The younger one offered.
"Yeah. Sorry." The older one finally muttered after his nudged him.
"My dolly!" Elizabeth shouted again before Lori could say anything else.
She looked back down at the doll and faltered. Elizabeth picked up on her hesitation like a shark smelling blood and instantly began working up another wail. I'd babysat for nearly every house on the block to earn my Alaska money, which was pretty much the only "job" my parents approved of since young girls should learn how to take care of babies and children early on. So I stepped forward before Elizabeth could start screaming again, acting like I was a thousand times more confident than I felt. I swear babies and children can smell fear.
"What's yeh dolly's name?" I asked Elizabeth.
She unscrunched her face and glared at me uncertainly before mumbling, "Polly."
"Alrahght, Elizabeth. Ah can fix Polly for yah, but yah have to calm down. Fair?" I said, pressing my advantage before she could remember to be upset again.
Elizabeth sniffled, but nodded and didn't start crying again. Crisis averted for now. I smiled at her. Happy. I was happy, she was happy, we were all just so damn happy.
"Do yah have a sewing kit?" I asked Lori, still smiling and using my happy voice.
Lori just looked at me in surprise before she nodded. Yes, Lori. That's right I can take care of children, because I am mature and responsible and...well okay, maybe I'm not an adult, but I am a teenager, and that counts for something right? Wolvie just snorted at me in the back of my mind.
"Yeah, I'll go get it for you. Boys, Rogue and Logan are our guests, so be nice. I mean it, Tanner!" She called back at what I assumed was the older one before she walked off.
The younger one pushed his way out from behind his older brother and grinned at me. "I'm Sam."
"Lizzie, Lizzie, Lizzie!" Elizabeth started shouting.
"Hey! She ain't gonna fix your doll if you don't be quiet, Lizzie." Tanner snapped at her.
Sam winced. "This is Tanner."
"Hello." I said, smiling at all of them and hoping they couldn't see how badly I wanted to hide behind Logan.
"Are you Logan or Rogue?" Sam asked.
I pointed behind me. "He's Logan. I'm Rogue."
"Rogue, like a traitor spy?"
"Sam, shut it."
"Polly?"
"Ah'll fix Polly as soon as yeh mom gets back." I promised Elizabeth.
"We really didn't mean to rip it, Lizzie." Sam said, actually looking a little sorry.
"Say sorry." Elizabeth muttered with another sniffle.
Sam smiled nervously. "We just did that, Lizzie."
"To Polly!" She demanded.
"I'm very sorry I hurt you, Polly." Sam apologized, dropping the smile and looking appropriately serious.
They both turned to look at Tanner, but he just crossed his arms and glared back at them.
"No."
Elizabeth scrunched up her face again, and I didn't think I would be able to stop her again if she decided to cry. I'd promised to fix her doll, but they weren't my kids or my problem. I stayed perfectly still in my crouch. Moving would only draw attention to myself.
"I ain't—It's not even—" Tanner protested, but nothing he said appeased her. "I'm sorry!"
Elizabeth held her breath, still threatening to cry. Tanner glared at her, and she glared right back. I worried she was going to turn blue soon and started to rethink my decision to stay out of it. I had almost decided I needed to step in again when Tanner broke.
"...Polly."
Elizabeth exhaled and looked around. But Lori hadn't come back yet, and her gaze settled on me, the only other female in the room. Her eyes lit up, and she thrust her arms out at me.
"Hug."
I just barely managed to keep from turning around and running all the way back to Logan. Children could smell fear, don't be afraid, I have my gloves on, I could hug her, but if an accident, if she touched my face, just don't be afraid and it won't be a problem.
"Sorry, can't. Ah'm getting over the flu. Germs." I said, desperately trying to keep my voice steady.
It's alright, kitling. Jest calm down.
No, Ah can't! Ah'll hurt her, an' everyone will hate meh again!
"Hug!"
"Hey, is that your truck?"
Logan. I needed Logan. This was a bad idea, a mistake, we never should have come here. Tanner grabbed Elizabeth, and I forced myself to calm down and concentrate. Logan was still behind me, and Tanner had Elizabeth. She wiggled around in her arms, but he kept a tight grip on her. She couldn't touch me, everything might be okay if I could just keep calm.
"Sam, don't pester them." Tanner ordered. "Lizzie, calm down. You promised to be good, remember?"
"Hug..." She whined, trying to grab me.
That was the last straw. I straightened up and forced myself to keep my movements slow and calm as I backed up. Logan stood just behind me, close enough that I could feel the body heat he radiated.
"I'm hugging you now. So just be still, and I'll rub your head." Tanner promised.
Sam walked away from the window, back over to us, but Tanner jerked his head toward the kitchen.
"I got Lizzie, go check on Mom."
Tanner lifted Elizabeth up and held her against his side while Sam ran off into the kitchen. Tanner might be kind of rude, but he patted his little sister's head gently, the way Logan sometimes did to me. She stopped struggling and started to yawn.
"Give Polly to Rogue, Lizzie." Tanner whispered.
Elizabeth whined again, but she held out the doll to me. I locked eyes with Tanner, and he gave me a tiny nod. I took a few cautious steps forward and took the doll from her as carefully as I could. I knew I didn't have to be so careful with my gloves on, but I was still pretty freaked out, and I backed up again as soon as I had the doll.
"She missed her nap. I'll be back in a minute." Tanner said.
He carried Elizabeth off in the other direction that Sam had went, and then only Logan and I were left in the front foyer. I don't know who moved first, but I was back in Logan's arms the instant they left.
"We can still leave if you want." He whispered.
I sighed and finally relaxed. "They seem like good kids. Ah'll be alrahght."
"Sure, kid?"
I turned my head and half nodded, half nuzzled against his shoulder. I'd be fine as long as he was there. And they really weren't so bad, I just got freaked out easily around new people, especially when there was touching involved. But Tanner seemed like he was used to being in charge, and he really did do a good job of handling Sam and Elizabeth. Nothing had even happened, and it didn't seem like such a big deal now, now that Logan was hugging me at least. I may not have an older brother to protect me, but I had Logan, and that was at least as good. Probably better.
Tanner came back, and I tried to casually step away from Logan, but he just tightened his grip. I didn't want Tanner telling Lori we were...well, we were just hugging. But Logan wasn't my older brother. Even I couldn't see him as that, not really, not when I snuck glances at him when he was shirtless or in the shower with me. He was my packmate though, my only friend and family. Not that anyone else would ever understand, and I didn't want to get Logan in any sort of trouble.
Logan straightened back up, but he kept his arm wrapped around me. He and Tanner glared at each other for a moment, which suddenly seemed really funny to me. Tanner had to be at least a year younger than me, maybe even two, and Logan was...possibly really, really old. And yet, they had a staring contest. Boys and men were weird. Testosterone must not be good for the brain. Tanner looked away first, but he tried to make it seem like he had just looked at Sam, who came in from the kitchen. I didn't blame Tanner for losing the contest. Logan was...well...
The Alpha male. Wolverine growled in my head.
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.
"She fall asleep again?" Tanner asked.
Sam nodded. "Yeah."
"Alright, fine." Tanner sighed. "Come on then."
He walked away, and we followed him into the kitchen. Logan kept his arm around me as we walked in and saw Lori fast asleep at the kitchen table, the sewing kit laying in front of her. I felt kind of bad for disliking her. It must be really hard to run a business and be a single mother with three kids at the same time. I nearly had a panic attack trying to deal with them in just the first five minutes.
Logan let go of me and reached for Lori. I tried not to feel...ugly...about it. He gripped the back of her chair, and Tanner grabbed his wrist. Yep, testosterone definitely wasn't good for the brain. I didn't even need to hear Wolverine's growl to know that had been a bad idea. Logan didn't do anything other than glare at Tanner though.
"I'm just gonna carry her upstairs." He said in a whisper growl.
They had another staring moment, then Tanner let go. Logan pulled Lori's chair out and lifted her up into his arms. I looked away from them and examined the sewing kit. I had no reason to feel so awful about Logan touching someone else, and I was just being selfish. I tried to ignore the situation, but I looked up when I noticed everyone had stopped moving. Logan hadn't left yet, and he looked at me with his head cocked to the side.
Ya gonna be alright without him, kit?
I nodded at him, and he left with Lori. Tanner followed after them, leaving me alone with Sam. I sat down at the table, setting the doll next to the kit. Sam set in the chair next to me. I chose some white thread that would blend in with the fabric that made up the doll's skin. Sam scooted closer. I threaded the needle, and he put his elbows on the table, leaning forward and watching me.
"Yes, Sam?" I asked, trying to be polite.
He took a deep breath. "Why's your name Rogue? Are you a spy? Why do you talk funny? Is Logan your dad?"
I stabbed my thumb with the needle at the last question. Sucking the blood off my finger gave me time to think of my answers and gather my composure. I reminded myself he was just a little kid, probably not any older than ten. You didn't tell little kids to fuck off.
"Mah name's Rogue because it means someone who's alone, an' Ah used to be alone. No, Ah'm not a spy. Ah have a southern drawl because Ah'm from Mississippi...that's a state in America. No, he's not mah dad." I replied instead.
"Ho—"
"One question at a time." I said.
Sam stopped and rethought his next question. "Why are you still wearing your gloves?"
"Ah don't like to touch other people."
"But with the gloves, it's okay?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
I stopped sewing and looked at him. "Ah don't want to talk about it."
He stared back at me for a few seconds. Something seemed to occur to him, and he leaned even closer with a thoughtful expression.
"Can you make spaghetti?" He asked, dead serious.
I nodded slowly. "Yes...would yah like meh to make yah spaghetti for supper?"
"Yeah-huh! I'd ask Mom, but she's asleep, and Tanner tries, but he's not really very good at it, and he says I'm not allowed to cook in the kitchen until I'm older, but I love spaghetti." He said all in one breath.
Is that how Ah sound when Ah babble?
…
Wolvie?
Crap. No wonder Logan always cut me off. It felt like I had just been hit with a verbal tsunami. How did he even put up with me?
"Well, Ah'll make spaghetti, but only if it's okay with Tanner an' Logan." I said.
Sam grinned and nodded. "Tanner likes spaghetti, but his favorite is meatloaf. I don't like meatloaf though, because it's weird, like bananas, which are really weird because they're shaped funny and their skin peels off, and how do you think anyone knew to eat them? Who do you think saw this long yellow thing and thought, I bet I could peel that and eat whatever's inside. Weird."
I was still trying to recover from another tidal wave of chatter from Sam when Logan and Tanner walked back down the stairs, and Sam turned his attention on them. I kept my head down and kept sewing. If they could distract Sam for just one more minute, I could finish fixing the doll.
"Is Mom still asleep? Did she wake up any? You put her in her room, right? Do you like spaghetti?" He asked.
"Goddammit, Sam. One question at a time." Tanner snapped.
I felt his pain. I'd managed to keep from cussing at the kid, but it had been a close call. I couldn't imagine having to deal with him all the time.
"Yes. No. Yes. What the fuck does that have to do with anything?" Logan demanded.
"Sam likes spaghetti, and Ah can have it ready in twenty minutes. Please don't swear. Either of yah." I asked.
I just had to tie the thread off, and I'd be done.
"Since when the fu—"
I looked up at Logan, and he stared back at me. Really, Logan? You want to do this now? I put up with Lori, kept Sam busy, and fixed Elizabeth's doll. The least you can do is not cuss for one goddamn night.
Uh, kit...
Shut up.
I'd already seen Tanner lose his staring contest with Logan, and I knew just glaring wasn't going to cut it. But I wanted to make it through this with as little trouble from Lori as possible, and swearing in front of children was just rude anyway. So I resorted to desperate measures and gave him The Look. Logan lasted all of three seconds before he caved.
"Can't. I. Swear." He finished.
I tied the knot and cut the thread, then looked back up at him. "Not around children."
"We're no—" Tanner started to protest.
"Yer a child." Logan growled.
Actually, jerk, I'm a teenager. But sassing him wasn't going to help me any, so I just sighed instead.
"But Ah'm not Lori's child. And yah know she wouldn't approve of yah or them swearing. Plus, we're guests in her house." I reasoned.
"Yeah. Guests. So don't tell me what to do." Tanner sneered.
My patience broke, and I slammed the doll back down on the table. "Yah two wanna swear so bad? Fahne! Yah can jus' go out tah the garage then and cuss up a storm and eat motor oil!"
"I can still have spaghetti though, right?" Sam asked.
I took a deep breath for control and kept my voice calm. "Yes, Sam. Yah may have spaghetti. Here. Take Polly to yeh sister."
"Don't wake her up!" Tanner called after Sam as he ran off with the doll.
"Do yah know where yeh Mom keeps the pasta noodles and sauce, or should Ah just see what Ah can find?" I asked Tanner, getting up and taking a look around the kitchen.
He showed me where the pots and strainer were and grabbed the noodles and sauce for me. I filled one of the pots with some water, threw the noodles in, and turned on the burner. While I waited for the water to boil, Tanner poured the sauce into a smaller pot and set it over another burner. I started to estimate how long it would take for each to cook when Logan suddenly spit into the sink. He had a water bottle filled with apple juice in one hand, but he must have thought it was beer. I couldn't help but giggle at the betrayed look on his face.
"What'd you expect? That's my sister's apple juice, numbnu—skull." Tanner said.
"I thought it was beer."
Tanner rolled his eyes. "There's a TV in the living room, if you want to get out of the way."
"There's some eggs in the fridge, if you want to suck one." Logan growled.
"Logan..." I warned.
"What? I didn't swear."
"And your insults are getting more creative already." I said with a sigh.
I had to give it to him though, that was one of the best ways I had ever heard someone get told to go suck an egg.
Tanner crossed his arms. "Just leave so we can get this done."
Logan crossed his arms right back at Tanner, a much more impressive display, if I did say so myself.
"You sure you don't need help, sugar?" He asked.
It took me a second to figure out he meant me. I called him sugar, not the other way around. But I guess him saying kid might get a little confusing considering how many actual children were here.
"Um, yeah. Could yah jus'..." I got an idea and waved my hand at him. "...move a little over there?"
He scooted over a bit, and I waved again until he took a couple more steps.
"Little more...just a little...further back..."
Finally, he reached the doorway of the kitchen. He raised an eyebrow, and I grinned at him.
"Jus' see if yah can catch a game or something, an' Ah'll have this ready in twenty. Alrahght, sugah?" I asked.
He grunted and left. A few minutes later, I heard the TV come on. I turned back to the stove and concentrated on not letting either of the pots boil over. Tanner helped, and we watched and waited in silence. I felt like I needed the break after dealing with Sam, and he didn't seem particularly chatty. Twenty minutes is a long time to stand in absolute silence though, and I broke first.
"So how old are yah?" I asked.
"Almost twelve. You?"
"Fourteen."
He finally turned to look at me. "How does he know my mom?"
"Don't know. Ah was gonna ask yah." I replied.
"He said they had sex." Tanner said.
I blushed. "Gross. Sorry."
Logan might be hot, but sex was still...I looked back at the noodle pot and tried to fight down my blush. Sex was wrong and sinful, but the books I'd read said it was also fun and special. I guess it could be a lot of things, depending on the people, but between Logan and Lori...gross. Maybe she had been younger then. Tanner shrugged and tried to act like he didn't care, but I knew he did. I cared, and Logan was just my friend. It must be a thousand times more gross for Tanner.
"Soooo...do yah like Pokemon?" I asked.
Anything to change the subject and stop thinking about Lori with my Logan.
Yer Logan?
He's mah friend.
"Yeah." Tanner glanced over at me, still trying to act casual. "Do you?"
"Ah have the first three games."
"None of the DS games?"
"Nah. Ah jus' have a gameboy, an' Ah like the original generation better."
"What's your favorite starter?"
"Pikachu."
"Not counting Yellow."
"Then...Bulbasaur."
"Charizard's better."
"He's screwed against rock type. And he's not even a dragon, technically."
Tanner huffed. "He should be!"
"I know, right?!"
We grinned at each other for a moment before we both looked away and stared at our pots. The sauce and noodles were almost done, and I could hear Sam asking questions again. I called for him to come in and help set the table before Logan could get too fed up. Tanner and I took the pots off the burners, and it actually smelled pretty good.
Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.
A/N: Okay, most important things first: Charizard should totally be classified as fire/dragon. He is literally the epitome of a Western style dragon. That is all.
Next, slight miscalculation of how long it's going to take TBH to catch up to BBW. I'll try to get us there as soon as possible, and once it is, I'll start updating both on Mondays and Fridays. I'll let you know when that's coming up, because it will happen.
And finally, another plea for more reviews. Seriously, I think I got like three or four for the last chapter. I hate authors who say shit like, I'll update again when I get X amount of reviews, and I'll never do that to you, but reviews feed plot bunnies! So take pity...