Wolfsbane

Chapter 21: The X-Woman and the Wolf Prince

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- All familiar characters belong to Marvel.

Rahne and Dani's room-

It was morning in the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. Danielle Moonstar was already up and about. As part of the Institute's teaching staff, Dani couldn't just stay in bad all day. She had her squad to teach. Rahne Sinclair on the other hand, was a different matter entirely. For as long as Dani had known the young Scottish woman, Rahne had never been a morning person. Which wasn't all that surprising, seeing what she and Dani were up to last night.

Dani stepped out of the shower and headed for her dresser, pulling off the towel from around her head. Dani smiled to herself as she heard Rahne mumble something in her sleep.

'Zzznorrk... No more mutants...' (1)

Dani shook her head with a slight chuckle. She often wondered what was going on in Rahne's head sometimes.

Dani quickly got dressed and sat down beside her dresser to sort out her hair.

Back over in the bed, Rahne was still talking in her sleep.

'Hey baby, wanna kill all humans...?' (2)

Dani looked over at her life partner sleeping peacefully. Rahne really had to stop watching so much television.

Dani picked up a folder that contained the notes for today's training session and headed over to the door. She knelt down by the bed and placed a gentle kiss upon Rahne's lips.

Rahne shifted in her sleep, the merest hint of a smile gracing her sleeping lips.

'The bread is in the middle of the road...' (3)

Dani shook her head once more. Rahne Sinclair was one crazy lady... but the Cheyenne woman wouldn't have it any other way.

Later that morning-

Dani was busy teaching her class in one of the Institute's many classrooms. She had assigned the students an essay about their view on mutant rights. Dani had already finished marking the papers from the previous assignment, so she was at a loss for anything to do.

Dani's attention began to wander. Her attention shifted to the grounds outside the classroom. She could see Rahne walking outside with Hrimhari, the Asgardian Wolf Prince. Hrimhari had somehow become stranded in Midgard during some kind of disturbance in Asgard. The Wolf Prince was a little light on the details. Dani saw the Wolf Prince laughing at something that Rahne had just said.

Dani couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt deep within her stomach. Rahne's relationship with Hrimhari was something that Dani could never match. They both had the same powers of lycanthropic shapeshifting, even though Hrimhari had no 'human' form. Rahne and Hrimhari had this special bond. What did Dani have? A tiny little gold ring on her finger.

Dani shook such thoughts from her head. That tiny little gold ring was a wedding ring. Rahne had pledged her life to Dani for now and forever. Rahne may have had a very close relationship with Hrimhari back in the day, but it was nothing that she had with Dani.

'Miss Moonstar, is everything all right?' One of the students, the blue-haired Japanese electricity-manipulator called Noriko Ashida asked in concern.

'I'm fine, thank you Nori.' Dani smiled slightly. 'I was just thinking, is all.'

'You're thinking about Ms Sinclair, aren't you?' The blonde telepathic triplets known as the Stepford Cuckoos surmised. 'We can hear your thoughts. You think that the Wolf Prince is going to steal her away from you.'

'That's preposterous.' Dani chuckled nervously. 'Why would I even think of such a thing?'

'Because she and the Wolf Prince were really close.' Laura, the female clone of Wolverine sometimes known as X-23,piped up. 'Doctor MacTaggart told me all about their history together. It was sweet.'

'Ooh, lookit that!' Santo Vaccarro, the grey-skinned Thing wannabe known as Rockslide, snickered. 'X-23's gettin' all gushy!'

'You wanna come over here and say that?' Laura shot the Hellion a glare.

'Please class, let's get back to your assignments.' Dani told the students in a calming voice. And for your information, my relationship with Ms Sinclair is no business of yours.'

Dani sat back down at her desk. She sure hoped that nothing untoward was going on between Rahne and Hrimhari. Well, her head told her that nothing untoward was going on, but her heart told her otherwise.

Later still-

Dani was now in the women's showers. She had just finished a Danger Room session with Kitty, Rachel, Sam, Kurt, and Betsy.

Dani thoughts were still preoccupied with Rahne's relationship with Hrimhari. Dani was sure that Rahne and Hrimhari were just friends, but one couldn't deny that the pair had once been very close.

'Hey Moonstar, look alive!' Kitty yelled as she twirled a towel around her head before whipping Dani on the backside.

Dani didn't even react to the fact the fact that she had just been towel-whipped.

'Bloody hell.' Betsy blinked in surprise. 'If I were Dani, I would've kicked your arse by now.'

'Something on your mind, kiddo?' Rachel put a friendly hand on Dani's shoulder.

'I'm fine.' Dani muttered to herself. 'Never been better.'

'You don't have anything to worry about.' Rachel reassured the depressed Cheyenne mutant. 'Rahne only has eyes for you. Trust me, I'm a telepath.'

Dani shot the redheaded telepath a glare.

'What news is it of yours whether I am bothered about Rahne's relationship with Hrimhari?'

'I'm just showing concern, is all.' Rachel held her hands up in her defence. 'I sensed that you were upset, so I decided to try and help.'

'I'd very much appreciate it if you kept your telepathy to yourself, Rachel.' Dani shot back.

'Hey! There wasn't any need for that!' Kitty stood up for her friend. 'Rachel was only trying to help you, and you throw it back in her face!'

'Let it be, Kit.' Betsy put a calming hand on Kitty's shoulder. 'I'm sure that Dani didn't mean it. If Dani wants to sort all of this out by herself, we might as well leave her to it. If she needs a friend, she'll tell us in her own time.'

Kitty nodded silently. Betsy was right. They didn't have any right to interfere in matters that didn't concern them.

Bedtime-

It was nighttime and all through the Institute not a creature was sitting. Not even a mouse. Dani was tucked up tight in bed. She had expected Rahne to join her quite some time ago, but once again she was hanging out with Hrimhari. Not that Dani was jealous. Oh no. Not one bit.

Dani turned her back as she heard gentle footsteps enter the room.

'Dani, you asleep?' Rahne whispered quietly.

'M'awake.' Dani mumbled, not even turning to face Rahne.

Dani felt the bed shift as Rahne sat down on the edge of it.

'Dani, sweetie... Have I upset ye?' Rahne asked concernedly. 'I havenae forgotten your birthday, have I? No. That cannae be right. It isnae yuir birthday f'r at least a month.'

Dani sighed heavily as she turned over to look at Rahne.

'Rahne, can I ask you a question?'

'Sure, ye can ask whatever ye want.' Rahne nodded with a smile. 'Just as long at ye arenae goin' tae ask me tae wear that leather thong again. I already told ye, it chafed me somethin' terrible.'

'What's going on with you and Hrimhari?' Dani asked.

'Oh.' Rahne nodded in understanding. 'I had a feelin' ye were goin' tae ask me somethin' like that.'

Dani sat up and looked at Rahne expectantly.

'Well...?'

'There's nothin' to explain.' Rahne explained. 'Hrimhari and I are just friends. Nothin' more.'

'Then why have you been spending the whole day with him?' Dani continued with her enquiries.

'We havenae seen each other f'r ages, Dani.' Rahne pointed out. 'We had a lot tae catch up on.'

Dani pulled her legs up to her chest and rested her chin on her knees.

Rahne placed a loving hand on her partner's shoulder.

'Dani, look at the ring on m' finger. This ring signifies a bond of love that will never die. Ye should know by now that I never mess around when it comes tae matters like this. Marriage isnae something tae rush intae. I wouldae have done it if I didnae love ye so.'

Dani smiled sheepishly. Rahne was right. Marriage wasn't something to rush in to. If Rahne didn't love her so much, then they wouldn't have gotten married.

'I've been so silly.' Dani shook her head in shame. 'I'm so sorry that the though even crossed my mind.'

'That's alright, ye daft bampot.' Rahne gave Dani a quick hug. 'It's only natural tae be nervous about such things when ye first get married.'

'You're not angry with me?' Dani asked.

'How could I ever stay mad at a face like this?' Rahne smiled as she gave Dani's cheek a squeeze. 'Now, c'mere an' give me a kiss...'

TBC...

Next: Rahney, Where's yer Troosers?

Rahne and the gang travel to Loch Ness to try and find the infamous monster that dwells within the Loch.

Author's Notes-

(1)- The only time I will ever reference House of M. Ever!

(2)- Futurama reference. Bender is my new God!

(3)- it's been such along time since I last referenced Jasper Carrott, so there we go.