Title: Of Wolf and Man
Author: Ai Kemi
Rating: PG-13 for language, violence, and some good old-fashioned UST
Summary: A man who's lost his mind meets a girl who's lost her way. When Harry Met Sally, it's not...
Classification: Movieverse, AU
Disclaimer: "The naked truth of it is, I have no shirt." Love's Labour's Lost, V.ii.715. In other words, I had to sell it to cover my tuition so suing me would be pointless.
Archive: Does Logan have buns of adamantium? Just lemme know who, what, and where?
Dedication: To the Metallica CD I listened to and the Granny Smith apple I ate before going to bed. Made for some pretty dang interesting dreams.
1.
Not long after receiving his summons, Ororo, Jean, and Scott filed into Professor Xavier's office. With a small mental nudge from Jean, the door swung shut. She was certain the professor didn't want this little emergency meeting to be overheard.
"What's up, Professor?" Scott asked as he came to stand besides Jean.
The man in the wheelchair turned to face his former pupils. He smiled slightly. "Always one to get to the point, Scott." The professor's expression turned serious as he looked at the three X-men in turn. "I've come across some interesting information as of late. It seems that there is a so-called Man-Beast roaming the woods just outside a small Canadian town called Laughlin City, terrorizing the population."
Ororo frowned. "Sabretooth?"
Xavier shook his head. "I thought the same at first, but there were differences. According to reports, this Man-Beast has foot-long metal claws and is impossible to kill." The professor's faint smile returned. "And he sports a distinct lack of clothing."
Scott arched a brow. "Definitely not Sabretooth."
"But," Jean said, examining the professor's words. "He's definitely a mutant."
"I believe so, Jean."
"But what does he have to do with us, Professor?" came Ororo's soft voice.
Xavier calmly steepled his fingers and said, "I want him to be brought here before the citizens of Laughlin City do figure out a way to kill him."
Scott stepped forward. "Professor, do you think that's safe? Bringing this wild man to a school full of children?"
"He'll be kept in the sub-level infirmary, in one of the isolation units," Jean explained, practically picking up on the professor's thoughts. "He won't be anywhere near any of the students."
Scott turned to his fiancée then back to the professor. "But why go through all this trouble? Why do you want him here in the first place? From what you've told us, he's nothing but a violent animal."
"I want him here, Scott, because no matter what he's done, I don't believe he is aware of exactly what he is doing. He needs help. And that is what we are here for." The professor's tone brooked no arguments and Scott decided to keep his mouth shut, even if he did still think this was a bad idea.
The Professor wheeled behind his desk and began sifting through some papers. "Scott, Ororo, I want you two to take the Blackbird to Laughlin City and see if you can locate this Man-Beast." He held out a sheet of paper and Scott took it. "Those are the coordinates."
"Alberta, Canada?" Scott sighed and headed for the door, Ororo falling in behind him.
Xavier smiled and shook his head. "Good luck, you two. Jean, I want you to prepare one of the isolation units."
"Right away, Professor."
As the redhead was about to leave, Xavier added mentally, And could you check on Rogue? See how she's adapting? And try to see if you can figure out what she's hiding.
Sure thing.