Warning: Some strong language used in this chapter. Don't be shocked and yell at me for using that word in a PG-13 story or anything like that.
Also, to address a question I got on an earlier chapter, the Legacy Virus has NOT been cured in the timeline I'm using for this story. I started this series in April 2000. At that point, there was no cure for the Legacy Virus, and I can't go back and change everything I've already written for the story that comes before this (The More Things Change…), nor do I really want to. Also, since the Legacy Virus has not been cured, anything dealing with that plotline will be ignored for the purpose of this story and all those following. In other words, Colossus is alive.
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As the night drew on, the various groups of X-Men began to return to the mansion. Kacie and Logan got home at almost the same time as Billy, Warren, and Ric. Kacie jumped out of the car and ran to Billy, who wrapped his arms around her and lifted her up to kiss her. "You'd think they'd been separated for a lot longer than a couple of hours," Logan commented.
"Tell me about it," Warren said. "And to think he didn't want to go out with her at first."
"Guess he changed his mind," Logan said.
"Looks like it."
Ric walked by with only a small nod to Warren. Logan's outward appearance didn't waver. "Can I asked you something?" Warren said.
"Go ahead."
"Are you and Ric even still friends? You don't even say hello to each other anymore."
"We're teammates," Logan said in a tone that made it clear that she wanted Warren to drop the subject.
"Wanna head on inside and let the lovebirds make out in the garage in private?" Warren asked.
Logan laughed. "Sounds like a good idea to me."
Warren and Logan came inside they found Tristan sitting on the couch, waiting. "May I talk to you Logan?" he asked.
"Uh, sure," Logan replied.
Warren took his cue to leave. "Good night, you guys," he said, going upstairs.
"Good night," Logan called over her shoulder to Warren. She sat down beside Tristan on the couch. "What did you want to talk about?"
"I wanted to apologize."
"For what?"
"For the way I acted earlier, for what I said. I didn't mean it. You know a lot, and I am glad that the X-Men are helping me."
"And I'm sorry I tried to tell you what you're feeling is wrong," Logan said.
Tristan shook his head. "No, you were right. It is just a difficult truth to accept."
"It would be easier if you relaxed some. You're always so tense. You never even smile."
"You're doing it again."
"Sorry."
"You look tired," Tristan said. "You should get some rest."
"Yeah, you're probably right. I'll see you tomorrow," Logan said, standing up.
Tristan nodded. "Have good dreams, Logan."
Logan smiled. "You, too."
*** *** ***
Logan was on her way up to her room when she met up with Ric in the hallway. He stopped and looked at her, and she knew it would be impossible for her to ignore him when they were standing face to face. "Uh, hey Ric," she said.
"Addie," he replied with a nod. He waited a moment, then said, "So, you and the Dark Angel seem to be getting along fairly well."
"Tristan's my friend."
"You shouldn't get close to him, Addie."
Logan's anger flared up at the thought that Ric of all people was trying to tell her what to do. "Why? Are you jealous?" she snapped.
"No, it's just that he's dangerous," Ric replied. "I don't want to see you get hurt."
Logan's eyes narrowed into slits. "Don't worry about me, Renegade," she said, her voice almost a growl. "I'm an old pro when it comes to getting hurt."
Ric was surprised by Logan's vehement anger, but decided not to show it. "That might be true, but you're playing with fire on this one, Wildcat," he said.
"No I'm not," Logan said. "Besides, Tristan and I are only friends."
"I've seen the way you act around him. It's obvious that your feelings for him are a little more than just 'friendly,'" Ric said.
"And I guess you would know how I act around guys I'm attracted to, wouldn't you," Logan said. "Not that I thought you gave a damn."
"Addie, you know how much I love you."
"Really? I do? If you love me this sure is a strange way of showing it."
Ric blinked. "Logan, I broke up with you because I love you. Can't you see that?"
Logan crossed her arms and glared at him. "No. Explain it to me."
"If I'd stayed with you, I could've hurt you—even killed you! I had to let you go so you'd be safe!"
Logan was livid by this point. "Don't you act like you did this as some huge fucking favor to me, Ric. Don't you dare. My skeleton makes me untouchable to you, and that's the last kind of girlfriend a teenaged guy wants. Our relationship was a burden to you so you left. Don't try to make yourself sound noble."
"But that isn't true!" Ric protested. "I always loved you enough to be with you without being able to touch you!"
"Oh really? Then why aren't we together now? The only time I was in any 'danger' was when you had your shield up so you could touch me. If you didn't care about touching me, then you wouldn't need the shield. And all that time we had feelings for each other, you never actually wanted to be with me until you thought we'd be able to touch."
"No! It wasn't like that! It was just…" Ric's voice trailed off.
"What, Ric? It was just what?"
"I don't know!" Ric yelled. "But it wasn't like that! It just never would have worked!"
"You took the easy way out," Logan said. "If you worried so much about hurting me, then you could've just worked more on controlling your shield and taken it slow with me until then. But you couldn't do that. You gave up on us."
"I didn't give up! I did what was best for both of us!"
Logan's expression became emotionless. "You're right, Renegade. You're better off without me and I'm certainly better off without you." Logan walked down the hall and into her room, leaving Ric standing in the hall, speechless.
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Briana sat in a chair across from the bed, watching Craig sleep. Try as she might, she couldn't stop feeling guilty, and guilt was not an emotion she was used to experiencing. She had obligations in England, and she had set them all aside so easily.
She hadn't meant for this to happen, even after she'd met Craig. She'd thought it would be a little harmless flirtation, a guy to pine after her and make her trip to the States more enjoyable. It would just be something to keep her busy, nothing more. Plenty of other men had shown the same sort of interest in her as Craig, and she'd always been able to keep them interested without having to go too far. Briana Braddock had always liked to have men desperate for her.
But with Craig she'd gone from simply flirting in order to lead him on to actually falling for him. He hadn't reacted so much in the way that other men did, with their eyes bulging out of their skulls and their tongues hanging down past their toes. No, for the most part, Craig had remained fairly calm around her. He'd shown an obvious attraction to her, but he'd never become desperate. Briana wondered if she had found someone who played her game as well as she did.
Briana knew the smart thing for her to do would be leave right then. Not just Craig's room, or the mansion, but the whole country. She knew she should go back to Great Britain as soon as possible. There, she could go back to her real life and never have to look back at this again. So what if they thought she was being a coward and running from the supposed "Great Evil" that was coming towards Earth. At least in England she'd be safe from falling in love.
"Bri?" The soft sound of Craig's voice made Briana jump. "You still here?"
"Yes, I'm here."
Briana heard Craig moving around in the dark as he sat up in bed. "Why are you over there?" he asked.
"I can't sleep."
"Of course you can't sleep sitting up in that chair," Craig teased. "Come back to bed." He paused for a moment. "Unless you want to leave, that is."
Briana stood up, her eyes darting between the bed and the door. "No, I don't want to leave," she told him, getting back in the bed. Craig took her into his strong, comforting arms, and Briana tried to make herself focus on nothing but the present.
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Kacie collapsed on the floor of the Girls' Den. "He's trying to kill us," she announced.
"He's only trying to prepare us for our fight against the Dark One," Logan said.
Kacie glared up at her. "Stop defending your little boyfriend. I can't feel my legs!"
"He is not my boyfriend," Logan said. "And it isn't my fault you can't handle the Danger Room."
Marie slumped into a chair. "I'm with Kacie. That was way beyond your average session in the Danger Room. If Tristan keeps this up, we won't even be able to move when the Dark One gets here, let alone fight."
Logan shrugged. "I don't see why you're complaining. I feel fine."
Rachel looked up at her from the couch. "You have a healing factor. Us mere mortals, on the other hand, are in pain."
"Hmm. Guess you have a point there," Logan said, making her voice chipper just to annoy Rachel. "Oh well, you'll all be feeling fine soon enough. No use pouting about it."
Kacie stared up at the ceiling. "My knee is killing me."
"Put some ice on it," Logan said with an evil grin.
Kacie slowly turned her head over towards Logan. "That's it. You're dead."
"You can't even move. How do you plan to hurt me?" Logan asked.
"You forget," Kacie said, "I'm telekinetic."
"I don't see any sharp objects flying at my head."
"It hurts too much to think that hard!"
Logan laughed as she took a pillow from the couch and gave it to Kacie so she could prop her knee up. "Any better?"
"A little," Kacie said, icing her knee over.
"Hey, Logan, think there's any way I could borrow some of that healing factor?" Marie asked.
"I don't think so, but you know I'd lend it to you if I could," Logan said.
"Is fighting the Dark One really going to be this difficult?" Rachel asked.
"No. It will most likely be much more so," Rebecca answered as she walked into the room. "Logan, I have just come back from speaking with Tristan, and he wishes to see you in the War Room right away," Rainmaker said.
"Me? Why?" Logan asked.
"He needs to discuss something with you concerning the upcoming battle."
"What?"
"He will tell you."
Logan nodded then ran out of the room to find Tristan.
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I know this was a short chapter, but a lot was said, so I'd really like to know what everyone thought. Review PLEASE!!!
