Chapter 4: Home Sweet Home

"Turn left up here!" Lumina yelled in Logan's ear as the sped down the busy street of Manhattan, weaving in and out of traffic. Lumina hated the way that Logan drove, and she her eyes shut in fear every time he passed another car. There were a couple of instances where he almost hit a pedestrian, the scariest being a little kid, but Logan didn't even appear to be the least bit shaken. They took a sharp turn down onto Main Street, heading towards Lumina's home. "Stop!" She yelled again. Logan brought the bike to a screeching halt into the nearest parking spot along the sidewalk. She felt like beating the crap out of him, but she settled with a little sizzle on his backside.

"Ah!" Logan yelped as he jumped out of his seat. "Ow! What was that for?!" He glared at her, trying to look menacing, only to fail when he saw her grinning uncontrollably.

"Something that should happen to you more often, apparently." She said as she walked away, laughing to herself. "Are you just gonna stand there? Come on, it's over this way; you past it, you were going so fast." He stalked after her, still a little angry. She led him into an apartment building after opening the door to the building with a key. The walls were cement, gray, and dull. There were only a few windows, throwing shadows across the already darkened lobby. He followed her to what looked like a maintenance elevator and they got in. Logan looked up to see that there was more light above him than there was in the lobby. She pushed the button to go to the top floor, and they ascended up towards the light.

The metal door made of what looked like chicken wire opened with a screech so loud that Logan winced in pain. Lumina didn't seem to notice. Inside, Logan looked around. The light inside was intense, permeating into his body, then letting him go. He felt calmness, peace. He didn't understand, and he couldn't see anything but the light.

"Logan!" Lumina suddenly appeared before his eyes as she snapped her fingers under his nose.

"Ugh…" Logan grabbed his head and fell to his knees, groaning in pain. He heard Lumina say something, but there was a ringing in his ears that was so painful, he felt he would collapse. He felt her grab him and lift him towards a yellow couch, but the feeling was far away, as if in another world. Then, he was in another world, one of darkness.

Lumina was in a panic. Omigod…What the hell…

"Logan! Logan!" She smacked him across the face again and again, desperate for him to regain conscience. "Come on!" His eyes fluttered open and closed, as if he were in a dream. Lumina felt a sudden rush of adrenaline flowing through her body, and the light poured from her every pore. Her hands on his shoulders glowed an eerie light, and suddenly Logan's body was glowing, too. His eyes flew open, and beams of light shot out and connected with her eyes. Their gazes locked together, and images, memories passed through the beams that connected their eyes like reflections. After what seemed like years, but in fact was only seconds, the connection was broken and the light, flooding the room only moments before, vanished into the darkness.

Logan slumped forward into her arms, muttering something under his breath. She was barely able to hold herself up, much less with his weight added to it, but she managed somehow. She shifted her weight so that he was sitting more on the couch, and less of his weight was on her. She was breathless from the strange contact. She'd never experienced anything of the sort before, and she suddenly knew this man far more intimately than she ever thought she would. It was definitely more than she wanted to know.

I know…what I have to do. She thought to herself. I have to finish what I started…remember what Blaine said. She laid Logan carefully back onto the couch and let him rest while she packed her things.

She looked back at the dark building that had been her home sweet home for so long. Goodbye… Lumina thought as she started the engine of the motorcycle. Logan was partially awake by then, but he was too groggy to drive, especially the way he drove. The only thing she took with her was a back pack and a small suitcase. It was all she needed. She drove back towards the mansion, having already made her decision.

She went to see the professor after she had made sure the red-haired Jean Grey would take care of Logan. Jean was a little curious as to what happened, but Lumina promised to tell her later, though she realized she didn't have to tell her anything. Dang telepaths. She walked into Xavier's office with determination in her step.

"Professor, I want to apply for the membership, if the offer's still available." She announced as she walked through the double doors. Xavier grinned back at her, and she knew the answer. Lumina had found her new home.