He didn't like him. Watching Marie sit, back against the
wall, chatting away with Logan while the laborers downstairs made the
noise that permitted her to do so freely, Bobby found himself
constantly wringing his hands in irritation. It had been no longer
than two hours, and already he feared that bringing this stranger
into the apartment had been a fatal mistake.
The first instance of doubt struck the moment Marie
introduced the group as the "X-Men." He had warned the others not to
mention any piece of information that might aid in his cause, should
he truly be a spy. He was further discomforted by the grin that
flitted across the man's face as his eyes fell on everyone for the
first time, after such an introduction.
Still, Bobby decided to give the man the benefit of a doubt,
and pointed out to himself the fact that he may simply be jealous.
Hank had Storm, Gambit pointedly reminded him almost everyday that he
didn't need anyone, and Marie, greatly missing the outside world, had
taken to talking to the stranger almost constantly for as long as
he'd resided. Though he never thought of her as more than a friend,
Bobby still found himself uncomfortable with the thought that Marie
had abandoned his companionship for this man, with his superior air
and gruff exterior.
Of course, for the good of the team, or what was left of it
at least, he pushed his feelings aside, concentrating on the good of
the whole, even if it meant abandoning the best interest of the
individual. He, pulling himself from his attic room down to the main
room with the others, attempted to show interest in the facts about
this Logan that Marie instantly bombarded at him. While "listening,"
he chanced a brief glance at Gambit, who returned a look of annoyance
before waving a hand in a "c'est la vie" manner and returning to his
solo card game.
With Hank and Ororo reading together in the corner as usual,
and Marie building a new, better friendship by the moment, he was
torn between joining Gambit and altogether paying as little attention
to the man next to Marie as possible and joining her, just to learn
as much about him as he possibly could, to finally settle the rousing
doubts in his mind. At last, he did just that, grabbing an apple from
the food storage before sitting himself next to Marie. "Hi. We
weren't formally introduced. I'm Bobby Drake." Resisting the urge to
offer only a small nod of greeting, Bobby did the mature, adult thing
and offered a hand, which, after a moment or two, was taken and given
a firm shake.
"Logan."
"Good to meet you." Turning the apple he held slightly in his
grasp, he felt Marie give an appreciative glance his way, knowing she
was almost surprised that he had resolved to be polite. "So,
Logan...how did you manage to hold out so long without hiding?"
With a heavy shrug of his large shoulders, Logan looked away
from Marie and settled his gaze on Bobby, which he was none too happy
about. "I have my ways." Squirming slightly under the piercing
analization Logan put him through, Bobby dropped his eyes, nodding
briefly in understanding, before seemingly transferring all his
interest to the little piece of fruit he held in the palm of his
hand. "How'd you manage to convince an entire nation that you'd
disappeared?"
"We have our ways." Peering up through the blond locks that
fell over his eyes, Bobby caught sight of Logan a moment, before
nervously quirking his trademark grin. The same grin he offered, a
lifetime ago, to any person who should fall victim to his usual round
of pranks. What surprised him this time, though, was that, after a
moment's hesitation, Logan offered the grin back. Such an action,
presumably unnatural for a man like the one sitting in front of him,
momentarily laxed his judgment, causing him to put down his guard
and listen to Marie ask numerous curious questions of him, which he
either answered gracefully, or grunted and changed the topic.
"So...you got a girlfriend anywhere?" Bobby chuckled at the
surprised look on Logan's face before elbowing Marie slightly and
giving her a warning look. "What! It was just an innocent question."
With that, he watched her cock her head to one side, as he'd seen her
do countless times before, and knew that she was taken with this
stranger. Whether that was because he was actually someone a girl
like her could be attracted to, or simply because he was something
new in an otherwise mundane lifestyle, he couldn't be sure. All he
knew was, pretty soon she'd be pouring on the charm and pulling her
innocent-yet-seductive act on him, like she had a few boys back at
school. It was all innocent enough, which didn't lead Bobby to worry
any. Nothing serious could come of it after all, right?
By the end of the evening, any doubts Bobby Drake had about
Logan drifted into the back of his mind, what with the way he clearly
answered every question, with the exception of a few personal
questions Marie shot his way. Of course, it never occurred to Bobby to
think that perhaps the answers were given just a little too
confidently, and a little too perfectly. As far as he knew, Logan was
as trustworthy as any of the others present, and definitely worthy of
their confidence. For the first time since news of his moving in had
reached his ear, Bobby Drake thought of Logan as just another average
guy, looking, as he said, for a place to hide, just like the rest of
them. Unfortunately, for himself and the others around him, he
couldn't be more wrong.
wall, chatting away with Logan while the laborers downstairs made the
noise that permitted her to do so freely, Bobby found himself
constantly wringing his hands in irritation. It had been no longer
than two hours, and already he feared that bringing this stranger
into the apartment had been a fatal mistake.
The first instance of doubt struck the moment Marie
introduced the group as the "X-Men." He had warned the others not to
mention any piece of information that might aid in his cause, should
he truly be a spy. He was further discomforted by the grin that
flitted across the man's face as his eyes fell on everyone for the
first time, after such an introduction.
Still, Bobby decided to give the man the benefit of a doubt,
and pointed out to himself the fact that he may simply be jealous.
Hank had Storm, Gambit pointedly reminded him almost everyday that he
didn't need anyone, and Marie, greatly missing the outside world, had
taken to talking to the stranger almost constantly for as long as
he'd resided. Though he never thought of her as more than a friend,
Bobby still found himself uncomfortable with the thought that Marie
had abandoned his companionship for this man, with his superior air
and gruff exterior.
Of course, for the good of the team, or what was left of it
at least, he pushed his feelings aside, concentrating on the good of
the whole, even if it meant abandoning the best interest of the
individual. He, pulling himself from his attic room down to the main
room with the others, attempted to show interest in the facts about
this Logan that Marie instantly bombarded at him. While "listening,"
he chanced a brief glance at Gambit, who returned a look of annoyance
before waving a hand in a "c'est la vie" manner and returning to his
solo card game.
With Hank and Ororo reading together in the corner as usual,
and Marie building a new, better friendship by the moment, he was
torn between joining Gambit and altogether paying as little attention
to the man next to Marie as possible and joining her, just to learn
as much about him as he possibly could, to finally settle the rousing
doubts in his mind. At last, he did just that, grabbing an apple from
the food storage before sitting himself next to Marie. "Hi. We
weren't formally introduced. I'm Bobby Drake." Resisting the urge to
offer only a small nod of greeting, Bobby did the mature, adult thing
and offered a hand, which, after a moment or two, was taken and given
a firm shake.
"Logan."
"Good to meet you." Turning the apple he held slightly in his
grasp, he felt Marie give an appreciative glance his way, knowing she
was almost surprised that he had resolved to be polite. "So,
Logan...how did you manage to hold out so long without hiding?"
With a heavy shrug of his large shoulders, Logan looked away
from Marie and settled his gaze on Bobby, which he was none too happy
about. "I have my ways." Squirming slightly under the piercing
analization Logan put him through, Bobby dropped his eyes, nodding
briefly in understanding, before seemingly transferring all his
interest to the little piece of fruit he held in the palm of his
hand. "How'd you manage to convince an entire nation that you'd
disappeared?"
"We have our ways." Peering up through the blond locks that
fell over his eyes, Bobby caught sight of Logan a moment, before
nervously quirking his trademark grin. The same grin he offered, a
lifetime ago, to any person who should fall victim to his usual round
of pranks. What surprised him this time, though, was that, after a
moment's hesitation, Logan offered the grin back. Such an action,
presumably unnatural for a man like the one sitting in front of him,
momentarily laxed his judgment, causing him to put down his guard
and listen to Marie ask numerous curious questions of him, which he
either answered gracefully, or grunted and changed the topic.
"So...you got a girlfriend anywhere?" Bobby chuckled at the
surprised look on Logan's face before elbowing Marie slightly and
giving her a warning look. "What! It was just an innocent question."
With that, he watched her cock her head to one side, as he'd seen her
do countless times before, and knew that she was taken with this
stranger. Whether that was because he was actually someone a girl
like her could be attracted to, or simply because he was something
new in an otherwise mundane lifestyle, he couldn't be sure. All he
knew was, pretty soon she'd be pouring on the charm and pulling her
innocent-yet-seductive act on him, like she had a few boys back at
school. It was all innocent enough, which didn't lead Bobby to worry
any. Nothing serious could come of it after all, right?
By the end of the evening, any doubts Bobby Drake had about
Logan drifted into the back of his mind, what with the way he clearly
answered every question, with the exception of a few personal
questions Marie shot his way. Of course, it never occurred to Bobby to
think that perhaps the answers were given just a little too
confidently, and a little too perfectly. As far as he knew, Logan was
as trustworthy as any of the others present, and definitely worthy of
their confidence. For the first time since news of his moving in had
reached his ear, Bobby Drake thought of Logan as just another average
guy, looking, as he said, for a place to hide, just like the rest of
them. Unfortunately, for himself and the others around him, he
couldn't be more wrong.
