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.