Well, if nothing else, these claws are good for cleanin' fingernails.
Logan leaned back against the frame of his bed, idly using a single claw to pick under his nails. He wasn't overly concerned with personal cleanliness, but the repetitive, mindless activity gave him something to do with his hands.
Logan? Could you check on Storm, please? I believe that she has been in the Danger Room for quite a long time.
Yeah, Chuck. I'll go.
Mumbling half-formed curses about the mental intrusion, Logan threw a shirt on over his sweatpants and headed for the Danger Room. Before even opening the door that leads to the control room, Logan could smell the burnt metal and a piquant mix of sweat and frustration. Drawing his brows together, he decided against just entering the control area, and stepped into the Danger Room itself.
The guns were set to a strength that would sear flesh with a glancing blow, and the mechanized attack partners were programmed to fire from a distance if they could not get close. Ororo had obviously been in there quite a while, as sweat cascaded off her body, and blood trickled out from torn clothing. Her left shoulder looked dislocated, and Logan swore that her right ankle must be sprained, if not broken, along with possibly her collarbone. Despite all that, Storm flew through the air faster than Logan previously believed she could, determination etched along her face. While a miniature blizzard kept one group of robots from sighting her, she destroyed the robots with a ranged attack with lightning.
"Computer, stop! Override: Logan 5624."
"Sequence halted."
If Logan thought he had seen Storm's fury while attacking the robots, he quickly made a mental amendment when Ororo landed, favoring her left foot, and turned toward him. The crackle of electricity did not lessen once she realized the program stopped, in fact, it became more intense.
"Logan! What do you think you are doing?"
"Are you trying ta kill yourself, 'Ro? Sure looked like it to me!"
Striding toward him with wrath radiating off her, Storm's built up electricity occasionally leapt off her, crackling with a dangerous purpose. When she was only inches away, Storm narrowed her whited eyes, and looked directly into Logan's. "Better I kill myself now than let another innocent child place their hope on me."
Confusion flickered over Logan's face. "What are you talking about, 'Ro?"
"She looked at me, Logan. Looked directly into my face and for a brief second, recognized that I was her savior. She placed all her hope onto me; Logan, and I let her down due to my weakness. One shot from the sniper, and I went down, failing her. She died, because I am ineffective."
"Storm, you can't blame yourself for…"
"Excuse me, Logan. I am leaving."
Logan stepped in front of the exit, blocking Storm's departure. Releasing her hold over the weather, Storm sighed and placed a hand on Logan's shoulder. "Please move aside, Logan."
"No. You need to go get fixed up in the medlab, then you need to have a talk with someone."
Storm's eyes flashed white for a brief second, and then she took a steadying breath before removing her hand and restating her desire. "I wish to leave the mansion for a bit. I will be fine."
"I won't allow ya to leave like this, Storm."
"I do not plan on leaving for an extended period of time. I just need to clear my head."
Logan tilted his head to the side, and critically examined Ororo. "You're lying. Something's going on upstairs, and you don't like it. There's something more to this. You need to get fixed up."
The air became still, and Ororo placed a small kiss on Logan's forehead. "You are correct, my friend. I do not like feeling helpless. However, you will not be the one to stop me."
A lightning bolt arced from behind Storm, and struck Logan on the top of his head, racing throughout his body, the shock knocking him into the far wall. Storm floated upward, and towards the skylight. "No, you shall not stop me."