Freedom
Marie was sitting in the class that she had been placed in, looking at the other students. She had been here for three days and she loved it here. The venerable old mansion was amazing. The other students had made her feel welcome. The tall Russian was currently sketching her face in the art class.
Peter had taken and introduced her to some of the other students in the class. There was Bobby who could freeze things and was making sculptures out of St. John's fire-induced projections. Kitty and a bundle of energy by the name of Jubilee were arguing over who was hotter Peter or the other new student Remy, a tall and lean man from New Orleans.
Logan was still asleep resting after the brutality he had suffered from someone named Sabretooth. She would have laughed at the name, except she had seen him and what he could do. Marie turned her attention on the other figure in the room.
Henry McCoy was perplexing to say the least. He was nearly six foot four, and weighed in at an amazing three hundred plus pounds of muscle, but the most startling feature that he possessed was his hair. It was cut in a very similar way to Logan's, though longer. The color was a deep blue that reminded her of the Cookie monster. His body was starting to change to that blue color as well. Marie had asked him when his hair had changed, because she had seen pictures of him and Jean Grey, the other resident scientist, in an article about mutation in some egg head magazine. He had looked normal in those photos.
He told her it had been an error on his part in the lab and Marie had decided not to push him further for details. McCoy was supposed to take her to see Logan as soon as class let out. She was waiting for the bell, nervous energy making her body tremble slightly.
The bell rang and Marie shot to the door, shoving past students and making her way to the elevator that lead to the sub levels. Hopping from one foot to the next she watched Henry's form approach hers. He was chuckling softly as he stood next to her.
" Well, ah don' have all day. Come one ya big lug. Let's go already." Marie was nearly pulling out her hair waiting.
" Impatience is what cost Romeo his Juliet, my dear. If you can't contain your self, maybe we should reconsider letting you down there to see him. He is most dreadful when it comes to being in a medical lab and you being there will only excite him further." The X-Man known as Beast teased her. Marie shot him a dirty look, giving him her best glare. She couldn't help laughing at him though. Stepping into the elevator they descended into the lower levels.
The other X-men were there waiting for her. Welcoming her with wide arms, they weren't afraid of her. She was a mutant like them and Professor Charles Xavier had taught them that every one was special and need not be afraid of their gifts. Marie was more interested in the body lying on its side in the next room though. Logan was stretched out and his chest rose and fell as if in deep slumber.
The blonde haired man with wings looked over at her. God what was his name, Marie thought, Warren that's it. " Warren is he going to wake up anytime soon."
" Jean is giving him something now. Logan had quite a shock to his system. Sabretooth did a number on him."
" Fear not my intrepid little compatriot, Logan's mutation will have him up and running in no time. Or my name isn't Henry P. McCoy, juggler extraordinaire." Marie turned to look at him as he entered the room. How he stood on the back of a chair juggling an ice cream cone, a text book about physics and a can of Hawaiian Punch for her she would never know. Marie found herself giggling at the sight. Warren rolled his eyes.
" Hank how many times have we told you to stay off the furniture?" Warren said teasingly.
" Um... three hundred eighty nine times so far." Beast grinned back. Tossing Marie the can so that he could lick at the now melting ice cream and offered to make them some in the adjoining kitchenette. Scott Summers entered the observation room just then.
" He's asking for you, try to be quick he still needs to rest. Ok." The visor-wearing mutant spoke to her. She smiled up at him briefly. Then she entered the room. Marie was sure she would like it here, especially if she could convince Logan to stay.
" Logan, it's me Marie."
" I know kid. Been waiting for ya, you ok. I... wasn't sure what happened to you." Logan croaked. Marie helped him drink some water. Then placing the water back down, she climbed up next to him on the table. Curled up next to him, Marie felt safe. Jean, the red head that had examined Logan earlier came back in.
"Rogue, you shouldn't be down here. Logan need's to rest." Jean said, an indifferent glare directed at Marie.
" Ah'm a staying. Besides Logan asked for me." Marie stuck her tongue out at the other woman as she turned around. Marie knew Jean was attracted to Logan, she had saw how she stared at him. It was lust that filled her eyes. Marie didn't want anyone to take advantage of Logan. He was the first person to act like he cared for her since she left Meridian, Mississippi.
Marie spent an hour down in the med lab with Logan before being ushered upstairs to the cafeteria to eat dinner. Grabbing her tray and filling it up, she felt like she was at her old school, waiting in line to eat the terrible school food. Course her school didn't have gourmet chefs preparing the menus. Sitting down at a table far in the back so she'd be out of the way, she tried to enjoy her meal. Just then Jubilee and Kitty sat down next to her.
" So tell, is he like mondo hot or what, cause you know he beats all the others here 'cept maybe Warren. He's so dreamy. Where'd you meet, you did it yet, come on tell me. Tell me." Jubilee said with out taking a breath. Marie and Kitty just stared at her before Kitty spoke up.
" Excuse my friend Rogue, she's from California." Then turning to Marie, " So tell," her grin wide as she wanted to know details, " Is he got what counts or what."
Marie just shook her head and laughed. " Get your mind outta the gutter. Shame on ya'll for thinking that way, he's not a piece of meat-" Jubilee squirmed in her seat and spoke just then.
" I wouldn't mind a bite though."
Marie gave her best glare before all three broke out laughing. Bobby and some others from earlier came over then. Marie was really enjoying herself.
The next morning.
Logan woke with a start, frantic and slightly afraid from the nightmare he just had. Leaping out of the bed, he crouched in the corner, sniffing the air. Jean walked in just then and her face turned a deep crimson. Once Logan was finally in control he looked down and noticed he was naked.
Putting his best smirk on, he said " So just couldn't wait to get me naked, huh." Jean looked up, down, anywhere put at him as he dressed.
" Professor Xavier would like to talk with you, when you're ready. He's in his office. Would you like an escort up? I can show you the way."
" No. I'll find it, Red. Besides what would the One-Eye say, me grabbing his girl?" Logan teased. He knew from the last several days that Jean was a big flirt and it seemed to piss off that Summer's character. God did he have a rod up his ass or what. Logan would never admit that he actually was starting to like it here. The people weren't half-bad either.
Making his way up to Xavier's office he came across Peter and Scott in the hallway. Peter was stringing lights up and down the hall and Scott was supervising. " Oh Logan, Professor Xavier would like to speak with you, then I'll show you the grounds. Meet me at the garage, I have a class there in half an hour, and then I can show you around." Scott was saying.
" Yeah, whatever One-Eye."
" Could you be a bigger ass?"
" You know, between Petey and me we could probably pull that rod out for you. What'd ya say?" From there Peter watched as insults started flying. Scott was still upset because Logan had smacked Jean's ass the other morning when they came in to the medical lab. Hank and Peter had found it the funniest thing they had seen. Warren and Scott had glared and Jean had stood there mortified.
After getting the tour and talking to Xavier about staying on to teach survival skills, Logan went upstairs to lay down in the room he had been given.
Later that night, Marie snuck from the girl's wing, following the muffled moans and murmurs that lead her to Logan's room. He was in the midst of a terrible nightmare. Tossing and turning he was bathed in sweat. Marie approached him calling his name.
Green water, men with no faces, a giant thing with a needle and tube.
The clink of champagne glasses. Lines all over his body, a mask over his face.
White hot searing heat, burning him deep in his core. Screams that no one should ever make.
Bubbles and steam. Heaviness of all his limbs then nothing.
Faces of people hurting him. He had to strike back, attack and defend himself.
A rending of flesh at his hands. A berserker cry on his lips.
Logan shot up, a hoarse cry on his lips and his claws fully extended. He felt a splash of something warm, a liquid substance. Finally seeing clearly, he felt the weight on the end of his claws. Marie. Oh God, he thought, I've killed her.
" Help me. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP!" He screamed. Marie was having trouble breathing. Blood was welling up on her lips as Logan's claws slid back into his forearm. She fell into his arms. He didn't know what to do as she stood there dying.
Marie reached out with her ungloved hands. She didn't want to die. At least not before she could touch Logan. Marie placed her hands on Logan's face and then the transfer began. The veins stood out on Logan's face, his eyes rolled back into his head. Marie had this incredible itchy feeling as her wounds closed, all trace of them gone as Logan collapsed.
The other student were crowded around the door as Scott and Jean rushed in. " It was an accident." That was all Marie could say as she left, everyone giving her a large berth of open space.
