The Secret
Chapter Eight: Kurt and Logan
Logan lay comfortably in the hammock. His boots sat on the ground beside him and his hat was pulled down over his eyes. Still, he spoke before Kurt could really get close to him.
"Hey Elf. Dinner ready?" He said without moving.
"No. Not for hours." Kurt put his hand to his stomach and imagined it moaning and empty.
"Well, come back and let me know when it's ready, and not before."
Kurt hesitated. "Ahh, sure. Sorry." He went to retreat.
"Oh, now you've done it." Wolverine suddenly said, moving for the first time and sitting up, pushing his hat off his eyes.
"Done vat?" Kurt raised an eyebrow and wavered toward blind panic and hasty retreat.
"Well," He looked uncomfortable "You know I've got a good nose on me." He looked serious
"Vat do you get off me?" Kurt was smiling now, wondering what the nose could truly know about him.
"You've been outside for a while. I can tell because I can't smell the house on you." He considered for a moment. "But you haven't been working up a sweat like Rahne and Jubilee." He grumbled softly. "Them I can smell from here."
Kurt giggled at him.
"Don't interrupt." Wolverine told him. "But you do smell like Jean and Rogue – who I know don't hang out together – so I'm guessing you've been playing go between."
Kurt cocked his head to one side and let his jaw hang in a mild and amused amazement. "Dat vas incredible."
Wolverine chuckled. "So playing middleman for those two has brought you here to me – and unless I miss my guess – even if you turn around and walk away right now – this is gonna come up again, like at dinner, right?"
"Uh, probably?" Kurt winced in admittance.
"So make it quick and I'll try to forget it ever happened."
"Keep it a secret – don't mention I asked – to anybody?" Kurt closed the distance between them conspiratorially.
Wolverine considered. "So long as it's none of anybody else's business." He agreed at last.
"Agreed." Kurt said, reaching out and pumping Logan's hand. He eyed Logan warily. "Do you ever have nightmares about falling, maybe off a building or fire escape? In the rain?"
Wolverine looked to be at a total loss for words. He searched the Elf's face for any sign of recognition. There was none.
"You don't, do you?" Kurt could read him however, just fine. "I can't believe it." He shook his head in confusion.
"What's this about?" Wolverine wanted to reach out and grab Kurt by the arm. He had a feeling Kurt was about to vanish and make him get out of the hammock to find out what was going on.
"Rogue thinks she was having someone else's dreams last night." Kurt explained.
"Oh." Wolverine felt himself suddenly relax. "Is that all?" He smiled.
Kurt shrugged. "Jean had the same dream too." He supplied.
Wolverine yawned and leaned back in the hammock, pulling his hat back down over his eyes. "Someone was probably just broadcasting their dreams telepathically or something." He reasoned.
"But not you?" Kurt had to be sure.
"Nope. Used to have a falling memory dream, out of a helicopter and in to the Mediterranean." He smacked his lips and began to drift off to sleep. "Not for years though." He supplied. "Black ops. Sunset. No rain. Don't like to talk about it." He said softly.
"No problem." Kurt said softly. "Thanks."
He backed away slowly, smiling to himself. And I'll come get you for dinner. . . He promised, while silently locking Wolverine's Mediterranean confession away in his mental vault.
Kurt retraced his steps across the lawn, listening as Wolverine began to snore softly behind him.
"So who's memory is it?" He wondered out loud. And then it occurred to him – maybe he was going about this all wrong. Maybe the answer wasn't in the dream. Maybe it was in the date.
"De same dream – every year." He whispered quietly.
And he vanished, smiling at the possibility, in to a cloud of brimstone and smoke.
