Two hours later, we were both tired out. Logan was sweating like he had hydrokenesis, and taking gasping breaths because the air was so dry. (I had drained it in the fight.)I, on the other hand, looked much worse.

A black left eye that was swelling made it look like I super glued a purple golf ball to my face. The lower half of my right leg refused to work, so I now limped. My uniform, which was just some work clothes I had found in my closet, was in shreds, but still managed to give me decency. Originally, I had thrown on a gray muscle shirt, sweat pants, and tenni-shoes. Now, the soles were coming off of the shoes, the pants had holes every where from the bottom thigh down, and my shirt had become a tank top.

Our first idea was to brawl in the yard, but after thinking that Chuck would want some grass intact, we made a bold decision: use the Danger Room. Logan made it look like it was only him in there, even though Chuck would figure it out after we finished.

The setting was an abandoned car factory, with lots of places to hide and jump out. It was darkened to make it harder. Logan had to rely on his sense of smell, which was kind of easy for him. I had only my hearing, since I didn't have a bionic nose to help. The building itself was about five stories high, with an elevator that didn't work. Therefore, I resorted to the stairwell, sticking to the shadows and watching for any movement.

We finally met in the car garage. It was half the size of a football field and twice as wide. Circling each other like wrestlers, we both charged at the same time. Logan showed me that this was a serious fight by coming at me with claws out. I showed him I was serious by encasing myself in water and rushing him with a tsunami at my side. His eyes widened at the prospect of facing the force of an ocean, but none the less kept going. My super strength provided a match for his adamantium skeleton, but he cuffed me a couple of times, which resulted in the black eye, limp, and tears in my clothing.

By the time we were done, both of us wanted to take a long break. Or at least, Logan wanted to get somewhere where he could breathe more comfortably. I was fine in the breathing situation.

Stumbling into the kitchen, I collapsed into a chair and Logan rummaged around in the fridge for a drink. He got a beer for himself and threw me a pop. I practically yanked it out of the air and drank it greedily as he inhaled his in the same manner. After we finished, there was silence for a while, then,

"I underestimated you, kid."

"Yeah, well, I guess trying to drown a badger doesn't work all that well."

He snorted, then started coughing, for I had still not let up that water that encased me, making the humidity very low. I noticed, glanced down, smacked my self in the forehead, and put all of it back. Logan took a couple of deep breaths, then looked up at me. He frowned and said,

"Don't think I'm gonna be doin' this kind a' thing all the time. I got better things ta' do than fight with a punk kid, understand?"

"Sure, but if we never fight, how am I gonna get any better?"

He sneered and replied,

"Why's that my problem?"

"It isn't."

Silence.

"Every Sunday."

"Fine with me."

"Four in the morning."

"Always was an early riser."

He snorted, but continued.

"Three hours."

I gulped, but replied,

"Surprised it's not more, but we gotta go eat breakfast, right?"

Logan looked me over, then said,

"Ya' got more than the other squirts at this place."

"More bad, or more good?" I asked, curious of the answer.

"Dunno. Just more."

I sighed.

"Don't you have homework t' do?"

"Damn. Thought you'd forgotten."

"Sorry, Tidepool, but Charles'd have my head if ya' didn't finish."

"Won't he already have your head fer' fightin' a student?"

He groaned.

"We'll just wait till he finds out. No need ta' tell him. It's not that important, right?"

"Nope, not that important at all. As long as he doesn't see me, we'll be fine."

With that, I stood up, stretched my worn muscles, and headed off to the rec room, homework, and 'the pencil of doom that wouldn't sharpen, ever', limping the whole way. But some how, through all the injuries, bruises, and cuts, I felt better. Weird, huh?

~*~



The first person to see me after my 'death wish fight' was Ororo. Boy, you do not want to get hurt around her. Trust me. I found that out first hand.

"Oh! Crys, what happened? Did Magneto come again? The Brotherhood?"

I jumped, just now noticing her in the room. I had assumed that she came in to water the plants that looked like they belonged in the compost heap.

"Hmm? Oh, this. Well, someone was bound to find out sooner or later. I, well I, went into the Danger Room. I thought I could handle it, but I guess not. I didn't go to anyone cause I thought you'd be mad at me and ground me or something. Are you going to?"

She looked at me worriedly.

"Child, we'll worry about that after we get you some ice. Come now, that eye looks bad. I'll tell Charles."

"Do we have to tell him? I mean, he probably' already knows, anyway. Why tell him something he already knows?"

Ororo sighed.

"Crys, I have to tell him. If he knows, then he knows. If he doesn't know, then he needs to know right away. You will go wait for me in the medical wing the minute I leave. Understand?"

"Yes, Mrs. Munroe," I said, looking at the floor and waiting for her to go.

"Alright then. I'll meet you there."

She left, and I didn't say anything, for I was focusing on trying to get up from the couch without further injury to myself.

"Why didn't ya' mention me?"

"Aaaaah!" I yelped, Logan's voice surprising me. Turning around, I saw that he was behind the couch, staring down at me.

"Why didn't ya' mention me?" he repeated. I didn't know what to say.

"Um, I forgot?"

"That sarcasm is gonna get ya' killed, Tidepool."

"I guess I didn't want you to get in trouble for something I suggested. Chuck would automatically assume it was your idea, when it was all mine."

"But I agreed to it. Shouldn't he punish me fer' not discouraging ya'?"

"Maybe. But right now, I gotta get to the med bay. Otherwise, Mrs. Munroe might think Magneto really did abduct me."

My legs ached as I stood up, but I could walk on the right one with no limp. The swelling on my eye had gone down a bit, so I could see a bit better. That didn't mean I couldn't run into walls however, as I found out trying to leave the room.

"Ow," I muttered, as I bumped my knee into the door frame. Spinning around holding my knee, I didn't see the lamp until I almost knocked it over. Quickly, I shot a jet of water out to catch it and carefully set it back onto the table.

"Need help, Tidepool?"

"No, I'm fine," I said in reply, stubbing my toe on Evan's skateboard that he left lying in the middle of the floor. "Arrrg!"

"Right, that's it. I'm taggin' along t' make sure ya' actually get to the med bay."

I snorted.

"I'm so glad that you have faith in me."

He smirked.

"Ain't that what I'm here for?"

"I thought you were here so we can still have soup when the can opener is broken or the power is out."

Logan rolled his eyes and shook his head.

"C'mon kid, we gotta get ya' some ice fer' that, 'Ro was right. Ice first, punishment second."

"You mean punishment can't be third and a half?"

"Not that I know of."

"Darn. Well, let's get goin'."

"Amen to that."