Chapter Five
They headed back to the previous night's club, parking next to the familiar, nondescript gray Institute van. Ororo took Kurt's hand and they went inside. When they entered, the same annoyingly thumping music was already playing. As they made their way to a circular booth, Ororo glanced around for some sign of her friends. She caught Jean's eye and discreetly motioned to where they would be sitting. Kurt slid into the booth, following Ororo's example. She noticed he was careful about where he placed his tail, and she briefly wondered just how sensitive it was.
"Hmmm, that would put an interesting spin on ....things," she thought, curbing the giggle that threatened to spill out.
"So, mein Liebling, what shall we do until my dance?" he asked, his delightful accent making his moderately innocent words sound suggestively sinful.
"What do you want to do?" Ororo asked, leaning towards him, a teasing smile on her face.
He grinned, "I plead the fifth amendment."
"Handsome and clever?" Ororo asked, her smile widening as she continued to tease.
"And don't forget, completely irresistible," Kurt added, also leaning towards her.
Their lips only inches apart, Ororo was about to kiss him when the music suddenly switched to a slow ballad-like song. Kurt pulled back a centimeter, his eyes slightly dilated. "I believe you promised me a dance?" he asked, his voice slightly uneven.
"I believe you're right," Ororo said with a small sigh. She was disappointed that the kiss had been interrupted, but a slow dance would more than make up for it. She allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor and she put her arms around his neck. For a moment he looked almost startled, but he relaxed again almost instantaneously. If Ororo hadn't been looking exactly at him she would have missed it, she gave him a questioning look.
"I'm sorry," he said when he saw it, "Reflex, I am not used to women wanting to touch me," he said, a bit shamefaced at his previous reaction.
Ororo pulled herself closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You know," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "I like to touch you."
Kurt looked down at her, a strangely peaceful expression on his face. He leaned in and carefully kissed her. It was more gentle than the last time, pleasurable but not seeking anything other than comfort and quiet enjoyment. There was no sense of urgency and it continued even as they swayed to the light music. Occasionally they each took a sporadic breath, but mostly they just moved together and explored each other's mouths. Eventually the song ended and they broke apart, smiling almost shyly at each other. Kurt put an arm around her waist and led her back to the booth where Jean and Scott were now sitting.
"Hey, there you guys are," Jean said, looking up from the conversation as the newer couple took their seats.
"We were dancing," Ororo said, giving her companion a fond look. "Amongst other things," she added silently.
"Yeah, you guys look a little flushed," Scott said. Sweet guy though Scott was, Ororo couldn't help but be a little surprised when she detected no insinuation in his tone. "How was your dinner?"
"Fabulous," Ororo told them, "Kurt took me to Myron's."
"I love that place, you should try their lasagna!" Jean chimed in.
"I'll have to sometime," She replied.
"How about tomorrow, for lunch?" Kurt asked, a bit nervously though he hid it well with a charming smile.
Ororo's heart leapt at the opportunity to spend more time with him, "I'd love to," she told him honestly.
"Good, then I will pick you up around twelve," he said, hoping he didn't look as relieved as he felt.
"You've got yourself a date," she told him, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips.
When they broke away she pulled his arm around her and listened to Kurt talk with Jean and Scott. It was difficult to pay attention, as Kurt's tail was drawing what she was certain were unconscious patterns on her leg with his tail. She smiled, knowing he would be immensely embarrassed if she pointed it out to him. With a mysterious grin she leaned closer into Kurt and tried to stay abreast of the conversation.
"So, you two work with Ororo?" he asked.
"Yes, Scott's a teacher and I'm the resident physician," Jean replied.
"What about you," Scott asked.
"I work at a small Newspaper, The Provincial Herald, I'm the editor," he replied.
"Really?" Jean asked, that sounds exciting. "I'm assuming the paper is pro-mutant?" Jean asked curiously.
"Well, they aren't anti-mutant, but mostly we try to stay neutral," Kurt replied. "We certainly write blistering articles about mutant abuse, but we also verbally chastise the mutants who attack the normals."
"That sounds logical, though I doubt everyone is happy about your moral standing and all," Scott added.
"Yes, there are a few dissenters and activists who picket us occasionally." "I like to think it doesn't go anywhere because we put out such a great paper, but more likely it is because we just aren't important enough."
"Did you start out as Editor or did you work your way up?" Jean asked.
"I was first hired as a language consultant, but I wrote a short story that was published by them and then I slowly climbed the ranks." Kurt smiled, "It is not as interesting as the circus was, but there is the better pay to consider."
"You were in the circus?" Scott asked, surprised.
"I was an acrobat for many years," Kurt said. "It was one of the few places where having a tail actually recommends you to an employer." "I-," he began, but cut himself off as Rogue came storming past the table and out the side door. Her face was deadly calm, but her eyes were seething with rage. Logan followed closely behind her, his eyes narrowed and his face set in a disapproving frown. Jean, Scott, Ororo, and Kurt looked after them, reluctantly deciding it was none of their affair. Ororo had long had her suspicions about those two; it looked as though tonight would settle something, though Storm wasn't exactly sure if it was for better or for worse. She sighed and wished them luck, turning back to her companions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marie left the club through the side door, entering the alley. She could hear Wolverine following her. "Leave me alone, Logan," Rogue said in a quiet but dangerous voice. She might as well have screamed it, for her voice carried exceptionally well in the silent alleyway and Logan's ears were very sharp.
"What, so now you aren't even going to talk to me about this?" Logan asked, apparently also angry.
"There is nothing to talk about, this is my business and you *will* stay out of it," Rogue said, her voice getting a bit louder and even more lethal.
"So your business is sucking the face off every guy five seconds after you meet him?" Logan asked scathingly.
"I will kiss anyone I see fit to, Logan, you will not tell me what to do!" "You don't have the right!" Rogue's eyes were blazing now and she was almost shaking with rage. "You think everyone doesn't know about your late night capers with those whores down in South-central?"
"First of all, I am not a student, and secondly, that wasn't a kiss, that was you giving him a free tonsillectomy!" Logan shouted. "It's disgusting, I really don't understand why you are acting out like this."
"Acting OUT!!!" Rogue yelled, her voice incredulous. "You talk about me as if I was a child who wants attention." "I am in college now, I'm freaking 21 for goodness sake!" "I am sick and tired of your attitude, Logan." "Maybe you missed me growing up, but everyone else hasn't!"
"Perhaps I treat you like a child because you are acting like one?" Logan said in a scornful tone.
Rogue got control of her voice after being rendered momentarily speechless by unshed tears of fury. "How dare you accuse me of childishness, Wolverine?" she said almost contemptuously. "What do you do every time life is too much for you to deal with?" She willed her words to injure him. "You run away!" "Very mature of you, oh I'm just aching to follow in your grown-up, adult footsteps," Rogue mocked.
"Marie-," Logan began in a calmer voice.
"Don't call me that," Rogue screamed, startling him slightly. "Stop trying to pretend that I'm the same person I was then!" "I'm not your biddable little groupie anymore, Logan," Rogue modulated her voice. "I've finally realized that you don't know best," she paused, "in fact, you don't know anything." "You don't even know what's happening under your nose!" With that she turned away from him and headed back inside.
"Mar-" Logan stopped himself, "Rogue where are you going?"
"To hand out some free tonsillectomies," Rogue said over her shoulder in a derisive, hurtful tone. She wanted, no she *needed*, him to feel as bad as she did. "Tell the others I'll find my own way home." And then she was gone.
Logan sighed, leaning against the side of the alleyway to do some thinking. He could always find someone to beat up, to discharge all this rage that was still in him. Some people could use themselves up screaming at others, but Wolverine had always had to do something physical to release his anger. He dismissed the idea. Something told him that pounding someone into a bloody pulp just wasn't going to work this time. He took a deep breath, taking in the scents around him. "Yep, totally alone," he thought sadly.
The truly depressing thing about the entire argument was that she had told the truth. Until the moment when she had turned around in the alley he had only ever really seen her in one way, the same teenage girl that he had found stowing away in his truck. She really had grown up, so how had he missed it? He drew further into himself, examining his actions over the years he had been with the X-Men. He had known she was getting older, he had noticed as she matured in thought and action and he had watched her become a valued member of the team. She had experience, intelligence, and a cool head. She was someone to be relied upon. Someone to be trusted, someone to be cared for.
"Wait as second?" he thought. "I care for her?" "Well, of course I care for her, she is a member of my team." He frowned, somehow this seemed different than mere team loyalty. In a way he kind of looked on Marie-"Rogue, call her Rogue," he told himself.-as a daughter. No, not as a daughter. That wasn't right, that was making Rogue less than what she was. It was demeaning to her, and to him, not to recognize her as she truly was. Before he could mend the gap between them he had to figure this out. He needed to know where he stood in relation to her before he could begin to understand what they were feeling.
"Is she a sister?" he asked himself. Another that did not fit. She was certainly not a mother. What did that leave? Friend, companion, confidant, lover? "Lover!?!" "Where did that come from?" He didn't think of Mar-Rogue like that. Did he?
Logan thought back carefully to just before Rogue had run out on him. He had been looking for her, wanting to talk to, listen to her, be near her. "There's nothing wrong with that," he told himself firmly. He had caught her scent, it was always light and airy yet it somehow gave him a heady feeling. He had followed it to a seemingly empty booth where he had found her kissing some guy with horns in a desperate way that made him feel..... Angry? Disgusted? "Jealous?" a little voice whispered. Wolverine sighed again, knowing the voice was right. He had hit the ugly, treacherous, unworthy emotion right on the head. When he had seen that boy with his Marie-HIS MARIE- he had just wanted to sink his claws in that gym-muscled punk's tender little throat. So he had feelings for Rogue...strong feelings for Rogue, and he had just gotten her more angry with him than she had ever been at anyone in her entire life. Man, he was an idiot.
"So I'm in love with Rogue," he was surprised when his mind did not skip around the word love. "I'm in love with a woman who basically told me to go screw myself, currently has a very good reason for hating my guts, and can suck my life out with the touch of her hand if she so chooses."
Freud would have a field day with this one.
Having reached an illogical, but nonetheless truthful, conclusion Logan left the alleyway. He figured he'd decide what to do about Rogue when the time came. Maybe she wouldn't love him, but maybe being his friend would no longer be as distasteful to her. Of course he'd have to apologize in the morning, after he made sure there were no witnesses around, and she'd probably make him beg. "Though all of a sudden that doesn't sound to unappealing..." He broke off the disgustingly cloying thought of enjoying the making up process. "Man, she has me so whipped," he thought, suddenly a bit depressed. He needed a drink. Badly. Wolverine went out for his quest for solace; it was going to be a long night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So I guess I had better take you home," Kurt said shyly.
"Yeah," Storm said, sorry that their evening was over. "I think it's past my bedtime."
Kurt smiled at her small joke. He helped her into her coat and they said good bye to Jean and Scott. Reaching the club's exit, Kurt opened the door for her and they walked to his car. Again he opened the car door and closed it after her, courteous to the end, and walked to the other side. On the way back to the School they talked of their plans for tomorrow. Kurt offered to pick up the food and meet her at a nearby park. He knew a beautiful spot and a picnic would be a perfect second date. Ororo had agreed and insisted on bringing the drinks, plates, utensils, and dessert. Kurt reluctantly allowed it after she pointed out it wasn't against the Code of Chivalry. Neither wanted to leave the other's company for a moment, but unfortunately they eventually arrived at their destination.
"I will see you tomorrow, Ororo," he said, his accent giving her name new contours. He reached for his seat buckle in order to get out and open her door for her.
"Kurt," Ororo said, gently touching his wrist, "you don't have to open my door all the time." "You're going to get me spoiled."
"I want to spoil you," Kurt said. He flashed her his usual charming smile, but the sincerity sparkled in his eyes. Ororo wondered how she could feel so much for this man she had barely met. She leaned over, bent her head carefully, and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss could technically be considered a good-bye kiss, it was at the end of the date, but the message Ororo was sending as she pressed herself more firmly against him was anything but a farewell. She could feel his hand fumbling for the seat belt buckle and she vaguely remembered unbuckling her own. She heard the catch give and she slid onto his lap with the ease of quiet desperation. She literally plunged herself into his mouth, pushing to get as close to him as possible. He hands caressed her back leisurely, never asking for more than she offered. She loved him for that. After awhile the kiss slowed, the desperation eased and she pulled back. Her lips were slightly swollen and she was a little dazed from the intensity of their connection. Kurt was a apparently having a similar reaction; his eyes were half shut, savoring the taste of her. It took a few seconds, but they finally recovered sufficiently to speak.
"That was-," Kurt stopped, at a loss for words to describe the emotions flowing through him.
"Incredible," Storm finished for him, giving him an appreciative look. "I hope I didn't hurt you," she told him, noticing his tail around her wrist. It seemed to curl around the first available thing whenever Kurt experienced any kind of strong sensation.
"Nein, you didn't," he assured her, shifting her to a more comfortable position. Her legs were stretched out across the length of the front seats and her back was against the driver's side door.
She looked a bit embarrassed when she saw the position she had apparently maneuvered herself into while under the influence of that kiss. "I guess I had better go in then," she said.
"I suppose you must leave me tonight," Kurt said, trying to look pitiful.
Ororo's laugh induced an almost weightless feeling on the blue mutant. "I hope you can survive without me," she told him.
"I will be terribly brave and bear it as best I can," he promised her. She carefully opened the door and removed herself from his lap. He stood and stretched to work out the kinks from sitting so long and then gallantly offered her his arm. When they reached the door Kurt leaned over and gave her a kiss as equally chaste as the one she had offered him in the club. He was just turning to go when Kitty Pryde fell straight through the front door and onto the steps.
"Oh, very funny, Jubilee," she called through the door and ignoring her teacher's presence. "If you've set anything of mine on fire I will take a blowtorch to your CD collection!"
The door suddenly opened to reveal Jubilee, her hands still spouting fireworks, "Oh come on, Kitty, can't you take a-" she cut herself off as she saw Ororo, "-joke?" she finished, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. "Uh, hi, Miss Munroe," Jubilee said.
"Jubilation Lee, I believe there are strict rules about using your powers on other students inside the building," Storm said, sounding threatening.
"Er, yes, Ma'am, we were just, um, performing a small experiment," Jubilee replied.
Kitty nodded, moving towards her friend, "An experiment which we are completely through with and will now go clean up," she added quickly. The two girls scampered off, apparently all was forgiven.
Ororo turned to Kurt, "Sorry about that," she said.
"Nein, it was good to see you in action," Kurt said. "Remind me not to tell you the horrible tricks I used to play on our tutor in the circus," Kurt said. He gave her a smile and said good-bye. Then he teleported to his car leaving behind a faint odor of brimstone. Ororo grinned as it dissipated and went to bed.
They headed back to the previous night's club, parking next to the familiar, nondescript gray Institute van. Ororo took Kurt's hand and they went inside. When they entered, the same annoyingly thumping music was already playing. As they made their way to a circular booth, Ororo glanced around for some sign of her friends. She caught Jean's eye and discreetly motioned to where they would be sitting. Kurt slid into the booth, following Ororo's example. She noticed he was careful about where he placed his tail, and she briefly wondered just how sensitive it was.
"Hmmm, that would put an interesting spin on ....things," she thought, curbing the giggle that threatened to spill out.
"So, mein Liebling, what shall we do until my dance?" he asked, his delightful accent making his moderately innocent words sound suggestively sinful.
"What do you want to do?" Ororo asked, leaning towards him, a teasing smile on her face.
He grinned, "I plead the fifth amendment."
"Handsome and clever?" Ororo asked, her smile widening as she continued to tease.
"And don't forget, completely irresistible," Kurt added, also leaning towards her.
Their lips only inches apart, Ororo was about to kiss him when the music suddenly switched to a slow ballad-like song. Kurt pulled back a centimeter, his eyes slightly dilated. "I believe you promised me a dance?" he asked, his voice slightly uneven.
"I believe you're right," Ororo said with a small sigh. She was disappointed that the kiss had been interrupted, but a slow dance would more than make up for it. She allowed him to lead her onto the dance floor and she put her arms around his neck. For a moment he looked almost startled, but he relaxed again almost instantaneously. If Ororo hadn't been looking exactly at him she would have missed it, she gave him a questioning look.
"I'm sorry," he said when he saw it, "Reflex, I am not used to women wanting to touch me," he said, a bit shamefaced at his previous reaction.
Ororo pulled herself closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. "You know," she said, her voice barely a whisper, "I like to touch you."
Kurt looked down at her, a strangely peaceful expression on his face. He leaned in and carefully kissed her. It was more gentle than the last time, pleasurable but not seeking anything other than comfort and quiet enjoyment. There was no sense of urgency and it continued even as they swayed to the light music. Occasionally they each took a sporadic breath, but mostly they just moved together and explored each other's mouths. Eventually the song ended and they broke apart, smiling almost shyly at each other. Kurt put an arm around her waist and led her back to the booth where Jean and Scott were now sitting.
"Hey, there you guys are," Jean said, looking up from the conversation as the newer couple took their seats.
"We were dancing," Ororo said, giving her companion a fond look. "Amongst other things," she added silently.
"Yeah, you guys look a little flushed," Scott said. Sweet guy though Scott was, Ororo couldn't help but be a little surprised when she detected no insinuation in his tone. "How was your dinner?"
"Fabulous," Ororo told them, "Kurt took me to Myron's."
"I love that place, you should try their lasagna!" Jean chimed in.
"I'll have to sometime," She replied.
"How about tomorrow, for lunch?" Kurt asked, a bit nervously though he hid it well with a charming smile.
Ororo's heart leapt at the opportunity to spend more time with him, "I'd love to," she told him honestly.
"Good, then I will pick you up around twelve," he said, hoping he didn't look as relieved as he felt.
"You've got yourself a date," she told him, giving him a chaste kiss on the lips.
When they broke away she pulled his arm around her and listened to Kurt talk with Jean and Scott. It was difficult to pay attention, as Kurt's tail was drawing what she was certain were unconscious patterns on her leg with his tail. She smiled, knowing he would be immensely embarrassed if she pointed it out to him. With a mysterious grin she leaned closer into Kurt and tried to stay abreast of the conversation.
"So, you two work with Ororo?" he asked.
"Yes, Scott's a teacher and I'm the resident physician," Jean replied.
"What about you," Scott asked.
"I work at a small Newspaper, The Provincial Herald, I'm the editor," he replied.
"Really?" Jean asked, that sounds exciting. "I'm assuming the paper is pro-mutant?" Jean asked curiously.
"Well, they aren't anti-mutant, but mostly we try to stay neutral," Kurt replied. "We certainly write blistering articles about mutant abuse, but we also verbally chastise the mutants who attack the normals."
"That sounds logical, though I doubt everyone is happy about your moral standing and all," Scott added.
"Yes, there are a few dissenters and activists who picket us occasionally." "I like to think it doesn't go anywhere because we put out such a great paper, but more likely it is because we just aren't important enough."
"Did you start out as Editor or did you work your way up?" Jean asked.
"I was first hired as a language consultant, but I wrote a short story that was published by them and then I slowly climbed the ranks." Kurt smiled, "It is not as interesting as the circus was, but there is the better pay to consider."
"You were in the circus?" Scott asked, surprised.
"I was an acrobat for many years," Kurt said. "It was one of the few places where having a tail actually recommends you to an employer." "I-," he began, but cut himself off as Rogue came storming past the table and out the side door. Her face was deadly calm, but her eyes were seething with rage. Logan followed closely behind her, his eyes narrowed and his face set in a disapproving frown. Jean, Scott, Ororo, and Kurt looked after them, reluctantly deciding it was none of their affair. Ororo had long had her suspicions about those two; it looked as though tonight would settle something, though Storm wasn't exactly sure if it was for better or for worse. She sighed and wished them luck, turning back to her companions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Marie left the club through the side door, entering the alley. She could hear Wolverine following her. "Leave me alone, Logan," Rogue said in a quiet but dangerous voice. She might as well have screamed it, for her voice carried exceptionally well in the silent alleyway and Logan's ears were very sharp.
"What, so now you aren't even going to talk to me about this?" Logan asked, apparently also angry.
"There is nothing to talk about, this is my business and you *will* stay out of it," Rogue said, her voice getting a bit louder and even more lethal.
"So your business is sucking the face off every guy five seconds after you meet him?" Logan asked scathingly.
"I will kiss anyone I see fit to, Logan, you will not tell me what to do!" "You don't have the right!" Rogue's eyes were blazing now and she was almost shaking with rage. "You think everyone doesn't know about your late night capers with those whores down in South-central?"
"First of all, I am not a student, and secondly, that wasn't a kiss, that was you giving him a free tonsillectomy!" Logan shouted. "It's disgusting, I really don't understand why you are acting out like this."
"Acting OUT!!!" Rogue yelled, her voice incredulous. "You talk about me as if I was a child who wants attention." "I am in college now, I'm freaking 21 for goodness sake!" "I am sick and tired of your attitude, Logan." "Maybe you missed me growing up, but everyone else hasn't!"
"Perhaps I treat you like a child because you are acting like one?" Logan said in a scornful tone.
Rogue got control of her voice after being rendered momentarily speechless by unshed tears of fury. "How dare you accuse me of childishness, Wolverine?" she said almost contemptuously. "What do you do every time life is too much for you to deal with?" She willed her words to injure him. "You run away!" "Very mature of you, oh I'm just aching to follow in your grown-up, adult footsteps," Rogue mocked.
"Marie-," Logan began in a calmer voice.
"Don't call me that," Rogue screamed, startling him slightly. "Stop trying to pretend that I'm the same person I was then!" "I'm not your biddable little groupie anymore, Logan," Rogue modulated her voice. "I've finally realized that you don't know best," she paused, "in fact, you don't know anything." "You don't even know what's happening under your nose!" With that she turned away from him and headed back inside.
"Mar-" Logan stopped himself, "Rogue where are you going?"
"To hand out some free tonsillectomies," Rogue said over her shoulder in a derisive, hurtful tone. She wanted, no she *needed*, him to feel as bad as she did. "Tell the others I'll find my own way home." And then she was gone.
Logan sighed, leaning against the side of the alleyway to do some thinking. He could always find someone to beat up, to discharge all this rage that was still in him. Some people could use themselves up screaming at others, but Wolverine had always had to do something physical to release his anger. He dismissed the idea. Something told him that pounding someone into a bloody pulp just wasn't going to work this time. He took a deep breath, taking in the scents around him. "Yep, totally alone," he thought sadly.
The truly depressing thing about the entire argument was that she had told the truth. Until the moment when she had turned around in the alley he had only ever really seen her in one way, the same teenage girl that he had found stowing away in his truck. She really had grown up, so how had he missed it? He drew further into himself, examining his actions over the years he had been with the X-Men. He had known she was getting older, he had noticed as she matured in thought and action and he had watched her become a valued member of the team. She had experience, intelligence, and a cool head. She was someone to be relied upon. Someone to be trusted, someone to be cared for.
"Wait as second?" he thought. "I care for her?" "Well, of course I care for her, she is a member of my team." He frowned, somehow this seemed different than mere team loyalty. In a way he kind of looked on Marie-"Rogue, call her Rogue," he told himself.-as a daughter. No, not as a daughter. That wasn't right, that was making Rogue less than what she was. It was demeaning to her, and to him, not to recognize her as she truly was. Before he could mend the gap between them he had to figure this out. He needed to know where he stood in relation to her before he could begin to understand what they were feeling.
"Is she a sister?" he asked himself. Another that did not fit. She was certainly not a mother. What did that leave? Friend, companion, confidant, lover? "Lover!?!" "Where did that come from?" He didn't think of Mar-Rogue like that. Did he?
Logan thought back carefully to just before Rogue had run out on him. He had been looking for her, wanting to talk to, listen to her, be near her. "There's nothing wrong with that," he told himself firmly. He had caught her scent, it was always light and airy yet it somehow gave him a heady feeling. He had followed it to a seemingly empty booth where he had found her kissing some guy with horns in a desperate way that made him feel..... Angry? Disgusted? "Jealous?" a little voice whispered. Wolverine sighed again, knowing the voice was right. He had hit the ugly, treacherous, unworthy emotion right on the head. When he had seen that boy with his Marie-HIS MARIE- he had just wanted to sink his claws in that gym-muscled punk's tender little throat. So he had feelings for Rogue...strong feelings for Rogue, and he had just gotten her more angry with him than she had ever been at anyone in her entire life. Man, he was an idiot.
"So I'm in love with Rogue," he was surprised when his mind did not skip around the word love. "I'm in love with a woman who basically told me to go screw myself, currently has a very good reason for hating my guts, and can suck my life out with the touch of her hand if she so chooses."
Freud would have a field day with this one.
Having reached an illogical, but nonetheless truthful, conclusion Logan left the alleyway. He figured he'd decide what to do about Rogue when the time came. Maybe she wouldn't love him, but maybe being his friend would no longer be as distasteful to her. Of course he'd have to apologize in the morning, after he made sure there were no witnesses around, and she'd probably make him beg. "Though all of a sudden that doesn't sound to unappealing..." He broke off the disgustingly cloying thought of enjoying the making up process. "Man, she has me so whipped," he thought, suddenly a bit depressed. He needed a drink. Badly. Wolverine went out for his quest for solace; it was going to be a long night.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So I guess I had better take you home," Kurt said shyly.
"Yeah," Storm said, sorry that their evening was over. "I think it's past my bedtime."
Kurt smiled at her small joke. He helped her into her coat and they said good bye to Jean and Scott. Reaching the club's exit, Kurt opened the door for her and they walked to his car. Again he opened the car door and closed it after her, courteous to the end, and walked to the other side. On the way back to the School they talked of their plans for tomorrow. Kurt offered to pick up the food and meet her at a nearby park. He knew a beautiful spot and a picnic would be a perfect second date. Ororo had agreed and insisted on bringing the drinks, plates, utensils, and dessert. Kurt reluctantly allowed it after she pointed out it wasn't against the Code of Chivalry. Neither wanted to leave the other's company for a moment, but unfortunately they eventually arrived at their destination.
"I will see you tomorrow, Ororo," he said, his accent giving her name new contours. He reached for his seat buckle in order to get out and open her door for her.
"Kurt," Ororo said, gently touching his wrist, "you don't have to open my door all the time." "You're going to get me spoiled."
"I want to spoil you," Kurt said. He flashed her his usual charming smile, but the sincerity sparkled in his eyes. Ororo wondered how she could feel so much for this man she had barely met. She leaned over, bent her head carefully, and pressed her lips against his.
The kiss could technically be considered a good-bye kiss, it was at the end of the date, but the message Ororo was sending as she pressed herself more firmly against him was anything but a farewell. She could feel his hand fumbling for the seat belt buckle and she vaguely remembered unbuckling her own. She heard the catch give and she slid onto his lap with the ease of quiet desperation. She literally plunged herself into his mouth, pushing to get as close to him as possible. He hands caressed her back leisurely, never asking for more than she offered. She loved him for that. After awhile the kiss slowed, the desperation eased and she pulled back. Her lips were slightly swollen and she was a little dazed from the intensity of their connection. Kurt was a apparently having a similar reaction; his eyes were half shut, savoring the taste of her. It took a few seconds, but they finally recovered sufficiently to speak.
"That was-," Kurt stopped, at a loss for words to describe the emotions flowing through him.
"Incredible," Storm finished for him, giving him an appreciative look. "I hope I didn't hurt you," she told him, noticing his tail around her wrist. It seemed to curl around the first available thing whenever Kurt experienced any kind of strong sensation.
"Nein, you didn't," he assured her, shifting her to a more comfortable position. Her legs were stretched out across the length of the front seats and her back was against the driver's side door.
She looked a bit embarrassed when she saw the position she had apparently maneuvered herself into while under the influence of that kiss. "I guess I had better go in then," she said.
"I suppose you must leave me tonight," Kurt said, trying to look pitiful.
Ororo's laugh induced an almost weightless feeling on the blue mutant. "I hope you can survive without me," she told him.
"I will be terribly brave and bear it as best I can," he promised her. She carefully opened the door and removed herself from his lap. He stood and stretched to work out the kinks from sitting so long and then gallantly offered her his arm. When they reached the door Kurt leaned over and gave her a kiss as equally chaste as the one she had offered him in the club. He was just turning to go when Kitty Pryde fell straight through the front door and onto the steps.
"Oh, very funny, Jubilee," she called through the door and ignoring her teacher's presence. "If you've set anything of mine on fire I will take a blowtorch to your CD collection!"
The door suddenly opened to reveal Jubilee, her hands still spouting fireworks, "Oh come on, Kitty, can't you take a-" she cut herself off as she saw Ororo, "-joke?" she finished, suddenly looking very uncomfortable. "Uh, hi, Miss Munroe," Jubilee said.
"Jubilation Lee, I believe there are strict rules about using your powers on other students inside the building," Storm said, sounding threatening.
"Er, yes, Ma'am, we were just, um, performing a small experiment," Jubilee replied.
Kitty nodded, moving towards her friend, "An experiment which we are completely through with and will now go clean up," she added quickly. The two girls scampered off, apparently all was forgiven.
Ororo turned to Kurt, "Sorry about that," she said.
"Nein, it was good to see you in action," Kurt said. "Remind me not to tell you the horrible tricks I used to play on our tutor in the circus," Kurt said. He gave her a smile and said good-bye. Then he teleported to his car leaving behind a faint odor of brimstone. Ororo grinned as it dissipated and went to bed.