Disclaimer: X-Men characters aren't mine. Leo and Ty are mine and no one else's.
Warnings: This story contains spanking scenes. If that bothers you then please don't read.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: ~ ~ are flashbacks
* * are telepath thoughts
" " are actual words
' ' are private thoughts
\\ \\ are dreams
Chapter 3 Turning over the Reigns...or Maybe not
Leo picked up the two duffle bags from the sidecar. He turned to head back inside, but then looked back at the motorcycle longingly. He knew Ty had the keys, but he jumped on the bike anyways and pretended to ride it.
The boy had been playing on his brother's motorcycle for ten minutes, oblivious to everything around him. Suddenly a heavy hand came down on his shoulder. Leo froze and began to mentally scream to his brother. *Ty help me! Someone's behind me and I'm afraid to move!*
Ty jumped as the blast hit him. He ran to Scott's window and looked out. Scott jumped up after Ty and asked, " What's wrong? "
" Someone's with Leo. Do you know who that is? " He asked pointing at the figure standing behind his brother. Scott looked out, then let out a sigh of relief and laughed. " Relax, it's just Logan. He won't hurt him. Tell him it's okay. "
" Who are you runt? " Came the gruff voice behind him. Leo stiffened at the remark and was no longer scared, he was angry. Whoever it was behind him had just insulted his size.
Ty ran outside at that moment and over to his brother. " It's okay Leo. " He told him, putting a hand on his arm. He looked at the man Scott called Logan and his eyes widened a bit. This did not look like somebody he wanted to have angry with him. He put his hand out and said, " Hi my name is Ty and this is Leo. We arrived here a little while ago. "
Logan looked at the older boy who had just come running from the house. He had felt the younger child stiffen, when he called him a runt, but when the older boy touched the child, he had felt the kid relax. When Ty introduced himself and Leo and put out a hand to shake, Logan raised an eyebrow, then chuckled and shook Ty's hand.
" Hey yourself. Name's Logan, you let the kid here ride by himself a lot? " He asked teasingly. Ty smiled and said, " No sir, not without these. " He pulled the keys out of his pocket and jingled them a bit.
Logan smiled and said, " Well kid, if you two are stickin' around, we'd better get this bike of yours into the garage. We don't want anyone taking off with it. "
Leo scowled and got off the bike. He stood near his brother and glared at the man who called him a runt. Ty saw the glare and thumped the boy lightly on the top of his head. " Knock it off Lionheart. He didn't do anything to you. " Ty scolded.
" He called me a runt. I can't help that I'm small. I am eleven ya know. " Leo grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest.
" I call everyone a runt kid. I wasn't referring to your size. " Logan said, apologizing in his own way. Ty turned to his brother, lifted the boy's chin and said, " Lionheart, take the bags up to our room and stay there. Scott's in the kitchen if you aren't sure where the room is. We're going to have a talk when I get up there. "
Logan arched an eyebrow as he watched Leo nod quickly and bolt back to the mansion with the bags. He looked at Ty, after Leo left, and asked, " Never seen a kid listen like that before, you sure you ain't his father. "
Ty caught the teasing tone at the end, smiled and said, " I'm sure. I've practically raised Leo since he was a baby." He closed his eyes to the memory, the opened them, looked at Logan and said, " I guess we'd better get my bike in the garage. "
Noticing that the kid was trying to avoid the subject, Logan nodded and said, " Sure kid. I gotta say though, you've got pretty good manners for a teenager. "
A blush claimed Ty's cheeks and he ducked his head as he said, " I'm trying to teach him to be more respectful sir. I apologize for his rudeness. " Logan sighed, placed a hand under Ty's chin and gently forced his head up. Ty kept his eyes down. He felt bad that Leo had already caused problems.
" Ty, look at me. " Logan gently ordered. Ty slowly looked at the man before him, expecting to see anger and disappointment and was surprised to see compassion and understanding.
The surprised look in the boy's icy blue eyes had Logan smiling. " Ty, don't be hard on yourself. I'm sure your manners weren't all that great at Leo's age. He'll learn and you don't have to call me sir, either. Just call me Logan. "
Ty looked at him trying to decide if Logan really meant what he was saying or not. When Logan moved his hand from Ty's chin and went to place it on the teen's shoulder, Ty couldn't help but flinch. He backed up out of Logan's reach, his eyes wide with fear. " I...I'm sorry I didn't mean to back away. " Ty said softly, stepping towards Logan. He clenched his eyes and fists and waited for the blow he thought he was going to receive.
" Hey, open your eyes. I ain't gonna hit ya. " Logan told him calmly, putting a hand on Ty's shoulder. Ty flinched at the touch, and opened his eyes. " I moved away from you though. " He said, unsure of what to expect.
" It's okay, you did it because you're scared. You don't have to be scared here. We don't go around hitting kids whenever it suits us. You might get your backside warmed when ya screw up, but as long as ya keep your nose clean, you don't have to worry about that either. " Logan told him. He brushed a strand of hair out of Ty's face.
The small gesture had Ty's eyes filling with tears. Compassion being shown towards him was something new. Logan used his thumb to wipe away a stray tear, then pulled Ty into a hug.
Ty broke into sobs against Logan's neck. " Hey, take it easy. It's gonna be okay. " Logan said as he cupped the back of Ty's neck with his free hand and rubbed it lightly.
The door of the garage burst open a minute later and Leo stood there, his face full of anger and concern. " What did you do to my brother? " He growled.
Logan thought he saw Leo's eyes turn golden for a minute, the figured it was the lighting, when he saw they were the same piercing blue. He was about to speak, when he felt Ty began to straighten up. He let him stand and shifted his hand from Ty's neck to his shoulder, as Ty turned around.
" Leo, it's okay. I'm fine." Ty reassured his brother.
" You're crying though, and there's only one reason why you do that. " Leo stated, then glared at Logan.
" No, Leo. That didn't happen. I'm fine really. Go on back to our room. I'll be up to talk to you soon. " Leo thought for a moment then nodded and left the garage.
When Leo was gone, Ty turned back around to face Logan. "I...uh...uhm...well...hmm." Ty tried to speak but, he couldn't make his mouth speak the words he had in his heart. He looked down a moment, trying to gather his thoughts. ' Man, why is this so hard for me. I'm always good at talking to people. When it's not about me. '
That last thought shocked Ty and caused him to utter a soft, "Oh." Logan looked at him, gave him a gentle shake and asked, " Hey Ty, you alright?"
Ty looked up and stared at Logan a moment, then nodded and said, " Yeah, I was just thinking about something. I guess I should go and talk to Leo. " He turned to go, when he was halted by the hand still on his shoulder. Ty turned a bit and stared at Logan over his shoulder.
Logan looked at the teen before him, and tried to think of the right words to say. " Ty, you have to let go. I know you want to be in charge of Leo still, but you have to hand the job over to the adults now. " Ty stiffened under his hand, and Logan knew immediately that he had said something wrong.
" I am going to talk to my brother. " Ty stated angrily and began to walk to the door that led into the mansion. He half expected to be grabbed and beaten for his rudeness. Truth was Ty felt bad for the way he spoke to Logan, but he felt the need to be with his brother at the moment. He opened the door and found himself in the kitchen. He headed to the room he and his brother shared.
Logan's first instinct was to grab the kid and try to explain again, but he remembered how Ty had reacted to his sudden movement earlier. He let him go, for now, and headed to the study.
Charles looked up slightly when Logan entered, then went back to the book he was reading. Logan walked over to the large picture window and stood there a few moments. He pulled a cigar out and went to light it, when Charles spoke. " Logan, I would appreciate it if you didn't smoke that thing in here. "
The scent of cigar smoke filled the room a second later. Charles sighed and closed the book. " I assume things did not go well with Tyler. Scott told me you were back. "
" I said the wrong thing, either that or I said it the wrong way. I told the kid it was time to step down as his brother's parent. " Logan told him, as he turned around to face Charles.
" Where is he now? " Charles asked. He knew that the issue would be a difficult one and had wanted to address it carefully.
" He said he was going to talk to his brother. I'm guessing they're in their room. I would've stopped him, but I didn't want to scare him again. " Logan told him, before taking another puff of his cigar.
" I could feel his fear in here. I don't think the boy knows how strong he can project things. I will have to set up a training session with him as soon as possible. Now about our current situation, maybe you'd better tell me everything that happened that led to him going to his room. " Logan nodded, sat on the couch and told Charles what happened.
Ty stood outside the door to his room. He was debating on going back downstairs and apologizing to Logan, before talking to Leo. The door to the room opened, breaking Ty from his trance. He looked down and saw Leo staring at him puzzled.
" What's wrong Ty? " Leo asked, touching his brother's arm. Ty smiled, ruffled the smaller boy's hair and guided him back into their room. He closed the door and said, " We have a problem Lionheart. They want me to stop taking care of you and let them take charge. I..."
Ty tried to get the rest of what he wanted to say out, but Leo jumped in. " NO! I won't listen to them Ty! I won't! " He screamed, his eyes turned to gold as tears streamed from them. Ty caught him in a hug and held him.
" Shhh, Leo settle down, I'm not going to let that happen. It's going to be okay. I promise. " Ty softly said to the sobbing child. He sat on his bed and stroked his brother's hair, hoping his words had gotten through.
" You really mean it Ty? You won't let them ? " Leo asked still sniffling into his brother's chest.
Ty held his brother away from him and lifted his chin, glad to see they were icy blue again. " Leo, have you ever known me to break a promise to you? "
Leo shook his head, then was pulled into a warm embrace by his brother. " And I never will Leo. Never." Ty whispered softly.