Blix: Everyone deserves a break before the real trouble begins. Lol.
Snoob: Thanks! I almost didn't leave it in.
Beanie: Lol. Yeah, I've heard it – from my own friends! Lol. Anyway, I don't think I deserve the "O.B. fangirl squeal" – that's like…WHOA! Look out! Here comes the stampede! Lol.
Chaos: I know: my mouth is watering just thinking about it!
Wapps: Why I'm glad you think this has a "great plot" because a lot of FF.net stories don't, but…I'm addicted to them anyway. Put Logan and Rogue in a romance story and I can't help but read it. Lol.
Hip-Ban: I'll try and see what I can do about both of your requests, but…no promises, my friend.
Sabre: Thanks for the review!
Pine: But of course! Logan can't deny his growing attraction and – later – feelings for Marie. I just won't have it! Not in my story. He MUST do as I say and I demand that he falls in love. Lol.
Erica/Blue: The other man: William Snow (Lord John Roxton from The Lost World TV series). He's an Australian like Hugh Jackman. drools Them Australians sure are hot! Anyway, nope, Jean didn't die. She becomes the Phoenix.
L: Ooo, Hugh Jackman…god, he's one sexy man. Lol.
Chapter Eleven
Learning More
Rogue continued to strengthen her body and power over the course of the next three days. She slowly immersed herself with the others, even considered taking up a teaching job as a Criminal Justice/Law instructor. Yet, she still grew uncomfortable around people after a couple hours so, the professor felt it best that she interact a little more before placing her in a classroom.
Marie was sitting out on the stone patio, sipping a strawberry iced tea as she glanced over the Blackbird's electrical manual. Storm had handed it to her with a smile, saying that she'd heard that Cyclops was going to be giving her a pop quiz. The weather goddess had taken pity on Marie, knowing that Scott's pop quizzes were brutal. So, she'd slipped her the book and Marie had spent the last two hours studying.
She smelled the whiff of smoke before she felt his presence. She grinned, flipping the page over. "I would warn you of lung cancer, but I suppose that's not a problem for you."
He grunted, coming to stand beside her, squinting out over the lavish garden.
Marie, still skimming the viciously mind-numbing material, asked: "Was there something you wanted, Logan?"
He sucked in his poison, his slanted eyes flicking down towards her. "Yeah…a smoke." He jerked his head towards the mansion. "Can't enjoy the simple pleasures of life in there."
Marie hummed a noise of understanding. Flipping the page, she stifled a large yawn behind her glass. "Why do you stay?"
Logan peered down at her: his amber-hazel eyes always yielding that underlining of distrust and caution. "They're all right," he replied. "For geeks, anyway."
Marie giggled a non-girly giggle and set the manual aside, giving the mysterious man her full attention. "What's the real reason?"
Logan sniffed, taking a drag of his cigar before dropping it to the ground and stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. "It's either them or the Brotherhood. And I for one don't really give a shit either way. But I've got respect for the professor. He's a good man."
"I was in the Brotherhood briefly," Marie admitted, avoiding Logan's penetrating and suspicious eyes. "I mean, real briefly. I met this woman, Raven Darkholme, when I was a teenager. She tried talking me into the whole 'turn the humans into mutants' spiel. I bought it for a while, but then I found out what her leader, Eric, really wanted me for."
Logan nodded. "Use your power to operate his machine."
Marie's green eyes flashed up. "You know about that?"
Logan shrugged, sitting down on the opposite end of the bench. "I wasn't a X-man at the time, but I've heard the others discuss it once or twice. They managed to kick Magneto's ass into jail before he could use his machine."
Marie sat back, nibbling on her lower lip. "I never met him. I always figured that sense Raven never came looking for me, that they didn't need me. I guess she didn't bother because without Eric, there was no way to transfer power."
"Ah, a pleasure to see you, ma chere," a cheery voice called out.
Marie rolled her eyes and looked over at the French doors as Remy strolled out, his ever-present trench coat flapping behind him. "Hello, Remy," she said as though talking to a child.
"Ma chere," the Cajun grabbed his chest above his heart. "You wound Gambit with you not caring. Do you not know that Gambit loves you? Gambit will not be able to handle your rejections much longer."
Marie laughed, her voice sweet and beautiful as it filtered through the air. "I'm sorry, Remy, but I just don't love you. Now who are you going out with tonight?"
"Gambit go out with no one but his chere," he said, taking a bow and extending his hand.
Marie rolled her eyes and waved him off. "Go, or you'll be late. Whoever she is I doubt she'll appreciate waiting."
"All les femmes wait for Gambit. All but you, ma chere."
"Go," Marie ordered lightheartedly, pointing towards the stone steps. "Beat it before I have Logan beat you."
"Gambit can take on the wolf," Remy boasted
Logan glared at him. "Watch it, swamp rat."
"Hey, hey," Marie interjected. "Play nice, boys." She gave Gambit a scolding look. "Go, Remy. I promise to watch a movie with you tonight if you're not too late."
"Deal," Gambit exclaimed triumphantly, thrilled that he'd won this round. It had become a game between Marie and himself: how many times could he annoy her to the point of caving in and spending time with him.
Marie watched Gambit dash away, amazed that a man like him existed. Once he was fully out of sight, she turned back to Logan, displeased to see that he was lighting another cigar. "So, how's Keira?"
"How the hell would I know? I don't keep taps on the kid."
Marie snorted. "Yeah, sure. You follow her around like one of the president's top-secret bodyguards. And don't you give me that look. Face it, Keira's your weak spot. And she adores you – God knows why," she teased.
Logan sniffed, scratched his cheek, and sucked on his cigar. "Damn kids," he grumbled. He glanced her way with his hardened eyes. "She's a pest; always wanting to follow me around, but…all the other little brats ignore her and I…she…" he shook his head.
"You feel sorry for her," Marie spoke softly. "She's a sad and lonely girl who sees death. It's good that she has someone to look up to: someone willing to be her friend."
His cigar clutched between his pointer and middle finger, Logan waved his hand at her. "I ain't her damn friend."
"That's too bad. A little girl like her really needs a friend."
Logan opened his mouth and then closed it. Damn this woman, he thought. Too hell with her. He got up and marched away, shouting over his shoulder: "You got a lesson in one hour."
End Chapter Eleven
Raven "Mystique" Darkholme is the right name, right? And, no, I haven't forgotten about Marie's approaching death.
