Disclaimer: A whole host of new characters are mine. Please don't use them. Of course, the X-Men and other such characters involved in the comic, books and the movie belong to Marvel, and new ones are mine. Also the plot is my own.
Throughout story:
" " = Speech
' ' = Thoughts
^ ^ = Telepath
Jenny: You will all find out what's happening with the three younger X-Men in a few chapters, I want to get Logan and Aurora off on their trip first. :) and they will certainly become closer in this fic.. but I don't want to rush things.. they both reserved characters when it comes to their emotions. It would be unnatural for one to blurt it out. They might never even say it.. just expression is silently.
But we'll see. ;)
And more characters will be added soon, give me chance :P
Blix: Don't like Scott much do ya? :P
Wolf: You cannot glomp Wolverine! *pulls him away and throws him back into the chapter!* Stay! I need to you in this chapter. *points a finger at Wolverine*
Chapter 36The main door of Xavier Manor quietly slid open and was promptly shut as two figures sprinted down the driveway in the darkest hour. The gate had been unlocked for their departure and the two mutants slipped through before continuing their speedy path down the country lane.
A few windows of the Manor glowed brightly in the darkness and from the radiant living room window Charles saw them leave. He turned from the window slowly in his chair, satisfied of their safe departure.
The two metal mutants came upon Heathstead village a short while later and proceeded across the dark streets that were only lit faintly by a few sparsely placed streetlights. But the lack of light was good; they could keep in the shadows as they travelled.
"Right.. so we go to the end of this road.. right through the village till we reach the signposts?" Asked Aurora quietly, looking to Logan as they pair crossed over the road.
Logan nodded gently, "Yes.." He said quietly, "That's what Sora told me."
"What time is it now? I forgot to change my watch when I came over here." Said Aurora softly.
"Me too.."
"Great.."
Aurora then suddenly froze and dived into the shadows. Logan looked around, bewildered to her sudden leap to concealment. He couldn't see her anywhere. He felt a hand on his shoulder suddenly and he was dragged back behind a post box.
"What you doin'?" Muttered Logan, scrambling to face her.
"There's a guy stood opposite the street."
"At this hour?" Logan said softly, a brow rising. He then lifted his head to peer round the red coated pillar and he saw a bulky figure outside the large building from before. The pub.
Logan inhaled swiftly at the cool night air and smirked, nudging Aurora, "It's Michael."
"Michael?" Repeated Aurora.
Logan then stood up to his feet and ran across the road to the man from earlier. Aurora gasped and tried to pull him back, but her fingers slipped down the back of his jacket. Missed.
"Hey! Michael!" Called Logan in a hushed voice, running across the road, waving a hand.
The dark figure turned from the pub doorway, he was closing up for the night, "Logan?"
Logan stopped beside him, "Yeah." He said with a smirk.
"The pub's closed now mate." Said Michael with a grin, "No beer for you."
Logan shook his head slowly, "No.. no.. I don't want a beer."
Michael then spotted the backpack on his shoulders and raised a brow "Where you off to?"
"London."
"Y' walkin'?!" Michael cried, taken aback by the mutant's intentions.
Logan nodded slowly; he then turned, beckoning Aurora over. She ran across the road silently, blinking shyly at the man, "Hey.."
"Another American!" Exclaimed Michael, "Why are y' both headin' down to London on foot? Y' crazy."
"Logan, who is this guy?" Asked Aurora cautiously.
"It's alright. He's Michael, another mutant." Explained Logan hurriedly.
Aurora blinked and nodded slowly, "Alright."
Michael beckoned them to the door, "Come inside a minute."
"But we've got to get down to London!"
"I want to help you." Said Michael softly, walking in through the door.
Aurora sighed quietly, following Logan inside.
A few lights now dimly lit the pub, it was empty of people. Logan followed Michael to a seat, stepping calmly over the remains of the broken table and the blood-stained floor.
Aurora gasped quietly staring at the corner of destruction, "What's happened in here?"
Logan shrugged gently, "Just got in a small fight earlier, it was nothing."
Michael grinned, "Nothing? You got 'im good and proper!"
Aurora raised a brow slowly.
"Come and sit down Aurora." Said Logan, nudging a stool at her.
Aurora dropped down impatiently, waiting.
"You're headin' down to London you say?" Said Michael quietly, listening to them intently.
Logan nodded, "Yes.. big problem down in London with mutants. We gotta go and break in somewhere"
Michael's brow rose, "Woah, that's impressive. You workin' for some gang or somethin'?"
Aurora spoke up, "We're part of a team from America, we came across to Britain when our school was destroyed by humans."
"School?"
"Yes.. Xavier's School for the Gifted."
"Oh.. them that own the Manor?"
"Yes, a relation.. but we ain't got time talk about it now." Said Logan shaking his head.
"Sorry Logan." Said Michael softly nodding, "But if you're headin' down that way.. I'm guessin' you could do with some help. And seeing as it's such an important operation.."
"Yes.. we'll be saving everyone's lives." Said Aurora coolly.
"If y'want some transport, I can provide you with me bike.. on the conditions y' bring it back."
"You'd do that?" Said Logan softly, surprised by his generous offer.
"Aye.. you need to get down London sharpish. I've seen all the funny business on the news.."
Logan now outstretched his palm, "If you ever need any help.. go up to the Manor and tell them Wolverine sent you."
"The Manor?"
"Yes, it's full of mutants."
"It is?!"
"Yeah."
"The ghost up there? Is she a mutant?"
"Yup."
Michael now grinned, taking Logan's hand and shaking it, "Thanks mate.. Wolverine?"
Logan nodded.
"Explains a lot" Said Michael with smirk.
Michael now stood to his feet, passing the Wolverine a key on a small chain, "Here – .. Logan?"
Logan had stood but froze, his eyes slowly moving as he sniffed at the air.
"Logan? Aurora?"
Aurora slipped off her chair and sunk to the floor gently, her clothes gently rustling as a silky grey coat enveloped the attire's material. A tail lightly lashed behind the animal as a small cat developed. Aurora then sprinted out across the carpet, peering through the door. She then stepped back and made a loud mew to Logan.
"Logan?" Repeated Michael, his eyes on Aurora however .. she'd just turned into a cat..
Logan said nothing; he just sniffed at the air swiftly, his highly tuned ears flinching to a slight noise outside. With a sharp hiss his claws ripped out of bare knuckles. Michael staggered back, eyes staring at these weapons out of the Wolverine's fists.
"Blimey!" Announced Michael, still holding out his bike keys.
Aurora suddenly make a terrified screech of a mew, she had disappeared from the open doorway.
Logan gasped and he then dived across the pub, his body flinging out into the door. He raged round the corner of the doorway, ready to claw through whoever had grabbed Aurora. Logan staggered onto the dark street, glaring ahead at the dark bush. Aurora suddenly rolled out of the foliage, her grey form looking a little confused by the toing and froing.
Logan roared and leapt over Aurora and into the bush, ready to impale the hiding persons. He landed amongst the leaves with a rustle, and his claws met nothing.. they had got away.
Logan snorted at the failure and strode out of the bush, a few scratches had marked his face from the sharp bush, he grunted, looking to Aurora who had now stepped up off the floor in her usual form, "I don't think they knew who I was." She said softly, lightly panting.
"But who were they?" Asked Michael, who was now stood at the door, face in shock.
Logan shook his head, his untidy mane of hair flicking strands lightly across his forehead, "They've masked their scent."
"So they must know it's us.." Said Aurora softly, staring at the large green woodland at the end of the village.
Logan frowned, "I don't understand who it could be.. they didn't hurt you or anything.."
"Maybe there were just trying to find us? Trying to discover if it were us?"
"Maybe.."
"They were on foot.. they might have left the wood now.."
Instinctively the three looked out across the dark street, trying to pinpoint any figures. None were there.
"Do you think they could be following us down to London?"
"Well.. if they are.. we'll be meeting with them again.." Said Logan softly.
"You better get goin'! Here!" Michael chucked the keys to Logan.
Logan nodded and the pair turned and began running to were a gleaming off-roader bike sat in padlock. Logan brought his claws over the chains that kept the bike firmly to the fence.
Michael made a loud wince as Logan's claws narrowly missed the paintwork, "Look after her!" Michael called as the pair straddled over the bike, Logan at the handles. Aurora turned and quickly fastened their backpacks to the small wire carrier.
Logan tossed the bike helmet to Michael who staggered off the doorstep in order to catch it.
"Hey! You can't ride without helmets!"
Logan smirked, his eyes glinting at Michael, "We can."
Michael's eyes dawned upon the few bleeding scratches on Logan's faces that were fading away to original flesh.
Logan revved the engine mightily, a smirk on his face as the bike roared majestically before he speeded off down the road, the head light springing to life.
Michael ran out of the doorway, waving them off, "Good luck!!" He called.
Aurora turned her head as the bike roared down the lane; she waved to Michael as he shrinked as they travelled. Her grey eyes watched him till he was no more than a blur, her long black hair waving wildly with the blowing wind and speed. She turned her head back to Logan, her arms around his sturdy upper torso, holding onto him tightly. Logan sent the bike off the road and through a large bush. Aurora made a faint gasp at the sudden jolt of the bike leaving the road and across the rough terrain of the woodland.. Aurora saw the flash of a signpost on the road they had left, pointing the M1 motorway in their current direction. The bike roared across the dark terrain, hiding the mutants as the bike travelled across muddy paths amongst dark trees and harrowing shadows towards London.
***
They're off!
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