VOTE: Who wants a Romance and who doesn't? I won't write Chapter Four until I get enough responses to get a feel for what the majority wants.
Chapter Three
The Break-Up
Part One
Weeks had slipped away since their bounding conversation about children and Logan finally felt that they were back in sync. Rogue no longer smiled at him awkwardly or was caught daydreaming on the jet on the way to missions. She admitted that she had just been having a bad week and that she really didn't mind either way on the issue of kids. Logan knew she was full of shit, but let it slide. He had no problems if she came to the realistic recognition that she probably never would be able to have a family. So let her tell herself it wasn't something she deeply yearned for. It would hurt her less in the end.
Logan walked rigid down the hallway in his jeans and white tank top, sweating glistening on his body. He had just finished a simulation in the Danger Room and was in desperate need of a shower and a cold beer – not necessarily in that order. He was passing a door when his sensitive ears picked out the distinct sound of crying. He paused; eyeing the door oddly before realizing it was Rogue's room. Should he move on or investigate? He opted to tap on the wood: "Rogue? Kid, are you all right?"
There was a moment of silence before she replied: "Yeah, I'm fine," her southern accent thicker than usual, which usually occurred when she was upset.
He paused, debating on what to do. He knew she was lying through her teeth. He could tell without his extra senses, but did he want to pry in what wasn't his business? Damn, kid, he thought broodingly. Only you. He knocked on the door again. "Rogue, are you sure? Why don't you open the door?"
"I'm sure." He heard her pad over to the door and there was a pause – probably collecting herself – before quietly inching the door open and peeking around it. Her eyes were wiped clean, but they were still red and puffy. "What's up?" She examined him. "Look's like you got a good work out. I should probably get in there sometime today."
Logan scrutinized her face then slightly shook his head disapprovingly. "Rogue, Marie, make it easier on yourself."
Rogue sighed, leaning up against the edge of the door and peering down at her gloved hands that grasped the knob. "Bobby and I had a fight. We mutually decided to break things off – at least for now."
"Doesn't look like it was too mutual," he grunted, lightly grazing a finger over eyes. "Why don't you come down to the Danger Room with me?"
"Weren't you just there?"
He shrugged, standing more stiffly. "So? Who says I can't go back? Besides, we can do a simulation together: one of those damn team-building things. What do you say?"
She pursed her lips in consideration before shrugging. "Why the hell not. Just let me grab my things." She disappeared back into her room and returned moments later wearing a pair of black sweat pants, a white tank top, and a pair of her longer gloves. Slung over her shoulder was a small pack presumably filled with her personal items. "I'm ready to kick some butt."
"More like get your butt kicked," Logan teased gruffly, sidestepping her playful punch and grinning at her non-entertained glare.
Part Two
Rogue threw herself into the imitation, exerting herself nearly beyond her limit. Logan, always watchful of the young woman, fought just has well, but with less strain. He was a natural fighter: it was in his blood. He heard a sharp cry from his left and he whipped around, taking a shot in the arm. Rogue was on the floor, struggling with a virtual Mystic and screaming for all she was worth, tearing at the image with bent-up rage.
Logan rushed over, clawing the computer-generated woman repeatedly until she collapsed off Rogue and eventually vanished. He helped Rogue to her feet; who shoved him away. "You know why she got the upper hand?" Logan admonished. "You wore yourself out to quickly with the other trials."
"I did not."
"You did to."
Rogue huffed. "I had everything under control. I can take care of myself, you know. I don't need some big-ass, ring-fighter getting in my way."
"Getting in your way?" Logan barked, the veins in his neck protruding. "Mystic would have snapped you in two if this were a real situation. I saved your life, kid."
"Well maybe you shouldn't have!" Rogue screeched, her eyes flashing in passionate rage.
Logan came up short, the wheels in his head turning in rapid confusion. He strangely eyed the furious woman before him until he was able to see through her smoke screen. "Marie," he whispered. "Things aren't so bad. You live in a mansion surrounded by people who care about you and will do anything to protect you."
"Things aren't so bad, uh?" Rogue yanked off her gloves, jamming them into the waistband of her pants. She brought her hands up into the air, her palms facing the sky. "Look at these, Logan. They appear normal…gentle…innocent, but they're not. I can kill someone with a simple touch. I don't have to do anything but rest my hand on your arm and you'll be dead in less than two minutes."
Damn it, kid, Logan thought hotly. I don't know what to do. He sighed, clasping her slender wrists in his hands. "And are my hands normal," he growled, snapping out his metal claws. "Are they gentle? Are they innocent? No. No. No." He could feel her power draining out his life force.
She struggled against his hold. "Logan, let go. I'll kill you!"
"Well maybe you should," he shot back, his skin tingling. "You want death because you're not normal, but what about the rest of us, Rogue? We're not normal either." His knees buckled, but he held on firmly, dragging her to her knees with him. "Maybe all us mutant freaks should do the world a favor and destroy ourselves!"
"Logan! Let go!" She twisted vehemently, but though his strength was weakening, his grip was steel. "Let go!" She felt him enter her mind: his power flowing into her. Gathering up his borrowed strength, she wrenched herself free and stumbled back, falling on her behind. She stared wide-eyed as his massive body collapsed to the floor. "Damn you, Logan!" Tears trickled down her face and her lips quivered. "Why'd you do that?"
Part Three
In the infirmary, Logan slowly came to, squinting against the blaze of lights. A blue form shifted at the corner of his vision and Logan groaned. "Hank, what's the damage?"
Doctor Hank "Beast" McCoy set his clipboard down and ambled over. "You mean other than to your friendship? It's like an unknown wise man – or woman – once said: 'True friendship is like sound health; the value of it is seldom known until it be lost.'"
"Can it, fuzz ball."
"Logan," an older man in a wheelchair reprimanded, rolling up to his bed. He stared openly and sadly at the younger man. "How are you feeling?"
Logan grunted, swinging his feet off the bed and hopped off. The Wolverine prowled around the room hunting for his shirt. "Where is she?" he demanded, slipping his arms into his clothes.
Xavier shut his eyes halfway. "She's with Kurt. I think you should leave them be. At the moment she is exhibiting some of your more…disagreeable attributes. She is understandably upset." The professor watched Logan march toward the doors. "And Logan," he swerved his chair closer. "This will never happen again."
"I do what I have to do," Logan retorted then, marched out of the room.
He stormed his way into the main section of the mansion, ignoring the little rascals that zipped passed him on their way to their classes. Logan rounded a few corners before bursting into the kitchen. Rogue sat at the island, Bobby across from her munching on ice cream, and Kurt on the counter, swinging his blue tail. The two men jerked at Logan's sharp entrance, but Rogue remained eerily calm.
"I could hear you a mile away, Logan." She sighed as though extremely bored. "It's sometimes nice having your extra senses. It's a shame I can never get you out of my mind. Why is that? I only have your abilities temporarily, but I have your person forever."
Logan snapped his fingers at the other two. "Out," he barked harshly. Both Kurt and Bobby glanced worriedly at Rogue before slinking out of the room. "Rogue, why don't you just confess? Tell me what this is all really about so we can move on with our damn lives. What was going on in the Danger Room?"
"It's something you'll never get, Logan. You're right. We are all different. We are all dangerous. But I'm beyond a threat, Logan. I am poison." Her eyes flashed to meet his and in them he saw nothing but emptiness. "I can kill you with a kiss. Not too many people can hold that claim."
"Oh Rogue," Logan strolled over, embracing her in his strong arms. "You fight the hardest against yourself. Why?"
"Because it's with myself I have the greatest battle. Why can't you understand, Logan? I am happy with my life. I truly am. I love being here. I love being a X-man. I just want to be able to experience love. Is that so wrong?"
"But there is love in your life, Rogue."
She peered at him blankly. "Is there," she challenged.
He diverted her, unsure of how to answer. "What happened between you and Bobby?"
"He treated me like an angel, but he wanted more than I could give. He kissed me deeply once – at his house when we were hiding out from Stryker – and I let my guard down, kissing him just as passionately in return. Do you know what happened? I frightened him. I nearly caused him to black out. He told me it was ok, but we both knew he was lying. It's not ok, Logan. I can't be with someone. It's not fair to him."
"Rogue," Logan murmured, stroking her hair. "I wish I could…"
All X-men report to the War Room, Xavier's voice rang in their minds.
Logan stepped away from Rogue, eyeing her a moment before breaking out into a grin. "Come on, maybe we're finally going to get some action around here."
End Chapter Three
Substantivo: Ah, once again you are right there! And sorry, but the chapters may do the opposite: get shorter. I'm a very busy woman! Limby: Aw, thanks for your review. I returned the favor. Rogue151: I'll take it into serious consideration. It is kind of weird, but at the same time they have great chemistry, which is why they make excellent friends. Gwen27: Thank you very much. I hope you continue to like it. Immortalatk: I appreciate your review. I love L/R pairings, too, but some people make them really whacked. If I do take the path of romance, I hope it to be at least a bit realistic. AsderBlair: Aw, thank you a million. I hope I keep writing it, too, as long as there are people who like it.