Chapter Thirteen
Pizza, Depends, and Promises
The air was crisp and refreshing as it blew across her face: combing through the ends of her hair – her helmet securely in place. (Logan wouldn't have it any other way. She'd argued that he wasn't wearing one, but he gruffly pointed out that a man with a healing factor didn't need one.). She was glued to his back, her cheek pressed against his worn-leather jacket. She loved it when they went for rides: it gave her the chance to physically connect without worrying about his reaction.
Logan whipped around a corner and killed the engine. He dismounted, glancing back at her as she pulled off her helmet. He watched memorized as she shook out her hair, the auburn strands falling into a sexy mess. He casually looked away and pulled out a cigar from his jacket's inside pocket. Lighting up, he grumbled, "Hurry up."
Rogue climbed off the bike and ran a hand over her outfit to smooth out the wrinkles. "Pushy, pushy."
Logan ignored her and led the way inside the pizza parlor, Zingy Pizza. The cashier eyed his cigar, pointing to a 'No Smoking' sign. Logan glared, hesitating – wanting to rebel against the damn rule, but finally stubbed the cigar out on the ashtray. He heard Rogue sigh in relief behind him. "Medium with…" he peered at Rogue. "What do you want for toppings, kid?"
The cashier's eyebrows rose and he stared at the "kid" for orders.
Rogue shrugged. "Pepperoni, sausage, and extra cheese."
The cashier rang up the order, noticing that the young woman was probably only a couple years younger than he. Glancing up, his eyes fell on the white streak contrasting her reddish hair and found it uniquely appealing. "Thirteen fifty." He looked to the older man for the money, finding himself being stared down by harsh, penetrating eyes. He got the clear impression that her escort – father? – was threatening him to forget about her; that she was off limits.
Logan paid the cashier – the little dip shit – then grazed Rogue's arm, indicating to her that she should follow him over to one of the booths. Rogue, amused, giggled softly. "You're such a Neanderthal. Have to protect your territory, uh?"
"Don't know what you're talking about," Logan said, sliding into the opposite side from her. He leaned against the window, yearning for the cigar that was now lying in the ashtray. What a waste.
"Sure, Logan, whatever you say." She picked up the pamphlet that was nestled between the salt and peppershakers. Scanning the uninteresting advertisements, she added, "No sense in denying it, though."
He glowered at her, daring her to press the issue. A tense silence fell between them before he eventually muttered, "We forgot drinks." He got up and stiffly walked back to the front desk. Shit, he thought as he reached the counter. I didn't ask her what she wanted. Taking a wild guess, he assumed she would want her favorite. "A large Dr. Pepper and Cream Soda."
By the time he returned to the table, Rogue had managed to evaporate the tension. She was smiling when he set a glass in front of her. "I was wondering what you would bring me. And I was sure you'd get a beer."
"Cream Soda is your favorite and I've decided not to drink around you."
Her eyes took on a misty sea green and smiled a small, loving smile. "You know my favorite pop?" He grunted and her smile turned brighter. "But you know, you don't have to worry about drinking around me. I don't mind. Honest."
"And put the temptation in front of you? Forget it."
"You act as though I've never drank before."
"Have you?"
"Yeah, I have." She grinned sheepishly. "Once. And it made me very sick. But that's beside the point."
He chuckled, taking a swing from his glass. "You're something else, Rogue."
A waiter brought over their pizza, interrupting their conversation. It was three slices later before one of them finally spoke up.
"I like this," Rogue admitted.
"Told you they had good pizza."
"No," she explained. "I mean this. You. Me. Eating out. Getting along. It's nice compared to the bickering."
"The bickering ain't that bad. Wait until we're wrinkly, cranky, old geezers arguing over who gets to wear the last Depends."
Rogue burst out laughing, tears welling up in her eyes. Who would have ever thought Logan of saying such a thing? Mr. Gruff-Cage-Fighter himself.
"You'd try to suck the life out of me so you could get to it first."
"And what would you do," she hiccupped.
"Let you," he replied seriously.
"You'd give up the last Depends? Just like that?"
"Sure. Why not?" He shrugged.
"Would you fight me for the last pair of dentures?"
"Hell yeah. I'd gum you for them."
Rogue's giggling slowly subsided and she turned grave, reflective. "We probably wouldn't see each other very often by then. Unless, of course, we both stay around here."
"I ain't going anywhere, kid," Logan assured. "Are you?"
"Maybe," she whispered. "Someday. I want that family, Logan. And now there's a chance that I can have it. Those tests Doctor McCoy have been performing? It's been to help me control my skin. And the other day…I was able to hold my power back for two minutes. It's not much, but it's a start."
"What," he gasped. Why hadn't she told him? Was that the progress Hank had been referring to earlier?
She ducked her head. "I didn't want to tell you because…because…oh, I don't know why." She peered back up at him, pleading with him. "I want children, Logan. And this may be my chance at having them – as long as I can find a man who can accept my lifestyle."
"And if you don't?"
"Then I guess all this work would be for nothing. I won't have the one thing I want most in the world." Tears leaked from her eyes and she quickly wiped them away. "I grew up relatively normal, you know. Middle-class. Decent parents. Friends. I always thought I would grow up, travel the world, have a few adventures, and then…then settle down and raise two or three children. But it was too much to ask for, I guess."
"No," Logan broke in harshly. "You'll have children someday, Rogue. I promise you will."
"How can you possibly promise something like that?"
He looked away. How could he promise something like that?
NOTES: I know I said you'd find out if she heard him or not. Sorry. But I SWEAR the truth will be known in the next chapter. Yet, I did give a clue in this chapter. Did anyone catch it?
End Chapter Thirteen
Sam: Thank you!
Galxychld: Yeah, I've always liked Hank's character. And Logan does always seem uptight, doesn't he? We'll have to fix that.
Starshine2212: All your questions will be answered in the next chapter. I promise! And, no, I don't plan on finishing this anytime soon. Much more needs to happen!
AsderBlair: No, I won't be adding Dr. Grey. That would involve expanding the plot too much. I don't want to get sidetracked from the basis of the story: Rogue and Logan!