Author: Logan Berry
Summary: Logan relives the last few days of Kaylan's stay as he watches her leave.
Rating/warning & pairing: rated PG-13: some language
Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to any Marvel Characters. Kaylan O'Connor is a fictional character and is owned by the above author.
Thanx to Titan Motorcycle co. for the wonderful Phoenix ZSX custom bike in the Movies.
I also apologise to any German readers for the use and spelling of their wonderful language – please forgive me!
Inspired in part by X-Men cartoon – 'Lotus and Steel'.
Feedback very welcomeLogan leaned against the frame of the bay-window, pool-queue in hand in the games-room. He eyed the cab parked outside. The click of ball hitting ball echoed in the high-ceilinged room as Bobby put another into the corner pocket.
He watched the four figures walk slowly down the front steps of the school. Kaylan handed her bag to the cab driver and turned to hug Jean. The two women exchanged a few words and Jean stepped back to let Ororo say goodbye. Ro took her firmly by the shoulders and kissed her on both cheeks. Next Scott, ever the gentleman, extended his arm and shook Kaylan's hand speaking briefly to her. "Givin' her a few last words of wisdom 'eybub?" Logan presumed. Kaylan nodded and as she looked back over Scott's shoulder her face broke into a broad smile. Logan edged closer, pushing back the curtain, to get a better view.
She strode back up the steps to where Charles waited patiently and bending slightly, kissed him on the forehead as he took her hands in his. They spoke for a few moments and kissing him again, Kaylan said her goodbyes and headed back down the steps. Halfway down she paused momentarily, a shiver passing down her back. She turned and looked up at the stately mansion, the red brick façade concealing its true nature. For a brief moment she thought she saw the outline of a figure with a familiar silhouette standing at the upper floor window. Logan dodged back, letting go of the curtain.
"Damn it" he whispered under his breath, those blue eyes piecing him for a second.
The three team-members stood together waving on the steps as the cab drove away through the school gates - Kaylan was going to be returning home, after a few days vacation at her Aunt's.
Logan sighed with some relief at her departure. What should have been a twenty-four hour stay had turned into three of the longest days Logan had ever known. Her ever-present aroma had made it impossible for him to avoid her completely and his senses had taken more of a battering than his body had ever experienced in any cage-fight. But, his anger after the rescue had slowly begun to give way to an insatiable curiosity which drew him to her and that morning's chance meeting had finally begun to change his mind about Xavier's strange god-daughter.
He breathed deep, her powerful scent still pervaded every room in the mansion and having just gotten used to it he knew it would all too quickly fade. "Can't believe I'm gonna miss it" He thought, frowning. He had not wanted her in the mansion in the first place, but her leaving made him feel somehow empty.
At least the others would be able to relax a little; Logan had been like a bear with a sore head since his fight with Scott, and the two men still weren't talking. "Least he's not bendin' my ear like normal" he'd confided in Ro the day before.
"Logan, it's your shot!" Bobby shouted across the room.
He continued to stare out of the window "You take it kid" he mumbled preoccupied with his thoughts.
Looking a little bemused, Bobby shrugged and bent over the table to take Logan's shot, deliberately missing so he could win the frame. Logan's sifted through the events of the last three days which had lead to his change of mind.
The fuming Wolverine sat alone on the floor of the garage, his back to the old work bench. After storming out of the Professor's office he'd found himself wandering through the grounds of the mansion. The spring air and the morning sounds of the outdoors eased his temper slightly, but he was resolved to stay clear of the house for the rest of the day. He'd found his way to the garage behind the school and contemplated taking off on his bike. But he knew that wouldn't fix the fight he'd had with Scott or solve the Kaylan situation so, forcing himself to stay, he set about cleaning the large black body of the Titan Phoenix ZSX motorcycle.
BAMF
He heard the sound he'd been half expecting from just outside. The familiar rustle of raincoat broke the stillness of the garage as his blue-skinned friend bounded in through the double doors and negotiated the parked cars.
"Wie Geht's Logan?"
Logan looked up, gas-cap in one hand, oily rag in the other, at Kurt standing over him. He made a half-hearted attempt to smile and continued to polish the cap.
"Are you ok?" Kurt asked gently, kneeling down at Logan's side, his tail swishing the dust into patterns on the garage floor.
"Yeah" Logan sighed; "I'm sehr gut" he answered in German with a hint of sarcasm. "I guess they're real pissed off at me." He added, not looking up from his polishing.
"Nein, nein, it is all forgotten."
"Yeah right." Logan laughed; Kurt always had a way of projecting an air of calm and peace even when all hell was breaking loose. Logan knew Scott wouldn't forget his violent attack so easily, he also knew his outburst could jeopardize their already fragile relationship. But he could not forgive Scott for accusing him of running even if it was, in part, true. "Damn fool…let ya mouth run off before ya brain's kicked in as usual" he'd chastised himself as he'd left the mansion. He could just picture the scene now back in the house, Scott sitting on the medi-bed in the lab while Jean gently checked his bruised neck, listening patiently to his ranting about Logan's behavior. Logan smiled to himself, "One o' these days I'm gonna kick his ass good 'n' proper, then he'll know 'bout it".
"They send ya out here?" Logan tilted his head in the direction of the house.
"Ja, Herr Professor, he wish me to everything alright make." Kurt stumbled over the words.
Logan shrugged, "Well, I guess it will be when SHE leaves."
Kurt looked confused. "Logan, vot is it dat you don't gleich?"
"Like?" He and Kurt had found over time they enjoyed trying to figure out what the other was trying to saying. With Logan's inability to put his emotions into words and Kurt struggling to translate his into English, their conversations could sometimes last for hours.
"Ya heard what I said back there," he growled. "She's bad nachricht."
"Ahh, bad news yes?" Kurt mused, not truly understanding Logan's problem with the girl he had just rescued. "But she is human, no?"
"S'pposed to be, but I ain't so sure." He answered, shaking his head.
The two men sat quietly for sometime; Logan buffing the cap to a bright shine in an attempt to focus. The image of that beautiful tear stained face and those blue eyes would not leave him. Kurt ran his fingers over his pocket crucifix, uttering a silent pray of forgiveness for his friend.
Myriad emotions sloshed around Logan's brain; Anger at himself for being effected by Kaylan's presence and letting her come between him and the rest of the team, fear for the children now living with an unpredictable entity in the mansion and increasingly, curiosity at finding out what she could do. He rarely experienced such emotional turmoil, and it was driving him crazy. He polished harder, rubbing a hole in the cloth.
"Kurt" Logan eventually spoke. "This just ain't right. Her bein' here I mean."
"But ve cannot turn da poor child out ven she is in need, Logan. Ve muss be da good Samaritan no?" Kurt asked.
"I guess" Logan grumbled.
Kurt continued. "Herr Professor made dis haus a home for zose who needed protection, is she not von?"
"'spose" he shrugged. "But we need to protect 'em that's already here – Marie, Bobby, Jubilee!"
"And ve vill, Logan." Kurt smiled. "You care much for ze kinder, ja?"
"Well I…I... just doin' my job Bub" Logan stuttered a little and eyed Kurt surreptitiously. His usual ability to maintain an air of indifference, whilst protecting those he cared about, was getting harder to disguise these days. Kurt prodded him with a long blue finger and laughed, Logan could not suppress the sly smile that passed over his lips.
"As Scott said, ve muss vait an see" Kurt added, "Only Gott knows vat vill happen. Zere are enough of us here to protect das kinder. It vill be ok." He nodded.
"Well I guess she'll be gone soon" Logan sighed. "Till then I'm gonna steer clear. Her scent's drivin' me crazy." Logan patted Kurt on the shoulder as he stood up. "Com' on," he said holding up the cap to the light. "Got more chrome to polish".
Day TwoThe previous day had been an exercise in 'enemy avoidance' as far as Logan was concerned. After finishing every inch of polishing on the bike he'd ridden out to get sushi and spent the night brooding in the studio-flat above the garage. Sleep had come in fits and starts; his mind awash with images of the mission, the action with the mutants, the fight with Scott and above all else Kaylan. He was getting used to the visions of her now, her delicate features pervaded his every thought, and it was now useless to fight them, so instead he let his mind wander. He had come to the conclusion if he was to rid his himself of her he had to let it run its course.
Waking with the sun streaming through the small window of the dusty room, he'd found himself still dressed, face-down, star fished across the bed, in a pile of tangled bed-sheets. A six-pack and two boxes of half-eaten sushi, one spilled across the bed, lay next to him. As he'd rolled over he'd groaned at the line of six holes in the wooden head-board behind him, splinters of wood covering the pillows.
"great, somethin' else f' me t' fix" he growled under his breath annoyed.
Grabbing his denim jacket he'd headed out into the spring morning, dew was still fresh on the grass and a light mist hung about the trees. He'd wandered back to the house via the side entrance, being careful not to make any noise. The peace and quiet of the early morning suited him just fine and lessened the chance of running into the others. Opening the door into the kitchen he'd been hit by a sensation that almost sent him reeling back into the yard. The scent that he'd tried so hard to purge from his system again filled his nostrils. But what only two nights ago had driven him into a savage rage now stirred up new emotions, his stomach twisted into knots and his chest tightened. The scent flooded his body; giving him a head-rush and making him feel strangely aroused. It was a softer, more delicate scent than before, like lilies after a rain-storm, yet it was still unmistakable, Kaylan! He forced himself on; unsure just how much more of this onslaught to his senses he could take.
Stripping off the beer and sushi-stained T-shirt and his old Levi's he'd grabbed a shower. Lingering long in the steam-filled cubical, head bowed under the hot spray. The pounding of the water on the back of his neck eased the ache in his mind as he watched the rivulets of water cascade over his taut body, letting the tingling sensation run away with the liquid down the drain. More relief came in the form of a morning in the gym; an hour on the treadmill followed by two hours of weight training. In truth he didn't need it, his powers of self-healing and the very nature of his Adamantium skeleton kept his body in almost perfect physical condition, but he enjoyed the adrenaline buzz that working out for long periods of time gave him. He'd just completed his fiftieth bar-bell snatch when Xavier entered his mind.
"Logan". The shadowy voice echoed inside his head like a shout down a long tunnel. He hated the sensation, it always caught him unawares. Logan's body stiffened. He grimaced as he fought to hold the bar-bell weight above his head.
"What?!" he spoke out loud, his face turning red with the exertion. He took a deep breath, letting the words form in his mind. "Yeah wha d' ya want?"
"Logan I wish to speak with you…would you meet me in the conservatory" Charles' voice resonated through his mind. Xavier was always to the point when communicating via his telepathy. Logan preferred it that way, "The less time he spends in m' head the better" was his attitude.
"On my way" he answered. He expelled the last of the air from his chest as he dropped the weights to the floor with a thud. Grabbing his towel from the bench he set off out of the gym.
He wiped the sweat from his neck and chest, half-heartedly brushed his hair back into its usual tufts, and pulled on his T-shirt as he strode down the corridors of the school heading for the hot-house and Charles.
A blanket of warmth surrounded him as he pushed open the double doors to the conservatory, the smell of damp earth and moist foliage filled the air, reminding him of April showers in the high Rockies, a pleasant relief from Kaylan's scent. The high-ceilinged glass-house resembled more of a jungle than a room, filled from floor to ceiling with exotic specimens and climbing plants. Just as exotic, insects and butterflies fluttered about the place giving the room an appearance of continuous movement.
"Ah, Logan, over here", Xavier called out from just beyond a curtain of ivy. The professor sat at a small wrought-iron table which faced out into the garden. A china tea service, set with two cups, placed on top. As Logan rounded the curtain Xavier began to pour the tea. "Please, won't you sit".
Logan stood-fast. "Listen, if ya gonna lecture me 'bout yesterday, ya can forget it". He turned slightly to make a point of leaving.
"No Logan, please" the professor asked calmly, "Please sit, there will be no lectures I promise". He gestured to the seat opposite.
Logan pulled out the other chair and sat, eyeing the professor. "No lectures, yeah, that's about as likely as Scott gettin' a personality transplant" Logan mused to himself.
The professor smiled. "Scott's character is just fine the way it is Logan".
"Stay outta my head Chuck!" Logan answered angrily, grabbing the table and making the china rattle.
Charles raised his hand in supplication, "Please Logan I meant nothing by it, that was an all-too loud thought which I couldn't help but hear, I'm sorry, please let's begin again".
Logan sat back into his seat in silence for a moment.
"How are you feeling this morning? I noticed the lights on in the garage till late, did you stay there last night?" Charles asked as he passed Logan a cup.
"Yeah, well I've felt better" he sighed as he scratched absently at his side-burns, "Thought it best to stick around, ya know, in case, just stayed outta th' way."
Charles nodded, "I understand".
"It ain't gonna way" Logan added, "I can smell 'er all over the house," He gestured in the direction of the upstairs guest quarters "Although it ain't as bad as it was. An' I still ain't changed my mind."
"Jean is going to do some tests on Kaylan today, I am hoping that they will help us determine whether Kaylan is truly a mutant or not." He paused, "But I have no idea what I'm going to say to her father." Xavier looked perplexed. Logan knew either way it was going to be hard for Xavier to talk to his old friend. Charles tried to lighten things up a little, "Well, I did not ask you here to burden you with my problems".
"Ahh, here we go" Logan grumbled, rolling his eyes back in his head.
Charles continued, ignoring Logan's protests "Logan, I would be most grateful if you would teach Kaylan some self-defense, I…."
"NO, NO NO!" Logan yelled, slamming the tea cup to the table and propelling himself from the chair. "Not even if hell freeze's over!"
"….Logan, please…." Xavier tried to finish.
"Which bit of NO don't ya get!" He spat, turning to face the professor.
"…I wouldn't have asked you here if I didn't think you were the man for the job." Charles replied, placing the cup on the table and wheeling over to where Logan now stood staring angrily out of the window.
"Yeah right!" Logan laughed at Xavier's persistence, "There's plenty here who can show her that stuff."
"Yes, Logan your right, there are others who are equally good at such techniques, but you know the more street-wise skills that I think she requires."
"That's bull Chuck and ya know it." Logan crossed his arms in defiance.
"Well, I can see it might be too much for you, perhaps I should ask one of the others…"
"Now, wait just one minute! I never said it was too much now did I?" His bravado belying the uneasiness he felt, but the last two days of walled-up emotions were too much and they finally broke like a wave over him. He turned and slumped down on the broad windowsill, Charles' insistence over-powering his pride.
"I can't ok? Is that what ya wann'ed to hear…I CAN'T. I can't handle this much longer." Logan raised his head and fixed Xavier with a dark stare. "She's drivin' me crazy wi' that scent o' hers, it's pullin' me in all directions. Ya gotta get Jeanie to find out what's up with her and fast."
Charles looked intently at the agitated wolverine, sighing asked gently, "Logan what is it that you fear most?"
Logan sat in silence for sometime, myriad things filled his head. "Not been able to protect 'em" he finally spoke, nodding in the direction of the school. "The kid's. I know too well how exposed they can be, and right now I'm not runnin' on all cylinders."
"You can't protect them alone," Xavier answered looking concerned. "In any case, are you referring to their vulnerability …or your own Logan?" Charles enquired subtly.
Logan stared back at him, brow furrowed, he hated this psycho-analysis bull-crap the Prof. always laid on him, but he could see his point.
Charles patted him on the arm. "Then the only way to deal with it is to face it."
Logan looked away, shaking his head. "I can't! At least not right now" he hissed through gritted teeth. He pushed himself to his feet and shrugging, turned to leave.
"Logan! please, try to remember what I said…face your fears." Xavier smiled. "Oh and if it will make your day any easier, Kaylan will be leaving tomorrow afternoon" Charles added.
"Thanks" he replied. "Ya know where I am if ya need me". He nodded to Xavier as he pushed the doors open and headed back into the school.
Day Three
As daylight shone through his window the smell of bacon wafted into his room and was driving his taste-buds insane. Logan lay spread-eagled on his bed trying, without much success, to concentrate on the novel which lay open in front of him. He wasn't really in a literary mood, but trying to stay out of the way of the rest of the house-hold had driven him to look for something to do other than sit in his room. He flicked the pages idly, trying to focus on the line of text, finally in frustration; he threw the book onto the floor, his need for food overriding his desire to try to finish the story.
Logan rose and headed down to the kitchen, sniffing the air as he went. "she's not up yet" he thought as he searched out Kaylan's aroma through the smell of fried eggs. As the initial bombardment to his senses had eased, Logan had begun to notice the almost imperceptible changes in her scent from one moment to another. She was like a chameleon he thought, her body giving off shades of scent like the changing colours of the small reptile.
The previous day he'd noticed Kaylan's heady scent had altered, it took a while to identify but eventually it came to him, honey!, the usual smell of lilies were now flecked with honey, a sweet almost tangible taste, making him want to lick his lips. His curiosity finally overcoming his wariness, he'd followed it along the corridors, the scent growing in strength all the time.
From beyond the doors of the study came the sound of two women giggling; The first he knew oh-so well, Ro, her deep infectious giggle always made him smile, but the other, that was new, light, happy, Kaylan. For the first time he'd heard her voice since the rescue it sounded bright and cheerful with a hint of mischief. The sugary scent wafted through the door; a tingling sensation grew in his body and his breathing increased. He had to fight the urge to enter the room, to get closer to the sweet aroma; he closed his eyes and leaned against the door-frame listening to their chat like a school boy eves-dropping on the staff-room. Ro was mid-way through relating a story to Kaylan.
"…So I said, 'do you know what happens to a Toad when it's struck by lightning?'"
"And what did he say?" Kaylan giggled.
"He didn't say anything, he was too busy trying to hold onto the railings with his tongue" Ro laughed.
"Oh Jeez, Ro I wish I could have seen it." Kaylan chuckled, "Ororo, you're quite remarkable, it must be amazing to have such powers." She added.
Ro smiled graciously at the woman opposite. "Thank you Kaylan, the goddess has blessed me, but with power comes responsibility and each day is a constant struggle to maintain control…"
Logan pushed himself away from the door leaving the two women to their conversation. He thought on Ro's words as he wandering back to his room, "a constant struggle to maintain control…she ain't wrong there" he thought wryly.
He had spent the rest of the day in contemplation; meditating on Xavier's words. "face your fears Logan". After hours of Tai Chi, Logan was not only able to distinguish Kaylan's changing moods but with focus, could pinpoint her location in the mansion as her aroma wafted through the corridors like a homing beacon. As he concentrated, he could see the colours in his mind; When she was happy that subtle smell of lilies and honey filled his brain with golds, reds and yellows making him feel alive, aroused and hungry. When she was serious, greens and browns swirled in his mind and the scent of trees and earth brought him a sense of sobriety. When she felt sad, the rain fell and the sky darkened, blues twisted and eddied and the anger and aggression that had driven him out that first night grew in him, awakening his feral nature. He had happened upon her taking a nap that afternoon on the porch, and found her scent softened, becoming almost creamy. He smiled to himself as images of white clouds flowed into his mind and the taste of hot milk filled his mouth; his body ached with feelings of tenderness and compassion. He'd told himself constantly it was a security precaution, to be able to detect her location in case something happened. Deep down, he knew the need to know where she was and to feel that tingle that began when he sensed her was the driving force.
Feeling comfortably full having devoured three eggs, four rashers of bacon, a bowl of grits and three slices of bread not to mention the carton of milk, Logan wended his way back through the corridors to his room. He rounded the last corner, the last pages of the novel on his mind, when the wind was knocked from his sails by the dull thwack of a body slamming into him.
"Huh!" the stunned body grunted, meeting the solid wall of flesh head-on. "Awww, Oh! Oh! I'm so sorry!"
Logan bent to pick up the book from the floor that was flung from the other's grip.
"s'ok" he muttered. SNIFF, SNIFF
He didn't need to look up to know at whose feet he crouched. The scent of 'honeyed lilies' swirled around him. In his preoccupation he'd failed to notice Kaylan's approach. He closed his eyes for a split-second trying to focus. The hairs on the back of his neck stood to attention and a chill gripped his belly. He hadn't been this close to her since the rescue and long hours of meditation had not prepared him for such a sudden encounter. He couldn't help the defensive growl that rose from his chest as he drew himself to his feet.
"try 'n' be nice" he told himself.
"I'm sorry" came a soft apologetic voice, "I wasn't looking where I was going". Kaylan looked up and met Logan's scowl with two shining blue eyes. 'The honey faded to rain and the corridor seemed to turn a shade of sea blue'
"No, you weren't" Logan answered gruffly. He held out the book at arms-length making sure he didn't touch her. "I ain't gonna let her get to me no matter what she smells like." He tried to convince himself.
She furtively studied the dark, thick-set frame of the glaring Wolverine. "He's been trying to avoid me, but he doesn't seem so bad in the light of day" she thought. "Better without the uniform, doesn't shave much! I really don't think he likes me" she concluded as he glowered down at her. She felt his dark eyes bore into her from under those thick eyebrows examining every nuance of her body, making her feel uncomfortable and awkward. "What do I say to him" she thought. "Thank…Thank-you." Kaylan smiled as she gingerly took the book from him.
"'K" Logan rumbled folding his arms across his chest and trying to maintain an air of indifference. "She looks different" he noted raising a brow. She had put on a little makeup; a soft pink sheen of lip gloss which emphasized her shapely mouth and a blue mascara which accentuated the deep blue pools of her eyes. His attention was drawn to her shapely figure, Ro had lent her a change of clothes – green combats and a grey zip top, and her hair was tied up loosely in a ponytail. "Not bad…what are you thinkin' damn it, Logan" hecautioned himself.
There was a moment of awkward silence as the two faced each other in the corridor.
"I…err…should go" She smiled uneasily "Unc…Charles has arranged some self-defense classes for me with …err...Scott"
"Right" Logan growled "The gym's that way" he finished, trying to stay polite.
"Thank-you" she whispered glancing shyly at him. 'The lilies returned and swirling yellows filled his mind'. Gripping the book to her chest she hurriedly side-stepped him only to collide with his arm as she did so. "Sorry, sorry" She muttered becoming increasingly embarrassed at her clumsiness. 'As myriad colours shimmered in his vision.'
Far from being annoyed by her ineptitude, a curl of a smile spread across Logan's lips. He turned to watch the woman scurry off up the corridor, leaving a trail of scent in her wake. "Maybe she's not as bad as I thought" he mused. He looked down at his arm where she had brushed past him. He could still feel the soft pressure of their collision on his skin. Bending his head a little, he sniffed at the material of the T-shirt. Closing his eyes he absorbed the delicate fragrance and those blue eyes filled his vision. A shiver ran down his spine and he felt a pleasant throb in his groin.
Wait a minute, Scott! What the hell's one-eye teachin' her self-defense for? Couldn't fight his way outta paper bag, this I gotta see". He turned and set off in pursuit of Kaylan and the direction of the gym. A seat on the mezzanine level would provide the best view from which to watch the pair and to see what she was capable of. The day was looking up and the book all but forgotten.
"Ok, put ya weight on to your left leg…yep that's it, step a little more to the left…here." Scot gently pushed Kaylan's thigh forcing her leg out, manipulating her into the correct position. She giggled, more from embarrassment at being touched by the handsome team leader than her inability to follow his instructions.
"Ok that's good" he said assessing her stance. "Right, when I come up behind you I want you to put your left hand here". He moved into position at her back, wrapping his arm around her shoulder and neck. Trying hard to concentrate, Kaylan griped his arm at the elbow as he instructed. "Good, ok now when I say go, brace with your left leg, bend your right leg slightly, grip my arm and throw your right shoulder forward…ok got that?"
"Er, yes I think so" Kaylan answered timidly; trying to remember all the instructions.
"Ok, one, two, three, go!"
Scott tightened his grip around her neck, pulling her body in sharply to his chest. Kaylan tensed, her mind flashed back to the night of the attack; the thought of Mist's cold grey arm around her throat and the fear that had made her scream out, filled her body. The unconscious instinct for self preservation took over. With a sudden snap of her body she grabbed Scott's arm and hurled her body forward, yelling at the top of her lungs. To his surprise Scott was lifted into the air and flung to the floor at Kaylan's feet, hitting the deck with a solid thud.
"Uuph!" He grunted.
Realizing what she had done and shocked by her incredible show of strength she fell to her knees at Scott's side.
"OH, God Scott, I'm sorry, are you ok?" She asked grabbing his arm as the stunned commander rolled onto his side and began to kneel up, laughing.
"Yeah, I'm fine Kaylan, fine, just a little…well…a little surprised is all…are you sure you've never done this before?" He queried jokingly.
"No, honestly, I don't know where that came from." Kaylan added as she sat back, relieved that she had not done him any damage.
The two sat on the mats laughing and chatting for some time at Kaylan's new-found strength; Scott trying to build up her confidence. Neither were aware of the figure crouched in the viewing gallery above them, watching them intently from under furrowed brows.
Logan let out a low rumble of approval as he watched Kaylan throw the 6' man to the floor. "That's it!, she's just gone up in m' estimations…mutant or not" he thought with a smile on his face. "Any one who gets the better of visor-boy is good in my book." He sat back, leaning against a chair to watch the reminder of Scott's lesson. Her scent wafted up to the balcony and Logan closed his eyes and drew in a deep lung-full of it, letting it wash through him in a pleasant wave. The ever-present sweetness mingled with the warm musky aroma of her perspiring body - He could almost taste it. He found himself absently pressing his hand to his crotch and it set his animal heart racing.
As the minutes ticked by her confidence grew as Scott took her steadily through the basics of self-defence. She was a quick learner; she watched intently as Scott demonstrated, then she would follow him in slow-motion before attempting the move herself. As she progressed her embarrassment and awkwardness began to fade and her body begins to flow and bend readily to each position. The swirls of colour seemed to follow her every move giving her an almost liquid quality. Logan sat captivated by her movements, she was not physically well conditioned as the members of the x-team were but she was lithe and supple and her body easily found the right posture. He watched the look of serious concentration on her face; the way her nose screwed up and her lips pouted when she exerted herself and the way her deep blue eyes sparkled when she made a breakthrough.
"She's got potential" He mused, watching her kick out at Scott's kick-boxing mitts as he coerced her on with words of encouragement. "Shame Cyke's 'bout as good a teacher as Chuck is a long distance runner – that guy is so full 'o himself, she ain't gonna be able t' beat a fly wi' them techniques".
He cursed for not finding the strength to teach her himself. But from where he sat he could finally see what she was made of, and he had to admit he liked what he saw. "Least I know what we're up against if she goes postal" he considered, but with the keen eye of a hardened fighter he could also see that a few more lessons would make her formidable ally. "I could make her good" he contemplated "wi' a bit o' time."
But he had no more time; she was leaving later that day. With a heavy sigh he stealthily pushed himself to his feet and returned to his room. Images of her flittered through is mind for the rest of the day and the sight of her standing over Scott on the floor brought a rye smile to his face. It was impossible to concentrate on the last few pages of his book, instead he headed out into the school and found to his relief he was dragged into a pool game with the senior boys.
"Logan ya wanna finish this game?" Bobby poked Logan in the side with the pool queue.
"Yeah, er yeah kid, sure" he half smiled and stepped away from the window as the car turned left and disappeared. With a pang in his heart he made his way back to the pool table as Bobby chattered on about school. Logan wasn't listening. In those few short strides from the window to the table an idea broke like a wave in his mind. "I have to see her again". As he bent to take the shot the plan had already formed. "tonight!".