May 19, 2002
Logan squatted on the roof of the building, watching the sun come up. He sighed. It had been two weeks since Braddock left. He was thinking of her as he watched the dawn. Two weeks, and Xavier was still at the complex. Logan wondered if Stark's business was running well without guidance from its leader or whether it was fraying at the edges. He had no way of finding out, and he didn't want to know enough to ask.
There. He saw what he had been waiting for. A painfully thin man was slowly walking along the perimeter fence. Xavier. Walking. From here Logan caught the glint of metal from the frames that supported his legs. He could not see the thin plate that went up Xavier's back to connect to his spine higher up, but he had seen it yesterday at Stark's in-house demonstration of the first psionically powered exosuit. Flamin magnificent.
Logan dropped two stories to the ground, landing effortlessly. He walked into the building and headed for Stark's lab. He got to the first layer of security and buzzed in using his code.
A few seconds later: "Yes?"
"We need to talk, Stark. Really."
After a few seconds: "I'll be out."
"Maybe I should come in," Logan said.
The door clicked, and Logan opened it.
After working through the rest of the security, he found himself in Stark's personal lab. He had only been in here two or three times. He looked at Stark, who was dressed in a simple t-shirt and jeans.
"Yer workin on plans to make a whole exosuit, complete with weapons and armor," Logan stated as a matter of fact, folding his arms across his chest.
Stark glanced down at the complex formulae and sketchy micro diagrams on the paper in front of him and on the screen of his computer. "What makes you think that?" he asked casually.
Logan shook his head. "You wanna make Xavier totter around on braces, okay, fine. But if you give him anything else, I'm gone."
"This is an ultimatum?" Stark said, surprised.
"Damn straight," Logan nodded. "I can't work to protect someone who arms my enemies. You wanted to make him walk, fine, that's got a nice charity ring to it even though I know better. But how can you begin to explain arming that psychopath?"
"I'm sure he feels the same way about you," Stark observed, leaning back in his chair.
"He's wrong," Logan said simply. "I'm one of the good guys. I don't know what he's told you, but he's one of the bad guys. He lured Betsy to his facility under the guise of psionic research and put her through hell and cosmetic surgery to make her what she is today. He forced her to try to break my mind as a test for her technique. All he has to do to have insiders in every industry and organization in the U.S. and beyond is think about it. You arm him with more than he already has and you cross my line."
"You have a lot of nerve, Logan," Stark said softly. "How's your supply of Tymaz Nine countermeasure holding up?"
There was a sharp, tense silence between them.
"I'm not tellin you what to do," Logan said, his voice deeply quiet and subdued. "I'm just tellin you if you do this I'm leavin. That's a cheap card for you to play."
Stark watched him steadily.
"You know, Stark," Logan said, "I've stuck up for you. I've said that whatever happens, whatever you do that's ugly, there's a good man in you who just needs a chance to come out. I believe that, even though I know I'm not the best judge of character. Why are you helping Xavier? Is it for money? Or mind control? Or are you just after secrets?" Logan stopped, not wanting to say more, not having more to say.
"I'm doing it," Stark purred, "because I can."
"Gotta be somethin bigger than yerself that you serve, Stark," Logan said, slowly shaking his head, "or you'll end up alone and with nothin that's worth it to ya."
"You sure?" Stark's eyes were hostile.
Logan met his eyes. "I've been there," he said softly. He turned and opened the door, walking out and leaving Stark with his designs, his formulae, and a haunting echo of the look of pain in Logan's eyes.
xXx
A shadow fell over Xavier, and he looked up. "Ah, Ms. Potts," he said with a warm smile. "Good morning."
"Good morning, Mr. Xavier," she said. "How are the braces working out?"
He sighed deeply. "Frankly, they take a lot out of me. I'm exhausted. I have a bit of a headache. This uses muscles I haven't used in a long, long time, and the method of powering the braces is still quite crude."
She sat beside him. "You walked almost a quarter mile. That's a lot for the first unassisted trip."
"Indeed?" he said. "That's an accomplishment. To be able to do that on the second day."
"Yes," she nodded. "I saw you sitting on the bench and I thought I'd make sure you were alright."
"I'm fine," he smiled, "even if my dream isn't all I thought it was. Fantasy seldom is, I suppose."
She shot him a wry look. "Did you expect to be playing football as of today?" she asked.
"No," he sighed, "I suppose not." He was quiet for a moment. "Give my regards to Stark, will you?" he said.
"You're leaving?" she blinked, surprised.
"Yes."
At the gate, the guard with the blank stare pushed the button to remove the barrier. A sleek black car pulled in. At the wheel was a man with steely gray hair and a worried look.
"Why are you leaving so soon?" she asked.
"Logan's presence complicates things. I'll stay in touch with Stark. When Logan is gone we'll resume," he said. "I have enough for now, and so does Stark. He needs some time before we deal with each other again."
"But," she managed.
He smiled, and she stood. "Thank you, Xavier," she said automatically. "I'll take Stark your message."
"Good girl," he murmured, and he hauled himself to his feet and stiffly walked towards where Geraint was parked, waiting for him."
Logan crouched on the roof, watched him go, and did nothing.
xXx
"Take the rest of the day off, you look tired," Stark said to Potts, his face grim. "At least he didn't leave without saying goodbye."
"I'm sorry," she said meekly, her left eye wincing with the beginning of a headache.
"Not your fault," he shrugged. "So he left because of Logan."
"He seems to think you'll get rid of Logan before long."
"Doesn't take a genius," Stark said.
"I think Logan's good for you," she retorted.
"Did I ask?" Stark snapped.
She stood up straight, a fire in her eyes. "No, sir, you did not. You never do." She turned and left his office.
Stark glanced down at his shirt to see if he'd pinned a 'cheap shot' target to himself today. No, just the 'SI' logo. He sighed. "Why is everybody so touchy all the time?" he muttered.
xXx
Piotr put his tray down and sat opposite Logan, who looked at him. "What?" Logan demanded.
"I'm sorry, this seat did not appear to be taken," Piotr said.
"I'm eating," Logan snapped, and he took a ferocious bite out of his helpless hamburger.
"Why are you grumpy? I hear you didn't like Xavier, and he is gone," Piotr said. His plate was heaped with mashed potatoes, vegetables, and a small piece of meat. Logan had a thick hamburger, fries, and a coke.
"Not polite to talk with yer mouth full," Logan said, and he stuffed the rest of the hamburger in his mouth.
"I talked with this Xavier fellow," Piotr continued. "He seemed very cordial and pleasant and not at all uncouth."
Logan swallowed his food. "Pete, nobody uses the word 'uncouth' in America."
"I see," Piotr said, bobbing his head a bit in apology. "Potts and I have finished putting together Stark's Russia trips. Now, if he can be persuaded to go without canceling them because he's not in the mood, our work will pay off." He put a petite forkful of potatoes in his mouth and began to chew.
Logan watched him askance. "Pete, I might be… out of town for a while."
"What?" Piotr said, his eyes growing large. "You are not yet scheduled for a vacation."
"More out of town than that," Logan muttered. He shook his head. "I don't know about Stark."
"It is not sporting to talk me into staying then to go," Piotr said sternly. "What about your pretty speeches about Stark being a good man underneath who only needs guidance?"
"Never been accused a makin 'pretty speeches' before," Logan reflected. "I've been foolin myself. I'm stickin around because of the Tymaz Nine countermeasure Stark gives me. I'll be without, but…" he shrugged. "I can't live on anybody's dole."
"What is 'dole'?" Piotr asked.
"Welfare," Logan said.
"You do not have Tymaz Nine, do you?" Piotr said. "Why do you need a supply?"
"I got a friend," Logan said, and his eyes told Piotr to drop it.
"Seems the day is full of surprises," Piotr murmured, returning his attention to his food. After a moment, he looked meaningfully at Logan. "If I were in your position," he said, "I would get the cure for Tymaz Nine and then leave Stark."
They looked at each other for a long moment.
"You would, huh."
Piotr nodded once.
Logan barked a short laugh. "Pete, yer a piece a work," he said, shaking his head.
"So are you, my friend," Piotr said. "Ideals give life meaning and direction, but they serve and are served by pragmatism."
"And perspective," Logan muttered.
They finished their meal in silence.
4
