Chapter 6
Rewrite (this WILL make the story more fun guys, trust me! Just be patient… :grinsJ
The door opened and the young man glanced at Jubilation in a plaid shirt, and a pair of oversized boxer shorts. Her hair was all askew of her face, and she blushed deeply with what he guessed was the afterglow of two newlyweds. "So, is everything to your liking?" he asked.
"Everythin's fine," Wolverine grunted as he moved up behind Jubilee, and slid in front of her, blocking the man's view.
"Easy, Logan, he's not touching anything," she whispered. They both laughed when they realized how much this man presumed, and how much of it was totally unfounded. However they could use it to their advantage as a cover story.
"Your breakfast sir… and my apologies for disturbing you," he said, nervous at the feral gleam in the other man's blue eyes, though he topped Logan by a foot.
"Thanks," Logan said levelly as he pulled out a twenty, and passed it to the man. "Keep the change. An' no more interruptions, bub, got it?"
"No phone calls, no nothing…" the man nodded. Nodding, Logan closed the door and locked it.
"Jeez Logan you didn't have to scare the snot out of him," Jubilee scolded him as he turned from the door, and carried the tray over to the small table in their room.
"Force o' habit," he said simply, yet gruffly. Possessiveness was overriding all else with a vengeance, and something about his deadly gaze that moment frightened and thrilled her. She was fast becoming closer as they had been exploring their ease with simple touches and endless kisses the past half-hour after the Professor had almost killed the mood. What had stopped the further progression was Logan's reluctant direction that they take it nice and slow.
"Black or light?" she asked, glancing at the coffee as she poured two mugs for them. He sniffed bacon, eggs, sausage, pancakes, and the whole nine yards of cholesterol clogging goodness. A small box of cereal had been procured for Jubilee with some fruit salad. He was half hoping she'd cut the birdfeed and eat something that would keep some meat on her bones. He'd suspected she didn't' eat much, falling under the pressures of the modern society.
"Flamin' skeleton broads on TV, makin' every woman think she's too damn fat unless she has her ribs showing. Ain't natural," he mumbled as Jubilee flipped channels in an attempt to slow things down as he'd suggested.
He took the coffee from her, and sat opposite her, smirking at how she was glowing. He hadn't even gotten started yet and she looked far more relaxed and happier than she had in years. Just how fast should he go? Granted possession was nine tenths of the law, and Jubilee was all but that last few fractions before he'd feel it was safe enough to cross second, third, and home plate. He still didn't want to overwhelm her with the full force of his passions, so he was being as delicate as he could.
"What was that, Logan?" she asked.
"Nothin' darlin, just jawin' with myself," he said.
"Last time you were talking to Ilyana and Mariko, mister. Better be up front and not be talking to other people without letting me in on it," Jubilee cautioned him as she spooned sugar and poured cream into his coffee.
He swallowed another swig, and realized she had the need to play domestic, so he let her. Logan waited for her to pour her cereal before he began attacking the large portions of breakfast before him. However he ate with precision and a certain formality that didn't suggest his inward nature. Table manners were never an issue unless he was in a bar, swigging down brews and arm wrestling at Cracklin' Rosa's. Then he'd cross the line and let his hair down proverbially. Jubilee had seen both extremes. She didn't drink in front of him for fear of him slipping into parent roll. If he knew she'd gotten wasted at that frat party sophomore year with Kitty he'd kill her.
"Whatcha thinkin' about, darlin?" he asked, noticing her pensive look.
"Nothing really, except that I feel pretty good here, with you. I know it's mushy but…"
"Ain't nothing wrong with saying what you feel," he said neutrally, not giving too much away for fear of coming on too strong. Once he'd decided this was the way to go, he knew he had to tread lightly. There were enough women either wanting to kill him, aching with broken hearts, or six feet under because of his difficult life.
"Oh man I forgot to take my meds, 'scuse me," she said as she got up and walked over. As she passed him, Wolverine grabbed her around the waist and planted her in his lap.
"What's this about pills darlin? You have something else ya wanna tell ol' Logan?"
"It's nothing… anti depressants n' all…"
"Maybe I've got a better cure all," he said. "Such as some things I learned in Japan… about meditation…"
Jubilee's glance wandered over the silk of his Japanese robe, a last gift from Mariko. She wondered why he was intent on her on banishing any desires she had to turn to chemicals for comfort when she had something he that would do just as well. Just what it was, remained to be seen.
"So, what is your big secret?"
"First things first. Stop with the twigs n' leaves n' sugar and forget about lookin' like those women on TV… they sure as hell don't exist in nature."
"Are you saying you prefer large women?" she joked.
"No I'm just sayin I don't want ya to disappear when ya turn sideways," he joked, then indicated the plate before him. "More than I want here darlin. Half of it's yours… if you decide to behave that is."
"Well, maybe I'll just have a bit of this… with the right incentive," she flirted, and found it so easy to illicit a response from him. Dmitry would choke if he saw this side of her. Quivering she felt a flush of desire sitting there, and leaned up for another kiss before he directed her attention to his food.
Jubilee had some fantasy of using food flirting, to show her seriousness. Especially when she remembered Rogue and Gambit in the kitchen with his gumbo soup, and Rogue had taken some from a spoon, and rubbed her belly. Gambit had seized her, and put the dishtowel over her lips and smooched her as he backed her over the table. As she thought of them she chuckled, and syrup ran down her chin.
Wolverine shook his head, and swore under his breath. He felt it was high time to change the subject, and said, "Look, let's get serious. What is going on with this medication? Is it for yer nightmares?"
"It's just something to help me get centered. Some of us don't have a healing factor…"
"Sooner or later it might not matter so much," he said slowly as he glanced at her.
"What does THAT mean?" Jubilee asked, wondering what he was talking about.
"Somethin' to do with what'll happen to ya… if you listen carefully to what I'm about to tell you… there's a way you can get your head on straight without all this…"
"Logan, what are you getting at?" she asked. "That meditation stuff?"
"Pretty much that… and some other techniques…" Wolverine said. "But there's something else that might come into play. It's never been much of an issue before, but I was askin' Hank about it since you joined the X-men…"
"Uh huh, and just WHAT have you been telling him that you can't share with me, huh?" Jubilee lifted an eyebrow, the tone in her voice half-annoyed, half-teasing.
"Settle down, Jubes, it's all good. He told me yer powers… and you know this from the tests he ran since ya came back to the X-men… give you this ability to not only create fireworks by plasma… but something else… having t' do with…"
"The fundamental structure of atoms, yes don't be so shocked. I already know. But what has THAT got to do with my not needing pills? Unless you're going to tell me that cause I can do this, I can somehow make my own mind stop..."
"That, an something else. It's because you and I've been pretty much a team for the most part… granted 4 years we weren't around each other. But it happens that sometimes… close friends n' family of mine, and colleagues… there's some side benefits that happen to 'em…. And it has something to do with my healing factor… sort of…"
"Glad you made THAT clear," she said. "Spit it out ok? I'm legal…"
"Well, ya noticed Mariko, an' others I've been with in the biblical sense, n' then there's people who've been in close physical contact, cause of fightin' all the time… or happening to touch my skin for extended periods over years… I mean been with…" and here Jubilee blushed and pulled away slightly with embarrassment. "Well you remember Silver Fox…"
"She was part of an experiment like you… but you said she had your healing factor…"
"Not really… well yes she did, but she n' Maverick, N' Sabretooth an' me trained together. There was lots of chance fer us t' be in close proximity."
"You are really starting to scare me here, Logan, this makes NO sense…" Jubilee said.
"Work with me… I'm tryin' to say, the healing factor… well Sabertooth n' me were the only ones at first who had it… but since we worked elbow to elbow w/ the other 2, after a time, our healin' factors started to rub off on our team mates. N Silver Fox was the one who benefited most…"
"Oho you mean…"
"Something like that. Look at Yuriko…"
"Asian women are pretty notorious for looking young," Jubilee said with a hint of pride. "And it ain't pearl cream…"
"Work with me… what I'm sayin' is that in some cases my healin' factor… can rub off on someone I'm… pretty darn close to on a regular basis…'
"You're joking, right?" Jubilee stared at him in disbelief.
"Ask Hank about some research he did on me and Sabertooth. If ya don't' believe me," he said. "But when ya get down to thinking about it, with all the physical contact, my healing factor extends through all of me. Inside AN outside… on the surface of my skin… in my blood, an in my sweat… but it's NOT what yer thinking darlin… not THAT…"
"Every time you…" Jubilee trailed off. "Wait a MINUTE, Silver Fox, and Yuriko were your girlfriends… I can pretty much GUESS what you mean there… but come on…"
"Any physical contact for prolonged periods, includin' breathing the same air, touching skin to skin… shakin' hands, holdin' hands, fighting n' sparring… the effect's diluted… but apart from Kitty, you're the only other X-man who I've been close to as much as a parent n' a child," Wolverine explained. "Every embrace, every time I've held your hand… cause of yer unique mutant power to change atomic structures to make plasmas… somehow some of my mutant immune system… the skin cells on my hands, the immunoreceptors or something have been extending to you."
"So cause you were closest to me like a blood relative, you're telling me that your immune system has somehow reached out to me? That' s hard to believe," Jubilee shook her head.
"I know its nuts, darlin. But you n' me have gone through hell together. Been there for one another. It forms a bond. And given enough energy, my mutant healing factor can regenerate body tissues. I don't know HOW it could extend to other people I consider family… but because of the energy of yer mutant powers… each time I've hugged ya, or kissed ya goodnight, or sparred with ya, or held yer hand cause you've been scared to death… my skin touches yours, an for that brief instant, your body takes up some of those skin cells and somehow the immunity gets passed on. Same thing if you're breathin' some of the air I am…"
"This is just… way too weird," Jubilee shook her head.
"Think of how some mutants connect in some weird way. Mind t' mind. You n' I share a bond, kiddo. I've always looked out fer ya and you for me. We've saved each other's lives more times then either of us kept track…"
"And that's why I consider you like a parent," Jubilee trailed off. Her headache was gone, but that was silly. A few kisses couldn't just…
"When ya think about it," he coughed, as if admitting something very personal. "I gotta level with ya about it. Like yer scent is all over me, and mine's all over you now. That's what makes you so vulnerable… and dangerous. Cause I've marked ya, to put it blunt, and you know what that means…"
"Creed," she gritted. "Not just me but…"
"The rest of the X-men too," said Wolverine. "But my scent's on you the most lately cause we've been spending lots of time together… that means anyone else who's got a nose like mine'll know it. An if anything happens to ya, heaven help the guy who's responsible. Cause he'll have to reckon with these… cause I take care of me and mine," he said, wrist flexing. "An that's one instinct I can't stop all the time…"
"So I'm a piece of your territory? That's Neanderthal caveman stuff…" she joked. "Next you'll be draggin me around by my hair."
"It ain't funny, darlin, I'm dead serious here…" Wolverine said. "You know that animal side o' me. I'm a man, but I'm also wild. An' when animals are in the same pack, they'll die for their fellow pack mates. I'd have died for Silver Fox, Maverick, n that bastard Creed…"
"You almost killed him because you thought he 'wasted' them…" Jubilee nodded, shaking her head. "And when the other X-men have always been in trouble, you've been willing to die for them… because we're your family…"
"Yep," he nodded.
"Even Yuriko," she said softly. "But she rejected you…"
"Bond's strong, be it lover or best friend, or teammate. Lovers most of all. That's why she was so angry n' stuff, and able to take whatever they did to her t; make her as deadly as me. I can reject it, but it's like losin' a piece of myself, an Silver Fox… the thought of never seeing her again flamin' near drove me over the edge…"
"God Logan…" she said softly.
"So ya see, I want ya to know now what we're up against here. Because you're here with me, that makes you vulnerable. But at least the X-men are spared. An there's a damn good reason I'm sure that these nightmares started again with Creed, since it's been exactly one year since you said he attacked. Because I've been havin' the same kinda dreams…"
"You could have TOLD me," she glared at him.
"What, and totally freak you out even more?" Wolverine glared at her. "You've got ENOUGH going on… why'd you think Charlie gave us that warning about what we're 'embarking upon'? He knew what was happening… and he has this blame idea that if we follow these 'dreams' I'm only gonna lead you to some mess like I almost did when I met up with my old teammates…"
"You mean you and me are in synch?" she asked, choking on the last word.
"That's the size of it darlin'…"
"Speaking of… I have another question," she blushed.
"Ask away," he said as he watched her eat another piece of bacon. The food was fast disappearing as they talked to Logan's relief. She seemed pretty open to all of this. There were more tests ahead to see if she was really on the right road to regaining her sanity. To judge if the journey that he was taking her on would reach its logical conclusion. He had to be absolutely sure she was up to it.
"How long do you think I'm gonna have to stay away… since you decided to tag along… I mean I was thinking of leaving… but I didn't really have anywhere in mind I was going… except maybe…"
"Back to Dmitri?" he asked. "Was that where you were thinkin' of maybe going?"
"Yeah, I guess that was gonna come up sooner or later…"
"No secrets darlin', what does he mean to you," he asked gruffly. "Is he a friend, or something more? Did he HURT you in any way cause if he did…"
"You can't get angry and skewer every guy who's looked at me funny!" she said angrily.
"I don't intend to. Should I want to hurt him?" he asked with a low growl.
"No. You should trust me, when I say he didn't hurt me. Not the way you think. In fact we were pretty close… till recently" she said angrily.
"How close?" Logan asked. "Was HE your fiancée? Why didn't you let me in on this?"
"Stop worrying about that… do you want me to tell you or not?"
"Ya said you had a friend named Dmitri, but ya never told me you were…"
"You weren't there, so whom COULD I tell?" Jubilee snapped.
That hurt, Wolverine decided. But he deserved it; at least he figured he did. Those few times at the Massachusetts academy when she needed him he'd showed up. However in college he was dragged into other matters. "So, how serious WAS it?"
"Pretty serious. But I guess I put off telling you just HOW much cause I was scared he'd have difficulty breathing when you got through with them…"
"So, he did or did NOT hurt you?" asked Logan.
"Logan, please, I know you can go nuts, but you gotta promise me you won't flip out just when I'm trying to explain!"
"He wanted to own ya, is that it?" Logan growled, getting up from his chair. His wrist flexed, but he didn't pop his claws. He knew it wouldn't help.
"Yes, and I don't want to be a thing someone owns…"
"When I say yer mine I don't mean like own ya as in as if you were my MATE or anything," he blurted out, and then fell silent. Jubilee felt a flush come over her, and she hugged herself. "I meant that you're part of my family… a close part and if he's…"
"I was engaged to him. But he wanted more from me than I could give him. And there were things he was wrapped up in that scared me… and I HAD to get away… Promise you won't shish kabob him…"
"So, you broke it off, right? And that's why you didn't tell me cause…" he trailed off.
" Had a feeling if I did marry him I'd hate myself for the rest of my life… because of some underhanded stuff he and his family were involved with. Criminal activity. He was TRYING to set it right, but I didn't like the way he was going about DOING it… and how he wanted to involve me in it…"
"That's a pretty tall order darlin," Wolverine muttered, flexing his wrists back and forth as he willed himself not to unsheathe the claws and make another threat on whoever had designs on Jubilee to make her theirs instead of his.
"It's over. That's why I didn't marry him," she trailed off, almost going to bring up Everett and Angelo, but trailed off when she saw the dangerous look on his face. "
"So he didn't hurt ya did he… or mind twist ya… but what was it he wanted to drag you into? I need to know Jubilee. And what did it have to do with Creed and yer nightmares?"
"He never abused me or put his hands on me. But he was possessive and jealous. He always talked like we were already married for five years. He had all these plans for 'us' and he didn't ask me first. So Logan, I'm asking myself why I was so stupid not to see it till almost too late…"
"The nightmares darlin' tell me all," he said. "Creed got close… and then… if it wasn't for Kitty… and somehow it's ALL connected to Dmitry… you never explained just HOW he's worked into all this. I know Kitty mentioned I'd have to ask you…"
"Creed never got past hitting me. Dmitry saved my life. I let that have a claim over me… and almost lost myself to him and the dream he had for us. I was alone, you were gone… you'd lost your adamantium. I needed something to anchor me… and Dmitry was my world. Kitty was there too, but she promised me she wouldn't tell you because I was worried that you'd blame yourself… and never want to trust me because I didn't let you in on…"
"Darlin, I'm sorry," Wolverine closed his eyes and flopped on the chair again. "If I'd known… I took ya for granted…"
"I forgive you," she said with a sad smile. "So I ran away… I guess I learned from the best…"
Wolverine growled again. Sighing he turned his head to look at her as she turned to him still a few feet separating them. "So, what are we up against with Dmitri? He still want you?"
"I don't know, Logan. Part of me still loves him. He only acted cause he loves me. But when I left to come back here, I didn't tell him where I was going… except I was leaving to go home. He's a powerful man on account of his daddy. And one of the reasons I broke up with him involved his family's association with the Hellfire club…"
"Ooh so little mister right was caught with his hand in the cookie jar?" Wolverine smirked despite himself. "He wasn't the good little golden boy."
"Logan," she chuckled. "Well Sebastian Shaw and his dad were old business partners. And I think Creed was somehow connected to him. I remember seeing pictures and old computer files with images on them after I started digging, with Kitty's help. Turns out that the Creeds have ties to Dmitry's past. Victor Creed was an arms runner smuggler and an operative with his dad's company…"
"Cripes," Wolverine groaned.
"I didn't want to believe it at first. We both started digging, but someone managed to trace that we were tapping into company files. Before I knew it, Creed had been spotted around the apartment I shared with Dmitry…" she said, and noticed Logan's eyes widening at the admission she'd been living with a man that he'd hardly known.
"Go on…"
"And then one day when I came back from class my senior spring semester, I couldn't find him. That's when I heard Sabertooth, and saw broken glass. And then… if it wasn't for Dmitry coming home… and using his mutant powers to barbecue Creed, I'd have been dog food…"
Another round of pancakes, and Jubilee was stunned with how much food they ordered till she consumed at least half what he did, and that was enough to feed a linebacker. She shivered as she caught herself watching his tongue licking syrup off his chin. Get a grip Jubilee she told herself while watching him eating a piece of bacon.
Wolverine poured her more coffee, and sat next to her on the sofa. It was two hours later since she'd been relating her story, and he slid his arm around her shaking shoulders. Feeling her trembling leg pressed to him shot a strange bolt of something forbidden through his body, which he quickly banished. An entire segment of her life fell into place, and he knew their mutual enemy strengthened the bond that connected him to her.
"W hen Kitty came to get me at the hospital after… after Creed almost… well she said she had some bad news… and then the rest you know…" Jubilee said. "Emma Frost used her mental powers to block out my memories. Only more recently have they been bubbling up… I guess coming back to the X-men made them resurface…"
"Creed was a slippery jerk, but this takes all, darlin," Wolverine said as they sat together at the table. He had her hand in his, and she told everything now. It was easier after the confessions started.
"I think that's why he attacked me, because of you and because of Dmitry. Because Dmitry wasn't using his services anymore. His dad was setting the record straight. Creed had gotten too difficult to control…"
"Wish I knew this, damn…" he muttered, rubbing his face. Just when he thought he knew everything about his enemy…
"I guess it goes back before the project…"
"Yep," Wolverine winced. "So, anything else I shouldn't know?"
"Dmitry wants to use mutant powers to profit mutants. Not to fight like the X-men. He wanted me to quit and settle down. And promise never to have anything to do with the X Men ever again."
"Pretty tall order," Wolverine growled, suppressing his anger again. "Who does that clown think he is?"
"So you see that's what I walked away from. That and the fact that Emma frost's whammy on me was coming loose…"
"Kitty had said you'd had your memories blocked. Of all the flaming stupid…" Wolverine trailed off. The similarities were too painfully obvious. They were two of a kind.
"I refused Jean and the Professor's help. I didn't want them to know all of this. I didn't want them to think they couldn't trust me…"
"Jubes, you can tell me anythin'. I'm glad we did get away. Damn…"
"I wanted to be free…" she said softly.
"Sounds familiar, don't it," he mumbled. "So what do ya wanna do? You can't seriously look me in the eye and tell me you want to go BACK to Dmitry..."
"I have to face him sometime, but not yet. Besides, where were YOU going? You mentioned the 'Alpha bits'," she chuckled. "Does it have anything to do with…"
"Department H," he said. "Funny thing is, it might eventually tie into your problem…"
"Okay, now you're holding out on me?" Jubilee twisted her lips into an ironic smile.
"I didn't tell ya everything. Creed was a mistake on their part. I was their perfected little weapon. An' that wasn't ALL that they had on the plan for me… they wanted me to be a flamin' leader like Cyke... for their pet team..."
"Alpha Flight," Jubilee said. Wolverine froze.
"Who told ya about them?"
"Oh come on Logan, everyone knows about them. Like Excalibur. They're only a bunch of superheroes like us! I could figure out what was going on… and your connection to 'em."
"Sorry bout that," he apologized. "Didn't give ya much credit."
"I'll forgive you for now," she said half seriously, but the twinkle in her blue eyes reassured him she was teasing. "But is that where we were headed?"
"Partly yes. I got some email the other month from Heather Hudson. Seems her hubby's had an accident. He can't lead the team no more… spinal injury, from the neck down…"
"So... he's vindicator?" Jubilee said. "And the same man who found you…"
"Yep," he said. "An I guess I feel sorry for the poor guy, especially Heather. So I'm gonna throw him a bone…"
"You're going to… do what you never wanted?" she asked.
"I'm gonna have to train Heather t' put the threads on. She said she wanted to do it. I wanna convince her she might be better off not doin' it. It's too dangerous for…"
"If you say it's too dangerous for a woman I'll bop you!" Jubilee held up her hand, sizzling with a low power paff.
"Sorry, but she's not Storm. She's a scientist. And she has no business putting on that monkey suit…"
"So's Hank. And he's…"
"This is different darlin. She's had no combat training like you, Storm, me or any of the other people. So I haveta find someone in the team who can lead. An' I gotta be an example…" he muttered. "Even though I didn't think I'd see the day I'd be their damn leader…" Logan muttered as if spitting out a bitter taste. "So… if yer up to it, I'm gonna put on the threads and meet up with them… near their trainin' camp about three miles from here…"
"What about the people here… won't they get wise to us if they see two costumed superheroes come outta here?" Jubilee asked.
"Nope. They've got a tie to the Department," Wolverine said. "Why else didja think I chose this joint…"
"No way, they're agents?" asked Jubilee. Wolverine nodded as he got up, and walked over to his duffle bag. He started pulling out the black, blue and yellow suit she was so familiar with. But there was no x buckle logo on the belt. Rather just a simple wide red belt with a brass buckle. No ties to the X-men.
He lay it on the bed, and Jubilee saw him remove his robe. He blushed and then stopped. "Sorry takes getting' used to…"
"I won't look if you don't want," Jubilee laughed at how silly he was being. "Besides, I've gotta get my gear on too, huh?"
"I was hoping ya'd be in for this. I need yer backup…" he said. "Even if it's just moral support… Heather's a tough broad… and maybe I could fight fire with fire if it came down to it…"
"I'm your girl," she said as she grabbed her bag.
Jubilee was annoyed about the bathroom situation. She normally wouldn't have cared, but it seemed that if they WERE posing as honeymooners, and acting out in every sense except for the ceremonies, they'd have the sense to put a tub in their bathroom. As she walked down the corridor she got a strange look from one of the other hotel guests. Rubbing her wet hair with the other towel, she tied Logan's red silk bathrobe about her body more securely. She reached for her key and unlocked the door quietly.
Stepping inside, she caught a glimpse of his bare back, rippling with muscle as he tugged his tights on, and slid his sleeveless top on over his shoulders. He turned quickly at the sound of her walking in, and then glanced back at the wall. "Jubes, don't creep up on a man when he's about to skewer ya!"
"You wouldn't hurt me, Logan," she laughed as she closed and locked the door behind her. "I've got my eyes shut, k? I'll just go into the bathroom…."
"Forget it darlin'. I'll just look the other way like I've always done," Logan said. "And I DID hear you halfway down the hall. I just figured you'd knock…"
"So sue me," Jubilee joked back, stopping her heart from pounding. She saw him grab something else from his bag before glancing in the opposite direction. Digging into her bag she pulled out the small neat bundle of red and gold. Wolverine had not seen her often in it. She picked up her bodysuit and wriggled into it, fastening the seamless zipper with a grunt. The unstable molecules yielded and she pulled her gloves on. She hesitated putting on the simple red facemask, and realized Wolverine had probably gotten a glimpse of her bare back while changing. Not that she minded at all. He'd have to get used to a lot more if they were going to continue this trip together. She wasn't a child anymore, and he would have to deal.
Wolverine stood there once more, as he tugged his mask on. She pulled on hers as well, knowing they had to transform from what they were to the heroes that people knew. She glanced at her GenX logo and toyed with taking it off before he stopped her.
"Don't bother Jubilee, you're not leaving the X-men. I'm not either, but I gotta look convincing for them…" he said.
"I'm your partner, right?" Jubilee asked as she pulled off the badge and tossed it into her bag. "So… what do you think?"
"Suit's too damn tight," he growled. "Can't leave anything to the imagination…"
"If I knew this would get your attention, I'd have worn it sooner," she teased.
"Don't mess with me, kid. Better be careful what ya wish for," Wolverine growled audibly, stepping up the volume as he let the costume do its work. "Cause ya may get it…"
"Is that a challenge?" Jubilee asked as she opened the window.
"No, just a friendly warning that I don't like mind games. An you shouldn't either," Logan said curtly. Jubilee glanced out the window, seeing if there was any sign of anything that shouldn't be there.
"Sorry," she said slowly. "So, who's going to meet with us and where?"
Wolverine tossed her jacket to her. "We need a bit o' cover for a while."
"All right," she said. "But out things…"
"Leave 'em here. Who's gonna know? Ready to roll?"
"Always," she nodded as she followed him down the stairs, and locked the door to their room. They didn't get so many stares with their tops covered at least, and she followed him to the cycle. Both of them climbed on, and Jubilee fastened her helmet. Wolverine kickstarted the Harley and it rumbled to life beneath them. She hugged him close and he grunted with satisfaction that she was close to his body still. Every part of her still tingled, and she lurched into him as the cycle sped away from the inn and into the winding road that led deeper into the mountains.
