My thanks to dizy, b oots, and all of you other great people who have reviewed this story so far! I hope this chapter is worth the wait!
Chapter 12
"The story from day one involves Dnepper-Kiev Conglomerates," said Mac. "They supply many of the electronics components used by Department H…"
"Dnepper… who?" asked Jubilee, shivering.
"Yes, that is correct," said Mac. "You are familiar with the name?"
"Yeah… they're some electronics firm all right," she mumbled. Logan noticed her flinch, and grumbled to himself. Of all the rotten luck! But it was coincidence, wasn't it?
"Apparently Genosha was manufacturing Dnepper-Kiev's electronics components in a factory that had been opened there ten years ago. There was protestation that jobs had gone to the 'mutate' workers. That mutants were being 'exploited' and working under unsafe conditions… naturally the Genoshan Freedom Force investigated, and the operations were 'cancelled.' When the owners learned of the situation, they apparently cleaned up their act. Dnepper-Kiev became one of the top corporations, known for employing mutants in their own version of Affirmative Action..."
"I remember that," said Northstar. "I worked at that stinking factory till I was brought back from Genosha… things weren't as nice and neat as they wanted us to believe. But thankfully the Freedom Force got our butts out of there…"
"Ex Freedom Force members?" asked Logan.
"Well there were a few who had questionable pasts. Like the Blob, Pyro, and Avalanche…"
"Oh God, those clowns," Logan groaned. "They're working for the Brotherhood!"
"They were part of the Genoshan Freedom force for a while…" said Northstar. "At least till Department H brought my sister and me back to Alpha Flight. Then the team found out the unsavory past of them and they were suddenly 'deported' and returned to the US…"
"Brotherhood of Mutant Terrorist plants," said Heather Hudson.
"That was a nasty caper," Walter shivered. "God."
"Don't remind me…"
"Focus people, focus," Logan said firmly. "Anyway, so there's THAT connection. Now what is…"
"I'm getting to it, Logan," said Mac. "Five years ago, Department H was called in to stop the smuggling of Supernova in from south of the border…"
"Supernova's a mutant enhancing drug… boosts mutant powers through the roof," Aurora explained to Jubilee who shivered. "Outlawed in the US… but there were some hospitals in Canada that used it and till lately used with other Weapon X projects…"
"Did you guys take it?" Jubilee asked.
"Only till we had completed training. Then Shaman realized it was nasty stuff. Took a long time to get us detoxed," said Northstar angrily.
"Those were not Alpha Flight's best years I remember," Logan rolled his eyes. "But moving on…"
"God you guys were on some mutant version of STEROIDS?" Jubilee widened her eyes. "God…"
"An unfortunate mistake which was NEVER repeated," Mac said firmly. "WE had thought that the drug smuggling operation had been broken. But two years ago, reports surfaced of mutant smugglers supplying Supernova to many of the criminal elements. Alpha Flight and X Force were facing more and more crime lords and criminal elements with enhanced strength."
"Criminals who were ordinary humans," Shaman corrected. "The Supernova when used by a mutant enhances the natural mutant powers to up to five times their usual performance for a period of 12 hours. But when used by non-mutants, it boosts strength and endurance ten times. The drawback is that the user suffers extreme fatigue for two days afterwards… however the body soon recovers."
"God," Jubilee flinched. "So these goons were superjuiced?"
"Yes. Non mutants were not as susceptible to Supernova's addictive and secondary effects," Heather Hudson said. "Thus criminals such as the King Pin, and the Hellfire contingent had ready made thugs to do their dirty work. Mutants could be suspected, but there was no proof…"
"Dnepper-Kiev electronics deliveries were often used as a fence for Supernova transport up to Canada. The situation was temporarily alleviated when the company passed into public ownership by wealthy mutants such as the Worthington Foundation, and Braddock Enterprises. But the latest CEO has reported that his company is again being utilized for illegal transport of Supernova into Canada…" said Mac.
"What's so all fired special about Dnepper-Kiev?" asked Logan.
"They use mutants with natural flight capabilities to transport their components. All the employees are in fact mutants. They save money by employing mutants that have abilities capable of being commercially exploited," Heather Hudson nodded.
"Exploited's a 'harsh' word," Jubilee mumbled.
"Well not so much 'exploited'… more like put to good use," said Shaman. "Heather… try to watch the lingo?"
"I apologize," said Heather as she blushed.
"S'ok," Jubilee mumbled, folding her arms across her chest.
"And we're being called in to stop this latest drug operation?" Wolverine said. "Is that it?"
"Yes. The CEO of Dnepper-Kiev himself is flying up sometime today to supply us with the latest particulars. According to the memo he supplied to Department H, he was conducting a personal investigation into his company, and he found Shaw Enterprises was attempting to buy him out and initiate a hostile takeover. Shaw bought his eastern branch from the former CEO. However the damage was done…" said Mac. "Key employees were replaced by new hires, and each one of them were Brotherhood members…"
"God, how did he pull THAT off?" Logan asked.
"One of his former employees had some pull with the former CEO. He knew that some of the CEO's immediate family was addicted to Supernova. He is currently recovering and has been clean of Supernova with help from Department H..."
"A drug user in his family?" Jubilee shivered. "It can't be…"
"This makes NO sense, but continue," Logan mumbled, shaking his head.
"One of the major symptoms of Supernova addiction is memory loss and loss of control of powers. The CEO has managed to have the best scientists available through Department H to come clean. He's pledged to help us by supplying the inside information on the employees who were Brotherhood members…"
"So, who's the CEO?" asked Wolverine. "Or is that his codename?"
"He's named Mr. Ravina. You will meet him in an hour. His plane just landed in Toronto," Mac said as he glanced at his display.
"And who are these 'employees or ex employees'?" Logan asked.
"They are known by their monikers. Avalanche, Pyro, Misty, and Sabretooth…" said Mac.
"Oh god," Jubilee shivered. Logan frowned.
"And what does HE want to do with us?" asked Logan.
"He wants to see how we operate. And he himself will pick the operatives for a team to go undercover in his company… and then catch the brotherhood mutants as they try to complete a supply run…" said Mac. "So he'll be training with all of you…"
"It can't be," Jubilee mumbled.
"This is gonna be interesting…" Logan said. "Some pencil necked mamma's boy working as an operative?"
"He has considerable mutant powers. Considering that the Brotherhood members had previous rivalries with the X men, your former association with them could be detrimental. Hence the code name changes," said Heather.
"Fine. Let's all take a powder and figure this out," Logan said as he saw Jubilee grow very quiet. "And meet on the training course for a morning shakedown. I wanna see what you're all made of…"
"Sounds good Logan," said Mac. "Then we'll introduce you to the CEO… and see if your prediction is right or not… you might be rather surprised…"
"Jubes, ya okay?" Wolverine asked as she got up and followed the others.
"Oh I'm okay… it's just…"
"Sabretooth huh," Logan nodded. Jubilee smiled weakly as he slid his arm around her shoulders.
"I'll be ok… I just…"
"I promised ya I'd make sure you'd be safe. These clowns might be crazy, but they are a good team. We'll be able to knock his ass off balance. He's not expectin' Alpha Flight… the X men maybe, but not us…" Logan reassured her. She treasured the feel of his arm around her hips as they walked past Shaman and Snowbird. The two of them were quietly talking.
Puck and Northstar walked by hand in hand, and Aurora and Walter Langowski were grabbing coffee from the back of the refreshment area. "So, one of your old enemies on the slate, huh?" asked Northstar.
"You know it, pretty boy," Logan grumbled.
"You know what THAT means," Puck grumbled back. "Tote out the old moves?"
"You bet," Logan nodded.
"I hate to even ASK what that is…" Northstar grimaced. "But we HAVE fought that flea-bitten mongrel before… and succeeded…"
"Barely, brother," said Aurora. "If not for Walter here…"
"Got a pretty nasty pounding from me," said Walter. "But his claws almost gutted the crap out of me. If not for Shaman's fast healing charm…"
"How DID you settle his hash?" Wolverine asked.
"Snowbird did," said Shaman.
"Don't remind me," she shivered.
"What didja do, sweetheart?" Logan asked.
"I… I took the form of a ferocious animal. And tore him within an inch of his life…"
"What animal?" Jubilee asked.
"That's the funny part. Since YOU were around, no offense… she picked your namesake…"
"Good Lord, you didn't," Logan groaned. "You KNOW that could be a problem Queenie… you could get stuck…"
"I know," she said softly. "Shaman made certain to use his transformation spell to free me…"
"I'm sorry I wish I was there," Logan said as he rested his hand on her shoulder. "Shit…"
"It is all right, Logan," said Snowbird with a brave smile. "It could not be helped."
"This time, he's dead," Jubilee said angrily, her fist sparkling.
"Got some plans on him yourself?" asked Northstar.
"Yeah, hell yeah," Jubilee gritted.
"Stand in line," Northstar said. "Cause he almost killed my sister. I owe the bastard a good slam in the a…"
"Brother, don't," Aurora winced. "This is no time to be pulling the testosterone out…"
"This ain't a macho craphead trip," Jubilee said angrily.
"Jubes, getting angry without focus ain't gonna help. Beserker rage woulda served in the past, but he'll be expecting us to ape out," Wolverine said. "This time I'm gonna settle him with something he's not expecting… a hell of a lotta finesse…"
"Sounds interesting," said Northstar.
"And he's not the only threat. Remember the others…" said Snowbird.
"Don't remind me…" said Jubilee. "That Misty bitch and I go way back. Bad blood and all. You really gotta watch yourselves around her…"
"Let's go then… what are we WAITING for?" Northstar asked.
"Go call," Logan said as he motioned to the door. Everyone fell in behind him, and Jubilee hung back for a moment.
"Coming?" Northstar asked her.
"Yeah…"
"Come on… we'll need your help," Northstar said.
"Jubes?" Logan asked.
"Go on ahead…" Jubilee said. The others rushed to the transport bus, while Northstar and Jubilee stood just outside the entrance.
"I noticed you seemed disturbed at the mention of the company," Northstar said as he rested a hand on her shoulder. "Is something wrong?"
"Yeah… no… I mean…"
"You can trust me," Northstar said. "We are teammates. Be assured what is mentioned will stay between us…"
"Thanks, Jean P…" she said with a sigh.
"How do you know of Dnepper-Kiev. Do you know the CEO?"
"IS it that obvious?"
"It's written on your face. You were horrified at the thought of him coming here… did you have some personal involvement?"
"Yeah… but don't tell Wolvie… please… I don't wanna mess things up…" Jubilee said as she grabbed his wrist. "Please Northstar…"
"You should tell him. It might be extremely important…" said Northstar.
"My problems don't' matter."
"They do to Logan," said Northstar. "I'm no idiot, Jubilee. I've seen the way he looks at you. He loves you!"
"I… now wait a minute…"
"You think because I like men that I don't understand your problems? You're wrong, Jubilee, because I love Puck just like you love Logan. And if either of us kept anything like THAT from the other we'd have some serious garbage to face…"
"No it's not THAT," Jubilee shivered. "I mean I… I'm cool with you liking men and all. That's NOT the problem here okay? It's sweet of ya to try and be my friend, but I can't let my personal feelings…"
"Why ever not?" said Northstar. "Maybe the X Men were different, but Alpha Flight knows how to separate business and pleasure, but still allow for relationships. We find strength in interpersonal connections. It's not discouraged for members to be romantically involved. Because when one is in danger we fight all the harder. We're a family… and we stick together."
"Family, yeah," Jubilee sighed.
"You and the CEO… did you have a very personal history?"
"Close to it. The CEO was gonna be my father in law. The CEO's son and I… were engaged…"
"Merde," Northstar whispered. "When?"
"Up till three months ago, just before I rejoined the X-Men. My powers were going screwy… and I couldn't remember what had been going on the last year…"
"Jubilee…" said Northstar. "You can tell me… I think you'd feel better having SOMEONE know…"
"We'd better get to the course…"
"I can fly you there in a blink. Tell me first," Northstar insisted, taking her hand. "Please."
"Well that's just it… I can hardly remember all of what happened in the last two years. I was in college and I was engaged to him. And he saved me from Creed… who worked for his dad… just like Mac said. And he was good to me… but the rest is a blur. I've been remembering things… things that were sealed away…"
"Sealed away?"
"Emma Frost, the lady who ran my old school the Massachusetts academy… she used her powers to try and get me to forget. Cause she figured that my powers were going screwy cause of the trauma. I went to college, and I met my fiancée. Then I started having more problems with my powers. My fiancé Dmitry had another telepath START to work on me… and for a while I had forgotten EVERYTHING. But I knew something was wrong because I forgot a WHOLE lot more than I should… and then the nightmares started…"
"Nightmares?" Jean Paul asked, frowning even more than she thought possible. Those arms crossed over his muscular chest, and she saw the anger was out of brotherly concern, just like the look Remy would often get when he heard of her problems.
"I started having major flashbacks only at night. Setting fire to things. And then I remembered that I had been an X Man… and that somehow his psychics had tried to block THAT out…"
"Mon Dieu… you mean he tried to get you to forget who you were? Why?"
"He didn't get me to DOWNRIGHT forget. Only the bad stuff. And try and soften it…" said Jubilee. "I was taking medication to help me… and then…"
"Why are you defending him?" asked Northstar. "Seems to me he was a looser."
"No he wasn't… he saved me from Creed! And his doctors gave me the best treatments. I was happy… but then I realized they had made a mistake. Suppressing the memories… and then I started to remember EVERYTHING when I came to the X mansion… being around familiar surroundings. I was furious at him, but I understood why… because…"
"Merde, Jubilee… you shouldn't have someone screwing with your head it's NOT right!" Northstar exploded.
"But he cared for me…"
"If he cared so much why are you here with Logan instead of him? Seems to me that if he was so helpful you wouldn't be here talking to me now…" asked Northstar.
"I know you're right but…"
"Jubilee, you HAVE to tell Logan. He's the leader… and he's the man who supposedly loves you…"
"Northstar… Jean-Paul, I can't…" Jubilee said as he gently took her shoulders.
"Jubilee… Logan might be a jerk sometimes, but he's really turned into a human being since we last ran into him. I think you have a good effect on him. If you love him, you have to let him protect you. I know of all people how hard it is to open up to the ones you love. Before I was with Puck, I didn't let anyone know anything. But when you have the one you love on your side, anything's possible. There isn't anything that's so nasty that you have to face it alone…"
"Jean-Paul, that means so much to me…" Jubilee choked, squeezing his hands and he slid them off her arms and clasped both gently before them. "God you and everyone… it's like Gen X… and the X men used to be…"
"You're not only a teammate but a friend. Both Jeanne Marie and I are on your side. And I know the rest of Alpha Flight would back you up whatever the problems were. I mean any outfit that accepts a prodigal son like Logan can easily list you among its members. You passed the test, and I don't give my trust easily."
Jubilee chuckled sadly, and let Jean Paul pull her into a hug. It felt comforting, just like when Remy, or Storm, or Rogue would, and she felt a kindred spirit in this man that she didn't think she'd find since Angelo and Paige. Or Jono. Jono would have gotten along great with Jean-Paul she was sure. God knows he might have been a riot when dealing with the others garbage. Monet would have her hands full keeping up with Northstar and Aurora both, and their attitudes.
"I won't tell him. Not YET anyway…"
"All right Jubilee, it's up to you…" Jean-Paul sighed.
"Jean Paul, thank you…" she said softly.
"You're welcome. Now are you all right?" he asked, releasing her.
"How fast DO you fly?"
"Let's find out. But this discussion's NOT over, Cherie," Northstar said. Jubilee sniffled at the endearment because it reminded her of Gambit. Gently he picked her up and streaked off after the transport with her. She knew she had found another friend and confidant in Alpha Flight.
On the very training course Logan and Jubilee had dueled upon, Alpha Flight was conducting their first combat training under the direction of Wolverine. Instead of his mask, he let his face visible to the open air, his dark hair fluttering free. Blue eyes judged each team member's reaction to a stressful situation. It was a modified Danger Room drill he had seen Cyclops perform so many times.
Each teammate would attack another, and then another would come to the rescue. They had to think on their feet, how to complement each other's weaknesses with their strengths. Some of the teammates were obstacles, while the others were the targets. Just who was who when depended on Logan's directions, and his private signals over their comlinks. He was judging how easily they followed his orders and directions.
So far they were impressing him. The X Men weren't quite so responsive, and Logan was feeling some degree of frustration the irst ten minutes. He realized what Scott and Professor X must go through each time. Little by little he had gotten the feel for what everyone could do, and he had to say he was very impressed. Alpha Flight had a lot of raw power, and they were defering to him in a way he hadn't expected. Whether it was Heather's insistence or the fact he really HAD mellowed, he was greatful. And also, Logan realized he DID like being in charge for a change.
"All right, Northstar, you get Firecracker and let it RIP…" Wolverine barked. He streaked forwards, bearing her and a series of fireflashes slammed left and right. Puck cartwheeled away, and Aurora shot past, bearing Walter.
"Drop the Bigfoot!" Wolverine barked. Walter shifted form and landed right in front of Vindicator.
Heather Hudson yelped, sharply correcting her course just in the nick of time. However Aurora streaked past, and extended her hand to Northstar. Fingers touched, and a blinding flash erupted in front of Guardian.
She spun out of control. "Snowbird!" Wolverine yelled.
The elemental shifted, and streaked out to catch her in a pair of talons. Heather moaned in the grip of a great snowy owl, and recovered slowly as Snowbird flew her past the safety zone. "Shaman, hit it!" yelled Wolverine. "Stop the twins!"
"One fog coming up," Shaman said as he streaked past on his levitation charm. A mist cloaked the battlefield, blinding and disorienting everyone.
"Firecracker, vaporize it!" Logan yelled. Jubilee set out a series of bursts that lit up around the zone, and Logan rushed out, using his sense of smell alone to locate their 'target'.
He felt Northstar taking hold of him, and gasped as he flew over the snow quickly. He leapt up, and onto the man's back. The speedster twisted into a corkscrew configuration, dropping Jubilee, who was caught by Aurora. A quick sharp course correction sent Logan plummeting like a stone.
He landed opposite a savage white tiger, whose fangs were bared. Snowbird leapt on him, and they rolled over and over, claws and fangs gleaming. Aurora and Northstar managed to rejoin hands, and the white flash made the fog glow in an eerie white radiance.
They gasped as a pair of hands plucked them out of midair, arresting their stop. "Gotcha!" Sasquatch boomed.
"Oh no!" Aurora groaned. Northstar gurgled, his chest constricted by the massive paw. He flew headlong towards the snowbank, only to be intercepted by a tumbling Puck. The series of flips broke his fall, and he was shaken but unharmed.
The fog dissipated, showing the team in their positions. Logan shook snow off his head as Snowbird shifted back into her form. He released her, and she shakily stood on her feet. Aurora started to kick and pound Sasquatch who laughed as he carried her over one shoulder. Puck and Northstar helped one another up, both not having minded ending up a pile of arms and legs in the snow. Shaman dropped beside Heather, helping her up.
"Nice going people…" said Wolverine as he clapped his hands together.
"Very good, that's the BEST we've seen in weeks," Heather shook her head. "Tag teams and all…"
"This is WAY better than that crappy indoor course," said Northstar.
"You ain't seen nothing yet, pretty boy," Wolverine laughed.
"Comes from being a champion downhiller, huh?" Jubilee laughed.
"You know it, Cherie," Jean Paul laughed. She high fived him, and Aurora grinned to see her brother making such a close friend so fast. Jubilee and Northstar just clicked, and he had grown quite protective of her.
"Now… everyone okay?" Logan asked.
"Just peachy," said Puck.
"Ready and raring for more. You call THAT a work out? It was just a WARM up!" Sasquatch laughed.
"That's the spirit, Tiny," said Logan. "Now…"
"Alpha Flight, report to the training base… ASAP!" came a voice over everyone's communicators.
"Go call strikes again," Jubilee snickered to Northstar. He grinned.
"Fearless leader wants an update," said Walter as he swung Jeanne Marie into his arms and she laughed.
"Put me DOWN you hairy brute!" she squealed.
"I resemble that remark, my sweet shooting star," he laughed in his deep voice.
"It's almost time for our contact to arrive," Heather muttered. "God the time just FLEW…"
"Okay everyone! Let's move people! Flyers take the non flyers and GO!"
"My ride," said Northstar as he grabbed Puck, and then Aurora grabbed Walter, who had shrunk down to his human form.
"Hey what about ME?" Jubilee protested.
"Allow me," said Snowbird. She swooped over, grasping Jubilee's hands and flying gracefully up. Her cape spread around her shoulders like Storm's. Wolverine felt Heather Hudson hold him under the armpits and lift, jetting off with the others. Shaman streaked after them with his own elemental powers giving him light than air flight.
"This is SOO cool!" Jubilee laughed as Snowbird sailed soundlessly after the others. Nothstar and Aurora had already beaten them, but she liked the slower and more deliberate whistle of the air past her cheeks instead. Flying with the twins was fun, sure, but this was a nice change. They burst with a huge spurt of speed that took her breath away and made her shiver even through her thermals.
"God it's so cold!" she shivered as Snowbird let her land gently. Her cloak folded about her shoulders, and she saw Shaman levitate noiselessly down.
"Nice form people…" Logan said. "I'd suggest a brew, but it's kinda early…"
"Coffee for all!" Northstar said as he clapped his hands together. A lunch truck rattled in and the members of the team rushed over toward it.
"God just in time, I'm FREEZING," Jubilee gasped. Wolverine pulled off his mask, and walked towards her. She gave a shy smile as the others hustled about getting their various hot beverages.
"Nice goin' Jubes… how are ya holding up?" he asked.
"Fine… this is WAY better than the Danger room… do they train like this EVERY day?"
"Well when I'm the boss they are," he laughed, his arm sliding around her waist. Jubilee felt his greater body heat seeping into her as he lead her over to the coffee truck.
"Brrr I'll NEVER be warm again…"
"Gotta do somethin' about that, don't we?" he commented, and she sighed with pleasure as he pushed a hot cup of coffee into her gloved hands.
"Ohhh that's perfect," she gasped, absorbing the heat from the cup.
"Thought so," he said as he grabbed a cup for himself. They all stood around, sipping hot java or hot cocoa and chatting amongst themselves. Northstar glanced thoughtfully in her direction, but she let herself stand next to Wolverine, his arm close about her waist.
"I have to say, that was the most unusual work out I have ever seen. That fastball special move…" Sasquatch said as he stood nearby, his huge fur pelt inundated with snowflakes. Jubilee shivered as she saw small flakes whirling down.
"X men trick I bet," said Aurora. She stood beside him, and he wrapped his arms around her from behind, warming her with his fur. Northstar and Puck were talking quietly, standing very close to one another. Hip to hip, and exchanging bites of the hot pastry they had decided to split.
"Talk about the odd couple," Logan snickered. Jubilee laughed.
"Hey, something wrong Jubes?" he asked.
Jubilee cursed because she knew it was hard to put anything past him. "Oh, just the ol' sabretooth thing…" she said vaguely.
"That all? Don't worry… told ya before and I'll tell ya now, yer with me…" he said.
"Thank God," she murmured. "I'm gonna NEVER get used to this…"
"Cripes Jubes, all ya had to do was ask," he laughed, and crumpled his cup. He tossed it easily into the trash, and then slid his arms around her. She was pressed to his front, and felt the warmth of his body radiating into hers. He'd finished his coffee and tossed the cup into a bin nearby.
"I don't have natural FUR like some of us," she whispered.
"That reminds me, darlin' there was something I'd been meaning t' give ya considering how things are going lately… and I think now's a better time than any…"
"I'm scared to ask what," she said half jokingly, using humor as a shield for a possible let down.
"Ha hah. While we're taking a breather I figured…"
"Okay I'll bite. What such a big thing you big doofus?" she twisted her lips with a sarcastic grin, seeing the seriousness in his eyes that stunned her.
"C'mere… over away from the others," he urged, taking her hand and pulling her over to a spot by the fence, shielded partly from view. He turned her so her back was to the fence, and he was standing directly in front of her.
"Some top secret thing my fearless leader has to tell me?" Jubilee joked.
"Close yer eyes…" he said. "Tight now. No peaking…"
"C'mon Wolvie…" she groaned, reverting to her teenage self for a moment.
"Uh uh, no fair…" he said. She grumbled good-naturedly and squeezed her eyes shut. There came the rustling of cloth and something jingling and she wondered what the heck was going on. Something whispered over her nose and neck, then dangled of its own accord around her neck once he'd let it go.
"What the heck is this?" she asked, opening her eyes. They widened in shock when she felt the flat metal dog tag hanging on a metallic chain at her mid chest. It was battered and worn, but she knew very well what it was. Normally he wore two of them, as many servicemen did, and it was worth far more than any huge sparkler or piece of jewelry Everett, Dmitry or any other guy she dated had ever given her. The second thing that floored her was that Logan was down on one knee and glancing up at her insistently.
"Logan what are you doing? I can't take THIS… get up already!" Jubilee groaned.
"Don't give that away lightly," he muttered. "An it's only one. Still wearing the other one here…"
HE patted over his breast, to the left side, and the significance made Jubilee choke. Not for the first time did she feel tears stinging her eyes. "God… please you can't just give this to me… I mean it's like one of the most valuable things you own, right?"
"Don't got much else t' give ya at this time, but I think ya know what it means… and maybe there'll be something more proper to… I sure didn't figure I'd ever be this crazy enough t even consider… and I know ya had someone give you the same line… but I wanted you to to realize I take such things seriously darlin'… and we both can't seem to stop what's been brewing… damn I'm not good at flowery speeches…"
"Logan are you… um popping the major league question?" Jubilee gasped.
"And I thought I had a thick head," he grumbled. "Cripes Jubes I wouldn't just get down on my knee and act like an ass in front of just ANYONE…"
"Are you like SURE? Pinch me cause I sure as hell hope I'm not dreaming… cause if I am I'm gonna be so not happy!" Jubilee sniffled.
"Proper answer's yes or no, darlin," he said quickly. "Can't get the damn words out though… but will ya?"
"Ohmy god, ohmy god… this is… wow… wow…" Jubilee babbled. "I so can't believe this…"
Sniffling she grabbed his face and crushed herself close, locking her lips to his. Wolverine couldn't complete the rest of what he was saying, and she realized he didn't mind because his mouth was eagerly claiming hers as well. His kiss was hungry, demanding, and she felt his body respond as he pressed her to the wall. Jubilee slid her leg up the outside of his hip and rubbed the back of his neck and petted his hair as if it were fur. The result was amusing, for she could swear he was purring through their kiss, his body pressing close and his fingers tightening.
"So… I take it that's a yes?" he asked sardonically, and she could have both kissed him and paffed him simultaneously.
"What do you like THINK? DUH, of COURSE yes!" Jubilee laughed back at him. "That metal skull of yours must be keeping EVERYTHING out!"
Sooo… hehehe sorry to cut off in such an EXCITING place… but the next part will be even MORE interesting… :VEG:
