Chapter 13
"Everything okay?" someone called to them.
"Everything's flamin fine!" he mumbled back.
Aurora and Walter were standing nearby, and Aurora had a smirk on her face as if she had seen the whole thing. "So… you two lovebirds wanna be alone or…"
"Don't make me come over there and put you on KP duty, Langowski, cause yer lucky I'm in a damn good mood," Logan joked good-naturedly as he still held Jubilee close to his front.
"You two look extremely happy, considering your usual disposition," said Snowbird as she wandered over, coffee in hand. "Your face is positively glowing Jubilee…"
"All right, should I start selling TICKETS or what?" Jubilee groaned, flushing pink.
"For your information, I just asked her something pretty darn personal. If you recall one of my FIRST rules was no questions asked," Logan griped.
"That wasn't the exact wording," said Shaman. "But I think all of us can guess what just happened."
"Should we guess or not?" Northstar asked, his arm around Puck's shoulders as Puck had his arm around the tall mutant's waist. "Something good I trust…"
"All good, all good," Jubilee babbled. "Logan… do we like tell them or is this something we're keeping to ourselves…"
"Did you…" Aurora whispered.
"Since the whole flamin world heard me, I just asked Jubes here if she'd let me make an honest woman outta her," Logan said with a smirk.
"You're joking…" Snowbird got out. "You… asking someone to marry him?"
"Uh oh, the M word," Walter joked. "Logan, you've shot your reputation as a miserable skeptic to hell."
"Are you surprised?" Northstar quipped, an eyebrow raised. "Seems to me it's about blasted time you settled down…"
"You of ALL people saying THAT?" Shaman added dryly.
"Ohh congratulations I'm SO happy!" Aurora squealed as she rushed up and patted Jubilee on the cheeks. Walter slugged Wolverine on the back, and he grunted momentarily at the slap.
"Whoof, thanks I think… ya mind using a little LESS English on that, you walking carpet?" Logan quipped, slugging him back.
"Much happiness to you both… have you set a date?"
"Um uh no… I'm still floating on air," Jubilee whispered.
"Congratulations… I'm happy for you both…" Northstar said with a rare smile as he shook Logan's hand. "If you break her heart, I'll kick your butt back into the lower 48…"
"Uh oh, I already got a protective brother from hell," Jubilee snickered.
"Guys, fearless leader lady's back… better let her know the news…" Puck cautioned.
"She gets bitchy when we don't report for duty, so look sharp people," Logan barked. "Fall in… I'll just be a second with the lady, and then we'll join ya…"
"Shall we?" Aurora asked.
"Nah, let HIM have the pleasure of telling her, after all, it's his life," said Northstar. Logan raised an eyebrow.
"Thanks pal," Logan said. Northstar gave him a curt nod, and an understanding passed between both men.
"We've GOT to talk later, girlfriend," Aurora giggled and Jubilee saw Walter pull her away. Puck, Shaman and Snowbird were all smiling and Jubilee felt her heart pounding fit to burst.
"Logan… Wolvie, good god I'm so like HAPPY," Jubilee whispered. "God, did you just say what you said?"
"You bet, darlin'," Logan said as he pulled her before him, blocking her view of the base, and cupping her chin. "I don't wanna lose ya now that I've figured this all out…"
"Then you do…"
"I don't screw with anyone's head. Can't abide by it myself…"
"So no more of this 'I'm too old crapola?'"
"No more Jubes. If I kept second-guessing this, I'd lose ya forever. I don't wanna do that."
"Logan I like SO love ya right now, and it sounds so damn cheesy but I gotta say it over and over again," she babbled and he laughed as he pulled her hips to his. Never since she had been a teenager had he seen her face so alive with that spark he missed so badly?
"Business again? Looks like I timed this pretty damn well," Logan said as he pulled Jubilee before him and leaned over to give her another quick kiss. He lifted her up off her feet and gave her a very adult kiss that made her burn through and through. She felt herself wanting to faint and hoping she would never wake up from this wonderful dream.
Staring past his shoulder she saw Heather Hudson in her Guardian Uniform. The bright red and white moved against the white snow as she walked over to where two uniformed personnel were escorting a tall figure with blonde hair curling around his shoulders. He was easily six feet tall, and a pair of designer shades hid his eyes. The long coat hung around his ankles, and a heavy Russian fur cap and gloves covered his head.
Jubilee froze, and Wolverine thought nothing of it, thinking she was cold. He rubbed her arms and Jubilee buried her head in his neck, shivering all the more. It couldn't be him. It just COULDN'T be…
Northstar was watching Jubilee as she hid her face in Wolverine's shoulder. He frowned, and Puck glanced up at his partner in query. "What's wrong?"
"I'll tell you later, Cherie," he muttered, narrowing his eyes.
Wolverine heard Northstar's whisper, and frowned. Jubilee felt his tension, and then pulled back quickly. Desperate she seized his face, and he gave her a questioning look. His question was silenced with the quick kiss that she gave him. Logan's arms held her protectively, and she gasped as he deepened the kiss momentarily.
"Later darlin," he whispered against her lips. "Got company."
"Shaman, are you making it snow again?" Aurora demanded. "Because if you are…"
"This isn't my doing," Shaman said. "Just old man winter himself…"
"Perhaps you could do something to change it?" asked Puck.
"No, let it snow," said Snowbird. "It's beautiful, is it not?"
"Just like home, in January," boomed a tenor voice. "Guardian, I'm feeling welcome already…"
"Sir, t his is our team… Alpha Flight… during our coffee break. We've just had a training exercise…"
"Wolvie, excuse me… I gotta use the ladies room…" she whispered quickly as she squirmed.
"Hurry up… she's got the all fired important…" he trailed off as he released her.
Jubilee bolted into the center. Northstar rushed after her. "What the hell…" he muttered before Heather's voice indicated he would have to wait to find out what was going down.
"This is our leader, codenamed Weapon X," she said.
"So, you finding the snow somethin' like yer home?" he asked, raising an eyebrow as he glanced at the visitor. Something about him was just not quite right, and he narrowed his eyes. Just what remained to be seen.
"Da, sir. Although I would prefer a name…"
"We're secret here, bub," he said. "No offense… figured Guardian filled ya in…"
"He knows, Team Leader…" said Heather.
"You got a moniker I take it?" asked Logan.
"A code name?" he chuckled. "How very interesting. Though I figured that you government types had such arcane things. Mr. Ravina at your service. Although if you chose to find some appropriate name for me…"
"That reminds me. Suppose you wanna know the others… the tall hairy walking carpet's Sasquatch… the pretty dame he's holding is Aurora…"
"Pleased to meet you," Sasquatch said as he walked up with his arm around Aurora, and extended a massive hand.
"Likewise," said Mr. Ravina, shaking his hand. "Ever consider a career as a bodyguard, if you get tired of the fun here?"
"I'll keep it in mind…"
"And this lovely lady… enchente," said Ravina as he kissed her hand. Aurora smiled.
"Bonjour… excuse my brother but he's being… shy…"
"Antisocial more like," Sasquatch laughed.
"Some of us aren't as outgoing as you two," Puck said as he shook the man's hand. "He'll be back…"
"Northstar's her brother. The one taking the powder. Probably for the same reason my fiancee's temporarily indisposed," said Logan. At the sound of fiancée, Heather's eyes widened. Logan folded his arms across his chest and gave her a look back that clearly meant he wasn't joking. A smile crossed his face, and she smiled in return.
"And who is this lovely lady?" Mr. Ravina asked as he turned to Snowbird, who stood alongside Shaman.
"Snowbird, sir," she said, inclining her head with a bow. He did the same.
"I'd be interested to see your medical files," said Shaman. "If you don't mind…"
"They're at your disposal. It's a pleasure to meet you… Shaman is it?" asked Ravina.
"So there is going to be a Mrs. Weapon X then?" asked Mr. Ravina jokingly.
"You bet bub," Wolverine nodded.
"So, you allow people on your team to be married?"
"Vindicator and Guardian are," Logan said quickly. "Why the hell not?"
"My congratulations to you," said Mr. Ravina with a charming smile. "So… where is your lovely fiancée…"
"And you must introduce me to your lovely fiancée."
"Later," Logan said. "So, you gonna have us in a briefing to explain what's what, or does he know the drill? I understand you have powers of your own?"
"Considerable," he said as he lifted his sunglasses. Slate gray eyes twinkled amber, and he fixed a nearby snowbank in his gaze. Flames erupted from the heart of it, and snow quickly hissed into steam.
"He's our ace in the hole against pyro, right?" asked Puck.
"Indeed… but couldn't his power be used against him?" asked Shaman.
"Not so. My ability as a pyrokinetic is thought based. I can control the duration of the flames. Pyro requires flammable chemicals to generate his flames. But I can create my own through combustion. It comes quiet in handy when spotwelding or high temperature operations are needed…" said Ravina.
"I got a name for him. Flashpoint," said Shaman.
"I'm intrigued," said Ravina. "I shall submit to your regulations… although I have my own uniform suited to my unique abilities… you said you had another member, Northstar and…"
"Firecracker," said Heather.
"It's a working name," Logan said as his nostrils flared. His senses tingled with familiarity, and he realized why Jubilee had run away. Was it possible…?
"I like it… Flashpoint it is…"
"By the way, bub, what's your first name?" asked Logan. "If ya don't mind me asking… is it Dmitry by any chance?"
"Yes… you are well informed agents, I am impressed," said Flashpoint with a curious smile.
"Yeah, we're on the ball," said Puck. "So are we going to stand out in the cold all day, fearless leader?"
"Guardian, why doncha take the team and… Flashpoint here to get some eats," Logan said. "I'm sure he's pretty hungry after flying with Air Canada. I've gotta rustle up the rest of the team…"
"All right, we'll meet you in a half hour… Vindicator wants to start the afternoon briefing and run over the game plan… we'll ask for your input of course…"
"Sure," he said. "S'cuse me…"
"That's quite a ring you have there," said Aurora. "Are you married?"
"Engaged," he said. "Although my fiancée… is part of the reason I'm here. She's on an extended trip… and her disappearance…"
"What?"
"Save it for the briefing… he'll explain then," said Heather quickly at everyone's puzzled looks.
"Flamin perfect," Wolverine cursed as he rushed inside the complex.
"Jubilee?" Jean Paul yelled as he rushed into the main entrance. He wended his way through the hallway to the main living quarters for Alpha Flight, in the large Victorian style mansion. It was interconnected to the base by a series of corridors. Northstar had a fairly good idea of where she might go.
He heard the soft sounds of someone crying, and trying to stifle sobs. Sighing, he entered the large recreation room, complete with its plasma TV, DVD player, and pool tables. Near the bank of sofas by the video game player, he saw her figure huddled with her back to him.
"You have to tell him," Northstar said.
"I can't… I just can't…" said Jubilee as she sniffled.
Jean Paul slid his arms around her, hugging her. "Jubilee… you can't hold it in. He has to know…"
"I didn't think that he'd EVER…" she trailed off.
"Was this the connection you had… who is he? You looked like you'd seen a ghost…"
"He's my EX fiancée," said Jubilee in a whisper. "Till…"
"If you don't tell Logan I will. This has got to stop. Didn't he ask you not TEN minutes ago to marry him?"
"Jean Paul… it could ruin everything. I like being in Alpha Flight. I don't wanna ruin it for Wolverine…"
"You won't… because the man loves you!" Northstar sighed as she pushed away. "Jubilee…"
"Please… don't tell them."
"Did this man… did he hurt you?" Northstar asked. His hand formed a fist. Just like Remy, she thought. A protective brother.
"No… yes… I mean…" she hugged herself.
"Yes he did, or no he didn't…" Northstar demanded. "I'm confused here!"
"No he didn't HURT me I mean he didn't HIT me… but yes he DID hurt me emotionally… he expected me to be someone I wasn't… he pressured me into marrying him. IT seemed like the right thing to do at the time, but the more I remember…"
"What? What did he do?" asked Northstar softly.
"I can't remember. I just know that there was SOME reason why I shouldn't. He's perfect in every way. He's a little demanding… and he WAS somewhat possessive… and I didn't exactly wow him between the sheets or anything… and he WAS older than me…"
"Jubilee, you don't look like he was perfect," said Northstar. "If you ask me, he had a really weird look in his eyes… like we were all just pawns in some game. I don't trust him…"
"I…"
"Is it something that you can't remember or won't tell me…?" Northstar asked. "He didn't abuse you… but you're saying that he didn't think you 'did it' for him in bed? Did he make fun of you when you were together? Because that's VERY uncalled for. No man or woman should do that to their lover."
"No… I mean… it's all so hard… I just… I wasn't what he expected in bed that's all. But that wasn't a major big deal, really…"
"Jubilee… what did he DO?" Northstar demanded. "Did he make fun of your sexual experience or something? Laugh at you cause you didn't want to try something he did, or did YOU shock him somehow?"
"I… he wanted to… be with me… but I couldn't… I just… and then…"
"Did he… force himself on you?"
"NO! I mean he… he'd NEVER do that… he saved my life… he gave me treatment…" she said with a slow gasp.
"I'm sorry if it's too personal to talk about," Northstar said softly.
"No… I guess… it's stupid but… well I did tell Aurora about it… though I didn't use words cause she's a gal and all, and since you're well… um you know I figure it won't hurt…"
"I'll understand," Northstar said softly.
"Well, my mutant powers were acting really messed up… and I had the habit of not being able to control my 'paffs' when I got excited. It wasn't a problem when I was with Everett, because he got in 'synch' with me, and I was able to kiss him and you know… neck and stuff. But with Dmitry… he had a mutant power to set fires to things with his mind. He figured since he could control his powers I should be able to when we… you know… did it?"
"And you couldn't, and he was angry with you. So you refused to go all the way with him?" asked Northstar.
"Yeah… that's pretty much it. I mean that is till I started having my 'treatments'. And then things were all cool and everything. But it got to the point where I didn't feel like me anymore…"
"He made you forget everything, didn't he? Isn't that a little TOO convenient… and you seem to remember EVERYTHING except why you're scared of him… you're terrified!"
"I'm not… I just didn't expect to see him… it brings back memories of Sabretooth."
"That makes NO sense!" Northstar said as he seized her arm.
"Let me go… you're hurting…"
"I'm sorry," Northstar said as he drew his hand back as if she'd been stung.
"Don't… touch me like that… don't grab me there… I…"
"Shit I'm sorry… wait… he touched you like that. Did he restrain you… did he…"
"Please don't ask me… I can't remember…"
"If you have a problem we need to know. If you're terrified you have to tell Guardian and Wolverine…"
"Tell me what?" Logan asked.
Jubilee froze as she saw him standing there in the doorway, smoke curling from the cigar clenched between his teeth.
"Why don't you ask her…" Northstar coughed, waving away the smoke. He clenched his nose, his eyes watering.
"Jubes, got something to tell me?" Logan asked, stubbing the cigar out in a nearby ashtray that Northstar indicated.
"It's not what…" she stammered.
"I'm not talking about THAT, Northstar. I know your door don't swing her way. She seems pretty upset. You say something to…"
"Wolverine no…we were just talking…"
"Jubilee has something she has to tell you, Logan. And she NEEDS to do it now…" said Northstar. "Please Cherie, you HAVE to tell him…"
"Tell me what, darlin?" Logan asked. "Jubes, what's wrong… you're spooked… hey…"
"Don't ask me, please don't!" she sniffled.
"I'll just leave you two alone," said Jean Paul as he quickly exited. Jubilee moved to follow, but Logan got in her way.
"Please, I just need to be alone… I…"
"Jubes, level with me. You're shaking in your boots, and I need to know why," Logan said firmly. "Is it that clown who just showed up…"
"I…"
"He's your ex fiancée, isn't he?" asked Wolverine as he took her shoulders.
"I didn't know…" she trailed off.
"It's not something to get upset about," said Logan. "I'm more worried about just WHY you're so scared you're going to bolt out of here. Why you didn't think you could tell me…"
"Logan it's just…"
"Just what? Jubilee… please, you gotta tell me…"
"Can't you SENSE it?" she snorted, breaking away. "I mean you're so all friggin' badass with the instinct why don't YOU figure it out?"
"Because I'm not Jean Grey. I don't read minds, Jubes. And I don't know the whole story. Something you're not telling me?"
"You probably heard it all anyway…"
"Yeah, but I want YOU to tell me. Cause if he's upsetting you, I'll do something about it…"
"You can't… you won't… you have to work with him…"
"The hell I can't!" Logan growled under his breath. "You're holding something back, and you're so confused you don't know what end's up. I'm NOT risking your mental health over this asshole."
"Logan… he's not an asshole he's just… I don't want to make a scene…"
"He can't know who you are, is that it? Well if you don't want to see him, I can make sure that you don't. But that ain't the point, is it? You gotta talk to me… is there something that you can't put your finger on… something that he might have done that you don't remember… because you're scared to death when you see him…"
"No it's NOT that… it's just…"
"Then what is it?" asked Logan.
"DUH, well if your old lover came back wouldn't YOU be freaked?" Jubilee snorted.
"Yes… I would," said Logan slowly. "But you said this clown saved your life. And you're defending him in one breath, and in the other you don't want to be anywhere in the same county with him. I figure there's a damn good reason why…"
"I can't remember," she cursed. "I don't know if there IS a reason… but I just…"
"Your instinct's telling ya something, an ya can't ignore it. An him bein' here is just what ya don't need… Jubes do you wanna get away from this… cause just say the word and…"
"There's noplace to run to," she whispered.
"There is a place darlin where you'll be safe… with me," he said. "An that's no lie."
"I… I'm not myself whenever I was with him… he paid good money to help me forget. And I was so happy and then the nightmares started… he's not the cause of me bein' freaked… but he's…"
"Jubes…"
"I can't explain… but it seems pretty freaky he's here NOW…"
"He doesn't haveta know you're you," said Logan. "That life's over. You're startin' with a clean slate. You want him to ruin your life?"
"No… I just…"
"Jubes, I won't let him. Whether he's the cause or not… he's makin' ya miserable. And I'm not gonna let him freak ya…" Logan promised. To this, Jubilee said nothing, but she buried her face in his shoulder and squeezed him tightly. He knew right now she just needed to be held and held tightly, as he had done so many times before when she was either in danger or newly rescued from some deplorable situation.
"Logan, I'm a big girl," she muttered into his shoulder.
"No doubting that. Yer all grown up now, but that don't mean ya face things alone. Now more than ever we're in this together…"
"You promise that?" Jubilee choked, and he pulled back, still holding her. Twining his arms around her waist he lifted her up easily. That look in his eyes was deadly serious. She felt tears stinging her eyes, and he carried her over toward one of the sofas.
"Would I have given ya THAT if I wasn't serious? This ain't me getting on the scoot an' leaving, Jubes. I'm serious about this, an' we both need to stop runnin' away from things or else they'll come back and bite us on our backsides when we least expect it. I'm not asking you to remember what happened with you or didn't with that guy out there. But you can't just hide in here crying an' expect me to read your mind. I ain't Chuck…"
She was glad he didn't say Jean Grey. Logan sat down, putting her on his lap. Desire darkened his bleu eyes and he gave a very deep and hardly audible rumbling that she could hear at the bottom of her hearing, but it vibrated through her all the same. Base and elemental, and the answer to her fears and the start of her hopes. Logan cursed because he desperately wanted to throw her down on that table and take her for his own there and now. Yet it wasn't right. He wanted to wait and make that time, if it ever came, to be much more meaningful. She had enough disappointments; she didn't need him adding to them.
Jubilee slid her hands down his back, massaging his powerful muscles and then slid her hands to pinch his backside. This very action provoked a purring snarl of desire, and he felt his body precariously close to the animal instincts. For the past few weeks he had kept them at bay, and this was not making it any easier. She tasted like a woman, through his tongue lightly thrusting in her mouth, responding to her teasing open his lips. Young and yet experienced in some ways, he reflected. He wondered WHERE she had learned such a kiss, and then wondered if it was the result of Dmitry.
"Jubes, this ain't a good idea, to… um keep goin' lettin' nature take its course…" he muttered, and then could have kicked himself.
"You started it, not me," she mumbled.
"Want the first time to be special," he muttered.
"We don't have to totally go through now… I mean I could help with…"
"Not yet darlin… yer worth far more than just satisfying an itch," he mumbled.
"I don't mind… after what you just asked me," she said. "I mean we're just kissing right?"
"Right," he nodded, and returned to show her his love.
