A/N: I got inspired today, so here's another update! I'm shocked, so I'm sure you guys are, too. Hehehe. Anyways, I decided to throw in some problems here…hope you guys enjoy!
A/N 2: I want to thank liadenlover for the idea behind this chapter… She suggested having Ororo avoid Logan and I took it from there...I hope I wrote it well!
PART 10: Hey, Jealousy
Logan tried to talk to Storm the next day, only to find it impossible to find the weather goddess. Much like himself, when she didn't want to be bothered it was usually hard to find her. The few times he thought he was close, she would be gone by the time he entered the room.
This silent treatment continued for the next three days. Logan was ready to scream in frustration, but he controlled himself. Instead, he reverted to his normal attitude, trying to act like it wasn't bothering him. Jubilee had noticed the behavior, but only mentioned her concerns to Kurt. The fuzzy elf had just told her to leave him be, saying he needed to figure things out by himself.
Jean was in the Rec Room, flipping through the stations, when Logan walked in. He inhaled as he walked towards the couch and sat down on the opposite end from her.
"Hi, Logan." She said, smiling at him.
"New perfume?"
"Yes." Jean replied, flipping through some more channels.
"Not bad." He said. The redhead smiled, knowing that was as close to a compliment she would receive. He hated perfumes normally so she decided his response was a fairly good one.
Jean finally settled on a movie station that was showing a James Bond movie. Surprised, Logan looked at her.
"I didn't peg you fer a Bond fan, Red."
"Oh, I'm not." She replied, winking. "It's Sean Connery."
Logan grunted in response, but she could tell he was amused.
"Watch out or I'll tell Scotty he has some competition." He teased, flashing her a devilish smile.
"I thought you told him that on a regular basis anyways." She replied, amused.
"Part of the job." He replied, looking back to the television.
"And what job might that be?"
"Team asshole, obviously."
Jean laughed aloud and swatted at his leg with a pillow.
"You're not an asshole, Logan." She said after deflecting the pillow he threw back at her.
"Watch out, Jeannie, ya might give me a big head." And he winked at her, running his tongue over his canines. It was a habit he had picked up a long time ago and he knew it made Jean's heart rate increase slightly.
"I think it's big enough already." She said, rolling her eyes.
"Not from what I can tell, but maybe you could give me a hand." Logan commented, looking down at the fly on his pants. Jean's eyes widened and then she laughed as she leaned over to smack his arm.
"Get your mind out of the gutter, Logan!" She scolded.
They continued to flirt and tease each other for another hour or so. It was a comfortable routine they had developed over the years. They never continued in front of the other team members, especially Scott. They had been caught before and it had caused some serious problems. But Logan knew Scott was in the boat house so he didn't think they were in any danger.
Unfortunately, Ororo had stopped just outside of the Rec Room and had heard part of their conversation by accident. A tear trickled down her face but she swatted at the offending tear. Angry, she walked away briskly, careful to keep herself downwind from Logan.
Finally, the ending credits rolled up the screen. Before Jean could stand up to leave, Logan turned to her with a solemn expression on his face. Her smile faltered and she pushed her hair behind her ear.
"Do you know where Ororo's been hidin?" He asked bluntly.
"She's been in the greenhouses." Jean replied, leaning back into the cushions. "She's been using her powers to hide from you, Logan."
Logan sighed deeply and rubbed the back of his neck.
"It's killin' me." He grunted. "I dunno what came over me."
"I heard she asked about your memories." Jean said softly.
"Talked to her, didja?"
"Briefly." Jean admitted. "She was angry with herself for prying."
"Then why is she avoidin' me like the plague?" He growled, standing up and pacing the room.
Jean stood up and placed a hand on his arm gently.
"I think she needed time to think. She was hurt by your reaction, but I'm sure you know that." She said honestly. "But she didn't say much to me, so I don't really know why she's avoiding you."
"Think? What's there t'think about?" He snapped, feeling the frustration building again.
"Well, for starters, how she feels about dating a man with such a troubled past." Jean said, leaning against the entertainment center.
Logan looked at Jean but found he didn't have any response.
"And maybe how she feels about how you are around other people."
Logan raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed t'mean?"
"It's just what women do when they're deciding how serious they want to pursue a man." Jean explained. "At least, it's what I did."
"Right." He replied, still confused.
"She's probably just confused, Logan." She said as she wrapped her arms around her waist. "It's hard for Ororo to open up to her feelings. Her powers restrict her in many ways, which is why she never dates anyone. If she gets too upset, she could easily lose control over her powers." She paused, running her hand through her long locks. "Also, Forge was the only man she's ever been with, Logan. Think about that. She's probably intimidated by your experience, too."
Again, he couldn't find words to respond so he remained quiet. He was thinking over Jean's words.
"I'm sure she's trying to decide how to handle everything that's happened over the past week." Jean said after pausing. "You have to admit, Logan, that the events of late have turned her life and yours upside-down."
He nodded in response, wishing he had a cigar to chew on. Jean smiled at him and then squeezed his arm encouragingly.
"She's upstairs, if you want to find her." Jean said as she walked out of the room.
Logan didn't bother knocking on Ororo's loft door, knowing she would leave if he gave her any advance warning. Instead, he slowly opened the door and crept up the stairs to the loft. His heart swelled as he inhaled her fresh scent.
Ororo was on her bed, a book open and forgotten next to her. Her legs were pulled up and she had her arms wrapped around them. Her eyes were closed in anguish as she silently cried.
Logan frowned at the sight and quickly made his way towards his lover.
"Darlin'?" He asked gently.
Ororo's head snapped up and she scowled at him. It was not the reaction he was expecting nor hoping for.
"Get out, Logan." She spat.
"No." He replied, crossing his arms. "I need t'talk to you."
"You've been flirting with Jean."
It wasn't a question. It was a simple statement. And it was very true. There was no doubt in her voice, only pain. Her movements spoke to him like a neon sign. She was hurt and very angry. And it hit Logan like a Mac truck. He almost couldn't speak. Almost.
"We've always flirted a little, 'Ro." He replied, shocked by her statement. "Ya know that. It's nothin'."
"Do I?" She replied angrily. "How do I know you didn't simply just use me for sex?"
Logan's mouth formed a thin line before he growled softly.
"Used you fer sex? Are you fuckin' serious?"
"Yes, I am!" She yelled. Thunder clapped outside and lightening flashed soon after.
"How could you think that?" He growled.
"How could I think that?" She repeated heatedly. "You do it all the time! I'm sure all of those whores you sleep with down at the Auger Inn aren't there for conversations!"
"Who says I do that?" Logan said, fury in his eyes.
"It's common knowledge!" Ororo yelled back, standing up.
"Maybe that was true years ago, but I haven't done that since Mariko died!" He yelled in return. His hands clenched in fists at having mentioned his dead fiancée's name.
"Then how do you explain what happened with Jean just now!" She demanded.
Logan shook his head slightly, incredibly angry at the woman standing in front of him.
"You know I love you, Ororo. It's just harmless flirting." He said in a dangerously low voice.
"It's not harmless!" Ororo insisted loudly. "It hurts me, Logan!"
"It is harmless!" He snapped. "Nothing has ever come of it and nothin' ever will!"
"You can't help but fawn over her, Logan. Everyone sees it!" She said nastily.
They stood there, staring at each other for a long moment. Each one was breathing heavily, trying to regain control of their emotions.
"It ain't nothing worse than how you and the Cajun act, 'Ro." Logan finally said, his voice angry and guttural. "But I know that's just how you and him are. He's always flirted with you like some hormone enhanced casa nova. But I ain't threatened by the Cajun. And if Jean's really yer best friend, then you shouldn't feel threatened at all. Jean and I flirt, but it's all in good fun." He paused, watching Ororo closely.
"It might've meant something when I first came here, but that was nearly eight years ago, fer Christ's sake. I've changed and so has she. I'm not that big of an ass anymore. I had kinda hoped ya knew that since ya said ya loved me and all." He paused again. His eyes seemed to look straight through her body. "Hell, Jean ain't uncomfortable around me anymore and I'm glad. We can talk and actually have a real conversation now. Sure, we joke around in private, but we don't do it in front of people because of this!"
Ororo's angry expression faltered for a moment.
"I ain't out to have an affair or some bullshit like that. She's my God-damned friend, Storm." Logan finished with a growl.
The use of her codename surprised her. It spoke volumes of the anger he was trying desperately to contain. While he had yelled, he hadn't expressed his anger physically, which was often common for him. He only ever called her Storm in the field. And even then, it was rare to hear him utter the name.
"What? Nothin' left t'say? Outta ammo?" He demanded when he noticed her silence.
"Get out of my room!" She finally yelled, coming to her senses.
Without looking at him, she turned away and felt his eyes on her back. He was angry but she was still hurt. She wouldn't let him win so easily. The weather goddess walked to the window and didn't turn around. Thunder shook the house and lightening danced across the sky as water streamed down in the sky in sheets.
"Not until we resolve this." He said irritably.
"There's nothing left to say." She barked. Ororo kept her back to him and the weather shook the house again.
"Look, I'm sorry about the other night!" He yelled, frustrated at this cold treatment. "You of all people should know its painful fer me to talk about my past!"
"How could I know when you've never talked to me about it?!"
"Maybe my silence about it should've clued you in!" He snarled.
Ororo shook with anger, her emotions taking over. The weather became worse and Logan was becoming concerned. Jean had warned him earlier about the connection between her emotions and her powers. He had always known about that, but she rarely lost control like this.
She turned around, her eyes still white but now they sparked with energy. Logan could smell the familiar scent of ozone radiated from her. Her hair began to rise slightly from the static electricity that was pouring off of her. Wind began whipping around the room and Logan brought his hand up to shield his face.
"Ororo, darlin', ya need to calm down!" He shouted over the wind.
Instead of listening, Ororo rose up in the air and flew out of the skylight, raging alongside the weather.
"That can't be good." He said to himself, looking up to the open skylight as rain splattered his face.
So, what did you guys think? I tried to make the fight realistic, but I dunno if I managed it or not. Please let me know your thoughts!
PAF
Jubes
