Jniska: Well you're in luck! Hehe, I updated! Fantastic to see a new reviewer! Welcome to the stories (: Logan comes out with some funny lines doesn't he? Hehe, he's cool. I hope you keep reading and enjoying!
Calandra: Yay, and everybody made mine by making wonderful reviews! I often read them before I head off to sixth form (if I have any reviews that is) and it makes me feel happy and content all day (: The first line hints the ending? I wasn't aware of that.. hm.. you may be right.. a sombre opening.. perhaps it'll be a sombre ending? And yes, interpret is in English.
Blix: I know, it always makes me smile when I read it at how everyone's just displaying their shock and all Logan wants to do is get Charles! Everyone's reactions will be along shortly.
Omala: Yup, he's back! Aurora and Logan? Well.. we'll have to see won't we? Hehehe.
Chapter 2Logan wasted no time; he walked straight over to Charles with fast strides, ignoring the awe-filled stares from the other three X-Men. Logan had no idea the others had thought of his as dead, he still didn't know. He didn't understand why they were so surprised. Logan stopped in front of Charles, staring down at the man as he began to speak, "Charles, please, I really need you to look for someone."
Charles watched the man opposite with a warm gaze; he studied Logan carefully as he man came closer. Once Logan spoke, Charles nodded his head once in understanding, "I see." Charles then said in a gentle tone, "I understand that Roxanne hasn't returned with you."
With a snort Logan nodded slowly. Why did Charles have to put things so gently and sound less foreboding and calm than the real painful truth?
"But before we do anything Logan, I think you should see the other mutants first." Charles gave a small smile in reply, "They've missed you no doubt."
Logan raised an eyebrow, "What is it with everyone? Did you not think I'd come back or somethin'? Think I'd run off?"
"Something like that," answered Charles with a small nod of his head
"Charles," came another voice. It was Scott, who looked recovered now. He walked slowly over to the pair, eyes on Logan, "I'd been wishing myself torture for what I thought I had done.."
Charles quickly answered, "I know, Scott, but – "
"Torture?" interrupted Logan suddenly, "What you thought you'd done? What?" he looked between Scott and Charles, "What have I missed out on?" Storm and Scott both looked to each other slowly, wanting someone else other them themselves to inform Logan. Neither spoke, so eventually, Charles sighed, causing Logan's eyes to dart upon him, "Go on.."
Charles raised his head, watching Logan with careful eyes, "We all thought you had passed away when the building detonated." Logan's brow had raised at this, but Charles continued, "The X-Men had to leave the base before it blew up.. and they couldn't find you in time." Logan turned his head slowly, looking to the grave expressions on Scott and Storm's face.
"We had to leave or all us would have died, Logan," said Storm quietly, watching Logan with a nervous gaze, "Don't dwell for one minute that we didn't try.. we wanted to go back Logan.. but we couldn't. Scott has been constantly blaming himself."
At this Scott looked slowly upwards, his head rising in a sheepish tone before he exhaled gently, "It's good to see that we were proved wrong, Logan." Scott nodded gently, though he looked uncomfortable with addressing Logan so politely, but it didn't stop him from sounding genuinely relieved to see Logan's return.
Logan eyes rose upon each of the mutants in turn, frowning slightly at some points before his swivelled his eyes upon Scott, to whom he nodded at with a slow and cautious movement of his head.
"Will you go and see the others now, Logan?" asked Charles quietly, moving along with the conversation.
But Logan looked unsure, "No, Charles, I desperately need you to – "
"And they desperately need to know the truth," interrupted Charles solemnly.
Storm rested her bare hand gently upon Logan's jacket arm, "You really do need to Logan," she whispered quietly as she stood beside him. Logan lowered his head slowly as he looked down upon her. "Rogue has been crying herself in sleep every night.. then reawakening and continuing again.. Aurora too.. so many people have missed you."
Logan frowned, nodding his head gravely, "Yes.. alright," he replied in a hoarse whisper. If his friends had reacted like he did when Roxanne had died.. he knew they would be tearing themselves apart inside, especially Aurora and Rogue. Both of them didn't deserve it, especially not since he was infact alive.
"You know where they are, Logan," whispered Charles with a small smile, twisting his chair out of the way as Logan began to walk by, he reached the stairs quietly before bursting into speed and running up them before pounding along the upper corridors speedily to firstly find Rogue.
The corridors were still dark, moonlight filtered in steadily through the leaded windows at the end of the walkway. It spilled out across the floorboards eerily before shining up the walls to illuminate pictures and various ornaments. Logan had slowed his run, coming gradually upon the door to Rogue's room. His boots creaked ever so quietly on the floors, and he carefully pulled himself to a halt outside of Rogue's room. Storm was true to her word; from within he could hear the definite sobbing of continuous tears, a breathless and desperately unhappy tone.
Logan felt his face harden; he turned his head away from the door. Why didn't he contact Charles immediately after he reached Laughlin City? A phone call wouldn't have hurt. But admittedly he did have more pressing worries clouding his mind. He still had them. His eyes narrowed a little as his brow furrowed, the moonlight glistening off the shine of his eyes and the gleam of his rugged hair. He moved his head back to the wooden door slowly, the silvery moonlight bringing up a glow above contours of his face, sending his visage into a ghostly sheen.
Cautiously, Logan rested his large hand on the door handle of Rouge's room, testing it. It opened, but Logan wasn't stupid enough to walk right in there and scare the life out of his young friend. Instead, he softly rapped on the door, added by the faint creaking of his boots on the floorboards. Rogue was indeed awake, but she was laid in her bed, facing away from him, staring out of the window into the clear sparkling night sky.
Logan called her name softly, his voice whispering through the cool night air tenderly, rousing her out of her heartbroken tears, "Rogue..?" She had quietened almost immediately, "Rogue..?" he said quietly again, his voice low and gentle.
Rogue's eyes lifted slowly, her vision was a little blurry from the constant tears that swam into her eyes. Her brow dipped however, she could hear someone calling her name. Had someone come in her room? The frightening thing was that it sounded like Logan. She must be hearing things..
She'd finally cracked..
"Rogue..?"
With a shaky gasp Rogue spun her head gently off her pillow to see a figure stood in behind her in her doorway. Most of the body was in shadow, but the moonlight flowed in through her bedroom window and lit up part of his face. From the side of his face that she could see - she recognised Logan, the shimmer of his eyes, the way his cheeks creased from his lip's smile.
But Rogue wasn't willing to believe this so easily.
She threw back the covers, sitting upright in bed as she spun into a standing position to confront the figure, "Who are you?" she asked in what she hoped was a confident voice.
And Logan moved forward gently, body been bathed in more moonlight the closer he went. More of his face being revealed, "Rogue?" he said again, "It's me of course, it's Logan."
"You're not Logan," suddenly cried Rogue in a frightened tone, "Logan's dead!" she gasped.
"Rogue.." whispered Logan again in a soothing tone, he lowered his head gently as he held his face in front of her, "It's me.. I'm alright. I just got back.. believe me, you weren't the only surprised one."
"Logan?" said Rogue uncertainly. But as she stared into Logan's face, she found herself watching his every distinguishable feature that made him, the occasional glint in his eyes, the way his forehead creased when his eyebrows shifted, the way his nose raised and fell with each sensitive inhale. Rogue raised a shaky hand; desperate to place it against Logan's face to prove he was there. She had never touched him before, not willingly, and she couldn't do it now. Just before her gentle fingers managed to brush the side of his cheek, Logan took her hand in a gloved one, holding it tightly and gently lowering in from his face, but kept his warm grip on hers.
"How're you doin' kid?" he asked softly with a playful smirk rising over his lips, bringing his eyes alight with common mischief.
But Rogue couldn't answer lengthily, she just collapsed against him with a shaky sigh, "Oh my God.. you're alive.. you're here," she whispered breathlessly, pressing her face into his chest, seeking the warmth and the thud of his beating heart.
Logan nodded his head slowly, resting his chin upon her head and he held her close, fully clothed arms safely on her skin.
"I missed you," she whispered gently, eyes closing as she exhaled long breaths of relief.
"Thank you," replied Logan quietly, "Not many people do.."
Rogue fell quiet after this, just content to be holding her best friend who was in indeed alive. This fact happily spun around her mind. Logan was alive. Alive!
But Logan spoke after a few minutes of silence, "Roxanne died," he answered in a very quiet voice. If his mouth had been a few inches further away, Rogue wouldn't have caught it.
"She did?" whispered Rogue, now frowning, "And she was innocent all along?"
"Yeah," confirmed Logan unhappily, "But I learnt something else too.."
It appeared Logan needed Rogue's confirmation to go on, "What was that?" she asked in a gentle voice.
"She used to be my girl.." came Logan in an undoubtedly tremulous voice, "..my fiancé." He shook his head slowly as he let out a shaky breath, "She had once been.. everything.. to me."
Rogue lifted her head slowly to stare up at Logan, who was staring fixatedly at the opposite wall, eyes shining with tears and a fresh surge of anger. Rogue didn't know what to do. She was scared to say anything. She had never seen Logan look so desperate, so maddeningly distressed. And it scared her. Logan promised to look after her, he was supposed to be her rock, and he was unbreakable. And now, before her very eyes, he was crumbling away in her arms.
Rogue watched with horror as she saw a tear escape his now closed eyelids, and with fixated eyes she watched it travel down his cheek, across his weathered skin. The teardrop trembled as it ran, leaving a glistening trail on the man's cheek. Rogue wanted to wipe it away, erase it from him. Logan shouldn't cry. Logan was the toughest individual Rogue knew, it was plain wrong for the Wolverine to cry.
Her hand rested precariously in front of the cheek, a few inches away. It slipped forward suddenly and swiftly, brushing the soft tear from his face so quickly that Logan didn't even have chance to feel the lure of her mutation. However, Logan's eyes flew open when he felt something contact his cheek, and stared down at his friend with saddened eyes, "I'm sorry.." he whispered, seeing her frightened and helpless eyes, "Sometimes.. after emotion has built up for so long.. it comes out too easily.."
"No.. no.." whispered Rogue as she rested her hands upon his shoulders, "You have every right Logan. You were there for me when I needed you.. and now I'm here for you."
Logan nodded slowly, holding her close as he quietly sighed, closing his eyes gently before releasing the girl and stepping back to look down her, hands still drifting at her elbows, "Thank you.." he murmured, eyes resting upon his friend.
Thank you! Please review the chapter for me!