Sych: I'm glad you spotted that! Yup, it's a bit you notice (perhaps subconsciously) that Gambit isn't all that nice, basically! And why has a part of you died? What have I done? (sob)
Kimenomi: Hope you had a good time skiing! And what do you mean getting shorter? Chapter 30 was 3751 words long according to FanFictionXD True, some chapters have been shorter recently, but that's just me and my obsession to keep all action scenes organised! And.. odd little poem you had there. o.o
Blix: Oh, I wasn't sure if Storm could fly or not. She doesn't show any supreme control in the movies anyway. Thanks for clearing that up though! XD
Chapter 32It took just over an hour for the other X-Men to find Aurora and Gambit by the X-Transceivers coordinates. Logan and Storm were only a few miles down the river, and joined up in the shortest time. Aurora had heard their running footsteps from a distance away, and was not surprised when Logan leapt out of the thick leafy bushes.
Gambit, who had been laid on his front in the grass, idly watching the scenery almost jumped out of his skin as a heavy rumble of weight joined the earth beside him. He span around onto his back, looking up into blinding sunlight to see a silhouette of Logan glaring down at him as he walked out of the smaller bushes. Storm followed behind much more gracefully.
However, Aurora was sat crossed leg in the grass when the mutants arrived. She was comfortably leaning back on a tree and just like Gambit, was viewing the surroundings. When Logan made his rather noisy arrival, she just observed him with a simple glance before returning her eyes back to staring ahead of her. She felt the grass sound quietly when she heard Storm lower beside her, and Aurora gently turned her head to smile at the other woman. She then noticed the bandaged hand and she looked worried, "Storm! What did you do?"
Storm shook her head gently with a sigh as she removed the bag off her back, "Just slipped on some rocks, it's nothing. I'm fine." She gently studied the new bandages on her palms before looking back to Aurora with a faint smile, "What about you, are you alright?"
Logan was stood as far away as possible from the three. He stood leaning on a tree trunk, eyes sweeping in continuous movements around the small flowery area. His eyes kept snapping between Gambit and Aurora mainly and he had a frown darkening his expression. When he heard Storm deliver the question to Aurora, he sharply diverted his eyes from the pair, but kept an ear listening in.
"I'm fine," answered Aurora quietly, treading safely whilst both Logan and Gambit was around.
Storm raised an eyebrow in response but didn't press into the matter for her friend's sake. She idly turned her head to look over to Gambit, who was unashamedly watching them from his position in the grass. When he met eyes with Storm he just grinned widely and cheerfully said, "Hey Stormy." Storm gave him a polite smile and nod before turning her head to watch Logan, however she was surprised to see him walking over.
"Oh no.." Storm heard Aurora mutter under her breath.
A soft crunch of earth in front of the two women signalled that Logan had stopped walking, a rustle of clothing followed as he crouched in front of Aurora. He idly turned his head to send Gambit a glare before looking to the bowed head of Aurora. "Aurora?" he began quietly, "I need to talk to you."
"Can't it wait?" asked Aurora with a slow shrug of her shoulders. When Logan didn't respond, she raised her head slowly to see him watching her sharply. "All right, all right.." she muttered, pushing herself to her feet.
Logan gently nodded his head in a pleased notion, rising to a stand beside her. He flashed another glare to Gambit, who was watching them closely. "In private," he said pointedly, looking from Gambit and to Aurora.
"All right," said Aurora again in response, giving Gambit a small glance before nodding to Logan and turning to walk along the path some more. Logan calmly followed behind her as the pair travelled a short distance away from the meeting point as to not be overheard. Aurora came to a halt, turning gently to sit on a nearby rock. She pulled her legs up gently and sat crossed legged upon the smooth surface. She watched Logan stop in front of her and watch her in return. "I have a feeling what this is going to be about," said Aurora quietly.
"Yeah.." Logan murmured quietly, shoving his hands into his trouser pockets.
"But first I want to say something," continued Aurora, still watching Logan, "These past few months have been hard, and I'm not saying it is your fault. But with all this happening.. it's given me time to think, and I've come to a decision.."
But before Aurora could reveal just what decision that was, Logan quickly spoke up, "No, it has been my fault. I've kept you in the dark far too much. I need to explain to you who Madeline is."
"I know who she is, she's your daughter."
"Yes, but there's more to it," explained Logan softly; a hand rose and he ran it through his mane of hair. A sign that he was rather uncomfortable with the situation, "Do you remember Roxanne?"
Aurora quickly nodded her head at Logan, "Yes.. the woman drugged by Stryker?"
"Yeah," said Logan softly before continuing, "Well, when I was inside the base with her.. she came free of the drug.. it wore off." He looked down at the floor for a moment, falling silent. A hand rose to his face as he squeezed his eyes shut for a moment before he hand fell back to the pocket, "And.. and she told me some things. She said that years ago, before William Stryker, that her and I were living together.. and that we had a kid and stuff.." his hand rose back to his face, clearly trying to stop himself from breaking down in front of her. But he was failing; his voice was losing the rough sturdiness.
Aurora hadn't spoken; she was watching him without any movement. Logan slowly raised his head, eyes unsurely meeting Aurora's, "Madeline is our daughter. I only have very early memories of her.. but she's there, along with Roxanne. And memories are all I have of Roxanne now.. since.. s-since she died." Still Aurora was silent. "I just.. I just thought you should know.." concluded Logan quietly.
"It's understandable," then said Aurora softly, "A man who can't remember his past is expected to have a few surprises turn up.."
With a gentle sigh, Logan raised his eyes open Aurora, "Yeah.." he whispered quietly.
"It's fine, Logan," reassured Aurora, "I understand. It explains your sudden change of heart in everything.." she gave him a sad little smile, "So, perhaps it's time to let things settle.. you and I.. it can't go on anymore."
However, Logan's eyes suddenly flared and tightened upon Aurora. He had not expected this, "What?" he said lowly, "Because of that Cajun?"
"Logan, leave Remy out of this, it's more than – "
"No it ain't!" roared Logan, his arms spreading either side of his as he gestured the air angrily, "You been playin' away for him for ages! I saw him hankerin' after you from the very beginning!"
Aurora made a small snarl as she jumped down off the small rock. She straight from the dirt of the path and glared over to Logan, "No, Logan! Stop shouting, you're getting yourself more upset!"
"I'm not upset!" Logan practically bellowed, the words blaring from his throat in a rumbling roar.
Aurora stared at him in silence before her eyes narrowed and she rose her own voice, "Stop shouting!" she cried back.
A small distance away, both Storm and Gambit raised their heads at the shouting coming from over the trees. Gambit frowned, pushing himself to his feet to go and inspect. But Storm shook her head; "Leave them," she ordered, watching him until he saw back down.
Logan continued to glare across to Aurora, he closed his eyes at her words and sighed, "All right, all right.." he muttered, volume most certainly lower, "Tell me, Aurora, what happened in the tent?"
An agitated groan came from Aurora who shook her head and turned away from him, "Logan.." she began warningly.
"Tell me! I deserve to know!"
But Aurora shook her head, starting to look a little distressed by the questioning, "Don't.."
"Tell me Aurora!" he cried, walking over to her in a few strides, he took her shoulders in his hands, pulling her to face him, "Tell me!" he repeated, voice rising again.
"Logan – "
But Logan just talked right on, wanting a straight answer, "Aurora! Tell me! Did you sleep with him or not?"
"Logan! Please!" cried Aurora, her eyes opening to stare up at him with a horrified face.
Logan made a low growl as he continued to talk, "God Damnit, give me an answer! It makes me feel sick every night wondering over what you two could have been doing behind my back!"
"Logan!" she said with a gasp, now glaring at him, she looked appalled to think he had been jumping to conclusion about her.
But the lack of a vocal answer was making Logan all the more agitated. His eyes had narrowed to a vicious slant and his eyebrows were furrowed sharply over his fierce glare, "Did you have sex with that Cajun!" he roared, holding her in front of him as he bore his heated glare down into her staring eyes.
With a cry, Aurora pushed him back, her eyes glaring at him furiously, "No!" she cried, staggering steps being made as she moved backwards. She angrily glared at him through curls of hair that sprayed over her forehead, the glint of her eyes shining through, "God Damnit! NO! Why would I! I don't feel for him that way."
"Well you mustn't feel for me either," responded Logan with a low-throated growl. He turned away from her, walking a few slow steps as he spoke, "You still spent time in the tent with him, gettin' up to God knows what, and the stuff that happened in the garage."
Aurora shoved the hair from her face, raking her fingers over the crown of her head, "I told you," she said despairingly, although her voice was low in a displeased snarl, "I didn't have – "
"That's beside the point!" snapped Logan, spinning back to her; "I can still smell him all over you!"
"Does it matter?" cried Aurora, once more her voice rising. She gestured, pointing at him, "We're finished now, anyway, aren't we!"
"What the hell is going on here!" came a new voice. Scott had just burst onto the scene, glaring between the two mutants with a livid expression. He had run down the path after arriving to hear distant arguing, and was disgusted to see such a scene being played out at a dangerous time.
The two metal mutants spun their head at Scott, both of them suddenly growling at him. But Scott was not deterred, "Get back to the others. I will not have this behaviour when we are trying to conduct a serious and life threatening mission!" His words were so thoroughly heated that neither mutant actually dared to respond to Scott, who was heaving for air furiously. With one last glare to each other, Logan and Aurora walked around Scott silently before sloping off to the rest of the group. Scott followed behind them, eyes glaring through his visor sharply.
"Wow, what happened?" asked Siren as she watched the three foul-faced mutants trudged back to the small clearing. Two throaty snarls came from Logan and Aurora, who went their separate ways. Behind them was Scott, who glanced over to Siren with a pained sigh.
"I think it would be best if we made our way back to the Jet and let Charles know of the finding. We'll get coordinates for the building." Scott turned slowly, walking over to the clump of trees that sat at the top of the cliff looking over the river and building, "We'll set the camera up and mics and leave them in these trees. Should be well hidden." He looked around slowly, "Logan, would you put the – " A very threatening growl began to sound from Logan who locked his eyes on Scott with a flash of impatience. "Er.. Storm?"
Storm nodded, rising to her feet and proceeding to collect the equipment for the trees. She glanced warily between Logan and Aurora before sighing softly and walking over to Scott.
"Did ya two 'ave a nice chat then?" asked Gambit as he sat leaning back on a tree trunk. He smirked mischievously as he spoke, "I think 'alf o' Ecuador heard that argument, wowee!"
Siren kicked him on the shins to quieten him, giving a vicious hiss of, "Shut up!" it was good timing, since both Logan and Aurora looked ready to live up to their wild reputations.
Gambit turned his eyes from Siren, obligingly falling silent, but his smirked remained as he watched the mutants around him.
Wow.. argument. o.o
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