Blix: Yes, he is a jerk. But even so, I still like him for some reason. I suppose Aurora feels this way, hating him for ruining Logan and herself, yet can't help falling for his charm all at the same time!
In case it is not a worldwide saying, the term "mug" also means face, though normally it used in a rather negative way, such as the commonly used, "ugly mug."
Definition of mug: 2) n the human face (kisser' and smiler' and mug' are informal terms for face'; phiz' is British)
Chapter 37It was surprising to see a bathing glow of golden sunlight this morning. For in the past few weeks, Logan had found himself awakening in hours of darkness. It was currently 8 am, a reasonable time compared to the early hours of the morning he had been subjected to recently. He had always found it hard to get back to sleep after wakening at such ludicrous times, and it often meant that he'd go and skulk around the mansion, in the shadows. It would probably be a very formidable experience to meet it him in the corridor at two in the morning. And because of his lack of sleep, his senses were on painfully high alert to keep him wary, and even the faintest sound from the distance made him want to release his claws and hunt out the cause in a brutal ravage. But today, sunlight spilt in through his window, and a sky of crystalline blue washed across the heavens. It was only a mask though; the temperatures outside weren't matching the appearance.
It was relieving to revitalised. He had another one of those training sessions today, and he had to make sure he would be fit. Especially since Gambit was joining today – thanks to a interference of Charles asking politely. Logan had to make sure he was awake enough to have his wits about him. Gambit could pull any kind of stunt today.
Had to be prepared.
Logan slowly swung his legs out from under his rumpled duvet and stepped out onto the soft flooring. He made a hearty stretch, thick muscular arms rising to the heavens as his chest released a ferocious form of a yawn. Muscles gleefully expanded to the movement of the arms, raising his skin surface with bumps and grooves. Then, a long exhalation breathed out of his nose as the Wolverine slumped slightly to let the air back in his lungs. Out of habit he shook himself, and a hand rose to roam through his hair in a sweeping motion. Stubborn strands flicked back across his forehead the instant his hand departed.
One advantage to being awake early was not just the first picks at breakfast, but it meant he could eat in his nightwear and be gone before the morning rush arrived. By the time the other students and staff of the school were scurrying for their favourite breakfast in the crowds, Logan was well away, usually out on the grounds, doing his usual brooding. He would return in time to see the mutants leaving for lessons, and they would all watch curiously, for nobody knew what the Wolverine did every morning. Nobody was ever awake early enough.
You may think eight in the morning would be sufficient for Logan to continue his ritual, but unfortunately, Logan knew that he now only had less than an hour to eat breakfast, shower, and brood! It was going to take some doing. And some people may even be stirring now. It looked like such a beautiful day; some mutants may feel compelled to get up instantly rather that if it was a cloudy downpour.
So, with quick footsteps, Logan strode out of his room, arriving into the dim corridor. He passed around corners, eyes narrowed to stare ahead of him, determined to get to the kitchen quickly without running and causing disturbance. Windows of glowing sunlight illuminated the ends of corridors, streaking an ominous aura across the walls. But Logan didn't have time to enjoy the morning goodness. He had to get to that kitchen!
He swiftly sped around a corner, feet moving quickly and quietly. His legs worked in long strides, arm swinging slightly by his sides. The only sounds were the rustle of his jeans as they caught against each other, and the almost silent pad of his feet to the floor. He was nearing the large opening of the hallway, which was at the end of this corridor. All he'd have to do then was hurry down the grand staircase to the wood walled main entrance and quickly scarper into the ground floor kitchen. However, he was about to be held up.
A short way ahead of him on this corridor, a door quietly opened. Without his hearing abilities, it would have been missed. But nobody at all would have missed the figure creeping out of that room. Logan's eyes had immediately trained on the door, that was still quite far away, when he saw the doorknob turn. His eyes narrowed in dislike. That was Gambit's room. Great, just what he needed, an exchange of insults to divert him from his breakfast. Logan was readying up an insult that he would calmly toss as he walked by, he wouldn't stop to talk to Gambit, absolutely not. No chance of –
However, it wasn't Gambit who was exiting the room, as Logan had expected.
It was a tired and sheepish looking Aurora.
And she hadn't noticed him yet.
She was trying to close the door. One hand holding shoes whilst the other quietly turned the doorknob shut into its latch. She watched it click softly, before she began to turn from the door to disappear to her room. She had probably planned this get-away, but it was all brought to a horrible halt when she spun round to see an unmoving Wolverine down the corridor. His walk had stopped dead. His eyes locked upon her.
There was an instant flush of cold dread around Aurora's heart, and it weighed down into her stomach in a frightening churn. Her hands tightened worriedly about her shoes, and her eyes shifted downcast to stare at the floor under her bare feet. Lanky strands of unbrushed curls dangled over her bowed head, "Oh no.."
It appeared Logan had recovered well, because he started walking again. But his posture was horribly rigid, nothing relaxed about him. As he came closer, the vicious disappointment and anger was evident in his flashing eyes, "Going for a jog?" he growled in a low tone, "Only it seems to me that you've already had the exercise."
Aurora's words came very quietly, and she forced herself to look up at him. She was trying to look calm and confident. She fought to straighten her pose and keep her head high, "I don't know what you're talking about," she responded in a quiet voice. It began calm, but wobbled off at the end when she saw Logan's face tighten with a frown and snarl. The plan of composure flew out the window as Aurora speedily averted her eyes to the floor again, eyes squeezing shut defeatedly, "I'm sorry."
There were a few feet apart from Logan and Aurora. Logan made no attempt to move closer, nor did he move away. Standing his ground. His hanging arms coiled upwards slowly to fold tightly across his broad chest, a hissing sigh screeched out of his clamped teeth as he glared down at the bowed head of Aurora, "No you're not," he replied in a harsh tone, "Yesterday was bad enough, but must I keep witnessing you and him everywhere I go? Is this some plan cooked up between you? Let's break the last bit of dignity of Wolverine has left after Alkali Lake?"
The mentioning of Alkali Lake caused Aurora to quickly look up, for it was one very important connection between them, and she was surprised to hear him use it against her. However, the overall impact of the sentence took over any old memories, and she placed a hand on her hip to frown at him, "If you can't remember, we had actually split up."
"Yeah," he replied, his growl roughened, "and you're taking full advantage. Like some filthy whore."
Aurora looked like she had just been slapped, and stared at Logan in a horrified manner – speechless. But it left in a moment as a dangerous flash alighted her eyes, "Don't you dare call me that," she snarled in a threatening tone, her hand clenched harder upon her shoes.
"It's true," declared Logan, his eyes steely glaring at her, chest heaving against the bind of his thick folded arms, "But wait.. you're not a fan of honesty, are you?"
Aurora snapped. Her eyes suddenly flared with a rush of feral fury and her shoes were heavily thrown to the side of the corridor. The collisions smacked echoingly, and a vicious growl was heaving out of her lips. In one sudden moment, Logan thought she was going to attack him, he could see the fingers of her adamantium hand flinching, "Apologise!"
Logan's eyes glanced her up and down darkly before he dismissed her like a piece of rubbish, "Never," he muttered dismissively, side stepping the female slowly. She turned to watch him leave, fiery eyes burning into the back of his skull. However, once a few feet away, Logan turned partly back to her, a mock expression of thought on his face, "Oh, by the way, might want to fasten up that blouse a little – don't want the others at the breakfast table to know what smutty tramp you are."
Instantly, Aurora's eyes sped downstairs, and with an agitated growl she pulled the opening of her blouse together, the majority of it had been left unbuttoned for she had been hurrying to get out of Gambit's bedroom. Her hands held it closed over the top of her chest. Her head raised slowly, dangerous looking eyes glaring down the corridor, until the Wolverine disappeared from view.
The doors of the Danger Room parted in a quiet whirr, and footsteps sounded as a figure exited the corridor and entered the computerised foyer of the Danger Room. As the doors shut, an angry voice barked from the spacious flooring below in disgust, "You're late!"
"Cool it Wolvie," drawled Gambit slyly, a charming grin curling his lips, "I'm here, ain't I?" he paused in front of the computer monitors, looking through the glass at the group of X-Men.
"Get your Cajun ass down here now!" roared Logan, his voice echoing around the metal walls strongly. Gambit rolled his eyes and slowly turned to tread down the staircase, dressed in the X-Men training gear. As he came to the metal floor, he strolled languidly across to the awaiting group, in absolutely no hurry at all. His scarlet eyes rose to scan over the group, his eyes stopped and then began to leeringly take in Storm's different training outfit. A tight white top that cropped directly under her chest, it held the same Black 'X' logo.. A dirty smirk came across Gambit's lips as his eyes trailed from her face and down to wander over her upper chest and toned midriff. Storm turned her head gently go glance over to Gambit as he arrived, and her face instantly displayed a disgruntled frown at his trailing eyes.
"I think it's time I fought you all individually," barked a voice. Gambit's eyes instantly snapped off Storm and glared at Logan.
Scott too turned his head to Logan, "But we haven't learnt – "
"It's good to see how your skills are at this moment in time – I can see where you need improving," he eyes scanned across the small group of X-Men, finally leaving Aurora to glint hungrily on Gambit, "Gambit, you first."
When Gambit had come closer to the group, Logan was sickeningly jolted to see long red lines running curvedly across his left shoulder. They looked like deep scratches. Logan swallowed slowly, trying to soothe the anger that was continuously spurring in his gut. His eyes slowly trailed to Aurora, staring down at her unaffected right hand, eyes latching upon her long nails with churning disgust in his stomach.
He raised his eyes back to Gambit, watching the man come closer, "Before we spar, remove your cards and your staff. This is a no weapons fight."
Gambit gave a slow laugh, shaking his head, "Ain't got my cards on me, nor my staff, so don't fret, Wolvie. Gambit will play nice."
"Don't forget that this is a spar," said Scott warningly as he glanced over the pair.
"Oui," agreed Siren quietly, "we don't need a repeat of what happened on the Jet."
"Da last thing on my mind," said Gambit with a sly smile forming. "You ain't to use ya claws neither."
Logan cast Gambit a dark glare, stepping back slowly to make distance between himself and the speculating X-Men, "Deal," he growled softly to Gambit, waiting for the man to come closer, "I'll pick out what you need to learn, or improve."
"Likewise," responded Gambit with a smirk.
Logan just sneered gently before he glanced over to the X-Men then back to Gambit, "Alright. Hit me."
"With pleasure," said Gambit in a rather cheerful voice.
As Logan stood there with his body bracing, he had an extreme urge to dive over and cause that Cajun some real pain. He knew he didn't want this to be a spar; he wanted it to be real. He wanted revenge for how that man had driven Aurora and himself apart. But for the sake of the X-Men it was going to have to be a spar. But it didn't mean he was going to be gentle like he probably would with the others, even with Scott. No, with Gambit he was going to pull any trick possible to ground him.
Gambit raised his fists, positioning his legs as he readied for the battle ahead. His eyes carefully studied Logan, seeking what the man was planning. Since Logan made no move, Gambit decided it was safe to make his strike. A fist drove forth towards Logan. A simple swipe knocked it away, and left Gambit with a dark scowl on his face at the ease of defeat. Gambit tried another strike; Logan grabbed the arm and pulled Gambit close with a barking laugh. He then hissed threateningly into Gambit's ear, "Would you like another punch to even up your mug?"
Gambit pushed away from Logan, his hands driving into Logan's chest for support as he jumped back. Logan smirked wildly, he was trying to wind Gambit up, get a reason to lay hell down upon him. The way Gambit's face has just developed a dark glare it appeared it was working.
"I dare you to try," snarled Gambit, his eyes burning brightly scarlet.
There was a rough chuckle from out of Logan's chest at the dare. He took a few cautious steps forward, standing his ground with blocking arms before he raised a fist towards Gambit's face. Gambit jerked his head back to miss, but Logan had raised his left leg to spin it across Gambit's mid-section. Gambit staggered to the side as a thick leg swiped across his hips, his anger now building. He wasn't going to be beaten, not in front of the rest of the team. Not by the Wolverine.
In an instant, Gambit spun back, giving an agile kick of his own followed by a series of hand strikes. Logan blocked many, until Gambit ducked and dived under a response attack, and kneed Logan in the gut. As Logan doubled over in a reflex reaction, his head was struck by a powerful kick. As vigorous as Gambit planned it, kicking Logan in the head was very much like kicking a brick wall. Gambit jumped back with a surprised yelp, holding his leg as pain ricocheted up his right tibia.
"That was stupid!" shouted Siren unhelpfully from the sidelines.
As Gambit was still trying to regain normal use of his leg, Logan took advantage of the Cajun's distraction by surprising everybody with an extremely agile drop to the floor, which finished with a sweeping chop of his foot across Gambit's only standing leg. Gambit fell with a cry, collapsing down on his front.
Logan was gaining the upper hand. It was clear he was doing well. For in the next movement, he had launched upon Gambit, a hand seeking his neck as he pinned the man down to the floor. His knee was driven into the Cajun's back whilst his free hand pressed down a shoulder. His head lowered slowly to Gambit's right ear to mutter quietly, "You don't know how much I want to smash your face against this floor right now," he said in an almost silent voice, his growl rumbled over it. But the way Gambit's struggles stillened it appeared he had heard. The hand at Gambit's neck seeked into the man's hair and Logan dragged Gambit's face back up from the floor.
"Careful," said Scott warningly, eyes flashing over the pair, "It's only a spar."
Scott's words seemed to bring realism to Logan, who released the man's hair and stepped off him, pulling the man back to his feet. The smirk on Logan's face was all too obvious, for as far as he was concerned, he had won. Gambit had never looked so furious. "Ya ugly cooyon! I'm gonna getcha now!"
Logan snorted disbelievingly, "Of course you are," he said boredly. "But listen to Cyclops, Cajun, don't get yourself in trouble."
An angry cry gave from Gambit as he leapt forward. His fists grabbed Logan's clothes as he used his weight to force Logan onto his back on the floor. Logan landed with a loud smack, Gambit on top of him. Vicious swearing escaped Gambit's lips as he hit Logan across the face, ignoring the searing pain that ran up his knuckles. After the first few hits, Logan's face hardened in response as his fists drove up to Gambit's neck and rolled him off. Logan held his fists up to Gambits neck as he sat astride the floored man, fists were tightly holding the neck of Gambit's clothes, "God, I hate you so much!" snarled Logan under his breath.
"Likewise," hissed Gambit, his own fists clutching the neck of Logan's vest in return.
What had started out as a relatively clean spar was turning into a dirty scuffle on the metal floor of the Danger Room. The two men were practically wrestling each other down, trying to pin and hit the other. Mixes of curses and shouts echoed around the room whilst the watching X-Men braced themselves to interfere.
Slaps and thumps of bodies on metal sounded as the pair scrambled upon the other, wanting to gain the upper hand, painful sounds of punches were echoing sickeningly around the room. As Logan struck Gambit across the jaw, he growled out a rather incoherent, ".. took Aurora from me.." voice was then drowned out by a roar as he was kneed in gut before he smashed his elbow upon Gambit's ribs, "..piece of shit.. ruining everythin'!" All of a sudden, Logan's angry mutters were halted as Gambit kicked Logan off him, and the adamantium mutant rolled across the floor with a furious blast of vulgar terms. In a flash, the agile Cajun was on his feet and he ran over to Logan, stamping down on the man's head and flattening him to the floor.
"That's enough!" barked Scott, his fists clenching. "I knew it would end like this," he muttered in undertone.
However, Scott wasn't noticed. "Ya abruti!" Gambit yelled savagely, blood spraying from his mouth. A triumphant gleam in his eye as Logan's pained shouts came as he was pummelled under the heavy kicks. With gasps of breath, Logan rolled away from under the strikes; sitting up off the floor with heaving breathes raging in his chest as blood ran from his nose, the scarlet stains smeared ungracefully on the smooth metal flooring. With a fierce roar spurring in his throat, he leapt from the floor, eyes flashing in feral rage as once more that borderline of insanity was being reached. Gambit easily jumped out of the way, landing in an elegant crouch to one side of the landing Wolverine, who stumbled in surprise to his target vanishing.
"Gambit!" came a voice.
"Stop this!"
Logan glared at the floor in growing anger before he spun his head round, about to launch at Gambit before he saw a long silver staff pointed silently at him, sharp point held up to his chest, firmly positioned over his heart threateningly. Blood dropped slowly from Logan's sweat-gleaming face, staining the once white vest his wore as he mumbled in a growl, "You cheated." Eyes lowered upon Gambit.
Gambit remained crouched lowly, bloodstained hands holding the staff unwaveringly. "Thief," he reasoned in a low hiss, devilish eyes glowing brightly. He didn't move, eyes burning through his damp fringe that stuck to his sweating forehead.
"I will not have this.. this appalling behaviour on my team," breathed Scott heavily. His fists shook slowly before he walked over to them. As Storm was the second in command, she followed behind in an authoritive manner, eyes narrowed as her arms folded across her chest.
"You are both adults," continued Storm, a dangerous glare taking over her usual soft gaze, "Scott is right, this behaviour is not acceptable."
Scott glared slowly over the two, nodding as he glanced at Storm for a moment. The white haired women stepped forward and forcefully pulled the sharp staff out of Gambit's hands, returning it to it's small sizes and holding it with her as she stepped back to Scott's side. Gambit's eyes had narrowed; his hands had tightened on his staff protectively for a moment before he let her take it reluctantly. Scott continued to watch the pair slowly, as if debating something, "Previous information from Charles lead me to the only punishment I feel suitable," his eyes moved slowly over the glaring Logan to the straightening Cajun, "Gambit, consider your position on the team suspended till further notice."
With a disgusted snarl, Gambit stood to his feet completely. He flippantly tossed the hair from his eyes and walked with long strides towards the steps to the door, "Bah," he muttered dismissively, "I don't need da X-Men, don't come cryin' ta me when ya need me, crotte," and with that, he exited through the opening doors of the Danger Room and disappeared into the corridor.
"What do I get?" muttered Logan lowly, glaring to Scott as Gambit departed.
"A very severe warning," hissed Scott, "One more example of behaviour like this and you'll be following Gambit out of the team with suspension, do you understand?"
"Don't disappoint us, Logan," said Storm softly, watching the Wolverine gently as their eyes met.
Logan's vicious glare at Scott only softened when his eyes went to Storm. Logan didn't say anything, lowering his head gently with his eyes closing. The anger still tumbled around his heart, replays of Aurora and Gambit flashing in his head.
..How he hated that Cajun..
That was a biiiig chapter!
Used a Pirates of the Caribbean reference. Felt suitable. XD
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