Chapter 15
Two weeks had passed since Jubilee had returned to the X mansion. Under close observation from Beast in the infirmary, she spent some times there where Professor X and Jean took turns assisting in repairing the psychic damage inflicted by Everett and Monet's accidental psy blast. Even Betsy had taken her turn to assist Jubilee in the long recovery. At each session, Wolverine sat right next to her bed with his hand in hers while the telepath would rest their hands against her temples.
Other time was filled with training sessions in the Danger Room. Cyclops had taken it upon himself to assess where Jubilee was with her powers, considering what Frost had been teaching her. He was quite impressed, to say the least. Their danger room sessions became something that Jubilee looked forwards to, eagerly anticipating how she would next try to trump Scott. Logan had refused to train her lately, seeing that it would be conflict of interest, and Jean Grey Summers and Professor X wisely agreed to keep them out of any fight scenarios together. That reserved all down time for the Canadian X man and Jubilee to 'bond.'
It was slowly getting around the mansion what had transpired. Jubilee had greatly feared, as Wolverine had, that people would have strong reactions. Though most of the X-Men gave them their space, wisely not commenting on anything other than trying to keep Jubilee's spirits up, Wolverine wasn't stupid. Tension that first week crackled in the air as passers by him in the hall put on smiles, and limited topics of conversation to his health, the weather, and the latest Danger Room scenarios, and team briefings.
Sharing a bed became commonplace for the new couple. Often Jubilee was pleasantly surprised to find Logan curled up behind her, clasping her possessively to him when she'd dozed off hours before. Even if he was out in his separate X Men blue session, he would crawl into bed when she was fast asleep. Other times they would curl up and watch movies and simply enjoy being in each other's presence. It was oddly platonic to those expecting more, and Jubilee half wondered if people had way more vivid imaginations that what was happening.
"Two damn weeks and they haven't even KISSED," Wolverine overheard Drake commenting to Gambit that morning as he stood just inside the kitchen.
Amused, he crept silently to get more of the gist of the conversation. Remy answered in a whisper, "Mon ami, drop it. None of our business. Ours is t' leave da Petit's private business be."
"Get serious, Remy," Drake groaned. "Everyone's laying bets to see if they can catch the first kiss or heavy petting… but so far… nada… zip zilch! If they're a couple they could at least ACT like one!"
"You may have da dirty imagination, but dis be da time for you to get a new hobby, I tink," Remy answered. "Much better pastimes den trying t' catch Petit an' Logan in da compromisin' position…"
"What, you know you're curious. After all that angst we're entitled to something," Drake joked. The sounds of dry cereal clanking into a bowl were next heard, followed by an outraged yelp.
"Y'all mind yer own business, ya hear," Rogue interrupted. "Yuh can hear yer yappin' all the way in the kitchen. If y'all are trying to kept your voices down, it ain't working…"
"Um, Rogue… don't' tell me you aren't curious as to when…"
"Don't know, don't care, cause I don't want to be on his bad side, or hers," said Rogue. "An' just cause your love life's less interestin' don't give yuh the liberty t' snoop. They've been through enough. So what if they aren't horsing around in plain sight! This house is small ENOUGH without making them pissed at us…"
"Wolverine not stupid," Remy whispered. "He knows we walkin' on eggshells ever since dey get back. D'ere a couple. Big deal. Bout time…"
"Almost an anticlimax, isn't it? Is that what you mean?" Rogue asked.
"Oui, Cherie," Gambit answered. He heard the rustle of cloth, Rogue's squeal and giggles, accompanied by a thump. The sounds of soft moans and kisses were next, followed by Drake's overly dramatic sigh.
"Get a room you two," Drake mock groaned in disgust. "I'm gonna eat my sugar bombs in peace…"
"Ah tink da cartoons are still on, don't you, Cherie?" Gambit chuckled.
"Shut up, Pepe le pew," Drake answered. A yelp and a thump of what sounded and smelled like wet snow brought a laugh to Logan's lips. It was all he could do to shush it before ducking back into the kitchen.
"An' I thought I'd left the kiddies behind," he muttered, grabbing the coffeepot off the Mr. Coffee. Thankfully someone had been thoughtfully enough to brew an entire pot instead of just the bare minimum. So what if he was sleeping in these days? He'd damn well earned it.
Hot coffee steamed in his face as he poured two cups, and set them on a tray. Jubilee liked hers black, and he loved surprising her in bed with breakfast lately. As he rooted around in the overhead cabinet for her favorite cereal, he smelled Jean's familiar Ciara mingled with her usual feminine pheromones. Scott sure was enjoying himself lately, he realized. Damn well he should considering he had one of the most sexy women on the planet, on Logan's top ten personal list of unattainable considering his present circumstance.
"You sick of it as much as I am?" Jean asked. He knew she was standing right near his shoulder, waiting for the coffee. Silk rustling told him she was putting hands into the pockets of her pink Victoria secret robe that Storm had gotten her as a wedding shower present years ago. Scott loved her in it.
"Depends on what 'it' yer talkin' about, Jeanie," he answered.
"Can't fool me, Logan. We know each other too well," she answered. "You're as sick of the tension as I am…"
"Obvious statement, darlin'. But I don't give a damn," Logan answered, hunting for the sugar. Jean set the canister and silver sugar bowl next to him, along with the cream that Bobby forgot to put back into the fridge.
"You shouldn't," Jean smiled, leaning against the counter and drawing her hands out of her pockets. She had a knowing smile on her face, peering out from that fringe of dark red hair that her activity with Scott had resulted in.
"Guess they can't get used to the idea that the wild man ain't so entertainin' after all," he quipped.
"Poor Drake is really crushed that he hasn't had more dirt to share in the locker room with Hank," Jean chuckled. Her nose wrinkled slightly, and Logan dramatically rolled his eyes.
"Poor kid. What are we gonna do if he mopes around the house? Hire another mascot? I know a couple clowns who could use the work," Logan answered. "Seriously, I'm getting' the overall impression that me an' Jubes bein' an item has just gone from bein' a big deal to a fact of life around here…"
"Guilty as charged," Jean laughed. "Considering what you two have gone through lately, it's only fair to give everyone something ELSE to gossip about over breakfast. Especially since you've been extremely old-fashioned lately with her…"
"Just goin' slow. Since when was that a crime?" he asked.
"I know you're worried about making mistakes. And I admire your self control, and discretion, but people already know, and she might resent it if you're trying to hide…"
"What's there to hide?" he shrugged. "Other people have the dirty imagination, it ain't my problem. Besides everyone's up everyone else's butt in the Mansion, which was one of the main reasons I held off in this thing to begin with. Jubes doesn't need the drama she only just left at Gen X…"
"So you figure you'll move as slow as the Hudson Bay glacier in 'courting' her, is that it?" Jean asked. "She's not that fragile Logan. Since you've both decided to have an adult relationship, you could start by trying to act more like it…"
"Jean, I don't wanna push things. She only just got over that nasty scrap at that damn fool nightclub… I don't want her to get all embarrassed when…"
"Who's embarrassed? You or her?" she asked. "I think two weeks is long enough to take her out in public and have a REAL date… don't you? Other than just Harry's Hideaway on a double date with Rogue and Gambit…"
"Aww come on, are you suggestin' what I think ya are," he groaned, knowing from her gaze that she wasn't going to simply let him slink away with breakfast for two in peace.
"She's an adult. Show her that you trust her, and take her somewhere YOU'D normally go…" said Jean.
"No way I'm gonna go to freakin' Hardcases…" said Logan.
"Where's one place she's always wanted you to take her, and you've NEVER given in to having her go?" Jean raised her eyebrow. "Because you said she was too young?"
"It's always that flamin' Auger Inn, isn't it?" he snorted. "Cripes Jean, I'm not stupid. I knew she was the one who kicked my 'scoot over. All on account of Mystique's sick humor…"
"What's the WORST that could happen?" Jean asked. "I mean you DO have some friends there that you could 'hang with'. I know that more than anyone else…"
"This ain't the 'side pocket', Jeanie…"
"No, but its part of your fun pastime. A part of your life you kept away from Jubilee. Now that you're together, she needs to at least see what the 'big deal' is all about, don't you?" said Jean.
"Fine, I'll ask her. But you'd better be a brainwave away if I need to call for…"
"Since when did you want any of us tagging along," Jean joked, kissing his cheek. "I'm sure the two of you can handle some rowdy bikers…"
"It's the COLLEGE students I mean, Jeanie…" he grumbled, as she nudged him telekinetically out the kitchen door with his tray.
Hours later, he had asked her where she wanted to go. Jubilee had said the very place in question, and he relented. She had to know that he took this relationship seriously. So that was why they pulled into the Auger Inn lot at half past eight on his Harley.
Despite the fact she was 20, some of the X men still treated her as the distaff member who had to be protected. She had been going steady with Logan since he bit her neck at the Masachusettes Academy two weeks ago. Time for things to progress faster, she thought. Especially when it came to the fact that her flirtation with Wolverine showed all the signs of heating up into something more serious.
Still she figured Jean had a hand in this breakthrough. She's not so bad after all, bless her, Jubilee chuckled in her mind.
She had to admit she twisted his arm on this one. Just what was so special about the Auger Inn anyway? Only the fact that it was the rough and tumble place he frequented when he wanted to blow off steam, and it was part of the world he did not care to share with the X-Men. So what was she doing here with him, giggling inwardly at his large hand clutched possessively around hers?
"You sure ya wanna go THROUGH with this darlin?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, peering out from under his broad brimmed hat.
"You promised we could have our anniversary ANYWHERE I wanted, so there's NO way you're gonna wiggle outta THIS one, dude," Jubilee said with a mischievous grin.
"Hmnh, last chance… don't say I didn't warn ya…" he teased under his breath.
"Besides, with you on patrol, what do I gotta worry about anyway?" Jubilee sing-songed, giving him that sweet look that drove him nuts. "Like HELLO… How are ya gonna protect me if we aren't in any danger? Huh?"
"Promise is a promise," he sighed dramatically. "Okay… let's go… but stay close an' watch…"
"Call me grasshopper an' I'll paff ya!" Jubilee threatened.
He snickered, opening the door for her. She stepped on through, smelling a haze of cigarette smoke the instant she passed through the oak doors. For a second she wondered if she had landed in a Wild West remake, judging from the laughter and the country western drifting through the noises. Then as the haze cleared and Logan removed his hat, she saw the clientele more clearly. Mostly a biker bar, she chuckled. Big deal. Wolverine's leather jacket and boots along with her ensemble made them blend right in. Nevertheless, as they wandered into the midst of tables, she saw the other group of patrons who were milling around the bar. College students by the look of them.
Jubilee felt Logan behind her, threading through the increasing crowd trickling through Auger inn's front door. "What is this, Frat night?" Wolverine mumbled.
"We don't haveta stay," Jubilee chuckled.
"Stupid kids…" he mumbled. "Scents stinkin' up the place… can't hardly hear myself THINK with them flapping their mouths all over the place…"
"Hey, watch it," Jubilee mumbled.
"Don't mean you, sweetheart. I'm talking KIDS… you aren't no kid no more," he qualified his last statement.
Jubilee raised an eyebrow and chuckled at his recovery. With one arm curled around her shoulders he guided her to sit in one side of the booth, then he took the other side opposite. Jubilee grabbed up a menu to peruse the specials, while Logan tapped a cigarette on top of the pack he'd pulled out of his breast shirt pocket. Jubilee hesitated after holding her finger out to paff it, wisely taking the silver Zippo lighter out of her purse instead.
A young waitress wandered over, smiling at both of them. "What can I get you and the lady? The usual?" she asked politely.
"The usual for me, Shelby, an' whatever Jubes wants…"
"So you're Jubilee, huh?" asked the blonde. "What will you like?"
"Diet Coke please," she said.
"Where you been hiding her, you ol' hoser," Shelby asked him, resting a hand on her hip.
"Here and there," Jubilee joked, feeling his hand slide across and give hers a squeeze. "And by the way, I'll have a diet coke and your best side of chili cheese fries for starters…"
"Interesting choice," Shelby said. "All right then. Diet Pepsi, boilermaker and a Miller Genuine Draft for the chaser… appetizers and a special 3 and number 5… I'll be back… and you keep outta trouble, Logan… Be right back…"
Jubilee watched her leaving, and then felt Wolverine's hand close over hers to give her fingers a squeeze. When she glanced back he gave her a small yet warm smile. "Relax Jubes… she's wise to us…"
"That's not quite what I'm worrying about… it's just I hope she's not gonna bust me for bein' 20… It's one thing with your friends, but…"
"She's just givin' ya the third degree to piss me off, Jubes… don't pay it any mind…" he chuckled. "She's harmless…"
"So, what was that whole thing about being careful?" she pouted. "You said that we shouldn't use mutant powers here, and now you're telling me they KNOW…"
"They don't know THAT much," Wolverine shushed her, squeezing her fingers to get his point across. "Shelby's known me for as long as I've come by here… but they ain't as mutant friendly as Harry's hideaway…"
"That's why you didn't want any of us taggin' along, huh? Not even Gambit…"
"It wasn't cause of what ya thought… I mean yeah it's no place for a kid… but it's no place for a mutant either…" he added. "But since we've been goin' out steady… I figured I'd let ya persuade me to drag my butt out here… providin' we keep a low profile…"
"From the stories I heard you tell at those poker games, keepin' a low profile isn't something you're known for here…" Jubilee snickered.
"Well, they know not to mess with me, cause I'm a regular. It's the newbies we gotta watch out for. Cause the regulars stick together… an' that's when the sparks fly… "
"That's why I wanted you to bring me here, Logan," Jubilee said, kissing his hand gently. "I wanna be part of your life, the good parts, and the not so good parts… after all you insisted I drag you to the mall cause you wondered what the big deal was with me there…"
"Returnin' the favor…" he nodded, kissing her hands held between his. "Man, after all the years ya put up with me… I'm considerin' myself lucky tonight…"
"So am I… and thanks for letting me twist your arm… it means bunches that you let me into a part of your life that's off limits to everyone else," Jubilee leaned close. Over the table she stretched and kissed his cheek. His hand lingered on her face, tucking strands of her dark hair behind her ear with another rare smile.
"But enough mushy stuff… here comes chow," he said, rubbing his hands together.
"Yep, it's perfect in small doses, but food's way better in mondo ones…" Jubilee nodded, hearing her stomach growling.
Minutes later she returned with their beverages and several plates steaming hot balanced on a tray. "Thanks, Shelby…" Logan said, reaching for his drink with a rare smile
"You one of the college students from West Chester?" she asked, setting the soda before Jubilee. She licked her lips at the chili fries steaming with hot, freshly melted cheese running through abundant dollops of chili.
"I'm visiting from New York State U," Jubilee chimed in. "Taking classes online…"
"Thank goodness for that. I was gonna say, I'd watch it cause the boss isn't exactly 100 percent nuts about the patrons from the College. Paying customers are paying customers, but my backside's feeling like a pincushion tonight. Luckily Charley set them straight…"
"Ouch," Jubilee snorted. "You put up with that?"
"Any kinda money's good, but if they go too far, there's enough of the regular crowd to set 'em in line," Shelby confessed. "Anyway, I'm spoiling the mood. You keeping the Canucklehad in line, Hon?"
"As best as I can," Jubilee chuckled.
"Yeah yeah, just lemmie know if any of those young punks gets fresh to ya…" he chuckled. "Charley an' Jose are itching for some action… don't wanna let 'em down, do we?"
"Nope… just keep your lady outta trouble," she leaned over and whispered in his ear. "She looks like a winner to me…"
"What was that?" Jubilee asked.
"Umm nothing," said Logan as he waved the waitress away. Jubilee filed the awkward blush under her 'priceless moments' category and grinned sweetly at him.
"That's one for Chas an' Miguel, and two games won for Logan an' Jubes," said Carlos. He drew the appropriate number of tallymarks on the chalkboard near the corresponding names. For the past two hours she and Logan had been playing pool with several of Logan's buddies and enjoying every minute. It felt so comfortable, and Logan showed every sign of enjoying himself.
"It's rigged I tell ya," Chas chuckled, lifting his glass of Budweiser and knocking back a few sips.
"Oh, just cause the girl beat you you're getting all pissy," Logan egged him on. "C'mon Jubes, let's switch to somethin' more interestin' like darts where there ain't any whiners…"
"One more game, and I'll raise ya fifty," Chas pointed towards his buddy. "You game?"
"Okay, but the looser buys the beer, as usual," Logan nodded back.
"So what did I miss?" Jubilee asked, holding a glass of whisky, a beer, and a glass of coke between her hands. She set the beverages on the edge of the pool table near the large glass ashtray where smoke curled from several cigarette and cigar butts crushed into fine gray ash. Logan caught hold of Jubilee's slender waist, catching her lips with a kiss in full view of his pool buddies. Such a sudden public display of affection thrilled her because she knew he was fully serious about the magnitude of this relationship.
"Oh, just the usual bellyachin', an' thanks for the refill an' chaser, darlin," Logan chuckled. She sat on the edge of the table, sipping her glass of diet coke.
"Seriously, you've got one secret weapon there," said Miguel, grinning at Jubilee. "Just WHERE a young pretty thing like you learned to be a pool shark is beyond me…"
"I learned from the best," she said, winking at Logan. He knocked back a sip of whisky, then grabbed his beer for a chasing chug. Something akin to pride gleamed in his eyes, despite the game face he retained. Still he kept his arm curled around her hip to mark his 'territory'.
"And there is no argument from where I sit, that she's one lucky girl," Sammie leaned over to whisper to Maria. Both of them watched their husbands with amusement trading verbal pot shots with Logan's young ladyfriend.
"Amen to that," Maria nodded. "So are we staying to watch them beat the pants offa you guys again, or what?"
"Wouldn't you love to see my pants off, chica," he winked at her, leaning over to kiss her lips briefly and warmly.
"Makin' us look jealous again, for shame," Sammi pouted. "Where's MINE?"
"Where you can always find it, doll," Chas blew her a kiss. He wandered over and pulled her to her feet for a kiss of her own, then sat down in the chair she had occupied. Plunking her on his lap, he pecked her just before one ear, folding his arms around her waist to hold her in place.
"If you ever change your mind and get bored with this guy, you know where to find us on Tuesdays, Jujube," Miguel teased.
"What, you giving up on your pool partner already before you challenge us to a rematch? For SHAME," Jubilee waggled her finger at him.
"I'll get over it," Chas joked, leaning over to kiss his wife who was looking on in amusement.
"So, it's fifty on the rematch," Maria said. She licked her fingers and folded several bills out of her purse to lay next to those Logan dropped down from his wallet.
"And an extra twenty from our side," Sammie added. Maria marked down the figures in a small black notebook, then looked for approval from several of the other people wandering up. Glancing past Jubilee, Logan noticed several college kids laughing loudly from the bar. Behind them slammed the door, and a stench of hormones and testosterone crackled into his nostrils. His gut instincts flared at the sounds of their boisterous voices boasting of the cows they had just tipped over, and the mailboxes they had just taken out.
"Cute, real cute," Logan mumbled.
"Hello, earth to Wolvie," Jubilee teased, tugging his sleeve.
"Don't look now, but we got some new faces," Logan mumbled to her. Seeing his wary glance, his friends looked in the direction Logan glared.
"What, those guys, they're just a bunch of college kids," Jubilee shook her head. "They look harmless enough…"
"Uh huh, right," he mumbled.
"Chill, dude, you're making me nervous," Jubilee thumped his chest. "Are we gonna play another round or not?"
"So, what's it gonna be, Logan?" Miguel asked; noticing how quiet the couple suddenly got.
"Gonna pass on the next game," Logan said, smelling dirt, sweat and musk mingling with cheap pungent perfume. The sort of imitation brand that some younger women wore mixed with the sharp acrid pong of hairspray. Not only that, but the obnoxious chatter of high female gossip accompanied by harsh slurred guffawing grated on his ears. It figured they were getting the next empty pool table not twenty-five feet from them.
"Any reason why?" asked Maria.
"Bunch of young punks makin' me antsy," said Logan, nodding towards the two frat boys who had clustered around a table nearby, thumping pool balls carelessly into a triangle.
"You've got just as much right to be here as they do," said Miguel.
"Those kids always come here and look like they own the place, that's why," said Chas with disgust. "Too damn loud. And then their friends start pouring in, and it's that stupid trashcan banging stuff they have the nerve to call music…"
"You got something against college kids?" Jubilee asked.
"No, honey," Maria patted Jubilee's hand. "Just THESE kids. They drive the rest of us regulars nuts. And the last time they were here, a couple of them got rowdy and decided to pick fights with some of our friends…"
"Last thing I wanna waste my time on is those rich kids who haven't gotta clue…" snorted Miguel. "Don't blame ya Logan. But this is our table…"
"C'mon Jubes, let's get some fresh air," Wolverine suggested, grabbing Jubilee's hand and steering her gently over towards the bar.
"Oh," Jubilee said, realizing the motorcycle vests and paraphernalia both of Logan's friends wore.
What Logan had failed to mention to Jubilee was that several of the guys were ogling her in her snug jeans and rhinestone babydoll T. Last thing he wanted was to have one of the dummies make a move on Jubilee, and incite a riot pounding them into the pavement like he'd done at the nightclub. While it would be fun, he didn't wish to risk getting Jubilee in trouble.
After all, he'd sneaked her in here when the age limit was 21. A secret agreement with the bartender kept things cool, but lately…
"See you later, Logan, we hope," Miguel waved as they walked towards the restaurant area, well away from the newcomers.
