Good Times and Hope
Chapter Six
By: Lily Handle
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Author's Note: I just have to say one thing, I adore neurotic, nervous Scott. He was actually almost human in Evo when he freaked out around Jean. We rarely if ever see that side of him in the comics. In tribute to that, I made my Scott really neurotic!
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It's just Jean, it's just Jean, it's just Jean. No reason to have a heart attack right here in the middle of the dance floor. No reason to stammer every time you open your mouth to compliment her. You've faced down super villains and a hurricane there is no reason for you to be intimidated by Jean. No reason at all. Oh no, she talking, what is she saying?
"…fun time?"
"Uh, sure, yeah, great time," Scott managed, around his tongue. It felt thick and was sticking to the roof of his mouth. It had felt that way since Jean had come down the stairs and his whole life had stopped. He'd never see something so beautiful even again in his life.
Jean smiled at him, and his heart stopped. "Scott, I would really appreciate if you try thinking…softer."
Oh lord, she could heard him. Great, just great, now what was he going to do? Jean giggled and he realized she'd just heard that too.
"Uh, sorry, Jeanie, I just, uh…" Why couldn't he seem to finish a sentence around her tonight? Man, he was such a dork!
She laid a hand against his cheek, "I don't think you're a dork, stop worrying about trying to impress me and thank you for liking the dress."
"It's not the dress, Jeanie, it's you."
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Grease stained his shirt, oil covered his hands and there were bits and pieces of the two liter motorcycle engine laying around him. A cigar dangled from the corner of his mouth as he studied the parts. He had an idea of what was causing the problem with the engine, so all he had to do was replace the part and it would run as good as new. The replacement tires were due in two weeks and then he could start on the serious rebuild of the frame. Yeah, he thought, things were going well. Well enough that he could stop for the night and go for a shower. Maybe Hope would like to join him for a shower. He grabbed a rag off the counter and headed for the elevator. He stepped off the elevator, humming slightly to himself as he headed towards the steam room. He liked how Hope's scent seemed to reach out to him as he drew closer to the steam room, fact was he just plain like her. In a part of his mind, he worried about how close he was getting to her, worried about how he may inadvertently hurt her. The scar on her hand was more than enough, he didn't need the shadows of his past to taint her. He pushed it away for tonight. He stepped into the steam room, causing Hope to jump and give a startled gasp, while Ororo just chuckled.
"'Cuse me, 'Roro, I'll be out of your way in a minute," He said, plucking Hope up and carrying her in his arms.
"Not a problem, Logan," Ororo said, laughing.
"Don't you ever knock?" Hope asked, though she made no protest to being carried.
He grinned at her, "Why should I, doll? I've seen her naked before, it don't bother her."
Hope's eyes narrowed in suspicion for a brief moment, before she schooled her face into a calm mask, "Well, what if someone else had been in there with us?"
He raised an eyebrow at her and she rolled her eyes at him, "Okay, so you could tell, but that's not the point. Wait, Logan, that's the boy's locker room."
Logan pushed the door open, "Why, yes it is."
"What are you doing? I can't be in here!" Hope started to wiggle around in his grasp, but he knew she wasn't going anywhere. "Seriously, Logan, I shouldn't be in here. Someone may come in here." He ignored her and dropped her to her feet inside the shower. He pulled off his shirt and he didn't mind at all that her scent changed instantly. He reached over her shoulder and twisted on the shower, then grabbed her towel and tugged it away.
"LOGAN!" She yelled and he laughed as he pushed her into the shower.
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Author's Note: Man, even more than neurotic Scott, I love cheeky Logan. So much fun to write. Just so much fun!