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He prowled the darkened hallways, sniffing the air as though the very act would bring about some danger. He craved the open road and his sleek, new bike (his old one had been sacrificed during a fight – used to bring down his opponent). He was still reeling with the shock of Rogue's punch-in-the-gut confession, unable to grasp the image of his wife with the stiff Cyclops.
Stiff. Yeah, I'd like to see him stiff…and cold…six feet under…Logan shook his head, chasing away the brutal flashes of his metal claws buried in Scott's chest. He couldn't hate the man simply because he had married Rogue. It wasn't as though Scott had stolen his beloved from beneath him. It was he, after all, who had left her…vulnerable and livid. As much as it tore him apart, he had been the one who had practically gift wrapped her and handed her away; he had done so by leaving. Leaving her to drown in her swelling hatred and bitterness.
He was egotistical enough to first jump to the appealing conclusion that Rogue had married Scott out of some perverse need to seek vengeance. She did it to torment him…to get back at the memory of his betrayal. Yet, Logan wasn't foolish enough to fall into that pleasing, comfortable trap. He knew why she married Scott. Scott was loyal. Scott was secure. Scott was someone other than him.
Logan finally surrendered to his defeat, making his way down to the patio in order to eat dinner with his wife…Ex-wife, you idiot. She's no longer yours…and her new husband. Or was he her new husband? How long had Rogue waited before handing out her shattered heart? Years? Months? Weeks? Agonizing over the newest questions that plagued him, Logan trekked outside.
Scott and Rogue were already present, standing by the thick, stone railing. Rogue's hair cast rays of golden red in the setting sun. Her eyes were gleaming in that eerily deep-icy blue, but this time they weren't wrung with distain, but instead gazing up at Cyclops with affection. Her husband's hand covered hers, which was resting on the rail. Logan stared at their subtle touch, amazed that her mutation wasn't draining the life out of Cyclops. They appeared to be in a serious discussion, murmuring. Logan, thankful at the moment for his sharp hearing, was able to discern their whisperings.
"Rogue," Scott was soothing, "he doesn't have to stay long. As soon as the funeral is over, he'll be gone."
Maybe not asshole, Logan thought acidly, once again immediately chastising himself. It was no one's fault but his own that Rogue and Scott were now married. And Logan couldn't blame Scott for feeling the way he did. If the shoes were reversed, Logan would've wanted him gone, too.
"I know, sugar. I just…I wish he hadn't come at all. The nerve of that bastard to show up after…"
Scott caressed her wrist. "Honey, you would be just as upset if he didn't come."
"What do you mean?"
Scott wrapped his other arm around her, pulling her gently to him. "If he hadn't showed up for Xavier's funeral then you would be angry over that. Face it, Red: you want any excuse to lash out at him."
Rogue bowed her head, silently admitting her ambition to eschew her ex-husband no matter the circumstance. "I know, but…," she growled in frustration, slamming her free hand into the concrete. "I hate him so much! How could he…how could he…god, I wish he was the one who'd died."
It wasn't her words that left Logan feeling frigid inside (he had expected nothing less from her lips). His eyes were latched onto her fist, which was still pressed against the railing: the railing that was now cracked in a spider-web spiral around her hand. Good Lord, where had such strength come from? Not even Logan was able to smash through such dense concrete with a simple strike.
Scott brushed his fingers through her silky strains. "Rogue…sweetheart, relax. Everything's going to be ok. Just…relax, baby. You know what happens when you're anger gets the better of you."
"I know. I know," she sighed, visibly slouching against his embrace. "I'm sorry, sugar."
"Shh, Red. No need to apologize. I understand. I really do." He placed a comforting kiss upon her forehead, his mouth lingering for a moment before he pulled away. It was at that moment the X-leader turned around, his ruby glasses shimmering in the dusky sunlight.
Though he couldn't see it, Logan could feel Scott's glare. "Hey, One-eye," he grumbled. "We gonna eat or what?"
Rogue whirled around, her strangely colored eyes flashing first in rage and then in a disturbing calmness. "You were listening," she accused darkly.
"Don't flatter yourself, kid."
"Don't call me kid, Wolverine." Her voice was uncannily quiet and full of menace, sounding slightly off-key from her self. "Or you won't live to regret it."
Scott reached out, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Careful, Red." His head snapped over to Logan. "Not that I would care about you," he snarled at the older man. "But we wouldn't want any of the children to get hurt."
At the word 'children', Rogue sank back, her eyes falling away from her stormy blue to her birth-given green (the first they had been since coming outside). "Let's just eat. I'm starving."
The three sat around the patio furniture, Logan unable to remove his questioning gaze from her eyes. How was she able to alter them? He forced his attention away, peering over at the crack in the concrete. What the hell was going on?
He had had every intention of leaving as soon as the services tomorrow were over, but now…now sensing something was horribly wrong, he planned to stay in order to dig deeper into the mystery of his wife.
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DangerousMutant: I figured most people would assume Bobby. Yet, that's not why I picked Scott. I just think that her marrying Scott adds a whole new, twisted dimension to the story.
Jackia: Well, Scott wasn't in the room, but you could probably just imagine what Logan's stunned face would've looked like.
CassandraLee: "The first time"…haha. Do thou doubt thine intentions? innocent smile Anyway, nope, not Jean.
Nikki: Chp3: You can be as mean as you want to him. Just don't physically harm him. He is, after all, still sexy. As for The Rasmus, what genre are they? I don't listen to Rap, Heavy Metal, or Metallic. I generally stick to Country, Rock, some Pop, and Classical/Easy Listening. Chp4: I hate that pairing, too. I see them being siblings more than anything else. I'm sorry you read the chapters in the wrong order.
Randirogue: Nope, not Jean. Also, I'm not a fan of the Scott/Rogue pairing, but I thought it was fitting.
Crimson Lipstick: Think you've got it, yet? I wonder who pieced it together after this chapter. evil cackle
Princess: Looking a bit more like Jean, but it definitely wasn't Jean who she absorbed.
Blix: She's being rather harsh, but I would, too, if I were in her place.
Lily: Haha. You've got it. She can control her mutation, which obviously means she's having sex, right? Haha.
Roguechere: I like to sneak in a few surprises here and there. big grin Glad you approve.
Gimpy: He is a great guy and there may just be heartache up his alley. I honestly don't know. My fingers do the writing, not I. With this chapter, have you figured out whom she absorbed? I bet you have. Furthermore, you're right that things – past and present – will slowly be revealed in due course. I'm glad you like my writing. I rather much enjoy yours, too. I've been anxiously awaiting an update for Three Degrees of Separation.
Luthien: Good thing you like angst, or you would absolutely hate this story. Haha.
Vegeta: Only time will tell, my friend. (In other words, I have no freaking clue!)
Cali Lover: Crying? winces sheepishly Sorry. I didn't mean to do that. Forgiven?
TPolTucker: Sorry, not exactly 'unadulterated anger', but it is definitely festering. Logan can't remain calm forever.
Wapps: It was your birthday? Why Happy Freaking-Belated Birthday!
Sapphireblue: Things will unfold as the story progresses. Logan's moment of weakness was purely awful, but you'll learn more about it. Did this chapter help you figure out whom she absorbed?
Veronica: Jean's not in the picture. This is a post-X2. And in my world, Jean never returned as the Phoenix. Also, don't worry I'll explain how Scott and Rogue came to be.
Sparkling-Diva: You can retain normalcy? That's a shock! smiles innocently