8
Logan rolled over, looking at the clock on the bedside table. It was almost eight. He rolled out of bed, rubbing his eyes. He'd slept in. After grabbing a quick shower, he checked on Pyro. The Australian gave him a frown, rolling over onto his side.
"It's too early mate."
Logan rolled his eyes, heading out to the van to pick up some breakfast for everyone. He opened up the door and climbed in.
He furrowed his brow as he looked in the rear view mirror.
AJ sat up, from the back seat, rubbing her eyes. "What time is it?"
"What are you doin' in here?"
She furrowed her brow with a yawn. "I fell off the cot. Bruised my arm." She rubbed her arm.
He chuckled lightly, turning forward. "You could've slept in our room… your firey friend there wouldn't have minded."
She punched him in the arm with a scoff.
"You wanna go for a ride?"
"Where to?"
"Get some grub… be about an hour." He stuck the key in the ignition, turning the van on.
She squinted at him, obviously trying to decide how important sleep was to her. Eventually sleep won out. She shook her head and pulled her jeans on.
"I'm gunna go finish sleeping in your room."
He nodded and watched her climb out of the van before sauntering back to the motel, the blanket tugged up tightly around her neck.
Gambit poked his head into Pyro's room, knocking on the door with a grin. "Y'decent mon ami?"
Pyro tried to sit up, giving the guest a grin. "Never."
Gambit smiled and walked in followed by Rogue, Kitty and Bobby.
AJ stood up. "Looks like you got some guests Pyro."
"Don' mean t'interrupt." Gambit grinned at AJ who motioned for them to come in. "No no, just talking. Come in!"
They moved into the room, sitting down around him. AJ helped him sit up, propping some pillows up behind his back.
"Y'lookin' good." Gambit ran a hand through his auburn hair.
"Well, as good as you can…" Rogue smirked.
"Geeze… how are you feeling?" Bobby leaned forward on his knees.
"Been better." Pyro smiled.
"Can we do anything for you?" Kitty asked, patting his arm.
He raised his eyebrows "Well… I can think of a few things that y'could do for ol' Pyro… but I'm sure Lance might get pretty upset…"
She smacked his arm with a frown.
"What?" He chuckled, holding up his hands, looking at AJ. "She's touchy."
AJ laughed with a snort.
"Don't you laugh. You know I'd try somethin' with you… but ol'Remy 'ere might have t'claim his territory…"
AJ furrowed her brow "What?"
"C'mon Sheila." He looked at their confused faces then back to AJ's. "What… y'didn't tell 'em? That night I caught you sneakin' back in after sneakin' out t'snuggle with a mystery bloke…" He winked.
Rogue frowned at Gambit who shrugged at her.
AJ shook her head "No… no John. I wasn't with Remy." She smiled. "Which by the way, is none of your business…"
"Well if y'weren't with 'im then who were ya'with?"
Everyone looked at AJ. The door opened and Logan grunted, holding a few bags in either hand. "Can't you kids find anything to do?"
AJ's eyes bore into Rogue, pleading for some help.
"Oh! She was with me!" Rogue tossed her hand in the air. "She… was…" She glanced at Logan in the doorway "Just with me."
Pyro grinned "Some girl on girl a-"
AJ gave him a punch in the arm. "Get your mind outta the gutter."
Logan cleared his throat, setting the bags of food down on the dresser next to the door.
"Dig in guys."
"So are we leavin' yet?" Kitty asked hopefully.
He shook his head with a grin. "Not yet. I wanna keep an eye out; make sure these guys aren't still lookin' for us. Don't wanna lead 'em right to the institute."
Rogue let out an exaggerated sigh.
After breakfast, everyone scattered, trying to find things to do. Gambit and Bobby found a game room that possessed nearly ancient video games, a slightly dilapidated pool table, and an air hockey table that was missing the puck.
Rogue flopped back on Logan's bed, staring at the stained ceiling with a sigh. Kitty stood up with a frown. "This is ridiculous. There has to be something we can do."
AJ shook her head "We're in the middle of nowhere."
Kitty pouted, crossing her arms against her chest. "Well… I'm gunna go take a nap. All this rain makes me depressed."
AJ smiled at Kitty as she left before looking back at Pyro. She pulled his bed sheets down slightly, lifting the large bandage on his chest to look under it, being careful not to wake him up.
Rogue watched her intently. "You're a really loyal friend… ah must say."
AJ looked up at her after gently returning the bandage over his wound, giving her head a shake "That's probably because I've never had any before. I value the few that I have."
Logan opened the door and growled slightly "Y'know… you do have your own room…"
"Ah don't know… ah think AJ here might rather stay with you…" Rogue said with a grin her eyes drifting back up to the ceiling.
"Well if we're playin' that game stripes, then why don't you just stay with the Cajun…" Logan said with a small smirk.
She sat up. "Y'know… that ain't a bad idea…"
Logan frowned "I was kidding."
Rogue grinned before looking at AJ who still sat silently next to Pyro. "You have anything t'say for yourself?"
AJ shrugged, kicking her feet up on the nightstand "I don't answer to you."
Rogue narrowed her eyes, looking between AJ and Logan. "Ahhh… ah see. Y'all haven't talked about it yet."
Logan crossed his arms with a growl "You're awfully nosey."
"Besides, there's nothing to talk about." AJ shook her head with a frown "I… had to get out of there… I can't take it anymore."
Rogue pressed her lips together "You don't have to."
AJ stood up and cracked her knuckles before slipping out the door. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about feelings.
Rogue looked at Logan with a smile. He crossed his arms and shook his head.
"Nice goin'."
AJ propped her hands behind her head as she stared at the starry sky. She sucked in a breath through her nose. She furrowed her brow and moved down the roof, bending over to peer over the edge.
Logan puffed on a cigar with his arms crossed before knitting his brow and looking up.
"How's it goin' kid?" He asked, returning to his former stance, taking another puff.
AJ pressed her lips together. "Wonderfully."
He looked back at her, his cigar clamped between his teeth. "How did you get up there?"
She shrugged. "I have my ways."
She hopped off the roof, landing next to him with ease. AJ took a few steps forward, her arms crossed with a frown.
"You guys don't have to stick with me y'know. They're after me. Not you."
Logan grinned at her "You know that ain't gunna happen."
AJ squared her jaw "Why would you do that?"
"Why would you stay behind with the fire ball?"
She crossed her arms. He was right; it was the exact same thing.
He took stepped towards her, taking her chin with his thumb and forefinger. "You're not alone."
She frowned "I just think it'd be easier if I was."
"Easier for who?" He shook his head.
"Everyone." She turned away from him, squaring her jaw before heading back into the room. He crossed his arms again, looking out at the velvet sky as he inhaled more of his cigar.
He furrowed his brow. He could hear the voices in the room clearly. Pyro was saying something frantically. Looking over his shoulder, he noticed she hadn't even closed the door.
He growled to himself. She wouldn't run would she?
Logan put the cigar out on his hand with a wince, tucking it away for later before marching through the doorway.
AJ stood in the centre of the room, eyes shut and her hand hovering over her temple as she leaned against the TV. Pyro stood in front of her wearing nothing but pajama bottoms and a bandage over his fresh wound. He had his hands on her shoulders, gently asking if she was alright.
She wasn't answering.
He looked past her to Wolverine with a slight look of panic.
"What happened?" Logan snapped.
"She pushed open the door, like normal an' then… she went blank. Like a light switched off or somethin'." He shook his head "I don't even think she can 'ear me…"
Pyro turned her attention back to her, his arm around her. "Come on Sheila… answer me!
Wolverine moved over to her, cupping her chin with his hand, inspecting her face. Pyro was right; she looked different.
Her eyes flicked back and forth behind her eyelids as if she was in some sort of REM cycle, her breathing was erratic and her heart was racing.
"Should… we move 'er?" Pyro frowned, keeping his eyes fixed on her pale face as he bent over slightly, trying to accommodate for the throbbing pain caused by his injury.
Logan was about to answer, until he noticed AJ's eyes flutter open. She sucked in a shaky breath, her gaze drifting to the ground, giving her head a quick shake.
"Are you okay kid?" He squared his jaw, noting how difficult it was for him to mask the concern in his tone.
She looked at him; it was evident her mind was racing as she attempted to form a sentence.
Gambit and Bobby stopped in the open doorway as they passed by.
"Everythin' alright in 'ere?" Gambit raised an eyebrow.
AJ looked at him, still looking slightly light headed. "There's a man in a blue suit with a gun." She blinked at him blankly "A car accident." She closed her eyes and shook her head slowly. "A baby crying… 14."
Gambit stared at her before looking at Logan. "Translation…?"
"Kitty." AJ added, opening her eyes to look at him again.
Bobby frowned. He opened his mouth to question her odd behavior when Logan moved past him followed by Pyro.
Both Gambit and Bobby stared at AJ before the three followed Logan to Kitty and Rogues room.
He banged on the door until Rogue pulled it open, holding her towel tightly around her damp body with a frown. "What in the hell…"
Logan squared his jaw and moved past her, looking at Kitty who continually adjusted the rabbit ear antenna with a frown.
"Damnit!" She cursed "I almost had it. Wolvie can you move a step to the left?"
He furrowed his brow and stepped aside. The picture on the TV came into view and she let out a little giggle, moving over to the bed to watch.
"I can't stand to listen to that baby crying… constantly crying…" She shook her head.
"Jeeze… if y'wanted t'watch TV y'could've just asked… make me come out a'the damn shower just t'get the door…" Rogue muttered, slamming the bathroom door behind her.
Logan furrowed his brow "What baby?"
Kitty pointed to the wall. "Next door. I swear that kid's the spawn of Satan."
Rogue immerged from the bathroom, fully clothed this time, her hair still dripping wet. "Oh Remy, Ah didn't know you had any kids…" She said with a sarcastic smile.
He gave her a wink "None dat Remy knows of…"
Logan held up his hand "AJ, why Kitty? What did you see?"
AJ squeezed her eyes shut. "I don't know Logan, it was nothing. It was nothing. I just… I'm tired. That's all." She shook her head and turned to leave.
Bobby put his hand on her shoulder to stop her, pointing at the TV.
A man with brown hair held his microphone up to his mouth through the screen. He spoke with a grin as the camera pulled back revealing a slew of children behind him. He was wearing a blue suit. He chuckled as he showed a clip of children in a boxcar race at a local fair, two of the small cars colliding. The children climbed out of the cars unscathed. The man continued to talk before pulling out a black gun, squeezing the trigger that was aimed at the children, spraying them with streams of water as they giggled, throwing balloons filled with water at him, soaking his blue suit to the bone.
Logan stared at the TV before turning his attention to Kitty who sat smiling on the edge of her bed, her gaze moving over to the five guests in the doorway.
"I know it's not much… channel 14's the only one that works, but if I have to listen to that kid bawling over there for another minuet… at least I can crank up the volume, right?"
Rogue narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms firmly across her chest. "What's goin' on?"
Logan looked at AJ "How did you do that."
Her eyes scanned the faces of the stunned men. "I… I don't know…"
"Do what? What's going on?" Kitty frowned. "Is everything alright?"
Logan looked at the two girls "Get some sleep." He looked at the others still hovering in the doorway. "Bright an' early… we're headin' home."
That was a big one... I know. (That's what she said...) So anywhoo... Try my X-men personality quiz that I made on quizilla last night as I was so increadably bored. :) It's listed as my homepage in my profile. I'm so proud of her. :)