Chapter 7

In the silence of the night two hearts beat inspired by the same woman. One is calmed but the other beats fast with nervous apprehension. Loud and heavy steps pace the rhythm of one heart while the other is awakened. A smell fills the air and it is recognized. This heart is calmed no more.

Love is the strongest of feelings. It transforms us into a mass of contrasts. It makes us invincible and vulnerable, laugh and cry, fight and surrender. How far can a man run from the truth that is in his heart? This man chooses to fight.

Scott Summers walks through the dark mansion debating in his mind what to say once he reaches his destination. He hopes he is doing the right thing and that he can find the correct words, unaware that that is the least of his problems. "And where do you think you are going, Bub?" Wolverine asked, as he stood up on the landing of the stairwell looking defiant. Cyclops looked at him surprised at finding him there.

"Logan! What are you doing here at this hour?" He started to climb the stairs slowly but steadily.

"I asked you a question." Wolverine took a couple of steps down to block his way.

"So did I." The two men were now face to face looking into each other's eyes, or so was Wolverine's intention. Cyclops' special glasses had him at a disadvantage. For a tense moment neither of them spoke.

"I am here to see 'Ro. Would you get out of my way?" Cyclops finally said and tried to move past Wolverine, but he put a hand on his chest stopping him.

"You are not going anywhere." His voice had a hint of a threat.

"Must you defy me in everything?" It didn't take them long to get angry, but surprisingly both managed to keep their voices down. At his question Wolverine leaned closer to Cyclops' face.

"When need be. Especially when something stinks!"

"What the hell are you talking about?" Cyclops said, taking Wolverine's hand off of him roughly and stood his ground.

"Do you pay these late night visits often? Is this how much you love Jean, trying to convince Storm to sleep with you? Aren't you happy with just one woman?" Wolverine let out the frustrations of that whole day in those questions. To him, Cyclops was the bad guy and with him he needed no pretences. This time, Cyclops pushed him aside and reached the landing of the stairwell. Wolverine's words sunk in fast. He realized what the other man was saying and wondered where he got the nerve to think such things of them. And if he thought that of Ororo, what was he doing guarding her door? The way he was acting it was almost as if he was…No, it can't be.

In what it seemed a response to his thoughts, Wolverine moved and stood in the first step of the next flight of stairs once again blocking his way. Cyclops saw this and moved to rest his back against the window opposite Wolverine so they were facing each other again. "And what about you? What do you want with her?" Cyclops nodded towards Storm's door as he asked the question neither confirming nor denying Wolverine's accusations. He wanted to know his intentions with his friend, but mostly, he wanted to irritate him. It is pay back time. He thought amused.

"That is none of your business." Wolverine's posture was one of a man ready for action.

"You know what I think? I think you envy me, lusting after every woman I have; first Jean and now 'Ro, though who can blame you. And look at you, standing there in all your glory wanting to dictate what I do or not with 'Ro, but you won't say what your interest in this matter is. Like you have the right to come between us. Please!" Cyclops moved forward making his intentions very clear, he was going upstairs. Wolverine couldn't contain himself any longer. From the moment the other man arrived he had wanted to tear him apart. He launched himself at him and pinned him against the wall with his left forearm pressing hard against his throat almost completely interrupting his intake of air, ready to unleash his wrath.

"You stay the hell away from her you hear me, or I swear to God."

"What's the matter, Logan? You can come after my girl, but I can't come after yours?" His words were coming out choked but still he managed to let out a sarcastic laugh. "Wait, I'm wrong about that. They're both my girls and you can't have either." Lost in their intense fight, both men let out their rage, time and place completely forgotten. At Cyclops' last remark, Wolverine's right hand claws came out dangerously approaching Cyclops' face.

"Storm decides who she is with, you son of a bitch, not you!" The claws were draw back to increase momentum and Cyclops grabbed his glasses ready to fire his beams, but neither had the chance to attack the other as a bolt of lightning hit the ground near the window they were by in unison with an ear piercing thunder. Around the mansion, scared voices could be heard but nobody dared to come out of their rooms. Storm was at the top of the stairwell looking at them. Her eyes were of a luminescent white and tiny bolts of lightning were coming out of her fingertips and eyes while distant thunders still perturbed the night. The two men were frozen in place at the sight.

"Logan, take your hands off of Scott and sheathe your claws now!" Wolverine gave Cyclops a hard look before doing what he was told. Storm started descending the stairs but then stopped when she heard the Professor's voice in her head. 'Storm what is going on? I sense such anger and even loathe. The students are scared. That thunder, was that you?' "Yes Professor. I did it to diffuse an altercation between Scott and Logan. But do not worry, I will take care of the situation." Storm spoke out loud to let them know she was talking to the Professor. 'Yes, I know it's them but, are you sure you don't want me to take care of this Ororo?' "I assure you Charles, that they will be dealt with." Her serious attitude was more than palpable. 'Very well.' After a moment Storm continued down the stairs intentionally stopping two steps from the landing, giving her an overpowering presence unaware that to them she has always had that.

Wolverine was standing as far from Cyclops as it was possible and was trying to avoid eye contact with her. Still, he decided to try and explain what she had just seen and heard. "Storm I…" Both of them said at the same time, surprising each other. Storm immediately raised both hands with her palms facing them to halt their excuses.

"If you think I want an explanation you are sadly mistaken." The two men were taken aback by her statement and braced themselves for what was coming. Wolverine was the closest to her and his hair was starting to stand on end by the static that was radiating from her. Pouring rain started to fall and the wind picked up, shaking the trees. "Each of you might think you have a good reason for this spectacle, but you will tell those reasons to no one, not tonight. Tonight, you will listen." Storm lowered her hands and crossed her arms over her chest. "How far do you plan to take this private war of yours? As far as I am concerned this ends tonight. We have tried to be understanding and we have tried to stay away from your business hoping that you would find a way to settle your differences. At times, we even have had to tolerate your behavior, but not anymore. When your behavior becomes a bad example for the children we are responsible for and obviously dangerous, you make it my business. Scott," Cyclops looked at her at the mention of his name. He had been looking at the floor and when he lifted his head, he saw Wolverine was doing exactly the same. "I expected better of you than to be the participant of a brawl in the middle of the night. This thing between you two has gone too far and enough is enough. How can we lead, how can we teach these children about right and wrong, about accepting and understanding, if we ourselves behave like we do not know better? And that is what is disappointing about all this, because I know you do know better. And Logan," It was Wolverine's turn to look at her but he just couldn't find the nerve. She seemed to have a power over him that made him act out of character. "When you decided to stay with us you knew there were rules, among other things, that you were going to have to abide by. You know you are welcome here and we can use someone like you in our team. You have our respect and our loyalty, but we need to be sure we have yours and it starts with Cyclops. The Professor brought us together, but out in the field Cyclops is our leader and you have to accept that, otherwise you cannot be part of this team." Storm's voice was only loud enough for them to hear, but her tone had the impact of a thunder. Wolverine looked at her fully understanding the meaning of her words, however, he also saw in her eyes the hope that he would accept them and stay, rather than rebelling and leave. An uncomfortable silence settled between them, aggravated by the calmness outside. Storm's emotions were more under control after her little speech and her eyes were normal again.

"I'm sorry, Storm. I promise you this won't happen again." Cyclops' words were as full of determination as they were sincere. Wolverine felt her eyes on him and lifted his gaze from the floor once again. The hope he had seen in them before was now a silent plea. She really wanted him to stay, but not for the reasons that he would've hoped.

"I…can try. Sorry for waking you." He started to leave but stopped himself when he noticed Cyclops moving in the opposite direction.

Cyclops walked up to her and took her hand in his and said in a soft voice. "I actually came here because I needed to see you."

"Can it wait until tomorrow? It is late."

"No, it has to be tonight." He insisted while caressing her hand with his thumb knowing well that Wolverine was watching him.

"Alright." She responded, frowning slightly at the gesture.

"Storm…" Wolverine tried to protest, but was immediately cut off by Cyclops.

"Logan, you said it yourself, it's her decision." Cyclops smiled at him maliciously and then made his way to her room. Storm followed him with her gaze and then turned around to face Wolverine, who was staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face.

"Logan, we need to talk, but we will do it some other time. Goodnight." He didn't answer her; he just walked away thinking when ones life is over, what is there to talk about? In his mind, she had made her choice and he'd lost.

Storm saw him walk away, suddenly feeling a tremendous sadness, his sadness. However, like she had said, it was a conversation for another time. She sighed heavily and climbed the stairs to her room.

To be continued…