Disclaimer: Nothing here is owned by me
Chapter Seven
Logan was chewing over the same thing he had been since the crack of dawn.
Except he couldn't even pretend to have been sleeping before that, so he'd pretty much been chewing over it all night.
He'd been watching Remy i'm too sexy for my shirt LeBeau since the self entitled little prick had sauntered into the mansion as if he owned it. Watching his every step, and especially watching him around Rogue. At first he'd thought she'd never let the slimy southerner within five hundred feet of her. Logan knew that she still had nightmares about what Sabertooth had done to her, that sometimes when she was pushing herself to breaking point in the gym it was because she wanted to be sure that something like that never happened to her again. But just recently he'd seen a change in her and he didn't like it.
Logan had been close with Rogue ever since the two had arrived at the mansion together.
He wasn't sure what it was about her, but then he'd never really thought about it much. Maybe it was because of how vulnerable she had been when he'd found her laying there in the snow that he felt the need to protect her. Or maybe it was because she was the first person he'd really let himself care about in such a long time that he couldn't bare to see her hurt.
Whatever it was about Rogue, Logan wasn't about to let the Cajun squash the life out of her again. It had taken her years to feel safe after what had happened to her, so Logan damned if he was about to let that Cajun worm his way back into her life again.
Which was exactly the reason why he was stood outside the Professor's door at eight in the morning.
"Come in, Logan" a voice in his head answered before he even had the chance to knock on the door, not that he was surprised.
He was surprised however to find the gorgeous Emma Frost sat, legs crossed and wearing a pristine white suit, on one of the squashy chairs.
"What are you doing here?" he bit out, closing the door behind him with a snap.
"You seem surprised" Emma said, raising a perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Didn't you sniff me out?"
"Thought someone had dropped a bottle of Channel No. 5 out there" he said, dropping himself into the chair in front of Charles' desk.
Emma threw him a sharp smile, "I knew you'd be here as soon as you could, bad mouthing Remy LeBeau."
"You might think he's pretty, Frost" he bit, "That just makes him more of a jackass."
"Really, then what's your excuse?"
"If the two of you would please retreat to your corners" the Professor said, eyeing them over his steepled hands. "Emma was just reviewing Rogue's progress with Remy, perhaps it would be good for you to hear this Logan."
"Well" Emma sat up, uncrossing and recrossing her legs. "I think he's good for her."
"What?" Logan burst out, a red haze descending over his eyes as he shoved himself out of his seat. "Should I have taken photos of Rogue that day, to show people what kind of man he is!?"
"I was here when Rogue was brought in Logan" Emma said disparagingly.
"As was I" The Professor added, "No one is playing down her injuries."
"Just becoming best buds with the guy that gave them to her!"
"Logan, it's not Remy's fault" Emma stood, brushing down her suit and crossing her arms as she turned to face him. "You can't pretend there isn't something between them."
"He had his hands all over her!" Logan shouted, "He didn't give her any choice!"
"Of course he did" Emma rolled her eyes, "Her heartbeat was off the chart when he first touched her, and then he calmed her down."
"No" Logan shook his head stubbornly, "She calmed herself down because she knew she wouldn't hurt him."
"Why can't you see how comfortable she is around him?" Emma stormed, flicking a lock of her perfect blonde hair out of her eye. "Or would you just rather ignore it?"
"Of course she's comfortable around him" Logan said patronisingly, "She knows he can't die when they touch."
"She knows that about you" Emma pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "Or are you just jealous now you're not the only one brave enough to touch her?"
"Don't be stupid" he spat, "I want her to have control as much as you do."
"Good" Emma smiled waspishly, "Because I want her to have regular sessions with Remy."
"You have got to be kidding me!?" Logan howled, "Chuck?"
Charles sighed, "I'm afraid I agree with Emma, Logan."
"He's gonna hurt her again!" Logan thundered, "And you're just going to sit back and let it happen."
"There is no hidden agenda here, Logan" Emma sighed, taking her seat again. "The more comfortable Rogue is with touching, the more likely she will gain control."
"Have you talked to Rogue about this?" he wanted to know.
"Not yet" the Professor said, "Of course if she doesn't agree, then we won't go forward with this."
"Well she won't" Logan said adamantly. "She thinks LeBeau is pond scum."
"Not based on what I saw yesterday" Emma smiled sweetly.
Logan didn't even have a retort, he was out of the door before the other two even had the chance to think about stopping him.
If anyone was going to tell Rogue about this, it was going to be him.
He wasn't about to let Emma get there before him and talk Rogue into something she didn't want to do. He didn't trust the blonde telepath not to twist things in Remy's favour.
If she wanted into his pants that was fine with Logan, but she could damn well leave Rogue out of it.
He followed her scent, she had a unique smell of honey and apples and he was so accustomed to it that she was only too easy to find. Unfortunately that scent was once again mixed with one of cinnamon, bourbon and stale cigarettes.
A stink he wanted no where near her.
He found the pair of them in the wreck room together. They weren't alone, but they were the only two stood at the edge of the pool table. Rogue was wracking up the balls, slightly bent at the waist as she lent over the table. Remy had reached out to rub her shoulders.
She didn't flinch or tense, but she did open her mouth.
"Getcha hands off me, Cajun" she said, not bothering to look up or swat him away. "Tsk, so grabby."
The Cajun ignored her and began to dig a thumb into her back, "Yo' sho' are tense, chere" he said quietly.
Rogue practically hummed, "Been trainin' a lot."
She didn't move or attempt to dislodge his hands.
Remy took a step closer so that he was speaking quietly next to her ear. Fortunately, or unfortunately depending on how he looked at it, his enhanced senses ensured he picked everything up.
"Lose de shirt an' grab us some oils, we got a real massage dere" he murmured.
Logan's stomach rolled.
Rogue just laughed and turned to knock his hands away, finally.
"Dream on, Casanova" she rolled her eyes and moved around to other side of the table, "Go use those magic hands on Alison, Ah seen her makin' eyes at yah."
"She ain't as fun as yo', Catin" he leaned over to the table to smile at her.
"Yah gonna run that mouth all day?" she wanted to know, "Or yah gonna let meh beat yah ass at pool?"
"Rogue" Logan stepped out of the shadows, his eyes trained to her so he didn't accidentally behead her Cajun companion.
"Hey Logan" she greeted, smiling away at him like he was the best thing since sliced bread. "Fancy a game?"
"That's alright, kid" he said, waving a hand casually. "I was hoping we could get out of here, me and you?"
"Get outta here?" she asked, stepping around the table towards him, her companion seemingly forgotten.
"Thought I'd treat you to some lunch" he said gruffly, "Been a long time since we spent time together."
"Too long" she agreed quietly, and the emotion lurking behind those green eyes made him want to kick himself for not doing this sooner.
"Better grab your leathers then" he said, smiling at her. "We'll take my bike."
Rogue squealed excitedly, "Ah'll be right back!"
"Chere, De game?" Remy called after her.
"Sorry Cajun, Ah'll play later!" she called over her shoulder as she took off down the corridor.
Logan finally turned to look at the tall, young man and smiled. They eyed each other, much as two lions might when both had their mind on leading the pride.
"That's my girl" Logan spoke first in a low growl. "You'd better remember that."
"Dat right?" Remy asked, inspecting his fingernails as though he was bored. "Old enough t' be her grand-daddy, way I heard it."
"Ain't gonna stop me from takin' your head off for hurtin' her" he said, turning to leave.
"I care 'bout her too" Remy called after him.
Logan glanced over his shoulder, "You ain't earned the right to care" he said, before heading off to the parking garage without looking back.
He was practically vibrating with anger and he needed to calm himself down before Rogue arrived.
Logan sometimes wondered how much of an animal his mutation had turned him into when he fought to control the blood lust that bubbled around his throat. He'd always acted on instinct in the past.
As his instinct at the moment was to tear that little punk limb from limb, it didn't make living with him any easier.
Then, just like that, Rogue arrived in the garage and clouded him with her scent. His calmed immediately.
"Yah okay, old man?" she asked, sliding onto the back of the motorcycle and accepting the helmet he passed to her.
"Less of the old" he growled, revving the engine. "Hold on tight kid, don't want to scrape you off the pavement."
He took off the moment she did as he asked, wrapping her arms tightly around his midsection.
Logan took them to a diner that the two of them had frequented back when they were new initiates. She had always been so nervous about being in the Mansion when she'd first arrived, worried about her past.
So Logan had brought her here almost three times a week.
"Ah'm gonna order those pancakes with tonnes of chocolate moose" Rogue said, bouncing excitedly over the top of her menu. "Can't believe we ain't been here in so long!"
"Two coffees please" he grunted to the waitress, "That's my fault, kid" he said, now addressing Rogue. "Shoulda made time."
"Don't be silly" she said, waving away his apology with her menu. "We both been busy."
"Well that changes now" Logan promised as the waitress arrived with their coffees.
Rogue threw him a smile as she placed a double order of pancakes with extra chocolate moose and whipped cream.
"So, whatcha bring me here foar then, Mista Logan" she asked, tearing into a sugar packet and pouring it into her coffee.
"Do I need a reason?" he asked, watching her dump a second pack of sugar into her coffee.
"Usually, no" Rogue said, eyes down as she reached for another packet. "But Ah'm guessin' this time there is."
"Did you want some coffee with that sugar?" he asked.
Rogue grinned as she finally looked up at him, "Jus' lahke old times ain't it?"
"Almost" he smiled, playing with the handle on his coffee cup. "Listen kid, there is a reason I dragged you out here today."
"Drum roll please" Rogue mocked, tapping her fingernails against the table.
"It's about the Cajun."
"Ah figured" she huffed, blowing a ringlet out of her eyes. "Well, go ahead wit' it."
"Well, it's just that five minutes ago you couldn't stand to be in the same room as the guy" Logan said awkwardly, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Now you're all pally."
"We ain't pally" Rogue sighed.
"I just pulled you away from the pool table" Logan pointed out.
"Remy and Ah, we go back a long way" Rogue cleared her throat, "He's jus' real familiar, an' it can be hard not t' get comfortable."
"Which is exactly the reason I'm worried" Logan snapped, "He's gonna lull you into a false sense of security."
"What can he steal fr'm meh this time, Logan?" Rogue asked, looking up at him with sad green eyes. "Ain't got nothin' tah give him."
"Trust me kid, you've got plenty to give him."
"Ya'll ain't tryin' tah have thah talk, are yah?" Rogue wrinkled her nose.
"Of course not" Logan shook his hand impatiently, "Besides, from what I hear, I'm ten years too late."
Rogue rolled her eyes, "Yeah yeah" she muttered.
"I'm just worried he'll hurt you again."
Rogue scratched the table with her nails and sighed, "So am Ah" she said honestly, "But Ah'm keepin' mah distance, Ah promise."
"He's charmin', your Gaitor Bait."
Rogue laughed, "He forgets, Ah already know his moves" she winked, "Seen him in action."
Logan huffed, "Well you ain't a kid, so I gotta trust your judgement."
"Yeah, you do" Rogue agreed happily.
"An' I should probably also tell you, that the Prof wants to make that trainin' session of yours a regular thing."
Rogue looked up at him with those big, green eyes of hers.
"With Remy?" her voice hitched.
"Somethin' about you being comfortable around him" Logan muttered, rolling his eyes.
"So we gotta touch?"
"You don't have to do anything, Marie" Logan said very seriously, "It's your decision."
Rogue hesitated for a moment.
"You know, the Cajun isn't the only one you could practice touching with" he said.
"The only one that cain't die" Rogue mumbled into her coffee cup.
"I wouldn't die, kid" he said softly.
"It would hurt" Rogue said.
"I've been through worse" he smiled.
"Ain't hurtin' yah again, Logan."
Logan sighed as he looked into those beautiful eyes of hers. Even as he opened his mouth, he knew that arguing was futile.
"Well, offer's there" he shrugged, "Your Cajun sure ain't as touchable as me."
Rogue laughed, "Ain't half as pretty neither."
Logan shook his head and took a drink through a smile.
"Mebe yah could be there though" she said quietly.
"At your practise?" he asked.
Rogue nodded, "Ah know Emma would be there" she shrugged, "But she won't be no help keepin' the Cajun in line."
"No, she won't" Logan said, "Alright kid, I can do that."
Rogue threw him a heartbreaking smile just as their food arrived.
She didn't stand on ceremony, just dug straight in, only taking a breath to tell him all about how her classes were going and how she needed his help practising that kick she couldn't quite land right.
He smiled to himself as he watched her, wondering why he'd ever stopped coming to their place.