Author's Note: Sorry for the big delay in getting this chapter out, but I'd been in the process of transitioning to a new job and was just worrying about getting through things being different and having to re-learn stuff. Thanks for your patience, and I hope this chapter was worth the wait.
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The next morning Logan lay drowsing in bed, his front pressed comfortably into the mattress and pillow gripped between two muscled arms. He was awake, but not immediately inclined to move, half-grinning to himself at the memory of his movie time with Marie. She'd been eating from a bowl of popcorn that he would steal from occasionally, her side pressed up against his and cheek snuggled against his cloth-covered arm as they watched an action flick. It was one they both enjoyed, but were familiar enough with to allow for catching up and conversation. During an attempt to catch a kernel midair, Marie misjudged her throw and the fluffy snack ended up lodged in Logan's hair. She'd frozen for a second before giving a stifled, short giggle.
"Oops." Logan raised his left eyebrow at her, obviously more amused than anything, before he plucked the offending object from wild brown strands and popped it into his mouth.
"Gotta work on your aim there, kid," he had teased. It wasn't the norm for the Wolverine to act so unrestrained and playful, but he had it in him. The softer attitude only surfaced around those he felt closest to, which was really just Marie at this point. Not that he didn't like the kids at the school, but none of them respected his space or understood him like she did. Compliments of getting his memories caught in her head not once, but twice, maybe. Logan chuckled softly to himself in bed, stretching long legs and curling toes in that hazy, pleasant warmth of just waking. Thanks to his nice afternoon with Marie that ended in a late supper, his own emotions were calmed significantly, and the idea of talking to Charles was beginning to sound even more logical. One more huge stretch and the feral mutant rolled out of bed, preparing only minutely for the morning by grabbing up his jeans from the day before and the same white tee, although forgoing the green overshirt for light blue plaid flannel instead. Logan figured he'd have a chat with the professor and then grab some breakfast afterward. A shower could wait until later, maybe after a good workout or Danger Room session to wake him up the rest of the way. Plans finalized, Logan finished dressing and left his room in fairly high spirits. The familiar path to Charles' office was navigated on autopilot, with the occasional greeting of a student who was on their way to an early Sunday meet-up. He knew the professor would be in, though, since the man was entirely devoted to his school and the children it helped. Logan had barely stopped in front of the doorway when he was invited to enter by the professor's voice. Hazel eyes did a mental roll at the expected occurrence before he grinned and opened the heavy door.
"Morning Charles." The telepathic mutant nodded in return, taking in the other's good mood.
"Good morning Logan. Would you care for some coffee or tea?" Ever the gentleman, Xavier gestured to a tray on the desk which contained a carafe and teapot, with cups, cream, and a sugar bowl that were standing ready for however a person might take their beverage of choice. Logan shook his head.
"No, thanks. I just wanted to have a word with you." Charles nodded slightly as if this was expected. In truth, he was hoping Logan would come by to see him sooner rather than later after what Scott had reported. He had known their feral friend was in danger, but for it to be the man Stryker… Well, that concerned the telepath a great deal. Logan had seemed to settle in at the school, but this could threaten the stability they had all worked to give him.
"Yes, about the group you encountered early yesterday." Charles sipped some tea. Logan almost snorted in amusement at how confident the other mutant was. Even without using his powers, the professor could always be counted on to prove he was an astute and intelligent person.
"Yeah, kinda. More like just one in particular. This guy who knows me, his name's Stryker, but that's all I've got. I was hoping to try and track down some leads, maybe see if you could open some connections and find something out, too." Charles hesitated slightly, looking down into the amber depths of his tea. As much as he, too, wanted the Wolverine to know about his past, it wouldn't help to have everything thrust at him all at once. Logan's mind would have less strain to deal with if he could find out things bit by bit, and process them slowly.
"That is certainly something we can discuss, but for a later time, perhaps. After this occurrence, I can't help thinking that the security on school grounds should be improved. This was just too close for comfort, don't you agree Logan?" Hazel eyes stared, their owner not sure if he should be feeling dismissed or chastised for not thinking about the school over himself. Although it was likely Charles hadn't even meant it that way, it still stung a little bit. "I thought you and Scott could work on that together, today. It would mean a great deal to me," the professor continued. Logan tried to hide his disappointment and swallowed, giving an abbreviated jerk of his head as reluctant agreement. Great, a whole afternoon with Summers to put a cheery end to his weekend….
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Logan practically stalked through the school halls, making his way through the grand foyer and to the front entrance and sitting down on the steps to light a cigar. If he was gonna be stuck with Scott inside, he needed to get a little relaxation in first to bolster himself. Not too far away on the lawn he saw Kitty, Bobby and Jubilee chatting about something, their conversation drifting easily to where he sat, unnoticed.
"I just can't imagine how that felt," Kitty was saying, her chin propped on her fist and something soft and sad touching her expression. The young girl was extremely sensitive sometimes, not about herself but in concern for others, and Logan wondered what had happened.
"Probably kind of crazy," Bobby joined in. "Not knowing if an attack was going to happen, if you'd have to try to make it to the bunker once those sirens started." He gave a slight shiver. "I'm glad I didn't live back then." Ah, some kind of history class discussion, sounded like. Jubilee nodded her agreement.
"Same here. Besides, I don't care much for the fashion they had back then, anyway." Kitty gave an unexpected giggle, the lighthearted comment lifting the serious mood. Logan had a small mental flash of being underground, maybe, in some small hole or something. There were sirens, and the sound of plane engines. He shook his head, clearing the inner vision while he sucked more smoke into his lungs. Sounded like the kids were talking about the nuclear war scare, where bunkers were built in towns to safeguard against the event of such an attack. Logan curled his lip, not happy at the thought of having to hide underground for an extended amount of time. Could he even survive a nuclear fallout? That gave him pause. Possibly? Wouldn't want to find out though. Logan didn't mind being underground, really. After all, he was no stranger to the lower levels of the school. But at least he could always leave when he wanted to. The schoolwork chatter faded into the background as Wolverine became lost in his own thoughts. He'd feel like a prisoner if he couldn't get the chance for fresh air and sunshine, or rain on his face. Prisoner… That brought to mind the nightmares he sometimes had, of being trapped underwater, strapped down to something, in a place lit only with artificial brightness. No windows anywhere, from what he could recall, even in the hallways he dreamed about running through. Just an impression of the need to escape as his lungs burned from the task of fueling his body with enough oxygen while fighting his way out of the tank and up the st…. The stairs. Logan straightened, thoughts focused internally. Wait, stairs? Had the place been hiding another level below the surface? His failed lead at Alkali Lake the year before, when he'd come back feeling defeated and lost… Was it only because he hadn't looked hard enough? Hadn't looked deep enough? Jumping to his feet the feral mutant took off toward his room, all other thoughts flung from his mind except this new revelation as impulsiveness took over. The slight clatter of his boots on the stairs made the three young mutants who had been talking look over, but there was nothing or no one to see anymore. It was dismissed and quickly forgotten as they continued their discussion.