It was as if she didn't exist in his eyes anymore. Logan's direct cut affected her deeply, but she'll never let anyone know that, least of all the major players involved. Scott, Logan and Ororo. There were no more innuendos, flirtations, small but passionate kisses, or sly touches between them. His tenacious pursuit of her had effectively ended and Jean was at lost as to why and what. Why did it end? What caused it to end? Don't get her wrong, she loved Scott with every fiber of her being, but she'll be a hypocrite if she said she didn't loved every flirtation, every innuendo, every kiss, every touch and every moment of the chase. Logan was six feet two inches, almost three hundred pounds of ruggedly handsome, sexy maleness and she gladly, albeit silently crowed at garnering his attentions. Logan's flirtations and innuendos were a constant in her life and she had no idea how to cope at their absence. Knowing that any woman was his for the taking, but he wanted her, had skyrocketed her confidence and arrogance levels. Logan's intensity took her to new heights in becoming aware of the sensual woman she felt she was deep down inside.
Now, all of it was gone, over and done within the blink of an eye and he seemed to be moving on…with Ororo of all people. That left a bitter taste in her mouth. Ever since spying them that afternoon from the library's window and noticing their subsequent interactions with each other, she was obsessed in knowing exactly what was going on between Logan and Ororo. She was so fixated on finding out exactly what the nature of their relationship was, that she had resorted to stalking. Attempting to read their minds wasn't going to work. It wasn't because it was unethical to do so, but the well-known fact that Ororo and Logan were two people whose minds were difficult to get into. The only way that she could enter their minds was if they willingly let her. And Jean knew that knowing the people that they were, there was no way in hell that Logan and Ororo were going to give her free access to their thoughts. So yes, she decided to do her own reconnaissance work, as she knew her targets were smart and careful enough to not give anything away.
Jean winced at the possibility of them being together. They mixed as well as oil and water, yin and yang, so she was baffled by the apparent familiarity of interaction between them, especially after Ororo had in no uncertain terms told her that she didn't know if she liked Logan. There was absolutely no way that Logan could be interested in Ororo romantically. No way at all. Maybe he was showering her with some attention because he pitied her. Maybe that soft heart she knew he possessed beneath that ornery shell was forcing him to be nice to the reserved weather witch. Hell, maybe it was as simple as him just wanting sex from Ororo, since he couldn't have it with her. She prayed that was all it was because she didn't know if she can stomach it if it turned out to be more than that.
Don't get her wrong, she didn't hold a grudge against Ororo. She definitely, wasn't jealous of the ebony beauty. The weather controlling woman was one of her best friends after all and she wanted her to be happy, but…just not with Logan. Jean felt as if she had a claim on Logan, that he was hers and only hers. His attentions were only for her. To have him lavish those attentions on another woman was unthinkable, especially if that woman happened to be one of her best friends. For her own peace of mind, she needed to know. Needed to know if there was something definitive going on with the polar opposite mutants. With that in mind, she decided to seek Ororo out first.
Ororo hummed tunelessly as she worked in her greenhouse, planting some new seedlings, pruning and watering her babies. She was in her favorite part of the greenhouse, the exotic plants section, trying her best to forget about that peculiar afternoon with Logan. He had called her beautiful and then bolted as if rabid dogs were on his trail. She had no idea what to think about his behavior. The man was simply an enigma. At one time, he was the bad-tempered man they knew, snarling at anyone and anything in his path. Then at another time, it would seem as if he had gone through a personality change, being sweet and calm, virtually the anti-Wolverine. When he had called her beautiful, it was as if her entire world had stopped. That single word, uttered in his gravelly voice, his scent and his touch had triggered something akin to a rebirth in her. For those few moments, with him piercing her with his eyes as he did, it seemed as if they could have a future together. And when she had reached out to push his hair back from his forehead, the feelings that raged through her were like an uncontrollable inferno. That's when she knew the man was completely submerged in her system and there was no turning back for her.
Ororo groaned when Jean's voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts. "'Roro? Are you in here?"
She rolled her eyes and made sure her mental shields were in place. As much as she loved Jean, she didn't want her to get an inkling of her thoughts. She moved slowly over to the door separating the exotic plants from the other parts of the greenhouse and opened it. She was greeted by Jean's bright wide smile. Ororo immediately knew she was up to something. Jean never smiled this brilliantly unless she had something up her sleeve. Ororo guessed she would find out what had the redhead grinning like a simpleton soon enough.
"Hello, 'Roro. Do you have a few minutes to talk?" Jean asked.
Ororo groaned inwardly, but nodded. She wasn't in the mood to talk. She just wanted to be left alone with her thoughts of Logan, "Yes, of course."
She stepped aside to allow Jean to walk in, then closed the door. Ororo waited for Jean to speak. The redhead takes a few short steps then turned to face Ororo, smiling faintly and looking unsure.
"How are you, 'Roro?" She asked, her voice tinged with something Ororo couldn't quite place.
Ororo moved over to her tools table to grab a pair of shears. Walking over to some potted plants to begin trimming, she replied. "I am fine, Jean. Why do you ask?" Why wouldn't she be fine? Jean was definitely up to something.
"I am worried about you." Jean answered.
"Why would you be worried about me?" Ororo asked, a perplexed look marring her face and a weird feeling settling in the pit of her stomach.
Jean glanced up at Ororo, an odd look in her eyes. "You've been acting strange lately." She exhaled loudly, then continued. "You've been more distant and less talkative than normal. You just seem different."
Ororo rose a pale eyebrow, more confused at the bizarre turn in the conversation. Putting the shears down, she asked, "Different? How do I seem different? And why would you say I have been acting strange?"
Jean eyed Ororo intently. She was going to go in for the kill. What better way to get what she wanted than to fluster the normally composed weather witch? "Your behavior wouldn't have anything to do with Logan, would it?"
Instead of being stunned at Jean's words, Ororo laughed inwardly. She had been wondering when Jean would voice her concerns about Logan's lack of attentions. Can she be any more transparent? It was now so easy to see Jean's character for what it truly was. After her initial conversation with Logan, Ororo had begun to pay closer attention to Jean. Sadly, she had arrived at the same conclusion that Logan had reached a long time ago. Jean wasn't as innocent as she portrayed to them, seemingly thriving on being the center of attention. She had always known that Jean was vain, but never knew the true extent of her vanity, until now.
Jean took Ororo's silence as confirmation. She frowned. "So, I'm right. It is Logan."
Ororo suddenly felt funny speaking about Logan. Knowing the potential for the conversation to head south quickly, especially a conversation about Logan, Ororo knew some semblance of control was needed. Quietly, she replied, "Jean, I said I was fine. Logan has nothing to do with anything regarding me." Liar. The nagging voice decided to rear its head and taunt her.
Jean stared at Ororo in confusion. She had no idea how to take Ororo's statement. Was the weather witch being untruthful? Jean wished she could have gotten a read on her thoughts. Jean sighed. Was she making something out of nothing regarding their interactions? Her instincts screamed no at her.
"So, you and Logan aren't…?" She trailed off, hoping Ororo would pick up on her meaning.
"What?! No!" Ororo stated, with feigned outrage. Liar liar, pants on fire. There was no reason for the good doctor to know that she desired Logan and she was on a mission to win him. As it stood right now, exercising precaution was her best option. Jean becoming aware of her intentions could only spell disaster.
Jean took a seat on a turned down bucket that was next to the tools table. "I was under the impression that something was going on between the both of you." Crossing a leg over the other, she continued. "The two of you were seen spending time together."
Giving Jean her undivided attention, Ororo replied fiercely, "I do not know where you got the impression that Logan and I are involved, but let me be the first to say, we are not." That weird feeling was back in the pit of her stomach and she had an unusual sensation that she was being dishonest.
"Well, I've been watching him lately and he's not his usual grouchy self," Jean explained. "And he hasn't been paying any attention to me."
A sudden wave of fury gripped Ororo. Boiling anger and a rush of jealousy flowed through her, making her see red. How dare she? Did she think she had a monopoly on Logan and his affections? Glaring at Jean, she huffed, "So what? Why would it bother you if he is not paying you any attention? Why would you even care if he is or if he is not? You are a married woman, Jean. Do you think you have a strong hold on Logan's affections?"
Jean sat and stared wide-eyed at Ororo. She was stunned at the weather goddess' angry outburst. Ororo had never reacted that aggressively towards her before. Maybe she was right, after all. But….Logan and Ororo? It was absurd.
"Look, 'Roro, I just wanted to know if you were alright. I'm not so sure that you are."
Ororo took a deep breath to calm herself. She really needed Jean to leave her alone. "I am fine, alright?" She replied tersely. Just leave me alone, she added silently.
Jean shrugged and stood slowly. With certain calm she didn't feel, she made her way to the door, opening it. Turning around, she looked at Ororo warily. "I'm sorry if I upset you talking about Logan. I only wanted to know that you were alright. It's just that we've always had girl talk but lately you seem to be avoiding that with me. I…I'll leave you alone, now."
Jean slipped through the door and Ororo breathed a sigh of relief when she heard the greenhouse door opened then closed. She unsteadily sat on the same bucket that Jean had not too long ago sat on. What in the Goddess' name was that all about? She rubbed the space between her eyes, as she felt the tension settle between her shoulder blades. As she sat there, she couldn't help the uneasy feeling that came over her. Her intuition now yelled at her that Jean had subtly warned her to back off of Logan. Ororo shook her head. Great. Just great. As if securing Logan's affections without any problems wasn't difficult enough. Now, she had a delusional redhead quickly becoming a nuisance and a potential threat to her mission. Ororo stood, a hard glint in her eyes. If Jean think that she would be bullied into submission, she had another thing coming. Jean wanted to know if anything was going on between her and Logan, well guess what? She was about to get an eyeful.
Jean's brows were knitted in confusion as she left the greenhouse. Ororo's outward hostility was at the forefront of her mind. Ororo's reaction was quite startling to her. She had never seen Ororo react that way to a simple comment about Logan. The queen of serenity, blowing her top only happened when she was Storm and their lives were in danger. It didn't happen when she was simply Ororo. Her earlier suspicions that something was indeed going on between the pair rushed her as she entered the mansion through the kitchen's back door. Would Ororo have reacted like that if something wasn't going on? The passion in Ororo's response was upsetting and Jean's gut was telling her that it was evidence of something. But what that something was, she refused to give credence to it. She was afraid that if she acknowledged what that something was, then she would no longer have a claim on the feral powder keg. She was miffed that Ororo didn't bite the bait she faintly dangled before her. It was as if the weather witch knew exactly why she was there and what she was subtly fishing for. But how could that be? Last she checked, she was the telepath, not Ororo. She now had more questions than answers and knew her only remaining chance of having some of those questions answered rested with Logan. And it was a forgone conclusion that she likely wouldn't get anything out of him. But it wouldn't hurt to try, she reasoned. She just needed to know what, if anything, was going on with them. Her pride and vanity just wouldn't allow her to leave it alone. Reaching out with her mind, she attempted to get a feel of where Logan was. As usual, his shields were up, so she had no other choice but to ask around. After a few minutes, she was able to get a hint of where he was and set out in that direction.
Logan collapsed on the soft cushioned wicker recliner in the barely used sunroom of the mansion. Propping his feet up on the matching ottoman, he groaned loudly. This was one of the very few places inside of the mansion he came to think and let go of his keen senses. Knowing that everyone, with the exception of Ororo and Xavier, knew of the existence of this room, was an added bonus. It meant that he wouldn't be bothered as he attempted to get his jumbled thoughts sorted out. Pulling the lone cigar out of the pocket of his flannel shirt, he lit it and almost moaned in ecstasy when he took the first puff. He leaned back in the recliner, savoring the smell and taste of the cigar and letting his senses take over.
He smelled the aroma of the freshly baked pizza that was just delivered for dinner, the scent of some old books that were stacked in a corner of the room, the stench of the cheap cologne of some of the pubescent boys who swear they were Casanovas. He heard the television on in the recreational room on some UFC fighting match and the sounds and shouts of some of the students playing a basketball game. Jubilee, Rogue and Kitty, or the three stooges as he called them, were arguing about who was the cutest of the Jonas brothers and above all that, he heard Ororo's husky lyrical laughter. He paused at that one, wondering what or who was the cause of her laughter. He loved the sound of it and even offered up a small smile in appreciation.
As he continued on his crusade to get to know her, he had to admit that he was enjoying himself immensely. Who would have thought? He remembered awakening from that erotic dream and the decision he had made after. Then his mind switched to how she had looked that afternoon, gracefully sitting on the quilt, reading with a pensive expression on her face. He had found himself admiring her and truly looking at her for the first time and he couldn't and didn't want to take his eyes off of her. The delicate, loving expression on her face and the hitch in her breath as she had reached out and touched him was a defining moment for him. He thanked whichever deity was responsible for his healing factor because he swore his heart had stopped at that moment. Then he had grabbed her wrist and the feeling of her skin underneath his hand was like a little taste of heaven. Running after he had called her beautiful was something he had to do for her own protection, as he was fighting tooth and nail with his beast since he had joined her. Having her that close, feeling the smoothness of her skin, looking into those drowning pools of cerulean and breathing in her heady scent, were just too much for him and he had no other recourse than to run. He didn't want to frighten her if his inner animal had taken over, and at that moment there was a strong possibility of that happening. He didn't know how she would have reacted….
"Logan. There you are." A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. He knew who it was before she walked into the room, firmly closing the door. Ginger and roses wafted up to his nose. He stiffened immediately. He had been successful in keeping his distance from her since his promise to Ororo roughly two months ago. That was, until now. But he had the feeling that Red here had singled him out with one purpose in mind. So much for his attempt to clear his addled mind.
"May I join you?" She asked with a smile. Without waiting for his permission, she walked over to the matching chair besides him and sat down.
He took a long drag of what was remaining of the stogie. "Suit yaself, Red," he replied nonchalantly.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothin'." He grumbled, then glanced over at her, surprised to see she was staring at him, a puzzled look marring her beautiful face.
He scowled. "What?"
Jean sighed and closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. There was so much she needed to say to him and so much she needed to know. Hopefully they won't be interrupted or he won't have one of those outbursts he was famous for and storm out. Opening her eyes, she leveled him with her green-eyed stare. "Is something wrong, Logan?"
His eyes narrowed. "No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Can't a man just relax in peace?" He barked.
She shrugged. "You're free to do whatever you want. But I know you and I know when something is troubling you. And it's been troubling you for a while."
"If ya say so, Jeannie." He took the stub of the burnt out stogie and stuffed it into his pocket. "And don't presume ta know me." It irked him when people, especially the idealistic fools around this circus assumed to know who and what he was. No one knew him. Hell, he didn't even know himself.
Jean's brows went up. "Come on Logan. You can talk to me." She reached across and squeezed his hand, running her thumbs across his knuckles, hoping to God that his claws won't pop out. "I'm worried about you."
"Why?"
She gave him that look, the look that was a cross between mischievousness and innocence. Only she had patented that look. He wasn't going to fall for it anymore. "You're my friend. I always worry about my friends."
Logan scoffed. Her friend? Who was she kidding? "What do ya really want, Red? I don't think it was only concern fer a friend that brought ya here."
Now wasn't the time to be coy, to play games. She needed to know why he had withdrew from her completely and she needed to know now. Inhaling deeply, she released the breath on one long sigh. "What happened that you no longer want me? You just stopped pursuing me all of a sudden."
Logan laughed inwardly. He knew it. These shallow women always think it was about them. And to top it off, she was in heat. "Maybe I got fed up wid ya toyin' wid me, Jeannie. The chase ain't what it use ta be."
"Logan…"
"Ya know it's what ya do. What ya've always done," he rasped, cutting her off. "Maybe I want more than what ya been givin' me."
She stared at him in mute astonishment. "You know that what you want is impossible."
He snorted. "Is it? I know ya like the attention I give ya. Yer panties are always soaked wid me around. Even now, ya want it." He jumped up swiftly from his seat and walked over to the floor to ceiling glass window. He began pacing in hurried steps.
Jean blushed at his bluntness. "I thought we had an understanding between us. I could not and would not leave Scott."
He turned to face her. "Yeah, good ole One-eye would have a coronary if ya left him, especially fer me." Logan laughed harshly. "Does Scooter know 'bout the time I had ya bent over yer desk in yer classroom, wid ya beggin' fer me ta take ya?"
She frowned. "That was a lapse in judgment."
Logan cocked an eyebrow. "Was it now? What 'bout the time when ya boy toy was away on a mission fer Chuck and ya came ta my room wid nuttin' on underneath ya robe, spreadin' ya legs beggin' me ta stop ya achin'? I could go on, Red. Does the mansion know ya ain't the innocent damsel in distress ya portray yerself ta be?"
Jean glowered with righteous indignation. "Dammit Logan. That was uncalled for. I just came here to find out what was bothering you. But I can see that I'm wasting my time." She stood and glared at him, her intention to leave as quickly as possible. This was just too much for her to deal with right now. Logan's brusqueness was not what she had expected. He had effectively turned the tables on her.
"Why the hurry, Jeannie? Didn't ya want ta know why I stopped chasin' ya?"
Jean moved to the exit as if the devil himself was chasing her. She couldn't get away fast enough. The door closed with a resounding slam as she literally ran out of the room.
Logan guffawed, his unpleasant mood temporarily forgotten. People always wanted the truth and couldn't handle it when it was given to them. He reclaimed his seat and leaned back and laced his fingers together behind his head. Ororo's image immediately popped into his head. Sexy, beautiful, intelligent, elegant, far from shallow Ororo. He grinned, wondering what she was doing at that very moment.
