Damnit. Logan reached across the table for another beer, his hand swiping the empty cans away. The shredded plastic lay in pieces around and under the six-pack, noting his frustration. Scowling, Logan stood slowly pulling the garbage can out from under the counter and sweeping the cans and plastic remains into it. Screw recycling. Not bothering to push either the can or the chair back under the counter, he left both in the middle of the kitchen floor.
Running his hand back through his ruffled hair, he sighed heavily and shuffled into the main hallway, pausing by the base of the stairs. Gripping the banister tightly, he bowed his head, letting his thoughts fumble over in his mind, closing his eyes. Taking a deep breath, he tried calming his mind, his emotions more out of control then he usually allowed. A slight noise caught his attention and his head jerked up on impulse, his stance tensing, claws ready to release.
Atop the stairs, stood Rogue. Logan relaxed slightly, but each distraction was leading him farther and farther toward the edge. Shaking his head slightly, he offered a forced smile and grunt. She started down the stairs, taking two at a time, hair bouncing slightly around her shoulders. Her face was hard to read, and as she grew nearer he caught her scent – she was pissed.
"'S wrong ?" She paused at the base, staring past him at nothing, just refusing to look at him.
"You jus' got back, 'n you're already…" she shook her head, a flicker of something passing in her eyes too quick for Logan to decipher. "Nothin'. Jus' nothin'." Continuing, she took a few steps before he caught her arm, turning her to face him.
"What ?" He grunted roughly, thoroughly annoyed now.
"Ah said nothin'." She snapped, pulling her arm free, taking long strides out of the hallway. Stunned, Logan stood still for a moment, unsure. What the hell is wrong with everybody ? Growling lightly, he started up the staircase.
Sniffing the air, he smelled no one but a few students upstairs. Walking to his room slowly, he could feel the beer settle in and his body numb slightly. Pushing his door open, he fell onto his bed, hands lying over his eyes, groaning. He lay still a while, not wanting to sort out the mess in the mansion, and worse yet, his head.
I want Jean, I hate Jean. She wants Scott, she's still pissed at Scott. What was with Rogue ? Wonder where the Prof is on all this…and who the fuck is Emma ?
Musing with his thoughts, he allowed himself to relax, and fell into a troubled sleep.
Damnit. Jean spun, kicking the red bag hard in the center, waiting for it to recoil and was ready with her arm, raised and coiled for a following strike. Grunting as her fist connected with the thick leather, she twisted her body, hitting the bag again quick after with her opposite hand. Picturing Logan, she forced herself tense to wait for the bag to fall back before moving to hit it again. Her frustration bubbled over, and her grunts grew shriller, more of primitive animalistic cries, echoing her pain.
At last she stumbled forward, gasping for air, her hands reaching for the bag for support. The bag swung, and she pitched forward, too tired to catch herself properly. Her hands had almost hit the ground when strong hands caught her waist.
"Careful, cher. Wouldn't want you to hurt yourself, oui ?" He lowered Jean slowly, letting her sit to catch her breath. Smiling, Remy sat beside her on the gym floor. Jean closed her eyes, trying to straighten out her emotions, but soft fingers on her skin interrupted her composing her face. Startled, she opened her eyes, her head pulling away from his touch. He only smiled kindly, and moved to continue brushing hair from her face. Jean allowed him, letting the softness sink into her senses, and sighed quietly. Finished, his thumb brushed over her cheek and she glanced up at him, offering a quick smile and started re-composing herself.
"Don't," her thoughts were interrupted by his French accent. Confused, she tilted her head questioningly.
"What ?" His eyes were sad, and she felt almost guilty for whatever she had done before he even replied.
"Don't hide." Even further confused, she started skimming his thoughts, and was startled by the vivid images she found there, his gentle touch much more sinuous then she'd thought. Pulling away from him, she pushed herself to her feet, quickly hiding all emotion from her face; now aware that was what he'd mentioned.
"I'm not hiding, I just…" she trailed off, not really having an explanation." Remy seemed to understand; now standing beside her as well.
"You don't want to appear weak, hmm ?" She blushed, looking away quickly, feeling exposed in front of his piercing eyes.
"I...don't know." She replied truthfully, though she sensed Remy was correct. Shaking her head she turned from him, beginning toward the showers. "I'll see you later. And, sorry. About hitting you before." She smiled sadly, shrugging slightly.
"No worries, mon ami." His smile was genuine, and she returned it before walking from him.
Her stomach was jittery, and her frustration mostly forgotten. Shaking her head, she scowled, scolding herself. Get it together, Jean. Turning on the water, she waited for steam to rise before stripping her sweat-drenched clothes off and then stepped into the water. Moaning as the warm water hit her sore shoulders, she rolled her head to the side, letting the water continue to stream down her. Resting her head against the shower wall, she felt her emotions swell again, and quickly scanned the showers, making sure no one else was in the room. The she let go, her eyes filling quickly with tears that overflowed and mixed with the warm water pouring from the shower nozzle. Letting out a quiet sob, she lowered her head, tears and water continuing streams pouring from her.
I pushed away Logan when I should have given him a chance, she wept silently except for the occasional quiet whimper or sob. Picturing his eyes, his fierce, intense eyes, echoes of his voice reverberating through her mind, dripping with passion and care for her. Her. He'd worshipped her since the first day they'd met in the lab. They'd always had a…special relationship. However strange, it was theirs. It meant something, and the fact she'd hurt him…for what ? Her own fears. Her fear of being left again. Like Scott, coming back with that blond woman.
Secretly, Jean was relieved it wasn't just her that had cheated, and he had agreed it was over. But something about her…set something off in Jean. Shaking thoughts of her off, she'd figure out more about the woman later, Jean tilted her head up, upset, confused, hurt, angry, frustrated, her emotions swirled in her, making it hard to breath, hard to think. "Damnit," she muttered, more memories stretching her thoughts around, twisting her feelings. Reaching out before she let herself think about it, she found Logan, sleeping in his room. He was dreaming of her…sort of. Focusing, Jean tried to grasp what he was dreaming of, what he was feeling, but found it hard to hold onto the dream. Pushing her thoughts nearer to it, she pitched forward from herself, falling from her own mind…into Logan's subconscious.