Shao (Little Dragon): Part Seven
DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the characters. No money is involved (story of my life). Thanks to a slew of people (especially Chi_Kokoro, Ken Barnes, Amy Hunt) who helped me with their suggestions so some of the ideas weren't mine also.
SUMMARY: REVISED!! In the aftermath of Jubilee's Danger Room session, Logan tries to help Jubilee cope with being injured and realizes how he truly feels. (I had intended to leave this story but after careful rereading I decided that I ended this to abruptly)
FEEDBACK: Please send feedback of any kind (praise, flaming, constructive criticism, etc.) to naiya@mauimail.com
NOTES: Any bordered by triple characters (e.g. |||) means telepathic speech. Each telepath has a different signature. Phrases bordered by parenthesis mean the person is speaking in Japanese. Phrases bordered by * are thoughts. Any questions see feedback for my email address and I'll answer as best as I can. Archive at will
A/N2: I want to thank all of those who responded to my author's note for feedback. After much deliberation I decided to gently revise this chapter to clarify some things that might have been left out. Your honesty and support was much appreciated.
*****
Cool water lapped at her ankles in a silent soothing rhythm. This place became her refuge when Illanya died, when Logan almost died, and when she made her decision to leave for the Academy. Dawn broke over the trees casting a gold-orange glow across the water. In the distance she could just make out a lone figure walking through the meadow that separated the lake from the mansion.
His walk was unmistakable and Jubilee cursed under her breath. She didn't want another lecture about staying in bed and limped back into the boathouse. The windows had been nailed shut and the air was stale and musty. Rays of sunlight began to leak through slits between the boards and tumble about her dusty hiding place. Minutes passed by in total silence and she hoped fervently that she was wrong. Jubilee shifted uneasily in the increasing heat, tugging against Logan's shirt now plastered to her back.
A soft splash drew her from her misery. Curious, Jubilee peaked through a crack in the wall facing the lake and saw Logan emerging from the water. He shook the excess from his hair and stretched. It was Jubilee's turn to stare. Logan was extremely well built, powerful muscles shifting with the slightest movement. Beads of water ran down his strong, cut legs from shorts that had started life as jeans.
Men weren't supposed to be graceful but that was the only way Jubilee could describe how he moved. The simple act of sitting down, Indian style, facing the sun held magic. She had often seen him do this but today it seemed extraordinary.
In his serenity Jubilee calmed and felt normal for once. Although she knew he would hear her, Jubilee crept out of the boathouse. He gave no sign that he was aware of her presence as she padded silently towards him.
Her brain told her to leave well enough alone but her heart was in control. It thumped against her chest quickening her breath. She stood behind him hands outstretched, ready to jump back if he mistook her actions.
With trembling hands, she dug into the thick muscles surrounding his neck. She felt him tense for a fraction of a second. Slowly she kneaded her way across his shoulders back up toward his neck then walked her fingers along the sides of his spine.
Little by little she could feel him give himself over to her ministrations. A deep rumbling sounded from his chest. Jubilee smiled shyly to herself because only a precious few could draw that sound from the man under her care.
One nasty knot behind his right shoulder blade kept eluding her. To get better leverage, she slipped one arm around his chest and bore down on the annoying spot with her body weight behind the heel of her palm. After a while spears of pain shot down her sides. Her abused ribs weren't taking a liking to that much movement but she pressed on determined to rid Logan of his knot.
"Darlin', y'know Hank will remove one of my favorite body parts if you bust your stitches again." Logan curled his fingers around the arm on his chest and squeezed both in thanks and to get her to stop.
Jubilee giggled and was rewarded with another stab of pain. "Ow, Wolvy, I told you not to make me laugh." Still kneeling behind him with her arm trapped by his hands, she laid her cheek against his shoulder and pressed closer to him. Although he was slightly wet she could feel his warmth through the fabric of her shirt. Together they watched the sun climb higher into the sky in silence simply enjoying each other's company.
Logan felt her legs begin to tremble from kneeling too long and pulled her to standing by the arm he held. Mindful of her injuries, he maneuvered her in front of him and placed her in his lap. He cradled her against his chest and faced her toward the lake so she wouldn't miss the rest of sunrise.
It took a little time for them to dry. Uncommonly gentle breezes wafted in from across the meadow and smelt like warmed hay. Strong fingers ran through her hair in sure even strokes. Jubilee tried to remain awake but the combined effect of the breeze, his hands, and the secure contact of his bulk began to lull her to sleep.
"Bastard," she whispered slowly losing her hold on consciousness, "sneaky, no good bastard. You planned this all along..." she accused her voice fading like her consciousness. His chuckle was the last thing she heard. With a final sigh she resigned herself to sleep.
*****
Logan hated being in Medlab and this was his third trip today. First this morning when he returned a sleeping Jubilee to Hank's watchful care from her boathouse haunt. Then there was this afternoon when he had to explain why he was holding an unconscious Jubilee with busted stitches while trying to avoid surgical castration. The third time she wasn't even trying to escape. Under the influence of a reaction between painkillers, she had burned through the restraints Hank has placed her in after the second escape and wandered away during one of Hank's rare naps.
"The lass is sedated, ye can relax now Wolverine." Moira announced and tried to put him further at ease. At his warning growl she realized he wasn't paying attention and was fixated on her hands. *Ach, him and needles. I swear by all that I hold holy, those Department H people should rot in hell* Quickly she disposed of the empty syringe inside the nearest biohazard bin. He visibly relaxed; Moira merely shook her head and continued.
"Tomorrow we are placing a tent over her that contains an airborne soporific. It allows us flexibility when it comes time for her to eat or other things. Ye better git yuirself to bed as well." With that said she fixed him with a piercing stare and left.
Lab phobia notwithstanding he had no intention of leaving Jubilee's side and searched the cabinets for an extra pillow and blanket. Once he found both he placed them on the nearest empty hospital gurney and resumed his post by her bedside. He didn't quite trust she would be under for a while and vowed to keep his promise of sitting on her if she so much as twitched. *Nah that may be going a little to far*
Watching her sleeping form drew him back to the day she had pulled him off the x-shaped cross Pierce had so thoughtfully nailed him to. He sifted through fevered memories, most of which she was taking care of his wounds. Through all the adventures on their journey back to the X-mansion she always had his back. Her presence in his life had become second nature. Training, meditation, even his jaunts in and out of the bar scene never gave him a sense of belonging. To him, Jubilee became home.
~~~flashback~~~ (from chap. 5 Party Perils)
(You are my mountain, my rock. No matter how the world changes, you remain the same)
Time stood still for a hand full of heartbeats. It was the very same phrase Mariko had used when she told him she loved him. Once upon a time anyone saying it would have been gutted, no hesitation, but coming from Jubilee it seemed to take a whole new light. The pain and heartache he used to associate with those words never came. He was left with a liquid fire that flowed from her and filled every ounce of his being. There was only one response he could give.
(You are my sun, my light. No matter how dark the world gets, you remain pure)
~~~end flashback~~~
That very same liquid fire he'd felt on that not so distant day returned and this time Logan had a name for it. He loved her plain and simple. It took a four-year separation from her to make him realize it. Even if she had comeback as the teen she should have been, he would still love her and would have waited for her until she grew up. Although now that wasn't the issue, he grinned and stole a glance at the woman before him. It was getting her to stay still for a few days and get better so he could show her.
*Now how...?* The idea hit so suddenly he forgot himself and mentally yelled for Jean. She suddenly appeared in the doorway dressed in a red silk robe tired and angry.
"Ah, ah Jean no yellin' in the Lab," he shushed and outlined his plan. It wasn't hard to win her over and soon more X-men were roused. They adjourned to Med-Lab's workroom to hammer out the details. One hour later, at 3 o'clock in the morning they set it into motion.
*****one week later*****
Absolute stillness drew her back to consciousness. She assumed Logan had thrown her back into Med-Lab but the décor belied that assumption. All the furniture, including the bed she lay in, was hers but the wooden walls of the boathouse surrounded her.
All of the boards had been removed from the windows. Other than a few mold stains in the ceiling, the place had been scrubbed clean. Flowers, get-well cards and balloons covered the top of her dresser and spilled over onto her favorite window seat. Heavy red velvet curtains were drawn aside to allow sunshine in and tied up by satin ropes slightly darker in shade. Her couch sat against the wall to her right and was occupied by its recently usual resident.
One arm was thrown over the top of the couch; the other lay across his eyes. His lower body and legs were hopelessly tangled in a sheet. All the throw pillows had been cast off and haphazardly littered the floor. Amazingly he wasn't snoring.
Logan once again shifted in his sleep, which tightened the sheet until it couldn't give anymore. It locked up in the middle of his turn and he struggled himself right off the couch. "What the flamin' hell?" he yelled glaring down at the offending sheet.
"Are ya trying to kill me Wolvy?" Jubilee gasped, caught between laughing and hissing in pain. Once under control she slid carefully off the bed and tried to free him from said sheet. Halfway through the first knot she gave up and grabbed Logan's hand, flipped over his palm and ran her hand along the big vein of his arm.
Not that he was complaining; it felt really good, but it puzzled him nonetheless until she pressed down on a point near the bend of his elbow. A claw shot out unbidden with which she proceeded to cut away the troublesome fabric from his legs. Ah he thought and fixed her with a mock stare of disapproval. "Ya could have asked first, darlin'."
Unrepentant, she flashed him a huge grin and removed her finger from his pressure point. The claw slid back broadening her grin but she didn't release his hand. "What fun would that be?" she blinked at him innocently almost daring him to scold her.
He looked down at her hand in his and reversed his grip to interlace their fingers. "Not half as fun as this," he grinned devilishly and pulled her in for an unexpected kiss. He kept it simple; a chaste brush of lips, then left to clean up the mess he'd made.
Trying to recover, Jubilee sat as still as possible just in case this was a dream, one from which she didn't want to wake up. The tingling in her lips and dull throbbing of her injuries confirmed that this was reality, yet she still hadn't moved when her returned to her side.
Someone was calling her name. Oh yeah, Jubilee laughed inwardly and looked up into Logan's smiling face. She swallowed against the dryness that kept her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth. "Yes?" she managed to squeak out.
"I said it was time to go, Jubes." He was trying very hard not to laugh and offered her a hand up. It was the first time he'd seen her speechless.
"I'm sorry all circuits are busy. Please kiss me again to establish a new line." She kept a straight face but her eyes shone with contained amusement as she grabbed for the proffered limb.
He pulled her in close and cradled her cheek in his palm. God he loved her new height he thought staring straight in her eyes when their lips met. This time he didn't hesitate to show her just how good of a kisser he prided himself to be. When he let her up for air he couldn't keep the foolish grin from breaking his tough guy façade. Her identical grin sent a powerful jolt through his body.
Loud beeping shattered the moment and Logan was tempted to dump his communicator into the lake. Hank's cultured voice floated into the room wondering why his patient was not sitting on his examination table. "It takes precisely 10 minutes and 50 seconds to convey the distance between your current location and the mansion. Presently, 11 minutes and 10 seconds has transpired since your last transmission. Kindly, and I shall attempt using the vernacular, get your asses over here this instant. McCoy out."
"Busted," Jubilee said impishly and allowed Logan to guide her out of the boathouse.
DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the characters. No money is involved (story of my life). Thanks to a slew of people (especially Chi_Kokoro, Ken Barnes, Amy Hunt) who helped me with their suggestions so some of the ideas weren't mine also.
SUMMARY: REVISED!! In the aftermath of Jubilee's Danger Room session, Logan tries to help Jubilee cope with being injured and realizes how he truly feels. (I had intended to leave this story but after careful rereading I decided that I ended this to abruptly)
FEEDBACK: Please send feedback of any kind (praise, flaming, constructive criticism, etc.) to naiya@mauimail.com
NOTES: Any bordered by triple characters (e.g. |||) means telepathic speech. Each telepath has a different signature. Phrases bordered by parenthesis mean the person is speaking in Japanese. Phrases bordered by * are thoughts. Any questions see feedback for my email address and I'll answer as best as I can. Archive at will
A/N2: I want to thank all of those who responded to my author's note for feedback. After much deliberation I decided to gently revise this chapter to clarify some things that might have been left out. Your honesty and support was much appreciated.
*****
Cool water lapped at her ankles in a silent soothing rhythm. This place became her refuge when Illanya died, when Logan almost died, and when she made her decision to leave for the Academy. Dawn broke over the trees casting a gold-orange glow across the water. In the distance she could just make out a lone figure walking through the meadow that separated the lake from the mansion.
His walk was unmistakable and Jubilee cursed under her breath. She didn't want another lecture about staying in bed and limped back into the boathouse. The windows had been nailed shut and the air was stale and musty. Rays of sunlight began to leak through slits between the boards and tumble about her dusty hiding place. Minutes passed by in total silence and she hoped fervently that she was wrong. Jubilee shifted uneasily in the increasing heat, tugging against Logan's shirt now plastered to her back.
A soft splash drew her from her misery. Curious, Jubilee peaked through a crack in the wall facing the lake and saw Logan emerging from the water. He shook the excess from his hair and stretched. It was Jubilee's turn to stare. Logan was extremely well built, powerful muscles shifting with the slightest movement. Beads of water ran down his strong, cut legs from shorts that had started life as jeans.
Men weren't supposed to be graceful but that was the only way Jubilee could describe how he moved. The simple act of sitting down, Indian style, facing the sun held magic. She had often seen him do this but today it seemed extraordinary.
In his serenity Jubilee calmed and felt normal for once. Although she knew he would hear her, Jubilee crept out of the boathouse. He gave no sign that he was aware of her presence as she padded silently towards him.
Her brain told her to leave well enough alone but her heart was in control. It thumped against her chest quickening her breath. She stood behind him hands outstretched, ready to jump back if he mistook her actions.
With trembling hands, she dug into the thick muscles surrounding his neck. She felt him tense for a fraction of a second. Slowly she kneaded her way across his shoulders back up toward his neck then walked her fingers along the sides of his spine.
Little by little she could feel him give himself over to her ministrations. A deep rumbling sounded from his chest. Jubilee smiled shyly to herself because only a precious few could draw that sound from the man under her care.
One nasty knot behind his right shoulder blade kept eluding her. To get better leverage, she slipped one arm around his chest and bore down on the annoying spot with her body weight behind the heel of her palm. After a while spears of pain shot down her sides. Her abused ribs weren't taking a liking to that much movement but she pressed on determined to rid Logan of his knot.
"Darlin', y'know Hank will remove one of my favorite body parts if you bust your stitches again." Logan curled his fingers around the arm on his chest and squeezed both in thanks and to get her to stop.
Jubilee giggled and was rewarded with another stab of pain. "Ow, Wolvy, I told you not to make me laugh." Still kneeling behind him with her arm trapped by his hands, she laid her cheek against his shoulder and pressed closer to him. Although he was slightly wet she could feel his warmth through the fabric of her shirt. Together they watched the sun climb higher into the sky in silence simply enjoying each other's company.
Logan felt her legs begin to tremble from kneeling too long and pulled her to standing by the arm he held. Mindful of her injuries, he maneuvered her in front of him and placed her in his lap. He cradled her against his chest and faced her toward the lake so she wouldn't miss the rest of sunrise.
It took a little time for them to dry. Uncommonly gentle breezes wafted in from across the meadow and smelt like warmed hay. Strong fingers ran through her hair in sure even strokes. Jubilee tried to remain awake but the combined effect of the breeze, his hands, and the secure contact of his bulk began to lull her to sleep.
"Bastard," she whispered slowly losing her hold on consciousness, "sneaky, no good bastard. You planned this all along..." she accused her voice fading like her consciousness. His chuckle was the last thing she heard. With a final sigh she resigned herself to sleep.
*****
Logan hated being in Medlab and this was his third trip today. First this morning when he returned a sleeping Jubilee to Hank's watchful care from her boathouse haunt. Then there was this afternoon when he had to explain why he was holding an unconscious Jubilee with busted stitches while trying to avoid surgical castration. The third time she wasn't even trying to escape. Under the influence of a reaction between painkillers, she had burned through the restraints Hank has placed her in after the second escape and wandered away during one of Hank's rare naps.
"The lass is sedated, ye can relax now Wolverine." Moira announced and tried to put him further at ease. At his warning growl she realized he wasn't paying attention and was fixated on her hands. *Ach, him and needles. I swear by all that I hold holy, those Department H people should rot in hell* Quickly she disposed of the empty syringe inside the nearest biohazard bin. He visibly relaxed; Moira merely shook her head and continued.
"Tomorrow we are placing a tent over her that contains an airborne soporific. It allows us flexibility when it comes time for her to eat or other things. Ye better git yuirself to bed as well." With that said she fixed him with a piercing stare and left.
Lab phobia notwithstanding he had no intention of leaving Jubilee's side and searched the cabinets for an extra pillow and blanket. Once he found both he placed them on the nearest empty hospital gurney and resumed his post by her bedside. He didn't quite trust she would be under for a while and vowed to keep his promise of sitting on her if she so much as twitched. *Nah that may be going a little to far*
Watching her sleeping form drew him back to the day she had pulled him off the x-shaped cross Pierce had so thoughtfully nailed him to. He sifted through fevered memories, most of which she was taking care of his wounds. Through all the adventures on their journey back to the X-mansion she always had his back. Her presence in his life had become second nature. Training, meditation, even his jaunts in and out of the bar scene never gave him a sense of belonging. To him, Jubilee became home.
~~~flashback~~~ (from chap. 5 Party Perils)
(You are my mountain, my rock. No matter how the world changes, you remain the same)
Time stood still for a hand full of heartbeats. It was the very same phrase Mariko had used when she told him she loved him. Once upon a time anyone saying it would have been gutted, no hesitation, but coming from Jubilee it seemed to take a whole new light. The pain and heartache he used to associate with those words never came. He was left with a liquid fire that flowed from her and filled every ounce of his being. There was only one response he could give.
(You are my sun, my light. No matter how dark the world gets, you remain pure)
~~~end flashback~~~
That very same liquid fire he'd felt on that not so distant day returned and this time Logan had a name for it. He loved her plain and simple. It took a four-year separation from her to make him realize it. Even if she had comeback as the teen she should have been, he would still love her and would have waited for her until she grew up. Although now that wasn't the issue, he grinned and stole a glance at the woman before him. It was getting her to stay still for a few days and get better so he could show her.
*Now how...?* The idea hit so suddenly he forgot himself and mentally yelled for Jean. She suddenly appeared in the doorway dressed in a red silk robe tired and angry.
"Ah, ah Jean no yellin' in the Lab," he shushed and outlined his plan. It wasn't hard to win her over and soon more X-men were roused. They adjourned to Med-Lab's workroom to hammer out the details. One hour later, at 3 o'clock in the morning they set it into motion.
*****one week later*****
Absolute stillness drew her back to consciousness. She assumed Logan had thrown her back into Med-Lab but the décor belied that assumption. All the furniture, including the bed she lay in, was hers but the wooden walls of the boathouse surrounded her.
All of the boards had been removed from the windows. Other than a few mold stains in the ceiling, the place had been scrubbed clean. Flowers, get-well cards and balloons covered the top of her dresser and spilled over onto her favorite window seat. Heavy red velvet curtains were drawn aside to allow sunshine in and tied up by satin ropes slightly darker in shade. Her couch sat against the wall to her right and was occupied by its recently usual resident.
One arm was thrown over the top of the couch; the other lay across his eyes. His lower body and legs were hopelessly tangled in a sheet. All the throw pillows had been cast off and haphazardly littered the floor. Amazingly he wasn't snoring.
Logan once again shifted in his sleep, which tightened the sheet until it couldn't give anymore. It locked up in the middle of his turn and he struggled himself right off the couch. "What the flamin' hell?" he yelled glaring down at the offending sheet.
"Are ya trying to kill me Wolvy?" Jubilee gasped, caught between laughing and hissing in pain. Once under control she slid carefully off the bed and tried to free him from said sheet. Halfway through the first knot she gave up and grabbed Logan's hand, flipped over his palm and ran her hand along the big vein of his arm.
Not that he was complaining; it felt really good, but it puzzled him nonetheless until she pressed down on a point near the bend of his elbow. A claw shot out unbidden with which she proceeded to cut away the troublesome fabric from his legs. Ah he thought and fixed her with a mock stare of disapproval. "Ya could have asked first, darlin'."
Unrepentant, she flashed him a huge grin and removed her finger from his pressure point. The claw slid back broadening her grin but she didn't release his hand. "What fun would that be?" she blinked at him innocently almost daring him to scold her.
He looked down at her hand in his and reversed his grip to interlace their fingers. "Not half as fun as this," he grinned devilishly and pulled her in for an unexpected kiss. He kept it simple; a chaste brush of lips, then left to clean up the mess he'd made.
Trying to recover, Jubilee sat as still as possible just in case this was a dream, one from which she didn't want to wake up. The tingling in her lips and dull throbbing of her injuries confirmed that this was reality, yet she still hadn't moved when her returned to her side.
Someone was calling her name. Oh yeah, Jubilee laughed inwardly and looked up into Logan's smiling face. She swallowed against the dryness that kept her tongue glued to the roof of her mouth. "Yes?" she managed to squeak out.
"I said it was time to go, Jubes." He was trying very hard not to laugh and offered her a hand up. It was the first time he'd seen her speechless.
"I'm sorry all circuits are busy. Please kiss me again to establish a new line." She kept a straight face but her eyes shone with contained amusement as she grabbed for the proffered limb.
He pulled her in close and cradled her cheek in his palm. God he loved her new height he thought staring straight in her eyes when their lips met. This time he didn't hesitate to show her just how good of a kisser he prided himself to be. When he let her up for air he couldn't keep the foolish grin from breaking his tough guy façade. Her identical grin sent a powerful jolt through his body.
Loud beeping shattered the moment and Logan was tempted to dump his communicator into the lake. Hank's cultured voice floated into the room wondering why his patient was not sitting on his examination table. "It takes precisely 10 minutes and 50 seconds to convey the distance between your current location and the mansion. Presently, 11 minutes and 10 seconds has transpired since your last transmission. Kindly, and I shall attempt using the vernacular, get your asses over here this instant. McCoy out."
"Busted," Jubilee said impishly and allowed Logan to guide her out of the boathouse.