One Helluva Night

Author's Note: Hey there again! So sorry about the time it took me to put this up. If any parts of this story mix you up or don't make sense, please forgive me. I wrote more than half of this during the late hours of the evening. Uh, this has our first action scene of the book, so hopefully you'll like that, and Marie is this much closer to getting back home Enjoy and review!

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"Don't get cocky. Anything can happen."

- Ozzie Guillen

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"Marie? Marie, wake up."

"Wha…?" I twitched and opened my eyes. I stared out onto a dim yellow-lit road, seemingly deserted with nothing but highway, from what I could see.

"C'mon, we're crashin' here for the night." Logan's low voice sounded somewhere around me. I blinked a couple of times and sat up, clicking my seatbelt off and brushing my hair from my sleepy eyes.

When I glanced off the road, I spotted a mediocre looking motel (called the 'Sleep Inn'), and across from it, an older looking yet busy bar. I yawned and stepped out of the truck, wondering what time it was.

"What time is it?" I asked, breathing in the cool summer night air.

"'Bout eleven." Logan answered. I saw him appear from around the other side of the truck, brushing his hands off on his pants. "It looked like you slept long and good." He said, gesturing for me to follow him towards the motel.

"Yeah. I always find I have no trouble sleeping in cars." I shrugged, slipping my gloved hands into the pockets of my denim jeans. "It's the feeling of the engine, or something. At least, that's what my Dad always said." I added, stealing a glance at Logan. I could tell he was listening even though he wasn't looking at me. Logan was a good listener.

As we made our way to the motel, I tried to remember where we were. I think the last sign I saw was for the state of Virginia, but I had been sleeping for a while, so we might have been somewhere in North Carolina by then. I made a mental note to ask someone later. We walked the rest the way into the motel in a comfortable silence, until the bell at the top of the door signaled our arrival.

"Why, hello there! Welcome to the Sleep Inn!" An unusually perky lady greeted us at the front desk, her bright blue, obviously fake long nails pausing their tapping on a computer to wave at us. "What can I get you two sweeties at such a late hour?"

Logan stepped forward, raising his eyebrow at the lady and her strange taste in colour. "One room, two beds, one night." There was a hesitation, and then he added, "Please."

There was more loud tapping on the computer and the lady made some sort of 'tsking' sound with her teeth. She tapped again and then made a pouty expression with her lips.

"I'm so sorry, but we've only got a room with a double, at the moment. But…" More tapping. "I think I can get a cot. Is that all right with you?" She asked.

Logan looked back at me and I shrugged.

"Sure, it's fine." He answered, pulling out his wallet. I stood there awkwardly until he finished paying, then peered outside towards the truck. "I'll go get our bags." I offered, beginning to make my way towards the door.

"No, I'll get 'em. You go to the room." He said, pushing through the door and disappearing into the darkness. I sighed and turned back to the lady at the desk.

She handed the key to me and smiled widely, flashing brown-stained teeth, most likely from coffee and cigarettes.

"So, where you two headed?" She asked politely, crossing her fingers together.

"Mississippi." I answered, smiling back.

"Oh! I used to go down there with my father. We had so much fun together; fishing, picnics, oh… you're so lucky to have your dad still around." She said, sighing heavily. I furrowed my brow for a moment.

"What…?" I asked, slightly confused.

"You're very fortunate to have a father like that," She said again, gesturing with a nod of her chin towards the darkened window.

I paused for a moment, and then it came to me. She thought Logan was my father! Oh my God! I felt like bursting out laughing, but I controlled it and just smiled.

"Yes, yes I am." I said, tucking my white strands of hair behind my ears. Just as the door opened with Logan holding our bags, she cocked her head.

"Why do you have white hair, m'dear?" She asked politely, but obviously curious.

"Oh," I said, trying to think up a quick and legitimate excuse. I was sure that explaining to her that we were both mutants wouldn't be the best of ideas. "Bad dye job. It got all messed up, and now it won't come out." I said with a convincing smile.

She grinned back. "Well, hope your hair works out for you, and have a good night you two!" The lady gave a wave and I began to walk forward. "Sir? You have a very nice and very polite daughter. You should be very proud of her." The woman added just as we turned the corner towards our room. I glanced back at Logan to see the expression on his face, and smiled.

He looked not only confused, but taken-aback slightly, as well. I let out a giggle and stuffed the key into the keyhole when we reached our room, #94. I walked in and then flopped down on the bed, letting out a laugh and a sigh as I collapsed. Logan dumped the bags on the ground then looked down over me.

"What the hell was that?" He asked, eyebrow raised. "Daughter?"

I laughed again then shook my head, sitting up. "She thinks you're my dad. When you went out to get the bags she told me that I was very lucky to have a father like you. I didn't say anything, I thought it was sorta funny."

He continued to give me that look and he shook his head. "You got a strange sense of humour, kid." He broke eye contact to give a once-over of the motel room. It wasn't the best room, but at least it looked clean enough. I stood up and peered into the bathroom, spotting a shower in the corner as if beckoning me.

"Hey, Logan? I'm gonna take a shower." I stated, glancing back at him. He was midway between changing shirts, so I got a very nice eyeful of his torso. He slipped a different wife beater and then shrugged a dark burgundy button-up shirt overtop that. I bit my lip, smiling, and walked into the bathroom.

"I'll be at the bar across the street." He said just before I closed the door. I opened it again and stuck my head out.

"This late?" I asked.

He quirked his eyebrow at me. "Late?"

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever. I might come once I've finished showering."

"Fine," Logan said, making his way towards the door. "But no alcoholic beverages. As I recall, you're only seventeen." He winked and I made a sarcastic pouty face.

"Damn you." I muttered before closing the bathroom door. I heard him leave, shutting the door quietly behind him, and I then stripped out of my clothing and stepped into the shower, inhaling sharply when cold water hit my skin. I scrubbed shampoo into my hair and rinsed it out, then followed with conditioner. It wasn't too long before I was dressed and blow-drying my hair. I had picked out a black skirt that reached about mid-thigh, but wore some beige nylons for safety, and a white pinstriped blouse with short sleeves. After putting on my high-heeled shoes, I stood in front of the mirror and took a quick look. I had to say, I looked pretty good. There was just one thing missing… I slipped on my nicest pair of green silk gloves and left the room, making sure to grab the key before I left.

I passed the front desk and just as I was about to walk out the front door, she popped up with that wide, toothy grin of hers.

"Your father just left to go to the bar, I think, m'dear." She said, spinning a pen between her fingers.

"Oh yeah, I know." I smiled. "My dad likes the night life." I said.

"Are you plannin' to go over there and get 'em?" She asked.

I nodded. "Yeah." And maybe sneak a drink or two off of him. I added to myself.

"Well, make it fast. That bar ain't the friendliest. I don't even venture over there myself, nowadays."

I made it look like I was nervous, but nodded reassuringly. "Sure thing, ma'am." I made a subtle saluting gesture and then left the motel.

It was quite dark outside, besides the few yellow lamps that dotted the street, and the road was pretty much empty, except the few cars that occasionally pulled in and out of the dingy looking bar.

I glanced left and right then hurried across, glad for the warm weather. I finally made it to the entrance and opened the door when I felt someone's eyes on me. I looked over my shoulder and spotted two men sauntering up behind me, staring at something I would've rather not had them look at. I took a step inside, purposely shutting the door in their face, and then squinted my eyes to start my search for Logan.

It was as smoky as hell in there; a blue haze of cigarette and cigar smoke hovering over everything. It stank of beer, sweat, and testosterone, and I took a good guess to say that it was rare for a gal like me to show up in a place like this. Making sure I kept my shoulders up and eyes in search mode, I strode through the place like I owned it. No one would be lookin' down on me tonight!

Finding it difficult to spot Logan, I took a seat at the bar, hoping that he wasn't too drunk to sniff me out of the crowd. I sighed and brushed my slightly damp hair from my face, straightening my gloves and trying to spot Logan from the groups of stinking men.

"What's a fine lookin' thing like you doin' in a place like this, huh?" A raspy voice sounded behind me. I glanced over my shoulder with a skeptical look, trying to hide my disgust as I saw who was talking to me.

It was a broad-shouldered, pot-bellied, scruffy, graying man whose dark brown eyes gleamed uncomfortably from under the brim of his rusty red trucker hat. He cast me a smile and to tell you the truth, it made me want to shudder. He was definitely missing a few teeth, while the rest were either rotting or yellow.

"None'a your business." I said bravely, my accent protruding more so than normal in my form of defense.

"Hey, don't get all defensive on me, cutie. Just tryin' to be polite." He said, eyes still gleaming. "You want a drink?"

I swallowed and opened my mouth to speak.

"No, she doesn't." Logan's voice appeared from nowhere. I whipped around to see him staring hard at the man across from me, his body at full height and his glower harsh. Even I felt intimidated by him.

Scruffy raised his furry caterpillar eyebrow and squinted. "And who the hell're you?"

I felt Logan's warm hand on my shoulder and he gave me a subtle squeeze. "I'm her father." I turned back around and stared up at him incredulously. His expression, however, was a serious as could be. I looked back at Scruffy and watched his eye twitch. "So leave my goddamn daughter alone."

Scruffy glared at Logan, then back to me, then stood up and stalked off into the smoky haze. I turned around and smirked. Logan sat down and nodded towards the bartender for a beer.

"You want anythin'?" He asked, his voice suddenly softer.

"Uh, just water." I answered. There was an awkward moment before the youngish looking bartender (who wasn't too shabby, I had to admit) set our drinks down on the counter and gave me a wink. I smiled back and took a small sip of my water. Logan took a long swig of his beer and then set it down in front of him, glancing over at me.

"Have any trouble gettin' here?" He asked. Okay, acting real fatherly here. Well, since he told Scruffy that he was my dad, then he might as well act like one, right? I shrugged.

"I wasn't harassed or raped, if that's what you mean." I said with a smile to let him know I was being sarcastic. He cocked his eyebrow at me.

"Don't joke about that." He said softly.

"Why?" I asked, taking another gulp of water. "I can take care of myself. I'm a strong girl." I added a smirk and pretended to flex my arm.

"Up against a guy like that?" Logan said, nodding towards a huge, heavy-set man with a chest as about as wide as two of me shoulder to shoulder. Maybe even two and a half.

"Well, he don't know that I got poisonous skin, so if anyone here tries to touch me, they'll either have a seizure, end up in a coma, or die." I said, wiping the condensation off of the glass. "I'm all thought out, sugar." I winked at Logan. I felt good enough to do it tonight; I was feeling outgoing and flirty, and if I didn't spot a good lookin' guy by the end of the night, I had a feeling I was gonna get cranky.

Just then, the door opened to the bar and a group of young adults, maybe late teens, walked through the door. There were three guys and three girls, but they looked out of place, nervous almost. I speculated they were lost and were looking for directions, but I all I did was give the guys a once-over. They were all pretty good looking. One who stood out to me had dark, almost black hair, and fair skin. I couldn't tell from all the bodies and smoke, but I took a guess and said that his eyes were hazel or grey. Something neutral.

I guess I was staring too long since Mr. Cutie looked over in my direction and saw me ogling him. He smiled, revealing white, straight teeth, and I smiled back, winking. Logan noticed this as well, and he cleared his throat to get my attention.

"What?" I asked as if he had just accused me of doing something heinous.

He made a muffled coughing sound and then stuck his beer bottle to his lips, in hopes of trying to hide his amused smirk. "Nothin'." He said, wiping at his lips to once again, keep me from seeing the obvious.

"Hey, mister, just because there ain't a good selection—" I glanced around the bar scene and corrected myself. "Or, any selection, Ah might add, for you to flirt with, don't go smirkin' at me." My Southern accent was prominent, for some reason, and he just smirked again.

"There's always you." Logan said, amber eyes shining.

"Ha!" I laughed, pushing his arm playfully. I wanted to ask him how many beers he had drank before I had arrived, but I didn't bother. He wouldn't get drunk here; to get him drunk, he needed to drink one hell of a lot of alcohol to even feel buzzed. He was just playin' around. I think… "You couldn't seduce me if you wanted to." I stood up from my seat and grabbed the beer bottle from his loose hands and took a good, long swig before placing it back on the counter. The somehow familiar scent and taste seemed to wake my Inner-Logan, and I could feel him pawing at the back of my mind.

"You wanna bet?" He half-growled.

I shook my head no. "Naw, I'm gonna go get acquainted with some guys." I drawled the last part and grinned. "Have fun, sugar." And with that, I turned around and sauntered over towards the young group of people who had just walked in.

The cute one with dark hair looked up at me first and smiled. As I had shimmied my way over to their table, I noticed there was a tiny dancing floor with some loud music playing, and I took the perfect opportunity to get to know Mr. Cutie a bit more.

"Hey, sugar, you feel like dancin'?" I asked, placing my gloved hands on my hips, giving him a sly smile.

One of the girls who was sitting beside him – a light-haired brunette with dark blue eyes – glared at me and then glared at him as if to say 'oh-no-you-don't'. Without a second glance to the girl, he stood up, grinning.

"Love to." He said loudly over the music.

"Great!" I grabbed his wrist and dragged him over to the pretty much empty dance floor and then turned my back, beginning to gyrate to the fast beat of the music. "I'm Rogue,"

"Rogue?" He asked questioningly. I nodded, eyes closed as I swayed to the music. "Cody. I'm Cody." He said. He had a nice voice, this Cody. I liked him. I pushed my body up against his and I felt his hands roam over my hips and stomach. I didn't feel like myself at all tonight, and I partly blamed my Inner-Logan. He was always the one who made me blurt out rude (and sometimes truthful) things, as well as act impulsively, as well as a whole load of other crap. "What's with the white streaks?" He asked in my ear, over the music.

"Bad dye-job." I said with a smile. It was always the first excuse that came out of my mouth when a stranger asked about my weird hair.

"Well, I like it. It's hot." Cody replied. I could hear the grin in his voice. I could feel everyone's eyes on me, but I didn't care. I was covered in layers of clothing and beginning to work up a good sweat, but I didn't care. Let everyone see me as a crazy whore. They could think what they think. Hell, I'd even let Logan—

I felt my skin against his and my eyes flew open. He was kissing me, hard, and I hadn't even noticed it. Then I felt the pull. I tried pulling away, but his hands were gripping my arms and were locking into place as I sucked the energy out of him. I screamed and jerked myself away as hard as I could, breaking the contact of my skin on his. I took a wobbly step back as Cody's thoughts, feelings, and memories flooded my mind.

As I shook my head and took a few gasping breaths, I focused on the scene in front of me. Cody was lying on the floor, conscious, but barely, with his friends surrounding him, on their knees.

"Cody? Cody, c'mon, talk to me!" The girl with brown hair and blue eyes pleaded, patting his cheeks lightly. One of the other guys looked up at me with a fierce gaze.

"What the hell did you do to him?!" He cried out. Now I knew everyone was staring. And it wasn't because I was dancing suggestively. It was because I almost killed someone by kissing them. Tears sprang to my eyes and my chin wavered.

"I'm sorry…" I whispered, not trusting my voice to project. Their brows furrowed, but before they could say anything else, I turned on my heel and sprinted out of the bar, pushing past a few men to try to find my way out. I burst through the two front doors and stumbled down the stairs, almost tripping on the gravel. Through my tear-clouded eyes, I looked up and hurriedly tried to find a place where I could just sit and be with myself. Going back to the motel would be too easy for Logan to find me, and just staying around would get me into more trouble than I already was in. I sniffed and wiped my eyes, and then noticed as two lumbering figures looked like they were making their way towards me.

Taking a breath and turning towards the side of the bar, I hurried over into the shadows, hoping they weren't coming to find me and take me to the police or something. I leaned my head up against the damp wood of the side of the bar and closed my eyes, trying to concentrate.

The first thought that popped into my mind was how the hell could I have been that stupid? I mean, acting and dancing and just doing all those things were so incredibly dangerous, I didn't know how I didn't see it before. I shouldn't of even come to the bar in the first place, let alone pick up some random stranger and start dancing with him.

I made sure I banged my head against the side of the building a couple times before I looked up and wiped the remnants of tears from my cheeks and made my way towards the road to go back to the motel. Hopefully Logan wouldn't—

"Hey, little lady, where you runnin' off to?" An unfamiliar voice spoke from the entrance of the alleyway-like pass that I was standing in. The silhouette of the two men I had spotted before were now blocking my exit, and my muscles tensed. One of them was Scruffy from earlier that night.

"'Scuse me…" I muttered, sniffing and trying to push my way past the two. I felt one of their large hands shove me on the shoulder, pushing me back into the dark walkway. I looked up at them and scowled.

"Yer quite the knockout, ain'tcha, missy?" The other one said, cracking his knuckles as he took a step towards me. Scruffy sniggered at the joke. I clenched my fists.

"Get outta my way." I said through my teeth, making sure to glare at them both.

"Ooh, looky here, we got ourselves a badass." Said Knuckles. Scruffy chuckled again and reached out to grab my wrist.

After everything that happened tonight: the ups, the downs, the laughs, the tears. I was not gonna take this from these guys. I let out an angry cry and grabbed him around the wrist, and in a flash, Scruffy had ended up flat on his back, the wind knocked out of him. I stepped back, slightly shocked at not only my strength, but the move in which I used to get him there. I didn't know any martial arts or any of that stuff, but it was then when I felt my Inner-Logan beating on the inside of my mind.

"C'mon, we can take 'em, Marie. I'll help you." Logan's strong voice encouraged me. "I promise." I had no idea what this voice inside my mind was talking about, but I let my body and limbs move and work as if I had practiced for years.

Knuckles came roaring towards me, and I moved towards him, instead of away, as my usual self would do, and ducked just in time, grabbing his knees and using them as levers to force him over me. His shoe caught my head as he went over, but he was sent flying and landed head first into the gravel. Rubbing the sore spot, I turned and stared down at him, making sure he was knocked out solid. He looked pretty beat up, but I had a strong doubt that he was totally finished.

I heard angry cussing behind me and I swirled around just in time to catch Scruffy's flying fist. Once again, I was surprised by how my body knew how to easily find weak spots and hit them hard, crippling the large man for a couple seconds before finishing him with a final blow to the back of the head, then hitting him against the wooden wall. I flipped some hair from my face and took a few deep breaths, wiping the sweat from my forehead. Jeez, this was one helluva night.

Just then, I felt a strong grip around my ankle and all of a sudden I was pulled to the ground. I was winded and I was sure I had scraped my chin, but that wasn't my concern at that moment. Knuckles was slowly dragging me across the gravel towards him, and I whipped around to see where he was, scrabbling with my fingers to try and find something to slow me down. He was on his feet now, and I could feel him beginning to life me off the ground.

A memory of Logan's flashed through my mind and quickly spun around; using all the strength I had, I drew back my leg and sent a kick flying straight at his knee. The hand around my ankle quickly gave away and I could hear him stumble backwards. I jumped to my feet and made a sprint towards the exit, but before I could burst back out into the parking lot, back to safety, I felt one of them grab a fistful of my hair. I screamed and stopped abruptly, tears coming to my eyes as I felt him jerk me around. It was Scruffy. And he looked pissed beyond belief.

"You… little… bitch…" He muttered, wiping some blood away from his mouth. He spat the red liquid on the ground and then shoved me against the side of the building. I cried out again as I felt my cheekbone made contact with the wood, and I knew that was going to leave a mark. "You… are going to regret…" He was holding me by the back of my shirt, and for the first time during the fight, the thought of just knocking them out with my skin entered my mind. All I would need to do is get them close enough and whip off my glove… "Everything you just did, you little fucker!" He grabbed the back of my shirt and threw me to the ground. My elbow made hit the ground first and I cried out, holding back the tears that wanted to pour down my face.

I felt his hand grip me on the back of my shirt again, readying to throw or toss me somewhere, and I knew this was the only moment I was going to get. I hurriedly tore one of my gloves off, but just before either of us could move a muscle, I heard a hard, well-thrown punch. I winced and scrambled away when I felt Scruffy's hand disappear from my back, and quickly made it to my feet.

Logan was beating the shit out of him, punching every painful place possible, and I even thought I heard Logan break Scruffy's nose. Finally Logan let him drop to the ground in a lifeless heap, and then he squatted down beside him, getting close to his ear.

"If I ever," He hissed menacingly. "Catch you even looking at her," Scruffy made a quiet moan. "Again." Logan paused as he grabbed his collar and hoisted him up so that they were looking eye to eye. "I'll kill you." I could see the venom just pouring from his gaze, his amber orbs like daggers. No one could have stood up to Logan's stare at that moment. Not even Xavier, or Magneto. He dropped, or, more realistically, shoved Scruffy back onto the gravelly floor, then stood up, wiping the corner of his mouth. He looked up at me, concern replacing anger.

"You okay?" He asked in a softened gruff tone.

I knew he had just saved my life and all that shit, but everything that I had gone through, no, gotten myself into tonight, it made me want to scream at him. Sure, I had caused all those problems myself and I had no right or reason to be angry with him, but for some reason, for some fucked up reason, he was my anger target.

"Of course I'm okay!" I said, throwing my arms up in the air. "I almost killed an innocent boy by having fun and being spontaneous, and then took on two ogres who were thinking they were gonna get some fun in tonight!" I bent down, grabbing the glove I had stripped off before Logan had appeared and looked it over. "Obviously I'm fucking great!" I spotted a large tear down the seam and there were a couple holes in it. I felt the tears welling up again but I bit my tongue to hold them back. Why did I always want to cry in front of Logan? Especially over a fucking glove.

There was a break of silence and I could tell Logan was searching for the right words. I closed my eyes and straightened up, putting the glove back on for safety. They were my nicest pair I owned and the most expensive as well. I crossed my arms, staring at my feet.

"I'm sorry I didn't come sooner."

I looked up at him through my hair. I was always surprised at his tenderness towards me. If it was anyone else… hell, he wouldn't even be there. I struggled for words, finding my anger quickly dissipating, then sighed heavily.

"No, I'm sorry for acting so stupidly." I shrugged, holding my arms. "I wasn't thinking straight tonight, and I got totally out of hand and I acted impulsively, and I took too many risks, and—"

"It's okay, Rogue, it's not your fault—"

"Yes, it is!" I said, interrupting. I sighed again, rubbing my palm into my forehead. "With a mutation like mine, I have to be cautious, wary, and that, in there," I gestured towards the bar. "Was not cautious at all. I shouldn't have done any of that, but…" I didn't want to explain to Logan that the main reason I was feeling outgoing and crazy tonight was because of him and his memories and emotions inside of me. I shook my head and looked up at him. "I'm sorry."

Logan sighed softly and shook his head, then looked back at me and made a nodding gesture back towards the motel.

"C'mon, it's late. You're tired, I'm tired, and I think we've had enough adventures tonight." He said with an encouraging smile.

I walked towards him and he fell in stride with me as we walked out of alley and out into the brightly lit parking lot, leaving the two men behind us without a second glance. I leaned my head on his arm as we walked.

"I seriously doubt you're tired." I scoffed, smirking. I felt him shrug.

"Okay, I'm not. But I had to use some sort of excuse to make you feel like you weren't the only one who wanted to get the hell outta there." He said, nudging me jokingly.

I rolled my eyes as we walked across the road, enjoying the closeness of Logan and forgetting all about seeing my parents the next day.

"I coulda taken 'em, y'know. Both of them. I woulda beaten them up so bad."

Logan held our room door open for me and I walked inside, smiling playfully. He just smiled and laughed. Really laughed, and I had to say, that was really nice to hear.

"I seriously doubt that." He said, closing the door behind him.