A/N: … I honestly have no valid excuse for making you guys wait so long… actually I do. Blame the top-heavy homework pile I have to work through every day… anyway, enjoy!!!
"…"- conversation
'…'- thoughts
(…)- extra facts/actions (some)
'blah…' -telepathy/what people say mentally
Chapter 7: SunsetRoof of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted, Bayville, NY, USA—June 9, 8:30 PM
Logan and Ororo were currently lying on a blanket they had brought up with them, watching the sunset over the cliff. Ororo was nestled in the crook of Logan's arm, his fingers tangled in her white hair.
Ororo sighed and said, "This is heaven, Logan." She closed her eyes and felt the breeze that caressed her face, leaving behind a wonderful feeling.
"What's heaven, 'Ro, is being here with you," Logan replied, his fingers running through Ororo's hair, enjoying the feel of the strands on his fingers.
Ororo leaned up on her elbow and, looking at Logan asked, "Why, Logan, were you just being poetic?"
Logan grinned and, pulling Ororo close to him said, "Nope; that was me tellin' ya the truth." He kissed Ororo and grinned against her lips when he felt her respond. They stayed this way for a few minutes, both enjoying each other's company.
Logan and Ororo soon parted for air and rested their foreheads against each other, their breath coming out in short intervals. They looked into each other's eyes and were about to kiss again when they heard screaming coming from downstairs. Groaning Logan slapped a hand against his forehead and muttered, "We just can't get away, can we?"
Ororo sighed and, getting to her feet dusted of her clothes, and looked down at Logan, replying, "No, it seems that we cannot get away. Shall we go and see what's going on?"
Logan grinned ruefully and got to his feet, picking up the blanket that they had just been lying on. "Guess we'll just have to take a rain-check, huh 'Ro?"
Ororo shrugged and, grinning at Logan replied, "We could always come back later, Logan."
Logan grinned and, draping an arm over Ororo's shoulders said, "We could do that; in fact, let's go and threaten those who screamed so we can come back here before the sun completely sets; that okay with you?" Ororo nodded and together they headed down to the first floor to find whoever had screamed and punish them for interrupting their peace and quiet.
Kitchen, Xavier Institute for the Gifted, Bayville, NY, USA—June 9, 8:45 PM
Meanwhile, Jean had just gotten a good look at herself in the small compact mirror she kept in the kitchen cupboard. "Who the hell did this to me!" Jean screamed in rage, her form beginning to glow with a pale red aura. Her emerald eyes got small flames in them as she spun around, looking for a target but on seeing who was at the door immediately powered down. She then ran towards the door and threw herself into Scott's arms, who, on hearing his wife scream, had come running into the kitchen.
"It's okay, Jean; I'm here," Scott soothed, having just finished his forty-five minute lecture to the "victims turned pranksters" about the error of their ways. It was because of this that he hadn't gotten a chance to clean himself up. He had put Jean in the kitchen, her head on the table, so that she would at least be somewhat comfortable, as the tough carpeting in the foyer wasn't very comfortable to sleep on. It also didn't help matters much that the carpet was already ruined thanks to the prank that had happened close to an hour ago.
"It's okay, Jean. We'll go and take a shower and then we'll be all right, okay?" Scott said, rubbing Jean's back in relaxing motions. Jean nodded and Scott began to lead her out of the kitchen and towards the stairs when they ran into Logan and Ororo, both of whom did a double take when they saw their fellow teachers.
"Christ, what the hell happened to you?" Logan asked, for once shocked. Ororo just stared at Scott and Jean, her blue eyes open wide in shock and disbelief.
Scott sighed and replied, "We'll tell you guys later; right now, we need to go and take our fifth shower of the day." Scott then guided Jean around Logan and Ororo and up the stairs to the second floor and their room, where they would clean themselves up.
Ororo looked at Logan and said, "What do you think happened to them, Logan?" Logan shook his head, signaling he had no answer but suddenly he caught a familiar scent.
"Hold on a minute, 'Ro. I sense that everyone who was hit this morning was here and I can smell Polaris's scent on the ceiling," Logan said, his nose catching scents and auras that were all familiar to him.
Ororo put her chin in her hand and thought for a moment, the gears in her head turning. "You mean to say that Scott and Jean were pranked by those who were pranked this morning? Do you think that Scott and Jean were behind the whole thing?"
Logan shook his head and replied, "Don' think so, 'Ro. If they were then why in the hell would they allow a picture of them with that kind of content to be seen by us? No, I think someone set them up and whoever the hell did is responsible for this. Let's go and investigate, shall we?" Ororo nodded yes and together they spent the next few minutes investigating the foyer and the battlefield, noting this and that and putting one and one together to equal two. They then looked into the living room and saw that no one was there but once again Logan smelled the scents of everyone he had smelled in the foyer in the room.
"They can't be far, 'Ro; scent's still strong," Logan commented, his face taking on an amused expression. "I will say this for them, though; whoever is behind this whole sham is good. I haven't been able to get even a clue to their identities but as soon as I know they'll be having Danger Room sessions for a month with me, everyday for a half hour." Ororo nodded in agreement as they made their way to the vast grounds of the Institute, noting that the sun was setting further.
As they walked across the lawns Logan draped an arm over Ororo's shoulders again and she snuggled closer to him, reveling in the warmth he exuded. When they were close to the gazebo they heard whisperings emanating from their right. Growling, Logan shot out his claws and ran towards where the sounds were coming from, intent on catching whoever had the nerve to spy on Ororo and him.
When Logan got to where the sounds were coming from, however, he saw to his shock that a boom-box was the source of the noise, which had distracted him enough to get him to come over to investigate.
"Damn it!" Logan exclaimed and using his claws sliced up the boom-box, not bothering to leave any part intact and when he was done made his way back over to Ororo, who had been watching.
"Who was it, Logan?" she asked, an eyebrow going up in confusion. Logan growled and, sheathing his claws looked around them before answering.
"Just some stupid boom-box that was set up to distract us," Logan muttered, embarrassed that a stupid electronic device had distracted him. He was about to say something else to Ororo when a round of fireworks suddenly lit up the sky, bringing their eyes to the sky.
"Jubilee?" Ororo asked, walking forward a few feet to see if the firework-wielding mutant was the cause of the show in the sky. On getting no answer Ororo frowned and began walking forward another few feet but stopped when a spotlight fell on her. She covered her eyes, the bright light blinding her, and turned around, only to find that a spotlight was covering Logan as well.
"Logan, what's going on?" Ororo asked, making her way over to Logan, the spotlight following her every move.
"Hell if I know," Logan replied, not at all happy with the way things were going. He finally got back his sight and turning to Ororo said, "Let's run for it." Ororo nodded and together they ran for the cover of the mansion; however, unfortunately for them the spotlights followed their every move.
"The lights aren't leaving us alone, Logan," Ororo said, nervousness clouding the confident tone she usually possessed. Logan scowled; who in the hell was behind this?
When Logan and Ororo finally reached the mansion they thought that they'd be safe; they were wrong as the lights followed them and stayed on them for a few minutes. Then, just as suddenly as they had appeared the lights vanished.
"What the hell…" Logan murmured, his mind kicking into high gear as he tried to figure out what was going on. Ororo was thinking the same thing and both of them were scared stiff.
"Ladies and gentleman, welcome to the finale of today's activities!" came a deep voice that was unrecognizable to Logan and Ororo. The younger mutants came pouring out of the mansion and onto the back lawn, all curious to find out what was going on. On seeing Logan and Ororo they looked at each other and shrugged, not sure what was going on that would concern Wolverine and Storm.
"Who the hell are you?" Logan demanded, unsheathing his claws and stepping out away from the mansion's security to where he had heard the voice emanating; the roof of the Institute.
"Just your friendly neighborhood prankster," the voice replied, now holding amusement and glee in it. Logan growled and opened his mouth to retort when the voice continued. "Now, before I reveal my final prank I must say that I am impressed by what has gone on here today; I saw people get along, I saw two people who are pains in the ass get what they deserved and I saw plans come to fruition. Before I continue my small speech do you any questions?"
"Yeah, I got a question for ya, bub. Who the hell are you?" Logan demanded, pointing his claws to the roof where he could just make out a dim outline of a human.
"I am just your friendly neighborhood prankster; that's all," the voice replied, amused at the response he got from Logan, who was now itching to jump up on the roof and rip apart the voice's owner. "Now, for my final and greatest trick!" the voice exclaimed and with a drumbeat sounding in the background the spotlights came on again. However, they were now aimed at the walls of the Institute, upon which now hung a large banner with a blown up picture of Logan and Ororo making out in Joey's Tavern the night before.
"Oh, now I remember! We all saw Wolverine and Storm making out last night!" Bobby exclaimed, the comment earning him dirty looks, glares, and a shock from Ray.
"Bobby, you are such an idiot!" Ray muttered, returning his eyes to the banner in front of him, his mind now showing him scenes from the night before, albeit the images were a bit fuzzy due to the amount of alcohol he had consumed.
Logan went pale while Ororo blushed heavily. "Goddamn it, how in the hell did they get that?" Logan muttered as he stared at the banner and the picture on it. The younger mutants stared at the banner, this time with Jubilee's hand over her boyfriend's large mouth, making sure he didn't say a word.
"So glad you all like this," the voice said, the tone once more amused and glee-filled. "Oh, and before I forget I have something else for you…" Before Logan or Ororo could react they saw two plastic bags heading their way, floating in the night breeze. Ororo was, by this time, standing next to Logan and she used her powers to bring the bags over to Logan and her.
"It's a blackmail note," Ororo muttered as she looked over the note in the bag, her skin now a pale shade of mocha brown. Logan grunted and, turning around saw the audience he and Ororo had.
"You all are in such deep shit it's unimaginable that you'll ever make it out!" Logan roared, his face showing that he wasn't in the mood for any negotiating.
"Chill Badger, we didn't do this," Tabby spoke up before Sam clamped a hand over his girlfriend's mouth, whispering to her to not say another word.
Ororo placed a hand on Logan's shoulder and he retracted his claws, earning confused looks from the group of mutants. Ororo then walked forward and taking command said, "We know that you all are responsible for what happened to Jean and Scott and you will be punished for that. However, I have a question for you." Here Ororo paused, not sure if she should continue but knowing that she had no choice said, "Did any of you happen to receive blackmail notes in the envelopes with your photographs?"
The group looked at each other and then at Evan, whom they knew stood the best chance of standing up against Ororo. Sighing, Evan stepped forward and replied, "Yeah, Auntie O, we did get notes with our pictures."
Ororo nodded and looking at Logan said, "Then, Logan, I think we're all in the same boat now." Logan grudgingly nodded, not at all pleased with the way things were going. Ororo turned back to the group and said, "Let's work together and try to find the source of these notes and pranks; deal?"
On getting nods Logan sighed and muttering curses under his breath said, "All right, let's go inside and after you guys clean up the foyer we'll get together and figure out our next step of action." Everyone nodded and prepared to go back inside, the spotlights still shining on the banner on the side of the Institute as the sun finally set.