Logan paused. He didn't think she'd actually take him seriously. "Uh...well..." He reached up and scratched the back of his neck, trying to think. He couldn't ask anything too exorbitant - Ororo would kill him in the morning.
"I'm thinkin'," he muttered, glaring away at the ground.
She slowly walked up to him, until they were nose to nose. "Here's some food for thought," Softly she cupped his cheek with her right hand and pressed her lips against his. Logan's stubble tickled her palm. Even though the night air was cold. His flesh felt so warm.
For the moment, Logan couldn't have cared if Ororo was watching them or not. For sure, he wasn't going to lie to himself. Bringing his hands up to encircle her waist, he leaned a little deeper into the kiss, still able to taste the lingering traces of alcohol on her lips.
Gently, she raked her hands through his unruly hair. How long had it been since they kissed? If she wasn't so much like him when it came to remembering dates, she'd know the answer to her own question. Thank God 'Ro was sleeping her room. Even though they were all adults that woman had a special gift at making her feel guilty for the sins she'd indulge in.
He knew he was letting himself get carried away, and that Serenity probably didn't care either. His hands trailed a little bit lower down her back, and suddenly an image of flame cut across his mind. He tried not to startle too much, but he broke away from the kiss in suprise. A slight feeling of guilt crept into his mind - he shouldn't still be thinking about Jean.
All it took was a glimpse at the look on his face. She pulled away from him and wiped her mouth. He was still thinking about her. She was a fool to think that something like that wouldn't bother her. Well Jeanie you won. As of now, every male, both boy and man, are caught in your spell. And there wasn't a thing she could do about if she wanted to. Serenity was a warrior and one thing they all did perfectly was bow out gracefully after losing a fight. Turning around she ran across the road and jogged back towards the motel.
"Wait," Logan called out, extending a hand after her, but she'd already started back - had she even heard him? He followed in her path, catching up to her easily before the doors of the motel, "Serenity, wait." He wanted a change to apologize, or at least to explain. Or course he still thought about Jean, but more about how he'd failed in almost every attempt to save her. She was out of reach now, and he didn't understand why he couldn't accept that.
What she wouldn't give to have Kitty's powers right now. She didn't know what to say. Maybe she expected this all along, but it still hurt none the less. Her pride just got its ass kicked and handed to it. He wasn't going to let her by. Logan was stubborn...hmm... no, that was an understatement. Logan was relentless. If he had to make her stand outside all night, he would. She crossed her arms. A stoic expression crept over her face.
Although he couldn't read the expression on her face, Logan could tell she was unhappy. Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken so long to stop.
"I'm sorry," he said, "I know you don't deserve something like that." He didn't believe in ghosts, but he still felt haunted. "I think...I think once this whole thing is over, it'll be a lot of weight off of my mind." And everyone else's, but he wouldn't feel like he was abandoning Jean. He'd been forced to abandon Serenity already, in a way.
"I'm not asking you to forget Jean, Logan. No one's going to forget her, espcially with the way she made an exit. I'm not going to compete with a dead woman. I'll never understand the depths of your love for Jean, I only have a perception of it. Missing Jean doesn't mean you have to compromise your affections for me. Jean died the moment she became the Pheonix." She ran her fingers through her hair. "Jean loved you, Logan. In a way she wasn't supposed to, but not in the way you'd wanted. Even though she and I never got along. I'm sure she'd want to see you happy, even if it was with me. But whether it's with me or not is up to you. I can't do this with you anymore. I'm not asking you to let me in. Is it too much to ask you not to push me away?" She sighed looking down, rubbing her temples.
Begrudginly, Logan knew she was right. About everything, really. "No, I guess not," he admitted with a small nod, "I just felt a little guilty is all." He didn't have any reason to - perhaps it was just force of habit. It would disappear in time, and if he worked at it, it would be gone quickly.
"C'mon," he said, forcing a small smile on her behalf, "I've made a mess of this night enough. We should both probably get at least a few hours of sleep before we gotta get driving again." He reached over to open the glass door to the motel, "Ladies first?" He felt a little better, now that he'd gotten that small weight off his chest.
She walked into the doorway and ran her left hand against his cheek. Leaning in she gave him a soft peck. "I forgive you," Mine... She jerked backed and looked at Logan. What hell just happened? For a flash of a second all she could see was hell, fire, and brimstone. Quickly she whiped theconfused look off of her face. "Um...good night," she rushed up the stairs and to her door, fishing in her pockets for the key. She shook her head, maybe she was imagining things... like Logan ?
Logan blinked in confusion as Serenity cut what appeared to be a meaningful gesture oddly short. Waiting and watching as she dashed off towards her room, he frowned and stared at the floor. Maybe it really had been more of his fault. He could make it up to her tomorrow, maybe...buy her drinks instead of the other way around. Whatever the case, he couldn't do anything now but sleep. Heading straight to his room, he wrinkled his nose in disgust at the rancid motel air that seemed so very obvious to him. He kicked off his boots and dragged the quilts off the bed, sitting down on the edge and staring at the little blinking alarm clock. After a moment, he shut off the light and slid under the sheets, trying to stall his racing mind enough that he could sleep.
Opening the door, Serenity didn't hesitate to strip out of her clothes and slide under the sheets. She smirked, wondering what kind of odors were kicking Logan in the nose. Mine... There it was again... Rubbing her temples, she took a deep breath (which hurt like hell) and tried to calm herself. Maybe she was drunk to a point of insanity. Nah, she was born crazy anyway.
Burying his face in the pillow, Logan waited calmly until all he could smell was faded laundry soap, and that made him feel a little better, although it did nothing to help him fall asleep. It wasn't too big of a deal - he'd probably sleep more in the car anyways. Twisting onto his side, he shut his eyes, frowning, trying to forget everything so he could rest just a little. After a half an hour, it seemed to work and he drifted off.
Thanks to lots of liqour. Serenity had no problem dozing off. With her face burried into the pillows and her arm and leg dangling off the bed, she almost felt right at home.
Logan blinked awake unpleasantly when the phone at his bedside rattled loudly. His throat felt scratchy and his eyes felt very heavy, but he reached over and grabbed the phone. In the midst of the bleary confusion, he saw the time was a few minutes before nine.
"Wh't the hell's this?" There was a brief pause from the other end.
"A Miss Munroe ordered a wake-up call for this room," a clerk's voice spoke, "Is this correct?" Logan scowled, then gave in.
"Yeah...I'm up. Thanks." He hung up the phone abruptly and sat up, feeling not at all well rested. At least he didn't have to drive...
Ororo sat down at the small lobby, skimming through a magazine. She's already had her things packed and in the van. She even had a little breakfast before hand. When dealing with Serenity and Logan you have to be a an early bird. Right about now they should be getting their wake up calls.
RIIIIIIING... RIIIIIIIING...
Serenity was still alseep, of course. 'Ro seems to have forgotten how deep of a sleeper she could be. She sifted slightly under the covers. Mine... A bold image of Jean entered her mind. She was engulfed in flames. Glaring at her, Jean grabbed her neck, screaming.
"AHHHHHHHH!!!" Serenity fell from bed grabbing her throat, taking deep breaths. She looked around. She could have sworn that flame haired wench was here... Was she dreaming? She got up and went into the bathroom. Looking in the mirror she saw purple hand prints along her neck. She scowled. "If that's the way you want to play it. Fine..."
A habit from years of military training, it didn't take long at all for Logan to be alert and aware. He tugged on his shoes, and glanced at his bags, which he hadn't even bothered to unpack. Throwing a little water on his hair and face from the sink, he grabbed his belongings and took his good sweet time walking down to the lobby. He spotted Ororo sitting in one of the chairs looking fairly calm and ready.
"Thanks for the 'larm," Logan muttered, dropping his things next to her chair, "Gonna sleep in the car."
Shit! How was she going to hide this? Ruffling through her bags she pulled out a turtleneck and slipped it on. She teased her hair and slipped on her skinny jeans from last night. She was surprised she hadn't got blood on them. Gathering all her crap she ran downstairs into the lobby she looked at 'Ro. Wow... she beat Logan..no..there were his bags...darn it! "Morning 'Ro." She grabbed Logans things to carry them into the car.
"Goddess Serenity you look like you've seen a ghost. Are you sick ?" Ororo dropped her magazine and took some of the load from her friend. Serenity was hiding something. She was never one to avoid eye contact. She followed her to the van.
Logan walked back from the crappy hotel coffee machine, and spotted Serenity lugging his bags towards the car. So much for chivalry, he thought, draining his cup and tossing it aside. He walked over to talk to the two, snagging his things easily out of the woman's grasp, but as he did so, something crossed over his nose, and he stared up at her in mild confusion.
"You ain't been setting fire to anything, have you? You smell like it." He knew she didn't smoke, but that was the problem - she didn't smell like smoke, she smelled like the actual fire. Things didn't fit.
"I'm ...I gotta put these bags up." She rushed out of the motel, scurrying to the van.
"That was odd... What did you say she smelled like?" 'Ro walked over to Logan and made herself a cup of warm tea.
Logan frowned curiously, now very suspicious. "Fire," he answered again, glancing to Ororo, "and not the kind that smokes. Just...plain fire. It's got a smell, but usually people can't sense it. A little weird."
After sorting out her thigs neatly and repacking them, she slowly made her way back into the lobby and made a b-line for the breakfast buffet. she had to get a grip, she was acting suspicious.
"Fire ? Do you think maybe she could have just picked it up from the sheets and covers?" she stirred her tea. Looking as Serenity walked right past them. "What happened last night?"
"Don't think so," Logan answered, chewing his lip thoughtfully, "I wouldv'e smelled the burning cloth." Last night...oh man, did he really have to talk about that?
"Last night? Nothin', really. We went to that dive across the street, got a coupla drinks, went back..."
Ororo was actually quite shocked to hear this little tidbit. "No bar fights? No advancing 'dykes' or strong willed men ? No smart asses? No insults? No chair throwing, no knife pulling? Just a couple of drinks?" Goddess. She wished Serenity would behave like that when she asked her to come out with her. Then again, Logan's pretty roudy as well. He could be covering for her. Maybe. Maybe not. Out of the two, believe it or not, Logan was a bit more patient and forgiving than Serenity. Perhaps it was his untrackable age. His body may be youthful but his mind is as wise as time. On second thought, Logan was always able to calm Serenity down...Logan and two other men; Magneto and Charles...Charles... could you really be gone? What cruel God would be so sick as to plague this world to continue without a heart such as yours. Storm looked at Serenity as she approached the two. The students weren't the only ones who still needed Charles' loving guidance.
This was pissing her off. They were just talking about her like she wasn't there. Like she couldnt see them...like they were watching her through a glass wall. She grew up with that feeling. Always being paced behind glass. They all loved to watch her kill. When she was sent away from the base to do missions they didn't hesitate to make plans for celebrations to which she was never invited. No they'd throw her back in her cell and watch her some more. In a way she almost missed the feeling, it was part of a select few things that she'd grown accustomed too. She soon learned how to make use of her exploitations. She let them know only part of what she was capable of so they would underestimate her big time. Her eyes welled. How many lives did they make her take? How many baths could she take with their blood? Children. Women. Men. Fathers. Mothers. Daughters. Sisters. Sabertooth was right. One thing they did have in common was their intent to kill. Kill before the thoughts of defense can even enter the mind of your opponent.. Charles helped to cure her of her complexities with life and death. Not as much as he'd like to, but enough so that her enemies and victims would lay wounded and not fallen. She looked on at 'Ro and Logan. After this assignment she'd leave. She didn't belong with the X-men. She was raised evil and always will be. People like her were the reason why the X-men existed. Maybe she would take Magneto up on the offer. Atleast then she could express her hate for Jean and the Pheonix more openly. If they met up with Jean, finding her to still be alive, she wouldn't be a welcome member of the X-men any more, anyway. One thing was certain. She was going to kill Jean and take no shame in bathing in her blood. 'Family' or not, she has it coming.
Slamming her tray down next to the coffee machine sh glared and Logan and Ororo. "Is there something bothering you too? I don't appriciate either one of you talking behind my back like I'm some child. You have something to say, then say it to me dammit!" No one looked on, she wasn't yelling, her voice was stern enough to express her rage. She tugged at her turtle neck, pulling it up to hide her entire neck. It was starting to slip. She combed her har over her shoulders a bit more to add extra coverage.
Logan returned the glare with absolutely no hesitation; he'd built up that reflex from a long history of fighting. "We were talking about how you smell," he snapped, and it only took him a few moments to realize exactly how he'd phrased that. Rolling his eyes at himself, he started again.
"Not that way. I mean, you smell like a fire. Not like burning wood or anything. just the fire part." He scowled a little more, glancing away from Serenity, a little ashamed at his own stupidity. What, did he honestly think she couldn't figure that out? Apparantly, two could play at that game; she'd been toying with the neck of her shirt all morning, pulling it up higher against her throat. He knew well enough to discern that she was trying to hide something. Had she gotten hurt in the fight last night and not told anyone? For a moment, he was tempted to ask, but then ignored his conscience - it wasn't his job to be annoying and meddling.
"I'm probably just tired, or something," he muttered resignedly. "Let's just get on the road."
She flinched at his words. She smelled ? She grabbed some of her hair and sniffed lightly. "I don't smell anything," she snapped. The bruise-like burns on her neck began to hurt. She rubbed her neck, wincing. Angrily she pushed her tray away. Glaring back at him she walked back outside. "All of a sudden I've lost my appeitite," She walked up to the van and kicked the tires. This whole ordeal was proving to be very stressful. How could he have said that to her ? Mine.. "Oh, shut up!!!" she screamed, to who, she wasn't sure. This was all a mistake, she didn't even want to ride with them any more. She wiped her eyes. Maybe she should let them go on. She paced back and forth in front of the passenger side door. She needed to get her bearings before she went beserk. She had to stay strong for Charles. She had to bring his murderer to justice. She gazed at the onslaught of trees just a few feet from the van. She sat down massaging her temples, leaning against the van's door.
Ororo watched as Serenity left. "Yes, Logan, maybe you both are tired," She sipped her tea. Evidently something was wrong. She didn't know what but she had an idea they didn't either. She raked her fingers through her virgin, snow hair. They had to hit the road. There was so much ground to cover, and they had to get there before they tore each other apart. Daintily drinking down her tea she left the lobby and headed towards the driver seat of the van.
Only dimly taking in Ororo's words, Logan nodded, frowning. He could see Serenity leaning against the van in the distance - how had she taken it so wrong? He had told her otherwise, hadn't he? He could clarify in the future, but he didn't want to have to apologize - he hadn't been the one throwing a tantrum, after all. Grabbing his bags, he followed Ororo's lead to the van, watching Serenity for a moment before heaving his stuff in the back, unable to help stealing one more glance. Why was she suddenly so upset?
Boldly she got into the back seat. Let him sit in the front all bunched up it served him right. She'd ask to drive but she knew 'Ro would look at her like she was crazy.
