"There's a funny thing about food... it sort of brings people together."
[xxxxx]
Chapter 6: Midnight Snacks
Most nights, Logan found it hard to sleep. Usually he would roam the mansion and return to his room around two, where he proceeded to fall unconscious and still manage to wake up in time for classes. It was almost three o'clock now and he still couldn't manage to calm himself down enough to sleep. He'd already checked on Lenore twice and made his rounds around the mansion the same number of times. It was now his third trip around the mansion and for the first time he noticed that the light in the main kitchen was on.
He waltzed in and saw that Rogue was seated at the counter, a bowl full of half-melted ice cream in front of her. Her eyes were far off, as if she was worlds away.
"Hey Rogue," He said casually as she took a seat next to her at the island. She didn't respond.
"She's been like that all night."
Logan turned around to face an unfamiliar kid who sat at the breakfast table, playing with a deck of cards. "No one's really tried to bother her." He was in his young teens, with a mop of red hair that sat awkwardly on his head.
"Scram." Logan said in a harsh tone. "Or you'll be runnin' laps 'til the sun comes up."
Quickly, the kid gathered up his playing cards and rushed out of the kitchen. Logan smirked before turning back to Rogue, who was still staring off into nowhere.
"Rogue?" He tried again and shook her. "C'mon, I know you can hear me. He shook her again, this time more forcefully.
She jolted awake with a gasp, and turned to face Logan. "Oh... Ah'm sorry..." She said lightly, shaking her head and blinking rapidly. "I didn't see you there, Logan."
"You okay?" He asked, looking at her with a concerned expression. "You don't look too good, y'know."
Rogue shrugged. "Ah guess Ah've just been feelin' a bit sick lately... Ah'm just..." Her voice trailed off and she sighed before turning her attention back to her melted ice cream and taking a slurp.
"You've just what?" He asked, staring straight at her as she avoided any sort of eye contact.
She didn't say anything for a long time. She just sat there, staring at the ice cream until the sound of the old grandfather clock across the hallway chimed. Then she stood and dropped her bowl into the sink before turning back to Logan.
"Ah'm wondering, Logan..." Rogue said, still standing by the sink. She gulped, and he could see that she was fighting back tears. "Y'know, maybe Ah don't belong here anymore."
Logan stood. "What are ya talkin' about?"
She shrugged. "This is a school for mutants, Logan, and Ah ain't a mutant anymore." She sighed and continued to avoid eye contact.
He furrowed his brow. "Did somebody say something' to you? Was it that Jake kid?" He stepped forward. "'Cause if somebody's been threatenin' you, I'm more than willin' to-"
"Logan, nobody threatened me." She said fiercely, and gulped. "Ah told ya... ah just..." She paused and sighed again. "Everybody else who got the cure went back home. Ah'm the only one who stayed. Ah mean, nobody's sayin' anythin', but Ah can just tell... how they look at me." She looked away.
Logan stood next to her and crossed his arms. "Look, Rogue... I know how it is to feel like you don't belong. Like ya... well, like ya ain't welcome. I think all mutants do." He scoffed. "Look kid, I'm no good at all this touchy-feely shit, but... just promise me ya ain't gonna do anythin' stupid, okay?"
He saw that she was actually smiling. "Don't worry, Logan. Ah think Ah'll be okay."
"And ya aren't gonna do anything stupid?"
She nodded. "Nothin' stupid. Ah promise." Without another word, Rogue trotted out of the kitchen and out of sight.
Logan sighed and plopped down at the kitchen table. He ran one hand through his hair and slumped down. Rogue didn't need him much anymore, and now that he was looking after Lenore, he didn't have much time or tolerance for both of them. But if Rogue came crying back to him, he might have to start charging for his time.
"Logan?"
He sat up and turned to see Storm standing in the doorway, looking more tired than he had ever seen her. "Why are you up so late?" she asked, walking over to the table and taking a seat across from him.
Logan shrugged carelessly. "Couldn't sleep, I guess." He gave her a once-over, studying the messy Ororo that he didn't get to see that often. "What about you?"
"I couldn't sleep either. It's just all this hype with Control and... I'm just had a bad dream." She looked away, out the window at the crescent moon.
There was a silence, but it was more calm than awkward.
"We're going to be having a guest tomorrow morning." She announced abruptly, still staring out the window.
"What?" Logan said.
"Tomorrow morning." Storm repeated. "Hank and I have invited a psychologist to come over and evaluate Lenore's mental health."
He took a deep breath, trying not to get too angry. "Her mental health?" He said, all but growling. "This psychologist... you know him well?"
"Her. I don't know her, but she and Hank are good friends. He says that she is trustworthy." She paused. "She's a mutant." She added.
"Whether she's a mutant or not makes no difference. You know who else is a mutant? Magneto. We don't trust him last time I-"
"Logan," Storm interrupted sternly. "It's too late for this. Just have Lenore in my office by noon tomorrow morning. Then you can complain as much as your little heart desires." She stepped up from the table. "Good night." With that, she left the kitchen, leaving Logan alone.
He watched her as she left, then turned back to face the window. "Damn shrinks." He grunted. He thought about heading back to bed, but he was too angry to fall asleep.
Just a sort of fluffy chapter. Not really necessary, but I wanted to put it in anyway.
Thanks again to my beta, martshi3.