Reconciliation behaviors: Behaviors used to reconcile the "winner" with the "loser"; ex. grooming

Please do not take this one the wrong way; it is in no way intended to make either character look gay. It's just some bonding time between teacher and student, nothing more.

Wolf was miserable. He was sore, tired, bored, and embarrassed. He swore that he could feel the stares of his teammates on his back. However, the one time that he had tried to look he heard Logan clear his throat as a warning, so he immediately lowered his head again. Class went on for about another half hour before the bell rang.

"All right," Logan said, "You are dismissed."

Wolf heard the others leave, but he didn't dare move yet. He heard the door close and footsteps coming his way.

"You can get up now," Logan said, gently prodding Wolf's bum with his foot.

Wolf immediately rolled over and stood up.

Logan noticed that he was shifting from foot to foot and he smiled. "You're allowed to rub now," he said, trying not to laugh as Wolf started to frantically massage the sting out.

Logan let Wolf alone for a few minutes and shut down most of the machinery in the Danger Room. Then he dragged one of the wrestling mats that they use for sparring next to the wall closest to Wolf.

"You can lie down if you want to," Logan said, indicating the mat, "Or you can stay standing. It's up to you. Class is over, so the submission rule no longer applies."

Wolf hesitated. "Don't I have to go to class?"

"Do you really think that you're in any condition to go to class? Remember, you're gonna have to sit down in those hard chairs."

Wolf blushed and shook his head.

"I didn't think so. Whenever I have to give a student a hard spanking like that I let them out of their classes 'til lunch."

"Oh." He slowly let himself down on the mat, lying on his stomach. That felt a lot better then lying on his side did before. He still felt a little shook up.

Logan smirked and disappeared into the control room. He returned carrying a beer and a Pepsi.

"Here, this will help you calm down a little," he said, handing the Pepsi to Wolf before sitting down next to the mat and leaning against the wall.

"I'd rather have the beer," Wolf smiled mischievously.

"Keep dreaming, kid."

Logan took a sip from his beer. "So, are you mad at me?"

Wolf's eyes flickered to Logan's eyes for a second, then he immediately looked away again. He sipped his Pepsi to give himself time to think. "I don't know," he said finally. "I was mad before when you were… uh…" he coughed, not wanting to say it.

"Correcting you?" Logan offered.

"Yeah, that. I wanted to kill you then. But now… I just don't know."

"Okay," Logan said, "I can deal with that."

Then, after a slight pause, Logan asked, "Do you think that you deserved it?"

Wolf's eyes darted up and away again. Then he sighed. "Yeah, a little. I know I can be a jerk sometimes. I don't even know why I am. I just get the urge to do something and I do it."

"Hmm," Logan thought. Then he ruffled Wolf's hair. "You know, it's not always good to just follow an urge. And can you look me in the eye when we talk?"

Wolf, despite himself, enjoyed the attention that Logan was giving him and he inched a little bit closer. "No, I can't."

Logan noticed how Wolf was responding and briefly wondered if he liked to be scratched behind the ears. "Yes you can. You were certainly looking me in the eyes before."

"But that was different."

"Yes it was, but you can still do it." Logan couldn't stop his curiosity and he reached behind Wolf's ears. He was rewarded as Wolf groaned and pushed his head against Logan's hand, very much like a dog would.

"It feels wrong."

"Maybe for a wolf it is, but right now you are a human, and it is a sign of respect. When you are a wolf and you look me in the eyes I will take it as it is: aggression. As a human it can be both, and I can tell the difference. So, look me in the eyes."

Wolf slowly lifted his eyes again, held Logan's for about three seconds, then dropped them to about chest-level. He couldn't bring himself to do it.

Logan sighed. "I guess that will do for now, but we'll work on it."

Wolf nudged a little closer and rested his head against Logan's leg. "Why are you here?"

"What?"

"You don't seem like the teacher type. Why are you here?"

"What if I said I've always wanted to be a teacher?" Logan began to rub Wolf's back now.

Wolf scoffed. "Yeah right. I can pick up on personalities pretty fast, and you are not a teacher!"

Logan laughed. "You're right. It's a long story, kid. I don't have time to tell it now. I will later though. Why are you here? You don't seem like the boarding school type."

Wolf laughed. "Well…"

Wolf looked up as the door to his cell slid open.

"Here he is," an officer said, "Are you sure you want to go in there? He put up quite a fight."

"Oh, I'll be quite fine, thank you," a kind, older voice replied.

A man in a wheelchair came into view.

"Hello, Wolf," he said, "My name is Charles Xavier. I hear you got yourself into some trouble."

"What's it to you?" Wolf snarled.

"Calm down," he heard the man's voice in his head. "I will not hurt you."

Wolf was alarmed by his voice, but did not show it.

"I came to offer you a choice," the man continued aloud. "You have been accused of assaulting some officers. Now, I guessed that it was probably self-defense, considering how some police hold us mutants in view, and from reading your mind I see I was correct.. Still, currently you are facing jail time, for who knows how long. It depends on which judge you will get and how they see us mutants. I offer an alternative: I am the headmaster of a school specifically for mutants, and I can give you food, a home, and training in your gift. Not to mention that you will also have companionship with students your age rather then a group of older men who haven't seen a woman in years."

Wolf cringed at the thought. "What's the catch?"

"Only that you behave yourself and respect the other mutants."

Wolf looked at this man for a few seconds, trying to judge if he spoke the truth. "Do I have time to think about it?"

"Of course. I will be back in a few days, and you can tell me your decision then."

"Chuck's a good guy," Logan said reflectively.

"Mmhmm," Wolf agreed, curling up, half on Logan's lap.

Just like a puppy, Logan thought.

They both escaped to their own thoughts and memories for a little while, letting silence reign for a bit.

Finally Logan looked at a clock. "Sorry pup, but I've got a class soon. You're gonna have to get out of here.

"Waja jus' call me?" Wolf asked in a sleepy voice.

Logan laughed. "Pup. That's what you are. If you want, you can go to your dorm and go to bed, just as long as you are at lunch later.

"Bed? Bu' I'm no' tired! An' I don' wanna gerrup," Wolf mumbled.

Logan chuckled again. "I'm sorry, but I can't teach class with you on my lap. Get up."

"Jus' a minute."

"Now, Wolf."

Wolf just grumbled and turned over.

Logan shook his head, still smiling, then gave Wolf a quick swat.

"Ow!" Wolf yelped, more awake now. "What was that for?!"

"I told you to get up," Logan looked at him, amused.

"Alright, alright," Wolf complained, slowly standing and stretching. "I'm gonna go back to my dorm now. See yah at lunch?"

"I'd better," Logan said, then watched him leave.

"Hey, wait," Logan added as an afterthought.

Wolf turned to him expectantly.

"If I rub your belly does that make your leg kick?"

"Shut up."