A/N: Hi...*Hides behind a sofa* I am soooo sorry this is late but school work has almost literally been piled onto me. I hope this is a sufficient enough apology. So yeah, enjoy and due to my mountains of course work I probably won't update for a while.
Chapter 18
Five minutes later, I was sat on the center of my bed, legs crossed with a book in my lap. I don't remember what it was that I was reading but it didn't really matter since I put it away a few minutes later. The door to my bedroom swung open after a sharp knock sounded on the wood. I didn't look up at the person that had entered because I knew who it was. I threw the unknown book onto the side table, careful to not break anything and waited for him to say the first word.
I felt the bed dip as he lowered his weight onto the mattress, his heavy frame causing me to move slightly. Finally, I looked at him. He was sat on the edge with his feet planted on the floor. The muscles in his arms seemed tense to look at and I wondered if they would feel that way if I were to touch them but immediately dismissed the thought. Since it was clear that he wasn't going to talk first, I did;
"You're early. You said ten minutes. It's only been eight." My voice still sounded worn out. I prayed that it wouldn't crack as if I hadn't used it for years. Logan, however, appeared amused by what I had said. His mouth had lifted ever so slightly at the corner and his eyes had a slight sparkle in them.
He nodded, "You're right. I am early. But this is important." The seriousness laced within his tone as he said that last sentence caught me a bit off guard. He reached out and grabbed one of my hands. The warmth that his hand created enveloped my own and made me feel safe. Safer than I've ever felt. "Listen, we're going have to do more sessions in the gym. Get your skills up to a decent standard faster." I went to comment but he beat me to it. "There is a very good reason for it. There's this… guy. His name is Victor Creed. And he's got a similar mutation to you and me." He seemed to have difficulty getting what he wanted to say out.
I covered our joined hands with my free hand, "What's this gotta do with extra sessions?" I said it as calmly as I could.
Logan looked away, "Victor isn't like me. He takes what he wants and doesn't care if someone gets hurt. He's violent and often unpredictable." He took a deep breath. "And the Professor thinks he's coming for you."
I felt as if the air had been squeezed from my lungs. Why did he want me? Wait. "Is he one of those guys that you said would enjoy 'seeing me struggle'?" I quoted his words from the first day I was here. His mouth was set in a grim line and he nodded. "Okay. That's…I don't know what to say."
Logan wrapped a thick arm around my shoulder and pulled my body to his. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything. I'll protect you. That's what I'm here for. And with the extra sessions, you'll hopefully be able to defend yourself in case I'm not there." I felt his arm tighten around my body. I then placed one of my own pale arms around him in return. "For now, I don't want you to leave the school grounds unless you're with at least two people who can help defend you. Got it?" I nodded against him. "Good." I felt him press a kiss against my hair before saying, "Get some sleep."
He moved away from me and off of the bed. I immediately wanted him to come back but scolded myself for it. I crawled under the covers and mumbled a goodbye which he returned as he walked out the door. As I fell asleep, my mind drifted to what it felt like to be in his arms. Then I was dragged under the black sea that is sleep.
*Logan's POV*
I stood outside of her room with my back against the door. It took everything in me to not go back in and slide beneath the duvet with her. I didn't want to do what that sounds like but simply hold her, like I had been when I told her about Victor.
Victor. The anger I felt towards him was almost palpable every time I thought about what he could want with Natalee. I didn't want to consider the most likely reason because it caused my blood to boil as it travelled through my veins. Stalking down the hall to my room, I made a list in my mind of all the things I wanted to do Victor once I got a hold of him.
Once in my room, I collapsed onto the bed. As I stared at the ceiling, Natalee was once again at the forefront of my mind. I desperately wanted to go back and hold her in my arms so I could be sure that no one could harm her. That was ridiculous though because I was her teacher. It was wrong for me to feel that way. Besides, even if she wasn't a student, I could very well be old enough to be her grandfather. Jean had said once that my age was almost impossible to determine so the possible age difference was another thing that meant it wrong for me to be involved with a seventeen year old girl.
I fell asleep with the thought of holding Natalee in my arms at the forefront of my mind.
*Natalee POV*
I awoke to the sun causing my closed lids to become a bright red. 'I really need to start closing the blinds of a night.' Was my first thought of the day, the second being that there was an incredibly dangerous man after me for only God knows what.
I bolted upright as that thought slammed into me like a train. I didn't want to be taken away from the Institute. I had just gotten used to my new life, new friends, new home. I couldn't leave. Then I remembered what Logan said about extra sessions to help develop my skills faster. I would definitely be taking those if it meant that I survived the guy that was called Victor Creed.
I quickly showered and dressed before rushing down to breakfast. Everyone was there, eating their breakfast as if nothing had happened the previous night. I wished that I could be the same, but after what I heard about…Victor…I didn't think I could pretend that everything was alright. I grabbed some toast before heading over the others. Kitty looked up and smiled at me, as if to say 'Are you okay?' to which I nodded. I perched myself on the empty chair next to Peter and gave what I hoped was a believable smile. By the looks on their faces it wasn't but none of them questioned it. Except Rogue.
"What's got you in such a sour mood?" The sweet southern lilt in her voice caused the others to freeze. Kitty's toast was caught in her mouth and Bobby's spoon hung in mid-air. Peter's muscles were visibly tense and I let my eyes bore in the Rogue's own brown ones. No one spoke for a moment before Rogue broke the silence once again. "Well?" She raised one delicate eyebrow.
I was silent for a moment before answering, "You wouldn't exactly understand, Rogue." The annoyance in my voice was noticeable because each would was sharp and could probably cut someone if they were physical entities. She opened her mouth, as if to argue with me, but I cut her off. "Don't ask me about again, Rogue, because you definitely will not like the consequences." My dark tone left no room for discussion and we continued to eat in silence. I quickly finished my toast before dashing off to find Logan without so much as a goodbye.
I walked down a few of the different hallways without any luck. Thankfully, I eventually bumped into Scott. He wasn't smiling, and with those glasses it was almost impossible to tell what he was thinking.
"I'm so sorry, Scott. I didn't mean to do that." He technically wasn't one of my teachers because he didn't teach any of my classes, so I didn't see the point of calling him 'Professor'.
His lips pulled up into the tiniest of smiles. "That's okay, Natalee. Were you looking for something since you weren't paying attention to where you were going?" Was that a sly jab at my lack of observation skills?
I ignored it. "Yes, actually. Do you happen to know where Logan is?" I knew they were on the best of terms but he could still tell me, right?
Scott raised an eyebrow, "Last I saw of him was in the gym. Have you checked there yet?" I mentally slapped myself. Of course he was in the gym. Where else would Logan be?
"No, but I'll go there now. Thanks, Scott." I called over my shoulder as I walked in the same direction I came from. I could almost feel Scott shaking his head at me but didn't look back as I walked away. Now it was time to see Logan.
A/N: So there you go. I hope that Natalee isn't becoming Mary-Sueish or Logan is too OOC. Tell me what you think and I will see you all next time.