"What did you expect Logan? A hug and tears for joy at the sight of you?" I asked skeptically, placing a slice of pie in front of my old friend.
"You know, I kind of did…the hug I mean." He smiled at me and honestly, I couldn't help but smile back. I still loved him…after six years without a word, I still loved him. He was my family…as sick as that was. I watched in silence as he dug into the pie. I slipped another piece in front of him as he quickly finished the first. "When did you learn how to cook?" he asked with a chuckle. He stopped short and frowned. So I was right, something was wrong.
"Bake," I corrected wiping the counter free of crumbs. "There's a subtle difference, and Joanne asked me to learn. She's terrible," I giggled, thinking of her past attempts at cookies.
"My mistake," Logan answered. I watched him eat in silence and when he finished, he washed his own plate in the sink. I shook my head; he had always been polite. "So you happy here? Good family?" he asked slowly. I couldn't believe it, but he was actually concerned about my life here.
I smiled, "Yes. Joanne is wonderful; her girls are sweethearts…and no killing people. That's probably the best part." Logan returned my smile, placing the clean plate on the countertop.
"But Nora? That really necessary?"
I sighed. "When I left you, I did everything I could to disappear Logan. I lost the name, the accent, and I never stopped moving. Meeting Joanne was not part of plan, but I couldn't help it. She cared about me in a way I only remember from my mother…and you. I stayed and now I've been here for two years. Bad choice obviously, because here you are." I couldn't help but glare in Logan's direction. He had, after all, shown up with no warning.
"Look, I'm sorry I freaked you out, but I did make sure to cover my tracks," he assured me.
"I'm sure you did, I answered doubtfully. "But let's move to the business at hand…why are you here?"
"Stryker." He gave me a hard look as I took a deep breath.
"Shall we sit?" I led him into the living room and closed the curtains. I didn't needed whispers of a strange man in the house to get back to Jo. I sat down in front of the fireplace, my preferred spot and folded my legs beneath me. I gestured toward a chair, but Logan sat down in front of me.
"What about Stryker?"
"He fucked me for the last time," he told me, a growl in his voice.
"You've seen him?" I replied with shock. When had this happen? How did I miss it?
"He came to see me, him and Zero. He's still an asshole in case you were wondering."
"I wasn't." I knew he was still up to his old hobbies. "What did they want?"
"A warning…about Creed. He killed Bradley, Nora." So I was right. Creed was behind the gruesome murder. What a way to die.
"To be honest, I figured it was him." He looked at me in confusion so I explained, "I read about the death a few weeks ago."
"Yeah? Did you read about Wade's then?" Now I was confused.
"Wade?" Logan must be joking.
"Him too," Logan confirmed, eyeing my closely. "You didn't think he was invincible, did you?" Honestly, I kind of had. It was true, I hadn't heard anything about the mercenary for a few months, but that was just it. He was a mercenary. He disappeared off my radar sometimes. I turned my face toward the fire. I couldn't bear for Logan to see me mourning Wade Wilson of all people.
"Wade…"
He reached to pat my shoulder awkwardly.
"It's fine…but that doesn't tell me why you're here. Stryker…Creed what do they have to do with you and what the hell do they have to do with me?"
"Creed killed Kayla." I froze. My mind reeled with this revelation. I had obviously grown careless in a magnitude that was terribly dangerous for me and all those I cared about.
"Kayla?" I asked. I didn't need Logan knowing about hobby. He stared at me; did I see tears in his eyes?
"You know who Kayla is." It wasn't a question. Denial. Plan B was now in motion: deny everything.
"Logan, I have no idea what you're talking about…and you still haven't told me why you're here," I repeated, hoping he would leave the topic alone.
"This." And it was then I learned what Stryker had done to him. From each hand shot three metal blades, glinting in the firelight.
My mouth opened. "What the Hell is that?" I asked in a whisper. I reached out to touch one, but Logan stopped me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you…I cut through a sink a few days ago," he chuckled.
"You cut through- Never mind…what happened to you?" I could scarcely take my eye off the metal claws in front of me. Thankfully he retracted them back into his hands. Rubbing his knuckles he explained. Logan confronted Creed after Kayla was murdered, and Stryker found him. He offered Logan a chance for vengeance…a chance to beat Creed. Of course he took that opportunity, I would have. In a base, deep in the Canadian forests, Stryker did this to my friend. He was a man made of metal: truly indestructible.
When Logan finished his story, we sat in silence. What could I say to comfort him? He had lost what I had lost, how ironic. At this point, I didn't even have to ask. I knew what Logan wanted: Stryker. I made him ask though, I needed him to. I waited.
"Where is Stryker?" I grinned at Logan's perpetual predictability.
"What makes you think I know where Stryker is?" I asked. I honestly wished I knew, just to help this broken man in front of me.
"Because…someone who is as afraid as you of being found would want to keep an eye on those who may be looking for her." He said this so matter-of-factly, I only stared. He knew me, just as he had always known me.
"Find Zero and you'll find Stryker," I told him. By this time I was eager to be done with this visit and send Logan on his way. I couldn't explain why Logan's presence made me uneasy, but it did. He brought all the memories of my previous life with him, and frankly, I did not appreciate the unwelcome recollections.
"Zero's dead-"
"Well I can't help you anymore than that. It's not my fault you killed the man closest to Stryker." I stood up completely ready to show Logan the door. There was obviously more happening than I had realized and I had some serious thinking to do.
"Nadia-" Logan responded, urgency layered in his voice.
"No, I'm sorry Logan I can't help you."
"Nadia, I'm-"
"Stop talking. You had your say and now we're done. I can't help you." I was desperate to make him leave. I didn't see his attack coming. He grabbed my wrist and flung me against the dining room wall. "What the-?" I couldn't believe it.
"You listen to me. I asked nicely, but now I'm being serious, so pay attention." I merely glared as I tried to wrestle my small hands from his grip on them above my head. How dare he attack me like that?
"I have nothing left. Kayla's gone…one of very few people to truly care for me. You hate me and want nothing to do with me." I turned my eyes to the ground rather than admit my feelings. "Stryker turned me into a science experiment and Viktor…Viktor betrayed me in a way I never thought possible. I want their heads, and I'm not leaving here until I find out where the fuck they are hiding."
I felt his breath on my face as I debated how to best respond. If I hadn't been in Jo's house I would have blasted the son of a bitch away, but I was so I couldn't. "Let go of me…" I whispered turning back to face him.
"Nadia, I'm-"
"I know you're serious, and so the fuck am I!" I shouted. "Now let me go…now." I could see the wheels turning in Logan's head but he finally released me. No sooner did I have control of my arms did slap him across the face. I ignored my stinging hand.
"If you ever touch me like that again James Howlett Logan, I will kill you." He started to open his mouth but I shushed him. "I don't know where Viktor is…and if Stryker isn't in Washington, I don't know where he is either."
"If you're scared, I'll protect you…please tell-" I couldn't believe how desperate Logan was. He had changed so much.
"I said "I" don't know where they are Logan," I repeated. "But I know someone who might."
"If Viktor Creed was capable of having friends, Fred Dukes would have been one of them," I explained. "Maybe he mouthed off a bit…I don't know, you'll have to find out for yourself." He looked at the file I handed to him with a raised eyebrow.
"You have been observant, haven't you?" I heard the joking manner in his voice, but neither of us had the energy to laugh anymore, so I chose to ignore the comment.
"You can stay here for the night…take my room," I offered. "But you'll have to leave in the morning. I'll set out some breakfast and some money, don't bother arguing; it's the least I can do." Logan started to argue but he stopped after seeing the look on my face.
"Nadia, thank you for-"
"You speak as if you gave me a choice…" He silenced himself and turned away. Before I shut the door, I spoke once more. "I want you gone before I wake up." With that I shut the door and left my old friend to his thoughts.
I didn't sleep much that night…again. So far, this was my biggest problem with Logan: the stressed induced insomnia. I stayed in Daisy's room that night. I would have been more comfortable in Lydia's bed, but Daisy was neater. I would never tell anyone, but she was also my favorite. As I lay in the too small bed, my eyes strayed to the row of pink elephants I had painted for Daisy around her ceiling.
What should I do? I thought. On one hand I was scared to death by Logan's vendetta against Stryker and what it could mean for my life here. On the other, I wanted to be the one to kill Stryker myself. Should I go with him? Should I just disappear? She I let Logan walk out the door tomorrow morning and pretend he never showed up? That night, I dreamt of pink elephants.