Chapter 1
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Note: I'd like to dedicate this story to Stan Lee. If I have seen far it is only because I have stood on the shoulders of giants like him.
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For most of the workers in this town Friday was the best day, it was pay day. For the owners of this bar, Friday night was the busiest night of the week. Many people celebrated pay day by coming here, having a few drinks, maybe play a game of pool with their friends. This wasn't specifically a sports bar, but the owners had long figured out that playing ESPN on the tv led to fewer fights than the news. That was one reason Wolverine liked this bar, he liked not having to hear the talking heads debate the "Mutant question." After a long week of honest hard work he just wanted to have a few drinks with his friends and occassionally tell his war stories. One of these current friends was Jake. Jake's father "Suggested" that his 16 year old son get this parttime job, learn the value of an honest day's work. Part of it included celebrating pay day with his coworkers this night. Wolverine had fought in many wars, sometimes he had to update his stories, if he changed a few details a story from the American Civil War could easily translate into one from Afghanistan. The current story involved a nurse who needed money for her family.
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Wolverine: So we came up with an idea, we would hold a raffle, the winner got a night with her. But she didn't actually want to sleep with some random person. So me and another man agreed to fix the competition, so that the winner would be someone she trusted.
Jake: You?
Wolverine: No. If I had won they could have sold tickets to my lynching. The winner was father Mcnamara, the company chaplain. At this point our C.O. was upset, because he'd bought a few tickets himself. He said "Are you telling me that a catholic priest just won a night with a nurse?" And the chaplain said "Yes I did. And if that doesn't make you believe in God, I don't know what will."
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Jake and the others laughed at this story, and Wolverine enjoyed moments like this. But, as time had proven time and again, it couldn't last forever. Wolverine could almost smell trouble at this point, and sure enough it came. Two young punks, a man and a woman, both wearing masks, came into the bar brandishing their weapons. They demanded that everyone get on the floor, and for the bartender to open the cash register. Wolverine obeyed and went on the ground with everyone else. He wasn't afraid of them, but did fear that spooking them might get someone else killed. Best thing to do was simply let them steal this money and leave, give his statement to the police later. But then the male robber saw the attractive young waitress on the ground, and began talking about taking her hostage. The waitress was understandably scared, it seemed that the robber planned to rape her. His female partner tried to say that they should just go, but he was insistent that they bring this young girl with them. Wolverine was willing to let them just walk away with the money, but he couldn't just let these punks rape this girl. While the two robbers were arguing Wolverine just lept up, and brought out his claws. He destroyed the man's gun, and put his claws to the robbers throat. The female robber was still a little distance away, and she had her gun aimed at Wolverine. He nevertheless threatened the male robber, and tried to talk the female down.
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Wolverine: You don't seem that broght so let me break this down for you. When a girl cries and begs like this, she doesn't want to go with you. As for you, I have no particular quarrel with you. Just go before the cops show up. Go now!
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The female robber was indeed intimidated by Wolverine, and she fled without even taking the money. The waitress was grateful to Wolverine, others were not. It was now clear to them that he was a mutant, and most of them were not that fond of mutants. The sign outside the bar even said "Help wanted. No mutants need apply." And Wolverine's boss had a similar "no mutants" policy, and the courts siad it was perfectly legal to fire someone for being a mutant. Wolverine knew he had to move on, his life in this town was over. As Wolverine got on his truck to leave town he thought "It serves me right for trying to help anyone."
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Wolverine didn't even have to ask his boss, he knew he no longer had a job. He went to his apartment, a small room above a shoe store. There was already an eviction notice on his door. News evidently traveled fast in this town. Even though he had always paid his rent on time, and it was the middle of this winter month, it was within the landlord's legal rights to just evict him like this. He went inside to grab what little was worth taking. Cash, a few changes of clothing, a couple of cigars and a little food that wouldn;t spoil outside the refrigerator. This wasn;t the first time Wolverine had to leave a life he had built for himself, no reason to think it would be the last. He just put this in his truck and drove away. After a few minutes on the highway he smelled something, something vaguely familiar. Then it occured to him, the male robber was in custody, but the female evidently escaped. Wolverine pulled over and went to the back of his truck. Sure enough she was there, the female rouge, he would be surprised if she was even 16.
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Rogue: I'm sorry, I was just trying to get in from the cold.
Wolverine: And to get away from the police.
Rogue: I don't know what you're talking about.
Wolverine: Yes you do. Get out.
Rogue: It's freezing out here.
Wolverine: I've noticed.
Rogue: What am I suppossed to do?
Wolverine: I don't know.
Rogue: You don't know or don't care?
Wolverine: Pick one, get out.
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Rogue got out and just stood by the side of the road. Wolverine began to get back in his truck, but he couldn't. The same annoying feeling that wouldn't let him just let that waitress be raped wouldn't let him leave this girl on the side of the road in the freezing cold. Even though she might deserve it. He had no real plan, but perhaps against his better judgement, he said to Rogue "Get in."
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The drive with Wolverine and Rogue was understandably awkward. Neither spoke. Wolverine had no particular destination, Rogue had nowhere to go other than away from the local police. After about an hour of awkward silence Rogue went into her bag for some food, which was mostly candy bars and soda cans. Wolverine tried to covertly look inside, he saw some ciggarettes, but no gun at least.
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Rogue: Want one?
Wolverine: You got any Twix?
Rogue: Yeah, here you go.
Wolverine: Thanks.
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It was shortly after this "meal" began that Wolverine stopped his truck and pulled over to the side of the road. He seemed to smell something, whatever it was it made him angry. He got out, and another man approached him. Rogue couldn't hear what they were saying, but they didn't talk much anyway. Both men quickly got into a fight, which was short but brutal. It ended when Wolverine knocked the other man unconsciouss and left him in the snow. Although he won the fight, Wolverine was clearly in pain. He was angry, and he wanted some answers.
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Rogue: Who was that?
Wolverine: Sabertooth, my brother. We have our issues. He said he was here for you. Why?
Rogue: I don't know.
Wolverine: You robbed a bar a few hours ago, how big is your crime wave?
Rogue: That was my first and only robbery. There weren't even any bullets in my gun.
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Wolverine thought about that for a moment, she and her partner were clearly amateurs, maybe it was her first. She never shot him, maybe there were no bullets.
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Wolverine: You commit any other crimes?
Rogue: I kissed a boy.
Wolverine: And by "kissed" you mean?
Rogue: I mean kissed. But it hurt him, he was in a coma for three weeks. I didn't mean to hurt him, I didn't even know I was a mutant. When my parents found out they disowned me. That was three months ago, I've done what I had to do to survive. Sometimes that meant stealing, but today was my first time with a gun.
Wolverine: Okay but that doesn't explain what Sabertooth wants with you.
Rogue: I don't know.
Wolverine: Okay, fine. I know a place you might be safe.
Rogue: Where?
Wolverine: Upstate New York. With Charles Xavier.
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Rogue had heard about Charles Xavier and his Xmen. How they were heroes, fought against the evil Magneto. She had read the comic books, although Wolverine said that "Maybe one third of it happenned, and not like that." He vowed that he had never worn yellow spandex. Rogue wasn't sure what to expect when she met the man, and definitely didn't expect to meet him in a pizza place. But then the sign outside did say "Mutants welcome" and maybe there weren't that many such safe havens around here. Xavier offered to shake Rogue's hand, but she declined, and he respected her wishes.
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Xavier: It's good to see you again Logan.
Wolverine: Same here.
Xavier: And your name?
Rogue: Just call me Rogue.
Xavier: Very well. And how are you doing Logan, after your recent fight with Victor?
Wolverine: I'll be okay.
Rogue: Who's Victor?
Wolverine: Sabertooth, professor Xavier has a thing against nicknames.
Xavier: I'm just morally opposed to casual dehumanization.
Wolverine: How'd you know I fought Sabertooth?
Xavier: Eric called me.
Wolverine: So he's working for Magneto again?
Xavier: Yes. The way Eric tells it he sent Victor to extend a polite invitation to Rogue here. But then he and Logan could smell each other, and given their past history both men's tempers got the better of them.
Wolverine: Yeah maybe. What does Magneto want with Rogue?
Xavier: Unfortunately Eric still believes that a war between mutants and the rest of humanity is approaching, towards that end he is trying to recruit as many mutants to his side as possible.
Rogue: What if I don't want to be part of any war?
Xavier: Then you will have a place within the Xmen.
Rogue: From what I've heard you guys are the heroes and you fight against Magneto, who's a terrorist.
Xavier: It's a little more complicated than that. But our goal is to win over the hearts and minds of the populace. There are those who will always hate mutants no matter what we do, and there are those who will accept us no matter what some do. But there is a middle ground and we can win them over. We can protect you Rogue.
Rogue: Okay, I can give it a shot. For a little while anyway.
Xavier: Good. And what about you Logan? You're always welcome.
Rogue: Not with everyone.
Xavier: Admittedly, a few would have trouble with you coming back...
Wolverine: I made a promise once, and I need to honor that. Besides, I'm glad you can protect the kid, but I'm not sure I believe in the same things you do professor.
Xavier: And what do you believe in Logan?
Wolverine: I believe that Josh Gibson hot more home runs than Barry Bonds. I believe that Mata Hari was just a victim of wartime paranoia. I believe that the next time they do a remake of "the Hills have eyes" Guillermo De Toro should be lead director. But if you're asking if I believe in God, the consistent life ethic, or restorative justice, the answer is "No."
Xavier: I'm sorry to hear that. But just know that there will always be a place for you in the Xmen.
Wolverine: Thank you. For what it's worth it was good to see you again professor.
Xavier: Same here.