Chapter One: The Road Less Travelled*
The soft glow of the setting sun cast long shadows over the empty roads that led out of Westchester. The mansion stood silent behind them, a safe haven for many, but for Wolverine, it had started feeling like a cage. Maybe that's why he'd decided to leave for a while, to shake off the dust that had been settling on his restless soul. But he didn't expect a hitchhiker.
"Hey, Logan! Wait up!" Rogue's voice was breathy as she jogged up to him. Dressed in her usual green and black, she seemed almost out of place against the amber hues of the countryside. Her Southern accent was more noticeable when she was flustered, and right now, it was strong as honey.
Logan paused, leaning against his bike with a raised brow. "You got a death wish, kid? What're you doin' here?"
She stopped just shy of him, folding her arms and giving him that determined, steel-spined look he'd come to admire. "I'm not a kid anymore. Thought you'd figured that out by now."
He ran a hand through his unruly hair, trying to play off the little smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Point taken. So, what're you doing here?"
"Going with you," she said, simply.
Logan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Not exactly a pleasure cruise, darlin'. You'd be better off staying with the others."
"Don't care," she said, stepping closer. "I'm tired of playing it safe. I wanna see what else is out there."
Something in her voice resonated with him. It was the same yearning that had driven him to throw his few belongings in a bag and take off without much of a plan. And, though he'd never admit it, he didn't mind the thought of having company. Especially hers.
"All right," he muttered. "But you're riding in the back, and you better hold on tight."
He handed her a helmet, watching as she fitted it over her white-streaked hair. It was a small detail, that streak of silver, but it was a reminder of her strength and fragility all at once. They both knew the dangers she carried with her skin, but her eyes dared him to look beyond it.
The engine roared to life, and with a small, almost hidden smile, Rogue wrapped her arms around his waist. Logan felt the warmth through his leather jacket, and for a second, his heart raced faster than the engine.
They took off, leaving the mansion and its watchful windows behind. The open road stretched before them, framed by golden fields and rolling hills. Wind whipped around them, carrying the scent of earth and freedom, and Logan found himself relaxing for the first time in weeks.
As the miles passed, the silence between them grew companionable, each one lost in their thoughts. When they finally stopped for a break, Rogue slid off the bike, looking up at the emerging stars with a soft smile. Logan watched her out of the corner of his eye, noticing the way the night seemed to embrace her, casting a glow on her face he hadn't seen before.
"Y'know, Logan, I used to dream of running away," she admitted, breaking the silence. "Leaving all the weight behind."
He leaned back, watching her. "And what stopped you?"
"You," she said quietly. The admission hung in the air between them, vulnerable and raw. "You made me feel like… I could be something else, something more."
He clenched his jaw, unsure of how to respond to that. But he didn't have to because she was already turning back toward the bike.
"Ready to go?" she asked, her eyes softer than he'd ever seen them.
And in that moment, he knew this road wasn't just about leaving. It was about the possibility of something new, something he'd never had with anyone else. Without a word, he nodded, and they set off into the night, both quietly wondering where the road—and each other—would take them.