Thanks for the new follows & favs. Special shoutout to Cheshire, Cew1088, and LoveKita. Cheshire, glad you approve of working Rahne in. She's someone I always feel gets put in the background and wanted to give her some time to shine. And yes ... always good when we get Logan back. Everyone else, thanks for reading and leave a review/comment if you got the time. Love hearing from all of you and I'll do my best to get this next chapter up sooner vs later.
"Welcome back!"
"Good to see you Logan."
"Hey ummm ... so do I actually still have detention if you were gone last week?"
"Hi Wolvie!"
It was still early morning as Logan nodded to the incoming welcomes as he headed from the garage into Xaviers. Fall was well underway now and that meant the school was filled with students, X-Men, and a few mutants looking for refuge or simply passing through. He'd been gone almost two weeks.
Back in his room, Logan tossed his duffel by the bed and headed to the shower. He mostly wanted to just grab a case of beer and let the whole place get over him being back. Lay low for a couple days before getting back to classes and missions. But that wasn't gonna happen which earned a low growl of resignation before he tossed on a fresh pair of jeans and flannel. He took the beer to go.
"Logan, welcome back." Xavier put down the book he'd been reading and looked up with a smile as the resident feral came into his office. Xavier however didn't have the same smile of welcome as the rest of mansion. He already knew what was on Logan's mind but that didn't stop the feral from beating him to the one question he had.
"What the hell happened Chuck?"
Xavier seemed to steady himself as instead of answering passed Logan the tablet ready on his desk. Logan didn't say a word, just taking a seat as he watched and then rewatched the Danger Room footage.
"Logan I promise you no one meant Kara any harm. Scott was simply overeager and has been spoken to." Xavier started but Logan wasn't having it.
"Spoken to huh?" Logan growled low as he slowed the video down, pausing it every so often and replaying certain parts.
"Yes and we all have Kara's best interests at heart."
"Lemme guess ... kid's ghosted." Logan kept his eyes on the screen, his brow lowering with each replay.
"She hasn't drifted too far but ... yes, she's withdrawn considerably since then." Xavier replied, clearly trying to read Logan without actually reading him.
"You're all damn fools." Logan tossed the tablet onto the desk, "Don't tell me ... you think she lost control?" Xavier nodded at Logan's assessment and Logan just scoffed as he got out of the chair.
"That wasn't a lack of control. That was - c'mon Chuck shooting a target that distance while on the move and taking down someone almost twice her size? That look like a lack of control to you?" Logan was pacing at this point.
"What about the end?" Xavier didn't have to explain what he was referring to.
"That's somethin' I'll figure out with her." Logan knew what had happened with Kara, not like she was the first feral he'd seen get pushed past the edge, but the why it had happened ... that was something he needed answer for.
"So what does it mean?" Xavier continued, not wanting to push Logan so soon.
"It means the kid's been trained. And you only get trained like that for one thing." Logan shook his head, Widow's story replaying. There was just no way ... it had been years ago.
"Did you find any answers while you were away?" Xavier probed, getting Logan to pause his pacing long enough to shoot him a look and shake his head.
"I met with Magneto while you were gone. He asked for Kara." Now that got Logan to stop pacing altogether.
"Asked?" Logan's tone said it all. Magneto wasn't one to just 'ask' about anything.
"Magneto would never attack the school." Xavier's tone was certain but Logan snorted at the concept of trusting Magneto to not do anything.
"Just add him to the list then." Logan growled and taking the tablet headed for the door.
"What are you going to do Logan?" Xavier's tone the same though there was a slight edge there.
"I'm gonna find out how bad you all messed this up."
"Got a minute?" Logan's question was obviously directed at Raven but it took her actually turning around to make sure there was no one behind her to confirm that he was indeed talking to her. Raven sighed, she had done her best to avoid the surly feral since he showed back up at Xavier's but it looked like her luck had run out and she gave him a resigned look.
"Yea ... sure." Raven had been heading back from breakfast when Logan had intercepted her and she followed him back to his office, the smell of cigars making it clear which was his.
"So what happened with our girl?" Logan dropped into one of the leather chairs that took up a corner of his office, never having bothered or seen the purpose of putting in a proper desk ... or any kind of shelf beyond a single bookcase for that matter. Logan's office was an assortment of piles of books and papers unlike most of the other teachers and the goth had to cautiously levitate a stack of papers and beer bottles out of her way so she could take a seat on the edge of the other sole chair in Logan's office.
"Our girl?" Raven's tone was neutral and controlled as ever but Logan caught that hint of hardness to it and he watched her a little closer.
"Yea. Couldn't help but notice she ain't around. And I'm guessing that's been happenin' a lot lately." his tone making it clear that he wasn't guessing.
"Guess so." She replied cooly but Logan could scent the genuine worry and anxiety wafting off the empath. It was why he'd gone searching for her first. Also judging by her attitude towards him, Logan could piece together that the purple haired teen was taking his recent disappearance quite personally. Which indicated to him it was most probably because Kara felt that way. Great.
"Look kid," and Logan leaned forward so he was eye level with the girl, "I appreciate the loyalty. But you got anythin' you wanna share that's gonna help Kara ... you tell me. I'm trying to make this right." and he could see Raven's cool facade falter a bit. Logan had considered Kara a good fit with Raven, the kid not being easily spooked by a few shadows or whispers, and the older girl was clearly more sensitive to the feline's needs then most and it looked like he'd been right. The two were good for one another and he listened closely as Raven finally seemed to relent a bit.
"If you're asking if I've seen her around then no. I mean I know she's sneaking into our room sometimes but beyond that ... she's been gone." Raven muttered and Logan furrowed his brow.
"She ever mention anythin' that might help me get a handle on what the hells been goin' on around here?" and Raven bit her lip, really looking at the feral for the first time as if trying to suss out his intentions. Logan smirked at her.
"Again, appreciate the loyalty but don't have time for games kid. I'm going to need everythin you know to help her. We want the same thing." and he caught how her shoulders untensed slightly, and how she seemed to think about what he said for a moment before slowly coming out of that guarded posture.
"She ..." and Raven paused wondering if whatever she said was going to make any sense. Honestly even in her head it didn't, but the empath decided to press on anyway.
"Wherever she came from? I think she's afraid of it following her here." Raven confessed, earning a nod from Logan in understanding. Where exactly Kara had come from was one of the questions he'd never gotten an answer to.
"Aint gonna happen kid." and he ignored the purple haired teens annoyed stare as he gave her a reassuring nod.
"You get to class. I'll deal with this." Raven took that as a dismissal and quickly gathered her bag and left Logan alone in his office. Taking a moment to consider all of what Raven had told him, Logan pulled out the tablet he'd taken from Xavier and replayed a clip he'd saved from the danger room. The moment Kara had gone feral.
"Following her here huh..." Logan rumbled to himself, his brow furrowing as he considered what he knew and far more importantly what he didn't.
"Thought I told you two idiots to check in on her." Logan's rumble caught Remy and Jason off guard, the two hurriedly flicking away the joints they'd just been definitely not smoking instead of y'know... being in class. Logan hadn't even bothered looking for them there and instead had followed the smell of energy drinks, crawfish, pizza, and weed and predictably found the pair enjoying the late fall morning outside near the basketball court.
"We did." Remy defended before coughing wildly while Jason tactfully decided to release his breath ... along with a plume of smoke. He knew the game was up the moment Logan appeared, didn't mean he acted sorry about it though, crossing his arms defiantly, his smirk still in place.
"Oh yea, then where the hell is she?" Logan tossed back, his usually short patience for the pair dangerously used up.
"In there." Jason nodded his head towards the forest casually. Logan eyed the large expanse of land, the sound of his jaws grinding audible even to the non-ferals.
"You really call that watchin' out for her?" Logan rumbled, clearly not amused but Jason just shrugged.
"Don't get all snarly, she comes back when she thinks no one is looking OK? So technically, she hasn't 'run off'. I mean, what did you want us to do ... put a collar on her and teach her to sit? Or maybe ambush her with catnip?" Jason defended, earning a scowl from Logan, which made the teen lose his brazenness for a second. "Hey ... I even offered to let her hit me but she preferred to play outdoors."
"Tempting offer." Logan growled as he eyed the two teenagers before sighing audibly. Honestly, what did he expect? It wasn't like Jason or Remy had the power to force Kara to do anything... or would have in the first place... but that didn't mean he was happy they'd slipped up in not stepping in before the school had chased the kid off.
"You saw the evaluation?" Remy suddenly cut in, his usually casual tone gone while Jason elbowed his friend with a look. He'd heard what had happened from Remy more than once but he didn't quite believe it. That is until Kara had almost taken his head off. Not that it was a big deal or anything, dying and being reincarnated hundreds of times meant occurrences like these really weren't that big of a deal so honestly he couldn't see why everyone in the school was so worked up about it. Speaking of everyone...
"Sounds like the whole damn school did." Logan rumbled out, mostly to himself.
"And?" Remy asked, clearly expecting some insights from Logan.
"And it's none of yer damn business." Logan growled, now regretting ever involving these two.
"Logan she - is that why you wanted us to keep tabs on the chatte? You think she may be dangero -" but Logan's growl cut Remy short.
"Watch your mouth swamp rat. I wanted you two to keep the rest of the school from gangin' up on Kara while I was gone but you two messed that up. Lesson learned." Logan growled, the two taking a small step back as Logan stepped forward.
"Hey hey - it wasn't our fault the entire school got spooked. Why don't you go beat up Scott instead of blamin us? He's the one who made her do the evaluation just to brown nose his way into the professor's good books" Jason defended, but Logan's scowl just deepened.
"Don't worry bout Scooter. You two idiots just get to class." the feral tossed out as he turned his back on the pair of teenager who pointedly didn't look at each other as they shuffled their way inside.
"You shouldn't have left Logan." Ororo's tone was serious as Logan eyed the last students leaving the storm goddess' class room.
"Wasn't gonna find what I needed sittin' on my ass Ro." Logan rumbled, crossing his arms as Ororo cleared off her lesson from the board.
"You still shouldn't have left her alone." Ororo finally turned to face Logan fists balanced on her hips, clearly meaning business.
"Didn' think I did." Logan gestured at the school around them but Ororo just gave the feral a look.
"You know very well what I mean Logan. Kara was in a fragile state when you brought her here and at the earliest moments of her feeling safe ... you left! The very one who brought her here in the first place suddenly disappears... How do you THINK that would make her feel." Ororo accused, doing her own version of a rumble, except hers was emphasised by an actually roll of thunder, somewhere in the distance ... and while that would have scared most, Logan held his ground.
"I didn' leave for nothin' Ro. I needed some answers." he pushed back gently.
"And she needed you Logan." Ororo's response, her gaze, her tone... It finally got the feral to rumble more to himself then to her, but a sniff got a uncharacteristic smirk to suddenly appear on his usually wizened face and before Ororo could raise a very well arched brow as to why, Scott came bursting through the door.
"What is THIS?!" Scott practically demanded holding up a sheet of paper, his face almost as red as his visor.
"We're not done." Ororo warned, shooting one last look at Logan and then at the young Cyclops before wisely deciding that this wasn't something she needed to bother herself with and gracefully left the room. Logan just leaned comfortably against the now vacant desk seemingly more in thought then noticing the still seething Scott.
"I said WHAT IS THIS?"
"Not sure what you're talkin' bout Scooter. But I got better things to do then listen to you whine." Logan pushed off the desk to leave but Scott didn't budge... bravely or stupidly depending on who you asked, blocking the shorter feral. Logan raised an amused eyebrow.
"I know it was you Logan. No one else will say anything... but I know it was you." Scott accused but Logan just get the same smirk in place.
"And what do you think I did?" Logan's tone was still relaxed as he clearly enjoyed playing with Scott for the moment. The teenager seemed to catch himself, his characteristic diplomacy returning for just that second.
"Last night... I was scheduled to train with the X-Men in the morning and today I checked my schedule and it shows me training in the afternoon!" Scott's tone made it seem obvious but Logan played it out.
"What's wrong with that? Sounds like you could use the sleep." Logan replied but Scott looked like he was almost ready to burst, that well known diplomacy clearly forgotten
"IT's- its's with the junior team!" the teen stuttered out. : Wh - why would I need to run with the JUNIOR team? I'm an X-man!" Scott practically shouted for the mansion to hear but Logan's smirk had turned almost dangerous, and he took a step closer to Scott. If he was being honest, Scott had hoped, no planned actually... to speak to Logan right when he'd gotten back. Explain himself for what had happened with Kara. He'd expected some kind of dress down ... prepared himself for some form of detention or community service. But this ... this was almost unbearable.
"You sure bout that Slim? You really want to head down to the Danger Room and run with me? Cause I ain' sure that's the best idea right now. If it was me ... I'd thank whoever did ya the favor..." and that finally seemed to get through to the teenager, the former X man taking a step back.
"Great, now get outta my face." Logan finished with a growl before storming past Scott, his shoulder pushing the taller mutant out of his way. Logan didn't say anything to the dozen or so students who seemed to stunned at what they'd just heard standing in the hallway.
Logan did his best not to smirk till he was on his way outside. Chuck had talked him into the demotion as opposed to locking him in the Danger Room and running the same circuit as Kara till he dropped. But that still left the one remaining mutant he hadn't spoken to yet ... Kara.
Logan scanned the tree line. He knew he'd find her but the question was where to start first. The river made some sense in the northwest but that didn't -
"Hey Logan?" a small voice broke Logan out of his thoughts and looking down he saw Kitty standing slightly behind him, her hands across her chest from the late early November afternoon wind. Her usually perky attitude clearly weighed down by something... Logan grumbled a little before holding out an arm.
"Hey Kitten. What ya doin' out here?" and Kitty slowly took her place next to him, the pair just observing the view from the deck.
"It's my fault." Kitty whispered out, Logan looking down surprised to see Kitty apparatnly on the verge of tears.
"What you talkin' bout kid?" Logan kneeled down so that he could see Kitty properly but she just shook her head and kept her gaze on the woods.
"I - it's my fault Kara's gone. I never - I didn't mean it." Kitty managed out, her breaths coming out in little gasps as the fought not to cry in front of Logan.
"Nothin's your fault Kitten. If anythin' this is my fault. You got nothin' to blame yourself for." Logan rumbled softly but Kitty tried pushing away from Logan who held soft but firmly.
"I never shoulda let those kids say that stuff about her! And - and ... Logan I know she knows. But I didn't mean it! You gotta tell her that I was stupid and I didn' mean it." Kitty got out as the tears came steady now.
"What didn' you mean darlin?" Logan soothed, his voice steady as he kept trying to catch Kitty's gaze.
"To - to be scared of her," Logan's brow went up as some things fell into place, "and now she's gone. Just - just like Rahne." Kitty's voice barely a whisper now as she looked back at the woods. Logan worked his jaw as he tried to find the right thing to say to his littlest girl.
"She ain' gone Kitten," Logan gently turned Kitty back to look back at him, "and even if she was? We'd go get her back."
"So ... you're gonna get her back?" Kitty whispered out with a small smile. She knew Logan could make things better.
"Get who back?" Kitty jumped a little as Jubilee came bounding out of the Mansion with the smack of bubblegum. She'd seen Logan through the kitchen doors and had assumed if Kitty was talking to him that meant he was free to finally catch up. But seeing Kitty quickly trying to wipe her eyes the spunky teen slowed a bit.
"Nothin' you need to worry bout Jubes. You mind takin' Kitty back inside?" Logan's tone was enough for Jubilee though she frowned at being pushed back again from spending time with Logan.
"So long as you promise we get to hang later Wolvie." Jubilee shot a finger at Logan as she took Kitty by elbow to lead her back inside but the little brunett dug her heels in and looked back up at Logan.
"You promise you'll get her back? You'll tell her?" Kitty's big hazel eye's looking straight at him.
"I got it Kitten. Get inside." Logan nodded towards the door and with a nod of her own and a roll of the eyes from Jubes, the pair headed inside. Logan turned back towards the woods and with a deep breath, headed towards the treeline.
"Hey kid." Logan rumbled as he briefly bunted Rahne's forhead before the teenage wolf gave the two ferals a quick look and loped out of the clearing. Logan watched her go before getting up from his crouch and turning to face the still silent pantheress.
"See you've met Rahne," Logan nodded towards the woods where the teen had slipped away, "she was catchin' me up. Told me you actually saw her ... that hasn' happened for a while."
"Why you back?" Kara's rumble was as soft as ever but her stance was guarded ... defensive. Logan couldn't help but remember Kara's reaction the first time she saw him back in the cave.
"I'm back cause this is my home. Yours too last I checked." Logan's tone wasn't exactly comforting, his growl matching the feline's own as he spoke.
"You left." Kara's eyes narrowed as she rubbed her shoulder.
"Had to check on some things," Logan replied but as he took a step closer Kara took a measured one back. He really didn't want to have to chase her down.
"You. Left." Kara really didn't care why Logan had disappeared. He'd left her alone and bad things happened. He'd promised no more bad things would happen.
"And I'm back. Listen Salem ... I get some things went down while I was gone. But you're tougher than a couple of idiots talkin' behind your back. You're a good kid and -"
"Don't say that." Kara cut in with a growl, her hackles slowly raising as Logan raised an eyebrow.
"Say what?" Logan was truly confused now.
"Not good." Kara seemed determined to look anywhere but at Logan but he wasn't having it. Time for secrets was over.
"Why hell would you say that? Don't matter what you mighta done before. Doesn't matter where you came from. I don't care. You're a good kid and you deserve to be here." Logan tried again but when he took a step closer Kara let out a true growl as she flexed her claws, one pair directly into her shoulder.
"Not good." Kara growled but Logan had seen enough.
"Stop that shit right now!" Logan wasn't about to let Kara hurt herself but as he moved forwards the younger feral roared and charged head on.
Logan was careful to keep his claws sheathed but the pantheress clearly didn't feel the same way as she did her best to slice into Wolverine. The two ferals were a clash of growls and snarls, Logan trying to not hurt Kara while at the same time not let her disembowel him. The feline managed to slip under Logan's guard and draw blood but it gave the larger feral the opportunity he needed and grabbing her wrist wrapped Kara around so that her back was to his chest.
"Settle down!" Logan growled but Kara was close to tipping over the edge, using her feet ... her tail ... her fangs ... anything to hurt. Make Logan understand. The school knew. Everyone knew.
"Not good!" Kara roared back, but Logan just squeezed tighter.
"Kara enough!" Logan tried but Kara just took a chunk out of Logan's arm in response, earning a true roar from Wolverine as he flung Kara away. The feline landed on all fours, braced for a moment, and flung herself back at Logan who saw her coming and hipped tossed her straight into one of downed trees in the clearing with a crack. But Kara was back up in a moment, shaking her head clear as she snarled and charged back.
The two kept at it, Kara charging and Logan doing his best to deflect and defend, for close to thirty minutes before either feral began to tire. But eventually, the feline began to slow and with yet another toss from Logan, Kara finally stilled, her chest heaving as she glared at the now bleeding but still standing Logan from one knee.
"I shouldn' have left." Logan's growl was gone, hands at his sides as he looked down at the recovering pantheress. Really looked at her. Kara saw the sympathy in Logan's eye and bared her teeth at it. She hated it.
"But you did," Kara growled as she stayed on her haunches, "because of me."
"Is that - you think I left because of you?" The truth was so simple it actually struck Logan like a blow to the brain. Despite everything he had forgotten just how young the kid was. How it must have looked to her.
"Salem," Logan crouched down so he was even with her, "I didn' leave cause of you. But I shouldn't have just disappeared on ya." Logan explained, Kara eyeing him suspiciously. She didn't smell a lie ... but that didn't mean he was telling the truth.
"But you bein' pissed at me doesn' mean you shoulda ran off. Doesn't matter how stupid kids can be." Logan pushed, Kara crossing her arms over her knees as she gave a very Raven like roll of the eyes.
"Better here. No one scared of me outside." Kara rumbled, the anger and tension she'd been building up for the last few weeks having finally found an outlet left the feline feeling a bit better but drained, as Logan just chuckled right back and shook his head.
"You gotta let that kinda stuff go Salem. You think I don' know how many people are scared of me when I walk into room? The looks?" Kara glanced up at Logan as he continued, "you just shrug it off. Be yourself and don' hold back for anyone. Your real friends will step up. Even if it takes 'em a minute." Logan finished, letting Kara sit with what he said for a bit in silence. He smirked as Rahne made her return and padded over to Kara who leaned against her.
"You ready to head back?" Logan rumbled gently, Kara's amber eyes locking onto his for a moment before Rahne bumped her with a nod. Kara smirked at Rahne's rumble and ran her claws through the teen wolf's rust colored fur.
"I will ... later." Kara rumbled back, earning a nod from Logan as he growled a goodnight to his two fuzziest girls. The pair watched his disappear into the forest before Kara felt the rest of the tension leave her and she fell back with a sigh mixed growl.
She was still mad at Logan. But felt better knowing he was back. She considered feeling bad about attacking him but shrugged it off. He didn't seem surprised by it so why linger on it? But what Logan had said about her friends did linger. The question Kara had was ... what to do about it?