Fanfic and fanart
Haven't been around for a while. I've done a few stories and fanart I didn't get posted here.
Will You Remember?
This belongs in the Right Here Waiting Series. The title is from The Cranberries song of the same name. Warning Rogue dies. Sorry.
Part 1
Logan woke up in the backroom of some dive bar along the U.S. - Mexico border. Apparently, he knew the bartender and was served a meal of fajitas to go with his beer. The bartender was rambling on about Logan helping him out the other night, when something on the television playing behind Logan caught the bartender's attention.
"Have you seen this one, man?" The bartender turned up the volume with the remote. "Some school for mutants back East. Poor bastards."
As Logan watched the videos being shown, a feeling of helplessness overcame him. The clips appeared to be from the school's own security cameras of an attack by Sentinels. The reporter relayed information of a private firm the government had hired to assess the mutant threat using their newly developed robot line.
Oddly, the official story the firm and the government agency had reported last night and the videos playing on the screen didn't match up. The videos had appeared online the morning after the attack on several internet video-sharing sites. It took only hours for the videos to go viral.
A few of the scenes were familiar to Logan. He recognized Colossus engaging a Sentinel, giving the group he was with time to flee. Another clip showed flashes of red 'lasers' and lightning in an outside area, drawing the attention of the Sentinels that were destroying the school. The final clip was of Iceman trying to block a Sentinel's path as a woman with streaks of white in her hair tried to shield a group of young children.
Logan's stomach turned over and he was suddenly glad he hadn't eaten much of his meal. The bartender still yammered on about something when Logan interrupted. "I need to leave," more to himself than to the other man.
"Your bike and stuff should still be out back under the lean-to." Logan reached for his wallet to pay for the unfinished meal. The bartender shook his head, "Nay, man. I owe you for last night."
Logan mumbled thanks and headed for the backdoor. He'd traveled back in time to prevent this from happening. He needed to get to Xavier's and find out what went wrong.
~~~~
He stood in front of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, and for the second time in twenty-four hours Logan's stomach turned over. The wing that housed the dormitories was badly burnt. The rest of the building faired only slightly better.
Logan walked through the ruins, searching for any sign of life. He knew someone was watching him, had been since he set foot on the property, but let the youngster keep his distance. Finally, he located where the elevator to the lower levels should have been, but the elevator shaft was inaccessible under the rubble.
"Wolverine?" The boy was hiding behind a half collapsed wall.
"Yeah." Logan turned to the boy. "Is it safe for you to be out here?"
The boy shrugged. "It gets kinda crowded down there."
Logan wanted to ask more, but decided it would be best to wait until he found one of the X-Men he knew were in the area. The boy turned and began walking toward the trees, the ones that use to make up the gardens. He only looked over his shoulder once to make sure Logan was following.
It was a brisk five-minute walk to reach an area where several other children gathered. The boy pointed past them, indicating a tunnel opening almost obscured by boulders. Logan paused a second to study the boy. "Thanks…Michael." The boy beamed him a smile for being remembered.
Logan made his way down the length of the tunnel. There was a minimum of light and anyone without his heightened senses would best have a flashlight. A challenge was issued before he reached a partially open blast door and he paused.
A familiar face, one of the teenagers he remembered peeked around the door. He felt her probing at the edges of his mind. There was a hushed whispering, then a shout of "Wolverine!" further down the tunnel.
The smell of a spring breeze reached Logan moments before Storm stepped past the still peeking teenager. Storm embraced him. "I'm sorry you won't be receiving a better reception," she said with a solemn expression.
Logan immediately thought of all the times Rogue had welcomed him back to the mansion. She had hugged, teased and joyously greeted him every time in the past. Or at least Rogue in the old time line had. The absence of her warm reception made him wondered if it had been like that in the timeline. Had he and Rogue shared a friendship like he remembered? He wanted to ask about Rogue; after all it hadn't been that many years ago in his timeline that he'd promised to take care of her. Given the circumstances and what everyone had gone through in the last several days, he thought it seemed selfish.
Storm led Logan past the door, further underground to a small room where several more teenagers assembled backpacks with emergency supplies.
"It's good to have you back, Logan." Storm waved a hand toward an open door on the other side of the storage room. "The Professor is in the med bay. He's stable, but I don't think he's conscious yet. Hank is in his lab. Scott and Jean are down the hall, they'll get you up-to-speed." She gave Logan a pained expression, "I'm sorry…"
Logan felt that there was a more significant meaning behind her last comment, but he felt like a fish out of water. He passed it off stiffly. "Thanks Storm."
He entered the main part of the underground facility; it looked untouched by the destruction above. The voice coming from the command room indicated as to where he would find Summers. The halls had been filled with too many people recently to easily pin down where Jean or Rogue might be.
It was probably best to find out how things stood before Logan indulged in his own personal interests of seeing Jean and checking to make sure Rogue was okay. Turning toward the command room, he stopped in his tracks as Jean entered the hall.
"Logan," she stated in her usual calm demeanor. He could she the dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. She was as put together as always, but under the veneer, worry was wearing her down. Jean managed a smile before Summers stepped into the hall.
Scott was tenser than Logan remembered. Logan felt the need to goad the younger man, but thought better of it, given the circumstances. Summers seemed to bristle at Logan's presence. His usual disapproval of Logan had deepened.
Jean interrupted the staring contest. "I need to go check on the Professor." As she turned to leave, she placed a light hand on Scott's arm. Logan was positive they were having a conversation that he wasn't privy to. "Come and see the Professor when you're finished Logan."
Whatever had passed between Jean and Scott had taken some of the anger out of the younger man. Summers tilted his head toward the command room. "We could use the help."
~~~~
Half of the student body would be gone in a couple of days as their families made contact with emergency arrangements. Several others had taken the opportunity to return to living on the streets. Through whispers and bits of conversations overheard in hallways, Logan finally pieced together why Rogue was not there to greet him. A handful of students were unaccounted for and Rogue was the only missing staff member. They were believed to have been taken by the Sentinels. A plan was in the works, but first they needed to locate where the Sentinels may have taken the captives.
It bothered Logan to dwell on the fact that his traveling back in time still hadn't prevented Rogue from being taken by the Sentinels. He gave some thought to tracking her down on his own, but the people that dealt in these things might not be the same people anymore.
He didn't want to think about why Rogue being taken got under his skin so badly. Logan chafed at the thought of having to wait to find Rogue and it wasn't his usual impatience. It wasn't the waiting; he could be patient when the situation required it. There was something else and he had plenty of time to contemplate his feelings.
In the meantime, Logan had volunteered to sleep outside, not wanting to add to the crowded sleeping conditions in the underground facilities. But more than that he wanted to get away from the acidic scent of fear that hung heavy down below. He almost choked on it when everyone gathered for meals. The regular staff tried to set a routine, some sense of normalcy, but it did little to erase the reality of the last few days.
Then there were the looks. The pity directed toward Logan. The way Rogue's name was mentioned in hushed tones or conversations stopped abruptly when he was near. The adults were awkward, not knowing how to address the subject with him. A few too many 'we'll find her' comments made all the pieces fall into place.
After supper, he escaped to prowl the ruins of the living quarters. It looked like the staff's rooms had sustained less damage than the students' area. It wasn't hard to find the room he remembered as his. It now had a great view of the night sky. The room smelled of Rogue, both older and newer scents, and the closet was still intact with all of their clothes in place. Most of the rest of their belongings were scattered around when an interior wall was forcibly removed.
Logan found a picture of Rogue caught under some debris. It must have been a selfie she'd taken while sitting on 'someone's' lap. The hands holding her were unmistakably his. It was clear they had been lovers for several years.
This wasn't a complete surprise. He'd had a soft spot for Rogue and remembered worrying about her when he left the mansion in his past. Logan had always had undefined feelings for her he'd been unwilling to explore. He'd put her squarely in the kid category while he chased older women around. Now his uncertain feelings for Rogue were working their way to the surface, demanding to be dealt with.
There was a disconnect, he knew he should be enraged over his lover being taken, however to him she was a missing friend. He wanted Rogue back safe and sound like any of them, but at the same time he knew the X-Men were expecting him to explode any minute. He wondered if this was how an amnesiac felt when introduced to their "loved ones".
He was mad with himself. He should have tried harder when he was in the past to convey to Xavier what needed to be done to fix the future. Logan had seen Kitty at supper; maybe he could talk her into sending him back again. But to what part of the past? In the last fifty years, what moment would make a difference?
Grudgingly he settled for waiting. He hated to wait, but until he knew how bad things would be he couldn't just go off willy-nilly to fix what may not be broken. Besides, this wasn't the first time they had mounted a rescue. He would do as the X-Men had always done; they'd find their people, rescue them, and then rebuild.
~~~~
Part 2
Within seventy-two hours of the attack on the school, Hank was able to locate the facility that the Sentinels had returned to. Thanks to the video going viral the public's opinion of mutants shifted and many wanted to help. People were posting their own videos of the Sentinels in flight and sharing information. This allowed Hank to piece together a possible location of the missing students.
Plans were made, students sent to various safe houses in case of a counter attack. Jean, along with a small group of junior X-Men, would stay with the wounded in the med bay.
The recovery team led by Scott would enter the Sentinel facility and extract their people. They were to do as little damage as possible. All agreed public opinion would just as easily turn with a video that portrayed them as bloodthirsty.
When the other team members were dismissed, Scott held Logan back. "I need to know that you won't deviate from the plan." Summers' jaw was set in grim determination. "Rogue isn't the only one we need to find."
Logan admired the young man's leadership skills. Logan nodded. "Your plan's good."
"Thank you." He touched his visor. "I'd hate to have to take you down, to get our people out."
Leaving with a snort, Logan knew Scott was serious and would give it a damn good try if it came to that. But Logan had told the truth; the plan was a good one.
~~~~
In the end, the facility turned out to be largely unguarded; clearly they weren't expecting to be discovered. There was only a small squad of security personnel to deal with. The team made quick work of the guards and Hank had Storm take out the electrical transforms for the compound.
When the back up generators came online a minute later, Hank gained access to the computerized management system for the base. He had the entire compound disarmed in short order, then Hank was able to direct the team to the holding rooms and by pass the sentinel storage area.
The irritation of searching the entire holding section was getting on Logan's nerves. Ultimately, Scott gave him the lead and Logan quickly tracked Rogue down. Logan could see the students huddled along the far side through the small window in the shield door. He couldn't immediately locate Rogue, but her scent trail ended here.
It felt like it took an eternity for Hank to disengage the locks on the door. When the door did open, Logan brushed past Summers and approached the group. The kids appeared battered and bruised, and wearing inhibitor collars. Shouts of joy greeted him and the students quickly parted to reveal Rogue crumpled on the floor.
Logan froze for a second as he sorted out sounds, pushing down the feeling of dread that they might be too late. He took a deep breath and stepped closer, to his relief Rogue moved slightly. He heard Hank and Summers dealing with the students and the collars, while Logan knelt beside Rogue. She was very pale and clammy looking.
He could hear her heart, beating at an odd pace, as the others cleared the room. He was afraid to touch her for fear he might inflict damage. Logan brushed the hair from her face and Rogue moaned. He carefully turned her and Rogue's eyes fluttered open.
Logan gave her his best 'everything is okay' smile. "Hey kid, you miss me?"
"Not really." She weakly returned his smile. "I knew you'd come for me."
Logan's heart twisted in his chest. Rogue was so sure of him. Her confidence in him made his heart beat in away he couldn't define. Is this why they were together? Had this Rogue always made him feel like he could take on the world, even in the worst of situations?
Logan pulled off his glove, "Let's get you healed."
Rogue shook her head slowly. "Not here, Sugar. I need you to get us out first."
Hank joined Logan, and did a quick medical assessment of Rogue. He cleared her for the flight, though Logan knew that was more out of necessity than medical stability. Hank looked grim and wouldn't even tell Logan what he suspected. Rogue winced as Logan picked her up. He held her carefully until she was strapped down on the gurney.
Rogue was still insistent that he wait until they were somewhere safe, wanting to make sure Logan was available to help the others if he was needed. Logan knew there was something else she was holding from him, but they could discuss that later.
Logan sat on the floor next to the gurney, leaning against the bulkhead and holding her hand. After Hank tried and failed to find a vein for an IV, he told Logan it would be best not to let Rogue lose consciousness. He then left Logan and Rogue alone while he radioed ahead to Jean.
Logan tried small talk something he'd never been very good at.
"You want me to do the talking?" Rogue asked while pointing to a bottle of water.
"It might be a better conversation," Logan admitted, helping her take a sip.
She lay back, taking his hand again after he recapped the bottle. "How did your assignment down on the boarder go?"
What should he say, that he woke up and didn't remember the last 50 years? Or he had no clue why he was there and what he'd done? Logan knew he'd taken too long to answer when Rogue squeezed his hand lightly.
"It happened? You fixed the future?"
"Some fix this is." He muttered, his displeasure at the situation obvious.
Rogue's brow knit together. "Is this worse?"
"I don't know," he admitted in defeat. "Things went wrong and I lost track of you."
"Were we together?"
Unable to meet her eyes, he shook his head no.
"That's okay, you've loved me enough for two life times."
Logan helped Rogue take another sip of water. "How did you know?" he asked. "About the time travel?"
"When I moved into your room, Hank took me aside. He laid everything out as best he could, so that I'd be fully aware of what I might be in for." Rogue's smile was soft and understanding. "I decided that I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be with you." She got a far away look for a moment before asking, "Do you remember anything about me?"
Logan rubbed soothing circles on the back of her gloved hand. "I remember meeting you at a bar, running into the X-Men. Then I stabbed you and later saved you at the Statue of Liberty." He paused, sifting through his memories. What else had there been? "Every time I came back to the mansion you gave me a hug, even when you were dating Bobby."
Rogue made a choking sound and Logan panicked until he realized she was laughing. He leaned back again. "What's so funny?"
"Me dating Bobby. He's nice and all, but I gave up on boys when I met you." Rogue winked at him.
He listened to her recount the same story, but with a sense of humor thrown in. Rogue told him that if she hadn't saved him he'd still be chasing redheads.
Logan was struck by her unwavering love for him even though he remembered none of the other stories she told. He wanted to heal Rogue. He'd deal with her being mad later.
Even thought had disabled the mechanism for releasing the sentinels; all he could do in the short time they had, he was unsure if the X-Men had gotten away free and clear. Rogue wanted Logan to be able to help defend the others if necessary.
So here he was waiting once more, and not by his choice. Logan reasoned it was a short flight back to the mansion, there would be plenty of time for healing and then they could rebuild their lives as they helped rebuild the mansion.
Hank had given Rogue something for the pain that only seemed to dull it at the best. Despite that she continued talking, teasing, and joking with him. If this was even a fraction of what their relationship had been, he could see himself falling for her. Was he falling for Marie?
~~~~
When they arrived back at what was left of the mansion, Marie was quickly transferred to the med bay. She insisted that Logan change out of his uniform. "I'll be fine with Jean and Hank."
Logan hurried, taking no more than five minutes to pull on jeans and a t-shirt. When he returned, Marie was on a hospital bed talking with Hank. Jean wouldn't look at Logan as she busied herself with equipment.
Marie looked at Logan guiltily, but smiled when she noticed his lack of shoes. Logan briefly wandered what she had to feel guilty about. "I was in a hurry."
Logan came to Marie's side as she thanked both Hank and Jean. Once again Logan was feeling that he'd been left in the dark about something, but pushed that thought aside and took hold of Marie's bare hand. The pull he was expecting never came.
"Marie?"
"There's nothing they can do for me. It's been too long." She shifted uncomfortably. "I had a feeling."
He wanted to be angry with her. Marie should have let him try when they first found them. She shushed him when he started to protest, and then patted the bed beside her.
"When we arrived at the facility I knew that my mutation had shut down when I tried to touch one of the guards." She gave him an amused smile. "I got a good beating for that stunt. You always told me to quit taking chances like that."
Later, Logan lay on the hospital bed curled around her. He wanted to believe that it was to comfort Marie, but he knew deep down it was comforting him too. Hank and Jean had done everything they could for Marie after her mutation failed.
The machines beeped in the background, keeping track of her fading vital signs. Marie's thin hospital gown barely covered her and Logan was concerned she would get cold. He started to pull the blanket up. "Don't, I'm hot." She laughed weakly, "You always made me hot."
"Remind me."
Marie stoked his hand, "Xavier was having his big winter gala. It was so stuffy; I went out on the balcony for a breather. You followed me, supposedly for a smoke. It was colder than I thought and you'd left your jacket inside, so you wrapped your arms around me instead." She paused, pulling his arms tighter around her. "You whispered in my ear about how beautiful I was. I let you sweet talk me into going to your room." She patted his arm. "Never did get that cigar lit."
"Your still beautiful." Logan whispered into her ear.
"Ya' got a thing for hospital gowns?" Marie teased.
He laughed softly at her sense of humor. She was gravely sick and she was still teasing him. They grew silent. Logan wished the monitors were gone. He didn't need the persistent beeping to tell him that she was failing.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me." Logan said, kissing the top of her head. Marie made an effort to turn around. He helped her and resettled with her curled up beside him, her head on his chest.
"Don't be sorry. You've been there for me all these years." She sighed contently. "You loved me well. None of it was in vain." She patted his chest. "You're a survivor, you'll carry on."
Logan gently rubbed her back until she fell asleep. He'd always had a soft spot for Marie in the other time line. Even now that soft spot had grown and changed. He caught the look in her eye and the certain smile she had for him when she thought he wouldn't see it.
The pity from the others earlier hadn't been pity, but sympathy. Understanding of what they meant to each other. Logan was sorry he hadn't known Marie as a lover. It was obvious she had been good for him.
Logan awoke to murmurings; he hadn't meant to drift off. He realized it wasn't the voices that woke him, but the absence of the beeping monitors. Marie's heartbeat was too faint for them to detect any longer. She was slipping from his grasp.
He lay there holding her body tightly. Logan knew Jean was monitoring him for signs he would start tearing the lab apart. But at the moment he only wanted to hold onto Marie, even as she slipped through his fingers. He was suddenly adrift, he was losing a part of himself he hadn't known he'd needed until now.
Logan felt the tears slide from his eyes and the catch in his breathing. He whispered…begged her. "Don't leave me now, I'm just starting to fall in love with you."
~*~
The second story is to apologize for killing Rogue.
Time Continuity
Part 1
It started simple enough, like most monumental changes in anyone's life. Why on earth, after knowing the Wolverine for three years, I suddenly took a keen interest in his well-being is beyond me. I'd long ago grown out of my hero worship of him. Well, nearly grown out of it.
At first I did stupid things, like making sure he got veggies with his steak or pestering him if I thought he wasn't getting enough rest. That graduated into making him eat said veggies and checking up on him after missions.
It all started to unravel one fateful day when I woke up at an ungodly hour so I would have plenty of time to lounge around and psych myself up to shop with Jubilee at the "sale of the year". While rummaging around the kitchen looking for a quick breakfast, I heard the Blackbird land. I swiftly made toast, grabbed two mugs of coffee and headed for Logan's room.
He was already in the shower, but grunted his thanks when handed the coffee. I suppose I should've felt weird that Logan often didn't seem concerned with his lack of clothes around me. He was so casual about it and, never completely nude, I usually didn't notice his state of dress or undress.
Don't look at me that way; I really didn't notice what he was wearing when he was fully clothed.
He stuck his head out from behind the curtain, "Toast?" He eyed me suspiciously.
"There's no cinnamon sugar on it, ya' big baby." I held it up for his inspection. He chomped down before ducking back into the shower with it.
"What you up so early for, Marie?" Logan asked with a full mouth.
"I promised Jubes I'd go shopping with her. I think it's going to be an all day expedition." I couldn't help the heavy sigh that escaped.
"You're going to need more than coffee and toast to keep up with Jubilee," he said with a laugh.
"Yeah, you want to go down and make me breakfast?" I asked, walking to the bedroom as he turned the water off.
After a minute, Logan exited the bathroom with damp hair and the towel wrapped around his waist. Presenting no show of false modesty, the towel hit the floor as he got into bed. "You going to stand there and stare at me while I sleep?"
It took me a second to register what he was saying. I shook my head at him, feeling the burn on my cheeks. "You're a naughty boy, Logan."
He threw me a wolfish grin that made my insides do strange things. "Blame it on lack of sleep."
"Ah, poor baby." Stepping up to the bed, I tucked him in like one might a very young child, complete with a kiss on the forehead.
I must have lingered too long because I felt gentle fingers on my neck, guiding my lips lower to meet his. Logan let me hover a second, sharing the same air, before becoming insistent on a kiss.
I'd always wondered how good a kisser he was, and he was more than willing to show me. He started with small flicks of his tongue that turned into larger sweeps. It was almost like he was tasting me to see if it matched with the way I smelled. He wasn't a passive kisser, but instead gave better than he got. And at that moment I was determined to make it one great kiss.
That was until he distracted me with those same gentle fingers, exploring the skin where my t-shirt had ridden up. Then I discovered myself lying underneath him.
It was an odd sort of thing, because the last memory I had was of leaning over him, contemplating how nice his strong hands felt on the small of my back. Then without knowing how it came to be, I strangely found myself stripped down to my shirt, eagerly helping Logan pull it over my head.
I started to think there was some kind of time continuity problem centered on Logan's room. It was like I blinked and there was a jump in time. One minute he's kissing me, the next he's kneeling above me rolling on a condom; and I don't remember him stopping to grab one.
As I was lying there watching him, trying to figure this all out, he looked at me. There's that same grin again; the one I was still trying to qualify what exactly it made my insides do, and boom...I don't care about the time problem anymore.
He's over me settling between my thighs, and then he's there. All the way there. I'm looking everywhere but at him and attempting not to move. He rests his forehead on mine; giving out a little sigh of...relief, frustration...I can't tell.
I'm perplexed. I was expecting pain and other unpleasantries. Yet there was none of that, only a feeling of discomfort that was slowly being replaced by something else entirely.
"You should have told me." Logan whispered.
"It didn't seem important a minute ago." He half laughed. "Would it have made a difference?" I asked.
He was silent a minute. Knowing Logan, he was running through all the different scenarios. "No, probably not."
I wish I could say the whole experience was glorious, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing. But I spent way too much time worrying over where to put my hands, if my feet were too cold or if I had shaved my legs recently.
Somewhere during all of it, I decided I needed a full head examination, because time jumped again and I was suddenly curled up next to Logan, feeling all content and tired. I looked at his clock to decide on how much time I was missing when it dawned on me.
"Shit, I have to meet Jubes in a half hour."
I artfully dodged a hand that was aiming to spank me as I scrambled over him out of bed. The hand finally found its target after I forgot to dodge in the search from my clothes. I was wrestling with the drawstring on my sleeping pants as I practiced the best exit lines I could think of. Lameness won out. "Thanks, Logan."
He must not have noticed as he mumbled a sleepy, "Not a problem, darlin'."
~*~
Chapter 2
Logan and I slipped right back into our easy friendship. Not that I wouldn't be willing to fall into bed with him again if asked, but I figured the other morning had been a one time thing.
That was until I came back from a mission covered in … something. I thought my mutation was bad, but I wouldn’t trade it for the ability to spray others with a goopy mess that only served to tick your opponent off. So I kicked the other guy's butt and we headed back to the mansion, me sitting on the floor of the jet.
Once back I had to be hosed down to be able to unbuckle my boots. I thanked Storm and assured her I could get the rest of my uniform off by myself.
Turned out I couldn’t even get the zipper halfway down. I had only one thought: Logan could fix this. That is how I found myself dripping wet and barefoot knocking on his door.
It was opened immediately, Logan filling the doorway in nothing but his faded blue jeans. He raised an eyebrow at my condition, but before he could ask any questions I blurted out, “I’ve already cleaned off the mess, but all the water and gunk has done something to the zipper.”
The grin was making a slow appearance. “And you need my help getting it unstuck?”
I dumbly nodded at him before squeezing between Logan and the doorjamb. He solidly closed the door behind me and turned his full attention on me.
Standing by the wall, gazing around Logan's room (Okay, yes, I was staring at his bed.) I decided this might not be such a good idea. I was suddenly having thoughts about Logan that didn't stop at him helping with a zipper.
I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind of all the sexual thoughts, hoping Logan couldn't hear my heart beating out of my chest or sense all the hormones flooding my system. Logan made a low rumbling sound in his chest. No. No. No.
Opening my eyes I smiled up at him like an innocent child. Or at least I hoped. But the way he stared at my lips left doubts in my mind as to how innocent this whole situation came off.
I tugged at my uniform zipper, bringing it below my breasts where it stuck. "That's as far as it will go."
"I see." Logan's voice was all husky and deep, filling the couple of inches between us. He slipped his finger behind the zipper slide, brushing my breasts.
Damn. I was in trouble.
Frantically, I scanned the room for anything to distract me from what Logan's hands where doing. No, don't look at the bed. Not the dresser mirror either. I don't need to see his fine muscular back.
Oh, look a picture on the far wall. What is that a meadow?
"Marie?" Logan had been saying something and I missed it. "I need you to take off the top of your uniform."
Looking down, I saw he'd lowered my zipper to near my bellybutton. "Uh, okay." Logan helped me take the heavy, wet leather off.
Never in the year since I'd gained control of my mutation had I been this excited about touching another human being. Logan's powerful hands skimming over my shoulders and down my arms could easily have sent me over the edge.
He winked at me before kneeling down to get a better look at the zipper. Tugging on the zipper gently sent the wrong signals to my already overloaded brain. I leaned against the wall for support.
Time had slowed to a crawl. Breathe Marie, breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Repeat. My body wouldn't stop trembling.
I stole a peek at Logan on his knees in front of me, hot breath on my damp flesh. He looked up at me through heavily hooded eyes; he didn't miss my hard nipples making my breasts stand out even further. He growled low in his throat and popped the zipper from its track.
Logan quickly divested me of the bottom half of my uniform. He stood again, capturing my lips in a desperate kiss. I fumbled with the button on his jeans, while he made a condom magically appear.
He lifted me up, pressing me securely against the wall. My panties were pushed out of the way and I literally can't remember a thing.
That's a lie. I remember lots of heavy breathing and grasping hands. I'm pretty sure I pulled Logan's hair. There might have been some biting. I honestly don't know past the slick heat and the way his growl rumbled through my body.
I really should get a junior science kit to investigate the time continuity problem in Logan's bedroom. This time when I blinked it went from a few minutes past 'home from the mission' to 'I'd better get ready for the day'.
~*~
Chapter 3
Here's where things started to get complicated. I actively avoided Logan for almost a week, because I was really concerned about the time continuity issue. Every time I looked at him my thoughts all gravitated to one thing. In turn, my body responded to the slightest of moves he made.
More than once I caught him looking my way, raising that eyebrow. It was a damned good thing I never stuck around long enough to see that lopsided grin or we'd have both been in trouble.
Did I really want to be held responsible for breaking the continuity of time for having sex with Logan? No, I will not answer that question.
Finally tired of running, I let him corner me in the library while I pretended to look for a book. I pulled the first book that grabbed my attention and let it fall open using the shelf to hold it.
Logan found me in no time flat. I'm pretty sure he'd started to track me by scent and I wander what interesting things his heightened senses told him about me.
He was all casual like he hung out in the mansion's library all the time. Me, despite all the study time spent in there in high school, I acted like this was the first time I'd ever been in the science section. He moseyed up to me looking all sexy in his blue jeans and flannel shirt. Well, yeah he always looked sexy so that was nothing new.
Lord, he generated enough heat for the both of us, making me flush a deeper red. Do Not look at the eyebrow you know he has raised.
"What ya' readin', Marie?" The way he said my name made me all melty inside. I'm not even sure what book I opened and I can't see it through closed eyelids.
He swung behind me, looking over my shoulder at the book. We both knew he could've seen it from where he was standing before. But Nooo he had to go and put his chest against my back. Breathing whispery light across my ear.
"Anatomy?" His voice low and husky.
My eyes snapped open. Damn. I squinted at the upside down illustration, because in my haste to look natural I didn't get the book turned right side up. The Male Reproductive Organs. I said a little prayer to whatever god might be listening. Please stop laughing and take pity on me.
Logan was nuzzling at my neck, hands wrapped around my waist, playing with the waistband of my jeans. "I've never been much for reading about it. More of a hands on learner."
I surprised myself when a little moan escaped my mouth. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore with the things Logan "makes" me do. He growled and licked the sensitive spot under my ear. Man oh man, it sure didn't take him long to learn what I enjoyed. "Would you like me to show you?"
"Uh-huh." I nodded, probably a little too enthusiastically.
Logan took the book from my hands and leaned it against the other books on the shelf. Slowly he turned me around to face him. I pulled him roughly to me for a kiss and we fell back into the bookcase.
I vaguely recalled what sounded like books falling from the other side of the bookcase. There might have been a startled shout from that side also. It was hard to tell since Logan had his hand up my shirt and was cupping a breast.
Since a bookshelf jutting into the small of your back isn't exactly comfortable, I dragged him upstairs. I suppose I should clarify that. Dragging gives the impression he was taken by force. On the contrary, with Logan's longer stride I was almost running to keep up. Although I did make the final decision of guiding us to his room.
No sooner was the door shut than half of our clothes were scattered on the floor. Just as quickly the back of my knees came in contact with the bed and a box of condoms appeared on the nightstand.
Once again I found myself underneath him, however this time I didn't seem to be having any lapses in time. The only oddity was my indecision as to where I should put my hands.
Logan must have noticed because he gave me an inquisitive look before letting out a laugh. "Relax Marie, there's not much you could do right now to spoil this."
"But..." I moved my hands around futilely, "I don't know where to put them."
He gave me that grin, the one that makes my stomach do flip-flops. "I can take care of that." Carefully Logan pinned both my wrists in one of his large hands above my head. "That better?"
I squirmed a little and could only nod, when I discovered this particular position gave a nice bit of friction all its own. Not that I've ever been overly submissive, but I was willing to give this a chance.
And boy did Logan make me glad I did. I'm pretty sure he enjoyed this situation quite a bit too as I remember something mumbled about using some of my long ago discarded scarves in the future.
Some time later as I lay by his side lightly tracing his muscles, I made two important discoveries. First, the Wolverine is actually ticklish in some very interesting places. Secondly, in all of mutant history, the healing factor has got to be one of the best mutations. Ever.
~*~
Chapter 4
The more private time I spent with Logan, the more I began to wonder about those sex stories friends always tell. My curiosity was getting the best of me and I wanted to know more about oral sex.
It was supposed to be what guys wanted and women didn't enjoy all that much. I decided the best possible way to find out was through personal experience.
I marched myself upstairs to knock on Logan's door. As soon as the door swung open, I was left standing there with no idea what to say. Somehow I got distracted by the well-worn denim, wild looking hair, and the smile spreading across his face.
He stepped back allowing me access to the room. Once inside, I noticed him sniffing at me and the smile turned all lopsided and wolfish. "Is there something I can do for you, Marie?"
I was really starting to enjoy each and every appearance of "that grin." It was always the forerunner of good things for me. While it liquefied my insides, it also gave me back a little of the courage that brought me to his door in the first place.
I stumbled around, oddly interested in his boots. "Oral sex."
Leaning in, Logan pulled my hair free of its ponytail band. "I didn't catch that."
God, he was going to make me repeat it. All those heightened senses and he was pretending he didn't hear me. "I'm curious about..." how can he stare at someone so intently, I wonder. "oral sex."
I don't know what I was expecting; even Logan's not so blunt as to drop trou. In spite of that I didn't foresee the smile disappearing as he slowly walked me backwards to the bed. Apparently, oral sex is serious business. Suddenly I was lying on my back and he started pulling off my shoes. I was trying not to think about missing time again; even though I knew there had been several kisses in between losing my shoes and unbuttoning my jeans.
By the time my underwear had made it down to my knees, my mind was already wrapping itself around the logistics of my current position and the one I thought I should be in to perform a blowjob.
"Uh...Logan?" He looked at me, still kissing the back of my knee. "Aren't I in the wrong position to..." and can you just say blowjob out loud without sounding like an immature teenager, "give you a blow job?"
"More or less, but that can wait."
"I thought..." stumbling over words, I watched him kiss his way down my inner thigh, a hand trailing along the other. "Oh!" Logan's hot breath caressed my thighs, making my stomach quiver in anticipation.
It was a good thing my hands were full of sheets or at the first touch of his tongue I would have shot through the ceiling. Even now, I can't tell you what exactly happened. I only remember feeling like I was floating and trying repeatedly to say his name.
An orgasm later, I think all of Logan's emphasis on me relaxing finally sank in, because I wasn't worried about a damned thing besides how he felt inside me. I could have cared less about where my hands were as long as they were pulling him deeper. Not even that big ass buckle digging into my leg, served as a distraction.
After several hours, the loss of any remaining clothing and the use of several more condoms; I only had one lingering doubt. "Logan, can we make this a permanent arrangement?"
Still on his back with his head in his hands, he opened one eye to look over at me. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, since I'm kind of new to all of this, I thought it might be nice if I could always come to you with my questions." I asked trying to act all innocent after what we'd just done.
"How many questions are we talking about?" Logan's interest was piqued.
I rolled that around in my head a minute. It wasn't like we had been playing missionary all this time, but I knew there was a whole list of other positions. "I don't know, maybe a lot."
That knowing smile that curved his lips caused me to blush. He hauled me up to straddle his hips with my legs. "If that's the case, we should probably think about sharing a room so you don't have to go far to get your curiosity satisfied."
"Hmm, that sounds nice." Watching him, I began to think he had a special smile reserved just for me and I wanted to see it as often as possible. "You know what else is nice?" I asked, sliding myself down his legs.
~*~
Chapter 5
There I sat behind the wheel of a SUV, putting in my time on surveillance. I had begun to suspect that this assignment was nothing more than a training mission in patience, as during the last week of the junior team taking turns, nothing of importance had happened.
Tonight was no different; no one even appeared to be at the house at the end of the road. Fortunately for me, my partner was Logan and he even let me drive. Unfortunately for me, I'd spent the last hour listening to his soft breathing as he slept.
No wonder Kitty had told me to bring a book. At least I'd taken her advice and worn something comfortable.
Logan had given me a disapproving look when I met up with him in the garage. I had on a blouse, a long twirly skirt and slip on shoes. "I can wait while you go change," he said, mildly perturbed.
His being annoyed was never as much fun for me as his wolfish grin, but a girl has to work with what she is given. I did my best hair flip and batted my eyelashes at him. "I saw no need to change; you didn't." He was battling a small smile that wanted to take over his scowl. "Besides an X-Man should always be prepared. Bad guys aren't going to wait for me to change into my uniform." The smile won out and he tossed me the keys.
Now he was reclined in the passenger seat, long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest; asleep. I was left to my own devices.
I'd already contemplated the meaning of life and turned my attention to pressing questions such as why dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate. Damn, where did those fifteen minutes go? No time continuity issues here.
I thought about fiddling with the radio, but the defrost would come on and fog up the windows. My mind turned to other mundane activities that fog up a vehicle's windows. I eyed Logan in the passenger seat. Well, since I moved into his room, he was supposed to be available to answer my questions.
Drawing my skirt up so I could turn, I kneeled on the seat facing his still sleeping form. "Logan." I whispered, moving the console to the upright position.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
So, he wasn't completely asleep. I moved closer, sitting on my heels beside him and whispered again. "I have a question."
"Mmm." Okay, he was half listening to me. I scrutinized his form, deciding how to proceed. Heat began to curl in the pit of my stomach as I placed a hand on his abdomen below his crossed arms. The hard muscles there rippled slightly as I asked, "Logan, what's it like to make out in a vehicle."
His eyes remained shut, but I knew I had his full attention. I'd recently discovered that he really likes it when I whisper softly behind his ear, just enough to stir the fine hairs there.
"What do you have in mind, Marie?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
I slid my hand down his stomach and inched it underneath the waistband of his jeans. Sometime ago Logan quit wearing his big belt buckle; apparently I struggled with undoing it one too many times.
He sucked in his gut, not that he had a gut in the first place, and shifted the position of his legs to allow me better access. "Marie." It was supposed to be a warning growl, but I knew the subtle differences in the many growls of the Wolverine. Oh this was a warning growl to be sure, however it wasn't a "we-are-on-a-mission-you-must-be-deadly-serious" growl; it was more of the "you-keep-that-up-and-you'll-get-what-you-deserve" sexy type growl. Next to "that grin" this was the second best indicator of sexy times coming my way.
"I just thought that this would be a great time for you to answer one of my sex questions." His hips were flexing and his thigh muscles tensing as I began to move my hand in a rhythmic pattern.
"We're on surveillance." I knew he wasn't serious and let him protest for the sake of his man pride.
"The perps would pass us by if they thought we were out here having sex." He uncrossed his arms and softly placed one hand on the small of my back and expertly undid the fly of his jeans with the other. Did I know my man or what?
I enjoyed the way Logan white knuckled the armrest in contrast to the gentle hand on the back of my head. Oral sex was something rather new to me, but Logan had never complained and I would say by the moans escaping his lips, I must be doing something right.
Suddenly, he pulled me up and lifted me up to straddle his hips. "I need…" He was unbuttoning my blouse while I hiked up my skirt. He stopped abruptly. "Damnit!"
I laughed at him and reached for my purse on the floorboard. "I told you, an X-Man should always be prepared." His wolfish grin finally made an appearance as I handed him a string of foil packets.
"I love you," Logan said, pulling me down for a kiss.
I had no chance to reply as he worked his way down to my chest. I took a moment to reflect on his affection for my breasts. He would probably write poetry about my 'perfect' breasts if the Wolverine wrote poetry. Anyway, he'd found a way to swirl his tongue around my nipple that made me gasp. Every. Single. Time.
Then there was the angle of the reclined seat. It was excellent for taking care of my needs. Logan, without exception, was more than willing to make sure I was satisfied.
The openness of the SUV made me a little self-consensus of being seen half naked. Logan was good enough to point out that the windows had a sufficient layer of fog on them to prevent any casual observation. Not to mention that my hair made a nice curtain of privacy.
A condom later, I found myself in the backseat. I was looking up at Logan, admiring his chest after I got his t-shirt off. He's always had nice biceps, but there is nothing like marveling at them in the moonlight. A thin sheen of sweat made them glisten. I took pleasure in dragging my nails down his pectoralis major, then his trapezius, and finally tracing a line down his erector spinae to his gluteus maximus. Why yes, I did pay attention in anatomy. Why do you ask?
In the past I believed the backseat of an SUV to be rather roomy. However, when you put two people there, in a prone position, space is limited. Legs end up over the backs of seats, hands on windows, and heads bump the roof. All in all, an interesting experience.
Several hours later, of which almost every minute could be accounted for, I lay on Logan where I'd collapsed earlier. I pondered the whole time continuity situation. "Hmm…time really does fly when you're having fun." Maybe there wasn't a problem with time unless Logan was entered into the equation.
Another thought popped into my head from when this night of surveillance began. "That house down the road, it's vacant, isn't it?'
Logan gave a laugh that reverberated through my body. "Scouted it two weeks ago. Nobody's lived there for years."
"So, this is an experiment with the junior team." I traced circles on his chest. "Are we being rated on how observant we are?"
He smiled at me. "Marie, you passed with flying colors."
I kissed him and tweaked his nipple for good measure. "What are you willing to do so that I don't tell everyone?"
"Nothing." He reached under the seat, I heard a latch release and the back of the seat dropped to make one large, flat surface. I couldn't stifle a giggle as he rolled us over. "I know how to keep you from talking."
Logan was right of course, but I don't really believe I was all that quiet.
~*~
FANART
Will You Remember?
This belongs in the Right Here Waiting Series. The title is from The Cranberries song of the same name. Warning Rogue dies. Sorry.
Part 1
Logan woke up in the backroom of some dive bar along the U.S. - Mexico border. Apparently, he knew the bartender and was served a meal of fajitas to go with his beer. The bartender was rambling on about Logan helping him out the other night, when something on the television playing behind Logan caught the bartender's attention.
"Have you seen this one, man?" The bartender turned up the volume with the remote. "Some school for mutants back East. Poor bastards."
As Logan watched the videos being shown, a feeling of helplessness overcame him. The clips appeared to be from the school's own security cameras of an attack by Sentinels. The reporter relayed information of a private firm the government had hired to assess the mutant threat using their newly developed robot line.
Oddly, the official story the firm and the government agency had reported last night and the videos playing on the screen didn't match up. The videos had appeared online the morning after the attack on several internet video-sharing sites. It took only hours for the videos to go viral.
A few of the scenes were familiar to Logan. He recognized Colossus engaging a Sentinel, giving the group he was with time to flee. Another clip showed flashes of red 'lasers' and lightning in an outside area, drawing the attention of the Sentinels that were destroying the school. The final clip was of Iceman trying to block a Sentinel's path as a woman with streaks of white in her hair tried to shield a group of young children.
Logan's stomach turned over and he was suddenly glad he hadn't eaten much of his meal. The bartender still yammered on about something when Logan interrupted. "I need to leave," more to himself than to the other man.
"Your bike and stuff should still be out back under the lean-to." Logan reached for his wallet to pay for the unfinished meal. The bartender shook his head, "Nay, man. I owe you for last night."
Logan mumbled thanks and headed for the backdoor. He'd traveled back in time to prevent this from happening. He needed to get to Xavier's and find out what went wrong.
~~~~
He stood in front of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, and for the second time in twenty-four hours Logan's stomach turned over. The wing that housed the dormitories was badly burnt. The rest of the building faired only slightly better.
Logan walked through the ruins, searching for any sign of life. He knew someone was watching him, had been since he set foot on the property, but let the youngster keep his distance. Finally, he located where the elevator to the lower levels should have been, but the elevator shaft was inaccessible under the rubble.
"Wolverine?" The boy was hiding behind a half collapsed wall.
"Yeah." Logan turned to the boy. "Is it safe for you to be out here?"
The boy shrugged. "It gets kinda crowded down there."
Logan wanted to ask more, but decided it would be best to wait until he found one of the X-Men he knew were in the area. The boy turned and began walking toward the trees, the ones that use to make up the gardens. He only looked over his shoulder once to make sure Logan was following.
It was a brisk five-minute walk to reach an area where several other children gathered. The boy pointed past them, indicating a tunnel opening almost obscured by boulders. Logan paused a second to study the boy. "Thanks…Michael." The boy beamed him a smile for being remembered.
Logan made his way down the length of the tunnel. There was a minimum of light and anyone without his heightened senses would best have a flashlight. A challenge was issued before he reached a partially open blast door and he paused.
A familiar face, one of the teenagers he remembered peeked around the door. He felt her probing at the edges of his mind. There was a hushed whispering, then a shout of "Wolverine!" further down the tunnel.
The smell of a spring breeze reached Logan moments before Storm stepped past the still peeking teenager. Storm embraced him. "I'm sorry you won't be receiving a better reception," she said with a solemn expression.
Logan immediately thought of all the times Rogue had welcomed him back to the mansion. She had hugged, teased and joyously greeted him every time in the past. Or at least Rogue in the old time line had. The absence of her warm reception made him wondered if it had been like that in the timeline. Had he and Rogue shared a friendship like he remembered? He wanted to ask about Rogue; after all it hadn't been that many years ago in his timeline that he'd promised to take care of her. Given the circumstances and what everyone had gone through in the last several days, he thought it seemed selfish.
Storm led Logan past the door, further underground to a small room where several more teenagers assembled backpacks with emergency supplies.
"It's good to have you back, Logan." Storm waved a hand toward an open door on the other side of the storage room. "The Professor is in the med bay. He's stable, but I don't think he's conscious yet. Hank is in his lab. Scott and Jean are down the hall, they'll get you up-to-speed." She gave Logan a pained expression, "I'm sorry…"
Logan felt that there was a more significant meaning behind her last comment, but he felt like a fish out of water. He passed it off stiffly. "Thanks Storm."
He entered the main part of the underground facility; it looked untouched by the destruction above. The voice coming from the command room indicated as to where he would find Summers. The halls had been filled with too many people recently to easily pin down where Jean or Rogue might be.
It was probably best to find out how things stood before Logan indulged in his own personal interests of seeing Jean and checking to make sure Rogue was okay. Turning toward the command room, he stopped in his tracks as Jean entered the hall.
"Logan," she stated in her usual calm demeanor. He could she the dark circles beginning to form under her eyes. She was as put together as always, but under the veneer, worry was wearing her down. Jean managed a smile before Summers stepped into the hall.
Scott was tenser than Logan remembered. Logan felt the need to goad the younger man, but thought better of it, given the circumstances. Summers seemed to bristle at Logan's presence. His usual disapproval of Logan had deepened.
Jean interrupted the staring contest. "I need to go check on the Professor." As she turned to leave, she placed a light hand on Scott's arm. Logan was positive they were having a conversation that he wasn't privy to. "Come and see the Professor when you're finished Logan."
Whatever had passed between Jean and Scott had taken some of the anger out of the younger man. Summers tilted his head toward the command room. "We could use the help."
~~~~
Half of the student body would be gone in a couple of days as their families made contact with emergency arrangements. Several others had taken the opportunity to return to living on the streets. Through whispers and bits of conversations overheard in hallways, Logan finally pieced together why Rogue was not there to greet him. A handful of students were unaccounted for and Rogue was the only missing staff member. They were believed to have been taken by the Sentinels. A plan was in the works, but first they needed to locate where the Sentinels may have taken the captives.
It bothered Logan to dwell on the fact that his traveling back in time still hadn't prevented Rogue from being taken by the Sentinels. He gave some thought to tracking her down on his own, but the people that dealt in these things might not be the same people anymore.
He didn't want to think about why Rogue being taken got under his skin so badly. Logan chafed at the thought of having to wait to find Rogue and it wasn't his usual impatience. It wasn't the waiting; he could be patient when the situation required it. There was something else and he had plenty of time to contemplate his feelings.
In the meantime, Logan had volunteered to sleep outside, not wanting to add to the crowded sleeping conditions in the underground facilities. But more than that he wanted to get away from the acidic scent of fear that hung heavy down below. He almost choked on it when everyone gathered for meals. The regular staff tried to set a routine, some sense of normalcy, but it did little to erase the reality of the last few days.
Then there were the looks. The pity directed toward Logan. The way Rogue's name was mentioned in hushed tones or conversations stopped abruptly when he was near. The adults were awkward, not knowing how to address the subject with him. A few too many 'we'll find her' comments made all the pieces fall into place.
After supper, he escaped to prowl the ruins of the living quarters. It looked like the staff's rooms had sustained less damage than the students' area. It wasn't hard to find the room he remembered as his. It now had a great view of the night sky. The room smelled of Rogue, both older and newer scents, and the closet was still intact with all of their clothes in place. Most of the rest of their belongings were scattered around when an interior wall was forcibly removed.
Logan found a picture of Rogue caught under some debris. It must have been a selfie she'd taken while sitting on 'someone's' lap. The hands holding her were unmistakably his. It was clear they had been lovers for several years.
This wasn't a complete surprise. He'd had a soft spot for Rogue and remembered worrying about her when he left the mansion in his past. Logan had always had undefined feelings for her he'd been unwilling to explore. He'd put her squarely in the kid category while he chased older women around. Now his uncertain feelings for Rogue were working their way to the surface, demanding to be dealt with.
There was a disconnect, he knew he should be enraged over his lover being taken, however to him she was a missing friend. He wanted Rogue back safe and sound like any of them, but at the same time he knew the X-Men were expecting him to explode any minute. He wondered if this was how an amnesiac felt when introduced to their "loved ones".
He was mad with himself. He should have tried harder when he was in the past to convey to Xavier what needed to be done to fix the future. Logan had seen Kitty at supper; maybe he could talk her into sending him back again. But to what part of the past? In the last fifty years, what moment would make a difference?
Grudgingly he settled for waiting. He hated to wait, but until he knew how bad things would be he couldn't just go off willy-nilly to fix what may not be broken. Besides, this wasn't the first time they had mounted a rescue. He would do as the X-Men had always done; they'd find their people, rescue them, and then rebuild.
~~~~
Part 2
Within seventy-two hours of the attack on the school, Hank was able to locate the facility that the Sentinels had returned to. Thanks to the video going viral the public's opinion of mutants shifted and many wanted to help. People were posting their own videos of the Sentinels in flight and sharing information. This allowed Hank to piece together a possible location of the missing students.
Plans were made, students sent to various safe houses in case of a counter attack. Jean, along with a small group of junior X-Men, would stay with the wounded in the med bay.
The recovery team led by Scott would enter the Sentinel facility and extract their people. They were to do as little damage as possible. All agreed public opinion would just as easily turn with a video that portrayed them as bloodthirsty.
When the other team members were dismissed, Scott held Logan back. "I need to know that you won't deviate from the plan." Summers' jaw was set in grim determination. "Rogue isn't the only one we need to find."
Logan admired the young man's leadership skills. Logan nodded. "Your plan's good."
"Thank you." He touched his visor. "I'd hate to have to take you down, to get our people out."
Leaving with a snort, Logan knew Scott was serious and would give it a damn good try if it came to that. But Logan had told the truth; the plan was a good one.
~~~~
In the end, the facility turned out to be largely unguarded; clearly they weren't expecting to be discovered. There was only a small squad of security personnel to deal with. The team made quick work of the guards and Hank had Storm take out the electrical transforms for the compound.
When the back up generators came online a minute later, Hank gained access to the computerized management system for the base. He had the entire compound disarmed in short order, then Hank was able to direct the team to the holding rooms and by pass the sentinel storage area.
The irritation of searching the entire holding section was getting on Logan's nerves. Ultimately, Scott gave him the lead and Logan quickly tracked Rogue down. Logan could see the students huddled along the far side through the small window in the shield door. He couldn't immediately locate Rogue, but her scent trail ended here.
It felt like it took an eternity for Hank to disengage the locks on the door. When the door did open, Logan brushed past Summers and approached the group. The kids appeared battered and bruised, and wearing inhibitor collars. Shouts of joy greeted him and the students quickly parted to reveal Rogue crumpled on the floor.
Logan froze for a second as he sorted out sounds, pushing down the feeling of dread that they might be too late. He took a deep breath and stepped closer, to his relief Rogue moved slightly. He heard Hank and Summers dealing with the students and the collars, while Logan knelt beside Rogue. She was very pale and clammy looking.
He could hear her heart, beating at an odd pace, as the others cleared the room. He was afraid to touch her for fear he might inflict damage. Logan brushed the hair from her face and Rogue moaned. He carefully turned her and Rogue's eyes fluttered open.
Logan gave her his best 'everything is okay' smile. "Hey kid, you miss me?"
"Not really." She weakly returned his smile. "I knew you'd come for me."
Logan's heart twisted in his chest. Rogue was so sure of him. Her confidence in him made his heart beat in away he couldn't define. Is this why they were together? Had this Rogue always made him feel like he could take on the world, even in the worst of situations?
Logan pulled off his glove, "Let's get you healed."
Rogue shook her head slowly. "Not here, Sugar. I need you to get us out first."
Hank joined Logan, and did a quick medical assessment of Rogue. He cleared her for the flight, though Logan knew that was more out of necessity than medical stability. Hank looked grim and wouldn't even tell Logan what he suspected. Rogue winced as Logan picked her up. He held her carefully until she was strapped down on the gurney.
Rogue was still insistent that he wait until they were somewhere safe, wanting to make sure Logan was available to help the others if he was needed. Logan knew there was something else she was holding from him, but they could discuss that later.
Logan sat on the floor next to the gurney, leaning against the bulkhead and holding her hand. After Hank tried and failed to find a vein for an IV, he told Logan it would be best not to let Rogue lose consciousness. He then left Logan and Rogue alone while he radioed ahead to Jean.
Logan tried small talk something he'd never been very good at.
"You want me to do the talking?" Rogue asked while pointing to a bottle of water.
"It might be a better conversation," Logan admitted, helping her take a sip.
She lay back, taking his hand again after he recapped the bottle. "How did your assignment down on the boarder go?"
What should he say, that he woke up and didn't remember the last 50 years? Or he had no clue why he was there and what he'd done? Logan knew he'd taken too long to answer when Rogue squeezed his hand lightly.
"It happened? You fixed the future?"
"Some fix this is." He muttered, his displeasure at the situation obvious.
Rogue's brow knit together. "Is this worse?"
"I don't know," he admitted in defeat. "Things went wrong and I lost track of you."
"Were we together?"
Unable to meet her eyes, he shook his head no.
"That's okay, you've loved me enough for two life times."
Logan helped Rogue take another sip of water. "How did you know?" he asked. "About the time travel?"
"When I moved into your room, Hank took me aside. He laid everything out as best he could, so that I'd be fully aware of what I might be in for." Rogue's smile was soft and understanding. "I decided that I didn't want to miss the opportunity to be with you." She got a far away look for a moment before asking, "Do you remember anything about me?"
Logan rubbed soothing circles on the back of her gloved hand. "I remember meeting you at a bar, running into the X-Men. Then I stabbed you and later saved you at the Statue of Liberty." He paused, sifting through his memories. What else had there been? "Every time I came back to the mansion you gave me a hug, even when you were dating Bobby."
Rogue made a choking sound and Logan panicked until he realized she was laughing. He leaned back again. "What's so funny?"
"Me dating Bobby. He's nice and all, but I gave up on boys when I met you." Rogue winked at him.
He listened to her recount the same story, but with a sense of humor thrown in. Rogue told him that if she hadn't saved him he'd still be chasing redheads.
Logan was struck by her unwavering love for him even though he remembered none of the other stories she told. He wanted to heal Rogue. He'd deal with her being mad later.
Even thought had disabled the mechanism for releasing the sentinels; all he could do in the short time they had, he was unsure if the X-Men had gotten away free and clear. Rogue wanted Logan to be able to help defend the others if necessary.
So here he was waiting once more, and not by his choice. Logan reasoned it was a short flight back to the mansion, there would be plenty of time for healing and then they could rebuild their lives as they helped rebuild the mansion.
Hank had given Rogue something for the pain that only seemed to dull it at the best. Despite that she continued talking, teasing, and joking with him. If this was even a fraction of what their relationship had been, he could see himself falling for her. Was he falling for Marie?
~~~~
When they arrived back at what was left of the mansion, Marie was quickly transferred to the med bay. She insisted that Logan change out of his uniform. "I'll be fine with Jean and Hank."
Logan hurried, taking no more than five minutes to pull on jeans and a t-shirt. When he returned, Marie was on a hospital bed talking with Hank. Jean wouldn't look at Logan as she busied herself with equipment.
Marie looked at Logan guiltily, but smiled when she noticed his lack of shoes. Logan briefly wandered what she had to feel guilty about. "I was in a hurry."
Logan came to Marie's side as she thanked both Hank and Jean. Once again Logan was feeling that he'd been left in the dark about something, but pushed that thought aside and took hold of Marie's bare hand. The pull he was expecting never came.
"Marie?"
"There's nothing they can do for me. It's been too long." She shifted uncomfortably. "I had a feeling."
He wanted to be angry with her. Marie should have let him try when they first found them. She shushed him when he started to protest, and then patted the bed beside her.
"When we arrived at the facility I knew that my mutation had shut down when I tried to touch one of the guards." She gave him an amused smile. "I got a good beating for that stunt. You always told me to quit taking chances like that."
Later, Logan lay on the hospital bed curled around her. He wanted to believe that it was to comfort Marie, but he knew deep down it was comforting him too. Hank and Jean had done everything they could for Marie after her mutation failed.
The machines beeped in the background, keeping track of her fading vital signs. Marie's thin hospital gown barely covered her and Logan was concerned she would get cold. He started to pull the blanket up. "Don't, I'm hot." She laughed weakly, "You always made me hot."
"Remind me."
Marie stoked his hand, "Xavier was having his big winter gala. It was so stuffy; I went out on the balcony for a breather. You followed me, supposedly for a smoke. It was colder than I thought and you'd left your jacket inside, so you wrapped your arms around me instead." She paused, pulling his arms tighter around her. "You whispered in my ear about how beautiful I was. I let you sweet talk me into going to your room." She patted his arm. "Never did get that cigar lit."
"Your still beautiful." Logan whispered into her ear.
"Ya' got a thing for hospital gowns?" Marie teased.
He laughed softly at her sense of humor. She was gravely sick and she was still teasing him. They grew silent. Logan wished the monitors were gone. He didn't need the persistent beeping to tell him that she was failing.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here when you needed me." Logan said, kissing the top of her head. Marie made an effort to turn around. He helped her and resettled with her curled up beside him, her head on his chest.
"Don't be sorry. You've been there for me all these years." She sighed contently. "You loved me well. None of it was in vain." She patted his chest. "You're a survivor, you'll carry on."
Logan gently rubbed her back until she fell asleep. He'd always had a soft spot for Marie in the other time line. Even now that soft spot had grown and changed. He caught the look in her eye and the certain smile she had for him when she thought he wouldn't see it.
The pity from the others earlier hadn't been pity, but sympathy. Understanding of what they meant to each other. Logan was sorry he hadn't known Marie as a lover. It was obvious she had been good for him.
Logan awoke to murmurings; he hadn't meant to drift off. He realized it wasn't the voices that woke him, but the absence of the beeping monitors. Marie's heartbeat was too faint for them to detect any longer. She was slipping from his grasp.
He lay there holding her body tightly. Logan knew Jean was monitoring him for signs he would start tearing the lab apart. But at the moment he only wanted to hold onto Marie, even as she slipped through his fingers. He was suddenly adrift, he was losing a part of himself he hadn't known he'd needed until now.
Logan felt the tears slide from his eyes and the catch in his breathing. He whispered…begged her. "Don't leave me now, I'm just starting to fall in love with you."
~*~
The second story is to apologize for killing Rogue.
Time Continuity
Part 1
It started simple enough, like most monumental changes in anyone's life. Why on earth, after knowing the Wolverine for three years, I suddenly took a keen interest in his well-being is beyond me. I'd long ago grown out of my hero worship of him. Well, nearly grown out of it.
At first I did stupid things, like making sure he got veggies with his steak or pestering him if I thought he wasn't getting enough rest. That graduated into making him eat said veggies and checking up on him after missions.
It all started to unravel one fateful day when I woke up at an ungodly hour so I would have plenty of time to lounge around and psych myself up to shop with Jubilee at the "sale of the year". While rummaging around the kitchen looking for a quick breakfast, I heard the Blackbird land. I swiftly made toast, grabbed two mugs of coffee and headed for Logan's room.
He was already in the shower, but grunted his thanks when handed the coffee. I suppose I should've felt weird that Logan often didn't seem concerned with his lack of clothes around me. He was so casual about it and, never completely nude, I usually didn't notice his state of dress or undress.
Don't look at me that way; I really didn't notice what he was wearing when he was fully clothed.
He stuck his head out from behind the curtain, "Toast?" He eyed me suspiciously.
"There's no cinnamon sugar on it, ya' big baby." I held it up for his inspection. He chomped down before ducking back into the shower with it.
"What you up so early for, Marie?" Logan asked with a full mouth.
"I promised Jubes I'd go shopping with her. I think it's going to be an all day expedition." I couldn't help the heavy sigh that escaped.
"You're going to need more than coffee and toast to keep up with Jubilee," he said with a laugh.
"Yeah, you want to go down and make me breakfast?" I asked, walking to the bedroom as he turned the water off.
After a minute, Logan exited the bathroom with damp hair and the towel wrapped around his waist. Presenting no show of false modesty, the towel hit the floor as he got into bed. "You going to stand there and stare at me while I sleep?"
It took me a second to register what he was saying. I shook my head at him, feeling the burn on my cheeks. "You're a naughty boy, Logan."
He threw me a wolfish grin that made my insides do strange things. "Blame it on lack of sleep."
"Ah, poor baby." Stepping up to the bed, I tucked him in like one might a very young child, complete with a kiss on the forehead.
I must have lingered too long because I felt gentle fingers on my neck, guiding my lips lower to meet his. Logan let me hover a second, sharing the same air, before becoming insistent on a kiss.
I'd always wondered how good a kisser he was, and he was more than willing to show me. He started with small flicks of his tongue that turned into larger sweeps. It was almost like he was tasting me to see if it matched with the way I smelled. He wasn't a passive kisser, but instead gave better than he got. And at that moment I was determined to make it one great kiss.
That was until he distracted me with those same gentle fingers, exploring the skin where my t-shirt had ridden up. Then I discovered myself lying underneath him.
It was an odd sort of thing, because the last memory I had was of leaning over him, contemplating how nice his strong hands felt on the small of my back. Then without knowing how it came to be, I strangely found myself stripped down to my shirt, eagerly helping Logan pull it over my head.
I started to think there was some kind of time continuity problem centered on Logan's room. It was like I blinked and there was a jump in time. One minute he's kissing me, the next he's kneeling above me rolling on a condom; and I don't remember him stopping to grab one.
As I was lying there watching him, trying to figure this all out, he looked at me. There's that same grin again; the one I was still trying to qualify what exactly it made my insides do, and boom...I don't care about the time problem anymore.
He's over me settling between my thighs, and then he's there. All the way there. I'm looking everywhere but at him and attempting not to move. He rests his forehead on mine; giving out a little sigh of...relief, frustration...I can't tell.
I'm perplexed. I was expecting pain and other unpleasantries. Yet there was none of that, only a feeling of discomfort that was slowly being replaced by something else entirely.
"You should have told me." Logan whispered.
"It didn't seem important a minute ago." He half laughed. "Would it have made a difference?" I asked.
He was silent a minute. Knowing Logan, he was running through all the different scenarios. "No, probably not."
I wish I could say the whole experience was glorious, but it wasn't. Don't get me wrong, it was amazing. But I spent way too much time worrying over where to put my hands, if my feet were too cold or if I had shaved my legs recently.
Somewhere during all of it, I decided I needed a full head examination, because time jumped again and I was suddenly curled up next to Logan, feeling all content and tired. I looked at his clock to decide on how much time I was missing when it dawned on me.
"Shit, I have to meet Jubes in a half hour."
I artfully dodged a hand that was aiming to spank me as I scrambled over him out of bed. The hand finally found its target after I forgot to dodge in the search from my clothes. I was wrestling with the drawstring on my sleeping pants as I practiced the best exit lines I could think of. Lameness won out. "Thanks, Logan."
He must not have noticed as he mumbled a sleepy, "Not a problem, darlin'."
~*~
Chapter 2
Logan and I slipped right back into our easy friendship. Not that I wouldn't be willing to fall into bed with him again if asked, but I figured the other morning had been a one time thing.
That was until I came back from a mission covered in … something. I thought my mutation was bad, but I wouldn’t trade it for the ability to spray others with a goopy mess that only served to tick your opponent off. So I kicked the other guy's butt and we headed back to the mansion, me sitting on the floor of the jet.
Once back I had to be hosed down to be able to unbuckle my boots. I thanked Storm and assured her I could get the rest of my uniform off by myself.
Turned out I couldn’t even get the zipper halfway down. I had only one thought: Logan could fix this. That is how I found myself dripping wet and barefoot knocking on his door.
It was opened immediately, Logan filling the doorway in nothing but his faded blue jeans. He raised an eyebrow at my condition, but before he could ask any questions I blurted out, “I’ve already cleaned off the mess, but all the water and gunk has done something to the zipper.”
The grin was making a slow appearance. “And you need my help getting it unstuck?”
I dumbly nodded at him before squeezing between Logan and the doorjamb. He solidly closed the door behind me and turned his full attention on me.
Standing by the wall, gazing around Logan's room (Okay, yes, I was staring at his bed.) I decided this might not be such a good idea. I was suddenly having thoughts about Logan that didn't stop at him helping with a zipper.
I closed my eyes, trying to clear my mind of all the sexual thoughts, hoping Logan couldn't hear my heart beating out of my chest or sense all the hormones flooding my system. Logan made a low rumbling sound in his chest. No. No. No.
Opening my eyes I smiled up at him like an innocent child. Or at least I hoped. But the way he stared at my lips left doubts in my mind as to how innocent this whole situation came off.
I tugged at my uniform zipper, bringing it below my breasts where it stuck. "That's as far as it will go."
"I see." Logan's voice was all husky and deep, filling the couple of inches between us. He slipped his finger behind the zipper slide, brushing my breasts.
Damn. I was in trouble.
Frantically, I scanned the room for anything to distract me from what Logan's hands where doing. No, don't look at the bed. Not the dresser mirror either. I don't need to see his fine muscular back.
Oh, look a picture on the far wall. What is that a meadow?
"Marie?" Logan had been saying something and I missed it. "I need you to take off the top of your uniform."
Looking down, I saw he'd lowered my zipper to near my bellybutton. "Uh, okay." Logan helped me take the heavy, wet leather off.
Never in the year since I'd gained control of my mutation had I been this excited about touching another human being. Logan's powerful hands skimming over my shoulders and down my arms could easily have sent me over the edge.
He winked at me before kneeling down to get a better look at the zipper. Tugging on the zipper gently sent the wrong signals to my already overloaded brain. I leaned against the wall for support.
Time had slowed to a crawl. Breathe Marie, breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Repeat. My body wouldn't stop trembling.
I stole a peek at Logan on his knees in front of me, hot breath on my damp flesh. He looked up at me through heavily hooded eyes; he didn't miss my hard nipples making my breasts stand out even further. He growled low in his throat and popped the zipper from its track.
Logan quickly divested me of the bottom half of my uniform. He stood again, capturing my lips in a desperate kiss. I fumbled with the button on his jeans, while he made a condom magically appear.
He lifted me up, pressing me securely against the wall. My panties were pushed out of the way and I literally can't remember a thing.
That's a lie. I remember lots of heavy breathing and grasping hands. I'm pretty sure I pulled Logan's hair. There might have been some biting. I honestly don't know past the slick heat and the way his growl rumbled through my body.
I really should get a junior science kit to investigate the time continuity problem in Logan's bedroom. This time when I blinked it went from a few minutes past 'home from the mission' to 'I'd better get ready for the day'.
~*~
Chapter 3
Here's where things started to get complicated. I actively avoided Logan for almost a week, because I was really concerned about the time continuity issue. Every time I looked at him my thoughts all gravitated to one thing. In turn, my body responded to the slightest of moves he made.
More than once I caught him looking my way, raising that eyebrow. It was a damned good thing I never stuck around long enough to see that lopsided grin or we'd have both been in trouble.
Did I really want to be held responsible for breaking the continuity of time for having sex with Logan? No, I will not answer that question.
Finally tired of running, I let him corner me in the library while I pretended to look for a book. I pulled the first book that grabbed my attention and let it fall open using the shelf to hold it.
Logan found me in no time flat. I'm pretty sure he'd started to track me by scent and I wander what interesting things his heightened senses told him about me.
He was all casual like he hung out in the mansion's library all the time. Me, despite all the study time spent in there in high school, I acted like this was the first time I'd ever been in the science section. He moseyed up to me looking all sexy in his blue jeans and flannel shirt. Well, yeah he always looked sexy so that was nothing new.
Lord, he generated enough heat for the both of us, making me flush a deeper red. Do Not look at the eyebrow you know he has raised.
"What ya' readin', Marie?" The way he said my name made me all melty inside. I'm not even sure what book I opened and I can't see it through closed eyelids.
He swung behind me, looking over my shoulder at the book. We both knew he could've seen it from where he was standing before. But Nooo he had to go and put his chest against my back. Breathing whispery light across my ear.
"Anatomy?" His voice low and husky.
My eyes snapped open. Damn. I squinted at the upside down illustration, because in my haste to look natural I didn't get the book turned right side up. The Male Reproductive Organs. I said a little prayer to whatever god might be listening. Please stop laughing and take pity on me.
Logan was nuzzling at my neck, hands wrapped around my waist, playing with the waistband of my jeans. "I've never been much for reading about it. More of a hands on learner."
I surprised myself when a little moan escaped my mouth. I don't know why I'm surprised anymore with the things Logan "makes" me do. He growled and licked the sensitive spot under my ear. Man oh man, it sure didn't take him long to learn what I enjoyed. "Would you like me to show you?"
"Uh-huh." I nodded, probably a little too enthusiastically.
Logan took the book from my hands and leaned it against the other books on the shelf. Slowly he turned me around to face him. I pulled him roughly to me for a kiss and we fell back into the bookcase.
I vaguely recalled what sounded like books falling from the other side of the bookcase. There might have been a startled shout from that side also. It was hard to tell since Logan had his hand up my shirt and was cupping a breast.
Since a bookshelf jutting into the small of your back isn't exactly comfortable, I dragged him upstairs. I suppose I should clarify that. Dragging gives the impression he was taken by force. On the contrary, with Logan's longer stride I was almost running to keep up. Although I did make the final decision of guiding us to his room.
No sooner was the door shut than half of our clothes were scattered on the floor. Just as quickly the back of my knees came in contact with the bed and a box of condoms appeared on the nightstand.
Once again I found myself underneath him, however this time I didn't seem to be having any lapses in time. The only oddity was my indecision as to where I should put my hands.
Logan must have noticed because he gave me an inquisitive look before letting out a laugh. "Relax Marie, there's not much you could do right now to spoil this."
"But..." I moved my hands around futilely, "I don't know where to put them."
He gave me that grin, the one that makes my stomach do flip-flops. "I can take care of that." Carefully Logan pinned both my wrists in one of his large hands above my head. "That better?"
I squirmed a little and could only nod, when I discovered this particular position gave a nice bit of friction all its own. Not that I've ever been overly submissive, but I was willing to give this a chance.
And boy did Logan make me glad I did. I'm pretty sure he enjoyed this situation quite a bit too as I remember something mumbled about using some of my long ago discarded scarves in the future.
Some time later as I lay by his side lightly tracing his muscles, I made two important discoveries. First, the Wolverine is actually ticklish in some very interesting places. Secondly, in all of mutant history, the healing factor has got to be one of the best mutations. Ever.
~*~
Chapter 4
The more private time I spent with Logan, the more I began to wonder about those sex stories friends always tell. My curiosity was getting the best of me and I wanted to know more about oral sex.
It was supposed to be what guys wanted and women didn't enjoy all that much. I decided the best possible way to find out was through personal experience.
I marched myself upstairs to knock on Logan's door. As soon as the door swung open, I was left standing there with no idea what to say. Somehow I got distracted by the well-worn denim, wild looking hair, and the smile spreading across his face.
He stepped back allowing me access to the room. Once inside, I noticed him sniffing at me and the smile turned all lopsided and wolfish. "Is there something I can do for you, Marie?"
I was really starting to enjoy each and every appearance of "that grin." It was always the forerunner of good things for me. While it liquefied my insides, it also gave me back a little of the courage that brought me to his door in the first place.
I stumbled around, oddly interested in his boots. "Oral sex."
Leaning in, Logan pulled my hair free of its ponytail band. "I didn't catch that."
God, he was going to make me repeat it. All those heightened senses and he was pretending he didn't hear me. "I'm curious about..." how can he stare at someone so intently, I wonder. "oral sex."
I don't know what I was expecting; even Logan's not so blunt as to drop trou. In spite of that I didn't foresee the smile disappearing as he slowly walked me backwards to the bed. Apparently, oral sex is serious business. Suddenly I was lying on my back and he started pulling off my shoes. I was trying not to think about missing time again; even though I knew there had been several kisses in between losing my shoes and unbuttoning my jeans.
By the time my underwear had made it down to my knees, my mind was already wrapping itself around the logistics of my current position and the one I thought I should be in to perform a blowjob.
"Uh...Logan?" He looked at me, still kissing the back of my knee. "Aren't I in the wrong position to..." and can you just say blowjob out loud without sounding like an immature teenager, "give you a blow job?"
"More or less, but that can wait."
"I thought..." stumbling over words, I watched him kiss his way down my inner thigh, a hand trailing along the other. "Oh!" Logan's hot breath caressed my thighs, making my stomach quiver in anticipation.
It was a good thing my hands were full of sheets or at the first touch of his tongue I would have shot through the ceiling. Even now, I can't tell you what exactly happened. I only remember feeling like I was floating and trying repeatedly to say his name.
An orgasm later, I think all of Logan's emphasis on me relaxing finally sank in, because I wasn't worried about a damned thing besides how he felt inside me. I could have cared less about where my hands were as long as they were pulling him deeper. Not even that big ass buckle digging into my leg, served as a distraction.
After several hours, the loss of any remaining clothing and the use of several more condoms; I only had one lingering doubt. "Logan, can we make this a permanent arrangement?"
Still on his back with his head in his hands, he opened one eye to look over at me. "What did you have in mind?"
"Well, since I'm kind of new to all of this, I thought it might be nice if I could always come to you with my questions." I asked trying to act all innocent after what we'd just done.
"How many questions are we talking about?" Logan's interest was piqued.
I rolled that around in my head a minute. It wasn't like we had been playing missionary all this time, but I knew there was a whole list of other positions. "I don't know, maybe a lot."
That knowing smile that curved his lips caused me to blush. He hauled me up to straddle his hips with my legs. "If that's the case, we should probably think about sharing a room so you don't have to go far to get your curiosity satisfied."
"Hmm, that sounds nice." Watching him, I began to think he had a special smile reserved just for me and I wanted to see it as often as possible. "You know what else is nice?" I asked, sliding myself down his legs.
~*~
Chapter 5
There I sat behind the wheel of a SUV, putting in my time on surveillance. I had begun to suspect that this assignment was nothing more than a training mission in patience, as during the last week of the junior team taking turns, nothing of importance had happened.
Tonight was no different; no one even appeared to be at the house at the end of the road. Fortunately for me, my partner was Logan and he even let me drive. Unfortunately for me, I'd spent the last hour listening to his soft breathing as he slept.
No wonder Kitty had told me to bring a book. At least I'd taken her advice and worn something comfortable.
Logan had given me a disapproving look when I met up with him in the garage. I had on a blouse, a long twirly skirt and slip on shoes. "I can wait while you go change," he said, mildly perturbed.
His being annoyed was never as much fun for me as his wolfish grin, but a girl has to work with what she is given. I did my best hair flip and batted my eyelashes at him. "I saw no need to change; you didn't." He was battling a small smile that wanted to take over his scowl. "Besides an X-Man should always be prepared. Bad guys aren't going to wait for me to change into my uniform." The smile won out and he tossed me the keys.
Now he was reclined in the passenger seat, long legs stretched out, arms crossed over his chest; asleep. I was left to my own devices.
I'd already contemplated the meaning of life and turned my attention to pressing questions such as why dark chocolate is better than milk chocolate. Damn, where did those fifteen minutes go? No time continuity issues here.
I thought about fiddling with the radio, but the defrost would come on and fog up the windows. My mind turned to other mundane activities that fog up a vehicle's windows. I eyed Logan in the passenger seat. Well, since I moved into his room, he was supposed to be available to answer my questions.
Drawing my skirt up so I could turn, I kneeled on the seat facing his still sleeping form. "Logan." I whispered, moving the console to the upright position.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
So, he wasn't completely asleep. I moved closer, sitting on my heels beside him and whispered again. "I have a question."
"Mmm." Okay, he was half listening to me. I scrutinized his form, deciding how to proceed. Heat began to curl in the pit of my stomach as I placed a hand on his abdomen below his crossed arms. The hard muscles there rippled slightly as I asked, "Logan, what's it like to make out in a vehicle."
His eyes remained shut, but I knew I had his full attention. I'd recently discovered that he really likes it when I whisper softly behind his ear, just enough to stir the fine hairs there.
"What do you have in mind, Marie?" he asked in a sleepy voice.
I slid my hand down his stomach and inched it underneath the waistband of his jeans. Sometime ago Logan quit wearing his big belt buckle; apparently I struggled with undoing it one too many times.
He sucked in his gut, not that he had a gut in the first place, and shifted the position of his legs to allow me better access. "Marie." It was supposed to be a warning growl, but I knew the subtle differences in the many growls of the Wolverine. Oh this was a warning growl to be sure, however it wasn't a "we-are-on-a-mission-you-must-be-deadly-serious" growl; it was more of the "you-keep-that-up-and-you'll-get-what-you-deserve" sexy type growl. Next to "that grin" this was the second best indicator of sexy times coming my way.
"I just thought that this would be a great time for you to answer one of my sex questions." His hips were flexing and his thigh muscles tensing as I began to move my hand in a rhythmic pattern.
"We're on surveillance." I knew he wasn't serious and let him protest for the sake of his man pride.
"The perps would pass us by if they thought we were out here having sex." He uncrossed his arms and softly placed one hand on the small of my back and expertly undid the fly of his jeans with the other. Did I know my man or what?
I enjoyed the way Logan white knuckled the armrest in contrast to the gentle hand on the back of my head. Oral sex was something rather new to me, but Logan had never complained and I would say by the moans escaping his lips, I must be doing something right.
Suddenly, he pulled me up and lifted me up to straddle his hips. "I need…" He was unbuttoning my blouse while I hiked up my skirt. He stopped abruptly. "Damnit!"
I laughed at him and reached for my purse on the floorboard. "I told you, an X-Man should always be prepared." His wolfish grin finally made an appearance as I handed him a string of foil packets.
"I love you," Logan said, pulling me down for a kiss.
I had no chance to reply as he worked his way down to my chest. I took a moment to reflect on his affection for my breasts. He would probably write poetry about my 'perfect' breasts if the Wolverine wrote poetry. Anyway, he'd found a way to swirl his tongue around my nipple that made me gasp. Every. Single. Time.
Then there was the angle of the reclined seat. It was excellent for taking care of my needs. Logan, without exception, was more than willing to make sure I was satisfied.
The openness of the SUV made me a little self-consensus of being seen half naked. Logan was good enough to point out that the windows had a sufficient layer of fog on them to prevent any casual observation. Not to mention that my hair made a nice curtain of privacy.
A condom later, I found myself in the backseat. I was looking up at Logan, admiring his chest after I got his t-shirt off. He's always had nice biceps, but there is nothing like marveling at them in the moonlight. A thin sheen of sweat made them glisten. I took pleasure in dragging my nails down his pectoralis major, then his trapezius, and finally tracing a line down his erector spinae to his gluteus maximus. Why yes, I did pay attention in anatomy. Why do you ask?
In the past I believed the backseat of an SUV to be rather roomy. However, when you put two people there, in a prone position, space is limited. Legs end up over the backs of seats, hands on windows, and heads bump the roof. All in all, an interesting experience.
Several hours later, of which almost every minute could be accounted for, I lay on Logan where I'd collapsed earlier. I pondered the whole time continuity situation. "Hmm…time really does fly when you're having fun." Maybe there wasn't a problem with time unless Logan was entered into the equation.
Another thought popped into my head from when this night of surveillance began. "That house down the road, it's vacant, isn't it?'
Logan gave a laugh that reverberated through my body. "Scouted it two weeks ago. Nobody's lived there for years."
"So, this is an experiment with the junior team." I traced circles on his chest. "Are we being rated on how observant we are?"
He smiled at me. "Marie, you passed with flying colors."
I kissed him and tweaked his nipple for good measure. "What are you willing to do so that I don't tell everyone?"
"Nothing." He reached under the seat, I heard a latch release and the back of the seat dropped to make one large, flat surface. I couldn't stifle a giggle as he rolled us over. "I know how to keep you from talking."
Logan was right of course, but I don't really believe I was all that quiet.
~*~
FANART