{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue","title":"wolverineandrogue.com","subtitle":"We're the best there is at what we do.","author":{"name":"wolverineandrogue.com"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"service.feed","type":"application\/x.atom+xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom","title":"wolverineandrogue.com"}}],"updated":"2022-05-01T21:59:07Z","entry":[{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:584778","author":{"name":"wrfaerro"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/584778.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=584778"}}],"title":"Trouble logging in...","published":"2022-05-01T21:59:07Z","updated":"2022-05-01T21:59:07Z","content":"

I had to make an account just to post here. I'm assuming the site mods are still around somewhere.
I can't log in to the wrfa, so can't post this months story :(
Not sure if this is a me issue or a site issue, anyone else having the same problem?<\/p>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:584619","author":{"name":"anr"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/584619.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=584619"}}],"title":"Trying to find...","published":"2018-01-22T07:57:59Z","updated":"2018-01-22T07:58:35Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"vids"}},"content":"Back in, oh, 2007? 2008? (I think) there was a fanmade Wolverine\/Rogue music video set to Leona Lewis\u2019s Bleeding Love<\/i>. It had scenes from all the X Men<\/i> movies made at that point (obviously) as well as footage from some of Anna Paquin and Hugh Jackman\u2019s other works. Anyone know where I might be able to find it again...? I\u2019m suddenly all nostalgic for this OTP."},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:584146","author":{"name":"talie_arrow"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/584146.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=584146"}}],"title":"Fic search","published":"2017-03-01T16:52:55Z","updated":"2017-03-01T16:53:26Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Hello guys! Search for fanfic \"I knew, the minute you wrecked my favorite Camper...\" by minxgal. Desperately want to read it, but link on wolverineandrogue is broken and I can't find it anywhere else! Maybe someone has saved it? Please help!"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:583868","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/583868.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=583868"}}],"title":"WRFA","published":"2015-11-13T02:08:55Z","updated":"2015-11-13T02:08:55Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"wrfa"}},"content":"Did anyone have spam in the last couple of days at the WRFA? I caught one today (crf_123), let me know if you've seen any others."},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:583649","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/583649.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=583649"}}],"title":"tumblr cross post","published":"2015-09-19T13:51:20Z","updated":"2015-09-19T13:51:20Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"fanart"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}}],"content":"I received an ask on tumblr that went something like: Why do we Logan and Rogue shippers get the shaft?

I answered in picture format and thought I would post it here for your entertainment.


To answer this properly, I think we first need to start by looking back at the comic books.
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In other words \u2018the powers that be\u2019 have no idea what to do with the characters of Logan and Rogue that they created in the first X-Men movie. This is why fans all over the world are forced to fix what the writers choose to ignore.


<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:582161","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/582161.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=582161"}}],"title":"Fanfic and fanart","published":"2015-07-03T02:06:44Z","updated":"2015-07-03T02:06:44Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"fanart"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dofp"}}],"content":"Haven't been around for a while. I've done a few stories and fanart I didn't get posted here.

Will You Remember?<\/b>
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\u2026Michael.\" 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\u2026\"

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\u2026begged her. \"Don't leave me now, I'm just starting to fall in love with you.\"

~*~


<\/a>


The second story is to apologize for killing Rogue.

Time Continuity<\/b>


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<\/i> 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 \u2026 something. I thought my mutation was bad, but I wouldn\u2019t 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\u2019t 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, \u201cI\u2019ve already cleaned off the mess, but all the water and gunk has done something to the zipper.\u201d

The grin was making a slow appearance. \u201cAnd you need my help getting it unstuck?\u201d

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\u2026\" 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\u2026time 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.

~*~

<\/a>


FANART

\"\"
\"\"<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:582116","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/582116.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=582116"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (8\/8)","published":"2015-06-20T00:22:58Z","updated":"2015-06-20T13:52:33Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"




I can't believe it! I finished my first fanfiction ever!!!  Woohoo!<\/p>

Special thanks to cschoolgirl, who kindly welcomed me into the world of fanfiction. Her encouragement, feedback, numerous emails back and forth, and general willingness to fangirl with me have made this an awesome experience. (((Big hugs)))

Fair warning: Smutty times ahead!<\/p><\/blockquote>






<\/p><\/blockquote>


5 Years Later

I'm a tigress on the hunt.  I make no sound as I prowl my territory, every movement of my body lithe and graceful, my feet padding the ground softly so as to not alert my prey.  Scanning the area for signs of a trail or hiding place, I use all my senses to track its movements, but this creature is good.  It has senses of its own, better than mine.  The creature has eluded me many times before, ending my hunts in frustration; but this time, I am determined.  You see, I know the creature's weakness.  I didn't want to resort to baiting, preferring to make it a fair hunt.  But desperate times call for desperate measures.

I reach into the bag, making sure it crackles enticingly as I remove its contents.  Though the creature may be hidden so well that it can not see the bag, I know it can hear everything. Smell everything.  That crackling bag is a siren song that the creature can not resist.

I place the tasty morsel of food in an area that I know the creature likes to forage.  Then I crouch down, hidden from view, and wait.

At first, nothing happens.  There is nothing but silence, and the very air around us seems to still with anticipation.  Patience.  Patience...

There.  I see two eyes, peeking from its dark hiding place, peering suspiciously in every direction.  It doesn't want to come out; it suspects that someone is waiting for it, ready to pounce.  Good instincts, I note with some satisfaction.  But try as it might, the creature can not resist the bait.  Slowly, tentatively, it creeps out from its hiding place, scanning the area for a predator.  Patience...The creature moves silently, making not a sound as it approaches the bait; but being silent won't help the creature now.  I've got it in my sights, and there is no escape this time.

Finally, the moment I have been breathlessly waiting for.  The creature gingerly picks up the bait.  Sniffs it.  Then stuffs the bait into its mouth with a satisfied smile.

"Gotcha!" I roar, springing forward and trapping the creature with my arms and holding its thrashing form to my body.

"Mama!" He protests, wriggling and squirming, still holding on to the chocolate chip cookie with two hands.  "Let me go!"

"No can do, Charles.  You know it's time for your hair cut," I reply, carrying him into the bathroom and setting him on the counter, where my comb and scissors are laying ready on a towel.

"But I don't wanna hair cut," he says with a scowl, his beautiful hazel eyes ablaze.  I brush a long spike of his dark, unruly hair with my fingers.  So like his father, I think with a smile.

"I know you don't, but do it for me, 'kay?" I say with a sweet smile.  He looks at me dubiously, as if to say that it's going to take a lot more than the desire to grant me a personal favor in order to allow me to touch his hair.  And if I didn't know any better, I'd say that he's already learning to cock one eyebrow, just like his daddy.  "Alright," I sigh. "Will you do it for another cookie?"

I'm rewarded with a big cookie-crumbed smile.  "Yeah!" he hoots in triumph.

"Kid, you're givin' in too easy.  Next time hold out for more cookies," I hear a gruff voice say from behind me.

"Logan!" I spin around, and isn't that just a tall, cool drink of water standing there in my doorway.  Rushing over to greet him, I can't stop myself from throwing my arms around his neck and kicking up my heels, planting a huge kiss on his sexy lips.

"Hey, babe," he murmurs in between our fervent kisses and nips.  "I missed you."  He sets me down and takes my face into his hands, gazing into my eyes as though we haven't seen each other in weeks.  It's only been a few days, but that doesn't lessen our hunger for each other when we are reunited.

Logan bends down to kiss me, softly, deeply, and it's so, so good, I find myself completely lost, getting weak in the knees.  I'm only vaguely aware of the thump behind me, followed by the pitter-patter of little footsteps.  Somewhere in my fuzzed brain, I realize what that sound was.

"Charles!" I say breathlessly after pulling back from the kiss.  "He got away from me again!"  I look back to the counter, now devoid of one cute little butt, and spy a trail of cookie crumbs left in his wake.  Logan chuckles and I whip back around, squinting my eyes at him in false indignation.

"That's my boy," he says with a smirk.  His eyes are sparkling with amusement, and I just can't help myself but laugh.

"Your boy is gettin' a haircut today if it's the last thing I do!" I say, twisting away from Logan to catch Charles, who is running past with two cookies waving in the air.  He sees me on his tail and lets out a squeal before picking up speed and nimbly dodging my grasp.  Oh, you're in trouble, young man.  I've got my running shoes on this time.

Jumping over furniture and making hairpin turns, I am the tigress again, chasing my prey through the dense jungle.  The little creature is fast, but mama tiger has a strategy, and soon I have him cornered.  Fierce hazel eyes say that he won't go down without a fight.  But there's also a little twitch at the corner of his mouth that says he is enjoying this game.  I'm closing in now, and there is no escape...you're mine little wolverine.

"Well, what do we have here?" says a sultry Cajun voice behind me.  "It looks like Uncle Remy is just in time to rescue 'dis little bebette from a terrible fate!"

"Uncle Remy!" Charles slips past me in my moment of distraction and leaps into the safety of Remy's arms.

"Hey little man," says Remy, greeting him with a hug.  "You ready for a big day of fun with Uncle Remy and Aunt Jubilee?"  Charles nods his head enthusiastically and stuffs a hunk of cookie into Remy's mouth.

"Hey, Remy!  So good to see you!"  I give him a big hug and he kisses my cheek.

"Always a pleasure to see you, chère," he says with a smile.

It always makes me smile to see Remy holding Charles; the way he and Jubilee dote on him all the time is so sweet.  Remy and Jubes have been together almost as long as Logan and I have been, but I don't think they are planning on having any children; I really think they are perfectly happy just spoiling Charles all the time.  Which suits Charles just fine, I'm sure.

Funny how things have a way of working out; and never the way you think, either.  It's hard to imagine that at one time I actually thought that Logan would end up with Angelica, and because of that I went to find comfort in Remy's arms.  Thank goodness Remy was such a gentleman.  When I told Logan what Remy did that day, he actually gained a whole new respect for Remy, and since then they have actually become good friends.

Angelica and Bobby are married now, if you can believe that.  He asked her to dance that night at the gala, just like he said he would, and the two hit it off right away.  Fire and Ice, go figure.  They have a little red-haired girl that Charles just adores.

"Hey, Gumbo," says Logan as he walks into the room, breaking my reverie.  "Thanks for taking Charles out for the day.  I owe you one."

"Out for the day?  What's this?" I look at Logan inquisitively.

"She forgot," he says to Remy, shaking his head.  Forgot?  What did I forget?  I quickly go through my mental checklist.  There's no mission tonight as far as I know, nowhere that we're supposed to be.

"Hmm, perhaps you better get busy reminding her, homme," Remy replies with a wink.  "C'mon, little man, let's go get Aunt Jujube and have some fun."  Charles gives him a big smile and stuffs another hunk of cookie into Remy's mouth.

"Bye Mama, bye Daddy!"  He waves at us like he's the celebrity in a parade as Remy carries him out the door.

"Bye, Charles--be good!"  I shut the door and turn back to Logan.  "So, are you gonna tell me what this is all about?"

He pulls me close and kisses me on the nose.  "Nope.  If you don't know already, I'm not going to just give you the answer."

I squint my eyes at him.  "Is that so?"

"That's so."

I circle around Logan, looking him up and down.  He just continues standing there with a smug look on his face.  So, he's in the mood for games, is he?  I'll play.

"Come with me, young man," I say, crooking my finger.  The corner of his mouth twitches, and he takes a tentative step toward me.  I take his hand and pull him behind me, leading him down the hall and into the bathroom.

"Are we taking a shower?" he asks innocently.

"Sit," I order him, nodding my head toward the chair I have waiting in front of the vanity.  He smiles and sits down with his back to the vanity, then leans back and laces his fingers behind his head, that damn eyebrow cocked like he is quite pleased with himself, the smug bastard.  I refuse to notice that sexy, touchable spot of muscular abs showing where his shirt has ridden up a little.  No, I need to focus if I'm going to win this little game.  Too bad my body hasn't gotten the message; before I realize it, I'm biting my lip and staring, while the smile on Logan's face is getting wider.  Ahem.  Focus, Rogue.

"Are you sure you don't want to just tell me?" I say, slowly circling him again.  I trail my hand, light as a feather, across his chest and along his shoulders as I make my way around, then caress the stubble on his cheek and under his chin.

"Yep," he says, still looking smug.  Oh, I am gonna wipe that grin right off of his face.

I circle behind him once more.  Placing my hands on his shoulders and slowly sliding them down over his chest, I lean in close to his ear.  "We can do this the easy way, or we can do it the hard way, Sugar," I murmur into his ear.  Logan tries not to show any reaction, but there's a slight hitch in his breathing as my breath caresses his ear, and little goose bumps appear on the back of his neck.

"I'd say that I like it easy," he says, recovering quickly, "but I know you like it hard, don'tcha, darlin'?"  He accents that last part by shifting his hips a little and adjusting himself.

"Hmmm...so, you're gonna make it hard for me, then?"  I say with a husky voice against his neck.  "How hard?"  Logan smirks at the innuendo.  "Are you gonna make me beg?  Pleeease," I whisper.   "Please<\/i>, Logan...Is that what you want to hear?"  I swing around to face him and push his legs apart, kneeling between them and looking up innocently.  "What if I get down on my knees and beg...will you tell me then?"

Logan tries to keep his expression neutral-yet-smug, but there's nothing neutral about what's going on between his legs.  He shifts in the chair and lets out a low rumble.  "Keep that up, darlin', and you'll be begging for something very soon," he says with a predatory glint in his eyes. "That still won't get you any answers, though."

"Is that so?"

"That's so."

Part of me gets a little thrill from playing this game, knowing that he could quickly turn this whole thing around on me and make me beg for real.  The thought sends a little tingle down my spine.  I can't help wanting to walk that fine line between making him squirm and pushing him just a little too far.  I know he loves it when I walk that line, too.

I stand up and glide my hands up his stomach and chest, then straddle his legs and rest my arms around his neck.  I can feel the hard ridge in his jeans, pressing against a very nice spot between my legs.  I lean forward and hover my lips just a hair's breadth away from his mouth.

"You know<\/i>," I say, putting on a fake foreign accent, "Ve haf vays of making you talk<\/i>."  I shift my hips and grind against his erection, eliciting a stifled groan from Logan.  Now I'm the one with the smug look on my face.  You like that, sugar?  Nice and slow, I lift my shirt, Logan's eyes following every inch of exposed skin as I take off my top in a sensual striptease.  I raise myself up and lean forward, allowing my breasts to brush up against his face.  He closes his eyes and nuzzles them ever so slightly, drawing in my scent.  His hands twitch, and I can tell he's fighting the urge to place his hands on my hips, to push them down and make me grind against him again.  I extend my hand discreetly behind Logan to reach for something on the vanity.

"Unfortunately for you, Wolverine,<\/i>" I continue with the accent, "not all of those ways are...pleasurable<\/i>."  That's when I flick on the switch of my hair clipper and hold it front of him menacingly like I've just pulled out a torture device.

The look on his face is surprise at first, which is quite satisfying, because Logan is very hard to surprise with all those enhanced senses of his.  I can't restrain the grin that forms on my face when I realize that I actually managed to spring something on him like that.  Logan quickly recovers from the surprise and puts on his poker face, but not before a spark of challenge lights up his eyes.

"That's playin' dirty, darlin'," he says with a low gravelly voice that goes straight between my legs.  "You better watch yourself, 'cause you ain't seen the kind of dirty that I can dish out."

"Make one move, and you'll be balder than the Professor," I say with a glint in my eyes.  "Now, tell me everything you know, Wolverine."

We just stare at each other for a long moment, eyes locked in challenge, arousal thick in the air around us.

"God, you're beautiful when you're devious," he breathes.  "So fucking beautiful."  He captures my lips in a hungry kiss.  His strong hands grasp my hips, pushing them down and grinding me against his hardness, and I moan into his mouth, heady with the sensation.  He slides his hands from my hips to my waist, grasping, kneading, then sliding his hands further up to graze the curves under my breasts with his thumbs.  Suddenly I've forgotten all about this little game we've been playing, can't think about anything except for this moment, this feeling as Logan fills my senses.

He slips a finger under my bra strap, tracing it up and down slowly.  With his other hand, he exposes a few inches of one claw, and cuts the strap.  I can't help the tiny gasp that escapes my lips, and he smiles.  He does the same with the other strap; then, slipping his finger between my breasts, he lifts the small strip of fabric there and slides his claw underneath.  The feel of the warm metal gliding sensually over my skin makes me bite my lip, and I have the sudden urge to lick the blunt side of the blade, kiss the space between his knuckles.  Logan seems to sense what I'm thinking, because his eyes look up to mine and the corner of his mouth pulls in a sexy, arrogant smirk before he slices through the fabric.  My bra springs open and he tosses the shredded remains to the floor, then pulls me to his mouth for a deep kiss.

His lips travel from my mouth to my jaw and then my neck, blazing a trail of kisses and licks down to my collarbone.  He takes his time caressing the curve of my breasts on the sides, underneath, kisses the cleavage between them; everywhere except where I need it, slowly driving me crazy.

"Logan..." I whimper.  I squirm in his lap, wrapping my legs behind the chair for leverage and rolling my hips.

Logan's eyes look up as he is kissing the space between my breasts and he smiles.  With the voraciousness of a starving man, he takes my nipple into his mouth and begins sucking, licking, teasing with his tongue.

"Ahh," I cry softly, my head falling back in pleasure.  He begins ministrations to the other breast, kissing, sucking, grazing ever so slightly with his teeth, causing me to gasp.  I raise my head and catch a glimpse of us in the mirror.  I have a glazed look in my eyes as I stare at this sensual scene before me; watching our reflection, Logan's head moving as he teases one breast and then the other while at the same time feeling all those sensations is incredibly erotic, and my arousal bumps up a notch.

I think Logan can smell the spike in my arousal, because he suddenly stands up with a growl, carrying me over to the vanity and setting me on the counter.  He pulls off his shirt and then quickly tears off all the clothing from the lower half of my body.  His mouth comes crashing down on mine again, his hand tangling in my hair as he pulls me closer and pushes his tongue into my mouth, demanding to taste every square inch of my lips and tongue.

He reaches down between us, unbuckling his belt and opening his jeans, freeing his cock to spring forward with a groan.  The hot, thick stand of flesh is heavy on my leg, nudging at the apex of my thighs as Logan continues plundering my mouth with his tongue.

I am lost in a lust-induced haze, but somewhere in my fuzzed brain, I become vaguely aware of a strange buzzing noise.  I'm about to dismiss it as a minor distraction, because I've got better things to focus on, like Logan's hand sliding up my inner thigh.  Then it finally registers.  I break the kiss and look down in disbelief at the source of the buzzing sound.  There in my hand lies the forgotten clipper!  Realization dawns on me, and my jaw drops.

"You dirty rotten scoundrel!  You--distracted me with your damn--sexy moves!" I sputter.

"Told you I would play dirty," Logan says with a smirk.

I hop off the counter and squint my eyes and scowl with the evilest look I can muster.  "This is your last chance, sugar.  You better tell me what this is all about, or I am gonna shave off every last hair on your body."  I hold up the clipper threateningly.

"Is that so?"

"That's so."

We stare at each other for a long moment, not a sound in the room except the buzz of my clipper.  Suddenly in a move quick as lightning, Logan snatches it from my hand and with a flick of his fingers drops the batteries to the floor.  He sets the clipper down and takes a step towards me, crowding me back against the vanity, towering over me with a look on his face that is positively feral.

"I told you to watch yourself, darlin'."  He slowly glides his hands up and down my sides, then abruptly grabs my hips, spinning me around to face the mirror.

"Oh!" I yelp in surprise.

Logan wraps an arm across my body to hold me against his chest, his other hand reaching down to cup my crotch.  I stare at our reflection in the mirror; his huge, muscular form wrapped possessively around my small body; his tan skin against my creamy white skin.  "Now you're gonna watch yourself for real," he rumbles into my ear.  He pushes a finger inside me, and my head falls back against his shoulder, a small moan escaping my lips.

"Look at yourself," he commands.  "I want you to see how you look when I do this to you."  He slides his finger out, gliding it up to rub slow circles around my clit, then dips back down again to push two fingers in.  My head is still leaning back against his shoulder, but I can see myself in the mirror, my mouth open and a look of sheer pleasure written on my face.

His eyes are fixed on me in the mirror, watching me as I watch us, as he continues to relentlessly toy with me.  Back and forth, he alternates between pushing his fingers inside of me and sliding them out over the slick folds to tease and rub my clit, while I moan and writhe under his firm grasp.

His breathing is getting heavier, and I can tell that his own need is growing with every moan that is wrung from me.  He gently turns my face back toward his and takes my mouth in a deep, passionate kiss, then turns my face back toward the mirror.

"Watch," he commands.  Then he bends me forward and thrusts himself inside me, burying himself to the hilt.

"Oh, God!" I cry out, and I watch the look of satisfaction on Logan's face as my own forms an expression of complete ecstasy.  He grips my hips and starts pumping into me, agonizingly slow at first, withdrawing with a long, slow slide, and then back in, letting me feel every inch as he fills me completely again and again.  It's so, so good; a delicious torture, winding me tighter and tighter each time until I can't take it any more.

"Logan, please..." I whimper.

"What's that, baby?" he murmurs into my ear.

"Please..." I whimper again.

"Please, what?  Please stop?" he says with a small hint of a smile.

"N-no!  Don't s-stop!" I say desperately as he stills himself.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I know that he won't really stop until we're both finished, but in this moment I'm so desperate I can't even think straight.  I start pushing myself back against him, frantically trying to regain the beautiful friction of our bodies.  "Please, Logan...more!"  I plead.

"Oh, you want more?" he murmurs.

"Yes--yes!  Please!" I beg.

"Well, since you're begging me so nicely..." He slams into me forcefully and I cry out in a loud moan.  He withdraws and slams into me again, causing me to see stars.

"You feel so good, baby," he says hoarsely, pounding into me again and again.  He pulls me upright against his chest, still buried deep inside, and kisses me hungrily.  I wrap my arm up behind his neck, pulling him closer, gripping his hair as he thrusts into me again.  His hand slides up and down my body, cupping my breast, stroking my belly, lightly brushing that sensitive mound between my legs and sending off sparks in my body, then caressing my belly again.

"Marie...," he murmurs, kissing my favorite spot, the one between my neck and shoulder that makes my knees go weak.  "Marie..."

When he says my name, I know that neither one of is playing the game anymore.  Time to lay our cards on the table.  "Logan," I whisper.  "I love you...I love you so much."

Logan pauses for a moment, and looks into my eyes through the mirror.  "That's all I wanted to hear, baby." He kisses me deeply, tenderly, taking my breath away with the love in his kiss.  "Now look," he says, his eyes going back to the mirror.  He wraps his arm around me and begins moving his hips slowly again, his dark, intense eyes never leaving mine as he slides in and out.

"Do you remember the first time we made love just like this?" he asks.  "You were wearing your silk dress that night, and I was wearing a tux...you looked so beautiful."  He kisses my neck.  "We were talking with friends, dancing, putting on a nice show for the professor...but all I could think about was being inside you again."  He kisses my shoulder and pushes into me a little harder.  I'm so close to climax right now that I can barely see straight, but somewhere in my addled brain there is a tickle of a memory starting to form.

"We went back to your room so you could fix your hair, but I followed you into the bathroom, because I just couldn't wait another minute," he says, his voice starting to strain with the need for release.

"The gala!" I gasp.  "Our first night together."

"That's right, baby," he smiles, nuzzling my neck.  "Best night of my life."

Logan kisses me once more, then with a growl he begins thrusting into me harder, wildly and desperately driving us both towards the brink.  He brings his hand down between my legs, and it only takes one touch to bring me over the edge, a powerful orgasm rocking through my body with the force of a tsunami, wave after wave of mind-numbing ecstasy crashing over me.  Logan follows soon after, sinking his teeth into my shoulder as he is taken by the wave of his own earth-shaking orgasm.

Sated and trembling, I feel like I'm going to collapse forward, but Logan pulls me back against his chest, wrapping his arms around me securely.

I look into the mirror at our reflection, and the memory of that night comes rushing back to me, the past and the present overlapping each other before my eyes in the mirror.  Then and now, Logan and I look into each others eyes with the same love...the same passion...possession...devotion.  Still best friends and lovers, still soulmates after all this time.

"Happy Anniversary, Marie," he whispers in my ear.  He picks me up and carries me to our bed, where we spend the rest of the evening celebrating.  Five years ago, we never did make it back to the gala after sneaking off to my room.  And tonight, I know we'll never make use of that damn hair clipper.  That's ok; I've always loved that wild, untamed hair of his.  And at this rate, I may never cut it again.
<\/a>




<\/p><\/blockquote>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:581652","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/581652.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=581652"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (7\/8)","published":"2015-06-06T02:16:41Z","updated":"2015-06-09T04:38:32Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Finally, chapter 7!  After this, just one more chapter, an epilogue.  Fair warning, smutty times are about to ensue in this chapter.  :)


The air is practically rushing past my ears as Logan pulls me down the hall to my room; I don't really know what's going to happen, but I've got butterflies in my stomach and I have to hold back a goofy smile that wants to spread across my face.  Logan's pulling me by my hand now instead of my arm, and I know I'm being a twit, but the thought that Logan and I are holding hands is making my stomach do flip-flops.  How very old-fashioned of me, getting flustered by a little hand-holding; but I can't help it.  Isn't it funny?  Logan and I have been friends and teammates for so long that touching is not something new for us.  We've hugged.  I've wrapped my arms around him when we've gone for rides on his motorcycle.  He's held me when I cried, and I've used him as a guinea pig when I was learning to control my mutation.  One time, during an especially grueling mission, Logan and I actually had to hide in a hole together for seven hours straight; the space was so small that we had to lay face to face with our bodies flush against each other from chest to feet just to fit.  That was something, let me tell you.  And yet, any feelings I had then pale in comparison to the way I'm feeling right now, just holding his hand.  This is different.

Every so often he glances back at me, and I quickly try to school my expression to something more neutral.  I know damn well that Logan did not come looking for me because he wanted a haircut.  Just two days ago he was vehemently refusing to let anyone touch his hair in preparation for the big gala, and now he's dragging me down the hall for an emergency haircut, just moments after busting through Remy's door, claws a-slashing?  What changed between then and now?  I'm afraid to hope what that might mean.  I try to tamp it down, but some tiny, stubborn part of me refuses to let go of that spark of hope.

We're approaching my room now, and Logan finally slows down; he turns back to me one more time as his hand rests on the doorknob.  He says nothing, but his face carries an expression that makes me feel like I am about to cross over a significant threshold.

Stop thinking that every look and every touch is more significant than it is<\/i>, my inner voice says.  That's what you did in the woods, and look what that got you.  Nothing but a kick to the gut<\/i>, says the voice.  Remember a certain red-head named Angelica?  <\/i>Shut up.  I push back that little voice and stuff it into a closet at the back of my brain, but the thought is already out in the open.  Like a whisper behind closed doors, it's barely audible, and I'm trying to ignore it, but all the while I know it's still there.

Logan doesn't give me time to dwell on it.  He holds the door open for me and waits, never taking his eyes off of me as I cross over the threshold; I swear I can feel a tingle running down the entire back side of my body as he follows me in.  Every part of me can feel his presence; it's like he's the proton to my electron, attracting, drawing my molecules toward him.

He closes the door, quieter than I would have expected after the scene in Remy's room and the ensuing rush down the hall.  Now what?  We stand there in the middle of the room, not saying anything; we just look at each other in silence.  The room is quiet; so quiet that I can hear the little alarm clock beside my bed ticking, counting the seconds as they pass by in maddening anticipation.  An entire minute passes by until I finally break under his intense gaze.  My eyes fall to the floor, and I start toeing the carpet.

"Logan, I can't give you a haircut without my stuff; I tried to tell you earlier--my clippers and such are all out on Remy's balcon--"

"Tell me why you were crying."

For a moment I'm stunned by the question.  I meet his eyes again, and they are still fixed on me intently.  My lips part, but no sound comes from my mouth.

"Earlier today.  When you were in the bathtub...you were crying.  Tell me why."

Oh, no.  Don't ask me that.  "Logan, I...I told you.  I don't want to talk about it."  I hang my head and sigh.  "It's stupid..."

"Marie."  He takes a step closer.  "I need to know...please."

Something in his voice catches my heart, and I glance up again.  There's that look.  Those beautiful hazel eyes, looking at me with tenderness and concern.  But there's something else there, too.  There's that shadow of vulnerability that he almost never shows.

When I see that look, all resolve, all pride, all hesitation crumble away.  I've never been able to deny him anything when he looks like that.

I cross the room to my bed and sit down, my knees feeling a little weak at the thought of what I'm about to confess.  Logan doesn't move from his spot, and my anxiety bumps up a notch.  Here goes nothing.

"Here's the truth."  I take a deep breath.  "When we had our...talk, in the woods..."

Logan flinches, ever so slightly, but says nothing.  I don't think he was expecting me to say that.  I swallow hard and continue.  "It was tough for me because...well...you're my best friend.  And because...because..."

Shit.  Why is this so hard?  Funny how I always thought that Logan was the one who couldn't talk about feelings, couldn't talk straight about us.  Turns out, I'm not so good at it, either.

"I...you were right, you know.  When you said that I wanted more.  And I think...we both know we weren't just talking about my career with the X-men."  Logan doesn't say a word, but I can see the wheels turning.

"But then, you said you couldn't lose me, you couldn't lose...this," I say quietly, "and I could see that you were struggling, trying to get me to understand...that you didn't want to be...couldn't be more than friends."  Logan's eyes drop for a moment, but then he lifts them again, looking like he wants to speak, but I have to finish this now or I'll never be able to say it.

"And I was ok with that," I continue before he can say anything.  "I accepted it.  Because I could understand it.  It hurt a little, but then I was ok with it, because that was what you needed.  And when we fell back into our usual routine, and you carried me to the mansion on your back and we were having such a good time and acting like best buds I thought, I can do this, because at least I would always have you that way."  I look down at my hands, which are nervously tangled on my lap.  I hear Logan cross the room, then feel the mattress sink down as he sits beside me.  I can't look at him for this next part.

"I thought I would be ok with it.  But then...then Bobby said he saw you later that very same day in the gym, flirting with the new girl, Angelica, and suddenly...suddenly I was so very not ok with it."

There.  I said it.  I turn my face toward Logan, with no clue how he's going to react to that.  I'm immediately taken aback, because the look on his face is actually one of...surprise.  His eyebrows come together and he narrows his eyes slightly, turning his face a little, as if he's wondering how Bobby would ever come to that conclusion.

My heart flutters in my chest; is it possible that this was all just a misunderstanding?  Did I just spend the day on an emotional rollercoaster, all for nothing?  The more I think about it, the more I realize that I allowed myself to get worked up over simple hearsay, which is so stupid.  I should know better.  I am simultaneously embarrassed and relieved.

"I told you it was stupid," I say, my face turning red as I stare at my hands again.  "I was just confused and feeling raw from our talk in the woods, because...ugh, because I'm sure you know that I've had a crush on you for years," I blurt, my words starting to come out faster before I can reign them in.  "But I grew up, and we became close friends, and what started out as a crush became genuine, deep affection...And after all this time, I did want more, and I guess I thought that maybe you wanted more, too.  I mean, I thought that...the way you were looking at me and... touching my face...I thought that I felt<\/i> something between us.  And so even though you said that you didn't want to risk it all for something more, I thought it would be ok, because we had time to figure it all out."

I venture a shy glance at Logan, and now his eyes are filled with warmth and affection and tenderness, and wow, my insides are turning to golden honey.  Suddenly I just want to lay the rest of it out on the table, just to put all this silliness and misunderstanding to rest.

"I was crying because I totally jumped to conclusions.  Based on a passing comment made by Bobby," I say sheepishly.  "At the time it felt like a slap to the face...all I kept thinking about was how you basically drew that line of friendship, knowing how I felt...and then once you got the reassurance you needed, I find out that you barely tossed me off your back before waltzing into the gym and putting the moves on Angelica.  Which is so silly," I say, sitting up straighter and hands becoming more animated.  "I mean, not that you've ever needed my blessing to pursue other women or anything.  And I've met Angelica, and I know that she's a redhead and totally awesome and beautiful and whatnot.  But even so, I know that you would never do that to me.  You would never have this soul-bearing moment with me one minute, and then drop me like a sack of potatoes the next minute to stake your claim on the new girl.  You wouldn't do that to me."  I heave a relieved sigh, so glad to get that off of my chest.  "Ugh, I feel so silly now that I've said everything out loud."

I look up and smile at Logan, thinking that he's going to smile back and say, "Aw, darlin', I would never do that to you," and "I don't even think that Angelica is pretty," or something as equally reassuring.  But instead my stomach lurches, because his expression has changed from warm and affectionate to a face of guilt.

"Logan?"  No answer.

"You...would never do that to me, right?"  Still nothing.  Oh God.  This is worse.   This is so much worse than before, because at least before, there was some small part of me that thought I could be wrong, that I was just jumping to conclusions.  But now I've told him everything, and it turns out that it's true.  And it hurts even worse.

"So...Bobby was right," I whisper.  "You did want to stake your claim on Angelica.  And you didn't waste any time at all."

"No, it wasn't like that," Logan finally says, shaking his head.  "I mean, I did...flirt with her that day...but it wasn't...it wasn't like I just dumped you off so that I could hurry up and jump in the sack with Angelica.  It wasn't like that."

"Oh, no?  What was it like, then?"  I say evenly, trying to swallow down the bitterness rising in my throat.  "Because it sure feels<\/i> like that."  I stand up, fists clenched, unable to sit down any longer with the hurt and anger bubbling up inside me.  I can feel my eyes start to sting, threatening to spill over with tears again, but I'll be damned if I cry one more time today over this selfish bastard sitting in front of me.  I clamp down on the hurt, and instead grab onto the anger, channeling it until the pain in my heart is buried.

"Marie," Logan says, looking up at me.  He opens his mouth, but nothing comes out.  Finally he exhales, rubbing the back of his neck .  "Marie," he tries again, "I know that's what it might feel like to you, but..." he stammers, unable to find the words.

"I'll tell you what it feels like, Logan," I say, pointing my finger at him.  "It feels like being taken for granted.  It feels like having a carrot dangled in front of my nose, then getting a pat on the head and having to watch as the carrot is fed to someone else.  No, make that a milkbone, not a carrot...because you know I'll always be that puppy dog waitin' around for you when you're done playing," I say, suppressing a small quiver in my voice.  I wrap my arms around myself and walk to the window.

"And to think," I huff as I gaze out the window, "I was so concerned about your happiness, about what you needed.  I was ready to do anything, be anything you asked; I was ready to give up on my own needs so that you could be with Angelica, if she was what it took to make you happy." I turn my face to Logan, and he is the one to look stunned now.  A small, bitter laugh scrapes out of my throat.  "How pathetic, right?  And the kicker is, I was romanticizing the whole thing!  I thought, 'Wow, this Angelica is really great, and she'll be so good for Logan.  I think she could make him happy, maybe fill that void for him.  He deserves to be happy, to be whole.  I want him to have that...even if it's not with me.'"  I turn my face back to the window.  "You have no idea how much that hurt, to finally let go."  The sun is shining again, and I close my eyes, letting its warmth caress my face. "That's when I turned to Remy.  Too bad you weren't as concerned about my happiness."

"Hey, now wait just a minute," Logan growls, standing up.  "You think that sonuvabitch is going to make you happy?  Look at who you're talking about, Marie.  He's a womanizer!  He only wants one thing from you, and he has no problem manipulating and taking advantage of a sweet young thing to get what he wants."

Oh, the nerve!  Not only am I pissed that he would assume something so untrue about Remy, but he thinks I am incapable of discerning when I am being manipulated and taken advantage of!

Logan starts walking toward me, his face set in a mask of anger.  "And I'll tell you another thing--"

"Is that why you flew into a rage in the courtyard when I was about to kiss Remy?  Is that why you busted in to Remy's room and dragged me out of there?"  I shoot back with a glare.  "To 'rescue' me?"  Logan stops in his tracks.  "Do you think that I am so stupid that I can't tell when I'm being manipulated or taken advantage of?  Poor little naive Marie needs to be rescued again!" I spit.  "The real question is, were you protecting me, Logan, or were you keeping me in my place?"

"What?  Keeping you in your...no, I--" Logan says, shaking his head.

"We have a nice arrangement going on, don't we?  You can run about town, jumping into bed with any woman you please, then come home and pal around with your buddy Rogue, always available, just waiting around for you.  Joke a little, flirt a little...touch a little, break my heart a little, it's all good.  As long as I know that we're just friends.  As long as I stay sweet and innocent, and all yours.  No, you don't want me for yourself, not in 'that' way, but you don't want anyone else to have me either."

Logan stands there, looking like he has been slapped in the face, but he doesn't deny it, either.  I hate seeing that look, and my anger starts to waver.  Shit.  No, I can't lose the anger, because then the tears will come back.  He needs to hear this, and I need to say it.

"That's why you dumped me off and went running to Angelica, and that's why you couldn't stand to see me with Remy," I say with a lump in my throat.  "Do you want me, Logan, or do you just want me around?  'Cause you know what I think?  I think you don't know what the hell you want.  And I think you're not planning on figuring that out any time soon."

I walk past Logan and head for the door.  I'm barely hanging on to that last thread of anger, and I need to get out of here before I break down.  I place my hand on the doorknob and pause.

"You know, when we had that talk in the woods, I thought to myself that I would rather have you in my life as my best friend than to bear the pain of not having you in my life at all.  But I'm not so sure any more.  Maybe I'd rather have a quick knife to the heart than to die of a thousand paper cuts."

Silence.  I turn the doorknob, but before the door is opened more than a few inches, I see a blur rushing past the corner of my eye and the door is slammed shut.

"You're not goin' anywhere, darlin'," Logan says by my ear in a low, tightly controlled voice.  I turn around, and he steps closer, invading my space until I take a step back.  I feel the door pressing against my back as Logan places a strong arm on either side of me, effectively trapping me in.  "We're not finished here.  My turn."

There's a dangerous glint in his eyes, and I open my mouth to protest, but think better of it and close up again.  Logan's nostrils are flaring and his mouth is pressed into a hard line.  I can feel the anger rolling off of him as he pins me down with his glare...but then his eyes dart to my mouth, and I swear that it's a look of hunger.  He's so close, standing over me, blocking out everything from view but him, and all I can think of is how every cell in my body wants him to give in to that hunger and devour me.  Quite suddenly a wave of lust hits me hard and goes straight between my legs.  God, no matter what anger or pain this man causes me, I can't stop myself from wanting him.

Logan sniffs the air deeply, the scent of my arousal no doubt inflaming his passionate state, and lets out a low rumble.  I can see him warring with himself, struggling to gain control.  Something about his demeanor feels very predatory and thrilling, and like a little rabbit frozen by the stare of a wolf, I can't bring myself to move.

"Logan?"

"Just...give me a second," he grinds out, closing his eyes.  A few moments pass by; his breathing slows, his brows unfurrow; his face relaxes, but not completely.  Instead, when he opens his eyes, his expression becomes a complicated mixture of anger, hurt, and guilt.  Now instead of being pinned down by his predatory gaze, I'm being tied down in place by my own damn heartstrings.  Why can he do this to me with a single look?

"I did...go to Angelica...after our talk," he says finally.  Another paper cut to my heart.  "But, it wasn't how you thought it was."  He pauses, searching for the right words.  "When we had our talk in the woods, I thought...I thought I was doing both of us a favor.  I was protecting us both, protecting our friendship.  No, let me finish," he says before I can protest.  "I know you don't want to hear it again, but you are my best friend.  You really don't know how important you are to me, Marie.  You're the only one who truly knows me.  I've shared shit with you that I've never shared with anyone else.  I look forward to seeing you every day, and I don't look forward to seeing anyone.  You know me, I hate people."

I can't help but crack a tiny smile at that.  Logan relaxes a little and the corner of his mouth twitches.  But then a shadow of pain passes over his face, and the playfulness is gone.  Slowly, he lowers his arms, removing the cage of muscle that had me entrapped; instead of feeling relieved, I feel oddly bereft.

"Do you know what it's like to be a creature that heals from anything, Marie?  It means that I've got nothin' to lose.  It means that no matter what happens out on that battlefield, I've got nothin' to fear.  I do what it takes to get the job done, and I can be a risk taker, because really it's no risk at all."

I flinch at the memory of all those times we boarded the jet after a mission, seeing Logan's uniform riddled with bullet holes and blood.  The pain always bothered me more than it bothered him.

"But thinking about you and me...what we have now, and what we could have together...all I could think about was what we could lose if it didn't work out.  For the first time in my life, I would be taking a real <\/i>risk...and I've never had that before.  I've never cared about anything enough to have something to lose."

He bows his head and sighs.  "It never occurred to me that by trying to hold on so tightly to what we had, that I would end up driving you away."  He shakes his head, still bowed, and closes his eyes.  "When I carried you back to the mansion after our talk in the woods, I couldn't drop you off fast enough."  Um, ow.  I can feel that wound opening back up again, and I start to squirm.

"But not because I wanted to get rid of you," he clarifies, looking at me again.  "It was because having your arms around me, feeling your body against mine...felt so good, so right...and I was losing my resolve.  I had to get out of there, take my mind off that feeling.  I went to the gym to work out and clear my head..."  His expression changes to guilt again, and he looks away.  "And there was Angelica."

Oh, no.  I don't want to hear this.  I don't want hear this...

"The first thing I saw was that head of red hair," he continues.  Fuck.  Fucking red hair.  I really don't want to hear any more.

"I thought that I could push away those thoughts about you by doing what I've always done.  Follow the same routine.  Walk in like I owned the place.  Turn on the charm.  Have any woman I wanted."  He forces himself to look at me again.

I can't take this any more.  I don't want to hear another word.  "Logan, please stop.  I have to go," I whisper, trying to twist away from the door.

"No, listen to me, Marie," he says, grabbing my shoulders.  "Listen to me."  I turn my face away, unwilling to look at him.  "Marie...please."  He gently takes my chin and turns my face back to him.  "The problem was, I didn't want her.  I tried, but...it just wasn't right.  I couldn't do it.  Couldn't go through the motions.  All I kept thinking when I was flirting with her was that this wasn't what I wanted.  Not anymore.  I ended up going back to my room alone."

I stare at him, relieved, but at the same time, afraid to allow myself to believe it.

"I had no idea that Ice-Pick saw me talking to her; otherwise I might have had some clue as to why you were crying in the bathtub.  Then again, maybe not," he says wistfully.  He brings his hand up slowly and gently caresses my cheek with his thumb.  "I used to know what you were thinking all the time.  You've always been able to tell me anything.  But not this time.  I didn't mean to be so pushy, trying to make you talk...but I could feel something changing between us.  You were shutting me out.  For the first time I was getting a taste of what it would be like to lose that closeness we've always had, and I didn't like it."

Logan's hand begins to gently stroke the white streak of hair framing the side of my face.  I let his words sink in.  Regret is etched into his face; regret and loss, and I recognize it now as the same look on his face when he saw Remy and I on the balcony.

"Then I saw you...I saw you with Gambit.  And it was like a kick to the gut," he says hoarsely, resting his hand on the side of my neck, stroking my jaw with his thumb.  Suddenly my stomach is filled with butterflies, and tiny spark of hope spikes through my chest.  I search his eyes, and he meets them with an intensity that fans that spark into a flame.

"Things really hit home when 'Ro said that I needed to let you move on," he continues.  "I thought for just a minute about what that might be like.  You and me, seeing other people but remaining friends...but the thought of you...the thought of you with someone else was just..." he stops, shaking his head and shutting is eyes tightly, as if trying to shut out the image from his mind, "...unbearable.  Seeing you with someone else every day would kill me."  He opens his eyes, and a pang hits me in the chest, because he actually looks broken.

"And when I stood outside the Cajun's door, and I heard you...making those sounds, imagining what he might be doing to you, I...I just lost it."  He touches his forehead to mine, breathing a little faster.  "Maybe you could move on, but I knew right then that I never would.  "

At his words, my heart is breaking and soaring at the same time.  I can no longer contain myself, and my hand goes to his face, comforting, caressing, needing to feel some intimacy with him.  His other hand comes up to cover mine, and we remain in this embrace for several moments, foreheads together, breaths mingling and hearts pounding.  Finally, Logan pulls back to look into my eyes, and oh, there's that warmth and affection again, tinged with apology and a silent plea.

"I was a fool, Marie.  I was afraid of losing what we had.  But now I know, I would risk it all to be with you...because some things are worth the risk."

My insides turn to golden honey again, and my knees go weak.  "Logan," I whisper, and then his mouth comes down on mine in answer, kissing me with a tenderness so warm and sweet and so good I want to die.  Is this really happening?  His tongue gently coaxes my mouth open and he deepens the kiss, moving one of his hands to wrap behind the small of my back, pulling me closer, and God, I'm lost in the sensation, drowning in a a swirl of love and reconciliation and desire and secret prayers answered.

I've imagined this moment so many times, but nothing could have ever prepared me for this.  This onslaught of emotion, the surrealness of this new level of intimacy.  My heart is hammering inside my chest as Logan possesses my mouth, first with gentle nips and the soft darting of his tongue, then with a more insistent exploration, tasting, demanding, claiming.

Suddenly he pulls back and looks at me, slightly out of breath, and for a moment I'm reluctantly dragged from the haze by a tiny spike of fear.  Why did he stop? Is he having second thoughts?  But then he slowly traces his fingertips along my cheek, his touch feather light. His hand cradles the side of my face, caressing my lower lip with his thumb, an echo of those other times when he caressed my lips the very same way...there's that same tenderness and affection, the same look of desire lingering in dark, hooded eyes.  Only this time, I'm not wondering if I'm seeing things that aren't there...not wondering if he's given that look to someone else, touched her that same way.  This time, it's real, and I don't know how I know, but everything in my being tells me that this look is mine and mine alone.

"Do you know how long I've wanted to kiss you like that?" Logan murmurs.

"Um..." I bite my lip, trying to prod my addled brain into forming a coherent thought.   "Since Laughlin City?"  His eyes twinkle with amusement for a split second before turning dark and molten, and then his mouth is on mine again in a scorching kiss that leaves me breathless.

My hands can't stop touching his face while we kiss, my fingers reveling in the roughness of the stubble along his jaw.  I glide my hands down his neck and shoulders to feel the hard planes of his chest, gripping the soft material of his t-shirt, as if I need to hold for dear life because at any moment, I could float away.  He breaks the kiss again and begins to plant little kisses and nips along my neck and collarbone.  A small whimper escapes from the back of my throat, and Logan's hands grasp my hips tightly in response, pulling me closer with a growl.  He moves aside the collar of my robe as his lips travel to that spot where my neck meets my shoulder, and oh...he kisses and laves the sensitive skin there, and damn, that's...oh that's...I'm having trouble finishing a single thought.

"Say it, Marie" he says in a low husky voice that sends another bolt of heat through my body.  "Tell me that you'll never move on."  He pulls back to look at me, with an expression so intense that I almost can't bear it.  "You're mine.  I need to hear it."  There's passion and dominance and possessiveness in his eyes and his voice that turns me on to no end.  But then there's also a wisp of desperation and vulnerability there, too, and that's what breaks down the last of my walls.

"I could never move on," I confess, glancing up shyly.  "Not truly."  I lift my eyes to meet his fully, matching his intensity with my own.  "I've always been yours, Logan.  Always."

Like a crack forming in a dam, my words break something inside him, and Logan's eyes can not hold back the truth any longer.  "Marie..." he whispers.  "I love you...It's always been you."

The floodgate is sprung open, and all the fears, all the doubts between us are washed away, leaving nothing but simple, naked truth between two best friends.

We lock eyes for what seems an eternity.  It's real.  It's real.  We're both stunned into silence.  Isn't this the part where the romantic music swells and we kiss each other dramatically in an embrace for the ages?  That's how it is in the movies.  We were all over each other just minute ago...but this is different.  Suddenly there's almost a kind of...shyness between us.  We've never been exposed to anyone more than we are right now.  We've never laid all our cards on the table before.  Best friends who have known each other for years, have been through it all together...now treading new territory.

I never would have expected hesitation or shyness from Logan, a man who sees what he wants and goes for it without hesitation, and certainly without shyness.  But it actually makes me feel kind of glad, knowing that we're both starting out on somewhat equal footing.  And to think that I could actually have that effect on Logan...well it's actually kind of sweet.

Once more I can hear the steady ticking of my little clock on the nightstand, counting the seconds of maddening anticipation.  We both lean in close, our lips hovering just a fraction of an inch apart, and there's almost a crackle of energy buzzing in the air.  3...2...1...Then...Logan grabs me by the waist and pulls me to him.  Contact.  The kiss is soft and strong and honest and mind-blowing all at once.  He tangles one of his hands in the back of my hair, crushing me closer, and my hands wrap behind his head and neck; set to the song of our beating hearts, it's an embrace for the ages.

In less than a minute, any shyness we might have had quickly burns away in the flash fire of heat and the release of long-held desire.  Logan's hand slides up from my waist to brush a thumb over my breast, causing my nipple to pebble under the fabric of my robe, and then his hand slides down to cup my ass, squeezing it possessively.  "Logan..." I breathe, grasping his biceps as he breaks the kiss and starts blazing a trail of kisses down my neck again, intent on finishing what he started earlier.

He moves aside the collar of my robe, and there's a small pause as he hovers just a hair's breadth over 'that' spot--you know, the one between my neck and shoulder that he kissed earlier, taking away my ability to form coherent thought...I can feel him lightly sweeping his nose over the area, drawing in my scent; and then suddenly, I feel the firm but gentle bite of his teeth sinking into my flesh, and oh my stars, a bolt of white hot desire lights up my entire body.  I had no idea that spot was such an erogenous zone for me, but I sure know it now.  My head lolls to the side and my eyes close in pleasure, instinctively exposing my neck in some kind of primal surrender.  He soothes the bite with a series of butterfly kisses, and then he pulls back, eyes boring into me with pure desire.

Slowly, his hands take hold of the belt of my robe, untying the knot with erotic deliberateness, all the while holding my gaze with dark, predatory eyes.  The belt drops and my robe falls open, exposing the front of my naked body.  The cool air brushing against my exposed skin sends a sweet shiver through me, in contrast to the warmth of my blush and the heat of his stare.

Logan slides the robe back over my shoulders, unhurried, allowing the fabric to slowly glide over my skin, sensitizing every inch along the way.  Finally, he allows the robe to fall to the floor in a pool around my feet, and oh God, I am completely, utterly naked before him.  Not like when I stepped out of the bathtub and strutted around in front of Logan in defiance.  No, not like that at all.  There's no pride, no anger, no rebellion to shield me this time.  I feel his eyes sweeping over my body, appraising, savoring, and there's that look again--like he wants to devour me.  His mouth comes crashing down on mine in a searing kiss and he holds me firmly against his body.  He is still fully clothed, and the feeling of his clothing brushing roughly against my skin, the cool metal of his belt buckle pressing into my belly while I am completely naked is unexpectedly salacious.

Logan presses me roughly against the door with his hip, and I wrap my leg around him, craving more, needing to get closer still.  He growls into my mouth and presses harder, the thrusting the hard ridge of his erection against the sensitive flesh between my legs and sending off a shower of sparks through my body.  My head falls back against the door, a gasp drawn from my lips as his hand cups one of my breasts and he bends down to take my nipple into his mouth.  Sucking, teasing with his tongue and then moving to my other breast to do the same, then back to the first breast to start all over again, slowly driving me insane.

"Logan...please..." I whimper, begging for something, but what, I don't know.  A tension is starting to build in my belly, and I want, I just want.  He continues laving, kneading, suckling, teasing until I think I can't take it any longer, and then suddenly he draws my arms around his neck and lifts both of my legs up around his waist, hoisting me up with two firm hands under my thighs.  I cling to him tightly as he carries me over to the foot of the bed; he lays me down gently, pressing his erection into my hip and then kissing me once more before standing up between my knees, my legs draped over the edge of the bed.  He reaches behind his head and tugs his shirt off, and wow.  I've seen him with his shirt off plenty of times before, but never while he's towering over me like this, standing between my spread knees, his eyes dark with lust and totally focused on me.  He looks fierce and beautiful, and I'm suddenly having a flashback to the first time I saw him fighting in that cage.  I just have to sit up and touch him.  My fingers reach for his stomach, running through the line of soft hair from abs to chest.  He closes his eyes and rumbles in pleasure as my hands glide over his rippling muscles.

Logan drops his shirt to the floor, and then starts to go for his belt, his eyes fixed on my face, watching me, watching him, and all I can do is stare, hypnotized by the sexyness of his movements.  In a matter of seconds, all of his clothes are off, and he's pushing me back onto the bed with his hot and naked body, and oh my God, I can't believe this is happening, can't believe that Logan is here.  Naked.  On top of me.  He takes my mouth again in a hungry kiss, then circles his arm under the small of my back and easily shifts me higher up on the bed.

The muscles in his arms and shoulders bunch as he braces himself over me, and my hands can't stop touching him all over, his arms, to his shoulders, to his chest, and then to the powerful muscles in his back.  Never breaking eye contact, he starts repeatedly rubbing his erection over my opening, sliding through the slick folds and over the sensitive mound of flesh that sends showers of sparks through my body again, and I'm nearly mad with want for him.

He pauses and looks at me with that same expression he wore when we were about to enter my room, a meaningful look that says we are about to cross over a very significant threshold.  And then he enters me with one long, smooth thrust.  I throw my head back and cry out in simultaneous agony and ecstasy, clenching my eyes shut and breathing through the intense sensation.  We're one.  We're one, and it's so good, so beautiful, so...everything I've longed for, and a tear escapes from the corner of my eye.

"Marie?" I hear Logan say with concern in his voice.  I open my eyes to see apology and worry etched into his face.  "I'm sorry, baby.  I should have known...should have asked if this was your first time...I'm so sorry I hurt you."

"Shhh..."  I whisper, holding his face with my hands, caressing his lips with my thumb.  "It's ok.  I'm ok."  His eyes are filled with concern and I can see that doesn't believe it.

"Take a little of my healin', baby.  Turn it on for just a second," he urges.

"No, Sugar...no," I say, tracing his eyebrow with my fingertip and caressing the side of his face.  "To hurt you like that, even for a second, is unthinkable.  And besides," I interrupt him as he starts to protest.  "I want all of this.  All of it.  I want it to be real and I want to feel everything, even the pain."

He still looks concerned, but love I see reflected in his eyes at that moment is just...breathtaking.  I pull him down and kiss him, softly and sweetly at first, and then with a growing hunger.  I start moving my hips, and he groans, trembling with the effort of restraining himself.  Unable to hold back his body's response, he begins slowly moving with me, burying his face into the crook of my neck as I wrap one hand around his back and lace the fingers of my other hand through his hair.

"Marie..." he rumbles huskily into my neck.  Our breathing picks up as the tension builds, every movement stoking the growing fire.  The pain is gradually replaced by exquisite pleasure with every stroke, and soon the only thing I know is that I can't get enough, can't get close enough to him.  I'm gripping his hair, digging my fingers into his back, struggling to gain purchase.  I wrap my legs around Logan's waist, and with a growl he raises himself up, gripping one of my legs to hitch my knee higher, driving deeper into me.

"Oh, God!" I gasp.  He starts a new, powerful rhythm and changes the angle, gliding over some kind of sweet spot deep inside me, and fuck<\/i>, that feels good.  Everything is escalating to a fever pitch.  I'm so close, so close.  "Please, Logan...," I beg, the words wrung from me with every thrust.

"I know, baby.  I know," he murmurs.  He slides his hand between our bodies, then presses his thumb right there<\/i>, rubbing circles over that bundle of nerves until suddenly, I throw my head back and gasp, my vision exploding with a blinding white light, followed by bursts of color as wave after wave of bliss washes over me.  I raise my head, still riding out the pleasure, and see Logan watching me intently as I'm coming.  Looking into his eyes like this is by far the most intimate thing I've ever done, and it only heightens the ecstasy to be laid bare before him, knowing that he sees me at my most vulnerable and will keep me safe.

Soon after I come down, Logan quickens the pace until he reaches his own climax with a roar, muscles bunching and flexing as he pulses and spills into me with each thrust.  The look in his eyes is fierce and almost animalistic at first, but then gradually it melts into something softer, and that's when I can see it.  His soul, laid bare before me this time.  I can see his love for me, deep and real and intense.  The moment is so intimate that it almost hurts.

He snakes his arm under my back and collapses down to his elbows, careful not to crush me.  I wrap my arms behind his neck as he rests his forehead on mine.  We remain in that position for several moments, both breathing heavily.

Finally, he lifts his head.  We look at each other for a long moment, saying nothing.  And then...we both burst into laughter.  Logan nuzzles into my neck, breathing in my scent deeply.  He growls playfully and rolls us both over.  I squeak in surprise, causing us both to break into more peals of laughter.  I shift to my side and snuggle up to him, resting my head on his chest and hooking my arm and leg around him.  We both breathe contented sighs.  We are at peace, now that we finally crossed that threshold.

______________________________________________________________________________

~~ "Rogue? Rogue...Can you hear me?" ~~<\/i>

My eyes open slowly.  "Professor?"

Logan wraps his arm around me and pulls me closer with a rumble and a sigh.  We're snuggled nose to nose in a tangle of sheets, our legs woven together, and it's so warm and cozy and I am in heaven.  I close my eyes and start to drift off.

~~"Rogue...I am very sorry to interrupt your...nap time, but our guest are arriving, and you and Logan are needed downstairs, post haste." ~~<\/i>

My eyes fly open and I lift my head, squinting at the little clock on my nightstand.  Realization finally hits me.  "Shit!  I mean, sorry, Professor!  I--we'll be down in a minute!"

I shake Logan's shoulder.  "Logan, wake up.  We're gonna be late."  Logan tries to pull me back down to the bed with a grumble.  "Come on, Sugar," I say, planting a kiss on both of his eyelids.  "We have to get up, right now.  We're late for the big gala, and the Professor's calling."  I plant a chaste smooch on his lips.  Just as I'm pulling away, Logan's arms snap closed around me like a sprung trap, and he captures my mouth in a deep, scorching hot kiss.  He finally releases me and we both come up for air.

"Now we can get up," he says with a grin.  His beautiful hazel eyes are sparkling, and God, I wish we didn't have to get up now.  I just want to stay right here in his arms forever, the rest of the world be damned.

I hurry up and throw on my panties, bra, evening gown, and shoes in record time, all while Logan lays there naked, watching me with an amused expression on his face.  "Logan, you need to get your tux!"

"Alright, alright," he concedes, rolling out of bed and standing up.  He saunters over to me, completely unabashed at his naked state, while I'm the one that is blushing.  "Do you think I can get away with a run to my room, just like this?" he asks innocently.

"You better not!" I gasp.  "From now on, no one gets to see you naked but me.  You got that, mister?"  I slap his ass cheek.  "You're mine now."

The look on his face is part amusement, part liquid fire, sending a tingle right down my spine.  Dear heavens this man is so very fine and...oh shit--I recognize that look.

"Ahh, haha!" I squeal, artfully dodging his grasp as he lunges for me. I make a beeline for the door and yank it open, intent on escaping to Logan's room so I can grab his tux.  That's when I see it, hanging on the other side of the door, along with a pair of shiny black shoes.  "Your tux!" I gasp.  I unhook the hanger from the knocker and shut the door.  There's a sticky note on the bag:

Remy said that you might need this delivered.  You can thank us later.  ;)<\/i>

-Jubes<\/i>

I can feel my face heating up with a bright red blush.  "You knew<\/i> that this was here!" I exclaim, turning to Logan.  "Please tell me she didn't hang it on the door when we were..."  I can't finish my sentence, my mouth hanging open in shock.  Logan just gives me a lopsided grin and shrugs his shoulders.  "Oh mahgawd..."

Logan starts to laugh, apparently very entertained by all this.  "Relax, darlin'.  I heard Jubilee come by some time when we were sleeping, after,<\/i>" he clarifies.

"Oh, you!" I laugh, smacking his arm.  With a big smile, he takes the tux and starts getting dressed.  Just seeing him smile like that--a real, genuine smile--warms my heart and almost makes me tear up.  Logan actually looks...happy.  I've never seen that look on his face before.  And I'm the one who made him look that way.  Me.

Logan is dressed in two shakes of a lamb's tail, and he hands me the tie.  "A little help, babe?" he says with a sheepish smile.  With a grin and a peck on the tip of his nose, I make quick work of the tie.  It's another little thing that warms my heart, doing something so simple and domestic as fixing a tie for the man I love.  Geez, I'm really mushy today<\/i>, I think with a smile.  Logan seems to be thinking along the same lines, because he's watching me with the same expression on his face.

I glance at the clock.  "Time's up, Sugar!"  I pick up my little purse and grab Logan by the hand, making a rush for the door.  Just as we're about to exit, I feel the strong pull of Logan's hand, yanking me back into his arms.

"You're not goin' anywhere, darlin'...Not until I get another kiss," he says with a smoldering look.  He locks his mouth onto mine, and soon I can't remember why or where I was in such a hurry to get to.  He finishes with a few soft licks and nips to my lower lip and a firm squeeze of my ass.  "Later..." he rumbles in my ear.

Quick as a flash, he's dragging me down the hall, and then we're going down the stairs, hand in hand, stealing glances at each other and laughing like a couple of kids.

When we get to the ballroom, everyone is already dancing.  Logan winks at me, and then when the timing is right, he blends us in with the crowd of dancing couples seamlessly.  It's a slow dance, the soft music beckoning us to bring our bodies together and sway to the rhythm.  I loop my arms around Logan's neck, and he wraps his hands around the small of my back.

"I don't think anyone noticed us," I say with a sigh of relief.  "We'll just say we were here like 15 minutes ago, right?"  Logan just shakes his head and grins.

"Rogue!  You finally decided to join us!" I look over my shoulder, and it's Jubilee, dancing with Remy, both with huge smirks on their faces.  Aw, hell.

"Hey Jubes, Remy..."

"The Professor was looking for the both of you.  But don't worry, we covered for ya," she says with a wink.  "We told him that Wolvie here had a hair emergency, and you were the only one who could help him."  Jubes and Remy exchange knowing smiles.

"Uh...thanks," I stammer, unable to come up with anything better.

"Lookin' good, Wolvie," Jubes observes with an appraising look.  "And the 'debauched' look suits you well, Chica," she remarks, noting my hair.

"Oh my God!  I forgot to put my hair back up!"  I squeak.  I feel a blush coming on, all the way down to my toes.  "We were in such a hurry to get down here.  Please tell me I don't look like I just had a roll in the hay!"

"Relax, Roguey," Jubilee laughs.  "I'm just teasing.  You look beautiful."

"Agreed.  You are truly a vision, chère," says Remy.  He smiles at me fondly, and in his eyes I can see that he is truly happy for me.  He leans in to kiss my cheek.   "I told you he would come to his senses," he whispers in my ear.


<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:581380","author":{"name":"triaden"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/581380.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=581380"}}],"title":"Collateral Damage - and a plead for help!","published":"2015-05-27T01:19:12Z","updated":"2015-05-27T01:19:12Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"x1"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"beta"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Hello,<\/span>
I've started a new story and I'm looking for someone to help me with beta and sounding board stuff. Here's the link to the first chapter!<\/span>

Collateral Damage<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:581270","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/581270.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=581270"}}],"title":"fanfic - Right Here Waiting Series","published":"2015-04-13T19:04:29Z","updated":"2015-04-13T19:20:09Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dotfp"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"On Concupiscence and Cookies

Thanks to <\/a>roguelotus<\/b><\/a><\/span>, SJ, Margaret and Jamie for the beta.  Extra thanks to <\/a>roguelotus<\/b><\/a><\/span> for all the handholding and listening to me whine.


Logan was glad that spring break came along when it did.  He had awakened a week earlier to this slightly different version of events than he remembered.  It felt like an undercover mission where he had to act like he knew what was going on, but in reality the only intel available to him were the names of the main players.  Even knowing that didn't help his feeling of being out of step with everyone in the mansion.<\/span><\/span>

Xavier had given him a vague outline to work from and pointed out some of Logan’s own books that dealt with the recent world history if he needed help getting caught up.  Logan thought it would be more helpful, in this situation, if he had some telepathic ability rather than books.<\/span><\/span>

Logan then turned to Hank in the lab.  Hank had been full of questions trying to piece together a theory that fit with the quantum physics theory Hank had talked about the other day… or rather decades ago.  After an exhausting hour of playing twenty questions, Hank finally let him go with a reset password for all the mansion's systems and a quick rundown of the school schedule at Logan's classroom.  <\/span><\/span>

He was surprised to find lesson plans for the rest of the year in his own handwriting and a few notes on the students. Logan managed to make it through to the end of the week without too many stares or awkward moments. Thankfully, by late Friday afternoon, the mansion was left quiet as most of the students departed for the coming week.<\/span><\/span>

Most of the day-to-day operations of the mansion were easy for him to figure out: where everyone’s rooms were, and most importantly the location of his cache of cigars and liquor.  His interactions with others still suffered, not that anyone had ever accused him of having stellar interpersonal communication skills.  There were a handful of faces Logan knew he should recognize, but couldn’t place.  <\/span><\/span>

All in all Logan managed to navigate the new patterns of social interaction with the other X-Men without too much trouble. The Professor was patient, Hank still full of questions, and Jean looked at him in confusion; luckily Scott took the change in stride, continuing on as if nothing were different.  <\/span><\/span>

The only person who troubled Logan was Rogue.  He couldn’t decide how he was supposed to interact with her.  He remembered them in the old timeline as being friendly, with an undercurrent of something else that always remained untouched. At one time, they both seemed to have an unspoken understanding of the unconventional friendship they shared, but now? Now he kept feeling that he was missing all of the social cues she was putting out.<\/span><\/span>

He tried poring over all the mission logs and mansion files for further clues.  All they yielded was the fact that he came back to the mansion one time with Rogue in tow.  Even though he had been with the X-Men off and on previous to that time, the X-Men had not facilitated in Rogue’s arrival at the mansion.<\/span><\/span>

Within days of waking up in the new timeline Logan noticed a difference in Rogue.  This Rogue had a confidence that the other hadn't.  She understood her power, how to use it, and wasn't afraid of using it.  <\/span><\/span>

Then the first time he saw Rogue in her uniform, he took a second look.  This Rogue knew how to use the uniform to her advantage, standing in such a way that it showed off her curves.  Walking so that it accentuated the sway of her hips.  Logan was man enough to admit to himself that he wouldn't mind taking a look at those curves without the uniform.<\/span><\/span>

Every time Rogue looked at him, Logan got the feeling she was mentally building a check list of all the things she wanted to do to him. He'd even heard Jubilee complain, more than once, about the sexual tension he and Rogue brought to the training sessions.<\/span><\/span>

One day after a Danger Room session, Rogue flashed a smile at Logan as she walked away from him.  She had seen the look he was giving her.  (Logan was pretty sure his thoughts at the time had been along the lines of eating her up like a chocolate chip cookie fresh from the oven.)  Making a quick turn with a hand on a hip, she raked her gaze up his body, raising an eyebrow as her eyes met his. <\/span><\/span>

"Can I do something for you, Sugar?" she asked in a suggestive, smooth Southern tone.<\/span><\/span>

Jubilee and Kitty calling after Rogue saved Logan that time. When she turned her head he made his escape.  Since then she'd been giving him heated glances every time she caught sight of him, the type of looks that would have left a lesser man blushing.  Logan always made sure he left before he could return the gaze, though lately he was beginning to wonder why.  The fact that he had only known this Rogue for two weeks was starting to mean less and less.  It was hard for him to deny the chemistry between them.<\/span><\/span>

<\/span><\/span>

“You’ve been avoidin’ me,” Rogue stated as he came into the staging area next to the jet.  <\/span><\/span>

Logan simply grunted, not agreeing or disagreeing. He knew Rogue had been shadowing him the past week, but had decided to let her determine the time and place for their first real conversation.<\/span><\/span>

She fidgeted with her gloves a second. “What’s wrong?” she asked.<\/span><\/span>

He looked at her, briefly considering how to evade her question the same way he'd been evading her heated looks and loaded questions all week, but decided against it this time.  Despite her casual attitude he could sense how serious she was. Something in the way she squared her shoulders told him that this time, she wasn't going to let it slide. Best to take the bull by the horns.  “What makes you think somethin’ is wrong?”<\/span><\/span>

“You’re different.”  <\/span><\/span>

He raised an eyebrow at her.  Rogue continued undaunted. <\/span><\/span>

“You’ve forgotten a few names. And you act like everything is slightly out of place.”  She stepped closer and lowered her voice.  “Your fighting style has changed.  I don’t think anyone else will notice, but I did the other day when you were in the Danger Room.”<\/span><\/span>

Logan glanced toward the hall and determined by the sound that the others would still be a minute or so from joining them.  “My memory is off.”<\/span><\/span>

She wrinkled her brow and stepped close enough to place a hand on his chest.  “How serious is it?”<\/span><\/span>

Shrugging, he tried to make light of it.  “Hank's got some fancy theory, but basically my recent memories don’t exactly match up with everyone else’s.”<\/span><\/span>

“How far back?” she asked searching his face for something.  Her hand pressed more firmly into his chest than he would have expected, suggesting a familiarity in their relationship, which had not been between them in his previous timeline.  This knowledge both excited and frustrated him.  Logan was not against a physical relationship with Rogue, although he thought it might be unfair to her if she didn't understand that he wasn't the Logan she may have known.<\/span><\/span>

“A few years.”  Best to keep it simple; besides it wasn’t a complete lie.  Logan would tell her more when he concluded exactly what their current relationship was going to be and what she needed or wanted to know.<\/span><\/span>

“Do you remember how we met?” Rogue asked.<\/span><\/span>

“Does it involve a Canadian bar and a cage fight?”<\/span><\/span>

“No,” she shook her head with a smile. “But it sounds fun.”<\/span><\/span>

“Darlin’, you have no idea,” Logan replied.  Rogue laughed lightly, about to say something, but their conversation was cut short as the others arrived and the group departed on the mission.<\/span><\/span>

<\/span><\/span>

Upon entering the jet after the mission, Rogue’s eyes narrowed at the bullet holes in Logan’s uniform.  Her smile faded to a grim line as she turned to the controls for the return flight.  <\/span><\/span>

He hadn’t purposely gotten shot.  He had been distracted, thinking over their earlier conversation.  Rogue’s ease made him believe that there was more to their relationship than just heated looks, and the thought of that made Logan's blood race. If he were right, he wouldn't mind her murmuring her needs to him as his mouth roamed her body. And right then is when the gun appeared. Logan thought, in his state of preoccupation, that his method of dealing with the situation to be the most direct.  It also had the added benefit of ticking off Scott.  A win, win.<\/span><\/span>

Now if Logan could just as easily solve how to deal with Rogue. The waves of anxiety coming off of her were headache inducing.  <\/span><\/span>

When they set down at the mansion he quickly departed as Rogue went through the jet’s various shutdown procedures.  He needed more time to study this situation before talking with her again.<\/span><\/span>

Logan skipped the lower level showers and used the back stairs to get to his room.  In minutes his boots were off and the shower started.  He had unzipped his uniform top and began peeling it off slowly, as what blood there had been was already dried and making everything stick.  Examining himself in the mirror over the sink, he turned, peering into the other room. Someone was stopped outside the hall door.  <\/span><\/span>

He wasn’t surprised when Rogue walked in, almost slamming the door behind her.  It was obvious she had a purpose as she walked determinedly toward him. The way her hips swayed made his fingers ache with need.  The need to pull her body closer, to hold her hips securely to his. <\/span><\/span>

She pushed him back against the bathroom counter and shoved his uniform jacket down his shoulders, effectively restricting the movement of his arms. “Did they all come out?” she asked, staring at the blood caked to his chest.<\/span><\/span>

“Yeah, straight through.” He wanted to look somewhere else besides at her.  She was too close and his body was going to betray him at any moment.<\/span><\/span>

Pursing her lips, Rogue put a gloved had to his chest and started probing for any sign of lingering damage.  He probably should have told her it wasn’t necessary, but he was taking an odd bit of pleasure with the way her small hand looked on his chest.  He also suspected that this was an excuse for her to confront him.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue paused and quickly stripped her gloves from her hands. He had a moment of caution, before realizing this Rogue's confidence might be due to her having better control of her mutation. <\/span><\/span>

He chose to trust her and sucked in a breath to steel himself. Logan's grip on the counter turned white knuckle when she placed both hands at his waist. Nothing. Nothing except for the tantalizing feel of her soft hands grasping his sides, thumbs caressing the sensitive skin below his ribs. <\/span><\/span>

He studied Rogue's face a moment. Her eyes drifted further down, past her hands, toward his unbuttoned pants. Her scent was tinged with unease and her hands timidly dipped lower. Halting her movements, she bit her lip.<\/span><\/span>

This was that thing between them, that line they never crossed. He may have been skirting the issue all week, but at this particular second, with her hands on his body and the way her breasts rose and feel with each breath, she made him wish his hands were free. <\/span><\/span>

Logan was used to having command of situations, something he was sorely lacking since waking up in this timeline. But now…now with him pinned against the counter as he was, he wanted to give her control. Let her do as she pleased. He was willing to let her lure him over the imaginary line he'd set up. Or better yet, erase the line altogether. <\/span><\/span>

His thoughts were interrupted when she swept a hand across his abdomen that made his breath hitch.  Her scent changed subtly, accompanied by a slight quirk of her lips and a movement of her hands that drew a moan from him. Rogue gave him that appraising look, the one he'd seen all week, that made his blood run hot.<\/span><\/span>

She leaned in close, her breath mingling with his.  It seemed an eternity that they stayed in that position, him breathing in her scent and enjoying the closeness of her body. The tip of her tongue touched her lips and she suddenly pushed away from him.  Rogue's eyes slowly raked up his body as she bit her lower lip. "You need a shower," she said, turning around and sauntering into the other room.<\/span><\/span>

Logan quickly undressed and entered the shower.  He took his time making sure to wash all the blood from his body.  At the same time, he puzzled over Rogue and exactly what was going on between them.  If they had been intimate before, as he suspected, then why had she stopped short?  Then again, maybe she wanted to give him time to adjust his memory.  <\/span><\/span>

Whatever the reasons, it put him on edge. The constant tension of not knowing, kept his body on high alert for her presence. Yearning for any kind of contact.<\/span><\/span>

Finishing up his shower, he heard the bathroom door open and close, followed by soft footsteps.  He saw her through the frosted glass of the shower door, hesitating.  She grabbed for the handle, sliding the door open and stepping into the shower in one smooth motion.  Still clothed in her uniform, only her boots and gloves missing, she shut the door.  "Do you mind?"<\/span><\/span>

Logan looked her over, missing nothing, including the corner of a condom wrapper sticking out of a pocket.  He simply extended her a hand and let her show him what their relationship should be like.  She stared at his hand a second before embracing him. Logan threaded his fingers through her hair, cupping her head. Her lips were warm, her mouth sweet and inviting.  He was lost in the smoothness of her tongue gliding against his. He wanted to be consumed by the pleasure she was offering. <\/span><\/span>

His first thought was of cookies, not that Rogue tasted of cookies, but that he wanted another kiss like you'd want another cookie. Maybe to nibble on that lip she'd been biting on earlier.  Then work his way down her body now that his hands were free.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue seemed to be thinking along the same lines, tasting and sampling him with a growing hunger.  There was no hesitation in her kiss, until he felt a slight pull of her mutation. She drew, back breathing heavily. "You still up for this?" He answered her by pressing his erection into her hip and recapturing her lips. <\/span><\/span>

They struggled with the wet leather between kisses, stopping periodically for her to regain her composure and then drawing back together frantically several times before she was finally free of the uniform. Rogue stood in her tank top and panties, fumbling with the foil condom wrapper.  It dawned on Logan, panting as he rested, his forehead on hers, that this was not their norm.  <\/span><\/span>

Her trembling, although from excitement, had an unmistakable nervous edge to it.  Everything about her was screaming that this was a completely new experience for her.  Her control was good, but he could tell by the number of breathers they had taken that this was not common enough for her to have the control needed.<\/span><\/span>

He drew her tight against him, trapping her shaking hands between them.  "I think you're takin' advantage of my situation."<\/span><\/span>

She exhaled softly, trying to pull away and finally resting her head on his shoulder when he wouldn't let her escape. Rogue then squared up her shoulders in a way that reminded Logan of her seriousness before the mission. "You always told me if I saw an opportunity to take it."<\/span><\/span>

He let out a short, husky laugh.  "I'm sure that advice was for fightin'."<\/span><\/span>

Rogue shrugged. "I…we…there is always a lot of tension between us.  We're close, almost intimate, but always afraid to take the next step.  I thought this was the chance we needed." She leaned more heavily into him. "Are you mad at me?"<\/span><\/span>

"No." Logan punctuated the statement with a quick kiss behind her ear. He really wasn't mad at her; it was exactly the kind of move he'd admire in a fight. He couldn't deny the tension between them and she had taken the steps she thought necessary to alleviate it. He respected her gumption. The fact that she was willing to do this was a turn on, and he wanted to make sure this opportunity wasn't wasted. "I'm definitely not mad at you. But it might be best to slow down a bit.  Maybe save this fantasy for later."<\/span><\/span>

At that, she pulled back a little to look him square in the eye.  "Will there be a later?"<\/span><\/span>

A smile slowly spread across his face and she blushed in return. "Yes."  There certainly would be a later, because she was beautiful all wet and wanting him. He reached to turn off the water.  "For now let's move to the bedroom and work on your control."<\/span><\/span>

Rogue turned even redder. "That might take some time."<\/span><\/span>

Stepping out of the shower, Logan reached for a towel and wrapped it around her, eyes wandering down the wet material clinging to her perfect breast.  He took a deep breath and barely contained a rumble of desire.  "We'll look at it as an opportunity to work on my patience."<\/span><\/span>

He watched her a second as she dried off, her eyes darting about and trying to avoid his intense gaze.  Her lips looked positively mouthwatering Logan found himself thinking of warm chocolate chip cookies again…one kiss would never be enough. Scooping Rogue up in his arms, he smiled when she gave a little squeak as he headed for the bedroom. "Damn patience. I have a healing factor for a reason." <\/span><\/span>

~*~<\/span><\/span>
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:580995","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/580995.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=580995"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (6\/?)","published":"2015-03-31T00:35:58Z","updated":"2015-03-31T00:35:58Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Chapter 6 of A Little Off the Top.  I think there is only one more chapter to go!


"Can I offer you a drink, belle?"  Remy crosses the room and gestures to a fully stocked wine cooler.  You would think that having a wine cooler in your bedroom would be a bit much, but in Remy's room, it works.  His suite is a warmly decorated, masculine space; clean and comfortable; rustic leather furniture set in contrast to sensual touches, like a bed made with silk sheets and sumptuous pillows.  On the end table is a vase of gorgeous roses; in his bathroom, a thoughtful basket of lovely smelling soaps and feminine toiletries placed by the sink.

It's a room where a woman goes to be charmed by his rakish personality.  Seduced by his velvety voice...beguiled by his handsome face, his lithe, muscular body.  Made to feel special...perhaps made to forget, if only for a little while.
               
"Do you--have anything stronger?" I ask, feeling a blush warm my face.

Remy pauses, and then a kind smile touches his lips.  "Of course," he says, pulling a bottle out of the hutch above the cooler.  "Créole Shrubb?"

"Sounds perfect," I reply with a nervous smile.

He pours a glass and I meet him halfway to take it.  Forgetting all manners and decorum, I bring the glass to my lips start throwing back the rum, unable to stop until it's gone.  Shyly I bring my fingers to my mouth and delicately blot a drop of the liquid, only now thinking about how I must appear.  Mama would have died of embarrassment if she could have seen me just now.
                        
"Thanks," I say sheepishly.

The corner of Remy's mouth twitches.  "Pas du tout," he replies, gently taking the glass from my hand.  "Would you like another?"

"Um, yes...please.  I'll take it a little slower this time," I say with a little chuckle.

Remy pours a second glass for me, and this time I try be a little more sophisticated.  I wait for him to pour his own drink, instead of downing mine immediately in one fell swoop.  As I bring the glass to my lips, I close my eyes and take in the aroma of the Creole spices.  A sip of the sweet, smooth liquid carries wonderful notes of orange peel, chocolate, and fresh sugar cane.  Delicious.

"I didn't think you would come."

"Well I...I didn't think I would have the time, and...I wasn't sure if...I mean..."  I look down at my glass, struggling to find the words.  "I don't know, I thought maybe..." I trail off.  What's the right thing to say here?

"Hey...it's ok, chère.  You don't have to explain.  You are always welcome at Remy's."  His eyes lock with mine for a long moment.

"Thanks, Remy," I say softly.

"Besides," he smiles.  "Remy never passes up the opportunity to have a beautiful woman runnin' her fingers through his hair."  He nods his head toward my leather bag of styling tools.

I laugh and brush a lock of hair away from his eyes.  Remy always seems to know just the right the thing to say to put you at ease.

"Do you really want me to cut your hair?" I ask.  "It looks good just the way it is, too."

"'Course I do," he replies, pulling back the curtains and opening the balcony door.  "C'mon.  Let's do it outside, chère; it's a beautiful afternoon."  He walks to the bathroom and begins wetting his hands and running them through his hair.  "Go on ahead and enjoy the sunshine.  I'll be there in a minute."

"Ok," I reply with a smile.  I grab my bag and walk onto the balcony.  A breeze caresses my face as I step outside, and I draw in the sweet air deeply.  Down in the courtyard, Storm is placing fresh flowers on white linen-covered tables for the ball.  She notices me standing above on the balcony and pauses, giving me a wave and a smile; I smile and wave back, happy to see my friend, the weather goddess.  Just as I'm about to turn, Logan appears, lugging a huge planter of flowers.  My heart skips a beat.

"Tell me again why I'm doing this, 'Ro?" he grunts.

'Ro points to a spot beside an arch covered in vines and purple blossoms.  "Because you love me," she says with a smirk.

"Not enough to be playin' with flowers and haulin' stuff like a pack mule," he retorts.

"And because you owe me," she continues.  "Don't give me that look.  If it wasn't for me, you know Scott would have never let you hear the end of it.  I saved your behind from a major pride-swallowing."

"Alright, alright," he grumbles.  "Don't remind me."  He hoists the planter to the chosen spot with another grunt, muscles bunching and flexing in his back, shoulders, and arms.  He is so strong...I take a gulp of my drink and watch as he wipes his forehead with the back of his arm and starts heading back to get the other planter.

Just then he notices me and halts in his tracks.  I think I've stopped breathing.  I'm expecting him to look angry, or maybe irritated, considering our last encounter.  Instead his face is unreadable as we just stare at each other, not saying anything.

The moment is broken by a sultry Cajun voice behind me.  "I'm ready for that haircut, mah lady."

"Remy!" I breathe with a start.  "I didn't hear you coming."

He looks down to the courtyard and then back to me.  "No, I suppose you wouldn't with all the...distractions out here," he says with a wink.

Oh my god.  Busted twice in the span of five minutes.  I look down again, but Logan has gone back to work.  "I was just...'Ro was decorating for the ball and...Aw, hell."  I gulp down the last of my drink and hope that he'll cut me a break.

He chuckles warmly and his eyes twinkle playfully.  "Come on, love.  Let's see if Remy can't do a better job of keepin' your attention."  He takes me by the hand and leads me to a chair that he's brought out to the balcony.  Turning to face me, he crosses his arms at the hem of his shirt and pulls it off over his head in one fluid motion, revealing a smooth, tan, perfect chest and rippling abs.

Oh my.  I drop my glass in surprise, but Remy doesn't let it hit the ground, catching it deftly and setting it on the ledge.

"Easy, chère," he says.  "Jus' thought it would be better to keep the hair off mah shirt."

"Um...right.  Of course," I stammer, trying not to stare.

He sits in the chair and leans back, beautiful muscular arms hanging down to his sides, his flat stomach looking so very touchable right now.  "I'm all yours.  Do with me what you will," he says with a grin so charming, I can't help but grin back.

"Very well, Mr. LeBeau," I say, opening my bag and pulling out a comb and a pair of scissors.  Slowly I walk in a circle around Remy, observing the cut of his hair and making mental notes of what I want to do.  I come back around and position myself in front of him, reaching out to run my fingers through the damp hair above his eyes, drawing it upward to estimate the length.

He moves his legs farther apart.  "You can come closer if you want, chère."

I search his face for another grin or a playful glint in his eye, but he's not being playful anymore.  Burning red eyes are fixed on mine, and there's that tingle down my spine again.  I step closer, and his eyes gaze upward at me.

"I, um...I'm gonna...start in the back, I think," I say, stammering again.  Blushing like a schoolgirl, I step around his leg and circle behind him, and dang, he looks good from this angle, too.

I don't know why I'm being so silly; I talk to Remy all the time.  I've seen all the guys at the mansion with their shirt off at one time or another.  But usually not this up close and personal.  So close that I can see the texture of their skin, every pore, every muscle movement, every eyelash; see and hear every rise and fall of their chest.  When you get that close to someone, and they're as attractive and charming as Remy, and all their attention is on you, it's easy for a girl to get a little giddy.

Still, outside of giving a haircut, there are few men that I've been that close to before.  There's really only one man I've ever wanted to be that close to.  I feel a pang in my chest, and quickly push that thought out of my head.

I begin drawing sections of Remy's hair between my fingers and start snipping away.  I'm going to trim it enough to give it some shape, but I think part of Remy's hotness factor is his longer hair, so I'm not taking off too much.  At first I'm nervous, wondering what he must be thinking every time I touch his hair or brush up against him, but as I go along it gets easier.  My heartbeat and breathing slow down eventually, and hey, I'm kind of enjoying this.  Yeah, until it's time to make my way to the front of his hair, and now I have to stand between those hard thighs again.  Ugh, there goes my steady heartbeat.

C'mon, girl.  Get a hold of yourself.  You're the Rogue, for cryin' out loud.  You don't turn into a swooning fool just from standing next to a man.  I try to reason with myself and stay unruffled.  It's just Remy.  Sweet, charming, genteel Remy...dashing, handsome...tall, muscular...shirtless...completely...hot...Remy.  Oh boy, I'm in trouble.

A few last hurried snips, and oh thank God, I'm finished with the haircut.  Tamping down the urge to fan myself, I stand back a little and squint one eye to survey my handiwork.  He looks damn good, if I do say so myself.

"How do I look?" he asks, turning his head side to side.

"Well, I can only do so much, Sugar," I sigh with a pretend air of resignation, "but I'd say you're actually...less ugly."  We both look at each other, trying not to smile.

"Did I say that out loud?  Nuts, I meant to say you look acceptable," I correct myself.

"Hmm," he says thoughtfully, "Well, you did the best you could, considerin' what you had to work with."

We look at each other a moment longer, his mouth twitching and me biting my lip, until we can't take it any more and we both start laughing.

"Here, let me help you," I say, brushing the hair off his shoulders while he brushes off his legs.  After a minute we've almost got it all except for one stubborn spot.

"Hang on, there's one piece that keeps sticking," I point out, "right on your neck." 

"Here?" he says, brushing his hand over his neck.

"It's still there...let me get it for you."  He watches me as I hesitate, then step a little closer, placing my hands on his chest as I lean in.  "It needs...a little air to unstick it," I say softly.

Remy tilts his head a little to the right to give me better access.  I smell the faint scent of soap and cologne as I inch closer...I can hear him breathing, feel the warmth of his thighs against my legs.  The brush of my breasts against his chest causes my nipples to tighten, and suddenly, I realize how very intimate this is.  I'm wondering if I've gotten too close, too soon.  I go to pull back, and a pair of warm hands land on my waist.  I stop, and my breath hitches.

"It's ok, chère," he whispers.

A shiver runs through me at the sound of his words.  I stand there for a moment, while Remy remains motionless except for the slow rise and fall of his chest.  Then, once more I lean forward.  I take a breath, and blow a soft stream of air over his neck to unstick the hair.  Goosebumps instantly form on Remy's skin.

"It's gone," I murmur, slowly pulling back.  He turns to me then, looking into my eyes.  Our faces are so close, I can feel his breath on my lips.  The tension in the air is palpable.

I can't believe this is happening.  Do I want this?  Yes...I do.  It's what I'm here for, isn't it?  It's what I came for.  Is that wrong?  Maybe.  But there are far worse things than to fall into the arms of a man as sweet and handsome as the one before me.  There are far worse things than to seek the comfort of being wanted by someone, even if it's not the man you love.

I close my eyes.  I lean in closer, and now I can feel the warmth of his mouth across the tiny gap between us, and we're so close...

Suddenly, a familiar sound cuts the air.

*Snikt*

My eyes fly open and I turn them toward the courtyard, where Logan is standing with his claws out, glaring in our direction.  'Ro is standing next to him with a hand on his arm.

"...need to let her move on," 'Ro says softly.  He doesn't respond, continuing to glare.  I walk to the balcony ledge and his eyes bore into me.  Then, slowly, the glare softens to an expression that I can't decipher.

We continue staring at each other, something passing between us, but what, I don't know.  I feel so mixed up right now.  Remy comes up behind me, and Logan's face darkens to a glare again.  'Ro's eyes travel from Logan to Remy and back to Logan.

"Logan," 'Ro says gently, pulling his arm.  A low growl is rumbling from Logan's throat, and 'Ro puts a hand on his chest as he takes a step forward.

"Don't," she says.  The wind is picking up, and the branches on all the trees begin whipping back and forth.  Logan starts to shake her off, when the sky darkens in a matter of seconds, and suddenly a bolt of electricity strikes the ground just ten feet in front of him, stopping his advance.  Moments later it begins to pour, the wind howling and streaks of lightning flashing across the sky.  The flowers are blown off the tables and the tablecloths are getting soaked, but 'Ro doesn't stop the maelstrom.  Logan looks back at 'Ro, and then to me again.  She places a hand on the back of his neck and says something inaudible to him; slowly, recognition crosses his face, and he sheathes his claws.

The rain is coming down in sheets. "C'mon chère, we need to get inside," Remy urges, taking me by the hand.  He begins pulling me towards the door, covering me with a protective arm.  I steal one more glance back at Logan, who watches me until I'm in the door, then turns away.

Remy shuts the door to the balcony and gently guides me into the bathroom.  While he rummages through the linen closet, I wrap my arms around myself and watch the water drip from my hair.

I can't get the look on Logan's face out of my mind.  What was that?  Anger?  Jealousy? Accusation?  I feel like somehow I've been caught, but I haven't done anything wrong, and neither has Remy.  I refuse to be made to feel that way.  He can't say he wants to be friends one minute, and then start popping the claws the next minute when a man gets close to me.  It's not right.  You can't have it both ways.

But then I also watched as his face changed to something like...regret. Loss.  It almost broke my heart to see that look on his face.  I can never stand to see him suffer in the slightest, and to see that look...Right then and there I wanted to jump down from that balcony and run to him.  But loss of what?  You can't lose something you never had.  You can't mourn the loss of something you never wanted.

Or is it the loss of the person he thought I was?  The loss of the neat little arrangement we had, where he could run about town bedding any woman he pleased, then come home and pal around with innocent little Rogue, who played the asexual, unattached friend and companion?  Always available, just waiting around for him.

I'm sorry, but I just can't do that anymore.  It hurts too much.

"Let's get you dried off before you catch a cold," says Remy, tenderly wrapping me in a big, fluffy towel.  He takes a smaller towel and begins blotting my hair to stop the dripping.  I'm feeling chilly now, and my body starts shivering.  Remy tosses the small towel aside and pulls me to his warm chest, wrapping his arms around me tightly and rubbing my back.  I rest the side of my face on his chest and start to relax as his body heat envelops me.

We stand there like that for a few minutes, just holding each other, feeling the heat return to our bodies.  Slowly, tentatively, I snake my arms around his waist.  So warm.  My hands leisurely stroke the smooth skin of his back; and then, as if they have a mind of their own, they wander to his sides, skating up and down, caressing his beautiful, perfectly cut obliques.

Remy hand stops rubbing my back.  I wait for further reaction, but he says nothing.  My fingers continue their shy exploration, tracing the muscle down his hip, until they reach the waistband of his pants.

Remy's arms loosen their tight hold, and he pulls back, searching my face; still, he says nothing. My fingertips slowly move over his stomach, and he draws in a ragged breath, touching his forehead to mine.

"Rogue..." he says softly, "chère...we--"

I don't let him finish, now sliding my hands up his bare chest and then behind his neck. Please don't stop me.  I need this.<\/i> I pull him down, arching up desperately to bring his mouth to mine.  His lips are warm and soft, his kisses are gentle, sweet.  His breathing quickens as his hands tighten around the small of my back; I start to deepen the kiss, but then Remy breaks away.

"Chère...don't do this," he whispers.

I look up at him with uncomprehending eyes.  He brings his hand to my face, and with his thumb, gently wipes away a tear that has run down my cheek.

"Remy be the best thief there is, but someone has already stolen chère's heart and locked it up tight."

For a moment, I'm unable to speak.  Then I bow my head down in defeat.  "It doesn't matter.  He may have my heart, but he doesn't want it.  Not in that way."  I look up at Remy again in earnest.  "You can help me break my heart free, Remy.  Just help me forget for a while.  You don't have to love me.  You don't even have to care for me.  Please."

"Oh, chère," he says softly, covering my hands and moving them over his heart.  "I do care for you.  And that is why I cannot do this."

I shake my head in disbelief.  "I don't understand."

"I can't break your heart free without hurting you, too.  You belong with him.  I see that now."  He gazes at me with a wistful smile.  "The Wolverine has stolen your heart without even tryin', and like a fool, he's hidden it so far away that he's forgotten what a great treasure he has, just for the takin'.  But don't you worry none.  Soon he's gonna come to his senses."

"And if he doesn't?" I whisper.

"He will.  Trust me, petite.  Remy knows a thing or two about love." He winks at me.  "And if he doesn't, well, 'den I'm gonna have to charge up a whole deck of cards and knock some sense into that thick metal skull of his."

I laugh and sniffle.  "You are so bad.  But then again, I might ask you to if he doesn't come to his senses."

He takes both of my hands in his and kisses them.  "C'mon, chère.  Let's find something dry for you to wear, and 'den you can watch sappy old movies with Remy and eat dinner on the sofa."

"Thanks, Remy," I smile.  "That sounds wonderful."

He rummages in the linen closet once more and pulls out a fresh robe for me, then leaves the bathroom and shuts the door.  After stripping down and taking a hot shower, I hang my dress, bra, and panties over the shower curtain bar, then wrap myself in the robe and tie the belt snugly.  For a moment I wonder if I should feel self-conscious about my drawers just hanging out there in the open like that in Remy's bathroom.  Of course, Remy's probably no stranger to having women's lingerie scattered about his living quarters, so it probably won't even faze him, I muse.  And then I wonder if it's weird that I'm going to be strolling around his room wearing a robe with not a stitch underneath.  Oh yeah.  Already did that once today in the library.  How ironic that I'm right back where I started.  I can't seem to stay clothed appropriately today.

When I come out of the bathroom, Remy has changed his clothes and already has a small feast of French bread, cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, and grapes laid out on the coffee table.  He sets a couple of Hubig's Pies on the table next to the grapes.  "A guilty pleasure," he smiles sheepishly.

"Hey, nothing to feel guilty about, sugar.  Clearly you're burning those off as soon as you eat them, 'cause you are looking mighty fine to me.  But if you're worried, I'll help you by eating both myself," I say with a grin.

"You better not!" he says, daring me to try.

"After the day I've had, those pies are as good as mine," I reply with a glint in my eye.

Our eyes lock in challenge as we circle the coffee table, poised to dive and snatch the sweet paper-wrapped confections.  I lunge forward to grab the pies, but Remy gets there first, snatching them and spinning out of my reach.

"Hey! Gimme those pies!" I laugh, and then wince in pain as I pull back up.

"You ok?" Remy asks, immediately by my side.

"Yeah, I'm fine," I assure him, rubbing my neck and shoulder.  "I'm just a little sore still, from this morning's Danger Room session."

"Oui, that was a tough one," he agrees.  "Ol' Cyke was intent on runnin' us ragged."  He pats the sofa.  "Sit here, chère.  Let Remy take care of you with his magic fingers."

Reluctantly I sit down and turn my back to Remy.  "I'm fine, Remy, really.  And besides, I've never really liked massages anyw--oooohhh," I moan.

"You were saying?" Remy says with a knowing tone.

"I was just saying---mmm---where have you and your magic fingers---ooohh---been all my life?"  Remy chuckles and continues to melt away all the knots in my neck and shoulders with his skilled hands.

"Mmm...oohhh..."  My head lolls forward as Remy massages the base of my neck.  "I am so embarrassed, but I just can not stop---aaahh---moaning."

"You're not the first femme to say that to Remy," he quips.

I look back at him and roll my eyes.  "Oh lordy be, did you just say that out loud?"

He grins back at me. "Yes I did," he says with a self-satisfied air.  "You got a problem with that?"

"As a matter of fact, I do--oooo!" I moan in satisfaction as Remy presses his thumbs deeper into my shoulder muscles.  "Oh God! Remy!  That feels so--ahhh---so good!"

"You like that, chère?

"Yes!  Uuunnhh!"

"Does Remy make you feel good?" he says playfully.  "Does Remy touch you in all the right places?"  We're borderlining on sounding like a French porn soundtrack at this point, and he knows it.

"Oh God, yes!" I moan again, unable to stop myself as he massages his way up the back of my neck.  "So good!"

Just then I hear loud growl outside the door and the metallic sing of adamantium blades as they slice through the latch like butter.  Logan kicks open the door and comes charging in the room, chest heaving as he breathes furiously in and out through his teeth.

Remy and I sit there frozen in place with dumbstruck expressions on our faces.

"Easy homme," Remy says, cautiously lifting his hands from my shoulders and holding them in the air.

"Shut up, Cajun," Logan growls, pointing his claws at Remy.

Remy stands up and looks around for something to charge, grabbing the first thing he sees.  "You don't wanna be like that, Wolverine.  Remy is a peace-lovin' man, but you come at me with those knives and I will blast you into next week with this--" he looks at the glowing purple object in his hand. "...pie."

Logan cocks his eyebrow at Remy.  "Really, Gumbo?  A pie?"

"Logan, what are you doing here?" I interrupt, standing up and stepping in front of Remy.

Logan sheathes his claws.  "I..." he shifts uncomfortably.  "I was walking by, and thought I heard you..."  He shifts again and looks around, noting the table of food and then looking Remy up and down.

"Heard me what?" I say, putting my hands on my hips.

"Talking," he stammers.  "I thought I heard you talking in here, and I needed to see you about something."

"I see.  And what was so important that you felt the need to chop Remy's door open and come barging in here like hell on wheels?"

Logan says nothing for a moment, realizing that there is no easy way out of this.

"I need a haircut," he says feebly.  I stand there staring at him with my mouth agape like a slack-jawed yokel, and he shifts again.

"You...chopped open the door.  To ask me for a haircut?" I say finally.

"Yeah, that's right.  I need you to cut my hair.  Right now."  He says it with as much conviction as he can muster, even though it sounds ridiculous.  "The ball is just a couple hours away, so it can't wait.  I need you.  Right now."

My heart skips a beat when he says those last words.  I glance at Remy, who winks at me discreetly.  "Alright, Logan," I say calmly.  "I'll cut your hair."

"Great, let's go."  He grabs my arm and starts pulling me towards the door.

"But Logan, I don't have my--"

"No time, kid.  We gotta move," he cuts me off, yanking me out the door.

"I'll save you a pie," Remy calls out after us.

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:580772","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/580772.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=580772"}}],"title":"fanfic","published":"2015-03-25T15:48:59Z","updated":"2015-03-25T15:51:38Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Takes place somewhere around X2.


That Which I Desire

~*~
give me fuel
give me fire
give me that which I desire<\/i>
"Fuel" - Metallica<\/span><\/span>



The first thing Rogue noticed were his hands.<\/span><\/span>

No, that would be a lie. The Wolverine was in a cage fighting; she noticed lots of others things about him. But when he sat down at the bar, it was his hands that drew her attention. Solidly built, capable hands that held the cigar.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue watched him manage the ensuing trouble. It surprised her to find his hands could be deadly, but only if he wanted.<\/span><\/span>

As time went by those hands of Logan’s gained new significance. A protective hand during a time of need. Gentle hands, seen through Logan’s eyes, removing Rogue from a machine made to kill. Awakening to caring hands cradling her body, trying to save her life.  <\/span><\/span>

Before Rogue realized, she was gauging all men by their hands. Mr. Summers had well-manicured, slim hands that fit nicely with Dr. Grey’s. Bobby’s hands were soft, inexperienced, and unsure; not quite what she was looking for.<\/span><\/span>

When Logan returned and embraced her, holding her again in his strong hands, her mind was made up. Rogue wanted to explore the hands of this man further. From then on she took every opportunity to study him. She learned his habits and knew his vices.<\/span><\/span>

After her first real mission, Logan came to check on her. His hands distracted her, having seen the full extent of what his hands could do, and she wanted to know if they felt the same as before. Rogue had no idea what Logan was saying; she was not listening. Instead she blurted out a request for him to touch her. <\/span><\/span>

Logan hesitated only a second before his gloved hand cupped her cheek, the other wrapped around her waist, pulling her body flush to his. The hand on her face traveled to her throat, then further down her body.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue closed her eyes, resting her head on his shoulder, savoring his hot breath on her ear. He walked her into a darkened corner of the hall as some one passed. Logan easily drew out moans she stifled in the crook of his uniform-covered neck. He lowered the zipper of her uniform. Bared teeth recklessly made their way down her neck and across her collarbone, leaving a trail of heated flesh behind.<\/span><\/span>

Once turned out not to be enough. Logan was more than willing to oblige in stolen moments and secluded places. He took his time learning Rogue's curves, perfecting their routine. She needed to watch his hands on her, to feel the heat through her clothes. Until the day he left his gloves on, insisting he needed to see her body. He proceeded to slowly strip her of her uniform.  Rogue was sure this wasn't quite the battle Xavier meant the uniforms to be used for.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue did not want to stop and analyze what they were doing. She tried not to think of the feelings he stirred up in her heart. For now, she only wished it to continue.<\/span><\/span>

When Rogue found out there might be a cure for her mutation, she rushed to ask. Her question was met with debate; only Logan remained silent in the background. He gave away nothing to the others, but Rogue knew him better. Watching, she saw him flex his hands as if wanting to scratch an itch. Logan felt her eyes on him and shoved his hands into his pockets. <\/span><\/span>

The decision was made. Rogue would take the cure. To feel Logan's bare hands on her skin, to help him satisfy the itch. Even if it only lasted a mere hour or two, she would deal with the disappointment later.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue wouldn't lie to herself now. She was in love and afraid of losing Logan when he decided he wanted more.  <\/span><\/span>


Waiting in line, Rogue felt guilty. There were mutants whose lives were obviously affected by their 'gift', who were afraid to even be in public. Rogue could pass for relatively 'normal'. Her need for the cure was purely to feed a fantasy.<\/span><\/span>

The longer she stood there, the heavier Xavier's words weighed on her. Rogue contemplated leaving when she saw restraints on the chair. She closed her eyes, envisioning Logan's hands, steeling herself for her turn.<\/span><\/span>


When Logan found Rogue, she was swaddled in a blanket on her bed. He tenderly pulled her, blanket and all, into his lap, cradling her while she cried. He stroked her back through the blanket and she realized that his hands would always be strong, even without the adamantium-laced bones.  <\/span><\/span>

"I took the Cure," Rogue sobbed out. Logan tensed like he was bracing for a blow. "It hurt…really bad."<\/span><\/span>

The pain had overwhelmed her; it scorched her flesh like a fire.  Even now Rogue was afraid her skin would slough off.  <\/span><\/span>

"Why?" Logan's voice was barely a whisper.<\/span><\/span>

She could hear his heart beating steadily, but knew he worked hard to keep his breathing even. "I thought you wanted…" Rogue peered out from the blanket covering her. "You're always stretching your hands like you need something more."<\/span><\/span>

Logan choked out a laugh.  "Marie, I always want more where you're concerned."  He started stroking her back again.<\/span><\/span>

Rogue knew the mistake she'd made, projecting her own wants onto him.  She had spent so much time not thinking about what they were doing that she missed all the hints Logan had left along the way.  The murmurings, his understanding of her body and the fact that he no longer went in search of the one-night stands.  <\/span><\/span>

She felt like crying all over again. <\/span><\/span>

A new thought seized Rogue. What if he had only enjoyed the challenge?  What if his attention drifted now that her mutation was gone? "Logan, what if it doesn't last?"<\/span><\/span>

He snorted, "Your mutation never mattered to me.  I'd want you with or without it." Logan stood up, holding her securely.  "How about for now we go down to the med bay and have you double checked.  Make sure your okay. We'll sort the rest out later."<\/span><\/span>

"All right," Rogue sighed.  <\/span><\/span>

There was definitely more to this man than his hands.<\/span><\/span>


~*~<\/span><\/span>

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:580456","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/580456.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=580456"}}],"title":"Fanfic","published":"2015-03-16T15:42:47Z","updated":"2015-03-18T13:32:12Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"This one is for <\/a>roguelotus<\/b><\/a><\/span> for putting up with me.  (Thanks to the usual suspects for the beta.) This is a sequel to Set the Time<\/u><\/a>.

Here Without You<\/b>

I'm here without you baby, but you're still on my lonely mind
I think about you baby and I dream about you all the time<\/span><\/i>
Here Without You - 3 Doors Down<\/span><\/i>


Logan turned away from Marie and stared out at the late spring flowers; it was a cool night for this time of year.  The moonlight filtered through the leaves of the vine-covered arbor, casting splotches of light over the two of them.

"I need to do this, Logan."  He heard the plea for understanding in Marie's voice.

He grunted, arms still crossed over his chest.  Really, what could he say?  He'd offered to go along, but she had told him no.  Marie was determined to finish everything she started.  Especially since the accident.  She'd spent months recovering, taking only enough healing so that she wouldn't die, insistent that she heal like the other X-Men.  He spent a lot of time on the other side of her wall, listening to her cry.

"I won't be hitchhiking this time." Marie broke into his thoughts, touching his arm briefly.  "You've made sure I can fix anything that could go wrong on my old Jeep.  And I know where to call if I run into trouble I can't handle."

Always so damned determined.  Logan shifted his gaze to her face glowing in the moonlight. Making up his mind, he reached for the piece of paper in his jean's pocket.  He handed it to her. "You can reach me there."

Marie elbowed him in the ribs after taking the paper. "Afraid you'd get bored here without me?" She carefully unfolded the paper, examining the number in a patch of light.  Laughing lightly, she added, "You thought about not giving this to me."

She knew him well.  What she didn't know was that he had crumpled it up three times before he finally rescued it from the trash permanently.  Logan wasn't afraid he'd be bored.  He'd had enough time to ponder mansion life without Marie while she recovered.  He didn't want to get used to her not being there.

Marie moved to face him, placing a hand on his arm again.  "Logan, I'll return in a month." Her tone said she was trying to convince herself more than him. "It'll be like old times again."

There it was, that was the thing he was afraid of.  Before Marie came into his life, the future had always been an afterthought, nothing more than tomorrow. Now, Logan had actively started to think of his future and how Marie would play a part in it.

"You leaving tonight?" Marie asked.

"Yeah."

"Still don't like good-byes?" Even though her tone was teasing, he caught the grimace on her face.

"No." Good-byes in Logan's opinion were overrated, people gushed and faked the sentiment. He didn't want it to be like that with Marie. He'd almost missed the last one and didn't want to tell her good-bye again.  But he could see the train-wreck this conversation was going to be.  Logan was a man of action, not words and he knew right now Marie needed to hear some kind of verbal approval from him.

He didn't have any to give her.

On impulse, Logan pulled her to him with an arm around her waist.  Using a gloved hand, he lifted her chin and he brushed his lips across hers.  He watched her for a second as her eyes widened.  He was about to step away, but Marie touched a sideburn with a trembling hand and pressed her warm lips to his. He opened his mouth at her inquisitive tongue.

Marie pushed away with the first sting of her mutation.  The touch hadn't lasted long enough to sap Logan's energy, but it had been enough to leave him wanting more.  It saddened him to think with everything she'd been through, she still struggled with anything more than the briefest of touches.

She blinked at him, her confusion plan to see.  Logan inwardly cursed himself.  He had hoped to convey all his love through the connection, but he failed her, if her face was anything to go by.

Too little, too late.  They were both leaving, why delay his departure?  Logan stepped away and stalked to the mansion.  Moments later, he was on his motorcycle and down the drive.


Logan spent the first few weeks at Carl's, rewiring the place.  Not that it would bring it up to code, but at the least the old man's joint wouldn't burn down.  After that, Logan took a couple odd jobs in the area and fought a few times when Carl needed to make up the numbers.

Most of the time, Logan tried not to think of Marie. He had to be busy from the moment he rolled out of bed in the morning to the second he collapsed into it at the end of the day to keep her out of his mind.

At the end of the month, the X-Men picked him up for a quick mission further north.  Logan learned from Kitty on the return trip that Marie had checked in and wouldn't be back right away.  As he departed the jet, Storm gave him a reassuring smile and advised him to be patient.

Two more weeks crawled by before Logan heard word from Marie.  During breakfast, Carl mentioned a call for Logan the previous night.

"Some gal called," Carl mumbled around a mouthful of eggs.

Logan's coffee cup halted in mid-air. "Oh." He tried hard to sound indifferent.

Carl made Logan wait as he stuffed a sausage link into his mouth. Logan realized he had been holding his cup mid-drink waiting for Carl to tell him more.  Setting the cup down Logan prompted Carl, "There a message?"

Taking a second sausage, Carl slowly chewed it as Logan's patience wore thin.  Another minute passed before Carl looked at Logan from under his bushy eyebrows. "Yep."

Irritated with himself, Logan walked his half-finished breakfast plate to the sink. "And?"

"Sounded young," Carl looked out the window, scratching his beard.  Turning back to Logan with a smirk, he said, "Heard the Wolverine hooked up with a young thing several years back."

Logan gave a low growl as he dumped the last of his coffee down the drain. Carl almost choked on his eggs laughing. As he coughed, he pointed to a scrap of paper taped to the fridge.

Snatching the paper, Logan stared at the barely legible handwriting.  It looked to be for a place around Valdez, Alaska.  Tucking the scrap into his shirt pocket he asked, "She mention anything else?"

Carl brought his plate over to the sink. "Something about hurrying."

Logan checked the time. If he left now and drove straight through he could make it by midnight, maybe one. He hurriedly packed his bag, not that he'd really unpacked it to begin with.

Carl met Logan at his bike, shoving a couple of packages of beef jerky at him. Eyeing Logan thoughtfully, he added, "Good thing you're leaving. Don't cotton to roommates."

Letting out a short laugh, Logan replied, "Old codger like you couldn't keep a roommate."

As Logan started the bike, Carl gave him a slap on the back, "Don't be a stranger."


Logan knocked solidly a second time.  He'd already double-checked to make sure he had the right place.  Marie's Jeep had been the only vehicle down at the main lodge.  He'd tracked her scent up the trail and this was the only occupied rental cabin.

The porch light came on, temporarily blinding him. Marie's sleepy voice came from inside, "My god, Logan. It's almost one in the morning." Her face appeared on the other side of the screen. "Did you drive straight through?"

"You said hurry," Logan answered as Marie unlatched the screen door.

She pushed open the door, allowing him entrance.  "I think you're friend is going deaf." Marie latched the door behind him and switched off the light.  His eyes had already adjusted to the darkness of the interior, but Marie was blindly shuffling toward the bed.  Logan started for a couch when she added, "It's a love seat, you won't fit. Take the other side."

By the time Logan pulled his boots off, Marie was already asleep.


Marie was up early and she'd told Logan if he wanted breakfast he'd better get up. He sat at the small table, hair still damp from the shower, looking at pictures on Marie's phone while she cooked. He recognized Niagara Falls in one picture and a few more that looked to be around the Great Lakes.  "The Grand Canyon?" he asked.

"It only added a few days drive to my schedule.  Why not?"  Marie muttered a curse as the bacon spit. "And Vegas was only a day from there."
Logan listened to her recount her trip while they ate.  She grew silent for several seconds, before she said sheepishly, "I met someone."

He bent his fork at her confession, but she didn't seem to notice.  The best he could muster in reply was a grunt when the silence stretched out uncomfortably.

He'd hoped after he'd told Marie that he loved her; things between them would be easier, but after her recovery, she hadn't wanted to discuss where their relationship was headed.  Even the few times Logan approached it, Marie had changed the subject.  He was coming to the realization she had moved on.  Best to get the inevitable out of the way.

"So this, guy…" he hated the harsh sound of his voice.

Marie threw a huge smile at him as she entered the bathroom for her shower.  "Not a guy," came her light laugh as she left the bathroom door ajar so that they could talk. "He's all man."

Logan looked back at her phone and quickly by-passed the security code.  He immediately began examining the photos again, looking for any male faces appearing more than once.

Turning on the water, Marie continued the conversation where she left off. "Let's see; he's tall, dark, and ruggedly handsome.  Met him in a bar.  It was crowded with lots of yelling, but all I could look at was him."

He continued to scan the pictures, but there were just random faces.

"The first week flew by. He's a little rough around the edges, but he's had a hard life," she finished, shutting off the water.

Putting down the phone, Logan asked, "Is he good to you?"

"Yeah, he is.  He tries not to show it, but he worries about me." Marie opened the door all the way.  She walked out; drying her hair with a towel, another wrapped around her body.

Logan's eyes went to the 'fresh' scar at her shoulder.  He closed his eyes. It wasn't an unsightly scar; it had healed nicely, but he'd failed her.

Marie stepped over to him. "Hey. It's okay."  She gave him a faint smile, "It's not your fault, please don't feel guilty about it."

He reached out, lightly tracing his finger over the thickened skin. Her scent changed subtly and she let out a soft breath, "Logan?"

The scar tissue didn't let her mutation pull at his skin and when he finished tracing it with his finger, he left a lingering kiss.  Marie made a small whimper and took hold of his shoulder to keep her balance. Logan placed his hand at the small of her back for added support.  From memory he found the scar at her hip with his other hand and softly traced it also.

She began to back them toward the bed. "Logan," she whispered into his ear as she pulled him down on the bed, "I learned to control my skin."

Logan froze, still kneeling above her. Marie's breath was hot on his ear. He had a hard time separating out her heartbeat from his. Her 'please' was barely audible.

He let his hand spread out along her hip, watching her carefully for any sign he needed to stop.  That she needed time to regain control.  He expanded his exploration of her to the smooth skin of her stomach, pushing up the towel as he went.

His brain began overriding the hormones flooding his system. Bending down for a kiss, Logan had the nagging feeling something was wrong. "Marie, what about your man?"

She stared up at him, "Huh?"  Marie's eyes suddenly widened, "Oh. I could call him, but last time I had to leave a message." When Logan's brow furrowed, she added with a laugh, "My man sure can be thick-headed sometimes."

He closed his eyes in self-disgust at his inability to detect that she'd been teasing him. Logan lay down on the bed next to her, staring at the ceiling. He drew her closer to him with an arm around her waist.

She sighed happily, resting her chin on his chest. "Ah, Sugar, I love you." Marie kissed his chest through his t-shirt. "You'll laugh about it someday."

"I love you too, Marie." He put an arm over his eyes. "I want what's best for you, but I'm lost here."

"I'm sorry.  I haven't exactly been open about my feelings.  After the accident, I needed to make sure I could be an X-Man all on my own."  She picked up his arm to look him in the eye. "I can't tell you how much I appreciate you staying all those months, through the days you stood outside my door cause I wouldn't let you in and the nights you listened to me cry. It made me love you even more to know you would stay even though it wasn't on your terms."

Marie let Logan's arm drop to the bed above his head. "This trip was supposed to be me sorting out my feelings about you…us.  But everywhere I stopped, all I could think about was how much I wished you were there to see it with me."

"We could do that. Go places together," Logan offered.

Marie placed another kiss on his chest. "We could. I'd plan getaways and you could growl at people and pretend you didn't want to be there." She smiled up at Logan while her hand inched its way under his shirt. "Right now, you could show me what you drove non-stop through the night for."

"That I can do, Darlin'," he said as he pulled away her towel.

~*~
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:580254","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/580254.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=580254"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (5\/?)","published":"2015-03-16T12:48:20Z","updated":"2015-03-16T12:48:20Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Chapter 5 of A little Off the Top

Well, right about now I'm wishing that I was telepath, or a teleporter like Kurt, so I could take a peek into my room and see if Logan is still there.  I've been hiding out in the second floor reading nook at the end of the East wing, trying to act all casual while random people give me odd looks.  Why yes, fellow mansion dweller, it was quite necessary to visit the library wearing nothing but my bathrobe.  See, 'cause I just looove books.  Can't get enough of them.  In fact, I love them so much, I couldn't even wait long enough to put some clothes on first.  That's how much I love them.  It's perfectly normal.  Yeah, totally.

I suppose I could have gone to Jubilee's or Kitty's room to hide out.  But after that whole thing with Bobby spilling the beans about Logan and Angelica, I just didn't feel like going back there yet.

I didn't really have a plan per se for what I would do once I put on my little rebellious naked parade in front of Logan.  Once I strutted out of that room, I just started making a beeline towards the first place I could think of on the fly.  That's the problem with us hotheads.  We don't really think things through before we do something impulsive like that.  I have to shake my head and roll my eyes at myself.  Not so Rogue-ish now, are we?  Instead I'm hiding--hiding--<\/i>like a ridiculous juvenile, afraid of facing the big, bad Wolverine after that display I put on.  Still, it was totally worth it to see the look on Logan's face.

I think my inappropriate attire and impending nakedness have killed the peaceful reading vibe in the room, because everyone has quietly cleared out.  Sigh.  I suppose I need to strap on a set and start heading back to my room, Logan or no Logan.  Besides, I'm getting cold.  Reaching up to put away the book in my hand, I spot a worn copy of Anne of Green Gables<\/i>.  Oh, man--I haven't read that series since I was a kid.  That brings back a flood of memories.  My best friend Sarah and I used to voraciously read all about Anne and her misadventures, and then try to reenact them, pretending we were Anne Shirley and Diana Barry.  Sarah was the sweet, proper one, so she liked being Diana.  I was always Anne, of course.  That's how I broke my arm the summer I was twelve, trying to walk the roof of Daddy's tool shed the way that Anne walked the Barry's kitchen roof.

After I pulled that stunt, Daddy wanted to take away all my Anne of Green Gables books so I wouldn't get any more ideas.  But Mama stepped in and said it was good for a girl to have ideas, good to get into trouble once in a while.  That's what made a girl independent, and tough, she said.  Thanks to Mama, I was back to reading my books the very next day.

I always admired Anne for her spirit, her spunk.  Maybe she was an orphan, but she found a new family and became friends with people who loved her more than she could have ever hoped.  And no matter what bumps life threw her way, she was always able to overcome them, in her own unexpected and gloriously spunky way.

After flipping through the pages, I push Anne back onto the shelf, then pause.  You know what?  Maybe it would be kind of fun to read her again, just for old time's sake.  I tuck the book under my arm and head for the door.  Ugh, I hope I don't run into anyone I know, like Scott.  Or worse yet, one of my students.

"Oh, hi!  You're Rogue, right?"

Aw, cheese and crackers.  This can not be happening.  I've never met this person before in my life, but somehow, I know exactly who she is.  Why, oh why do you delight in torturing me, fate?

"I'm Angelica.  I'm so glad that I bumped into you; I wanted to introduce myself before the mission tonight."  She extends her hand and flashes a mega-watt smile.  I want to punch all her perfect teeth in.

Where did that come from?  No, Rogue.  Be nice.  Be professional.  This woman has done nothing to you.

Yeah.  Nothing except swoop into my domain with her flowing red hair to take my Logan away.  Screw being nice, says my inner voice.

You know, me and Logan, we were getting along just fine before this red-headed hussy showed up, says the voice.   We had a good thing going.  In fact, things were just starting to warm up.  I bet if I could have just kept chipping away at his resolve, he would have been mine in no time.  Then she came along.  What a coincidence that Logan decided to have "the talk" with me the same day he and Miss FireSlut met up at the gym for some "physical education".

The thought makes my blood boil.  For the first time since I learned to control it, my skin wants to turn itself on.  Quite suddenly, I can feel everything, only magnified; the insidious craving, the itch to touch bare skin and feel the pull, the insatiable hunger.  My skin is hungry for life, and power, and memories.  It wants to reach out, and take, and take until there's nothing left.

A black thought, snakelike and sinister, creeps up the back of my neck and coils into my brain.  It would be so easy.  So easy to just extend my arm and take her hand, under the guise of friendship and politeness.  She would never see it coming.

I wouldn't have to hold on for very long.  Just a brief touch, enough to take a peek at her memories.  That's all.  We don't really want to hurt her.  We just want to know what she and Logan have been up to.  We need to know.

Just one, little, tiny, harmless touch.  She'll barely feel it.  Maybe she'll feel a little dizzy, but she'll shrug it off as nothing.  It's wrong, I know.  But we don't care, do we, says my inner voice.  We deserve to know.

I plaster a smile on my face, and everything is in slow motion as I reach for her outstretched hand.  My heart is beating so loud in my ears and I wonder if she can hear it and I can't believe I'm doing this but I can't stop myself, I don't want to stop myself.  Our hands make contact and I'm still smiling, and then carefully, carefully, the voice says, just for a second it says.  I open the connection, and quickly try to close it before I knock her out.  Unexpectedly a flood of images invade my brain, of Logan smiling at her, flirting with her, giving her that look that is so familiar because it's a look that used to be reserved for only me.  She laughs and touches his chest, and it's like a slap to my face when he touches her face in return.  The images are so vivid, and oh God I forgot, I forgot how strong and fast the memories come on, and I've seen enough and I don't want to see any more, and I try to close the connection, but something is wrong.  I can't close it, and now I can see the veins popping up in her face and her eyes are wide with fear and pain, and I try to pull my hand away, but I can't, I can't.  What's happening?  Let go, my inner voice screams, but I can't.  I can feel her powers surging through my body, the microwave energy pulsing all around, the heat radiating from my pores.  I'm trying to wrench my hand free from hers, but it's like they're fused together, and still her life force is being sucked into my body at an alarming rate, and I can hear her voice inside my head now and she's scared and confused.  Let go! My inner voice and hers scream in unison, and now I can't tell whose voice is whose, and I'm seeing her and seeing myself at the same time, and we both have a look of horror on our faces.

Her pupils have dilated and her eyes are frighteningly black, and her lips are blue now, and I can feel the influx of her life force slowing down, but not because I'm controlling it and not because I've broken contact, but because there's not much left.

Finally the connection is broken; she is emptied, and her body drops to the floor with a sickening thud.  My chest is heaving.  Tears are streaming down my face; tears that are both mine and hers.

What have I done?

I look down at my hands.  My treacherous, poisonous skin and murderous hands.  The air around them is rippling with energy, intense heat radiating from my palms.  The atmosphere is thick and heavy, vibrating with a low, oscillating hum.  The curtains, the wallpaper, the books on the shelf begin to smoke as if they are about to set on fire.

There is a mirror on the wall to my right.  Slowly, I turn my face towards the reflection; the image I see sends a chill down my spine.  Gone are my stripes.  In place of mahogany and white, long voluminous waves of flowing red hair.

Approaching the mirror, I gaze into stricken eyes that are mine and not mine.  What have I done?

The girl in the mirror reaches her hand towards mine; she wants to touch me, but I recoil.  Question fills her eyes... her hand stops, and then hesitatingly withdraws.  Her lips are moving, but I can't make out the words.  She's trying to tell me something.

"I'm sorry," she says.  "I'm--<\/i>

"--sorry, I must have the wrong person.  I thought you were Rogue."

"Huh?"  I blink my eyes a few times and look around.

"I said I'm sorry, I thought you were Rogue, 'cause of the...because of the stripes in your hair.  My mistake.  Sorry about that."

"Fuck," I whisper under my breath.  I've been daydreaming again.  Hallucinating is more like it.  Or was that fantasizing?  Ugh, that is terrible.  I need to snap out of it and get a grip.  What kind of a person thinks those thoughts?  A person who needs serious help, that's who.

Angelica's eyes shift nervously, clearly not expecting a complete stranger to refuse her hand like a leper and then swear at her after what appears to have been a psychotic episode.  Better try to recover this, quick.

"Oh, um...no, hi," I reply awkwardly, pulling my robe a little tighter and offering my hand.  "It's me.  Rogue.  I was just...you caught me off guard is all."  I smile and try to look as normal as possible.

She smiles apprehensively, then shakes my hand.  "Hi, nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you."  Much to my relief, it's nothing but a normal handshake; I have managed to not suck the life out of her.  Go me.  "Sorry about that...thing...a minute ago; it's been a rough day.  I didn't mean to get all weird."

"Oh.  That's ok!" She smiles without reserve now.  "We all have days like that, right?"

"Yeah," I chuckle, and this time, I'm the one to smile without reserve.  Something about her demeanor puts me at ease right away.

"So, um...yeah.  I just wanted to introduce myself, and I thought maybe we could get to know each other a little bit before the mission tonight."

"Oh, yeah.  Of course.  That's a great idea." I glance down at my appearance and smile sheepishly.  "As long as you don't mind me hanging around in this getup.  Don't ask."

"Not at all," she laughs.  "And I won't ask."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour has passed like the blink of an eye since we sat on the sofa for a chat.  In such a short time, I feel like I've known her my whole life, and all I have to say is this.  Slap me with bread and call me a sandwich, she really is as great as everyone says she is.  After a mere 10 minutes of talking to her I could see what all the fuss was about.  Smart, funny as hell, super nice--a much nicer person than I am, apparently, seeing as that she doesn't seem to have warped fantasies about draining the life and memories out of a person she just met--and, dare I say, hot.  She really does have a whole cute yet sexy thing going on.  Great smile, and dammit if her laugh isn't just the right mix of feminine and genuine.  No wonder both Logan and Bobby want her.  Hell, if I ever switched sides, I'd<\/i> want her.

She's the real deal, too; an open book with not a fake or malicious bone in her body.  I have a very sensitive bullshit meter, and this girl has not set it off.  Not even remotely.  She's actually... someone that I could see myself being friends with.

This is so unfair.  I wanted to hate her.  I really, really did.  But instead, I find myself actually liking<\/i> her!  What the hell just happened?

Suddenly I'm feeling very conflicted.  For once, I realize, Logan is interested in a woman that might actually be good for him.  That's never happened before.  She's a genuinely good person, with just enough sass to hold her own against his strong and dominant personality.  And I think she would treat him right.  If I really care for him, shouldn't I want what's best for him?  Shouldn't I want him to be with someone if there's a chance that she might make him happy?  He deserves that.

And what about Angelica?  Logan is a great guy...a really great guy.  If she truly likes him, and he truly likes her, and there is even a small chance that they could be happy together, who am I to stand in the way of that?  I can't come between two people, can't crush their potential, just for my own selfish reasons.  That's one step away from being a home wrecker.

It all falls into place.

Angelica is still talking to me, but I can't hear her any more.  I can only feel my long-buried hopes dissolving, floating away.  I can do this for Logan.  I can give him a chance.  And this time, I'm going to keep my promise to be the friend that he needs me to be.

"Hey...are you ok?"  Angelica's brows are drawn together with concern.  "You have tears in your eyes.  What's wrong?"

A tear rolls down my cheek, but this time I don't fight it.  "It's nothing," I reassure her with a watery smile.  "I'm just...PMS-ing.  I get emotional sometimes."

She looks at me with an expression that says she doesn't believe me, any more than Logan believed me when I fed him that line.  To her credit, she says nothing, instead giving me the space I need to grieve without scrutiny.

We decide to take our leave and head back to our rooms; the ball is only a few hours away, and we both need to get ready.  To my surprise, she gives me a hug.  And to my bigger surprise, I hug her back like I mean it...because I do.

We go our separate ways, and I start the long walk back to my room.  Once again, the hallways are empty as I make my way, and I am grateful.  I won't have to explain myself, not for what I'm wearing, and not for my tears.


By the time I reach my room, the tears have dried.  The room is quiet; Logan is not waiting for me.

I drop my robe to the floor, and then my hair towel.  I enter the bathroom and face the mirror.  After a moment, I splash some cool water on my face and pat dry with a towel; then I go to my closet and pull out a forest green wrap dress and black heels.  Laying them on the bed, I go to my dresser and take out a black satin bra and matching panties.

I finish dressing and begin working on my hair and makeup, an elegant upsweep with white strands framing my face, smokey eyes and a touch of gloss on my lips.

I take one last look in the mirror.  Then I gather my things: scissors, clipper, comb, all tucked into a small leather bag.  I turn off the light and close the door behind me, then start down the hall...now turn left at the corner...2, 3, 4...5th room on the right.

I stand in front of the door, and smooth my dress one more time; I take a deep breath, then knock on the door.  For a moment, there is no answer.  I'm about to turn away, when the door unlatches and swings open.

"Why hello, cher.  To what do I owe the pleasure?"  A pair of glowing red eyes peer at me inquisitively, then skate up and down my body.

"I promised you a haircut.  And you promised dinner and une lagniappe<\/i>."

He pauses, surprised at my assertion.  "That I do recall, Miss Rogue," he says finally.  He studies my face for a moment, then steps aside.  "Please, entrez<\/i>."

His eyes follow me as I walk past, and then the door shuts behind us.

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:579939","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/579939.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=579939"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (4\/?)","published":"2015-03-10T14:16:55Z","updated":"2015-03-10T14:16:55Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Chapter 4 of A Little Off the Top.  Hope you like!

Moved on.  I can't believe he's moved on already.  Did we not just have "the talk" only yesterday?  He didn't even wait a full day.

Correction, I tell myself; we were never "together", so there was never anything to move on from.  He made his intentions clear--he did say in not so many words that he couldn't lose me...but as his best friend.  <\/i>That's the distinction.

What did I think was going to happen here?  That Logan would just be content with my friendship and not need the company of another woman, ever?

I turn off the water and lower myself slowly into the hot, foamy bathwater, my only comfort when I'm feeling like this.  I ache all over from this morning's Danger Room session, but none of that compares to the ache in my chest.

Bobby was right; Logan didn't waste any time, either.  That stung.  So, what, did he bear his soul to me by the stream, get the reassurance he needed, carry me to the mansion on his back, then waltz directly to the gym and start his campaign to get the Shiny New Thing in his bed?  God, I feel like such an ass.

An ass because it was so easy for him to draw that line of friendship, and so hard for me to stay behind that line.  I reassured him that I understood; and yet, on some subconscious level, I somehow still thought of Logan as mine, despite the words that we said.  I blatantly danced up and down that line, whether I was aware of it or not.  I convinced myself, promised that I would be the friend that he needed me to be, when in fact I was just burying my feelings all over again.  I managed to fool both him and myself.

The more I think about it, the more foolish I feel.  When we stood there by the stream, I thought I felt something more between us at that moment, even if he couldn't say it.  I had somehow imagined that there was this undeniable heat between us when it was in reality just simple flirtation; he held my face, caressed my lips, and I mistook his tenderness to mean feelings of romance.

I have no one to blame but myself.  And that makes it all the worse.

There is a familiar stinging in my eyes, and I know what's coming.  Don't cry.  Don't. Fucking. Cry.  It seems I'm throwing a little Rogue pity party of one, and I am not having that bullshit.

I direct my eyes down to the bubbles floating on the water, and try to distract myself by searching for random shapes and patterns.  Despite my monumental efforts to not give in to the urge to cry, a tear slides down my nose and falls into the water, creating a small ripple in the surface.

Ok, just one tear, but that's it.  I will not allow any more.  Against my wishes, another slides down my cheek, and then another.

"Argh!" I growl, and slide down, completely submerging myself under the water.  Fine, you little fuckers.  Try rolling down my face when you're under water.

I clamp down and wait for the tightness in my chest to dissipate.  20...21...22...The silence, save the odd, subdued sounds of being underwater, makes me feel like I'm suspended in another world, and I try to find peace in that feeling.

"Marie?  Marie!" says a muffled voice from above, and suddenly I'm being pulled swiftly upright by two strong hands.

"What the--" I sputter, grasping the side of the tub and wiping my eyes.  "Logan?"

"Are you ok?  What the hell are you doing?" he demands.

I stare at him for a moment as if he has gone mad.  "I'm taking a bath, what does it look like?"

His eyes scan the room, noting the candles and bottle of bubble bath solution.  "I don't know.  It looked like you were drowning when I walked in.  I just reacted on instinct."

We continue staring at each other for a long moment, until his eyes dart to my breasts, and I suddenly realize that I am very naked here.  I gather the bubbles around me to cover up, and he looks away, clearing his throat.

"What are you doing here, Logan?  Haven't you ever heard of knocking?"

"I did knock, but you didn't answer."

"Well then, I guess that means that I'm either not home, or I don't want company," I say smartly.

He looks at me but doesn't say anything for a moment.  "Jeanie said that I should come talk to you.  She wouldn't say why."

Jean told Logan to come talk to me?  Why would she do that?

"I knocked on your door, but you didn't answer," he continues.  "I thought you weren't here, so I was going to keep walking, but then...I smelled your tears."

I blink a few times, taken aback by his admission.  I had forgotten just how sensitive his sense of smell is.  Which means that if I even think about making something up about the reason I was crying, he'll know it's a lie.  Shit.  I am not about to tell him that I was crying over him wanting to hook up with Little Miss Cute-yet-sexy-funny-as-hell-great-laugh-great-curves-hot-red-haired-wonder-girl instead of hanging around doing platonic things with his BFF for the rest of his life.

"Why were you crying?"

"I don't know."

"Bullshit.  Why were you crying?" he says again.

"I'm PMS-ing," I lie futilely.  "It's perfectly normal for women to be emotional when it's close to that time of the month."

He crosses his arms.  "Try again."  Damn.  I thought talking about female stuff would throw him off.

I sigh and look at him tiredly.  "Logan...please.  I don't want to talk about it.  Just...let me be, ok?"  I hug my knees to my chest.

He scans my face for a moment, and then his eyes soften.  Moving closer, he sits on the side of the tub and leans in.  "Hey," he says gently, lifting my chin.  "Look at me."

I don't want to.  Looking into your eyes will just break my heart and I'll start crying again.

"Marie.  Look at me."

A take a moment to gather myself, and then slowly lift my eyes to his; those intense hazel eyes, so beautiful, looking at me with tenderness and concern.

I open my mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.  What can I say?  That I'm crying because he was totally honest with me about wanting to be just friends, but I didn't think it would be this hard?  That I secretly love him and that it hurts to even think about him being with someone else?  That I promised I would always be there for him, but only if he didn't pursue other women?  I can't say any of that.

"What's going on?" he asks gently.  He tucks a white strand of hair behind my ear, pauses, then slowly trails his finger along my jaw before cupping his hand to the side of my neck and face.

I close my eyes...this feels too good.  His thumb begins to caress my cheek, wiping away the invisible path of the tears I shed earlier, and it's almost too much.  Then I feel his thumb slowly, tentatively begin to caress my lips, just like when we stood by the stream.  My eyes fly open at the sensation; he is staring at me intently with dark, hooded eyes, and my heart flutters.  No.  I'm seeing things that aren't there again.  No, no, no!  I have to stop this right now.

"Don't."  I jerk my chin away, and he looks surprised, then...hurt?  Well--well too bad.  He shouldn't be looking at me like that, touching me like that.  It's sending the wrong message to my heart, and it's already confused as it is.

He's too close.  I can feel his body heat and he smells so good, and oh God I want to pull him into this tub and feel his hard body against my soft curves, and I have to stop this right now before he smells my arousal and I have to protect my heart, and where the hell is my towel?  My mind races and my eyes search frantically for a towel, a robe, anything within reach so I can cover myself and get out of here.  Dammit!  Why do I always forget to keep a towel close by when I take a bath?

Finally I spy my robe across the room, draped over a chair.  Ugh, I'm going to have to ask Logan
to get it for me.  I take a deep breath.  "Would you please get my robe for me?" I mumble.

He doesn't answer.  His brows are furrowed and his jaw is set, and I can tell that he's gone from hurt to angry.

"Logan, please.  My robe."

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"Not until you tell me what's going on."

Now it's my turn to be angry.  "I don't have to tell you anything!"

"Darlin', I can wait here all day," he says, crossing his arms.  "As long as it takes."

Oh, the nerve!  Who does he think he is?  He's going to hold me hostage in my own tub, just so he can satisfy his curiosity?  Well screw that!

I glare at him for a few moments, fuming while he just sits there arrogantly with an eyebrow cocked like he knows I'll have to give in.  Well, he's got another thing coming if he thinks I'm going to cave in to his little pressure tactic.

"You know what, Sugar?" I say with an evil smirk, "It's a good thing you don't age, 'cause you're gonna be waitin' a long time."  I rise to my feet and face him head on, enjoying the feel of water and bubbles sliding down my body, reveling in all my naked glory.  The look on his face is priceless.

I reach for his shoulders, bare breasts a mere few inches from his face as I steady myself and step out of the tub.  I saunter across the room, grab a towel from the bar, and hear a low rumble from Logan's chest as I bend over to wrap my hair in a turban.  Without so much as a glance backward, I slip on my robe and walk out of the bathroom.  If he won't leave, then I will.

"Be sure to close up here when you're all finished," I call out behind me as I strut out of the room and shut the door.
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:579806","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/579806.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=579806"}}],"title":"Fanfic : Right Here Waiting Series","published":"2015-03-09T13:47:56Z","updated":"2015-03-09T13:47:56Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dotfp"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Story number 3 in the series.

Pain

Pain, can't get enough
Pain, I like it rough
Cause I'd rather feel pain than nothing at all
Pain - Three Days Grace

~*~

Rogue leaned back against the bar next to him.  "What ya' want, X-Man?"


Logan took a swig from the beer he'd been nursing all evening waiting for her to show. He'd spent more than enough time in this little pissant bar on the shady side of town. It was wearing on his nerves and the last thing he need was to get tetchy.

He surveyed her from the corner of his eye.  She looked the same, covered head-to-toe, only her face bare. The leather duster on top of her leather outfit was overkill in this weather. There was a harsher, edgier look to her than the young woman he remembered.  This Rogue smelled different. The same underlying tones were there with less innocence and more darkness clinging to her.

Rogue faced Logan, looking him square in the eye as he set the bottle down.  "Well, old man?"  Her voice had a ragged edge that was nothing like the smooth voice he'd hoped to hear again.

"Wanted to see for myself." Logan had searched for her since the day he woke up and discovered Rogue worked for Mystique's Brotherhood.  He'd scoured the reports trying to find why Xavier hadn't brought Rogue into the fold.  Logan had assumed fifty years ago that if Xavier had gotten the core X-Men together, everything else would fall into place.

When Logan turned back to finish off his beer, he could feel her gaze wandering up his body in a sexual manner.  "I like the working man look, but…" Rogue leaned in. "Sugar, you're not my type."

Her scent told him it was a lie, but Logan wasn't here for that.  "Mystique is?"

Anger flared in Rogue's eyes.  "What would some do-gooder X-Man know about my life?"

"I know you're better than this."  Her eyes narrowed as he continued.  "Better than stolen powers you have no more control over than your own.  Instead of following Mystique's little self-serving agenda, you helped save us all."

Rogue sneered, "I could break ya' in half old man."

Logan stood up, tossing money on the bar for his drink. "You could, but you won't…" He ran a finger through the white streak of hair. "Marie."  He turned on his heel, walking straight for the side door that led to the alley.

Once outside in the narrow alley, he stopped to light a cigar.  It had been guess work about Rogue's control issue.  After following her for a week, he'd seen with his own eyes that she lacked all control over her mutation.

Yet, Logan remembered the Rogue of his timeline talking about having a slow, growing control. First she had blushed prettily talking about a kiss with Bobby.  Then the incident of using Pyro's power to put out fires Pyro had started.  She had left neither boy anywhere near a coma or in any long-lasting, weakened state. If that Rogue could gain some measure of control, more than likely this Rogue could, too.

He heard the bar door open, Logan didn't need to turn around to know that Rogue had followed him.  He smiled to himself; she'd been an easy mark.  Logan had purposely used the two weapons at his disposal against her; people were afraid of her power and no one knew her name.

"What's your game, X-Man?" Rogue wasn't even trying to hold in her anger anymore.

He looked back over his shoulder, blowing smoke. "No game."  Logan egged her on. "Thought you'd want more outta life than Mystique offers."  He began to walk away.

Rogue grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around.  Logan felt his feet drag across the ground as she pushed or rather flew them toward a wall.  "Ya know what I think." The bricks gave when they hit the wall opposite the bar. "I think you're slumming. None of them X-Men will play rough with ya."

It took a lot of self-control for Logan to remain passive.  Rogue balled her fists tighter into his jacket, jerking him forward for a kiss.  He let her kiss him, even when he felt her mutation begin to pull at him. She pushed him away, obviously confused by his reaction. She'd expected him to be scared, to try and fight her touch.  Everyone did.

He seized the moment, gently skimming a bare hand through her hair. "You were an X-Man."

"Me an X-Man? You've gone crazy." Rogue hissed at him.

Logan lifted an eyebrow and gave her a dare-you type of smile. "All you have to do is take a look."  This time he cupped her face and gently kissed her. He held on after Rogue's mutation took over, even as his strength began to drain and he sagged against the wall.

Rogue broke away first, violently pushing herself in the other direction.  Stumbling into the other wall, before she fell to her hands and knees on the dirty pavement. "What did ya do to me?" she wheezed.

He shook his head to clear it.  "Gave you a glimpse of who you could be."  Logan had tried to push forward all the positive memories of the Rogue he'd known.

She tried standing up, but had to lean on the wall for support.  Logan noticed a subtle change in her face, the hard lines around her eyes eased. "Can you help us…her?" The Southern accent was gone, replaced by something that sounded like a faint New England dialect.

"I can't, but Professor Xavier can."  Logan began to walk away, a little unsteady, but nothing he wouldn't recover from. "You know where to find us, if you decide to make a change."

This was all he could do for this Rogue.  He hoped it would be enough and that she would want to change.

~~~~~~

Rogue stood, scrutinizing the front entrance to the X-Mansion.

It had been a week since she'd kissed Wolverine.  Three days to come to terms with the Wolverine's memories.  Two days to make the decision.  Another day to inform Mystique.

She smelled the cigar smoke before she saw Wolverine step out from the shadows of the trees. "I ain't her," Rogue told him as he came to stand beside her.

"Didn't expect you to be," he said taking the cigar from his mouth.

"Won't ever be her," she added with a sigh.  Standing there at the quiet campus so far from her chaotic life, Rogue wondered what possessed her to turn her life upside down.

It was that damn promise.  The one Wolverine made to that silly, little girl he thought of as Marie. Rogue might have been that girl a decade ago. It was hard to remember. Maybe if Wolverine had been there for her and made that promise to her, Rogue's life wouldn't be the mess it was now.

Wolverine blew out smoke. "Then why'd you come?"

Rogue shrugged her shoulders.  "I won't ever be that innocent again.  Done too much to regret.  Don't know if I can ever find the happiness I saw."  She irritably wiped at her eye.  "But if I could make up for some of the things I've done, learn to be content with who I am."

She picked up her duffle bag; still staring at the old, brick mansion set on perfectly manicured lawns. Not the kind of place you would expect the X-Men to live.  She knew that Mystique had once lived here.  But could Rogue make it a home, would they even let her try?

Rogue toyed with the idea of walking away from all of it.  Maybe find a place far away, where no one knew her.

"Ain't going to be easy," Wolverine said. "I'm guessing there's some bad history between you and the X-Men."

Rogue nodded her agreement.  "Will you stick with me?" she asked looking at him for the first time.  In that moment Wolverine's face softened and she saw a glimpse of the Logan who must have cared for the Marie of his memories.

Wolverine smiled down at her. "I promise." He took the duffle from her hand, throwing an arm around her shoulders.  "Come on, kid, let's go see Chuck."

She let him guide her up to the front door. "Tell me, Logan," Rogue caught his half-smile at her use of his name. "Was Marie your girl?"  She opened the door as he coughed, trying not to look at her.

~*~
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:579349","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/579349.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=579349"}}],"title":"Fanfic","published":"2015-03-06T22:10:51Z","updated":"2015-03-06T22:10:51Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dotfp"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Second story in the Right Here Waiting series.


Goodbye to Yesterday

~~~~

This world will never be what I expected<\/i>
Never to Late – Three Days Grace

~*~

Logan woke up dazed.  Taking in his surroundings, for a second he thought he'd woken up again in the seventies. He slowly put the pieces together.  There were the same type of curtains with the geometric design and a golden oldie on the radio.  Evidence pointed to a woman having been in bed with him; the woman's scent was familiar, but he couldn't quickly place it.

When the shower in the bathroom was shut off; he rolled out of bed, grabbing for the sweat pants on the floor. He was pulling on his t-shirt when Rogue walked into the bedroom wrapped in a towel.  Logan's mind went blank as he stared at her then the rumpled bed and back again; trying to put two and two together.

Rogue? He and Rogue? Rogue and him?

While Logan was still trying to wrap his mind around the situation, she opened a dresser drawer and began pulling out undergarments. "Good thing you're up or you'd be late for your class."  The towel was dropped to the floor, and he could only stare as she began to slip on her underwear. "Close your mouth Sugar. Not the first time you've seen me naked."  Rogue hooked her bra and turned to the closet to finish dressing.

Logan had obediently closed his mouth hoping his state of confusion wouldn't be obvious.  "Where's Bobby?"

She looked at him over her shoulder, "Bobby? You mean Bobby Drake? What do you want him for?"

"Not me," Logan replied. "Aren't you two dating?"

"Me and Bobby Drake?" Rogue laughed, "You've gone mad."

Once again he looked at the bed and back to Rogue.  This was unexpected to say the least.  Not him waking up to find a woman in his bed, that wasn't new.  But Rogue?

Well, why not?  She had curves aplenty and long hair he could see himself tangling his hands in. They must have been closer in this timeline than his old one.

Turning toward him, Rogue had a pair of jeans and a clean t-shirt from the closet shelf. "The Professor lets you get away with quite a bit, but I don't think he'd approve of you teaching in your sweats."

Logan took the clothes from her. "Teaching?"

Rogue examined his face, "Are you okay? You seem a little…a lot out of it."

He tossed the clothes on the bed.  Wrapping a lock of white hair around his finger, "Rogue, how long have we been…" Logan gestured toward the bed with his free hand.

She raised her eyebrows, "Do you mean having sex or sharing a bed?" Rogue flashed him a seductive smile that made him wander what her mouth tasted like.  "Cause we've been doing one longer than the other."

Logan quirked an eyebrow at her as she placed a hand behind his head and pulled him down for a kiss.  Rogue molded her body to his, eliciting a response from him.  It was clear to Logan that she knew how to set his blood on fire.  She leaned back, breaking the kiss and flicking a nipple though his t-shirt. She looked up at him, seductive smile slowly fading.

Rogue's eyes narrowed with concern, her hand slipped around to rest on his sideburn. "Logan, what's wrong?"

How did he tell her that the hopes and expectations she had for their relationship might all come to a screeching halt?  That he had no memory of an intimate relationship with her, Logan only remembered being her friend?

She heaved a sigh, lips set in a grim line. "Oh.  The Professor warned me something like this might happen." Rogue's scent went from that of desire to sadness.

He felt guilty, because they'd been shooting for a better future when he traveled back in time.  Logan could tell from the slump of her shoulders that he'd crushed her better future.

"Well," she said with a tear sliding down her cheek. "You better go find the Professor.  He's probably in his study this time of day."

Logan caught Rogue's arm as she began to turn away.  Her tears were flowing freely now.  He embraced her as she started sobbing, holding her until the crying subsided.  She continued to hold onto him as though her life depended on it.

"We were good together," Rogue said, loosening her grip a little. "Maybe good for each other is a better way to put it.  Better than either of us figured we deserved."

Putting a finger under her chin, Logan lifted her face from his tear soaked t-shirt. "Rogue…" He was unsure what to tell her. He didn't think he had anything to offer her.  He furrowed his brow, pulling something up from his memory. "Marie, I…"

Rogue gave him a water smile. "Don't…don't give up on us.  Promise me that you'll give us a chance."

Logan hugged her against his chest again. He took in all the pictures of them lined up on the far wall and the intermingling of their items around the room.  Maybe Marie had made a better future for him.  Certainly not one he'd envisioned, but a better one nonetheless.

"I promise," he said kissing the top of her head. If it meant giving up some of his preconceived notions of how everyone should be living their lives, he could do that.
~*~
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:579173","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/579173.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=579173"}}],"title":"DOFP Wolverine Toy Figure Revealed","published":"2015-03-05T14:11:44Z","updated":"2015-03-05T14:14:56Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"toys"}}],"content":"Wow, you should see how detailed this Wolverine toy is.  The photography is pretty incredible, too.  Amazing!
http:\/\/comicbook.com\/2015\/03\/04\/new-x-men-days-of-future-past-wolverine-hot-toys-figure-revealed\/<\/a>

\"11021217_10152649898387344_5096681337410483895_n\""},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:578856","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/578856.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=578856"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (3\/?)","published":"2015-03-02T05:11:22Z","updated":"2015-06-10T03:58:43Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Chapter 3 behind the cut.

"Girl, work your magic!" Jubilee says as she plops down on the chair in front of me and opens up a copy of Star magazine.  "I wanna do something different.  Still elegant and classy, but like, you know, with a twist."

"Why do you always have to do something "different" and twisted?" Bobby says without looking up from his phone.  He's sitting over by the window on a giant beanbag chair, hair freshly trimmed thanks to yours truly.

"First of all, I said 'with a twist'," replies Jubilee.  "And second of all, it's because I'm one of a kind, baby.  We can't all be vanilla, now can we, Snowflake?"

Bobby rolls his eyes but smiles, continuing to play games on his phone.  Kitty comes out of the bathroom, hair all rolled up in curlers.

"What about a French braid, only wrapping around your head like a wreath or something, instead of straight down the back?"  Kitty suggests.

"Eh, I don't know about that," says Jubilee doubtfully.

I stand there and tap my chin for a moment.  "How about two poufy buns, up high where pigtails would be, with skinny braids criss-crossing in the back and some gems?"

"YES!  That sounds awe-sommme!"  Jubilee sings.

"Alright then, sugar.  Sit back and let me work my magic."

Just then there is a knock at the door.  "I come bearing pizza and candy," says a deep voice with a Russian accent.

"Peter!"  Kitty exclaims, prancing to the door and swinging it open.

"Hello again, my kotonok<\/i>.  I missed you," Peter says before nuzzling noses with Kitty.

"You two are so cute together," Jubilee complains humorously.  "It's disgusting."

"Yeah, really.  It's been seriously 5 minutes since you last saw each other," Bobby adds.

"Whatever, you're all just jealous," Kitty says as she puts the pizza and candy on the big ottoman.  The boys start digging into the food while Kitty hands Jubilee a slice on a plate.

"Oh yeah, totally jealous," says Jubilee.

I look around the room and smile to myself.  Here we are, adults in our twenties, and we're hanging out in Jubilee's room on a Friday afternoon eating pizza and goofing off like a bunch of teenagers.  It's just like old times.  The only thing missing now is--

"Ooo, you know what we really need?"  Jubilee says.  "We need some adult refreshment."  Yep.  Right on cue as always, Jubes.

"Jubes, it's 1 o'clock in the afternoon," Kitty reminds her.

"Pfftt.  So?  I'm not looking to get hammered.  But it's been a long-ass week for all of us.  I think we deserve a little something, don't we guys?"

"I second that," Bobby agrees.

"Third," says Peter.

"Amen to that," I chime in.  "This morning's Danger Room session was brutal.  My neck is still killing me."

"I know!" groans Jubilee.  "That was rough.  Cyke was relentless with those Sentinel drills.  I thought I was gonna die from sheer exhaustion."

"Where are we going to get alcohol right now?" Kitty asks, hands on her hips.  "This is a school, after all."

The rest of us exchange "the look", and then all eyes turn on Kitty.  Her eyes widen with realization.  "Oh, no.  No way."  She crosses her arms.

"C'mon, Kittyyy," Jubilee says in a sing-song tone.  "We're thirsty..."

"I'm not doing it."

"Yeah, c'mon, Kitty." Bobby makes a sad puppy face.  "So...thirsty..." he says, coughing and sputtering like a man dying of thirst in the desert.

"No!"  Kitty sighs in protest, but her resolve is already weakening.  "I haven't done it ages.  What if it's not in the same place?  What if I get caught?  He is the world's most powerful telepath, after all."

"Oh my God, Kitty.  Are you seriously worried that you'll get in trouble or something?"  Jubilee laughs.  "We're not kids anymore."

"Well...no," Kitty falters.  "But can you imagine how embarrassing it would be if I did get caught? I mean, we are adults and all, but still.  Plus, it's the middle of the day.  I've only ever done it at night."

"Where's your sense of adventure, Shadowcat?"  I question her as I take a bobby pin from my mouth and secure one of the buns on Jubilee's head.  "You're supposed to be the queen of stealth.  And besides, the Professor is going to be all over the mansion supervising preparations for the ball.  He's probably nowhere near his office.  C'mon, Shadowcat, live up to your name.  Use your powers for the greater good."

Kitty looks to Peter, who shrugs his shoulders and smiles.  "It's up to you, my kitten.  Could be fun."

"C'mon, Shadowcat!  Shadowcat, Shadowcat," Bobby chants, and then Jubes and I join in.  "Shadowcat, Shadowcat!"

"Ugh, fine," Kitty concedes with a roll of her eyes.

"Yeah!" we all hoot and cheer.

She takes off her robe, already wearing a black t-shirt and leggings.  Peter follows as she walks over to the one side of the room and faces the section of wall between the bookcase and the nightstand.

Purely by accident, we discovered years ago that Jubilee's room is directly above the professor's study; and in fact, this particular wall and this particular spot is directly above his liquor cabinet.  We've gotten into some crazy hijinks over the years, but busting into the Professor's stash was probably the riskiest thing we ever did.

I always wondered if the Professor knew what we were up to, but he never let on that he knew anything.  Back then we always thought, in our over inflated teenage confidence, that we were just that good.  Who knows?  Maybe we were that good.  Or maybe, I muse, he did know what we were up to, but let us get away with it because we were bonding, working together as a team; sort of like preparation for being future X-men.  Would he do that?  Nah...

Kitty rolls her shoulders and shakes her hands loosely like she is preparing for a fist fight, or a sprint.  Jubilee and I look at each other with amused grins.  Bobby has gone downstairs to check the Professor's door and stand as lookout.

Gracefully, like a skilled gymnast, Kitty bends forward and places her hands on the floor, then elevates her feet straight into the air, toes pointed, performing a perfect handstand.  Peter grasps her ankles and looks to me for the signal.  My phone alerts me to a text message from Bobby: Woodchuck to Grey Squirrel.  The Eagle is clear for landing.<\/i> I chuckle and nod to Peter.

"Ready, my love?"

Kitty blows out a puff of air.  "Ready.  I'll wiggle my toes when I need you to pull me back up."

Peter begins to slowly lower Kitty into the floor.  First her head disappears, then her shoulders.  She's down to her waist when she puts up her index finger, indicating that Peter needs to pause.  I can just imagine what this must look like from the floor below us; the top of her head peeking through the ceiling, then two eyes, peering back and forth.  The view from up here is equally as bizarre; it's a little jarring to see half of Kitty's body phased through the floor with only her legs showing.  I don't think I'll ever get used to that.

After a moment, Kitty gives the thumbs up, and Peter begins lowering her further into the floor.  Soon she's down to her ankles.  We hold our breaths and wait.  Ten seconds later, Kitty wiggles her toes, ready to be pulled back up.

Just then, there is a knock at the door.  "Jubilee?"  Crap.  It's Jean.

"Um, yeah?" Jubilee calls out, and looks at me with big eyes.  Peter freezes, while Kitty continues wiggling her toes impatiently.

"Is Rogue in there with you?  I need to speak with her."

"Uh, yeah, I'm here, Jean.  Just a sec."  I motion for Peter to get Kitty out of the floor.  He yanks her up quickly and the bottle of liquor slips out of her hand and goes flying.  It makes a loud clanking noise as it crashes into the lamp and bounces off the floor.  Thank God there was a soft rug there to break the fall.  That could have been disastrous.

Jubilee covers her mouth and suppresses a snicker, while Kitty straightens out her clothes and gives Peter a 'What the hell?' look.  Peter puts his finger to his mouth to tell Kitty to hush and picks up the bottle, stashing it under the bed pillow.

Trying to act casual, I walk to the door and open it calmly.  "What's up, Jean?"

"Hey," Jean smiles warmly.  "You weren't in your room, so I thought you might be here.  I just wanted to let you know that Professor wants us to do a routine pick-up tonight after the ball, so we need to be ready to fly."

"Oh!  Ok.  I'll be ready.  Who's going with us?"

"Well, it's nothing too crazy tonight; it's a teenage runaway, no FOH or anything like that, so it'll be just us and the new girl, Angelica."

"The new Physics teacher?"  I say with mild surprise.  "Firestar, right?"

"Yes, that's right," Jean confirms.  "The Professor thought it would be a good idea for her to get her feet wet with an easy mission before getting into the heavier stuff."

"Yeah, probably a good idea," I agree.

"Ok, great, so I'll see you later, Rogue," Jean says, turning to go.

"See you later," I reply.

Jean stops and turns back to me for a moment.  "Oh, one more thing."  She reaches for something just outside the door then hands me a six-pack of ginger beer and a bag of limes.  "The Professor said to be sure you replace his Grey Goose the next time you're out, preferably by the end of the week."

Bobby arrives at the door and screeches to a halt when he sees Jean. She winks and gives me a coy smile before heading down the hall.  "Have fun," she calls out behind her.

I turn around on my heel, holding the ginger beer and limes up, while Bobby closes the door behind me.  For a moment we all look at each other, speechless.  Jubilee sputters and we all burst out laughing.

"Well then.  I guess we weren't as good as we thought we were," I say, biting my lip.  "Damn telepaths."

"That sly old dog!"  Jubilee exclaims with a smile.

"Ugh, I am never going to be able to look the Professor in the eye again," moans Kitty.

Jubilee goes to the armoire and shuffles some things around, then pulls out a familiar set of copper mugs.  "Looks like it's a round of Moscow Mules, guys," she says with a grin.

"Ura!<\/i>," crows Peter, pulling out the vodka from under the pillow and raising it in the air.
Jubilee pours the ginger beer, Peter adds the vodka, and Kitty adds the lime juice.  "Bobby, would you do the honors?" Jubilee asks.

"Yes ma'am," Bobby replies.  He blows some air over the mugs, and they instantly frost over, tendrils of cold vapor wafting up from the liquid.

We each take a mug and raise it in the air for a toast.  "To good friends and great shenanigans!"  Jubilee cheers as we clank our mugs together.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

An hour later and we're all feeling pretty damn good.  Not smashed good, but definitely buzzed.  Just a little.  We've demolished the bottle of Grey Goose, as well as the pizza and candy.  Kitty is sitting on the floor, stroking Peter's hair as he lays with his head in her lap.  Bobby is sprawled out on the beanbag again, and Jubilee is on the bed, laying on her stomach and reading another celebrity magazine.  I'm curled up in the easy chair, hugging a pillow.

My mind wanders to the conversation with Jean earlier about the mission.  "I wonder what that Angelica chick is like," I murmur, not realizing that I'm thinking out loud.

"Who, the new girl, Firestar?"  Bobby says, instantly perked up.

"Oh, um, yeah.  Jean says she's supposed to go on the pick-up with us tonight."

"Oh, man.  She's hot.  Both literally and figuratively," Bobby says with eyebrows waggling.  He places his hands behind his head and leans back with a sigh.  "One look from her could melt me into a puddle."

Jubilee rolls her eyes.  "Very helpful, Bobby."

"She's got this whole cute yet sexy thing going on," Bobby continues, ignoring Jubilee.  "Everybody says she's super nice, and funny as hell.  She's got a great laugh, too; I heard her the other day.  That's a big plus in my book.  Pretty smile.  Nice curves.  And all that long, fiery red hair...even hotter than Jean's."

"Ugh, not you, too, Bobby.  What is it with you men and redheads?"  I grumble.

"I don't know," Bobby shrugs.  "It's just hot.  I can't explain it."

Yeah, yeah.  Redheads are so frickin' hot, I know.  How many times have I seen Logan shamelessly flirting with Jean?  And when he goes out to the bars, if there's a redhead in the room I know he goes for her 9 times out of 10.  He's told me.

I used to roll my eyes and act like I was amused by all of that nonsense.  I even managed to convince myself that it didn't bother me at all.  I mean, why would it?  We've always been just friends.  Right?  Truth is, though, you can bury those feelings all you want, but they raise their ugly heads eventually.  Truth is, it did bother me.  Because truth is, no matter how much I've tried to tell myself that we're just friends, I've always loved Logan.  From the beginning.  Even when I was supposedly too young to know what it meant to have anything more than a crush on someone.  I've loved him since the day he let me into his truck that snowy day so long ago.

Sure, I needed to grow and mature some, and I needed to allow our friendship to grow naturally over the years.  So I buried those feelings down deep with school, friends, work, training; I tamped it down with our day-to-day friendship and teamwork and our ridiculous shared sense of humor.  I buried them so deep, I almost had myself convinced that it really was just a crush, or some kind of hero worship.  But truth is, those feelings don't want to stay buried any more.  They've bided their time, but now they want air, and sunlight, and they want to live out in the open.

Truth is, I've always thought of Logan as mine, from day one.  Too bad he doesn't want to be mine.

"Have you even talked to Angelica yet, Bobby?"  Jubilee says with a raised eyebrow.  "I mean, geez.  If this chick is really all that, why don't you ask her out or something?"   She goes back to reading her magazine.

"I'm gonna," Bobby says defensively.  "I just haven't had a chance yet.  She's always busy talking to other people.  It would be rude to interrupt."

"Uh huh," Jubilee says, cracking her gum and flipping the page.

"I think I'm going to ask her to dance tonight.  That is, if Logan doesn't get to her first."  Suddenly my body stiffens.

Jubilee stops chewing her gum and shoots Bobby a look.  Bobby hasn't looked up yet, so he doesn't notice.

"I was going to go introduce myself yesterday, but Logan was already talking to her.  They were in the gym, and he was all up in her space, showing her how to use the equipment."

I'll bet he was.

"Bobby."  Jubilee says, shooting him another look, but he still doesn't notice.

"Logan doesn't waste any time does he?  He probably took one look at her and decided to stake his claim."

"Bobby!"  Jubes says sharply.  "Knock it off."  She looks at him like she wants to punch him in the face.  Bobby just stares at her for a moment, trying to figure out why she is looking at him that way.  Then he looks at me and realization hits.

"Shit." Bobby says quietly.  His eyes dart back to Jubilee and then to me again.  "I'm--don't listen to me.  That's the booze talking," he stammers, running his hands through his hair.  "I don't know what I'm talking about.  Really."

"Damn straight you don't," Jubilee glowers.  By now Kitty and Peter are sitting up, and their eyes travel from Bobby to Jubilee and finally to me.  Their faces are a mixture of shock, as if Bobby has let out some secret that they were all keeping, sympathy, which I cannot stand, and apprehension, as if they are waiting for me to react.

I clear my throat and look down, suddenly realizing that I have been squeezing the pillow with a kung fu grip.  I slowly release my fingers and try to straighten out the fabric.  I'm not exactly sure what to think at this moment, not sure what to say.  All I know is that I need to get out of here.

I'm known to be a little bit of a hothead at times, so it's not unusual for me to go storming out of a room when I'm feeling this conflicted, slamming the door for good measure.  But I don't have it in me today.  I feel like I've been kicked in the gut.  I feel like all the air has been knocked out of me.

I stand up slowly and put the pillow on the chair.  "Hey guys.  I'm kinda tired.  I think I'm gonna go to my room and lay down for a while."

Everyone sits there in silence, unsure of what to say.  I pick up my shoes and walk to the door, letting myself out quietly.  The door latches with a click that sounds so loud, so final.  Somehow, in this busy school, there is no one in the hallway as I make my way back to my room.  The silence is deafening.
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:578568","author":{"name":"Barking at the wind"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/578568.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=578568"}}],"title":"Fic: \"The Curse in the Cure\" 1\/1","published":"2015-02-27T03:47:17Z","updated":"2015-02-27T03:47:17Z","category":{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}},"content":"Title:<\/b> The Curse in the Cure
Fandom:<\/b> MCU \u2013 X-Men
Characters\/Pairings:<\/b> Logan\/Rogue
Author:<\/b> <\/a>evil_little_dog<\/b><\/a><\/span>
Words:<\/b> 860
Rating:<\/b> Teenish?
Summary:<\/b> Rogue has plans, and Logan should go along with them.
Warnings:<\/b> Post X-Men III.
Disclaimer:<\/b> So not mine.

Gaping up at her, Logan blinked a few times.<\/a>

Fake cut takes you to my LJ, where the fic lives.

Or you could check it out on AO3<\/a>."},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:578443","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/578443.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=578443"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (2\/?)","published":"2015-02-27T03:28:21Z","updated":"2015-02-27T03:28:21Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"I'm not sure how often people usually post a chapter, but here's Chapter 2 of A Little Off the Top.  I'm going to try to pace them out every few days to a week to make sure I can keep up with the writing and post the last chapters on time!  :)


I've got a little time to myself before I have to teach class, so I've decided to go running.  I always gravitate to the woods, where it's nothing but the sounds of the forest and the soft thump of my footsteps.  Heading down the wide shaded path, I hear a chipmunk chirp and scamper up a tree; the hollow knocking sound of a woodpecker resonates above, which I find oddly comforting.  It's nice to have the time alone, away from conversation and obligations.  This is one place where I can just...be.

I make my way at a nice even pace, following the trail for about a mile and a half.  Then I slow down and turn off the path, cutting through woods and brush.  There's no more smooth, manicured trail now.  Just a few familiar markers made by nature.  A small dogwood tree on the right.  Moss covered log.  Sassafrass tree further down on the left.  A massive oak with three gouges in the bark, from the time Logan and I had that big argument.

Just a few steps further, and I reach a small clearing, revealing my favorite spot.  The bubbling sounds of the brook are soft and welcoming, the cool air lifting off of the rushing water smelling so good, I breathe deeply before letting out a sigh.

I take off my shoes and socks, and gently step my bare feet onto the small rocks, dipping my toes into the edge of the water.  Little minnows dart about at first, then tentatively make their way back to surround my toes, and I smile.  I used to come here all the time before I was able to control my mutation; on hot summer days, I'd take off the gloves, the scarf, all those damn layers that kept me from hurting others and myself, and I'd feel free.  Logan showed me this place.

We've spent many an afternoon or evening here, skipping rocks and talking about everything and nothing.  Sometimes we come here together, and other times we come here alone for some solitude.  Today I'm here for...comfort?  Familiarity?  I suppose, but I don't think it's really either of those things that I'm after.

I close my eyes and sigh, soak in the sunlight peaking through a break in the treetops.

"Hey, darlin'."

I gasp and my eyes fly open as I spin around.  "Logan!  Jeez, I told you not to sneak up on me like that!"

"Sorry," he says with a mischievous grin.  "I'll try to sound like you tramping through the woods next time."  Smug bastard.  As big as he is, Logan can move through the forest without making a single sound--not twig snap, a leaf rustle, nothing.

I turn and begin walking a little further into the water, slowly feeling my way over the rocks.  "So what's up, buttercup?" I say with lightness that I don't really feel.  "Needed to get away from the mansion for a while?"

I hear the thud of a heavy boot dropping to the ground, and then another.  The swish of socks coming off, and then soft footsteps approaching.  Logan steps through the scattering minnows and slowly makes his way next to me.

"I dunno.  Just felt like I wanted to be here, I guess."  He tucks his hands loosely in his pockets and looks out over the water.

"Yeah, me too."

We stand there in silence for a while, lost in our own thoughts.

Logan is the one person I can do this with.  We can just be in each other's presence, for hours sometimes, without feeling the need to say anything.

Today something is different, though.  I feel like there is something hanging in the air between us.  He doesn't seem to be ready to say what's on his mind, though, so we continue stand next to each other, saying nothing.

I survey our surroundings, observing the low hanging branches skimming the water's edge, the crayfish scooting between rocks.  My eyes come to rest on three claw marks scarring the massive oak.

"Remember that time we had that huge fight, and you slashed that big old oak tree?" I muse.

"Yeah.  You had me pissed off real good," he says without humor.  We start heading toward the dry ground and settle down on a fallen log.  "You never should have gone in there without calling for backup first."

"I know."  I pick a weed flower and twirl it between my fingers.  "But everything worked out ok, didn't it?"

He looks at me sharply.  "You almost got yourself killed."

"But I didn't.  And it was worth the risk in the end."

"It was stupid and thoughtless.  Nothing is worth you risking your life for," he says heatedly.

"It was worth it to me!"  I say, my voice starting to rise.

"Dammit, Marie!"  His eyes blaze hotly as he struggles to control his anger.  I stand up, about to go head to head with him again, over something that really should be old news.  How did we just flash fire from zero to angry in 5 seconds flat?  What are we fighting about?

"God, Logan!  You're starting to sound like my father," I spit, knowing that it's a cheap shot.  I don't care right at this very moment, though.  To hell with it; I'm in a mood to push some boundaries.  "Newsflash--you're not my father, and you're not my big brother, either."

He stands up, too, jaw clenched, and I'm just waiting for it, because I know how pissed off he was the last time we fought about this.

Instead, we stand there looking at each other for a few moments.  And then his eyes soften.

"You're right.  I'm not your father, or your brother.  But I do care for you," he says tenderly.

I wasn't expecting him to say that.  He takes a step closer, so close that I can feel the heat radiating off of his body.  He smells so good...

He starts to say something, then stops.  I can see the conflict in his face, as if he is trying to tell me something, but doesn't quite know how to say it.

"You just don't understand how important you are to m-- to the team," he corrects himself and looks away.

Did he--almost make a slip just now?  A tiny spark of hope rises up in my chest.  But it's soon squashed.

"You've got a good thing going right now," he says, looking at me intently again.  "You're a teacher, educating young mutants, in a school that has become your home.  And you're a pilot now.  Those are both really good things, Marie.  You're needed here.  Sometimes, when you've got a really good thing...you hold on to that."  He gently cups the side of my face with his hand.  "You don't go jeopardizing it all for something that...that could end badly."  His thumb gently caresses my lower lip, and my insides turn to jelly, just from this one little touch.  My lips part involuntarily and I suck in a small breath.  His eyes dart down to my mouth, and if I didn't know any better, I'd swear he wants to kiss me.

I stare at him for a moment, gathering my thoughts to formulate a counter argument, but realization hits me.  Somehow I get the feeling that my safety and my career with the X-men are not the only things he's referring to.

Logan and I have always been straight with each other, about everything, except this.  Us.  This undefined, more-than-friends but not-quite-lovers thing we have going on.

He's not exactly the kind of guy who talks about his feelings easily.  Logan would say that he's not good with words.  Or if he were in a facetious mood, he would say that he's a man of action, not words.  But he's not joking or being playful right now, and I wonder.  If his actions speak louder than words, what has he been trying to say to me by sending me those intense, burning looks one minute, and then pulling back and keeping his distance the next?

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair.  "You're my friend, Marie."

Oh.  Great.  I'm being taken by hand and placed back in the friend zone, like always.

He exhales gently and says in a quiet voice, "You're my best friend.  I know you want more, and maybe I'm being selfish, but I don't...I can't...I can't risk losing you.  I can't lose...this<\/i>.  Do you understand?"

His eyes search mine, willing me to understand.

Oh. Oh.<\/i>

For a moment I'm stunned into silence.

Is he saying what I think he's saying?  I'm struck with feeling an odd mixture of giddyness, affirmation, and disappointment.  If he doesn't want to lose this<\/i>, that means he has thought of us as something more than this<\/i>.  Yes!  I knew it!

On the other hand, he's not willing to risk the possibility of things "ending badly".  What does he mean by that exactly?  I remember how he once said that he never allowed any of his, ahem, 'lady friends' stay over because he still has nightmares.  Is he afraid that he'll hurt me?  So we had a minor stabbing incident that one time years ago, and so it was a tiny<\/i> bit traumatic.  He can heal me, right?

Wait, is he afraid I'll hurt him<\/i>?  Is he afraid of my skin?  No...he never shied away from touching me, even before I learned to control it.

So then, maybe he's afraid that I'll hurt him, you know, like emotionally.  Maybe he thinks that if he lets himself truly fall for me, that I'll betray him in some way, or that I'll break his heart.  I would never!  Would I?  No.  God, no!  And I think after all these years, he knows me well enough to know that I would never do that, not on purpose.  At least I hope he knows that.

Maybe he doesn't think he's going to want to stick around after a while.  Maybe he wants to come and go as he pleases, like always, and he doesn't want to be tied down to me or anyone.  That's a sobering thought.  What if he knows that he'll never be happy with just one woman, and he's trying to spare me from the inevitable heartache?  The thought of him with another woman is already feeling like a kick in the gut, and he's not even mine yet.  I don't think I could be around him after that.

And maybe that's the gist of it.  I would never intentionally hurt him, and he would never intentionally hurt me.  But sometimes things just don't work out between people.  That could happen to us, and then where would we be?  I'd like to think that we would always love each other as best friends, but maybe it would just hurt too much.  Maybe, despite our best intentions, an invisible wedge would be driven between us, and our friendship wouldn't survive.

Can I even think about risking the loss of my best friend?  I would miss him so much.  I would miss the day to day banter and silliness as much as I would ache at the loss of the deep abiding bond between us.  Wouldn't it be better to have him in my life as a friend than not have him in my life at all?

But oh, God--when I think about what we could be together if we decided to take that chance!   And I don't just mean the heat that is so obviously between us.  I love this man so much...and I know he loves me, too.  Taking the next step would just be the most natural thing in the world, if we let it be that way.  Why should we deny ourselves the one thing that could make us truly happy?  To crush the potential of something so beautiful before it even has a chance to blossom seems...wrong!

I want to be angry with him.  I want to shout that he's wrong.  I want to tell him that some things are worth the risk.  But I do none of those things.  Instead I look into his beautiful hazel eyes and see... longing.  Resignation.  A plea for understanding.

This is the closest that Logan has ever come to openly talking about us.  No playful banter, no bravado or flirtatious joking to skirt around the subject or distance himself.  Just naked sincerity, from the man who bears his soul to no one.

It's killing me; knowing what we are to each other, and now...knowing that he is not willing to be more.  But it kills me more to see this raw, open vulnerability from him.  When he looks at me that way, I know that I would do anything, anything for him.

He has always been there for me.  Saved my life, in more ways than one.  Surely I can do this one thing for him.

I love him.  How can I not be the friend that he needs me to be?

I take his hand in mine.  "I understand, Logan," I say, surprised at the steadiness in my voice.  He looks at me, unsure.  I scrape together my conviction, and try to sound more confident.  "I understand now, Logan, I really do.  You're right; the risk isn't worth it.  You won't lose me...  You're my best friend, too; and I'll always be there for you.  I promise."

His eyes continue to search my face, still uncertain.  I give his hand a reassuring squeeze and plant a chaste kiss on his scruffy cheek.  He looks relieved, but also--sad?  Just then my alarm goes off, and I realize it's time to get back to teach class.

"Oh!  I gotta get going.  Creative Writing class."

"Sounds titillating," he says with a smirk.

"Oh, you have no idea how titillating I can be, mister," I reply with a devilish grin.

He grins as well, happy to fall back into our usual routine of lighthearted flirtiness and witty innuendos.  "Hmm, maybe I should take your class myself.  Would you teach me a lesson, Miss Rogue?"

"I'd teach you somethin' alright," I shoot back.  "But I have to warn you, I'm very strict.  One toe out of line, young man, and I may slap you with my ruler."

"Ooo, that sounds painful.  Too bad I might enjoy it."

"Pervert!"  I laugh and slap him lightly on the arm.  "Walk me back?"

"Sure thing, darlin'."

We slip on our socks and shoes and start heading back to the trail.

"So, do you have something to wear for the ball?" I ask eventually.

"Yeah, Jubilee actually picked something up for me," he replies with side glance, cracking a smile.

"Jubilee did that for you?"  I don't know why I'm surprised.  Jubes may have her gum-cracking, superficial persona down pat, but in reality she has a heart of gold.  She sticks her nose in everyone's business, but also makes it her business to take care of everyone.

"Yeah.  Looks pretty good, too.  I might need some help with the tie, though."

"I'll stop over and fix that up for you," I offer.  "And I promise, I won't touch your hair."

"That's good," he says, and then gives me a look that I recognize.  Oh shit.  "Too bad I can't make the same promise!" he yells, wrapping his arm around my neck before I can get away and giving me a noogie.

"Ahh!  Haha!  You jackass!"  I squeal and elbow him in the ribs.  I wrestle free and he tries to dodge me as I reach for his neck in turn.  He starts taking off down the trail, but not quickly enough; I'm fast and light, and I've got my running shoes on.  I manage to leap onto his back, wrapping my arm around his neck and reaching for his head with my free hand.  He sees it coming and grabs my hand, then the other, pinning both down on his chest so that I can't move either one.

"Hey, no fair!" I laugh, and he laughs, too.

"I never said that I played fair, darlin'."

"Fine," I say, wrapping my legs around his waist.  "Then you're carrying me the rest of the way back!"

He sighs in fake resignment.  "Well, I guess I really am a jackass."

"Yah, mule!" I call out triumphantly.

He glances over his shoulder with a smile before trotting down the path with me on his back.

And just like that, we're back to being best buds again.

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:578052","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/578052.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=578052"}}],"title":"A Little Off the Top (1\/?)","published":"2015-02-24T02:12:46Z","updated":"2015-02-27T03:29:01Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Chapter one of my first fanfiction.  A big thank you to cschoolgirl<\/a> for the beta--I will forever be grateful for your encouragement and kindness to this newbie.


Mama used to say that givin' someone a haircut is a very intimate thing.  She'd know; before she married Daddy, she went to school to be a beautician, straight outta high school.  She had this dream of someday ownin' her own business; a cute little shop right on Main Street.  "Prissy's Curl Up and Dye" she was gonna call her shop, which I thought was rather clever.

A few months before graduating from beauty school, the students got to practice haircuts on real people.  It's surprising how many people are ok with bein' pretty much a guinea pig.  It's kind of a gamble, really; you're gettin' a free haircut, sure, but God help ya if you get a student who doesn't know what she's doin'.  You're gonna be messed up lookin' for a least a month.

Still, people are willin' to take that chance, especially if they think they can size up the students and guess which ones have some talent.  That's how Mama and Daddy met, actually.  She used to tell me this story all the time, and I always thought it was so romantic.  One fine Tuesday, Daddy strolled into the school salon, lookin' for someone to take a little off the top.  As he spoke to the teacher, all the girls were standin' there by their chairs, hands folded nice as you please, smilin' and hopin' that they'd be the one who got to practice on this handsome newcomer.  Well, he scanned the room, took one look at my mama, and said, "That one."

A collective sigh of disappointment could be heard around the room as Daddy sidled up to Mama's chair with a smile.

Turns out my daddy picked himself a good one.  Not only was mama good at doin' hair, but she was smart, pretty, and easy to talk to.  It wasn't long before Daddy was comin' by the salon for a haircut way more often than he needed to, asking for Mama to take "just a little off the top".

Mama used to say that she knew Daddy was the one for her by the 3rd haircut.


"People don't realize it, but you can tell a lot about a person when you cut their hair, Marie," Mama said as she rinsed the last of the dishes and placed them in the dish rack.

"Really?" I  looked at her with wide eyes, even though her back was turned to me.  "Like what?"

Mama shut off the water and turned around, drying her hands on a tea towel.  "Well, think about it, hun.  First of all, there's a certain amount of trust involved."  She crossed the kitchen and pulled out a chair from the table, setting a plate of warm chocolate chip cookies in front of me before sitting down.

"They come to you, and sit in that chair," she continued, "an' then ask you to alter the way that they look, the way that they present themselves to the world.  An' they're trustin' you to do it with sharp instruments in your hands," she quipped with a little smile and a twinkle in her eye.

I chewed on my cookie thoughtfully.  "Yeah, I suppose you're right, Mama."

"Somethin' about sittin' in that chair and havin' someone touch your hair makes people relax and wanna tell you things that they wouldn't normally tell a stranger." She reached over and took a cookie from my plate.  "Ah swear, sometimes that chair was like a confessional, and I was the priest," she giggled and took a bite.  "They just couldn't stop themselves.  I was privy to all kinds of things you wouldn't believe."

My eyebrows shot up and another bite of cookie went into my mouth as I stared at her, entranced.

"Of course, I would never tell another soul the things that I heard," she assured me, raising her chin.  "I would never betray their trust that way."

I nodded, proud that Mama was trustworthy like that.

"You're standin' so close, washin' their hair, massagin' their scalp.  Seein' every pore in their skin, that's how close you are to them.  In a sense, it's one of the most intimate ways that people allow themselves to be touched by someone, other than a lover."

"Mama!"  Like most 13-year olds, I blushed at her mention of the word 'lover'.

"What?  It's true," Mama smiled.

"So every time you gave someone a hair cut, it was like you were--you know--like a..." I stopped and lowered my voice to a whisper, "...a lover<\/i>?"

Mama threw her head back and laughed. "No, hun, it wasn't like that at all."  Her smile softened and she put her hand on my arm.  "There are different kinds of intimate, Marie.  Mostly it was just a feelin' of trust and familiarity between me and them."  She paused to hold my gaze for a moment before she stood up gracefully and went to put on the coffee.  "The only one who was different was your daddy.  That...that was somethin' else..." She trailed off, pot still in hand and eyes dreamily staring out the window.  I curiously studied her face, wondering what she meant by that.

Her reverie was broken by the sound of the door unlatching.  "What was somethin' else?" Daddy boomed as the door swung open.

"Owen!" Mama pranced over to Daddy, throwing her arms around his neck and kicking her heels up.

I couldn't help but smile as Daddy twirled her around the kitchen, planting a big kiss on her lips.  All was right in the world once Daddy was home.  Mama and Daddy were madly in love, and I was the apple of their eye.

Things were so simple back then.  God I miss that.

"I was just tellin' Marie about how we met and fell in love," Mama beamed.

"Is that so?"  Daddy grinned knowingly at Mama.  "Yeah, I was at that beauty school just about every other day," he chuckled.  "What was it I used to say every time?"

Daddy turned to look at me.  "I used to say--"



"...Just a little off the top, Rogue."

"Huh?"

"I said, just a little off the top."  Scott looks at me expectantly.

"Oh!  Right.  Of course, Scott."  I've apparently been taking a trip down memory lane.  Oops.

"Are you ok?" he asks.  "Where did you go just now?"

"Yeah, I'm fine.  Really."  He continues to analyze me.  For someone whose eyes are always hidden, his face is surprisingly expressive.  There's a tiny hint of concern, but I think mostly he just thinks I'm daydreaming.  Which I totally am, of course.

"I was, um, just thinkin' about what I learned in my cosmetology classes at vo-tech," I scramble to cover up.   "It's been a while since high-school.  But don't worry, I won't screw up your hair, I promise."

Scott leans back in the chair and flips open his newspaper.  "I have complete faith in you, Rogue."

I feel a smile creeping up as I fluff the cape and secure it around his neck.  "Thanks, Scott.  That means a lot to me."

"Thank you<\/i>, for agreeing to get the team all gussied up for the charity ball tomorrow.  We've all been so busy that we haven't had time get out for routine maintenance, if you know what I mean."

I think it's funny that Scott uses the term "gussied up".  As team leader, he has a somewhat formal, authoritative air about him; he's a serious, principled man who commands respect, not someone who says "gussied up".  But now that I'm old enough to call him Scott instead of "Mr. Summers", I'm starting to see another side of him, one with a humorous streak that you can detect if you're paying attention.

So somehow I've been designated as the "team stylist" for the charity ball, and I'm not quite sure how that happened.  Well, I guess I do have some idea of how that happened.  It all started yesterday after team meeting, when Professor Xavier reminded everyone to look their best for the ball Friday night.

"Ooo, chica, can you put my hair in an updo?"  Jubes had turned to me with her eyes lit up.

Returning her smile, I tugged on a lock of her hair.  "Of course.  Anything for my Ju-Ju-Be."

Jubilee beamed.  "Bet you didn't know that Roguey here is actually a wizard with hair," she informed the room.  All eyes turned to me, and I could feel my face get warm.  "And not just with up-dos.  She cuts like a pro. Oh, yeah, Girlfriend's got skills," she affirmed.  "I wouldn't trust this 'do to just anyone."

"Da, it's true," chimed in Peter in his deep Russian accent.  "Rogue cut hair for me the day I proposed to my Kitty." Peter and Kitty smiled at each other.  "I think she liked it, eh, my kotonok<\/i>," he teased affectionately.

Kitty nodded without taking her eyes off of Peter.  "It was perfect," she murmured.

"Oh, excellent.  I could use a little trim myself to neaten things up," said Scott, gathering his things.  "Rogue, would you mind?  It would save me a lot of time just getting that done right here."

"Um, not at all, Scott," I replied, surprised that he would even think about letting me near his hair, which is always immaculate.

The soft whir of the Professor's chair passed behind us and paused.  "I believe you will be in good hands, Scott."  Xavier's eyes met mine, a touch of mirth lighting their depths.  "I would ask you to cut my hair as well, Rogue, but as you can see," he said, smoothing his hands over his bald head, "I had all three of them trimmed just the other day."

My jaw dropped for a moment as I stared at the Professor, at a loss for words.  He chuckled warmly and I gasped, realizing that he was pulling my leg.  "Professor!"  I giggled as he and Scott exchanged knowing smiles.

I got up from my seat, when out of the corner of my eye, I could see Jubilee talking in hushed tones to Bobby, Remy, Jean and 'Ro, then glancing in my direction.  What was she up to?  Everybody dispersed and headed for the door, but not before surrounding me to say thanks for being the team stylist for Friday.  Jubilee!

My eyes traveled across the room to Logan, leaning against the windowsill with his arms crossed.  Arching his eyebrow, he gave me an amused smirk.

I fought the urge to stick my tongue out at him, instead shooting him a half-hearted glare.  The corner of my mouth twitched and broke into a small grin.  Damn him, lookin' so good like that.  I wish he'd let me do his hair, and then some.

Right on cue, Jubilee piped up, "Hey, Wolvie!  What about you?  Looking a little wilder than usual these days.  How about Rogue hooking you up with something rugged-yet-refined for the ball?"

Logan's smirk changed to a scowl. "No."

"Oh, come on!  Just a teeny, tiny buzz to tame those crazy points of yours."

"No."

"Rogue will take good care of you, I promise."

"No, thanks<\/i>.  I'm fine," Logan grumbled.

"Of course you are."  Jubilee rolled her eyes before turning to Remy.   "I bet Remy would love a little buzz, wouldn't you, Remy?"

Remy sauntered over to me.  "Remy would love to have cher's hands in his hair," he purred.  His eyes slid up and down my body appreciatively, not even bothering to be discreet about it.  A little tingle went up my spine and I blushed.  "Miss Rogue can do anything she like to Remy."

You'd think I would be indignant or something, watching him look me over so boldly, like he was undressing me with his eyes.  But that's Remy; he's a scoundrel, and for some reason we all let him get away with it.  Truth be told, I kinda liked it.  Lord knows Logan wasn't looking at me like that.  He put me firmly in the friend zone when I was 17, and I've been stuck there for years.  Sure, we're best buds, and sometimes we even flirt a little.  But it's just playful banter.  None of it's real; the last time I tried to take the flirting to something a little more serious, Logan high-tailed it out of here like a scalded cat and I didn't see him for days.  Point taken, Logan.

"Why Mr. LeBeau, I do declare!" I said in my sweetest Southern accent, pretending to fan myself.  I'd play this game with him, why not.  He's sweet, and charming, and certainly easy on the eyes.

I stole a glance at Logan, whose face was still wearing a dark scowl.  I'd like to think it was because he was secretly in love with me and therefore furious with jealousy, but I'm not that lucky.  Yeah, that's what his face looks like ninety percent of the time, so not likely.

Remy, on the other hand, looked pleased as punch at my response.  "Come by tomorrow at 5, petite; you do your thing, and 'den Remy will find a way to repay you for your kindness.  Maybe dinner and une<\/i> lagniappe<\/i>?"

Lagniappe is a French Creole word, meaning "a little something extra"; this could be an extra few slices of meat at the deli, a free dessert at the restaurant, or a treat on the pillow at your hotel.  Just a little something extra to sweeten the deal, so to speak.  Knowing Remy, I had a pretty good idea what he meant by lagniappe<\/i>.  Even if I didn't know what it meant, just the word itself, and the way it sounded leaving Remy's mouth was naughty enough to send a little zing through me.

"We shall see, Mr. LeBeau.  We shall see."  Giving him a saucy wink, I turned to follow Jubes and Kitty out the door.  I stole another glance in Logan's direction, hoping he noticed, but he was already gone.  Damn.
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:577807","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/577807.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=577807"}}],"title":"Right Here Waiting series","published":"2015-02-23T16:33:51Z","updated":"2015-02-23T16:33:51Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"dotfp"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Right Here Waiting series: (Post dofp) The future is always shifting. One small change can lead to a completely different outcome. One moment, a thousand different possibilities…


This series is all the fault of <\/a>roguelotus<\/b><\/a><\/span>. The first story is gravidus in Latin<\/u>.



"Logan, wake up."  Logan opened his eyes to a darkened room.  He turned toward the voice next to him.  Blinking the sleep from his eyes, he could only stare at Rogue beside him. She was propped up on an elbow, holding his forearm with her hand. "I think it's time."

He could smell the fear and pain rolling off of her, mingling with her sweat.  Rogue's grip on his arm tightened as she clenched her jaw.  She let out a high-pitched whine that hurt his ears.  Dumbfounded, he stated the obvious, "Breathe, Rogue."

It was the wrong thing to say. Logan found himself on the receiving end of a glare lacking any Southern charm.  "Oh no, you don't.  You've known for the last eight months this was happenin'.  If you weren't man enough for this you shouldn't have started all that seductive, breathy, Marie-talk a year ago."

Logan's eye drifted down Rogue…Marie's body. It was hard to miss the swollen breasts and the pregnant belly.  He scrambled out of bed, intent on doing something, anything when R…Marie made another whine.

Rushing around the bed, he helped Marie into a sitting position with her feet on the floor.  He stood back, taking in the whole situation.  When the Professor had talked of changing the future, he was sure none of them had thought of this.  Apparently, Logan was to be a father soon, very soon and nothing in his previous timeline had prepared him for this turn of events.

Marie's steely glare brought him out of his thoughts as he braced himself for a second reprimand.  A soft knock came from the door.  It opened to reveal Jean, "Rogue, how far apart are the contractions?"

"I don't know.  If this…this…useless piece of man-flesh over there…" Marie emphasized her frustration with Logan by jabbing an accusing finger in his direction.

Logan could smell the panic and tears under all of Marie's bluster and offered up, "About three minutes."
"Well then, we need to hurry." Jean gave Logan the mental equivalent of fingers being snapped in his face.  She gestured toward a wheelchair in the corner of the room. Turning back to Marie, Jean added in a soothing voice, "Hank is down in the med lab making sure everything is ready."

Another contraction hit as soon as Marie was settled into the wheelchair.  Jean helped her breathe through it as Logan grabbed the items Marie insisted would be needed.  He pushed Marie out into the hallway, following Jean to the elevator.

Logan looked down at Marie, his confusion subsiding.  He'd known his share of women and he was fairly certain he wouldn't have made this kind of commitment if he didn't love Marie.  He remembered having a deep affection for her; wanting her safe and happy.  It was something to work with and Marie could help him work out the details of their life later.  Logan would also need to see the Professor, but that could wait.

He had an obligation in this timeline that he didn't foresee in the last one.  This future looked more hopeful than the one Logan left.  He'd make this work for them, all three of them.

Marie bent her head backwards to look up at him. "Logan, I'm sorry.  Will you forgive me for being…"

"Shh…" he cut her off. "Nothing to apologize for."  Logan placed a kiss on her forehead as the elevator door closed behind them.

~*~
<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:577584","author":{"name":"cschoolgirl"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/577584.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=577584"}}],"title":"Fanfic","published":"2015-01-26T22:59:12Z","updated":"2015-01-26T23:40:40Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"wolverine"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"rogue"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"fanfiction"}}],"content":"Turn Off the Light


It's getting so lonely inside this bed
Don't know if I should lick my wounds or say woe is me instead<\/i>

Turn Off the Light - Nelly Furtado

~*~

This was just what she needed. Rogue knew that she couldn't always run up to her room to shower after a mission, but all she wanted to do this time was flop down on the bed and relax. Tonight, it would take too much effort to shower room, redress and then make her way upstairs.

Turning off the water, she dried herself off before wrapping the towel around her body and heading back into her bedroom. It wasn't quite time to turn in yet, but she was done for. Stretching out on the bed, she wondered how the other X-Men did this all the time and then taught classes the next day. She ached in places she hadn't before, even after four years on the junior team.

She opened one eye to look at the door when she heard the knock. \"Go away,\" she groaned.

\"Not until I check on you, Darlin'.\" Logan flashed her a smile as he stepped into the room. \"Besides, if you don't want company, you should lock the door.\"

\"Well, now that you know I'm still alive, you can leave and let me sleep.\" She pulled the pillow over her face when he turned the bedside light on. \"Honestly Logan, it's just bruises, scrapes and sore muscles.\"

He lifted the pillow to peer at her. \"First fight's the toughest.\"

She closed her eyes again as he tossed the pillow on the bed. \"Are the Friends of Humanity always that disorganized?\" she asked.

\"Nay, those were wannabees. The real FOH have their shit together and put up a pretty good fight.\"

A shiver ran through her body when Logan laid his hand on her thigh right below the towel. She knew he was only looking at the large welt there, but she couldn't help herself. She wanted his touch to mean more than it did. Wanted his hand to creep up her thigh.

That thought made her angry, helping her to force back the desire she felt. They had 'the talk' every couple of months and she didn't want to hear it tonight. She knew he wasn't interested, he told her every time.

His voice broke into her thoughts, \"\u2026fix that, if you want.\"

Rogue shifted uncomfortably. It had been years since she had absorbed Logan, since she had felt his presence in her mind. His voice had faded with time and she missed the overall comfort of having him there. As tempting as it was, she knew it wouldn't help their friendship.

\"No.\" It sounded too forceful and she found herself wanting to explain. \"If I'm going to be part of the team, I need to learn to roll with the punches like everyone else.\"

He patted her knee and smiled. \"Why don't you turn over and I'll give you a massage. It'll be like old times.\" She tensed and frowned. Logan's brow furrowed like he was trying to understand her hesitation. That hurt worse than his suggestion. Evidently, what had been a milestone in her life was a forgotten memory in his. \"It will help you relax, Marie. I promise.\"

She caved when he promised, Rogue did every single time. Just as her pout could sway him, his promises did the same to her. She rolled to the middle of the bed on her stomach, almost losing the towel in the process. The bed dipped again as he knelt beside her. She didn't even bother to suppress the moans as he began working the knots out of her shoulders. Logan was right, it was relaxing, and she felt herself drifting off.



It had been just over a year ago that Rogue gave Logan the last massage after a mission. She even had a special pair of gloves, soft silk. She knew he enjoyed the cool feel of them slide over his body. She'd noticed his erection that day and mistook it for something it wasn't. Her obvious pass was met with 'the talk'.

He made it abundantly clear it had nothing to do with her skin. She told him she understood before escaping to the solitude of her room, where she cried herself to sleep.

The next morning Rogue took off his tag, tucking it and the gloves into her keepsake box, the whole time vowing to herself that she would learn control so she could find someone else willing to touch her. In the end it made no difference. Mastering her mutation never lessened her love for him.



He lay down on the bed next to her, laughing lightly, as she mumbled something about him becoming a masseur. Logan couldn't remember when he first noticed her transformation from the shy teenager to the confident woman. He had held a deep affection for her since they first met. It was different, more intense than he felt for anyone else. He never stopped to analyze it, he was just happy Marie was willingly to accept what he felt comfortable offering her.

He was ready to leave when she turned, spooning into him, sighing contently. It felt right, her in bed next to him, pressing her body into his. He'd learned to ignore her arousal for him early on, but this time his body reacted as he breathed in her scent. His hand strayed to her hip, as the curve of her ass made contact with his erection. His eyes drifted back up her body, exposed to his view when the towel had fallen away as she'd turned.



Logan stumbled out of the bed, almost falling, as he struggled with the blanket that had some how tangled itself around his feet. Freeing himself, he used the blanket to cover all that creamy flesh laid bare before him. He needed to hide Marie's skin to alleviate the temptation to cover every inch of it with his mouth, again.

He scrubbed his face with both hands; exhaling slowly he began to pull on his jeans and t-shirt. How many times had he turned down her advances? How often had he embarrassed her with their talks? Or trivialized her desire for him? All because he didn't want to find out what lay beyond the edginess he felt when she touched him or looked at him with eyes full of need.

He was a bastard. He turned that over in his mind. Not only was he a bastard, he was a stupid one. He would bet money that Marie could add a few names to the list. Now that he thought about it, he was surprised that she still held onto their friendship.

As much as he wanted to, Logan knew taking off for a couple of days of drinking wasn't going to help. He had a lot of thinking to do and he could do that here as well as anywhere else. He stole one last look at her, already snuggled into the blanket, before he left her room.



Everything was going fine, well as good as could be expected on a mission. Rogue stole a glance at Logan as he fought one of the men on the back loading dock of the warehouse. They hadn't talked in a week, not since that night. She had tried to convince herself that she was giving him time to sort things out. In reality she didn't want to have one of their 'talks'.

She turned her full attention back to her fight, but her assailant was fleeing. Logan landed another solid punch to the other man, who must have decided to hightail it out of there also. Only in his rush, he ran head first into Rogue as she was turning, sending both of them off the edge of the loading dock.

She came to, staring at the night sky at the bottom of a jumble of bodies. Her body felt numb and she couldn't catch her breath. The fall was probably only six feet at the most; Rogue reasoned that the wind got knocked out of her.

Immediately upon seeing the fear in Logan's eyes as he pulled the man's body off of her, she reassessed that. A feeling of dread started to sweep over her as the pain began to burn its way up her back. His lips were moving, but she didn't need to process the words to understand what he wanted her to do.

His bare hands were cupping her face and she let her skin soak in his healing. His smile never faltered from the moment the connection opened until he lost consciousness.

Rogue let Storm lead her back to the jet as Scott and Jean struggled to get an unconscious Logan strapped in. Rogue would have laughed if she weren't so worried.

She sorted through those thoughts that had been at the front of Logan's mind during the transfer. What she found made her want to laugh, cry, and scream all at the same time. Mostly she just wanted to kick his ass when he woke up. He had known she wasn't hurt badly, his heightened senses told him that much. Her first impressions of her injuries had been correct.

Logan had panicked.

Rogue sat nervously fidgeting in Jean's office chair in the med bay. Rogue's mind had cleared enough by the time they got back to the mansion for her to help Scott with Logan's gurney. Jean had let Rogue stay as she did her initial check on Logan. After it was apparent that they were only waiting for him to regain consciousness, Jean left Rogue at his bedside while Jean went to change out of her uniform.

\"Hey.\"

\"Don't hey me, dumbass.\"

Logan wrinkled his forehead in concentration. \"About that\u2026\"

She cut him off. \"You don't talk to me for a week and then pull some unnecessary live-saving shit and go down in a heap. What the hell did you think you were doing?\"

\"I made a mistake.\"

\"You're damn right you made a mistake.\" She stopped mid-rant, finger still poking his chest, \"Wait. You what?\"

\"I made a mistake. Actually, I've made quite a few this past year.\"

She eyed him suspiciously, \"Like what happened last week?\"

He smiled, taking hold of the hand still near his chest. \"No, that is probably the only thing that has been right.\"

\"Oh.\" Rogue stared at her hand where he was running soothing patterns with this thumb. \"We don't need to have 'the talk', do we?\"

\"No. I'm done talking,\" Logan said as he pulled her down for a kiss.

~*~

<\/a>"},{"id":"urn:lj:livejournal.com:atom1:wolverinerogue:577445","author":{"name":"RogueLotus"},"link":[{"@attributes":{"rel":"alternate","type":"text\/html","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/577445.html"}},{"@attributes":{"rel":"self","type":"text\/xml","href":"https:\/\/wolverinerogue.livejournal.com\/data\/atom\/?itemid=577445"}}],"title":"Fanart","published":"2015-01-14T04:12:48Z","updated":"2015-01-14T04:14:08Z","category":[{"@attributes":{"term":"fanart"}},{"@attributes":{"term":"manip"}}],"content":"Here is a manip I made of Logan and Marie with a gritty western feel.  Anyone want to guess where the original pic of Hugh came from?

\"Rogan-Kiss2B-500px\"
<\/a>"}]}