Immunity
Chapter 2: Welcome Home
by
Dark Ferret
DISCLAIMER: I don't own these characters, so please don't sue me.
Needless to say, Logan's arrival at the Xavier School for the Gifted came as a shock to everyone, everyone that is except the Professor. With a certainty all his own, he knew that Logan would return when ready. After a lengthy discussion with him, Logan simply dropped his duffel in his old room and headed for a jog around the outdoor track. His return no longer a secret, he came back to the mansion afterwards to find a throng of students and teachers eager to meet the famous Wolverine. In over a year and a half, his reputation as the defeater of Magneto had grown to monumental proportions. Plus many were just curious to catch a glimpse of the object of Rogue's undying affection and owner of the tags around her neck that never came off. But they were all in for shock, because in a move that took his bad-ass reputation into the stratosphere, Wolverine growled menacingly at the crowd and headed upstairs for a shower with a grin on his face.
Pleased at how quickly everybody moved out of his way to let him pass by, Logan now set out to find Jean, Scott, and Ororo. They were on the deck behind the mansion, overlooking a late game of basketball among the older students. By the looks of it, they ball had just been frozen solid and the game was quickly digressing into something between soccer and rugby.
"Hey Red, Ororo."
"I was beginning to wonder when you would pass by." Ororo smiled as she reached up to hug him. "We've missed you."
Jean then reached over to hug him also. "I see it's official," he motioned to the ring on Jean's finger.
"Four months now, we wish you were here. It was beautiful."
"I'm sure it was, but you couldn't catch me dead in a monkey suit." Logan was pleased to see the genuineness with which they welcomed him and moved to sit on a patio chair. "Speaking of which, where's One-eye?"
As if on cue, Scott walked in. Torn between decking him for taking his bike and embracing him for coming home, Scott instead opted to offer Logan his hand. With his characteristic smirk, Logan shook his hand and added, "Don't worry, it's still in one piece."
Visibly relaxed, Scott sat down and in a move that made the X-women smile, proceeded to offer Logan a permanent position in the team. Knowing full well that that was were he belonged, Logan accepted. What took more convincing was Ororo's offer to teach a class. Logan was willing to do his share, take care of some mechanics maybe, but teaching hormonally crazed adolescents was not his idea of fun. He was in the middle of a losing argument when the French doors opened and Rogue came out to join them.
"Hi ya'll, Ah was wondering where everybody was." And in a move that only the women noticed, Rogue pulled up a chair and sat next to Logan. Laying a hand on his thigh, she flashed him a brilliant smile before continuing,
"Ah just got out of tha Danger Room. Beast is raght behind me. Ah think it takes him ah while ta blow-dry ahll that hair."
That comment elicited a laugh from everyone except Logan, who was still starring at Rogue. She was only wearing jeans, boots and a green silk blouse but still looked magnificent. Her scent was a combination of soap and excitement, which made Logan's heart beat a little faster.
Noticing Logan's reaction and looking over at Ororo, who had the same look on her face, Jean commented, "Heard you two had quite the reunion last night."
At that Logan snapped out of the haze he was in and gave out a low growl towards Jean and Ororo. Rogue reacted by blushing and looking down at her gloves. Fireworks were going off somewhere in the field, as more students joined what was apparently now a game of touch football.
"What, a reunion, what reunion, last night?" Oblivious to everything Scott wrinkled his eyebrows at Jean who simply giggled.
"Nothing Scott. It's just that, well, uh Logan and Ah," Rogue knew she was stammering. Giving the resident psychic and weather goddess an evil look, she sunk back in her chair unsure herself about how to explain what happened the night before.
"Well, what happened?" Scott was more curious than ever, but before Logan could interject with a 'it's none of your business' comment, Beast walked in.
In a split second, Logan's was in a fighting stance, claws extended.
"Wow, dear friend, I assure you I have no ill intentions." Was Beast's startled response.
Quickly jumping out of her seat, Rogue but a hand on Logan's arm. "He's a friend sugah, this is Dr. Hank McCoy or Beast as we call him."
Looking from one alarmed face to the next, Logan retrieved the metal back into his hands. He extended his hand and apologized to the big, hairy blue man before him. Beast accepted graciously and in no time was drinking iced tea and explaining his new modifications to the jet.
Slightly embarrassed, Logan lit a cigar and tried to keep up with what was being said, when he noticed Rogue's hand on his. She was massaging the space between his knuckles and smiling sadly at him. In an instant, he was taken back to that day on the road up in Canada. He had never told anyone that the adamantium hurt when it came out, but then again, no-one had ever thought of asking. He returned her smile and for a second the entire world was forgotten.
Over on the field, most of the students were returning indoors from their game. It was unclear who won, but they were all in good spirits and very muddy. Among them was Remy who had eyed the silent exchanges between Rogue and the newcomer Wolverine from afar. It was no secret that Wolverine meant a lot to Rogue, but watching them sit so close hurt nonetheless. Whenever the kids went out as a group, he and Rogue sat, ate and walked together. He knew that many girls were lined up to date him and to be completely honest he flirted with all of them, but Rogue was different. She stood out from the rest. But the rumors were already swirling. They had spent the night together, something he hadn't ever been able to do. As he picked up his sweatshirt from the ground and headed back to the mansion he couldn't help but want to cry.
Logan watched the tall young man from across the field. His eyes were red on black, but his face was easy to read. He was clearly jealous, and more than a little pissed. He looked back at Rogue who was busy chatting away with Ororo about her greenhouse project. He must have been stupid to think there would be no-one carrying a torch for her. Initially he felt that it would be the Ice-brat, but in little over a day, she hadn't brought it up and neither had he. Besides what exactly were they? Friends, heck yeah. Lovers, nope (not yet anyway). God save him - he was too old to be somebody's boyfriend. It was hard to put a name on what it is they had. But looking at everyone's reaction as this guy walked over made him think only one thing; she's mine pal.
"Hi Remy. Did yah win." Rogue looked very nervous as everyone tuned into their interaction.
"Evan Remy not sure of dat Chere." With his most charming smile, he motioned to Logan. "So dis be da famous Wolverine, no?"
"In the flesh Bub." Logan smelled the fear on him and it made him smile his maniacal grin.
"Remy, would yah like ta join us." She was desperately trying to sound normal, even moving slightly away from Logan, but the look on Remy's face said it all.
"No Chere, Remy see you are busy and I am tired. Good night."
At that, Logan snorted and kept on puffing away at his cigar. Easier than he thought. Pleased with himself he looked over at Rogue, but she was already up and after him. Fuck.
Sensing that things could get ugly quick, Jean stopped Logan in his tracks with a psychic hold.
--Logan she needs to do this alone--
His mind screamed to be let go, but he knew full well that he couldn't gut the guy like he wanted to any ways. He knew deep down that Rogue had never stopped loving him, so this guy was no threat to him. Well fuck, even claws hurt less than what a woman could do to a man. Her way is better. Smiling at this final thought, Jean released him and Logan walked off as Scott, Ororo and Beast went to off to sedate squabbling, muddy kids. A while later Logan returned from his romp in the woods to look for Rogue. He tracked her down to the greenhouse where she was sitting on a bench with her knees drawn up to her chest. Like the previous night, she was completely lost in her thoughts and unaware of his presence. Watching her hum with her eyes closed, he thought about how inadequate he was for all of this. He was nothing like the Cajun or Scott, who were sensitive and romantic. He was harsh, primal, and very old.
"Ah yah gonna stand there ahll night, Logan?" she didn't turn to look at him.
"Just waiting to be invited."
"Well Ah didn't think yah heeded invahtations." He sat next to her and she turned to face him offering her usual small, sad smile.
"Were you avoiding me?" Logan looked down at his hands. Yep, harsh, primal, old.
"No, Ah was waiting for yah." His head snapped up to meet her gaze. After his macho display earlier, he was sure that she would be pissed. But he only found sincerity in her dark green eyes.
"I thought you'd be upset that I scared off the pretty boy and all." Logan was going for sarcasm, but ended up showing a little jealousy too. Rogue reached over and held his hand.
"It's not what yah think, Logan. We ahr not involved." She fingered the hair on his arm with her silky gloves.
Logan smiled to himself and wrapped his other hand around her shoulders. "It's okay, It's none of my business."
Unwilling to upset the moment, he simply held her. From what the Professor had told him, she avoided contact like the plague, spending hours alone in the greenhouse. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he felt that she was more at ease with him than anybody else. Perhaps it was due to the fact that she had touched and absorbed him. Twice. Either way, he was pretty damn lucky. They sat for a while listening to the gurgling waterfountain and thinking.
Already pretty late in the evening Logan was feeling hungry. "What do you say we have some chow?"
"Yah read mah mind." Rogue got up immediately and started towards the kitchen considerably more light- hearted. "Having woken up so late Ah actually skipped dinnah."
In the large communal kitchen Logan and Rogue raided the refrigerator and made some sandwiches. Tossing Rogue a Canadian Gold, Logan settled into a chair, while Rogue hoped on the counter and munched quietly. Watching Logan carefully, Rogue could not help but admire his physique. After all, his jeans wear practically painted on.
"What?"
"Nothing, just enjoying tha view."
Logan chuckled to himself, even when Rogue was blunt, she still had a shy grin. How exactly she managed that would always amaze him. He bore his eyes into her. It was clear she wanted him, and not wanting to dance around her forever, he took a long swig of his beer and approached her slowly.
He felt her heartbeat kick up a notch as he moved in close and put his large hands on her knees. Closing his eyes, a rumble emerged from his chest. "You have no idea what you do to me Marie."
His words were barely a whisper, but in the dim, empty kitchen, they rung in her ears. She closed her eyes also and lifted gloved hands to his face, up his sideburns and into his wild hair. Logan held his breath as he watched her serene face. Her caress had his heightened nerves on edge.
Not able to withstand her touching any longer, Logan pulled her forward on the counter in one swift movement. In an instant their bodies were pressed tight against each other. Letting out a small gasp, Rogue opened her eyes and looked deep into Logan's taught face.
"Logan." Was all she could say.
She smiled as his rough hands made their way up her thighs. She then pulled his face towards her chest where he breathed her in deeply. Protected by her blouse, he kissed her neck while she moaned softly. His only thoughts were about the feel of her under the silk until out of the blue, he heard a voice in his head;
--X-men you are needed in the Mission Room--
In an instant their silent exploration of their bodies was interrupted. Suddenly very lucid, Rogue pushed Logan back and hopped down from the counter.
"Tha Professor needs us, we got ta go." She looked at Logan's expression and stifled a laugh. Logan begrudgingly followed her to the elevator as he cursed his bad luck.
"This better be good Chuck."
Rogue smiled at him as she pressed in the code for the lower levels, "We can finish latah. He needs us now. It must be very impohrtant."
He pulled her in close from behind and whispered in her ear, "Anytime, anyplace darling."
He nuzzled her neck and cursed his luck again before the door opened to reveal Xavier, Scott, Jean, Beast, Ororo, and to his disappointment Gambit, waiting in the Mission Room.
His time with Rogue would have to wait, apparently somebody needed an ass-kicking first
All references to characters belonging to the X-Men Universe are (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities. All rights reserved. Any reproduction, duplication or distribution of these materials in any form is expressly prohibited. No money is being made from this archive. All images are also (c) and TM the Marvel Comics Group, 20th Century Fox and all related entities; they are not mine. This website, its operators and any content used on this site relating to the X-Men are not authorized by Marvel, Fox, etc. I am not, nor do I claim to be affiliated with any of these entities in any way.