Human After All
Epilogue
by
Tyna & Utendi
DISCLAIMER: Marvel owns all the characters. No money was made from this corroboration. Thanks to Utendi for this story idea and her endless patience when I was slow with my chapters. There would be no story if it weren't for her.
NOTE: Anything phrases or sentences bordered by an asterix indicates a character is using internal dialogue. The segment author's name is in parenthesis and begins each segment. Archive at will. Above all else; ENJOY!
(Utendi)
She could not remember a time when she had felt exhaustion so profoundly. As the Professor had mentioned, her eyes burned, eyelids feeling like lead weights. One glance at her impeccably neat bed made her long for the cool, crisp sheets. Each pillow beckoned her to burrow into them and snuggle with the fading scent of baby powder and perfume. Her hands would clench at the silk edge of her blanket until it had become integrated in her very dreams, and she was walking free, released to the subconscious splendor of REM sleep.
Ah, but first, a shower.
The bathroom light glared more than she was accustomed to. Jubilee attributed it to the harrowing events of the evening. All her senses were sharper than normal, but Sam had reassured her during their link that it was perfectly normal to feel things on a higher plane. For awhile, he'd quickly amended, but still... he hadn't been kidding.
Something scratching at the window lattice caught her attention. After being trained by the best, Jubilee reacted instantly, freezing like a wolf in the forest and listened. Even above the soft whistle of the pipes and the dull, steamy rush of the shower, she could hear it. Jubilation set the towels aside, tightened the belt of her robe and moved forward, in a prowling cat's soft-footed pace.
The shutters flew open, nearly ripped off their hinges by a hunched and growling shadow. It freed itself from the window and crawled menacingly within. She placed her hands together, sparks of light already dancing between the palms as she prepared to defend herself, her territory. This was evidently meant to be an awful night.
"Hold it, creep," she growled, moving swiftly from the threshold of the bathroom, the light from her hands casting strange shadows across her face. The intruder remained a silent shadow, ignored her order, and effortlessly glided towards her. On top of what Jubilee assumed to be the head were horn-like sprays that appeared to be hair. They looked chillingly familiar.
Against her better judgement, she lowered her guard, and whispered into the air, "Wolvie?"
He came out of the shadows; eyes blazing with an edge she had come to know as his "animal". There wasn't a spark of recognition in them as he moved forward. Steam pouring from the open bathroom door and curled about his shoulders, the florescent light highlighting the angry creases of his forehead.
It was most definitely Wolverine, the feral version, hunched over with both arms lowered like those of an ape, hands curled into tight, meaty fists. At any moment she expected his claws to cleave into view and knew she had to reach him.
Jubilee backed up leading him more into the bathroom light. Her blue eyes appealed to him, hopeful.
"Wolvie... Wolvie, it's me-it's really me. Please... please... let me explain."
Whispering then, "...just listen, don't think... don't think..."
He cocked his head, ceased his advance and sat back onto his haunches. He studied her face intently, pupils widening somewhat to refocus on her. She could see the senseless fury that usually lingered, slowly leak away. The corners of his mouth began to relax, no longer baring his tiny fangs.
Inspired, the woman inched closer, painfully slow so that he wouldn't mistake her movement as an attack. She reaching out to delicately touch his shoulders, her fingers sliding down the bristling bulge of his arms. Her emotions were running high and shone like brilliant beacons in her rapturous eyes. There was too much gladness in her to cry.
"It didn't happen. What we both thought didn't happen. It's really me, okay? And I'm here now... I'm here, and I'm not going away. Not ever." She was surprised when he let her come closer, even let her slide trembling, splayed hands through his coarse sideburns to gently frame his head between them. He didn't stop her from pressing as close as possible, easing her slender frame up against his bulk. They were so incongruous with one another in every way, and yet touching him like this, she felt a perfect synchronicity. A match divinely made.
Humanity swam back into his dark eyes; he was himself again, although with the leaden uncertainty of a man waking from a long and awful nightmare. His relaxed hands, stout fingers finally unfurled, and, although heavily callused, they touched the china-doll perfection of
her cheek with the softness of a feather. He could still smell the blood in her hair, the streaks of mud that marred the blackness with imperfect splotches of brown. Under it all, another smell could be detected, strong, vital, HER. She really was alive.
"How," he said voice cracking in remembered anguish.
"It's too much to explain now... I'm still absorbing it all, myself, but you have to believe me, it's all good." She still cradled his face, letting his eyes rove over her, letting his large hands touch and brush down her shoulders, over her forearms, cupping warm and dry over the backs of her own hands. He reached out, immodest yet timid, to peel apart the white edges of her closed bathrobe enough to expose the bareness of flesh between her breasts, where the branch had impaled her.
Only the pink newness of a fresh scar showed that there had been any injury at all. Closing the robe again, as a groom would lower the veil of his bride, Logan turned his eyes to her, and met her steady, wishing-well gaze.
"It's all good," Jubilee said again, so softly, were it not for his sensitive hearing, the words might have otherwise been lost.
He did not need to be told a third time.
A small sound of surprise escaped her as Logan suddenly crushed her body against him, pulling him to her as if he could will their two bodies into one. The strength of his arms was overwhelming as he rocked back forward onto his knees half in thanks and half in disbelief, and simply held her.
She couldn't say anything, but wrapped her slender arms around his neck, bowing her head down aside his bristly jaw. He was hiding his face against her, but she could still feel the wrinkle of his expression as he voiced a silent, wrenching sob of relief. The sun would rise again; the seasons would change. Jubilee was alive; nothing else mattered.
(Tyna)
Unfettered joy found expression in an explosion of movement. Logan stood, grabbed Jubilee around the waist, lifted her into the air and swung her in circles. He looked up at her with the widest smile she'd ever seen him give. It was too much movement too fast.
Jubilee felt her stomach suddenly sink to her feet, cramp up into a major knot; then bounce back up through her throat as she became inelegantly sick. Her skin turned an interesting shade of green before she turned her head aside and graced her shoulder with a considerable amount of coughed up blood. One last cough tore from her throat unexpectedly when she turned back to apologize to Logan. Red droplets spotted his chest and face. Jubilee tried hard to look sorry but couldn't hold back a giggle.
"Sorry Wolvie. Leftovers," she said impishly. "Don't feel too well," she warned but not before he set her down. Another wave of nausea swept over her, spots dancing before her eyes.
"Whoa there darlin'. Let's not break anythin'." He caught her by the front of her robe when her legs seemed unable to hold her and lifted her into his arms. Seeing how he interrupted her bath, Logan strode into bathroom. There was so much steam he could barely see and kicked the toilet so hard his colorful curse surprised Jubilee. She thought she'd heard all his curses and filed this one away for reference.
She felt him shift her so he could set her down on the side of the tub. The hard cast iron side was oddly reassuring, something solid to hold onto. Nervous fingers fumbled with her robe ties. Logan was kneeling in front trying to figure out the granny knot she'd tied. Unsure, Jubilee watched him growl his frustration and raised her eyebrow when he unsheathed a single claw in his right hand.
"And what do you think yer goin' ta do with that?" Amazing, her voice did work. She had to swallow several more times; her heart began to race making it difficult to breathe. Afraid, she was suddenly afraid of him not that he would ever harm her, but of how much she wanted him. As tired as she was, Jubilee couldn't keep back the flood of desire. She also knew he would smell her need and felt ashamed.
He didn't answer. She was emitting a heady scent that filled his nostrils and raced through his body. He reacted and started to grow hard. *NO* he scolded, this was not happening, maybe later, but not now. It took every ounce of self-control to stop it from going any further. Instantaneous deep meditation did wonders. He slipped the claw under the robe tie and jerked upward. The tie fell to the ground forever useless.
"Off" he commanded, tugging her collar to bare one shoulder. In a completely un-Jubilee like fashion, she submitted, letting the robe fall to the ground. Her pale skin nearly matched the shade of the tub with the exception of streaks of dried blood. "In." He motioned toward the waiting warm water.
"But..."
"No buts, darlin' or it'll get cold. Now get in."
"I'm not a child or haven't you, noticed?" Jubilee stood and twirled her naked body in front of him. She gave her backside a final suggestive shake, just a few hand spans away from his face and slid into the water and sank until only her head remained above water.
"Nope, not at all." Truth was her body fascinated him beyond decency, but like he promised before, that would wait till later. He left her sulking, oh sorry, soaking and trotted off to his room for a cold shower.
******
Liquid seeped into her nose and filled her mouth. Her lungs cried out for air she desperately needed. Screaming was out of the question and nothing she did seemed to help clear the liquid. *I'm drowning* Jubilee thought and thrashed against the blackness that sucked at her soul. Her arms and legs seemed to be bound. Escape was a fever dream.
Pain, sharp and sudden brought Jubilee back to reality. She blinked for several moments allowing her eyes to adjust to the darkness of her bedroom. The bed was a complete mess. All the sheets were pushed down to the foot of the bed jammed between the mattress and frame. In the throes of her nightmare she had entangled herself in her comforter to the point of falling off her bed.
Lightning flashed outside and Jubilee jumped when it momentarily chased the shadows away revealing a surprise visitor. Already irritated by the smarting pain in her butt and still angry with him for leaving her to take a bath alone, Jubilee put more into her question than she meant to.
"What the hell are you doin' here Wolvie?" Her tone so absolutely spat venom he actually recoiled but recovered instantly. His answering growl rose the hairs on her neck. *Smart mouth, now look what ya done. When are ya goin' ta learn?*
Disentangling her legs from the binding comforter, Jubilee butt crawled to her end table. After a few moments of fumbling in the dark she found the chain and turned on her reading lamp. Even its soft light sent daggers into her eyes. She blinked furiously against the sudden onslaught of tears. Rubbing at her eyes she plopped down on her bed trying to tidy it up a bit. Once she was convinced it was safe, she patted the place on the mattress beside her.
"I'm sorry Wolvie, never really been a morning person, if you call 3 o'clock a.m. morning. I promise I won't bite."
"Rough night?" he asked after a quick inspection of her room. He eased onto the bed beside her, brushing locks of her long hair aside so he could see her face clearly. She absently helped by tucking them behind her ear and gave a half smile. He waited for her to speak first but then noticed tears running down her cheeks and couldn't stop himself from reaching over to turn her head toward his.
She answered him with a single slow nod, not yet willing to get into her nightmare. They stared at each other as if searching for the right words to say. He cupped her face in both hands and kissed her tears away brushing her quivering lower lip with his thumb. Reluctantly he pulled back ever so slightly, asking permission with his eyes.
Their first kiss was chaste, lips barely brushing. Her tongue flicked out, parting his lips wider when her kisses became more insistent. Jubilee rose to kneeling position but held Logan's mouth in an endless kiss.
Logan responded in kind, allowed her to explore his mouth with her tongue and returned the favor. She smelled so good but caution rode in to save him. He broke away from her and placed a finger to quell the protest forming on her lips.
"Hold on a sec, darlin'. We can't do this."
Stunned at the apparent rejection, Jubilee sat back and pulled her knees up tight clasping them in the circle of her arms. Everything went numb except for that nagging tender spot on her left butt cheek. She rocked ever so slightly to ease the growing pain in her heart. Finally her expression melted into a combination of hurt and confusion.
Logan cursed himself for being so terse and cursed himself again as he watched her brow furrow and more tears appear in her eyes. She turned her head away from him and laid it upon her knees allowing the tears to run down her leg.
"No, that's not what I meant. Look darlin', I'm the one who's the ass. I can keep up with the best of them, but when it comes to you, I get all flustered and things don't quite come out right. Before I thought I lost you, there was one thing you never got to hear..." he paused to crawl up next to her. Gently he caught her chin with one hand and raised her head up. He endured the sadness in her eyes and hoped this would make it better.
"I LOVE YOU." Three words were not adequate enough to describe the depths of his feelings for her but they were all he had. Perhaps not all he had. He captured her lips and kissed her like a parched man drinking.
Jubilee had waited most of her life to hear those words, but still half expected for him to stop it again. She left his lips, laying a burning hot line of kisses down his neck and paused over his beating pulse. He smelled like the earth, a heavy musk that was all Wolverine. Compounded with sweat, it drove her senses wild. She bit down slightly and sucked on that jumping patch of skin and heard his growl of appreciation.
They were kneeling face to face separated only by their clothes. Lithe, nimble fingers ran under his shirt and up his chest. Logan smiled down at Jubilee and helped her remove his shirt. He lay back onto the bed and arranged the pillows to his liking. Jubilee watched his every move taking in the view of his body. He moved like he had muscles where he shouldn't. Graceful and powerful like a wolf hunting.
Jubilee didn't realize she was simply staring at him not hearing his entreaty to join him. Logan chuckled and traced the curve of her hip. He splayed a hand at the small of her back pulling her down to him. She lay in the crook of his arm, using his chest as a pillow. Warm and comfortable, her false energy bled away, exhaustion overriding all desires.
"Logan, I'm..."
"I know darlin', I know. Don't sweat it. We have plenty of time." He too had to admit that all the emotional stress was taxing even his healing factor. His eyelids began to close under their own volition.
"Logan..."
"Yes, darlin'?"
"It was real right? You did say what I think you said?" She was fading fast her tone barely above a whisper.
"I love you," he breathed into her hair. He heard her sigh as she relaxed completely against him. As an afterthought he reached down to grab the comforter off the floor and spread it over them. Soon his breathing matched hers. The thunder in the distance grew softer until only the sound of crickets could be heard.
******
Dawn broke over the Westchester estate in a blinding flash if heavenly light. Indeed, the sun did rise and over the years the seasons did change. What remained the same, was their love, a love like no one had seen for all eternity.
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