Chapter #27 “Summer Moved On, pt. 4”
Salem Center, New York
Saturday, August 22nd 2004
4:53pm EST
“There is some comfort in dying surrounded by one's children..” “ Ann Radcliffe
Her voice carried over the gathered crowd in the neatly kept gardens of the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. The memorial service for the man widely considered the greatest mutant mind of the planet was small in comparison to the waves of mournful Genoshans that still paid their respects outside the hospital where he died, or the numerous political dignitaries that graced his school the day before. No, now Charles was remembered, grieved and above all”Loved”by those he would have considered friends and family.
His daughter Ororo stood beside the black obelisk specially commissioned for the renamed Xavier Memorial Garden. An artist’s rendition”Peter’s actually”was beautifully etched into the glossy stone; a ¾ view of Charles taken from a referenced photograph. The former Ambassador’s face seems to gaze up into the clear heavens, now a bright azure above them today, searching for the peace that he struggled so hard to bring to man.
Gazing at the amazing likeness, Ororo smiled wistfully, laying a hand on the cool rock as she turned back to the gathered students”young and older. “Here in the Memorial Garden, a flame of hope will burn always, to signify the struggle my father left to us to continue in his stead. The words my father lived by”so eloquently stated by one of his favorite authors”will weather the elements, visible for as long as this monument stands, to remind us all of what he stood for and what we now still stand to achieve. Let the words so deeply etched across this obelisk give us all hope, that one day the trials of the entire human race will bring us together in a common goal to end the threat of disease, poverty and hate…”
Bending to the as-yet unlit metal candleholder, Ororo struck the long match, lighting the bright blue flame fed by underground pipes Henry and Kurt orchestrated. From memory, she repeated the oft-heard quote Charles was famous for reciting to his students and children alike: “People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously…” Standing, she turned back to the gathering, wiping a tear from her cheek but smiling through her grief. “This is how my father chose to live his life…’This is how character is built.’”*
Moved by their emotions and her words, several of the currently enrolled students can’t help but openly weep as the flame catches the breeze of the gardens but doesn’t extinguish. Coming up to one of the youths, Ororo hugs the girl close, kissing her forehead and murmuring something in another language. After a couple seconds, one of the other students”Monet”parts from the others, turning to stand just before the obelisk, her slight body swaying to some internal tune before her lovely voice broke the silence.
Oh, oh, iyo mamela oh, oh, iyo
And the voice with the fear of a child answers
Oh, oh, iyo iyo mamela
Wait! There's no mountain too great
Hear these words and have faith
Oh, oh, iyo
Have faith...
Hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela
Hela hey mamela, hela hey mamela
He lives in you, he lives in me…
He watches over everything we see
Into the waters, into the truth
In your reflection, he lives in you..!”
As the young songstress belts out the mournful but hopeful tune, Ororo’s eyes close and her face lifts to the skies. She smiles; sure she can feel the spirit of her father looking down on them. Quietly, her broken voice whispered, “G’bye daddy.”
---
Some hours later, when the students have retired and the older graduates reminisce of their academy days and stories of Charles Xavier: the teacher, the confidant, the father”Ororo keeps mostly to the kitchen area, cleaning up dishes and trying to settle into a routine she feels won’t drive her up the wall. As she hears Marie and Remy disagreeing about whose fault it was when they’d been caught kissing near the pool (LeBeau almost needed off-campus medical attention), she tried not to laugh, shaking her head. It was a memory more than half the first graduating class was there to witness, after all.
“Need some help?”
She turned to see Scott carrying small plates and a couple glasses toward one of the dishwashers, checking to make sure its contents weren’t already clean before he carefully placed them inside also. “Oh, I’m almost finished. Scott, you don’t have to do this. You should be enjoying the rest of your leave with the others; there’s plenty of time to get things going around here”“
His chuckle cut her off as he shook his head to himself, leaning against the closed washer. Crossing his muscular arms, Summers gave Ro a once over that was more admiration than appreciation. “Are you going to be this bossy when I’m ‘officially’ working with you?”
“With??” She balked with more force than necessary, showing her jest. “You mean, For, right? And yes, I will.”
He laughed at that, coming to stand beside her and gave Ro’s hip a bump with his. “Hey, not to change the subject, but I need to ask you a question.”
“Sure. Shoot.”
“Why didn’t you tell me Jean used to be married to that hairy little gnome you used to run around with?”
A sound a lot like shock and feigned anger erupted from Ororo and she smacked Scott’s arm with a lightly clenched fist. Though she wasn’t trying to really hurt him, her punch did leave a little sting, but he only chuckled at her rosy-brown cheeks, holding his arm in mock pain. “Scott, I swear--!”
“I’m just saying.”
“And why do you care?” Ro asked cautiously, not entirely sure why she cared that he cared.
“What?! I find the woman…interesting, is all. Besides, she seems caught up on some guy she just broke up with and I don’t plan on being anyone’s rebound.” He watched her just as carefully now; Ororo chose to believe she was imaging the hint behind that tone.
“Oh, is that right?” She narrowed her gaze at him.
“That’s right. Feel better now?”
She scoffed at his egotism, tossing the slightly damp apron she’d been wearing right over his head. Scott only laughed, dragging it down from his face & messing his hair, but didn’t care. Digging through her purse on the table, Ororo used this as a distraction to put some distance between them. Grumbling, she muttered, “You shouldn’t be concerned about me. What about Emma??”
Coming over to the table, he spread his hands at either corner, leaning in to take a nosy peek at the contents of her purse. “Trust me Ororo, Emma isn’t a problem…”
She laughed bitterly at that, but kept going through her stuff.
“…for you or Jean.”
Her hands stopped moving and she glanced up at him for a brief moment. The look in his eyes told Ororo a lot; none of which she was ready to hear. It was a last open invitation to a life she’d promised herself years ago she’d never put herself in the position to relive. It would be too simple to fall right back into the childish games she & Scooter played as teens. He was easy to get attached to. Hard to get out of a girl’s system once inside. Besides, she knew she didn’t love Scott…not anymore, and not for some time. That had been relegated to”
Her fingers started to shake for a moment and her face faltered. Scott saw something was bothering her, and knew her well enough that it had nothing to do with him. “Roro?”
“Um, can you keep those crazy bastards quiet and somewhere next to sober until I get back?” she grabbed her keys and was already heading toward the door.
“Ororo?? Where are you going this time of night?” He followed her to the door, holding her elbow to stop her.
She turned immediately and their close proximity didn’t help her agitated mood. The look he gave her was primarily of concern, however; Ororo appreciated it, but knew company was the last thing she needed tonight. “Scott…I”I really appreciate what you’re doing here for me. Really, I do. But…”
“…I know. I’ve known for some time that I’d been thrown out of my Room in here,” he lightly poked the space just above her heart. The way he said it almost made her regretful.
“You’re still there, knucklehead.” She whispered, leaning into his chest just for a moment, but more in a wistful way that told him any chance for them to rekindle had long since passed. “You just have a few roommates, is all.”
He knew each of those she referred to, but truthfully was only concerned about one of them. Somehow sensing this, Ororo patted his arm, then reached back to open the kitchen door leading to the garage. “Don’t worry, Scott, I’m only going to my brownstone for a few things…And trust me, the One you’re worried about has decided to make himself a non-issue.”
As the door’s lock quietly clicked behind her, Scott Summers somehow doubted that.
---
About an hour later, a leisurely drive back into Brooklyn did Ororo’s frazzled emotions some good. She kept thinking of her father, and his promise to her that things would “work themselves out”. She wished like never before that he had been right, but after a week of M.I.A. behavior from the one person she thought would certainly be a comfort to her, Ororo was definitely sure of one thing:
That she was sure of Nothing.
‘You risked a lot to help that son of a”and THIS is how he repays you??’ she scoffed to herself, less alert and aware of her surroundings than normal as she inserted her key in the front door lock. “Not even a fuckin’ phone call..”
“You know I do these things better in person, Darlin’.”
She nearly jumped out of her skin, twisting around and losing her balance at the sound of his low, gruff voice. Logan was quick to dip in and grab at her, steadying her and keeping Ororo from kissing the concrete steps between them. “Lo-gan?!”
His expression was one of some reserve and definitely guarded, as he took it upon himself to release her, satisfied she had her own balance once more. “Hey, Ro.”
“’Hey, Ro’??” Her voice went up an octave in the late night air, her incredulous expression quickly turning sour. “That’s all you have to say to me??”
Before he could answer, she unlocked her door, slipped inside and promptly slammed it in his face. Wincing with the loud sound, Logan wasn’t the least bit surprised, but still it only made his resolve”and his decision”that much more difficult. He wished to God he didn’t have to do this”and especially not now”but time was definitely not on his side. Glancing down at his watch, he swore under his breath as that thought was re-affirmed. Knocking lightly on the door, he waited for her to open it, but after several moments, nothing happened.
Another attempt went unanswered, and for a second Logan turned away from the brownstone’s door, looking back across the street where he left the unmarked Suburban. Furrowing his brow, he turned back to her door, placing one palm, then the other flat against the cool surface. His forehead thumped against it and he slowly shook his head. ‘What the fuck are you doing here?’
Suddenly his eyes popped open and stared at the hard wood, his expression changing from one of confusion to one of guilt. Only his sensitive ears could’ve picked up the soft sounds of stifled sobs just on the other side of that door, and it made his heart ache.
Are in the night time
And some seem like yesterday
But leaves turn brown and fade
Ships sail away
You long to say a thousand words but
Seasons change…
It feels
Like it's forever
No reason for emptiness
But time just runs away [time runs away]
No more day by day
You dream again and scenes remain
But seasons change…”
Inside, Ro leaned fully against the door after she’d slammed it in his face, her head angled upward as she stared at the ceiling, biting her lip trying to stop crying. She was almost as mad at herself as she was with him; she was getting really tired of crying. It felt like that’s all she did these days.
“Ro.”
Her eyes opened and slid to one side. The quiet call to her tugged at her broken heart, but she shook her head against the impulse to let him in”her door or her heart again. “Don’t. Just go away. Please.”
On the other side of the barrier she kept between them, Logan shook his head, vehemently now. “I’m sorry, Darlin’. I can’t.” ‘At least, not yet…’
“Yeah (sniff)”actually, you can. You found it easy enough last week. Just disappear again, Logan. Seems like something you’re pretty good at, am I right?”
His heavy body leaned into the door, his hands spread against it as if he was trying to keep it up from falling. Logan’s head dipped momentarily, then his gaze fixed on the brown wood as if he could see her right through it. “I’m here now.”
“Now? Now?” She pulled away from the door, staring at it as if it burned her. “Where the hell were you when I needed you?!”
“Ro”“
“I needed you…and you weren’t there.” Her voice whispered the last part with a sadness and disappointment that tore at him.
For several moments there was no response from the other side of her door, and Ororo almost wondered if he’d left. Then, she heard a deep sigh and the wood of the door creaked slightly beneath the weight of his body against it. “I know. I know, and Ororo if there was any way I could…(sigh)” He stopped from finishing that sentence, knowing that in light of all she’d been through and all she’d lost, if he completed that statement it’d be as much a slap in the face as his absence obviously had been.
Silence passed between them, and Logan began to think all was lost, when he heard the lock on the other side slide away from the hole, and he stood up away from the door as she quietly opened it. She wanted him to see the hurt in her eyes, and he did.
“Logan…” She stayed in the doorframe, shaking her head; tired and defeated. “…what do you want?”
He suddenly seemed unsure, but still, cautiously stepped closer to her, though she didn’t move to invite him in. Their eyes met; he could see her mistrust and pain, she could all but feel his regret.
When he gave her no answer, she repeated: “What do you want..?”
A man often of so few words, he reached out to her, cupping her wet cheeks with his hands, and brought their lips together slowly. Holding his wrists”her mind begged her to stop him but her heart wouldn’t have any of that”she eventually broke the kiss with a tortured sob. Their foreheads rested against each other, and he looked up into her watery eyes.
I want to feel you by my side
[I need you]
Don't you know I need you baby
[Seasons change]
Feelings change
It's been so long since I found you
Yet it seems like yesterday
[Seasons change]
People change
I'll sacrifice tomorrow
Just to have you here today…”
Ororo saw her answer in his eyes, and a sudden gust of air moved past their bodies, blowing the front door closed soundly; now he had hers as well. Slowly, she pulled away from him but it was only to lead him upstairs. Logan only allowed their trek to get as far as the base of those first steps before he planted his feet, stopping her. When she turned to him in obvious question, he murmured, “I can’t stay, darlin’.”
She nodded as if she already knew that, but the look she pierced him with told Logan she didn’t care just at that moment. The truth was, he was there now. “That’s all that matters.” She’d finish.
His eyes softened, watching her, and in a moment, she closed the space between them, and he crushed her against his body. Ororo buried her face against him to remember the feel of him, just as she was sure he was trying to keep the smell of her shampoo in his memory as well. Against her neck, she felt his breath as he whispered softly to her. “I can’t stay…but before I leave, I need to tell you…”
Curious, she didn’t dare move but her eyes as her own voice ghosted back: “Tell me what?”
“…everything.”
---
At that moment in the Texas desert, Chris Maverick stood alone in the dim conference room, but he knew just outside the doors there had to be a couple of mutant-born MPs waiting.
For him.
‘Sons of bitches.’ He looked down in his hands at the single piece of paper, his copy of the Tribunal’s recommendation that he be held in Section X’s version of a military brig until they’d finished going through the evidence against him. Against him!
“Christoph David Nord v. The United States of America, eh?” He whispered harshly, sarcastically. The paper crunched in his shaking fingers as his anger became evident. He honestly couldn’t believe these idiots were going to allow Howlett back into the fold”back onto the field”as if nothing had happened, while they were trying to crucify him just for exposing the ugly truth. The man was obviously a loose cannon of the worst kind, but no one gave a shit. There was no way they wanted Victor Creed captured that damn badly.
Just then, he could hear a thick southern drawl on the other side of the conference room door, and immediately recognized it as General Ackens’. ‘Fucking traitor…’
While Maverick was all but certain his own military career with Section X was over, the General only received the equivalent of a slap on the wrist for his culpability in the incident that the sect had officially categorized as a “Training Accident”. Chris genuinely thought the man would use some sort of clout to do the same for him, and so was beyond anger (and embarrassment) when Jason unceremoniously left him to feel the preverbal wheels of the bus he’d been thrown under.
First, the Tribunal charges him with a dozen counts of the most serious charges surrounding the deaths and injuries of their agents, then Ackens turns on him and gives the Creed case back over to Howlett”as if that bastard could be trusted where Sabretooth was concerned”and now this…
Looking down, his brow furrowed with anger and a little pain, moving the cuff of his shirt up from his wrist just barely to see the bright blue-veined ‘star bursts’ that were becoming increasingly difficult to hide. Even now, he was dressed in a dark turtleneck with long sleeves. In August…in Texas. If anyone suspected, they hadn’t said jack-shit to him, and Chris wanted to keep it that way.
If anyone got wind of the fact that he had an apparent new strain of TLV, they’d probably kill him.
“Captain?”
He turned toward the door, pulling on the neck of his shirt uncomfortably. “What.”
Jason’s face appeared behind the attractive MP officer. His expression appeared expectedly schooled into neutrality, and Chris suspected he’d needed to practice that look in the mirror for a while before facing him. “Time t’go, son.”
Leaving the crumpled statement of ‘voluntary suspension’ he’d been forced to sign with the rest of the papers on the long table, Maverick slowly came around to them, his hard eyes never leaving the General’s. Once he stepped outside into the brighter hall way light, the other MP (a man about a foot and a half taller than Chris’ impressive 6 feet-some-odd inches) moved in, apparently with the intent of holding the ‘prisoner’ at bay until his partner could secure the Halo* against the captain’s forehead.
“Hey, hold on…” Ackens placed a hand on the female MP’s arm as she reached out to Maverick. At her concerned and curious expression, the General only shook his head, indicating that the device wasn’t needed. Inwardly, Jason was only just able to fight the guilt over leaving Maverick to take the brunt of the blame in the accident with Colonel Howlett. The least he could do was let the man keep his dignity and not be paraded throughout the base wearing that damned power-dampener like some criminal.
As the quartet headed down the halls”Ackens walking just behind them, while the MPs flanked Maverick’s sides”Jason kept a close watch on his subordinate, wondering what was going through the man’s mind. After a few moments he couldn’t stand the oppressive silence any longer and asked him just that.
Slowing just enough to make the General wonder, Chris turned slightly, only his eyes meeting the other man’s. The look exchanged immediately told Ackens he’d been a fool to let his guilt get the better of him. His eyes widened in alarm, but was already too late.
“You picked the wrong Weapon, Jason.”
---
Brooklyn, New York
Sunday, August 23, 2004
3:08 a.m.
Her heart wanted her to believe otherwise, but when Ororo woke, her senses confirmed the ugly truth. Rolling over in her large bed, she sighed, opening only one eye against the ominous, quiet darkness of her brownstone apartment. Staring out of the partially opened curtains of the window across the room, she could tell it was still quite late into the night. A lonely August moon reflected bright light across the stark white sheets, and as she reached out an arm across the emptiness beside her, the moon’s light cast a deceptively cool glow upon her dark skin. It should have been his skin couched against the moonlight and her sheets.
Seems so far away
There's time for love and for play
You dream about today [about today]
Feelings slips away
The winds that blow they go away
and seasons change
[I want you]
Don't hide your feelings from inside
[I need you]
I got to have your love now baby
[Seasons change]
[Feelings change]
It's been so long since I found you
Yet it seems like yesterday
[Seasons change]
People change
[I want you]
I want to feel you by my side
[I need you]
I got to have your love now baby
[Seasons change]
Feelings change
It's been so long since I found you
Yet it seems like yesterday
[Seasons change]
People change
I'll sacrifice tomorrow
Just to have you here today
Just to have you here today…”
Wrapping herself in the sheets that still smelled of him”them”Ororo left the loneliness of her bed in favor of that window, knowing she wouldn’t see his unmarked government vehicle at her curb either.
Staring up at the moon, she was surprised at the almost…comforting…sense of acceptance she felt. After everything he’d told her”and boy, was it a lot to grasp”Ororo felt that finally she knew who this man James Howlett was.
And also why she would never be able to call him hers.
Rrrrrinnng…
Not entirely startled, Ororo nonetheless hurried to the phone by the bed, picking it up by the beginning of its second ring. “Hello?”
“Ororo! (See, I told ya’ll…)”
“Marie? What”what’s wrong? Why are you calling so late?” Ororo stood next to the bed, her thoughts elsewhere as she was just barely able to hear background conversations on the other end of the line. Her young sister didn’t altogether sound awake”or sober”but Ororo was sure she was staying at the School and not driving anywhere.
“Nuthin’ sis. Just wanted to make sure you were ok. Scooter here was getting’ his ‘pannies all in a”hey!!”
There were muted sounds of a short chastising and at least two people ‘wrestling’ for the phone before Scott’s deep voice came over the line. “Ignore your sister, Ororo. I couldn’t keep her and Rem out of the Brandy while you’ve been gone.”
Ororo snickered with Scott, hearing the two younger offenders objecting behind him in their best ‘I ain’t drunk’ voices. “That’s ok, Scott. But seriously, is everything ok?”
“Yeah, we’re all fine here. I just wanted to make sure you were alright before going to bed.” He hesitated before saying anything else, and she was patient in waiting for him to decide if he was brave enough to delve deeper into her personal business.
“I’m fine, Scott.” Was all the help he was going to get.
She could almost hear him nodding before finally accepting that. “Ok. Well…then, have a good night, Roro, ok?”
“Thank you, Scott…and, Scott?” She stopped him before he hung up.
“Yeah?”
“I’ll see you in the morning.”
There was the oddest sigh (of relief?) before his voice murmured, “Yeah. Ok. See you in the morning.”
Hanging up the phone, Ororo couldn’t help but smile to herself. For the first time in a very long time, she felt genuinely appreciative of the wonderful family she’d been blessed with. More than anything, it was her father’s greatest gift to her.
Hm. Speaking of gifts…She caught sight of the plain wooden box set on the edge of her nightstand near the base of the cordless phone. She couldn’t remember where it’d come from; it didn’t look familiar at all to her. Picking it up to turn it in her hands, she glanced down again, seeing the small white envelope that had been placed beneath it. Still holding the box, she opened the flap of the envelope; drawing out a short piece of paper that looked like it had been ripped from a pad of her stationary from the downstairs study. On it, penmanship of rough, hurried letters greeted her eyes.
For a moment, Ororo was puzzled what more He’d have to say to her that he felt couldn’t have been done aloud, but she quickly turned into the light of the moon from the window to read the urgently written note:
‘Ro
I’m finally glad I got to say what I needed to say. I’m only sorry it took so long for me to get around to it. You deserved better”you DESERVE better”and I know one day you’ll get It. In the meantime, I got just one last secret to let go of. I’ve been keeping this one for 25 years, waiting for the right time to share it.
With you.
Love Always,
Logan
Her fingers slid against another, thicker piece of paper behind his note, and moving it aside, she saw an aged photograph. Its edges were worn (or singed?) but it appeared to have been taken with a pretty expensive camera for its day, judging by the way the color kept.
In it, the bright hot Kenyan sun embraced a young woman with noble features, her naturally kinky, curly jet-black hair braided in a thick coil curving around her collarbone. Her sharp gaze stared directly into the camera lens though her eyes were narrowed against the sun’s light. There was a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes as she comfortably held a small child in her arms against her breast. The toddler appeared to be of an age just out of diapers, wild stark white hair blowing against the warm winds and into her cherub-like face as she leaned into her mother’s embrace but impishly smiled at the person behind the camera.
Shaking her head, Ororo turned to the box still her hands. Opening it, she couldn’t help the gasp that escaped her lips. Inside, a polished armlet of pure gold and ivory sat cushioned on the dark velvet lining of the wood box. In the center lying against the box was a small key with a number on it.
She sat down on the bed to get off of her shaky legs, a hand to her mouth as she looked at the photo again, seeing the same jewelry hugging the left arm of her mother. Taking it out of the box, Ororo held the armlet up to her face, eyes wide as she stared at it. Carefully and skillfully crafted for Kenyan royalty, it was the last gift her mother would ever give her. For several seconds she shook her head, then closed her eyes as a sad but relieved sigh took her face. She did weep, but it was not to mourn her forgotten life. She celebrated the feeling of completeness now in her heart.
Thanks to her father.
And Logan.
---
A Few Hours Later, just before dawn…
It seemed like they’d been flying forever. Well, at least to Logan it did. Sitting away from his team in the rear of the plane, he leaned against the cool metal interior wall, his head ‘cushioned’ against it as he watched the dim blinking light above him. The sounds of the others”Ben and Nina of course, along with some new faces (Wisdom, Caliber, Longshot and Haven)”were easily drowned out, both by the heavy engines as well as his will.
Dressed in the dark, tight leather and Kevlar suits typical of the covert ops unit, Logan drew his leg up to his chest, resting his arm there as he cracked his fingers reflexively. His thoughts of course were miles away where he’d also left his heart.
Although I've traveled far
I always hold a place for you in my heart
If you think of me, If you miss me once in a while
Then I'll return to you
I'll return and fill that space in your heart…
Remembering
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
If you'll be waiting
I've longed for you and I have desired
To see your face your smile
To be with you wherever you are”
Leaving Her was easily going to go down as one of the toughest things the Colonel had to do in his long, troubled and rich life. He had no doubts that she fully understood their night together would be the Last; Logan truly believed in some weird way that he loved her too much to see their relationship die as his marriage to Jean had. He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if that happened. So the alternative..?
His brow furrowed as his heart triggered just that moment to make his brain recall the image of her lying in his arms, content and asleep in the darkness of the brownstone apartment. Her delicate fingers threaded his wild hair, her cheek against him as her face pressed against his. It was this unconscious attempt to keep him there that broke his heart the most, though her words had assured him it was ok.
Shifting in his seat uncomfortably, Logan blinked a couple times, his thought concentration broken when one of the agents up front burst out in laughter about something Ben said or did.
Glancing their way only briefly to make sure no one was looking, Logan shifted his body again, away from the front of the plane, and dug deep into one of his front pockets, where a small piece of photo paper had been crammed. His hard silver eyes burned into the picture for several minutes, before he sighed heavily, his head sharply knocking against the wall of the vessel as his only sign of frustration…and maybe regret?
Your touch
Your kiss
Your warm embrace
I'll find my way back to you
Please say you'll be waiting
Together again
It would feel so good to be
In your arms
Where all my journeys end
If you can make a promise If it's one that you can keep, I vow to come for you
If you wait for me and say you'll hold
A place for me in your heart…”
Unintentionally crushing the picture, the image of him and Ororo at her family’s reunion folded in his grasp. God, he was such a fuckin’ fool.
“Phoenix-One to X-Men-Omega, you’re up!” Crackled over the expensive comm.-link in his ear, startling Logan out of his thoughts.
His eyes cleared from their daydream, turning cold and almost translucent, as he roughly shoved the picture back in his breast pocket, standing up and adjusting his gloves, making sure the custom-made holes for his claws were aligned. He was met by the expectant, excited gazes of his new team, as they strapped on the parachutes and the Jump Master roughly opened the side of the plane for them.
The early morning horizon greeted them above the jungles of South Asia, and He took only a moment to appreciate it’s beauty and respect the unknown danger that awaited them.
All business, the Team’s leader nodded to each of them in turn, then”just because he liked the sound of it”Logan popped all three claws on his right hand quickly, the metallic sound making the hackles on his neck raise. He nodded to himself now, determined. He had a job to do; it was what was keeping him from a life he knew would make him happy, and because he fully understood what it was he was giving up, Colonel Howlett was going to make damned sure they didn’t fail.
That”after all”is what made him The Best there is at what he does.
