Chapter 3

     After learning how to use the danger room and training with Chuck for an hour and showering, Logan was walking into the dining room.  Everyone was seated even Red and Scott, there was an empty chair beside Red and one beside 'Ro.  I sauntered up and Red beamed until I went past and sat beside 'Ro, who turned to me and smiled brightly.  I returned it with a nod as she handed me a plate heaped with meat and potatoes.

"I did not take you for a veggie man, except for mashed potatoes.  Everyone loves those," she told me.  I thanked her and dug in, the food was amazing.  "Charles says you did well in your danger room session and broke Scott's record," she says.  I put my fork down and look at her with a raised eyebrow, everyone is quiet until she laughs.  Scott tosses a roll at her good naturally and everyone is talking again.

"Yeah, yeah," he grumbles, "You could never beat it."  'Ro laughed as everyone oohed, Red was fuming at the exchange and my dismissal of her.  I caught Charles catch her eye and she turned bright red and looked down embarrassed.  'Ro had made my plate and I reveled in that fact as the dinner went on.  Trying not to think of how it may be the only time.

"Logan, I broke apart the students into classes by age and powers," Charles told me, "Classes begin again on Monday, you can test them and see where they are at and if they need to be switched by level of experience.  If you want, you can begin testing and training the team this weekend or wait until Monday.  I made up their schedules for you, it is in my office if you need it.    I expect you all to be professional and courteous to each other while in class."  We all affirmed like good little children as dinner ended,

"I cooked, so the rest of you clean and put up the food.  Or I will drag you out of bed and stand over you until its done."  The teens groaned, but got to work as Ororo crossed her arms under her breasts.  I stood up and nudged her softly, she turned to me with a raised eyebrow.

"Wanna take a walk and talk some?" I asked her.  She dropped her arms and smiled, but before she could answer Red called her over.

"Give me a moment please?" she asked and I nodded.  She ran off to see what the cockblocker wanted, when Scott came up with his arms crossed.  I stood taller than him and looked him square in the eyes, not wavering since the only people I'll answer to are Chuck and 'Ro.

"She is like a sister to me," he told me, "Don't fuck around with her, then flirt with Jean.  I mean it, Jean is with me even though she looks around.  Ororo is a one woman, one man type of person, you feel me?"

"I feel ya, so am I," I tell him.  He snorts and walks past me as 'Ro walks back to me with a frown, I am about to ask her what's wrong but she pulls me outside.  "So did Red warn ya off?"  She nodded as she looked at me,

"Good thing she has never succeeded in talking me out of anything before."  I chuckled and shook my head, she was one feisty female when she wanted to be.  My mouth goes dry as her collar moves to flash her soft neck, I look away quickly but my pants are already tighter.  I look over at Jean and my feral goes silent, I blow her a kiss as she catches me looking at her.  She smiles wide and blushes prettily, I follow 'Ro outside confused.

        We walk about the outside gardens, she tells me about herself and I just fall deeper.  Stupid me, I should have gone first and kept on going.  She was orphaned at three, on the streets as a thief and pickpocket until six, a goddess until twelve, and with Chuck ever since.  Except for running off to New Orleans at sixteen, coming back at eighteen.  She also told me of her only relationship with another student of Charles and how he broke off their engagement and left.  She smiled wistfully and looked at me as we sat under a magnolia tree, watching the sun sink down.

"So tell me about Logan, just Logan," she joked and looked at me.  I couldn't help but drop my gaze, she lifted my chin and stared into my sheepish eyes.  "It is okay Logan, I will not judge you.  I have lived a hard life too, you are not alone."

"Maybe you should judge me," I tell her, "I am a killer plain and simple, I was used by the government as an assassin, weapon, mercenary, whatever ya wanna call it.  I don't remember my past, the experiments left me with no memory and the metal on my bones.  I carry my feral and this deep, seething rage that sometimes takes over.  I don't know if Logan is even my real name or just something I picked up from someone I used ta know."  She listened to me recall parts I could remember and my time with Charles, her hand rubbed mine and never wavered.  "I'll understand if ya don't wanna be alone wit me ever again, but I would never hurt ya 'Ro.  I wouldn't let dat happen."

"'Ro?" she smirked.  I chuckled but hissed as her fingertips grazed my knuckles, she inspected my knuckles and the scars over them.  "Where did you get these?  They look repetitive, as if they scar over and over."  I laugh darkly as she hit it on the head,

"Move yer hands and watch, but be careful."  She nodded and watched as I unsheathed my metal claws, when they were out all the way she looked at me,

"May I?"  I nodded and quietly sat as she turned my hand, then ran her fingers over each claw carefully.  I carefully sheathed and she watched my skin knit itself, she kissed the back of my hand.  "Extrordinary, you are an amazing man Logan.  Whatever you have done, has shaped you into the man you are today.  You should be proud of that and focus more on the future and not so much on the past.  You can not change what you have done or what has transpired, only learn and grow from it. Make peace with the fact you did the best you could with what you had."

I can't look in her eyes any longer and glance towards the steadily falling sun, her words resonating in my head. "Also, enjoy what life has to offer, as long as it is legal."  We laughed then spent a few moments more in companionable silence, I studied her relaxed form as she watched the stars come out.  "Well I am going to turn in, will you be testing us tomorrow?"  I helped her to her feet and we strolled back to the mansion,

"I think I will, tha sooner tha better.  Plus ya'll have more time ta train on tha weekends anyway.  Be ready in tha danger room by eight am, I wont go easy on ya."

"I shall try not to swoon!" she joked, rolling her eyes.  I stopped her before she went inside, her heart skipped a beat as I leaned down and kissed her chastely on the lips.  She tasted sweet, like pineapples and I couldn't help but delve into her mouth quickly before releasing her.  Her eyes fluttered as I looked through lowered lids at her, she smiled and kissed me again.  This time she explored my mouth with her tongue and left me breathless.  She laughed against my mouth and went inside, leaving me alone on the patio, I sat in a chair and lighted my cigar.  

I contemplated our discussion until nightfall when I caught a glimpse of Red with Scott, he was more open when they were alone.  He kissed her like they would never see each other again, I looked away and growled.  My alpha male wanting to take out the competition, Red wasn't like 'Ro and certainly wasn't better.  But she silenced the animal within, isn't that what I wanted before I got here?  I made my way inside, maybe Chuck does know what he's talkin' about this place and the people here. They could help with the transition into a more stable and productive life. They could give me what I want most out of life and finally conquer the beast within.

TBC