[Reviews - 104]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Microsoft Word Chapter or Story |
Printer Chapter or Story |
ePub eBook Chapter or Story |

Has been viewed 2850 times

- Text Size +




Disclaimer: Still not mine, although they really should be. But they aren’t. Friggin’ lawyers…

Xavier Institute
Westchester, New York
Early Morning


Jean Grey Summers sat with her head in her hands, red hair obscuring most of her face. She was trying not to think of the nightmares that had plagued her the night before, but it was difficult. In her mind visions of the Phoenix kept appearing, wings out, its shriek echoing in her head.
“Good morning, Jean. You are up early.” Ororo stepped through the swinging doors clad in her favorite robe, hair wrapped in a towel from her shower.
“Oh, hey, Storm.” Jean lifted her head, greeting her best friend with a weak smile.
“Is everything all right?” Ororo asked, reaching into an overhead cupboard pulling out two coffee cups. “You look tired.”
Jean shook her head. “Just some bad dreams, nothing to--Oh my God!” She rose from her seat knocking the wooden chair to the floor, rushing to Storm’s side. “Is that what I think it is?” She grabbed Ororo’s hand, holding it up to the streaming sunlight.
Ororo positively beamed. “Uh-huh.”
“Let me just say again--Oh. My. God!” Jean wrapped her arms around Ororo both jumping up and down in a circle, laughing and squealing. “When? Where? How?” Jean pulled Ororo to the table, picking up her fallen chair and sitting across from Storm, still holding her left hand.
“Last night. In the library. Naked.”
“That is so…did you just say naked?” Jean’s fiery eyebrows rose.
Ororo blushed. She hadn’t meant for it to come out quite like that, but she was just so happy and excited, and seeing Jean’s excitement made her feel even more buoyant.
“It’s beautiful.” Jean said, voice hushed with awe.
“What’s beautiful?” Betsy Braddock strolled into the kitchen, having just come from her morning workout session, white towel wrapped around her neck, sweat dripping from her brow.
In response Jean hauled Ororo’s hand up towards Betsy’s face. Betsy looked positively shocked. “Wolverine?”
Ororo glanced at Betsy like she was cracked. “Who else?”
“Sorry, didn’t mean it like that. It’s just a bit surprising the two of you. And then not so surprising,” she murmured, reflectively. Both Jean and Ororo looked at her funny. “I know, I know, I’m talking in riddles, blame my Japanese training.” she laughed. “That little devil said nothing during our session this morning.”
“I do not imagine there is much polite conversation in the stealth sessions,” Storm said with a smile. “How did it go?”
“Oh, fairly well if you consider I didn’t get any closer than a hundred yards to the man, and landed on my ass more times than a Rodeo clown.”
“Then you and I faired about the same,” Ororo said with laughing sympathy.
The three women sat around the table smiling and laughing, each examining Ororo’s ring with feminine awe. So engrossed in their conversations they did not see the swinging doors open or notice the man dressed in black leaning on the doorjamb until he cleared his throat.
“Thought ya was bringing some coffee, darlin’?”
Ororo tilted her head, smiling in warm welcome. “Sorry about that, love. I got distracted.” She rose walking over to him, wrapping her arms around his neck in greeting.
Logan hugged his strong arms around her waist, burying his face in her neck, inhaling her sweet fresh scent. She had called him love, he thought with a grin. He kissed her softly on the mouth. “Yer forgiven.”
From the table Jean and Betsy grinned, happily surprised by the loving exchange between their feral warrior and their normally reserved ice goddess.
*Who knew?* Jean sent to Betsy, meaning the compatibility of Logan and Ororo.
*I think we all did on some level.* Betsy sent back. *They are the quintessential Yin and Yang.*
*Isn’t that a Chinese principle?*
*Yep. But I’m multi-cultured. Unlike some of you Western yahoos.* Betsy laughed out loud at the image Jean sent her of poking her tongue out.
“You chose well, Wolverine.” Betsy said sincerely.
“I chose the best.” He concurred.
“I believe I had a choice in this as well,” Ororo said lightly.
“Yeah, but there’s no accounting for taste in some people,” Betsy teased.

News of Wolverine and Storm’s engagement traveled throughout the mansion faster than a wildfire in the dry season. Every female in the house was stopping Ororo in the hallway, or during classes, wanting to gawk at her luxurious ring, and men and boys alike were giving Logan nods of approval and from some he sensed stunned disbelief. Not that he could blame them, after all he still had a hard time believing that she had accepted him.
There were some members of the X-family that were less than thrilled for the match, most notably Scooter and Gumbo. Neither one had seemed to approve of the pairing, not that he gave a rat’s ass about anyone’s approval, but it irked him that they refused to be happy for Storm. Fuck ‘em if they didn’t like him, but she didn’t deserve anyone bringing her down.
Logan was making his way to the Danger Room to work off some steam when he spotted Gambit leaning against the hallway wall. He fully intended on walking by ignoring the guy, but as he approached Gambit looked up, saying, “So you and Stormy gettin’ married, henh?”
Wolverine said nothing, just kept walking, he had told Storm he wouldn’t give the Cajun a hard time. However, all bets were off when Gambit placed a restraining hand on his arm. Wolverine turned with teeth bared, claws extending with their trademark -SNIKT-. “Whaddya want, Gumbo.” His voice held more than a hint of irritation. There were many who backed down from that tone alone.
Instead of stepping away, Gambit straightened to his full height, looking at Wolverine with a deep scowl. “Ya’d better not hurt her,” Gambit warned.
Wolverine rolled his eyes, annoyed. “Storm‘s a big girl, Gumbo. She can take care of herself. She doesn‘t need you playing big brother any more.”
“I‘ll always be der for Stormy, Wolverine. Get used t‘ it.”
“Like ya were there for her when she lay bleeding ta death on the ground in New Orleans.” Wolverine‘s voice deepened into a savage snarl.
“What ‘appened is somet’in I can’t change, no matter how much I want to. Just know dis, Wolverine, der are very few people Remy willing t’ die for. Stormy be at the top of dat list.” For a brief moment his eyes held Wolverine’s glowing like the pits of Hell. With that comment the tall Cajun turned away, slowly vanishing into the shadows of the hallway.
“I’m gonna gut that guy someday,” Logan muttered savagely, watching Gambit walk away with predatory eyes.
“He means it, yah know.” Rogue said as she stepped from the elevator, the one Wolverine was waiting for. “He’d die for her.”
Something in her manner bothered Logan. She seemed distant and angry, but showed no outward signs of it. “Is that jealousy I smell?”
Rogue shook her head. “Can’t be jealous of a man’s religion.” her voice carried a hard edge.
“Wanna explain that little comment, darlin‘?”
Rogue looked ready to refuse, but then said, “He worships her, Logan. To him Storm is a goddess, and he is unworthy. It’s sad. Ah feel for him, he is so lost right now. Storm is the only constant Remy has had in his life, and now you’re taking her away from him.”
Wolverine realized that Rogue was indeed jealous, but not of Storm, she was jealous for Gambit. Saying all the things the Cajun would never say. Wolverine glowered at her, growling, “I ain’t takin’ ‘Ro anywhere, kiddo. She’s a grown woman and she makes her own choices.”
“Ah know. All Ah’m saying is cut Remy some slack, Logan. He has enough guilt weighing him down, he doesn’t need ya adding to it.”
“Hey, he approached me. I didn’t go looking fer him.”
“Ya would have eventually, Wolverine.” Rogue patted his shoulder stepping past him. “Congratulations, by the way. Nice job on the ring.”
Wolverine said nothing. He watched Rogue follow the path Gambit had taken, knowing she was going to make the first step in fixing her and Gumbo’s tattered relationship. Logan stepped onto the elevator, pushing the button for the Danger Room with one of his still extended claws. He was suddenly anxious to get to training. He’d run exercise twenty-four Alpha, opponent Gambit, and gut himself a Cajun. Logan grinned. Yep that sounded just fine.

“I should ‘ave ‘eard it from you, Stormy.” Were the first words out of Gambit’s mouth when he found Ororo seated beneath one of the large willow trees beside the lake. She was reading, the cool spring breeze rustling the pale yellow hem on her sundress. She pulled off her dark sunglasses, as he approached, placing them on the brim of the straw hat that was currently keeping her hair out of her face. She continued to watch him silently as he knelt on one knee in front of her.
“I can only assume that you are referring to my engagement.” She said once he was settled.
“What de hell else would I be talkin’ about?” He asked curtly. “It shoulda come from you, chere. Instead I ‘ave to ‘hear the news from some chattering teenager. Why didn’t ya tell Remy dat you and de Wolverine were gettin‘ married?”
“Well, for starters I did not know myself until yesterday evening. And secondly, you have been dodging me since yesterday morning, so it was rather difficult to fill you in, considering this is the first time I have seen you since the briefing.” Ororo slammed the book on her lap shut. “So, Gambit, the real question is: why are you avoiding me?”
Gambit plucked a handful of grass from the ground in agitation. He looked out across the lake, watching the sunlight shimmer across the surface of the water, closing his eyes when he felt Ororo’s hand brush a lock of his auburn hair behind his ear.
“Remy, you were the first person I wanted to tell. I went to your room last night but you were not there.” Ororo said honestly.
Gambit still said nothing. In truth he had been in Ororo’s attic loft, waiting for her to show up so that he could speak with her. He had wanted to apologize for leaving her in New Orleans regardless of the circumstances. He should have been there for her. The knowledge that she had actually died set heavy on his heart.
“Remy.” She took his hand. “Congratulate me.”
“I’m not so sure marrying de Wolverine is cause for congratulations or condolences,” he said half serious. “I don’t get what ya see in him, padnat.”
“Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eye.”
“Uh-hn.” Gambit looked into her eyes. Reflected in them he saw happiness and fulfillment like he’d never seen in their depths before. If it was Wolverine who put it there, then Gambit had no choice but to be happy for her. Her happiness was evident in the warm sunshine, the gentle breezes and in that mysterious smile of hers that was appearing more and more frequently.
“Congratulations, padnat. I want nothing but yer happiness.”
Ororo leaned her head against the tree. “I know, brother.”
Gambit scooted until his back was pressed to the trunk of the tree beside hers. “What’re you reading?”
“It is a book of spells I found in the library.” She said a bit hesitantly.
“’Ave you tried any of dem?”
“Not yet. I am not sure I am even going to.”
“Why not. It could be fun. Come on, try one wit’ me.” He opened the book flipping the pages. “Dis one looks good.”
Ororo looked down at the page Gambit was pointing to. It was a growth spell.
“Could be interesting, non?” He gave her a teasing leer.
“You are a shameless flirt, LeBeau.”
“Guilty.” He shrugged. “But I’m serious, chere. Try it.” Gambit nudged the book at her encouragingly.
“Alright.” She took the book from him. After studying the words for moment Ororo stood, Gambit with her. “Okay, here goes…” Ororo placed her hand against the cracked bark of the willow tree, palm flat and muttered, “Al terra du tantus al termes.”
Gambit looked at her expectantly.
After a short period Ororo shrugged. “I do not think anyth--”
Beneath their feet the ground rumbled, knocking them slightly off balance. Erupting from the soil, the roots of the willow tree were now spreading themselves along the grass. After a moment they stopped and Gambit raised one eyebrow at Storm. “Impressive, padnat. You were saying?”
Ororo closed the book with a sharp thwap. She sank back down to the ground, shaking. “I was hoping it was not true,” she whispered.
“Hey, easy, padnat. Dis is a good t’ing, non?”
“No, Remy. This is not a good thing.” Ororo flung the book aside.
“Ah hope Ah’m not interrupting anything.” Rogue said as she approached the two of them under the willow tree.
“What do you want?” Gambit asked, voice hard.
“Um..Ah uh…” Rogue seemed to be at a loss for words.
“I should get back.” Ororo said, moving to pick up her blanket and tossed aside book.
“I’ll walk ya.” Gambit said taking her arm.
“No. I could use some alone time. Thank you anyway.” Ororo gave Rogue a fleeting smile before heading back to the Institute.
Rogue looked at Gambit, who was staring after Ororo’s retreating figure. “Can we talk?” she asked haltingly.
Gambit was about to tell her to take a dip in the lake, but in much less friendly terms when it occurred to him that if Storm could talk to him after all that had happened then the least he could do was speak with Rogue. He looked down into her hazel eyes and felt the familiar kick in his gut. “Yeah, chere. We can talk.”

Later
“And ya made the tree grow?” Logan asked spooning a mound of beef stew into his mouth.
“Well, not the whole tree, but the roots.” Ororo responded. “They came right up out of the ground.”
“Hm. Good stew.”
“Good stew? I tell you I performed magic today and you say good stew?”
“It’s good stew.” he defended.
“Right.” Ororo took a sip of her beer. Beer. Logan grinned. “What?” she asked.
“Nothin’.” He chewed his stew.
They sat in silence. The night air washed over the couple seated on Ororo’s balcony, stirring their hair, caressing their skin. Ororo leaned her head back, enjoying it.
“I’ll finish fixin’ the doors tomorrow.” Logan said, inclining his head towards the two door frames leaning against the wall of the Institute.
Ororo nodded. “Thank you.”
She remembered Logan’s face when he had seen the shattered glass and splintered wood when they had arrived back from San Francisco.
“You did this?” he had said taking in the damage. She had simply nodded, saying, “I was in a hurry.”
“Just how did you know the team was in trouble?” he had asked.
“I did not know the team was in trouble,” she had responded. “I knew you needed me. I felt it here.” She had placed her hand over her heart.
“Next time you wanna make yer own personal jet stream how about ya open the doors first,” Logan said bringing her back to the present.
“How about you try and keep yourself out of trouble.” she returned.
Logan leaned back in his seat. “It wasn’t my trouble.” As soon as the words left his mouth he wanted to kick himself in the ass. Ororo’s bright eyes dimmed and she looked away from him, out over the courtyard.
“Hey.” Logan reached across the table, taking her chin in his hand, turning her head so that she had to look at him. “We’re a team. A family. All fer one and all that shit.”
“Poetic.” Ororo said dimly, but he could see the smile returning to her eyes.
“Come here.” Logan tugged her arm, pulling her out of her seat and into his lap. He touched the side of her face reverently, cupping her cheek in his palm. Ororo leaned into his touch automatically and Logan took pleasure in how easily and naturally she responded to him. He pressed his lips to hers tenderly, running his tongue along the seam of her mouth. She sighed, eyes fluttering shut, lost in his embrace.

Later

“Will it always be like this?” Ororo whispered against Logan’s sweat dampened chest. She was sprawled across him, too weak to move.
“Always.” He sounded very certain, which made her smile. He sunk his fingers into her tousled hair.
“You make me feel so loved, Logan.“
“That’s because ya are, darlin’.“
“I never thought I could be this happy,“ Ororo confessed.
“Me either, ‘Ro. But you make me feel things I ain’t never felt before.“ He kissed her softly. Then again. And again.
“Don’t you ever get tired?” Ororo asked as he rolled, pushing her back into the mattress, settling himself between her parted legs.
“Of this? Are you crazy?” Logan grinned. Lifting one of her long legs he gave her bare backside a playful spank.
“I love you, Mountain Man.” Ororo wrapped her arms around his corded neck, pulling him against her.
“And I love ya, Windrider. With all my heart.”


Al terra du tantus al termes: (Loosely translated from Latin): From the earth the branches grow.





You must login () to review.