Conflicting emotions ran through his mind as thoughts of its past inhabitant, Dr. Jean Grey, came unbidden to his mind. The woman he had loved. The woman who begged he kill her to save the world, to save herself. It took a long, long time for Logan to come to terms with the death of the beautiful red haired mutant by his own hand. It took even longer to know she never really wanted him, still loving Scott as she died in her killer’s arms.
His thoughts turned to Professor Charles Xavier and Scott Summers, the two men she had killed who shockingly came back to life because the Wolverine granted her wish. He slowed the motorcycle down, releasing the throttle as he frowned. Coming back was always double edged, all the ghosts of the past continued to haunt him despite the passage of time. Logan wanted to think he was coming home, but the Wolverine knew better. He had no home. Still not in complete possession of his past, still no closer to owning his future because of it. Still not whole. But he was tired and he needed comfort. He needed Marie.
Approaching the estate, he punched his code into the security pad, only a bit surprised it was still valid. He watched the heavy iron gates swing slowly open, revealing the long and winding driveway that would take him up to the school. Taking a deep breath, he moved forward, barely taking in the massive maple trees that ran parallel alongside him. They led the way, top heavy with crimson and copper foliage that had yet to fall to the ground.
He stopped about a mile shy of the entrance, choosing to walk his bike the rest of the way to the garage. It was early in the morning, the crisp, still autumn air carried sounds easily. Everything was quiet, peaceful, and he allowed himself a few moments of silence. It felt good to be back. He could pretend again for a little while that he belonged somewhere.
After locking up his bike, he walked in through the back door, key in hand, and headed straight to the library. He threw his duffle bag on the floor and sat in one of the leather bound chairs that occupied the large room. He didn’t need to wait long.
~ Welcome back Logan. ~
He smirked.
Thanks Wheels. Everyone asleep?
~ Not quite. Would you care for some breakfast? I do believe the staff already set out the day’s selection. ~
Logan shook his head although he knew the professor couldn’t see him.
No thanks – where’s Rogue?
The professor hesitated before answering. ~ Rogue is presently in the Danger Room. I must tell you Logan, she has…changed. ~
He already stood up and was storming through the halls to the stairs leading down to the Danger Room. He could barely register the professor’s voice in his mind over the loud beating of his heart.
~ Logan, she’s fine,~ the telepath reassured him, ~ I thought it fair to warn you that our Rogue is not the same young woman you last saw three years ago. I’ll leave you now and speak to you later. And again my friend, welcome back. ~
Logan felt the professor’s presence fade from his mind. He was now in front of the doors that led to the Control Room. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise a little. Just what did the professor mean by changed? The doors slid open and Logan stepped inside. What he saw made him stop mid stride.
On the other side of the Control Room’s specially made fortified glass, was a desolate landscape of a city in ruins, sporadic explosions temporarily blinding Logan from their intensity. He could barely make out the familiar giant-like forms of Sentinels through the smoky air, or rather, pieces of them, as they flew in different directions in various forms of destruction. Logan made his way closer to the glass, squinting to make out the small form that seemed to be in the centre of all this chaos. If he didn’t trust his senses so explicitly, he would almost doubt what he saw.
Suspended high in the air, throwing and tearing apart Sentinel after Sentinel with relative ease, was Rogue. Her face was twisted by rage as she effortlessly went through the army of metal giants. Logan quickly looked down at the control panel and realized that there was a Level Ten program in progress.
What the hell?
At that moment Rogue looked in his direction, and her body went entirely still.
Time seemed to stop as they looked at each other, each in their own shock. That’s when a large metallic fist pounded down on top of Rogue, hammering her straight to the ground, crushing the floor as she became invisible under a large rising cloud of dust.
“No!”
Six adamantium claws stabbed through the skin between his knuckles.
He raced to the Danger Room’s entry way, not bothering to ensure that the program had ended. The heavy doors of the Danger Room hissed open as he ran in, and he found himself surrounded by expansive, sleek metal walls. He stopped short when he didn’t see Rogue.
He felt a soft tap on his shoulder.
“Hi sugah.”
He leapt backwards, pulling her into a headlock as he landed, forcing her to the ground with his knee on the small of her back. Both her hands were trapped within one of his, which he had pressed high on her shoulder blades.
Breathing hard, he released the hold he had on her throat and demanded, “What the hell is goin' on?”
He heard her sharp intake of breath – was that annoyance? – before she informed him drily, “ Ah would much prefer to be face to face, if y’all don’t mind.”
She didn’t move a muscle and waited for him to release her. Which he did, sheathing his claws as he stood. Rogue grimaced and got up slowly, stretching her arms back into place after having both her shoulders almost dislocated by Logan’s pin on her. Rubbing her neck, she looked at him with a small smile on her face. “That was some hello.”
Wolverine didn’t smile back.
His eyes noted that her limbs were muscled, her physique lean. She wore a black training suit that covered her from neck to toe, her face the only skin exposed. Her deep brown, shoulder length hair was pulled back into a tight ponytail, the familiar white streaks cut short into bangs across her forehead. She appeared amused by his inspection of her. His eyes narrowed and his jaw hardened.
“You haven’t answered me, kid,” he reminded her tersely, crossing his arms on his chest as he glared at her.
Hands on hips, her smile turned into a grin. “Pretty impressive, huh?”
He stood there, his face unreadable.
Rogue sighed, realizing that the Wolverine was not impressed after all. “Have you spoken to the professor?”
“Goddamnit kid,” he snarled, grabbing her arm forcefully. “Start talkin'!”
“Hey!” she objected, shaking him off as her own anger rose up quickly. “Who do you think you are coming into my Danger Room session, demanding anything? Know what Logan?” She paused and her own eyes narrowed.
“Fuck you.”
With that, she spun on her heel and left, leaving the Danger Room and him behind.
Logan stared at her retreating form.
Wolverine made quick work of unpacking, having not much to unpack in the first place.
He appreciated that his things were still in his old room, untouched. After quickly inspecting the mansion, and familiarizing himself with the new scents that now inhabited the school, he made his way to the cafeteria. Several of the students stopped and gawked at him as he strode past them in the hallways, the mixed scent of their fear and awe both annoying and amusing.
He sat down with a plate piled high with bacon, steak, eggs and potatoes and dug in, pausing only to down full cups of coffee to help wash the food down. The large windowed room was about half full but quickly began to fill with students preparing for the new school day. Some he recognized, most he didn't. Three years was a long time in the lives of teenagers.
He saw Ororo make her way through the buffet. Done eating, he waited for her to notice him. And she did, her beautiful blue eyes first widening in surprise, then filling with warmth and affection. He stood up and grinned. Dropping her breakfast tray on the counter, she ran across the room and hugged him hard, exclaiming, “Oh my goddess Logan! How wonderful to see you!"
He lifted her easily off the ground and returned her hug. “It’s good to see you too, darlin’.”
Beaming at him as they sat across each other, she asked, “When did you arrive?”
“Couple of hours ago,” he told her, adding, “things look good around here ‘Ro.”
She nodded, accepting her tray of food from a passing staff member with a grateful smile. “Everything is running smoothly, yes. But we missed you.”
Logan grunted in response. Almost on cue, Cyclops walked in and looked in their direction. Straightening his shoulders, the X-Men leader marched purposefully towards them. Logan stood up slowly and waited for him to approach, folding his arms across his chest.
“Logan.”
“One-Eye.”
Logan kept his face expressionless. Scott wore a tight lipped smile as he held out his hand.
“Welcome back, Wolverine.”
Logan looked at Scott’s outstretched hand. Moments passed with neither man making a move. All eyes seemed to be on the pair of large men, the sounds of clattering dishes and excited conversation coming to an abrupt halt. Ororo rolled her eyes and tore into her muffin, shaking her head at the scene of male machismo before her. Suddenly, Logan grasped the other man’s hand and squeezed it. Hard.
“Thanks Slim.”
Scott returned the painfully tight hold on his hand. “Don’t mention it.”
“Go get yourself some breakfast Scott, and we can both bring Logan up to speed about the going’s on in Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, shall we?” Ororo looked pointedly at the students around them. Within moments, the room refilled with the sounds of eating youngsters. Logan released Scott’s hand with a lopsided grin and sat back down, lifting one of his legs to rest on an empty seat beside him.
Some things change, some don’t. Maybe now he would finally get some answers about Marie.