He’d been out in the west woods on one of his midnight romps. There was a bright full moon in the cloudless clear sky. Logan always had trouble sleeping during a full moon. Folktales and ghost stories aside, the moon did have an affect on people, animals— the whole world. Logan was always more on edge, his senses and perceptions more alert.
After an hour or so, he found himself standing at the edge of the lake, staring in awe at one of the most beautiful sites he had ever seen.
There was a large rock sticking out of the water, going towards the center of that part of the lake. Ororo was sitting on it. The moon was practically perched behind her, so most of the woman was only visible in cool silhouette.
Eventually, Logan broke his gaze and stepped into the water. As the night was rather warm, he had been running around in a pair of shorts that were formerly a pair of jeans. Though he was no doubt a creature of the land, Logan’s advanced military training had made him the stealthiest of swimmers. Had she been most people, Ororo never would have heard his approach.
Logan pulled himself up n the rock from behind her. Ororo, her head down, toes circling the water, did not acknowledged him.
Logan took a deep breath to still the slight chill he felt on emerging from the water.
Ororo was wet too, but the night air did not bother her.
Logan settled in a position that was more beside her on her right. He didn’t say anything, just rested his elbows on his knees and stared down into the moon-streaked water.
It was a long period of silence and little movement. Ororo took a breath and brought her feet around the rock so that she was sitting side by side with her companion. She leaned sideways; her eyes closed and rested her head on Logan’s shoulder.
He put his arm around her but still, neither spoke for several minutes.
“Who am I Logan?” Ororo finally asked.
“What do ya mean?”
“… I am Ame’s mother. I am Storm. I am an X-Man….”
“But…?”
“… But where did Ororo go? I have not seen her in years. I’m not certain I would even be able to recognize her if I saw her.”
Logan smiled and gave a small laugh. To most people, Ororo’s statement would have sounded as though she were full of sorrow and self-pity. Logan knew better. She had had a long day and was tired. She was looking for a shoulder to lean on to re-assure herself of her support. The ‘whining’ was just a way for her to unwind. It was part of her sense of humor that only her closest friends knew. Everyone needed to whine every now and again.
“She’s around.” He said. “You just gotta know where to look.”
“Mmm.” Ororo sat up and hugged her knees to herself.
Logan sighed. “Look, I’ve actually been searchin’ for ya for a while. Wanted t’tell ya I’m headin’ out for a few days.”
“…Madripoor?”
“Yeah.”
“Why the engraved announcement.”
“Cause I know Shorty gets upset when I just up and disappear without sayin’ nuthin’.”
“Your are leaving tonight then.”
He nodded.
“Take care, Logan.”
“You gonna be alright, Darlin?”
Ororo stood up and smiled.
“Is there some reason I should not be?”
She winked and then dived backwards into the water with all the grace of a dolphin.
“Nope. None at all darlin’.”
He jumped back into the water and headed for the shore.
* * * * *
Tyger Tiger held Logan away at arm’s length. She smiled almost sadly, then rolled out from beneath him. She sat up on the bed and began re-adjusting her eloquent dress to its previous state of perfection.
Logan propped himself up on one elbow behind her waiting for an explanation. She had never turned him away before.
“Go home, Logan.” She said kindly.
“What?”
“Go home.” She looked over her shoulder at him. “This is one opponent to which I have never done well against. I have no desire for this kind of confrontation.
“Yer talkin’ in riddles again, Lady. You know I hate that.”
She turned to sit sideways on the bed.
“The spark, the passion that I so love about you… it is not here. You have not lost it-- a man like you never could. So you must have left it somewhere. My guess would be back in Westchester County.”
Logan knitted his brow and she did not know if it was in anger of further confusion.
She gently touched his chin. “You are in love silly man. And you do not even know it. Your fire is at home, Logan, not here with me now. I can bring most men trembling to their knees with a glance. But a man in love… that control is beyond my power.”
Logan looked even more confused.
‘Love? What the hell’s she talkin’ about? In love with who?’
His mind flashed back to an image in moonlight.
His jaw dropped. Logan wasn’t use to missing things. Especially things that were right before his eyes. He had almost forgotten where he was when Tyger Tiger spoke again.
“Tell her.” She said. “Whoever she is, she is a lucky woman, and deserves to know.”
Logan sat up and absently shook his head. He felt like a complete idiot.
“Tyger…”
She shook her head.
“I know.” She said with a smile. “And should this love ever fail… you always know where to find me…”
* * * * *
There was someone watching her. She was certain of it even though they hadn’t made a sound or moved so much as a puff of air. She was also certain that whoever it was had no intension of harming her. Only two people sprung to mind who matched that description, and one of them was be miles away.
With that sound reasoning, Ororo Munroe opened her eyes and lifted her head, fully expecting to see Remy LeBeau standing there in the darkness.
“Logan?”
“Didn’t mean t’wake ya darlin’.”
“How long have you been—”
“I just got here.”
Ororo reached over and tuned on a lamp.
“That was a short trip.”
“Yeah.”
“…How is Tyger Tiger?”
“…Fine.”
“…Are you going to tell me what is wrong?”
“Who says anything’s wrong?”
“Well, you are standing in my room at…” she glanced at the clock. “3:30 in the morning with a rather curious look on your face.”
He stared at her a moment then shook his head.
“No. There ain’t nuthin’ wrong. Sorry I woke ya up, Ro.”
He turned and started to leave. Ororo quickly hopped out her bed.
“There most certainly is something wrong! Since when have you ever lied to me?! And directly to my face yet!”
Wolverine stopped and slowly turned.
“Don’t know if I like someone knowin’ me that well, darlin.”
Ororo merely tilted her head to the side in a frank manor.
“You know you never need fear anything from me.”
“‘Cept myself.”
“What? What are you talking abou—”
Logan answered with a very passionate kiss, which, once the surprise wore off, she returned.
Logan broke the embrace a few moments later.
“Sorry. Shouldn’t a’done that.”
Ororo shrugged sheepishly.
“It is not the first time we have shared a kiss.”
“Yeah, but it’s different this time.” He said turning as though to leave once more.
“Why?”
“Cause it is.”
“Why?”
“It just is.”
“Why is it?”
“Cause I’m in love with you this time!—Shit!”
Ororo stood straighter and the beginnings of a smile was forming at the corners of her mouth.
‘Great. She’s gonna laugh at me now.’
“And here I was thinking that my radar was off, or getting rusty.”
“…You knew?!”
Ororo paused, her lips together thoughtfully. She stepped towards him.
“It would—probably be more accurate to say—that I had hoped…”
“…We gotta work on our communication skills, darlin’.” He said slyly, slipping an arm around her waist.
“Mmm-hm. Why don’t we start now.” She said. “Starting with the silent kind.”
She didn’t wait for a reply as this time... she kissed him.
The (New) Beginning…
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