Romance
by Jemisard

Fandom: X-Men movie verse
Paring: Logan/Scott, implications of Jean/Storm
Rating: NC17 for sure.
Status: Complete, new
Series/Sequel: Possibly. There is a PWP set after this, but no continuation of story lines.
Disclaimers: They aren't mine. You know that. I'm just borrowing them.
Notes:Thanks to Hanofer, Lee, Peja and Taryn, who host my work, and Lythias, who got me into this fandom. Thanks all. Also, I must thank Erika, who gave me the idea for this, in a conversation, and said that she wanted to see a romantic Logan, no candle lit dinners. I thought he'd offer to kill people that you don't like, but anyway..........
So, now that I've finished, I have an extra to add. Erika, once again, you have been a wonderful, supportive, loveing and helpful friend. You kept me writing when I was going to throw it in and kept begging for more.
This story is just for you, its number one fan. :)
Summary: Logan is going to prove he can be romantic.
Warnings:Violence, adult themes, hints of noncensual slash sex, explitict consensual slash, stupidity. I think that's all.

Logan threw his cup into the sink and turned on his heel. "What am I doing wrong, Red? What the hell do I do?"

Jean sighed and levitated her cup over to the sink and ran water into it. "Logan, what have you been trying?"

He shrugged. "I dunno, thin's. Movies, restaurants, breakfast in bed. Everything! I still keep gettin' the cold shoulder!"

Logan's claws whipped out and he embedded them in the counter. "I don't understand!"

Jean lay her hands on his shoulders and rubbed. "Logan, calm down. Losing your temper isn't going to help."

Logan took a deep breath and turned around to look Jean in the eye. "Help me, Red, I don't know what to do. No one's ever been so hard to get fer me. I've not had to chase someone before, Red, I'm usually not interested, and havin' ter get rid o' 'em."

Jean laughed. "Do you have any ideas? Interests? Inklings that might be usable?"

Logan slapped his head. "If I knew, I wouldn't be askin' ya!"

"Don't yell, Logan. Well, try small things first. Notes, poetry, maybe a single rose?"

Logan scowled. "Yer no help. That's what a woman wants, not a man."

Jean put away her cup. "Well, I'm just trying to help. If you don't want it, forget I said anything. I'm going to bed."

"Say night ter Ro fer me."

Jean raised an eyebrow at him. "I will, Logan. Night."

He watched her go, and banged his head on the bench. How the hell did you go about romancing Scott Summers?

"Bobby Drake, what is the chemical formula for photosynthesis?"

Bobby blinked and looked at his teacher, who was undeniably glaring from behind those glasses. "Umm, water plus nutrients with sunlight becomes glucose and carbon?"

Mr Summers sighed. "Chemical formula, Bobby. Chemical."

Bobby chewed his lip. "I have no idea. Sorry."

"Kitty. Chemical formula for photosynthesis?"

"Six H2O plus six CO2 with sunlight becomes C6H12O6 plus six O2."

"Thank you. What sort of respiration is involved in this, Rogue?"

"Aerobic, Mistuh Summers." She drawled.

"Very good. John, what is the by product of anaerobic respiration in animals and in plants."

He looked around, slightly panicky. "Um, lactic acid in animals and, um,"

"Alcohol, bub. Plants produce alcohol."

Scott looked up and over to the door. "Can I help you, Wolverine, or do you want to join the class?"

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Think I'll skip that offer, slim. I was wondering where the keys were?"

Scott glared at him. "Well hidden. Did you interrupt my class to ask for the keys of my bike?"

Logan rocked on heels. "Yep."

"Class, books open to page one hundred and nineteen, and read the next five pages on cellular construction."

He strode to the door and pushed Logan out ahead of him. He shut the door and turned to him. "Logan, what the hell do you want?"

He smiled and leant with his hands on either side of Scott's head, and pressed his lips to Scott's.

Scott shoved him backwards, and delivered a straight blow to Logan's jaw. "Where the hell do you get off, Wolverine, doing that to me?"

"C'mon, slim, throw me a line. What do yer want me to do?" He pressed against the slim body. "I'm dyin' fer ya, gimme a clue."

Scott pushed him back. "I have a class, Logan." He opened the door and slipped through, shutting it after him. Logan swore and smashed his fist into the wall. That wasn't the way to do it.

The class watched their teacher expectantly, as he walked back to his desk and sat down. "Right, what are the mitochondria? Jubilee."

"Umm, powerhouses for the cells." Jubilee smiled. "Right?"

"Yes, right. Now, what is different between, say, our cells and those of a typical human?"

No hands went up, as usual. Scott sighed and launched into an explanation, trying to will away the headache that had developed between the class and Logan.

Life went on as normal.

Logan sat in the lab, swinging his legs over the edge of the table. "Please, Jeannie, I need help."

"Possibly medical, but I really don't know." She came out of her office and set down the test tubes. "Ro might be able to you, maybe. She's usually quite good at understanding people like Scott."

"Anal retentive and arrogant?" Logan scowled.

"My, really sounds like you love him," Jean laughed. "Get out of here, go talk to Ro."

He slid off the table and paced out. As he reached the door, he turned back with a worried look. "Are ya sure he's, ya know, interested?"

Jean lay her hands on his shoulders gently. "Logan, Scott's a strange person. He might not admit it to anyone, but he's very interested in you." She looked him in the eye. "And, you're a fool if you don't try. He just, he does things his own way. What works on most people won't work on Scott. He's been hurt, and you have prove yourself to him, that you really are interested."

Logan snorted. "Be better off tryin'a charm a rock than ol' granite heart."

She punched his shoulder lightly. "Keep thinking. You'll work something out."

She watched him leave and sighed. "God, I hope you work something, you two are driving me nuts."

Bobby held up his fists uncertainly. "Like this?"

Scott shook his head. "Bobby, be sure. All you need to show is confidence. It doesn't matter that you might not have it perfect, you're just starting. You have to be confident before anything else."

Bobby sighed. "How can I be confident when I'm doing it wrong?"

"How can you do it right if you expect to fail?"

Bobby sighed and mimicked his teacher. "Like that?"

"Better." Scott punched forwards and drew back sharp. "Okay?"

Bobby followed his movements with relatively little trouble. He grinned. "Hey, I got it!"

"I told you you could do it, if you stopped complaining and started concentrating."

Bobby grinned. "That's way cool. Can we another lot?"

"Not today. I have the rest of the class to do. Tomorrow, I'll go through the next group with you."

Bobby bounced out the door. "Thanks, Mr Summers!"

Scott shook his head. Kids.

They aren't that much younger than you, Scott.

Scott smiled and leant against the wall, letting gravity work on him. I know, they just seem so young. Was I ever that young?

Not while I knew you. Life had already taken its price on you.

Scott nodded, reflecting on that time. He'd been sixteen when Xavier found him, eight years ago. Blind, terrified, he shuddered at the memory.

It's gone now, though.

"Yeah, it's gone." Scott pulled off his visor and opened his bottle, letting the water run over his face before sliding the visor back on.

"Mistuh Summers?"

He looked over at Rogue. "Come in. We were up to the fourth level groups?"

She nodded, pulling her sleeves down further over her gloves. "I have my test on Wednesday, with Miss Grey."

He nodded. "So, we need to get in as much as we can today. Ready?"

She took up her fighting stance. "Ready."

Logan watched the students come in one by one and leave again. He watched for six hours straight, as Scott took each student through the exact set of moves they had reached, collected homework where students had thought he'd forgotten and told each one when their test would be.

He didn't have the patience to do that. He'd probably let them run wild, throw 'em to the wolves and see who comes back again.

He turned his attention back to the window. John was one of the more advanced students, meaning he had progressed to actually fighting an opponent, not just mimicking moves. They were sparring with each other, pulling punches and that sort of thing.

Scott was calmly blocking John's moves, refusing to fight back. It was starting to infuriate the student, his face was red from exertion and impatience. He did a roundhouse kick, only to be grabbed by the ankle and twisted onto his stomach, leg bent behind him. Scott twisted slightly, and John gasped. "Don't try that on someone who is taller than you, unless you know you can pull it off. Leaves you too vulnerable."

John rolled onto his feet again. "Why won't you fight back?"

Scott went to answer, but John attacked, lunging forwards, only to be sidestepped and grabbed again, his arms twisted behind him.

Logan?

Logan looked around, quickly relaxing. Yeah, Chuck?

There's a disturbance at the West fence, could you check on it?

Logan stood up with a sigh and a grimace. Six hours was way too long to be sitting down. Sure thing, Chuck.

He glanced downwards once more, to where John had finally managed to get a grip on Scott and was trying, unsuccessfully, to flip him over.

Logan chuckled and left.

When he got back to the house, the smell of burnt flesh meet his nose, but only lightly. There'd been no problem at the fence, meaning that John had probably nearly incinerated someone. Again.

He grabbed Rogue as she walked past. "Hey, who got burnt?"

She swallowed. "Mistuh Summers. John over heated and lost control. He's been really upset about the whole thing, but Mistuh Summers is being real nice about it all."

Logan shook his head. "Damn bub. You know where he is?"

"Who?" Rogue blinked and stared at him. "Oh, uh, he went to his office, I think."

Logan grinned at her and jogged off. "Thanks, sweetheart."

She watched him go. "You're welcome, Logan."

Logan paced along the halls silently, hoping to catch Scott unawares. He reached the wooden door, there was nothing written on it, but he learnt long ago where the office was.

The smell of burnt skin was a bit stronger, but so was antiseptic. He leant against the door slightly, surprised when it swung open.

He peered into the room. The desk was up the back, and the curtains were drawn. He let his eyes refocus in the dim light, quickly seeing Scott sitting on his desk, glasses on, papers in his hand.

As Logan watched, he reached into the bowl next to him and pulled out something, quickly popping it into his mouth with a slight smile. He thumbed through the pages, wincing slightly. Logan glanced at his hands, red and slightly blistered, but not badly hurt. They had thin, plastic like stuff over them, it looked like he was wearing very tight surgical gloves.

Scott reached into the bowl again, frowning when he reached it. Without looking up from the papers, he leant back and grabbed a bag from his draw, tipping something into bowl again.

Chocolate. Logan nearly laughed. He knew that smell anywhere. More than chocolate, it was liquorice bullets.

Scott chewed another of the sweets, before handing the bowl out towards the door. "You want one?"

Logan blinked. He hadn't realised that Scott had seen him. He walked in and took one, biting it in half. "Thanks, slim."

"You want something?" Scott finally looked up from his papers, leaning back slightly to look Logan in the face.

"Ya okay? I heard 'bout John losin' it."

"I'm fine. I've been burnt before." He closed his eyes, and the light in the room reduced. "Just an inconvenience."

Logan smiled and leant in. "So, yer wanna go fer a ride tonight?" The implications were clear.

"I have work to do, Logan." Scott managed to slip out from under Logan and walked around his desk, placing it between them. "Maybe some other time?"

Logan sighed and turned for the door. "Yeah. Some other time."

"Ro, I need help! He ain't givin' me anythin' to work with!"

Ororo sighed and pulled out another weed. "I don't know, have you tried romantic things? Unsigned notes? Maybe leaving a rose at his door?"

Logan handed her the bucket and pulled out a cigar. "Ya think it'll work? He weren't too happy when I tried breakfast in bed."

She started laughing. "I'm not all that surprised, that's an amazingly, uh, how do I put this, that is the sort of thing you do when you are in a relationship, it's romantic then. It isn't romantic when someone you aren't involved with leaves breakfast in bed when you aren't in it. It's creepy."

Logan sighed. "I'm tryin'!"

"Very." She pulled off her gloves and sunglasses. "Have tried talking to him? Everything you've mentioned to me has, well, undertones. Have you tried something without sub text implications?"

He stared at her. "Whacha mean?"

"You know what I mean, Logan! You aren't stupid, despite trying to pretend to be. Have you tried do anything without hinting at sex?"

Logan was taken aback by Ororo's frankness. "No."

"You're doing things the way that you would prefer to have them done. You need to think about what he wants, what he might like."

Logan leant back. What would Scott like?

It was two in the morning. Logan flicked out his claws and dug them into the side of the building. He carefully swung and clambered his way up the side of the mansion, eyes firmly locked on the window on the top floor.

Trust Cyke to have a room up the top where's it's hard to reach.

He finally managed to grab hold of the sill. He pulled himself onto it and rested for a moment. He carefully lay the dark bud on the sill and lowered himself from the window again.

His hand slipped on the ice forming. He grabbed at it frantically, but still fell.

He hit the ground and lay there, panting. Man, did that hurt. Still, it should all be worth it.

Logan fell asleep where he lay. His hips were still out of place after ten minutes, so he cracked them back in and decided that it was quite a nice night to sleep outside.

He walked into the dining room, rubbing the stiffness out of him. Eyes followed him, and Bobby started laughing. He spun to look at him. "What yer laughin' at, bub?"

"Nothing, sir." Bobby quickly choked out.

Logan sat down and gratefully took the plate of food that was offered to him by Ororo. She smiled at him. "Hard night?"

He nodded, digging into the food. Rogue leant over and smiled. "Yah got it bad for Mistuh Summers," she whispered.

He choked. "Rogue!"

She giggled. "It's okay, no one else knows."

Scott walked in, and the room hushed over. Logan turned and looked at him, clutching the single rose bud to his chest, a smile playing over those full lips. He sauntered over to Logan and leant down next his ear, lips so close he could feel the warmth of his breath.

"Thank you."

He pressed a soft kiss to Logan's cheek and disappeared out to the kitchen. Logan was suddenly aware of everyone staring at him, and flushed a deep red, staring at his food.

He was amazed at how much that single kiss and made him feel. Maybe this seduction thing wasn't so bad after all. It was, although painful, kind of fun.

Logan was still in a daze at lunch time, when Rogue and Kitty ran into him, literally in Kitty's case. They both blushed and glanced at each other.

"Morning." Kitty smiled. "How are you?"

"It's lunch time, Kit."

"I know. But it's kind of morning."

Logan nodded and headed down the passage. Kitty and Rogue exchanged more glances before they burst out laughing. "He has it bad."

Rogue nodded. "Why'd yah think Mistuh Summers has been so secretive about what he's doing? He keeps doing little things, like in training, as Ah arrived, he was running water over his face, head tipped back and all."

Kitty frowned. "So?"

"Didn't yah see Logan up in the observation deck?"

Kitty smiled and started laughing again. "They are so, urgh, if it weren't so cute it'd be sickening."

Rogue nodded her agreement. "C'mon, we gotta get to lunch before we miss out."

It was tea time. Logan sat in the medical unit, nursing a slightly marked eye that had been black a minute ago and was still spitting blood out, despite the fact that the cut had healed a while ago. Jean stared at him and shook her head. "You haven't learnt yet, have you?"

Logan glanced downwards.

She sighed. "You aren't stupid Logan, start thinking with this," she tapped his head, "instead of that," she pointed at his groin vindictively. He blushed slightly, the bruising already gone.

"Jean, I am thinkin',"

"No you aren't! Haven't you listened to a thing that Ro and I have been telling you? That approach doesn't work on Scott, he's more insecure, and a lot more romantic than you! I thought you learnt after the breakfast incident."

"Breakfast in bed's s'pose to be romantic."

"Yes, when you wake up, and your lover has gotten up to get you breakfast, it is romantic. You are sitting in bed, the room still smells of the last night's passion, and the smells of breakfast mingle in the air. That is romantic."

He opened his mouth to protest, but she cut him off. "No, don't say anything. It is not romantic when, while you are in the shower, someone breaks into your room, using a key they stole the night before by going through your bag when you were at training, and leaves breakfast, on a tray, on your bed, and just waits outside the door for you. It's creepy."

"That's what Ro said."

"She was right. And, what did he do to you after finding the note you left?"

Logan felt very much like a school child who had been found vandalizing. "Punched me in the gut after I asked him if I got me sex since he got his meal."

"Right. Now, what did you do today?"

"Left him a rose outside his window."

"Good, that is romantic. What did you do after lunch?"

He sighed. "Do we 'ave to go through this, Red?"

"Yes. I am going to teach you something about being romantic if it kills one of us. Now, what did you do after lunch, in the Danger Room?"

"Pinned him against the wall."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "And..........?"

"Slipped me hand in his suit and asked him ter join me fer a bit of one on one."

She clipped behind the ear. "That was stupid, and you know it. Are you trying to drive him away?"

"No."

"You're acting like it. Now, stop being such a tart," she ignored his spluttering, "and start trying a bit harder, because he is interested, if you are willing to put in the time. Are you going to accept that he isn't that easy to get into bed?"

"Yes, mum," Logan recited. She hit him again, playfully. "Go on, get out of here. And start thinking Logan, I know you're perfectly capable of it. Show us all that you can be more than a cage brawler."

"I know I can." He turned back and glared at her. Her expression softened. "I know you can, Logan, but you seem to need to prove it. Let Logan, not Wolverine, charm the pants of that prick you're so in love with."

Logan grinned at her. "Thanks, Jeannie."

She shook her head as he left. "Children."

Logan flicked through the papers, eyes drifting shut. No, no, no, there was nothing in here of any good.

"Logan?"

"Yeah, sweetheart?" He glanced up at Rogue. She shook her head. "Yah have no idea. No one likes garden shows, not even people as strange as Mistuh Summers."

He moved aside to let her sit down. "So, what do ya think I should do?"

"Art show. He was saying in art the other day about the Rococo period, and he seemed to like some of that, Ah think, it's hard to tell under those glasses."

Logan scratched his cheek. "Art show, hey?"

"Yeah. Yah know, there's some around at the moment."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Ya wouldn't be trying to set us up?"

"No! Would Ah do that?"

"Yes, ya would." He leant back. "Did ya know, this is the most trouble I ever had with someone."

She laughed. "Yah'll work it out." She stood up and kissed his shoulder. "Night, Logan."

"Night, sweetheart."

She walked out and he picked up his glass. Art shows huh? He likes art?

"Logan!"

He cringed slightly. "Yeah, Red?"

She grabbed his ear and dragged him into her office. "This is a bad idea. Do you remember, we talk about those? Subtle is romantic, overt is creepy."

"It ain't overt! At least, I didn't mean it to be!"

"Body art exhibition? Logan, you haven't been listening to anything I've said!"

"Rogue said he liked art! I just thought it'd be a bit more interestin' than that frame stuff."

Jean shook her head. "Okay, you're trying to get it right now. Look, I heard about this show, when we were younger, Scott and I spent a fair bit of time at the art gallery when it came by, and it's coming again. I think you should try this place."

She handed him a piece of paper. He looked at her, then down at what he held in his hand. "French Art from the London collection of Treasures?"

She smiled and nodded. "Go on. It's for tomorrow only, he'll love it."

Logan was a little doubtful about this, but, Jeannie had been right about everything else. "I'll try it."

She smiled. "Great. And Logan, wear something nice."

He sighed and nodded, wandering out of her office. Well, he supposed she did know Scott better than he did, but he was a little doubtful about this.

He knocked on the door, and tried a smile. Scott answered, hair ruffled, glasses in hand, eyes shut. "Logan? What do you want?"

"Uh, I was wonderin', ya wanna come ter an art expo with me?"

Scott slid his glasses on, face incredulous. "You're inviting me to an art show?"

Logan nodded, feeling a bit stupid. Scott smiled. "Sure. When is it?"

Logan swallowed his surprise. "Today. Opens at two."

"I'll meet you at the garage at one then."

Logan nodded mutely. "We take the bike?"

"If we do, I drive."

Logan nodded again, to stunned to believe this was happening. "Hope yer like it, I picked it out, thought, well, I like art."

Scott smiled. "This a date?"

Logan shrugged. "Could be."

"Okay. See you at one." He shut the door, though not the slam in the face that Logan had become accustomed to.

He grinned. Step one accomplished.

They were outside the art gallery. Logan had managed to convince Scott to let him drive the bike, using the logic that only one of them knew where the show was on.

He had smiled when Scott wrapped his arms around him, leaning his head on Logan's back. He had been warm against Logan, dressed in a heavy biker jacket and gloves. Logan had noted that he wore no helmet like himself.

They parked the bike and headed inside.

Scott looked around the exhibit entrance. "Rococo art from Louis' rein in France. You like this style of art?"

No, he thought, "Yeah, sure. I got an appreciation for nicer thin's than just fightin' and mud wrestlin'."

Scott smiled, eyes hidden behind his glasses. Logan felt disconcerted by the sight of those blank lenses, he hated not being able to see someone's eyes, let them hide a bit of themself.

They paid and went into the exhibition. As they strolled around, Logan was proud that he was able to hold up his end of the conversation, having borrowed Rogue's notes on the art stuff.

Okay, so he hated it all, and thought it should be burnt, it was pale and stupid, but Scott smiled and nodded and pointed out pieces and facts about them.

Halfway through the sculptures, Logan reached out and took Scott's hand in his own. Scott glanced at him and smiled, and lightly squeezed, sending a thrill down Logan's back.

So this is what it meant by being in love.

He suffered through the whole show, the only thing making it bearable was Scott's fingers laced with his own. They made it back to the main hall and headed out, ignoring the strange looks they got dressed in their leathers.

Logan glanced at the Body Art poster as they passed. He really wished they had gone to that instead, but well, Scott seemed happy, so it was worth it.

When they reached the bike, Scott turned to him, a sad smile on his face. He gently disentangled his fingers from Logan's. "I'm sorry, Logan, I don't think this was such a good idea."

"What!?" Logan spluttered. "What yer mean?"

"I don't think that us seeing each other socially is a good idea. We have nothing in common."

"This ain't some twisted joke to lead me on, is it slim?"

"No," he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I'll walk back. You can take the bike."

He smiled ruefully again. "I'm really sorry, Logan, but I want more than a one night stand, and, we don't enough in common for any more than that."

Logan watched him walk out of the car park, long legs and strides carrying him away quickly. Logan felt his heart break into a million pieces.

Man, had he fucked it up this time.

He parked the bike outside of the building, nearly crashing as he did so. Scott liked him, he could smell it, hell the kid had let him drive his pride and joy without being there to watch.

What had he done wrong?

He pulled off his jacket and strode in. Okay, he had had a few to drink before this, but he was heart broken and he wanted to do something, but he didn't know what, which was stupid, because he always knew what he wanted to do. He wanted someone to be with, to hold, that's what he wanted.

He looked over the girl at the entrance, sitting at the desk. She had about a thousand piercings and tattoos. He grinned at her and paid, she winked flirtatiously. But, he didn't want someone to spend the night with, despite his actions.

He wanted Scott.

He walked into the dimly red lit halls. The Body Art exhibition. He didn't care if it was a bad date idea, it couldn't have gone worse than the art show Jeannie told him to go to.

He was gazing through the body piercings when he spotted a familiar glow ahead. No one else would notice it in the current lighting, but Logan did.

He snuck up behind Scott and tapped him on the shoulder. "Howdy, stranger."

Scott spun and smiled. "Logan, what are you doing here?"

"Drowning me sorrows after being dumped on the first almost date."

Scott looked confused. "I thought, well, when you took me to that hall, I was surprised. I didn't see it as your thing, but you knew so much about it."

Logan gaped. "I went there cause Jeannie said yer liked that thing when yer were younger. I hated it."

"I hate it, I always have, it's hideous stuff." Scott was laughing now. "I couldn't imagine dating someone with such dull tastes. I kept wishing that you'd taken me to this instead."

"I was goin' ter, I was told not ter, too overt. Didn't want ter be creepy." He looked at his feet as he scuffed them.

"I used to go to those shows with Jean, because I felt sorry for her. Okay, maybe I had a crush, but I never wanted to date her because of those. I only went because she loved them so much. I pretended, like we both did today."

Logan grinned. "Gimme another chance?"

Scott took his hand again. "Sure thing. Want to go down to tattoos? I saw one, I want an opinion before I decide anything."

Logan laughed. "I never saw ya as the sort."

Scott just glanced over his shoulder at his smaller companion. "There's a lot you don't know about me Logan."

Logan was just beginning to realise that. He had gotten a very wrong impression of 'straight laced, Mr Perfect' Summers. Very wrong.

Scott ended up not getting the tattoo. They both agreed it was more Logan's thing, so, laughing, Logan had let Scott talk him into getting it tattooed on his arm.

It hurt like all buggery, but Scott was holding his hand, and no one made a single comment about that or his healing, or the eerie glow from behind the glasses, they'd just smiled and worked.

The wolf head was pretty cool. He decided to leave it uncoloured, and managed not to yell when they did it.

He'd never gotten a tattoo before. Too identifying.

They went back to the body piercing section. Scott looked pale at some of them, though with fair reason. If he hadn't seen a guy with it, Logan imagined he'd feel the same about that particular piercing.

Logan eyed off the nipple piercing. He asked Scott if he thought he should get one, but he just shook his head. "Not your thing. Like me and tattoos."

Logan grinned. "Why don't yer get one?"

Scott raised an eyebrow with a playful grin. "Who's to say I haven't?"

Logan tightened his grip on the hand he held. "Do ya?"

"Maybe. You might find out one day."

Logan looked at the naval piercings. "What about that?"

Scott eyed it off. "Okay, looks like fun."

After arguing for ten minutes on what sort of ring or pole to have put in, Scott eventually won, picking out a slim ring over the jeweled bannana post that Logan wanted. The guy had smiled and fetched the antiseptic while he sterilized the ring in the autoclave.

Scott lay on the bench, his shirt pulled up to show an expanse of flat muscle. The guy who did the piercing made a few passes, but was quickly scared off by a rather jealous, and intimidating, Logan.

Sore, but happy, the two of them drove back to the mansion late that night. Logan felt the occasional twinge, but apart from that, he was fine.

Scott drove, Logan just leant into the warm body. They parked in the garage and headed inside. Logan walked Scott up to his room. "Well, I hope ya had a good time, I did."

"I had a great time." Scott smiled and squeezed Logan's hand once more before letting it go. Logan got the feeling it was time for him to go, and realised that he really was going to have to the whole wine and dine thing here. No quick jump in the bed, glad that's done. This was going to be something more than that.

Logan turned to leave. Scott grabbed his shoulder and kissed his cheek, then gently pressed their mouths together, his tongue running around the inside of Logan's mouth once before he moved away.

Logan grinned, feeling like his jaw would split. Scott grinned back. "Night, Logan."

"Night." He smiled and turned away, walking back to his room in a complete daze.

Eventually, Rogue and Kitty took mercy on him and showed him where he slept.

Logan was up late. He walked down to the table, idly scratching his cheek with one claw, dressed in the pants he went to bed in.

Jean looked up at him. "Morning, Logan. Scott just left. He refused to say a thing about last night. So, why were the two of you so late?"

Logan grinned and sat down, helping himself to a pancake from Jean's plate. "We went to a show."

She raised an eyebrow. "Interesting. You like the show?"

"Well, umm, we went through the French thin', and Scott told me that he didn't think we should date."

She clasped her hands to her mouth. "You're kidding!"

"Nope. I got a bit upset, decided to go to the body art show. Yer'd never believe who I ran into down there."

Jean stared at him. "Scott? Body art? No way."

"He was there before I got there, and he was walkin' around. We wandered around for a while, I got a tattoo, he got a navel piercin', we came home. That's it."

She gaped. "Piercing? What have you done to our Scott?"

"Nothin'. He was already weird. Does he have a nipple rin'?"

Jean continued to stare.

"Guess ya don't know. Bastard won't tell me."

"Can I, see, what happened? You know, just,"

"Nah, not gettin' in me head, Red. That's jus' fer me."

He stood up. "I gotta go work out what ter do now. Thanks fer breakfast, Red."

He walked out, and Jean started laughing. At least something had gone right.

"The most popular argument used for the abuse and murder of mutants is that they are not covered by the law, as they are not human. Well, that's a load of bull shit. Until we got these powers, we were normal humans, and just because we can do something different, we're called monsters and freaks. If someone can work out advanced calculus in their head, everyone loves them. If you hear a leaf falling a mile away, or heal at incredible rates, they call you a mutant and label you as a freak, as some kind of sub human person. Well, I'd rather be a mutant and a freak than an ignorant prick like so many of the population."

Bobby grinned and sat down amidst the applause. Scott sighed and jotted down something on his paper. "Mr Drake."

Bobby grimaced. That term never boded well.

"An interesting argument, but it lacked structure, basis and evidence, and had no legal content, which was the whole idea behind this."

Bobby stood up. "I can explain that."

"I'm sure you can." Scott folded his hand and leant on them. "So, explain it."

Bobby gaped. He wasn't meant to say that, he was meant to yell at him, give him a D+ and move on. "Well, uh, there are no legalities on mutants as of yet, and where they fit in society."

Scott leant back. "Bobby, you just proved that you did no research on this speech or essay. Straight fail."

Bobby gaped. "Not even a D?"

"Nope. Fail. If you're having trouble with anything, you can approach anyone in this school, but I will not put up with you doing nothing for no reason. Do you have a reason for not doing the work?"

"Umm, I," he glanced around and caught sight of Johnny whispering something. He grinned. "I don't want to have to discuss it in front of everyone."

Scott picked up his coffee and glowered at him from over the cup rim. Bobby sat down. "Can I speak to you after class today?"

"Yes, my office door is open to any of you, but if you aren't there, with a very good reason for not doing two weeks work, you fail." Scott closed his eyes and leant back. "Logan, what do you want?"

Logan stepped in. "I was wonderin' ya want anyone help with 'em? At trainin' this afternoon?"

Everything went dead silent, as every pair of eyes turned to their teacher. Scott smiled, small and tight, but a smile nonetheless. "I'd appreciate that. Thank you. We start at one today."

Logan grinned and disappeared out of the door. Scott watched him go, face soft, until he turned back to the class, teacher mask back on. "Kitty, your turn. You were studying the ethics of animal experimentation compared to the current testing on mutants?"

Kitty grimaced and stood up.

Scott sat on the bench in the kitchen, watching Jean cook lunch. She turned to him, still stirring the pot with her telekinesis. "So, how'd things go? Logan's told me a little about it, but I want your story."

Scott shrugged. "I, we had fun, it was good. This ring hurts like anything though. I don't know, do you think, maybe I'm being too hard on him?"

Jean shook her head. "Not everyday you have Wolverine eating out of hand. Make him work for it, if you want to get serious."

"I do. I think I have a genuine thing here." Scott grimaced and shifted slightly. "Remind me not to get piercings next time I go to do something stupid."

"What has he done to the team leader who refused to let me pierce his ear just six months ago?"

Scott smiled. "Brought him out a bit?" He slid off the bench and leant over her shoulder, arms around her waist. "Smells nice."

"No, you can't have any until lunch time."

He leant into her neck with his face. "Please, Jean?"

She laughed and pushed him away. "Get out of here, Summers."

He kissed her once and grinned. "Thanks for the advice, Jean."

She shook her head as he left, yelling over her shoulder. "Keep playing hard to get, drives him wild!"

Logan got to the Danger Room minutes before the first student would arrive. Scott was already in there, dressed in a loose tank top and combat fatigues. Logan looked him over, eyes moving across the fabric to his chest, where he thought he might be able to see the faintest outline of a ring. He whistled. "Ya do have one."

Scott smiled faintly. "You can't tell, can you?"

Logan smiled and leant in close. "Who's first?"

"Bobby Drake." Scott brushed his fingers across Logan's hand. "Second level training moves. We only have three today."

Logan nodded. "How long?"

"One hour each, with a half hour break in between."

Logan snorted. "Don't need a break, slim."

"But I do. Not all of us have your metabolism. And I'll be doing most of the work."

Logan leant back. "I saw ya train fer six hours day before, bub."

"That was different. I didn't have other classes to get ready for."

"Like what?" Logan was moving closer again, pressing nearer the warm body in front of him.

Scott didn't move back, just stayed exactly where he was. "Like biology and history."

"Umm, Mr Summers?"

Scott moved around Logan to look at Bobby. "Come in, Bobby. I hope we can get through four levels today, then Logan will give you a practical run, feinting and throws."

Bobby nodded. "Okay." He took up the stance he'd been taught. "Like this, right?"

"Very good." Scott nodded approvingly. "Now, follow my moves."

Logan watched while Bobby practiced, then acted as a moving punching bag for the kid. Not that he really minded, he could divide his attention between sparring with Bobby and watching Scott as he marked the speeches from that day.

The hour passed quickly, and Bobby left, a bit happier than he was when he came in. Logan sat down on the bench and slid his arm around Scott's waist. "Whacha' doin'?"

"Marking. You know that."

"Wanna fight? Just a quick round?"

Scott lay down the papers and stood up. "Okay. No powers, no hitting below the belt or to the head. Not all of us have heads like stone."

Logan wasn't sure if that was meant to be an insult or not. He frowned, starting to get defensive. Scott noticed the shift and quickly moved forwards, gently pressing a kiss to Logan's cheek. "Joke, Logan. Just a joke."

Logan grinned. "I know. Jus' a good way of scabbin' affection." He slipped an arm around Scott. "Wha' about kissin' me pride better?"

"How do you suggest I do that?"

Logan smiled. "Like this." He tightened his grip to flip Scott to the floor and pin him, completely stunned when he was countered and nearly thrown off balance. He slid his foot under Scott's legs and swept them out. Scott hit the ground and flipped backwards, using Logan's stomach as a foot hold.

Logan grunted and grabbed at the foot as it passed, knocking his jaw. He grimaced as Scott faced him. "Sorry, Logan. Didn't mean to do that."

Logan pouted and dashed forwards, slamming Scott into the wall. Scott grunted and smashed his fists down onto the back of Logan's neck. Logan laughed at the slight howl of pain, twisting the two of them so that he could land on Scott, pinning to the ground with the extremely effective move of simply not resisting, allowing the metal skeleton to pin him down.

Scott tried to move him, but between muscle and metal, he didn't stand a chance.

Logan laughed at Scott's indignant look. "Injured yer pride, bub?"

Scott pushed again, but started laughing, Logan's hearty chuckle was very infectious. Logan leaned down, slightly hesitant, hoping he wouldn't be thumped for this.

Their lips met, tongues gently exploring each other's mouths. Logan moaned and pressed harder, his hands moving to wrap around the narrow wrists, pulling Scott's arms above his head, pinning them to the ground with one of his hands.

Scott pulled away, "Logan, you're heavy. That hurts, move."

Logan quickly let go of the wrists. "Sorry. Didn't mean to do that. It's been a while since I was with someone for more than a night."

Scott leant up and kissed him again. "C'mon, John will be here soon, and I'd rather he didn't walk in on this."

"Walk in on what? We're trainin', I jus' got the better of you."

Scott pushed him playfully. "Arsehole."

"Wanker."

"Psychopath."

"Dick."

Scott started laughing again at the term. "C'mon, Logan, shift."

Logan reluctantly moved, rolling off Scott's body and to the floor next to him. "So, whacha doin' with Johnny?"

"Nothing. You're going to train with him. You heal fast, I don't. I don't want to spend another two days with compression membranes on my hands."

Logan grinned. "Sounds like fun."

Johnny walked in and stopped. "What are you doing down there?"

They looked at each other. Scott rolled to his feet and dusted himself off. "Training, John. Just training. You'll be fighting Logan today, I have speeches to mark."

John nodded and started his stretches. Logan watched Scott sit down and start pouring over his work. He glanced up once, to look at Logan, and smiled, but managed to avoid John seeing the affectionate move.

Logan got ready to fight.

John had left about ten minutes ago. Logan sat down on the ground, letting himself fall back onto the cool floor. There was a chuckle from above that prompted him to open his eyes. "Whacha laughin' at, bub?"

"You." Scott smiled and moved off the bench, so he straddled Logan's chest. Logan grinned up at him and moved his hands to the narrow hips. "So, you suddenly got interested in having some fun?"

Scott punched him the chest lightly. "You keep that up and all you're going to see of me is my back as I walk off."

Logan leered. "I can live with that side. Rather nice view."

Scott glared at him, but it lost it's effectiveness with the smile that trying to crack through. He gave up and started laughing.

Logan rolled them over, laying between Scott's legs. "Now this is somewhere I'd like to be more often."

Scott twisted his legs together, pushing the ribs inwards. Logan grunted and grabbed his wrists, pulling him upwards, lessening the pressure. "Now, now, play nice, slim."

Scott smiled and loosened his legs. "Keep your mind on a slightly more open track and we'll be just fine."

Logan let go of the wrists he held and poked Scott's stomach hard. Scott yelped and thumped Logan in the face.

Logan fell back, shocked. "What the fuck's gotten into you, Cyke?"

Scott had opened his eyes again. "Ring, you bastard. That hurt like all hell."

Logan's eyes went wide. "I'm sorry, I fergot." He knelt down next to Scott, not sure if he should touch him. Scott grimaced slightly and sat up. "It's okay, I thought you did it on purpose."

"I wouldn't do that. I'm not that cruel."

Scott nodded. "Sorry, I overreacted. How's your jaw?"

Logan grinned. "I'm sorry to. Kiss it better?"

Scott kissed Logan's jaw, despite the fact that there wasn't a mark on it. Logan gently lay a hand over Scott's stomach. "I won't even make the move."

Scott smiled and wrapped his arms around Logan's neck. "Thank you. You are learning."

"I still can't believe ya let them pierce yer navel."

Scott shrugged and smiled. "Well, you could if I do have a nipple ring."

Logan laughed and held Scott a little closer.

Neither of them had noticed Kitty who had walked in for her lesson. She turned and walked out again, through the door.

She had to find Rogue.

"I swear to God, they were talking about piercings, and about the fact that Mr Summers, let someone pierce his navel."

Bobby shook his head at her sadly. "It's almost laughable, that she's so desperate for attention. Kitty, you don't honestly expect us to believe that, do you?"

"It's true! And he insinuated he had a nipple ring!"

Jubilation Lee started laughing. "That is so not happening."

"Jubes, I'm telling the truth, swear to God or whatever you hold sacred. Okay, you never thought that Mr Summers was gay either, did you?"

Jubilee shook her head. "I still don't believe you on that one either. You have no proof of that."

Rogue went to say that she knew it, but was interrupted but Kitty, who was determined to carry out her own defence.

"C'mon! The looks, the rose, the coming home in the middle of the night together. If you had seen them lying on the floor...."

"But we didn't." Jubilee pointed out calmly.

"But we could." Bobby grinned. "All we need to do is check the training sessions. The cameras are always on in there. We can break in and ask it to play back the tape."

Johnny grinned. "And Kitty, you can get into the room easily enough. Unlock it for us."

"And the computer will accept any command, because we aren't meant to get in there."

"We usually don't want to get in there," Jubilee said. "Okay, time to prove your words, Kitty."

Kitty smirked at them. She was telling the truth, she'd prove it.

They reached the observation room and paused. Kitty glanced around and stepped through the door.

"Kitty. I presume there is a reason for coming in here?"

Kitty smiled at Professor Xavier. "Ahh, yes, we wanted to study our training session tapes."

"And find out if you were correct about your assumptions." It wasn't a question.

The door opened, revealing Jubilee, Rogue, Bobby and John. They all smiled and started explaining what they were doing.

The door to the side of Xavier opened, and Scott walked in. He stopped and stared at the teenagers. "Do I want to know?"

Kitty grabbed the initiative. "Mr Summers, do you have a navel ring?"

He quirked an eyebrow. "What makes you think I do?"

"Just something you said. Do you?"

He looked at her intently. Bobby was sniggering in the background at Kitty's growing discomfort.

"Why do you want to know?"

"Because, they all think I'm trying to get attention, but I'm not, and I swear, I heard you say you did, the night you came back late with Logan."

Scott smiled and patted her cheek. "You believe whatever you think you heard."

He turned to Xavier, a slight frown on his face, nodded, and left again. Xavier looked at them. "Go on, I seem to remember that you all have a physics assignment to be handed up tomorrow."

They left, but Kitty was acutely aware that Mr Summers hadn't actually answered her question.

Bobby passed a note to Johnny. he glanced at it, up at the teacher, who was writing on the blackboard, and passed it to Kitty.

Kitty opened the note. 'You are so full of crap at time, Pryde'

Kitty flushed red and fell through her chair. Mr Summers turned around and looked at her. "Are you hurt?"

"No, Mr Summers. Just, remembered something. Made me slip."

Mr Summers nodded and turned back to the board. She got up and sat down again, scrawling out a note for Bobby. She quickly passed it to Johnny, who gave it to Bobby.

'You're a toad, Drake. And he does, I'll ask him now if you think I'm talking crap.'

Bobby barely managed to contain the laugh and the blackboard froze over. Mr Summers sighed, and without turning around, "Mr Drake, kindly thaw the blackboard."

"Sorry." Bobby concentrated and the ice faded back.

Mr Summers turned around to face them. "Right, what are the possible implications of, what is it, Kitty?"

She took a deep breath. Bobby gaped. No way, she wouldn't ask him.

"Nothing."

"Fine, then kindly stop whispering and pay attention. What are the possible implications of of trying to forcefully 'cure' mutants of their powers?"

"Murder."

"Torture."

"Maiming."

"Abuse."

Scott nodded and sat on the desk. "Right, how about, if people can do that to mutants, does that mean they are not covered by the bill of rights, thus meaning they are not human? And, if they no longer are considered human, nor consider themselves human, does the law of humans apply to them?"

The class pondered this for a moment, before all starting to call out answers and questions. Scott slammed his coffee cup on the table. "Bobby! Thaw it, now!"

Bobby blushed. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to! It was a genuine accident this time."

Scott massaged his temples. "Okay. One at a time. John, what are possible effects of this situation?"

"Holocaust, like with the Jews. They'll make us have serial numbers, and lock us away, and murder us."

Scott nodded. "True. Jubilee, what is your opinion?"

"Well, I can see a world where mutants are tested for at birth, and the slightest oddity, whether or not a mutation, would mean a baby being killed."

"Very good. Rogue?"

"Well, people will get paranoid, and soon, they stop seeing us as human, and just as lab rats. They'll forget that we're the people they see and don't pick out every day."

"Sadly true. Kitty?"

Kitty took a deep breath. "Okay, I want to ask something, but first, I agree with Rogue on the whole issue, people will start trying to make us into less than human, and prove people like Magneto right."

Rogue shuddered slightly at the mention of his name. Scott glanced at her but nodded. "You're right. What did you want to ask?"

"Did you, or did you not, get your navel pierced three days ago?"

It was silent you could hear a pin drop. Scott coughed. "Is that really relevant to this?"

"I want to know. Everyone keeps giving me a hard time about it, because I know I heard you say you did get it done. Did you?"

Scott leant back on the desk. "Yes, I did. Bobby, your turn."

But, for once, Bobby had absolutely nothing to say. Neither did anyone else for that matter.

The class passed amazingly smoothly. Logan came in about five minutes before it was due to end, but just sat up the back of the class, silent.

When they were dismissed, the students filed out of the room silently, except Kitty, who was busy rubbing into Bobby that she was right. Logan smiled at Rogue as she passed, before shutting the door and sauntering up the front, where Scott leant against his desk, arms crossed, smile playing across his face.

Logan leant a hand on either side of Scott and leant against him. "They were quiet."

"Kitty asked me if I had the piercing. I told her I did. I think I might have finally found a way to keep them silent."

Logan chuckled and leant in for a kiss. When they moved apart, Scott pushed himself to sit on the desk, patting the wood next to him. Logan shook his head. "Prefer it here."

"Have it your way. Thought you might be happier sitting down."

"Not when I have to move from here." Logan grinned and wrapped his arms around the narrow waist, leaning against Scott's chest. "Hey, slim?"

"Yeah?" Scott leant his head on Logan's, arms wrapping around the broad shoulders.

"Wanna go out tonight?"

"Where? On a date?"

"Yeah. Go to the movies or somethin'."

"Okay. But don't you dare suggest we see a romantic comedy."

Logan leant back, confused. "Why'd ya think I was goin' ter?"

"After the French Art disaster...." Logan cut off any more words with his laughter. "Not that much of a disaster. Got us together, didn't it?"

"Only because we went to the same place to mope."

"Still worked." Logan ran his hand through the short hair at the back of Scott's head. "So, ya wanna go see something?"

"I said yes already. What are we going to see?"

"Dunno. Movie called "Seventh Gate" just opened. Could see that."

Scott shrugged. "Sounds good. Meet you at the garage at eight?"

Logan nodded. "I drive."

"No, I'm driving this time."

"You drove us home. My turn this time."

Scott opened his mouth and shut it again, looking stumped as to what to argue next. Logan took advantage in the pause to force his tongue into Scott's mouth, successfully ending further argument.

Finally, he stepped back with a smirk. "I drive. Be ready at eight."

"If you're driving we're leaving at seven, because you're going to get lost."

Logan grinned. "Seven it is." He walked out and turned around once more. "Hey, slim?"

"Yeah?"

"Wear the leathers." Logan leered and shut the door as he stepped through.

Scott shook his head. "Pig."

"I heard that!"

"You were meant to."

Logan idly watched the contents of the bottle move as he swirled it around. "I dunno, what are ya meant to do? How d'ya tell what ya can do and what ya can't?"

Jean shook head hair out of her face and started slicing the tomato. "You have to gauge their responses. See how they respond to small things. If you get a slight shift away and an uncomfortable silence when you do something, that isn't on yet, but you haven't fucked it up. Just move it along slowly." She emphasised the final word.

"But, what if ya think somethin' is okay and it ain't?"

"That's why you do things slowly. For example, if the two of you are at the movies, try something subtle, like,"

"You ain't goin' ter suggest the yawn and arm stretch, are ya?"

She gave him a disgusted look. "No, I was going to say to try slipping your hand onto his leg or something. If that doesn't get a good response, back off, don't push it any further."

"So, touchin' up limbs is okay? What about touchin' up,"

"Don't even say it!" She hit him with the piece of ham she was holding. "How many times do I have to tell you this? Subtle is good, overt is creepy."

"I know, I know. But how'd ya tell the line between subtle and overt?"

She sighed and finished making her sandwich. "You have to gauge it for yourself. You aren't stupid, Logan, use your common sense to tell you."

She walked us with her plate and glass. She paused at the archway and looked back at him, "Playful is good. That's a nice way to take things."

He scowled at her. "Stay outta me head, Jeannie."

"You were broadcasting, not my fault. But that was a good idea. Have fun tonight."

Logan watched her go and polished off the bottle.

Logan was down in the garage at quarter to, just to make sure that Scott didn't grab the bike before he got there. Besides, it was probably a good impression to be waiting.

At five to, Scott showed up. He seemed mildly surprised to see Logan already there, but didn't comment on it, he just sat behind Logan and wrapped his arms around his waist. "We going?"

Logan nodded, mouth drier than he would have appreciated and gunned the bike, tearing out of the garage and down the road.

The car park was pretty busy, but they managed to find a bike park not too far from the entrance. Logan watched as Scott locked the bike's immobilization system on, the faintest red light on the handle indicating that the security system was on.

"Pretty fancy way to stop people pinching yer bike."

"Pretty high tech bike. It's worth a fortune, and it's cheaper to put on the system than pay for a new one to be modified all over again." Scott pocketed the key and wrapped an arm around Logan's shoulders. Logan was surprised by the affectionate move, he had pictured that Scott would be far shier, or even nasty, about being seen to be dating a man.

Well, if he had no problem. Logan slung his arm around the taller man's waist. "I dunno the inside o' this place. Where's the theaters?"

"Up stairs." Scott pulled him off towards the lift, and Logan let himself be pulled along.

They ignored the looks of the ticket seller and the usher, and ended up sitting near the back corner, away from prying eyes. Logan claimed it was because people would be staring at them because of being there together, and also to avoid comments about the glasses.

Scott claimed it was because Logan was more interested in groping than the film.

They settled down into the large chairs. Logan pulled up the armrest and draped an arm around Scott. "Comfy?"

"Very." He leant his head against Logan's shoulder. "What's this about?"

"Dunno. End o' the world, or somethin'. Ya know, apocalypse and stuff."

The lights went down, and, holding one another, they settled in to watch the movie.

It was half way through the movie. Logan was enjoying the film, but he found it hard to sit through an entire film.

He glanced at his date, who had evidently started dozing, judging by the dimming red glow. Logan ran his hand over Scott's arm, and gently nuzzled the neck in front of him.

Scoot smiled and titled his head, exposing more of his throat, though he still faced the screen, apparently interested in the going ons of the film again.

Logan busied himself with stroking the long stretch of skin, one eye on the car chase.

The movie wasn't good, but they had fun, and it was nearing midnight when they finally pulled up at the mansion. Logan had conned Scott into letting him drive them back, arguing that he needed less sleep, and hadn't done as much that day, so he was more awake.

Logan parked the bike and almost grumbled as Scott stood up, moving away from the bike. He stood up himself and grinned, advancing towards Scott. Scott backed up against the wall, his breathing fast as Logan pressed against him, pushing them together, biting the full bottom lip until he opened his mouth, letting Logan kiss him.

He kissed back just as aggressively, their mouths fighting one another. Logan growled and shoved Scott into the wall harder, holding him in place by pinning his shoulders with his hands.

Scott fought against him, though he made no real effort to free himself from Logan's grasp. His hands were roughly pulling at Logan's jacket, pulling him closer as their mouths met again.

Logan slipped his hands up into the thick hair and tugged on it, forcing Scott to bend his face to Logan's.

"Logan, stop."

Logan shook his head. Had he heard that?

"Logan, ow, stop pulling my hair."

He let go and peered up at the angular face intently. "Sorry. Bit enthusiastic."

"I noticed." Scott leant back against the wall, panting slightly. "I need to get some sleep. I have classes tomorrow."

Logan pouted and ran his hands along Scott's chest. His hands were caught as they turned towards the hard peaks showing through the cloth. "Logan, I'm serious."

"Okay, okay. Bed, not together."

Scott smiled at him, lips red and slightly bruised. "I have tomorrow night and the next day off though."

Logan smirked. "We go out, then?"

"Walk me to my room. We can talk on the way."

Logan grabbed the offered hand and bit the knuckles lightly, before running his tongue over the area. "Sure."

They headed up into the mansion. They arranged to spend the night together, out camping by the lake at the far end of the property, where the students were not allowed to go.

They reached Scott's door. Logan sighed and let go of the hand he was clutching tightly. "So, I guess I'll ya tomorrow, then, slim."

"Yeah. You know, you could come and help with the training again, if you want."

Logan nodded. "Sure thin'. Weren't sure if ya wanted me there again."

Scott pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, then his lips. "Tomorrow, nine o'clock, at the Danger Room." He went into his room and shut the door quietly.

Logan brushed his fingers over his lips. "Yeah, tomorrow."

God, how much of a sap was he turning into?

The Danger Room session passed quickly. Logan was relegated to the station of official punching bag. Most of the students were more comfortable fighting the Canadian, he seemed more relaxed about being hit and they knew that he couldn't be hurt by them.

Logan still marveled at the way that Scott remembered what each and every one of them was up to, how long until their next test, what work they had due in and when they were due for holidays.

Eventually, the stream of children stopped, leaving just Logan and Scott in the room. Logan had not had anything to do for the last three sessions, Bobby, Rogue and Kitty were all going through moves and throws with Scott.

Logan looked up at his boyfriend. He was sweating hard from the training, and he stood in the middle of the room, hands on hips, shoulders slightly slumped. Logan inhaled deeply, taking in the scents of the room.

He could smell the caution and stress of the students, he could smell Scott's slight frustration and an underlying current of lust, one that was growing stronger now the students had left.

Logan stood up and stretched. "How ya feel?"

Scott glanced at him and adjusted his visor slightly. "A little sore. I need a long shower before we head off for the lake, and a good meal."

Logan smirked. "Can I scrub ya back?"

Scott hit him playfully, but Logan had caught the sudden shift in scents that his suggestion had brought. He kept the leer carefully hidden and grabbed Scott's hips pulling them into sharp contact with his.

Scott gasped and his head titled back. Allowing the grin to play through, Logan carefully made a small rotation with his hips, shivering with the pleasure it sent through him.

Scott pulled back slightly, eyes closed, lips slightly parted. "No, not now."

Logan felt like thumping the boy's head against the wall. "Why? I know ya want me, I want ya, where's the problem?"

"Not yet." Scott twisted out of Logan's grasp. "Not now, not yet. We've only been seeing each other for what, several days?"

"Five days." Logan shrugged his shoulders. "I been with people I only met that night."

"I'm not like that." Scott folded his arms.

"Not that kinda boy?" Logan teased.

"No, I'm not. I want you, I'm not going to pretend otherwise, but I won't sleep with you or do anything else, when we've only been seeing each other for five days."

"Ya were pretty friendly at the movies, and after in the garage."

Scott flushed slightly. "I'm not going to sleep with you or anything else along those lines."

Logan scuffed his feet. "Fine. No foolin' around."

"I didn't say that, exactly. Just, nothing too serious."

Logan sighed. "Okay, I get the message."

Scott grabbed his hand. "Logan, don't be like this. I just don't want to rush anything." He kissed the hand and licked one of the thick fingers. "Please. I don't want to fight."

Logan closed his eyes and let Scott pull him close enough to hug. He buried his face in his neck, inhaling the sharp scent. "Okay. No fighting."

They stood there for a while, holding each other, until Scott sighed and stepped back. "I'm getting in the shower."

"Sounds like a good idea. Think I need one too." He glanced up at Scott. "No, not together, I didn't mean ter suggest that."

Scott smiled and leant down for a kiss. Logan obliged him happily, before brushing a bead of sweat from his forehead. "Showers?"

Scott nodded. "Showers."

They gathered up their gear and left for their rooms.

Logan was waiting down at the entrance hall with his backpack already on. He scuffed his feet and chewed on his cigar. Rogue poked her around the corner. "Hi."

"Hey, sweetheart. How are ya?"

"Good. What yah doing?"

"Waitin' for Scott. We're goin' campin', down at the lake."

Rogue grinned. "Yah such a softie."

"Shh, ya'll ruin me reputation."

She laughed and hugged him. "Yah love him?"

He shoved her playfully. "Ain't yer question to ask."

"C'mon, do yah?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. I hate sayin' that word, used to easily. I care about him, but love, I'm not willin' to say that."

Around the corner, unseen, Scott froze where he stood.

Logan sniffed suddenly, as a sharp tang of anger and distress washed over him. He swore and dropped his gear, ignoring the startled look that Rogue gave him, and sprinted off around the corner.

He saw Scott's gear lying on the ground, and the flash of movement around the corner. He leapt into action, throwing himself after the swift figure.

They ran out into the yard, Logan still hot on Scott's heels. Though he was fast, Scott didn't have the sheer physical endurance of the older mutant. He couldn't out run him, though he could give it a bloody good shot.

They ran for nearly ten minutes at nealy full sprint, before Scott stumbled. They were out by the west wall, near the steep hills that edged one side of the mansion.

Logan dived and caught Scott as fell, rolling so that he was underneath when they hit the ground. Scott's face was flushed and he struggled against Logan's arms, holding him down on the stocky mutant. "Goddamn you, let me go!"

Logan pulled his arms back down again with a snarl. Scott threw himself backwards, wrenching one arm free, and promptly punched Logan in the face.

Logan nearly let go from the shock, but years of street fighting had taught his instincts to take over when his mind was in shock. He rolled over, pinning Scott under his heavy frame like he had in the Danger Room.

Scott struggled, but was too weakened from running to put up much of a resistance. He finally sank back into the ground, breathing heavily.

Logan stroked a hand down Scott's cheek. "Scott, don't be like this."

"Be like what? Angry and hurt that you're just trying to get me into bed? I thought I meant more to you than that! I thought you cared about me as more than a potential fuck toy!"

Logan was stunned. "I do. Ya think I'd go through all this, gettin' whacked in the face, not gettin' much action, lettin' ya drive me around, if I didn't?" He was angry now and sorely tempted to smack the dumb kid around until he got what he was driving at. "I don't drop words lightly, and I ain't never told anyone I'm in love with them, and I ain't goin' to change my policy now."

He took a deep breath. "But, I didn't mean ter hurt ya. I'm sorry that ya got the wrong idea. Now, I'm goin' ter let ya up. I'd rather that ya didn't thump me again, but if ya really feel the need to, go ahead."

He rolled over and sat up, waiting to be hit. Scott sat up and looked at him, shaking slightly, before reaching out and lacing his fingers with Logan's. He pulled Logan closer and wrapped his arms around him.

Logan held him tightly, running his hand through Scott's hair, surprised that he had been the vocal one. Usually he best expressed himself with actions, but Scott needed to hear words, just like he, suspicious of words, needed things like this, Scott reaching out for him, to reassure himself of their relationship.

After a while, they slowly moved apart. Scott smiled softly. "Sorry, I was being a real jackass there."

Logan grinned. "Yeah, yer were, but so was I. I'm," he took a deep breath. "I'm sorry as well."

Logan stood up and pulled the younger mutant to his feet. "We still goin' campin'?"

Scott nodded. "If you want to. I think it's a good idea though."

Logan grinned. "Go and get the gear, then get goin'?"

They walked back to mansion, Scott's hand still holding on to Logan's, to collect their gear.

It was late. Logan yawned and stretched out. "I'm goin' ter bed, slim."

Scott glanced over at him. "Hang on a minute, I'll come as well. Not like that, you dirty minded old man," he chuckled after Logan's speculative gaze.

Logan crawled into the tent and stripped off down to his boxer shorts. Scott came in and sat down with a yawn. "There's meant to be a meteorite shower next weekend."

Logan glanced at him. "Yeah?"

"You want to come down here again to watch it? Nice vantage point over to the South a little."

Logan nodded. "Sounds good. We could make it a regular thin' o' this."

Scott pulled off his shirt and jeans, and crawled into his sleeping bag. "Night, Logan."

Logan leant over and kissed him, before rolling over into his own sleeping bag. "Night, slim."

They lay there in silence for a while until Logan said, "Hey, Scott?"

"Hmm?" came the sleepy reply.

"You got that rin'?"

"Go to sleep, Logan."

Logan went to reply, but Scott was already asleep.

The next day was spent idly walking the forest around the mansion. Logan pointed out some of the more interesting plant species he knew, while Scott told him about the area and what could be found.

Lunch was the left overs from the night before, but neither of them really cared. There was no mention of the fight the day before, both of them preferred to focus on the reconciliation, which involved a lot of kissing, light biting and, eventually, laughing, when Scott found that Logan had amazingly ticklish ribs.

It was nearing sunset when Logan finally managed to fight off Scott, rolling far enough away that he could sit up and get his breathing under control. Scott smirked at him, slender fingers lacing across each other. Logan had never imagined that those hands were so strong, or so merciless.

"We stayin' here tonight?"

"I should really get home. I have a thousand things that I have to do."

Logan pouted. "Sure? Ya can't stay out here one more night?"

Scott tried to stop the smile that won the battle over his mind. "Well, I guess there isn't any harm, but, I really should go home."

Logan had grabbed his bag and now pulled out a small container. Scott looked at him. "What's that?"

"Incentive to stay." Logan opened it up and pulled out a single chocolate bullet. "Stay?"

Scott chewed his bottom lip. Logan grinned triumphantly inside his mind, he had finally found a weak point.

Scott leant forwards and pulled the treat out of Logan's fingers. "Well, I suppose I could stay another night. I'd have to go and tell Charles that I wasn't going to be there for the morning classes..."

Logan placed a chocolate at his own mouth and bit down on it, chewing slowly. He held out the other half to Scott. "Ya can just think yer message to Chuck."

Scott smiled and pulled Logan's hand to his mouth. "Yeah, I think I could do that."

Logan finally let his smile show. Score one for the chocolate liquorice bullets.

They spent a second night down at the camp site. It was nearly sun up when they crawled to their sleeping bags. They had been stargazing, trying to find constellations and making up their own when they couldn't find the ones they wanted.

Logan quickly learnt to describe things by location after his comment of, "See that red one?" which was answered with, "Logan, they're all red ones to me." He had been really scared that Scott had been upset by his comment, but he just laughed at Logan's discomfort and wrapped an arm around his waist tighter.

Logan flipped open his bag and patted next to him. "C'mon, I won't bite."

"I'm not worried about you biting." Scott had partly climbed into his bag.

Logan held up his hand. "I won't try anythin'. I jus', it'd be nice to sleep next ter someone fer once."

Scott unzipped his bag and threw one edge over to Logan. "One hand goes where it shouldn't......"

"I know." He waited for Scott to lie down before spooning up behind him, his arm draped over the taller man's chest. "Too early to argue. Go ter sleep, slim."

Scott twisted back for a brief kiss on his already bruised lips. "I am, I am. I didn't think you'd be so eager for me to go to sleep."

"I want to molest ya while yer out. I'm not tryin' to get ya ter go ter sleep, but I'm tired, so ya must be wiped out."

Scott smiled, his eyes already shut behind his visor, cutting off the red glow that Logan had come to find a comfort. "Night, Logan."

Logan pressed a kiss onto the soft hair. "Night."

He pressed his hand against the flat chest and gaped. "Ya actually got one! I thought ya were just rilin' me!"

Scott chuckled lightly. "Go to sleep Logan. It's just a nipple ring."

Logan closed his eyes, trying not to imagine how Scott would react to him...... He forced the images out of mind and tried to sleep.

Slowly, they formed a pattern. Mondays and Wednesdays, Logan came into the training to help. Thursdays the two of them went out together, be it the movies, a cafe or just a walk around the mansion yards. Fridays were full day training, which Logan came in for. Every second weekend, they spent Friday and Saturday out camping by the lake or the quarry cliffs that were the edge of the property at the North end.

The students adjusted to the idea of Scott and Logan's relationship. Most of them had known from the start basically, though a few had had to take time to accept it. Scott patiently put up the gossip in class until the novelty of it all had worn off for the students.

It had been four months since they had started going out. Logan sat in the room the observation room, not really paying attention to what was going on down there.

Kitty was uncomfortable fighting with Logan, and, since she was the last student, Scott had given him time to do what he wanted while he worked with the student. Not really knowing what to do, Logan had promptly climbed up to the observation room to watch the session.

It was kind of sad that he felt so alone without Scott now. They were virtually always together, he had even taken to sitting in on classes, though that was purely for educational reasons.

Yeah, right. Learning about the teacher side of Scott that he never saw otherwise.

He focused his attention back down on the session. Kitty had just left and Scott was down there by himself now. He stretched out a few times and twisted his body, shoulders facing ninety degrees to the side of his hips.

Logan winced. That should be painful, but apparently it wasn't. He brought up the image of the camera, rather than staring through the window, so he could see in clearer detail.

The mirroring made it a bit harder to watch otherwise he wouldn't have bothered.

Scott tapped a command into the panel near him, and three enemies materialised. Logan smiled. He loved watching the controlled sharpness of his boyfriend's fighting.

The first enemy lunged forwards. With a scream, Scott lashed sideways and smacked the head, the enemy stumbling backwards, and collapsing on the ground. The second and third ones both attacked at once, one from either side. With a savage kick, the one to the right was hit, the movement followed by a sudden twist to make him face the left, where he wrapped his legs around the last opponents neck, tightening and twisting.

With a crack sound, the third one hit the deck.

Scott looked around the fallen opponents, breathing shallow and fast. Logan just stared.

Three moves. Three 'dead' opponents.

And he'd been worrying about hurting Scott.

He went around to Scott's room that night, taking a bottle of whiskey and bag of chocolate. After a disaster where they both made the same mistakes as they did at the art expo, they had found out that neither of them particularly liked champagne or tequila, nor did either like chicken salad or pot roast, contrary to what the other had thought.

He knocked and waited. Scott opened the door with a weary smile. "Come in, Logan."

Logan came in, leaving the bottle on the bedside table. Scott had disappeared back into his bathroom, with a call that he'd just be minute.

Logan sat down on the edge of the bed. He could hear Scott running water, right before it stopped and he came out.

Logan grinned and sat further back on the bed, making space for Scott to straddle him, hungrily seizing his mouth with his own. They wrestled with their tongues for a moment before Scott leant over to grab the whiskey bottle with a smile.

Logan leant on his hands, watching Scott grab two glasses for the nearby table. "I saw ya today, fightin' those opponents in the Danger Room."

Scott nodded and sipped from his glass. "And?"

"I never realised ya were so dangerous."

Scott snorted with laughter. "They're predictable with no powers, human base enemies. Besides, it is a lot harder to fight to make sure you don't kill, rather than the other way around."

Logan kissed the top Scott's chest through his shirt. "I know, ya hate to kill. Ya won't kill. But ya good at fightin'."

"I'm fair. I couldn't beat you or Storm in an all out fight. Martial arts are fine practice, but I'm yet to fight anyone that I've needed them. It's hard to use a controlled style when you're enemy is just thumping whatever they can reach."

Logan shrugged. "I was in Japan fer a while, they got good styles."

Scott finished his drink and wrapped his hand around Logan's bicep. "I'm always scared that I might let someone down if I'm not good enough."

"Yer the best I seen, Scott. Yer a good fighter, probably better technique than me."

Scott grinned. "You're a terrible liar, Logan."

Logan shrugged, his concentration on trying to get Scott's shirt undone with one hand without using his claws.

Scott let him pull the shirt open, but didn't offer to help, just watching Logan's face as he leant forward and licked the metal ring, sliding his tongue through the loop.

Scott moaned and let his head fall back. Logan carefully licked and bit his way along the chest and stomach. Scott curved his back to let Logan reach his stomach without having to move. Logan blinked at the sight. "I still don't think ya should be able to bend that far, bub."

Scott twisted to look at Logan. "You're complaining?"

"No, just statin'. No complaints here." He licked around Scott's navel ring and shifted his grip to hold him around the waist, letting his back curve further.

"Outta curiosity, how far can ya bend like that?"

Scott pushed himself upwards and raised an eyebrow. "Wouldn't you love to know? Might be able to do all sorts of interesting things."

Logan shivered at the thoughts that rushed his head. Scott took advantage of the break to slide off Logan's lap to kneel on the floor, arms folded on Logan's knees, staring at him intently.

Logan looked at him. "What?"

"Nothing. I was contemplating some things."

"Like what?" He propped himself up on his elbows, hardly daring to breathe, for fear of disturbing Scott.

"Like sucking you off so you scream so loud that the mansion wonders what the hell has happened."

Logan's cock let it be known that it heartily agreed with that sentiment. The rest of Logan took a second to digest the words before reaching the same conclusion.

Logan swallowed, his mouth too dry to speak, as Scott grinned wickedly and brushed his hands over Logan' groin, fingers teasing the fly of his jeans before slowly tugging it open.

Logan finally managed to find enough moisture in his mouth to speak. "Ya don't have ter."

Pushing himself to face Logan, Scott smiled. "I know."

He turned his attention back to the jeans, tugging at them slowly, working them down over Logan's hips. Despite protests from the rest of him, Logan found himself trying to speak again. "I mean, I don't want ya to feel bullied or nothin', because I sometimes get a bit outta control and make suggestions."

With a sigh, Scott turned his attention from Logan's erection to stare him in the eye through the visor. "Logan, do you want me to stop?"

"No!" Logan hastily said.

"Then shut up, you're distracting me."

Logan grinned and leant back. "Aye, sir."

Scott chuckled slightly, his fingers grazing over the swollen flesh. "And that has to be the first time you've obeyed a direct order."

Before he could answer, he was suddenly engulfed, and all coherent thought left him.

Logan lay on Scott's bed. He wasn't sure what had happened to his clothes, they seemed to have been stripped from him over the time he was in here. He was aware of Scott moving next to him, leaning over for a deep kiss, Logan could taste himself on those soft lips.

He blinked slowly and smiled, aware that he must look like such a dope at the moment. Scott took a swig from the bottle, before kissing Logan, letting the whiskey run into his mouth.

Logan went to speak, but Scott cut him off with a finger pressed against his lips. "Don't say anything. Not yet."

Logan smiled and leant back into the pillows, dragging his lover with him. That sounded nice, to at last call Scott his lover. He raised an eyebrow and opened his mouth again. "Wow."

Scott laughed into his chest. "That's all you have to say?"

Logan nodded, eyes sinking shut. "Yer taste nice."

Scott laughed again, and buried further into the warm chest. "Go to sleep, Logan."

"Ya don't mind me bein' here?"

"I'd prefer it."

Logan grinned and wrapped his arms as tightly around Scott as he was sure he could. Okay, this was definitely getting better. He inhaled the scent of the soft hair, closing his eyes.

For some strange reason, lying here, arms wrapped around his lover, he had the strangest urge to laugh, or cry or maybe do both at once.

Instead, he squeezed once more before allowing himself to fall asleep.

Logan woke up early and got up. He had been waiting for this for a long time. He was going to get it right.

Scott sniffed and his eyes blinked open for a second. He could smell bacon, he was sure of it. Bacon, eggs and toast. And coffee. Coffee was good.

He opened his eyes and rubbed his face. He should have taken his visor off, but he didn't want to alarm Logan by doing it, most people were terrified of his unvisored face, and with good reason.

"Mornin', slim." Logan grinned at him and lowered the tray onto the bed. "Think I got it right this time?"

Scott looked at the tray, a laugh bubbling out of him. Logan watched as lover lay on the bed, chuckling his head off, unable to stop the sobbing laughter from wracking his body.

He finally got himself under control, wrapping his arms around Logan, kissing him deeply. "It's lovely, thank you."

He scuffed his feet. "Jeannie tol' me, back before we started seein' each other, when was a good time for breakfast in bed and when wasn't. I figured that after our first night together was a good time."

"A very good time." Scott kissed him again, maneuvering them so that he could lean over Logan without having to get out of bed.

Logan pulled away this time. "C'mon, I went to the effort o' makin' ya breakfast, ya can at least eat it."

Scott grinned and sat up again, offering a piece to bacon to Logan, who happily took it from the slender fingers with his mouth.

They sat in there, eating breakfast together, ignoring the outside world for just a while.

Logan sat on the bench in the kitchen, watching Jean making her lunch. She turned to him and smiled. "Well, you are exuding happiness, so I presume that you got somewhere last night."

Logan laughed and put down his bottle. "Yeah, ya could say that. We got a little involved, bit o' fun and such."

Jean's eyes lit up. "You didn't actually get him to....."

Logan raised his eyebrow. "And what if I did, Jeannie?"

"You didn't. I felt the wave of anxiety then."

Logan scowled. "Ruin me fun. But he does have the ring."

Jean choked on her drink. "Excuse me!?"

Logan slid off the bench with a smirk. "I gotta get down ter the Danger Room, promised Scott I'd fill in for him today. He needs a break."

Jean watched Logan saunter and down to the Danger Room. She shook her head and smiled. "At last, he seems to have gotten it right."

Logan had just finished with Rogue, who was the last student for the day. She wanted to stay and talk, but Logan managed to convince her to go and spend time with people her own age rather than him.

He left the Danger Room and ducked in for a quick shower at his room, before heading over to Scott's.

He knocked lightly and opened the door as he heard Scott call out for him to come in. He could hear movement in the bathroom, so, abandoning his jacket and boots, he stepped into the bathroom.

Scott stood at the mirror, glasses off, eyes shut, with a razor in one hand. He smiled at Logan and turned back to face the mirror, carefully checking over his face with one hand for missed spots. Satisfied, he washed off the blade and his face, and grabbed his glasses, slipping them onto his face.

He turned to Logan, and held out his hand, pulling Logan to him when he took it. They kissed lightly, Logan pushing his tongue into Scott's mouth more forcefully when it didn't open the first time he tried.

Scott pulled back. "Hey, there was a reason that was shut."

Logan stared at him. "I can't think of a decent one."

He went to grab Scott, but he ducked and playfully poked his finger into Logan's ribs, eliciting a chuckle. He went out into his bedroom. "I've got some things to do. You can stay here, but it'll be pretty boring."

Logan leant in the doorway, watching as Scott pushed the bed to the side and took off his glasses, picking up the goggles that Logan had only occasionally seen, and never actually on the angular face they had been made for. "What ya goin' ter do?"

"Relaxation. I don't get to do it often, so I thought I'd take the time to work out the stress of classes." He seemed to considering wearing them, but put them back down again.

Logan shrugged, moving into the room and sitting in one of the chairs. "Ya don't mind me stayin'?"

"No. Just, could you stay silent? I need quiet for this. And don't interfere, even if you think something seems dangerous or wrong, don't move, don't speak."

Logan swallowed. "I guess. Ya aren't in danger though, are ya?"

"No, not at any point." Scott pulled off his t-shirt and threw it into the washing basket in the bathroom.

In silence, Scott stretched out on the spot, arching to one side then the other, arms reaching out, hips twisting to accommodate the movements.

Scott was slowly stretching out his muscles, reaching further and further each time. Logan had never seen him do these movements before, he had always been more interested in a down and dirty fight.

He planted his feet hip width apart and bent backwards, until his hands rested on the floor in a back bend. He slowly kicked over until he stood on his hands and then lowered himself back onto his feet. He looked like a cat with the slow, languid movements.

Logan, true to his word, suppressed the startled gasp. Stepping forwards again, he lay a hand on Logan's knees with a smile, before stepping back again. He leant back again, curving around until his hands were on the floor, and shuffled them forwards until they were firmly planted between his feet, back bent in nearly a full circle. He slowly raised one leg upwards, until it was straight, pointing to the ceiling. Lowering it again, he repeated the same procedure with his other leg.

Logan tried to stop the stiffness he could feel spreading to his groin. Scott's words kept echoing in his ears, what could he do with a back like that?

Stop it, Logan admonished himself. You aren't here to jump him, just to watch while he twists and bends himself in the most sensuous manner you've seen. Damn, so not the way to calm down the fire in his body.

Scott had flipped over again to stand on his hands, slowly raising his left hand to stand on his right, before doing the same on the left.

He rolled forwards, curling up to a somersault, landing to sit on the ground. He spread his legs until they reached one hundred and eighty degrees.

Logan winced and shifted in the chair again, slightly shocked by the degree of flexibility, like a cat or even a snake in the ease that he moved with. Logan knew that he was strong, but he never realised he was a gymnast as well.

There could be all sorts of side benefits to this. He smiled to himself, since Scott's eyes were still firmly closed.

Scott had turned to face one way, then the other, and then leant over so that his nose brushed his right kneecap, repeating it with the left. He leant forwards to lie on the ground, legs still wide apart, so that he lay between them, arms stretched forwards, slowly rolling his hips so that he lay on his stomach on the ground, bringing his legs around the back until he lay in a straight line, from outstretched arms to straight legs.

Logan was definitely getting the message here, though it had to be one of the most subtle ones he'd seen for a while, probably ever, he reflected, watching Scott curl up onto all fours, back arching like a cat's.

Standing and falling backwards onto his bed, he lay on his back, legs hip width apart again, arms slightly away from his sides. He started to breathe deeply, slowly, controlling it with his stomach.

Logan silently moved forwards on his chair, his pants considerably tighter than they were earlier. Scott continued his deep breathing, tightening and then releasing every muscle in his body.

How long this continued, Logan wasn't sure, but eventually, Scott's breathing returned to normal, and his eyes flickered beneath their lids.

Logan was already standing, pulling off his shirt and jeans, which had grown too uncomfortable, and moving over to the bed, not touching, not speaking, just watching the sleek body, covered with a light sheen of sweat from the exercise beforehand.

He reached out and gently slipped his fingers under the waistband on the loose pants, tugging lightly, watching Scott's face to see how he reacted.

Scott seemed to be totally relaxed still, a faint half smile gracing his lips. Logan took that as an endorsement of his actions and carefully removed the pants, slipping them off and leaving them on the ground at the end of the bed.

He leant over to kiss the flat abdomen and chest, trailing kisses from ring to ring, navel to nipple, stopping to suck lightly on both metal circles.

Scott moaned slightly and shifted, eyes still closed. Logan chuckled and rubbed his hands in smooth, circular motions, massaging the already supple muscles into complete relaxation.

Judging from the look of contentment, Logan guessed that Scott couldn't have gotten his body to move even if he wanted to.

He worked from the foot, massaging up the leg, over the thigh and the hip, before sliding down to repeat the process on the other leg. He gently pressed the firm stomach, worked his fingers into the ribs and chest, teasing the brown nipples with his fingers, ever so lightly brushing the skin around them until Scott wriggled slightly.

He made his way along both arms and those slim hands, up the front of the shoulders, the collarbones, one of which he guessed had been broken some years ago, judging by its slight prominence, and finished up along the throat and jaw, pressing hard enough to massage, but not hard enough to make breathing in anyway awkward. The sheer trust that Scott demonstrated astounded him, that he let Logan wrap his hands around that slender throat of his and press. It would be so easy to have squeezed, but, he knew his lover.

His lover knew they couldn't hurt each other.

Logan slid his arms under Scott and rolled him over, the dead weight of tangled arms and legs making it slightly more difficult.

Once he had gotten him to lie on his stomach, he slowly finished undressing them both, despite a very quiet, mumbled protest to the contrary, one that was never really followed with any actions.

Logan started the same treatment again, moving from leg, to leg, to buttocks, to back, slowly pressing and massaging his way up his lover's body, feeling the grace and strength melt under his firm fingers.

He could also smell the subtle changes in Scott's pheromones, as he grew more relaxed, and more content. The sharp tang of stress wore away, leaving a sweeter scent, one laced with desire.

Logan smiled and straddled Scott's hips, thoughtfully kneading his shoulders. He liked this as much as Logan did. He worried at a particularly tense spot for a moment, until it relaxed.

He was hard. He was very hard, and the feeling of Scott under him, sighing and sinking into the mattress was making it more difficult to ignore his feelings. He pressed his hips lightly downwards, caressing his erection along the crevice of Scott's buttocks.

Scott moaned a bit louder and pressed downwards, his shoulders tensing slightly. Logan closed his eyes and repeated the motion, shuddering almost imperceptibly at the fire that ran through him with the motion, despite the mind numbing effect that it had on him.

His brain was turning itself off in favour of letting his body do what it wanted. He ground downwards harder with his hips, his hands sliding along the narrow arms to grip the wrists, pinning them under his weight.

Scott twisted slightly and tried to raise himself, but Logan holding his arms out made it impossible for him to do more than raise his head. Logan leant over and kissed the pale neck, sucking gently, growing rougher as Scott seemed to wake up more, trying to get free with a little more effort.

Logan's human thinking was rapidly shutting down. He bit Scott's neck, not hard enough to break the skin, but enough that Scott yelped. Logan grinned and pulled Scott's arms together so he could hold both wrists with one of his hands, freeing the other up to explore a bit.

Scott bucked as one of Logan's fingers pressed at his entrance. He twisted slightly, trying to dislodge his lover. "Logan, don't," he mumbled sleepily.

Logan stopped and cocked his head, moving to trail his fingers over the soft lips which eagerly opened to pull them in.

Logan sighed and let Scott suck on his fingers for a while. He pulled them out and moved again, to push on into Scott.

Scott bucked with gasp, now tugging his hands, trying to get out from under Logan's grasp. "Logan, I said no. Don't do it," he said quietly.

Logan didn't hear, he was too involved with trying to keep his lover still while he explored his other hand. He wriggled his finger slightly, and Scott tensed, his body going rigid as Logan continued to work his finger in.

"Logan....." the tone carried a distinct warning. Logan removed his hand, twisting it in Scott's hair, pulling his face up for a brutal kiss. Scott pushed his tongue into Logan's mouth, running it along the soft palette.

Logan reached down and slowly pushed two fingers into Scott, who violently broke off the kiss. "Logan! I ....." Logan was too far gone to listen. He grabbed Scott again and kissed him again, ending the words in mid sentence, his hand still pinning the younger man to the bed.

Scott threw his shoulder back, connecting with Logan. Logan grinned, so, he wanted to play rough? He forced his tongue back into the other's mouth.

Once again, he was pushed off. "I mean it, Logan! I'm not playing!"

Logan leant back to say his own 'threatening words' as part of the game, when Scott turned to face him, face tense. "Logan! Now!"

His brain tried to assimilate the words through a lust induced fog. Had he gotten something wrong here?

He didn't move, mulling things over in his mind. Scott pulled at his hands again, Logan leant down harder without even thinking about it.

Then, face still turned to him, pained and scared, Scott opened his eyes.

The red lightning crackling out of Scott's dark blue eyes was one of the most beautiful things that Logan had ever seen. His face was so lovely uncovered, fine and like carved marble. Faint trails of lightning snapped around his eyes, throwing red shadows over the angular bones.

The main bolt lashed out, striking him straight in the chest. He was thrown backwards, slamming into the opposite wall with neck breaking force, and he hit the ground, unable to move, in so much pain that he wanted to die.

He'd hurt Scott.

Tears forced their way to his eyes. He couldn't feel the burn of the lightning anymore, his eyes were shut, he didn't know if it was even striking him now. He couldn't get his body to breathe, he couldn't feel anything at all, but it didn't matter.

He'd hurt his lover.

There were noises now, dimming into the background. A deep voice, a higher pitched noise, screaming, and the sound of Scott sobbing.

The smells were a bit clearer. Fear, anger, grief, distress, fear, so much fear, so much hurt, salt, he could smell salt now.

Then, he let his mind sink into the welcoming nothingness, where he didn't have to remember that he had hurt his lover.

It was amazingly dark. He tried to open his eyes, but they were being held shut. Everything in his body was aching, it felt like someone tried to take him apart molecule by molecule.

"Logan?"

Yes, that certainly seemed to be him, but where was he, and more to the point, why he was there, were beyond him.

The pressure was removed from his eyes, and he cracked them open slowly. An older face loomed over him. "Logan? How do you feel?"

His mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. He nodded slightly, and swallowed. "Where am I?"

"You're down in the hospital wing. Do you remember what happened?"

Images flashed by. The relaxation, lying on the bed over Scott, such soft skin, words, panic, the lightning.

Fuck.

He lurched to his feet, trying to stumble out of the door, to find his lover, to explain the horrible mistake that had happened.

A hand restrained him. He turned and snarled, and his body froze. Professor Xavier smiled sadly. "I'm sorry, Logan, you can't see him. I won't let you. He's hurt and nervous and very distressed. Seeing you will just upset him further."

Logan tried to protest, but his body wouldn't do what he wanted it to. Xavier shook his head. "No, Logan. I will not let you hurt him further at the moment."

The grip on his body loosened. Logan nodded. "I won't go near him. I promise never to approach him again, unless he asks me to."

Xavier nodded. "I am so sorry. I know you love him. He loves you as well."

Logan picked up his jacket from the chair. He presumed that Jean had left it there for him. "I'll be gone by mornin'. He don't need the likes of me."

Xavier lay a hand on the distressed mutant. "Logan, it was a misunderstanding. He loves you, he needs to have you here. He thinks he killed you, he hasn't stopped crying since I found him. If you go, he'll be convinced that you did die, and we're trying to make him feel better."

Logan hung his head. "Twenty four hours, long enough fer him to see I'm alive. Then, I'll go. I was stupid ter think I wouldn't hurt him."

Xavier shook his head. "Give it a day, you might feel better."

Logan walked out, silent. It would never be better. Not now.

Not after what he had done.

Logan walked along the halls back to his room. As he turned to look, students stepped away from him, avoiding his glance, avoiding him. He sniffed as he passed Bobby, his favourite student, who had started showing so much potential. He smelt a sharp tang, and Bobby quickly ran into his room.

Bobby was scared of him.

They were all terrified of him.

As he passed her, Logan grabbed Rogue's arm. "Sweetheart, can I have a word?"

She glanced around. "Sure, c'mon into my room. Kitty's with Miss Grey."

Logan followed her into the small dorm room, and sat down on the edge of her bed. Rogue shut the door and leant against it. "What happened, Logan? Everyone's talking, Kitty saw Mistuh Summers, he was crying, screaming, he holding onto Professor Xavier like he was dying or something. And then, we saw Miss Grey wheel yah past, God, I was so scared, yah were black, yah chest, yah face, yah weren't healing, and Storm looked so angry, she was fuming, the sky was black, and there was a huge storm, lightning and everything."

Rogue was crying. Logan stood up and wrapped his arms around her. Scott had taught him how to relate to people, to comfort. "I'm fine, sweetheart. I ain't goin' ter die. But I have to go. Tomorrow."

"Why? Why do yah have to go?"

"I," Logan choked, he was near crying himself as the full impact of what he had done settled over him. "I hurt Scott. I didn't mean ter, but I did, and I gotta go before I do it again. I," he stopped and sat down. "I love him, Rogue. I love him more than anythin', but I gotta go, because I'll be the death o' him."

Rogue sniffed. "Don't go Logan. I need yah."

"What about Kitty? And Bobby? And Jubilee? What about all yer friends? And ya got Jeannie and Storm and Chuck."

"I don't want them, I want yah, Logan!"

He gently disentangled her. "I'm sorry sweetheart. I can stay a couple o' more days. Rogue, I gotta know. What have ya heard? What did ya think'd happened?"

"I didn't know. Kitty just told me, and I thought that the two o' yah had had a fight."

Logan squeezed her once more and let go. "I promise not ter go before I say goodbye."

She nodded and watched him go.

Logan sat in his room, bottle clutched in his hand. He tipped the rest of the liquid down his throat and sobbed again. He couldn't control himself, he kept bursting into tears.

He was so lonely. The Wolverine was so lonely he wanted to die just to end it.

He stared at his table. There were too many bottles for him to count, but it still wasn't enough to dull the pain of his heart. He focused on the bowl in the middle.

Oh, God. Chocolate liquorice bullets. Scott's favourite, his weakest point.

He had never noticed the loneliness until he met Scott. Suddenly, he wasn't Logan, the fighter, the lone wolf, he was Logan, who fell in love, who got hopelessly romantic, who needed his lover's company, and was prepared to wait as long as he had to to earn his lover's trust.

But he'd fucked that up. He got impatient, and he had taken that trust and betrayed it.

And now, he had lost Scott.

He threw the bottle against the wall, claws extending. He drove them into his thigh as far as he could, withdrawing them and slamming them in again.

He couldn't be hurt. Only those blasts had slowed him down.

Maybe he could go and see Rogue, lay his hand on her face until he was dead, and nothing was going to bring him back.

He shook his head. That was unfair to Rogue, she'd feel so bad if he did that to her.

Maybe, if he fell from a great height. He'd never tried that. If the metal was slammed out of his body, he couldn't regrow his entire skeletal system.

And, if he died, he wouldn't have to live with this aching emptiness, that would kill him slowly.

Logan stood up and walked to the door, but slipped the bag of chocolates into his pocket. It was all he had left now.

He downed another bottle and looked over the edge. The ground swam below him, and he staggered to the side.

Scott's pained scream rang in his ears, the tortured eyes firing their deadly blasts etched on his memory.

He threw the bottle down, watching it smash below him. He closed his eyes, arms outspread, face turned to the heavens, where the storm raged overhead still.

He screamed once, a sobbing, heart wrenching cry that told of his anguish, and threw himself off the edge.

Logan sat up, eyes shooting open. He groaned and lay down again, head swimming slightly.

"Logan? How do you feel?"

"Terrible." He sat up again, slowly, and looked over at Jean. "Wha' happened?"

"You tried to jump off the mansion." Her face was drawn and tired. "Logan, I know you didn't mean to hurt him. You love him. Everyone knows it." She pushed her hair back and retied it. "He needs you."

Logan snorted. "Yeah, like another hole in the head. I won't risk it again. I love him too much."

She slapped him, hard. "If you love him, you can't let him go."

"If I love him, I have ter!"

She turned on him. "Do you have any idea what has happened in the last two days? Of course not, that was stupid. He needs you, he has to have you. We only just stopped him, or it would have been too late."

Logan's heart felt like it stopped. "Too late?"

She lowered her gaze. "He, he hasn't been dealing with the guilt. He hasn't calmed down, he thought you were dead."

Logan was standing. "What happened, Jeannie. Tell me what happened, is he goin' ter be okay?"

"He will heal."

Logan caught a scent. It was pain, distress, anguish, loss. The lowest sobbing reached his ears, a noise that was dry and raspy from constant crying.

Logan sank to the ground, a slight keening noise escaping his lips. Jean reached her hand under his chin and pulled him to his feet. "You have to talk to him, or all that will happen is that you'll both live miserably or die very quickly."

Logan stared at her helplessly. "How can I even start ter make it up ter him?"

She shrugged. "I don't know, Logan. This time, you're on your own."

Logan knocked quietly, praying that no one would hear.

"Come in."

Logan walked in, freezing in the doorway. Scott sat on the bed, bandages wrapped around his face. The room was empty, except the bed which Scott sat on, ear turned to the door.

Logan threw himself at his lover, landing on his knees by the bed. "Oh, God, what have ya done?"

Scott turned his face to Logan. "Lo, Logan? You're alive?"

"I'm fine, slim, I'm fine, I'm so sorry, I am so sorry, I can't believe, I thought it were jus' a bit o' fun," he was crying now, he couldn't stop, no matter how hard he wanted to. He didn't cry, he didn't break down like this.

Scott had wrapped his arms around Logan, his protective instincts kicking in. "Stop crying, I'm okay. I wasn't injured."

Logan looked up at him, running his thumbs over the smooth cheekbones. "How can ya ever forgive me, Scott?"

"Me? I was the one hurt you. I could have killed you, I thought I had killed you, it was wrong, I shouldn't have done that, I can't ever forgive myself for hurting you."

Logan started laughing. "We're a great pair. Scott, I hurt ya. Ya had every right to hurt me, ya should have killed me. I deserve it."

Scott held Logan's face in his hands. "I saw you. I saw the colour of your eyes. They were beautiful. I wish I had died then, I would have died happy. I've seen you, I've seen those lovely brown eyes, that everyone had told me about." He pulled off his bandages, showing where his eyes were healing. Logan touched them gently. "Whacha do, Scott?"

"I hurt you. I'd seen all I ever wanted to, I didn't have to see again, if I did, I'd only see reds, I want to remember the colours."

Logan squeezed his eyes shut. "God, ya didn't. Tell me ya didn't, love."

Scott hung his head. "I can't tell you that. I won't lie to you, Logan." He withdrew from Logan's grasp. "I love you, and I hurt you."

Logan moved in again. "I love ya too, Scott, and I ain't jus' sayin' it 'cause I'm a jerk who fucked up the only thing that kept me goin', the only thin' I can't live without."

"You can't love me. I'll blast you again."

"Ya can't love me, I tried to force ya, I nearly raped ya for Chris sake! Ya have to kill me! Yer the only person who can do it. I want to die, I can't live with what I did ter ya!"

Scott punched him. "You selfish prick! You want me to kill you, so you don't have to live with the guilt? Who'll kill me when you're gone? I can't live without you anymore Logan. I need you!"

Logan reeled from the statement, more than the punch. "Scott, can ya forgive me? No apologises or nothing, just, can ya forgive me for what I did?"

Scott nodded, mouth closed. "I, I think I understand. I didn't at first, but I do now. You got confused, I panicked, and the whole thing went wrong. We didn't have a safe word or something like it, and we both got carried away." He held Logan's face in his hands. "But, you betrayed my trust, and it might take a while to get over that, but I love you, and I can't stop feeling that. I might be a fool, but I love you, Logan, and I need you."

Logan felt a tear run down his face. "I love ya, Scott Summers. I understand why ya blasted me, and I deserved it, don't even bother ter argue with me, I did. I was wrong, but I thought ya were sending me signals. I was wrong. If ya a fool fer needing me, I'm jus' as big a fool fer needing ya too. That's why I tried ter jump. I thought I'd lost ya. I couldn't live with that."

They sat there, Logan's hands on Scott's cheeks, Scott's hands running softly over Logan's face. Logan smiled shyly. "Can I kiss ya, bub?"

Scott grinned. "Yeah, I guess so."

Logan kissed him gently on either eyelid, then on the lips, once, chastely. He pulled away and Scott watched him expectantly. "Was that it?"

"Whaddya mean, is that it?"

"What sort of kiss was that?" Scott smiled, playful, despite the tiniest edge of stress. He leant forwards and pushed his tongue into Logan's mouth, before pulling back. "That's more of what I was thinking of."

"Hey, Scott?"

"Yeah?"

Logan reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the bag of chocolate bullets. He pulled one out and gently put it to Scott's lips. Scott bit down hesitantly, then smiled. "Thank you, Logan. I think I needed that."

"Can I stay here tonight? I swear, I will not lay a hand on ya."

Scott pulled him to lay down, wrapping his arms around his lover. "Yeah, you can stay. I, I still trust you to do the right thing, despite the, well, you know."

Logan nodded and buried his face in the soft hair he thought he'd never be able to touch again. "Night, love."

"Night."

Charles was watching them from the doorway. Logan had wormed his way into the bed during the night, and had wrapped himself around Scott protectively, his hands idly moving in his sleep to stroke the pale arm. Scott kept mumbling, lips lightly parted, arm up to twist his fingers in Logan's hair.

Jean leaned over him. "They're so sweet together. I was scared that they'd kill themselves over the whole thing, so wracked by guilt neither of them would speak to the other."

Charles nodded. "They've both had such hard lives, they deserve some happiness now."

Jean smiled. "We should let them sleep in peace. I'll release them both soon, maybe in a week, on the condition that Logan looks after Scott for a day or two. And I think it'd be best if Logan wasn't alone, so, naturally, Scott has to stay with him."

Charles didn't smile, but it danced through his eyes as he looked back at her in all seriousness. "Naturally."

They closed the door and headed back out into the main room.

Logan woke up with the same cottony feeling in his mouth. He blinked and squeezed Scott tighter, reassuring himself that his lover was still there, still his.

"Morning." Scott twisted enough that he could reach Logan's mouth. They gently kissed, the passion growing as they continued. Logan eventually pulled away and yawned. "How long ya been awake?"

"About half an hour." His eyes were puffy again, and Logan could see that he was going to end up with a scar under one of those lovely, deadly, eyes. "Yer gonna have a scar."

"I won't. Jean's a good doctor, she'll fix it over neatly."

Logan nodded and latched onto Scott's throat for a while, reacquainting himself with the taste of his skin. Scott moaned deep in his throat, right under Logan's lips.

Logan sucked harder, marking the pale flesh, marking him as his. He trailed his mouth around, licking and sucking softly, hands carefully placed above the waist. Scott wrapped his hand around Logan's, lacing his slim fingers with Logan's thicker ones.

Logan looked up from sucking the throat presented to him. "I love ya."

"I know. I love you too." Scott placed a kiss on Logan's nose, making him laugh heartily at the tender action. He leant up and pulled him down for a longer kiss on the mouth, lingering on the full lips. "Yer mouth is beautiful."

"Nice to know what I'm here for," Scott teased him.

"Hey, I resent that. I love all o' ya. Jus' that yer mouth is real beautiful. Like yer eyes."

Scott turned his face down and away from Logan's, a red flush covering those fine cheekbones. Logan frowned and slipped his hand under Scott's chin, forcing his face back. "What's wrong, bub?"

"I hate knowing what my gaze did to you. I hate the whole thing about it. I hate you being able to comment about my eyes." His hands scrubbed at his face as he said the words.

Logan caught his hands and brought them to his lips, kissing each knuckle and both eyelids. "I'd live through it all again if I could see yer eyes for just five more seconds. I'd die of it if I could see yer eyes again."

"Don't say that! Don't ever say that, Logan! I nearly killed you, I would have if I hadn't been able to force my eyes shut again. I hate you knowing what my eyes look like. You shouldn't have to know."

"I wanted to know, I jus' got to see them in a round about kinda way." Logan pulled Scott to him again, pressing their mouths together, forcing his tongue into Scott's mouth.

Scott pushed back, trying to lose himself in the passion that Logan was offering, to forget what had happened nearly a week ago now.

Logan let his hand wander over Scott's chest, pausing to pinch the pebble hard nipples. Scott gasped and threw his head back. With a grin, Logan slid his hand into Scott's shirt, and gently tugged the ring.

Scott bucked upwards with a sharp cry. Logan leant forwards and pulled open the shirt, before engulfing the nub with his mouth, his other hand twisting the other nub firmly, but not painfully.

Scott twisted his fingers in Logan's hair, encouraging him to continue, not that he had had any intention of stopping. He was going to make it up to Scott for the other night, in any way he could.

His hands wandered over the flat muscles, tracing the light definitions with feathery touches. He reached the waistband of Scott's pants and hesitated, unsure of whether or not this was okay.

Scott mistook the hesitation for reluctance, sitting up, leaning back on his arms. "You don't have to, Logan."

"I weren't sure if ya wanted me to." Logan admitted. He slid his fingers under the band. "I don't want ter freak ya after, the other night."

Scott smiled and leant back. "If I say no, I mean it, but apart from then, anything goes."

Logan smiled at the way that Scott lightened the mood. "Even this?" He leant forwards and nipped the skin, the flesh going red under his teeth.

"Ow, yes even that." Scott pulled him up by his hair for another kiss, before letting go. "Now, what were you about to do?"

"I forget. Ow, no hitting."

Scott grinned. "Or?"

"Or I'll bite you again."

Scott punched him in the arm, Logan bit his nipple, the one with the ring, stopping to suck it as he pulled away. Scott's grin fell from his face, as he fell back into meaningless moaning.

Conversation silenced, Logan turned his attention back to where he wanted to keep it. He slipped the pants down and off, shoving them out the side of the bed while his hand kept exploring the new area.

He moved back to rest between Scott's legs, which moved further apart to let him settle in comfortably. He softly ran his fingers up the length of Scott's erection, running his finger around the head once, gathering a drop of pre-cum on his finger, before looking at the closed eyes. He ran his finger back down the length, trailing moisture.

Scott shuddered slightly and clenched his legs around Logan's chest. Logan coughed and wriggled, trying to ease the pressure. "Scott, let go, bit too tight there, even fer me."

Scott eased his legs off. "Sorry," he mumbled through gritted teeth. "Just, you're driving me," he paused, hissing in breath as Logan tentatively licked the head. Logan smiled. "That nice?"

Scott didn't answer, but he did start squeezing with his legs again. Logan took the hint and slowly licked his way along the shaft and back up again, before engulfing the head with his mouth.

Scott nearly howled, bucking up into Logan's mouth. Logan firmly pushed his hips back down, moving until he could ease the renewed pressure on his ribcage.

He moved up and down on the hard flesh, taking in a little more each time he came down, forcing his gag reflex to stop.

He stilled when he got the whole length down his throat, and sucked experimentally, doing so with renewed enthusiasm when Scott bucked again. He hasn't been sure of what he was doing, but, so encouraged, he took to his task with an amazing vigor.

He kept up his sucking for several minutes, aware of how hard he was getting doing this, when he felt Scott tug on his hair, trying to warn him that he nearing orgasm.

Logan inhaled deeply, taking in all the scents of his lover, and wrapped his hand around the base, pumping hard as he sucked.

Scott screamed, his back arched completely off the bed, his juices gushing into Logan's waiting mouth. He swallowed what he could, closing his eyes to heighten his sense of taste.

Scott collapsed onto the mattress again, panting hard. Logan grinned and crawled up the slender body for a deep kiss, pushing his tongue into Scott's mouth. He lay down next to his lover and wrapped his arms around him. "That okay?"

Scott started laughing weakly. "Yeah, any more okay I'd be in cardiac arrest."

Logan kissed him again, grinding his groin against Scott's hip, trying desperately to relieve the burn. Scott smiled and reached down, pushing his hand into Logan's jeans, opening the fly and grasping the weeping erection in his hand, pumping lightly.

Logan's eyes sank shut again, and he let himself fall backwards into the pillows, while Scott worked him. The friction was delicious, he clenched his muscles hard, thrusting up into the tightly enclosing hand, which increased its tempo with his actions.

He gritted his teeth, determined not to lose control like he had the other night. Scott pumped harder, almost as if waiting for the loss of control, almost welcoming it.

He closed his eyes tighter, determined not to lose it.

He felt the coolest whisper over his erection, as Scott blew across the head. He licked the crown and blew again. Logan shivered. "Scott, I'll lose it."

"Lose it." Scott whispered across his cock. "Lose all semblance of control. Let me know that you love what I'm doing."

Logan grabbed Scott and hauled him up, crushing their mouths together brutally as Scott's hand continued to work him. He felt himself losing the control, and threw his head with a howl, before sinking his teeth into Scott's shoulder. Scott yelled, but kept up the frantic pace, even as Logan came, screaming his release.

Scott was next to him, kissing him gently over his face, mapping the rough face with his fingers. "Logan?"

"Hmm?"

"I love you."

"I know." He kissed Scott again. "I love ya too, slim."

Scott turned his face downwards. "I'm," he took a deep breath and started again. "I'm sorry, that I couldn't go through with it, that I couldn't let you,"

Logan lay a hand over his mouth. "I'm sorry I pressured ya. I shouldn't have done that."

They kissed again, wrapping around one another. Logan stroked back the soft brown hair that was plastered down with sweat, until Scott fell asleep.

Just, had to modify his plans a little.

Scott reached out and grasped his glasses, sliding them on. He opened his newly healed eyes, and found himself lying in his bed, in his room. Logan sat next to him, reading a book. "Hey."

"Hey, bub."

"Umm, what are we doing in here?"

"Jeannie released us, on the proviso that I don't let you outta me sight. Jeannie's scared the we might both be suicidal."

Scott leant up for a brief kiss. "I was."

"So were I. I don't need to be now, though, I got ya still, I don't need anythin' else."

Scott smiled and stretched out. "I'm going to have a shower. Want to join me?"

Logan shook his head, still involved in his book. "I had one earlier. Ya go ahead."

Scott frowned, slightly hurt, but he got up and headed off to the shower, baffled by Logan's behaviour.

Logan dropped the book the second that Scott disappeared into the bathroom. He rummaged under the bed, for the box he had hidden there while Scott was still asleep and in the hospital wing. It had been a week since he had woken up from trying to kill himself, and he was determined that with the start of a new week would be a new mood. He pulled out the box and started setting things up.

Scott stood under the cold water. Was this it? Logan had realised that he wasn't comfortable giving him his body, so he was going to be thrown aside? Or was it as simple as Logan had had his jollies so he was going?

He turned off the water. He was being stupid, Logan had said he loved him, and he knew that he wouldn't say that lightly. Logan was just reading something, and didn't feel like joining him.

He opened the screen door and picked up his towel, scrubbing off his face and hair before grabbing his glasses from the sink.

Wrapping the towel around his waist, he walked out into the bedroom and stopped.

There were candles set up on either side of the head board. Logan sat on the end of the end of the bed, chewing something. He smiled at Scott and patted his lap. "Nice shower?"

Scott nodded mutely, and moved over to stand between Logan's legs. Logan grinned up at him. He was only wearing a pair of shorts, and the light gleamed off his teeth. Scott shook his head, trying to bring reality back. "What are you eating?"

Logan pulled him down and stuck his tongue into Scott's mouth. His sense of taste was assaulted by chocolate and liquorice. He started laughing, and swept his tongue around Logan's mouth once to get the flavour.

Logan pulled back and picked up another bullet from the bag next to him, chewing it slowly and thoughtfully. Scott watched him, biting his lower lip. Logan smiled to himself. He had found a way to put this weakness to use.

He pulled out another and offered it to Scott, who willingly took it from his fingers. He lay back and placed one on his throat.

Catching on to the game, Scott took the one from his throat, even as Logan was putting another one on his sternum.

They trailed their way down Logan's body, undressing him along the way, with the sweets before changing places, and Logan made his way over Scott's body, though admittedly Scott seemed to eating just as many as Logan.

Logan snatched the bag from Scott's grasp eventually. "Any m