Romance
by Jemisard

 

Fandom: X-Men movie verse
Paring: Logan/Scott, implications of Jean/Storm
Rating: NC17 for sure.

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.

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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."

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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."

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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.

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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."

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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."

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"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?

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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.

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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."

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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?

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"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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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"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.

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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!"

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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.

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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."