Wolverine and Company ch 1
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So I'm back with another story. Shame on me for not finishing the other's but I promise it's on my to do list; I just had to get this one out of my head or I was going to explode with anticipation.
Hope you all enjoy; I sure do enjoy writing it!
Summary: So maybe the Wolverine isn't all-alone; turns out there's one out there like him. Too bad he hates her. So what happens when the results of a one night stand bonds the two for life?
Disclaimer: Do not own X-men or anything associated with it. Or the Corona used in this chapter. (smiles)
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Logan's POV
I stared at her and she didn't notice.
I sneered at her and she didn't notice.
I leaned against the wall, sipping my beer like the reckless biker that I was and full out glared at her and ah ha! Alas! She finally notices.
I couldn't help but smirk as she stared me down and rolled her eyes, obviously un amused by my stare showdown. She hated me and to be quite honest the feeling was mutual which was why I had no problem, provoking the hell out of her and making her uneasy; she was—to say the least— amusing as hell when she was angry.
Bringing her seemingly boring conversation with the fur ball and Jeannie to a close, she excused herself and strutted over my way, sipping her own beer in her badass, female punk rock swagger.
I'd have to admit, if she wasn't such a bitch, I might appreciate her more. There's nothing sexier than a woman who can stomach an ice-cold Corona or two. It was just too bad she was so annoying.
"What do you want steroid?" she spat at me, taking another swig from that bottle of hers.
I frowned. I didn't appreciate that nickname. Just because I, unlike her, had a body chiseled from the God's (compared to her slim, no fat stick she called a body), didn't mean I was using supplements and I hated she accused me of such. I'm the Wolverine; the day I start using drugs to buff me up, may my organs be castrated and placed in jars.
"Stop calling me that" I retorted and she took another sip, her smirk mirroring my own.
"Well then stop staring at me."
"Don't' flatter yourself Vanessa, I was looking through you, not at you," and I topped my beer off and hurled it into the trashcan. "The little Ice pop is over there gettin' a little to close to the kid."
Vanessa turned to see Marie, leaned against a tree, a few feet from where she was once standing, and coyly giggling as Bobby twirled her hair. She rolled her eyes, taking another sip. "Aren't they in love or some shit like that?" she asked, and swirled the beer left in the bottle.
"Don't make me sick." The Ice pop and my little Marie in love? Not if I had anything to do with it. Last time I checked, hell had not frozen over.
"Well than," she shook me out of my angry thoughts and ran a hand through her long masses of curly hair. "If that's all you had to waste two minutes of my life saying to me, I think I'll go now"
She was about to turn around and leave, still taking sips of her cold one, but I stopped her in her tracks. "No wait, Vanessa" my voice was sincere for a change, and she took a moment to turn and freeze, for a second displaying a look that cared for what I had to say.
That is, until I said it.
"You're ugly too"
She frowned hard and turned back around, popping her middle claw out her knuckle before walking away and back to the party. I chuckled to myself, ignoring her and beginning to search around for a new beer until I suddenly saw one presented before me; it's holder smiling graciously at me.
Following the hand up to the face, I faintly returned the smile when I caught sight of Ororo holding it, a bottle opener in her other hand as well. "Need one of these?" she asked, and again I smiled, taking the beer from her.
"Thanks a lot Ro'." I popped one of my own claws out and snatched the top off, taking the first glorious swig. Ah, nice and cold, just the way I like it.
"No problem Logan, that's my job today; keep the guests happy." She set the bottle opener down and began to clear a few plates off a near by table.
I followed her. "You don't sound to happy about it." But she smiled genuinely. If there was one thing I could never understand about Storm it's how she was so humbled at doing the chores most people loathed.
"Oh don't take my words out of context Logan, I'm happy to do it." You see. "Anything to keep the professor happy on a day like today." She smiled and turned to the professor who was surrounded by a group of kids from the mansion as he shared one of his adventures from his younger days. The kids were really intrigued as he went on about his trials and tribulations in South America, and how him and Magneto at one point were actually friends; truth was that intrigued me too.
"Yeah" I agreed quietly, swallowing another swig. "Explain to me again why an outdoor barbeque was the best idea for 65 year old's birthday party?"
Storm playfully whacked me on the arm while tossing the plates in the garbage. "Logan, it's what he wanted." She said as though it was nothing, fixing more tables to perfection. "Plus it's a beautiful day outside."
"Ro' you think a rainy day is a beautiful day outside" I responded and she sighed hard, stopping from clearing the tables. All right so truth be told it was a beautiful day outside but what can I say, I like giving a hard time.
"You know what is it with you always having something negative to say Logan?" she asked as she chucked more paper plates into the trash. "You and Vanessa, I swear, you're one in the same."
I frowned again at this comparison, taking another swig; the mention of her name alone required a swig of booze to ease the stress. "Hey, don't compare me to that bitch."
"Why not?" she asked. "It's true. You're both pessimistic, you're full of sarcastic remarks, you're both testy; moody, you both have claws jutting out your knuckles, a healing capacity faster than the speed of light, and an attitude that stinks to high heaven." She compared. I swigged again. "She's more tolerable all things considering but I swear if two aren't two peas in a pod—"
I cut her off. "I'd never share anything with that wench; she's annoying as hell."
Storm stopped to place a hand on her hip and give me an all-knowing look. "Uh-huh" she said and I narrowed my eyes into slits.
All right so Storm might have had a point and a half, Vanessa and I did share more things in common than people realized.
Like myself she had a healing capability that forced her under the scientific horrors of William Striker. She had an adamantium skeleton injected into her system as well and like myself she couldn't remember a damn thing before the operation.
Hers was a little more recent though. We found her on that whole Take-down-Striker mission a few years back, before we even infiltrated his base she was wondering about in the snow, damn near naked and cold as hell.
She wasn't mean back then, she was quiet and out of the way and even helped save Jean from being crushed by thousands of gallons of water. But it was later when she discovered she didn't know who she was, where she came from or what her past was that she morphed into a bitter, angry woman that I know today; the Wolverette I like to call her.
The professor let her stay here after we found her; for what reason I don't know. She didn't even have a name to go by or a penny to her nameless figure. At least I had something when I came here.
But knowing the professor and his generous ways, he was all about giving her a chance in the world and provided her with food, clothes, a room and a job as the mansion's secretarial clerk. He even gave her, her name, Vanessa, which he thought suited her well, as she resembled on of his dear nieces he adored so much.
Truth be told you would think someone like Vanessa and myself would get a long seeing as we have similar characteristics and may be the keys to unlocking each other's pasts. But after Jean gave us the results of that DNA test and we found out we were in no relation to one another; we both came to the same conclusion. There was no reason to like each other. And we've sort of hashed it out from there.
"You know Logan, maybe it's not her who's annoying, you ever figured that?"
I gave her a look that resembled a kicked puppy before hardening it back up and taking another swig. Just as I was about to respond however, Scott, Jean, Hank and the woman in question approached us; Scott and Jean having their arms wrapped lovingly around each other (sickening), Hank approaching and placing his arms around Ororo (even more sickening) and Vanessa with a fresh beer in her hands (Ha, alcoholic).
"Hey you guys, how's it going?" Cyclops was the first to greet, planting a little kiss on Jean's collarbone. Jeannie giggled coyly and swatted him away.
"Scott" she playfully whined. "Not in front of everyone."
"I was doing fine." I said aloud, halting their kissy-kissy games. "Until you came over and I caught sight of that thing you call an outfit."
Scott frowned and Vanessa snorted, briefly turning away to pick up the small traces of beer that dribbled down her chin.
I smirked. At least someone thought I was funny; even if it was her.
Yet another thing she and I had in common; we both hated the Boy Scout. Initially I hated Scott because he was with Jean, and he started the whole macho-tightass-teamleader bit; I never did anything to disturb him. And over the years as Jeannie chose cyke and not myself, I guess I never really have a legitimate reason to hate him anymore; I just like to tease him now and again, for old times sake.
Vanessa however just wasn't fond of his uptight leader ways and his stick-in-the-ass demeanor. That I can agree is really annoying at times, and does piss me off a bit but she has no problem telling the world why she's angry or who she's angry with so, whenever an opportunity rose to nit pick on Scooter, she either took it or laughed at him.
Meanwhile Scott frowned and looked down at his outfit. It was appropriate for an outdoor barbeque; Long cargo's a baby blue and white striped polo, and a light jean jacket; but something about it to me screamed metro-sexual. I think it was the jacket.
"You're the one to talk Logan." He fired back, glaring at me through those goggles of his. I looked down at my own attire; wife beater, plaid shirt, jeans, boots, and my leather jacket. What the hell was wrong with it? "When's the last time you washed that jacket?"
"Around the same time you became such a pansy boy scout, what's it to ya?"
Vanessa snickered this time, sipping her beer again.
"Alright, alright, tone it down now" Hank interrupted. He used his hands to level down the glaring and the insults. "Can't we all just get along here? It's the professor's birthday, I think the last thing he wants is his chief staff arguing over absurdities."
"Do you ever use words when you talk?" Vanessa asked and now it was my turn to chuckle. We both swigged out beers simultaneously, Vanessa looking out the corner of her eye at Hank as he sighed hard.
"Anyone ever told you, you two are one in the same?" Scott suddenly asked us both. Our reactions were again the same which I guess didn't help the cause any as I took the beer away from my lips to give Scott a glare and she did the same, shifting her gaze from Hank to Scott with a ridiculous look.
"Don't compare me to him/her!" we snapped at the same time.
Jean giggled and the other's smiled knowingly making me go red in the face. I hated when they chastised me like this; made me want to stab them all in the eyes (Scooter in the jewels).
"See" Jeannie said and I could see Vanessa getting pissed as well.
"I'll never be like steroid over there" And my anger was suddenly directed at her.
"Please" I said. "You'd kill to walk a mile in my shoes. The day I act like you however, Wolverette, that'd be the day."
She fumed. "Stop calling me that you jerk."
"Then quit callin' me steroid."
"Fine, do you like asshole better?"
"Depends, do you like bitch better?"
"Up yours, Fucker"
"Wench"
"Bastard"
"Whore"
"Idiot"
"Slut"
She fumed again. "You moronic, stupid, ugly son of a bi—"
"Well, well, well, we've got quite the name calling going on here don't we?"
Suddenly interrupted from our heated verbal battle, we stopped the insult flow to see old chuck wheeling over, smiling warmly at the both of us.
Vanessa calmed down when she saw him approach, furiously taking the last swig from her beer bottle and chucking it in the garbage. "It was all steroid's fault over there chuck" she said, again running a hair through her curly masses. "He's the jerk."
My eyes narrowed into slits. Chuck? She can't call him chuck? Chuck was my nickname for the professor! Thief.
"And you're the bit—"
"Alright, alright, can we please keep the obscenities to a minimum. There are children around."
Vanessa grumbled a sorry and I grunted. Whatever; stupid little wench, calling me a jerk.
"You know if I didn't know any better, Logan, Vanessa," our attention was drawn back to the man. "I'd say you two are—"
"One in the same, I know!" Again both of us snapped simultaneously and again the other's chuckled, the professor joining in this time. I glared at the elderly man this time, as did she, before we glared at each other.
"This is aggravating; I think I'm going to leave" I announced. I was tired of sitting around and willingly let the other's poke fun at me; that's not what I came here for.
"No, no, don't leave Logan" Jeannie pleaded. She threw her little puppy dog eyes at me. Dear God how I couldn't resist those eyes. "We were just having a little fun, honest. No need to be such a sour puss."
"Well it isn't funny."
Vanessa scoffed. "Who are you telling?"
I turned to face her to shoot off a sarcastic remark but Storm beat me to it, starting with an abrupt subject change.
"So hey um, professor, how do you like the party so far?"
Turning to her with a warm smile, Chuck more than happily replied to her question, his response sparking off a new group discussion. Half way through it however, I could see Vanessa becoming rather bored and she stepped away grumbling something about fetching another beer.
I sneered after her.
"Wench"
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Vanessa's POV
Since I've arrived at the mansion, I don't know how many times I've asked myself why I live here.
I mean really; I hate children, they're annoying as hell; Scott is an a-s-s asshole and if I have to listen to him and his stupid rules for one more day I'm gonna' claw his jewels out; the rest of the staff is too damn bright and cheery for no damn reason at all, and most of all, I rest in the quarters right across the hall from him.
The demon from hell, the biggest jerk on the planet, the ever to be asshole with no hope of ever changing; Logan.
I hate him.
No scratch that, I loathe him. I loathe the way he walks, the way he talks the way he sits, the way he eats, the way he fights the way he looks and I most definitely loathe the way he stares at people. Or more specifically me.
The man just won't leave me alone!
And I know he does it just to get a rise out of me you know? He doesn't do it to anyone else. Not Ororo, not Jean, not Scott, not Hank, not any of the kids and most definitely not the professor; he only does it to me and I'm sick of it. The guy is such a dill hole.
And you know he wasn't always that way.
When I first came to this school he left me alone and I left him alone; it was perfect.
But then Dr. Grey started noticing our similarities and how we'd both been altered by Striker and how we both had the same mutation. So she ran tests on us like lab rats and well, I guess that's where the frustration started.
God I hate this place.
I think the only thing that's holding me back from leaving this dump is good old chuck.
No one understood that I had no idea who I was and I had a mutation surgically graphed into me. No one but him of course but that's what differs between Chuck and Logan I guess; chuck gives a damn.
He clothed me when I was naked, he gave me food when I was hungry, he provided me a bed when I was tired, and in general he just gave me a second chance at life; even if I wasn't aware of the previous me. He gave me a chance to start over fresh and anew, and possibly discover the secrets to my unknown past. And I respected him for that.
But the side effects that came along with living here I just couldn't stand. I could only wish something would come along that would make my stay here worthwhile.
Oh Dear God, not him!
Dammit, why can't I just keep my underlying thoughts locked away in a cage and key; here comes the devil in the flesh and his trusty sidekick; the white streaked teenager.
"Hey Vanessa, how's it going?" Rogue asked me as she took a seat next to me at the table and Logan followed suit. He took a swig of yet another beer he had in his hands and stared me down again and I gave him a retort look.
"Hey stripes, how's it going?" I smiled genuinely at her and sipped my own drink. Blah, who made this bloody Mary anyway? I hate cocktails I need another beer.
"Pretty good, the professor's taking the party inside for a movie night, wanna come?" The barbeque had pretty much winded down by now. It was now around 7 in the evening and that meant it was almost bedtime for the senior citizen (along with young Boy scout skipper too), so it seemed reasonable he was converting his birthday festivities indoors; the mosquitoes were beginning to bite.
"I'll be there soon, just trying to enjoy what's left of the evening"
She smiled again. "Ok sure Vanessa, I'll ask him to put on one of your favorites too; how does Kill Bill sound?"
I smirked. "It sounds fantastic"
"Awesome, see ya inside Vanessa, see ya Logan!" And with that she hopped up out her chair and disappeared inside.
All in all Rogue was a pretty good kid; I could see why Logan was so fond of her. According to the Storm goddess, they had some sort of introverted past in which they saved each others' lives, I don't know, I don't ask for gory details but, she was still pretty cool. Down to Earth and tolerable, not even close to the other infuriating dwellers of the mansion (i.e- the one they call Jubilee) so I could see why she was so popular.
The only one thing uncool about her however was, she left me with the monster. I'd have to remember to get back at her for this later.
Logan stared at me once Rogue left, the same stare that he knew pissed me the hell off but I chose to ignore it this time, choosing to stare out at the sunset instead.
If there was one thing I could remember vividly, prior to the operation of mine, it was colors. Swirling colors off set by a shining moon and brightly lit stars.
Jean always questioned how I knew it was before my operation and not just after when I was walking around dazed and confused, and Scott took to joking around and calling me a stoner (which I made sure to repay him for with a swift kick in the balls during our next training) but I knew it was before my operation; I just knew.
I remember colors. Bright colors like yellow, blue, red and pink, swirling and streaming through the night sky. I remember getting a warm feeling inside when I saw the beauty of the night despite the cold temperature outside. It's probably why I keep my room about 62 degrees Fahrenheit every night and leave my curtains open to look at the sky. I was enticed with it; and I knew something about it had something to do with my past; I could just feel it.
The professor's guess was that I was from Alaska. How I made it from there to the coniferous North East of the country I'll never know but it seemed reasonable when he explained to me the luminous colors that roam the skies of Alaska once a year.
Logan said I was crazy but I didn't care; I accept it and I held onto it because it was the only thing I could hold onto that could lead me to what I used to be.
I didn't notice how long I was looking up at the stars.
By the time my mind was reconnected with planet Earth, everybody had cleared up the tables and all the trash and went inside, and I could also hear laughter of the others from some kid's movie I'm assuming they had on.
I could also hear, breathing, and the slow swig, swish, swallow from a person behind me; I didn't need to turn around to know that Logan was still sitting there; drinking beer again.
"Scooter was right, you are a stoner" he said to me, but it didn't seem to penetrate for my mind completely brushed it off.
"Do you ever wonder about who you used to be Logan?"
The question caught not only him but myself off guard as well and I mentally slapped myself just as quickly as the words came out.
God what was I thinking? Asking a deep and meaningful question to the most unbelievable jerk on the planet? This was magical. What the hell is wrong with m—
"All the time"
I stopped mentally ranting and turned to face him. I could tell he'd gotten over the shock of my question just as quickly as it came and now his eyes trailed toward the stars as he swigged another sip.
Once he set the bottle on the table, I stole it and took a swig of my own.
"It's hard; going damn near 20 years, wondering around not knowing who the hell you are or where the hell you came from; and the only man who could help you figure it out is frozen somewhere at the bottom of a lake."
I sipped again as I listened. This was a different side of Logan; a side that I never experienced before. Not once since I met him has he ever spoken to me about his past. But I decided not to push my luck and insult him again; he might smash the beer bottle over my head.
"I know I remember those colors Logan." God why was I confessing this to him? I know he probably doesn't give a rat's ass and just wants me to shut the hell up but I couldn't help it; the words just kept coming out like a train wreck. "Jean thinks it was after the operation but I know it's not; I know I can remember it; I can feel it."
He didn't say anything but took the beer from my hand and finished it, setting the bottle back on the table.
"Vanessa, I think the only thing you feel, is the drugs working its way from your lungs to your brain"
My eyes drew flat. See this is why I hated him.
For once in my lifetime I was actually having a civil conversation with the Wolverine and he had to go and destroy it; by calling me a druggie.
"Buzz off steroid."
Now he chuckled. I didn't find it funny at all.
"You're a temperamental little bitch you know that?"
I could feel my blood boiling. "And you're a egotistical meat head jerk!" I fired back. He plastered that stupid smirk on his face and I literally clenched my fists to keep from slapping it off his face.
I swear he was the only person who could shift my mood from peaceful to livid in moments.
"Is that all you've got? Name-calling? Pathetic kid."
"What do you mean pathetic!" I roared. "You started it!" I was digging my fingers in my palms by now and I could feel my claws threatening to explode out my knuckles.
"Gee that's original."
I fumed. "What is you problem!"
"I have no problem, you're the one yelling at me."
Jesus Christ this man was infuriating. How? How in the world could he go from civil to aggravating, making me react like a psycho maniac once again?
"Because you're a dill hole!"
"Am I now?"
"Logan I swear, if this is some sort of sick joke—"
"And so what if it is…..Nessa?" He was taunting me and I was ready to explode. "What exactly do you a girl if I might add, plan on doing about it?"
"Why I'll, I'll……." That was it; I had enough.
My claws flew out of my knuckles and I lunged across the table ready for a fight. Unfortunately for me I attacked out of blind anger and could never see what happened next as Logan caught me mind lunge and locked my arms behind my back, pulling me close to his body. He held my arms in a death grip and leaned me against him close, forcing my head upon his shoulder.
I could feel him breathing down my collarbone and it made me shudder.
I was sure this was it; I was sure he was going to sheath his claws, slit my throat and watch me bleed until I recovered so he could have full bragging rights. I was sure he was going to defeat me; I was helpless.
But I was absolutely stunned to find he did just the polar opposite.
He kissed me.
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So what do ya think? Fist time reviews please!!