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xp_logsMarie and Logan fail to get out of bed Sunday morning and talk about his newest students instead, at least for the first little while. | Scott finally tracks Logan down to have 'a few words' with him about Marie, only to find her there as well. | Marie and Paige play catch up a little and indulge in some giggles at the expense of Mister Logan and Scooter. | Scott has his say on the whole situation. | Marie returns to ensure that, yes, Logan understands the rule regarding 'when we answer the door'.
Mm. Warm, soft, good, /happy/ smell. Warm, soft bed. Warm, soft Marie. Warm, soft -- oof! Mmm....
His eyes opened slowly to see Marie lying atop him, smiling.
"Good morning," she said, and then kissed him again, her hair falling to brush his face. "You missed the sunrise."
"Mm," he growled, shifting beneath her. "Mornin'." He blinked groggily for a moment, then, "Was it good?"
"Wouldn't know. I missed it too," Marie confessed. "There's just something about Sunday mornings and bed that makes it impossible to get up. And then again, there's always the good company." She snuggled against his chest under the covers with a happy sound.
"Well, I'm keepin' some pretty good company." He wrapped his arms up over her back, under the covers.
"Good enough to keep you here for a while, or do you need to get out for a bit?"
"I've done enough bein' out in the last six months to last a /long/ time." He grinned. "'sides, sounds like I'm gonna be busy. Your old roommate -- the other one -- bumped into me yesterday and asked for some private tutorin' of her own. In between makin' sure I wasn't turnin' the bony one into a killer."
"Paige?" Marie pushed herself up enough to look at him, smiling. "No /way/... that's great." Her eyes were bright and she wiggled happily. "I think she'll do well. Can I come watch?"
He grinned at her excitement. "That'd be up to her, I think. We're startin' on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the mornin's after her run. She's joinin' the class, too."
"Oh, you will be busy." Marie leaned over and kissed him. "I was going to ask you if you'd be willing to spend five mornings a week with me. Training that is, I mean, though this is a very nice way to spend the morning as well." Her expression softened and grew affectionate.
"I'm willin' to spend five mornin's a week with you however you want, hon," he replied, propping himself up to lick at her throat.
"Mmmm..." She tilted her head back, tossing her hair out of the way and closing her eyes at his touch. "You won't be offended if I'd rather spend most of them learning how to do damage? I mean, we do have most evenings free, after all."
Logan drew his face away from her neck to reply, tipping his face up to see hers and grinning. "Not offended at all. 's how some of my favourite hours're spent."
"I noticed." Marie gave him a brilliant smile. "I think it's great that you're teaching outside of the class too. People need to do something to feel safer, more secure, at a time like this. It's good therapy all by itself. I know that's not necessarily why you're doing it, but it does help. Besides, maybe eventually I'll be able to play too."
"You're always welcome to watch," he offered, knowing she wasn't comfortable with the kinds of accidents she could have, training with the others.
"I think I'll take you up on that if the others don't mind," she said thoughtfully, winding her arms around his neck. "I could learn a thing or two that way and work on it later."
"Sit in on the class, then, see what we're up to," he murmured, leaning in for another lick. "Paige and Sarah're your friends. 'm sure they'll agree to you sittin' in durin' their sessions, if you ask first." Another lick, closer to her chin.
Marie laughed as he hit a ticklish place but didn't pull away. "I'll ask them when I see them next." She paused for a moment when he licked her again and then continued, "I was going to ask what you wanted to do this morning, but... mmm."
"Mm," he replied, scraping his teeth lightly over her jaw. "Lady's choice, o'course."
"Since when am I a lady?" She tightened her arms around his neck and rolled over on her back, taking him over on top of her and tangling them up in the blankets, and then she laughed up at him. "Because I must have missed the memo about that."
His eyes closed for the roll and didn't open until after he'd kissed her, finding her lips with perfect aim born of long practice and an impressive sense of his surroundings. "Guess that makes it my choice, then."
Marie ran her fingers through his hair, looking up at him with love and contentment. "Yes, I suppose it does," she agreed.
Logan’s eyes narrowed and he /grinned/. "Good." His head dipped and he traced her collarbone with his tongue.
The contact made her shiver, not just from the natural reaction to the warmth of his mouth on the sensitive skin there, but also simply because someone was touching her at all. Beneath the thrill there was the thin, ever-present undercurrent of terror that he would cross the invisible line he claimed to have mastered, with disasterous results, and everything would fall apart around her again. Still she turned her head a little, eyes closed, and let him have what he chose to take, trusting him with the fragile construct of her happiness.
Everything was done with quick touches, a few seconds here, then a pause, and then another touch over there. Careful and precise. When he was tired of being careful and precise, he was struck with an idea, and his head dipped lower, his mouth dampening her thin t-shirt.
Marie's fingers tightened in Logan's hair as he pressed his mouth to the upper curve of her breast over her heart, kissing through the fabric of her shirt. He was warm and careful and gentle and the fear evaporated once he was away from her skin, to be replaced by a wash of giddiness.
Scott headed down to Logan's room, after checking the various gym rooms and the Danger Room first. It seemed everyone wanted special training with him these days. He knocked on the door, hoping to find him here, since he wasn't in any of the other places.
Logan's head rose /slowly/ from Marie's chest and he met her eyes, one eyebrow raised. "We've got company. Scott."
The knock had startled Marie a little and she bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "Well, it's your call," she said very softly, knowing full well there was every possibility Logan would invite Scott in out of the nearly irresistable instinct to tweak the more serious man's sense of propriety and order.
A smirk slid over Logan's lips and he dipped his head down once more and just before his mouth reached her shirt again, he called out, "C'min!"
Scott opened the door, with a "Logan, I..." then stopped, folded his arms across his chest, and raised an eyebrow. "Ha ha, very funny. Can you see me again when you're less busy?"
Marie was overcome with laughter and she batted lightly at Logan's shoulder. "You're horrible," she said with complete insincerity. "Hi, Scott," she added.
Logan reluctantly drew himself up and turned his head so he could see Scott. "Scooter."
Scott remained where he was and moved his head from side to side, just a little motion. "Of course, finding you alone might be a bit of a challenge these days. But seriously, next time you're available, find me?”
"I'll go." Marie gave Logan a shove and rolled him off of her. Standing, she straightened her shirt and ran her fingers through her hair. "You can have him now if you like, Scott. That's what you get for answering the door," she said to Logan in a stern tone before grabbing his shirt from the back of a chair and pulling it on over her night clothes for modesty. "I'll go get coffee and be busy for a while. See you later,” she said to Scott as she headed out the door.
"Shouldn't be too long," Scott smiled at Marie as he stepped out of the way.
“Oh, don’t worry. Take your time,” she said lightly, smiling back at him. “I'll come and get him back if I want him.”
Marie started the coffee maker in the west galley and sat on the counter, watching it brew, knees pulled up under Logan's big flannel shirt, the cuffs pulled down over her hands.
Paige was kind enough to enter right about then, placing a travel mug and a plate into the sink. She had a blanket wrapped tight around her shoulders and a sort of dazed look in her eyes. It took Marie clearing her throat before Paige turned and recognized the other person in the room. "Oh! Marie. Wow, we have got to stop meeting like this. "
Marie took in Paige's appearance with a frown. "Lookin' rough there, chickpea," she said. "You getting any sleep?"
"Not last night," she admitted. "But the two nights before, yes. Really, I'm okay, this is actually my regular sleeping pattern just made more obvious by the situation."
"I'll let you off with a warning this time," Marie said lightly. "Anything I can do for you the next few days to help you out?" she asked, getting straight to the point. No use asking how Paige was, she'd been stressed to start and Angelo's injuries were nothing less than catastrophic, really. Might as well be as practical as possible. "Laundry, errands, anything?"
Paige smiled brightly and there was nothing forced about it. Just a little bit of tiredness. "Thank you, but I can't think of anything. If I do, believe me I'll let you know, but I kind of like mundane tasks right now."
"Just figured I'd offer. I understand completely." Marie returned the smile, relieved to see it. "Hey, Logan tells me you're going to be taking classes with him. You'll have some fun," she said, hugging her knees tightly and putting her chin on th em. "What brought that on? Just... last week and all?"
"Not just last week, although, I guess that's what gave me the little kick to actually talk to Mister Logan. He's kind of scary if you don't know him." Paige shrugged, leaning back on the counter. "Mostly just that I came here to learn about my mutation. That hasn't been happening. It's an odd mutation, I understand that, but it's also half a fighting mutation. So. Decided to use this logic thing that I claim to have and do something about it. Go me?"
The use of 'Mister Logan' was a little too much for Marie and she dissolved into laughter, putting her head down on her knees as her shoulders shook with amusement. "...please..." she managed to get out. "Don't call him that..." She lifted her head to look at Paige and put her bare hand over her mouth firmly in an attempt to stifle the giggles that kept bubbling to the surface.
Paige began giggling herself, holding onto the counter for support. Her words were mixed with her mirth. "Well, he seemed to enjoy it. Although, I guess it would explain why he was laughing at me so much? Would just sir be better?" Her eyes sparkled cobalt blue, the deep rich kind of coloured glass.
"I... I don't know." Marie managed to get her laughter under control. "Whatever you like. Maybe you should ask him? It's just... it just doesn't sound right, that's all, and then I get the giggles. He's just Logan to me, always has been."
"Sir it is. I still have trouble calling Scott, Scott and he's been asking me to do it since I got here. Not to mention Scott doesn't growl at people. Just does the really iffy glaring with eyes you can't see thing." It was said with no rudeness involved, just a little bit of teasing and grin.
"I /like/ the growl," Marie said impishly, reaching into the cupboard for a pair of mugs. "Maybe I'm just an irreverent wench, but I don't have any problem calling Scott by his first name." She started to giggle again. "'Scooter', on the other hand, is beyond me."
Paige laughed again, both at the cheeky Marie and the Scott pet name. "Scooter huh? I think we had a dog on the farm named that once. I don't think I should mention that to him. Suspect he wouldn't take it the right way." Paige righted herself, drying her damp from the nearby sink hands on a towel. "Guess I was just brought up much too propper for my own good."
"Hardly," Marie said, pouring coffee. "You just don't have Logan's insane need to yank Scott's chain." She shook her head and then looked up at the ceiling. "The lack of yelling and damage to the architecture so far is reassuring. I'm staying out of their way while they talk about me. Shouldn't take Scott long to deliver his 'She's only eighteen and you're the adult here' speech. Did you want coffee?" Her imitation of Scott's tones was more than passable.
"No, thank you. Coffee does frightening things to my brain. And you thought I was terrifying /now/." Paige chuckled and pushed back her hair, causing a shoulder of her blanket to fall loose. "Scott will get over it. He has issues, but we all do. Overall, I like the guy." She paused and made a bit of a face. "That was overly blunt of me, sorry about that. I seem to have made it a habit."
"I like blunt. It's the best way to be in the long run." Marie hopped down and went to hunt through the fridge for the cream, checking the date when she found it. "And, Scott's just looking after me. He has every right to go and say what he feels he has to say. It's good to know he cares." She fixed her own coffee. "Have you been all the way downstairs yet this morning?"
Paige nodded in agreement. "You'd do the same for him. You're lucky to have each other." Paige stiffled a yawn and laughed at herself. "Yes, I was down there this morning. It's still cold and so is Angelo. Out, that is."
"Healing is hard work and he's got a lot to do right now. I need to drop in on John, but I think it'll have to wait while I go and check on my two friends upstairs." She offered Paige a hug. "This is me worrying about you but not letting it show, just so you know."
Paige took it, smiling. "Thanks, Em. But really. I'm fine. I'll even go take a nap this afternoon! We'll call it a national holiday."
"Fair enough. You know where I am if you need me," Marie said, and then let Paige go. "I'll see you later, hon. Have a good day." She picked up the mugs of coffee, leaving the rest of the pot for the other students, and then headed back upstairs.
Logan watched Marie leave, then turned to glare at Scott, clearly blaming him for his own loss of bed partner.
"You didn't have to answer the door," Scott leaned against said door, observing Logan with amusement.
Logan growled quietly, admitting defeat. Scott was right, of course. "You're not makin' me wanna talk, here, Scooter," he warned.
"Good, because I didn't come here to have you talk. Just me." He stepped away from the door, walking toward Logan, but not taking any available seat. "Betsy seems to ... " He stopped. He still wasn't sure how to proceed here. Nothing he had tried out had sounded right when he thought about this. "...think you're a good partner." /Or whatever's in Betsy/ went unsaid.
Logan's eyebrow shot up. "Does she, now?"
"You saw the comments in your journal...? She made a number of pointed, if hidden in analogy, comments." Scott blinked. "You didn't ... haven't noticed?"
Logan shrugged. "Been a bit busy," he said, gesturing toward the unmade bed. "I saw the comments in my journal, but..." Here, he shrugged again. "Seemed like the two of you were havin' it out."
"Yes, and no." Scott ran a hand through his hair, looking away. "Something's going on with her, I'm not sure what. Anyway, I just wanted ..." He grimaced. This wasn't coming out well. He turned back to Logan. "I wanted to make sure Marie didn't get hurt. She was nearly in pieces when you were gone, Logan. Especially when she broke herself out of the army hospital."
Logan's jaw tensed. He already felt guilty for not being here, already knew Scott had helped her when he couldn't. Being reminded of that did /not/ help his mood. "I know," he growled. "D'you think I don't know what I've--" He cut himself off sharply, taking a breath. Scott's scent filled his head and it was oddly calming, knowing the other man wasn't enjoying this either.
"Logan, if Marie is what you want, then tell Betsy. Make sure she knows. Please. I don't care one way or the other," it was only part lie. He wanted Betsy to be happy. He wanted Marie to be happy. Logan could go screw himself, unless he made Marie happy, "if you want Betsy or not. But if you don't, make it clear to her. I'm not sure she is aware of
that. Some part of her anyway," he finished with a mumble.
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Another woman y'can't kee--" He stopped himself again. "Sorry," he said, looking away. "Shouldna said that."
Scott frowned, stopping his glare when Logan stopped himself. "If Betsy wants you and you want her, then I wish you all the best. But from what you've shown me," he gestured at the bed, "that's not the case. My main concern here is Marie." /As should be *yours*/ was highly hinted at from his tone. "I'll pick up as many pieces as you drop or shatter, but
eventually, even I can't put it back together the way it was, Logan. Something's always missing."
Logan growled quietly. "Jeannie was yours and I'm sorry, but Marie's /mine/. Always has been. Back. The Fuck. Off." A pause, then he muttered, "I'm not gonna hurt 'er again."
Oh, Scott wanted to add something to that. He wanted to say, 'on purpose,' or 'until you leave again,' or something else cutting. But he wouldn't. He would just be there, in case it happened. Hopefully not /when/ it happened. "Good. Then we understand each other." Scott offered his hand, a small gesture, but one nonetheless.
Logan's jaw clenched and he stared at Scott's hand for a long moment, then finally gave in. He grasped it and gave it a short shake. "Yeah, I think we jus' might."
Scott nodded, and released Logan's hand. As he headed to the door, he paused and looked back over his shoulder. "You're good for each other." He smiled, that boyish grin that made him look years younger than he was, and continued on.
Logan stared at the door with a stunned expression which, after a moment or two, gave way to confusion. He shook his head and turned away from the door, thinking. He headed back toward the bed. The empty bed. Dammit. Never should've answered the door.
"Hey." The door swung open a few minutes later and Marie let herself into the room, two mugs of coffee in one hand. "I figured the silence meant Scott was gone, since I'd have heard it if you two had killed each other while I was out." Her tone was light but her expression was worried and searching.
He grumbled quietly, then shrugged. "Didn't even unsheath the claws, don't worry." He got up and held out a hand, offering to help her with the coffee.
Marie let him take his and then stepped close, sliding her free arm around his waist and pulling him to her. "Thank you."
He blinked, surprised. Wrapping his free arm around her, in turn, he murmured, "You're welcome."
"I love you." She stood on her toes to kiss him fully, lingering as long as she dared. "You make me happy," she said when she pulled away.
That brought a smile to his face. "Thank /you/. ...'m sorry I answered the door."
Marie shook her head a little, smiling. "So, what did we learn today?" she asked teasingly.
Logan pursed his lips, mock-growling. "Not to waste time with Scooter when I could be in bed with you?"
She laughed at him. "Very good. I'm gratified that you picked that up so quickly."
He took a sip, then put his coffee down on the table nearest him. Tugging her closer, he very obviously started walking her backward toward the bed, smirking and with narrowed eyes. "'m a fast learner."
Marie leaned over to put hers down as well to avoid the inevitable coffee in the sheets, should she be silly enough to hold on to it. "And a good teacher too," she said, slipping his shirt off of her shoulders and throwing it in the general direction of the chair she'd taken it from. "Got your bases covered, don't you?
"Sure do," he replied, his smirk flavoured with just enough cockiness as to be noticeable. The backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed and he nudged her over backward onto it, crawling up over top of her.
Marie let herself fall backwards, amused by his smile and the glint in his eyes, and slid her arms up around his neck. "Better now?"
"Much," Logan assured her. "Now...where was I?"
She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him to her for a fierce kiss, biting hard at his lower lip as she pulled away. "Start at the beginning," she ordered him in a voice just above a whisper. "And don't answer the door this time."
His eyes were dilated and his lids heavy by the time she drew back. He could taste the faintest hint of iron in his mouth. "Yes, ma'am."
Mm. Warm, soft, good, /happy/ smell. Warm, soft bed. Warm, soft Marie. Warm, soft -- oof! Mmm....
His eyes opened slowly to see Marie lying atop him, smiling.
"Good morning," she said, and then kissed him again, her hair falling to brush his face. "You missed the sunrise."
"Mm," he growled, shifting beneath her. "Mornin'." He blinked groggily for a moment, then, "Was it good?"
"Wouldn't know. I missed it too," Marie confessed. "There's just something about Sunday mornings and bed that makes it impossible to get up. And then again, there's always the good company." She snuggled against his chest under the covers with a happy sound.
"Well, I'm keepin' some pretty good company." He wrapped his arms up over her back, under the covers.
"Good enough to keep you here for a while, or do you need to get out for a bit?"
"I've done enough bein' out in the last six months to last a /long/ time." He grinned. "'sides, sounds like I'm gonna be busy. Your old roommate -- the other one -- bumped into me yesterday and asked for some private tutorin' of her own. In between makin' sure I wasn't turnin' the bony one into a killer."
"Paige?" Marie pushed herself up enough to look at him, smiling. "No /way/... that's great." Her eyes were bright and she wiggled happily. "I think she'll do well. Can I come watch?"
He grinned at her excitement. "That'd be up to her, I think. We're startin' on Tuesdays and Thursdays, in the mornin's after her run. She's joinin' the class, too."
"Oh, you will be busy." Marie leaned over and kissed him. "I was going to ask you if you'd be willing to spend five mornings a week with me. Training that is, I mean, though this is a very nice way to spend the morning as well." Her expression softened and grew affectionate.
"I'm willin' to spend five mornin's a week with you however you want, hon," he replied, propping himself up to lick at her throat.
"Mmmm..." She tilted her head back, tossing her hair out of the way and closing her eyes at his touch. "You won't be offended if I'd rather spend most of them learning how to do damage? I mean, we do have most evenings free, after all."
Logan drew his face away from her neck to reply, tipping his face up to see hers and grinning. "Not offended at all. 's how some of my favourite hours're spent."
"I noticed." Marie gave him a brilliant smile. "I think it's great that you're teaching outside of the class too. People need to do something to feel safer, more secure, at a time like this. It's good therapy all by itself. I know that's not necessarily why you're doing it, but it does help. Besides, maybe eventually I'll be able to play too."
"You're always welcome to watch," he offered, knowing she wasn't comfortable with the kinds of accidents she could have, training with the others.
"I think I'll take you up on that if the others don't mind," she said thoughtfully, winding her arms around his neck. "I could learn a thing or two that way and work on it later."
"Sit in on the class, then, see what we're up to," he murmured, leaning in for another lick. "Paige and Sarah're your friends. 'm sure they'll agree to you sittin' in durin' their sessions, if you ask first." Another lick, closer to her chin.
Marie laughed as he hit a ticklish place but didn't pull away. "I'll ask them when I see them next." She paused for a moment when he licked her again and then continued, "I was going to ask what you wanted to do this morning, but... mmm."
"Mm," he replied, scraping his teeth lightly over her jaw. "Lady's choice, o'course."
"Since when am I a lady?" She tightened her arms around his neck and rolled over on her back, taking him over on top of her and tangling them up in the blankets, and then she laughed up at him. "Because I must have missed the memo about that."
His eyes closed for the roll and didn't open until after he'd kissed her, finding her lips with perfect aim born of long practice and an impressive sense of his surroundings. "Guess that makes it my choice, then."
Marie ran her fingers through his hair, looking up at him with love and contentment. "Yes, I suppose it does," she agreed.
Logan’s eyes narrowed and he /grinned/. "Good." His head dipped and he traced her collarbone with his tongue.
The contact made her shiver, not just from the natural reaction to the warmth of his mouth on the sensitive skin there, but also simply because someone was touching her at all. Beneath the thrill there was the thin, ever-present undercurrent of terror that he would cross the invisible line he claimed to have mastered, with disasterous results, and everything would fall apart around her again. Still she turned her head a little, eyes closed, and let him have what he chose to take, trusting him with the fragile construct of her happiness.
Everything was done with quick touches, a few seconds here, then a pause, and then another touch over there. Careful and precise. When he was tired of being careful and precise, he was struck with an idea, and his head dipped lower, his mouth dampening her thin t-shirt.
Marie's fingers tightened in Logan's hair as he pressed his mouth to the upper curve of her breast over her heart, kissing through the fabric of her shirt. He was warm and careful and gentle and the fear evaporated once he was away from her skin, to be replaced by a wash of giddiness.
Scott headed down to Logan's room, after checking the various gym rooms and the Danger Room first. It seemed everyone wanted special training with him these days. He knocked on the door, hoping to find him here, since he wasn't in any of the other places.
Logan's head rose /slowly/ from Marie's chest and he met her eyes, one eyebrow raised. "We've got company. Scott."
The knock had startled Marie a little and she bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "Well, it's your call," she said very softly, knowing full well there was every possibility Logan would invite Scott in out of the nearly irresistable instinct to tweak the more serious man's sense of propriety and order.
A smirk slid over Logan's lips and he dipped his head down once more and just before his mouth reached her shirt again, he called out, "C'min!"
Scott opened the door, with a "Logan, I..." then stopped, folded his arms across his chest, and raised an eyebrow. "Ha ha, very funny. Can you see me again when you're less busy?"
Marie was overcome with laughter and she batted lightly at Logan's shoulder. "You're horrible," she said with complete insincerity. "Hi, Scott," she added.
Logan reluctantly drew himself up and turned his head so he could see Scott. "Scooter."
Scott remained where he was and moved his head from side to side, just a little motion. "Of course, finding you alone might be a bit of a challenge these days. But seriously, next time you're available, find me?”
"I'll go." Marie gave Logan a shove and rolled him off of her. Standing, she straightened her shirt and ran her fingers through her hair. "You can have him now if you like, Scott. That's what you get for answering the door," she said to Logan in a stern tone before grabbing his shirt from the back of a chair and pulling it on over her night clothes for modesty. "I'll go get coffee and be busy for a while. See you later,” she said to Scott as she headed out the door.
"Shouldn't be too long," Scott smiled at Marie as he stepped out of the way.
“Oh, don’t worry. Take your time,” she said lightly, smiling back at him. “I'll come and get him back if I want him.”
Marie started the coffee maker in the west galley and sat on the counter, watching it brew, knees pulled up under Logan's big flannel shirt, the cuffs pulled down over her hands.
Paige was kind enough to enter right about then, placing a travel mug and a plate into the sink. She had a blanket wrapped tight around her shoulders and a sort of dazed look in her eyes. It took Marie clearing her throat before Paige turned and recognized the other person in the room. "Oh! Marie. Wow, we have got to stop meeting like this. "
Marie took in Paige's appearance with a frown. "Lookin' rough there, chickpea," she said. "You getting any sleep?"
"Not last night," she admitted. "But the two nights before, yes. Really, I'm okay, this is actually my regular sleeping pattern just made more obvious by the situation."
"I'll let you off with a warning this time," Marie said lightly. "Anything I can do for you the next few days to help you out?" she asked, getting straight to the point. No use asking how Paige was, she'd been stressed to start and Angelo's injuries were nothing less than catastrophic, really. Might as well be as practical as possible. "Laundry, errands, anything?"
Paige smiled brightly and there was nothing forced about it. Just a little bit of tiredness. "Thank you, but I can't think of anything. If I do, believe me I'll let you know, but I kind of like mundane tasks right now."
"Just figured I'd offer. I understand completely." Marie returned the smile, relieved to see it. "Hey, Logan tells me you're going to be taking classes with him. You'll have some fun," she said, hugging her knees tightly and putting her chin on th em. "What brought that on? Just... last week and all?"
"Not just last week, although, I guess that's what gave me the little kick to actually talk to Mister Logan. He's kind of scary if you don't know him." Paige shrugged, leaning back on the counter. "Mostly just that I came here to learn about my mutation. That hasn't been happening. It's an odd mutation, I understand that, but it's also half a fighting mutation. So. Decided to use this logic thing that I claim to have and do something about it. Go me?"
The use of 'Mister Logan' was a little too much for Marie and she dissolved into laughter, putting her head down on her knees as her shoulders shook with amusement. "...please..." she managed to get out. "Don't call him that..." She lifted her head to look at Paige and put her bare hand over her mouth firmly in an attempt to stifle the giggles that kept bubbling to the surface.
Paige began giggling herself, holding onto the counter for support. Her words were mixed with her mirth. "Well, he seemed to enjoy it. Although, I guess it would explain why he was laughing at me so much? Would just sir be better?" Her eyes sparkled cobalt blue, the deep rich kind of coloured glass.
"I... I don't know." Marie managed to get her laughter under control. "Whatever you like. Maybe you should ask him? It's just... it just doesn't sound right, that's all, and then I get the giggles. He's just Logan to me, always has been."
"Sir it is. I still have trouble calling Scott, Scott and he's been asking me to do it since I got here. Not to mention Scott doesn't growl at people. Just does the really iffy glaring with eyes you can't see thing." It was said with no rudeness involved, just a little bit of teasing and grin.
"I /like/ the growl," Marie said impishly, reaching into the cupboard for a pair of mugs. "Maybe I'm just an irreverent wench, but I don't have any problem calling Scott by his first name." She started to giggle again. "'Scooter', on the other hand, is beyond me."
Paige laughed again, both at the cheeky Marie and the Scott pet name. "Scooter huh? I think we had a dog on the farm named that once. I don't think I should mention that to him. Suspect he wouldn't take it the right way." Paige righted herself, drying her damp from the nearby sink hands on a towel. "Guess I was just brought up much too propper for my own good."
"Hardly," Marie said, pouring coffee. "You just don't have Logan's insane need to yank Scott's chain." She shook her head and then looked up at the ceiling. "The lack of yelling and damage to the architecture so far is reassuring. I'm staying out of their way while they talk about me. Shouldn't take Scott long to deliver his 'She's only eighteen and you're the adult here' speech. Did you want coffee?" Her imitation of Scott's tones was more than passable.
"No, thank you. Coffee does frightening things to my brain. And you thought I was terrifying /now/." Paige chuckled and pushed back her hair, causing a shoulder of her blanket to fall loose. "Scott will get over it. He has issues, but we all do. Overall, I like the guy." She paused and made a bit of a face. "That was overly blunt of me, sorry about that. I seem to have made it a habit."
"I like blunt. It's the best way to be in the long run." Marie hopped down and went to hunt through the fridge for the cream, checking the date when she found it. "And, Scott's just looking after me. He has every right to go and say what he feels he has to say. It's good to know he cares." She fixed her own coffee. "Have you been all the way downstairs yet this morning?"
Paige nodded in agreement. "You'd do the same for him. You're lucky to have each other." Paige stiffled a yawn and laughed at herself. "Yes, I was down there this morning. It's still cold and so is Angelo. Out, that is."
"Healing is hard work and he's got a lot to do right now. I need to drop in on John, but I think it'll have to wait while I go and check on my two friends upstairs." She offered Paige a hug. "This is me worrying about you but not letting it show, just so you know."
Paige took it, smiling. "Thanks, Em. But really. I'm fine. I'll even go take a nap this afternoon! We'll call it a national holiday."
"Fair enough. You know where I am if you need me," Marie said, and then let Paige go. "I'll see you later, hon. Have a good day." She picked up the mugs of coffee, leaving the rest of the pot for the other students, and then headed back upstairs.
Logan watched Marie leave, then turned to glare at Scott, clearly blaming him for his own loss of bed partner.
"You didn't have to answer the door," Scott leaned against said door, observing Logan with amusement.
Logan growled quietly, admitting defeat. Scott was right, of course. "You're not makin' me wanna talk, here, Scooter," he warned.
"Good, because I didn't come here to have you talk. Just me." He stepped away from the door, walking toward Logan, but not taking any available seat. "Betsy seems to ... " He stopped. He still wasn't sure how to proceed here. Nothing he had tried out had sounded right when he thought about this. "...think you're a good partner." /Or whatever's in Betsy/ went unsaid.
Logan's eyebrow shot up. "Does she, now?"
"You saw the comments in your journal...? She made a number of pointed, if hidden in analogy, comments." Scott blinked. "You didn't ... haven't noticed?"
Logan shrugged. "Been a bit busy," he said, gesturing toward the unmade bed. "I saw the comments in my journal, but..." Here, he shrugged again. "Seemed like the two of you were havin' it out."
"Yes, and no." Scott ran a hand through his hair, looking away. "Something's going on with her, I'm not sure what. Anyway, I just wanted ..." He grimaced. This wasn't coming out well. He turned back to Logan. "I wanted to make sure Marie didn't get hurt. She was nearly in pieces when you were gone, Logan. Especially when she broke herself out of the army hospital."
Logan's jaw tensed. He already felt guilty for not being here, already knew Scott had helped her when he couldn't. Being reminded of that did /not/ help his mood. "I know," he growled. "D'you think I don't know what I've--" He cut himself off sharply, taking a breath. Scott's scent filled his head and it was oddly calming, knowing the other man wasn't enjoying this either.
"Logan, if Marie is what you want, then tell Betsy. Make sure she knows. Please. I don't care one way or the other," it was only part lie. He wanted Betsy to be happy. He wanted Marie to be happy. Logan could go screw himself, unless he made Marie happy, "if you want Betsy or not. But if you don't, make it clear to her. I'm not sure she is aware of
that. Some part of her anyway," he finished with a mumble.
Logan's eyes narrowed. "Another woman y'can't kee--" He stopped himself again. "Sorry," he said, looking away. "Shouldna said that."
Scott frowned, stopping his glare when Logan stopped himself. "If Betsy wants you and you want her, then I wish you all the best. But from what you've shown me," he gestured at the bed, "that's not the case. My main concern here is Marie." /As should be *yours*/ was highly hinted at from his tone. "I'll pick up as many pieces as you drop or shatter, but
eventually, even I can't put it back together the way it was, Logan. Something's always missing."
Logan growled quietly. "Jeannie was yours and I'm sorry, but Marie's /mine/. Always has been. Back. The Fuck. Off." A pause, then he muttered, "I'm not gonna hurt 'er again."
Oh, Scott wanted to add something to that. He wanted to say, 'on purpose,' or 'until you leave again,' or something else cutting. But he wouldn't. He would just be there, in case it happened. Hopefully not /when/ it happened. "Good. Then we understand each other." Scott offered his hand, a small gesture, but one nonetheless.
Logan's jaw clenched and he stared at Scott's hand for a long moment, then finally gave in. He grasped it and gave it a short shake. "Yeah, I think we jus' might."
Scott nodded, and released Logan's hand. As he headed to the door, he paused and looked back over his shoulder. "You're good for each other." He smiled, that boyish grin that made him look years younger than he was, and continued on.
Logan stared at the door with a stunned expression which, after a moment or two, gave way to confusion. He shook his head and turned away from the door, thinking. He headed back toward the bed. The empty bed. Dammit. Never should've answered the door.
"Hey." The door swung open a few minutes later and Marie let herself into the room, two mugs of coffee in one hand. "I figured the silence meant Scott was gone, since I'd have heard it if you two had killed each other while I was out." Her tone was light but her expression was worried and searching.
He grumbled quietly, then shrugged. "Didn't even unsheath the claws, don't worry." He got up and held out a hand, offering to help her with the coffee.
Marie let him take his and then stepped close, sliding her free arm around his waist and pulling him to her. "Thank you."
He blinked, surprised. Wrapping his free arm around her, in turn, he murmured, "You're welcome."
"I love you." She stood on her toes to kiss him fully, lingering as long as she dared. "You make me happy," she said when she pulled away.
That brought a smile to his face. "Thank /you/. ...'m sorry I answered the door."
Marie shook her head a little, smiling. "So, what did we learn today?" she asked teasingly.
Logan pursed his lips, mock-growling. "Not to waste time with Scooter when I could be in bed with you?"
She laughed at him. "Very good. I'm gratified that you picked that up so quickly."
He took a sip, then put his coffee down on the table nearest him. Tugging her closer, he very obviously started walking her backward toward the bed, smirking and with narrowed eyes. "'m a fast learner."
Marie leaned over to put hers down as well to avoid the inevitable coffee in the sheets, should she be silly enough to hold on to it. "And a good teacher too," she said, slipping his shirt off of her shoulders and throwing it in the general direction of the chair she'd taken it from. "Got your bases covered, don't you?
"Sure do," he replied, his smirk flavoured with just enough cockiness as to be noticeable. The backs of her knees hit the edge of the bed and he nudged her over backward onto it, crawling up over top of her.
Marie let herself fall backwards, amused by his smile and the glint in his eyes, and slid her arms up around his neck. "Better now?"
"Much," Logan assured her. "Now...where was I?"
She ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him to her for a fierce kiss, biting hard at his lower lip as she pulled away. "Start at the beginning," she ordered him in a voice just above a whisper. "And don't answer the door this time."
His eyes were dilated and his lids heavy by the time she drew back. He could taste the faintest hint of iron in his mouth. "Yes, ma'am."
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