π π₯πππ±π’π― 13
Verena leaned back into Logan, her body draped lazily across his lap in the common area, both mutants now fully clothed. They were speaking in hushed voices, sharing quiet laughter that felt like it belonged only to them. Logan's hands rested on her waist, his thumb drawing idle circles against the fabric of her shirt.
Storm found them like that, her lips twitching into an amused smile. "You two look comfortable."
Verena grinned and straightened up just slightly, glancing at Logan before looking back at Storm. "We like to make ourselves at home wherever we go."
Logan grunted in response, his hand still lightly lingering on Verena's side. "Didn't figure you were in a rush to show us to our rooms."
Storm's eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. "I thought you might appreciate the tour. Or do you plan on camping out here all night?"
Verena let out a soft laugh, sliding off Logan's lap but not before giving him a playful nudge. "Guess we'll behave for now. Lead the way, Storm."
As Storm turned to guide them down the hallway, Logan got to his feet, trailing behind both women. Verena's eyes roamed the grand mansion as they walked, but her attention shifted back to Storm, a sly smile forming on her lips.
"So, what about you?" Verena asked, her tone light but with a teasing edge. "I've heard about your abilities, but what's it like to control the weather? I mean, I can't imagine having that kind of power and not showing off a little." She gave Storm a playful nudge.
Storm glanced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow with a smirk of her own. "Maybe I do show off sometimes. You just haven't seen it yet."
Verena's eyes sparkled with interest, her voice taking on a more playful lilt. "I'll bet you do. Maybe you could give me a demonstration later. I wouldn't mind seeing you in action."
Logan, who had been walking silently behind them, let out a low chuckle, clearly catching the playful back-and-forth between the two women. He stayed quiet, though, watching with a bemused expression.
As they reached Verena's room, Storm pushed open the door with a graceful motion, revealing a cozy, softly lit space. Verena leaned in the doorway, giving the room a quick once-over before turning her attention back to Storm. "So, aside from controlling the weather, any other surprises I should know about?" Verena's voice had a playful edge, her lips curling into a smirk.
Storm met her gaze, her own expression teasing as she folded her arms. "I'll leave a few for you to find out later."
Verena raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Misteriosa, huh? I like that."
Logan, leaning against the wall just outside, shot Storm a knowing glance. "She's a handful, isn't she?"
Storm grinned, her eyes still locked on Verena's. "I think I can handle her." She turned her attention to Logan, briefly nodding to him. "I'll leave her in your capable handsβjust don't make too much trouble."
Verena let out a soft chuckle, slipping past Storm into the room. "Oh, trouble? I'm the picture of innocence." The playfulness lingered in the air as Storm walked away, her strides confident, while Verena leaned back against the doorframe, watching her retreat.
"You really don't know when to quit, do ya?" Logan murmured, shaking his head with a faint smile as he followed her into the room.
Verena shrugged with an amused glance. "Not when I'm having fun."Β
Verena walked over to the bed and flopped down onto it, letting out a contented sigh as her body sank into the mattress. "This is the comfiest shit I've ever laid on," she murmured, her words half muffled by the pillow. Logan chuckled at the sight of her sprawled across the bed, looking like she had no intention of moving anytime soon.
"I could get used to this," she added, shifting slightly to make more room. She scooted over and patted the empty space next to her, motioning for Logan to join her.
He hesitated only for a moment before taking the spot beside her, lying on his back, the bed sinking under their weight, the two of them staring at the ceiling in silence. The quiet between them felt familiar, comforting in its own way. After a moment, Verena turned her head towards him, her brow furrowing slightly.
"How long were we on the road for?"
"Sixteen years," Logan answered, his voice low but casual. "Why?"
She shifted onto her side, propping her head up on her arm to get a better look at him. "And neither of us remembers anything before that. We don't know what our lives were like, who we were. I mean, we had lives before all this, right? And c'mon, we wake up on the same island together with no memories? There's no way that's a coincidence. We had to have known each other before."
Logan glanced at her and offered a small smile, the corners of his mouth lifting in that reassuring way of his. "You're thinkin' too much, bub. Don't worry that pretty head of yours so much. We'll figure it out."
His lips brushed her temple in a brief, affectionate kiss before he pushed himself up off the bed. "C'mon, let's see if they got any food in this place. I'm starvin'."
Verena smiled faintly at the warmth in his gesture, allowing herself to relax just a little. She took his hand as he helped her off the bed, and they made their way out of the room, wandering through the mansion's endless hallways. They got turned around a few times, the unfamiliar surroundings playing tricks on them.
Finally, they found their way to the dining hall, the sound of voices and laughter growing louder as they approached. When they entered, the place was buzzing with students, all talking loudly amongst themselves. The space was alive with energy, and Verena's gaze was immediately drawn to the staff table, where the X-Men sat, somewhat apart from the students but watching over them with a sense of quiet authority.
The X-Men chatted quietly amongst themselves, their conversations low but filled with camaraderie as they kept an eye on the students. Verena led Logan toward the staff table, her gaze landing on an open spot next to Storm. "Is this spot taken?" she asked with a light smile.
Storm returned the smile, shaking her head. "No, all yours."
Verena took the seat, and Logan slid into the chair beside her. As they settled in, she noticed Scott glaring in Logan's direction, his shoulders tense, while Jean sat next to him, seemingly unbothered by his behavior. Verena raised an eyebrow but decided to ignore it for now.
"Do you guys eat together like this every night?" she asked Storm, her curiosity getting the better of her.
Storm chuckled softly. "Not every night. Weeknights are usually fend-for-yourself. A lot of the kids can cook; they're pretty self-sufficient. But weekends are different. We eat breakfast and dinner together. The professor brings in a chef for the kids mostlyβhe calls it family bonding time."
Verena snorted, unable to help herself. "That's cute," she laughed, the thought of Professor X orchestrating family meals amusing her.
Their chatter continued through the meal, light and relaxed, a welcome change from the chaos they had grown used to. Dinner that night was spaghetti, clearly chosen with Verena in mind. She couldn't help but snort at the thought but dug into the food with gusto, the taste of a real meal an undeniable pleasure. It had been too long since she'd eaten anything decent, and judging by the look on Logan's face, he felt the same way.
As the dinner wore on, Verena learned that the chef was Italian, and his specialty was, naturally, pasta. She smiled to herself, appreciating the effort more than she'd expected. At some point, while the X-Men started clearing plates and helping with the dishes, Verena had slipped away to the kitchen.
When the others found her, she was deep in conversation with the chef, speaking in rapid, fluent Italian. Her face was animated, more open than they'd seen before, as she gestured with her hands, completely at ease.
Logan leaned against the doorway, arms crossed with a faint smirk on his face. "You makin' friends, Vee?" he teased, his voice soft but amused.
Verena glanced over her shoulder, a smile tugging at her lips. "Just appreciating the finer things," she quipped, her accent more pronounced now that she was speaking in her native tongue.
Storm chuckled as she passed by, gathering dishes. "Looks like she's right at home," she remarked, glancing over at Logan.
Logan nodded, his expression softening as he watched Verena. "Yeah," he muttered. "She really is."
When Verena finished chatting with the chef and helping with the dishes, she bid goodnight to the X-Men. It was 10 o'clock, and most of the children had already gone to bed, though a few older ones still lingered in the common areas.
As she entered her room, she opened the closet, a semi-walk-in, hoping to find something comfortable to wear for the night. After rummaging through, she found a pair of sweatpants and a black tank top that looked like they would do the job. She quickly changed and walked into the connecting bathroom, pleasantly surprised to find it stocked with basic toiletries. Grabbing a toothbrush, she brushed her teeth, then paused in front of the mirror, her eyes catching on the tattoo on her shoulder.
The delicate butterflies inked into her skin had always been a mystery. She didn't remember when she got them, or what they meant. Her healing factor kept the tattoos from ever staying vibrantβalways slowly fading away over time. She had considered getting new ones at some point, but it seemed pointless. Tattoos were expensive, and they would just disappear again.
Sighing softly, she left the bathroom and climbed into bed, the mattress comfortably sinking beneath her weight. She pulled the covers up and turned off the lamp, casting the room into quiet darkness. It felt strange to be in such a large, comfortable bed. Almost too strange. It had been so long since she'd slept in a proper bed, and even longer since she'd slept in one alone.
She tossed and turned for what felt like an hour, the bed squeaking softly each time she shifted positions. No matter how she lay, she couldn't seem to relax. When she finally glanced at the clock on her nightstand, it read 11:30. Huffing softly in frustration, Verena swung her legs out of bed and padded down the hall.
Logan's scent hit her long before she reached his door. She knew immediately the professor was behind their separationβafter all, she had asked if she and Logan could share a room, and Charles had diplomatically ignored the request.
She knocked gently on Logan's door, and he opened it swiftly, looking down at her with concern. He was shirtless, wearing only grey sweats, his chest hair on full display. "What's wrong, Reena?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.
"Haven't slept in a bed by myself in so long," she admitted, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "It felt empty. I didn't wake you, did I?"
Logan shook his head and stepped aside, opening the door wider to let her in. She didn't hesitate to walk past him, plopping herself straight into his bed. Logan closed the door behind them and joined her, pulling the covers over both of them before wrapping an arm around her waist. He tugged her close, and the tension melted from her body as soon as his warmth surrounded her.
Her heart, which had been racing, finally began to slow, her muscles relaxing in his familiar embrace. With Logan's steady breathing next to her and the comfort of his presence, sleep finally started to pull at her.
As she drifted off, Logan's voice, soft and gravelly, reached her ears. "Go to sleep, Vee. I got you."
And for the first time that night, she felt like she really could.Β
Sometime around one in the morning, Logan's body began to twitch, his face contorting in discomfort as a nightmare gripped him. Verena, still peacefully asleep beside him, didn't stir. His brow furrowed, and beads of sweat formed on his skin, small grunts of pain slipping past his lips as he sank deeper into the dream.
The door to the room opened quietly, and someone entered, their footsteps cautious, trying not to wake the pair in bed. As the figure moved closer, they noticed Logan's distress, his body trembling from the nightmare's hold. They knew better than to touch him, so they crouched close, whispering urgently, "Logan! Logan, wake up!"
For a brief moment, there was silenceβthen Logan jolted awake with a guttural yell, his claws unsheathing in an instant. Before anyone could react, he plunged them into Rogue, who had tried to wake him.
Her scream pierced the air, jarring Verena awake in a flash. Her instincts kicked in immediately, claws sliding out as she jumped into a defensive stance, scanning the room for threats. It wasn't until she saw RogueβLogan's claws embedded deep into her chestβthat the full weight of the situation hit her.
Logan's dazed expression morphed into horror as he pulled his claws from Rogue's body, blood spilling down her shirt. "Rogue!" Verena's voice cracked with panic as she sheathed her claws and scrambled out of bed, rushing to the young girl's side. Rogue's breath came in ragged gasps, blood bubbling from her lips as she struggled to breathe, her wide eyes locked on Logan.
Logan's yell echoed through the room, filled with desperation. "Help! Somebody help!" His voice reverberated down the hall, and within seconds, the lights in the mansion began flicking on, footsteps pounding as people rushed toward the commotion.
Verena wrapped an arm around Rogue's shoulders, trying to steady her trembling form. "It's okay, tesoro, you're going to be okay," she soothed, though her own voice shook with fear. Rogue's hand, pale and trembling, reached out to Logan's face. She pressed her palm to his cheek, her powers activating instantly, and she began drawing from his healing factor.
Dark veins spread across Logan's face as Rogue siphoned his regenerative ability, her breathing slowing as her wound closed. The color returned to her face, but Logan staggered back, gasping for air as she released him.
The X-Men rushed into the room, Scott flicking on the lights as they took in the scene. Verena's heart pounded as she dropped to her knees beside Logan, grabbing a pillow from the bed and quickly sliding it under his head as his body seized, his breaths coming in shallow gasps.
"Logan!" she called, her voice cracking as her hands hovered over him, unsure how to help. His body convulsed, and she cursed under her breath, trying to keep her panic at bay as the others crowded around.
When Logan's seizures finally subsided, with Jean's assistance, Verena and Scott carefully moved him onto the bed. He was completely passed out, his body spent from the ordeal. The rest of the X-Men filtered out of the room, leaving Verena alone with Logan as she waited for the professor. She sat on the edge of the bed, her gaze fixed on Logan's still form, her thoughts heavy with guilt and worry.
When Charles rolled into the room, Logan had just begun to stir. Verena immediately straightened her posture, standing in reflex.
"Verena, dear, you can sit down," Charles said softly. At his command, she sank back onto the edge of the bed, watching as Logan's eyes fluttered open. He looked groggy, but his focus sharpened as he met Charles' gaze.
"What happened?" Logan asked, his voice gravelly. "Is she alright?"
The professor nodded, his expression calm but serious. "She'll be alright."
Logan let out a breath of relief, but his confusion remained. "What did she do to me?"
Charles folded his hands in his lap, explaining gently, "Whenever Rogue touches someone, she takes their energy, their life force. In the case of mutants, she absorbs their gifts for a short while. With you, she took your ability to heal."
Logan's jaw tightened. "I feel like she almost killed me."
"If she had held on any longer, she might have," Charles admitted. His tone was grave but compassionate. "But you're both alright now."
Verena's hand instinctively found Logan's leg, giving it a soft pat as he processed the professor's words. She could see the worry etched into his features, the lingering fear that he'd hurt Rogue.
Charles turned his attention to Verena. "Verena, might I ask you to return to your room, now that Logan is feeling better?"
She nodded, understanding the request, though she wasn't ready to leave him. "Goodnight, Professor," she said quietly, giving Logan's leg one last reassuring squeeze. "Goodnight, Logan."
Logan's eyes flicked to her, and though he was still recovering, he gave her a small, grateful nod.
Verena slipped out of the room, her footsteps echoing down the long, quiet staff wing as she made her way back to her room. When she climbed into bed, her mind was still racing, and despite her exhaustion, sleep eluded her. She lay there, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling, until the first rays of morning sunlight began to filter through the curtains.
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Β©οΈFanofadifishman
Word count: 2827
Translations:
Misteriosa - Mysterious
Tesoro - Sweetheart
A/N: Guys we're at 4k reads, I'm literally shaking in my boots, y'all are awesome. If you've noticed, I make some references to Logan and Verena for example sinking into the mattress when they lay down. I'm sorta making it canon cause Logan is literally made of metal and while he doesn't have really any body fat, his skeleton makes him 300 pounds, YALL HE'S GOING TO SINK THE MATTRESS. Same goes with Verena though she's smaller so the skeleton would probably make her around 200-250. Also was laughing my ass off writing for Charles cause for all other characters I say, "They walked into the room." but Charles rolls into the room, Im dead.Β
Anyway don't be ghost readers, Vote and comment please, I love seeing y'alls reactions, some of y'all are too funny.
Love Y'all,
Allegra π
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