Logan and Verena's brows furrow, confusion clouding their expressions. Logan is the first to break the silence. "Where are we?"

Charles wheels himself around the desk, stopping just in front of them. "Westchester, New York. You were attacked. My people brought you here for medical attention."

Verena scoffs, crossing her arms over her chest. "We don't need medical attention." Her gaze sweeps over the room, sharp and suspicious. "Where's the girl?"

"Rogue? She's here and fine," Charles replies calmly.

"Really?" Verena's skepticism lingers in her tone.

The door creaks open, and Logan and Verena turn to see a woman and man enter. The woman, with striking white hair, and the man, sporting red-lensed Oakley-like shades, step into the room. "Logan, Verena," Charles gestures toward them, "meet Ororo Munroe, also known as Storm."

Storm offers a small smile, her expression warm as she regards the pair, clearly relieved they're on their feet.

Verena gives Ororo a slow once-over, biting her lip as her eyes trail over the white-haired woman. Impressive. "And this," Charles continues, "is Scott Summers, also called Cyclops." Scott extends his hand to Logan, but Logan stares him down, ignoring the gesture entirely. The tension thickens as Scott's hand drops back to his side. "They saved your lives," Charles adds.

Verena's sharp ears catch the click of heels from the hall. Moments later, the redhead Logan had almost choked in the lab appears in the doorway. "I believe you've already met Dr. Jean Grey."

Verena's gaze flickers over Jean—attractive, sure, but nowhere near as striking as Storm. Her eyes shift to Logan, who's busy taking in the sight of Jean, his focus lingering a moment too long. Verena's jaw tightens, and her fists clench involuntarily at the scene, though she keeps her expression neutral, fighting the heat rising within her.

"You're in my school for the gifted. For mutants. You'll be safe here from Magneto."

Logan frowns, his confusion clear. "What's a Magneto?"

Verena snorts at the question, earning a pointed look from Charles that quickly silences her. "He's a very powerful mutant," Charles continues, "who believes war is inevitable between mutants and the rest of humanity. I've been tracking his activities for some time. The man who attacked you both—his associate—is called Sabretooth."

Verena lets out another disbelieving snort, while Logan's lips curl into a sarcastic smile. "Sabretooth?" he echoes, amusement bubbling beneath his words. Charles nods, and Logan glances around the room, his smirk widening. "Storm." His eyes land on the professor. "What do they call you? Wheels?"

Verena lets out a full laugh this time, the absurdity of it all finally getting to her. "This is the dumbest thing I've ever heard." They both turn to leave, only to find Scott Summers standing in their path.

Logan sizes him up. "Cyclops, right?" he says, his voice low as he grabs a fistful of Scott's jacket. "You wanna move?"

Verena growls softly under her breath, a subtle, animalistic warning.

Charles remains calm, addressing them both. "It's been almost 15 years, hasn't it? Living day to day, moving from place to place, with no memory of who or what either of you are. You've been traveling together for so long, yet neither of you are in a relationship or remember your past together before those 15 years."

Verena spins around, her voice sharp. "Shut up." Logan releases Scott's jacket, the tension thick between them.

"Give me a chance," Charles pleads. "I may be able to help you find some answers."

Logan narrows his eyes. "How do you know?"

Before Charles can respond, Logan and Verena hear his voice in their heads. You're not the only one with gifts.

Logan glances down at Verena, and she meets his gaze, offering him a small, confident nod. He nods back, turning to face Charles. "What is this place?"

"Anonymity is a mutant's first defense against the world's hostility. To the public, we're merely a school for gifted youngsters," Charles began, guiding Logan and Verena through the winding halls. "Cyclops, Storm, and Jean were some of my first students. I protected them, taught them to control their powers, and in time, they now teach others."

As they passed a group of young students, Verena's gaze softened briefly. She caught the nervous glance of a boy who quickly turned away. "Runaways," she muttered under her breath, a pang of familiarity hitting her.

Charles nodded as if hearing her thoughts. "The students are mostly runaways—frightened, alone. Some with gifts so extreme that they've become a danger to themselves and others. Like your friend Rogue. Incapable of physical contact, probably for the rest of her life, and yet here she is, with others her age, learning. Accepted, not feared."

Verena tilted her head slightly, absorbing the weight of his words. She felt a small lump forming in her throat but forced herself to speak. "What'll happen to her?"

"That's up to her," Charles replied, leading them down a quiet corridor. "She may rejoin the world as an educated young woman or stay to teach others, as part of what the children affectionately call the X-Men."

Verena raised an eyebrow at that, the corner of her lips twitching. "X-Men, huh? Sounds like a comic book," she quipped, glancing over at Logan, who gave her a bemused smirk.

They descended into the lower levels, and the light dimmed as Charles brought them into a room housing a sleek, futuristic plane. Verena's eyes widened as she approached it, running her hand along its metallic surface. "You gotta be kidding me. What's next? Jetpacks?"

Charles smiled warmly. "The School is merely a public face. The lower levels, however, are an entirely different matter."

As Charles continued, Verena tuned him out for a moment, taking in the gravity of their situation. The sterile, cold atmosphere of the basement stirred something in her. She forced the thoughts away, focusing back on Charles.

"When I was 17, I met a boy named Erik Lensherr. He could create magnetic fields and control metal. Over time, his anger led him to become Magneto."

They returned to the main floor, the warmth and light of the school a stark contrast to the basement. Verena found herself breathing a little easier, though her guard never fully dropped.

The tour concluded outside by the horse stables. The scent of hay and the sound of soft snorts from the horses was a welcome relief from the overwhelming information. They walked along side each other, while Charles rolled along next to them.

As they walked through the stable, Charles continued talking, his voice a steady hum in the background. Verena's attention, however, was drawn to a chocolate-colored horse standing quietly in its stall. The animal's large, gentle eyes locked onto her, and it nudged its head against her hand as if seeking her touch. A smile tugged at her lips, and she raised her hand to pet the horse, her movements tender, almost instinctive.

The men slowed behind her, but she remained focused on the horse, her fingers brushing through its mane. The warmth from the creature felt grounding, soothing her in a way she didn't quite expect.

She turned her head slightly and caught sight of Logan watching her, his usual stern expression softened, though still guarded. His eyes met hers, and for a moment, the tension between them ebbed. Verena's lips curled into a grin, brighter than she meant it to be, but she couldn't help it—not with the way he looked at her, like he was seeing something more than just the surface.

Logan's mouth twitched upward into a smile of his own, faint but genuine, his frown lines deepening in that familiar way. It was a rare sight, and it hit her in a way that made her heart skip, knowing that this softer version of him was something he showed to her, even if he didn't say a word.

Charles smirked to himself as he watched the two of them. No matter who they wanted, who they were with, they would always find their way back to each other.

As Charles continued, Verena remained with the horse, her hand stroking its smooth coat as his words drifted into her thoughts. "There are mutants out there with incredible powers, many who do not share my respect for mankind. If no one is equipped to oppose them, humanity's days could be over."

The gravity of his words pulled her back into the moment, and she let out a quiet breath, releasing the horse. They walked back toward the mansion, but before they could enter, Charles stopped them at the door. "I'll make a deal with you two. Give me 48 hours to find out what Magneto wants with you both, and I give you my word that I will use all my power to help piece together what you've lost, and what you're looking for."

Logan and Verena exchanged a brief look, the silent understanding passing between them. They nodded, accepting the deal. Charles reached for his head to telepathically call someone to guide them to their rooms, but before he could, Verena stepped forward, sharing another glance with Logan before speaking up.

"Professor, I'm sorry, but could I request that Logan and I share a room?" Her tone was polite but firm.

Charles smiled kindly, though his eyes betrayed a hint of amusement. "I know you were on the road for a long time together, but seeing as you are neither married nor in a relationship, I'm afraid it's not possible, my dear."

Verena forced a small smile in return. "I understand." But deep down, she was already planning to disregard that little restriction.

"I believe Jean is ready for the both of you. We'll sort out your rooms later." Charles gestured for them to follow, and as they walked down the hall, Logan reached out and took Verena's hand. The warmth of his touch was familiar, steadying. She looked around, still taking in the beauty of the mansion, though a quiet sense of unease lingered beneath her curiosity.

When they reached the lab, Jean greeted them briefly. They both shrugged off their jackets, Logan now shirtless, and Verena left in the sports bra she'd been wearing since she woke up. Jean silently began attaching wires to them, running various tests. The quiet of the room was comforting to Verena, especially given the tension that had been there when she noticed Logan's earlier lingering glances at Jean.

Jean worked efficiently, and when she finished with the wiring, she directed Logan to lie on a table for a full-body scan. Verena stood off to the side, arms crossed, her fingers tapping idly against her arm. In the silence, the familiar craving for a cigarette gnawed at her, and she bit the inside of her cheek to distract herself.

Logan's voice cut through the quiet, breaking her from her thoughts. "I'm sorry," he said, looking at Jean with an unexpected gentleness.

Jean paused, glancing up from her work, her brow furrowing slightly. "For what?" Her voice was soft, almost uncertain.

Logan gestured to where he had almost choked her in the office, his expression laced with guilt. "If I hurt you."

Jean's gaze softened, and for a moment, the room felt heavier with unspoken emotions, both between Logan and Jean and Verena watching from the side, her chest tightening at the vulnerability in his apology.

Jean didn't say anything at first, moving over to the machine quietly. Logan turned his head, his usual smirk spreading across his face. "So, couldn't wait to get my shirt off again, huh?"

Without missing a beat, Jean pressed the button, sending him into the machine. Verena scoffed, rolling her eyes at his comment, muttering under her breath, "Bastardo sporco." Logan had a way of being charming and irritating all at once, no matter the woman in front of him.

Jean's head tilted slightly at the sound of Verena's words, her expression shifting into one of curiosity. "You're Italian," she remarked, the awe in her voice almost catching Verena off guard.

"Yeah, where'd you think Verena comes from?" Verena shot back, a little sharper than intended, the edge in her tone an automatic defense.

Jean, taken aback, softened her approach. "I didn't mean anything by it. It's just... interesting. You've forgotten almost everything, but you still remember that." She backed off slightly, her tone gentler, sensing Verena's discomfort.

Verena's shoulders eased just a little as the tension began to dissipate. Jean shifted gears, "How did you and Logan meet?"

Verena hesitated for a moment, her eyes narrowing slightly before she began to speak. "I woke up in the middle of this island, Logan right there. I guess we must've known each other before, but I have no memory of it. He said we had to leave—cops were coming. We've been traveling ever since. Town to town, cramped in an old RV, living off the road." Her voice softened, the tension of her earlier words ebbing as she recalled their journey.

Another pause fell between them, the weight of silence filling the lab. Jean nodded slowly, "So you two never...?" she trailed off, a knowing smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

Verena's eyes widened, her face instantly flushing as the implication hit her. "Oh my—no! I mean, yeah, but—it's not like that," she stammered, her cheeks still burning as she shook her head. "Sei molto diretto."

Jean couldn't help but chuckle at Verena's flustered state just as the scanner beeped, signaling Logan was done. She pressed the button, and the bed slid out with Logan lying there, looking all too pleased with himself.

Logan swung his legs off the table, sitting up as he caught Jean's eye. "All good, doc?" he asked, his tone light, as if this was just another routine checkup.

Jean nodded. "All good," she replied, though her eyes flicked briefly to Verena, still fighting the embarrassment lingering on her face.

Logan sauntered over to Verena, his smirk ever-present as he leaned down to kiss her cheek, whispering, "I'm gonna get Chuck to show me my room. See you later, sweetheart." He shot her one last teasing look before walking off, leaving her red-faced.

Verena stood there, caught somewhere between a groan and a laugh. Jean's laughter echoed through the room, only fueling her embarrassment.

When it was Verena's turn in the machine, the lights were almost too bright, searing through her closed eyelids. Her mind wandered as she lay still, her thoughts tangled between Logan's irritating charm and the unsettling uncertainty of what lay ahead.

After the scan, Jean led Verena out of the lab, and with an easy wave, Verena excused herself to wander around, muttering something about finding Logan. As soon as she was out of earshot, Jean called the rest of the X-Men into the lab.

Projected on the screen were two skeletons, one male, one female, both laced with metal. "The metal is an alloy called adamantium," Jean explained, her voice laced with disbelief, "supposedly indestructible. It's been surgically grafted onto their entire skeletons."

Storm's eyes widened, her voice soft with disbelief, "How could they survive something like that?"

Jean glanced back at the projection. "Their mutations. Both have uncharted regenerative capabilities, allowing them to heal rapidly from almost anything. That also makes their true age impossible to determine, but I believe he's older than her. They could be much older than we think. Possibly older than even you, Professor."

Xavier's face tightened, his usually composed expression betraying a trace of anger. "Experimentation on mutants isn't unheard of," he said quietly, "but I've never seen anything like this."

Scott spoke up, his voice tense. "Who did this to them?"

"They don't know," Jean answered, her voice heavy with sympathy. "Neither of them remembers anything about their lives before it happened. Verena speaks Italian fluently, but even that's just instinct. She doesn't remember her life—only the language remains."

A silence fell over the room as the weight of the revelation sank in. Xavier's gaze lingered on the screen, a flicker of concern crossing his features. "What do you think Magneto wants with them?" Storm asked, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm not entirely sure it's them that Magneto wants," Xavier replied, his eyes fixed on the scans. "There may be something far more dangerous at play."

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©️Fanofadifishman

Word Count: 2645

Translations:

Bastardo sporco - Dirty Bastard

Sei molto diretto - You're very direct

A/N: Guys I have some personal beef with Jean Grey which is going to be solved through Verena. But I love Storm don't worry. Also, I had like 50 ideas go through my head for different scenes while I was writing so don't fret, new chapters soon. I also didn't have class today which was a life saver cause I slept in and really helped finish this chapter.

Love Y'all,

Allegra 💙