Pack
Wade and Logan sat on the couch. Re runs of the Golden Girls played on the TV, casting a warm glow on the pair in the darkness. Logan’s head was in Wade’s lap and Wade was content with simply petting his hair, scratching behind his ears and occasionally running his hands down Logan’s back.
“I used to live in a wolf pack.”
The confession is so sudden and so out of left field that Wade was temporarily rendered speechless. “Oh yeah?” Wade finally managed to say, still shocked that Logan was willingly sharing information about himself.
Logan’s voice was soft as he remembered “Don’t remember how I got there, or much bout’ what happened before, but I remember layin’ in the snow - lost and scared - and the wolf pack that found me.“ Logan closed his eyes, and allowed himself to enjoy the feeling of Wade petting his hair “they were starvin’ n’ there I was, a big strong thing that could help hunt.”
Naked and frightened, Weapon X laid down, exposing its stomach in submission. It’s gaze rested on the snow’s brilliant sparkle that was illuminated by the moon’s glow and it’s mouth fell open as a frightened whimper escaped it. A sniff, a lick, and a howl. White pelts flooded its vision as the pack curled around it, covering it in their warmth and scent.
Wade smiled and scratched behind Logan’s ear causing the other to pump his leg like a dog “I felt safe” Logan said softly as he played with the material of Wade’s Kuromi pyjama pants.
Wades voice was soft and comforting, like a soothing rain “what were they like?”
“Tough as nails” Logan said, a small smile making its way onto his face “patient. Back then, I didn’t know who I was or even what I was. I remember the only thing I knew for certain was that -“ he frowned and curled in on himself. Wade placed a comforting hand on Logan’s bicep and squeezed, hoping the pressure would help. “That I was an it; some…weapon that knew how to kill n' little else.”
Wade gave him another squeeze and then went back to petting his hair.
“I learned how to hunt, track n' fight right alongside the pups. The pack didn’t see me as some monster…they just saw a pup that needed to be trained.” He rolled onto his back and closed his eyes “overtime that human part of me, or what little was left of it, just faded into the background like a whisper.”
“That explains a lot, Lolo” Wade chuckled “noticed a while back that the way you act is kinda like an in-between. You eat and purr like a wolverine, but act like a wolf. My little wolvie, you’re just so perfect!” He bent down and placed a kiss on Logan’s forehead.
Wade sat back up and let his hand rest on Logan’s stomach “If you were happy, then why did you leave?”
“A polar bear killed them” Logan said sadly. He frowned, his voice shaking just ever so slightly “we were hungry n' desperate. I’d go first, make the kill, but that day…that day was different.”
He paused for a moment, swallowing down a sob “the pack hadn’t properly eaten in so long n' I tried so desperately to keep them fed but the prey was few and far between n' what little I did manage to catch I’d give to them. “
“Oh, Peanut” Wade sadly whispered.
“I - I didn’t know, Wade. When I slept, when I fought;what I fought…even my diet, every aspect was controlled by the man in glasses. If I'd known…” he swallowed once more, and grabbed Wade’s hand to help ground himself “It killed me first, n’ by the time I woke up, the pack was dead.”
Weak and heartbroken, Weapon X sat in the snow, surrounded by the mutilated bodies of his pack. The sound of the sharp crunch of teeth on bone caused Weapon X to look up and watch helplessly as the bear ate what remained of a pup. It released a guttural cry, mourning the loss of its family.
“Lolo, I’m so sorry.”
“I Don’t blame the bear….it was hungry n' scared. But I…in that moment, among the corpses of my pack..when I saw it eat the pup…I ran. I got them killed n' I ran like I always do, I -“
Wade hushed him “there was nothing you could’ve done, Lolo.” He ran his fingers over Logan’s hand in comfort, trying to stop the negative spiral “you didn’t know the calorie rule. But, Lolo, you eventually learned and remembered. Althea and I are so damn proud of you, my little protector.”
So focused on the effort it took not to burst into tears, Logan did not reply. A stray tear fell and Wade wiped it away with the utmost tenderness before showering Logan’s face with kisses, saying affirmations and praises between each smooch. “my big, strong, bestest boy. So brave and smart.”
Logan gave a shaky smile and allowed himself to be kissed. It had been so long since anyone had given him such affection and it was only until now that he realized how much he had hungered for it. As he looked at Wade’s scarred face and beautiful eyes, he reached up to stroke Wade’s cheek and said, before kissing him on the lips, “you n' Althea are my pack now.”
Together they fell asleep on the couch in each others embrace, warm and covered in each others scent.
————
With a smile that could outshine the very sun itself, and excitement pouring from every pore, Wade Wilson held his hands behind his back and said “Close your eyes and hold out your hands, Peanut!”
Confused, Logan obeyed, letting out a small growl. A soft, fluffy bundle, was placed into his hands. It smelled like the Central Park Zoo and cardboard. He could smell the excitement coming off of Wade in waves which did nothing but add to his confusion.
“Ok, open!” Wade said with a cry of delight.
It was an arctic wolf plushie. Very realistic and floppy with striking gold eyes. Logan held it in his hands, looked up at Wade and back at the plush. It looked just like the little pups from his pack - the ones he couldn’t save. A feeling of protectiveness welled within and he hugged it to his chest, unwilling to let go.
Unsure of what to say, he could only manage a pathetic “Thank you, Wade.”
“I knew you’d love it! When I saw it at the zoo I just knew you had to have it. So…you gonna give it a name?”
Logan looked down at the plush in his arms and said, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world “Pup.”
Wade would come to associate the appearance of Pup as an indicator of when Logan was deep in his feral mindset - in which he would walk by on all fours with Pup held in his mouth by the scruff - or the aftermath of a nightmare where he would be found curled into the corner of their bedroom and clutching Pup like a lifeline.
It was during these times that both he and Althea quickly learned not to try and touch or take Pup from him, as it would always result in a low, dangerous, growl. Ignoring the growl, as Wade had learned, would result in a very painful and vicious bite - as if Logan was protecting it; Pup was a second chance against that bear; A way to protect that poor pup that had been eaten decades ago.
But most importantly Pup was more than that. Pup was a comfort that Wade had bought to be there for Logan when he couldn’t.