Your everyday life... until you almost died.
It was an average Tuesday afternoon for me. I had woken up, showered, worked out, done everything in my morning routine. I have to have some sort of sanity in my life, even if it's not much. You don’t get a lot of that when you’re a mutant. Especially since it's hard to go outside without being ridiculed or even killed. However, today was different. I put my earbuds in, threw on my zip-up hoodie, and pulled the hood over my head. I wore my face mask and kneeled to tie my bootlaces. I placed my phone in my pocket, swung my backpack over my shoulder, and was out.
Why is today different, you may ask? Well, I get to leave my house for once. Trust me, I don't mind being an introvert and staying home all the time, but admittedly, it gets lonely. I have my cat to keep me company but that's about it. I live alone. I can’t keep friendships long enough and I am not going to trust a stranger to be my roommate. Anyway, I don’t go anywhere special in times like these. It’s just my once-a-month shopping trip. Although sometimes I like to get a few new clothes or trinkets if I have extra money.
I left my house and started the walk to the store. I don’t have a car simply because I can't afford one, all my money goes to my little apartment and my cat. I usually have an electric scooter that gets me places like this but it's stuck in the shop right now because the tire is flat and the tube is fucked up. I tried fixing it but I ended up busting it more with my strength and claws. Anyways, I walked. I bobbed my head to the beat of the music flowing through my ears, not focusing too much on the world around me. My hands shoved in my pockets, my boots stomping against the asphalt. It was as calming as being outside could be, without worrying about someone trying to murder me in broad daylight.
Unfortunately, that calming sense came to a halt. I was walking along the side of the highway and a driver on the road lost control of their vehicle. I heard a raging screech and the sound of a motorcycle as the car came hurling towards me. Out of instinct I dropped to my knees and covered my head, bracing for the impact. I didn’t feel it though, as a warm.. Something engulfed me. I heard the sounds of the car and what I can only assume as the motorbike, crash together in a loud boom. I covered my ears as much as I could with whoever or whatever was blocking me. When the loud crashing sounds subsided and my ears stopped ringing a little, I unsheathed my claws a bit to get away from what had saved me. I opened my eyes and fell back on my ass, facepalming. “That was embarrassing.”, I thought.
When I opened my eyes and got a look at who had saved me, I was shocked. It was a man, in his mid 40’s if I could guess. He was tall, had muscle, and looked rugged. I tilted my head and realized he looked familiar. The man just scowled in my direction. I didn't even know what to say. “Thanks”, I blurted, “who are you? Why did you save me?”, I asked. He scoffed under his breath, his brow furrowed as if he were asking himself the same question. “Logan. And im wondering the same fucking thing. I don’t usually save strangers from their fucking death.” He said gruffly as he scrubbed his face. I racked every compartment in my brain trying to figure out who he was. The face, the rugged look, the name. It all seems familiar. Then it hit me like a brick. Stryker. The Lab. The project he called ‘Weapon X’. I knew who this man was. Did he think I looked familiar? Did he save me without realizing who I was at first? Was it subconsciously? My brain was riddled with questions as I stared dumbly at the man, still standing over me amid chaos. “Are you gonna say something, kid?” Logan grunted. “I’m not a kid. Im 21. You don’t remember me, Logan H? Or should I call you Wolverine?”, I snarked, getting to my feet and making sure my phone wasn't shattered.
He stared back at me, his expression unreadable. His eyes widened, but only for a split second before he went back to his neutral expression. “You… Why do I know you? How do I know you?” He asked, pulling out his phone and dialing a number. I sighed and furrowed my brow. “I was in Stryker's lab when he tried making that plan called Weapon X. I was a kid, or at least much much younger than you were, so my memory is foggy. But you were there too.” I explained. He nearly dropped his phone at my words. “You were that kid he took in to make a weapon? I’ve lived a long time, so my memory is much worse than yours. But there's something vague there. I remember one of his men dragging you in. You were feisty, kid.”, Logan stated as he lit a cigar and took a long drag from it. “Glad to know you remember something, old man.”, I snarked. Logan just grumbled something under his breath and held his phone up to his ear. “Yeah. I’m fine. So is he. Mhm. My bike's fucked though. Okay.”, Logan said on the phone. I couldn’t hear the person on the other line.
“You’re coming back with me. The professor insisted. I wouldn’t have even thought about it, but I can't get back myself, and you were almost killed.”, Logan huffed. So he’s still an asshole, got it. I nodded my head, knowing I didn't get out anyway. I called one of the only numbers on my phone, my best friend, and the only one who knew my secret of being a mutant. I told her what happened and that I had to go and I wasn't sure when I could be back at my apartment. I begged her to go take care of my cat, maybe stay there and I'd send her money for the rent. She agreed and said she was heading there now. I hung up and Logan gave me another unreadable expression. His eyes though, his eyes gave away everything. He tried to be grumpy, an asshole, constantly scowling, and he did. But if you paid attention to his gaze enough, his eyes said everything he couldn’t.
I think I knew more about Logan than anyone else. His eyes looked confused, worried, and there was a glint in his eye. Some spark of happiness. Generally, Logan was very closed off. Kept his boundaries, and kept his guard up 24/7. Never let anyone get too close, his fear of losing anyone he cared about was too strong for his liking. Regardless, he only glinted in his eye around me. I remember it back at the lab too. I wonder if it was just me who noticed it. I realized I had been looking at his eyes too long. I shook my head and snapped out of my daze.
–My Backstory–
I had a rough childhood. Understatement of the year actually, but I’ll spare the gruesome details. I was a hard child to take care of. I was outlandish, loud, aggressive; you name it, I was called it. When I was 10, my parents had enough and gave me away to William Stryker. They believed he could fix me. He made me a mutant. Wanted to turn a child like me into a weapon. I was in that lab for 6 years. At that time, I realized I wasn't like everyone else. Not only because of being a mutant, but I had realized I wasn't a girl. I was born a girl, but I hated it. Hated my body, hated everything. I soon realized I was transgender when I was 11. Funny, I know, to realize a huge part of your identity in a lab that almost killed you. But, it gave me motivation. Motivation to escape, to live my life how I wanted. When I turned 15, I met Logan. We crossed paths, the guards having us in their cuffs and shit. We both looked feral. His claws, his teeth, everything about it. I was similar. I had claws, kind of like Logan’s but a little more curved and short. I had sharp teeth, my canines could retract and elongate on command. I had heightened senses. The slight difference was the fact I had animalistic ears and a tail, traits of a wolf. I'm not sure why I was made that type of mutant, but it’s not like I could've done anything. As I grew older, I learned to hide it. The ears could be disguised by my fluffy hair which I'd dye black to try and camouflage the ears. I wore dark clothes which made it easier to hide the tail. But all of this was a pain, hence why I chose to stay inside.
Anyway, after I turned 16, I was much stronger. I could fight, I could resist a lot of pain, and I was capable. However, I wasn't the only one in the lab who wanted to escape. Logan had also had enough of the shit we were put through. One fateful day, he fought the guards. Every one of Stryker’s men. He ripped them to shreds, blood and flesh scattered everywhere. Logan was unphased. He stole the keys from one of the men. Didn’t care, and to be honest i don't even think he realized he did it. At that moment, there was that instinct of “I need to save them”, hardly a conscious thought. He broke me out. He tossed the key to one of my inmates, telling them to free everyone. Then we both got the hell out of there. We ran, and we ran for miles and miles. We reached a forest on the outskirts of a town. We rested there. “What are you gonna do kid?”, he asked me. I remember shrugging and saying “I'll figure something out”. I got a part-time job, being homeless for a while. Staying in the same forest Logan and I last saw each other. I saved up for the next 2 years. Got top surgery, I changed my identity, my name, all of it. I got an apartment and a cat. Lived isolated except for the once-a-month outing to go get food.
–Back to Present–
A car pulled up beside us, and I opened the door and slid into the backseat. Logan got in next to me, scowling, probably pissed the hell off about his bike. I leaned my head on my palm and looked out of the window, a sudden rush of anxiety hitting me. Would my cat be okay? Would I have to talk to the professor? Would I be able to get my belongings? How long will I be here? My mind swirled with questions and my leg bounced rapidly. I tapped my fingers on my chin and focused my gaze outside, trying to control my breathing so it wouldn’t get out of my control. Logan turned his head in my direction, eyes concerned. The driver looked in the rearview, arched his brow, and focused back on the road. Logan reached his hand out, hesitated, and tapped a couple of fingers on my leg. I turned my head to him. As if he was unsure of what to say, or if he didn't want to speak, he cocked his head as if to ask “You ok?” I shrugged my shoulders and looked back out the window, a very faint shimmer in my eyes. I felt a little better and my leg stopped bouncing. I was very worried about meeting new people, but I guessed if Logan was there I would be okay.
The driver pulled up to a large building and clicked a remote above the rearview mirror, opening a large garage. He drove into it and pulled into what I can only assume was his designated parking spot. I took a deep breath and opened the door and waited for Logan and the driver to do the same, because I sure as hell wasn’t going in alone. I walked around the side of the car and waited for Logan. I knew how odd I looked, relying on someone else, and Logan of all people, but I didn’t care. I needed to be near him for at least a few minutes because he was the only one I was familiar with and for god's sake, I was NOT going to have an anxiety attack in front of anybody. I felt a rough slap on my back snapping me out of my zoned-out state. “You’ll be fine, kid.”, Logan grumbled. I just tilted my head and chuckled. “Is the Wolverine trying to offer me, little old me, reassurance?”, I snarked. He groaned, “Fuck you then, never mind.” As he walked toward the door behind the driver, I saw a faint glimpse of a smile on the man’s face.
–Timeskip again–
After a draining discussion with the professor (and Logan standing in the corner silently) about my gender identity and my life story I was able to regain some of my senses. Kind of. The professor had mentioned something about being around someone I was comfortable with due to my extreme anxiety, which had something to do with Logan being my roommate. I think. The professor said it was temporary until I was comfortable enough to have my own room. Honestly, I hadn’t expected him to be so understanding and kind, but he was similar to a therapist in my opinion. Regardless, no one could help the insufferable awkward tension filling the air as Logan and I sat on our beds across from each other. “Uh-”, I cleared my throat, “Sorry you have to be stuck with me?”, I said, unsure of what to say. “It’s fine, I get it.”, he mumbled. The professor exempted me from missions for a little until I was settled, and since he told Logan to stick by me (I’m still unsure if he meant 24/7 or what because it felt like I had a babysitter as a grown man) that meant he was exempt too. Knowing Logan, he could just get up and leave the room, but he didn’t. He continued to sit on the bed with his head in his hand, unusually quiet.
Logan sighed heavily from the other side of the room. “So.” My head snapped up attentively. “What have you been up to this whole time?”, he asked. “Uh just going about my normal life until I was almost killed on the one day of the month I usually left my apartment.”, I blurted. “Thanks again for saving my ass.” He looked at me, locking eyes for a split second before the corners of his mouth upturned. “Don’t mention it.”, he stated. “Was that a SMILE?” I exclaimed as I sprung out of my seat and walked over in front of him. “Did THE Logan Howlett just smile?? I didn’t know you were capable of that! Do it again what the fuck???”, I said in confusion as I grabbed his face. He stayed silent, and I didn't understand why until I realized where I stood. “Shit, sorry. I got too close there. Shouldn’t have done that.”, I frantically apologized. I pulled my hands away from him and took a couple of steps back before I felt a firm grip on my wrist. I looked at Logan, his head down and his eyes not meeting mine. “It’s…fine I guess,” he said. I felt a warm tingle on my cheeks and I realized my anxiety was making me not think clearly. There was no way I would fall for Logan motherfucking Howlette, the closed-off most complicated asshole of a man since I had first met him. Besides, there was no way in ever loving hell he was into men. I needed to squash that idea and set it on fire because that would NOT happen. But with how he’s acting, anyone would think they were being flirted with, right?
“Are you okay?”, I asked. He sighed. “To be honest, I have no idea. I haven’t felt like this with anyone. And I’ve lived for two goddamn centuries. I don’t know what it is about you in particular, or why the hell you make me feel alive, but I’m not entirely sure if I like it or hate it.” he stated. He continued, “The conclusion I’m coming to as of right now is that I’m terrified. And I never thought I’d say that out loud. Anyone I’ve ever loved or felt this way around has been taken from me so brutally that I still have flashbacks. So I don’t know if this is good or bad, whatever the fuck this is. But fuck if it doesn’t make me feel SOMETHING which I haven’t been able to do in a long time, then-” I cut him off by putting my finger to his lips and resting it there. I looked at him for just a few moments, scanning his face and facial features. “Sorry. I’m very glad you just opened up and like, poured your whole heart out but that was kind of a lot at once. Can I take two seconds to process all that? I won’t move a muscle, I swear.”, I said cautiously, scanning his face again to make sure he wasn’t hurt. “I make you feel alive?”, I asked. He only nodded. And you’re scared you’re going to lose me, because you like how I make you feel, or rather, you feel something for me?” If my eyes weren’t playing tricks, I swore I saw a light pink dust on his cheeks. He simply nodded again. “Fuck, I don’t know what to do with that. I’m not rejecting you, by any means. I remember how I felt in the lab. How our eyes locked and it was as though we connected, even if it felt subconscious. How I was glad it was you I escaped with. How relieved I was that it was you who saved me, even if I didn’t realize it immediately.” I breathed, “but are you sure? I mean, last I thought, the Wolverine wasn’t interested in boys.”
He simply shook his head lightly grabbed my hips and pulled me closer so I stood between his legs. “I’ve lived for 200 years kid, I’ve had my sexuality figured out for a long time. And honestly, I don’t care what gender you are. You could have two fucking heads and I’d still feel this way. You being a man doesn’t change this feeling inside me.” I looked away from his gaze and muttered, “Even if I wasn’t… born a man?” If it weren’t for his enhanced hearing he wouldn’t have heard me. “You are a man. You are a real man to me, I don’t give a flying fuck what anyone else says.” Logan stated, eyes glaring into my own. I glanced back at the older man glaring up at me and locked eyes, feeling nervous and intimidated by his gaze. I tried not to squirm in his hold as i forced myself to hold eye contact.
I’m not sure where this is headed, but I know that I won’t mind.