Today is Not Real
The team was staying in a private cul de sac, clearly meant to be rented out to many different groups of people at once, but right now, a single family had taken up the faux neighborhood. Some of the small cottages had couples staying in them, like Rogue and Gambit, and Jean and Scott, whereas most of the other members had a building all to themself.
Morph’s and Logan’s sat right next to each other. It was easier since they were sharing a ride, afterall. Inside was a small living room/kitchen area, a bedroom, and a bathroom. Within Morph’s bathroom, they were getting ready to head out to a boardwalk with the rest of the team.
If Logan really was flirting with them, they had to look their best, this was their chance to finally get all their love for him reciprocated. They showered all the sand off of their sun-kissed skin and ran a comb through their hair. They could make it stay perfect all night if they wanted, but they didn't want to waste concentration on something they could take care of ahead of time. They plucked their pointed eyebrows, and put chapstick on their lips. Morph walked into the bedroom where they had their clothes picked out, again, they could just shift into an outfit, but this was easier. It was the same Hawaiian shirt as before, still not buttoned all the way up but this time it was enough to cover most of the large scar on their chest. They tucked it into their loose fitting jeans, but only one side, to give off a ‘cool guy’ type of vibe, like they cared but not too much, when in reality, they cared a whole lot.
There was a knock at their door, their heart skipped a beat. They knew it was Logan by how he had been treating them all day. They questioned reality again for a moment, if this all really was real. Mister Sinister had put them through visions like this before, where everything was perfect, just to have something go terribly wrong at the end. They wanted to believe that today was real, but the terror that they had been put through hung to the back of their mind like a parasite hung onto its host.
“Kev!” Logan called out, “You almost ready? We’re heading out!”
Morph opened the door and looked down at him, “Yeah I’m ready. And since when did you call me ‘Kev’? Didn’t think anyone even knew my real name anymore.”
The two of them hopped in Logan’s jeep, where Jubilee had already forced Roberto to jump in the back with her. “If y’ don’t like it, I can stop.” Wolverine’s face grew more serious, worried that he had upset Morph. They never explicitly told him to not use it, he knew they were changing some things about their identity and didn’t realize that using their name, even a nickname, might be crossing a line.
“Nah, I don’t mind, it’s nice actually. To hear it being used positively for once. But, like, imagine if one day I just decided to call you ‘James’” They joked.
“Don’t you even think ‘bout it.” Logan growled back, but there was a smile on his face.
“Wait wait wait,” Jubilee interrupted, “Your real name is ‘James’? This whole time?” She said with almost disgust in her voice.
“Wait until you hear Morph’s” they hit Logan’s arm but the smirk on their face told him that it was fine to continue, “Theirs is Kevin.”
“KEVIN? For real!? Fuck, you two are old.” She remarked with a huff. Roberto just sat stiff as a board, taking everything in.
“Hey what's wrong with ‘Kevin’? It’s a hell of a lot better than ‘Jubilation’” they laughed and turned around to face her.
“Jubilation is cool and hip, Kevin sounds lame and like you’re gonna break a hip.” She crossed her arms.
“Ok, ok, but we gotta stop goin after each other and go after the real loser.” They held up their hand to their mouth and pointed in a very exaggerated fashion. The whispered very loudly “Roberto”
“Hey, how did I get dragged into this?” He asked, flabbergasted.
“Yeah leave the kid alone, he’s the only one a ya’ that can shut yer trap” Logan piped up.
“Oh ok, Jimmy” Morph turned back around. Logan smacked them playfully on the knee and they just let out their loud, obnoxious laugh that meant they were truly laughing which just made Logan laugh in return.
Within fifteen minutes, they were at where the boardwalk started, and everyone piled out of their cars and started doing their own things. The sun was setting and there was a promise of fireworks later in the night. Naturally, Logan and Morph found a bar that sold to guests walking along the boardwalk, and Logan ordered two of the same beers that he and Morph shared almost every day. They walked and talked until they came upon a booth with one of those mallet hitting games. Kev looked up and saw a big dolphin plushie. Given the circumstances of the day, they decided to make a risky move and leaned into Logan’s ear and whispered “You should win that for me.”
“Yeah, all these games are rigged though.” Logan looked at the game.
Taking on an even riskier move, Morph grabbed his arm muscle and squeezed, “And so are you big guy.”
Logan blushed and got this big grin on his face, he was flirting all day and Morph was finally flirting back. “Ok, ok. Lemme see what I can do.” He handed the carny a five and grabbed the mallet. He swung it above his head and practically broke the game, the little metal ball that rang the bell hit it so hard that it left a dent. “Dolphin” Logan was wearing a proud grin and pointed past the teenager.
She grabbed it from the wrack and handed it to Logan with a smile, “For your boyfriend?” she whispered.
“Something like that, and not yet, ‘m workin on it” who in turn handed it to Morph. “Here, Kev, just like the one you were today.”
“Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually get it, I just wanted to see you show off.” They teased and hugged the toy. “Want me to buy you an ice cream for all your efforts?”
“Sounds like you just want ice cream.” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Ok, yeah, true but I feel like I owe you now.” They started to walk towards the one stand that had a big sign of an ice cream cone on top of the booth.
“Nah, I don’t do anything I don’t wanna. Speaking of which, I’m gonna go jump in line for the ferris wheel, come find me when you're done.” Logan stole back the dolphin and winked at Morph. He headed off in the direction of the large circle with lights.
Their heart skipped a beat again. This truly felt too good to be true. If he got the timing right, Logan planned for the two of them to watch the fireworks together from the ride. Doubt of reality once again flooded their mind, feeling the metallic grasp of Sinister’s control just beyond reach, but knowing that it could always be close. Before they could get too lost in that thought, the worker called them up to order, snapping back into what they were perceiving at that moment. They got the ice cream, two scoops, one strawberry, and one lemon, in a bowl. It was warm and they didn't want it to melt down their hands like it would have in a cone. Morph practically skipped over to the ride, more excited for that than anything else they had felt in their whole life.
“Hey!” They said leaning on Logan’s shoulder, trying to seem cool as if they didn’t feel like a teenager hanging out with their first crush.
“Hey” he handed them back their dolphin and they handed him the ice cream. “Why’s it melted?”
“Because it’s 80º (F) after sunset and I can't turn into Iceman right now without turning a few heads.” With a smug smile, they grabbed the spoon, licked off the pink and yellow and put it back in his bowl. “Still tastes fine though.”
Logan grabbed the spoon and tasted it, it wasn’t too melted. “Guess your right.” The line started to move “C’mon, you’re gonna love this.” He grabbed their hand and Morph’s mind went blank, they couldn’t register what was going on, and before they knew what was happening, they were sitting across from Logan in the small, metal carriage. Logan just sat and stared out at the ocean while eating his ice cream. They started to get higher and higher as the ride turned slowly until it stopped with the two of them sitting at the top.
This is where it all goes wrong, I’m going to be pulled out of this so quickly.
Logan smiled at them as they felt their heart rate pick up.
The ferris wheel is going to break.
“Water’s pretty.”
Sinister is going to show up.
“Morph?”
What if he kills Logan this time.
“Kevin!”
What if he makes me do it?
They felt Logan’s hands grab their shoulders, “What’s wrong? Are we too high? Oh shit, are you having a panic attack?”
They stared back, eyes wide. “When is this going to go wrong?” They asked in a whisper that Wolverine wouldn’t have been able to hear if not for his dog-like hearing.
“Go wrong? What are you talking about?” He ran a hand through Morph’s hair and tried to soothe them when-
BOOM
They jumped into his arms. “Not again not again shitshitshit” they grabbed at their chest. “The sentinels are here, they shot me again! I’m gonna die! I don’t want to-”
“Morph, Kevin it was just a firework, you’re fine. I promise I would not do all this just to let a sent- just to let something stupid happen.” He held them close on the floor of the carriage.
“Firework?” They lifted their head and flinched at the next loud noise as an array of bright and colorful lights flashed across their face. They looked down to their chest to see it was still intact, and they started laughing. “Fireworks! I’m sorry. Fuck, Logan, I’m sorry i just thought-”
“I know what you thought, and I promise I will personally make sure that it never happens again.” He squeezed them against his chest. “I thought you’d be ok with this. You knew they were setting off fireworks, right?”
Morph backed up and planted themself back on their seat, they were still laughing, but there were tears running down their face. “Yeah, I knew” They let out an exasperated sigh, “I’ve just been on edge today, that’s all. Let’s just enjoy the fireworks.” They smiled at him, and Logan stood up and sat back on his seat. He placed a hand on their knee, it was still shaking a bit but he knew that drawing attention would only make it worse. They smiled as they watched the colors streak across the sky and reflect on the water, and Logan just stared at them with a similar smile growing across his face.
The ride ended as the fireworks died down and the two made their way off of the ferris wheel where they met Remy and Rogue, who must’ve also been riding at the same time. “Ah I see you did steal my idea after all, mon ami.” The four started walking to the parking lot. The lights were dimming and shops were beginning to close.
“Zip it cajun, you’re not the first person to take someone on a ferris wheel.” Logan growled back, his caring demeanor from before disappeared so fast after being insulted.
“Wait, you stole this idea from Gambit? So this whole thing, and you’re not even original?” Morph teased him.
“Well he was original enough to win ya somethin, Remy couldn’t even knock down some milk bottles.” Rogue joined in.
“Ah cher you know those are rigged. Let Gambit take you to a store and buy you a real stuffed animal, I’m thinking of getting you your own swamp rat to cuddle wit each night.” He put an arm carefully around her shoulders.
“Pretty sure ours was rigged, too but Logan still managed.” Morph joked.
“He got metal bones!” Remy tried to defend himself.
“Yeah, and you coulda made those bottles blow up, but ya didn’t” Rogue huffed.
“Gambit didn’t see you tryin to win anything wit all dat strength you got.” He squeezed her shoulder, Logan watched and wondered if he should do the same thing with Morph, but they said they were already on edge tonight and he didn't want to push it.
“Well I’m a lady, I could win myself a toy, but I shouldn’t have to.” She turned her nose up at him.
Logan turned to stare at Morph, who just laughed at the other two making fun of each other. “Ya think we’ll ever be like that?” Logan asked.
“If you keep tonight up, we’ll be like that in a week.” Morph answered so matter of factly that it took a second for them to register what they had said. “Wait, I mean-”
“Jubilee and the new kid gotta find their own way back home, Jeep’s about to be too small for them to fit too.” He grinned and turned forward and kept walking.
Arriving at the parking lot, they found Jubilee and Roberto chatting by Logan’s red Jeep. “Beat it kids, you’re with flatass tonight.” Logan pointed his thumb in the direction of Scott’s car.
“Aw but you two are like, the cool older cousins, pleaaaaase” Jubilee tried to convince him.
“Yeah, and you’re like the annoying little siblings.” Morph barked back.
“Fine!” She let out dramatically and grabbed Roberto’s hand and headed over to Scott and Jean, who welcomed them with a smile. Scott looked up and nodded approvingly at Logan, who just scoffed and rolled his eyes.
“Get in, we gotta talk about this.” Logan’s voice sounded stern, and it made Morph’s blood run cold. The two of them got in the car as Logan started the engine. “Why do you think this is gonna go wrong?” He stared at them, waiting for the other members of the team to pull out.
They stared back, they were worried to have this conversation with him, every time they brought up their worries in those illusions, it would go wrong. There were a lot of triggers for when the curtain would fall and the walls would come crashing down, but this time felt different. They convinced themself this time was different. There were signs, but they weren’t enough to quell the rising anxiety within them, until Logan grabbed their hand and gently stroked the back of it with his thumb. “I guess-” they started “I just went through a lot back then. He made me see things, convinced me they were real, then he would ruin it somehow.”
Logan was quiet, he just sat and stared as he rubbed their hand. “Sinister?”
Morph nodded and bit their lip. “He knew that I like you, and he would use it against me.” They swallowed, this is not how they imagined this confession going. “There were so many days like this, where everything seemed perfect. Where you would just start reciprocating feelings for me out of the blue. Then he would do something like have sentinels show up, or kill you in front of me, or have you kill me, or me kill you.” Tears were streaming down their face now. Logan took his free hand and wiped the streaks off of their face. “There were even a few times where he would have you-” Morph turned away and covered their mouth with their hand. They didn’t want to give away too much.
“Kevin…” Logan turned their face back to look at his, “You know I would never-”
“I know! It was all just so out of nowhere when you started flirting this morning. I don’t get it.” They heaved out.
“I’ve been trying to flirt with you this whole time.” Logan furrowed his brow.
“No you haven’t, you’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“I have, I guess I must really suck at it then.” He laughed though there was not much humor behind it. “I just laid it on thick today because I wanted things to finally go somewhere.”
“Yeah, you do really suck. Thought you were in love with Jean this whole time.” They tried to calm themself, but their chest was still inhaling and exhaling a lot heavier than normal.
“”M not, and she’s not who this conversation is about.” He continued to wipe the tears from their face. “What did he make you see?”
“I know you wouldn’t, but that doesn’t mean that this isn’t just an illusion where you would. You would do things to me, is the best way to put it. As Jean and anyone else you were feeling those nights.” They couldn’t look him in the eye.
“Kev, I would never do that! Or make you change for me, that's not why I’m doing this!” His face hardened and he grabbed their face in both of his hands now and forced them to look at him. “I promise that if we take whatever this is further, we don’t have to do anything you don’t want to. I just want to be with you, and for you to be happy as yourself.”
“You don’t mean that.” They changed into their natural pale gray state, the one they hadn’t shown all day.
“If you let me kiss ya, I’ll show you how much I mean it.” He held their face, waiting for a response.
“Kiss me at the cottage.” they breathed shakily, “because I want it too bad right now, and I need to wait so I can convinced myself that this is real”
“Anything else I can do right now, to help convince ya’ this is real?” Logan asked, he shifted the gear out of park and started driving, Morph may want to wait, but he didn’t.
They turned forward and hugged the dolphin plush to their chest, “Call me Kevin again. The last person to use that name for me would only use it as a punishment, and would never have you call me that.” They changed back into their more human looking form, even in the privacy of the car, the windows were down and people were still walking the busy street. They felt like they were being stared at.
“Okay, Kevin.” Logan grinned, “Kevin is a nice name, don’t know why Jubes was making fun of it.”
Morph smiled at that. “Say it again.”
“I’m glad you’re home, Kev. I missed you a whole lot.”
Their heart fluttered as he continued to say stuff like that the rest of the way back to where they were staying.