The dreams are back...
Stabbing, burning pain... Screams tearing from his throat... Warm, iron-scented liquid spilling out of him... A wail coming from a newborn... And then a glimpse of fluff attached to a small bundle, quickly carried away as his shrieks echo all around him-
He wakes up on the floor, panting and clutching at his head. It's the same dream, over and over again, every night. His eyes close, and he takes in a shaking breath. He isn't there anymore... He's safe... But sometimes... Sometimes, he wishes the dreams weren't real. That the small figure, one he had barely seen, wasn't gone...
But he can't change what happened. He looks at his bed, sheets half-fallen to the floor. He can't go back to bed after that. He can't stand to see it, that nightmare, all over again. So he staggers to his feet, and gets ready. It's going to be a long day...
***************************************************
Kitty isn't used to living in a house (er, mansion) with this many people.
Back at her old house, it had been just her and her parents. But here... well, it's her, and bunch of other teens, and three adults. And she can never seem to find a quiet place to be alone.
In her room, it's always her and Rogue, who she can't exactly touch, and isn't the easiest to talk to. In the living room, it's always Evan up to something, usually something messy. And the hallways seem crowded every time she walks down them, filled with the chatter of her team members.
She doesn't even get to have a bathroom to herself! (It is NOT easy having to share a bathroom with five other people. Had anyone heard of shutting the toilet seat, let alone thelid?)
But somehow, she has found some quiet solace... Albeit around Mr. Logan. He's pretty much a lone wolf, despite being an omega (the only adult omega at the Institute, no less), and it makes her wonder why he acts so cold and stoic all the time. It's not like his life is any harder than their's.
Yet... He doesn't force her to talk, or push her boundaries (unlike SOME people. Ahem-ahem-KURT-ahem-Ahem). He's just... quiet. Alone. And whenever he isn't around, he's off doing his own thing, always alone...
The others burst in, and the silence is broken. They go about getting their breakfast, Evan taking most of the milk and Kurt gathering a heaping pile of scrambled eggs. Someone turns on the television, and a news report comes on.
" -it seems there's been an accident at Mount McKenna. We'll be back in just a min-"
A growl cuts through the chatter, and then Mr. Logan's storming off.
"Logan, are you okay?" Scott asks, only for the door to be slammed shut.
"What's his deal?" asks Evan, going back to his breakfast.
Yeah, what is Mr. Logan's deal? Sure, like, he's strange most of the time, but, well... not this kind of strange!
She doesn't think she can finish writing her letter, and with how Mr. Logan's acting, she isn't sure she can leave him alone without at least checking up on him. So with a quick click of her computer, she turns it off and heads after the older mutant.
*************************************************
He's able to make it back to his room before his head pulses with a sharp pain. Something ripples through him, a sick, vile feeling and suddenly he's-
He's back, back in that horrible, horrible room again. Straps hold him down- bright lights shine from above- the scent of acidic chemicals fills the air- bright red BLOOD RED leaks out- pain, sharp, stabbing, cramping- a small, feeble cry- the smallest glimpse of fluff on a tiny head- and then they're gone nonoNoNoNO-!
An angered shriek leaves him as he claws through the room, shredding and breaking whatever he can touch. The pain in his head is still there, still stinging, reminding him of that awful night-
"Mr. Logan? Are you okay?"
*************************************************
Kitty is able to follow the older mutant towards his room, only to be met with the sound of things crashing and breaking, followed by shouts of anger and pain.
"Mr. Logan? Are you okay?" she can't help but ask. He may be weird, but, well- he's their weird guy, right? It's only polite to check on him.
She hears a pained groan, followed by the click of the door as it swings open, revealing a disheveled Mr. Logan. Another groan comes out, and he looks at her, eyes squinting.
"Yeah, yeah... errghhh... 'M fine," he exhales, soon stalking off. She can see the mess he left his room in. Cleaved-through curtains, clawed walls, broken chairs and torn rugs... It looks like whatever is affecting him is... It isn't good.
Maybe... Maye she should just give him some room...
*************************************************
Charles finds him later, alone in the garden.
He'd been pacing, thinking over what he'd seen, what had happened-
"Logan? What's wrong?" the telepathic beta asks, rolling up to him carefully. Logan can smell his scent, that of old worn pages, tea, and chamomile. With a growl, he sits down.
"There's something wrong with my head... Something inside of it... Whatever it is, it has something ta do with Mount McKenna... It has something ta do with-" He can't bring himself to say it. It's been years, over a decade, but it still pains him to even think about what had happened then.
"It's okay, my friend. Do you want us to talk about it?"
It's always touched him how Chuck would ask his permission before ever mentioning what had happened back then. It's one of the many reasons Logan likes him, even trusts him.
"I think whatever happened that night- It happened there, Chuck," he says tiredly. A sigh escapes him, harsh and winding. He gets up, about to leave, until a hand on his sleeve stops him.
"Do you want company?"
A snort escapes him.
"Do I ever?
*************************************************
Kitty had finally found a quiet place to type her letter, stowing away inside the Blackbird. It was silent, no teens, no adults, no noise. Completely and utterly empty, save for her.
Until-
POOF!
Kurt appeared, the smoke around him dissipating into nothingness. "Kitty, there you are! Quick, hurry! Scott's driving us to school today!"
Nothing ever really seemed to upset him, not even when she retorts, "Can't I have, like, one minute alone in this entire mansion?!"
"Oooo, touchy, touchy!" He wiggles his fingers at her, a grin on his face.
And then just as she's getting up to go with him, the jet rumbles to life, sending them crashing to the floor. The engines are loud as the Blackbird moves, sending her and Kurt rolling into each other as they try to gain their balance.
"Vhat vast that?" Kurt asks once they've gotten up, pulling himself up straight. His fur sticks up, like a startled cat.
"I don't know..." Kitty says, just as she opens the door to the cockpit. And who she sees up there makes her heart stutter for a moment-
"Oh, Mr. Logan!" Kurt exclaims.
"Shh! He's been acting weird all morning. I think we should leave him alone," she whispers harshly. She doesn't want Kuet getting hurt, let alone for the one person keeping the plane in the air to suddenly go off the deep end.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic," replies Kurt, who goes right up to him...
She doesn't hear exactly what Kurt says, but she sees when Mr. Logan's claws come out, almost hitting Kurt, who disappears in a cloud of smoke, reappearing next to her. "Do you think I'm being dramatic now?!"
"No, actually, I don't."
They both watch fearfully as Logan lifts himself up and towards them, his claws twitching. It feels like a scene out of a horror movie, except this time, the horror is real. Pained grunts come from the feral, who's every step seems to be a struggle. When he finally makes it to them, his voice is hard to make out, gritted with pain.
"What do ya want with me?" he snarls, eyes unfocused. His hands seem to shake, even as his voice is threatening.
"We- we don't want anything. We weren't following you, we-" she tried, only for another pained yelp to escape the man.
"There's- AH! Something in me! Something I- AUGH!- can't control. Can't be- trusted," he manages to warn, before he hits the controls to the door, sealing them in... And sealing himself out...
"I think we're safe," Kitty says quietly.
"Ve're on a plane being driven by a crazy person. Howv is that safe?!"
"I think... He locked himself out, to keep us safe." It's odd, coming from her mouth, but it seems to be the truth. Mr. Logan, whatever was wrong with him, was trying to protect them- Even if it was from himself...
*************************************************
After a few hours, the jet lands, right where he needs to be...
Mount McKenna...
He snarls, getting off the Blackbird and following any scents that don't belong in the woods around them. Ice and snow cling to everything out here, a bitter wind nipping at his skin. The chilly scent of wet earth and cold rain fill his nose, but buried under that is something else- Sharp, burning chemicals and oil-And goes after it, tracking it to its source.
The terrain goes from wet pines to icy rocks, soon turning to snowy peaks and dirty slush. It crunches under his feet, the only sound beside the howling wind and soft fall of snow...
A screech fills the air as something heavy tackles him, sending them rolling across the frozen earth. With an enraged growl, he drags himself upright to face off against one of the last faces he'd ever want to see.
"Sabretooth!"
"Wolverine!"
They clash once more, sending snow and rocks flying in their wake. Even as he dodges the larger mutant's attacks, Logan still manages to slip, sending him sprawling against a boulder. He just manages to duck out of the way as Sabretooth crashes where he was just laying, a hiss on his lips.
"Enough playing, fuzz bub! I want answers, now!" he yells.
"Oh, you'll get your answers, Wolverine... Though you'll wish you hadn't," says a new voice, and as he turns to look at who it is, a blunt pain goes through him, sending him crashing into darkness...
*************************************************
Kitty was able to phase out of the jet once Logan had left, Kurt teleporting to land next to her. In silent agreement, they trailed after their ... whatever Logan was to them... and ventured into the icy forest. The snow seemed to be crushed, mainly in the same places, making a-
"He left a trail. We have to follow it," Kitty said. Kurt gave a small grimace, but followed along with her, going where the trail took them. The forest wasn't so bad, except where birds should have been chirping, there was nothing.
Absolutely nothing.
It seemed even nature itself knew something was wrong. But eventually the trail ended, in a small clearing where the snow was dirtied and the rocks were scarred, deep gouges marring the surface.
"It looks like ve might have company," Kurt said, worry clear in his voice. But even still...
"We have to keep going. He's gotta be out there, right?" she says. Logan, despite how grumpy he was or how aloof he acted, he would never leave them in a situation like this. So it was only fair to not leave him behind, either.
*************************************************
He wakes up with a groan, the pain in his head still there. The strong smell of acid and chemicals is present, along with metal and oil. The smell makes his stomach turn, bringing back unwanted memories.
"Ah, Weapon X. I see you're awake. That's quite good. After all, you were quite the investment, " says a man in a black lab coat. His eyes are hidden behind a pair of goggles, his face only illuminated by the lights coming from a set of monitors on a back wall. He turns to face thrm, his voice grating on Logan's ears. "It seems our test subjects are getting in position."
Logan tilts his head, seeing past the old scientist and at the monitors, and what- who- he sees, makes his heart stop. "No..." he growls quietly.
"Are we ready for training?" the scientists asks, only for a figure to step out of the shadows with a growl. Logan can feel his fear and rage boiling over.
Sabretooth...
He hears a click, followed by a whirring noise, then his world explodes into pain once more.
*************************************************
The only path left is up, so up it is.
The wind is even more biting up here, where chilling mist wraps around everything, shrouding the earth in clouded fog. She and Kurt have been walking for what's felt like hours, looking for any trace of Mr. Logan, but... Nothing.
There's no sign of him...
A soft exhale bubbles out from Kurt, who points up at the ledge of a large rock. "Look! He's up there!"
Kitty feels relief at that, and can see the orange-and-black figure of their mentor. "Mr. Logan!" she calls... But then...
Another figure steps up beside him, larger, bigger, someone who none of the X-Men ever wanted to fight-
"Sabretooth!"
"Vhat's he doing here? Aren't they mortal enemies?" Kurt asks, taking ahold of her hand and backing up slowly.
"Yeah, but-"
With a startled yelp, they break out into a run, just as they hear the two older mutants give chase. Snow and ice break underfoot as they run, sending half of their steps into desperate slides to stay afoot. The roar of Sabretooth behind them keeps them running, both teens going as fast as they can on the slippery land.
But they can't run forever. It's only a matter of time before they're either caught, or they find out how to free Mr. Logan... And seeing where they are now... She's worried if they'll even be able to get through to him.
Something rams into her, sending her tumbling down the steep incline, snow soaking through her clothes. Chill seeps into her bones, leaving her shivering on the frozen forest floor.
"Mr. Logan, please. You have to fight it! You're in there, I know it!" she shouts, backing up a step. Her mentor slowly gets up, pained noises still slipping from him. His hands shake, the claws seemingly trying to sink back into him.
"Please, you can do it!" she yells. A scream comes from Mr. Logan, only for him to grow suddenly quiet. His eyes look back at her and they're blank. And with a shriek, she sprints away, hearing him as he pursues...
She twists and dodges around trees and rocks, doing her best to lose him, but to no avail. All he does is cut through them, sending large pines crashing down around them and turning rocks into chunks. She manages to slip out of the woods-
Only to be faced with a dead end.
A gigantic boulder looms ove her, blocking her way... And as she twists her head to look back, she sees Logan approaching, leaving nowhere else to run... So with a sharp breath-
She phases through the stone, ending up on a thin sliver of ledge on the other side.
*************************************************
Sharp whines and grunts leave him as he stumbles up the large stone, until he reaches its edge. It veers off in a cliff, a raging river at the bottom, strong and swift. There's no sign of Kitty... No sign of her, or Kurt...
"Kitty..."
A tear slides down his face... "No..." Tremors run through him as he screams, loud and wailing. "NO!"
Not them. Not them. It can't- he can't- it can't be them- it can't be...
He senses something behind him, and in a whirl he faces them, claws on either side of their head-
Only to see Kitty.
Small, gentle hands touch either side of his head, carefully sliding his cowl off. His senses are invaded by the scent of milk and honey, of a pup, one of-
"Mr. Logan? It's okay. You can do it."
And with that, he falls to his knees. Lithe arms wrap around him, pulling him into a hug, and he let's them, leaning into it. It doesn't matter.She's-they- they're alive. He can see Kurt behind her, watching them both, startled. A small grin tugs at his lips as he sees the blue elf and feels the soft weight of his half-pint against him.
A roar erupts from the woods, and then a larger weight tackles him down, sending them both crashing to the ground below. He growls sharply, smelling Sabretooth, and takes off. He can hear the crazed feral chasing him, and feels a sense of relief. It means his kids- his pups, are safe. And that means now, he has unfinished business left to attend to.
It doesn't take long to stumble back into the hidden labs, to track down the wicked b*stard who did this to him- who helped hurt him, who helped take away his pup, who almost took away these pups- and tears through them, letting nothing stand in his way. As he cuts down the final door, a sharp, biting pain fills his head, sending him crashing to the floor.
"Don't make me do this, Logan! You're too valuable!" shouts the ghoulish man. But Logan pays his words no heed, staggering back up. "I warned you!"
The doctor releases something, robots, that try their best to restrain him, but he fights back. He's able to cut through two before the rest grab him, their tentacles keeping him from going any further.
But just before anything else can happen, Kitty phases into the room.
"I see the problem!" she calls, and then runs past the robots, past the doctor-
And phases into the machine and monitors. They burst into fire, wires crackling and snapping as smoke pools out from the wreckage. The young mutant pulls herself back out, falling to the floor. "It's about to get totally hot in here!" she yells, and scrambles to her feet, running from the machines as they explode, sending the rest of the lab into flames.
"Kitty! Leave, now!" Logan shouts, turning to look at her, worried. If this place is about to be blown sky high, it's best she isn't in it while it happens. And it's best she doesn't see what happens to the "good" doctor...
"Not without you!" she cries. Kurt appears, grabbing her hand with a quick, "No arguments this time," and then they're both gone. Good.
He slashes his way out of the remaining robots grasps, until he's fully free. As he turns to face the old scientist, he can smell Sabretooth not far away. But he isn't here for him... He slowly approaches the scientist, who pushes himself back trying to get away from him. "This place is about to blow! We need to get out of here!" he rasps-
Logan sends his foot into his stomach, leaving the old nutjob in a coughing fit. He stands above him, testing his foot against the ribs beneath it, hearing the miniscule crackles as they slowly crack under the pressure. "You... You did this to me." He pops his claws out, letting the flames reflect their light upon them. "You helped take away my pup." He lifts him up by the lab coat, baring his teeth at the trembling man. "And then, you try to take away the other two, try to turn meagainst them." His grip tightens, heating the man up as the flames rise higher. In a glinting, sharp arc, his claws soar up-
"ACK!"-
cutting straight through the scientist's arm, leaving a bloody stump. He drops him, just as he feels the heat of the room expand, feels the labs explode-
And then there's nothing...
*************************************************
When he slowly comes to, he finds himself sitting up, panting.
"Logan, it's alright. You're safe." It's Charles. The beta smells of worry-panic-calm-joy. It soothes his fractured nerves, letting him suck in a stabilizing breath.
"Kitty... Kurt... Are they okay? Where are they?" he asks, voice gravelly and dry.
"Both are fine. Kitty visited you every hour after your surgery," the Professor replies, wheeling himself closer to the feral mutant. "Do you feel any pain?"
"Yeah, but... not in my head," mutters Logan.
A tired, worn exhale leaves him. "Whoever did this to me... Whoever took them away... Who would try to hurt these pups... I'll find them, Chuck. Wherever they are." It is as much a promise as it is a threat. No one, nothing, messes with him, who messes with the pups he has now, and gets way with it. It doesn't matter who does it. They don't stand a chance against him...
*************************************************
Kitty had finished her letter, and was going to visit Mr. Logan in the med bay before she went to bed.
She'd... well, she learned that maybe everyone had something else going on, and that not everyone was the same.
And she'd also learned that Mr. Logan, despite acting gruff and tough and stern, did care about her. About them. ALL of them.
She turns into the room he's in, finding him awake, leaning against the pillows of the cot. "Mr. Logan! I'm... I'm glad to see you're okay," she says, truly feeling happy to see him back to normal (okay, semi-normal). Her words are met with a soft grin, and a pat to his makeshift bed.
"I'm glad ta see yer okay too, half-pint. And I- I also wanted ta tell ya somethin'. Please, sit down," he says, and she takes a seat next to him. "Kid, I- I do care about ya. About Chuck, and 'Ro. The other kids. You're all my pack. But-" He draws in a sharp breath, but continues. "There was a time, kid, when I had another pup. I... I was pregnant, back around the time ya and the others would 'ave been being born er toddlers er somethin'... I loved 'em, kid. More than anything else I'd ever had... And... and-" His hands are shaking, his voice wavering for a second. "I lost 'em. That man we saw today- he helped take 'em away. When- when I finally got free, we looked. We looked everywhere, and there was no trace of 'em. They... they were gone. Charles and Ororo were there for me, when I had no one else. They helped me make it, helping me hunt down who did it, staying up with me when I couldn't sleep... And then. Then Scott and Jean entered our lives, and it. It was hopeful, again. Joyful, again. I didn't get to raise my pup. I didn't even get to see them. But I had a second chance with Scott and Jean, and Charles and Ororo to help- And then the rest of ya came into our lives, and- and I got to help ya. I got ta be fer ya what I wished I coulda been with my own kid. A pack. A family." The older man has tears in his eyes as he says this, and Kitty leans over, tugging him into a gentle hug.
She feels his arms wrap around her, firm and steady, and the warmth sinks in like a heated blanket. A purr rumbles out of Mr. Logan, and he let's out a small, wet laugh, tugging her against him as he nuzzles her.
It seems he is right. After all, with all she's been through with the others, everything they've all done together, shared together, laughed over and trained and cried-
They truly are a family. And this family sticks together, no matter what. She let's out a short squeak as she's pulled onto the cot, Logan hugging her, and they fall asleep, content in each other's company...
*************************************************