ACADEMY
PART THREE
"Non."
"Come on…"
"Non."
"Why not?"
"First of all, y’all are under age. An’ second, Y’all drivin’ us nuts. We need t’get away from you for ‘least one night."
"Remy…"
"What? It’s d’truth."
Storm sighed. "We do need a break, but you make them sound like a group of leaches."
Remy shrugged on his jacket. "Well, dey are!" He said then gave Julie a wink.
It had been just under two months since the three young mutants had come to stay with the two X-Men. They had spent nearly everyday working with the trio. Training them, talking to them, learning from them. They loved every minute of it, but everyone eventually needs a break.
Three days earlier, Ororo and Remy finally found a suitable more-permanent home for everyone. It was a large run down place that needed much work. The group had spent the past two days renovating and they were still miles from being done. Ororo and Remy decided they needed to get away from everything for a night, and the three were jokingly whining about not being able to go.
"So where are ya goin’?"
"Do we look stupid? And don’t be getting’ no ideas ‘bout sneakin’ out. Mama Dac got her eye on you. You need us, she know how t’reach us."
"Are we grounded or somethin’?"
"When we are not here to bail you out… yes."
There was a loud groan from all three of them. Ororo smiled.
They were very protective of these children, especially since the incident by the docs. Remy found himself agreeing to do what he of all people thought he would never do. Approving a curfew for teenagers.
"I mus’ be gettin’ old." He had grumbled when he and Storm decided on it.
Ororo opened the door to the apartment and Remy joined her there. Y’all rest up. We goin’ back to d’house tomorrow afternoon."
Another groan.
"Goodnight children." Ororo said teasingly. And they left.
"I say we follow them." Stack said.
"Good. Then you can get stuck cleaning out that storage shed tomorrow."
Stack considered Alex’s words.
"On second thought…"
* * * * *
"Why do we always end up at a bar?"
"Dis ain’t a bar."
"Excuse me, a pool hall--slash--bar."
"Das better."
It was close to two a.m. and Remy and Storm were sitting at the bar talking. The hall was dimly lit, mildly crowded and the music was very loud. Both were staring blankly ahead at the rows of bottles behind the bar.
"Who does a guy hafta kill to get a beer around here?"
Neither X-Man turned around, but a smile crept up on Ororo’s face. Remy heavily dropped his head to the bar.
They would know that voice anywhere.
"Jus’, how did you find us all d’way out here?" Remy asked without lifting his head.
Wolverine stepped up beside Ororo and glanced over to Remy who was on her right. "Some things a man just knows." He cast his eyes to Ororo for a moment then looked away and took a seat. He signaled the bartender for a drink.
"So, why are you here?" Ororo asked.
"What? I’m not welcome. Fine, I’ll leave then." He said sounding playfully offended.
"Come back here you silly…" Ororo grabbed Logan in a hug as he was "about to leave". He hugged her back. "Missed ya darlin’."
She pulled away. "And I you."
"An’ I’m jus’ a puddle of mush."
"Glad yer still breathin’, Cajun."
"Das better. T’ank you." He raised his head and took a swig of his beer.
Logan sat back down on the stool.
"Scott and Jean came back… home, last week, so I figured it’d be okay fer me t’light out fer a while."
"I am glad you did."
"So you dumped d’kiddies fer the night?"
"We needed a break. A little distraction."
"Speakin’ o which… I believe my distraction jus walked in d’door. Y’all hafta ‘scuse me for a bit." Remy climbed off the stool and walked towards a woman who had just come into the bar and was picking up a pool cue.
Storm turned back to Logan.
"It was only a matter of time."
"He back up to par? That looks like the kind of woman, ‘could kill a man."
"I think he is willing to risk it."
"So how are you keepin’ up?"
"…Well. I am happy here. I enjoy what we are doing."
"But…"
"But?"
"I hear a "but" in there somewhere."
Storm sighed. "There may have been at one time… but you are here now. Everything is fine. Things could not be more perfect."
"Yes they could."
He touched her chin so she would be facing him, and then kissed her.
"That’s about right." He said with a sly grin.
"N-no, I think you were right the first time." And she kissed him.
"I like being right."
"Be quiet."
They kissed again.
* * * * *
"Did either of ya see them come in?"
"Alex, we were asleep before you were. You could’ve woken up."
The trio had fallen asleep on the couch in their apartment while watching a Planet Of The Apes Marathon. It was just before nine a.m. and neither Ororo nor Remy had come in to see if they were all up. They usually rolled the three out of their beds by eight thirty.
"They did say we’d be going this afternoon. Maybe they’re hung over?" Stack suggested.
"Storm?" Julie said.
Stack shrugged.
"I’m gonna go check on them." Alex said heading for the door.
"You just wanna catch a glimpse of Storm in her sleepwear."
"As if."
He quickly left. It was fully known to both Julie and Stack that Alex had developed a huge crush on Ororo.
He walked across the empty courtyard and knocked on their apartment door. They were always welcome to come in and so he tried the doorknob. It was unlocked. He walked in an was about to give a general "hello" when the door to Ororo’s bedroom opened and a short, stocky, muscular man emerged pulling a shirt over his head.
Alex dived towards the man before he had the shirt all the way down, partially transforming in the air. He grew about a foot and his hands changed into a pair of vicious claws.
His target, although unable to see him, seemed to know he was coming. He grabbed Alex’s outstretched arms and flipped him against the side wall. He pulled his shirt down the rest of the way revealing a face and a set of eyes filled with anger. He stood in a prepared fighting stance but did not advance towards the boy.
"What the hell do you…"
Alex was up again and tried to run at the man again. He missed and ended up becoming aquatinted with the wall next to Remy’s door.
"Kid, just hold on a minute!"
The Remy’s door opened as Alex was getting up again. He quickly grabbed Alex by the arms.
"Alex! Hold on a minute!"
"Storm! He was comin’ outta Storm’s room!"
"I know tha—"
"If you hurt her…!"
"Alex, chill! He wouldn’t hurt ‘er, he’s a frien—"
"What on Earth is going on out here?!" Ororo asked coming out of her bedroom. She was wearing closing a silk bathrobe.
Alex immediately calmed, in a mixture of relief and confusion.
"Storm? You’re okay."
"Of course I am okay. What is going on out here?"
Remy sighed and rested his elbow on Alex’s shoulder.
"‘Lex, meet Logan. Logan, ‘Lex."
"L-Logan? Wait, you mean Wolverine?"
"Kid catches on quick." Logan grumbled.
"He saw Logan comin’ out your room and thought you were in trouble." Remy explained to Storm.
"Goddess." Ororo sighed. She shook her head slightly.
"…I’m sorry."
"No, you do not need to…"
"No. No, I’m sorry. I messed up. Sorry." He shoved his hands in his pockets and headed for the door.
"Sorry Mr. Logan." He muttered at the threshold. He closed the door behind him.
Logan looked at Remy and raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, I know."
"What?" Storm asked, perplexed by this non-verbal communication.
"Kid’s carryin’ a torch for ya."
"…N—no, he was merely embarrassed."
"Non, Chere. Dat boy been droolin’ after ya for weeks now."
"What?"
"S’true."
"…Goddess, and now this. I will have to speak to him.
"Now dat’s d’last t’ing you gotta be doin’. A Dear John talk gonna turn him right back inta stone-man. I talk to d’pup."
Storm sighed. "All right."
"I’ll be out front." Logan said waving a cigar he had just pulled from his jacket. Ororo wrinkled her nose.
"We shall be out soon."
With a final wink to Storm, he left.
Ororo for the first time really noticed Remy. He was wearing the same clothes he had been wearing the night before but they were disheveled as was his hair.
"Exactly when did you get in last night?"
"Ah… four/four thirty. After you all abandon me."
"Well… we thought you and your lady friend…"
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you thought, you thought. You two think ‘bout yourselves las’ night an’ nuthin’ else. I come home and hafta sleep wit a pillow over my head d’rest of d’night!"
Ororo tried to hide a smile.
"Sorry."
"YOU AIN’T NO SORRY!!!"
Ororo burst out laughing and although he fought against it, Remy reluctantly released a chuckle as well.
"Dis ain’t funny, Chere."
"Actually it is very funny." She said still laughing. "It appears as though the tables have been turned."
"Non, non, non, non. Back d’en I never bring none of my ladies back here."
"Yes, you did."
"No I didn’t."
"Yes, you did!"
"Never."
"What about that red-head. The tall one with the blue eyes and everything she wore was made out of faux-leopard skin?"
"…Oh, yeah… But she weren’t a real red-he—"
"And what about that woman with the gum?" She asked before he could finish that crude statement. "She must have had stock in Trident for all the gum she chewed."
"Well, it gave her really strong—"
"Stop! I don not wish to hear the rest of that thought. My point is did you did bring women back here."
"Yeah, well…" He ran a hand through his hair. "So how long d’homme stayin’?"
"I do not know. A while I hope."
"Mmm. Jus’ so long as d’homme treat you right."
"You know he would—could never do otherwise."
"Yeah, but you know I always be a little over-protective of my Stormy."
"If you were not standing in the middle of the living room, I would give you the downpour you deserve for that."
"Ha!"
"No. Seriously, Remy. You smell. Take a shower."
"I smell?"
"Yes. Go. Now." She pointed with an authoritative finger towards the washroom.
"Yes’m."
* * * * *
"So… what was all dat noise about dis mornin’? We were ‘bout t’come over to you’re apartment to see, when Alex came out. He jus’ tell us to stay out. Den dat Mr. Logan fella comes out a few minutes later, smokin’."
Ororo opened the creaking third story window. She began chipping away old paint along the frame.
"There was simply a… small misunderstanding. Nothing to get concerned about." She told the young female mutant. The two were getting started on cleaning out one of the larger bedrooms. It was gray with inches of dust and cobwebs.
"Oh. So that Mr. Logan guy…"
"It is just Logan."
"He got here last night? How long is he staying?"
"As long as he wishes."
"He’s kinda scary."
Ororo grinned. "I suppose… to those who do not know him, or choose to make him an enemy. But he is someone that you want to have as a friend. He supports you in every way possible, he is honest, and will go to the ends of the Earth for you."
"Plus, he’s kinda cute." Julie said, more to herself.
Ororo looked at her.
"I thought you said he was scary?"
"Well… he is—both. Kinda scary and kinda cute—in a wild mountain man kinda way… His… features are handsome…you know what I mean?"
"Yes," she said, returning to the chipping. She was slightly amused with the girl’s confusion. "I know."
* * * * *
"There’s a better way t’put that broodin’ work."
"Sir?"
"I’m guessin’ you’re about a foot taller than you should be. You do that on purpose?"
Alex looked down at himself. He was indeed taller. Alex had been struggling trying to pull crooked fence posts out of the ground from the side of the house. He concentrated and pulled himself back down to size.
"C’mon. You can give me a hand." Logan motioned with a toss of his head that he should follow.
Reluctantly, Alex left his chore and followed the man. Alex was not use to taking orders from strangers, but he had heard stories about this man, both from his new "teachers" and from word on the street. He was not a man to mess with. Even at his normal height, Alex was a full thirteen inches taller than the man, yet Logan’s mere presence sent a cautious wave of fear down his spine. He wasn’t about to complain at this man’s orders.
Alex followed Logan around the side of the house to the jungle that was the back yard. The property was large and enclosed, but years of neglect had let the grass grow almost up to Alex’s mid-chest. It was nearly at Wolverine’s neck.
"I’m told there’s a couple of sickles lying around, but I don’t feel much like sniffin’ them out."
Logan popped six claws from his hands and began slicing at the high grass. He was a few feet in when he stopped and turned to look at Alex.
"You gonna give me a hand?"
Alex shrugged hesitantly. "I don’t have anything to cut with."
"Not from what I saw this mornin’. Where are those claws o’ yours?"
Alex looked down at his hands.
"I—I can’t. Not without…"
"Sure ya can. Stick yer tongue out."
"What?"
"Stick yer tongue out."
Again with hesitation, Alex did what the older man said.
"Now how’d ya do that?"
"Awa oowa…"
"Put yer tongue back in."
"Sorry. What do you mean how did I do that?"
"Exactly what I asked. You got a hearing problem, kid?"
"No, sir."
"Well?"
"I… just did it. It’s a—part of me."
"So you control it, right?"
"Yeah…"
"And yer powers are a part of ya too. Yer powers ain’t absolute. I seen you use one thing or another when you weren’t thinkin’ about it. If you want yer claw t’come out, make it happen."
Alex looked back at his hands and Wolverine could see he was struggling.
"Don’t try so hard. Just do it."
"I can’t just…!"
Alex stopped in mid yell as ten large claws came out from the tips of his fingers.
"Wasn’t so hard, was it?" Logan turned back to the yard.
"C’mon, we got a big job ahead of us."
* * * * *
It was nearly sunset when Storm and Remy, Julie and Stack emerged from the house cover in a hard days dust and grime. They looked around for their other two comrades, without seeing a hair of them. Around back, they were pleased to see that nearly half of the yard had been cleared.
"Where are they?" Stack asked.
Ororo looked around. "There."
She pointed towards a thin divide through what was left of the tall grass. The group followed it to the base of a tree that Logan, hands behind his head and legs crossed at the ankles, was lounging against. He had a stock of the grass dangling from his mouth. Alex was sitting cross-legged close by.
"Well you two certainly look comfortable."
Logan grinned with a quiet snort.
"We called it quits a couple of minutes ago and decided to wait for you out here." Alex said.
"Alex! Your hands!" Ororo exclaimed, seeing the field of scrapes bruises and calluses.
Alex simply looked up at her with a wide smile.
"It’s okay. It’s nothing." He shrugged. "Some of the grass was sharp."
"He’ll be fine." Wolverine said as he stood. He slapped Alex on the shoulders as the young man did likewise. "The boy did a man’s job today. ‘Should be proud of him."
"Well if all you men are done with you’re manly stuff," Julie interjected. "I’m hungry. Mange! Can we eat now?"
Gambit grabbed Julie in a playful headlock and proceeded to lead her back through the long grass. "Yeah, I’ll show ya mange. Come on."
"Hey! I call the shower first!" Stack said running after them.
Logan nudged Alex as they followed and attempted to stealthily hand him something.
"LOGAN!" Storm exclaimed, seeing that it was a cigar.
"Kiddin’, darlin’. Just kiddin."
Alex looked upset. They re-entered the grass.
Storm lingered behind a moment, watching the group go. She smiled.
‘My family.’ She thought, crossing her arms in front of her.
She looked around at the yard and the tree, and the gray and pink dimming sky. Ororo could not remember being this content for a very long time.
She started towards the grass when a sudden chill, brought by a small breeze came over her. She shivered and drew her arms more tightly around herself.
Then it occurred to her.
Ororo didn’t shiver.
She never shivered.
Her body automatically compensated for even the slightest change in temperature.
Ororo looked around. She saw nothing unusual. The wind blew again causing her to gasp. It was a natural wind; she would sense it if it were otherwise.
Something wasn’t right.
"Ro, you comin’?"
Ororo turned her head. Logan and Alex had reached the house.
She looked around herself once more, then made her way through the grass.
From behind the shadows of the tree, a Cheshire grin smiled… then faded away.
To Be Continued…
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On To Part Four