The dust began to settle, revealing the aftermath of the confrontation. Rath, now with a focused gaze and his mind under control, approached the figure lying on the ground.
Without much delicacy, but with clearly friendly intent, he wrapped his arm around Piotr's torso and helped him to his feet, carrying much of the Russian's weight over his muscular shoulder.
"Are you okay, or did Rath hit you too hard?" the alien growled, his voice still rough but no longer carrying the wild madness from before.
Piotr was no longer wearing his organic metal armor; his human skin was visible, revealing a collection of purplish bruises spreading across his arms and torso. One hand rested against his head, trying to stop the constant ringing left by the last impact.
"Yes… I'm fine," Piotr muttered, trying to straighten up and puffing out his chest in an unconvincing attempt to look strong in front of Kitty, who was watching him closely. "It's nothing… I've had tougher training sessions."
Illyana, unable to pass up the opportunity to tease her brother, approached with a mischievous smile.
"Oh, really? Are you sure you're 'perfectly fine'?" she asked sarcastically while deliberately pressing one of the darker bruises on Piotr's side with the tip of her finger.
The Russian let out a muffled groan, flinching as pain twisted through his body.
"Illyana, stop!" Kitty exclaimed, reaching out to stop her. "It's not funny. He's actually hurt."
Colossus tried to regain his composure and insist it was nothing, but at that moment Rath placed his massive hand right on Piotr's chest, directly over a bruise the size of a plate. This time, Piotr's howl of pain was impossible to hide.
The giant tiger let out a rough laugh, baring his fangs.
"Cut the nonsense! Rath knows he hits hard!" he declared proudly. "No one takes Rath's punches and walks it off! Admit it, it hurt down to your last name!"
Illyana and Rath exchanged a knowing look and shared a brief, self-satisfied smile at poor Piotr's expense.
Their fun didn't last long. When they turned their heads, they were met with Kitty's absolute look of disapproval.
Rath cleared his throat, wiping the grin from his face, while Illyana crossed her arms and looked away, pretending she had done nothing.
As the group walked toward a clearer area, Kurt and Cessily hurried over, concern written across their faces. Kurt, with a faint trace of sulfur still lingering in the air, was the first to ask how Piotr was doing.
"Relax, he'll be fine," Illyana replied with a careless shrug. "He's taken beatings almost as bad as this and lived. He's tough."
Her words didn't seem to reassure Kurt or Cessily, who looked to Kitty for a more reliable confirmation. Still holding Piotr's arm, she nodded with a gentle smile.
"He'll be okay. He's very strong," Kitty assured them.
At her words, Rath glanced sideways at the Russian, who instinctively looked back. Piotr couldn't help a faint smile of pride at Kitty's praise, even though the pain was still very much there.
Closer to the meeting point, Bobby and John were walking a bit ahead, immersed in a heated argument.
"I'm telling you, my ice blast is what threw him off balance," Bobby said, gesturing wildly. "Without that, Rath would've had us for lunch."
"You? Please," John scoffed. "My flames kept him at bay. If it weren't for me, you'd still be running."
"I don't know what the hell you two are talking about, snitches," Logan's rough voice cut them off cold. The clawed mutant looked at them skeptically. "For someone who was 'defeated,' he looks way too good."
"Hey, we—!" John tried to retort, but the words died in his throat.
A massive, furry shadow loomed over them. They slowly turned to see Rath towering above, raising an eyebrow with an expression that promised trouble.
"And who exactly do you say defeated me?" he growled.
John let out a fake cough and started staring at the trees, playing dumb, while Bobby took a step back.
"Us? No… nothing, nothing. We were talking about… about a video game," Bobby stammered.
Meanwhile, Jubilee walked over to Rath but stopped a couple of steps away.
She stood there with her hands tucked into the pockets of her yellow jacket, watching him without trying to hang onto his arm like she usually did.
"I'm glad Mr. Whiskers is back."
Rath looked like he was about to launch into one of his typical "Listen here, Jubilee!" speeches, ears twitching and a growl forming in his throat, but surprisingly he managed to control himself.
With a resigned sigh, he gave her a couple of heavy pats on the head. Logan, watching the scene, let out an amused grunt.
"So the out-of-control drama's over?" Logan asked.
Before Rath could answer, a powerful light descended from the night sky along with the roar of engines.
The Blackbird came down majestically while Storm flew alongside it, her eyes glowing electric white. The jet landed, and the hatch opened to reveal Scott, Jean, Beast, and Bishop.
The leader of the X-Men stepped forward firmly, adjusting his visor.
"What the hell happened here? And why are the students outside the mansion?"
The younger mutants exchanged uneasy glances, but Logan stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Cyclops.
"Lower your tone, bub. The kids came to help me."
Ororo raised an eyebrow, skeptical.
"Help you?"
"Sabretooth ambushed me," Logan explained briefly. "They heard it thanks to Rath's hearing, came over, and backed me up against Victor."
Scott glanced at Jean uncertainly. She placed a hand to her temple, closing her eyes to read Logan's surface thoughts. After a few seconds, they exchanged a meaningful look, and she nodded.
"It's true."
Scott muttered under his breath, rubbing his temple.
"You should have called. It's dangerous and—"
Piotr stepped forward, ready to take full responsibility, but Rath was faster.
"Listen here, Scott Summers! It's Rath's fault!" he exclaimed, pointing to his chest. "Rath's senses got excited by the fight and ran ahead. They had no choice but to follow Rath! It was thanks to Colossus and the teamwork of these cubs that they managed to subdue my powerful self and Sabretooth. Unfortunately, Victor escaped in the chaos."
Scott nodded slowly, accepting the explanation for now.
"Fine. We'll discuss the details back at the mansion. It's too late for you to be out here. Get on the aircraft."
As everyone boarded, Scott walked beside Rath, who was finally letting Colossus walk on his own, even though the Russian clearly didn't want to feel like a burden.
"You look… different. But good."
"The transformation ended," Rath nodded. "In fact, now I should…"
With his free hand, he pressed the Omnitrix symbol.
The giant tiger was engulfed in an intense green glow and, seconds later, Legion reappeared in his human form, wearing his helmet and armor.
"I'm glad we don't have to worry about a giant tiger with anger issues anymore."
Legion nodded, a small laugh slipping through his helmet's modulator.
"Believe me, I'm relieved too," he admitted. "Having Rath at the wheel is… exhausting for everyone."
====
While the rest of the young mutants headed toward the jet's ramp, Illyana slowed several steps behind, fixing her gaze on Legion's back as he walked a few meters ahead.
She frowned, studying him closely, as if trying to focus on something only she could perceive. She sniffed the air with suspicion and, after a brief silence, spoke into the emptiness.
"Aren't you even going to introduce yourself to the ruler of Limbo?"
Out of nowhere, a woman's voice echoed near her, seeming to come from everywhere and nowhere at once.
"In this realm, you are the guest," the voice replied calmly. "Do not confuse matters, child. I am not here for you."
Illyana huffed, irritated by the tone, but as she watched Legion's back, she sensed something that made a sideways smile curl on her lips.
"I didn't think the Great and Proud protector of Earth had time to stalk a teenager," she remarked with sarcasm.
"Protecting this world is my duty," the unseen voice answered. "And keeping watch over him is part of that responsibility. Besides, Mordo is taking a break, so I chose to come personally."
Illyana raised an eyebrow, searching for a logical explanation.
"Is it because of his strange soul?" she asked. "I've seen many things, but never a soul so… unique. Even so, I doubt it's enough to put the entire planet at risk."
After a few seconds of silence, the voice returned.
"It is not only his soul. His very existence is an anomaly."
Illyana let out a mocking chuckle.
"So that means your 'little eye' is malfunctioning, right?"
"Everyone possesses a destiny that branches into countless possibilities," the voice explained serenely. "Yet at the end of the path, they always arrive at the same result, an absolute point in time. But he, being an anomaly, has created a series of paths that, even among such infinity, had never occurred… until now."
"Does that scare you?" Illyana asked, curiosity sharpening her tone.
"I have seen enough of him to understand that he is a young man who wishes to do good," the voice corrected. "The problem lies in the repercussions of his actions, which remain unpredictable even to the Eye of Agamotto itself. That is why I have watched him since the moment he chose to step into the world."
Illyana shrugged and began walking toward the jet.
"If I noticed it, others will too."
"Every day my matrix blocks more than two hundred divination spells aimed at him," the voice revealed.
Illyana paused for a second, surprised by the number.
"So you're protecting him?"
"It is better for everyone that his identity is not uncovered by mystical practitioners," the voice confirmed, though Illyana detected a strange nuance in her tone.
"But you haven't managed to block everyone, I assume…"
"Even for me, keeping her at bay for so long is impossible," the voice admitted, a trace of concern slipping through.
Illyana sighed, glancing once more at Legion's silhouette as she resumed her walk toward the aircraft.
"And are you planning to do something about it?" she finally asked.
"I need do nothing beyond what I already do," the voice declared, beginning to fade into the air. "I know that, sooner or later, he will come seeking me."
Thoughtful, Illyana ascended the ramp, watching Legion chatting with Scott.
====
The young hero's room was cold, lit only by the green flicker of the technology in his hands.
Sitting on the bed, Grey Matter moved his fingers quickly, adjusting the small mechanical arms attached to his back as he fine tuned the Omnitrix.
Three sharp knocks echoed at the door. The small creature let out a long, tired sigh before speaking.
"Come in."
Logan stepped inside and stopped a few paces in. He began sniffing the air, turning his head as his eyes scanned every corner of the room.
"Are you going to tell me what you came for, or are you planning to keep sniffing my room like a creep?"
Logan growled and shut the door with a hard slam. He leaned against it with his arms crossed, staring at the gray frog like being that did not even reach his knees.
"So… there are two legged frogs out in space too?"
"The universe is as vast and wonderful as it is dangerous, Logan," the creature replied with a sideways smile. "Almost anything you can or cannot imagine has existed, exists, or will exist in the immensity of the cosmos before it reaches its end."
Logan wrinkled his face, confused and irritated by an answer that covered far too much ground. He did not like complicated things.
"Do you know why I'm here?"
"My Appoplexian form possesses an impressive amount of strength equivalent to the lack of neurons in its head. They are a loud and temperamental species," the small frog admitted casually. "So to answer your question: yes, I do."
Logan stared at him, jaw tight.
"Then you know. You know who I am. And earlier you called me…"
"James… James Howlett," Grey Matter interrupted. "Yes, I know exactly who you are."
The silence that followed stretched on.
Logan waited for more, but Legion seemed far more interested in the device on his back. He cleared his throat loudly, making it clear his patience was thinning.
Legion sighed even louder, set his tools aside, and turned to face him with wide eyes.
"You want me to tell you who you are?" he asked calmly.
"That's what I've been trying to figure out all this time," Logan replied.
"And why, James?" Legion pressed. Logan grimaced at hearing that name again. "Why do you want to know? What do you gain from it?"
"It's my past. My life," Logan stated firmly. "It's none of your concern why I want it. I just want to remember."
Grey Matter remained silent for a moment, studying Logan as if calculating something unseen.
Finally, he let out a dry, humorless chuckle and pressed the Omnitrix symbol on his back.
A green flash filled the room, and in a blink Legion returned to his human form, helmet and armor in place. He adjusted his gear, tapped a panel on his forearm, and spoke quietly.
"Sid, please."
"Understood, sir."
The young hero began walking slowly toward Logan, closing the distance with steady steps.
"Why does it matter so much?" Legion asked, locking eyes with the weary mutant. "Almost no one has lived as long as you and still wants to reconnect with who they were a century ago. Maybe a few with healing abilities like yours, but not many. You are alone in that search."
He stopped directly in front of him.
"Tell me," Logan demanded, his voice trembling with restrained intensity. "Or show me what you know. If you have the missing pieces of my head, hand them over already."
"And for what?" Legion asked calmly. "What would change, James? Do you think knowing who shot you in 1920 or who you loved in a life that no longer exists will bring you peace? At this point in your life, that past is an anchor."
"It's my right," Logan growled, stepping forward and invading the young man's space. "You don't get to decide what's good or bad for me. They're my memories, my mistakes. I want to know who I am, not who you say I was."
Legion watched him in silence for several seconds, analyzing the desperation hidden behind the tough exterior.
At last, he nodded.
A small beep sounded from his forearm. With a brief motion, he extracted a small USB drive from a compartment in his armor. He held it between his fingers, meeting Logan's gaze.
"Right now, whether you realize it or not, you have almost everything you wished for all those years," Legion said evenly. "A place to call home. Friends. People who genuinely care about your well being."
He extended the USB, letting it catch the room's light for a second.
"You're right, James. It's your past and your mistakes. I have no authority over what you do with your life. But be careful what you look for. In trying to remember who you were, you might lose what you already have. Who knows what this information could unleash in that stubborn head of yours."
Logan grabbed the device quickly, closing his fist tightly around it.
"That'll be my problem," he replied with his usual roughness.
He turned and walked toward the door. At the frame, he paused and slightly tilted his head back to look at Legion one last time.
"Thanks," he muttered, barely audible.
The young hero simply nodded.
"It's nothing."
Logan nodded once more and resumed walking down the hallway, his voice echoing back with a final warning.
"You'd better be in your room in ten minutes if you don't want that nice jacket of yours torn to shreds."
As Logan's footsteps faded, the closet door creaked open a few inches. Jubilee peeked out with one eye, making a resigned face before stepping fully out of hiding.
"I guess that means he spotted me," she murmured, scratching the back of her neck shyly.
Legion let out a soft chuckle and returned his attention to the device on his arm.
"It was expected that Logan would detect you," he said without looking up. "Between the strawberry gum and that vanilla perfume you wear, you are fairly easy to identify."
Jubilee, halfway out of the closet, froze and stared at him with wide eyes.
"Wait… so you smelled me too?" she asked, frowning slightly.
Legion shook his head.
"Rath has senses very similar to Logan's. I could practically smell all of you."
Jubilee let out a nervous laugh, though she could not hide a hint of discomfort. She stepped a little closer, then stopped midway, maintaining the safe distance she had imposed on herself.
"That still doesn't make it less weird, you know," she joked, crossing her arms. "It's a bit creepy that you know what perfume I use."
"Stop making it sound strange," Legion replied dismissively as he returned to adjusting his watch. He pressed a couple of commands, then after a few seconds shook his head and stopped. "I cannot keep doing this. I will have to wait until I am Grey Matter again to fully fix this issue."
Jubilee watched him curiously from a few steps away
"Are you talking about what happened with Rath? About getting stuck halfway?" she asked.
Legion nodded.
"It was an error caused by electromagnetic waves. I assume the watch may have been unintentionally influenced by Magneto. He might have scanned the mansion before landing, and that interference triggered a malfunction in the Omnitrix."
Jubilee raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical.
"I thought I heard you say that thing was cutting edge, ultra advanced and all that. Something like that can really mess it up?"
"It is," Legion replied, glancing at her from the corner of his eye. "But this is a prototype. It has flaws I have to fix on my own. The problem is that it is unbelievably difficult without an instruction manual."
Jubilee thought for a moment, rocking slightly on her heels.
"So… could you use those same waves to unlock more aliens on purpose?" she suggested, a spark of mischief in her tone.
Legion made a face, considering it.
"In theory, it is not a bad idea. Unfortunately, I cannot choose which one would unlock next. And some of them are far too dangerous to risk a partial transformation like the one with Rath."
"Is it really that serious?" Jubilee asked, frowning. "I mean, Rath was tough, but we handled it."
"Jubilee, one of them is literally living nuclear energy. Its mere existence would kill anyone within a certain radius. The Omnitrix generates a special containment armor for it, but if I go through a partial transformation, that armor would probably be the last thing to appear."
He paused, thinking through the possibilities.
"Besides, if that thing loses control, it could travel the world feeding on nuclear power plants, growing and growing until… well, triggering a nuclear apocalypse."
Jubilee stared at him, eyes wide. Silence filled the room as she processed the scale of what he had just said. She blinked several times and shook her head.
"Yeah… definitely not worth it if you might accidentally wipe the planet off the map."
Legion gave a sideways smile.
"Exactly. And that is just one of many."
Jubilee watched him, noticing how casually he listed these details, which only made her more uneasy.
"There is one so terrifying it could kill you from sheer fright just by looking at it," he continued, as if reading off a grocery list. "Another is essentially a living planet that creates black holes. I have a giant that fires pure cosmic energy, and a fairy like being that could plunge the entire world into an eternal sleep if it loses control. There is even a small species that devours its own world once it outlives its usefulness and—"
"Okay, stop!" she cut in, raising her hands and stepping back. "I do not want to hear one more word about the twenty different ways you could erase civilization from your wrist. I get it. No experimenting with the watch."
Legion let out a soft laugh at her reaction, which made Jubilee arch an eyebrow and point at him accusingly.
"You did that on purpose," she accused, narrowing her eyes. "You dumped all that on me just to scare me."
"Maybe," he admitted with a slight grin. "You were teasing Rath all day. I figured it was fair to get a little revenge."
Jubilee could not help laughing too, though she shook her head as she relaxed.
"You are terrible. Seriously," she muttered.
Silence settled over the room soon after. Legion leaned back slightly, staring at the ceiling, lost in thoughts about the armor and the watch, until Jubilee's voice pulled him back.
"About what happened this afternoon…" she began, breaking the quiet. Her tone had shifted, softer now. "I actually came here to apologize."
He turned his head to look at her, mildly surprised.
"For what? If this is about Rath, forget what I said earlier. You do not have to apologize. I was joking. He just did not like being compared to a house cat, that is all."
But Jubilee shook her head, avoiding his gaze. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and blew a small bubble with her gum, which popped before she continued. She looked unusually shy.
"It is not that," she said quietly. "I just… do not like being all over someone who is already taken. I spent the whole day joking and messing with you, and I… had no idea you had a girlfriend."
She rubbed her arm, staring at a corner of the room.
"I wanted to apologize to you, and to her too, for acting like that. I did not mean to be that kind of girl. I am sorry."
Legion remained silent, processing her confession while she waited for an answer without daring to look at him.
The silence stretched long enough that she shifted awkwardly. She crossed her arms and pointed at him, her cheeks starting to turn red.
"Say something," she snapped, raising her voice slightly. "Or have her say it. I know your girlfriend is listening through the helmet or whatever, so do not just stand there in silence."
He watched her for a couple more seconds. Then suddenly he placed a hand on his stomach and burst into laughter. It was genuine, the kind that steals your breath. Jubilee froze, staring at him without understanding anything.
"Damn," Legion managed between laughs, trying to catch his breath. "My stomach hurts… It has been a long time since I laughed like this. I really needed that."
Jubilee's expression changed.
Confusion turned into sharp embarrassment, as if he were mocking her sincerity. She stood up in silence, jaw tight, and walked straight toward the door.
"Wait, wait," he called, still rubbing his abdomen as he tried to calm down.
Jubilee stopped before leaving, but did not turn around.
"For what?" she asked, her voice tense. "So you can keep laughing at me? I was just trying to be honest and apologize."
"That is not it, I swear," he said, finally regaining composure. "Sid, please introduce yourself."
"Of course, sir."
Jubilee blinked, confused, and slowly turned her head.
"Hello, Jubilee. I am S.I.D., an advanced artificial intelligence, the first of my kind designed to assist in the management of the Omnitrix and combat systems," the voice explained with impeccable courtesy. "My acronym stands for Defensive Intelligence System. I apologize if my presence caused a misunderstanding of a sentimental nature."
Legion finally stood up, still smiling as he rubbed his stomach.
"I do not have a girlfriend, Jubilee. Sid is my partner. She helps me so all this hero business does not crush me."
The young X Man remained standing there, processing the information while silence filled the room again. She blinked a couple of times, as if rebooting her brain after a short circuit.
"So… you… and she… are not…?" she stammered at last, gesturing vaguely toward his forearm.
Legion nodded again, releasing a final breath after his laughing fit.
"No, Jubilee."
The tension that had kept her shoulders stiff vanished instantly. A small smile, almost shy but clearly relieved, began to form on her face.
"Oh."
===
Logan was in the dimness of the base, beneath the mansion's foundations. The only light came from the bluish glow of the supercomputer and the small metallic glint of the USB between his fingers. He sat alone at the terminal, yet the silence pressed on him harder than the roar of any battlefield.
He stared at the device, and for a moment, the present slipped away.
His mind dragged him back to that day.
The memory never changed: the smell of scorched earth, smoke blurring his sight, his hands stained with blood. He had appeared there out of nowhere, his head a hollow void, a dead woman cradled in his arms. He did not know who she was, nor who he was. He only understood that the world around him lay shattered.
From that point on, his life became a procession of shadows. Fights in filthy bars, the bitter taste of cheap liquor trying to drown the questions, violence serving as his only language.
Then that man showed up. Charles. A fellow who claimed he could help, who spoke of peace and second chances. Logan remembered telling him to go to hell the first time, convinced a beast like him had no place in a school.
But fate enjoys its games. One way or another, he ended up tangled with that crowd of strange kids in bright suits. He remembered meeting Jean… and how, without realizing it, the gray of his existence began to pick up traces of color.
Little by little, his claws stopped being only for killing and became tools for protection. He saw himself watching over youngsters who, like him, felt lost. He found people he could talk to, companions with whom he could share a beer without constantly checking his back.
Somewhere along that long, bloodstained road, this place, this mansion full of loud, irritating teenagers, had turned into something he had never imagined possessing.
His home.
Logan tightened his grip on the USB, feeling its cold edges against his palm. Legion's words echoed in his mind:
Be careful what you wish for. In remembering who you were, you might lose what you already have.
Her voice sliced through the silence of the base with a softness Logan knew by heart.
"Why sit in the dark in front of a monitor, Logan? You'll ruin your eyesight like that," she remarked, a faint teasing note in her tone.
At once, the lab lights flicked on, washing the room in clarity.
He did not need to turn around. The scent of spring and fresh flowers that always followed her gave her away long before her footsteps did.
Jean approached and rested a hand on the back of his chair, leaning slightly to look at him with a curious smile.
"What has you so deep in thought?" she asked calmly.
He let out a short snort and tightened his fist slightly around the device.
"Couldn't resist your curiosity and came down to snoop, huh, Red?" he growled, though there was no real irritation behind it.
Jean gave a soft laugh as she settled beside him.
"Guilty," she admitted. "You know me too well."
They remained quiet for a few seconds, the steady hum of the servers filling the space. She lowered her gaze to his hand, noticing the small metallic object peeking between his fingers.
"What's that pendrive you're holding?"
Logan kept his eyes on the USB. He studied it as if it were a grenade about to explode, or perhaps a key to a door he was not certain he wanted to open.
"It's me," he replied in a rough voice.
Jean tilted her head slightly, not quite understanding what he meant.
"You?"
"It's my past," Logan clarified, feeling the weight of the object in his hand multiply. "Everything I don't remember is crammed into this little piece of metal."
Jean nodded slowly, absorbing the gravity of what he held.
"Since the day I met you, you've done nothing but chase down every clue about your past," she said, folding her arms. "So why hesitate now? You've been searching for this for years."
He tightened his grip on the USB, the cold metal biting into his palm.
"It's what I've always wanted, but…" he began, trailing off, unable to finish the thought.
She watched him, offering a knowing smile, and completed it for him.
"It's what you've always chased because you believed it was the only thing you had, Logan."
He looked up at her. Jean's gaze drifted toward the computer screen, lost for a moment in her own memories.
"I still remember the first time I saw you," she said with a soft laugh. "I couldn't believe the professor expected us to work with a drifter carrying that much alcohol and anger in his system. And those claws that could slice through anything. I swear I can still smell that stale, cheap liquor clinging to you."
A faint smile slipped through his beard.
"Those were rough days, Red," he replied, lighter now. "If it had alcohol in it, it went straight down."
"Oh, I believe that," she laughed, her warmth spreading through the room.
She went on, letting nostalgia soften the air.
"Contrary to what the team and I expected, that man stayed. He even took a shower," she added with a chuckle, shaking her head. "He was difficult, always snapping at everyone, even the professor. Scott and he argued and fought more times than I can count. And even when he left, he always came back eventually. It became a pattern. You'd disappear, and a few months later, there you were again."
She nudged him playfully.
"I think it's because you couldn't live without the mansion's cooking."
He rolled his eyes, though a crooked smile betrayed him.
"Over time, that man became part of the team. Someone everyone trusted to guard their back. Even if he sometimes behaved poorly… like trying to court a woman who already had a partner."
She gave him a pointed look. Logan glanced away, scratching the back of his neck.
"I don't blame the guy," he muttered. "She's a very beautiful woman."
"That woman has a partner, Logan," she corrected gently, smiling.
"Worth the risk," he shrugged, earning a resigned shake of her head.
After a brief pause, her tone deepened, growing more sincere.
"Now, after everything we've been through, I can't picture this mansion without that grumpy old man. The noise in the garage when he pretends to fix his motorcycle just so someone knows where to find him… the regular clashes with Scott… the team meetings where he lingers in the background, listening from behind a door or standing at a distance. Taking part without anyone noticing, just because he's too shy to admit he cares."
He shifted in his chair, uneasy at how precisely she read him.
"And I'm certain I'm not the only one who feels that way. Storm, Beast, Gambit, the professor… even Scott. And especially your students. Those kids see you as a father figure, someone they can turn to when things go wrong. They know that no matter the mess they're in, you'll help them."
She stood and placed a warm hand on his shoulder, making him look at her.
"I don't know the man waiting inside that pendrive, Logan. But I do know the one sitting in front of me. A good man, no matter how hard you try to convince everyone otherwise."
Jean headed toward the exit, pausing at the doorway before leaving.
"Whatever you decide, I'll stand by you… and by the way, that little adventure you had with the students stays between us, alright? You'll owe me one."
Logan remained still, watching her silhouette fade down the hallway.
Silence returned to the base, but it no longer felt so heavy. He looked back at the device in his hand, letting Jean's words sink in. He thought about each of those people who, whether he liked admitting it or not, were now part of his world.
In his mind, he compared the man who had arrived reeking of cheap liquor, fists clenched against everyone, with the man who had somehow become a pillar for a group of kids who had no one else.
He stayed that way for several minutes, studying the cold metal of the USB beneath the light.
At last, instead of plugging it into the terminal, he carefully slipped it into the inner pocket of his jacket.
He rose with a heavy sigh, rolling his shoulders, and pressed the button to shut down the computer. The screen faded to black, leaving only the reflection of his own face in the glass.
"At least for now…" he muttered to himself in the dimness. "I'm not that interested in finding out who that man was."
He headed for the exit, closing the door behind him.
"I think the present is enough for the moment."
======
HELLO THERE, FOLKS, HOW'S IT GOING? I HOPE YOU'RE ALL DOING GREAT.
I just about finished fixing up my room. It might take me a little while to get fully back on track, but little by little we'll return to two chapters per week.
As for the story, Jubilee's small misunderstanding has been resolved. Logan went looking for answers, and Legion, after a couple of questions, agreed to give them to him.
Even so, Logan still wasn't completely sure about remembering that life, the man he used to be. That's when Jean stepped in, supporting him no matter what he decided, while making it clear that the man he is today is loved and cherished by many. He doesn't necessarily have to search for answers in his past.
With all that in mind, Logan has decided to postpone meeting the man he once was, choosing instead to focus on his present, on the people who stand by him and whom he loves… no matter how much he tries to hide it.
With everything said, I hope you enjoyed it and had a good time reading.
As always, thank you so much for your comments and all your support.
And well… see you next time, my little troublemakers. A kiss 😘