Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Well, I'm starting to get into the swing of posting again. Editing as I go. Now, it I could just get my goldicat to get down from the desk, I might get another chapter posted before the evening is through.

Thanks for the reviews so far. They make my day.


Chapter 11

Logan stood against one wall, arms crossed against his chest. He watched the gathering with an eye for trouble, his sharp gaze glancing over the catering staff and the students, the instructors and Kurt’s parents.

Kurt’s momma and papa seemed like real nice people and they’d have to had been to pull a little blue baby mutant from a river and raise him like their own child. Kurt had gotten damned lucky to have such decent folks as parents.

Of course anything would have been better than Mystique...and Magneto. He still wondered exactly what Magneto had done to Kurt. Had the man activated Kurt’s X gene early? Had he added something to Kurt’s DNA? They’d probably never know and now what did it really matter? Kurt was Kurt and that was fine by Logan, blue fur, elfin ears, tail and golden eyes he got lost in.

Logan shook his head, clearing his mind of personal thoughts. He had a job to do and keeping a close eye on this gathering was it.

Kitty seemed antsy, constantly glancing at her watch. He might have been amused if her mind was on somebody beside Lance Alvers and her date later with him. She could do better than that brat of a kid, but he wasn’t Kitty’s daddy. She had to make decisions for herself, good and bad even if it meant she might get her heart broken in the end.

Hank was dressed in full suit and tie, trying, in Logan’s estimation, to impress Miss Cassie Martin who again had been invited to their little celebration party. The little therapist looked even smaller in comparison to Hank, but she smiled up at the big man, eyes bright with laughter from something Hank was saying.

Hmmm, well not like he should judge. He and Kurt were something other than the most obvious couple. If Cassie and Hank were attracted to each other, he’d tell them to go for it.

The rest seemed to be having a great time, lots of food and drinks and some pretty music playing in the background not too loud.

Logan scanned the crowd, his instincts on sudden alert. He sniffed the air and a little growl rolled out of him.

Gambit. What the hell is he doin’ here?

He reached out as Jean strolled passed. “Jeannie. Who invited the Cajun?”

She flung a glance over her shoulder and a smile touched her lips. “Rogue asked if he could come. The Professor gave the okay. I guess you were occupied with watching out for..youknowwho. He’s...fine, Logan. Don’t worry. I’ve scanned his mind. His intentions are harmless.”

“Harmless my foot,” Logan said. “That Cajun’s about as harmless as a water moccasin.”

She put a hand on his arm. “Relax, Logan. He’s looking for a new direction. Let’s show him that we could be that new direction. I have a good feeling about him.”

Logan settled back against the wall and didn’t have a good feeling about Gambit at all. The Cajun was a cocky s.o.b., arrogant and smooth as silk. He watched Rogue fluctuate between tolerance of Gambit’s presence and stumbling on the verge of falling for the guy. She looked up at the Cajun and her eyes grew soft as a doe’s.

With the practiced ease of a player, Gambit’s hand went to Rogue’s back, sliding down to just above her buttock. She sidled a little closer, as snuggley as Rogue allowed herself.
A snarl worked it’s way up Logan’s throat and he bit his tongue to keep from letting it out his mouth. Shoving away from the wall, Logan headed for the couple.

“Hey Gumbo,” Logan said. “Ya wanna keep your hands where I can see ‘em while your visitin’ here?”

“Logan!” Rogue exclaimed, her color rising to beet red. “Everythin’s fine here. He’s an invited guest.”

“Wolverine,” Gambit said with a pleasant smile. “Ah’m surprised the good Professor don’t got you chained up out back. That’s where a wild dog’s usually kept.”

“Gambit,” Rogue hissed and grabbed the man’s arm, tugging him back. “You promised to behave.”

“Ah’m behavin’, chere. It’s the big bad wolf who needs ta find ‘is manners.”

“You want manners, bub then keep yer hands to yerself and you won’t have no problems with me.”

“Like you keep your hands to yourself around here?” Gambit flung back with a little head nod towards Kurt.

Rogue got between them and Logan stopped short, his gaze catching Kurt’s pensive shake of the head and his lover’s parents watching with anxious expressions.

Logan took a step back and nodded. “Just watch yourself, Cajun. You hurt her and I’ll be huntin’ you down. Got that?”

“Ah got that,” Gambit replied. “Ma intentions are completely honorable towards Rogue. Gambit wouldn’t think of hurtin’ her. So ease your troubled mind, Logan. You’ve got your own house to keep anyway.” Gambit turned his attention back to Rogue. “Shall we see what fine feast has been laid out, chere?”

Rogue gave Logan a last glare that softened into half a smile and a wink. She linked her arm with Gambit’s and strolled away, leaving Logan feeling like an idiot with too many eyes watching him.

He went back to his station and leaned against the wall once more, arms crossed tight against his chest. He didn’t need this distraction, his vigilance slipping with the Cajun’s sudden appearance.

“Are you all right?” Kurt asked him, managing to get away from his parents by leaving them conversing with Ororo and Charles. They didn’t touch and the desire to do so washed over Logan like a tidal wave.

“I’m fine. Guess I’m just playin’ daddy when it comes to Rogue. She’s got a lot of vulnerabilities and that Cajun seems the type to play on ‘em.”

Kurt shifted a little closer and the smell of him rose up in Logan’s nostrils. “Rogue is smart, Logan. She’s strong. Don’t worry so much. The Professor and Jean both have scanned his mind for ulterior motives. They’ve found none.”

“Yeah. Yeah. I know. I should butt out.”

Kurt grinned. “Not butt out, just ease up, that’s all.” Glancing back over his shoulder, Kurt sighed. “Gotta get back to the parents. Love you.”

“Love ya too, elf.”

Logan relaxed against the wall again and scanned the room once more. He watched the crowd, groups of people ever changing as they moved to get food or shift to different groups for a change in conversation.

The catering staff continued to bring out more food and drinks, cleaning up empty plates and cups left on tables here and there.

A warning bell rang in Logan’s mind, of something that didn’t seem right. He straightened and sniffed the air, yet nothing unusual wafted across to him. His gaze picked out each of the household, ran over Cassie and Kurt’s parents and landed on Gambit. But no, the Cajun wasn’t the problem.

With a new thought, Logan counted the catering staff and realization struck home. There were four of them when they’d arrived and now an extra young man he didn’t recall seeing before was heading towards Kurt and his parents. Something in the eyes and the set of the mouth gave off the same warning bells.

Logan lunged forward, trying to head off the coming confrontation. The young, blond haired man turned to see him coming and an evil smile spread across that otherwise innocent looking face.

“Elf!” Logan yelled.

Kurt whirled, eyes flashing distress and as the young caterer approached the shifting began, body changing in mid step. The body grew taller and the skin glowed that dark blue. Flaming red hair replaced blond.

The room erupted and people scattered out of Logan’s way, yet Logan knew he wasn’t going to get there fast enough. Kurt stepped between Mystique and his parents, a defiant expression on his face.

“No, Mystique!” Kurt snarled. “You will not do this!”

“If you will not, my son, I will,” Mystique said in that self-righteous tone that made Logan’s nerves fray. She turned her head, her gaze latching onto Logan’s and put up a hand, palm out as if she thought that would stop Logan’s progress. “Logan, stay back or this will get very, very ugly.”

“As if it hasn’t already?” he snarled back at her, but he stopped a few feet away, unsure how to handle Mystique with Kurt’s parents so close and possibly in danger of injury. Mrs Wagner already had a wary, frightened look on her face, her husband’s arms wrapped around her in protection from the unknown threat.

“Oh mein gott,” Mrs Wagner said in a breathless tone. “It’s her.”

“Mystique,” Kurt said, drawing Mystique’s attention back to him. “I told you to stay out of my life! What part of that didn’t you understand?”

A look of anguish crossed Mystique’s face. “My son, I can’t allow this to go on.”

“It is not your decision to make,” Kurt hissed back at her. “Leave me alone! Leave my parents alone.”

“I can’t do that, Kurt.”

“You will,” Kurt replied with a vehemence Logan had never heard come from Kurt’s mouth.

She shook her head and Logan readied himself to take her down physically, even if it meant chancing injuries for those around them. If Kurt was thinking, he’d grab his parents and “pop” them out of there now.

But Kurt had other ideas of who to “pop” where. With lightning quickness, Kurt disappeared, reappearing behind Mystique. Grabbing her, both disappeared in a cloud of sulphurous smoke.

Logan let out a groan, mind working overtime, trying to think where Kurt would have gone with Mystique. A hand touched his arm and Logan whirled.

“It’s all right, Logan,” Charles said. “Kurt needs to handle her. Don’t go looking. He’ll be back when he’s ready and don’t be surprised if she’s with him.”

“Whatdya mean, she might be with him?” Logan growled and sensed Kurt’s parents’ wariness turning on him. “He oughta “pop” her out over the cliff and drop her in the water.”

“Raven’s presence is troubling, but Kurt is an adult and needs to be able to handle his own problems.”

Logan wasn’t certain if Charles’ words were for his benefit or Kurt’s parents...or maybe both.

“I’m sorry for this upheaval in the middle of a celebration, Mrs Wagner...Mr Wagner,” Charles said in his most gracious tone. “You do understand the situation though. The woman is Kurt’s biological mother and she’s taken a sudden interest in him when he has no interest in her attention.”

“I knew it was her,” Mrs Wagner stated. “I just knew it.”

Logan heaved a sigh, but heeded Charles’ words. He’d let Kurt handle Mystique...for now, but if the bitch gave Kurt much more trouble, he was going to see to it she knew exactly what trouble was.