Brand New Yesterday

Yasha wiped his forehead with the back of his right hand as they had finished securing the dresser and mirror into the back of Renot's old Ford pickup truck. Draping the blankets over the pieces, he sat down on the tailgate of the truck and sighed. "I won't be sorry to see this piece go." His thick Louisiana accent brought out the rich hatred for the dresser. Rusty hair fell into his eyes and hung off his shoulders, trapping the red bandana that rested around his head. The blue T-shirt was soaked with sweat and his jeans were dusty and worn in spots. The man of forty-five looked back at Logan as he glanced down at his purchase. "Why you buy this piece, eh?"

Logan shrugged and turned to face the man on the tailgate. "Spose it just caught my eye as somethin that needed a home, away from a six year old maniac with a green crayon."

Both men laughed at the thought of the child who had big ideas for the clean panels of the dresser, Logan came to join him on the tailgate. Yasha held up a shielding hand as he looked up at the sun and then to his mother who brought out two glasses of cold, sweet tea. Taking one and handing it to Logan before taking his and taking a well-wanted sip, Yasha eyed the man next to him with a weary knowledge of what the wooden structure could do.

Angelique handed Logan the key to the dresser and managed a smile as she looked past both men to the dresser. A small black key with a round clover design on the end. It was somewhat antique looking but still in very good condition so much that it looked brand new. "I will miss this piece but I think you'll take better care of it than we ever could." She looked almost sad as her eyes rested on the dresser that was half-showing under the cloth Logan draped over it. Her long silver hair had been tied back into a long braid, leaving the streak of auburn to hang loose but tucked behind her left ear. She had changed clothes to wear a grey sweatshirt and sweatpants as the evening had cooled considerably. Looking back to Logan, she could recognise the look of loss and pain on his face and in his eyes as the same look she had worn in several mirrors since her father died. "This dresser remind you of someone? Someone important to you, no?"

Logan looked over his shoulder at the furniture and shrugged. "A-- friend of mine. He died a few weeks ago. This old thing," patting the spot on the tailgate beside him, "was his too." The sadness choked him as the pain of the previous events with Renot came flooding back.

"Desole, Logan. I'm sorry. You knew him a long time, huh?" Yasha looked over at the man and could tell that the fact he had shared was not a half-hearted one.

Nodding, Logan let his eyes filter to the ground in front of Angelique. He had just met these people yet, he felt like he knew them from somewhere. "Yea, we more or less worked together. Known him about ten years. He was from the south, or so I've gathered. He hadn't really known his family, though." Logan could tell the conversation would start to stir up feelings he wasn't ready to show in public so, he hopped down off of the tailgate and finished his tea before handing the glass back to Angelique. "Thank you." Tucking the key into a shirt pocket, he watched as Yasha slid off and closed the tailgate. Logan offered a hand to both mother and son for the help and hospitality before turning to walk to the driver's seat.

Angelique came to stand at the door and lean on the open window to tell Logan one last piece of advice. "You know, Logan, this dresser can show you a world your dreams lead you to. Until you're ready to see it, you keep those doors locked, no? It can show you happiness again." She winked as she backed away from the truck and watched him wave a hand as he pulled out of the drive. Placing an arm around Yasha's shoulders, she hugged her son and continued to watch the truck's taillights fade into the distance.

"Ya think he ever find out what you mean?"

Angelique smiled. "I think he will."

~~~~

"Hey, boyscout! Help me with this thing, will ya." Slamming the door to the truck closed, Logan walked back to the tailgate and lowered it as the skinny X-Men leader walked over to him. Logan had parked the truck in front of the mansion's steps and called to the first person he saw.

Scott stopped at the tailgate and watched Logan hop up beside the covered piece and turn back to him. "What did you buy, Logan?" He had just returned from the garage and was heading inside to get some late dinner when Logan had stopped him. He was dirty from changing oil and puttering around in the engine, checking hoses and water levels. His jaw dropped as Logan uncovered the dresser and tossed the cloth at him. "Where did you get this?"

Walking to the other end of the dresser, Logan nudged it to the edge with his legs. "Picked it up at a garage sale."

"Why?"

"Caught my interest." Logan wasn't about to share the details of the sale but, just wanted to get the dresser upstairs before the clouds above let loose the rain they held back. "Just help me get it inside, will ya?" He came back around and jumped off the tailgate before sliding the piece around to get hold of it. Waiting for Scott to get his hold on the corners, they slid the heavy dresser off of the tailgate and then lowered it to the ground.

A slow process of carrying it up the flights of stairs that seemed endless but, they managed to do it with only the whole mansion watching them do it. Most were in awe of the elegant piece while the rest were imprinting the image of Scott and Logan working together into their brains. Finally making to Logan's room, he had already designated a spot to place the dresser. They moved it to the end of the bed, against the wall and facing the bed.

"Great. Now the mirror." Logan sighed as he stood back to admire how nicely the dresser fit in with his room furniture.

Scott's stomach growled loudly but he reluctantly decided to help bring the heavy mirror up and attach it to the dresser before calling it quits for dinner. Following Logan out of the room and down the stairs, his mind toyed with the thought of why Logan had bought the dresser in the first place. Though he was skeptical, once they had gotten it put together, he could see why Logan was attracted to it. "Beautiful piece, Logan. Any particualr reason why you bought it?" He stood back and admired it as Logan finished up tightening the screws that held the mirror to the dresser.

"Nope."

Scott nodded as he wasn't going to get much more out of the gruff 35 year old that didn't want to be shared. "Fine then. How 'bout I buy you dinner?" Adjusting his shades as he placed an arm around Logan's shoulders, they headed back downstairs and into the kitchen for something to eat.

~~~~

In bed by 9:30, Logan was exhausted and tired of hearing about why he had to have the dresser. Taking one last look at the dresser and then staring at the small black key in his hand, Logan scoffed and shook his head as he tossed it onto the bedside table and scooted down for sleep. A yawn as he drew up the covers and rolled over to face the table and stare at the key before closing his eyes and letting sleep take over.

An hour later, Logan found himself awake and staring at the ceiling. Angelique's words ran through his head like a broken record. Remember to lock all the drawers in the dresser before you go to bed at night. He huffed and rolled over onto his left side. A short time later, he was awakened again by the same words. Shoving off the covers, Logan sat up and stared pointedly at the dresser. Grabbing the key from the table, he pushed himself off of the bed and stomped over to the dresser.

Sighing and nudging at the drawers with his free hand, Logan held out his other hand and stared at the key a moment. "Since they didn't come open on the way here and up the stairs, I spose it can wait 'til tomorrow. Right now, let's get some sleep, Michel." He stood and paused as he stared at the empty bed and took a sharp hiss at the mention of Renot's first name. "Michel." The word was almost a whisper but loud enough for him to jump at the noise.

Logan sighed again as he made his way back over to his side of the bed and sat down on the edge. Swallowing and laying back down so that he lay on his back, Logan blinked up at the ceiling and clenched his fist tighter around the key he still held in his hand. His free hand reached out and caressed the empty spot in his bed that had been Renot's. Sleep took him as he rolled over to face Renot's side of the bed and hold the key close to him. A small exhale as his eyes slid closed for the final time before Logan slept with Angelique's final words now haunting him.

"It can show you happiness again."

"....can show you happiness again."

"Happiness."

"Again....again....again....."

The world around Logan became smaller and smaller until he was lying in the middle of a giant black hole. As quickly as he lie in the blackness, he was suddenly filled with the scent of fresh cut grass and the sweet perfume of Spring flowers. He inhaled long and deep and rolled back over onto his back. Arms outstretched and fingers idly sifting through the short grass, his mind told him it was all still a dream. Another inhale and exhale as his mouth called for the young man in his every dream, Renot. He was so sure it was a dream that he was oblivious to the man staring down at him with a confused look on his face.

"Seemin' ta me, Monsieur Renot keeps pretty screwy company. Better get de boss on dis one." The old gardner removed his straw cowboy hat and scratched his head before replacing the hat and shaking his head as he went back up to the manor house to disturb the boss' morning coffee. He had only been with Remy for a few short years but hadn't seen so much as a confusing piece as a man lying sound asleep on the front lawn. He dreaded disturbing the boss during any meal or activity but this was simply awkward and hadn't remembered any guests looking like him from the evening before's party. The man stopped at the first step and removed his hat, fiddling with the brim as he swallowed nervously and spoke up about the man in the yard. "Uh, boss.....?"


Continued.