Healing

Chapter 3

Logan sighed. He'd gotten a message off one of the students that Cyclops would like to see him. He hoped it was important; he would be missing his Danger Room session for this. The man stretched his legs out in front of himself and sighed again.

The kids were doing theory right now. Wheels had suggested it, and he figured it'd give him time to do other stuff. He had almost got it right. There wasn't a lot he could do, the kids kept coming up and asking him about different ideas presented in the text books someone had ordered for him (Though he had recommended certain ones).

This meant that he had time to think, and get marking the work from the previous class. Thinking was fine – something he did a large amount of anyway. However, marking was not something he ever saw himself doing. It was mostly dull, though one or two answers had him laughing quietly. He had only got 2 different classes, with an age range of about 3 – 4 years in them both. There weren't enough kids to make more classes for him. So he had split them up into 2 groups in the classes; older and younger. It seemed to be working quite well, and the children were clearly enjoying his lessons. He liked one or two of his students in the older group, as their sense of humour struck him as sharp. And there were a few in the older group who needed bringing down a few pegs. Stuck-up brats really pissed him off.

The younger group was definitely his favourite though. The kids in it were sweet enough, and eager to learn. Their innocent smiles usually made him grin, though if he had been watching the news he tended to glower. How could anyone consider them a threat? It was beyond annoying.

The class felt like it was going slowly. His mind wasn't focused on the books he was marking, but rather in another part of the building; hovering around Cyclops – unfortunately. He resisted the urge to sigh again, because these kids had a habit of noticing little things and he didn't want them asking.

He shifted in his seat, and stared unseeing at the stick figure drawn in stance in the book. Cyclops ... the man was worrying him, though he knew that it was the Professor this worry originated from. The man felt a need to talk- all the time; and recently Scott Summers had been his favourite subject. Logan had learnt far more about the man than he had any desire to know. What did he care how old the kid was when he'd been found? Or where he'd been found? (He hadn't really wanted to know how the kid had survived before the Professor got him, but it had clearly slipped out as the man had stopped properly thinking about what he was saying and had got lost in his memories.)

Nor did he need a telepath to tell him that Cyclops was struggling. It was more than a touch obvious. He still got his work done; apparently his classes were the same as ever. However, he hadn't gone with the professor to meet new students (They had gotten another young man this week, just 14 years and his parents had told him to leave) and Cyclops certainly wasn't mixing with his friends. Not that Logan could tell, but 'Ro felt a need to complain to him, or Kurt.

Logan was quite fond of Kurt; he was an honest person who had a comforting presence. Apparently, he wasn't the only one who thought so, the other had informed him Summers liked to sit and listen to his morning prayers before he went about his day.

As Logan gazed out of his window, all pretence of marking given up, he heard his students clearing their books away. Looking up, the man found that the lesson was over, and the kids had been sat waiting for him to dismiss them, even though they were all now about to be late for their next class.

"Oh f-.. Oh... off you go then. Y' should of shouted me."

"Bye Professor Logan."

"See ya Logan!"

"Bye..."

The kids quickly filed out; none of them actually complaining but most of them acknowledging him as they went passed. He grinned slightly, pulling out a cigar to chew on (Till he got outside) and cleared up the books, which had been sorted into piles at the end of the rows and put them away on his shelves.

He decided he'd go see Summers, then go outside, smoke his cigar and then actually try to get marking done till it reached lunch time.


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"Oh, Logan. I didn't expect you'd come so soon after your class..."

"What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing... I was expecting you to go smoke or something first, that's all."

"Whatever. Jus' get on with it so I can."

Cyclops nodded his head, and sat back down in the chair behind his desk. Logan sat in the chair on the other side, and put his feet up on Cyclops's desk, to see the reaction he got.

The young man frowned. At least, what Logan could see of his eyebrows seemed to pull together (Not easy to tell with the glasses) and he set his lips tight. A grin tugged at Logan's mouth, but he fought it back.

"Feet down Logan. I don't want mud on my paperwork."

"Anything you say, Slim."

The grin won this time, and Cyclops got shown a set of teeth. But he swung his feet back to the floor.

"It's what you do here... I know you are teaching some self defence, but I don't think that one class is enough to... justify you being here. I was wondering if you'd think about taking on another subject. There are a number of things you could do and... Umm..."

"You want me to earn my bread? Sure. What else is there?" he wanted to make a sarcastic comment, but the thought of having something to occupy himself was tempting.

"A list?" Cyclops cursed softly under his breath, and began hunting through his drawers. "Had one here somewhere..." More cursing quietly left his mouth.

Logan was trying hard to not laugh, but the man before him seemed to have forgotten about being well-spoken. Summers located a list in the bottom, left drawer of his desk and pushed it over to Logan, who scanned it quickly.

"Relaxation?"

"Professor Xavier thinks it's important the kids learn how to clear their minds. It's supposed to be good for getting a restful sleep."

"Maybe you should attend?" The young man didn't look at all well rested. Logan had a feeling that there would be dark marks under his eyes. However, the heat from the man's glare was almost tangible. He had been serious, so didn't bother to say anything else. He simply informed Cyclops he'd have a look and would let him know. Cyclops informed him there were appropriate books in the library, and that either he or 'Ro could show him them when he got nearer a decision.

Then Logan left.


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It was a cold evening. The wind howled outside the windows, and the trees shook loudly. Logan was sat in front of the television. Most of the kids were shuffling off to their rooms for the night, but he wasn't tired enough to sleep; his head still turning over Cyclops's offer. Relaxation still sounded fairly tempting, so did a more advanced defence class. He wouldn't mind running a fighting course, but didn't really want to take it off the kid. Maybe a survival course. He'd have to look at books for that, see how people were supposed to do these things properly – but it was something he had experience in. He had done surviving in the wild, and even with a useful ability to heal, he still picked up numerous skills that he could pass on to others. The others he wasn't so interested in, though he had to admit, art made him a tiny bit curious. What was 'arty' about him that meant it was the first thing Bobby thought of? But he'd never done anything like it, so he probably would give it a miss.

He stretched and snuggled deeper into the cushions, waiting for more re-runs of some show to start. Friends, or something fairly light-hearted he hoped. He heard someone moving behind him, but the scent meant he wasn't worried. It was Summers.

The kid flopped onto the other couch and ran his hand through his messy brown hair. Neither acknowledged the other's presence. Summers pulled his feet to his chest and curled up. Logan felt no need to ask why he was here instead of in his room. Some things didn't need stating, and in the relaxed atmosphere, he felt no desire to argue with him.


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Nearly 2 hours later, Logan decided it was time to go to his room. He looked over at Cyclops, and decided the same for him.

"Hey, kid? Cyclops... Time to move."

He made a noise, but curled his arms over his head.

"Cyke, move."

Another groan and then a mumble of "M name's Scott..."

"What?" He huffed slightly, "Whatever... Scott, bedtime!"

He pulled the kid to his feet, who fell into him. He seemed no older than the other kids he'd herd to their bedrooms each night. People had beds for a reason. A hand on Cyc- Scott's shoulder to steady him, and he watched him shove his glasses up and carefully rub his eyes.

"You ok?"

Just another little noise. It was somewhere between childishly cute and annoyingly pathetic. Logan settled for dragging him through the corridor. He had seen the dark marks under Scott's eyes that he'd expected. He needed proper sleep.

A great idea, if only he could remember where Cyclops slept. The rooms all looked the same on the outside...

Luckily, even half asleep, Cyc- Scott knew where he was going. He stopped in front of a door, stabbed in the key code and let himself in. Logan followed. The room was creepily tidy. It looked weird. Not un-used, there was clothing folded neatly on a chair, 2 coats over the back of the door, the wardrobe door had a sleeve caught in it. Papers on the desk, and a book left open... it was obvious there were people there, but it was neat. It was tidy. Things were folded, in place. Only the one book off the shelf, the other in place. He would have laughed, but he could see things that were clearly not Scott's. A bottle of perfume (Unless he'd totally misjudged Scott, and his smell), the flowery cup that was on a place mat on the desk, the white coat hung up on the back of the door.

He frowned as he noticed Scott stripping down to boxers and a t-shirt as though he wasn't there. The ruby-quartz glasses were folded and next to a glass of water on the bedside table.

"Light, please Logan."

His frown softened slightly. He flipped the light switch, and waited till the kid's breathing evened out before he left for his own room.


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It took Logan a few days to settle on what course he'd do. Basic survival, to help give the kids confidence. And he would work relaxation techniques into his classes too. He felt like things were starting to work.

He'd even settled into a proper routine: Breakfast (With at least one large mug of coffee, for being up too early), then he'd teach some lessons, or mark work. He would then sit with either Kurt, or 'Ro for his lunch. (Apparently Wheels had lunch in his office, and Cyclops had his in his classroom.) He'd then have afternoon classes, which were usually his survival ones. After that he'd visit the library and get paperwork and stuff sorted.

Then he'd have dinner (Again, with Kurt and 'Ro, but Hank would join them for this, as would Cyclops. Sometimes the professor did too), then he'd watch TV, or go out for the evening. It depended on how he felt. Arguing with Cyc-Scott came in there where ever it could. (The kid still told him to call him Scott, but it was a hard habit to break)

On an evening though, he'd always watch TV till the majority of students were in bed. Scott usually joined him at about 11:30pm, and they'd watch TV till about 1:30am. He figured the kid must find his presence something of a comfort, or maybe he just liked routine too, but he always fell asleep within half an hour of joining him. At any rate, Logan liked spending time with the kid when they didn't end up sniping at each other, though it was possible that such an event was impossible when there were both awake and filled with the different stresses their day brought to them.

Once or twice, they had had a pleasant conversation (Brief and quiet though they had been). It felt like another world at night, one where Scott's vulnerability seeped through the cracks of his stubborn personality. Or maybe Logan was just more agreeable with a few beers in him. Either way, he always ended up dragging Scott to his room, and waiting till the kid was asleep before leaving (No matter how long it took, though it was normally fairly quick).

Then he had to get up again at some ridiculous hour in the morning, and be ready to teach at 9am. If the mornings could be cut out, this life may have felt almost perfect. He was learning to ignore the curiosity of where he came from, though on weekends he did still go to the Professor for help and insight. He had also started writing down what he could remember of his dreams. At first he'd felt completely stupid, but he was starting to notice certain things came up again and again, but were generally forgotten once he'd fully awakened.

He'd also seen Sabertooth a few more times, and his confusion at why the other seemed to have little interest in attacking made him tense. However, he tried not to let it bother him too much. He wasn't looking for fights when he lived in a place filled with kids.


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