Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 49

Logan fell when the lock opened around his right wrist, Gambit grabbing for him and easing him down to his knees. Pain still coursed through his body, pounding in his head. He tried to swallow, yet all he tasted was blood and bile. Coughing sent a wave of wracking pain through his gut, but no blood came up this time. His insides were finally healing.

Took long enough, he thought and gasped for breath.

Rogue knelt before him, her gloved hands trying to swipe the hair from his eyes. He pulled away from her touch, shivering at the thought of what Mystique had done to him in Rogue’s guise. And then there was Gambit beside him, bare fingers against his bare skin, conjuring memories of Mystique fucking him in Gambit’s form, making him cum with hands just like the ones touching him now.

He shook Gambit off and tried to push him away, but the feeling was just now coming back into his arms after the initial explosion of agony of release.

“Damn her!” Rogue snarled. “Damn that bitch ta hell.”

“I’ll second that,” he muttered, not sure if the words had actually reached the air.

Logan heard others entered the room...his prison...and refused to look up, afraid to meet any of these kids’ gazes. He smelled Storm close by, felt her gentle touch on his face, lifting his chin.

“Logan? Have you any injuries that haven’t yet healed?”

He refused to meet Storm’s gaze and shook his head. The memory of Mystique’s Ororo slammed him in the groin for before he and Kurt had got together, he had sometimes fantasized about Ororo Munroe, her dark beauty and aloof personality alluring.

He heard Scott and Rogue talking into the headset, trying to locate Kurt.

Moment’s later, the aroma of his lover brought Logan back from the edge of darkness. Kurt’s hands ran over his skin, then up to his face. Logan opened his eyes and gazed into Kurt’s golden eyes. He almost flinched at the similarity to Mystique’s eyes, but refused to let a vision of her ruin this moment for Kurt.

“Oh mein gott, Logan,” Kurt whispered, lips caressing his cheek. “I’m so sorry. Oh mein gott.”

“Get me outta here, elf,” Logan whispered back through gritted teeth, fingers wrapping around Kurt’s wrist and holding on. “Just...get me out.”

“Of course. I’ll take you home.” Anguish filled up Kurt’s voice and overflowed, the pain and guilt in Kurt’s eyes tearing at Logan’s heart.

“I’m going to port Logan out to your SUV, Jean. If you’re not there when I get there, I’ll leave without you.”

Logan looked up in time to see Jean roll her eyes and take off out the door. A wave of disorientation swept over Logan and the world around him changed to the inside of Jean’s SUV. Kurt tucked a blanket around him and Logan let his head fall back against Kurt’s shoulder, fatigue still holding him captive. Arms went around him and Kurt’s lips caressed his hair.

“I’m so sorry, Logan,” Kurt crooned to him over and over again.

“Hush, elf,” Logan whispered. “Not...your fault. She suckered...me in.”

Jean arrived, climbing in and starting up the vehicle. They took off, racing down the two lane black top like the demons of hell were after them.

“It’s...okay, Jeannie. You can slow down,” Logan said. “I’m not...gonna croak...on ya. But I might get...blood all over yer nice car.”

Jean flung an anxious look behind her, but again, Logan dropped his gaze away, unable to meet those pretty eyes or look at that pretty mouth.

Logan closed his eyes, sucking up the comfort of Kurt’s arms around him, yet at the same time, he wanted to pull away, his skin burning with his lover’s touch. Images assaulted him, Mystique’s perfect renditions of Jean and Rogue, Scott and Kitty, all overwhelming his mind, compelling and repelling simultaneously.

That he’d given in to the lust, no matter how forced it had been, was a betrayal of Kurt and every one of these kids. How could Kurt forgive him? How could he forgive himself?

“We’re almost there,” Kurt murmured. “Cassie’s in the infirmary so I’m going to take you to our room.”

“Cassie!” Logan snarled, half rising. “Is she okay? Did that bitch hurt her?”

Kurt hesitated. Logan gripped Kurt’s wrist, feeling his strength returning. The elf flinched in pain, but didn’t pull away.

“Mystique broke her arm,” Kurt finally said. “And left her in a cave to die. But we found her.”

Logan let his head fall back again. “Is she okay?”

“She will be. Hank is taking care of her.”

Giving a nod, Logan said, “Good. He cares about her, ya know?”

“Yes, I know. Hank is in love with Cassie, I think.”

Logan nodded again and felt the SUV pull up to the gate and through, stopping in front of the mansion.

That disorientation came again and the softness of a bed...his bed...their bed, settled around Logan’s body and he let out a sigh of relief.

“I’ll go get Hank,” Kurt said, pushing up off the bed.

Logan gripped Kurt’s arm again. “I don’t need anything but rest...and a shower. Damn I need a shower...in a few minutes.”

“I’m going to get Hank.” Kurt’s tone brooked no argument, stern and unyielding.

“Fine. Whatever. I’m gonna lay here awhile...then I’m gonna...get a shower.” But then he pulled Kurt down, forcing himself to meet his lover’s gaze.

“Sweetheart, thanks.”

“For rescuing you? Rogue was the one to find you...and Gambit.”

“Yeah, thanks for that too, but that’s not what I’m talkin’ about.”

Kurt offered him a look of confusion, leaning close now and the elf reached down, stroking Logan’s face with a tender touch. “Then what?”

“For...believin’ in me, elf. For knowin’ she wasn’t me.”

Kurt’s confusion slid away as well as his gaze. “Oh...you’re welcome. I just wish....” Kurt retreated, trying to pull from Logan’s grasp. “Never mind.”

Logan tugged Kurt back. “Wish what?”

That anguish washed over Kurt’s face again and Logan saw Mystique’s handiwork, Kurt’s lower lip cut, his cheek showing a slight swelling. And the arm he had a grip on was bandaged, a trace of blood showing through from rough handling.

Kurt gave a little shrug and swallowed hard. “That I’d have figured it out sooner.”

Logan let out a sigh, nothing to say in response to Kurt’s confession. He closed his eyes and heard the elf “port” away, smelled the sulfurous odor left behind.

He’d almost succumbed to the darkness of sleep when he smelled Hank close to him, felt the big man’s presence leaning over him. Logan opened his eyes and looked up into Hank’s sympathetic gaze.

“You lost quite a bit of blood, my friend,” Hank stated gently, gloved hands poking and prodding with a careful touch.

“Yeah,” Logan replied, enduring the slow process of Hank assuring himself that all was healed.

“She must have used a very sharp blade.” Hank was fishing now and Logan thought the man probably was heading in the right direction in his thought process. But a glance over to Kurt sitting close with an anxious, guilt-ridden expression made Hank cautious.

“You could say that,” Logan replied.

Hank nodded and stepped back. “Without further tests, I wouldn’t be able to say whether there’s still internal bleeding, but you seem to have healed up inside and out. You could use a shower though for all our benefit.”

Logan would have liked to have smiled at Hank’s shot at levity...mostly for Kurt’s sake, but a smile just wouldn’t come. Logan wasn’t sure if he’d ever smile again.

“Yeah, yeah,” Logan replied. “Can ya clear the hall for me, Hank? I’m not up to seein’ anybody right now. Don’t feel up ta talkin’.”

“Of course.” Hank’s eyes were full of sympathy, the man’s warmth and care almost more than Logan could tolerate. “Everyone is anxious to know how you are. I’ll gather them and give them an update. Kurt can help you as you need.”

“You’re sure he’s going to be all right?” Kurt asked and Logan felt Kurt’s hand come to rest on his arm, gently stroking.

“He’ll...be fine,” Hank offered, his hesitation evident. “Time. All things heal in time.”

Yeah, right, bub, Logan thought. We’ll just have to see about that.