Unchained Instinct ( Complete)

Chapter 81


Pietro flicked through channels, his mind on things other than the lousy morning television. Cocking his head, he listened, hearing the sound of the shower still running and wondering what Mystique would look like when she came out of the bathroom.

She seemed restless to him, agitated in a way Pietro wasn’t familiar with. Mystique had shifted personas a half dozen times, obviously not happy with any of her choices.

There was no telling who’d she be next.

Last night had been the weirdest though. She’d come on to him in her male disguise and he’d almost punched her in the face. Then she’d laughed...a weird, nearly hysterical laugh that had sent chills down Pietro’s spine like ice cold water.

The thing was, if she’d just settled into her own blue skin he might have been interested.

Finally, she’d settled down, talking of Logan with a manic gleam in her eyes. Logan, Logan, Logan.

God! Talk about obsessed.

What the hell did she have going on in that deviant mind of hers?

He heard the shower stop and rose to pour coffee from the little coffee maker sitting on the vanity. Even these fly by night roadside motels had caught on to the caffeine needs of the public.

We’re all addicted to something, he thought. And Pietro stopped a moment to ponder his own obsessions.

Adrenaline high, that was his addiction. He loathed boredom, hated the ho-hum of life. He needed excitement like a junkie needed his next fixt.

That was why Pietro was here and he was starting to get antsy to get on with whatever Mystique had in mind for Logan and Kurt.

The bathroom door opened and steam rolled out, bathing the room with humidity. She was her blue self, fire red hair wrapped up in a towel. Another towel covered her body, but showed off shapely legs and strong lightly muscled arms.

Now, this Pietro could get into, yet her yellow eyes were all business this morning as she headed for another cup of coffee.

“I want us out of here in twenty minutes,” she stated, turning on him with cup to lips. She took a sip and her face momentarily softened, eyes closing to savor the not so bad taste of the dregs of the pot. But when her eyes opened again and pierced Pietro with her gaze, the softness had disappeared. “I won’t have us losing them, not now. Not when we’re this close.”

“This close to what?” Pietro flung back. “What is the plan, Mystique? I’m getting bored with this follow the leader crap.” She stared at him until he felt a chill crawl the length of his back.

A year ago, she could have gotten nearly anything she wanted out of him with that icy glower, but things had changed. Apocalypse had changed everything. He bristled at the attempted intimidation. “What?” he demanded. “It’s a simple question. Just see if you can manage a simple answer.”

One eyebrow rose and finally, one corner of Mystique’s mouth. “Be ready in twenty minutes and perhaps if you are very good, I’ll tell you what I have in mind. But let’s just say that Kurt obviously needs to see first hand exactly what sort of man his lover is.”

She reached into her travel case and retrieved a small box. Opening the lid with care she pulled out a slender vial, its contents a murky golden color. With a smile, her gaze rose to meet Pietro’s. “And this will reveal all to my stubborn, love struck son.”


***********************

The restaurant was a roadside diner, only a mile or so off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Kurt tried to suppress a groan when he crawled off the bike, his body aching in places he didn’t know he had. Pain worked its way up and down his rectum and he had quickly started doubting the wisdom of riding after the brutal sex of the night before.

They’d ridden for almost an hour and hunger had eaten a hole the size of Berlin in his stomach. The two cups of coffee he’d drank hadn’t helped much either.

Logan slid a glance over and opened the door for him, a concerned expression drawing a line between Logan’s brow. Kurt felt Logan’s hand come to rest on the small of his back and rub gently, a silent acknowledgment of Kurt’s extreme discomfort.

After looking around the small, crowded café, Kurt headed for a window booth and slid in, glad for the padding on the seat. He flinched as he settled in and Logan let out a sigh.

A waitress, fortyish with a pleasant face flashed a smile down to them. Her name tag read “Annie.” “Afternoon, boys,” she said, handing them menus. “Nice day for ridin’, huh?”

“Yeah,” Logan said, but his gaze was on Kurt.

“Very nice,” Kurt replied, smiling up at the woman.

“Ya,ll doin’ the Parkway?”

“Yeah,” Logan said again. “Could we get somethin’ to drink? Ice tea, maybe?”

“Sweet tea?”

“Sweeter the better, sister.”

The waitress’ smile brightened. “A man after my own taste buds.” She turned to Kurt. “And you, hon? Sweet tea?”

“A Coke please?”

“Pepsi okay?”

“That would be fine.”

“Well then, I’ll give you boys a minute or two to glance at the menu and be right back with your drinks.”

Kurt looked down at the menu, trying to ignore Logan’s gaze on him, trying to ignore the throbbing pain in his head and back and ass. Logan’s hand brushed across his and Kurt looked up into a concerned, guilt-ridden gaze. He pulled back and pushed hair behind his ear.

“How bad are ya hurtin’, elf? Do we need to call the Doc and have somebody fly down to get you?”

“No!” he hissed. “I’m...fine. I...just have...a headache.”

“The way yer movin’ don’t have nothin’ to do with a headache. Are ya still bleedin’?”

Kurt dropped his gaze to the table, a finger tracing a pattern on the paper place mat. “Maybe a little.”

Logan’s grip on his chin surprised Kurt, forcing him to look up. He shook free and threw a glance around the crowded diner. “Not here, Logan. There’s too many people.”

“I don’t give a damn about these people,” Logan said through gritted teeth. “I only care about you. Do ya need medical treatment?”

“No. I’m fine,” Kurt shot back. “Read your menu so we can order when the waitress gets back. I’m starving.”

Logan sat back and stared at him. “Well, that’s a good sign, anyway. As long as yer hungry, you can’t be feelin’ too bad.”

The waitress returned with their drinks and pulled out a pad of paper and a pen. “Ya’ll ready to order?”

“I’ll have a cheese burger and fries,” Kurt said, flinching again when a shot of pain streaked up through him.

“Ya okay, sugar?” the waitress said.

Kurt nodded. “I...have a headache.”

“Well, Annie can take care of that. Got some Ibuprofen in my purse. Would that help?”

Kurt offered her a grateful expression. “Yes, I’m sure that would help.”

“Let me put in your orders and bring ya back some.”

Logan ordered a ribeye steak sandwich and fries and Annie went off to place their orders and retrieve the drugs.

“Yer sure that’s all ya need, elf?” Logan asked, his voice low and full of emotion. “I hate seein’ ya hurtin’ like this...particularly because of me.”

“How many times do I have to say I’ll be fine? I just need some food and some medication.”

Logan gave him a skeptical expression, sitting back with his arms crossed against his chest. “We’re not gonna ride much today. Maybe we can ask Annie if she knows a good place to stay ‘round here.”

“You sure?” Kurt replied. “You seem restless...like you need to ride a while.”

Logan shrugged. “Maybe I’ll put ya someplace nice and you can take a nap or just watch TV for a while and I can do a little ridin’.”

Kurt frowned. He didn’t like the idea of Logan riding off without him. What if the darkness came over Logan when Kurt wasn’t around to help him through it. What if Logan left him?

“Don’t look so disapprovin’, darlin’,” Logan said with sarcasm. “Nothin’s gonna happen if I go ridin’ by myself for a few hours. I’ve been doin’ it for years. Long before you were born, kid.”

Kurt looked away. He had no reply to that. He couldn’t control Logan and if he’d thought he could he’d been a fool to think so.

Logan reached across the table again, hand returning to grip Kurt’s chin and this time Kurt didn’t pull away. “Ya don’t think I’d leave ya, do you, elf? Cause I won’t. I might be gone for a little while, but I’ll always be back. I won’t abandon ya here in the middle of nowhere. I’ll never abandon you, sweetheart.”

Kurt let his gaze rise to Logan’s and saw sincerity in his lover’s eyes. He gave a nod and gently pulled away, noticing a woman in another booth looking over at them with a disdainful expression. He smiled a toothy grin at her and she turned away, flustered.

“Here ya go, hon,” Annie said, holding out a little bottle. “Just keep it. There’s about six in there now so if ya need some more later, you’ll have it.”

“Thank you so much, ma’am.”

“Why you got yourself a nice little accent there, don’t ya, sugar? German?”

“Yes,” Kurt replied. “I’m going to school here in America.”

My son is stationed over there in the Air Force. I’d like to go visit, but the way things are these days...kinda scary gettin’ on a airplane.”

“It’s a beautiful country. You’ll enjoy it if you go.” How long had it been since he’d been back home? A year? More? Yes...and now he didn’t know when he’d go back....if ever.

“Well, I just might screw my courage up next spring and take the plunge. Been savin’ up my money for the occasion.” Annie flung a glance over her shoulder, a loud clearing of the throat drawing her attention. “Excuse me, that lady over there’s been a real pain in the patoot...if ya know what I mean. Gotta go see what she wants now. Yer lunches’ll be up real soon.”

Kurt turned his gaze out the window, the mountains stirring a longing in him for home. He shoved away the haunting thoughts of his parents and let out a sigh.

“What’cha thinkin’ about, elf?” Logan asked, leaning towards him across the table.

Turning back, Kurt mustered a smile. “Where are we...exactly?”

It was Logan’s turn to stare out the window, dark, sharp eyes taking in the scenery. The mountains rose up, almost blue when the clouds stole over the ridge tops.

“Blue Ridge Mountains. The Parkway runs from the top of Virginia down inta North Carolina. Great road for ridin’.” Logan’s gaze took on a distant expression, eyelids drooping a little and softening to dreamy. “Been years since I rode the Parkway.” He stirred and turned back to Kurt. “Blue Ridge Parkway, elf. Didn’t ya learn about the Parkway in history class or somethin’?”

“Sounds familiar,” Kurt replied. “That’s a big area. Care to narrow where we are down to a state...maybe a town?”

“Do I look like I gotta map on me?” Logan’s signature sarcasm was a balm on Kurt’s soul. That tone and attitude reminded Kurt of life before...before everything happened.

“Virginia?”

“Yeah, Virginia.”

Their food came and Kurt smiled up at the waitress named Annie. “Thank you, ma’am.”

She returned his smile with such ease and grace, Kurt’s heart let go of another pound of weariness. “Yer more than welcome, sweetie. How’s that head feelin’?”

“Much better, thanks.”

She offered him a wink. “Anything else, gents? Oh, I’ll get you some more tea and Pepsi.” Then she was off, not really hurrying, but efficient in her manner.

“She’s very nice,” Kurt said.

“Yeah, if ya give people a chance, I guess they can show their good side,” Logan replied and took a big bite of his sandwich.