Control: An X-Men Adventure and Wolverine Romance

Telepaths

As time went on, I settled more and more into my life at the school. The professor was trying his best to help ease my mind in our weekly therapy sessions. It was working, if only little by little.

"You seem to be getting along nicely with Logan"
"Oh um, yeah now that we're on the same floor and kind of insomniacs and all..." I offered, a little bit flustered.
He gave a sort of knowing smile.
"Well, you two also have a lot of shared trauma. You may be able to understand one another in a way, the rest of us can't," he replied, offering sage words of wisdom - as always.
I nodded thoughtfully. I tried to calm my panicked thoughts at the implication something else was going on between us. There's no point trying to wrestle with your own mind in front of a powerful telepath, after all. All that means is that it is all the more amusing to witness.

Thankfully, there was a knock at the door which spared me any further embarasment, or so I thought.
"Come in!" The professor called out cheerfully.
The slender figure of Jean Grey slipped into the room. She smiled in greeting to us both. Of course, there were now two telepaths in the room - just my luck!
"Ah, we have run a little over today Cassandra, it's time for my session with Jean, if you'll excuse me".
I nodded again and gathered my things, thanking him as I did. On my way to the door, Jean gently placed a hand on my arm and I paused.

"If it's alright with you, I thought we could have a talk later this evening - maybe a walk in the grounds?"
I failed to mask my surprise at this request.
"I just wanted to check in with you about how you're feeling, physically. The professor can help you with your mind but not the corporeal. You have been through a lot in both respects".

I hesitated before agreeing to meet her, I wasn't entirely sure why. It was hard not to envy her sometimes; she was beautiful, powerful, intelligent, and articulate. All the things I felt I lacked on my least confident days. It wasn't hard to see why Logan had taken a shine to her, or Scott for that matter.
"Sure, I'll meet you by the central staircase then." I relented, hurriedly quitting the room. As I rushed out into the hall I barrelled into someone very large. They let out an "umph" of surprise and reached out to catch me as I almost overbalanced.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out.
"That's quite alright," reasurred the unfamiliar visitor in a commanding but kindly tone.
I looked up at him, and was surprised to see a remarkably hairy face. His skin was blue and his features, well... beastly. That wasn't to say he was ugly, he was quite handsome, actually, but certainly unusual.

"I don't think we have crossed paths before. My name is Hank McCoy, i'm a long time friend of Charles."
"Nice to meet you. I'm Cass."
He smiled warmly.
"You're a little older than Charles' usual students... or are you a teacher here?"
"Ah, yeah. Well, you're never too old to learn I guess," I laughed nervously.
"Well so far I like you better than the last stray adult he took in," he smiled again, at some kind of private joke.
I smiled back, relaxing was easy with his pleasant demeanour.

Suddenly, I became aware of another pair of eyes on us. I turned and my eyes met the gaze of Logan, who was watching us from above on the grand staircase. Hank turned to see what I was looking at.
"Ah speak of the devil..." he nodded to Logan, who rather rudely did not return the greeting, but slowly descended the stairs to our level.
"Well i'd better go. I have a speech to prepare for a meeting this afternoon."
"Ah, well good luck with that," I said earnestly.
Logan had reached us by now. Hank made a point of shaking my hand and wishing me well, before meeting Logan's gaze and leaving us there.

"He seems nice why did you go all resting-bitch-face on him?" I asked crossing my arms.
His head snapped in my direction, a scowl darkening his brow.
"Aw lighten up, I didn't mean anything by it," I chuckled, nudging him with my elbow.
His facial expression softened, even if only by the smallest fraction.
"Ah, he's alright but he sheds fur all over the place" he grumbled.
This time it was me who frowned.
"What?"

I shook my head.
Before I could add anything else, the bell rang out for the students to change classes and the hall began to fill with kids. They poured out of their classrooms whooping and laughing, so full of life. Jostling bags and books and bodies. One of the kids ignored the door and ran straight through the wall of the nearest classroom, popping out between me and Logan. I was startled by this, as was he, but we quickly resettled.

Logan seemed to be hesitating for a moment. I wondered why he was lingering here.
"Don't you have a class to teach?"
He grimaced and turned to go, but I swiftly caught his arm and he paused.
"Are you alright? You seem a little... off"
He gently tugged his arm out of my grasp.
"I'm fine," he grumbled in reply, disappearing down the hall.