Fervent Feelings

X1 Chapter 2 - An Unexpected Pull

"So what was it you called me over for?" I ask, though I have a feeling I already know what this is about.

"Y/n, I want you to be there when Logan wakes up," Charles says in his calm, soothing voice as we move side by side toward his office.

I hesitate, wincing slightly at the suggestion. "I don't know, Professor. Are you sure that's a good idea?" I ask, my uncertainty clear as I open the door to his study for him.

"Yes, my dear," he replies, his tone full of warmth and reassurance. "My confidence in you and your abilities grows with each passing day. Jean is heading down there now. Perhaps you should join her."

I nod, offering him a brief goodbye as he heads off to teach his physics class.

The pad of my finger presses the elevator button to the desired floor, and I rock back and forth on the heels of my feet, anxiety building in my chest. The elevator dings softly, and the doors slide open. I step out and let my senses guide me to the calm, collected presence that is Jean.

I find her in the lab, hunched over a table, her white lab coat pristine as she prepares a tray of vials and syringes. "What do you have there?" I ask, trying to keep my voice steady.

"Something to draw his blood, as well as a sedative," she hums, her tone light but focused. "Hopefully, we won't have to use the latter." Jean turns to me with a confident smile that's meant to be reassuring.

"Right..." I mumble under my breath, doubt still gnawing at me.

We walk down the corridor to the small infirmary, Jean effortlessly levitating the tray beside her with a mere thought. The metal doors slide open with a quiet hiss as we enter the room.

I approach the unconscious figure of Logan, leaning over slightly to take in his rugged features. "So, how long do you think we have until he wakes up?" I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Jean places the tray on a table that emerges from the floor, her eyes flicking to me as she moves around Logan's prone form. "Not long," she replies, her gaze steady. "Would you like to try what we've been working on? He may be a bit disoriented when he wakes up, and it would be best if he were more relaxed."

My hand twitches nervously, hovering above his bare shoulder. The heat of his skin feels almost tangible, but fear roots me in place. I pull back quickly, shaking my head. "I'd rather not..."

Jean nods in understanding, turning her attention back to the medical tools. With a flick of her wrist, she levitates a syringe, moving it towards her open palm where she easily clutches it before carefully twisting off the cap and prepping it with a steady hand. She leans in, inserting the needle into his arm with precision.

Suddenly, Logan's eyes snap open, wild and feral. In one swift motion, he springs up from the table, his legs swinging over the side as his hand darts out, clamping around Jean's neck in a vice-like grip. He stands, towering over her, pulling her back against his chest, his arms locked tightly around her throat and torso. Jean's eyes widen in panic, her breath coming in short, desperate gasps as she looks to me for help.

Logan's gaze shifts to me, his eyes burning with a mix of confusion and rage. The only thing between us is the table he was just lying on, but I know it won't stop him if he decides to lunge.

My heart pounds in my chest, faster and faster, until it feels like it might burst. I clutch the sides of my head, my skin suddenly burning with the intensity of his emotions. Fear, anger, paranoia—they crash over me in waves, each one more suffocating than the last. I fall to my knees, the overwhelming tide of his feelings too much to bear. My vision blurs as hot, angry tears spill down my cheeks. My breath comes in short, ragged bursts as I start to hyperventilate, the weight of his emotions crushing me.