After three and a half hours, we finally pull up to Bobby's family home in Boston. The car creaks to a halt, and I eagerly step out of the cramped back seat, stretching my stiff limbs. The fresh air is cool, a slight breeze rustling the leaves in the quiet suburban neighborhood. The house stands before us, an ordinary two-story, with a wrap-around porch and a neat front lawn. I follow the others up to the front door, the soft crunch of gravel underfoot the only sound breaking the silence.
The door creaks shut behind Logan, and the house feels eerily quiet. "Mom! Dad! Ronny!" Bobby calls out, his voice echoing through the empty halls as he peeks around the corner. "Is anybody home?"
Pyro fidgets beside me, his shark lighter flicking open and closed in a steady rhythm that betrays his nervous energy. Bobby turns to Rogue, his expression softening. "I'll try and find you some clothes," he offers, his gaze drifting to John. "And don't burn anything," he adds with a pointed look before jogging up the stairs with Rogue.
Logan and I linger on the first floor, the atmosphere heavy with anticipation. Pyro heads for the nearest sofa, flopping down with a sigh as Logan and I make our way into the kitchen. The space is bright and spotless, the countertops gleaming under the overhead lights.
"Try the com again," I suggest, nodding toward the X-phone hooked on Logan's belt loop.
He nods, pulling the device free and pressing a button. A soft 'bleep' fills the silence, followed by static. "Hello?" Logan's voice is laced with frustration as he brings the phone to his ear. "Hello? Come on, Storm... Where are you?" His brows knit together in a deep frown as he inspects the device, the frustration in his voice palpable.
"Do you think something happened to them?" I ask, my concern growing as the silence stretches. I quickly shake off the thought, trying to reassure myself. "No, Jean and Storm are way too powerful for that."
I lean my lower back against the island counter, gripping the edges with my hands as I watch Logan open the fridge. He sniffs the air, his nose twitching in search of something. I can't help but laugh at the sight. "What are you sniffing for? Beer?"
Logan turns to me triumphantly, a bottle of beer in hand. He twists off the cap with ease and takes a long swig, his Adam's apple bobbing as he gulps down the drink.
A soft clattering behind me snaps my attention, and I push off the counter to investigate. Logan's head whips toward the noise, his muscles tensing as he raises his right arm, claws unsheathing with a metallic 'snikt'. His expression softens, and I chuckle as the Drake family's fluffy gray tabby inches closer, its curious eyes locked on Logan. The cat sniffs his claws before licking them tentatively, its purrs growing louder with each gentle lap. Logan smiles, a rare moment of softness breaking through his usual stoic demeanor.
The front door swings open, and Logan's claws retract with a sharp click. The cat lets out a small, disappointed 'meow' as Bobby's family steps into the kitchen, their expressions a mix of shock and unease.
"Who the hell are you?" Bobby's father steps forward, his posture protective as his wife quickly scoops up the cat.
"Uh..." Logan and I exchange an uncertain glance, unsure of how to respond. Before we can speak, footsteps thunder down the stairs, and Bobby appears, his face a mixture of relief and dread.
"Bobby?" His father's voice is stern, demanding answers.
Bobby's mother's gaze softens, her concern shifting from the strangers in her kitchen to her son. "Honey, aren't you supposed to be at school?"
"Bobby, who are these people?" His father's eyes dart between Logan and me, suspicion clear in his tone as Rogue hesitantly creeps down the stairs.
"That is the school counselor, Ms. Y/N, and..." Bobby hesitates, his gaze landing on Logan. "Uh...this is Professor Logan." Logan raises a brow at the title, clearly amused by the idea of being called a 'professor.' The cat's mournful meows fill the tense silence as Bobby shifts uncomfortably. "There's something I need to tell you..." Bobby winces, his voice trailing off.
YOU ARE READING
Fervent Feelings
ActionY/n Summers, the adopted sibling of Alex and Scott Summers, navigates life as an empath within the X-Men universe. After being abandoned by their biological parents at a young age, Y/n was taken in by the Summers family after discovering her mutant...
