Until We Get It Right

Roman Candle of the Wild

Hera looked around at the men in the car. She was squished in the back between Logan and Peter, trying not to lean against either of them too much. Peter was listening to music through his headphones, and Charles was sound asleep. Hank, however, was watching her through the rear view mirror with a soft smirk.

She made eye contact with him as he motioned for her to talk to Logan. She simply rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. They had been in the car for about an hour, and she was starting to get antsy. Flying? She was fine. Hell, even a boat was alright. But being trapped in a car was different for some reason.

"You good?" Logan asked quietly.

She looked up at him in confusion.

"You've been bouncing your leg for the last five minutes."

"Oh. Sorry. I don't like riding in cars."

"I get it. Sometimes, it helps to focus on something else. You got any family?"

"None alive that know who I am. I had a sister. She was younger than me. From what I've kept track, her family moved to Mississippi. We used to live in Louisiana, but she never wanted to stay there. Last I heard, the newest additions to the family were Priscilla and Carrie about fifteen and seventeen years ago. I haven't really checked in on them in a while."

Logan forgot that she was almost as old as him. Maybe that was the universe's way of making the whole soulmate thing work. By giving him someone who had lived a longer life than anyone else and who had experienced immeasurable loss over and over. He was starting to understand.

"Maybe I know some of your family in the future and don't even know it." He mused.

She smiled at that thought and looked up at him. "That would be really cool. Kinda like the universe making sure we were connected even when it seemed impossible."

He nodded, processing her words.

"I always wanted a soulmate, y'know? Someone who made all the shit I've been through just a little more bearable. But I get not wanting one. It's like the universe taking one more thing away from us. I mean, not getting to choose who we're meant to be with for our whole life seems like a cruel plan, but it's different for us. We don't just have a lifetime to spend with our soulmate. We have thousands of them. Thousands of years together because fate told us so. I don't want you to resent me because of that."

"I never wanted a soulmate because I didn't want to have someone that I was just gonna lose eventually. I'm tired of outliving the people I love and the thought of having no choice whether I love them or not? I always hated that. But you're not what I expected. You're a different thing entirely."

There was a palpable silence between the two of them as he reached over and gently took her gloved hand in his. He gently removed the glove, laced their fingers together, and looked down at her.

"There's no use in fighting the universe on this. So maybe we shouldn't." He said quietly. "I think, for once, I'm sick of fighting."

"Me, too." She agreed, her eyes locked on their hands. It felt right. Like for once in her life, she was at peace inside.

He knew that she wasn't there in the future, but now that he knew her, he wasn't going to let her go that easily. He would search for her tirelessly until he had her back. She wouldn't just be a cherished memory for them. She was going to be home where she belonged.

The rest of the car ride was spent in comfortable silence until they were about an hour out. They solidified their plan, with surprisingly minimal arguing.

"We're set on sending Peter in to get Erik alone? No offense to Peter, but are we sure this is the best idea?" Hera asked.

"He's our only shot at getting this done. He can do it, Hera." Logan assured her.