Until We Get It Right

Fervent As A Flame

Hera and Logan spent the remainder of the trip sitting on the bed in the back room and discussing what their pasts had been like. Where they were at certain points in history, what led to the current state of things at the mansion, even what the future was like for Logan. They had come to the realization that he did, in fact, know a distant relative of hers. The girl went by the name of "Rogue" and had a siphoning mutation of her own.

When the plane was ready to land, the pair made their way back to the seats in order to settle in. The landing went smooth, and they were able to keep the plane in a small facility that Snug had set up for them in advance. Hera would have to make sure they sent him a nice tip for his help and kindness.

They grabbed their bags, hailed a cab, and made their way to a nearby hotel. Even though it was dark out, the city was alive and buzzing. Hera looked out the cab window at the lights as they passed by, amazed at the sight. As long as she'd been alive, she hadn't made it to Paris. It was just a shame it was under such dire circumstances. Logan watched her face light up with awe as she looked oit the window, his own smile warm and full of admiration.

"When we get to the hotel, we can confirm our plans for tomorrow, then head to sleep. We need to get some rest in while we can." Charles instructed from his seat in the middle row of the van. He had been seated against the window as to avoid being trapped next to Erik like poor Hank was.

Their arrival was met with quiet murmurs of the people around them as they piled out of the cab looking travel worn and out of place. "Go to the desk and get our rooms. We'll wait in the lobby." Hera instructed Hank and Charles, the former of two looking desperate to get away from the awkward situation. At least Charles and Erik seemed to be more amicable after the plane ride. She and Logan could handle Erik and the bags themselves.

"So you two, eh?" Erik asked as they watched their friends walk to the front desk.

"What about us, Erik?" Hera sighed.

"I just mean that you seem rather attached at he hip." He said, motioning to their joined hands. "You finally found someone to put up with your silly notions, Hera. I'm thrilled for you."

"Shut up, Erik."

"I mean, you always said you were afraid you'd have to spend your whole miserable life alone. Now it seems you've found someone you can be miserable with."

"Erik. Shut your mouth before I shut it for you. Just because you decided to leave Charles and live your life like a fucking deviant doesn't mean you have the right to make everyone else as miserable as you are." She hissed.

Erik's jaw tensed, and he reached out his hand to grab her. Her eyes widened, but Logan stepped between them, his claws slowly coming out.

"You better think about that next move real careful, bub." Logan threatened.

Hera placed a cautious arm on his bicep and leaned up to speak quietly into his ear. "Claws away. We have a little crowd growing curious." She warned.

He looked around as his claws retracted,  and sure enough there was a small crowd of onlookers beginning to murmur.

"Down kitty." Erik smirked.

"So help me, Erik, I will smother you in your sleep if you say one more word. I'll put a pillow over your face and hold it there." Hera whispered.

Charles walked back over with a worried expression. Hera narrowed her eyes and started him down.

"Bad news, I'm afraid." He finally said.

"Oh, boy. Let us have it." She sighed.

"We got two rooms."

"And that's bad news?"

"The bad news is that one room is larger and has two beds and a pull out sofa. The other has a queen sized bed."

"Shit."

"So what's the plan?" Logan asked.

"Depends. We could do three of us in one room and give Hera her own. We could do two in one and three in the other." Hank began.

"I don't need a room to myself. As long as I don't have to share a bed with Erik, I can do whatever." She assured them.

"Erik gets the pull out sofa, then. We just need to decide who stays together and who gets the joy of doubling up in the queen bed." Hank decided.

"Logan and Hera should have their own room. Tomorrow could very well be the first day in a long line of very busy days. They deserve a bit of time together." Charles said, looking over at them with a soft smile.

Hera looked up at Logan and observed his face with questioning eyes. Was he alright with that? He looked down at her and nodded in return.

"Then it's settled. You two take the queen room. We'll be right down the hall from you. Let's head up to our room and go over tomorrow's plan before we settle in." Charles instructed.

They spent half an hour solidifying their itinerary before heading their separate ways with a promise to see eachother in the morning.

When Hera and Logan made it to the room, Logan tossed the bag of clothes on the dresser and turned to Hera.

"I can put some blankets in the tub and sleep there if you would be mo-" she started to offer.

"It's fine. I can share a bed with you. I think we'd both be more comfortable. And if you don't wanna be close to me, we can put a wall of pillows between us." He chuckled.

She laughed quietly, nodding. "Alright. We shoulf get some rest. Gonna be a long day tomorrow."

They took turns in the bathroom getting changed into something more suitable for bed. For Hera, it was her tanktop and a pair of stretchy shorts. For Logan, his white tank and boxers, seeing as he really only had one change of clothes. They turned out the light and laid down under the covers on opposite ends of the bed, their hands held loosely together in the center.

"Listen, what Erik said earlier, I don't want to make you miserable. Hell, I don't want to be miserable. I was just alone for so long, and by the time I met Charles and Erik, I'd lived a life full of loss. I suppose I really was a miserable bitch for a while, seeing everyone so happy, and in love, and ready to accept anyone who came along. By the time I came around to the idea of letting them accept me and include me, Erik had already made his decision on what he thought of me." She explained. "The soulmate thing was always a touchy subject for me, and he knew just what to say in order to get a reaction from me."

Logan remained silent for a moment, mulling over her words. "I was the same way when Charles found me. I was a miserable, reckless asshole who didn't want to accept help from anyone because I didn't think I deserved it. They showed me that it was alright to accept help. To have people to care about. And the soulmate thing was a moot point for me because I didn't think I deserved that either. I'd done so much terrible shit I figured the universe decided it would keep me alone and angry as punishment."

"But you're not alone. Not now, and not in the future." She assured him. "And neither am I."

"No, we're not. And this whole soulmate thing, uh, ain't too bad. I got pretty lucky in that area. You and I are a lot alike in the regard that we've been through our fair share of bullshit. Maybe this was the universe's way of giving us a break."

"Maybe you're right."

He moved to the center of the bed and pulled her in close. Her head rested on his chest as she listened to his breathing.

"Logan?"

"Yeah?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For giving me a chance."

"I'd do it in every lifetime if it meant I got to have this moment with you."