The Wolverine and The Phoenix

The Approach

The drive back to the mansion is quiet. Phoebe stares out the window watching as the trees blur into the darkness of the late night. She tries to prepare herself for whatever she'll face at the mansion. What did Scott say? Logan had been violent? Memory lapses? She wonders if he'll try to attack her. She had thought he was going to a few times and she had reacted in fear and shock. But deep down, something tells her that he wouldn't hurt her. She believed him when he said he cared about her. And she can't help but feel that his behaviour came from emotions he can't understand. 

Scott can sense her worry and nerves and his knuckles turn white as he grips the steering wheel. After a while, he glances at her, trying to see how she's holding up. He knows she must be worried but all he can see is pure determination and drive.

After a while, the mansion finally comes into view. Just the sight of it is enough to send Scott's heartrate skyrocketing, worried about how this is going to play out. He tries to keep his thoughts and his worries in check though, not wanting Phoebe to pick up on them. He drives up the long, winding driveway, the sound of the gravel crunching under the tires of the car.

Phoebe takes a deep breath as they pull in and Scott kills the engine. He lets out a huff, steeling himself and his nerves before speaking, "You ready...?"

"I'm ready!" she says, getting out of the car. No matter what happens, she knows that Logan is still there. And she's going to get him back.

They walk through the front doors of the mansion. It's eerily quiet, the air thick with tension. Phoebe wonders if Logan can sense that she's there. Scott keeps an eye on her as they step further into the foyer. She's looking around, listening for any sign of Logan. "The students have been moved and everyone else has been instructed to stay in their rooms," he says, quietly.

Phoebe nods and thinks of where Logan could be. The mansion is massive, but there are three places he's most likely to be. His room, her room, or the garden. Scott sees her thinking and speaks after a moment "If I had to guess, he's probably in the garden... that seems to be where he goes whenever he wants to be alone..."

"It's also where he spent a lot of time with me," she says and starts walking towards the kitchen. Scott nods and follows her. When they get to the kitchen, Phoebe stops at the back door and turns to Scott, "Stay here," she says, "if he sees me walk out with you it'll set him off"

Scott huffs and crosses his arms. He doesn't want her going out there with him alone. But she's also right. He nods begrudgingly and leans against the counter. "Okay, just be careful, alright?"

She nods and goes through the garden door.

The garden is dark like it was the night she found him smoking. She walks over to the bench he sat at and looks around, peering through the trees for any sign of him. Then she sees a familiar head of hair under one of the trees. He hasn't sensed her yet, but as she takes a step closer, she sees his muscles clench and his head slowly turns around to look at her.

"Logan?" she says, softly and cautiously, trying to control her racing heart. The quiet and the darkness add to the tension. She can't make out his face in the shadow.

Logan's eyes widen when he sees her. He didn't expect her to come back. His hands clench subconsciously at the sound of her voice, his body becoming defensive.

"Are you okay?" she asks carefully, trying to figure out if she's talking to Logan, or the animal inside him.

He doesn't turn around, but his head is turned still, his eyes fixed on her. Even he's not sure which part of him is in control and he's holding himself back, "what are you doing here?" he asks, his voice low and gruff.