Claws and Heartstrings: Logan Howlett | Wolverine ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

Chapter Ten

- Lalia

I couldn't shake the feeling of dread that had settled in my chest. The Professor was still unconscious, and the mansion felt eerily quiet without his presence. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more troubling than the last. I tried to focus, but Simon's persistent questions kept annoying the hell out of me.

"Lalia, are you okay?" Simon asked for what felt like the hundredth time, his voice started to irk my very soul.

I forced a smile, avoiding his gaze. "I'm fine, Simon. Just... a lot on my mind."

He didn't look convinced, but thankfully, he didn't press further. I couldn't handle his worry on top of everything else. I needed space, a moment to think without the weight of his concern bearing down on me. It doesn't help the fact that it feels like it's 100 degrees in here.. I get irritated easily when it's hot.

I slipped away to the vault, the one place where I could find some sort of peace. The heavy door creaked open, and I stepped inside, the familiar hum of Cerebro filling the air. I approached the massive machine, my fingers trailing along its cold, metallic surface.

As I stood there, staring at the intricate circuitry, a thought struck me. What if Cerebro had been tampered with? The idea seemed far-fetched, but the Professor's sudden collapse couldn't be a mere coincidence. I took a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest, and began to inspect the machine more closely.

Minutes turned into hours as I meticulously examined every inch of Cerebro. My fingers grazed over wires and components, searching for any sign of sabotage. And then, I found it—a subtle but unmistakable alteration. Someone had tampered with the machine, and the realization sent a chill down my spine.

I felt a mix of anger and fear bubbling up inside me. Anger at whoever had done this, and fear for what it meant for the Professor and all of us. My mind raced with questions, but I knew I had to stay focused. There was no time to waste. I knew what I had to do.

Desperation clawed at me, urging me to find answers about where Magneto was headed. I approached Cerebro, my hands trembling as I prepared to put it on. Anxiety surged through me—I'd never used this machine before, and the thought of what might happen filled me with dread.

With a deep breath, I placed the helmet on my head. The weight of it was both physical and emotional. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my racing heart. Just as I began to concentrate, I heard footsteps pounding down the hallway. Simon was running towards the vault.

"Lalia, wait!" he shouted, his voice filled with panic.

But it was too late. The machine whirred to life, and an overwhelming surge of energy coursed through me. Pain exploded in my mind, unlike anything I'd ever felt. My knees buckled, and I collapsed to the floor, the helmet sliding off my head.

Simon was at my side in an instant, his face pale with worry. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice shaking.

I could barely breathe, the pain still radiating through my skull. But amidst the agony, one thing was clear. I looked up at Simon, my voice barely a whisper. "I know where Magneto's going."

-𝐱-

About an hour later, we all gathered in the briefing room. I looked around the room, seeing familiar faces filled with concern and determination. All the members were there, waiting for answers.

I took a deep breath and began, "Magneto is headed to Liberty Island. He's planning something big."

I glanced at Scott, who nodded for me to continue. "He's going to use her powers to fuel his machine. He wants to turn the world leaders into mutants at the summit."

Scott's jaw tightened. "We need to stop him before he gets that far. How much time do we have?"

"Not much," I replied. "We need to move fast."

Jean stepped forward, her voice calm yet determined. "We need a solid plan. We will take the Blackbird and provide air support."

Jean's eyes met mine. "We'll need to disable his machine. Lalia, do you know how it works?"

I shook my head. "Not exactly, but I saw enough to know it's powered by Rogue's abilities. If we can free her, we might be able to stop it."

As everyone dispersed to gather their equipment, I found myself gravitating towards Logan. He was already heading towards the locker room, his mind clearly on the mission ahead. I caught up to him and placed a hand on his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"Logan," I said, my voice steady. "You're going to need this." I handed him his uniform, the familiar black and yellow suit that had seen countless battles.

He looked down at it and then back at me, a rare softness in his eyes. He had been on edge, and I knew why. "Logan, about earlier..."

He cut me off, his voice gruff but tinged with regret. "I'm sorry for what I said. I was just worried about Rogue. I promised I'd protect her and I failed in that department twice."

I nodded, feeling a bit of sympathy. "I understand, Logan. We're all worried about her. You were just looking out for her." I muttered, my gaze moving away from his, "Besides, your words didn't really apply to me anyways."

His eyebrows furrowed at my last comment, not sure what I meant. But he gave a small, appreciative nod before stepping closer. His hand reached up, and with a surprising gentleness, he moved a stray strand of hair from my face. The roughness of his fingers contrasted sharply with the tenderness of the gesture, and I felt my breath hitch.

"You're something else, you know that?" he said, his voice low, almost a whisper. His eyes bore into mine, and for a moment, the chaos of our mission faded away. I could feel the tension in my shoulders start to melt, replaced by something warmer, more comforting.

I found myself getting lost in his gaze, the world narrowing down to just the two of us. His presence was intoxicating, and I felt a flutter in my chest that I hadn't felt in a long time. But reality came crashing back when I remembered the urgency of our mission.

Clearing my throat, I stepped back slightly, breaking the moment. "We should get going. The Blackbird is waiting."

He held my gaze for a moment longer before nodding, the corner of his mouth twitching into a small, almost imperceptible smile.