X's and O's - The Nina and Logan Years

2002, Pt. 1

Everything was on fire. Okay, well, not everything, but most everything. And they were at the centre of it all. 

Flaming debris rained down upon them. Nina cast a wide protective field. 

Peter grabbed onto Rogue, turning them both to metal and causing the debris to bounce off them. A large chunk bounced off and sliced Logan across the head.

"Sorry Logan!" Rogue shrieked. 

"Nicely done you two!" Nina said. Logan, however, did not look impressed while his wound healed. 

"Bobby!" Next Nina watched as Kitty ran over and grabbed onto Bobby, using her powers to make the flying debris pass right through them both. 

"Nicely done, Kitty!"

"Thanks, Ms. Nova!"

"I'm liking what I see so far, folks: teamwork! Looking after each other!"

It was herself, Kitty, Bobby, Rogue, Peter  and Storm all working together.

And then there was Logan, mid-battlefield, trying to light his cigar on one of the flames, mid-fray. She rolled her eyes at her boyfriend's antics. Seriously? But she wasn't all that surprised.  "Logan, focus! You're not setting a very good example!"

"It's not even real!"

"You're completely missing the point of this exercise! Hence, the bad example!"

Storm grabbed onto him and swung them both out of the way of flying debris mixed with flames. 

Logan recovered and shook off the dizziness. "That was my last cigar."

"It's getting closer!" Rogue called of the giant robot that was causing this mess. 

"Hey Tin Man, come here," Logan called to Peter. "How's your throwing arm?"

"Logan, we work as a team," Storm reminded him.

"Yeah, good luck with that." He turned to Peter. "Throw me - now!" 

"Dammit Logan, don't do this!"

But Logan was already sailing through the air, claws out. There was a distant crash! and moments later, a giant robotic head rolled to the ground before them. 

Logan emerged from behind it. "Class dismissed."

Storm heaved a displeased sigh. "Your boyfriend is a nuisance."

Nina nodded. "I know."

"Simulation complete," the automated voice said as they left the floor and the burning world around them faded away into the safety of the training hall. 

"What the hell was that?" Storm demanded, storming, for lack of a better word, up to Logan.

"Danger room session."

"You know what I mean."

"Hey lighten up-"

"No, Logan, you can't just change the rules when you feel like it," Nina backed up her friend and colleague. "We're trying to teach them something."

"I taught them something."

"It was a defensive exercise."

"Yeah, best defense is a good offence - or is it the other way around?"

"This isn't a game Logan," Storm told him.

"Well you sure fooled me. Whatever it is, they're not ready. And look, I'm just a sub. You got a problem, talk to Scott."