Claws and Heartstrings: Logan Howlett | Wolverine ᡣ𐭩ྀིྀི

Chapter Eighteen

- Lalia

I left the training room, my mind still full of the time I spent with him. There was a nagging sense of guilt that I couldn't quite shake, but whenever I was with him, all my worries seemed to fade away. It was like he had this weird ability to make everything else disappear, even if it was just for a little while.

As I walked down the corridor, I couldn't help but replay the session in my head. The way his veins popped with every punch he threw was insanely attractive.  That white tank top he always wore hugged his body in all the right places, showing every curve and line of his physique. And then there was that moment when he had me in a chokehold—

My God what is happening to me?

I quickly pushed these thoughts away, my mind was a whirlwind of worry and guilt. Suddenly, the intercom crackled to life, snapping me out of my stress. "Attention, team. Please report to the conference room immediately," Professor's announced.

I hurried to the conference room, my heart pounding. As I entered, I saw Logan leaning against the wall, arms crossed, looking as gruff as ever. Scott was seated, his visor reflecting the light, while Jean stood beside him, her expression calm but focused. Ororo, with her serene presence, was near the window, and Simon was sitting, his eyes glued to mine.

Professor's was at the head of the table,"Thank you for coming," he began. "We're following up on our mission. We're heading to Serbia to find Luca and gather leads on Magneto."

Logan was the first to speak, his voice rough but concerned. "Serbia? What's Magneto doing there?"

I couldn't hold back any longer. "Professor, we only have a few days. When will we be leaving?"

The Professor met my gaze, "I am aware of the time constraints, Lalia. That's why we'll be leaving in two days. We need to act swiftly but carefully. I know you're concerned about your brother, but we will do all in our power to bring him home safe."

The meeting continued, with various questions and concerns being raised. But my mind kept drifting back to Luca. Was he safe? What if Chthon was involved? The thought was almost too much to bear.

As the meeting wrapped up, I felt a heavy weight settle in my chest. The others began to disperse, but I lingered, my thoughts racing. Logan gave me a reassuring nod as he left, and Jean placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "We'll find him, Lalia," she said softly. I nodded, appreciating her support but still feeling the gnawing anxiety.

Simon caught me by the arm as I was about to leave the conference room, pulling me aside gently but firmly. "Lalia," he began, his voice softer than usual. "I need to apologize for how I acted. My jealousy got the better of me, and I know I was unfair to you."

I looked at him, my emotions a tangled mess. It wasn't like I wanted to hear this, but a part of me did. "Simon, I get it. But things were... they were bad. But you have to understand why I need space."

He nodded, running a hand through his hair in that way he always did when he was nervous. "I still believe we can be together, Lalia. I know I messed up, but I never stopped caring about you."

I sighed, not entirely sure how to respond. "I'm dealing with a lot right now. It's not that simple. Trust isn't something that just comes back overnight. And right now, I'm not sure I can give you that."

His face fell, and for a moment, I saw the Simon from when we first met, the one who made my heart race. "Do you remember our first kiss?" he asked, his voice almost a whisper. "You were so scared to get involved with someone because you were still new to the school. But I promised you I'd never give up on you."

A sad smile tugged at my lips. "Yeah, I remember. Things were different then. We were different."

"Maybe," he said, stepping closer, his voice filled with a mix of hope and desperation. "But I haven't changed how I feel about you. I still believe we can make this work."

I shook my head, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Simon, you have changed. And so have I. Right now, my number one priority is finding my brother. I can't focus on us when there's so much at stake."

He looked like he wanted to argue, but he just nodded, his shoulders slumping. "I get it. I really do. But I'm not giving up on us, Lalia. Not now, not ever."

I gave him one last look, my heart heavy but resolute. "I need time, Simon."

Scott sighed deeply, his eyes filled with a mix of frustration and sadness. "Lalia, if you could do at least one thing for me... If you really need to figure out how you feel about our relationship, then please, don't get involved with Logan. It's not fair to me. Your mind is all over the place right now, and doing that might cloud your judgment about me. About us."

Simon's voice cracked as he added, "It hurt seeing the way you looked at him in the training room. You used to look at me the exact same way."

I opened my mouth to argue, but Simon cut me off, his voice firm yet pleading. "Just tell me you'll do that one thing, and I'll give you all the space in the world."

I sighed, feeling the weight of his words pressing down on me. Slowly, I nodded, understanding where he was coming from. "Okay, I'll try to distance myself and focus on my feelings alone."

Simon's face softened into a smile as he leaned in and kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you," he whispered before turning and leaving.

As soon as the door closed behind him, I closed my eyes and put my hand to my forehead, feeling ten times more stressed than before. I understood Simon's perspective, and I agreed it was somewhat fair to focus on my feelings alone. But that didn't make it any easier. Besides, it's not fair of me to string Logan along when I don't even know how I feel about anyone.

I dragged myself back to my room, feeling like I was carrying the weight of the world on my shoulders. I sank into my bed, exhaustion washing over me. My mind raced with thoughts of my brother and, inevitably, Logan. A small part of me couldn't help but think about how hard it was going to be to avoid him.

Sleep came slowly, my mind a whirlwind of emotions and unanswered questions. I knew I had to figure out my feelings, but the path ahead seemed anything but clear.