Love That Burns

twelve

All hell had broken loose at the station, leading you all to find out that Magneto was going after Rogue and not Logan. He had successfully taken Rogue despite efforts to stop him. Logan was furious upon he return to the mansion and you couldn't blame him. You and Charles found yourself in Logan's room while he cleaned up after the fight.

"You said he wanted me," Logan said, turning around and slipping his leather jacket back on.

"I made a terrible mistake," Charles admitted. "I couldn't see what he was after until it was too late."

Logan headed for the door.

"Where are you going?" You asked.

"I'm gonna find her," he responded.

"How?" Charles wondered.

"The traditional way: look." He left the room but you followed after him.

"Logan, you can't do this alone," you said.

"Who'll help me? You?" Logan continued down the stairs. "So far, you've all done a bang-up job."

"Then help us. Fight with us."

He turned to face you. You were a few steps up from him while he was at the bottom of the stairs. "I don't even know if you can fight. What is your ability? Secrets? Besides, fighting with you? Joining the team? Be an X-Man? Who the hell do you think you are? You're a mutant. The world is full of people that hate and fear you and you're wasting your time trying to protect 'em? I've got better things to do."

Logan's response took you back a little, adding to the list of things that had changed about him since you had last been with him.

"Logan—"

"You know, Magneto's right. There's a war coming. Are you sure you're on the right side?"

"At least I've chosen a side."

Logan clenched his jaw at your response before opening the door. On the doorstep, stood a man, looking worse for wear and panting.

"I'm looking for Dr. Jean Grey," he rasped, before stumbling forward into Logan.

"Jean!" You shouted, knowing that she would hear you somehow. "Meet us in the lab! Come on," you ushered Logan, with the man in his arms, down to the lab.

You quickly got the man situated before Charles and Jean joined you. Charles rolled up to the man's side, seeming to already know who he was.

"Senator Kelly," Charles greeted. "I'm Professor Charles Xavier."

"I was afraid if I went to the hospital," the Senator said through pants, "they would..."

"Treat you like a mutant? We're not what you think. Not all of us."

"Tell it to the ones who did this to me."

Charles furrowed his brows in concern before wheeling around to be at the Senator's head. "Senator... I want you to try and relax. I'm not going to hurt you."

Charles placed his hands on either side of the Senator's head and closed his eyes. You nibbled your lip nervously as Charles flittered through the Senator's thoughts. Your hand went to your chest to try and hold your dog tags, only to realize the weren't there. Logan noticed your movement and felt guilty for still having your dog tags. But he didn't make a move to give them back, hoping that having them would convince you to tell him what you knew.

"Upstairs, now," Charles said as he pulled away from the Senator. Once in his office, Charles began to explain what he saw. "The machine emits radiation that triggers mutation in ordinary human beings."