#secret mutant madness

[jackyjango]

Secret Mutant Madness 2024 - Sign-Ups Open

Sign-Up Now!

Sign-Up Closes : 15th November 2024, 5 PM UTC

Works Reveal : 15th December 2024, 5 PM UTC

Creators Reveal : 22nd December 2024, 5 PM UTC

As always, please spread the word!

[cherikdogfood]

Woahhh

I didn't know about this!!!

Def checking it out

I am asking again of all the new and returning X-Men and Cherik fans to please check out the Secret Mutant Madness event on Ao3 that's been run every year since 2011. You have the chance to leave prompts for others to fill (for fic or art!) and are also free to fill as many of them as you want for anyone who has signed up! It's a lot of fun, and a great way to engage with other fans! It's open to all X-Men fans/verses (comics, animated series too not just the movie verse).

Check it out!

Secret Mutant Madness 2024

Sign-up Opens: 30 Oct, 2024, 5PM, UTC Sign-up Closes: 15th Nov 2024, 5PM, UTC Works Reveal: 15th Dec, 2024, 5PM, UTC Author/Artist Reveals: 22nd Dec, 2024, 5 PM, UTC

[aphyxiation]

Charles enters the bathroom, turning on the harsh, fluorescent light and suddenly every one of those theories doesn’t matter anymore. Because staring right back at him in the mirror is his own face. His own face with cat ears. Oh, fuck.

Authors for this years' Secret Mutant Madness have been revealed, so here is my humble contribution, written for ethanhunter's prompt.

Enjoy this silly little catboy smut and happy holidays to those who celebrate!

[fullcatkryptonite]

Chapters: 2/2 Fandom: X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Erik Lehnsherr/Charles Xavier Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier, David Haller Additional Tags: Alternate Universe, POV Alternating, Charles is a single dad, Erik Logic Is The Best Logic, Erik Has Feelings, Idiots in Love, Alpha/Beta/Omega Dynamics, Unplanned Pregnancy Series: Part 5 of Remix and Fandom’s events series Summary:

When Charles moved into his new apartment with his four-year-old son, the last thing he expected was to find his ex, with whom he had abruptly broken up, living just a few doors down.

I could only give it an open ending. There will probably be an epilogue at some point. But at least now the story makes a little more sense.

Thank you to everyone who will read this little story of mine.

[verstappentime]

my heart knows your name: charles and erik have been broken up for years, occasionally falling into each other. things might change for good when erik lands himself in the ER where charles works. it’s all a bit of a hanukkah miracle.

[giveamadeuschohisownmovie]

Hmm…I got an idea for how “Avengers Doomsday” could go:

Based on the end of “Multiverse of Madness”, we know that an incursion is occurring. The MCU is colliding with some other universe and it’s Strange’s fault somehow. Since “The Fantastic Four” apparently takes place in another universe, what if that’s the lead-in?

The universe that the MCU is collapsing into is the F4-verse. From there, the F4 movie can develop in several ways. Maybe Doom caused the incursion and that Strange is being unjustly blamed for it? Or maybe Reed Richards caused it because dangers of science and so on.

Anyways, with the incursion happening, the F4 realize they have to travel to the other universe to work with the heroes there in order to save both their universes. Cue…crossover. And if Doom caused the incursion, then it makes sense he’s the main villain. The movie is literally called Doomsday and the movie is about a doomsday that’s going to wipe out the MCU and F4’s universes.

As to how they can fix the problem…maybe a merger? “Multiverse of Madness” set up the idea that you can’t really stop an incursion and that at least one of the universes is dying out. So since both universes can’t survive the crash, through comic book logic, maybe the universes can be merged together to save everyone. This leads to the timeline being somewhat changed, in that the previous events are still technically canon, but are now modified with the new characters.

(Maybe this is also the justification for having the mutants in the MCU. If the mutants exist in F4-verse, then they get merged as well. Also, I didn’t intend on this, but F4-verse in this write-up sounds like it’s just a different version of 20th Century Fox’s Marvel movies lol. Because X-Men and Fantastic Four)

[crystalshard]

Secret Mutant Madness

I signed up for Secret Mutant Madness this year, and since the fics have now been de-anoned I can claim mine!

Drive You - Rating E. Charles/Erik. Erik's PTSD means that his head sometimes gets louder than he or Charles can bear. If Erik needs to get down on his knees to let go, then Charles is more than willing to help him do so. NSFW.

Search the Sky - Rating T. Charles/Erik. Loosely based on 101 Dalmatians, but with dragons.

8 to Infinity - Rating M. Charles/Erik. David 8 from the Alien series gets the Marvel treatment and is taken under Charles Xavier's wing. Includes action movie style prison break in Chapter 2.

[rolandtowen]

Authors have been revealed for Secret Mutant Madness 2024, so please enjoy the one-shot I wrote for Deathpetal's prompt!

Prompt: Logan has to fill in as acting headmaster for Charles Xavier's school. Students are kinda scared (because Wolverine can be scary). Logan shows/discovers his soft side.

Read on Ao3 or under the cut!

“Why me?” Logan groans, sinking into his chair.

“Because,” Scott smirks, “the only way we do this mission is by plane, and if I recall correctly, you are afraid of flying.”

“I’m afraid of your flying,” Logan shoots back.

“Boys,” Ororo reprimands. “Someone has to watch the kids.” She turns to Logan, putting her hands on her hips. “Which is it gonna be, flying or babysitting?”

“Ugh, fine. I’ll be acting headmaster.”

“Glad that’s settled then,” Ororo smiles. “Wheels up in thirty, Scott.” She turns back to Logan. “And try not to smoke around the kids, okay? Try to set a good example.”

Logan sighs. “I’ll try.”

***

The first day of babysitting doesn’t go according to plan. Not even remotely.

Logan teaches his regular morning history class, then spends the rest of the day desperately trying to keep mutant children from setting the house on fire, themselves, or both. He’s only successful at the first task.

He’s placing a phone call to the nearest pizza joint – because no way in hell is he going to be cooking tonight – when he hears a yelp from across the mansion. He hangs up the phone, listening more intently. He can just make out some soft crying with his enhanced hearing. A protective feeling rises in his chest, and he’s striding across the mansion, trying to figure out where the crying’s coming from.

It only takes a few floors until Logan locates the source: one of the shared bathrooms on the fourth floor. He knocks softly at the door, asking: “Everything okay in there?”

The crying stops, followed by a light sniffle. “No? Or, yes. I don’t know,” comes a little girl’s exasperated voice.

“Can I come in?”

There’s a spell of silence, during which Logan assumes the girl nodded before remembering he can’t see her. “Yeah.”

Logan opens the door cautiously, peering into the bathroom. A little girl – God, he can’t remember her name for the life of him – sits curled up on the floor, her hand curled into her chest. Her long black hair is tied into pigtails, and she can’t be more than 8 years old. Tears are running freely down her cheeks, and Logan can see her chest heaving with the urge to control her crying. He crosses the room to her and sits down across from her, back pressed up against the sink cupboard.

“Hey, it’s okay, let me see,” Logan gently uncurls the girl’s hand, and he can see warm blisters rising across the palm of her hand. “There we go. Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?”

The little girl nods. “Jubilee,” she sniffles.

“Okay, Jubilee. You’re going to be alright, let’s just head into the kitchen, huh?” Logan picks her up easily, carrying her down the grand staircase as her breathing comes under control. “Can you walk on your own now?” Jubilee nods quickly, and he sets her down. He guides Jubilee to the sink, running cool water over her hand. “Okay, keep holding your hand under the water, I’m gonna grab some stuff and I’ll be right back.”

He opens the hall closet, pulling out the first aid kit, before Pyro comes running up to him. “Have you seen Jubilee?” He pants.

“Yeah, she’s in the kitchen with some blisters,” Logan frowns, before his expression darkens. “What did you do, Pyro?”

Pyro throws up his hands. “Okay, technically, I didn’t do anything! I guess, well, I kinda did, but–”

Logan rolls his eyes. “You can tell me later, kid. I’m guessing you have some experience in treating burns?” Pyro nods. “Then come with me.”

When they reenter the kitchen, Jubilee is still diligently standing on her step stool and holding her right hand under the running water, looking much happier than when Logan found her fifteen minutes ago. “I haven’t moved!” She chirps, and Logan smiles at her. “You’re doing a great job, Jubilee, can you come sit at the table?”

She hops down from the stool and looks between Logan and Pyro, sheepishly standing in the corner of the kitchen. “It wasn’t his fault, Mr. Logan.”

Logan makes an unconvinced sound. “Uh huh. So how did you end up with burns then?”

Jubilee leans in real close to Logan, like she’s telling him a secret. “I have fire powers too. Pyro was just trying to help me with them.” Jubilee looks down, shame flushing her small face. “But, I lost control, so I…ran away.”

Great, Logan thinks. Another kid with a fire mutation in this old mansion. But out loud, he says: “I get it, kiddo. Learning to control your powers can be quite the learning process.” He quirks an eyebrow up at Pyro. “Especially fire powers.”

“Well, technically, Jubilee’s powers are more, uh – combustive?” Pyro offers, still standing in the corner of the room. Logan looks up at him, obviously wanting more explanation. “Where I can make a flame, Jubilee can make sparks. Like, little explosions,” he clarifies.

Logan looks down at Jubilee’s palm, and he understands. Where he expected the skin to be blistering all in one patch, as if it were burned by flame, he sees distinct, circular blisters every couple of centimeters. Like Jubilee had shot fireworks out of her hand.

“Alright, Pyro,” he acquiesces, his voice going softer. “You’re the fire expert, come tell me what to do.”

“The running water was a good call,” Pyro murmurs. “Now we’re going to pat everything dry with a paper towel, keep it sterile, yeah?” It takes Logan a moment to realize that Pyro is talking to Jubilee, not to him. It's a side of Pyro he’s never seen before – he explains everything he’s going to do in detail, holding Jubilee’s palm ever so gently.

“Now, I’m gonna put some aloe vera on your hand. It might sting a little bit, okay? If it helps, uh…” Pyro looks around, searching for something, and Logan understands. “If it helps, you can squeeze my hand,” Logan says, holding out his right hand. “And remember, I’m super strong, so you can squeeze as hard as you want – you won’t hurt me.”

Jubilee nods and grips Logan’s hand. Pyro starts to lather a generous amount of aloe vera gel across her palm, as gently as possible. Jubilee grips Logan’s hand, and he doesn’t mind at all, marveling a bit at how small her hand is in his, how soft her grip is even when she’s squeezing at full strength. It’s…a weird sensation, being trusted to look after this next generation. Logan’s always been a soldier, but staring at Jubilee’s hand in his, he starts thinking he could be something more.

“I’m gonna bandage it now, alright?” Pyro’s voice pulls him out of his reverie, and he watches as Pyro winds a sterile bandage around Jubilee’s hand, tucking the end in around her wrist. “I think we have some…here we go!” Pyro pulls some chewable ibuprofen out of the first aid kit. “Take two of these, and I’ll let you know when you should take the next two, yeah?”

Jubilee nods emphatically, popping the grape-flavored painkillers into her mouth. “And no more testing your powers until this is fully healed.” Pyro attempts to put on a stern voice, but Jubilee just smiles at him. “Okay, Pyro.” She turns to Logan, squeezing his hand three times in quick succession. “Thank you, Mr. Logan! You should babysit more often.”

And then she’s off – the picture of youthful resilience.

“You’re good at that,” Pyro offers. Logan looks at him sideways. “Taking care of them, I mean. I know you like to act all tough, but they look up to you a lot.”

“Ain’t an act, kid.” Logan bristles, but he softens as he processes the rest of Pyro’s words. “You’re good with ‘em too. You ever think of staying on as a teacher, after?”

Pyro makes a noncommittal sound. “I’m not the kinda guy who puts down roots, I think.”

Logan snorts. “Neither was I. And yet, here I am,” he gestures around the kitchen. “Babysitting.”

That gets Pyro to laugh. “You got dinner plans, Mr. Babysitter?”

“Pizza,” Logan says, pulling the phone towards him again. “You got any preferences?”

“Not really,” the boy thinks for a second. “Though, if you put pineapple on any of those pizzas, I swear to God, I will burn this mansion down.”

Logan cackles, and orders twenty pizzas.

[redsnerdden]

Red's Comic and Manga Picks of the Week: March 5, 2025

Red's Comic and Manga Picks of the Week: March 5, 2025 #ComicBooks #GraphicNovels #Manga #Books #Comics

Last week, I began Red’s Picks of the Week on my sidebar, but this time we’re going to be looking at my top ten picks of Comic Book and Manga Releases for this week. This week, one of the big releases coming this week is the first volume of Kenichi Sonoda’s Gunsmith Cats from Darkhorse Comics. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links and make…

[leadendeath]

one more thing.

because of the setup of the first episode, i have tried on at least two (2) different years to do this:

"start a full rewatch of the entirety of futurama starting on jan 1st because Obviously"

but i have Never watched the full show! can u believe!!! i really list it among my ultimate fav shows ever and have so many memories of watching it as a kid, yet i've never watched the whole thing‼‼‼

[theskiboysjacket]

Secret Mutant Letter 2024

Hello mate!

It's my first time prompting in a challenge this year and I hope my prompts are phrased well and have a good writing potential.

My big yeses: angst, fluff, crack, emotional & physical hurt/comfort, happy ending, Xavierine, Cherik, Magnerine, Logan/Erik/Charles

Okay with: A bit of smut but I don't like it to be a lot, E-rated, action scenes and mild violence, minor character death

Big noes: d/s tones, nasty stuff and too much smut, main character death

Feel free to add in any characters or details you wish.

THANK YOU ✨

[jackyjango]

Secret Mutant Madness 2023 - Sign-Ups open

Sign-Up Here

Sign-Up Closes : 10th November 2023, 5 PM UTC

Works Reveal : 15th December 2023, 5 PM UTC

Creators Reveal : 22nd December 2023, 5 PM UTC

As always, please spread the word!

[gerec]

Selfishly - I'm hoping for more Xavierine prompts please for Secret Mutant Madness 2024!!!

[teslacoils-and-hubris]

Could you guys imagine the drama if mad scientists had tumblr?

0 notes

💀dr.undead follow

Can you guys stop putting @normal-civilian on my dash?? They LITERALLY don't support graverobbing??? Like it's 2023 get over yourself some of us need corpse parts for experiments grandma isn't using her liver anymore it's fine!

37 notes

💉modernprometheus follow

Just in case you haven't heard it today, it's totally valid to call yourself a doctor even if you dropped out of college! It's basically a mad scientist tradition at this point

🦇dr-bats follow

Nah fuck this. I didn't spend years defining and documenting a scientific method of turning people into giant animal mutants through gene manipulation to get lumped in with some fresh faced collage dropout who just happened to stumble onto the secret to reanimating corpses. Words have meanings.

5k notes

🩻 exposedspine1 follow

Hey guys what do you think would happen if I jumped into the open vat of glowing green mystery chemicals we all keep in our labs? Super powers right?

🩻 exposedspine1 follow

Hospital.

2k notes

🤖 inatorlover3000 follow

Aha! But I bet you didn't expect this! It's my latest invention, a giant death ray that detects the biggest LOSER in the room! And look! It's pointing right at you! Better run while you still can hero!

🔫 henchman13 follow

Good one boss!

2 notes

🫁 gutz-n-stuff follow

Literally if you don't keep living brains in jars of green goo unfollow me now.

245 notes

[fullcatkryptonite]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: X-Men (Alternate Timeline Movies) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Characters: Erik Lehnsherr, Charles Xavier, Raven | Mystique Additional Tags: Movie: X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Canon Compliant, Character Study, POV Second Person Summary:

You recall those first few months in solitary, when you thought there was still a chance that someone would come to save you. And then something happened-- you don’t know when. You stopped raging and you let the light die.

 (for Aphxia's prompt in Secret Mutant Madness '24: an elaboration on the effects of a decade without human contact.)

I really loved this story. It shows exactly how Erik's isolation has caused more damage than anyone can imagine and gives a very good explanation for the questionable choices Erik makes in this movie. A must read.

[fluff-lover]

Healing Touch | Chapter 4: Trauma

Logan Howlett x Fem!Reader

Story summary: You’re a new member of the X-Men. Your mutation allows you to heal other people: you can close any wound, and cure any sickness. You’re not a fighter at all, but you’re useful at the battle field when it comes to saving injured mutants.

Masterlist

It’s been three days since the incident and you’ve hardly left your room. No one in the mansion blamed you. You were still shaken up, so they took turns to bring you water and food. Ororo, Jean and Rogue would stay with you to keep you company for a little bit every once in a while, just to make sure you were fine.

You were alive, that much was true, but you wouldn’t say you were fine.

Despite being an X-Men you never experienced much violence. You were a lover, not a fighter. So when you suddenly got stabbed -by your friend, no less- you were shocked. The memory haunted you: the way your blood ran down Logan’s arms and pooled in the couch, the searing pain of his claws, the choking sensation as your own blood filled your throat… That kind of trauma would change anyone. As much as it pained you to admit it, for a fleeting moment you had been afraid of him.

And Logan…

The pure horror in his eyes when he snapped open and saw you bleeding. You could still hear his anguished cries out for help as he held your limp body on the couch. You were the one wounded yet you wanted to comfort him, to reassure him you were fine and not mad at him.

But he had run.

You didn’t know how to feel about him running away. Was he scared? Wracked with guilt? Did he think you’d died?... The questions broke your heart. You wanted to see him, to talk to him, but at the same time you weren’t sure if you should be afraid of him or not. He never meant to hurt you, you knew that, but he did and you hoped someday you’d be able to move past it.That is, if you ever saw him again. He was nowhere to be found.

Curled up on your bed, your face buried in a tear-stained pillow, you could only think about him. Was he safe? He’d left with nothing, not even a bag. The uncertainty made you cry harder.

Not knowing made you cry more.

There was a soft knock on your door and then Jean stepped in.

“Hey hun.” She said sitting down on your bed next to you.

“Any news?” Your voice just above a whisper.

Jean smiled kindly and nodded.

“We got a location. Scott and some others are heading out.” She replied. Charles had been working extra hard with Cerebro to locate Logan.

“What if he doesn’t want to come back?” You asked and sniffled.

“I’m sure he will, once he knows you’re okay and miss him.” She reassured you. “They’ll find a way to bring him back, I’m sure of it.”

“You should go with them.” You said. “If there’s anyone that he would do anything for, it’s you.” You added. It was no secret that Logan would follow Jean to the end of the world if she asked.

A flicker of something crossed Jean’s eyes, and she quickly looked away. 

“It’s not like that.” the redhead said.

“He loves you.” You sobbed. “You know it, I know it, even your fiancé knows it.” 

Jean gave you a pitiful look and sighed, she knew how you felt about him. She didn’t need to read your mind to know you were head over heels for him. It was easy to open up to Jean, even if she was the cause of your jealousy and envy. Even if you wanted to hate her, you couldn’t. 

“He’s never gonna love me back, but I don’t care about that now… I just want to fix things. Do you think I’m stupid for loving him after what he did?” You asked shyly. It was a question that had been plaguing you lately.

Jean took a moment to think and then shook her head.

“Love makes us all do stupid things, but the act itself of loving someone is never stupid.” Jean said while rubbing your arm soothingly, like a mother comforting a frightened child.

“I feel like I should be scared of him.” You confessed. “But I’m more terrified of the idea of never seeing him again.”

“Logan’s life is filled with violence, but I can assure you he never meant to hurt you. And he’d hate for you to be afraid of him.” She reassured you.

“Please bring him home.” You pleaded.

“We will. And I promise we won’t come back without him.”

-

“I’m cutting you off.” The bartender said as he pushed Logan’s glass away.

“The hell you are!” Logan said, baring his teeth.

“You had enough. It’s time to go.” 

Logan let out a low snarl and dropped some money on the bartop. Usually he would put up a fight, but tonight he was exhausted. The last few days were nothing but hopping from one bar to the other to get fucked up until they either closed or kicked him out. The rest of his time he spent it in a small motel room. He didn’t get much sleep though, everytime he closed his eyes he had nightmares of you dying in his arms. Not only he remembered that moment over and over again, but each time it got worse, more violent, more desperate.

He stumbled out of the bar and made his way to his motel room, his mind clouded by guilt and alcohol. As he pulled out the key and fumbled with the keys, he realized he had to get his shit together. He would run out of money soon, his healing factor burned through liquor faster than his wallet could keep up. Logan mulled over his options. Maybe he could go back to cage fighting? or go back to Canada?...

Just as he stepped into the room, everything went black.

The next thing he knew he was inside a moving vehicle. He groaned, the back of his head hurting a lot.

“The fuck…?”

“I think he’s waking up.” A voice said. It took him a moment, but Logan recognized that voice.

“Rogue?” Logan sat up and looked around the large car, his vision clearing after a moment. He was in a car with Rogue and Colossus, Scott and Jean in the front seats. And of all things, they were riding in a ridiculously looking Honda Odyssey.

“How are you feeling? We were worried Colossus hittoo hard on you.” Rogue said.

“What the fuck happened?” Logan asked, confused. “Did you punch me?” He asked, this time specifically to Colossus. The other mutant had the decency of looking ashamed.

“We didn’t think you’d come willingly.” He explained.

“What the fuck is going on? Where are you taking me?” Logan pressed.

“Back to the mansion.” Jean replied.

“No, you’re fucking not.” Logan protested.

“Colossus, can you punch him again?” Scott asked.

“Hasn’t it occurred to you that I don’t want to go back to the mansion?”

“Logan, this is ridiculous.” Rogue said. “The mansion is your home, you belong there.” Logan looked away. The mansion was the first place he could remember feeling like home. After a moment he managed to clear his head and gather enough courage to talk again.

“I can’t go back… What about Angel? Is she… Is she okay?”

Rogue smiled softly and nodded her head.

“She’s fine. She healed right away, actually. Barely left a mark.”

The relief Logan felt in that moment was like taking a deep breath after minutes under water.

“She wants to see you.” Jean said, catching Logan’s attention. “She’s been miserable since you left.”

“Isn’t she afraid of me?” Logan asked almost shyly. “She should be.”

“No. She’s afraid of losing her friend, though.” Jean replied. 

Guilt filled Logan once again.

“I never meant to hurt her.” He grumbled.

“We know, and she knows it too.” Rogue reassured him. 

“But you did hurt her, so now you have to apologize and fix it.” Scott said. Jean rolled her eyes and turned to look at Logan over her seat.

“Listen, you belong with us, with the X-Men. You made a mistake and someone got hurt, but that doesn’t mean you have to leave. This is still your home. And Angel is still your friend. She made me promise we would find you and bring you back.”

“She did?” Logan asked incredulously and Jean nodded.

“Mhmm, like I said, she’s really sad, and she misses you. She hasn’t left her room since you left.”

Logan didn’t know what to say. The thought of you being sad because of his absence made something stir in his chest.

Once they arrived at their destination and got out of the car, Logan looked at the mansion with hesitation. He didn’t think he would be back here, let alone to face you.

“Just an advice…” Scott said as he walked past him. “Take a shower and put on some clean clothes, you look and smell like crap.”

Logan growled.

“Thank you, Summers.” He said sarcastically. 

Despite his annoyment, Logan did follow Scott’s advice and got himself presentable. He never took so long to get ready before but that’s because he was stalling. He didn’t know what he would say or do once he saw you. His hands shook as he buttoned up his shirt and he felt like a teenager before prom… but worse.

Logan could face lots of villains with infinite power, yet he couldn’t bring himself to talk to you. You. Little, sweet angelic you. His friend.

With a groan and nothing left to do, Logan stepped out of his room and headed to yours.

To his surprise you weren’t in your room. He knocked several times but no one answered. At first he thought you were ignoring him. 

Maybe Jean was wrong. Maybe you didn’t want to see him.

“She’s in the garden.” He heard Charles say. Quickly turning around he found the Professor with a knowing smile on his face

“Are you spying on her?” Logan arched his brow.

“No, I just saw her on my way back from my walk.” Charles continued down the hall. “Can you believe that? I go on walks now!” He joked.

Logan shook his head and smiled softly before heading out.

He wasn’t surprised when he found you on your usual bench. When you heard him coming and turned to look at him, Logan froze.

“Hey.” he hesitated, not knowing if he should walk closer or not.

“Hi.” You said softly. “You’re back.” There was relief in your voice. 

“Yeah… I pretty much got kidnapped.” He muttered, awkwardly shoving his hands into his pockets.

“You shouldn’t have left in the first place. But you’re here now, so let’s celebrate.” You turned to pick something up and when you turned back around Logan saw you were holding a bottle of champagne.

“I’m not much of a champagne type of guy, sweetheart…” He said a bit confused.

“Oh, no, you got me all wrong. This is for me. This…” you turned around and picked a bottle of whiskey. “...is for you.”

That got a laugh out of Logan. How did you always manage to make everything better?

“You know me so well.”

“Come, sit with me.” You said, and finally Logan found the courage to get close to you.

Once he sat down he took the bottles from you and opened them. When you took the bottle of champagne again your eyes locked in.

This was it, this was the moment he was dreading.

“I’m so sorry, Angel.” He said softly. “I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know, Logan, I know. I don’t blame you for it.”

He raised his hand to stop you. 

“Please let me finish.”

You shut your mouth and nodded. Logan took a long swing of the whiskey, almost drinking half of the bottle in one go. Then he took a deep breath and looked back at you.

“Ever since I can remember, which isn’t long because most of my memory consists of scraps and broken parts, I’ve had really bad nightmares. I have bits and pieces of what happened to me when I was experimented on. And it was torture. It was insufferable pain. No matter how much I try to run away from that past, every night I find myself back in that room, with those needles and cables attached to me, the adamantium filling in…” He took a shaky breath in and then another swing of whiskey, trying to calm himself down.

You didn’t say anything, as expected, but you did place your hand on top of his, encouraging to go on.

“...I remember parts of wars I fought in, crimes I committed when I ran with the wrong crowd… people I’ve lost.” He closed his eyes and defeat. “I lost so many people. I can’t lose you too. So when I saw what I did to you, I didn’t know how to handle it, I couldn’t deal with it.”

“Oh, Logan…” You whispered, wiping a tear away from his cheek. Logan tilted his head on your hand, seeking your warmth.

“I won’t lie to you Logan. You did scare me that night.” You confessed, and Logan’s heart broke a little bit more. “But I think that is to be expected. Maybe for a moment there you lost yourself, but it wasn’t your fault. You’re dealing with so much trauma, and you’re doing it alone, there’s only so much you can do.”

“What’s the alternative?” He asked, sounding defeated.

“To let others help you.” You replied. “Let me help you.”

“How?” Logan asked, confused.

“I can try to use my powers to heal you, to heal your mind, your brain, whatever it is that needs healing.” You offered. “I can’t assure you it will work but it’s worth the try. And if it doesn’t then we’ll figure something out.”

Logan placed his free hand on top of yours. 

“You always help, Angel. It’s all you ever do, help others.”

“It’s what I do best.” You shrugged and smiled. 

“I will never be able to express how sorry I am for hurting you. Not just for physically hurting you, but also for leaving you when that was the last thing I should’ve done.”

“I forgave you already.” It was true. Before Logan came back your thoughts were all over the place, you didn’t know how to feel, or if you two would ever be friends again. But the second you saw him standing there, a look of shame and sadness on his face, every doubt flew away. You loved him, and even if you never got to be more than just friends, you couldn’t imagine a life without him in it.

“You’re way too good, sweetheart.” He shook his head in disbelief. “There has to be something I can do to make it up to you.”

You nodded your head.

“There is something! I want you to promise you’ll never run away from me again.”

Logan smiled softly.

“Only if you promise not to run away from me either.” You felt the weight of his words. He was asking you to stick around, even if you were ever afraid of him again.

“I haven’t gone anywhere so far, that’s gotta count for something, right?” you smiled. Logan nodded.

“You got yourself a deal, gorgeous.” He said, closing the deal. You smiled and blushed at the nickname. “So, where do we start?”

You pursed your lips, deep in thought.

“Let’s piece your memories back together. What’s the first thing you can remember? Do you remember anything from your childhood?”

Logan tilted his head.

“Alberta, Canada… I was a kid… I remember my father, he was a kind man. And then I remember running away, I was scared because suddenly I had claws…”

You listened closely and after a moment you raised the bottle of champagne.

“I guess we’re going to Canada…”