Logan walked into the mansion's sprawling kitchen, running a heavy hand through his hair. He wore a simple pair of board shorts and a short-sleeved button-down shirt the fabric hanging loose over his waist. It had been a chaotic few days. Surviving the gamma explosion, dealing with Beast, losing Rogue to Mystique—it was a relentless grind. Today, Liam decided, they needed a break. No training, no Danger Room, no world-saving. Just breathing.
He opened the refrigerator, grabbing a carton of orange juice, when the kitchen doors swung open. Kitty phased right through the wall, entirely ignoring the handle, followed a second later by a cloud of purple smoke as Kurt teleported directly onto a barstool.
"Like, I am going to lose my mind!" Kitty announced, flopping dramatically onto the kitchen island. She rested her chin on her hands, staring blankly at the toaster. "I have read every magazine in my room, I have texted the girls for 3 hours, and if I have to watch one more documentary for history class, my brain is going to literally melt out of my ears."
"She speaks the truth," Kurt sighed, resting his chin in his blue, furry hands. "The mansion is far too quiet today. Evan is asleep, Jean and Scott are doing extra combat drills because Scott is a joyless machine, and there is nothing on television but infomercials about blenders."
Logan took a slow drink straight from the juice carton, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at the two teenagers. They looked entirely miserable, completely drained by the heavy atmosphere that had been hanging over the team since Rogue left. Liam felt a strong, protective pull in his chest. They were kids. They needed to act like kids.
"Go get your stuff," Logan ordered, setting the carton down on the counter.
Kitty blinked, lifting her head. "Our stuff? Like, for the Danger Room?"
"No," Logan grunted, leaning against the counter. "For the beach. Grab your towels, grab some sunscreen. We're getting out of this house for the day. Meet me by the garage in twenty minutes."
Kitty's eyes went wide, a massive, genuine smile breaking across her face. "Are you serious? Logan, you're the best!" She didn't walk out of the kitchen; she simply phased straight down through the floorboards to get to her room faster.
Kurt leaped off the stool, his tail wagging frantically behind him. "Wunderbar! I will grab my image inducer! Thank you, Logan!" He vanished in another puff of brimstone.
Logan shook his head, a small, involuntary smirk pulling at the corners of his mouth. Liam felt a profound warmth settling in his chest. It was a simple thing, taking them to the beach, but the pure joy on their faces made the heavy adamantium in his bones feel a little lighter.
He left the kitchen, walking down the quiet hallways of the mansion. He figured he should offer the trip to the other adults. He found Bruce sitting in the library, surrounded by towering stacks of textbooks on genetics and biochemistry. Bruce looked exhausted, his shoulders hunched, completely absorbed in his desperate search for a cure. Logan offered him a spot in the SUV, but Bruce politely declined, stating he couldn't afford to break his focus.
Down in the sub-basement laboratory, Logan found Charles and Hank working together. Hank, still entirely covered in blue fur, was calibrating the Danger Room's localized gravity plating. Logan offered them both a day in the sun. Hank gave a sad, rumbling laugh, gesturing to his furry body, saying the beach wasn't exactly his scene anymore. Charles simply smiled, thanking Logan for taking the initiative with the students, but said he needed to monitor Cerebro.
That left one person.
Logan walked into the mansion's massive, glass-enclosed greenhouse. The air inside was warm and humid, completely detached from the brisk New York weather outside. Ororo Munroe stood among a row of vibrant orchids, a small silver watering can in her hands. She wore a simple, flowing white sundress, her stark white hair cascading down her back.
Logan stopped in the doorway, simply watching her for a moment. Liam felt his heart skip a beat.
"You're hovering, Logan," Ororo said softly, not turning around, a gentle smile in her voice.
"Kids are driving me crazy," Logan lied smoothly, stepping into the greenhouse. He shoved his hands into his pockets. "They're bouncing off the walls. I'm taking Kitty and Kurt to the beach for the day to burn off some of that energy. Figured I'd see if you wanted to escape this place for a few hours. Get some real sun instead of the glass roof."
Ororo stopped watering the orchids. She slowly turned to face him, her striking blue eyes locking onto his. She looked completely regal, completely poised, but there was a flicker of genuine surprise in her expression.
"The beach?" she repeated softly.
"Yeah," Logan nodded, keeping his posture relaxed. "Just a quiet day. No uniforms, no comm-links. Just sand and water. You in, 'Roro?"
Ororo looked down at the silver watering can in her hands, her mind racing. She had a mountain of lesson plans to review, weather patterns to stabilize for Charles, and a hundred other responsibilities tying her down to the institute. But looking up at Logan, seeing the completely open, unguarded invitation in his eyes... the responsibilities suddenly felt incredibly heavy.
"I would love to, Logan," Ororo smiled, the expression radiating pure warmth. "Let me gather my things."
The drive to the coast was loud, chaotic, and super loud. Kurt sat in the back of the black SUV wearing his holographic image inducer, projecting the appearance of a normal, teenager. Kitty sat next to him, arguing playfully about which radio station to listen to, her laughter filling the car. Ororo sat in the passenger seat next to Logan, watching the scenery roll by with a relaxed expression.
When they arrived at the coastline, the beach was moderately crowded, but Logan found a secluded spot near a jagged rock formation, far enough away from the masses of tourists.
"Last one in the water is doing Danger Room cleanup for a month!" Kitty shrieked, dropping her towel on the sand and sprinting directly toward the rolling waves.
"That is entirely unfair, fraulein!" Kurt yelled, immediately sprinting after her, his feet kicking up massive sprays of sand.
Logan chuckled, kicking off his boots and dropping his keys onto his towel. He kept his untucked button-down shirt on for the moment, turning to look at Ororo. She was gracefully laying out a large woven blanket, setting down a wide-brimmed sun hat and a pair of dark sunglasses.
"You ain't swimming?" Logan asked, raising an eyebrow.
Ororo smoothed out the blanket and sat down, leaning back on her elbows as she looked up at him. "Perhaps later, Logan. Right now, I simply want to feel the natural sun on my skin. Go. Keep an eye on them."
"Try not to miss me too much," Logan smirked, turning and jogging down toward the surf.
The water was freezing,but refreshing. He slowly moved furtther just in time to see Kitty phase entirely through a massive, crashing wave, emerging on the other side completely untouched, laughing hysterically. Kurt, restricted by the need to maintain his holographic disguise, was forced to dive under the waves like a normal kid, coming up sputtering and wiping saltwater from his eyes.
"You call that swimming, elf?" Logan called out, wading waist-deep into the water.
Kurt spun around, a wicked grin on his face. "Let us see how you fare, old man!"
Kurt scooped up a massive wave of water, throwing it directly into Logan's face. Logan didn't flinch. He wiped the water from his eyes, a dangerous, playful grin spreading across his face. "Oh, you just made a huge mistake, kid."
Logan lunged forward. His enhanced speed and strength allowed him to close the distance instantly. He grabbed Kurt around the waist, lifting the teenager completely out of the water.
"Nein! Logan, wait! I surrender!" Kurt yelled, laughing uncontrollably as he kicked his legs.
"Too late for surrender!" Logan roared playfully, tossing Kurt backward. Kurt flew through the air, crashing into the waves with a massive splash.
Kitty materialized right beside Logan, fully tangible again. "Tag team!" she yelled, shoving both her hands against Logan's shoulder, trying to push him over. It was like trying to push a solid brick wall. Logan didn't move an inch. He simply looked down at her, raising an eyebrow.
Kitty blinked. "Uh oh."
Logan scooped her up in one swift motion, ignoring her shrieks of laughter, and tossed her gently in the same direction he had thrown Kurt. Kitty hit the water, immediately phasing so she wouldn't feel the impact, before popping back up, splashing furiously in Logan's direction.
For the next hour, Liam completely lost himself in the moment. He wasn't thinking about Weapon X, or Magneto, or Mystique. He was just a guy playing in the ocean with his kids. He let them gang up on him, deliberately letting Kurt tackle him beneath the waves, coming up coughing and laughing as Kitty cheered. He tossed them around, chased them through the shallows, and made sure they were having the time of their lives. He watched them with a fierce, burning pride. He would do absolutely anything to protect this happiness. If anyone ever tried to take this away from them, he would tear the world apart to stop it.
Up on the beach, Ororo watched them from behind her dark sunglasses.
She watched the way Logan smiled. It was a rare, precious thing. Usually, his face was locked into a permanent scowl, heavily burdened by a violent past he couldn't completely remember and a dangerous present he couldn't escape. But out there in the water, throwing Kurt into the waves and laughing as Kitty splashed him, he looked entirely free. He looked like... a father.
Ororo shifted on her blanket, a heavy, complicated knot tightening in her chest. She brought her left hand up, resting it over her stomach.
She was engaged. The man waiting for her back in Africa was a king. He was brilliant, noble, incredibly wealthy, and deeply devoted to his people. He offered her a life of absolute security, a crown, and a future that was entirely mapped out perfectly. It was her duty. It was the correct, logical, safe choice for her future.
But he didn't make her feel the way the man in the water did.
Ororo watched Logan slowly step out the water, his shirt plastered to his muscular chest, his dark hair dripping with saltwater. He was rough around the edges. He was violent, completely unpolished, and carried a darkness inside him that terrified most people. But he was also the most fiercely loyal, fiercely protective, deeply loving man she had ever known. When she looked at him, she didn't feel like a goddess. She didn't feel like a future queen burdened by political duty. She just felt like Ororo. He grounded her. He made the sky feel less heavy.
She quickly looked away as Logan jogged up the beach, fighting the sudden, intense blush rising in her cheeks, entirely terrified that her traitorous heart was beating so loudly he might actually be able to hear it with his enhanced senses.
"You having fun?" Logan asked, dropping onto the sand next to her blanket, shaking his head like a dog to get the water out of his hair.
"They seem incredibly happy, Logan," Ororo smiled softly, keeping her voice perfectly composed. "You are very good to them."
"They're good to me," Logan corrected, leaning back on his elbows, staring out at Kitty and Kurt who were now trying to build a lopsided sandcastle near the shoreline. "Keeps me human."
A sudden, loud rumble echoed from Logan's stomach. He glanced down, patting his abs. "Alright, i'm starving. You hungry?" He asked her while sitting up.
" I could eat."
Logan looked towards the teens ahead, cupping his hands around his mouth. "Hey! Half-pint! Elf! You guys hungry?"
Kitty's head snapped up, abandoning her sandcastle instantly. She sprinted up the beach, kicking sand everywhere. "I am literally starving to death. If I don't eat in the next five minutes, I am going to faint."
"Drama queen," Logan smirked, pushing himself up off the sand. "There's a burger shack about a half-mile down the boardwalk. I'm gonna go grab us some food and bring it back here so we don't have to pack everything up. Who's coming with me to carry the drinks?"
"I'll go!" Kitty volunteered quickly. She grabbed her oversized t-shirt, throwing it over her swimsuit.
"Alright. Kurt, keep an eye on 'Roro. Make sure nobody steals our spot," Logan instructed.
"You have my word!" Kurt saluted sharply, sitting cross-legged next to Ororo's blanket. Logan smirked and ruffled the grinning kids hair before taking off.
Logan and Kitty left the sand, walking up the wooden stairs onto the bustling boardwalk. The afternoon sun was warm, drying the saltwater on Logan's skin. Kitty walked close beside him, her hands shoved into the pockets of her shorts. She was unusually quiet for a few minutes, just watching the crowds of people walking past them, completely oblivious to the mutants hidden in plain sight.
"Hey," Logan said gently, bumping his shoulder against hers. "You alright? You got awfully quiet all of a sudden."
Kitty sighed, kicking a loose pebble on the wooden boards. "Yeah, I'm okay. I was just... I was just thinking about Rogue."
Logan's posture instantly tightened, but he forced himself to relax. He didn't want to shut Kitty down. He needed to be open. "What about her?"
"Do you think she's okay?" Kitty asked, looking up at him, her eyes filled with genuine worry. "Like, I know she was mean to me, and I know she left on her own... but Mystique is completely psycho, Logan. She's dangerous. Do you think Rogue is safe with them?"
Logan kept his eyes locked on the boardwalk ahead. He thought about Raven. He thought about the twisted, manipulative games that woman played. "No," Logan said honestly, his voice dropping into a rough, serious tone. "I don't think she's safe. But I also know Rogue is tough. Tougher than she realizes. She's hurting right now, Kitty. She thinks we gave up on her. She thinks the Brotherhood is the only family that won't leave her behind."
"But that's not true," Kitty argued, her voice cracking slightly. "We're her family."
"I know that. You know that. But she has to realize it for herself," Logan said, looking down at the teenager walking beside him. "You can't force someone to come home, half-pint. They gotta want to walk through the front door. But I promise you this... I ain't ever going to stop keeping an eye on her. If Raven steps out of line, if she ever puts that kid in danger, I'll tear that Brotherhood apart piece by piece."
Kitty looked at him, seeing the absolute, unyielding promise in his eyes. She smiled, a small, relieved expression. She leaned over, wrapping her arms around his waist in a quick, tight hug as they walked. "You're such a softie, Wolvie."
"Oh shut it...Don't go getting mushy on me, kid," Logan muttered, wrapping his heavy arm around her shoulders and giving her a firm squeeze, a small smile on his face. "Come on. Let's get these burgers before my stomach eats my liver."
The burger shack was crowded, but they got their food quickly. Logan carried two massive paper bags filled with double cheeseburgers and fries, while Kitty balanced a cardboard tray carrying four large milkshakes. They walked back down the boardwalk, the smell of the greasy, tasty food making Logan's mouth water.
When they got back to the blanket, Kurt immediately cheered, grabbing a burger bag out of Logan's hands before he even sat down.
"Careful, elf, you're gonna choke," Logan laughed, dropping onto the sand and handing a milkshake to Ororo.
They ate picnic-style on the large woven blanket. The conversation was light, entirely detached from the drama of the X-Men. Kurt told a long, incredibly exaggerated story about a prank he pulled on Scott in the Danger Room, complete with wild hand gestures and sound effects. Kitty laughed so hard she accidentally phased her hand straight through her milkshake cup, spilling a bit of it on her lap.
Logan sat back, eating his burger while he watched them. He didn't say much, simply listening to the chaotic, joyful noise of the kids.
Ororo watched him again. She held her milkshake in her hands, taking a slow sip. She watched the way Logan looked at Kitty and Kurt. There was a fierce, unrelenting devotion in his eyes. He would die for them without a second thought. He would kill for them without hesitation.
Ororo looked down at her left hand again. The phantom image of a ring showing up in her mind. Her fiancé was a good man. He would be a great leader. But when Ororo looked into the future, she saw marble halls, endless diplomatic meetings, and a sterile, perfect life.
When she looked at Logan, sitting in the sand with grease on his fingers, laughing at Kurt's terrible jokes, she saw a home. She saw a messy, chaotic, deeply passionate home.
She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath of the ocean air, burying the thoughts deep down inside her mind. She could not allow herself to feel this. She had given her word. She had made a promise. She could not break it, no matter how desperately her heart screamed at her to reach out to the man sitting next to her.
"You okay, 'Ro?" Logan asked suddenly, his sharp eyes catching the subtle tension in her shoulders.
Ororo opened her eyes, instantly plastering on a serene, perfect smile. "I am perfectly fine, Logan. Just enjoying the sound of the ocean."
Logan looked at her for a long second, his heightened senses catching the faint, rapid spike in her heartbeat, but he didn't push it. He just nodded, offering her a warm, easy smile. "Good. Glad you came."
"Me too," she whispered softly.
They stayed at the beach until the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in brilliant shades of orange. The air rapidly cooled down, the coastal wind picking up speed.
"Alright, pack it up, brats," Logan announced, standing up and stretching his massive arms. "Sun's going down. Time to head back to the school."
Kitty and Kurt groaned in unison, completely exhausted but entirely satisfied with the day. They gathered up the towels, shaking the sand out, and carried the trash to the bins on the boardwalk.
The ride back to the mansion was completely different from the ride there. The chaotic energy had completely burned out, replaced by a comfortable, heavy exhaustion. Kurt had turned off his image inducer, sitting in his true, blue-furred form, his head resting against the cold window of the SUV, his eyes half-closed.
Kitty was sitting next to him, scrolling through her phone. She connected her device to the SUV's stereo system, and suddenly, the soft, melancholic pop beat of Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" filled the cabin.
Logan let the song play. He drove with one hand resting casually on the top of the steering wheel, his eyes locked on the dark highway stretching out in front of them. The dashboard lights cast a soft, warm glow over the interior of the car.
In the back seat, Kitty started singing along to the lyrics softly, her voice carrying a gentle, emotional tone. A moment later, Kurt joined in, his German accent completely ruining the pop rhythm, but he sang with so much genuine enthusiasm that it didn't matter. They sang the chorus together, laughing quietly in the back seat.
Logan glanced in the rearview mirror, watching them sing. A deep, profound sense of peace settled over his soul. This was it. This was why he was here. He was supposed to protect this.
He shifted his gaze slightly to the right, looking at the passenger seat.
Ororo was leaning her head back against the leather headrest, her eyes closed, listening to the teenagers sing. She looked entirely exhausted, her white hair slightly tangled from the ocean wind.
As if feeling his eyes on her, Ororo slowly opened her eyes, turning her head to look at him.
The silence between them in the front seat was incredibly loud. The tension was thick, completely charged with unspoken words, hidden desires, and agonizingly suppressed feelings. Logan didn't look away. He held her gaze for a long, heavy moment, the Taylor Swift song echoing around them.
Ororo felt her heart hammer violently against her ribs. She wanted to reach across the center console. She wanted to rest her hand against his. She wanted to tell him everything. She wanted to tell him that she didn't want someone else, that she didn't want the crown, that she only wanted this. Him.
But she didn't. She couldn't.
Instead, she simply offered him a small, incredibly sad smile, before turning her head and looking back out the passenger window into the dark night.
Logan watched her look away, a heavy ache settling in his chest. He turned his eyes back to the road, gripping the steering wheel a little tighter. He didn't know what was going on in her head, but he knew she was carrying a weight she refused to share with him.
He drove the rest of the way to the institute in silence, listening to the kids sing in the back seat.