Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You didn’t know a lot about Wade’s new roommate, other than you didn’t really like him much.

‘Can he even hold a normal conversation?’ you asked Wade one evening.

You were watching Great British Bake Off re runs, slouched on Wade’s couch, eating takeout.  Al was out with friends at the bingo, Mary was curled up between you, dreaming happy doggy dreams.  Logan had grunted at you both and disappeared into his room.

‘You underestimate the heroic amounts of trauma he’s been through,’ Wade said.

‘You’ve been through a lot of trauma and you can still say a simple ‘hello’,’ you pointed out.

Wade shrugged.

‘Peanut will come around.  Eventually.’

You both turned to the sound of something heavy hitting the floor in Logan’s room.

‘Oooooor, he will just continue to get black out, fall down drunk,’ Wade shrugged.

It was your understanding that such behaviour was quite useless, due to Logan’s ability to heal.  You couldn’t imagine the amount of alcohol he even needed to get to that point.    Or maybe he was just drinking straight up anti freeze.

‘Do you ever think you should have left him where he was?  Or let him go back there at least?’ you asked.

Wade chewed contemplatively on some noodles.

‘No,’ he said eventually, ‘I think he’s better off here.’

You weren’t sure you agreed with that but it wasn’t your place to argue.  You didn’t have to live with the guy either.  Wade was welcome to him.

You’d been Wade’s neighbour for about five years.  It had been an interesting time.  You’d had some experience with mutants and such but never been around them that much.  That all changed when you moved in next door to Wade.  It changed even more when he came home with THE Wolverine one afternoon.  You and Wade had become close friends almost straight away, his ability to make friends with just about anyone was an even bigger superpower in your eyes than his ability to heal.  Logan...did not.  You were friendly, because you were always friendly, and you got a few words from him but other than that he just didn’t seem interested in becoming friends with anyone.  You weren’t even sure, despite Wade’s insistence that they were BFFs, that he even liked Wade that much.  It was a shame because there was a certain ruggedness about Logan that you did find attractive, as did some of your friends.

‘Do you think you can introduce me to him?’ had been the request more than once when he first arrived.  Since those introductions, such requests had all but stopped.

You sighed and took your plate into the kitchen, dropping it into the sink to be left there for an undetermined amount of time.  You weren’t sure who did the chores at Wade’s but you knew you weren’t getting conned into doing any of them.

‘I gotta go,’ you said, giving Wade a hug, ‘got a busy day tomorrow.’

‘What are you up to my little cubicle dweller?’

Your 9 to 5 office job was dull but it paid well.  Well enough for you to live as you wished and save a little away each month.

‘Start of year conference,’ you said, trying to make it sound exciting.  It was not.  It was everyone shoved into a conference centre a few miles away, listening to the powers that be spew out corporate buzzwords in an effort to motivate everyone into please just stick around for another year we promise there will a bonus and pay rise this time, honestly!

‘Well, don’t have too much fun,’ Wade said.

‘I won’t,’ you smiled, as you opened the door, ‘bye Logan!!’ you shouted.  No reply came from Logan’s room.  You rolled your eyes and headed back to your own apartment. 

***

You got back from the conference the next day, tired and bored and about as demotivated it was possible to be.  You wondered if it was time to start looking for something else.  You flopped onto the couch and wondered what to have for dinner.  Take out again was not a good idea but you were too tired to go into the kitchen to see what there was for you to cook.  You pulled up an app and started to scroll through your options.  You were just trying to decide when there was a knock at the door.   When you answered, you were surprised to see Logan standing there.

‘Hi Logan.’

‘Hi,’ he muttered, ‘have you got a spare key for Wade’s?  I think I lost mine.’

‘Oh damn, no I don’t.’

Logan swore under his breath.

‘Where is Wade?  Maybe he won’t be long,’ you suggested.

‘God knows,’ Logan grumbled, ‘doesn’t tell me a goddamn thing.’

You looked at him.  He just seemed so forlorn, so sad that you started to feel sorry for him.

‘Do you want to wait here until he gets back?’ you asked, ‘You can borrow my phone to give him a call as well if you want.’

You smiled at him and were a little confused by the look on Logan’s face.  Like he wasn’t entirely sure how he was supposed to respond to this act of kindness.  Especially from someone he was fairly sure didn’t really want much to do with him.  Which, to be fair, you hadn’t.  But then he’d never been locked out before.  Besides, if you invited him to yours then he wouldn’t disappear into a bar and drink himself silly, so in a way you were doing a public service.  You could tolerate him for a while at least.

‘Err...yeah...that would be good,’ he said eventually.  You stepped aside and he walked into your apartment.

‘I was just about to order some food, you’re welcome to join me.’

Logan nodded.

‘Thanks.’

You watched Logan navigating his way around your space.  He seemed slightly terrified of touching anything, not even look taking off his jacket and sitting down.

‘Make yourself at home,’ you said to him.

You watched him shuck his jacket and gingerly plant himself on your couch.  Maybe because your stuff wasn’t quite as threadbare as the stuff at Wade’s, he was afraid of scuffing something and you’d get mad at him.  You wouldn’t at all and you started to feel sorry for him again. 

‘Chinese food okay?’

‘Sure, whatever.’

You nodded and ordered. 

‘Done.  Shouldn’t be too long,’ you said, ‘do you want to try and call Wade?’

‘Sure.’

You found Wade’s number and handed Logan the phone.  He sat with it to his ear.  You could hear the ring ring ring of Wade’s phone but no sign of him answering. 

‘Not even going to voicemail?’ you asked and Logan shook his head.  He handed the phone back to you, ‘he really didn’t say where he was going?’

‘Not to me,’ Logan said, but he seemed unsure.  Maybe he had.  Maybe Logan had been too out of it to remember. 

You sent off a quick text to Wade and put the phone down.

‘I’m just going to go and change. Put the tv on if you want to,’ you said walking off into your room. As you pulled on some pyjama bottoms and a slouchy t shirt you heard the sound of the news. Boring, you thought, but Logan was an old man – a very old man - and you smiled when you thought about how your grandpa always had the news on.  You inwardly grimaced. Did you just compare Logan, who looked like he did, to your grandfather? Oh dear.

You went back out to the lounge and settled down in your comfy chair.

‘Food shouldn’t be long,’ you repeated.

Logan nodded.

‘So what have you been up to today?’ You asked.

Logan shrugged.

‘Not much. Went around a few places see if they had any work.’

‘Oh! Well that’s good. Any luck?’

‘A few seemed interested. We’ll see.’

You were a little confused.  Why was Logan looking for a job when surely the TVA was his employer? Maybe they weren’t. Maybe they let him stay here but that was as far as their philanthropy went.  You were about to ask him when the door buzzed.

‘That’ll be the food!’

You jumped up and buzzed the delivery guy in.  When you opened the door to him the smell of the food seemed to have an immediate effect on Logan and you heard a rather loud rumble.

‘Was that your stomach?’ You asked with a smile.

He looked shocked and embarrassed.

‘Yeah. Sorry.’

You pulled a face.

‘No need to be sorry!’ You said then paused, ‘have you eaten today, Logan?’

His silence told you everything you needed to know. You sighed and went to the kitchen, collecting two plates and bringing them back to place on the coffee table. You knew that if you left Logan to his own devices he’d barely eat anything so you made sure that when you divided up the food you gave him a good portion.

‘Here,’ you said, passing him a plate piled with noodles and chicken and vegetables. He looked at it like an unexploded bomb for a few seconds before taking it and starting to eat. Satisfied you sat back in the chair with your own plate.  

You couldn’t help yourself and watched Logan as he ate. It was a mechanical exercise.  Refuelling, nothing more. No real pleasure in it.  You wondered what he lived on other than booze? You figured he was unlikely to starve to death so did he even need the same nutrients as a regular person?  Your mind swam with questions, not a single one of which you felt comfortable asking.  You ate your own food and tried to focus on the tv, now showing a re run of some comedy show.

‘There’s more in the kitchen if you want any,’ you said, noting Logan’s empty plate.

‘No. Thank you,’ he said and gave you a small tight smile.  You noted that his hands were shaking a little. Your stomach went tight. You had some beer in the fridge but did you really want to encourage him to drink? Maybe you had one too it would seem a bit more acceptable. More social, less trying to help the helpless alcoholic. Was it even a good idea? You had no clue.

You swallowed the last mouthful of rice and picked up Logan’s plate.  Taking them both into the kitchen, you took two beers from the fridge and noticed the half a cheesecake that was left over from the weekend.  You cut yourself and Logan generous slice and brought both it and the beer out to the lounge. You handed them to Logan without a word. You saw him visibly relax after the first sip of beer. When he started to eat the cheesecake you saw something else. A small, real smile. That made you smile.

‘Good isn’t it?’ You said.

Logan looked at you, shocked he’d been spoken to.

‘Um, yeah. Really good.’

‘Got it from this great bakery a few blocks away, Cake Expectations.  They do some amazing stuff in there.’

Logan thought for a while.

‘Oh yeah. Always smells good when I walk past.’

‘You walk a lot?’

He shrugged.

‘Not got much else to do.’

You licked cheesecake off your fork and thought for a second.

‘Logan, why don’t you work for the TVA?’

He looked at you and shrugged.

‘I kinda do. We, Wade and me, go out on missions for them sometimes.’

‘Missions?’

Logan sighed.

‘Pretty much what we did here, help fight against people trying to destroy their universes.’

‘Sounds intense,’ you said.

‘It is.’

‘So why are you looking for other jobs? Doesn’t it pay?’

Logan put his plate down on the table.

‘I can’t..I don’t want to do the missions. I don’t want to be their tool, their weapon. Not anymore.’

‘Oh…’ you said, suddenly hating yourself for even bringing the subject up, ‘I’m sorry Logan…’

He shrugged.

‘It’s alright,’ he said quietly.

You were just about to say something else when the door flew open. Wade barrelled in, declaring himself arrived, and thanking you for your text.

‘Logan tried calling but your phone just rang,’ you said.

‘Oh I know!  I had my phone on silent and didn’t hear it.’

You thought about this for a moment. Of course he wouldn’t but…

‘Anyway, did you kids have fun?’ He said, looking between you and Logan.

‘Logan locked himself out, that’s not really fun,’ you pointed out.

‘Sure, but you had a nice time together?’

You quirked a brow at him.

‘I ordered Chinese food and we had some cheesecake. Hardly a Bacchanal.’

Logan stood up.

‘Can you just shut up and unlock the door?’ He said to Wade, then turned to you, ‘thanks for the food. And the company.’

You smiled at him.

‘No worries. You’re welcome any time.’

You didn’t notice the look of glee on Wade’s face.

Later that evening, long after Logan and Wade had gone home, you were getting ready for bed when you heard shouting coming from next door. You sighed. That almost always meant a fight was imminent, most likely instigated by Wade.  When you heard the door slam so loud it made you jump. Against your better judgment you went to your own door and peeped out into the hallway. Logan was leaning against the door to his apartment, eyes closed, fists clenched. You gasped at seeing his claws extended for the first time. At this sound Logan opened his eyes and looked around. He spotted you, your door slightly ajar.

‘You okay?’ You asked.

You watched as the claws retracted back into his arm and felt your mouth go dry. You wondered if it felt as painful as it looked.

‘No,’ Logan said after a long silence.

‘Anything I can help with?’ You asked. Why you were opening your door wider you weren’t sure. But there you were, standing before Logan in just your pjs in the middle of a public hallway.  He let out a harsh laugh.

‘No. Don’t worry about it, sweetheart.’

You leant against the doorframe.

‘Okay. Don’t forget your key if you’re planning to go out,’ you smiled.

Logan laughed again and smacked the door to Wade’s.

‘Turns out I didn’t forget it,’ he said, glaring at the door, ‘Wade took it.’

‘Why would he do that?’

Logan looked at you then.

‘So that I would knock on your door and you’d let me in.’

‘What?’

Logan sighed.

‘He’s trying to set us up,’ he said, sounded weary at yet more of Wade’s shenanigans.

‘Oh….’ You were a little stunned.

‘Don’t worry, I’m not about to make a move on you,’ he said, ‘I don’t know why he thinks he needs to interfere.’

You shrugged.

‘That’s just Wade,’ you said, ‘You honestly wouldn’t be the first friend of his he’s tried to set me up with.’

‘Sorry about that.’

‘Not your fault,’ you smiled, then, ‘although every other time he’s been very open about it.  Don’t know why he felt the need to be sneaky now?’

Logan let out a laugh.

‘Probably because I’m not exactly a great prospect for any woman.’

You looked at him and just felt sad again.

‘That’s not true, Logan.’

‘Yeah, sweetheart, it is.’

Before you could say anything else he was striding off down the hallway and disappeared down the stairs.

***

You didn’t see Logan again for a few days.  You did see Wade who apologised, in his own unique way, for trying to set you and Logan up.

‘I don’t know why you even did it,’ you said, ‘It’s not like I even like him that much.’

‘That’s because you didn’t know him.  Now you do!’

You weren’t sure that Logan spending a couple of hours in your apartment because Wade deliberately locked him out was quite the meet-cute Wade thought it was.

‘You can’t force people to like each other, you know,’ you said.

‘No force involved, just gentle nudging.’

‘Hmmm.  Also, why are you trying to set me up with someone with ‘heroic amounts of trauma’?’ you asked, ‘doesn’t seem like that would be much fun for either of us.’

Wade shrugged.

‘Just thought it would be mutually beneficial for you both.’

You narrowed your eyes at him.  You weren’t sure he meant what you thought he meant, but this was Wade and it was highly likely he did indeed think what you thought.

‘So basically you wanted to get us both laid?’

‘Pretty much.’

You shook your head and walked off.  Wade was a lovely man but he was also a pain in the ass. If – IF- you had wanted to get laid then you were more than capable of finding someone yourself.  And that someone would not be his depressed alcoholic immortal roommate.

Which made what happened the following weekend all the more unexpected.

Chapter Text

Wade generally needed no excuse for a party and so you weren’t surprised to find the invitation pushed under your door for an ‘exclusive Saturday soiree’.  You laughed and rolled your eyes.  There would be little about it that was ‘exclusive’ and to label it as a ‘soiree’ gave it a gravitas that Wade’s parties very seldom had.  It would be the same group of Wade’s friends that were always there, unless he’d managed to find someone else to rope into his insanity.  Despite all that, you saw no reason not to drop by for a little while. 

When Saturday rolled around, you wandered into the thick of the party holding a box of cupcakes you’d picked up.  If nothing else, you thought Logan might enjoy them.  He may have walked past the bakery many times, but you bet he’d never gone in and given himself a treat.  You remember the look on his face as he ate the cheesecake.  Grumpy anti-social bastard or not, he still deserved nice things.  You scanned the party but couldn’t see him.  You spotted Wade and wandered over.

‘Hey,’ you said, giving him a hug.

‘Well hello!’ he poked at the box in your hand, ‘what’s this?’

‘Cupcakes.  Was going to give one to Logan but I can’t see him.’

‘Oh,’ Wade said, smiling a smile that annoyed you.

‘It’s not like that, for god's sake!’ you chided, ‘I just wanted to give the poor guy a treat for once in his life.’

‘He’s shut himself in his room, ‘not in the mood’ apparently,’ Wade complained.

You wove your way through the throng and reached Logan’s door.  You knocked.  Then knocked again. Finally the door opened a crack.

‘What?’

‘Hey Logan, just me,’ you smiled.

Logan paused then opened the door a little wider.

‘Mind if I come in for a minute?’

He paused again before nodding and letting you inside.

Logan’s room was as sad and depressing as you’d imagined it would be.  A sagging bed, an ancient dresser (which likely contained very little) and not much else.  Logan had clearly been lying on the bed, a book laying upside down next to the crumbled sheets.  He sat back down and looked up at you.

‘I went to Cake Expectations again and saw these.  Thought you’d like one before the plague of locusts descend on them,’ you smiled.  You opened the box and Logan felt his mouth flood with saliva at the smell of vanilla, coconut, chocolate.  You noted his reaction and put a napkin down on the bedside table, placing a couple of the cakes on it.

‘Enjoy!’ you said brightly.

‘Thank you,’ he said and he sounded genuinely, pathetically grateful.

‘Not a problem.’

As you turned to leave, you stopped.

‘You know if you really don’t want to be around the party, you can go and hide at mine.’

Logan looked up at you.  He was already pulling the paper case off a cupcake and taking a bite.

‘Really?’ he said through a mouthful of frosting.

‘Sure!’ you smiled, ‘take your book and you can have a few hours of peace and quiet.’

Logan thought for a while, for as long as it took him to eat the cupcake.

‘Thanks, that would be good.’

You waited while he collected up his book, the other cupcake and a bottle of whisky you hadn’t previously noticed.  You led him to your apartment and showed him in.  In the kitchen you showed him where the coffee and mugs and such were.

‘Seriously, just make yourself at home for a little bit,’ you said.

‘Thanks,’ he said and gave you a smile that broke your heart a little.

When you came back a few hours later, Logan was laying on the couch, snoring softly.  His book was still held loosely in his hand, a coffee mug and a plate with cookie crumbs on the coffee table.  The level of liquid in the bottle of whisky, you noted, didn’t appear to have changed at all.  You smiled softly, walking over and gently taking the book from his hand.  You went to your room and found a spare quilt, placing it over him and turning out the light.

Next morning as you padded sleepily from your room to the kitchen, Logan was just starting to stir.

‘Hey,’ you said softly.

Logan, his hair sticking up all over the place, looked around confused before his gaze fixed on you.

‘Hey...’ he said in a gruff voice, ‘what time is it?’

‘It’s Sunday,’ you smiled, ‘you were asleep when I came home and I didn’t want to disturb you so left you be.’

He stood up and stretching out his back, you heard the crack of his spine as he adjusted himself.

‘Haven’t slept that well in a while,’ he said, rubbing his eyes, ‘thanks for letting me.’

‘No problem.  Coffee?’

Logan nodded and followed you into the kitchen, bringing with him the mug and plate he’d used the night before.

‘Hope you didn’t mind?’

‘Not at all,’ you smiled, looking at Logan as he sat down at your small table, ‘Want some breakfast?’

Logan shook his head.

‘You don't have to.  You’ve given me enough.’

‘I don’t mind.’

He gave you a look that indicated he knew full well he was in danger of overstaying his welcome.

‘Last night was just what I needed,’ he said, ‘just calm.’

‘Guess you don’t get a lot of that?’

‘Not living with Wade,’ he said with a short laugh, then looked at you again, ‘I’m sorry he was trying to set you up with me.  I never asked him too.’

You put a mug of coffee down in front of Logan and sat with your hands wrapped around your own mug.

‘I know.  Wade just has these romantic notions sometimes.’

Logan snorted.

‘Romantic notions, huh?  That what he calls them?’

You laughed.

‘Well, I’m sure they seem romantic to him.’

You made some toast and managed to persuade Logan to have some.  A short while later, you walked him to the door, his boots in one hand, his book under his arm.  The whisky seemed to have been forgotten.  As Logan turned to thank you again, you made a move to give him a peck on the cheek but his head moved and you found yourself planting the kiss on his lips instead.  His eyes went as wide as yours did. You stepped back, your hand going to your mouth.

‘Oh god, Logan, I’m sorry!’

Next thing you heard was the clunk of Logan’s boots and book as they fell to the floor and he was kissing you, desperate with want and need, and you were kissing him back. 

****

Wade looked up from the tv as the door slammed shut.

‘Hey Peanut, good evening?’

‘Fuck off!’ Logan snarled and stalked into his room, slamming that door shut too.

‘Guess not...’

****

You spent the rest of the day, curled up in your chair, reading the same page of your book over and over again.

****

You didn’t see Logan again for a week.  In fact, you found yourself going out of your way to avoid him.  Which made you feel bad but also you weren’t sure what you’d even say to him.  He’d been so upset and you weren’t really sure how to process all that had occurred.  Everything happened so quickly, him kissing you, you kissing him, the stumbling dance across the lounge heading to your bedroom.  This was never the plan but it felt so very right in that moment and you didn’t want Logan to stop.  When you both fell back onto your bed, you wasted little time in letting him know exactly what you wanted from him.  He seemed more than happy to oblige.

‘Oh god, Logan,’ you moaned, shivering at the feel of his kisses peppering your neck.  Then you felt his hand slipping between your legs. You felt a tremor go through you and felt your hips pushing into his hand. You wanted more and took Logan’s wrist, pushing his hand into your shorts, with nothing between his fingers and you anymore. Logan grinned into your kiss and slipped a finger into you.

You figured it was unfair of you to be the only one having a good time and snaked your hand between your bodies and took Logan in hand, feeling him over the top of his jeans. Logan moved and gave you more space to unzip him and push your hand inside his boxers. You could feel that even without being hard he was big. You wrapped your hand around him and started to stroke him, all the while he worked another finger into you.

It started to become clear to you after a while that nothing was happening for Logan. You felt a twitch but nothing more, even when Logan started to hump against your hand. He simply was not getting hard.

‘Sorry,’ he breathed.

Nothing to be sorry about. You smiled and moved him to lay back on your bed. Pulling him out of his jeans you lowered your head and started to kiss and suck at him. Still nothing. You watched Logan take hold and start to stroke himself. Still nothing.   After a while you sat back on your heels and put your hand over Logan’s.

‘It’s okay,’ you said, smiling at him, ‘we don’t have to.’

Logan pushed past you and got off the bed, his back to you while he put himself back in his jeans and zipped them back up.

‘Knew this was a bad idea,’ he muttered.

‘Logan it’s fine,’ you said, getting up and going over to him. Logan moved away from you.

‘No. It’s not.’

Without another word he turned and walked out of the room and out of the apartment.

You felt embarrassed.  For him and then felt embarrassed because of feeling that way.  It wasn’t anything he should feel ashamed of, you knew that, but you weren’t sure Logan did.  From what Wade had told you, it would just be another thing to add to all the other awful and wretched things he’d been through.  The final indignity on top of a mountain of them.

As much as you wanted to talk to him, now you were no longer in the heat of the moment, you assume that he would be in no mood to talk.  You weren’t sure Logan did deep and meaningful conversations.  As the week went on, you sat at your desk and sighed, garnering a glance from a colleague next to you.

‘Everything okay?’ they asked.

You sighed again and nodded.

‘Yeah, just life, y’know.’

They simply nodded in recognition of this and turned back to their work.

Wade, in his own unique way, was trying to get Logan to tell him what was wrong.  Even by his own anti-social standards since the party, or more correctly since returning from your apartment, Logan had barely left his room.  Wade was actually worried about him.  If nothing else, Logan would clip on Mary’s lead and take her for a walk.  The pup was just laying forlornly outside Logan’s door, occasionally sighing and making an attempt at scratching the door open.

‘Hey Peanut!’ Wade called, knocking on the door, ‘you ever coming out of there?’

There was no reply.  Wade knew that Logan couldn’t really do himself any harm but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t try.

‘If you don’t come out soon, I'm gonna be forced to break the door down.’ Wade called.

Still no reply but he did hear some movement.  Wade, in a moment of uncharacteristic seriousness, rested his head against the door.

‘Logan, I don’t know what’s going on but I’m here if you need to talk to someone.’

He stood there for a while longer, then moved as he felt the door move.  Logan stood in front of him, looking like shit.

‘Come on,’ Wade said, ‘Let’s go for a walk.’

Logan didn’t want to go for a walk but he knew if he didn’t then Wade wouldn’t give him a moment of peace.  Once he was outside, it actually felt nice to breathe some fresh air and not just be wallowing in his own filth like he had been for days.  He didn’t speak and neither did Wade, just watched as Mary trotted along like she owned the place.  Wade being Wade, he couldn’t stay silent for long.

‘So, what happened between you and our lovely neighbour?’

Logan didn’t look at him and didn’t reply for a long time.

‘Nothin’,’ he said eventually.

‘Lot of nothing to make you hide in your room for a week.  She’s not been round either.’

Logan shrugged.

‘Not my problem.’

‘Weeeelll it sort of is your problem.’

Logan sighed.

‘Thanks.  Needed another of those.’

He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked on ahead.  It wasn’t until his nose twitched with the scent of sugar and vanilla that Logan realised they’d walked by the bakery.  Logan stood and looked at all the delights in the window.  If he was a better man he would go in and buy you something nice.  Maybe something you could both share.  But he wasn’t.  He felt Wade come along beside him.

‘That all looks delicious,’ he said.

‘It is,’ Logan said and continued to walk on.

Then he stopped and turned around.

‘We were gonna have sex,’ Logan said.

He rolled his eyes as he saw Wade’s face light up.

‘My plan worked!’

‘Yeah but it didn’t,’ Logan said, he visibly squirmed, ‘I couldn’t.’

Wade raised his non-existent eyebrows.

‘You…couldn’t?’

‘I couldn’t,’ Logan blushed, ‘I mean I wanted to, I just…’

‘Little Logan wasn’t being cooperative?’

Logan nodded

‘It’s been a while…’ Logan muttered.  He glanced up and grimaced at the look of contemplation on Wade’s face.

‘We can fix this,’ he said.

‘Fucking hell,’ Logan groaned.

Wade ran up to him and pulled him into a hug.

‘It’ll be fine, Peanut!’ He smiled, ‘the first hurdle was admitting you have a problem!’

Logan shoved him away.

‘I don’t have a problem!’

‘Yeah you do!’ Wade said, then stood thinking, ‘maybe Al knows someone who can get some Viagra?’

Logan shook his head, regretting every second of this conversation, took Mary’s lead and carried on walking.  Wade, undeterred, continued to chatter in his wake, an increasingly bizarre number of suggestions to help coming to mind. Logan thought about walking into traffic just so he no longer had to listen.  

***

On the way back home, Wade made his only sensible suggestion – that Logan go and talk to you. Logan’s stomach churned at the very thought but he was right. They stopped into the bakery. Logan bought some cookies and pastries, sighing as Wade made friends with everyone within his immediate orbit, praying that he didn’t decide to announce to the whole bakery that Logan was having ‘pee pee problems’, as he’d put it at one point.  He would not have been surprised had Wade surveyed the whole shop to find out if anyone had any ideas of how to help.  Thankfully this did not happen and Logan was just left with a box of baked goods and no idea how to broach the subject with you.  

Later that day when Logan heard your door opening then closing he stood up, walked to his own door and stopped.   He should probably give you a moment to get in, shake off the workday, relax a little.  Maybe get some dinner first, watch a little tv, maybe a good night’s sleep, he could just talk to you tomorrow.  So when he found himself being shoved out into the hallway, box of treats in hand, Wade waving at him and not only shutting the door in his face but locking it, Logan was left with few options.  Steeling himself he walked the few steps to your door and knocked.

When you answered the door, you had already changed from your work clothes into the slouchy t-shirt and pj pants he’d seen you wearing a week or so ago.  Your hair was caught up in a messy bun and you’d wiped your face clean of make-up.  He didn’t think he’d ever seen a more beautiful sight than you at that moment. That thought also gave him pause. Huh.

‘Logan,’ you said, looking a little unsure as to why he was standing there, ‘hi.’

‘Hi,’ he said back, ‘um can we talk?  I bought some stuff from that bakery you like,’ and he shifted the box of treats nervously.

You thought for a few moments.  You supposed it wouldn't hurt to have a chat about what had happened the past weekend. 

‘Sure, come on in.’

Logan stepped into your apartment and stood awkwardly with his box.

‘Oh! Bring those into the kitchen,’ you smiled.

He followed you and placed them on the counter. You opened the box and saw the array of cakes he’d brought.

‘These look amazing, Logan, thank you,’ and you smiled at him.

Oh fuck oh fuck oh fuck, Logan thought.

You took a couple of plates out of the cupboard and turned to make some coffee. Logan just hovered, watching as you moved about.  He didn’t quite know what was happening.  Aside from whatever the fuck it was that had happened the previous Sunday, you and he had spent hardly any time in each other’s company and now what?  He was in love with you?  You smiling at him and pottering about your kitchen was enough to start making him think you and he had a future together?  Was he so pathetically alone?

‘Let’s get comfortable in the lounge and then we can talk,’ you said, moving past him with a tray you’d pulled out from somewhere.

Logan followed you and took a seat at the opposite end of the couch from you.  He watched you taking a bite out of one of the pastries and closing your eyes in delight.  Logan swallowed hard and felt like running out of the apartment.  He didn’t, just picked up his own cake and finished it in three bites.

‘So,’ you began, wiping your mouth, ‘what did you want to say?’

Logan put his plate down and looked over at you.

‘I want to apologise for what happened.  When we...y’know.’

‘Oh.  Yeah.’

‘I shouldn’t have let things get that far,’ Logan continued.

‘No, don’t say that,’ you said, ‘it’s not like you were forcing me into anything I didn’t want to do.’

Logan shrugged.

‘I know but it was wrong.’

You weren’t sure it was.

‘And...I’m sorry about not being able to,’ Logan mumbled.

‘Oh Logan,’ you smiled, putting your hand on his leg, ‘you don’t have to apologise for that at all!  It’s just one of those things, it happens.’

Logan shrugged.

‘I guess.  Not to me though...’

You sat back and thought for a while.

‘Maybe it’s because of everything you’ve been through lately?’ you suggested.

Logan looked confused.

‘You know, Wade kidnapping you, getting sent to the void, escaping, saving the universe, then being here in a universe that isn’t yours.  That’s a lot for anyone to deal with.’

‘I suppose so,’ Logan said.

‘All of that has got to be stressful.’

Logan thought for a while.  He watched as you took another pastry and nibbled on it, savouring the taste.

‘God, I really should eat something proper for dinner,’ you sighed, ‘but then I remember I have free will and can have a box of cookies if I want.’

Logan laughed.   A proper laugh.  Which made you smile.

‘I’d never really thought about it like that,’ he said.

Free will, huh?  Logan looked over at you, now brushing crumbs from your t-shirt.  He recalled how soft your lips felt when you kissed him, even the first, accidental one.  He recalled how soft your body felt, how warm and inviting, how slick you were.  You’d wanted him and he’d let you down.

‘Do you want to go out?  On a date?’ Logan found himself blurting out.

You stared at him.

‘With me,’ he added, as if you’d have thought he was somehow referring to someone else.

‘A date?’ you repeated.

Logan stared at the floor.

‘Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked,’ he mumbled.

‘No no, you should!  I’m just a little surprised that you’d want to go on a date with me.’

Logan looked back up at you.

‘Why wouldn’t I?’

‘We hardly know each other,’ you said.  You both looked at each other then.  The absurdity of this comment was not lost on either on you.  Logan had had his fingers inside you and you’d had his, albeit soft, cock in your mouth.  Perfect strangers.  You couldn’t help yourself and burst out laughing, Logan following suit not many seconds after. 

When you had both recovered, you said that you would indeed love to go on a date with him.  Which sent Logan into a panic about what this date that he had never had any intention of asking you for would entail.

‘How about just dinner?’ You said, ‘let’s start from there and see what happens. No pressure.’

Logan nodded.

‘Sounds good to me.’

You smiled, then stood up and went into the kitchen, coming back with your plate piled with cookies.  It made Logan smile.

‘You really weren’t joking were you?’

‘Nope,’ you grinned through a mouthful of cookie.

‘Well, if you don’t mind, we can go out for a proper meal on our date,’ he said.

‘Where?’

‘Where do you like?’

You munched on a cookie and thought for a while.  You didn’t want to go anywhere Logan would feel out of place, nowhere too highbrow, but you didn’t want to just sit in a bar having to have a shouted conversation with each other.

‘How about that pizza place a few blocks away?  I’ve always had a good time there.’

Logan thought and realised he’d walked past it a few times.

‘Sounds good. Do we need a reservation?’

‘Shouldn’t do. Why don’t I meet you downstairs at about 6:30 on Friday?’

Logan nodded and agreed that was a great plan.

You wondered if Logan had any expectation of you having sex after the date, a do over for the disaster the previous weekend.   You’d cross that bridge when you came to it.  As you walked Logan to the door and he disappeared into his own apartment, you wondered what the hell was happening.   How had you gone from not even liking the guy to nearly fucking him to now going on an actual date?  Life was just funny that way you supposed.  You rested your head against your door and found yourself smiling.  Back in his apartment, Logan was in the kitchen feeling lighter than he had for many years.  Wade stared at him from his position on the couch, wondering who this happy man was, apparently humming a tune under his breath and...smiling.

‘Cupid Wade strikes again,’ he whispered to himself and gave Mary an extra tickle behind the ears.  Logan, enhanced senses and all, heard this but chose not to comment.  Let Wade think he had somehow orchestrated this, he didn’t care.  All he cared about was that a beautiful, smart woman was going on a date with him and all was, for once, right with the world.

Chapter Text

After the meal, and after a pointlessly long, but good natured, bicker about who should pay, you and Logan stepped back out onto the street.  You held on to Logan’s arm again and you started to head back home.  You’d not gone many steps when you stopped.  

‘Ow,’ you said, picking up your foot and pulling your shoe off.   

‘What’s wrong?’ Logan asked, holding onto your arm. 

‘Stupid thing’s given me a blister,’ you whined.   

Logan looked down at your foot and saw the red bubble of the blister forming on your heel.   

‘Dammit!’ You cried.   

Logan thought for a second then turned his back to you.   

‘Hop on,’ he said, crouching down a little.  

‘What?’  

‘C’mon,’ he said, wiggling his hands behind him, ‘get on and I’ll give you a piggyback home.’  

‘Logan,’ you laughed, ‘you can’t do that!’  

‘It’s either that or I scoop you up in my arms, which will look even weirder.  Or you could just live here now, outside this,’ he looked up, ‘vape shop?’  He looked at you ‘what the fuck is a vape?’  

You laughed and shook your head.   

‘Okay. Piggyback it is.  Turn around.’  

Logan did and you jumped up onto his back, his arms catching you under your thighs, your arms wrapped around his neck.  Logan hitched you up a little, making you sit better and started off down the street, your shoes, that you were now holding, bumping on his chest as he walked along.  You got a few looks from people but you didn’t care. Logan was smiling, you were laughing and this just felt like a pretty perfect way to end the date, sore heels or not.   

‘You okay up there?’ Logan asked at one point.  

‘I’m fine,’ you said, Logan enjoying the feeling of your breath on his cheek, ‘I could get used to this.’  

‘Huh,’ Logan smiled, ‘next time you’re wearing sneakers.’  

Next time.  Presumptuous maybe but tonight seemed to have gone very well, why wouldn’t you go out again?  You wrapped your arms around Logan a little tighter. Over his shoulder you noted the small smile on his face. A smile that grew bigger when you planted a kiss on his cheek.   

‘That was the kiss I meant to give you the other night,’ you said quietly, settling your cheek against his, enjoying the tickle of his beard.  

‘I enjoyed the other one more,’ Logan said and you noted his eyes flicked back towards you, judging your reaction.   

‘So did I,’ you smiled.    

Before too long you were back at the apartment building.  Logan didn’t let you down until you were inside. You smoothed your dress down and smiled at him.   

‘Thank you very much,’ you said, giving him a small curtsy, making him laugh.  

‘Hope your foot heals soon,’ Logan replied.   

You kicked your foot up again and looked back at the sore red spot.   

‘It’ll be fine. Sure could use a healing ability right about now,’ you grinned. Logan smiled back at you.  

‘If I could lend it to you I would,’ he said.   

You both took the elevator to your floor and walked to your door.   

‘I had the best time, Logan. Thank you.’  

Logan looked shy at this and mumbled something about it being no problem.   

‘I’d really like to do it again sometime,’ you added.   

‘I’d like that too,’ Logan said.   

You leant back against your door and got your keys from your bag.   

‘I’d also really like to invite you in,’ you said, ‘but sensible me thinks we should take things slowly.’  

Logan nodded.   

‘Maybe sensible you is right.’  

You jingled the keys in your hand.   

‘I hate her,’ you pouted. 

‘Me too.’  

You smiled then moved forward and caught Logan’s lips in a kiss, on purpose this time. You sighed at the feel of his hands on your waist and reached to wrap your arms around his neck. If you were going to make out like this then you should really go inside, sensible you was saying. Not so sensible you would just like Logan to carry on kissing you. Eventually you broke away, Logan chasing your lips a little as you parted.   

‘When can I see you again?’ he asked.  

You thought for a moment.   

‘Tomorrow. Come round for breakfast.’  

Logan grinned.   

‘I can do that.’  

Not sensible you was about to suggest that if he stayed the night then he wouldn’t be late for breakfast but just as you were about to say this out loud, Wade came bounding up the stairs.   

‘Hello!’ he said, grinning broadly.   

‘Hi Wade,’ you sighed, then turned to Logan, ‘see you tomorrow?’  

‘Sure,’ he smiled and gave you another kiss. You both tried to ignore the sound of Wade squealing.   

After you’d disappeared into your apartment, Logan stood looking at your door for a few minutes before Wade assaulted him with a crushing hug.   

‘I’m so happy for you, Peanut!’   

Logan sighed and stood still while Wade hugged him.   

‘Thank you,’ he said eventually.  

***  

Logan didn’t sleep well. He never slept well but this time it was because he was just too eager to see you again. Which was stupid because if he went to sleep, next thing he knew it would be the morning and ta-da! He’d be at yours and enjoying breakfast. That was something else that kept him awake. Did you mean breakfast or ‘breakfast’?  Deep down he hoped the latter but whatever happened he would be happy just to be with you.   

Wade had tried to give him the third degree about your date but Logan wouldn’t tell him anything.  For the first time in a long time he felt content. It terrified him and he was holding it in his hands as if it was something so fragile it could shatter at any moment.  He just wanted to hold it and you close and enjoy it. He didn’t need Wade wanting a play by play of what you talked about and what you ate and blah blah blah. Logan ignored him and went to his room, to think about you and whatever the future might bring.   

***  

You woke up way earlier than you normally would.  Despite that you felt energised and looking forward to seeing Logan. Then it struck you that you never actually told him what time to come round. You flopped back down onto the bed and let out a laugh. You were both so very bad at this it was a miracle you’d even managed one date. You got up anyway, wandering to the kitchen and digging through the freezer. You knew you had some frozen pastries in there somewhere. You cheered in triumph when you found them and set them to start baking while you went back to your bedroom to get dressed.  

***  

Logan meanwhile was pacing around outside your door. He’d realised the same thing as you and had he his own phone, he’d have sent you a message. He’d have to sort that out so he wouldn’t have to resort to using Wade’s all the time. When he had deemed it a suitably civilised time, he knocked. You answered the door quickly and smiled at him.   

‘Hi,’ you said.   

‘Hi,’ he said back. You saw his nose twitch at the smells coming from the kitchen.  

‘Got some pastries, coffee and I’m just cooking some bacon. Come on in.’  

Logan followed you to the kitchen and was happily enveloped in the smells.   

‘You’ve gone to a lot of effort just for me,’ he said, feeling a touch overwhelmed.   

‘You’re worth the effort,’ you smiled and Logan melted into the floor.   

‘Oh,’ you said suddenly, ‘I forgot something.’  

‘What?’  

You reached him in two steps and kissed him.  You felt Logan smile.   

‘Oh,’ he said when you let him go, ‘yeah can’t forget that.’  

‘I had a great time last night,’ you said softly. 

‘So did I.’ 

You and Logan just stared at each other.  The rest of the world seemed to disappear in that moment and you wanted him more than anything.  He let out a small breath and seemed just about to speak when there was a beeping from the oven timer.  You moved apart from him and smiled. 

‘Let’s eat first,’ you said, ‘then we can go from there.’ 

Logan nodded.  He didn’t want to eat.  He wanted you.  He couldn’t recall the last time he craved someone so very much.  But he was still very aware of what happened, or what didn’t happen, the weekend before.  Take things slow, don’t panic, don’t worry, he told himself.   

You both ate and drank your fill, making small talk, all the while both fully aware of the tension between you.  The tension that just seemed to be growing.  Every time you looked at Logan you felt electricity shooting down your spine.  You were thrilled and confused by this.   You’d spent so much time dismissing Logan that you didn’t realise who it was that was standing right in front of you. He was funny and smart and kind.  Yes, he was also lost and broken, a man out of his own time and place, but wasn’t it better to try and help him.  To love him? 

Breakfast done with, you collected up the plates and put them in the sink.  You stood by the counter and smiled at Logan. 

‘Breakfast achieved,’ you said, ‘what now?’ 

Logan shrugged. 

‘Whatever you want to do, sweetheart,’ he smiled. 

You lingered by the counter for another moment before moving towards Logan. You straddled him and kissed him all in one fluid movement.  You felt Logan’s arms around you, one moving to your hip and pulling you harder onto his lap. You sighed into his mouth as you felt his tongue moving against your own. You felt something else moving too.  

‘Oh,’ you grinned.  

‘Yeah…’ he smiled back.  

You felt both of Logan’s hands on your hips now, as you gently moved against him and against the hardness of him. You were right, he was big. And hard. And all yours.  

‘I think,’ you panted, Logan’s cock hard against your clit, making you shiver with need even through all your clothes, ‘we should move somewhere more comfortable.’ 

Logan agreed and stood up, you wrapping your legs around his waist as he did so.  You made it as far as the couch before Logan came to a stop. You felt your back hit the cushions and the weight of Logan on top of you, his hardness pressing into you even more now.  He was humping against you, your legs still open and wrapped around him.  He was hitting you just right and you could feel warmth in your belly as he continued. 

‘Logan...’ you moaned. 

‘Yeah, baby?’  

‘If you keep doing that I’m going to come!’ you gasped. 

Logan was fairly sure that he would too, if he didn’t stop.  Part of him didn’t want to stop but part of him didn’t want you both to come like this, fully clothed, even if it felt so good.  Logan sat up and back on his heels, looking down at you.   

‘Do you want it?’ he asked. 

‘Yes,’ you said, nodding your head, ‘so much.’ 

‘Good,’ Logan smiled and leant down to kiss you again.   

When he sat back up again, you felt his hands on the waist band of your leggings and helped him pull them and your underwear off.  Your hands went to his belt and the zip of his jeans.  Logan pushed his jeans and boxers down to his knees and your eyes opened wide at the size of him, his thick cock jutting out from his thick thatch of pubic hair.  Whatever ailed him the previous week was long forgotten and you smiled up at him, shifting and flinging one leg over the back of the couch.  Logan laughed. 

‘Eager?’ 

‘Shut up and fuck me,’ you said, grinning.   

Logan fell on you, kissing you deeply and slowly, while he put a hand between your legs and felt your arousal.  He had thought about eating you out but you were so wet already, so that could be a treat for later he decided.  You watched as Logan took himself in hand and lined himself up with you.  He paused. 

‘It’s been a while...’ he began. 

‘So you said,’ you replied, ‘I don’t care if it lasts two second or two hours, I just want you inside me now.’ 

With a command like that how could he refuse. 

Logan entered you slowly, easing himself in, easing you into the size of him.  As you adjusted to him, just the feel of him in you made you feel like nothing else in the world mattered.   

‘Don’t move yet,’ you sighed, ‘I just want to...feel you...’ 

Logan looked at you, at the bliss in your face.  Hey, he thought, if you just wanted to lay there and do a little cock warming he wasn’t going to complain.  If anything, it turned him on all the more. While he waited for you to decide he could move, he lay soft kisses along your throat and along your jaw.  He smiled against your skin as he felt your hands in his hair and enjoyed the small sighs that you let out.  Eventually you decided that enough was enough and Logan could start to move.   

He went slow at first, long strokes in and out.  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had sex with anyone and he wanted to savour every moment.  Your couch creaked a little as he moved, and he started to worry that it might not take the extra weight and extra movement.  You seemed to have the same idea. 

‘The floor,’ you breathed and Logan somehow manoeuvred you both onto the rug in front of the couch without breaking contact with you at all.  You did, however, find yourself now on top.  You sat up, with a moan, and looked down at Logan.  His hands were on your hips and he was grinning up at you.  

‘Do I have you right where you want to be?’ you asked, starting to move your hips, feeling Logan slipping in and out of you.  He groaned and his body undulated as he moved his own hips up in rhythm with you. 

‘Can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be, sweetheart,’ he groaned.   

You rode Logan, hard.  He gripped your hips, your thighs, pushed his hand under your shirt and took hold of one of your breasts.  You braced your hands on his chest, pulling at the buttons on his shirt, opening it up to feel the rough hair, the hard muscle.  You could feel yourself rubbing against his pelvic bone, while making sure he hit you in just the right spot inside.  Logan watched as his cock moved in and out of you as you fucked yourself onto him.  He was slick with your arousal and it made him want to flip you over and pummel himself into you.  Next time, he thought, next time and the time after that and the time after that. 

‘Fuck...’ he said through gritted teeth as he felt you starting to clench around him, your orgasm ripping through you, your head thrown back and the wail you let out more than likely going to have been heard next door.  Logan didn’t care.  He was seconds away from coming himself.  You continued to move, even as your own release died away.  Logan grunted and thrust himself hard into you, his hips lifting off the floor a little.  You laughed at the feel of his come spilling into you, wondering if you could grind out another orgasm for yourself, working yourself up and down his cock again, shocking yourself with yes yes you could and you would and Logan continued to fuck into you.   

After, you both lay, half dressed, sweaty and out of breath, still on the floor.  You ran your hand over Logan’s stomach and watched as the muscles moved under your touch.  Logan was drawing small circles on your back with his fingers.  Neither of you wanted to move. 

‘Whatever happened to sensible you?’ Logan asked. 

You laughed and ran your hand over Logan’s chest. 

‘I think she had the sensible fucked out of her,’ you said, then sighed, ‘I could fall asleep here but I don’t think my back would thank me.’ 

You sat up and looked down at the man lying beside you. 

‘We should get up,’ you said. 

Logan propped himself up on his elbows.   

‘We could,’ he said, then thought, ‘you need a shower.’ 

‘Do I now?’ 

‘You do.  So do I,’ he grinned, ‘strenuous exercise.’ 

‘Hmmm.  Well, I suppose I could lend you a towel and some soap.’ 

‘That’d be good,’ Logan said, ‘not sure I can reach everywhere though.  Might need help, washing my back.’ 

‘Oh, I can do that,’ you said. 

‘Thank you, that’s very helpful.’ 

You both grinned and you stood up, fully aware of the state of undress you were both in and not giving a damn.  You held out your hand and pretended to pull Logan up.  He caught you in another kiss, stepping out of his jeans and taking off his shirt entirely.  He stood before you entirely naked.  You caught your own t-shirt and pulled it off over your head.  Logan smiled and took your hand.   

‘Bathroom’s that way,’ you said, pointing to a door. 

Logan led the way, the door shutting behind you both.  The sounds of water, splashing and laughter followed.   

Wade was not entirely surprised that he didn’t see Logan again for a few days.