C H A P T E R   22 :   T H E   W O L V E R I N E   E F F E C T

Logan's POV

"I don't like the idea of Felicia being trained by Longshot." I told Ororo that Monday morning as I sat on a table with her in the cafeteria for breakfast. Scott and Jean weren't here yet; probably still cuddling together in a sweaty, warm bed. The thought made me want to kill or at least slash somebody.

"Why not?" Ororo questioned, one eyebrow raised. I watched her spread strawberry jelly on a toast before answering.

"It's just every time he's in the mansion the humidity in the air increases."

Ororo stopped her knife mid air, looked at me and laughed. "Logan..."

"I'm serious." I said blankly. "I can smell it, unfortunately. You know the effect he has on women."

I looked around to observe the room. We were surrounded by happy chatter and laugher and being able to be a part of a comfortable place these kids would not find anywhere else... it made even the worst things worth it.

"Well, we both know you have a similar effect, Logan. And you don't need a power to boost it."

Yes, I was aware of the Wolverine effect. I knew women were attracted to my short temper and rough edges. I knew they were tempted by the idea this lone wolf would invite them into his pack. Even now I could see some girls glancing at me lustfully and they were my students. I blocked them like I always did.

"Longshot doesn't need his power to cause a good impression." I argued. "All it takes is his looks and smiles. And it's obvious I'm far from being all charms and smiles, so don't compare the both of us."

In a far corner of the room I caught sight of Felicia and I couldn't help but feel satisfied that she was paying me no attention. I knew I had been lucky in that department; if it were another girl in the private lessons I would perhaps have to deal with her drooling over me. Fortunately, Felicia didn't get impressed easily. She didn't lose her composture over a guy just because he was good-looking. I mean, the only time I had seen her slightly flustered was Saturday when she walked in on me, but she hadn't even seemed that impressed, so I could only blame shock for her initial reaction. Then she had been all calm and collected and I knew not many people in her place would have been able to be so indifferent to my half-naked body.

Of course occasionally in class I did catch her stare at my muscles, after all fighting clothes were revealing; but every time, she looked at them as if she wanted to murder them, not touch them.

"I know, Logan. What I'm saying is your bad temper ends up doing the trick anyway. Many women are dying to put a true smile on that face." Ororo smiled at me and munched on her toast.

"Few can." I retorted and my eyes darted to Felicia again. She could. And I hated that she could. This time her head turned to me, as if sensing somebody was watching her. I felt annoyed that she had caught me staring but didn't look away because that would just make me look guiltier. She smirked at me before tossing a raspberry into her mouth and focusing on her friends again. I watched her laugh with them. I liked them, especially Rogue, Kitty and Piotr. They were good company for her. That Lewis kid, however... 

"So, what are you so concerned about?" Ororo questioned with an amused smirk. "Are you afraid of some competition, is that it?"

I rolled my eyes at her.

"No, I couldn't care less about that. I'm concerned he'll disturb my students' attention. He always does whenever he comes around."

"Hum..." Ororo pressed her lips, her eyes narrowed. "So you're worried he'll steal Felicia's focus?"

Fuck, I hadn't thought about that. Felicia's not impressed easily but this is Longshot we're talking about. He could melt even Iceman's heart.

"I just don't like the idea of losing her to him." I said, and Ororo raised enquiring eyebrows at me. "I mean, we're gonna lose precious class time. Why did it have to be my class the one jeopardised?"

Ororo let out a chuckle. I had no idea what she found so funny in my grumpiness.

"Logan, Felicia will be fine with just one private lesson per day. Her exams shows she's in perfectly good health. With or without morning class, she's going to be one hell of a fighter."

"I know. I just hope she stays focused and that Longshot doesn't distract her too much. That's the least he can do."

Ororo shook her head, a small, enigmatic smile on her lips.

"You know what this is sounding like, Logan? It's sounding like jealousy."

I dropped my toast on the plate. Unfortunately, I knew a lot about jealousy. Here I was just being protective.

"Ororo, Felicia's my student."

"Yes, and she's also a grownup and very different from any other kid in here. She's more of an intern than a student, actually."

"Whatever, you know I'm not jealous. Just worried."

"About Felicia or Longshot?" She smirked. "I mean, you better than anyone know how much of a pain in the ass that girl can be."

She wasn't being mean. In fact, Ororo sounded very affectionate whenever she talked about Felicia, but then again she was like that with all of her students. They all had her heart.

I had to smirk back.

"Well, everyone knows my ass is stronger and better looking than Longshot's, so it's not a problem to me. Let's just see for how long he can stand Felicia's attitude before throwing in the towel."

"Let's hope he's more resilient than you give him credit for because this is important to her. And I know you just want to help her but right now you're just not the right guy to do so."

I'm always the right guy to help Felicia, I couldn't stop the involuntary thought from crossing my mind. My eyes moved to her again without my consent, as if she was pulling them with her hands. She was rising up, smiling at Roberto who had an arm around her shoulders.

I looked away.

"Why did it have to be a guy in the first place?" I inquired. "Why couldn't it be, I don't know, Neena? Doesn't she have the same power?"

I was still unsure of what to feel about Felicia's recently confirmed ability. It could be incredibly powerful and dangerous and I knew she could handle it but still I couldn't help but to fear for her. I was afraid she would blame herself for all the shit that had happened in her past.

"Yes, but Domino's power works on a subconscious level. She's not aware of it and therefore she can't control it. It can cause both good and bad luck, yes, but it's not up to Neena to decide. On the other hand, Longshot can control his power and choose whenever he wants to have good luck. He has a drawback, though: he's restricted to a moral code since if he tries to use his power for an evil or selfish reason it will start failing him or even backfire, giving him bad luck instead. That doesn't happen with Felicia. And unlike Domino, the Black Cat will be able to manipulate her luck as she wishes."

"So both Domino's and Longshot's powers have boundaries Felicia's hasn't?" I asked, taken aback. That girl never ceased to amaze me.

"That's right. We think it was... the experiments she went through that gave her ability such great potential with so few limits. Felicia is a roulette that can win every time."

"Which was their goal." I muttered, my voice burnt poison. "To use her to conquer the world and shape it to their will. Felicia would be able to bring down all barriers they might come across with."

"Felicia's power is a weather vane, Logan. It can cause as much peace as war, destroy as much as rebuild, help as much as complicate, so it's very important that she's aware of the extent of her power and the consequences of her decisions. She needs to work on her good side or it may become very dangerous to be around her. Longshot's power focus on positive emotions and that's exactly what Felicia needs."

For some reason, that struck a nerve.

"Oh, so he's going to tell her to go to her happy place and expect an immediate change? Does he even know what things she enjoys?"

Ororo tilted her head to the side, her eyes analyzing me.

"Do you?"

"I can name a few." Drawing, fighting, driving. Annoying the shit out of me. Also, don't forget she likes to flirt a lot. Turn heads. Break rules. Dark clothes, red lipstick, combat boots. Sarcasm, half answers and cunning smirks. Be seen and be heard. Freedom.

I didn't mean to think of so many.

"What I'm saying is Felicia's not gonna pretend to be happy just because everyone needs her to be happy." I stated. "She needs to do it on her own and I don't want Longshot to force it, because the damage may be worse. I'm helping her. I'm teaching her how to put her negative emotions into good use. I'm giving her the mental preparation she needs."

Ororo's smile grew upon the intensity in my words. One way or another Felicia always put me on edge.

"I know, Logan, and no one will do it better than you. But she also needs to grasp the specifications of her ability. Longshot's power is based on good luck; there's no one better to counterattack her bad luck than him. You have to come to terms with the fact others are fitter to help her. Even if it hurts you."

I shook my head so violently I heard a pop somewhere.

"It doesn't hurt me. It pisses me off."

"Aren't you always pissed off because you're hurt? You turn pain into rage. That's what Wolverine does. And no one does it like you."

I smiled at her. Ororo would always have a special place in my heart.

"Remind me why we broke up again?"

She laughed. "You were a dick."

"So I'm not anymore?" I teased her with a wily smirk. There was only one other person I knew that could smirk like me and she was leaving the room right now. I scowled sternly at some boys whose eyes were eating her from afar. I liked how Felicia didn't care about them. Sure, she enjoyed attention, but she didn't feed off it.

"I'm kidding, Logan. We decided we were better off as friends. It was so long ago..."

"Everyone was so long ago." I retorted bitterly. Living longer than anyone else could get lonely. Someone with a regenerative healing factor as strong as mine was difficult to find, and it seemed like I was doomed to always befriend people destined to die before me.

"You've never been with anyone since you fell for Jean?" Ororo asked curiously. I would have been bothered if it was anyone else talking to me about her, but Ororo was like my confidant, especially when Kurt was not around.

"No, I have. Just quick flings, though, nothing important." I closed my eyes. There had been so many important women in my past. So much tragic love... Ororo, Raven, Elektra, Itsu... Mariko... one way or another I had lost them all. Then there were the one-night stands, the on and off relationships and the casual, meaningless hook-ups.

A night of pleasure to compensate a life of pain.

Ever since Jean, I had been unable to have a serious, stable relationship. I used to be able to get any woman... until I couldn't get the only one I wanted. It was funny how women usually acted as if they didn't want me but they did. Then Jean acted as if she wanted me but she didn't.

To sum up, my love life was more screwed than I had screwed. And I had screwed a lot.

"Logan... tell me you didn't just want Neena to come instead of Longshot because of what I'm thinking about." Ororo hid a smile behind her mug of coffee.

"Well, Domino certainly brings me more benefits than Longshot, but oddly enough, right now I am not thinking about sex."

"You used to have a lot of fun together, if I recall correctly." Ororo mentioned, her tone free of judgement.

"You know me, 'roro. The animal in me speaks louder than in other people. I have heightened senses and heightened needs. Neena is wild and crazy like me. We were just that: untamed, physical fun."

The problem was, unlike what I showed to people, I did need the mental fun as well and that was harder to find. I always had had a bigger trouble forging an emotional connection to someone. Very often the human in me chickened out upon the beast.

Sometimes I wondered if I'd ever be able to fully love again. Every failed relationship cut a wound my heart never healed from.

"And you say you aren't like Longshot." Ororo shook her head.

"Let's not talk about that man more than what is strictly necessary." My eyes darted towards the door where Jean and Scott stood, talking in intimacy. What, were they ranking each other's performances from last night? I made an effort not to listen. Screw Scott, but I respected Jean.

"I think you already know this, Logan, but Jean is not the woman who will glue a permanent smile to your face." Ororo said, her voice sad.

"I don't think such woman exists." I confessed, still eyeing the perfect couple. I swear sometimes I was such a sucker for pain.

"Perhaps she doesn't think she exists either. That she holds that kind of power."

"Let's keep her in ignorance then."

"Logan, look at me." Ororo waited. "Look. At. Me." I did because I didn't want her to drop rain on top of me so early in the morning. Not again. "You deserve happiness."

"I deserve drinks. And cigars. And anger and blood. The rest is just wishful thinking."

"You're just as stubborn and punitive as ever." Ororo shot me a harsh glare. She was always the first defender of second chances. The most faithful believer in redemption. There should be a whole religion just about her. "You know what, Logan, you don't have any reason to worry about Felicia. If she can handle you, she can handle anyone."

I don't want her to handle anyone else.

What was up with me and these spontaneous thoughts?

"That's why I'm the best teacher for her, 'ro. I'm the toughest. If she faces the worst first, everything else will be a piece of cake."

"Yes, but Felicia's not your soldier and you are not her general, Logan. Don't prepare her too much for war or she'll end up thinking that's all life has." Unfortunately, it's all she has ever known.

"Believe me, Felicia can think for herself. Most of the times she thinks too much. I'm not commanding her; that would be an impossible task. Not even those...", I had to pause to watch my language, "scientists managed to own her. Felicia was not made to follow anyone's lead."

"Sounds like someone else I know." Ororo gave me an astute smirk. "Honestly, Logan, you're doing great. I can see her development already. She's the best in your class and that's saying a lot considering we have several students with impressive fighting skills."

True, but none of them were trained like she was. None of them were designed to become brainwashed killing machines. When she had told me her story... I was left devastated. I slept nothing that night. The only time I relaxed was when she fell asleep, was hearing her breathe safe and sound against my shoulder. I related to her pain in so many levels. The thought that she had been through even a fraction of what I went through was enough to make me want to use my claws on something. Preferably flesh. So that I could honor her spilled blood.

"She knows it too. She loves to brag about it." I couldn't hide the amusement from my tone. It used to bother me, but lately... lately I found myself checking my watch more often, waiting for our lessons. Felicia was unlike any other person I had ever met, and I had met plenty. She intrigued me. She always found a way to astonish and challenge me and was inventive in the ways to anger and torment me.

Ororo chuckled. "I imagine that causes tension between you two."

There's a lot of things that cause tension between us.

"I'd call it friction."

"She's not only getting better physically, but mentally as well. She's changing, Logan. Into a better person." Ororo declared and I nodded. "I mean, the way she behaved during the Brotherhood's attack was impressive. The way she jumped inside the lake to save Rylan even though she has a fear of water."

"She's clearly over it." I stated, remembering Felicia in the swimming pool having fun on Roberto's shoulders. How she had fallen from them when she heard my voice. How so many guys around her had thrown her hungry glances when she got out of the pool. How I had to control myself heavily to not throw some of them inside the pool. How she had taunted me with the sight of her bare skin.

"What I'm saying is Felicia is going to surprise us, Logan. Perhaps one day she can even become a member of the X-Men."

There was a thump in my chest coming from nowhere. I should hate that idea. But I didn't.

"You think? I don't think she plays well in teams."

"Well, neither do you and you're one of our best." Ororo smiled. She had a smile I had always envied: it came so easily. It didn't cost her anything. "For now I just hope she will manage to control her power."

"She will." I said simply. "I know she will. There's nothing Felicia can't do."

"I don't doubt that," Ororo grinned this time, "if she even manages to put a smile on your face when she's not even present."

"I'm not smiling." I argued, but, fuck, I was. Felicia made me smile unconsciously just by thinking about her. What the fuck is this?

"Then your lips enjoy disobeying you just as much as she does."

***

Felicia's POV

Before my last morning class with Logan, I had to endure the mansion's gossip about how from now on I would have not only one, but two private teachers.

"What can I say?" I shrugged to my friends. "I'm special."

How about you try to suffer hell too?, I wanted to shout above the envious glances I was receiving. That's how you become unique.

"And lucky." Bianca said and because it was her I didn't get offended. "I mean, you haven't seen Longshot yet but... damn, I'd tap that."

Kitty and Rogue laughed and nodded excitedly. Every male present chose that moment to turn sulky, which only furthered my curiosity.

"I thought you were Team Logan." I let out in a neutral voice. It was the best, less risky tone to adopt when talking about him.

"And I am." Bianca replied happily. "But I wouldn't mind a threesome."

"Pray Jean won't read your mind." Bobby warned her and Bianca shrugged.

"Logan's not her property. If she liked it then she should have put a ring on it." Bianca declared and Rogue high fived her. As to me, my head was wandering around to avoid any possible confrontation.

"Hum, Felicia?" Alex questioned with an annoying crafty smirk. "Are you playing 'Where's Wally' or are you just being elusive as you always are whenever Logan's mentioned?"

"If you had to spend so much time with him you wouldn't like to spend your free time talking about him either."

"Why talking when you can dream, right?" Roberto winked at me and fist bumped Alex. Clearly everyone was against me on this one.

"Hey, angel eyes." A voice called from behind me and I turned around to greet Lewis with a smile. I was sitting on the grass so I had to look up to see him: headphones around the neck and no jacket on, arm tattoos visible. Flames. Original. "I heard Longshot is coming for you."

I nodded at him. From the corner of my eye I saw Bobby frowning, and I felt a sinking feeling in my stomach.

"You should know, Hothead. I allure names that start with L."

Lewis sniffed sardonically, but his dark eyes lit up. "Do I need to privately teach you some modesty?"

I grinned at him. "Just because you'll teach doesn't mean I will learn. I tend to like to misbehave."

Lewis leaned down towards me, his impish, dangerous smirk dancing on his lips. I swear some hearts skipped a bit right there and then.

"Careful or I'll have to ask Logan to punish you."

Damn, this guy knew how to handle me. Behind me, Roberto, Alex and Bianca burst out laughing, and Lewis leaned back and looked at them, shocked he could make people laugh.

"Seems there's nowhere you're safe, Felicia." Alex teased me.

"I swear you guys talk more about Logan than he talks about himself." I scoffed.

"It's funny how you blame us yet you don't realize it's you that one way or another always bring his name to the conversation." Roberto observed, scratching his nose in an attempt to hide his smile.

I shrugged it off and turned to Lewis. "Do you want to sit with us?"

His eyes travelled through my friends and stopped on Bobby.

"Nah, I still need to burn something before classes start."

My friends' eyes widened. Bobby's stare on him hardened. Lewis replied with a defiant expression of crossed arms and impassive face. He loved to worsen the impression people had on him and use his own reputation against others so they wouldn't use it against him.

Lewis showed people the side of him they were expecting to see in order to protect his real self. Dumbass, how could he not see? The real him would lighten up the world more than his power.

"Something as in your lungs?" I asked with a sly smirk. He gave it back to me, used two fingers to wave me a goodbye and left.

Bobby's glare turned to me.

"I didn't know you and Lewis were on such good terms."

"Yeah, what's your deal with him?" Bianca asked, bursting with curiosity.

"We basically make fun of the world and hope it won't make fun of us."

"Felicia..." Bobby sighed of exasperation. "He's dangerous. He set an entire classroom on fire. You weren't here but—"

"He already told me about that."

"He might be lying about what he said, though." Bobby retorted.

"I choose to believe in him, then. Seriously, Bobby, you're gonna judge him based on one incident? No one is a saint in that perspective, then. I mean, what does that line of thought turn me into?"

"I..." Bobby closed his mouth and looked at Rogue for support, but even she seemed upset with him. "It's not like that, it's... you don't know him that well and I don't want you to put your trust on someone that might stab you in the back."

"That's my choice to make. And if Lewis does end up stabbing me in the back, it's because I chose to hand him the knife. Don't take my choices away from me, Bobby. Seriously, I love you, but just don't do that. No one is above my freedom."

I didn't care if I came out as selfish and insensitive. Prioritizing ourselves and our basic rights happened when we spent a lifetime fighting for survival.

"I get that. I just don't want you to get hurt. It happens when we least expect it and in ways we could not imagine. So just... if he betrays you don't say I didn't warn you."

"Consider me warned. But I'm not going to stop talking to Lewis because of you or anyone else. I'm done having people dictate my life for me, I'm seriously fucking done. So if you don't like the idea of me befriending him, look the other way. It's your problem, not mine. I'm not asking you to be friends with him, am I?" My voice was unyielding and allowed no space for retaliation. They all just stared at me, intimidated by the intensity in my tone. If needed I could be a drama thief.

"I'm going now. Don't want to give Logan any reason to be mad at me as well." I got up to leave. Walking away, I noticed what Roberto said was right. One way or another, Logan was always there.

***

"Ok." Logan took the dagger away from my hand just when I was about to throw it at the wall like he had instructed me. I grabbed another one and swiftly started spinning it in my fingers, but Logan took that one too. I growled at him. He just stared back. "There's something bothering you and this time it's not me."

I snorted. "I'm just not in a good mood, that's all. Let me train. Isn't that what you want me to do? Channel my anger into something more useful?"

His brown eyes inspected mine. It felt like they were trying to read a soul that had no words.

"Right now, I want you to talk to me."

"I'm talking to you."

"Felicia." His tone was cautionary, his eyes reproving. Something within me trembled as his lips used my name. "I'm not one of your friends."

As with everything, I'm just going to pretend that didn't hurt.

"Well, thanks for clearing that out because I was thinking of buying you a friendship bracelet." I reached for another dagger but Logan stopped me mid air by grabbing my wrists firmly. I was starting to realize he liked to touch too. And that my body liked his hands on it.

"Save your money. Steal me a beer."

My eyes widened. New approach, uh?

"That's not fair." I said, fighting in vain against my smile.

Logan gave me a self-satisfied smirk. "I'm not one of your friends. I don't have to play nice." Then he became serious. "If there's something you can't talk about with them, maybe you can talk about it with me."

I kept quiet. Logan let go of my wrists. I wanted to shout at him.

"Is it your power?" He questioned hesitantly. "Longshot?"

I looked up at him. It was amazing how he never seemed to look down on me.

"To some extent. I'm a little worried. I'm afraid I won't manage to meet the expectations everyone has on me. That I'll fail like usual."

"I don't see you failing in my class. And Felicia, no one is putting pressure on you. You don't have to this if you don't want to."

I nodded. "But I need to. It's the right moment. I just don't want to disappoint anyone. I've let so many people down in the past already."

Logan shook his head and his eyes dropped faith in mine.

"No, you haven't. Every time someone died or got hurt, you tried your best to avoid it or ease their pain. You did your best. Some things are beyond reach, Felicia. Even beyond yours."

"Not if I take the control."

"It's impossible to control everything. It would kill anyone."

"I don't want it all. I want enough. I feel like my life has been everybody's but my own. It's about time I change that. The thought that I might not be so useless upon pain or death anymore, that I might even be able to help... it's motivating. I'm ready to take charge of what my genes and the experiments gave me. No more mourning who I was. I'm gonna stop rejecting who I am and find out who I can be."

"Damn, Felicia." Logan ran a hand through his hair, making his shirt rise and tease me with his bare skin. A tormenting reminiscence of him wet and half-naked in front of me jam-packed my mind. "When you trust yourself you are a tornado. You can swallow worlds."

I heard in his voice, he was impressed and proud by my vehemence.

"It's the best person I can trust, right? Myself." Even though it's also the hardest.

Logan nodded. "Never doubt that. And I don't mean to compete or anything but... you can also trust me."

"That's what I'm doing." I smiled, and then remembered the words I had thrown harshly onto Bobby. I hadn't meant to snap at him, but I didn't like how he had judged Lewis so quickly. Prejudice was a machine gun. "Logan... do you happen to know if something happened between Bobby and Lewis that makes Bobby dislike Lewis so much?"

"How would I know?"

"I know you pay attention and like to pretend you don't, Logan. It's just... Bobby seems to hate Lewis too much for someone who doesn't know him. It's almost irrational."

"Hum." Logan frowned. "Don't you think Lewis may remind Pyro to Bobby? They used to be close friends before Pyro joined the Brotherhood.

"Of course, now it makes sense. Bobby's afraid Lewis will betray me just like Pyro betrayed him. But it's absurd. They're different people."

"With some shared traits. You have to understand that for Bobby it must be hard to look at Lewis and see Pyro in him. He doesn't want you to suffer what he did."

"I already suffered one betrayal. Lewis was involved and he's still here. So am I. Somehow that bonded us."

"You're free to do what you want, Felicia, Bobby will just have to accept that. I can understand his point, though. Be careful."

This time, I shot daggers using my eyes and aiming at him.

"You have something against Lewis too?"

"Not exactly. But you know what they say, if you play with fire, you get burned."

I snickered. "I play a lot with you and I don't get cut, do I?"

Logan leaned towards me slightly, handing me a dagger. Before I could take it, he moved it away. The cold blade brushed my skin in a tease. He made it slid down my arm slowly, taunting me. My body shuddered without my permission. His brown eyes refused to leave mine. The dagger kept going down my arm. With a swift flick of the wrist I grabbed it between my middle and index fingers and threw it easily onto the target at the wall. It hit exactly the right spot.

Logan smirked at me, satisfied with my technique. He had been testing me. I smiled because I hadn't failed, confirming his previous words.

"You're right. Apparently, you don't."

A/N: I hope you liked Logan's POV and his interaction with Ororo, I love their friendship :) Also, Logan and Felicia are so fun to write! There's a lot of power dynamics going on in this last scene, because they both like being on control and they both lose it with the other ;)

Picture is a random photo of Hugh Jackman, because why not? :P