Finding the beast (Closed for Mayu)

Logan sat back in the chair, it was well worn, but comfortable. He had to reinforce it to carry the extra weight of his adamantium skeleton and of course while he was at it, he filled the stuffing with a memory foam, so that whenever he sat down, he was comfortable as the foam stayed in a form that supported him. He puffed at his cigar, looking at the burning flames, how many evenings have he sat here, looking into that fire, always seeing Jean's face? He picked up his coffee and took a sip from it, it was dark, strong and warm, enough to warm the bones from the chill outside. He cast an expert ear at the howling wind outside as it pelted the pouring rain against the cabin that he had build from the trees that once stood in the clearing. He always found that hard manual labor kept a man honest...and helped him not to dwell on the past.

It was the evenings that he detested most, sitting in here, listening to the crackling of the flames, watching as they shaped and formed and remembering. Mostly he remembered Jean, but he found that Silver Fox, Catharine, Atsuko and Mariko also crept into his mind at times like this. Logan sighed, he's been living for far too long now, the past was starting to wear him down, grinding him water grinds down a rock over the years. Lighting cracked overhead and he could smell the sulfuric smell, his hearing could pick up the sound of a creaking tree and he smiled to himself, when this storm blew over he would have a tree to fell and cut up. It seemed that the Department of Forestry, Fauna and Flora knew that he was living here, but they let him, that was good for them as he didn't bother anybody and only used what he needed. Sipping his coffee and taking a few puffs on his cigar, Logan stretched out his legs and sighed in contentment.

When it comes down to it, life is hard on anyone. Some died old and some die young, things in this world was getting a bit more complex. But Maggie would see how hard life was, Maggie had been walking in the woods. It had been many years since she came to the forest, it made her forget all the worries she had. Unfortunately she didn't know it was going to rain, she heard thunder and knew this wasn't going to be good. She hurried back to town, but she got lost. She was thinking of to many things all at once. But as she made her way deeper into the forest, she noticed a little home, a cabin if you wanted to call it that. Maggie had no idea, that someone lived here. She sometimes wished she could have a place in the forest. She always loved peace.

Maggie walked over and when she was under the roof, the rain came. She was nervous, she was afraid to upset who ever lived here. But she had no choice, taking a deep breath she knocked on the door. Her dark brown eyes scanning the area where she stood. Maggie ran her fingers in her dark brown hair, while she waited for the person who lived there. She took her dark brown hair, and put it up in a pony tail. She needed to get her hair out of her face, but soon she thought she heard something, she didn't know if it was a storm or what. She enjoyed the smell of the storm, the sound of the rain hitting leaves and other wild life.

Logan

There was a timid knock, Logan wondered first if it was something driven against the door by the wind, then the smell of wet clothing came through the door and he got up, he was still dressed in his everyday clothes, he walked over to the door, his boots' rubber soles not making a sound on the wooden floor, as he drew closer he could make out much more from the smell the wind forces past the door, well it's a female and she's alone. Logan wondered for a moment or two if he should open the door, it was locked, so she would not be able to force it open and the closed shutters didn't allow the glow from the fireplace to broadcast to the outside world that the cabin was indeed inhabited. But even though he wanted to be left alone, that didn't mean he had to be heartless as well. He reached out, undid the locks and opened the door. In front of him stood a girl, she was a little taller than his own 5'3", but then again so was almost everybody, she had a lovely face, with long brown hair that was tied up in a ponytail, she was slender and her form fitting clothing clung to her body as she obviously got drenched in the downpour.

Logan took the cigar out of his mouth as he looked into her dark brown eyes, she looked cold, but not like she hated the weather, that at least was one point for her in Logan's book. Wordlessly he stood aside, the invitation inside clear, he knew she would be dripping water all over the floor, but that wasn't much of a problem, what she needed right now was warmth, dry clothes and something to give her some color. Absentmindedly he placed the cigar back between his lips, found that it had gone out and with a soft grunt of annoyance tossed it in the nearby dustbin.

Maggie watched him with a curious look, he didn't say anything and yet let her in. But then she was thinking about it, she knew who he was. The warmth was a wonderful gift in itself, she stayed by the door. Not wanting to track in water, it was a beautiful place. Her brown eyes scanned the home. But now she had to find her voice to say something to him.

"I am sorry to bother you, I'm sure you want to be left alone. But I ended up getting lost, damn woods. It's been four years since ive walked in the forest, I forgot about how big the forest is" She sighed some feeling so damn stupid. But she was telling the truth, when she heard him grunt over his cigar she smiled some. Something about him made her smile.

She was some what strange but didn't care. A soft smile seen on Maggie's face, and she was being rude. He let her in and she didn't say her name. "My name is Maggie, everyone calls me Mag." She had a feeling that this was going to be an adventure talking to Logan.

Logan

Logan looked back at her and found her smiling, the smile kind of lit up her face, then she introduced herself

"I'm Logan, don't worry about bothering me, sometimes you actually need some company"

Logan walked into the bathroom and came out carrying a soft towel, one that he had bought on impulse. He noticed that she stayed at the door and thought to himself that she was a sensible young lady. He handed her the towel

"You can dry yourself somewhat with that"

He looked her over, she wasn't curvy, but she looked good

"You will have to get out of that clothes, over there is the bedroom, I think you should fit into one of my shirts. Will have to get your clothes dry before you can get back into them"

Logan directed her towards his bedroom door, he was sure that she would not mind getting into dry clothes, no matter if it was a shirt, a thought struck him, what if she was too tall to be fully covered by a shirt? Well he was sure she would make a plan

"If you need more than a shirt to cover up, feel free to use what you want, I'll heat up something to eat, hope you don't mind stew"

She heard rumors he was like a grumpy bear, but he seemed nice to her. When he came and handed her a towel she smiled. As he showed her into his room, she was humming to herself. She slid out of her blue jeans and dried up, the shirt was more then enough. She came back out, well covered and the towel in her hand. She was drying her hair, when he mentioned food she was happy. "Sounds good, it's been a while since I had stew." She was very happy, sitting down on the couch. The sound of the thunder was getting worse, thank god she was in a home. She didn't want to even think about the chill, she looked into the fire place and watched as the flame danced around.

Logan

Logan didn't want to think too much about it, but she did remind him a bit of Catharine, only in looks. Under that exterior was a completely different person, stirring the stew to make certain that it didn't burn, Logan sneaked a peek at Maggie as she sat on the couch, the shirt actually just showed off her long legs and Logan was a sucker for legs. He grinned to himself and when the food was hot enough he took it from the wood fueled stove and got a deep dish plate. He dished out some stew for Maggie and went over to her to hand her the plate and a spoon. He sat down in his chair and stretched out again, he noticed that the weather was deteriorating even further

"It seems like you got shelter just in time"

She heard him coming in and took the dish, she smiled taking a bite. Nice and perfect, but when she heard what he said she nodded. "Yeah I guess I did, I love storms. But not when I am outside in it" She giggled some and looked at Logan "This is delicious" She said with a big grin on her face. "I am surprised you live here alone" Logan was mighty fine, she never used the word "gorgeous, but she has to use the word now, he was drop dead gorgeous in her eyes any way.

Logan

Logan was taken aback by her words, sure he had pick up a few culinary skills, but the food being great? He never actually thought of it that way. He looked into the flames as they danced around

"Let's just say that I had to get away from civilization for a while"

He looked over at her as she ate

"It's none of my business, but what were you doing so high up in the mountains? I know that there is a hiking trail two miles west from here, but you obviously wasn't hiking and I never actually heard of somebody going for a stroll in the woods, especially if you take account that the nearest treeline is roughly 6 miles from here and over rather bad terrain"

She thought for a moment, listing to what he asked. She didn't say anything for a few moments, resting the bowl on her lap. Maggie looked at Logan and sighed silently. "My parents are buried in this area. When I was ten they were killed, they loved nature and loved people period. I was taught to be respectful and not to judge people. They died on my 10th birthday" She looked up at him. "They died 11 years ago today, I was paying my respects to them. People thought I was crazy to put them in the forest, but they wanted to be buried here"

Logan

"That is a very Native American view if you ask me...and they actually had a few interesting views about the world"

Logan realized that he had touched a tender spot, but he didn't ask her to come into his cabin and he had right to be paranoid. Never knew when the government might decide that they needed another perfect weapon to do their dirty work.

"Well time to get to work, you finish that food and if you want some more feel free to help yourself"

Logan got up and walked into the bedroom, he had made certain that he had a fireplace here as well, it was something he picked up from the house of his parents, a fireplace in each room to provide heat when needed. He started a fire and when it was going nicely he pulled a clothing dry rack closer, he draped her clothes over the rack, making sure that the heat could get to all of it, then headed back into the room where he had left her

She finished and got up washing the dish and spoon, not wanting him to wait on her. Her eyes followed him and looked up. "My family are Indians, well at least my great great grandmother was." She said simply. "I find it hard to trust people to Logan" She said all of a sudden. "I can read people's body language. I know sign language very well, so I can read your body language. To many people can hurt you, trap you. Who knows maybe I met my first friend" She smiled kindly.

Logan

Logan sat down and stretched out

"You do know that it is disconcerting to tell people you can read their body language and tell them how they feel? Of course full paranoia will kick in and questions about how you got to learn all of that in 21 years, how would you know that there is a fear about being trapped and hurt?"

Logan waited for that to sink in before he allowed a small smile to touch his lips

"But you seem most sincere Maggie, I will not pull the paranoia on you and go mad, threatening you and so on"

He frowned slightly

"You don't seem to have a particular problem with me being a mutant, oh I know that you know who I am, you just got that look in your eyes that you know me"

She listened to him and smiled at him, she shook her head "Why would I? My parents taught me how to cherish others, to not judge people. You are a mutant yes, but your no monster. There is good in you, I see you as a man Logan." She looked down. "I know a lot more then I should, my father worked for the government. " Maggie looked back at Logan. "But when he found out what his research was doing, he quite. I don't think my parents death was an accident, I think it was set up."

Logan

She lost her loved ones to the monsters that call themselves leaders...just like he had. Old remembered pain washed over Logan as he remembered who he had lost, all the innocent lives lost just because they have known him. In that moment Logan realized that Maggie may have stumbled into his life with a reason and not just by accident. It seems like they both needed a friend

Maggie sighed some looking at the fire in the fire place. "The government is to busy picking on mutants, turning them into weapons instead of people. I have been against the government for many years. "They tried to turn you into a weapon, but your not a weapon. You can control a weapon, a weapon has no emotions what so ever. So I guess we are perfect together, both hating the government, knowing what loss is" She said kindly.

Logan

Logan nodded his agreement

"I think you and the prof would get along quite well, he's spent years and years trying to make mutants understand that they are human and they have the power to use their powers for good"

Logan had absentmindedly finished his coffee and realized that he didn't offer her any, he got up

"Would you like some coffee? I'm going for a refill myself"

She smiled "Aww Yes Professor Charles Xavier, ive heard about him. I am glad that he has a place for children to go to. To help them understand there powers and how to control them. And yes id like some coffee, I take it black" She said simply. "My mother loved coffee but drowned it in milk and sugar" She chuckled at herself.

Logan

Logan returned with two cups of coffee and handed her one

"It's strong so I added a bit more sugar, hope it doesn't count as drowned"

He sat down again

"So tell me more about yourself Maggie, I'm sure that you have a tale or two to tell me, I'm sure that you know my tales, they are well documented"

Logan chuckled at his own joke

She took it and took a silent sip "No it's perfect" Maggie said in a loving tone. But when he asked about her, she just smiled. "I'm just a simple person Logan, I am far from special" She said sweetly. "I graduated high school at the age of 16, I never had friends because of my IQ. I spent my self in the corner not saying anything. I can also play the violin, piano and guitar. I can also sing. My father wanted to help mutants, and I did as well. I have learned to fight, boxing mixed in with martial arts. I'm a black belt in martial arts, my father created a weapon for me. " She stood up and went to her pants, she went into the pocket and took out what looked like a chain.

Maggie took what was left of his cigar, she had placed her coffee on the table. She flicked her wrist and the chain changed into what looked like a wire. Tossing the cigar up into the air near the fire place. She used her chain like a weapon and she cut the cigar in half, going right into the fire place. Flicking her wrist again, it turned back into a chain and she sat down. Placing it down on the table, it liked like a simple gold chain.

"It's made out of the same metal you have in your body" She said simply.

Logan

Logan watched in complete fascination, it was the first time that he had seen adamantium doing that, the coating was interesting, he was sure that when tested it would be real gold. He suddenly grinned at Maggie

"Now who would've guessed that I would meet such an interesting lady out here in the woods"

He leaned over to finger the chain, admiring the fine craftsmanship

"Do you have any idea how it works? Kinetic energy? Magnetic?"

He moved his finger along the chain

"No not magnetic"

He glanced up at Maggie, he had to admit to himself that he was starting to like this girl more and more

She smiled looking over at him, very surprised about how he was interested in. "It's Kinetic Energy, my father wanted to make a weapon that would always blend in. Which is why when I don't use it as a weapon, it just looks like a silver chain. I hurt myself off and on learning to fight with it. I don't have your healing ability, wish I did" She giggled sitting back.

Logan

Logan inspected the chain, sure his berserker fury made people think he's stupid, just able to fight, but that was far from the truth. Underneath that fury was a mind, perfectly capable of reasoning and thinking and learning. He sat back and gave Maggie one of his rare smiles

"This really is interesting, what else do you have up your sleeve that I would like to know of?"

She knew better, just because he was a fighter. Didn't mean he was stupid, she hated when people think that way. "Well there is just one thing, but it's nothing interesting. Just a big scar on my chest, from practicing using my weapon." She didn't want anyone looking at her scar, she was ashamed in a strange way, she felt unattractive and that was why she was never in a relationship.

Logan

Logan nodded

"I can see why a healing factor would come in handy"

Logan got up to throw another log onto the fire sending a shower of sparks up into the chimney

"So Maggie, wouldn't your other half start to worry about you? That is a nasty storm out there"

He glanced over at her

"And don't tell me a pretty girl like you can still be single"