Disclaimer: X-Men characters aren’t mine.They belong to Marvel. I'm only playing in their world for entertainment reasons only. I make no money from this. Leo and Ty are mine and no one else’s.
Author’s Notes:
~ ~ are flashbacks
* * are telepath thoughts
“ “ are actual words
‘ ‘ are private thoughts
\\ \\ are dreams
Kind Hearts and Hot Tempers
By Enelya
# 5 in the Leo and Ty Series
Ororo walked outside in the back to enjoy the quiet of the night for a bit when she heard someone crying as she approached the benches by the fountain. She walked behind the fountain and found Ty there with his knees drawn up, his arms wrapped around them and his head on his knees sobbing hard.
“Oh child, what’s wrong?” She asked as she sat next to the teen and put an arm around his shoulders. Her heart went out to the teen as he looked up at her for a minute, his face red and soaking wet with tears, and his eyes swollen, then wrapped his arms around her and cried on her shoulder. The coffee colored woman brought her left hand up and immediately cupped the boy’s neck and began to rub his back with her other hand.
Ty began to relax in the woman’s arms his sobbing turned into hitched breathing and soon that calmed as well. He didn’t release Ororo from his grip though, still needing the arms around him.
The white witch began to stroke the teen’s blond hair as he calmed and when he seemed to have settled completely, she asked gently, “Do you want to talk about it Tyler?”
Normally hearing his full name spoken sent shivers through the teen, but the way it had been spoken by the woman had the teen feeling more relaxed, though he did shiver as he thought of what he had done. “I-I kicked Logan.” He finally admitted rather softly. Ty waited for the woman to scold or even hit him, neither happened though what did happen had the boy looking up in complete shock.
Ororo couldn’t help but chuckle at the soft admission. “Do not worry child. You are not the first to do that nor the last I expect. I am sure if you apologize to Logan I’m sure all he will do is warn you not to do it again. Would you like to talk about it?” She asked.
----
Bobby squirmed slightly on the couch in the study as the professor stared at him from across the desk with his hands steepled on top. He had been summoned in as soon as he walked in the door so he missed the commotion, though the professor didn’t.
“Well Robert I’m waiting. Why, when you were told to stop your game, did you and Jubilee keep at it?” The professor questioned.
Bobby shrugged his shoulders and then saw the look that gesture got him and licked his lips. “Well we..uhm..I don’t know Professor. We were bored.” He said, then immediately wished he hadn’t when he saw the look on the professor’s face.
“BORED! You were bored, so you thought you’d try to set the mansion on fire? Robert, go to your room. I will send Logan up when he is done with what he’s doing.” Charles said as he pointed towards the study door.
A shiver ran up Bobby’s spine. “Proff…” Bobby started.
“Now Robert!” Charles ordered sternly.
Bobby left the study and trudged slowly up the stairs. He went into his room and flopped on the bed. He was dead when Logan came in there.
----
Leo stared at the empty space that his brother had vacated, then turned slowly and looked up at Logan, his small face filled with anger. “You better not hurt my brother. He don’t deserve to get hurt no more for not doin’ anything.” The child growled.
Logan quirked an eyebrow at the boy. “I’d say you’re right there kid. You don’t have to worry about that here. The only time either of you will be punished is if you’ve done something wrong. Speaking of doing something wrong…I think you and I have some unfinished business.”
The boy’s eyes widened as he stared at Logan. He bowed his head and tried to think of something to stall. He wanted his brother and he wasn’t sure what this man before him was going to do to him. Ty had always protected him before and now he was somewhere else just as scared. His small mind thought fast and suddenly he looked at Logan and asked with a small hint of humor in his voice, “Is-is there any chance that we c-can still do this the easy way?”
A chuckle erupted from the man. “Well kid, I dunno about that. I mean you yelled at me several times, and stomped on my foot.” Logan pointed out, as he moved them back into the boys’ room, so they could talk without others listening in.
Leo went into his room and sat on the bed and stared at Logan. “W-what will y-you do if it’s the h-hard way?” He finally asked nervously as he darted fearful glances at Logan and alternated between picking at, and wiping his hand on his pant leg.
He could hear and see the distress pouring off the kid in waves. Logan frowned as this made him wonder more at what the boys had gone through before finding their way here. “Well, why don’t you tell me what your brother would do if he were going to handle this.” Logan said as he sat on the bed away from Leo to keep from scaring the kid more.
The child’s cheeks colored. “He uh…he would probably spank me for it.” Leo admitted quietly. He dared a look up at the man next to him, deciding that if he didn’t like the expression, he was bolting. Leo was surprised to see a calm look on the man’s face and it piqued the child’s curiosity.
Logan couldn’t help but grin at the expression on the boy’s face. “Alright kid, here’s how things are gonna go. First, Ty is your brother, nothing more. The adults here are here to take care of you. That goes for discipline as well. Second, we’ll make the very best effort to make sure the right person gets punished. Sometimes though the wrong person does get punished, but we’re human kid. We all make mistakes and if we do make that mistake, we’ll do what we can to fix it. Third, you are grounded to the mansion for the next three days. You can go anywhere on the grounds, and in the areas your allowed in the house. You won’t be going out with anyone, anywhere unless it’s been approved by an adult. If we have a repeat of this, we’ll try your brother’s way. Got it?”
Leo, stared wide eyed at Logan. He nodded at what had just been said, though he disagreed with some of it and planned on discussing everything with Ty. His brother would make everything right.
There was something in the boy’s eyes that told Logan that this was far from over, but he let it go for now. He got up and started to leave the room, then turned back to Leo. “I’m going to find your brother. You stay here and think about what I said.” Logan said as he got up and left the room.
A sigh of relief emitted from the boy as Logan left and he laid on his back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. He reached his mind out carefully for his brother and found that he was calmer. He went back to his own thoughts.
----
Ororo and Tyler came through the back door into the kitchen as they continued to talk. “Things will be fine Tyler. I will be there if you’d like.”
Tyler was about to respond when he looked up and froze. He stared hard at the doorway of the kitchen. He fought his desire to step back a few paces. His breath quickened slightly as he stared at the figure in the doorway.
When she detected the sudden change in the teen next to her, Ororo looked at where he was staring and sighed softly. “Hello Logan.”
Logan nodded at them. “Ororo, Ty. You alright kid?” He asked looking at Ty, who had gone a little pale.
“Y-yes sir. I-I-I’m sorry I kicked you. I understand if you need to do something about it.” Tyler said as he moved away from Ororo’s comforting embrace and stepped towards Logan flinching slightly as he got closer.
Logan took a step back giving Tyler room and said, “It’s alright kid, I know you didn’t mean it. I won’t hold it against you.” Logan said and watched the look on Tyler’s face.
A look of surprise and confusion crept across Tyler’s face. “Y-You’re not angry with me?”
“No kid. I’m proud of ya. It took a lot of courage for you to do what you just did right now.” Logan said and took a step forward. When he didn’t see Tyler flinch or look as if he was about to bolt, he took another step forward bring him directly up to the teen.
Ty watched Logan take those two steps forward slowly and Ty stayed still. He felt something surge through him, when Logan had told him he was proud of him. He swallowed hard as he tried to stay there with Logan in front of him, but after a minute had to take a step back. He hung his head and said softly, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. You tried and that’s what counts.” Logan said as he looked at Ororo, who had remained silent through it all, for a little help.
“He’s right Tyler. You owned up to what you did and were prepared to handle the consequences. You’ve also shown that you are trying hard to trust us despite the fact you’ve only been here a day. All will be well.” Ororo said as she stepped up behind Ty and laid a hand on his shoulder.
Ty stood there a moment, then relaxed and nodded. “ Thank you.” He said softly not quite sure what to say to either one of them grateful they had been so understanding with him. “I-I think I’ll head to my room now. I’m kinda tired. I mean…if that’s alright?” He asked not sure if he was allowed to leave yet.
Ororo walked around to stand with Logan and smiled at the teen. A smirk appeared on Logan’s face as he nodded. “Yeah, go on. Leo’ll be glad to see you. He’s fine.” Logan stated when he saw a look of fear in the teen’s eyes. He had to keep the rage building inside him from showing in his face.
The teen stood there a moment longer, then nodded and walked quickly from the kitchen. A moment later, Ororo and Logan both him thunder quickly up the stairs.
Ororo looked at Logan after a minute and asked, “So what had you decided to do with young Leo?” She asked as she walked over to the counter and made herself a cup of tea.
“I grounded him for three days.” Logan answered calmly then snorted and said, “I’m going down to the danger room. I need to pummel something.” He said then turned and left the kitchen.
A raised eyebrow as Logan left had Ororo curious as to what was going on inside of her friend’s head. She finished her tea, and then went down to the danger room herself to see what kind of a workout Logan was giving himself.