Title: Times Like This

Pairing: Rouge/Logan

 

                She couldn’t go out in public anymore without having the feeling of jealousy toward the other people around her and the anger toward herself. The people around her were able to touch each other, why couldn’t she? She hated herself in every way possible at times like this Then, would come feeling sorry for herself and the anger at him for making her wait. If he always set the time, why was he never there, always showing up five or ten minutes late. This was the last time she was giving the job to him. If he couldn’t follow his own schedule, she’d make him follow hers. She was going to give him two more minutes before she gave up and went back to the institute. This environment was making her feel more uncomfortable with every second she sat alone, feeling like she was exposing to the world her mutation. Thinking they all knew why she was sitting there alone, her inability to make skin to skin contact with anybody, but herself.

She could swear they were all making a point to look at her to confirm they knew.

                “Hey, kid.” Logan sat down next to her on the bench in the middle of the park, interrupting her downward spiral into dark and on into darker train of thought.

                She looked at him, sighing in relief that he had shown up. “’Bout time,” she mumbled as she moved closer to him. She wore fewer clothes now than she did when she first arrived at the institute. Partly because of it being summer in New York, but mostly because she felt comfortable enough around Logan.

                Logan looked at her, as concern tool over his features. “Are you alright, Marie? You look a little worried. ‘Fraid I wasn’t comin’?” he asked with a smirk.

                ‘If only he knew,’ she thought before saying, “No, but you’re late, Bub.” She gave him a stern look.

                He shrugged. “I got caught up.” She looked at him skeptically. “But I’m here aren’t I, just like I said I’d be.” He looked at his watch, noticing that he was almost fifteen minutes late.

                “Right.”  Rogue laid her head against his shoulder as he put his arm around her shoulders, kissing the top of her head.  

                “Ready to go to lunch?” He asked, looking across the park at all the happy, touchy-feely people. He realized why Rouge might have looked uncomfortable when he arrived.

                “Yeah.” They stood up and headed in the direction of the restaurant. Logan grabbed her gloved hand, squeezing it lightly in reassurance. She smiled at him and he returned it with an even bigger one.

                And then there were times like this, when Logan would make her feel special. She felt normal again and all thoughts that had flooded her mind were gone, and it was just her and Logan, out for their weekly lunch.