Chapter 3

Memories recaptured

Minutes earlier…at the X-mansion

Professor Charles Xavier was inside the Cerebro room.  The metal skull cap was on his bare head.  He was scanning, for what he didn’t know but he’d been awaked by a psychic scream.  A strong one, the person was raw, untrained and extremely powerful.

He focused on the physic signature that he’d managed to hold on to.  Pain!  Shame, blame!  A need to escape, a final exit. Suicide!  He suddenly grabbed his head and screamed!  A shaft of pain tore through his skull.

Jean ran into the room, she removed the helmet.

“Professor?”

“Get Bobby!”

Jean focused her talent.

*Bobby, emergency!  Come to the Cerebro room!*

Moments later Bobby and Remy both came running into the spherical room.

“What’s wrong?”

“Bobby we have a situation!*

The Professor focused on the blonde man and psychically told him what was happening.  A moment later, Bobby ran to the hall and dialed a number.

“This better be good!”

“Popper I need you!”

“Bobby?  What?”

“Matter of life and death.  Please!”

“Where and when?”

“Hang on a sec, I’ve got to get Logan on three way.”

Bobby clicked over and dialed Logan’s number.  On the third ring he answered.

“What?”

“Hold on.”

“Bobby its not a good time.”

“Code Red!”

“Hurry.”

Bobby connected back to Popper.

“Logan, tell Popper where you are right now, describe to him where he can appear that is empty.”

Logan quickly described their location.

“I know where.”

Bobby heard the call disconnect.  There was a pop on Logan’s phone.  In the background he heard screams of disbelief.

“Logan have Popper bring you here!”

“No, I’ll project the coordinates to your friend.  There’s no time to waste!”

“Tell Popper to open his mind, there’s coordinates coming.”

There was a Pop and the line disconnected.

“There’re gone!  Where did you send them?”

“There’s a young man who’s thrown himself into a lake.”

“Sound sorta trivial.”

“This young man may be a stronger psychic than me.”

“Oh shit, that serious.”  Remy said.

~X~

Popper, Logan and Howie materialized on a bridge overlooking a dark body of water.  They looked over the side.  Logan saw bubbles breaking the surface.

“Howie, this is your department.  Someone’s down there!”

Howie shifted his form and flowed over the side.  His water form flowed into the turbulent dark waters.  He spread himself out searching.  He found nothing; he cooled his temperature and sank on the bottom he found a still form. 

Howie concentrated and willed the water to form a column under the form.  He followed the form back to the surface.  He watched as the column rose up to Logan.  There was a concrete block chained to the boy.  He would need Logan to break the lock.

As he solidified and tread water he watched as Logan extended his claws and sliced the chain.  The block was thrown away and it fell heavily to the water below.  Logan began rescue procedures.

Howie extended a column of water to raise him to the bridge.  As he approached his destination, he again turned liquid and flowed back into his clothing.  As he solidified he rose to his feet.

The boy was coughing.  Logan looked at Howie and nodded.

“He’ll be alright.”

“Is he alright to teleport?”  Popper asked.

“I think so.”

“Can you stand up?”

“I think so.”  The boy croaked.

Howie and Logan lifted him to his feet and supported him.  Popper made contact and paused.

“The Mansion?”

“Yeah.”

There was a pop, and the four men were gone.

~X~

“They’re here.”  Xavier announced.  “Popper just arrived on the lawn.”

“What now?”

“This child needs to be calmed.  He’s suffered an extreme emotional shock.”

“What’s his name?”  Bobby asked.

“Eric.  He’s from Pittsburgh, last night he lost his innocence to a young man named Justin.  He thought that he was in love.  He searched until he found the little shit.  Justin told him that he was yesterday’s fuck, than he got angry at Eric for coming to him.  Eric wanted to find a man to love, a person to be with forever.  He was innocent and thought that having sex with someone would mean that it was forever.  His telepathic gift may have made it feel like he was bonded to this Justin, we have to help stabilize his ability and help him train this talent of his.”

“Sounds like dis Justin is a miserable excuse for ah  human.”

“No just misguided.  He’ll learn in time, but right now we have to take care of this poor soul that he’s wounded.”

They had been practically running through the mansion.  The arrived at the foyer as Logan and Howie were bringing in Eric.

“Why’d you stop me!  I wanted to die!”

“Why?”

“Justin, I love him and he hates me!  Told me I was just yesterdays fuck!  If there’s no love in being gay I don’t want to live through it!”  Eric had collapsed into a ball on the nearby sofa.  Howie and Logan moved to hold him.

“Eric, I’m going to help you to sleep.  Just for a little while.”  The Professor explained as he touched the young man’s mind.

Eric passed out into a deep sleep.  A moment later he was followed by Howie and then Logan.

“What the hell happened?”  Bobby asked.

“I was afraid of that.  Eric’s mind has bonded with Logan and Howie’s.  They saved him, it was a survival instinct.  Hopefully we’ll be able to help break the link.”

“What if we can’t?”

“In that event, we may lose them all.”

“Is there no other way?”

“There is one, but all three would have to agree, freely.  No it’s better that we find a way to sever the bond.”

“How long are you going to keep them under?”  Jean asked.

“Not long, better to help this one while the pain is still fresh.  Can you and the boys that them to the cottage?  I know that was supposed to be yours Bobby and Remy, but if he wakes there it may become necessary for you to take the next one.”

“That’s fine.  Help me Remy.”

Remy and Bobby each hoisted one of the men onto their shoulders and started.  Jean telekinetically lifted Logan and followed.  The exited through the side door and walked across the lawn to one of the small cottages. 

They entered the house and took the three men into the bedroom.  Bobby placed Eric in the middle of the bed, Howie was placed on the right and Jean lowered Logan to the left.

“Good ting it a king size bed.”

“What do you think is gonna happen?”

“Don’t know.  Jean can you sense anything?”

“No, with the Professor holding Eric in a state of sleep I don’t dare try to peek in.”

The trio of friends stepped outside the room and waited for the Professor.  They didn't want to leave the three men alone.

Long minutes ticked by.  Finally, Jean spoke.

"He's coming.  I can feel his presence."

"Gambit say 'bout time."

"Hush Remy."

The Professor strode into the cottage.  He approached the trio and sighed heavily.

"This is going to be a difficult process.  I'll need each of you to make certain that there is no interruption."

"Of course, Professor."  Jean answered.  "We'll each stand shifts at the door."

"Thank you.  I'm going in now.  There may be loud emotional outbursts, Jean your empathy may be needed."

"I'll be open to your call."

"No, I'll use the intercom.  You'll probably need to shield your mind from the torrent that may be unleashed."

"I understand Professor.  Promise me you'll be careful, that young man's powerful."

"I will.  Now if you'll all excuse me."

The three teammates left the cottage.  Bobby offering to take the first watch.  Jean would return in two hours and Remy would relieve her two hours after that.

"We all set, see you in a while Lover."

The dark eyed Cajun kissed his golden haired angel.

~X~

Charles Xavier moved a reclining chair by the bed.  He would need to delve into Eric's mind while he was under to try to stabilize the boy's psyche.  Otherwise, he could do himself great damage once he was allowed to awaken.

The man sat down and reclined back in the chair.  He relaxed his body and allowed his mind to reach out.  He grimaced at the discomfort of touching a mind in such despair.  He reached past the outer layers of loathing and self hatred into the very core of the young man's very being. 

He saw there a strong belief in permeance, a longing for a lasting love.  He also saw the pain of a child who had been abused for being a sissy.  He saw images of a man lashing out with a leather strap, a stick and finally with his fists.  The memory of the child he was within confirmed the man's identity as Dad.

Charles thought his heart would break as the images took on depth and the sound of piteous screams and cries pierced his psychic "ears". 

This was part of the problem, but not all.  Charles focused on a face that he'd managed to lift from Eric's mind.  Fair skin, blue eyes and golden blonde hair.  The scene shifted to that of a small crowded apartment.  There was a party going on.  Young people were clustered around in groups, the music was loud and the room was heavy with cigarette smoke.  There in the corner was Eric, trying to make himself as inconspicuous as possible.  Through an open door Justin noticed him and approached.  He leaned against the wall beside Eric.  No words were exchanged, Charles saw the Justin's hand had moved to grope Eric's crotch.

*Doesn't anyone ever talk or at least exchange names anymore?*  Charles thought to himself.

The blond took Eric by the hand and led him upstairs.  Charles watched the interlude with an air of  clinical detachment until he saw that Justin had rolled on a condom and penetrated with out any foreplay or preparation whatsoever.

*That wasn't loving, or even sex!  That was more like rape!*  Charles was outraged.

He moved to the portion of the mind that was screaming for death.  As he entered he gritted his teeth against the pain and anguish that bombarded him.  Charles sent out his thoughts in a shout.

*Eric!  Stop this, you've been victimized but it's not your fault.  You are not tainted, or poison you are a loving young man who can find your heart's desire!*

*Go away!  I'm a slut, just like Papa said I would be.*

*Eric, you're no slut.  You were lonely, the sharing of sex is not wrong, it's perfectly healthy.*

*I thought he would love me.*

Charles opened his arms. 

*Can you come to me?*

There was a shimmering and the young man was leaning against him, Charles enfolded the thin body in his arms.

*It's alright, you don't have to be afraid anymore.  You're safe, you are wanted.  You are with us.*

*I'm scared.  What if everything Papa said was true.  I don't want to be get sick and die!*

*You won't, as long as you're careful.  That man was wrong, he abused you.  It's not your choice what you are, any more than it was your choice to be a powerful mutant.*

*Mutant?*

*You don't know do you.*  It wasn't a question.  *You are a gifted person, Eric.  You're untrained but your psychic abilities almost overwhelm me.  Until now I've been the most powerful psychic known to exist.  You may very well pass me by.*

*Is that how I always got good grades and never studied?*

*Possibly, when we've gotten you past this trauma we'll discuss your training.  Right now we have to help you deal with your feelings, they almost caused you to kill yourself, and that would have been a great tragedy.*

*Why, I'm just a freak.*

*You are a special person, Eric.  Never let anyone tell you otherwise.  You have the potential for such love inside you.  I can feel it.  You also have the potential to make a great difference in the world with your psychic abilities.  Please, let us help you.*

Two other figures came into existence.  It was Logan and Howie.  They spoke as well.

*We are with you Eric.  The Professor is right, please let us help.  You've experienced such sadness, let us help bring you into the light.*  Howie spoke softly.

*We will protect ya, Eric.  Nobody will ever hurt ya again.*  Logan added.  *I swear to ya that you'll never have to go through that shit again!*

*Logan doesn't give his word lightly Eric, and Howard cares deeply as well.  Can you feel them though the bond that you've forged?*

*Bond?*

*Yes, when they saved you, your mind reached out and locked to theirs.  It was a survival instinct.  Can you feel the truth in their words?*

The young man closed his eyes and his face lit up.  He was experiencing the two men's emotions.

*I feel that they're telling the truth, and that they love each other very deeply.  There's something else.*

Logan and Howie screamed as the young man penetrated their minds.  The clutched their skulls in agony.

*Eric, stop!  You mustn't!*

The two men stopped their outcry and looked at each other with a deepening of emotion.

*Logan, I remember.  The Project, they took you away from me.  They said that you were dead.*

*They told me that you'd never remember me or about us.   You were placed with the head researcher.  He was to become your father.*

*Oh my Lord!*  Xavier started.  *Logan, you remember everything?*

*Yeah, I do.  It seems that Howie and I were life partners in my previous life.  Eric must have demolished the psychic barriers that were erected in our minds, by the use of drugs, brainwashing techniques as well as psychic suggestion.*

*You do not sound like the Logan that I know.*

*I'm still him, however I was an educated man before my memory was taken.*

*Amazing.  Eric, how what did you do?*

*There was blackness in their minds, I saw shapes through it so I pushed against it.  They started screaming but I felt it breaking up so I kept going.  Is everything ok?*

*Ok he asks.  You've done what Charles couldn't, what he's tried to do for years.*

*I'm sorry.*  Eric looked like he'd cry any second.

*Shush, little love.  There's nothing to be sorry for.*  Howie said and moved to calm the young man.

*Love?*

*Yes, I believe that you opened that door when you bonded with us.  If I'm not mistaken there will be no way to break the bond, and with that being the case we either have to accept each other in all ways, or we'll all die.*

*Is this true?*  Eric asked

*I'm afraid it is.  I've tried to trace the mental ties of the bond and I cannot fathom it all.  There will not be any way for me to break it.*

*You could let me, do what I started.*

*No, if you do commit suicide then we'll die with you.*  Logan stated.

*I don't want that, but I don't know if I can live with what I am.*

*You can, we'll help you.  We'll teach you how to love yourself, to be able to trust.*  Howie said as he continued to hold the young man to him.  Logan's hand caressed the young man's back.

*I'm going to move out of your mind, Eric.  I'm going to allow you to wake up, in return that will allow Logan and Howard to awaken as well.*

Charles allowed his consciousness to return to his body.  He then released the mental pressure that he'd exerted to keep Eric asleep.

Eric's breathing began to change from the deep even rhythm of sleep to a more rapid pace.  His eyes snapped open and he almost jumped out of his skin as he realized that he was lying between the two men.

"Hold it, right there."  Logan's arm moved to encircle the young man.

"It's alright, you're with us."  Howie reassured him as he also folded an arm around the youngster.

"How old are you Eric?"

"I'm twenty.  Where am I?"

"You're at Xavier's School for the Gifted, in New York.  Have you heard of it?"

"Yeah, my dad always said it was for freaks."

"Well the students here may not appreciate that label."

"I know I didn't.  So what now?  You patch me up and send me home?"

"Do you want to go home?"

"No."

"You're of age, you can choose where you want to live.  The students here are not prisoners.  You are a bit older than most of the residents.  What were you studying in college?"

"Primary education, I wanted to be a teacher."

"Very good, I can continue your education here.  The school is fully accredited and if you decide later you can always remain as a teacher for the younger students."

"With a possible eye toward membership in the X-men?"

"You know about us?"

"Every mutant in hiding knows about the X-men.  You live your lives in the open, fighting evil and working for the day when flat scans and mutants can live in peace."

"That's right, that's the dream, that is our purpose.  Once you have learned to control your gifts then you may be offered a position on the team."

"I'd like that."

"In the meantime, we need to help you deal with the pain that Justin caused you."

"How?"

"Therapy sessions, as well as a loving environment.  Love and respect as well as kindness go a long way in helping to heal a wounded heart."

"Where will I say?"

"With us, if you want to that is."  Logan answered.

"Will you have us, Eric?"

"Have you?"

"As your bond mates?"

"Bond mates?"

"Your mind linked with theirs, Eric.  If you refuse that bond then all of you may very well die."

"Is that why I feel strange?"

"Strange?  In what way?"

"It's like a warmth right here."  Eric placed his hand over his heart.  "I don't know how to describe it but it's really intense."

"I know someone who can tell you.  Do you mind if I ask a friend to stop in?"

"No, I don't mind."

Charles stood up and moved to the intercom.  He depressed the all call button and spoke.

"Jean Gray please report to Cottage 1."

There an immediate answer.   Xavier keyed for the connection.

"I'm on my way Professor."

"Thank you Jean.  You should be able to lower your shields safely now."

*Thank you Professor.  I'll be there momentarily.*

Jean was as good as her word.  Within five minutes she was knocking on the door to the cottage.  The Professor opened the door and motioned for her to follow.  He led her into the bedroom where the three men still reclined on the bed.

"Eric, this is Jean Gray.  She is a psychic as well as an empath.  If you'll allow her I believe that she may be able to help you understand what you're feeling and possibly even why."

Eric simply nodded.  He seemed incapable of forming words.  His eyes were a glow from the intensity of his emotions.

Jean opened her mind, allowed his emotions to wash over her, through her.  She almost wept.  She followed the flood back to it's source and found that it lead directly through the link to Logan's and Howie's minds.

"Eric, the emotion you feel is love.  It's so strong that its almost overwhelming.  It's coming through the bond that you've forged with Logan and Howard, they are supporting you.  They are loving you."

"This is what it feels like?  It's wonderful but it's scary as hell.  I thought that I felt love for Justin."

"That would have been passion, or sexual attraction, not love.  Love is the bond that endures after youth has faded, after everything else has passed away.  You're a lucky young man."

"Thank you."

"I believe that we're probably exhausted you for today.  I was in your mind for well over nine hours.  Would you like to stay with Logan and Howard?  Or would you prefer your own quarters for the time being?"

"I think that I'll stay here."

"Alright, if for any reason you find that you need me, Logan can contact me by way of the intercom."

"Thank you, Professor."

"Eric, I'd like to see you in the medical bay tomorrow afternoon, perhaps around 2 o'clock."

"Why?"

"Just standard procedure, you're new here and we like to have a baseline of physiology for all our new arrivals, Howard you'll need to come as well.  I can do both scans at once."

"Alright."

The Professor and Jean then excused themselves and left the cottage.

“I’m parched, wonder if there’s any beer.”  Logan said as he walked to the kitchen.  He opened the fridge and smiled.  “We got a well stocked larder!”

Logan brought three bottles of beer back to the bedroom he handed one to Howie and one to Eric.

“I’m underage.”

“You’re old enough to fight in a war, which means you’re old enough in this house to drink a freakin’ beer.”  Logan snapped.

“So when was the last time you ate, Eric?”

“I don’t remember.”

“I’ll fire up the grill.  There’s a pack of steaks in the fridge, you remember how to make those stuffed potatoes?”

“Sure I remember, I’ll get started.  Eric you want to help?  We’ll need a salad.”

“Sure, I can do that.”

Logan slipped out the patio door and quickly had the grill blazing.  Howie started the potatoes and Eric began to rip up a head of lettuce.  Soon they had completed the preparation of the meal.

Logan stepped inside carrying a platter laden with the rare steaks.  The table had been set with good china that Howie had found in a cupboard.  The air was perfumed with sweet flowers, that had been just taken from the mansion's flower garden nearby, courtesy of Eric.  The entire scene was illuminated by long white tapers that cast their golden glow over the room.  The rack system was on and low music was spilling through the room.  Logan recognized the song, it was Signed, Seal, Delivered.  The little guy that had won on the first Star Search was singing, Jake somebody. 

"Well?  What do you think?"

"Very romantic, what's the occasion?"

"The newest member of our trio.  I figured that we'd celebrate with a candlelit dinner, good food, good wine, and of course, only the best dessert."

"And that would be?"

"Well, if Eric agrees I thought that maybe we could have strawberries and whipped cream, served ala' Eric."

"Huh?"

"He'd be the platter, Logan.  You don't fool me.  You're educated and I remember just how well."

Eric flushed, looking for all the world like a strawberry himself.

"I, I ah don't know.  I mean this is gonna take some time to get used to."

"We're not rushing you.  It's a situation that none of us really would have chosen, but I'm glad it happened."

"Can I ask you two something?"

"Shoot."  Logan responded.

"How old are you?"

"That I'd rather not answer right now, Eric.  I promise we'll explain it all later."

"Kay."

"Hey, don't act like a kid.  You're a partner in this, a full partner.  You have every right to your opinions and rights in this relationship as either of us.  Ya understand?"

"Sure, Logan."

"Good."  Logan leaned in and kissed the young firm lips.

"What say, Logan, if after dinner we sit around all get acquainted better.  We can fill Eric in on our past."

"Sounds like a good idea.  We need to know each other better."

"Sure."  Eric agreed a tentative smile lighting his face, the glow from the candles glittering off his straight white teeth.

Logan sat down the platter and pulled out a chair.  He took Eric by the hand and seated him, pushing the chair back in until he was at a comfortable position.  He then seated Howie and took his own seat.

Howie served the salad, filling bowls and passing first one to Eric and Logan before taking his own.

"I know this is a bit odd, but please humor me.  I was a priest long ago."  Howie said and took both men by their hands.

He bowed his head and closed his eyes.  He began to speak.

"Heavenly Parent,  We thank you for this food that we are about to receive, may it nourish our bodies and allow us to carry on the work put before us, to help build a unity between mutants and normals, who are all your children.  We ask that you help us in this and in all things, and let all be according to your will."

He paused a moment and then continued.

"Father we also want to thank you for bringing Eric into our lives.  May he find in us the healing that his tender spirit needs and may we find in him the wonder of youth that will make all things new again in our lives.  In your name we pray.  Amen."

The two men beside him lifted their heads and echoed the last word.

"Now eat the pair of you.  Otherwise the steaks will be stone cold."

"Yes, Mom!"  Logan snapped but his face held a smile to take the edge from his tone.

"Get outta my head."  Eric mimicked Logan's tone but was smiling broadly.

"He's starting to sound like you."  Howie quipped.

The trio of men laughed as they began to eat.

~X~

When the salads were finished and the main course had been completed, Howie slipped back into the kitchen.  He returned minutes later with strawberries and whipped cream.  They were served on a light angel food cake.

The three men nibbled at the dessert.  More intent on their conversation than the sweet confection.

Finally they decided that they'd had enough.  Logan began to clear the table.  He quickly loaded everything into the automatic dishwasher and started the machine.

He then joined Howie and Eric in the living room.  The two men were seated on leather chairs facing each other.  Logan strode over to the bar and poured himself a brandy.  He brought the snifter back with him and took the third  seat which had been placed to face the other two.

"Mind if I smoke?"

"Let me hit the fan.  Evidently, the Professor thought of every thing."  Howie said and moved to panel on the wall.  He pressed a button and a small grate over head began to whir softly.

"You don't mind, Eric?"

"A cigar?  Love it."

Logan bit the tip of his cheroot and lit it with a match.  Howie handed him an ashtray from the end table and he settled back to tell his story.

"It started in 1973, I was 28 years old.  I'd been living in Quebec with my lover, a young man who like me had mutant abilities.  We lived in seclusion for two reasons.  Back then people like us, gays that is weren't accepted as well as today.  Also we thought that we were the only mutants in existence.  No one ever talked about being gay, and people were even more closed mouthed about being a mutie."

Logan took a drag from his cigar.  Then let the smoke flow out, it was pulled over his head and out of the cottage.

"My partner, was the most handsome man that I'd ever met.  He loved anything to do with electronics.  He would spend his free time building all these little gadgets.  Some of them actually worked."

Howie snickered.

"I was working as a lumber jack in the forest near our cabin.  The work was hard and sometimes it would be from  sunup to sunset, depended on if we were behind on a contract or not.  The pay was lousy but it kept us fed and we had each other, that was what was important.  I'd go home every night and my Steve would have a hot bath waiting, he'd scrub my back and massage my tired muscles.  We'd have a light supper and then we'd go to bed, luckily my healing factor would have kicked in and we'd spend most of the night makin' love.  We'd drift off and then the alarm would sound and I'd be out swinging my axe again.  It was a simple life, but it was ours."

Logan took another drag and followed it with a sip of the brandy.

"One day while I was at work this man came snooping around the cabin."

Howie took over the story then.

"I was inside, making the bed and getting the house in order.  There was a knock on the door.  Well I knew it wasn't Logan because he wouldn't have knocked.  So I looked out the window.  Outside on our doorstep was this man wearing a black suit and dark glasses.  I knew that it was trouble, but I didn't realize that it was  one of the Canadian Governments mutant trackers.  We didn't even know that there was a program to find people like us.  Hell, we thought that we were the only ones."

Howie took out a cigar a lit it.

"Well, I opened the door.  That was a big mistake.  The man grabbed me.  I started to shift into liquid form but before I could he snapped a collar around my neck.  My powers seemed to have deserted me.  He looked down and I saw his eyes through the dark lenses.  They were fiery red.  I remember he smiled at me, a nasty horrible smile, then everything went black."

Logan took over.

"That same day I was in the middle of cutting down a cedar tree.  When I caught Steve's scent.  I knew that he wasn't there because I hadn't told him where I was scheduled to work that day.  That same man walked up to me.  I noticed that the foreman and the rest of the guys had moved away from us.  He smiled and said that if I ever wanted to see my little boyfriend alive again that I'd best come with him.  I put down my axe and he took my by the elbow and led me away.  As I was leaving I remember looking back and seeing a heart that I'd carved in one tree, inside it were my initials LS and SF.  I vowed that I'd remember that sight for the rest of my life.  I did too."

Howie spoke.

"I woke up in a holding cell, the collar was still around my neck.  I tried to work it loose and received a strong shock.  It seemed like days I was left alone in that cell.  Finally late one night Logan was brought in.  He looked like he'd been run through a meat grinder.  His bottom lip was bitten through and his left hand mangled.  The rest of him was covered in cuts and bruises.  They'd been testing his healing factor.  His body had been pushed beyond it's ability to heal.  He was near death.  I could have helped him if they'd just take the collar off.  I could have shifted to water form and washed the wounds, sent my energy into him and triggered his powers.  I remember screaming at the air.  "Let me help him you assholes!"  The collar must have been switched off, because I almost at once began to shift.  I flowed over him, willing his body to take from me what he needed.  Almost immediately the wounds began to close.  As I reformed I felt the power of the collar which had somehow shifted with me, kick back in.  I didn't care, Logan was safe his body was healed and he'd live.  A man stepped inside the room that contained our cell.  He was dressed in a gray suit.  I looked up at him and screamed.  I wanted to know why they were doing this to us, we were Canadian citizens and had rights.  I was told by the man that only humans had rights, mutants and faggots were not human.  He thanked me for saving their favorite lab rat.  I asked him what would happen to us.  He told me that there was a scientist that was interested in my abilities to control water and that another scientist had plans for Logan.  I told him that I'd escape and find Logan.  He laughed and told me that I'd never remember him.  That Logan's memory and mine would be wiped and a new set of memories would be implanted.  He left then as he turned he spat at me though the bars.  I swore that I'd never forget my Logan.  Yet I did.  I was reprogrammed with a set of memories that had the scientist casts as my father.  We moved to San Francisco and he began studying me.  Yet through all the long years I felt that a part of me was somewhere out there.  A part that I would do anything to find."

Logan spoke then, telling his side of the story.

"They took me and put me through the same series of brainwashing techniques.  The scientist had also used the techniques on his daughter.  He programmed her and me with memories of the two of us being together in the Orient.  We were lovers.  I remember that when I left her I promised that I'd return.  He did that in case I escaped, he thought that his goons could retrieve me.  The one thing that they could never erase was the heart carved with Steve's and my initials.  They worked that in by convincing me that I had a relationship with a Native American woman named Silver Fox."

Logan took another gulp of the liqueur.

"When the reprogramming was complete they decided to take away my one vulnerability.  Soft tissue injuries healed in next to no time with my healing factor.  Bones were another matter, they healed at an accelerated rate but it still took a good deal of time.  They decided to reinforce my skeletal structure with an alloy called Adamantium.  I remember they knocked me out.  When I woke up I was floating in a glass vat of thick liquid.  There was a mask over my face allowing me to breath.  I could hear them talking outside and I remember the asshole doctor giving the order to start the adamantium feed.  They began pumping molten metal into my body.  It felt like I was burning inside my skin.  The liquid was to help dissipate the heat.  I remember how I screamed inside that mask, willing my body to produce a weapon, a way to allow me to escape.  The agony of it was almost too much to bear.  I remember hearing the tech tell him that the adamantium supply was exhausted.  Then there was a pain in between my knuckles.  These came out."

Logan flexed his hands and the blades extended.  Eric's eyes bulged as they gleaming metal retracted.

"I heard him say that it was amazing.  I slashed at the tank, it shattered and I pulled the mask free.  I struck out in rage, killing him and destroying the lab.  I ran into the forest.  I lived like an animal, hunting and hiding.  I finally met an old man, a retired lumberjack.  He lived in a cabin, now I can look back and see that it was near the home that Steve and I had shared.  He took me in, helped me to remember how to be a person not a trained killing machine.  I stayed there with him until he died.  At that time he gave him his old truck and a little money.  There were also forged identity papers that he'd made for me.  With those I could move around freely with little trouble.  So I started making my way to more populated areas.  There was this one place that when I needed money I would go and fight in a cage, they idiots they put against me never were too bright, I could usually win easily and they paid me good.  That was until one asshole decided to push me, he told me that he knew what I was.  I was thought that he might turn me in.  So I showed him that the wolverine has sharp claws.   I was thrown out and told not to come back. 

I'd noticed a young girl in the building and she had stowed away in my trailer.  I started to leave her on the side of the road, but when I looked back and saw her standing there I couldn't do it.  I stopped and she ran to get in the truck.  We were driving and I wasn't paying attention to the road.  I ran off and was thrown through the windshield.  I got up and was about to see about her, she was pinning in the truck the seatbelt had been put in a bind.  I was attacked.  I thought that I could take the freak out but he got the drop on me and knocked me out.  When I came to I was here.  The Professor offered me a place on the team.  I told him to stuff it at first, but it felt good to be around other people like me.  I still had the temper of an animal and bucked authority, but I would do as I was told when it came to a fight.  Yet somehow I always knew that I was missing something, or someone.  I would write poetry sometimes as I lay in my bed at night, trying to get the feelings out of my head.  Time passed and the battles we fought we won, sometimes at a high price though.  Bobby Drake left us, that was five years ago.  I coulda cried like a baby when he did, it was like losing Steve all over again now that I look back.  I mean we weren't really that close me and Bobby but he was part of the family.  At his going away party I gave him a book of my poems, I threatened to gut him if he told anybody.  Hey, I had an image to  keep up."

Howie spoke.

"I met Bobby Drake when he moved to San Fran.  I was managing a gym there.  I barely gave him a second look.  Then last week a creep at the gym tried to give him a rough time.  Bobby used his abilities and gave the creep the cold shoulder.  I asked him to talk with me in my office.  I thanked him for handling the situation calmly and we started talking about ourselves.  I had a date with him.  But he got a call from Xavier that the X-men had been captured and he returned here and brought them home.  On the way back he called me and explained, I asked if he could vouch for me with Xavier.  I'd applied to the man for admission to the team.  He did and I was granted an interview.  There I met Logan.  A part of me knew that I had a history with this man.  In a matter of hours I was finishing his sentences and we were soon lovers.  I was moving out here when Xavier contacted us and we were transported by a mutant named Popper to where you had jumped into the river.  The rest as they say is history, except that because of you we both know remember everything about our past, and now we can look to the future.  A future that we hope will include you."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew me."

"We do know you and we're still saying it."  Logan interjected.

"One question."

"Just one?"  Howie smiled.

"Well, several.  First, Logan if you were 28 in 1972 that would make you..."

"Sixty."

"Why is it that you don't look over thirty?"

"You're very kind, my mutant healing factor regenerates my cellular structure.  I have the body of a very fit thirty year old."

"What about Howie, or Steve?"

"It's Howie, I've been Howard for so many years that I have decided to keep that name.  My powers also are responsible for my youthful appearance.  My fa-, I mean the scientist that took me had a name for it, cellular auto regeneration.  When I shift to liquid form my cells change.  When I shift back they revert to a previous state.  Apparently when I was in my thirties, there was a "sticking point".  For lack of a better term.  I always return to this age.  My body is renewed every time I shift, if I am wounded, as long as I can shift and revert to normal then the wounds are gone.  It's one reason that Logan and I can both smoke without causing harm to our bodies."

"Logan can I see your claws, again?"

Logan extended the claws of his right hand and Eric walked over and touched the sharp metal.  He pulled his hand back and Logan retracted the claws in horror.  Eric's hand was laid open.

"Hold still, I'll get the first aid kit!"

"No need."  Eric stated.

Howie and Logan watched as Eric turned his attention on his wound.  The skin began to knit, in moments the hand was whole, not even a scar showing where the injury had been.

"My abilities allow me control of my bodies functions including healing.  Now if you don't mind." 

Eric brought out a silver cigarette case and put one of the white cylinders to his lips. 

"Everybody's a smart ass!"  Logan snarled.

Eric smiled and sat back down.  He made a decision.  If he was supposed to be with these two men, and they had opened their histories to him they deserved to know about his past. 

"The earliest memories I have are of my father.  We were so close, he was my hero.  My entire world.  I loved him and he took me everywhere, and spoiled me.  When I was about six years old I heard him and mom talking one night.  She was concerned because I was as she put it "sensitive."  My dad told her to shut up, I wasn't a queer.  I slipped back into bed.  I remember wondering what a queer was.  I knew that there was something different about me.  As I grew up I realized what it was.  Around girls I could talk openly, I wasn't ever tongue tied like most of the guys.  But put me in a room full of boys and I clammed up.  I couldn't get my mouth to make sounds.  Then in high school when we had to dress out for gym I, thought I was in hell.  I'd walk in and stare directly ahead at my locker.  Until one day Tra Sherve dropped his jeans beside me and I saw out of the corner of my eye that he didn't wear underwear that day.  I got hard, and he noticed.  It was all over that I was this big queer.  It even got back to my parents.  Not that it mattered.  On my thirteenth birthday my abilities started to make themselves known.  At a small party my mom had for me I was able to call out what my gifts were before I even opened the packages.  She thought that I had peeked at hers but when my aunt popped in and I did the same thing with her's, she knew.  My dad came in my room that night.  He called me a mutant freak and... and he beat with a razor strap."

Eric paused to pull himself back together.  He had almost broken down, tears were running down his cheeks.

"Every time I did something that he thought was mutie he would beat me that night.  He told me that he was gonna beat the freak outta me.  When he got word that I was a queer he didn't bother with the strap he dragged me out of bed and beat me with his fists.  He said that he hated me, I was a mutie faggot and he wished I'd died at birth.  I wanted to die, but I shoved it down.  I started staying away from the house until I he'd gone to bed.  If he woke up I made sure to be gone.  He caught me just before graduation and I ended up in the hospital.  He'd hit me so hard that I was in a coma for three weeks.  When I woke up I was told that he was in prison, that he'd never hurt me again.  My mom couldn't look at me.  Luckily, my grades were good and I got a full scholarship to the University of Pittsburgh.  It was far enough away that I would be able to stay on campus.  I stayed to myself, I'd never had a sexual encounter or a boyfriend.  I didn't know where to look.  All I did know was that I wanted someone who loved me.  Someone who would make me feel like no one but me existed in the world.  Last week my one friend, Daphne dragged me to a party she was throwing.  I didn't want to go, but I didn't want to hurt her feelings.  So I went and stood in the corner watching all the dudes and girls go by.  That's when I saw him, a guy about my age, he had blonde hair and blue eyes.  He was so beautiful.  I realized he was staring back at me.  I didn't know what to do so I slipped behind a corner.  He came around the other side of the wall and leaned against the wall beside me.  The next thing I knew he was grabbing my cock.  I don't remember going to the bedroom but he was with me, he pulled off my clothes and lifted my legs.  I remember telling him that we had to be safe.  He tore open a condom with his teeth and said that he was prepared.  He rolled it on and there was this sharp pain, he was in me.  He was doing it to me.  It hurt like hell, but I must have looked into his head because I felt something... I thought that it was love, but it wasn't.  Not if what Jean told me is true.  Anyway, he'd fucked me without kissing me.  We started to talk and he told me about his first, a guy named Brian.  I wanted to kiss him so I leaned in.  He turned away.  I started to get dressed and he pulled me back and kissed me, I thought I'd go crosseyed.  It was so, so great.  He got dressed and left.  I asked Daphne how I could find him and she told me to go to the Liberty Diner.  I remember walking in and there were all these people, there were rainbow colors everywhere.  I couldn't get my breath.  This weird lady smiled and told me to just breath and have a seat that she'd be right with me.  I gasped out that I was looking for someone.  She smiled and said that everybody there was looking for someone.  Just then I saw him.  I called out his name.  He stared at me like had grown a second head.  He took a break and we went outside.  He wanted to know what I was doing there.  I told him that I had been thinking about last night and I missed him.  He got angry, told me that he didn't want me to come back to the Diner.  I asked why, he told me that we'd just fucked and that I was acting pathetic.  He said that queers would say anything to get their dick sucked and fuck a nice ass.  I told him that I knew how I felt that there was more to it.  He told me I was yesterday's fuck.  I broke into tears and ran.  I didn't make it back to my dorm.  I got hold of a bottle of booze and got so drunk.  It rained that night and I slept in Liberty Park under the bushes.  I wanted to die.  Maybe I hoped that he'd come and find me tell me that he hadn't meant it but he didn't.  Early that next morning I went to the bridge, I took my bike chain and found an old cinderblock.  I chained it around me and jumped into the cold water.  The next thing I remember is being back on the bridge with Logan pressing his lips over mine, breathing for me."

The young man gasped and a sob ripped out of him.  He felt Logan and Howie move to hold him.  He felt their concern.  His abilities were becoming more controllable.  He felt Logan's anger which was directed at Justin and his father; and Howie's compassion.  He felt their love for him, it was overwhelming.  He began crying more, but it wasn't because of what he'd been through.  It was the love the he felt.  His own heart seemed to expand in his chest as his love grew exponentially and he sent it soaring into the two men.

They held him tightly.

"You'll never hurt like that again, Eric.  I swear we'll never hurt you like that."  Howie whispered.

"Nobody else will either.  I'll gut 'em if they try."  Logan snarled.

"It's ok, I'm ok now.  Please calm down Logan."  Eric said wiping his tears.

He looked up to Logan's eyes and realized that at that moment he'd very much like to be kissed.  Logan slowly moved to cover Eric's mouth with his own.  It was different, gentle and tender.  Logan's tongue glided over his lips and he opened his mouth.  He felt the heat from the moist invader as it gently slid over his teeth and teased his own tongue.  He moaned into Logan as a hand pressed against his erection.

He pulled back from the kiss and found that Howie was there, claiming his mouth, his tongue probed the man's mouth as he gasped.  He felt the man hold him closely.  He felt the stiff cock press against his thigh.

"Fuck me, he whispered."

"No,"

"Huh?"

"We're going to make love with you."  Logan answered.

Eric felt himself hoisted into the air and he was carried to the bed room and placed down gently on the bed.  He felt those hands opening his clothes, as each bit of skin was reveled it was kissed and licked.  By the time he was naked on the bed he was about to scream from his need.

Logan moved down engulf Eric's cock in his mouth, the sensation was incredible, as Logan took him deeply inside.  One, two, three bobs of that beautiful head and Eric was cumming, he held his breath as the white creamy fluid flowed out of him and into Logan's throat.

"Now that the pressure's off."  Logan said with a feral grin as he moved lower and began to suck on Eric's toes.

Howie was concentrating on his neck.  He felt the combination of lips, tongue and teeth as they played over the tender flesh.  Howie moved down and took the deep coral colored nipple into his mouth.  He moaned and tangled his hand in the blonde hair, holding the man close.

Logan had moved between his legs as was licking his balls, taking first one and then the other into his mouth.  Howie's tongue had blazed a trail down his stomach, pausing to dip into his navel and then he felt his cock engulfed in the blonde's mouth.  It took longer this time but not that long.  He came with moans that seemed to start at his feet and grown in strength as they ran his full length and issued from his parted lips.

Howie sat up as Logan lifted his legs.  Howie held them spread wide; as Logan leaned down to touch his tongue to the tight pucker hidden deep in the cleft of Eric’s ass.

Eric moaned as liquid fire seemed to flow up his spine and hit his brain.  He gasped as Howie engulfed his throbbing cock.  He came explosively in that hot slick mouth.  Logan rose up and spoke.

“Let’s get him ready.”

“Ready?”  Eric asked.

“Yeah, I’ll do it.”  Howie said.

He pulled Eric to his feet and lead him to the bathroom and closed the door.  He pulled open his carryon and brought out his necessities kit.  He opened a sealed box and brought out a bulb syringe. 

“What’s that for?”

“We’re going to get you clean inside and out.”

“Okay…”

“Trust me; it’s the right thing to do in polite society.  Besides, you don’t want to soil the sheets do you?”

“Not really.”

Howie turned on the water in the basin and adjusted the temperature until it was warm.  He added a bit of soap.  The water became a mini tidal wave as he used his power to agitate it.  The soap foamed slightly.  He took the syringe and filled it.

“Now, bend over.”

Eric did as he was told and felt the tip of the bulb penetrate him.  There was a warm gush of water.

“Tighten up, I’m going to take it out.”

He heard the gurgle of the bulb being refilled.  It was reinserted and more water was added.

“Do your duty.”

“Huh?”

“Sit on the toilet and let ‘er rip.”

“Oh.”

Eric sat down and released his muscles.  The water gushed out of him.  He grabbed the toilet paper and cleaned up. 

“Once more, this time just plain water, we got to get that soap out of there.”

Howie emptied the sink and refilled it.  He filled the bulb and then filled Eric.

“Should I jump up and down?”

Howie stifled a laugh.  He shook his head negatively.

“That won’t be necessary, just let it go.”

The young man sat back down with another gush.  He cleaned up again and was then pulled to his feet and shoved into the shower.

“The inside’s clean, now for the outside.  You still smell like that river.”

“Sorry.”

Howie turned on the water and handed Eric the soap.  He willed the spray to twist and turn, causing it to pulsate as the handsome man lathered up and then rinsed.

“Give me that and turn around.”

Howie lathered the smooth back, the twin globes of the perky butt and inside the cleft.  He then directed the water and rinsed Eric carefully.

“Now you’re all set.” 

Howie turned off the water and opened a giant bath towel.  He began to dry Eric.  He rubbed until the skin took on a pink tinge.

“Are you going to leave me any skin?”

“I’ll try.  Come on, let’s go back.”

Eric opened the door and saw Logan lying back on the mattress, stroking his hard dick.

“Oh my God!  It’s fucking huge!”

 

“You don’t like it?”  Logan asked waved his big cock at Eric.

“I’m scared of it!”

“You’re gonna love it.”  Howie whispered and began to nibble on his neck.

Howie brought him down on the bed on all fours.  Logan moved to delve back into that pink pucker.  Howie moved under and caught Eric’s cock in his mouth.  Eric gasped at the simultaneous stimulation.  He shifted until he was astride Howie and took his cock in his mouth.  He drew it in deep until he his nose was pressed against the lightly haired balls.

Howie began to hum deep in his throat.  Eric dropped the cock from his mouth and gasped.  Just then a thick oiled finger slid into him.  It probed him deeply, hitting his prostate.  A million white explosions went off behind his eyelids.  As he came again, another finger slid into him, then another.  He began pushing back on Logan’s hand.

“You ready to try this?”  Logan asked as he slapped his hard cock against Eric’s pale butt cheek.

“Yessss!” 

Logan removed his fingers.  There was a slapping sound as he fisted oil onto his cock.  Eric then felt oil being dribbled over his hole and being worked into the channel. 

He felt the large head against his ass.  Logan began to press into him, the pressure increased until his body relented and the large organ pressed ahead.

“Oh my God!”  Eric gasped as tears sprang to his eyes. 

It hurt, it burned but he refused to stop.  Logan’s arms moved to encircle his waist.  He thrust slowly, pausing briefly and then thrusting again until Eric felt those rippled abs pressed against his ass.

“I’m gonna be wrecked for any other man.”  Eric gasped.

“You won’t need any other man.  Besides how do you think I’m gonna feel later, this isn't  exactly a pencil dick.”  Logan said as he reached to stroke Eric’s hard cock.

Logan drew out slightly and sank back in slowly.  Eric groaned and bit the pillow to stifle a scream as the movement caused a burning deep within.  Logan waited. 

Howie moved until he was face to face with Eric, his lips melded with the young man’s his tongue entering Eric’s mouth deeply.  Eric was then aware that the pain had ebbed, opening into a morass of pleasure.  He wiggled his ass, trying to signal Logan that all was well.

Logan set a slow and gentle pace, working his hips slowly to pleasure his lover.  His hands moved forward to pinch the erect nipples.   Eric moaned into Howie and arched his back.  Logan’s pace began to slowly increase as the man beneath him began to rock back.  Soon he was pulling back until only the head was left in and thrusting back in hard.  Eric’s passage tightened around Logan’s cock, as the young man came over his pumping hand that encircled his cock.  Logan felt the pressure in his gut that told him his own climax was beginning.  He pounded into that tight ass, until his essence was fired deeply into his lover’s body.

Eric collapsed onto the mattress.  He felt Logan’s cock slowly withdraw.  He felt bereft at the loss; if he hadn’t known that he could have Logan inside him again he would have wept.

 “That was incredible.”  He gasped.

“I’m lonely.”  Howie complained.

Logan flipped Eric over and brought his legs up, he put a pillow under his hips and leaned down.

“You up for another?”

“Yeah, I believe I can take it.”

Howie oiled his cock and using his remarkable flexibility he leaned down and kissed the young man as he deftly slipped inside.  He thrust deeply inside and felt Eric’s body shiver.

“It feels deeper this way!”  Eric gasped.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, don’t stop.”

“I wasn’t planning on stopping, unless you said uncle.”

“Good.”

Howie began thrusting in with a twist of his hips.  He watched Eric’s face as he slowly screwed him.  The widening of his eyes, the lips parting as Howie sank deeply in.  As he withdrew a look bordering on bereavement touched those beautiful blue eyes.  Until he sank back in and brought the little gasps from the man under him.

“You like that big cock up your tight butt?”

“Hell yes.  I love it.”

“You still gonna have any strength left?  Wanna fuck my tight ass?”

“Oh God, you’re gonna kill me!”

“Me? How?”

“You’re gonna fuck me to death!”

“What a way to go.”

Eric’s cock blasted his load, it splashed against Howie’s chest as he too came deep inside Eric’s butt.  His seed mixing with that of Logan’s that remained inside Eric.   The two men collapsed on the bed.

“Don’t think I can do anymore tonight.  I’m young but I’m not Superman.”

“You rest.”  Logan said gently.

He left the bed for a moment.  He returned with two warm cloths and cleaned his two lovers.  He pitched them back into the bathroom and lay down beside Eric.  Howie was on the other side, already snoring softly.

~X~

In the mansion…

Charles Xavier was lying in his bed, the sheets were soaked with perspiration and his chest was covered in his own cum.  He managed to get into his feet and walked into the bathroom.  He quickly washed and returned to the bed and fell onto it in exhaustion. 

“Tomorrow I have to teach that young man how not to broadcast every thought in his head!”  He told himself and then fell into an exhausted slumber.

Down the hall…

“What in the hell got into you tonight?  Not that I’m complaining, but my dick is wore to a nub.”  Scott asked his wife.

Jean was lying back smoking a cigarette.  She simply smiled at her husband and stubbed out the butt. 

“I really have no idea.”  She replied. 

They curled up together and fell asleep.

*Tomorrow Eric has to learn to shield.  Another night of this and Scott will divorce me.* Jean though to herself as she was engulfed by oblivion.

~X~

Logan watched his two lovers sleep.  They were beautiful, with Howie he shared a past.  Eric was a blank slate.  Their future spread out before them waiting to be written.  Whatever the future held it would not be boring.  Logan kissed Eric, and leaned over the kiss Howie.  He lay back and closed his eyes and surrendered to the peace that sleep offered.

TBC…