(no subject)

[coercive]

[She lets the others go ahead of her. The window to get to safety is so small, but she's not ready to leave yet. Promising Delilah that she'll show up eventually, Laura watches her friends leave. Rictor guides the group quickly, and Laura watches them until she can't see Bobby with his Wolverine doll any longer. When she's truly alone she turns to stare at the grave she's watching over. Day turns to dusk, then quickly to night.

She's standing guard over the man who made her promise to move on and not be what she was created to be.

It's after midnight when she finally sits, resting against her backpack.

She dozes off once or twice, but never actually sleeps. She watches the sunrise over the lake, then sets to putting wildflowers on the freshly piled dirt. Knowing that she needs to try and find her friends, she starts to get up to leave.

The sound of something beneath the dirt catches her ear. She thinks it sounds like a muffled scream. When the dirt starts to rustle, she realizes what's going on. Her heart catches in her throat and she makes a muted scream of terror as she hurries to start digging. She moves in a frenzy, scooping and digging with her hands. She ends up with bloodied fingers and knuckles that heal right away, but the end result is her staring across at a very alive Wolverine.

Logan.

Her father.

She stares with wide eyes, and reaches up to touch at his face. Lips trembling, she tries to wipe away some of the dirt and mud. There's so much of it, along with the blood.]

Daddy?

[It doesn't feel strange to call him that. Not after saying it already. There's not a ton of distance between them, but she launches herself at him anyway, arms wrapping around him in a crushing hug.]

Comments

[regenerative]

[ he's glad she's not looking at him right now. he watches her back, as though her hair will be able to tell him something her face won't. he suspects she must be feeling disappointment, either at not being with her friends right now or with him slowing them both down as he had done so before. but he can't push his ability to move any faster, to heal itself at lightning quick speed. ]

[ he can't even give her a confident, concrete solution to their problem, either. it's the disappointment etched in his face that he doesn't want to see reflected in hers. ]

[ he watches her for a moment before he thinks to answer. it's not out of distrust and not wanting to share that he even hesitates, but he doesn't want to commit to something that may no longer be viable. eden hadn't been a concept he believed in, not like she had with her entire being; unlike that safe place, logan doesn't have faith in their next plan of action. but it's all he can come up with when he doesn't have charles or caliban to turn to. ]

You know him as Magneto.

[coercive]

[She looks at him through his reflection that shows up on the tv while she's flipping through channels. There's an old monster movie on one of the channels and she leaves it there; the grainy quality of the image reminds her of the western she had watched with Charles.]

You trust him?

[She knows that name, she's seen him in the comics Gabriela gave to her. She knows what he's capable of. But she also knows what her father is capable of, and that he wouldn't be seeking out a man like Magneto if they weren't out of other resources.

Turning away from the tv, she finally looks at him. If he's worried about disappointment or resentment being show on his face, he might be surprised to see a little warmth there.
It's subtle, and more in her eyes than anything, but the idea of two people filled with metal that can be controlled and used against them visiting a man like Magneto is near comical. Her asking if he trusts the guy is even more so.

He's done so much in only a day or so. Came back to save her, helped her rescue her friends, and died to make sure she was free. Even now, when he's barely able to function,
he's trying. All that matters to her now is that they stay together, and find a way to see her friends again.]

[regenerative]

[ logan pauses. when he looks at her, it's written all over his face what his answer to her question is. it's a resounding no; his expression remains guarded and sharp, with a tension aligning itself along his shoulders. the thought's not one he had ever wanted to put out into the open, but it's always lingered in the back of his mind to see whether or not magneto was still bumbling around, able to help his old friend who was a little too proud amongst his senility to ask for it. ]

[ charles never would've searched for him, either. too afraid, too proud, and too depressed to think his old friend had survived, logan never had it in him to see if the old man could check for anyone they knew. ]

No.

[ a part of him deflates with the answer, shoulders sagging a little. hands moving to his legs, he pushes his shoulders back, as if he needs to puff out his chest and grab all the authority in the room for when he speaks next. ]

But Charles did. And if anyone could survive what happened at Westchester, it's him.

[ with his funny little hat and determination to never quite die. he'd been there, long ago at a time that sometimes feels fuzzy to even him, when the "phoenix" had disintegrated charles. and he'd survived the death of his friend, the almost destruction of mutantkind at the hands of jean grey, other mutants, humans alike. erik lensherr was a bigger cockroach than james howlett, and he didn't even have the ability to regenerate. ]

[coercive]

[She nods, not letting herself say anything just yet. Her thoughts have a tendency to slip out blunt and sometimes too harsh, and she doesn't want to say anything to ruin the peace that's currently between them. ]

I trusted Charles.

[And because of that, she'll follow his judgement and at least give Magneto a chance. If he was still alive, and it sounded likely he was, she figured he was old enough that she could bring him down if it was needed. And if not, then they'd find an ally that could help them. Either way, she'd get to drive and they wouldn't be stuck in this motel for longer than one night.

She looks away from the tv, and idly pushes her car against the bed. Dark eyes glance up at him through the wet and tangled hair that's falling into her face.]

And I miss him too.

[He never had time to really talk about or grieve over the death of someone who meant so much to him. And a large part of Laura feels responsible for his death, for not being able to stop his killer. She knows that Logan feels that same guilt, but he's also not likely to want to talk about this. The only reason she's bringing it up is so he can understand that Charles Xavier meant a great deal to her too, and that was why she'd agree to meet Magneto so willingly.]

[regenerative]

[ logan feels an uncomfortable heaviness settle down on him when she says that. it's as if he has an immunity to any mention of charles by his own tongue, but when someone else utters his name, his entire body goes tense. he doesn't want to hear it. a part of him wants to live in that dangerous denial that this is all some vivid dream he can't quite wake up out of, but he will, eventually. ]

[ the events of that night in the farmhouse are ones he will never forget. he supposes a reason why he's still alive and kicking is because he hadn't had enough time to torture himself with it. ]

[ looking straight ahead, he takes in a deep breath through his nose. once he releases it, the tension in his shoulders only shifting to the sting in his back, he lets himself utter: ] I know.

[ he doesn't need to tell her he misses him with his entire being. she already seems to get that. ]

Charles isn't here anymore. But that doesn't mean we stop trusting him.

[coercive]

[The concept of trusting someone even after they die is brand new to her. She looks perplexed for a moment as she tries to figure out how to mentally trust someone that isn't still alive, but in the end she decides that her trust in a man like Charles can be based on the man she knows he was.

This subject is difficult for her, so she can't imagine how challenging it is for him. Really, she doesn't want to try to imagine it. What she feels is already overwhelming enough.]

We will find Magneto. If he is bad, I will kill him.

[It sounds so simple said like that, with all the confidence that a child with freakish strength can muster. She wants him to know that just because she's young it doesn't mean that he has to take care of her right now. She'll take care of them both.]

Now you should sleep. It is late.

[regenerative]

[ logan doesn't bother to correct her. from her comic books, she has to know who magneto is and why he wouldn't exactly place much faith in her ability to strike him. if she weren't made out of metal, he would bet everything on her, but magneto's speciality is what's always been their advantage outside of their regenerative ability. ]

[ the only response logan gives her is a deep exhale in and a deeper one out through his nose. he's reluctant to move, but he does so, standing up and moving slowly to ensure the bathroom light's off and everything's out of the way on the floor, in case she decides to go for a short wander. it's stalling for time, but it's still something instinctual for him. ]

[ then he moves to the bed, knowing if he opts for the armchair that she'll scowl and even pull him onto it. he may not have precognition for a mutation, but he's beginning to think he knows laura. ]

The moment you're awake, we're leaving. Got it?

[coercive]

Got it. Now sleep.

[She mutters, watching him closely as he goes about the room to turn off the lights. There's only one bed in the room, and she sticks to a corner of the edge while she waits for him to lie down. It's only once he does that she goes about a routine of her own, tiptoeing across the carpet as silent as possible, double checking the locks and pulling chairs in front of the door just as an extra precaution. The bathroom door is pushed open so she can see all the way inside, and once she's done a couple of walk throughs that involve her pressing her ear against the wall to hear into the room next door for signs of danger she makes her way over to sit in the armchair.

She sits there watching him, keeping guard over the room that's become their temporary safe space. When she eventually gets tired, she moves from the chair to the carpet to sleep. The iPod that she had taken from Nate Munson lulls her to rest, the rhythmic beats of the boy's songs helping keep any dreams at bay. ]

[regenerative]

[ logan watches her go about her little routine, thinking to let her know that her efforts are going to be fruitless against any mutant or human who thinks to come to this room. but he figures that'll only disturb what little peace has settled inside of her. gabriela's lifeless expression and the awkward loll of her head may have been a vision that they both share. instead of ruining her little routine of checking everything in this dingy motel room is fine, he lets her be, and wonders if she did this for gabriela before he falls asleep. ]

[ he wakes up earlier than her, and instead of taking advantage of the fact she's not standing over him, staring, he gets up. doesn't shower as he should, not wanting to feel that sting of his slowly healing wounds grow any louder than they already are. instead, he approaches her on the armchair, picks her up as gently as possible without making too much noise, and deposits her gently into that bed. he takes up her mantel of being in the armchair and does his best to keep his eyes open. ]

[ of course they close, but logan finds he doesn't drift off to sleep right after it. instead, he thinks of how the hell he's going to find magneto amongst this swamp of a world they live in. ]

[coercive]

[She doesn't wake up until the morning. When she does, the first thing that she notices is that she's laying in bed and there's sunlight starting to filter into the room. That means they've overslept. Blinking her eyes open, she squints over toward the armchair and takes in the sight of him sitting there.]

You switched.

[It comes out accusatory, but there's not really any malice behind it. It's just frustration, and it leads to her stomping out of bed, which is more comical than it should be with her wearing rainbow pajamas. She stomps her way into the bathroom and slams the door, only to emerge a couple of minutes later dressed in new clothes and ready to go.

Silently, she's a little storm as she moves through the room, tossing things into her backpack. They'll need to head out soon, otherwise they risk being caught by the management of this place.]

Did you sleep at all? Or just watch me do it instead?

[regenerative]

[ at her accusatory tone, he smiles a little smugly. he can't quite help it. having bested her when she's always been a step ahead of him with her sharp nose and her easy distrust, it's a little victory for him to have gotten the upper-hand in something that's so trivial. ]

[ he doesn't respond to her. instead, he watches her, steering clear of her little storm as she sweeps through the room and slams the door. that'd be his cue to get to his feet, but logan stays put. as tired and sore as he is, he finds he's not lagging behind because of any pain. it's charles' words, telling him to enjoy the moment that keeps him from getting up and being a bigger storm. ]

I slept. [ logan hasn't moved from his seat in the armchair. he hasn't really dressed to take on the world beyond the door, either — but, then again, logan's idea of dressing has always been a simple wife beater and a jacket or shirt thrown over it. ] You slept in. You needed it. [ his brow arches and the corner of his lip follows. ] You're welcome.

[coercive]

[He certainly looks proud of himself. Rolling her eyes at the way he looks so pleased, she lets him have this moment. It's not like his letting her sleep really is a bad thing, even if it ruined her plans of letting him sleep in comfort most of the night.]

Maybe.

[Her arms cross over her chest, and she looks every inch his bossy little daughter for a second as he looks over at him.]

But now we need to go. You are making us more late.

[And then she takes some of the new clothes she's grabbed for him and throws them at him, hoping to hit him square in the face.]

[regenerative]

[ she looks like a kid when she behaves like that. ]

Yeah, yeah.

[ logan doesn't react to the clothes being tossed toward him. he catches a shirt, but the rest hit him and collapse in a pile on his lap. they fall to the floor when he stands up, and he has half a mind to leave them there but ends up picking them up from the floor and heading into the bathroom. changing his shirt, he sweeps those bullets he'd left in the sink into his pocket, and walks out, other shirt in hand and the clothes she'd tossed at him over his shoulder. ]

Let's go. [ looking at her, he then adds with the intention to shit stir, ] You're making us late.

[coercive]

[Her head turns to watch him, eyes narrowing into a frosty glare. He thinks he's so funny, she can tell. Angrily grabbing her backpack, she runs and pushes past him so she can try to get to the drivers side of the car first. She shouts at him in Spanish as she goes, more teasing than actually angry. He's heard her angry yelling before, and this isn't it.]

They are coming -

[She notices the manager walking with a couple of housekeepers and a police officer. ]

Mira, look!

[All playing is gone now, as she hurries into the car and slides over to the passenger seat.]

[regenerative]

[ he doesn't march with much purpose toward the truck they've stolen, but his strides are longer than they'd been before. there's still a limp to his step, a favouring of one side over the other, but logan feels like he's a little fresher than he was yesterday. that's a bonus. ]

[ without any possessions to put in a backpack (or a backpack), logan easily follows her to the truck. surprised she's taken the passenger seat, he sheds it quick and hops into the driver's side. turning the ignition on, he looks in the mirror to see where the police and housekeepers are, before he backs out slowly, not wanting to draw any attention to them. ]

[ leaving the carpark, he doesn't hit his foot onto the gas to go fast. ]

We're going to have to stop for food. [ he doesn't look at her, not particularly interested in seeing her reaction to his conversational tone. he's not quite disturbed by the presence of a police officer, knowing that they're ahead and suspecting the officer will be more preoccupied with searching the premises and then their room. they've got time. ] What do you want?

[coercive]

[She ate so much last night that food isn't a pressing need for her right now. But he still needs to eat, and she can't deny the fact that her stomach has a little rumble. So she shrugs and looks out the window, eyes scanning around. There's a few fast food places in close, but she wants to put a little distance between them and the police. Unlike him, their presence makes her edgy.]

Waffles.

[She decides, figuring that if she gives him a specific food he can find someplace that serves it.]

With chocolate milk.

[Her eyes glance up to the rearview mirror as they drive off, and she relaxes back into the seat. She really is too tense for an eleven year old.]

[regenerative]

[ and it all comes crashing back to him that she's just a kid. with adult-like instincts and the need to stay ten steps ahead rather than be ten steps behind, sometimes he forgets she's just eleven years old. logan doesn't remember what it was like to be her age; all he can recall is that he'd been a kid, happy with victor, confused once those claws had shot right through the skin of his hands, and ever since he's been feeling like he's on edge, living on borrowed time even though someone would say he's earned it. ]

[ he thinks he's earned it now, even if his body doesn't agree. ]

Waffles and chocolate milk. [ dryly, ] You really like the good stuff, huh?

[ but it's an answer, and so logan tries to keep an eye out for a place that he thinks would serve it — and have her looking a little less tense. his gaze shifts to the rearview mirror a few times to see if there's anyone following behind them, but finds that there isn't at all. ]

[ muttering, ] We'll find you a place. Sit back and don't play with the lock.

[coercive]

[His telling her not to play with the lock creates a beacon over toward the lock that she otherwise might not have paid attention to. Her hand goes to rest over it, just to satisfy the urge to not be told what to do. She gives herself credit for not playing with it though, and thinks he really should too.]

What do you eat for breakfast? Whiskey and cigars?

[Not that you eat cigarettes, but she's just making a point here. That he shouldn't make fun of her choices in food. That's just rude, Logan.

She doesn't want to be too much of a little shit though, knowing that his patience is probably thin thanks to the fact he's still recovering. So she slumps back in her seat and crosses her arms over her chest, doing a good job of looking like she's sulking.]

[regenerative]

[ looking at her from the corner of his eye, his brow rises ever so slightly in challenge. if she presses that lock down, he's not too sure what he'll do — they both know he only has the energy to verbally snap at her (and that's all he'd ever do, even if he was at full strength). charles' voice invades his mind, as though the old man's in the backseat once again. she's just a child, but she's also an annoying child. (must be his genetics.) ]

I eat food. [ his eyes remain hard on the road. it's almost as though he won't speak further, but after a few minutes, the corner of his lip turns upward, ] I have whiskey and cigars for lunch. More whiskey than cigars these days.