If You Pardon, I Will Mend pt 3


"Come on, you can do better than that," Logan taunted as he jumped to the side.

Rouge grunted and rose up onto one knee. "Y'all sure know how to make this a fare game," said Rouge as she leapt at him again. She kicked out with her left leg. Logan caught it neatly and swept her legs out from underneath her. She landed on the practice mat with a loud slap.

***BAMF***

Kurt stood beside Logan in the middle of the ring. He grabbed Logan's arm and lifted it above their heads. "The winner and still champion, Wolverine!"

"Wouldn'ta won if he'da let me use mah powers," said Rouge as she crossed her arms.

Logan lowered his arm and flashed her a toothy smile, "Now how are ya going to use your powers on me? Ya never touched me, darlin'."

"Well like it was really fair anyway!" Rouge looked around the gym. Kitty was in the corner walking along a balance beam. Scott and Jean were taking turns on a punching bag. "Why don't ya let me fight Kitty, or Jean? Betcha I could kick Jean's butt!"

Logan burst into laughter.

"What?" Rouge demanded as she scowled at him.

Kurt glanced at Rouge cautiously, "Entschuldigen Sie mich, frauline, but Wolverine has been teaching Jean and Scott for a long time. They are both very good fighters."

"Oh, yeah. Well ah guess he musta missed a few lessons with Jean. After all, ah am the one who saved her from that crazy yahoo fat boy."

Logan's face darkened. He didn't like to be reminded of that. "Jean!" he bellowed, his voice filling the large gym.

Jean and Scott both came trotting up to the ring. "What's up?" asked Jean as she caught her breath and wiped some sweat from her forehead.

"Rouge wants a little demonstration of my teachings," grunted Logan as he nodded his head toward the angry looking girl standing in front of him.

Jean began to climb slowly into the ring.

*Do you really think this is fair, Logan?* Jean asked in his mind.

*Fair or not, this girl's gotta learn some respect. Don't hold back. Make me proud, Red.* he winked at her and climbed out of the ring.

Logan climbed down and stood beside Scott. As the two girls went to their corners, Kitty came limping over to the ring. Kurt jumped down from the ring and moved to support her weight. Kitty smiled at him and hopped a bit. Scott supported her on the other side.

"I just turned my ankle," Kitty explained as she gently leaned on Scott.

Logan crouched down to examine it. He prodded it gently and she winced. "Just a little swollen," Logan said as he rose. "Why don't ya get her to the Doc, Scott," Logan advised.

Scott hesitated. He glanced at Jean who was stretching against the ropes. He wanted to stay and see the fight.

Kitty observed him, crestfallen.

"Kurt, why don't you take her down. She won't have to walk," he reasoned as he slipped his arm out from around her waist.

"Aye, captain!" said Kurt as he saluted Scott smartly.

Kitty pouted. "Come on you guys! You know how much I hate to-

***BAMF***

Scott wafted away the cloud of smoke that was left in their place and turned to watch the ring.

"You two ready or what?" asked Logan.

Jean nodded.

"Bring it on," mumbled Rouge.

As the approached each other and touched gloves, Scott noticed a look of concern wash over Jean's face. He knew she would never read Rouge's mind without permission, but that couldn't stop her from seeing things that Rouge was projecting. And in the angry mood the girl was in at the moment, Scott knew she would be projecting a lot.

*Scott, she really hates me.*

Scott looked at Jean and thought, *I don't think that's true, she's just upset. She just wants to prove herself here.*

*Maybe.* thought Jean as she squared off against her opponent.

*Remember what the professor said, just because she thinks it, doesn't mean she actually feels that way. Sometimes even our own minds can fool us.*

*Thanks, Scott.*

In the ring, Jean had a grim look of determination, but Scott could literally feel her smile in his mind. He smiled back, knowing that she felt it.

He glanced toward Rouge. All he wanted to do was help her, couldn't she see that? They all wanted to help her, Jean most of all. He knew in his heart that Jean could help Rouge if only she would let down her guard. This fight wasn't going to help anything. Scott glanced at Logan in disgust. Sometimes he really doubted the man's motives. Did he really want to teach Rouge some kind of lesson? Or was this just an excuse to see a chick fight? Logan grinned as the two girls approached each other. Scott frowned as he became more convinced it was the latter.

If Jean won, Rouge would hate her even more. She'd become even more closed off, and there would be little hope of the two of them ever becoming friends. But if Rouge won, she'd continue to disrespect Logan and all of them. Scott didn't know which girl to cheer for.