Chapter 3 - Awakening
~2 days later~
Europe was still lying in bed. She didn’t wake up once in all the time, just resting.
But this time, the sun shone right on her feet and was nearly burning them so she got up, well, technically, she just blinked twice but that was quite a progress.
She felt somewhere between “horrible” and “somekinda good” but didn’t make up yet which one was closer. She opened her eyes once more and found herself…
… in a room that was definitely not hers. A striking pain went through her entire body and panicky she rose the cover from the bed to look under it. With a relieved sigh she dropped the cover again. “Phew” she whistled “At least no bed-time-boogie while I was out!” she leaned back and crossed the arms behind her head, looking around in the simple but really… grey room. She sniffed twice, the grin parted, she noticed, that she definitely needed a shower.
Tossing the cover off, she stood up and looked around. The room was so simply that she could hardly tell if it was a bed-room or just a cave. There was no signal of emotional bondage of the owner to this place. No pictures on the wall, no nothing. “Look who’s talking” she thought to herself and walked to the window.
Outside she was confronted with some place that looked like the very paradise: The perfect image of this blue sky was only exceeded by the sun which treated the landscape well with its warmth spending shine. She had to use a hand to shield from the harsh light coming from above and her eyes wandered down to explore the countryside. Many strong-looking pines were there, catching everyone’s eye through their natural beauty, making mankind looking so much inferior. The trees parted for a short avenue that guided right to an oval shaped lake. The water seemed to be mostly clean from what she could see and when she pricked her ears, she imagined to hear the water steadily sweeping it’s natural border. A smile spread across her face as she thought back of old times.
But finally she noticed that she still had no clue where the heck she was and even though it was great to observe nature at it’s best, she couldn’t help being curious.
Cautiously she tiptoed to the door and turned the knob. Tossing the door a tiny bit open, she slid her head through and peeked into another room that looked just like the other… talking about the emotional bondage at least. The walls were naked grey making the entire place looking somehow sad.
No matter how many times Europe looked around, she found nothing that could give a light hint to whom this place belonged. At least there was the exit, she thought as she saw a door that was wide open and guiding outside. Europe walked over to the cupboard that was standing in the room, looking up to open the wooden door, she remarked that she wasn’t alone anymore.
“What’s ‘he matt’r ,tadpole?” At first she flinched at the deep, rough voice that was greeting her so friendly (friendly considering Logan’s usual attitude) but the she recognised it and there was another relieved sigh. There was no way of forgetting the voice of someone who had been training the way Logan did.
“Logan!! Thank god it’s you!” she ran to him and threw her arms around his shoulders. “It’s been a looong time since I saw you the last”
Logan was certainly not “world’s most hugged mutant”, especially not by (former) students of the Institute. (right after his training sessions in the danger room most students wouldn’t be able to clinch their fists ) Moreover, he certainly was not the character who gives you somewhat like a reason for emotional outbreaks -like hugs…
Anyhow, Europe didn’t think of that right now, it just felt good to be with someone she could trust. To be with someone she knew, to be with Logan. Especially with him. He was known to talk very little and this was exactly the type of conversation she needed right now.
Not really feeling comfortable in this situation, Logan patted the girls back twice and couldn’t help feeling relieved that she seemed to be alright. By the time, the girl backed off and grinned brightly into his face, the relieved face was gone and it had changed back into the all-time-Logan-face (like, feared by the foes… and by the X-Mansion students ^^).
Europe looked at him, saying nothing, it was her stomach that prevented them from getting to a situation that Kitty used to call “icky silence”
Protecting, the girl lifted both hands to cover her grumbling abdomen but Logan had already heard it.
“I’ve got someth’n in the fridge” with what he turned away. “Geez!” Europe thought, by that tone she thought of a poor sandwich but she learned that Gambit was not the only X-Men with a talent for hustling. That fridge was full, all sorts of fruits, eggs, bacon, sausages, jellies, cookies, juices and all other imaginable stuff.
“You’re expecting the Brady bunch?” she glanced over her shoulder while she took out the bottle of oj and a green apple.
Huffing annoyed Logan reached down for the newspaper and burying his head within, he just growled “With twen’y recruits ‘n each one cravin’ for somt’n else , I ain’t leav’n no jokes tadpole”
Europe put out the plate with the bacon, a glass of jam and two oranges and grinned wickedly at her idea. After all, she was “the one that ate everything”!
After she had been working a while, Logan peeked up from his papers, he saw Europe sitting in front of him with an amount of food which would have been indeed enough to feed the entire Brady-bunch.
After the eggs, the bacon, the sausages half a litre of orange juice Europe leaned back in her seat, holding her full stomach.
“Been a while, huh?” Logan put his paper aside. It wasn’t hard to guess that this was her first food in a bout some days.
The rough voice sounded as usual, but there was some sort of concern within, trying to find an excuse she nervously looked around, scratching her head “umm… I haven’t been hungry in… the last time” she tried hard to stay calm but it was obviously that her face was gleaming red as a tomato.
“Yeah right” he huffed somewhat angrily and leaning forward in his chair. Logan put both his hands on the table like a wolf who was about to jump at his target and tear it apart right- there and then. For a second Europe seriously thought about to take a hike, by his narrowing eyes which seemed to analyse her somehow.
All of a sudden, Logan’s body lost the tense and he fell back again in his chair. He crossed his arms “U wanna tell me what you w’re doin’ down dat rotten bar? That ain’t no place for some gal!”
“Tell me about it” she whispered while rubbing her violet cheek, it still hurt but then she tried not to think about it. She lowered her head and somehow she felt guilty. ~How does he do that?~ she asked herself. Within a few seconds she felt like back at the mansion under Wolverine’s lead. Under the table she was playing nervously with the ring on her finger.
Logan didn’t give her a break “still wait’n’” his voice tore her out of her thoughts. She had made up several stupid reasons within that short time span but she thought it didn’t matter what she said, “I was…” she started but as her eyes met his, she stopped. Her voice cracked.
Europe was expecting the very apocalypse now, so she decided to make this as short as possible. She tossed the chair back and stood up. Slowly she started walking towards “her” room “Guess it’s better if I leave now and thanks for the breakfast!”
After two steps Logan stopped her and told her that she didn’t have to leave. “Better if I keep ‘n eye on ya”
A new hope.
“You mean it?” she questioned the sitting man with a arched brow.
Without giving her an answer, Logan got up and walked towards his own room, just before the door behind him closed he grumbled something about “cleaning up that mess”
Obviously he was referring to the kitchen. A relieved sigh filled the kitchen. Europe put both hands to her hips “cake” she thought and looked to the dishes. As she collected the plates and cups she was wondering what had happened to Logan that he was so “nice” to her.
Just that second Logan’s head re-appeared through the door. It was very quick, but she could swear to see him grin mischievously “don’t think you’re getting’ away from ya trainin’, tadpole!” With what his head disappeared again.
Europe rolled her eyes “I shouldn’t even have thought about getting away” with what she started washing all the dishes.