Jeannie ((rp for shadeof_grey))

[bestdamnxman]

It had been a good weekend. Logan was never one to choose to be in charge. Being the leader wasn't his thing. He didn't need it. But when necessary he was equal to the task. And this time all it had entailed was making sure no one broke any of Emma's antiques during the karaoke

Comments

[shadeof_grey]

The mess was gone by the time that Jean got back from Europe. There was just enough trace of the party that she could tell there had been a mess, but someone had gone to pains to clean up -- maybe Hank and Irene, or maybe Logan had tricked the students into it.

Jean caught sight of a plastic cup someone had missed, the edge peering out from under the sofa. She bent to pick it up.

It's been a long time since I went to a party, Jean thought, a little mopey with herself. They had to do it while I was out of town. And then she realized she probably did have to be out of town. I'm one of the grownups, she thought. This sucks.

While she was bending over, she noticed half a Cheez-it on the hard-wood floor. She started to put it in the cup then thought, Hell, it doesn't look dirty and put in her mouth. Belatedly, she straightened and looked around to see if anybody had noticed.

"Oh, hi, Logan," she mumbled, around the edge of the cracker. "It looks like you had a party."

[bestdamnxman]

He wasn't exactly sneaking up on her, he was just enjoying the view.

"Something like that. Pizza. Beer. Few people I hadn't seen in a while."

He smiled.

"And Cheez-its. Nothin' says fun like a box of Cheez-its."

Logan walked over to Jean. He stood before her, feet planted, thumbs in his jeans. Entirely relaxed.

"How 'bout you, Red? Mission accomplished?"

[shadeof_grey]

Jean held up one finger, nodding for him to wait while she finished chewing. She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. God. At least chocolate would have had some dignity.

She looked at him, the way he was slouching in those stupid denims, the way she could feel him grinning at her without even grinning.

Jean was wearing khakis that were a size too big for her, and a shirt that she had spilled coffee on. She had her hair tied up in a knot and she was exhausted from the trip. "Can we not do this now?" she said. "I just want to go to bed."

[bestdamnxman]

Logan straighted a bit. Not all the way.

"Understood."

He walked over to Jean, put his hands on her shoulders and gave them a squeeze, pushing her tension away for the moment. He let go with a gentle shove toward the hall.

"Go on. I'll tuck you in tight."

[shadeof_grey]

Jean stared at him for a long moment, not sure what she had just proposed or what he had agreed to. She just knew that she was tired, and her eyes were stinging, and before she could understand what it meant, her face was wet and she could hear herself crying. She turned her back on him. "I'm sorry."

[bestdamnxman]

Logan stared a moment.

Took a breath. A step. Considered his options. Crying in the hallway seemed like a bad plan. Bedrooms were a bit far. Kitchen. Game room. Library. He placed his hands on her shoulders again and steered her into the library. Unlikely any students would come in at this hour. He shut the door behind them.

And pulled her into his arms.

"Cry as long as you like."

[shadeof_grey]

In the course of just a couple minutes, Jean had somehow gone from feeling ancient and stodgy to feeling like a silly schoolgirl with a skinned knee. And Logan was indulging her. It would be a lie to say she didn't like it -- his touch, his breathing against her, the way it didn't even occur to him to ask why she was crying.

"I'm sorry," she said, pulling away from him after a long moment. "You didn't come back here to baby-sit me. I'm just -- I'm just tired. So." She tried to smile. "I turn my back, and everybody decides it's time for a party?"

[bestdamnxman]

Logan didn't mind her tears and didn't need to know. Simple.

He answered her smile in turn and shrugged in answer.

"It was my birthday. You sayin' I don't deserve a party?"

[shadeof_grey]

Jean backed up a little and stared at him.

"Since when do you have birthdays?" She heard herself teasing him, before she realized she was doing it. He might even have gotten her to smile. She reached out and touched his sleeve, fingering the randomly-colored madras cloth. "Maybe we'll shopping. I'll get you some new shirts." Solemnly, she added, "Unless you can think of a better present."

[bestdamnxman]

"Hey, what's wrong with my shirts?"

He liked her smile, small as it was. Woman shouldn't be crying in his arms ten minutes back from wherever she went. Amsterdam. Still wanted to hear that story.

But plenty of time for that when she wasn't looking at him with such intent.

"I can think of a few things, darlin', but I don't want you embarrassed to be seen with me. So, shirts are fine."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Want I should get rid of this one?"

[shadeof_grey]

"This may come as a shock to you --" Jean said solemnly. She undid one of the buttons on his neckline, her fingers grazing the rough hair of his chest. " --Sometimes," she said, "people give their clothes to the Salvation Army for a reason. This shirt, it probably smells like --" She leaned in a little closer, but then stopped. It didn't smell so bad after all.

She let him go and stood up. "Don't get undressed here. We are in the library." She stretched, keeping one eye trained on him. "I'm sorry I spazzed on you, earlier. I'm just really confused about everything right now. Do you want to come upstairs?"

[bestdamnxman]

He nodded and stood to join her.

"Let's go."

He walked out of the library, assuming she would follow and led the way to his room. The mansion was quiet. His room, contrary to rumor, was undisturbed while he'd been away. Also contrary to reputation, it's clean and not as sparse as one might imagine.

Logan ushered Jean into the bedroom and took a seat on the bed.

"Okay. What's confusing you?"

Lay it all out. Best way to be.

[shadeof_grey]

Jean rubbed at her eye, sneaking a look in the mirror. Her face looked a little red, but at least, as far as she could tell, she didn't still have Cheez-It in her teeth.

She finally turned toward Logan. "You want to talk about our relationship," she said flatly.

[bestdamnxman]

He leaned back to get the best view.

"Among other things."