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

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[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 felt tired and dirty and frayed around the edges. She sure as hell didn't feel like she was anything worth looking at. So feeling the eyes of a man who obviously disagreed with that evaluation. . .

Well, it wasn't the worst feeling in the world.

"Call me crazy," she said, putting a hand on one shoulder and sliding into his lap, "but I have a feeling that right now --" She kissed his neck "-- other things are more on your mind."

After that, they didn't talk. She let him do what he wanted -- what she wanted -- and when she remembered they were in a houseful of curious people, she took his finger between her teeth and bit down. Between them, they hardly made a sound.

Jean didn't think he really fell asleep so quickly, when they were finished, but she let him think she thought he was asleep. She got out of the bed, reassembled her clothes, and opened the door without touching it, careful to be as quiet as she could.

Rounding a corner, she almost ran into the girl, the one who was -- God, just like himJean smiled. "How are