Flash Delirium | L. Howlett

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT ✰ SECRET ADMIRER ✰

iii. X2

JENNIFER'S EYES WERE TOO DRAWN TO LOGAN AS SOON AS HE STEPPED INTO THE DIMLY LIT ROOM. She couldn't help but admire his rugged features—features that seemed to have been chiseled by the very elements themselves. Logan's square jaw, slightly dusted with stubble, framed a face that bore the marks of countless battles. 

His brows were thick and furrowed, hinting at the intensity of the man behind them, while his dark eyes—so often filled with anger, resentment, and defiance—seemed almost softened in this moment, as if the harshness of his existence had been momentarily lifted. His hair, wild and untamed, stood up in a way that defied gravity, just like the man himself.

Before she could answer Logan's question, Charles interjected with a wry smile. "Not if you continue smoking in my mansion. I'd have Jennifer, Ororo, and Jean braid your hair."

Logan raised an eyebrow, glancing around as if weighing his options for where to put out his cigar. The thought of testing Charles' warning didn't seem worth it. With a resigned sigh, he glanced at the burning cigar in his hand. Jennifer had already begun setting up Cerebro, slipping Charles' helmet over his head and adjusting the settings with a practiced ease. 

Logan took this as his opportunity to put out the cigar, pressing the glowing end into the palm of his hand. The burn stung sharply, but relief washed over him as the pain quickly faded. His healing factor made the act almost therapeutic. Masochist wasn't a strong enough word to describe Logan; he thrived on the sensation, however brief, of feeling something he could control.

Once Jennifer was finished, she moved to stand behind Charles, her fingers lightly brushing over the controls to make sure everything was in place. "Welcome back," she said softly.

"Happy to be back," Logan replied, his voice gruff yet warm. His eyes trailed over her face, lingering on the curve of her lips and the soft glow in her big brown eyes. There was something captivating about Jennifer—something that made it hard to look away. His gaze traced the lower half of her face, taking in the subtle lines of her features, before meeting her eyes again.

"Want me to leave?" Logan asked, his tone light but with a hint of uncertainty. The lights of Cerebro began to dim around him, casting shadows across the room. Logan wasn't sure if his presence was necessary or if it was too invasive to be here while Charles did his work.

"No, just don't move," Charles instructed calmly.

As the room darkened, tiny specks of white light began to dance around them, slowly coming into focus. Jennifer couldn't help but smile at the sight. She always loved these moments—they reminded her of fireflies on a summer night, twinkling against the vastness of the world.

"These lights represent every living person on the planet," Charles explained, his voice steady and measured. "The white lights are humans."

Logan's eyes shifted from the lights to Jennifer, who was gazing at the swirling luminescence with a sense of wonder. Her long brown hair, soft and flowing, caught the dim light of Cerebro, casting a delicate halo around her head. 

Her big brown eyes were filled with curiosity and something deeper, a quiet strength that shone even in the darkened room. She had a habit of biting her lower lip when she was nervous or deep in thought, and Logan noticed her doing it now. 

Logan couldn't help but smile as he watched her, a rare softness coming over his rugged features. There was something about Jennifer that always managed to disarm him, to make him forget about the burdens he carried, even if just for a moment.