"Why is this happening? I can finally touch someone... without hurting them!"
Rogue was overwhelmed with joy. For the first time since her mutation awakened, she felt the warmth of another person's hand—Kurogai's—without the usual draining, terrifying effect. The sensation of real skin-on-skin contact made her feel like she was dreaming.
The warmth, the texture, the simple humanity of it—it was everything she had longed for.
"Hey," came a gruff voice.
Logan had just cleared a fallen tree from the road and returned to the car, only to find Rogue still gripping Kurogai's hand, her eyes wide with emotion. The sight made him pause. Something about it felt oddly... intimate.
Rogue's face flushed red. Only then did she realize she hadn't let go of Kurogai's hand. She'd even been absentmindedly tracing her fingers across his palm. Mortified, she quickly pulled back and sat up straight.
Kurogai didn't seem fazed. He just smiled.
"Take your time. Let me know when you've made a decision," he said gently.
Logan climbed into the driver's seat and glanced over his shoulder, suspicious. "Kid, don't get any ideas."
"Relax," Kurogai said with a grin. "Just drive. We're heading to New York."
Logan sighed, muttering to himself. "I can't believe I agreed to this."
As the old pickup rattled forward, Kurogai reached into his Kamui Dimension and pulled out some packed food—stuff he'd collected from a planet where culinary arts were practically sacred. The scent filled the cabin immediately.
Rogue's stomach growled.
"Go ahead," Kurogai said, handing her a portion. She didn't hesitate.
"Where the hell did you get this?" Logan muttered, catching the smell. "It's like five-star restaurant quality."
Kurogai chuckled. "Trade secret."
"Focus on the road, Logan," he added. "Unless you want to end up through the windshield."
No sooner had he said it than the car slammed into a fallen log. Logan's body shot forward, crashing through the windshield and landing face-first in the snow.
Kurogai, still seated, raised one hand. A glowing golden magic circle materialized in front of him, shielding himself and Rogue from harm. Rogue, flung forward by the impact, landed squarely in his arms.
Despite the crash, Kurogai looked amused. "Even though I knew this was coming, it's still funny to watch."
Rogue quickly pulled away, her cheeks burning again. "Is Logan okay?"
"He'll survive. Come on, let's go check."
He unbuckled Rogue's seatbelt, gently picked her up, and stepped out of the vehicle. Flames licked at the back of the car, smoke rising into the snowy air. Nearby, a large figure emerged from the woods—Sabretooth, Logan's savage brother.
Kurogai set Rogue down and turned toward the approaching threat.
"Rogue, stay here," he said calmly, then started walking toward the fight.
Logan and Sabretooth were already grappling, claws and fangs flashing in the snow. But then Kurogai's voice rang out.
"Hey, big guy. Over here."
Sabretooth turned, eyes glowing with animal rage—then froze, completely immobilized by Kurogai's psychic illusion.
Logan stumbled back, panting. "You used that freezing trick again, didn't you?"
Kurogai nodded. "His physiology is too much like yours. That's why he's such a pain."
He reached into his space again and pulled out an ominous-looking scythe, then drove it cleanly into Sabretooth's chest. The blade began extracting his blood.
Logan winced. "That thing's terrifying. Please tell me you didn't use that on me when you took my blood years ago."
Kurogai smiled. "Nope. I didn't have it back then. I used a much smaller blade."
Logan didn't look reassured.
Two figures suddenly landed nearby—Storm and another X-Men member in sleek black gear.
"We're here!" the man called out triumphantly. "Don't worry, we've got this!"
They both paused awkwardly as they realized the fight was already over. Sabretooth stood motionless. Logan looked fine, if mildly annoyed.
"Uh... were we too late?" the man asked.
"If you're talking about that guy," Logan said, jerking his thumb toward Sabretooth, "he's taken care of."
Storm's eyes fell on Kurogai. Her face tightened with recognition. "You... it's you."
Kurogai turned to her, calm as ever. "Storm. Long time no see."
---
Send Powerstones 🥀
100 = 1 Bonus Chapter
200 = 3 Bonus Chapters