Title: Hungry Eyes
Author: Lady Guinevere
Fandom: X-Men
Continuity: X3
Characters: Logan & Marie
Word Count: app. 2900
Rating: R
Feedback: Pretty please! Send it to mandycooldragon at hotmail dot com.
Summary: Logan keeps his end of the deal after loosing a bet, even if it means having to play “Johnny” in “Dirty Dancing”…
Disclaimer: X-Men belong to Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox, but Logan is MINE!
Genre: Shipperfic
Spoiler warning: If you haven’t seen X3 yet and don’t want to know how it ends, stop now!
A/N: Any mistakes are my own; it seems my beta can’t keep up with me…

Hungry Eyes, Chapter 6: Dirty Dancing

The recreation room situated in the attic was buzzing with excited voices and the rustling of papers; Rogue manoeuvred through the crowd towards the wooden stage which had been put there temporarily. Clearing her throat, she looked around nervously. All these people were her responsibility, well, more specifically their performances, but that fact was quickly overlooked when butterflies were fighting the Third World War in your stomach…

“Ehm…” Rogue started hesitating, looked around and caught Logan’s pitiful stare at her, giving her immediate strength to raise her voice, “Can I have your attention please?” Rogue shouted clearly.

Normally Logan would have given her strength simply by being there for her; though this time she drew her strength from her infuriated state towards him rather than his soothing presence. She’d show his smug ass she could run this show and be a professional actress who was able to work with people she despised as well!

Logan didn’t feel comfortable in the buzzing crowd, somehow he always felt like people were talking about him. Even though he was surrounded by other freaks, he still didn’t feel totally at ease and accepted at Xavier’s. However, he was here for Marie, not for himself. He was gonna live up to his end of the deal and fulfil his role as Johnny.

He gave Marie his full attention; at first she looked so lost up there he felt sorry for her. Trying to comfort her with a smile seemed to have effect; her angsty scent turned into a confident one right away. Though her chilly, cold stare led him to believe it wasn’t his presence that gave her strength, but her fighting spirit.

“That’s my girl!” Logan whispered to himself at the exact same time the crowd fell silent.

Wishing he could spear his claws through all the turned heads and eyes gazing at him, covering each and every claw from top to bottom in olive-like eyeballs, Logan growled instead; hoping the ferocious glistening of his teeth and the feral sounds of a threatening Wolverine would make all their nosy stares go away.

Rogue hadn’t heard Logan’s exact words but knew they had attracted most of the crowd’s attention; in awe she watched the crowd of people which almost simultaneously turned their heads back into her direction again after the slightest growl Logan gave. ‘They’re just as scared of him as they are of my skin,’ Rogue thought bitterly.

“Thank you! Now, we will begin rehearsing tonight, as you are all well aware off. If you have any questions about your part or the play, feel free to ask away. Otherwise, I suggest we just take it from the top.” Rogue looked around at the crowd to see if anyone had a question.

“Good! Let me introduce you to our never tiring, firework producing, always yellow-clad stage manager: Jubilation Lee!” Rogue lifted her arm into the crowd towards a yellow clothed Asian girl who stepped forward, who was taking a bow as she stepped up the stage beside Rogue.

“Thank you all for your warm welcome! You can stop clapping now, it’s too embarrassing…” Jubilee’s arms gestured widely to stop the imaginative applause from the dumbstruck crowd.

Besides Rogue and Kitty nobody seemed to get Jubes’ humour which accounted for many questioning faces, even Logan’s eyebrow cocked at the yellow girl.

‘Strange girl…’ he thought to himself, though his heightened senses gave away that her display of certainty was merely a performance to cover up her insecurity.

“You’re a tough crowd to please!” Jubilee grinned foolishly, feeling slightly embarrassed.

Rogue knew her friend too well and stepped in again to prevent her from further humiliation, “Jubilee can answer many of your questions as well. Don’t hesitate to ask either of us for help or advice. Now, let’s get this show on the road!”

Rogue tried to get the actors enthusiastic by yowling and applauding, however a bunch of teen mutants, most of which were runaways and outcasts, were careful in giving away any of their feelings. ‘All the more reason for them to act and express their hidden emotions,’ Rogue thought to herself.

“Okay…For the first scene we need Baby’s mom, dad and sister, as well as Penny and some extras. And Baby of course, well, what do you know? It’s me! The rest of you, you know who you are, so please step forward!” Rogue raised her voice.

Leaning against a table in the back of the room, Logan watched the students. Glad he could watch how this was done before actually acting himself, he admired Rogue’s bold attitude. Storm, Kitty and Bobby walked towards the stage and staggered around for a while, until Rogue had a chat with them and they sat down on a couple of benches on the stage.

Reading from their papers, Rogue, Storm, Kitty and Bobby sat on two benches which were depicting an automobile. Bobby played Baby’s father and Storm acted as her mother. A bit awkward at first, they read their lines, giggling nervously. When Bobby imitated a moving car sound, they all burst into laughter.

The next scene was the Merengue-lesson at Kellerman’s, Jubilee had to play Penny because she had learned many dances and dance moves over the years, she might even be better than Penny! Plus, Rogue didn’t mind her dancing intimately to Logan; Jubes knew about her feelings for Logan and as her friend she would never betray her, unlike another girl who had pretended to be her friend…

Reading through the scenes with a lot of laughter, the play proceeded until it was time for Logan to make his entrance. All he had to do was walk into the room wearing sunglasses; his jacket thrown nonchalantly over his shoulder. He hated to admit it, but he was feeling kind of nervous. He hated to talk, especially if the words were put in his mouth and every fucking word was followed by a hard-to-please crowd…

In this scene Max, the big boss from Kellerman’s, was talking to the waiters; a part Beast–also known as Dr. Hank Mc Coy– had been happy to take onto his shoulders. He enjoyed the world of theatre and never passed by an opportunity to enrich his life in whatever possible manner. Beast spoke to a bunch of students posing as waiters and Logan came walking in, overhearing Max’s speech to the waiters that it was okay for them to seduce the girls. Even more so, they had to show the girls a good time, especially the ugly ones.

Logan took it personal when Beast told him that other rules applied to him; he wasn’t allowed to lay a hand on any of the women, or he’d be fired! He tossed aside his jacket and grabbed Beast by the collar, jerking the blue, fluffy body near his own while hissing through his clenched teeth, “You got a problem with me, furball?”

Hank kept his calm and replied, “Logan, we’re acting, remember? This is what Max says to Johnny. And I don’t think Johnny is supposed to react like this…”

Somewhere back Rogue bit her under lip and shook her head, “Christ! Why did I want the Wolverine-Pig to play the part of Johnny again?” She leaped to her feet and ran over to Beast and Logan to pry them apart.

Logan had already let go of Beast, he was still growling a little when Rogue asked him, “It’s not gonna be like this the entire play, is it? Are you sure you can handle it, Logan?”

“Yeah yeah, keep your panties on, kid!” Logan answered irritated and turned around, his manhood seriously diminished by her belittling tone. He wasn’t some fucking kid! Claws were throbbing at his flesh, eager to burst out at the slightest dissonant tone.

“You okay, Beast? I’m sorry; I should have known Logan and his short fuse could detonate any moment…” Rogue’s hand smoothed Beast’s collar and her eyes told him how concerned she felt.

Beast grabbed Rogue’s hands and pressed them against his fluffy chest, assuring her he was alright. “It was nothing, my dear. I’m used to dealing with Logan, I know what to expect by now. Shall we continue and forget about this little incident?” His calm tone reminded much of Xavier’s tone, never letting anyone else experience the troubles he was feeling.

“Glad you’re okay…” Rogue smiled at Beast, and then she hollered, “Let’s continue, people! Especially you, Logan! Stop sulking, cage that PIG of yours and join in the fun again!”

Jubilee was walking over the stage back and forth, she was nervous about dancing with Logan. She hadn’t practised with him; she had to make sure to do that in the future. Logan attracted her on one hand; his body was enormously gorgeous and his face was to die for as well; but on the other hand she feared his temper. He had demonstrated that temper again a moment ago; what if she did something wrong and his claws ended up inside of her?

“Dancing hall scene! Everyone, couple up and dance, and Logan and Jubes: enter!” Rogue danced to a student who got to play the part of the obnoxious Neil; if she hadn’t been in desperate need for someone to play the part of Baby’s father, this role would have been perfect for Bobby…

The stage was crowded with dancing students when Jubilee and Logan walked into their midst, Logan looking as smug as Johnny did. When they started to dance, Rogue stopped moving altogether; even though they hadn’t practised they looked like they were dancing together for years already. Jealousy washed over her as she watched them move.

Logan held Jubilee thinking that she danced easily and good, but he missed the chemistry that he did have while he was dancing with Marie. He picked up on Jubilee’s nervous scent and before he knew it he said to her, “You’re a great dancer, kid. Don’t worry…”

Invading his nostrils another scent found his way; it was Marie with a new added smell, the stench of jealousy. Glancing her way he grinned smugly, aware of her defeated stares. Finally there was some justice; now she knew she wasn’t the only one able to dance with him.

Keeping his eyes locked onto Marie’s, Logan pressed Jubilee closer to his chest, eliciting even more jealous looks and scents from Marie.

Jubilee made a funny sound at the sudden gesture and looked at Logan’s face before she spat, “Dude! You’re smothering me! I’m not Rogue, in case you forgot. If you two have issues, sort them out without involving me!” She squirmed free from his tight grip and reduced their dancing-space to a normal one again.

Rogue beckoned Beast that it was his time again to enter the stage, like in the movie it was time to break the couple apart with a throat-slicing gesture; hopefully not taken personal again by Logan. Nervously Rogue watched Logan’s reaction and sighed with relieve when he let go of Jubilee and they both found other partners to dance with.

Rogue made it through the scene where she was the magician’s assistant being sawed in half, while worrying for the scene in the staff dancing quarters. Logan kept sending sultry, smug stares over to her; very aware of what seemed to come. They didn’t even practice the “dirty dancing” yet…It was going to be like in the movie, Logan teaching her the moves.

Finally, the scene was up. The students were dancing, while in the background the lyrics to the right song were heard, “Do you love me? Do you love me? Do you love me? Now… that I…can dance.”

Rogue was carrying an imaginary water melon and walked through the crowd with her fellow student, they talked and all of a sudden there sounded applauding; Logan and Jubilee were making their way through the crowd. Surrounded by the others they danced their dirty dance, a very well choreographed one. Apparently Jubilee had given the dance a lot of thought already; which on one hand made Rogue wonder with jealousy and on the other hand thankful to have a friend who was serious about her part in the play.

As the music in the background changed to a man singing, “I’m a love man…” Logan walked over to Rogue and asked her what she was doing here.

“I carried a watermelon,” Rogue replied, thinking that in real life she would probably have said something equally embarrassing. She was as much under the impression with Logan as baby was with Johnny.

Logan backed away and danced into the crowd again, sending her stares all the while. At one point, he beckoned Rogue by his fingers to join him. Thinking for the umpteenth time, that this wasn’t the worst play she could have picked, Logan watched Marie who was looking positively shy. Either that was some damn good acting, or she had gotten very nervous indeed. She couldn’t refuse and that thought picked Logan’s mood up quite a bit; she had to dance with him.

Rogue watched Logan come closer and dragged her into the crowd onto the dance-floor. Nerves were raging through her body as her heart rate sped up so fast she felt embarrassed about it.

‘This is it…’ she thought, heart hammering in her chest, ‘Logan’s hips will be grinding into mine shortly…’ her mouth was feeling dry as hell, ‘and everybody will be watching as I lose control when we’re so close I could die…’

Awkwardly, just like in the movie, Rogue watched Logan’s movements. Surprise about his remembering the movements quickly made way for burning red cheeks when Logan pushed her down by her shoulders. She wondered if Baby had felt the same, she couldn’t remember how to breathe, let alone move!

Logan watched Marie when he demonstrated the hip movement, telling her to, “Watch my eyes!” he pulled Marie near and kept moving his hips into hers. The sensation of his crotch so close to hers, sent him off to the land of erotic daydreams. Swaying her, he pressed his groin hard into her gender, imagining them both naked. Marie’s arm flung loosely around his neck, her movements got more intense and less woodenly.

Rogue bore her chocolate eyes into Logan’s hazel pools, every disagreement they had had before totally slipped her mind and cleared space for one thing only.

‘I want this man. Right now, right here…’ she thought, feeling the bulge resting in her groin grow harder with every movement.

Rogue totally forgot her surroundings, her mind became a blur. There were flashes of Logan and her making out in the water, Logan displaying his hot naked skin sitting in the chair, Logan’s tongue trailing the track of the water beads, and every single image made her melt like wax. Her skin felt flushed, pooling heat between her legs gave away her arousal just as much as her maniacal heart rate.

Flaring nostrils inhaled Rogue’s aroused scent, unleashing Wolverine. Deep inside him her heartbeat trembled through his body, his manhood throbbing hard in the same rhythm. Hands were trailing over her curvy body, fingertips eagerly digging into her skin, pulling her body near his. Hot and steamy breaths lingered in her neck, when his tongue licked her slick, hot skin without any warning.

Rogue reacted by throwing her head back in her neck, moaning loudly. Logan’s hands were all over her, driving her further into arousal. His groin was still pressed tightly against hers, moving up and down, circling even. The tensed denim holding back his manhood rubbed over the cloth barely providing protection from both their heat, at this rate it wouldn’t take her long to go over the edge…

“Yo chica!” Jubilee yelled in Rogue’s ear and tugged at her sleeve, then whispered in her ear, “The script doesn’t say they actually do it, right now…”

Startled Rogue came to her senses, looking around she discovered that everyone who was here, was staring at her and Logan, a lot of mouths were opened because of the sight. Her still loudly pounding heart was the only sound to be heard for a while.

Logan noticed Marie drew away from their embrace and snapped open his eyes to look at her, noticing Jubilee standing just beside her, he glanced around to find dozens of staring eyes and opened mouths in his direction.

Immediately his claws appeared with the well-known slashing sound, relieving some of the pressure that was building inside his boiling body. Growling while baring dangerously flickering teeth, a short threatening sentence from Logan directed to the staring crowd added strength to the gesture, “Show’s over!”

After that Marie caught Logan’s glimpse that showed mixed feelings of regret, anger and even shame, before Logan walked away faster than anyone could say “Dirty Dancing”. Her legs still not strong enough to support her, she sat down on a bench to steady her heart rate a little.

“Now I know why they call it Dirty Dancing…,” Rogue mumbled, fanning herself with the play. Because there was one thing she knew for sure; her thoughts had never been dirtier…

To be continued…