Actions Speak Louder Than Words (February 2012)

Natalya listened to Malcolm’s question and then looked at him. “I pursued him,” she told him honestly.

Malcolm grimaced internally at her response. She pursued Logan and ‘he’ had decided not to get together? That was definitely not what he wanted to hear. ‘Impossible relationships’ he thought. “Then I guess you’re getting what you wanted,” Malcolm said. “You don’t really need me,” He said as he looked at her. He was fishing for her to either tell him that she did need him or put it back on him to decide which was not what he wanted. This whole thing about ‘Its his decision’ meant to him that it wouldn’t really hurt if he did leave. But he certainly didn’t want to. He really did love her, his version of it was just different than Logan’s.

Natalya looked away from Malcolm and tears came to her eyes. She was confused and didn’t know what to do. She had a strong feeling that Malcolm wasn’t going to be happy in such an unconventional relationship. He deserved better than that.

“I think maybe I just need to not be in a relationship right now. I’m not in my right mind still and I need to focus on recovering. Please know Malcolm that I really do love you and you’ve been such a positive part of my life.”

Malcolm sighed. “I think...since you’re not in your right mind, you let me decide if this is what I want. If I can be happy or not alright?” He said. He wasn’t going to let her get away from him so easily. “I’ll take the room next to yours. Logan and I will have you surrounded then,” Malcolm said as he leaned forward and kissed her.

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That night Natalya had another horrible nightmare. And like before Logan was there to coax her away from it and into a normal dream. That morning he made pancakes and after they worked out in the gym. After they were showered there was team training. Malcolm showed them what his abilities were and it turned out that he would be a great asset to the team. Tony wanted to know if Malcolm could actually generate a gravitic field with his powers but Malcolm had never tried that so he set about a series of tests later that afternoon.

That evening Isabella had made pot roast for dinner and Logan noticed Natalya hadn’t left her room yet. He stepped up to her door, knocked and let himself inside.

Natalya sighed, but was too tired to argue with Malcolm. She let him kiss her and then she left and went to her room. That night Logan ended up having to sleep with her after she had a horrific nightmare. She woke the next morning to his arms tightly around her and his face buried in her hair. She rose and ate pancakes and then she and Logan went to the gym for their workout. Logan was still pushing her hard in her workouts, which she liked. That paired with the team training wiped her out. She spent the afternoon in her room and when Logan walked in he would find her asleep on her bed. She was a light sleeper due to her training and she heard Logan walk in. She opened her eyes and looked up at him. Her eyes met his and he would see the love she had for him. However, she was not ready for anything more just yet. She slowly sat up and rubbed her eyes. She could smell the food.

"I only meant to lie down for a minute or two..."

Logan leaned back against the door and took on a casual stance. He crossed his arms over his chest as he looked at her. “Oversleeping? Well, that is not like you at all,” He said with a small smirk. “I guess you didn’t send Malcolm on his way. I can’t say I like that but like, don’t like, has nothing to do with us, never has,” He said in a rasp. His voice was always brooding and intense. All of Logan was. Even now, he stood so casual but in an instant he could be in high alert, claws out and lunging at some hidden threat. He was a fighter, a survivor, a hellian who was very much like her. And yet they got along so well. A polar opposite to Malcolm who was well mannered, slow to anger, respectful, kind and considerate.

“I want you to admit that leaving the tower alone was a mistake. If you need to get away from me...we’re in a fucking tower,” Logan said. “You don’t go your own way, especially now that we know the SSB is just waiting for you to fuck up again. Everything that happened was my fault but I won’t apologize. Nuthin I said was a lie or wrong. Nuthin I want is either,” He said and then he straightened. “You don’t have to give me that spiel about when you’ll be ready. I know when when you tell me ya are,” He said. “Now, Isabella made us some damn good supper, you comin?” He asked.

Natalya raised an eyebrow at what Logan said about her leaving the Tower. She let him speak and was quiet a moment before responding. "Well, don't give me a reason to want to leave the Tower to get away from you and I won't." Natalya had known Logan long enough to know what she could and could not say to him. She knew Logan would just roll his eyes and shake his head. She slowly got up off of her bed and ran her hands through her hair. She walked over to where Logan was standing and then leaned forward and gave him a gentle kiss before walking out and heading towards the dining area.