note: this chapter immediately follows the previous one. this chapter also sounded a lot better in my head when I was planning it than it does now that I've written it (I hope my thoughts come across fine haha) but I hope you enjoy!

-x-

Much later, after they'd both showered, changed and had a light lunch with the Professor, Ororo announced that she would be outside if either of them needed her. The gardens were her domain now, and on her downtime she could often be found tending to the plants. She was napping outside on the grass or beneath the shade of the trees more than she slept in her own bed. It was weird, but a good kind. One he could relate to. Today, though, Logan knew she was just going to rest. She'd need it, after the work out he'd given her in the training room.

Charles merely nodded and let her be on her way. As she stepped out the door, he turned to face Logan.

"Logan, could I have a moment of your time?"

"Whatever it was, I didn't do it." He quipped, looking through the fridge for a bottle of beer. All he found was a can of orange soda. Who the hell drank orange soda around here? He didn't peg Ororo for a soda type...

Charles chuckled. "I have some Jack Daniels in my study, if you need a drink of that variety, my friend."

Logan leaned back from the fridge, one eyebrow up. "You bribing me with alcohol, Charles? Never thought I'd see the day."

"Just a little incentive. To tide you over, as it were, as I believe Ororo took the last bottle of your beer last night."

One bushy eyebrow went up in surprise. "'Ro took it?"

"Yes, for the fish and chips we had for dinner. The recipe called for it." Charles smiled, amused at Logan's reaction. He gestured for Logan to follow him as he wheeled out of the kitchen. "... I was supposed to be sworn to secrecy, as she did say she would replace it as soon as possible. But I told her not to worry; you're rather quick at replacing your own stock yourself..."

"Yeah, I guess. But now she owes me a drink." Logan grinned, obviously pleased with this development.

-x-

Charles' study was found on the ground floor of the mansion. Because of his chair, it was a very spacious room, with plenty of space to bring the chair around the mahogany desk in the center of the study. Logan was used to keeping himself standing by the door when he and Ororo were in here, but this time, since 'Ro wasn't around to take the seat across Charles', he had to sit too.

To his credit, he didn't show how uncomfortable he was by fidgeting as he sat down. "What did you wanna talk about, then?"

Charles regarded him placidly, taking his time answering the question while he took a bottle of whiskey and two shot glasses from the mini fridge by the mini bar. "I wanted to talk about Ororo, in a manner of speaking."

"Shouldn't she be here?" Logan raised an eyebrow curiously. Anything Charles had to say about Storm, she had a right to hear. Or so he figured.

"As it happens, I've already spoken to her." Chalres smiled, pouring Logan a drink and handing it over. Logan took it thoughtfully, with a measure of suspicion. Charles wouldn't break out any of the good stuff without reason, which left him wondering where their discussion was going to go.

"Now, I know you did not sign up to teach anything, Wolverine," Charles continued, as he poured a drink for himself, "However I couldn't help but notice how well you were handling Ororo's request of training her in close quarters combat..."

Logan scowled as realization steadily dawned on him. "... You're wining and dining me."

Charles only smiled. "... And so I wondered if, perhaps, you might change your mind about helping whatever mutants that may join us when we officially open the Institute."

Logan frowned, not fooled by how he was carefully wording things. "How many times'm I gonna have to say it 'round here, Chuck? I'm not a teacher."

"So you've said. But you are doing exceptionally well with Ororo, or so she tells me." Charles pointed out, unfazed. "Aside from the fact that you have a slight tendency to go easy on her, she has nothing but praise for you, Logan. And happens to think you'd do quite well with any future students we might have."

"'Ro's one thing," Logan pointed out. "She's an adult. An' I like her fine. Teenagers are somethin' else. Would you really put me with a room full of teenagers, Chuck?"

"Well, why not?" Charles took a measured sip of Jack. "As far as I am concerned, you've proven to me that you could handle it."

Logan glanced down at his drink, wondering if the Professor had finally lost it. He always kind of thought that Chuck wasn't completely there all the time, considering, well, everything. Because putting a temperamental, borderline violent whack-job like himself in charge of any kid?

Charles curled his fingers around his glass as Logan's thoughts washed over him, whether the feral mutant was aware that he was projecting or not. That he was barely a man - more beast than man on some days - and putting all that responsibility on someone as dangerous as him was not only unexpected, but not even smart or thinkable, in his opinion. And now he was being asked to be a teacher?

Ororo agrees with me, Charles gentled his mental voice as his thoughts reached out to Logan's mind. We do believe in you.

Logan shook his head wryly. Then he stood, tossing back the shot in one go before setting the glass down.

"I'll think about it," he relented, finally, before turning to march out the door. "But that ain't a promise, alright?"

"Alright. That's fair." Charles nodded, pleased with that answer. It was an improvement, at least, from the Hell no. that he'd gotten the first time he'd asked this of him. In all honesty, he didn't even think that answer could have ever changed - not until Ororo asked his advice on whether or not she should ask Logan for self defense and close quarters combat lessons. Not until he'd seen them at it down in the training room. All he needed was the right motivation, Charles thought then. It wasn't so much teaching in the same way that Hank McCoy loved to do - it was knowing that he was helping someone he cared about to learn how to help themselves. So it wasn't being just a teacher, really. It was something a bit more than that.

Charles smiled as he caught faint impressions of Logan's thoughts as the other man made his way to the garage. Ororo was still outside and Logan was contemplating cashing out the beer she now owed him by making her join him at a pub on the outskirts of Bayville, one that served excellent beer but had some unfortunately questionable patrons. He changed his mind quickly at the second thought, subconsciously evaluating her stance by how she was still favoring one side as she walked over to him to see him out. 'Roro ain't ready for a place like Harry's, not yet. Maybe inna couple weeks...

Charles chuckled to himself. Whether Logan realized it or not, those instincts could make him an exceptional help to whatever students would come their way in the future. It was just a matter of helping him realize that he was not the feral beast that he seemed to think he was, and that those instincts made him more of a man than he thought himself to be.