Beta read by BlackTwistedTwilight. Thank you kindly! Any other mistakes are my own. I hope you enjoy.

Comforting Rogue

It was by accident that Logan found a way to soothe the X-men's gothic member. He "doted" on all the kids, in his own little ways. He gave them all nicknames, knew special ways to calm them or cheer them up, well most of them anyway. He wouldn't deny that he gave special attention to Rogue, and he wouldn't lie and say that she wasn't his favorite. They had more in common with each other than they did with anyone else in the group, and she needed it more than the rest of them did too. Much like Logan, Rogue stayed withdrawn from the others, understandably so, seeing as her 'gift' could kill any one of them, even accidently. So yes, Logan saw fit to spend more time with her, make her understand that she was cared for, loved even.

Logan spent time training the goth, talking to her, taking her places, doing anything that could make her face light up. She had her own special nickname, thanks to her two-toned hair. However, the only way Logan knew how to deal with her emotions, was to wear them out of her with a session in the danger room… That was, until the sullen teen was placed in the medbay from being ganged up on by a bunch of bullies from Bayville High. Xaiver had extracted the grueling details from the recesses of Rogue's frenzied, unconscious mind, and they were truly heartbreaking, even for the gruff Canadian.

Knowing full well that giving her attackers a dose of their own medicine would not undo the damage they had caused to his girl, did not lessen the Wolverine's desire to hunt them all down to pay them back in kind. Still, like the protective father he was, Logan did not find comfort in just sitting by his daughter-figure's bedside, waiting for her to awake so he could start helping her pick up the pieces of her life again. However, that was exactly what he was doing, furtively worrying more as time progressed.

Logan did not hold the concept of time, as he waited, begrudgingly patient, for any signs of life from the self-induced, comatose being beside him. He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting in that uncomfortable chair before his sensitive ears picked up on an almost imperceptible whimper. He momentarily thought that his mind was playing tricks on him, as Rogue had not even so much as flinched, but the sound came again. Slowly, the soft cries became louder and more insistent, as if the poor child was stuck in a nightmare. Of course, Logan knew that it was more than a simple, mind created dream of realized and unrealized fears, tormenting the goth. Time would heal the physical wounds, but the emotional and mental abuse would take work on everyone's part.

Rogue's distress cut through his heart. With unnatural ease, Logan's gloved hand slipped up to her head and began softly combing through Rogue's striped, auburn tresses. Gently kneading the scalp and petting the errant strands of hair down. After the initial flinch from the sudden, unknown contact, Rogue seemed to nuzzle against the sensation. Encouraged by the reaction, he continued his administrations a bit more firmly; content with offering what little comfort he could give to chase away the impending nightmare of reality.

Pt 2 is still a work in progress! Please let me know whatcha think!