「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(223) Brave Thing

Lynn's POV

Discreetly departing Rogue's room, Charles and I quietly rolled down the rather deserted corridors even when the hour was not as unearthly as we expected. The students were surpassingly obedient tonight, not loitering around much, as we smoothly made our way towards the elevator.

We waited awhile in a comfortable silence, both of us simply exhausted, and the bell dinged, smoothly sliding open the camouflaged doors of the cylindrical chamber. I initiated to enter the confined space, albeit lethargically, and quickly called for the basement before Charles could get any of his hands to the dashboard conveniently placed at the height of our shoulders, immediately inducing a disapproving click from his tongue as the 'B' button lit up.

"You need sleep, love," Charles chided sternly, glaring at me in utter displeasure as the small compartment promptly descended.

"So do you, my dear," I replied, tenderly caressing his cheek.

"But we both know that's not going to happen unless we get a glimpse of him again," I asserted politely.

Charles stared at me, a determined face reluctant to cave in, but his eyes exemplified just how much he concurred with the truth in my statement. His internal dilemma amplified significantly in the matter of split seconds and his brows furrowed into a tight knit as the heated debate ongoing in his heart came to no resolved conclusion.

Surely, my perceptive revelation had illuminated the unnecessary obstinacy in his decision made prior, fueled only by my wellbeing he thought to be worth more than that of his old friend's, but in fact, I knew that he worried just as much over Logan as we did for each other.

"I'll be fine going to bed a little later, Charles. I'm old, but not that old, really," I joked, desperate to pacify his mood.

"Thank you," Charles whispered, his harsh expression melting into a soft one of gratefulness, as he cradled my head and pecked a delicate kiss to my temple.

"What the hell are the two of you doing down here?!" Jean denounced fiercely the moment the curved doors glided open into its concealed catch.

Stunned by the unanticipated scolding we were greeted by, both of us froze awhile, staring blankly at Jean cloaked in her pajamas with both palms fisted angrily to her hips but taking in the fragrant scent of her jasmine shower gel and with the distinct splatter of her slightly dripping mid-length amber locks on the polished tiles echoing rhythmically within the vacant arena, our astonishment was soon eradicated.

"That's no way to speak to your elders, young lady," Charles chastised lightheartedly and a giggle irresistibly escaped my teeth as Jean involuntarily stepped aside.

Charles gentlemanly gestured for me to proceed and I swiftly drove myself out with him closely tailing before releasing Jean from her trance.

"Right now, you're my patients!" Jean screamed in a severe tone clearly contrasting our lifted disposition as she sprinted after us.

"And two very naughty ones at that," she reprimanded, crossing her arms in absolute exasperation as she overtook us, obstructing our path with her resolute stance in front of our chairs.

"Relax, Jean. We just want to check on him," I reassured kindly.

"Just a look, and we'll be at your disposal," Charles affirmed sincerely but Jean peered down at him with an inevitable judgmental look for his contradicting behavior prior.