Archive of Our Own ^beta

Morph could hardly see over the boxes they were carrying, following Scott’s footsteps more by sound than anything else. They hoped they weren’t about to trip over any snags in the rugs that dotted throughout the mansion.

Without turning his head, Scott called back, “Your room is just up here.” It still didn’t feel quite real, moving into a mansion across state lines with a bunch of people they just met, and Scott’s casual approach to it didn’t help. Though Morph was pretty sure the redhead—Jean?—had mentioned that he was one of the first students. Maybe he was just used to moving in strangers.

“Watch your step,” Scott warned a moment too late. Morph hadn’t seen the change in level beyond their cardboard boxes (who had their bedrooms up a random step above the landing?), and the tip of their boot had gotten caught on it, sending them rushing face first towards the floor. What an entrance.

Before their nose could greet the floor, they felt strong arms grab them by the waist and haul them back to their feet. As they regained their balance, Morph wheeled around to find their savior. And found themself having to look lower than they expected.

Their knight in flannel was gruff, broad, and covered in hair. Handsome, in kind of a werewolfy way. Morph found themself staring. And being stared at right back. “Um, hi?” They greeted, not sure what else to say under his gaze. They did a mental check list—dark hair, brown eyes, nose, cheekbones—in case they had accidentally shifted in their surprise, but everything seemed to be in place.

They were grateful when Scott stepped in to break the silence. “Wolverine! This is Kevin. They’re moving into the empty bedroom across from yours.” Upon seeing Wolverine’s stare, Scott added, “We met them on our last mission? They provided some impromptu help, and they’ll be joining us here for the foreseeable future. Which you’d know if you read the mission briefings.” That last part was mostly under his breath.

Wolverine grunted, then to Morph he asked, “Got a mutant name?”

“Oh, yep!” They cringed at themself being so eager to answer, and they shifted their boxes off to the side to free up one of their hands. They extended it to Logan. “Morph. Shapeshifting kind of deal.”

At that, he nodded, and after a moment of consideration he took their hand in a firm handshake. Interaction concluded, he started to head back down the way Morph and Scott came.

“Actually, Logan, we have a few more boxes in the car if you could help?”

“Can’t, Slim—got places to be.”
Scott just shook his head and gestured for Morph to follow him to their room. “Don’t mind him. He tries his hardest to be a lone wolf.”

Morph took in the information as they walked. If they were going to be room neighbors, they should probably try to get along. “He got any sense of humor?”

“Not that I know of.” Scott looked back at them. “Tell you what, you make him laugh, you get to pick the team’s dinner.”

Morph grinned. “Team’s getting wings then. Bet I can do it within the month.”

—

Two weeks later, Morph learned Logan’s go-to flavor of wings.