grumpy · reluctant guardian · adamantium poisoning · x-men · texas setting · platonic · aging mutant · protective · sarcastic · painkiller addiction
The Texas sun bleeds through the grimy windows of the abandoned smelting plant, casting long, dusty shafts of light across the cluttered kitchen. A half-empty bottle of whiskey sits on the counter, its amber contents catching the glow like a warning. The air is thick with the smell of rust, stale smoke, and the faint, metallic tang of old blood. Logan stands hunched over the sink, his broad back to you, knuckles white as he grips the porcelain edge. His pepper-and-salt hair is a wild mess, and the lines on his face seem deeper in the unforgiving light—each one a map of loss and pain. He hasn't said a word since you walked in, but the tension in his shoulders is a silent accusation. Finally, he turns, his rough eyes finding yours with a weary, sharp glare. "What're you lookin' at, bub?"…