mhalachai: (Default)
mhalachai ([personal profile] mhalachai) wrote2006-02-22 08:09 pm

FIC: Magnolia (1/5) (AB.X-Men)

That's right. An Anita Blake/X-men crossover. Phear. Also, tell me if I'm crazy.

Magnolia part 1 of 5
by Mhalachai
Disclaimer: Laurell K. Hamilton owns all things Anita Blake. Marvel and 20th Century Fox own all things X-Men. I am but borrowing the characters for a brief time and shall return them intact at the end.
Summary: Picking up strays wasn't Logan's thing, especially after what happened up in Alberta. So why is he so intent on that strange woman next to him at the bar? (Set just after the first X-men movie, and about a half a year after Incubus Dreams. No spoilers beyond that book.)
Note: If you squint, you'll see it's sort of Logan/Rogue, which is strange since I've been a shipper for that pairing since about five o'clock this afternoon. For the anonymous person who wanted some Anita/X-Men action in the Fanfic Fiasco III. Why am I setting this in Mississippi? I have no idea.
Rating: Bordering on R for sex and stuff. Come on, folks, it's an Anita Blake crossover.

~~*~~


"What'll ya have?"

Logan slid onto the bar stool, sparing the bartender a glance as he took in the half-filled room. "Beer."

The man, sporting a wife-beater and the mullet that seemed to be everywhere in this Mississippi town, fished a bottle from a sink of ice at his side, and pushed it across the bar to Logan. A bottle opener landed on the counter a second later.

Logan raised an eyebrow at the idea of customer service in this town, but popped the cap off his beer without a word and took a swig. He wished he had another cigar, but damned if Canada was the only place that carried Cubans for cheap. At least the beer was cold.

The bartender, seemingly reassured that Logan wasn't about to cause a ruckus, went back to his comic book.

Logan stifled a snort, not that he was amused. He'd arrived in this place, about six miles from Utica, just off the interstate, only to find the person he needed to see was out of town for a funeral. Just goes to show that no good deed goes unpunished, Logan thought in disgust.

Gradually, as the thick darkness fell outside and the bar filled with locals and passers-by, and Logan's bar tab grew, his thoughts turned away from mundane, and tangled up with what had happened in New York, three weeks before.

Xavier had given him as much information as he could find, about Alkali Lake. Logan didn't hold out too much hope he'd find anything there; fifteen years was a long time to be without a past. He wasn't going to let himself get all optimistic. Not yet.

Information hadn't been all that Xavier gave him. Logan wasn't all that interested in banks, had spent living hand to mouth for a decade, never really needing a place to put money. When his camper blew up, well, that had been the end of that. When he left the mansion, Xavier had handed him a stack of money, not enough to insult him, just enough to tide him over. Hell, for all Xavier knew, Logan could have taken the money and run.

Probably poking around in my head before I left, though.

For the hundredth time, Logan wondered if he was being a fool, in coming down here like this. Making a promise is one thing, but trying to follow it up after twelve years? He'd never acted this way before. Maybe he could blame this whole thing on that idiot Scott. It seemed like the kind of noble thing he'd do.

"Is this seat taken?"

"No," Logan answered automatically. It was only after he'd spoken, that his mind put female and young to the voice. Don't want no damned company, he thought, turning to tell the girl to get lost.

The tiny woman who hopped up on the bar stool next to Logan gave him a brief smile, but the next moment her attention turned to the room. Logan went back to his beer, trying to figure out what bothered him about the woman. She looked young, fresh, with pale milky skin and a barely contained mane of black curly hair. She sure as hell didn't look like a local.

She's looking for something, Logan realized after a moment. She accepted a drink from the bartender, then leaned back against the bar, gazing out at the room. Cautiously, Logan smelled the air, and nearly choked on his beer.

That drink she was holding was just a cola, no booze, and from the smell of the gun oil in the air, she was hiding a weapon somewhere on her.

Now, Logan hadn't gotten a good look when she came in, but her clothes were tight enough to have to be tailored to hide any telltale bulge, which told him that she wasn't new at this.

Sure, a lot of women probably carried guns around down here, but they probably didn't do their best to look so damned fragile. She reminded Logan a lot of Marie, with the delicateness, but hiding steel underneath.

The woman at his side fended off a few polite, and a couple of not-so-polite, propositions, while Logan polished off another beer. She wasn't rude or anything; the guys just sort of melted back away. Logan wondered if they were picking up on that vibe coming off her, the promise of intoxicating danger, hidden underneath the china doll exterior.

Then someone passed behind Logan, and he froze. Instinctively, the muscles in his arms flexed, sending his claw forward a fraction, just enough to hurt, not enough to break the skin.

Vampire.

Not that Logan had anything against vampires, as a whole. The ones that bothered him, like that one in Anchorage that tried to roll him and leave him bled out on the snow, well, them he had problems with. But really, they were just like people, and mutants. Some were just fine, and some were just as eager to rip you to pieces as look at you.

The woman tensed, like a lynx on the trail of prey, as the vampire passed, although Logan doubted the creature noticed. Watching in the bar's mirror, Logan watched as the creature and the one behind it mixed in with the crowd. They were good at passing for human, he'd give them that. Their skin was almost pink, their mannerisms almost alive.

Well, they were legal now, like it or not. More legal than mutants like him, especially after Magneto's stunt in New York. Vampires were free to wander around rural Southern bars, just like anyone else.

Nursing his beer, Logan pretended to watch the sports game on the tiny television behind the bar. The room got more full as the night wore on, with the cheap liquor flowing freely. The two vampires pretended to be human, but after an hour, they left, alone.

They hadn't even cleared the doorway when the woman jumped down from her stool and, throwing a bill on the bar, headed after them.

Logan stayed where he was. It wasn't any business of his what that stupid little girl was up to. Didn't matter to him if she was going after two vampires in the dark with only a gun. She was walking into the fight, her choice. He was done with this business of picking up dangerous little strays in bars.

He managed to sit still for a whole minute, before he threw some cash on the counter and took off after her.

TO BE CONTINUED

(Anonymous) 2006-02-23 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
I'm the one who requested this pairing (name's zipps btw). I was so excited when I saw this up tonight. Thought I'ld check you site before turning in, saw this up, and just got all happy. I wanted to let you know that I am loving this story so far. I can see Logan being curious about this strange woman. About 'why Mississippi?' Why not? I understand that sometimes things just pop up for no reason you can think of at the moment. Again I am loving this, and I can't wait for more.
Nighty-night

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:43 am (UTC)(link)
Hey Zipps. Thanks for asking for this pairing, it's certainly got my head back in the game. I should have the rest done by the end of the weekend, I just needed to post the first bit to get myself motivated :)

I hope you enjoy the rest.
ext_9643: (Default)

[identity profile] prettykitty-aya.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:44 am (UTC)(link)
*tries again* how the hell do you get me to read cross-overs i would normally never look twice at? huh? tell me, i really want to know...

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
It's my charm and skill. That, or the fact that it's the craziest Anita Blake crossover since the Anita Blake/Firefly crossover :D

[identity profile] practical-puss.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:47 am (UTC)(link)
Sqee! :wiggles: I didn't realize this was to be a series. Gah, why must you feed my addiction?
I assume this a legal hunt?

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Why? Because I love to tease.

Legal hunt? Anita, all by her onesey, going after two vampires in a strange town? I do wonder... :P

[identity profile] practical-puss.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:52 am (UTC)(link)
Grr! TEASE! I wonder if she'll resist kicking Wolfie's ass for stepping into 'her' fight...

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
Kick? That's one way of putting it... :P

Oh, i'm so mean.

[identity profile] deepfishy.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
I think the only possible response to this is *glomp!* (and instant withdrawal symptoms brought on by the "to be continued...")

A crazy crossover is just one you haven't written yet ;).

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:16 am (UTC)(link)
A crazy crossover is just one you haven't written yet ;)

Get back to me on that after I attempt a Lord of the Rings/Anita Blake crossover :O

[identity profile] sorceress-death.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Now that I would like to see.

[identity profile] beachmouse.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 07:23 pm (UTC)(link)
So now I'm going to go and blame all y'all for that Anita Blake/Babylon 5 plot bunny that jumped right out in my path while I was out jogging. But there's just no way I'd get the darn Anita v. Bester showdown right.

[identity profile] deepfishy.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 08:22 am (UTC)(link)
Anita vs Bester showdown? *wibble*

You've just reminded me about my long-neglected fandom with my mostest favouritest antagonist, and now you say you won't write it? Gorram tease!

...Please? For a virtual cookie? You know you want to...

[identity profile] lishel_fracrium.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:49 am (UTC)(link)
wow,what a coincidence. I just saw Xmen last night the 2nd one,it was showing on TV. and because you wrote it,I'd thought I would give it a chance,so I did.....and I'm very glad I did,so more soon,right? *g*

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, more soon. Very soon. And any occasion to watch X-Men is a good one. Gandalf v. Jean-Luc Picard? Fight!

[identity profile] lishel_fracrium.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 03:29 am (UTC)(link)
lol that would be very interesting to see! *g*

*intrigued*

[identity profile] goldenrat84.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 06:58 am (UTC)(link)
I don't think I've come across this crossover before. Kudos to zipps for coming up with it. Not to mention Mhalachai for bringing it together smoothly. I'm curious as to how vampires being legal but mutants being illegal works in this AU...but I suppose since this is a short piece you're not going to delve into that.
I just love the fact that for all of Logan's gruff mannerisms, he's such a scruffy knight. Can't wait to find out how Anita & Logan react to each other!

Re: *intrigued*

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll note that Logan didn't say they were illegal, just not as legal. I was trying to subtly play up the damage Magneto's little prank caused to mutant-kind. Maybe I'll punch it up a little in the next chapter.

And oh, I just love Logan. He's my favourite character. The fact that Hugh Jackman played him in the movies only has a little to do with it ;)

also, Anita v. Logan? Fight!

[identity profile] eavling.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
Fantastic work! I totally want to read more!

You must have been inspired. That creative icon is so cute! :)

hmmm...when I think of Mississippi I think of 1. River, 2. US civil war memorials, 3. river boat casinos, 4. awful gas station restrooms, and 5. the state in between Alabama and Louisiana...two more hours in the car. Though Arlington does have a nice art museum, and there's that wonderful song 'Rollin' on the River'. So why did you choose Mississippi?

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Inspiried is one word for it. Touched by a bit of insanity is the other.

As for Mississippi -- a friend of mine recenly extollled the state's virtues, and I wanted to place the story somewhere outside of both Anita and Logan's comfort zones (St. Louis for her, up north for him)
ansku: (Default)

[personal profile] ansku 2006-02-23 10:42 am (UTC)(link)
Very promising start, I'm looking forward to the rest :)

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll pick up nicely in the next chapter -- consider this the teaser to draw you in :)

[identity profile] sabriel-0405.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 01:07 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so glad you're not leaving it here. Though you could. It works. You are crazy, you know. This was great. Logan felt right.

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 03:30 pm (UTC)(link)
I could, but then we'd never know if Anita's going to have to shoot him or not :P

I know I'm crazy. I wrote this after I slapped together a good cover letter. I was in the mood for even more fiction. j/k.

It's good to know Logan sounds IC. He's got a definte mannerism about him that is easy to miss, if you know what I mean.

[identity profile] taligator.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:05 pm (UTC)(link)
gotta say, I'm a total sucker for anything you write. Your crossovers are wonderfully inventive and original and I love that. Logan's voice was well written in here, it felt real. Can't wait to find out what Logan will run into outside .. thanks!

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:13 pm (UTC)(link)
It's good that the Logan of my head translates well to the page -- i had to watch and rewatch the first half hour of XMen to make sure I was in the zone. Ahem.

Outside? Badness. Snark. Shiny guns :P

[identity profile] houses7177.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:20 pm (UTC)(link)
You set it in Mississippi because of mmmmeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Well, maybe, but it's a nice thought.

Intriguing beginning and I like your voice for Logan.

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:03 pm (UTC)(link)
You set it in Mississippi because of mmmmeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Actually, I totally did. Your little essay on Mississippi a few days got me to thinking :)

Glad you enjoyed the opening.

[identity profile] catherinecookmn.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 04:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Heh! Poor Logan, curiosity and chivalry getting the better of him. And Anita -- does she know about Logan, or did she just figure that the safest place to sit in that bar would be the stool next to the meanest man in it?

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually, it was the seat with the best view of the door, is all. She knows nothing about Logan. Although she does tend to gravitate to the "interesting" men :P

[identity profile] cissasghost.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:33 pm (UTC)(link)
Very nice intro - I particularly like the last line. :)

-Sonya

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 05:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks :)

Nice

[identity profile] stealthyshade.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
You must be crazy. X-Men/Anita Blake? Well, it is pretty decent *whines at unfairness of TBC*
Hmm... are silver bullets just bullets to Logan? or do they have more of an effect than the one he took the head in X-Men 2?
Oooh, and how about his claws? Just normal wounds for vampies, or does adamantium hurt them more than lead?
*re-reads comment*
I'm NOT a geek, I swear. :p
Ah well, hurry up and write!!!!! We wanna read!!

Re: Nice

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
the tbc is the best. because then you know there is more. I could have left it there :P

That bullet in X2 his the metal on his skull, which is why it didn't penetrate his brain. That's all.
ext_60814: (buffy and angel)

[identity profile] thekams.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 10:38 pm (UTC)(link)
You get me interested in the craziest crossovers, I swear. I've never read anything X-men and I never planned to, until I find an AB/X_men crossover on my fList by none other than you. So of course, I had to read it. And I'm glad I did!! I can't wait for more, Anita v. Logan would be amazing to see. Hmm...I wonder who'd win ;) Myabe neither? Maybe they'd find...better...things to do than fight? LoL

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 10:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I do what I can to generate the interest. After all, crossovers are like a gateway drug to new fandoms. And have I ever steered you guys wrong before?
ext_60814: (Default)

[identity profile] thekams.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 11:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope, can't say that you have! It was your AB/Firefly crossover that got me watching Serenity and all the Firefly reruns I could find, after all. =) I can't wait to see what other crossovers you come up with from the drabble request thingy. Should be interesting! lol

[identity profile] remydesire.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 12:29 am (UTC)(link)
It was the same with me. Before Different Eyes, I wasn't particularly interested in Firefly. After I read it, I was like, "That sounds interesting." Then I went and downloaded all the episodes and the movie and even the comic that goes in between. I totally love them! They're hilarious! I love the episode that started with Mal walking bare-(butt)-naked!

I swear, I'll buy the dvds. Just not yet.

[identity profile] penyn-1600.livejournal.com 2006-02-23 11:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Very interesting. It's probably wrong, but I'm most intriqued by Logan's throwaway thought about Xavier poking around his head to determine his intentions about the money.

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Logan's just being a cynic. Don't mind him.

[identity profile] remydesire.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 12:26 am (UTC)(link)
Ohhhhh! I LUV it! I've really never thought of this crossover before. (And there's A LOT of them going through my head.) I read it this morning and I've been bouncing through my day! I love crossovers and you're my favorite crossover writer yet. You should write professionally. I'd definitely buy your books!

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 04:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm trying to finish a book. Well, start a book. We'll see how things go. Until then, I will continue to write (these things) as a hobby :)

[identity profile] deathinapinkboa.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 02:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh please update this soon. I don't think I can bear waiting. Oh I'm just all a quiver with curiostityness. Like all you work, it's really good. I like it muchly.

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
It'll be up in a couple of days, max. It's not a long story, I just need to find time in this crazy week to write :)

[identity profile] liz-ddraig.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 12:15 pm (UTC)(link)
ooooooo!
An AB/x-men xover.

I never thought I'd see it (but then I couldn't quite believe a Harry Potter/AB xover either). But damn its good. It could have been pulled off as a one shot or a series.

Of course, I'm very glad its not a oneshot ;)

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 04:58 pm (UTC)(link)
Crossing strange things with AB is my specialty. And making it believable, too :) Glad you like it.

[identity profile] sorceress-death.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 07:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah. I can always count on you for a good read. I love all these odd crossovers, we always need something new. And fun, you always have that covered.

[identity profile] mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com 2006-02-24 07:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Hey, I do what I can :)
waterfall8484: The ConCorp logo from Hermitcraft on a blue background (Default)

[personal profile] waterfall8484 2006-02-25 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
*ahem* Exuse me while I squee..! Oh, this is just great! :~) There should definitely be more Anita/X-men crossovers...