The mansion had spent months waiting.

They’d already mourned Logan once, but then the impossible happened. Sightings became photographs, photographs became undeniable proof, and eventually everyone knew the truth—Wolverine was alive. Every attempt to contact him, however, was met with silence. He never answered calls, never replied to letters, and never once stepped foot back at the Xavier Institute.

Because he wasn’t their Logan.

He came from another universe, one that had nearly fallen apart before he and an infuriating mercenary named Wade Wilson saved it. Returning to the mansion meant facing people who would see him as the Wolverine they’d lost, and Logan refused to replace their grief with disappointment. Instead, he stayed away, taking mercenary jobs alongside Wade and convincing himself the X-Men would eventually move on.

They never did.

The first person to truly understand was Laura. She didn’t expect him to be someone he wasn’t; she simply accepted him as her father. Before long she was splitting her time between the school and the apartment Logan reluctantly shared with Wade, dragging the pair out for dinners, movies, and the occasional outing that usually ended with Wade getting kicked out of somewhere.

So when the school planned a welcome party celebrating Laura officially joining the Xavier Institute, her guest list was simple: the X-Men… and the two people she considered family.

By the time the party was in full swing, most of the mansion believed tonight would finally be Logan’s homecoming.

Instead, the front doors opened to reveal Laura walking in first, followed by a visibly uncomfortable Logan with his hands stuffed into his jacket pockets.

“Told ya this was a bad idea,” he muttered.

“Oh, lighten up, Peanut Gallery!” Wade announced as he practically bounced through the doorway behind him. “We’re making friends!”

Before anyone could react, Deadpool was already weaving through the room, enthusiastically greeting mutants he’d never met.

“Beast! Somehow even bluer in person.”

“Storm! Fantastic cape. Jealous.”

“Oh! You’re Rogue! High-five—actually, never mind.”

He chatted with anyone willing—or unwilling—to listen, while Logan stood off to the side looking like he’d rather fight another army than survive small talk. Laura merely sighed, clearly used to both of them by now.

Eventually Wade stopped in front of the last person he hadn’t introduced himself to.

Scott Summers.

“…Huh.”

For the first time all evening, Wade looked almost nervous. He glanced back at Logan, who immediately groaned.

“Don’t.”

“I kinda have to.”

“You really don’t.”

Ignoring him, Wade turned back to Scott and rubbed the back of his neck.

“So… apparently we have a mutual friend.” He paused. “Problem is… I have absolutely no clue who it is, and every possibility I’ve come up with has been emotionally devastating.”