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Outside the room was a fight going on, one that could mean the end for both mutants and humans. But inside Morph were other kinds of demons that currently occupied their mind. They had found a moment to sneak off without leaving the team in danger and sat closely by Logan’s side. The only noises that were to be heard were steady beeping noises from the machines and the short uneven breaths from the man lying on the bed. Morph let their gaze roam over Logan’s body, suit ripped off and skin still full of blood. So much blood, and for once it wasn’t that from villains Logan had fought, it was his own blood. Morph shuddered at the sight. They had thought about wiping away all the evidence of that brutal attack, but they decided against that. For one they had to be ready when they were needed again to save mutant- and humankind, and because they didn’t want to explain why they took care of Logan in that way in case he would wake up.
Some wounds had already healed up, but it was clear that the self-healing abilities were working overtime to fix all the damage that had been done. The countless wounds on the surface were one thing, but Morph couldn’t imagine what the internal damage would look like. Rogue was the one who filled Morph in on what had happened on Asteroid M. While listening to the horrific descriptions, they had selfishly thought that they were glad they didn’t have to see that themselves. They didn’t know how they would have reacted upon seeing their friend getting ripped apart, and they for sure didn’t want to think about it. Some people with healthier mindsets would probably argue it would be better if they did, but being a mutant with some additional trauma on the back made it difficult to take mindful actions. With all that’s been going on, they didn’t really have the time to process the current situation. Truth be told, they had never been good at processing and dealing with their feelings in the first place. It was easier to lighten up dark situations with a joke instead of losing yourself in the constant despair that life throws at you. They rather wanted the X-Men to roll their eyes at their uncalled-for jokes and shapeshifting pranks, than break down in front of them and be seen as the one with the fragile mind.
But this time, there was no audience for the jokester. At least not a conscious one. Morph sighed, and cautiously put a hand on Logan’s chest, making sure they didn’t hurt him. They could feel his heart beating underneath their gloved hand. This strong heart that always kept on beating, even in the direst situations. The X-Man who would always protect his family, may it be with his claws or with a rare hug at the right moment. The heart of a fighter indeed. He would wake up, Morph was sure of this, but they didn’t know what the future might hold for their friend. If they all even had a future, that was still up in the air. But now stripped off of his Adamantium skeleton, Logan wouldn’t be as durable as he used to be and would have to adjust to that. They didn’t know how he would deal with the aftermath, the only thing they knew was that they would always stay at his side.
Morph just quietly sat there, watching over their friend. While the circumstances weren’t ideal, they were glad to have a quiet moment alone with Logan. The last few hours had been beyond exhausting for everyone and with the fight still not being over, taking breaks was a precious gift. Seeing their closest friend like this, made them feel uneasy. But even now Logan’s presence grounded them, as it always did. Usually, they would feel restless within a few minutes, but for Logan, they could sit around for hours and quietly watch over him. Morph just looked to the screen to check the vitals when Logan suddenly clenched his fist and let out a pained moan.
“Jean.” Morph perked up at that. They felt their stomach turning upside down, but they couldn’t say they weren’t surprised. Morph was always at Logan’s side, no matter if it was on the battlefield fighting side by side, sparring at the Mansion when Logan once again didn’t know how to express his feelings and instead did it the only way he knew how, or just hanging out while watching TV. But whenever something came up, whenever they came a bit too close to Logan, he always turned to find Jean instead. Morph couldn’t really blame him though. Jean Grey, the Professor’s first student, the Phoenix, she truly was a magnificent woman. And as if the list wasn’t already long enough, she was also beautiful. Morph though…Morph was just Morph. And Morph was not the one Logan wanted, it was Jean. No matter the circumstances, it was always, always the brilliant redhead. But Jean wasn’t here, and neither was she interested in Logan. But their friend was in pain, and if they could take away some of his suffering, they would do it in a heartbeat. And so an idea formed in their head. Some might say playing with your friend's feelings might be a bad thing. But the X-Men were currently fighting a war, and at war, there were no rules.
“She can’t say it, but I can,” Morph said and shapeshifted into Jean. Their heart clenched in their chest, but they wanted to comfort their friend, even if it meant for them to hurt their already bruised heart. However, compared to what Logan was going through right now, this was a small price to pay. They took a deep breath, bracing themselves for what they were about to say. Something they had hidden in the deepest corner of their heart, there where it could bloom and warm them from within whenever they were with Logan. There, where this warmth sometimes turned into a raging fire of destruction whenever Logan looked at Jean. These words might be spoken by someone else, but they came from Morph’s heart, and they meant every single word.
“I love you, Logan. Stay with me.” Tears welled up in their- no, Jean’s eyes. There, they’d said it. They briefly wondered if Mister Sinister would have been proud to see that they spoke out the truth they’d desperately tried to hide. It was embarrassing that the villain knew Morph’s secret but none of their team members did, especially not Logan himself. A wet chuckle left their throat, now shifting back into their form.
Logan was breathing, but seeing his lifeless body that didn’t respond to Morph’s confession reminded them of Rogue. Too afraid of sending Remy into a coma while stealing his powers, she had never told him that she loved him. And before she could do so, it was already too late. All that was left for her was a body robbed of his charming energy and unsaid words between them. Now Morph had the chance to do what Rogue couldn’t and yet they couldn’t even do it right. The shapeshifter had hoped saying the words out loud would ease the pressure on their heart. But hearing it with Jean’s voice instead of their own, just made their heart break a little bit more. Morph kept their hand where it had been, absently stroking the hairy chest. For once they had expressed their true feelings, but not as the person they were, and not heard by the person they loved. And so they bottled up their feelings again, back in the deepest corner of their heart, while they sat there and hoped for Logan to open his eyes.
The hidden love confession couldn’t bring back Logan, he needed more time to heal. There was no answer, the room stayed quiet. Busy with their own inner turmoil, Morph didn’t notice how Logan’s oxygen mask had fogged up while they were talking. Unbeknownst to the shapeshifter, Logan was barely conscious but enough to make out their smell underneath Jean’s form, making him drift off to a needed sleep, knowing Morph was at his side. Knowing he was loved, and that he needed to wake up again.