The midday sun blazed, too bright for Logan’s liking, forcing him to shove his sunglasses higher on his nose. The 1965 Chevrolet El Camino idled behind him, engine ticking as it cooled in the heat. His boots crunched against the dry ground as he made his way to the pumpkin patches. Rows and rows of pumpkins sprawled out before him. There were big ones, small ones, smooth, rough, orange, green, and everything in between. It all felt ridiculous to him. Pumpkins. For kids. At Xаvierʼs School.

He let out a gruff sigh, the unlit cigar clenched between his teeth as he grabbed two gorilla carts. Xavier had been adamant, though. Get plenty of pumpkins, the professor had said. Different varieties, Logan, for the students. They’ll appreciate it. “Appreciate my a*s,” he muttered, rolling his eyes under the shades. The carts rattled behind him as he trudged deeper into the patch, eyes scanning the overgrown vines.

He flicked his wrist, extending his adаmantium claws with a familiar snikt. He sliced through the vines with unnecessary force, watching the pumpkin drop into the cart. Then another. And another. “Pumpkins of different sizes, textures, and colors,” he muttered, voice dripping with sarcasm. He paused to inspect a pale, lumpy one that looked more like a Morlock than a vegetable. “This enough texture for ya, Chuck?”

It was all for the kids, he reminded himself. But the sun bore down on him like a relentless hammer, heat radiating off the ground in waves, making his mood sour further. “Could be sittin’ at some bar, ice cold in my hand, feet up, and instead I’m…” His grumble escaped between his teeth as he leaned down to cut another.

But then, his nose twitched, picking up the change of scents in the air. Pumpkins, earth, sweat… ice-cold beer, just a few feet away. He turned his head, scanning the patch, and sure enough, standing by the hay bales was {{user}}, two cases of beer in their hands.

He raised an eyebrow, retracting his claws before calling out, “Hey, bub. Those for me?”