~~~~~~
The X-Men had all left to change into uniform while Jimaine found what she needed. She was raiding the kitchen and had found a large aluminium bowl. She set it on the table along with a large jug of water. Reaching into her voluminous robe, she pulled out a small vile.
Professor Xavier watched intently as she prepared herself. He’d never before met her like. She wasn’t a mutant, of that he was sure, but power shone brightly within and about her. And he didn’t doubt that she knew how to use it. She had gotten past the mansion’s sophisticated security system, walked straight into their midst, with none being the wiser. Even Logan’s heightened senses had been unable to detect her presence…
She was just filling the bowl with water when the others returned. She looked up at them, smiling briefly. “Quite the fashion statement…” She commented. “Vas there a sale on black spandex?”
“Oh, yeah…” Spyke chuckled. “I can see why she and Kurt hung out…”
“Speaking of vhich…” She opened the vial and sprinkled its contents on the water’s surface. “Let us find out vhere he is…” She circled her hand above the bowl, the water below her palm imitating her movements even though her hand didn’t even come in contact with it.
“Like…what IS that?” Shadowcat asked.
“A makeshift scrying pool…” Jimaine told her. “Basically, a mystical location device…it vill tell us vhere Margali took Kurt…”
The X-Men leaned in to get a better look. An odourless vapour began to rise from the swirling water as it began to bubble. Jimaine frowned, concern obvious in her face as she gazed into the water.
“A most unpleasant place…” She mumbled. The others exchanged various glances. They could see nothing.
“Ve know vhere he is…” She said, looking at the faces around her. “And I know enough to know that you vill raise hell of high vater to rescue him…you are ready then?”
“Ah…” Cyclops looked to his teammates. He could see the concern in their faces. There was no one present who didn’t care greatly for the furry little goofball. He could also see the determination.
“We’re ready!” He said with more confidence than he really felt.
“Ve vill need some space…”
~~~~~~
“This place is quite amazing…” Jimaine admitted as she took in the size of the Danger Room.
“This’ll do?” Wolverine asked.
“It vill be fine.” She smiled at the Canadian. She knew he didn’t trust her. She could tell he didn’t trust anyone easily. “Alright then…” She began making a series of elaborate movements with her hands. The air was filled with the sudden tinkling of a thousand harps.
“Very pretty…” Spyke said quietly. “Wonder if she does parties…”
“Can it, porcupine.” Wolverine growled.
The wind picked up in a sickeningly familiar howl. Storm had to fight her instincts to quell its rising fury. Above Jimaine’s outstretched palms a bright ball of light began to form.
“Ah remember that…” Rogue said softly as blue lightening began to arch across its surface.
The light began to grow in size and intensity, enveloping them all in its warmth. Above in the Control Room, Professor Xavier watched with a mixture of awe and concern. The girl was displaying an amazing amount of power. Charles had never contemplated the existence of magic, but could think of no other way to describe what was happening.
“Take care, my children…” He said softly as the light suddenly blinked out.
~~~~~~
“Well…that was a hell of a thing…” Spyke said as they arrived at their destination.
“I have already warned you about using such language…” Storm began.
“I don’t know…” Wolverine frowned. “I think hell is probably a pretty fitting description…”
Nobody had any idea just where it was that Jimaine had brought them. But none of them liked it. It was a dark, desolate place, of sheer cliff faces and jagged rock. Twisted, leaf-less trees reached for a heavy, scarlet sky. Oily black clouds hovered above them like great birds, waiting to swoop down on their unsuspecting prey.
Shadowcat jumped as something black and shiny scuttled past her foot. “This place is so disgusting!” She shrieked. “Can we just find Kurt and get out of here?”
“I cannot sense Margali…” Jimaine admitted with a frown. “I had thought he would be vith her…and she would be easy to sense…”
“Maybe he gave her the slip?” Shadowcat suggested.
“Then she vill be looking for him too…”
“Perfect…” Wolverine growled.
“Well, let’s find him first.” Spyke said. “Snatch him right back from under her nose!”
Wolverine began to sniff the air, trying to catch a scent. Jean closed her eyes and put her index fingers to her temples hoping to pick up on his thoughts. Both frowned as they concentrated their particular abilities.
“Anything?” Cyclops asked after several moments.
“I can’t pick up anything.” Jean admitted. “But this place is huge…he may just be out of my range…”
“He’s here…” Wolverine said. “Or at least he was…scent’s awfully faint…” He began to scan the surrounding cliffs. “Not the only scent, either…it’s hard to isolate him…”
“Perhaps we should split up to search?” Storm suggested.
“Dunno if I like the idea of separatin’ in this place…” Wolverine signed. “But it could take forever to find the squirrel in this…”
“I can link us telepathically.” Jean suggested.
“And we have our communicators.” Cyclops pointed out.
“Okay…Cyclops, you take Jean and Rogue…I’ll take the teenaged witch and the kids…Storm…”
“I will search from above.” She finished for him. “And join Cyclops and the girls when I am done.”
“It’s not gonna be easy to find him in this place.” Wolverine told them. “It’s big and it’s dark…there’s plenty of places for him to be hiding. And if he has managed to get away from this Margali woman he’s not gonna want to be found…but with my tracking skills and Jean’s telepathy, I’d say we’ve got the edge…”
~~~~~~
Storm shuddered as she flew over the arid landscape. Even this high up, out in the open, she felt smothered. She’d only been here a few moments and she felt the despair of the place. Kurt had been here for several hours. Dragged here against his will by a strange woman who probably didn’t have his safety in mind.
The place was vast, true enough. But things lived here. Unidentifiable, horrid things they may be, but they survived here. She noticed a flat black area not too far from where she’d left the others. Water perhaps? Kurt had been through enough of Wolverine’s survival sessions to know that finding water was the most important thing for continued existence. It was the logical place to start looking.
~~~~~~
“You know…” Cyclops said absently. “If he weren’t in such danger, Kurt would probably love this place.”
“Are you crazy?” Jean frowned.
“I’m serious.” He replied. “There’s plenty of places for him to climb…shadows to hide in…things to swing off…he’d have a ball here…”
“Nah…” Rogue shook her head. “Yer crazy…”
~~~~~~
“Tell me about this Margali.” Wolverine looked at Jimaine. “What’s she want with the Elf?”
Jimaine lowered her head. “Some secrets are not mine to tell…” She said softly. “If you do not know it is something he does not vish for you to know…”
“Look, girly…” Wolverine growled at her. “We followed you here…pretty much blindly…I wanna know what we’re up against…and why!”
“Margali is powerful…far more so than I…” Jimaine told him. “But she is not evil…I do not think she vill harm any of you…she is not out for vengeance…”
“Vengeance for what?” Shadowcat asked, picking up on the word. “Did Kurt do something to her?”
“Oh, c’mon!” Spyke rolled his eyes. “Kurt’s a harmless prankster! What could he have possibly done?” All three looked at the young sorceress, but it was obvious that she wasn’t going to tell them anything.
They walked in silence for a few moments. Then Wolverine stopped suddenly.
“We got company.” He announced grimly.
“Kurt?” Shadowcat asked hopefully, despite his tone.
“On your guards, people.” Wolverine warned as he popped his claws. “Whatever it is…it’s closing in…”
“Oh, man…” Spyke mumbled, sprouting a set of spurs himself.
The ground beneath Wolverine’s feet opened up and swallowed him, as if it had a mind of it’s own, and was aware of just which of the quartet was the greatest threat. Mounds of earth rose up around them, taking roughly human form.
“Gross!” Shadowcat yelled as one lunged for her. Phased, it passed right through her.
Spyke hurled several bone spikes at another. They tore through it, the wounds sealing behind them. The creature kept coming. “This is not good…” He commented as he dodged it.
Jimaine threw some sort of hex bolt at another, neatly slicing off its arm. It simply grew a new one. But it would seem it didn’t care for her magic as it went to join its siblings who were concentrating their efforts on the young mutants.
“Definitely NOT good!” Spyke repeated.
Though Jimaine wanted to help them, she moved to where Wolverine had disappeared, tearing at the ground with both her magic and her hands in hopes of finding the older mutant. Though they could use his help, she was more concerned with him suffocating underground.
“How do we beat these things?” Shadowcat asked as she backed up against Spyke.
“Beats me.” He admitted. “These things heal quicker than Wolverine…”
There was a sound above their heads, like the crack of a whip. Then a soft thud as something landed just beyond the creatures. The things turned to the sound, apparently more interested in whatever had made it than the two youngest X-Men. They shambled towards it, which proved to be a mistake.
There was another sound…a metallic hiss. Then a flash amongst the silent, hulking monoliths. Light on metal. Heads flew from the creatures’ bodies. They made no sound as metal pierced their breasts. What was left of them sank back into the ground, revealing their would-be saviour.
It too was roughly human in shape. Its golden eyes, glowing softly, bore into them. It gripped a sword in its hands, held at the ready in case they too were to attack. It watched them cautiously, keeping to the shadows. But the darkness didn’t completely hide the tail that slashed slowly back and forth behind it. A thin, dark tail with a barb at its end…
“Kurt?” Shadowcat whispered hopefully.
The creature snorted, tightening the grip on its sword.
“C’mon, man.” Spyke smiled. “Relax…it’s us!”
“Prove it…” He growled softly. The voice was Kurt’s, but there was a hardness to it that was almost frightening. All the usually playfulness was gone.
Spyke and Shadowcat exchanged a glance. “Uh…” Shadowcat began. “How exactly are we gonna do that?”
“Tell me something…” Kurt’s iron-edged voice spoke from the shadows. “Something only you and I vould know…”
“You and me?” She swallowed. “Well…um…how about that time when we were on the Blackbird when Wolverine took off for Canada…and he almost skewered you…and you said you couldn’t teleport us out ‘cos we were too high up and going too fast…and then we had to face off against Wolverine AND Sabretooth…and you had to fly the Blackbird home ‘cos Wolverine was like totally out of it…and you’d never actually had to take off before…or land…and…”
“Okay, okay.” He sheathed the sword in the scabbard on his back and held out his hands in a placating manner in order to stop her babbling. “I’m convinced.” He stepped forward out of the shadows.
Spyke and Shadowcat let out a collective gasp. What was left of his clothes were in tatters. In fact his shirt was completely gone. His already rather lengthy hair was noticeably longer, his bangs now brushing against his chest. He was also a little more muscled than when they’d last seen him…two hours ago!
“Vhat is the matter vith you two?” He asked, a little confused.
“Well…” Spyke began. “You’re kinda…not how we expected to find you…”
“And how vas that?” He quirked an eyebrow.
“I dunno…” Shadowcat admitted. “I guess I thought we’d like find you stripped naked and chained to a wall or something.”
“I can imagine your disappointment.” Kurt smirked, a mischievous glint in his amber eyes.
“KURT!” Shadowcat’s jaw dropped as her cheeks burned bright red.
“Now that is the Kurt Vaugner I remember.”
Kurt turned at the sound of the voice. “Jimaine?” The pair stood stock-still for a moment, each getting used to the presence of the other. Then they enfolded each other in a warm embrace, like old friends should. Once again, Kitty felt a little strange when she saw Kurt hugging someone who wasn’t her, even though there was absolutely nothing romantic about their embrace. They were just happy, relieved, to see each other.
Wolverine, who Jimaine had managed to dig out of the earth, arched a brow beneath his hood. He pulled out his communicator and thumbed the switch. “Cyclops?” He said curtly.
“You found him?” The teen’s voice replied almost immediately. Wolverine could hear the tension in his voice. He could have smelled it too if the boy had been closer.
“Actually…” Wolverine sighed. “He found us…”
“He’s okay?” There was still a high degree of anxiousness in the youth’s voice. All the mansion’s residents had grown fond of the exotic-looking European, but the bond between Kurt and Scott was more akin to brothers than friends.
“Looks okay.” Wolverine frowned. He didn’t think it was quite the time or place to mention that the blue-furred mutant appeared to have aged quite a bit in the past few hours. It was hard to judge just how much, but the obviously longer hair indicated several months’ growth.
“We’ll follow your communicator’s signal…” Cyclops said, suddenly all business now that he knew his friend was all right. “We’ll be with you shortly.”
“I have missed you.” Jimaine smiled warmly at Kurt.
“And I you.” He admitted. Then he frowned. “But vhy…and how…are you here?”
“You did not think I vould let you face Margali alone, did you?” She smiled at him. He looked away with a pained expression.
“Where’d you get the sword?” Spyke asked.
“There is much to be scavenged around here…” Kurt shrugged. “It is finding food that is the hard part.”
“Vhip?” Kurt frowned.
“Just before you started decapitating those mud monsters…” She said. “I’m sure I heard a whip…”
“Yeah…” Spyke nodded. “I heard it too…”
“Oh…” Kurt nodded slowly as he realised what they were talking about. “You mean this…” He swung his tail lazily to one side then flicked it so quickly to the other it made a snap in the air. The sound was very reminiscent to the crack of a whip.
“Neat trick.” Spyke admitted.
“It has its uses.” Kurt agreed. “Also comes in handy as a fishing lure…”
“I DO not wanna know…”
“Oh my stars…” Rogue’s incredulous voice startled them.
“Kurt?” Jean questioned as she dropped the telekinetic bubble she’d used to carry the three of them.
“What the hell happened to you?” Cyclops all but demanded.
“Cyclops! Language!” Storm warned as she landed beside them.
“Vhy is everybody so surprised about the vay I look?” Kurt frowned, looking down at himself. He had to admit, his clothes were little more than rags, his fur was a little matted, and his hair was a little ratty…but he hadn’t changed that much.
“He’s just been playing around with his image inducer again.” Shadowcat smiled.
“Yeah.” Spyke agreed. “With all the nasties around here…I’d wanna look bigger and meaner too.”
“Ah…guys…” Kurt held up his left arm in such a way as to show he wasn’t even wearing the image inducer.
“Of course!” Spyke slapped his forehead. “That woman ripped it off!”
“You mean that’s all you?” Shadowcat queried as she took a firm grip on his bicep, testing its firmness for herself. She frowned as she looked him in the face. “But…how…?”
Wolverine frowned as he contemplated the way Kurt looked, some of the things he’d said…about scavenging, the difficulty of finding food…
“Exactly how long have you been here, Elf?” He asked.
“It is difficult to say for sure…” He admitted with a frown. “There is no vay to really judge the passage of time…there is no difference between day and night here. And I don’t have a vatch or anything…” He shrugged as he looked at Wolverine. “Five…six months, maybe…”
“SIX MONTHS!?” The youngsters said in unison.
“I guess I could be wrong…” He frowned.
“It’s only been like a couple of hours!” Shadowcat said. “We got home from the carnival…Jimaine showed up…we got in costume…and she transported us here!”
Kurt was silent as he absorbed this information.
“It vould seem time travels more sviftly in this vorld…” Jimaine mused.
“All the more reason to get home.” Spyke pointed out.
“We’ve got what we came for.” Wolverine nodded his agreement. He looked at Jimaine. “If you’d do the honours…?”
“Of course.” She smiled.
“Leaving so soon?” A new voice queried. “But you just got here…”
“Uh-oh…” Shadowcat whispered as they all turned towards the sound of the voice.
“Margali, I assume?” Storm questioned her nephew as she took in the form of the green-skinned woman. There were few women that Storm actually had to look up to, but they hadn’t been exaggerating about this woman’s height. She very clearly was eight-feet tall.
“Uh-huh.” Spyke nodded.
“You should have kept to yourself, Kurt.” She looked at him with her icy eyes. “For some reason you are invisible to my magics…but your friends shine as bright as stars…” She frowned when she noticed the strawberry-blonde beside him.
“Jimaine?” She questioned. She let out a snort of a sigh. “I should have known it vas you who vas protecting him!” Her face grew even colder. “He is not vorth it!”
“That remains to be seen.” The girl replied haughtily.
Wolverine moved stealthily towards his blue-furred charge. “I think you should tell us just what this woman want with you.” He growled softly.
“I vant justice, Volverine.” Margali answered for him. “A life for a life.”
Everyone looked at Kurt in stunned silence. The young German simply hung his head.
“No way, lady!” Cyclops said.
“Are you calling me a liar, boy?” She asked.
“If you’re telling us Kurt killed somebody, then yes!” He shot back.
“Cyclops…” Kurt said quietly.
Cyclops didn’t hear him. “There is no way on Earth…” He looked about him as he remembered where they were. “This one or any other…that Kurt could possibly kill anyone!”
“Scott!” Kurt said, loudly.
Cyclops looked at his friend. He could see something in those golden eyes. Sadness. Shame…
Guilt…
Kurt looked away when he saw the realisation dawn on his friend’s face.
“There’s gotta be more to it!” Shadowcat came to Kurt’s defence when it seemed Cyclops was no longer able to.
“Yeah!” Spyke agreed. “It had to be an accident or something!”
“I know vhat he did!” Margali shot back. “HE knows vhat he did. It is time for him to pay for his crime.”
“No way are we gonna let you play judge, jury and executioner!” Wolverine growled at her. “HIT HER!” He lunged at her, his claws biting deep into her arm. She just laughed.
Reacting more on instinct than intellect, the others joined him.
Lightening danced about her as Storm attacked. Cyclops’ optic bean hit her full in the chest. Spyke racked her leg with a dozen bony barbs. Jean slammed her with her mind.
But still…she just laughed. She threw her arms out, her magic hurling them all back painfully against the surrounding landscape.
“I can take vhatever you throw at me…” She chuckled. “But vhat about your furry little friend?”
They turned to find Kurt slumped against Jimaine, his breath hissing through his teeth. There were three deep gashes on his left arm, half a dozen puncture wounds in his leg. A burnt patch of fur smouldered on his chest and wisps of smoke rose from his hair.
“What in the name of…” Cyclops began.
“Transference spell…” Jimaine explained. “Vhatever you hit her vith, Kurt vill suffer…”
“Then how the hell do we beat this bitch?” Wolverine growled.
“You don’t.” Kurt rasped as he somehow managed to drag himself to his feet. “Ve just give her vhat she vants…” He limped towards her.
“You have courage, boy.” Margali said, obviously impressed. “I vill grant you a quick death.”
“MOTHER! NO!” Jimaine cried out, running to put herself between the two, protecting the already injured Kurt.
“Mother?” several of the X-Men echoed.
“Child…” Margali said quietly to the young sorceress. “Look at him…” She gestured to the repentant looking Kurt. “He has admitted his guilt…he is prepared for his punishment…”
“He has admitted nothing!” Jimaine protested. “He only vishes to protect his friends!”
“Do not vex me, child!” Margali warned.
“I vill not stand idly by vhile you destroy somebody ve both care about!” Jimaine shot back.
“Ve both know vhat he has done!” Margali countered.
“Do ve?” Jimaine challenged. “Neither of us vitnessed it…” Margali’s expression softened slightly. “Mother…do you really vant to risk your immortal soul by slaying an innocent?”
“Very vell, child…” Margali relented. “Ve vill ascertain his guilt…”
Jimaine nodded to her mother before turning to Kurt. “I am sorry…”
“For vhat?” He asked.
“This vill not be pleasant…”
Margali gestured at him. Kurt froze, his eyes wide, his back arched. He let out a strangled gasp as Margali’s magic began to ferret about inside his mind.
“What is she doing to him?” Cyclops ran forward only to be halted by Jean.
“She’s probing his mind.” She told him. “Not unlike the professor…”
“But he’s in pain…” Cyclops protested.
“She wants him dead, Scott.” Jean pointed out. “She’s probably not interested in being subtle. Who knows what damage it might cause if we interrupt her?”
“Ah…” Margali cooed. “Here ve go…” She cast her gaze on the X-Men. “You did not vant me to be judge, jury and executioner…so I leave it to you to pass judgement…”
Kurt’s head lolled back as Margali pulled the appropriate memories from his mind. She conjured up an image above his head. The X-Men moved in closer, in awe of the apparition of rolling hills and snow covered mountains. Margali’s eyes were closed as she absorbed Kurt’s memories like a sponge. She seemed completely unaware of anything that was going on around her.
“That where you grew up?” Shadowcat asked Jimaine. It was pretty obvious that Kurt was in no condition to answer.
“Yes.” She confirmed.
“Why do I get the feeling that Julie Andrews is gonna come spinning over the hill and start singing?” Spyke asked.
“That vas Austria…” Jimaine pointed out. “This is Germany.”
“Close enough.” Spyke shrugged.
“Oh?” Jimaine arched a brow. “And how vas your childhood in Canada?”
“Hey!” Spyke protested. “I’m American!”
“Close enough.” She smirked.
“Okay…you made your point…”
The image changed to show a younger Kurt, probably about seven or eight. Along with a younger Jimaine and a dark-haired, serious-faced, slightly older boy.
“Who’s that?” Jean asked.
“My brother…” Jimaine said softly, sadly. “Stefan.”
“Stefan?” Cyclops echoed.
“Yes, Stefan…”
“So…do we get sound with this movie?” Spyke asked.
“You vant some popcorn too?” Jimaine asked, an angry edge to her voice.
“Memories aren’t like that, Evan.” Jean pointed out. “They’re just a bunch of images…feelings…we can’t remember things EXACTLY how they happened…just how we felt at the time…the further back they go…the fuzzier things get.”
“You three were pretty close, huh?” Shadowcat asked Jimaine.
“Kurt vas as much a brother to me as Stefan vas…”
“Was?” Wolverine arched a brow.
“So THAT’S what this is about?” Cyclops asked. “Something happen to Stefan…and your mother blames Kurt for it…”
“Stefan died, yes…” Jimaine confirmed. “But I cannot believe Kurt was deliberately responsible.”
Margali’s expression was a perfect mirror of Kurt’s as she felt everything he felt as she continued to shift through his memories. She felt his sadness as he discussed something with Jimaine…
“What were you two talking about?” Shadowcat asked as she noticed the somewhat pained expressions on both of them.
“That vas vhen he told me he’s parents vere considering sending him to school in America…I did not vant to lose my best friend…”
“Doesn’t look like he wanted to go either…” Cyclops noted.
“Can’t say I really blame him…” Shadowcat sighed. “I was pretty upset when I thought of how far I was moving from home…but it’s nothing compared to how far he has…”
Stefan, his face like thunder, was confronting Kurt now. Though nobody knew what he was saying, the expression on Kurt’s face, mirrored on Margali’s, spoke volumes. Kurt seemed to flinch at every one of Stefan’s unheard words. He backed up as Stefan approached him. His movements, his expressions, every little nuance of his body language conveyed accusation. Though what he was accusing Kurt of they could only guess at.
Margali began to cry silently as Stefan’s unspoken words stung her, striking to the core. Jean concentrated, trying to subtly pick up from her mind what she was thinking, how she was translating Kurt’s memories.
“I don’t know how I could have been so blind as to not see you for what you are…you wear your evil so openly and yet they still can’t see it! But I see it now!” She picked from Margali’s mind. It was in German, but somehow she understood every word. “You have used the dark arts to charm my mother…my sister…turn them against me…”
“Stefan…” Kurt’s familiar voice echoed in her head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about…I don’t know any magic…”
“Don’t try your spells on me, freak!” Stefan’s voice was as cruel as his expression. “I will free them…by getting rid of you!”
Shadowcat shrieked as the image of Stefan drew a wicked looking knife on the image of the terrified Kurt. It was enough to break Jean’s concentration. She watched along with the others as Kurt backed up…quickly running out of room as his misshapen toes found the edge of a cliff. He looked about frantically for some means of escape.
Jean closed her eyes, her fingers to her temples as she once again tried to link with Margali’s mind. The powerful sorceress seemed capable of hearing as well as seeing Kurt’s memories…and, as painful as it was, she wanted to know more. Cyclops noticed her concentrating.
“Jean…?” He whispered.
“Later, Scott…” She stopped him as she reconnected with Margali.
“Stefan…” Kurt tried to reason with the knife-wielding youth. “You don’t want to do this…you don’t want to damn yourself…”
Stefan laughed. “Destroying the spawn of Satan will have no effect on my immortal soul, monster!” He smirked at the terrified Kurt. “It will be more likely to assure my entrance to Eternal Bliss than to deny it!”
“My God…” Kurt whispered to himself, unconsciously crossing himself as his faith had taught him.
Stefan took this as an insult. “You mock my faith, demon! It’s time for you to return to the pit that spawned you!”
He lunged at Kurt, blade glinting wickedly. Kurt’s innate abilities fired. He instinctively called upon his mutant powers…powers that, at the time, he didn’t even know he possessed…to save his life.
Stefan’s eyes widened as his quarry suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke. The smell of brimstone that accompanied Kurt’s teleportation no doubt would have added to his conviction. Unfortunately, Kurt had been barely balancing on the edge of a precipice, Stefan couldn’t stop himself.
Kurt hadn’t gone far, but he was obviously groggy, even nauseous, from what was possibly his first ever teleport. He lunged at Stefan, managing to grab the back of his shirt, trying desperately to pull him back. Stefan saw it as an attack rather than the rescue it was. He spun, dragging the tip of his blade across the blue-furred arm that would have saved his life. Kurt’s mouth opened in a silent scream, his reflexes pulling his arm back from the danger. Stefan realised his fatal mistake a moment too late…
Margali broke the connection with a heartfelt sob. She didn’t want to see her son die. Kurt slumped forward as he was freed from her mental grip. He was exhausted, overwhelmed by memories he’d tried to suppress for so long. He felt a gentle hand touch his arm, parting the fur to reveal the scar that lay there, where Stefan’s blade had rent his flesh. The hand moved to his chin, gently tilting his head upwards.
Margali’s eyes were soft now, filled with pain from the loss of her son, and regret from what she’d done to the innocent Kurt. The young mutant had blamed himself for what had happened, and she had picked up on that, believing him guilty as well. He had, she thought, fled to America to escape her wrath.
She smiled at him, and leant forward to kiss him gently on the forehead. As she did so, the wind picked up, surrounding all present. Bright light blinded them all, and when they could see again, they were back in the Danger Room. All present and accounted for, except for Margali and Jimaine.
~~~~~~
The professor was startled to see them return so quickly. They had been gone less than a minute. He also saw the condition Kurt was in, his arm and leg still bleeding from the damage inflicted by the transferred attack of Wolverine and Spyke.
He jabbed a button on the console. “Henry…prepare the infirmary…Kurt needs medical attention.”
“You got it.” Hank’s disembodied voice replied.
~~~~~~
Kurt lay quietly as Hank worked on his injured leg. He had stitched up his arm first, it had been bleeding quite profusely. The boy’s quietness disturbed him though. Kurt was usually quite vivacious, he was acting so out of character. One look at his face told him why.
He was sound asleep.
“How’s the…” Charles began as he entered with Logan and Ororo, only to be shushed by the mansion’s larger blue-furred resident.
“He’s asleep.” He whispered.
“You’re poking around in an open wound and he’s asleep?” Logan asked incredulously.
“From what you’ve told me, he’s been on his guard for six months…” Charles said as he smiled at Kurt’s peaceful face. “He must be exhausted…physically…mentally…and emotionally. He feels safe now…so he’s just…let go…”
“For someone who so resembles a demon…he looks so angelic when he’s sleeping.” Ororo commented with a smile. She gently brushed an extremely long lock of indigo hair from his eyes. “I think he’s going to need a hair-cut though…”
“Yes…” Charles agreed. “People are going to question how it grew so fast…he was only missing for a matter of hours…”
“And you know he’s gonna eat everything in the house when he wakes up.” Logan added. Kurt’s appetite was almost legendary. “God knows what he survived on in that place…”
“You should be proud, Logan.” Charles looked up at him. “Your survival training obviously sunk in.”
“He got enough of it…” Logan huffed. “How many times did you punish him with it?” He glanced at Kurt as a frown creased his forehead. “Still…” He sighed. “The kid’s gonna be a while recovering from this.”
“Yes…” Charles agreed sadly as he continued to study the young mutant’s face.
~~~~~~
Logan and Ororo emerged to a sea of expectant faces. The professor had ordered Logan to take the very groggy Kurt to the infirmary as soon as he managed to regain his composure after their sudden return. None of his friends knew how he was…and all were concerned.
“Is he…like…okay?” Kitty asked quietly, hoping for the best, fearing the worst.
“He’s fine, Half-Pint.” Logan assured him. “Truth is…most of the damage was done by us…”
“You mean by Margali’s transference spell.” Scott countered, his tone quite surly.
“Yeah…” Logan agreed. “Still…he’s gonna be out of action for a while…mostly because of me and the porcupine.”
Evan looked up at the apparent accusation. He knew he wasn’t directly responsible, but the knowledge didn’t make him feel any better.
“Can we see him?” Jean asked.
“Hank’s still patching him up.” Logan said.
“And he is asleep.” Ororo added.
“Asleep?” Rogue arched a brow. “How the heck can he be asleep?”
“He’s exhausted.” Logan shrugged. “He’ll probably sleep, on and off, for a couple of days.”
“And school?” Scott asked.
“He can’t go back until he’s had some time to heal…” Ororo said. “But…we can’t let him get behind in his studies either…” She looked at Rogue. “You are in the same classes…”
“Mostly…” She admitted.
“You can collect his homework for him.”
“Oh…he’s just gonna love that.” Evan chuckled.
“And it’s gonna take some time to get him a new holo-watch.” Logan added. “Unless somebody thought to pick it up…?”
Evan, Kitty and Rogue exchanged a glance.
“Well…” Rogue started.
“You see…” Evan added.
“We were kinda…” Kitty continued.
“It was a stressful situation.” Logan sighed. “It’s understandable that it was overlooked…been easier if we had it…but we can do without it. It’ll just take longer.”
“Maybe Forge can come up with something?” Scott suggested.
Logan stroked his chin thoughtfully. It wasn’t something he’d even thought about. “Maybe…kid’s got quite a knack…probably be more reliable too…”
“I’ll give him a call.” Scott offered.
~~~~~~
Sunday morning dawned quietly over the mansion. The students were understandably rather subdued. By a unanimous decision, somebody was always at Kurt’s side, to reassure him when he awoke that he was home and safe, and surrounded by those who cared about him.
But he didn’t stir. He remained curled up in a near foetal position, or as close to it as he could with his heavily bandaged arm and leg. Only his quiet snoring indicative that he was even alive. His tail, or a pointed ear would twitch occasionally, in a very cat-like manner, but such movements never led to anything more.
Kitty had been rather upset when she’d first seen him. He was hooked up to all manner of machines. Monitors keeping track of his heart rate, his respiratory functions, his brain wave activity. All precautionary she had been assured, but it didn’t make her any more comfortable.
“I can barely sense his consciousness.” Jean admitted. She looked at Hank. “You’re sure he’s okay?”
“He’s just in a deep sleep.” He pointed out. “His brain’s pretty much shut down while it recharges. He’ll be up bouncing off the walls and generally annoying the heck out of us in no time.”
~~~~~~
It was hard going back to school on Monday. Even though it had only been two days…for most of them any way…so much had happened. And there was so much to explain. Especially to a handful of certain interested parties…
Risty barged up to Rogue as soon as she walked through the door. She looked as anxious as they had the day before. Rogue found it a little disconcerting. She hardly even knew the guy…
“How’s your friend?” She asked quickly. “That strange woman didn’t hurt him or anything, did she? You got him back, right? And he’s in one piece?”
“Calm down, Risty.” Rogue tried to settle her friend. “He’s okay…he should be back at school in a couple of days…”
“Why?” Risty demanded. “What happened to him?”
“He’s got a busted leg…and some stitches…” Rogue explained. “Nothing too major though…he just needs some rest.”
Risty seemed to visibly relax at the news. “Oh…” She said suddenly, rummaging through her bag. “That reminds me…” She pulled something out from its depths. “I found this…I think it’s his…”
She handed Rogue the damaged holo-watch.
“Yeah…” Rogue almost flinched when she looked at it. It was a well-constructed device, sturdily constructed, and yet it was quite mangled. Margali had seriously trashed it. “I’ll see he gets it back…”
“I don’t think it’s working any more, though.” Risty admitted.
“Yeah…” Rogue agreed as she squinted through the cracked glass. There was no digital readout, and she wasn’t about to try any of its other…options… “But it’s got some sentimental value to him…it was a gift from his favourite…uh…uncle…”
“Maybe he can get it fixed or something?” Risty suggested.
“Maybe…” Rogue agreed. “I’ll see he gets it. Thanks…”
“No problem.” Risty smiled. “I’m just glad he’s okay.”
“You and me both.” Rogue sighed. “He’s like a brother to me…”
‘More than you know…’ Risty thought as she glanced at her friend…
~~~~~~
“Hey, Kitty cat!” A voice called out in the crowded hallway. Kitty turned to see Tabitha approaching, alone for once.
“Hello, Tabitha.” She sighed as the vivacious blonde leaned against the neighbouring locker.
“I take the fact that you guys are all back at school today is a good sign?” She arched a brow.
“Yeah.” Kitty nodded. “He’s okay…”
“Then let him know he owes me one…” Tabitha smirked. “See ya!”
Kitty shook her head as she flounced off down the corridor. What did Kurt ever see in that girl?
‘You know what he saw…’ Her inner voice chided her. ‘She showed an interest when you wouldn’t give him the time of day…’
“She also, like totally used him…” She whispered under her breath.
“You started talking to yourself?” Evan asked as he walked up.
“No…” she said haughtily. “I was just thinking aloud.” She glanced around at the many students milling about the corridor. She had expected Tabitha to be looking for answers. But there was another she had expected to see first.
“Have you seen Amanda?” She asked.
“No.” He admitted. “I don’t think she’s even here today…I saw her friends before and she wasn’t with them…maybe she’s so upset about Kurt she made herself sick or something…?”
“Oh puh-lease…” Kitty rolled her eyes. “He hasn’t even kissed her or anything. They don’t even hold hands!”
“C’mon, Kitty…” Evan countered. “Those two are tight… wouldn’t you be worried sick if something happened to Lance?”
Kitty’s jaw dropped. But she had to admit, she’d feel pretty wretched if she’d seen some weird looking woman snatch her guy away…
“Don’t you think that’d make her more anxious to find out he was okay?” Kitty asked.
Evan shrugged. “Maybe she called the mansion?”
“I guess…”
~~~~~~
‘Hank?’
Charles Xavier’s voice in his head broke his concentration. “Yes, professor?”
‘Are you still with Kurt?’
“I’m in the next room…” Hank suddenly felt nervous. “Is something wrong?” He made his way towards the infirmary.
‘I can sense brain activity…’ Charles continued. ‘I think he’s finally waking up…’
Hank entered the room to find Kurt clawing at the tube pinching his nose. “Hang on there…” Hank said, taking the boy’s hand away and removing the tube expertly himself. As soon as he was free of it, Kurt sneezed loudly.
“How are you feeling?” Hank asked as Kurt pulled himself into a sitting position.
“Pretty awful.” He had to admit, glancing at the think bandage around his arm. “Not a dream then…” he said absently. He looked around. He had expected a more crowded reception. “Vhere is everyone?”
“At school.” Hank smiled. “It’s 11:37 AM…Monday morning.”
“Monday?” Kurt’s eyebrows quirked. “I have been asleep for some time…”
“Twenty two hours and forty three minutes…” Hank announced. “Give or take a few seconds…”
“It’s good to see you’re feeling better.” The professor smiled as he entered the room.
Kurt ran a hand over his face, picking a grain of something out of his fur. “Actually…I feel like I’ve spent the night in a dumpster. I need a shower…BAD!” He slipped out of bed and almost fell over. “Or perhaps a long soak in a nice varm bath…” He looked at the bandage that encircled his calf. “Or can I not get these vet?”
“No…” Hank smiled. “That’s fine. I need to change the dressings any way…”
“I will contact Jean…” Charles said, placing his fingers to his temples. “Let her know that you’re awake…she can pass the message on to the others…”
~~~~~~
“So…you are all right my little one…” Margali smiled as she watched through the swirling waters of her scrying pool. “No thanks to me…”
“Mother…” Jimaine touched her shoulder.
“I have done him a great wrong, child…” She sighed. “I knew of Stefan’s dark nature…that he was emotionally unstable…I should have been better prepared…I should have realised…to think of vhat I put that poor boy through…”
“He vill survive…” Jimaine smiled. “He is far tougher than he appears…”
Margali smiled slightly. “I am glad he is innocent. It vas very hard to hate him…”
“I know vhat you mean…” Jimaine smiled as she too gazed into the swirling waters. Margali noticed the look on her daughter’s face as Kurt tested the water of his bath. Smirking, she cancelled the spell. The scrying pool went dark.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Jimaine…” She looked at her daughter. “But vhat kind of mother vould I be if I let you vatch such a thing?”
“A very generous one?” Jimaine suggested, a twinkle in her emerald eyes. Margali chuckled.
“He deserves a little privacy, child.”
“Yes…I know…” Jimaine sighed. She decided to change the subject. “So…vhat are you going to do now…?”
“It is time I returned home…” Margali sighed. “My pointless endeavour has caused me to neglect my studies for far too long…” She glanced at her daughter. “And vhat of you, child?”
“I think I vill remain here…” She said softly, gazing wistfully into the darkened waters of the scrying pool.
Margali smiled. Even without her sorcery she would have been able to sense what was behind that look. She knew full well how her daughter felt about the blue-furred youth. She’d known it before her daughter had…
“If you vish to pursue this…and him…you have my blessing, daughter…” She smiled. “But I feel I should varn you. He is involved vith a pretty young thing named…”
“Amanda?” Jimaine finished for her with a rather wicked smile.
Margali returned it.
“I see…”
~~~~~~
“Kurt…?” Ororo admonished. “Will you please sit still? I don’t want to jab you in the neck!”
Kurt sat back, gnawing on the sweet roll he’d grabbed off the plate in front of him. Wolverine had been right, the boy had been eating more or less continuously since he’d emerged from his two-hour bath.
“Sorry.” He said sheepishly. “But vhen you have lived on barbequed lizard on a stick for the past few months…you kind of crave something a little sveet…”
“Barbequed lizard on a stick?” She echoed, a somewhat disgusted look on her face at the thought. She put the image out of her mind as she ran a comb through his long, wet hair, lifting it up and snipping a sizable length off the end.
Kurt sighed as he picked up the severed lock of indigo hair. “And I vas just getting used to the Fabio look…”
“I’m sorry if you wanted to keep it, Kurt.” She said. “But it would be a little difficult to explain how it had grown so long over a weekend…”
“I vas not intending to keep it, Ororo…” He said softly. “I do not vish to remember that place…”
She sighed. He held himself well, but she knew there must be lasting repercussions from his experience. “Kurt…” She began. “If you want to talk…”
He shook his head. “Not now…not yet…” He said. “Maybe later…vhen I can better come to terms vith it…”
She smiled a little sadly at the top of his head. He seemed to have grown up quite a bit during the time he’d spent alone. But then, he’d had to, considering he had no one to rely on but himself. She had seen how suspicious he’d been when they’d found him. He’d shown great courage, willing to sacrifice himself for them all. She wondered what he’d been through, as they all did, to have brought about such a change in him. But she could tell he wasn’t ready to talk about it. She had given him the option, and he had not refused it. He had basically taken a rain check.
He would talk when he was ready, and she, for one, was willing to wait.
~~~~~~
Amanda had never been to the mansion before, but as she rang the doorbell a tall, African-American woman greeted her warmly, as if she was an old friend.
“You must be Amanda.” She smiled.
“Uh…yeah…” She managed. “I was wondering if I could maybe see Kurt?” She hefted a large bunch of flowers…suddenly feeling very silly to have brought them. She knew he’d appreciate the chocolates though.
“I called…” She went on as the woman ushered her inside. “The guy on the phone said it’d be all right…”
“Indeed it is…” The friendly faced man in the wheelchair beamed at her. He offered his hand. “I’m Professor Charles Xavier…we spoke on the phone.”
“Ah…right…” she juggled the flowers in order to take his hand. “I’m Amanda…”
“We have heard much about you.” His smile deepened. “Ororo…” He looked to the woman. “If you would take Amanda to Kurt’s room?”
“Of course, Charles.” She smiled. She gestured with her hand. “This way…”
Amanda was amazed at the sheer size of the place. The grand staircase swept up majestically to the upper level. There had to be a lift somewhere she realised, but it was well hidden, no doubt to retain the historical elegance of the place.
They turned into what looked like an endless hallway, with an equally endless number of identical doors. They passed priceless works of art that adorned the walls. Past equally priceless pieces of antique furniture. She couldn’t imagine Kurt, or the other teens she’d met, living in this place.
The woman, Ororo, stopped and knocked gently on one of the doors. There was a muffled response from within. Ororo opened the door just enough to poke her head inside.
“Kurt.” She said warmly. “You have a visitor.” She opened the door to reveal Amanda.
She was amazed at the vastness of the room. A pair of large French doors opened up onto a decent sized balcony that offered a spectacular view.
“Hi…” She said shyly as she finally located him, lying fully clothed on top of the covers of his bed. He looked at her with a strangely blank expression.
“I will put these in water.” Ororo smiled as she took Amanda’s armful of flowers, exiting quickly to leave the young couple alone.
He continued to look at her with that strange expressionless expression for a few more moments. She felt extremely awkward.
Finally he sat up, moved towards her with a slight limp. He leaned in closely studying her face. Amanda was beginning to feel very uncomfortable.
“Hello…” He said finally. She relaxed, until he added…”Jimaine.”
Her eyes widened. “Wh-What did you call me?” She stuttered.
“Come on…” His eyes narrowed. “I may act the fool, but I am not stupid.” He held up the talisman she had given him. “AMANDA gave me this…” He said. “I know vhat it is…it is part of a protection spell…and Margali said it was JIMAINE who was protecting me…”
She looked away from him. “Kurt…” She began. She looked back at him with shining eyes. She didn’t know what to say.
“I guess this explains why AMANDA was never afraid of my true appearance…” He said softly as he turned and walked slowly out onto the balcony. He leapt up onto the balustrade…which he always did whenever he was feeling down.
She looked at him out there, his tail swinging slowly back and forth, shoulders slumped. She hated seeing him like that. She hated it even more when she was the cause. She tossed the box of chocolates on the bed and joined him on the balcony. He was resting his chin on his arms, which were resting, in turn, on his knees. ‘Balled up…protecting himself from the inevitable pain,’ she thought.
She sat on the balustrade beside him. He glanced at her, but didn’t move.
“Kurt…” She said softly. “Jimaine or Amanda…it doesn’t change how I feel about you.”
“And how is that?” He asked in little more than a whisper. He looked at her when she didn’t answer, lowering his legs over the side of the balustrade when he saw the look on her face.
She took a deep breath as she moved a little closer to him. “I travelled half way around the world…” She said. “I created a whole new identity for myself.” She swung one leg over the balustrade so she could face him. “I risked my mother’s wrath…all so I could be with you…”
He blinked, moving to mirror her. She leaned even closer, feeling him flinch as she placed her hands gently on his shoulders. She looked into his eyes. He could see fear there, but not due to the way he looked. He knew that look all too well.
The fear of being rejected.
“What do you think?” She finished, a slight crack in her voice.
She closed her eyes as she felt the velveteen brush of his hand against her face, opening them to see the tender glow in his eyes. He leaned closer. She could feel the brush of his hair against her face, his breath on her lips when he spoke.
“I think there is no more need for words…”
His eyelids suddenly felt incredibly heavy. Her lips parted slightly, expectantly, as her own eyes slowly closed. He swallowed. He knew what she wanted…what he wanted. But he’d never done anything like that before. Sure he’d tried to, wanted to…but no one had ever wanted him to actually do it before. She frowned, leaning forward when she felt nothing, her mouth now searching for his. He swallowed again, then thought…‘Vhat the hell…’
He felt her body tremble as his lips brushed hers, and in that moment he knew she was as inexperienced as he was. He decided to let instinct take over. After all…the heart knows what it wants…
Kitty chose that moment to phase through the door. Jean had told them all at lunch that Kurt was awake, and though not exactly full of beans, was feeling much like his old self. She couldn’t wait for school to be over, to see him, and had decided to surprise him…
Of course she hadn’t been expecting this.
She was frozen to the spot, unable to move. Kurt and Amanda were too wrapped up in each other to even notice she was there. Kitty could feel her spine melt. Kurt’s kiss looked so soft…so tender…so wonderful…
He was saying so much without saying a word. He was offering his heart in that kiss, and it was being totally accepted, and returned in full…
She sighed dreamily…then realised it wasn’t hers…
She phased quickly back outside, feeling suddenly like a total pervert. Though she’d never seen it from the same angle, Lance’s kiss had never made her feel like that…and she hadn’t just WATCHED them! She didn’t doubt that Lance had feelings for her…but he could never give himself to her the way Kurt had just given himself to Amanda…
‘And it could have been mine!’ She wailed inside her head. ‘He was, like, chasing me for months and I just pushed him away! And he’s, like, so totally wonderful and giving…’ She let out a quite sob. ‘Why is it you never notice what you’ve got until it’s gone?’
~~~~~~
“Wow…” Amanda gasped as the pair finally parted, reluctantly, due to lack of oxygen. She brushed his lips with her thumb, smiling as he sighed blissfully at her touch.
“You’re lips aren’t furry…” She commented.
“A good thing, too.” He said. “Or I vould be forever coughing up furballs.”
Amanda pulled a face at the mental picture. “You sure know how to spoil a mood…you know that?” A mischievous smirk curled her lips. She arched a brow as she studied him.
“So…” She looked at him wickedly. “Is there any other parts of you that aren’t fuzzy?”
“You are just going to have to vait and see…” He said, baring his fangs in a wicked smirk of his own.