Disclaimer: The X-Men are © Marvel.
Claims: Julianna, William, Andria (Electra), Chris (Cyber), and other miscellaneous characters that you do not recognize are © me, do not use them without asking or dire consequences will follow.
A/N: I use a combination of comic and movie in my story My choice of pairings (whether you like them or not) are: Kitor (they're married) Romy (they're not) and Kuroro (they aren't either)
Kurt Wagner was seated, leaning against a wall, with his legs stretched out in front of him. 'I should be grading papers or helping mein students untangle their puzzles. I'm not though; I'm sitting here trying to hide from life. My cause is almost as hopeless as Jonah's. He ran from God. I run from life.' He was snapped out of his reverie when he heard Julianna calling him.
"Kurt? Kurt Wagner? Oh. There you are. My dad sent me to tell you that . . . " She stopped as he stared at her, with his odd eyes unfocused.
"Who is that?"
"It's Julianna. Your Anya."
"Nein, Liebchen, I know who you are. I meant 'Who is Kurt Wagner?'" Kurt turned his head so that he was staring at the opposite wall. His expression was distant as he continued, "Not literally, Mein Anya, but I do wonder, who am I?"
"You're a teacher of Geography. You're German, you are Nightcrawler of the X-Men. You're a teleporter, you are . . . "
"Nein. Nein. That is who you see me as. There are others who have called me things much worse, more evil, than 'Mutie.' I've been called a freak, inhuman. I was a gypsy, after that I was a side show attraction. I've been used like an old rag, to be discarded after use without a thought of the scars and pain it would cause.
"I've been worse things than a freak to be laughed at. I've been used as a thief, an assassin, a scapegoat who could be left for the police to catch." Kurt sighed heavily "I have become somewhat hard to the world. Ja, I have become adept at hiding it, but the constant smiles become rather tiring after awhile. I think that I have convinced most of the people here that my life is all joy. Even those of them who know my history."
Kurt laughed mirthlessly and his eyes became like chips of flint. "There is one thing you forgot to mention when you said who I am. I am the son of Mystique. Her blood flows in my veins."
Julie didn't like the direction Kurt's thoughts were headed. "Maybe it does, but her heart doesn't beat in your chest. Her heart is a heart of stone, but yours can be touched. That does mean you can be hurt but it also means that you can love. Are Kurt Wagner, teleporter and Mystique, shape shifter one and the same? No! They are two completely different people.
"You asked who you are. I can answer you. I can sum you up in three words, Kurt Wagner, hero."
"Hero? Me? I am afraid that you have the wrong man, Julianna."
"You don't have to win epic battles to be a hero. All you have to do is affect someone in a good way. You've supported me through a lot: my moving out, Dad's secret, and coming to the school.
"You've given me the push starts I've needed. You remember what Andi was like, don't you? The only reason she isn't still like that is because you sent me to talk to her."
Kurt shook his head, "I still do not think 'hero' is the right word to describe me. I'm not a planner like your father, or a fighter like Wolverine, or . . . Do you have a watch, Anya?" Julie showed him the time. "Mein BAMF! I would forget mein head if it was not attached! I've got to go to a meeting. Gruss Gott, Mein Anya."
With that Kurt teleported.
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BAMF! "Whoooooa! Ouch." Kurt cautiously picked himself up off the floor and helped Wolverine set the chair back up.
"Watch where yer jumpin', Elf," the Canadian growled.
"I am truly sorry, mein fruend. I thought I had allowed enough distance to avoid the furniture."
"Well y' obviously didn't. We were in the middle of a meetin' we need ta finish."
"You have a point, mon ami. One of few dis Cajun t'inks," Gambit called from across the room.
Before Wolverine could retort, Hank McCoy spoke up from his seat on the couch. "Actually, Mr. LeBeau, he always has six."
"Seven. You forgot the one on his head, Herr McCoy." Kurt quickly BAMFed to a windowsill that was well out of Logan's claw range.
Scott Summers looked around severely, "If you are all finished insulting a teammate, I need you to turn in the grades for this quarter."
Kurt almost fell from his perch, "They're due today!"
"Yes, Kurt. Don't you have them?"
"I only got the students' projects on Friday. I haven't gotten them all graded yet!"
Scott sighed, "They can be turned in on Wednesday if you don't have them today, but that is the absolute latest."
"Ach, Danke schön. I'll have them for you by then."
"Good. Now you should also have . . . "Scott trailed off then turned to the Beast. "Hank, I believe you know the requirements. Would you let the others know, please? Kurt, the professor wants to see us."
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Professor Charles Xavier looked up from his desk as the two men opened his door. "Ah, Scott, thank you for your promptness. You didn't, however, need to leave in the middle of your meeting."
Cyclops nodded, "We were almost finished, sir. What did you want to see us about? Your message wasn't exactly clear on that point."
"I have received information about a mutant convention in the city. I would like the two of you to go and listen in on the convention. I am not sure what it is about, so, Kurt, you need to wear your image inducer."
The German sighed, then agreed, "When do we leave, Herr Professor?"
"As early as possible tomorrow morning."
Kurt and Scott rose and left.
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Kurt opened his eyes and looked at his clock. Midnight, the mansion was asleep then what had awakened him? He was thinking about going back to sleep when he heard a noise down the hall. He got out of bed and went to the door; all thoughts of sleep fled as the noise came again, this time from the stairwell.
His curiosity piqued Kurt went down stairs. He reached the bottom just in time to see Cyclops enter the library. Nightcrawler watched from the doorway as his teammate made his way over to the person seated on the couch.
"Annie?"
Julianna looked up at Scott, "What is it, sir?"
"Why are you down here so late?" He asked, sitting down beside her.
"I had a bad dream and couldn't go back to sleep." She suddenly turned to him and buried her face in his chest. "Oh, Dad, do you have to go?"
"You and I both know the answer to that, princess. Kurt and I told the professor that we would. We don't have a choice." He answered, stroking his daughter's flame-colored hair.
"But you can't," Julie insisted, pulling out of her father's embrace. "Something awful will happen if you do. I'm not sure what, but I think it has something to do with Mystique and the brotherhood. I'm afraid someone might die. All I know is that you're walking into a well-laid trap."
Scott seemed at a loss for a reply so Kurt decided it was time to step in. He went over to the couch and rested his hand on Julianna's shoulder, "You don't need to worry, after all it was Professor Xavier himself who gave us the order. Nein, it couldn't have been a shapeshifter because he contacted your father mentally. Don't worry, Liebchen, I'll keep an eye on your father for you."
"But wh–"
"And I'll keep an eye on Kurt. Nothing will happen; Mystique wont be able to do anything to us." Scott murmured in his daughter's ear, Julianna looked anything but convinced.
Kurt tried again to allay her fears, "Your father is right. If we are both taking every precaution and watching our companion's step as well as our own Mystique won't have a prayer."
"But you don't understand," the young mutant protested.
Her father looked her straight in the eye as he responded, "You're right, I don't understand. What I know, though, is that it is late and we need to get up early." With that Scott stood, kissed his daughter's forehead, and left.
She watched him leave and then turned to Kurt, "He's wrong, you know. You could have said 'no',and you still could. You don't have to do this."
Kurt sat down in the spot that Scott had just vacated. "Anya, you know that, and I know that, but your father has a sense of duty that shows up at some of the worst times. This was not such an instance; I agreed with him."
Julianna seemed a little disappointed as she looked up and met Kurt's golden eyes. "Promise me that you won't let anything happen to him?"
Nightcrawler hesitated then shook his head, "Anya, please don't ask me to make promises I can't keep. You know nothing is guaranteed in this life we lead."
"Please . . ."
"Nein, I cannot."
"All right," Julianna sighed, resignedly, "Kurt, this is off subject and I can't explain it, but about that conversation we had earlier, I think you'll find your answers while you're gone."Kurt looked at the young shapeshifter with an upraised eyebrow. Julianna shrugged then opened her mouth to say something else, but Kurt put a finger to her lips.
"Shh. I asked you not to require promises from me that I am incapable of, no arguments."
Jules looked away and stood up. When she turned back to Kurt, she was all formality, "Goodnight, Mr. Wagner."
"Julie . . . I'm sorry"
Her expression changed fractionally, "No, I was out of line. Goodnight," and with that she left.
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Julianna woke up and looked at her clock. It read eight A.M.. She sprang from her bed, noticing that her roommate was already up. As she was gathering her clothes there was a knock on the door. "Come in," Andria entered. "Oh. Andi, have my dad and Kurt left yet?"
Andi nodded, "They left 'bout an hour ago."
Julie's face fell, "Dang I really wanted to talk to them."
Andi reached into her pocket and pulled out a slip of paper, "Before Ah forgit, Jules, Mr. Wagner wanted me t' give y' this."
Julie took the paper, from her best friend, and unfolded it. On it were two words, "I promise."
Meadowlark4491: Thank you for reading this. I will have chapter two up ASAP. Please review, constructive criticism welcomed, flames will be ignored. Thank you again.