Author's Note: After seeing X2 twice, I have been eaten alive by
Nightcrawler fandom. I've launched myself into a story that will probably
end up pretty long, which I will post as soon as I come up with a title for
it. But in the meantime, you get this.
The Test
Kurt Wagner had never experienced cold like this, even in the harshest winters in his homeland. It felt like a thousand needles piercing every part of his body. He could have simply teleported away-if he had gotten into this room safely, getting out shouldn't be difficult-but he would not allow himself to. He would not leave Storm to face this enemy alone...and moreover, he would not allow himself to fail this test.
In difficult times, Kurt often found the strength to endure by thinking of his hardships as a test from God. And as he thought about it now, trying to focus his mind on anything but the cold, he knew why he was being tested now.
Perhaps the hardships he had been experiencing lately had all been for a reason. Having to leave the circus, the only place he had ever known acceptance and kindness...Stryker's mind control...his failed attack on the President-and thank God he had failed...perhaps the purpose of it all had been for the X-Men to find him. Perhaps his purpose in life, the goal he'd always been moving toward without knowing it, was to be among them. To be one of them, if that was possible.
He could help them, he knew he could. Their own gifts were wonderful, but none of them could do what he could, and his abilities had already helped them three times. Kurt had never been much of a fighter, but their cause was worth fighting for, and although he had only been among the X-Men for a short time, he wanted to stay with them and help them however he could.
He also had a more selfish motivation for wanting to be among them-they were perhaps the only group of people in the world who could truly understand and accept him, as even his friends in the circus had never been able to. He wanted to be a part of them...to belong with them.
But before he could achieve either one of those goals, he must prove himself worthy. He must pass this test.
Kurt didn't know how much longer he could endure this. He tried to clasp his hands together-whether in prayer or an attempt to warm them, he wasn't sure-and he could not, they were trembling so badly.
And then, just when it seemed unendurable, the cold stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The power of the mutant that had controlled Kurt's mind could not hold out any longer against Storm's control over the forces of nature. With a painful scream that almost made him pity her, forgetting that she was a mere illusion, the child they had been facing vanished.
Still shivering, silently offering thankful prayers, Kurt struggled to his feet, determined to help Storm face whatever challenge would come next.
He had passed the test.
A.N: You know the drill...
The Test
Kurt Wagner had never experienced cold like this, even in the harshest winters in his homeland. It felt like a thousand needles piercing every part of his body. He could have simply teleported away-if he had gotten into this room safely, getting out shouldn't be difficult-but he would not allow himself to. He would not leave Storm to face this enemy alone...and moreover, he would not allow himself to fail this test.
In difficult times, Kurt often found the strength to endure by thinking of his hardships as a test from God. And as he thought about it now, trying to focus his mind on anything but the cold, he knew why he was being tested now.
Perhaps the hardships he had been experiencing lately had all been for a reason. Having to leave the circus, the only place he had ever known acceptance and kindness...Stryker's mind control...his failed attack on the President-and thank God he had failed...perhaps the purpose of it all had been for the X-Men to find him. Perhaps his purpose in life, the goal he'd always been moving toward without knowing it, was to be among them. To be one of them, if that was possible.
He could help them, he knew he could. Their own gifts were wonderful, but none of them could do what he could, and his abilities had already helped them three times. Kurt had never been much of a fighter, but their cause was worth fighting for, and although he had only been among the X-Men for a short time, he wanted to stay with them and help them however he could.
He also had a more selfish motivation for wanting to be among them-they were perhaps the only group of people in the world who could truly understand and accept him, as even his friends in the circus had never been able to. He wanted to be a part of them...to belong with them.
But before he could achieve either one of those goals, he must prove himself worthy. He must pass this test.
Kurt didn't know how much longer he could endure this. He tried to clasp his hands together-whether in prayer or an attempt to warm them, he wasn't sure-and he could not, they were trembling so badly.
And then, just when it seemed unendurable, the cold stopped as suddenly as it had begun. The power of the mutant that had controlled Kurt's mind could not hold out any longer against Storm's control over the forces of nature. With a painful scream that almost made him pity her, forgetting that she was a mere illusion, the child they had been facing vanished.
Still shivering, silently offering thankful prayers, Kurt struggled to his feet, determined to help Storm face whatever challenge would come next.
He had passed the test.
A.N: You know the drill...