Author's Note:

Well, here's the jump in time I warned you about. This one-shot doesn't take place during any particular episode, so I guess it can be considered AU, but one thing is for certain and that is that Tabitha's with the X-Men, and so are most of the New Mutants.

I don't play, nor do I know how, American football, so my knowledge of the game is pure Wikipedia. Same goes for the German - I'm trusting Google translator.

I didn't think I'd be updating so soon, but I was impatient. xD
Anyway, here it is. The next three chapters are around the corner, but if at any time you have any ideas for one-shots, I'd love to hear them.

Disclaimer: X-men and characters I own not.

Football

"So, are we clear on the rules?" queried Beast, glancing at both teams.

"Yes," came the unanimous reply.

"All right then. The end zones are between those two trees, and those two trees." Beast pointed to the trees in question, and the heads of the students followed his finger. While it wasn't perfect, these trees and the grassy clearing would have to do. Sure, the students could have used the school's football field for a game of football, but this wasn't just ordinary football. "I won't set any sidelines, but, well, we'll see how that works out."

As he said this, Beast rubbed the back of his neck, recalling other sports the mutants had tried to play and added their variations of rules to. The younger students often got overzealous with these games and, needless to say, the terrain was hardly ever left undamaged. He had to admire whoever kept the grounds in such good shape in spite of the odds - in fact, he was going to find out who and send them a box of chocolates.

Unfortunately, football could be just the activity to finally demolish the mansion. If it did, he would blame it on Wolverine - he was the one who suggested that Beast's classes were too lenient and that they do something more serious. Football with mutant powers was the compromise, and Wolverine seemed to accept the idea. In fact, he ordered that, instead of their usual Danger Room session, the older mutants would join in. They all did.

Smiling to himself, Beast produced a coin from his pocket and held it up in front of the crowd of students. "So, team captains, step forwards."

Kurt took a step from his team members, an eager glint in his eyes. Scott, from the other team, moved forward as well, an equally determined expression visible through his sunglasses. They began to glare at each other and soon found themselves in each others faces.

"You're going down, Kurt," Scott said, jabbing a finger into Kurt's chest.

"In your dreams," Kurt riposted, ignoring the finger. "Wait, no, not even zere."

Beast raised his brow at the exchange but decided to go on before it continued any further. He flipped the coin - a feat more difficult than he remembered it, given his larger hands - and caught it in one palm and covered it with the other. "So... Kurt. What's it going to be?"

The furry mutant glanced back at his tail, swishing with excitement, and answered with a fanged grin, "Tails."

Beast uncovered the coin. "Tails it is," he declared, receiving a few cheers from Kurt's side and a few groans from Scott's. "Do you want to kick off or receive?"

"Receive."

"All right, get in your positions and huddle," Beast announced, picking up the football from beside his feet and tossing it to Scott. "And remember... let's try to keep everyone in one piece."

"Yes, Mr McCoy," the class droned. Beast rolled his eyes at the obvious irritation towards his dislike of violence. For once, he thought as he stepped away from what was sure to become a war zone, he agreed with Logan: 'kids...'

Kurt glanced at Scott's team as they made their way to the other side of the field, taking note of each member: Rahne, Kitty, Rogue, Roberto, Sam, and Ray. Out of these, Kitty was probably the most threatening - with her phasing, she could score a touchdown without breaking a sweat.

Kurt chuckled to himself when he realized Scott was probably saying the same thing about him. 'Ah, just let them try keep the ball away from me,' he thought with a confident grin.

Still grinning, he turned to his team - Amara, Bobby, Jamie, Jubilee, Evan, and Tabitha - and they huddled together, looking at him expectantly.

"Okay," started Kurt, leaning in to the circle of heads. "Zis is vhat ve're going to do..."

Hank blew the whistle. "Get ready to start!" he called, standing a safe distance away. The teams got into their respective positions.

As per the plan, Kurt and Evan were close to each other and far in front of the kicker, which turned out to be Scott. No surprises there. The rest of the team was scattered around, ready to defend.

Hank blew the whistle one more time. Scott took a few steps back, ran forwards, and kicked the ball.

It flew high and a little to the right, but that was no problem. Noticing the opposing team already springing into action, Kurt touched Evan on the shoulder and in a BAMF they reappeared exactly where the ball was going to land.

"Go, Evan," Kurt whispered, and teleported away. Evan caught the ball and started sprinting forwards.

"Evan's got the ball!" Scott exclaimed, as though startled, and Roberto, Sam, and Ray converged on Spyke.

"Don't worry, I've got him," Sam smirked, and, with a running jump, accelerated into cannonball mode. However, instead of colliding with the intended target, he vaguely perceived a puff of smoke before he found himself colliding into a tree.

In the signature BAMF and crimson cloud, Ray and Roberto similarly found themselves on the opposite sides of the field.

Kurt couldn't help himself. "Better luck next time," he said with a wink before 'porting back to Evan.

Surprisingly, the last line of Scott's defense wasn't trying very hard. Rogue was just standing there, and Kitty was nowhere to be seen. Evan already surpassed Rahne, so she was out of the picture for now, but Scott–

Kurt gulped when he saw him reaching for his visor. In a BAMF, Kurt reappeared behind him, but before he could make contact to 'port him away, Kurt was suddenly tackled and got a faceful of grass.

"Ha! Gotcha!"

"Kätzchen!" he yelped, looking up at the girl who was currently pinning him to the ground, a smirk on her face. Forcing himself away from the distraction, he turned his attention back to Scott, who was about to fire when a well aimed blast from Tabitha knocked him off his feet. Evan ran past him.

Briefly sighing with relief, Kurt turned back to Kitty. "Sorry Kätzchen, duty calls."

With that, he 'ported into midair, taking her with him, then 'ported back to Evan's side once he was free of her. However, he needn't have worried - with a victorious yell, Evan crossed the touchdown line and threw the ball down. Raising his hands up in the air, he and Kurt high-fived before the rest of the team ran over, cheering and taunting Scott's on the way.

Kurt noticed Rogue standing with crossed arms, huffing something along the lines of "this isn't fair", and with a flick of his tail, he decided to join in on the fun.

BAMF!

"Meine Schwester, vhat are you zinking, standing around and doing nozing?" the blue mutant gibed, appearing next to her and resting an arm on her shoulder.

Rogue turned to him with a sour expression. "Ah think your teleporting around is cheating."

"Aw, Rogue," Kurt chided, wagging his finger and lowering his voice as if he were talking to a child, "no need to be a sore loser. I can let you vin, if you vant."

Rogue smiled, and he thought it was at his antics. "Nah, but there is something else you can do." She reached out with a hand as if to stroke his face, and for a moment he wanted her to - until he realized her hand wasn't gloved.

He was too late - he felt her smooth palm against his fur and went rigid, his knees going weak. For a moment he felt as though his mind were shut out from his own body, and then it was over. When he recovered, he found himself doubled over, panting.

"Danke, mein Bruder," he heard Rogue say, and she raised his chin with her other hand and gave him a rather annoying smile before disappearing with a BAMF.

He saw her reappear next to Scott, who gave her an approving look and then turned to Kurt smugly.

Kurt clenched his fists and growled. "All right, ze game is on."