Chapter 2--The Guardian

The next morning the X-Men team was gathered around the kitchen and eating their breakfast. Scott Summers, the team leader, was also busy organizing that day's training, but Kurt was objectional.

"They just got promoted yesterday. Can't you give them a break."

"Listen Kurt, you said it last night, they've joined the big dogs. No more kid stuff."

"Scott, lighten up." Jean scolded. "Could you at least wait until nightfall when Brook can participate? She's a part of this team now too."

"I know that, it was going to be a defensive training exercise."

"Defensive or offensive, the slightest mistake could really hurt her. Have you forgot what happened to her when she visited her brother--"

"Jean, please, don't remind me. I still have nightmares." Kurt shuddered, but Jean rolled her eyes.

"Fine. Where is Brook anyway? She's been gone a lot, these past few days. It's not like her."

"She's probably still asleep." Jean responded.

"I'll go wake her," when Kurt didn't get up to leave Scott knew exactly what he was about to do.

"Kurt no teleporting--" but already, Kurt had disappeared leaving a puff of smoke and the smell of brimstone behind. "--At the breakfast table. Why do I even bother?" Scott reached over to pour the maple syrup on his pancakes, enfumed.

A millisecond later Kurt was outside Brook's door. He knocked on it once and called out her name. There wasn't an answer, so he tried again, a little louder this time. Brook liked to be out late sometimes and was a deep sleeper, but ever since she started hanging with Warren, she slept more in the daytime from being out all the time. "I could get into so much trouble for this." Kurt looked up and down the hall to see if anyone was coming, then went into her room.

When he got inside he was flabbergasted of all the books she had. It was like a miniature library! He got closer to the bookshelf and saw an array of title like 'A Tale of Two Cities,' 'Heart of Darkness' and even 'Moby Dick.' Then he looked on her nightstand and there laid a stack of CDs. Mostly pop music, but how could it not be, as she was a total teenybopper. Kurt took a look at the rest of her room, but that's just it! He was looking for her not snooping through her things.

All of a sudden he heard something, someone was coming. He had to get out quick and there was only one way he could think of--

"Gosh Kurt--" he had knocked over Rogue when he teleported into the kitchen. "Watch where ya portin'."

"Sorry Rogue." He helped her off the floor. "I was just looking for--Brook!" He shouted and accidentally let go of Rogue's hand. "Sorry."

"Nevah mind, Ah can get myself up." She got up and walked away steamed.

"Where were you?" He asked.

"I was out."

"Why?"

"Because I felt like going for a jog. I didn't--"

"Was anyone else with you?" He asked before she could finish.

"No, what does that matter?" She asked her question.

"People know what we are and I'd-- I mean we'd feel safe if we played the buddy system."

"Okay, I'm sorry. I just needed a little time to myself."

After that Kurt calmed down and they were joined by Kitty and Piotr Rasputin.

"Hey Brook, are you doing anything later." Brook looked at Kurt.

"Well, Kurt and I were going to the Danger Room and get a lesson out of Logan."

"I just met up with Scott and he said we weren't training until tonight. Are you sure you want double duty training?" Brook thought for a moment and looked at Kurt.

"I guess you're right. What'd you have in mind instead?"

"Well, Piotr was just telling me about a new art gallery that just opened."

"Really? Any pieces from a certain artist I may know?" Brook looked at Piotr and he just laughed.

"No, my work is too precious for me to just sell them."

"Oh come on, are you an artist or not? I think your paintings could make big bucks one day." Piotr laughed again.

As they were talking Kurt felt left out. Brook was going to look at art with them which meant his plans with her were canceled. He slowly started to depart from them. "Well, come on Kurt. It's not going to be any fun without you." Brook looked at Piotr, "Sorry Pete, I didn't mean it that way."

So they all took a ride in the jeep into the city. It was just half past noon when they got to the art gallery; a large sign out front gave directions as to where to park.

"I don't know about you guys, but I'm getting a bad vibe here." Kitty admitted.

"You're not the only one." Brook looked suspiciously around. The man that Piotr was paying had on dark sunglasses and tattoos along both his arms.

"Cool it, don't look suspicious." Kurt whispered.

"Tell that to him," Brook latched on to Kurt's arm for comfort as Kitty did the same with Piotr when he came back. "Good, now we can get inside." The group started walking away, but just before Brook took another look at the guy in the sunglasses.

"These paintings over here look very nice." Piotr lead everyone over to a distinct portrait of a deranged looking man.

"This is art." Kurt said with mild distaste.

"It is a style of Van Gough." Piotr explained.

"That explains it."

"I think it looks really good." Kurt gave a glance at Brook. "No really, it poses a . . .how do you say . . .emotion." Brook couldn't really think of a good word, but tried her best.

"Ok, I think we've seen enough of this one--"

"Yeah, enough to give me, yet more nightmares." Kurt said under his breath.

"--How about we check that one over there?" Kitty pointed where a man in a coat and hat already was.

They all scuttled across the room and gave their take on a little less frightening painting. "Now this is a good painting." Kurt admitted, while admiring the lakeside canvas.

"It says here, it was painted by Blair Sinclair." Brook read off the name.

"Look over there!" Kitty said excited to Piotr, and pulled him away while Kurt and Brook were still looking at the painting.

"This reminds me of home." Brook said softly. Kurt gave his attention to her and asked,

"Didn't you live in Manhattan?"

"True, but our apartment has a really good view of the Hudson River." She slowly walked to the next painting, and Kurt followed her.

The man in the coat and hat that was standing next to them just moments ago followed with them to the next picture.

All the while Kitty, from across the room saw this man and felt the need to interrupt Piotr from his little art lecture.

"Do you see that guy over there?" Piotr looked, now the man was standing behin Brook.

"What about him?"

"Doesn't he look a bit suspicious to you?"

"Katya, this is an art gallery. People are going to wander around and stare for a long period of time at the paintings." Piotr explained.

"No, but look!" Kitty said, pulling on his arm. "Look, he's following them." Brook and Kurt wandered to yet another painting and had the man in the coat and hat. "And what kind of person would wear a hat indoors?"

"Now that you mention it--" Piotr paused. "Maybe they would like to get some lunch." But Kitty knew that was code for regrouping.

Meanwhile, Kurt's stomach started to growl. "I'm getting hungry."

"Didn't you have breakfast?" Brook looked at him, not noticing the man behind her.

"Barely, I didn't get to finish it becasue I went looking for you."

"You didn't go in my room again did you?" She asked in a more heated tone.

"Of course not." He was lying, but she wouldn't tell the professor anyway. Besides, Charles knew what went on in the school anyway.

"Hey, you guys want to get a bite to eat?" Kitty showed up out of nowhere.

"You must be psychic. I was just telling Brook I was hungry." Kurt saw the man in the coat and hat walking to the exit and they all followed on the way out.

"So, did you see anything you liked?" Piotr asked.

"The last one we saw looked like a kid drew it." Kurt reflected.

"A very talented kid." Brook giggled.

They were right outside the garage parking lot when Kitty got a chill down her spine, like a feeling that someone was following them. "Katya, what's wrong?" Piotr whispered as he was getting out his keys. Slowly Kitty turned her head, looking over her shoulder and there stood the man in the coat and hat. Kurt and Brook were ahead of them, so they hadn't noticed they'd stopped. "Just keep moving," Piotr urged Kitty ahead of him.

When they finally got to the jeep Brook and Kurt were standing there waiting. "What's going on, you guys are acting really strange."

"Nothing's wrong," Kitty said in a high pitched voice. "We should get going now." Kitty opened the car door, as Brook was staring at the garage entrance. There was a man.

"I'm getting that bad vibe again." Piotr turned and saw the mysterious stranger disappear from sight.

"We better move." Piotr commanded and off they went.