A/N: I am so glad all you guys are enjoying this! I want to give special thanks to StawberryMnM, Knightrunner, and Death For One for their wonderful reviews!
As before, dedicated my Kurt. May he rise again from the ashes of his demise, and warm al of our heart with his humor and wit!
Author: Yin
Story: Death Has No Hold
Chapter Two: How To Grieve
Amanda didn't know how much time had passed. All she knew was that her heart was crushed, her mind bewildered. She didn't know how to cope.
But then the unimaginable happened. An older couple burst from the X-Jet's garage. Their faces were familiar, their German accents heavy. They were, in no doubt whatsoever, Kurt's parents.
"Mein Baby! Mein Baby Sohn!" The woman bawled. "Mein Junge...Mein klein Junge..." Her eyes were swollen, her voice hoarse from screaming out at God. "Let me see him. Please!"
Hank shook his head no. "It would not be wise at this time. You must understand."
"Nein! He ist my son. Mine, and mine only. I must see him!" Sophia Wagner exclaimed.
Hank sighed. There was no arguing with a mother who has suffered such a great loss. He gestured for her and her husband to come, of which they did without a single moment's hesitation.
Amanda knew it was probably wrong, but she followed them.
In the few, minimal hours that had passed since the shooting, Kurt's normally dark indigo fur had changed. It was lighter, a menacing grey blue. It was unnatural.
Sophia begged for it not to be true. This wasn't the end, it just couldn't be. Her son was going to be safe in America, safe from monsters who would do things like this.
He wasn't supposed to be murdered.
Kurt's father, Christian, stood in silence. He had raised the blue boy since he was just a newborn. That was practically his flesh and blood, his only child. Just because they did not share the same genes did not mean that Kurt was any less his son. Perhaps it made him more so.
But now he was just...just gone. They had sent him away in hopes that he would he happy, that he would be protected from those who did not understand.
Professor Charles Xavier had failed. He had failed in his promise to them, he had failed Kurt. But there was no going back, no changing the past. No one to really blame, except for the butcher who had done this.
Amanda could tell by Christian's body movement that he couldn't make up his mind. Was he enraged? Was he grieving? He didn't know. His mood kept shifting, from anguish to anger, from suffering to fury.
And like Christian, Amanda also tore at her feelings. One second she was she was in distraught, in disbelief, the next, she was livid. Why did Kurt have to leave them? Why didn't he just teleport away? It would have been quick and easy- just a though and BAMF! they would have been in the clear. Did he have a death wish?
Things then only went from bad to worse.
In the most unexpected move ever, someone else came to pay her respects. Someone whom Kurt hardly knew, yet wished to. Someone who he was terrified of, yet yearned to understand.
Her name was Raven Darkholme.
In a way, she disgusted Amanda. She made her want to spit. After all this time, now she showed up? Now, when she couldn't apologize to Kurt?
But then...there was sadness etched across the blue lady's face. A thought of a wish that never bloomed.
Amanda watched as Kurt's foster sister, Rogue, run up their mother. Together, the two women cried, and comforted one another. It didn't matter anymore which side you were on, good or evil, one of their own was dead.
It finally happened. After all this time. Through thick and thin, through the Brotherhood and Magneto, the Sentinels, and Apocalypse, now there was a demise. There had been so many close calls, but no losses. Nothing quite like this.
Until now.
One random event. One anti-mutant scumabg. One gun. One bullet. One death.
Kurt's death.
Amanda didn't remember falling asleep, but then, she must have for her to be able to wake. And entire day had passed, twenty four entire hours.
It seemed as an eternity.
The ones that were up were preparing. Kurt's funeral, such a grisly time, was to be held tomorrow. He would not be cremated, as he would not have wanted to be burned. Neither would they have a viewing, as Kurt never like being gawked at.
Amanda's stomach growled. She realized she hadn't eaten since yesterday morning at breakfast with Kurt, but she did not wish to eat. She was still trying to absorb the gruesome fact.
Walking into the rec room, Amanda was stunned to see a beautiful coffin, if one as such could be beautiful. It was already tightly sealed, and Amanda knew now where Kurt lay. She couldn't bear it.
Where would he go? Heaven or hell? Bliss or punishment?
Was there really such a place as Purgatory? Would Kurt just wind up there? But that just wouldn't be fair! Even if life wasn't fair, or death, why couldn't afterlife be?
Amanda had to leave. She could not be in the same room as Kurt, not like this. Not with him locked up like he was in trouble, not all alone. She had to find someone else, someone to help her.
The living room. People should be there. That would make sense. Of course it would.
And she was right. All of her Kurt's family and closest friends were there. They were trying to comfort one another, gathered together in his memory.
Like Amanda, they all were exhausted, bags under their eyes. They either hadn't slept or didn't sleep very well. But how could you, when one that you had loved been ripped from your grasp?
There was one person missing from the group. Mystique was unaccounted for, disappeared doing who knew what. She didn't even have enough heart to stand by her daughter, adopted or otherwise, it didn't matter. She wasn't there.
"You..." Christian spoke. "You vere Kurt's Leibchen, no?"
Amanda just nodded. She told herself not to cry, not to cry. She had to remain strong.
Sophia looked up. "Ms. Sefton...Amanda...danke. You...you made..." The older woman's bottom lip quivered. Tears dripped down her face, and she shook. "You made our Kurt very happy. Thank you for zat."
Amanda wrapped her arms around Sophia. They were practically family, both connected to Kurt in ways that no other woman had been. His mother and his love, meeting officially for the first time, brought together through the passing of the one they both cared for.
If Kurt could only see them now. He would laugh at their appearances. Rogue's mascara was running, some dried from the day before. Kitty had tissues everywhere, and Jean's eyes were swollen and puffy.
Amanda knew she wasn't faring any better than the rest of them. She hadn't seen her reflection, but she knew she was a sight. Kurt would be teasing her right now. She could almost hear his voice now, echoing in the wind.
"Ach, Leibling! Look at yourself!" He wiped away her tears, and kissed her. "There's nothing to cry about. Mein Gott, see? You do look ridiculous!" His grinned in his goofy way, his fangs flashing. His arms went around her waist, and for a moment Amanda believed it was real.
"Amanda?" Someone called her name, shaking her out of her dream, back into the stark reality. It was Jean.
Amanda looked up. Why did this have to happen? Why to them? Why to her? Why to Kurt?
Even with the company, Amanda felt indifferent. She couldn't be here either. She had to go. Why couldn't she just make up her mind?
Why did she have so many questions?
Getting up, Amanda made her way to the kitchen. As she walked past the rec room once more, a noise startled her.
She peered into the doorway. The room served as a memorial of sorts until tomorrow. It was supposed to hold Kurt, in his casket.
Except...he wasn't in his coffin. The lid was wide open, and the box was empty.
Instead of being where he belonged, Kurt was in the malicious blue claws of his psychotic mother. She ran her nails through his hair, coddling him as if he were an infant.
Amanda was speechless. How dare this woman desecrate Kurt like this? Why couldn't she just let him rest in peace?
And yet...Raven was acting as if these were the last moments with her son. She was mourning, and weeping, but she was silent. She uttered not a sound, as so she would not be caught.
Standing, she scooped up her boy. The child she longed to get to know, the one she never had a chance to.
But the motherly look was gone. It was replaced by determination, and that one sidedness blocked her view of her spy.
Amanda watched in horror as Raven opened a suitcase. It was rather large, and bulky, but what she did next was unforgivable.
Placing Kurt inside the suitcase, Raven folded him up, and zipped the bag shut tight. She stood it up, and went to wheel him away.
It was then that Amanda made herself present. She said nothing, but just stepped into the room. This type of crime would not be allowed. She would not just stand by and let Kurt be taken away. She would protect him.
Raven noticed her in an instant. "You better stay out of my way girl, and keep quiet," It was a threat if Amanda ever heard one.
Amanda refused to move. She's stand here all day if she had to.
"See here now," The woman snarled. She paused, her countenance softening a little. "Amanda, right?"
Amanda showed no sign of recognition to the name. She wouldn't give Raven that pleasure.
"Okay. Whatever you name is. I know you love Kurt. I also love him, no matter hard that is to believe. That is why I must take him. You do not understand child. I know people, geniuses that would make your little head fall off those girly shoulders. Time is ticking, and I have to go. Now move."
Behind that gruff, assassin voice, Amanda sensed a stressed, rushed tone. Time really was of the essence, before it was to late.
But to late for what? She was clearly taking Kurt somewhere, to someone, but why? For him to be experimented on like some lab rat?
"Child, I promise to return Kurt to you soon. And if you keep you mouth shut, I promise he won't be any worse for wear," Raven was nearly pleading with her. Much longer, and the the skilled devil lady would have to take down her opponent.
For whatever reason, Amanda felt obliged to step aside., and let Raven pass. Yes, she had just dumped her son's corpse into a box, and yes, she planned on delivering it to some scientist or doctor. But...but yet there was something else, something beyond what was being said. A hidden secret that just might throw everything logical Amanda knew upside down.
And so, without another word, Amanda backed off. She didn't entirely know why, but all her questions would be answered soon enough. That she sure of.
Raven almost thanked Amanda, but instead hastened away. There would be time for explanations later.
Amanda's eyes glazed over as she pondered what she had just done. It was a felony, a sin. She was a grave robber.
But it was to late now. Mother and son were gone, to who knew where. Amanda wondered if Mystique would keep her word. Of course she wouldn't, she was a mercenary. The never kept their word.
So here she was. Standing, motionless, alone.
Without Kurt.
A/N: So what do you guys think? What is Raven doing? Tell me what you think!