Art lessons: Victor loved them. That's not to say he was any good at art; while others played around with oil paints and canvas he took out the pens and doodled aimlessly through his work book. Some of the work held merit, but for the most part it was just that: doodles. He got by in lessons by drawing concept pieces…even if they weren't strictly on the subject he'd been given.
Now Science on the other hand, that was a drag. The teacher droned on and on in monotone about the behaviour of particles and waveforms. Victor contemplated ripping open a portal right there and then; they'd all get a taste of their precious molecular decay.
He cursed the fact Kurt was a year below him; he was smart enough to keep up, and he'd enjoy his lessons a lot more with his fuzzy blue friend around. It finally occurred to him that his time was being wasted, and he excused himself to the bathroom. Safely locked away in the cubicle, he opened a portal in the wall and poked his head though.
Kurt hated the workshop. Too much dust and a sensitive nose…go figure. His piece of work had just fallen apart so he excused himself to the storeroom to gather replacement materials. He poked around the dusty shelves for the material he needed, not noticing the door as it swung shut behind him. He jumped out of his skin, though, when it slammed to and the lock flicked shut.
"Vas ist das…" Kurt wondered, staring at the lock. The single light bulb flickered, and Kurt was sure he could see something there…something moving slightly. He let out a startled cry when he felt something stroking his hair from behind, and heard the soft chuckle that came from nowhere.
"Zis is not funny Victor." Kurt said, slightly annoyed. The older teen appeared beside him, looking very amused.
"Yes it is…your face was a picture."
"Vhat are you doing here?" Kurt asked, resuming his search.
"Got bored of science…felt like sneaking out."
"Vell, I have work to do…or I vould if I could find za stupid…what?" Kurt asked, annoyed at Victors persistent laughing.
"Nothing…you're looking for the plywood right?"
"Ja…"
"Top shelf, on the left behind the fake Oak."
"Oh, thanks…You didn't come down here just to help me find wood though, did you?" Kurt said, raising an eyebrow.
"Well I didn't know you were going to be looking for wood…I was just going to stand around and watch you work." Victor said, leaning against a shelf.
"Vell…vhatever vorks for you."
"Yeah…hay, you like Chinese food right?"
"Ja…vhy?"
"Oh nothing, I just booked us a table at Xen's for tonight."
"Another date?"
"If you want to call it that….I call it going out for dinner."
"Xen's….isn't zat za new place?"
"Yeah…just don't ask how I got the reservation"
"…"
"…"
"I should probably get back to vork…"
"Yeah…I should get back to class…"
Victor unlocked the door and opened a portal. He was about to step through when Kurt pulled him back. Kurt couldn't really see him, but his hands felt along the arm, shoulder and neck, finding Victors face. He gave him a quick kiss, stroking the older teens jaw before letting him go. The blurry image of Victor was smiling as he stepped through and the portal closed. Kurt grabbed at the plank of wood he needed and made his way back to class.
It wasn't a simple case of jeans and muscle-shirts, this wasn't the movies, and Kurt was tired of skirting round his own issues. Victor had stopped being his friend the moment Kurt woke up to that demon looming over him…he'd lost that friendship the moment Kurt learned just what Victor had done to save his life. He'd stopped being a friend the moment he placed his lips against Kurt's own.
Kurt didn't know what Victor was to him any more, but you don't make out with friends under a tree in the park. You don't kiss them in storerooms. You don't go to movies and dinner and God knows what else with them. A friend isn't a friend when he's all you think about. No…Victor was more than a friend, that much was clear. You don't stand in front of a mirror, staring at your own reflection, praying to please the person heading down the hall.
Kurt had been shopping right after school. Granted, the shop's he'd visited weren't the kind he'd usually go in, but…needs must want. So he stood before the mirror, paper shop bags littered around, his wallet lighter than ever, adjusting everything that didn't quite fall into place. He'd already programmed the new shoes into his inducer; the new, steel heeled Mexican boots. The rest of the clothing…well, Kurt liked his new look. The lace-up leather trousers with the white stitching, the fitted white shirt, tucked in behind the modest black belt buckle, the tight leather waistcoat that finished the deal off: something told him the ensable would have looked right at home in any gay-bar but frankly he didnt care, he'd seen Victor's wardrobe and he wanted to impress. He was going to go for a jacket but he didn't want to seem too formal, even if the restaurant was the most select in the city. He didn't want to ask how much the side salad would cost…
Victor had slipped into his own selection of clothes in a separate room. Why Kurt had insisted was beyond him, but he figured the blue teen had a good reason. He'd adjusted his tie, retied it, and ripped it off. He'd dusted off his silver-buckle chaps, polished them; polished the buckle of his belt and the metal pendent round his neck. He slipped on the square, green tinted glasses. He made sure his black shirt was lint free. He considered wearing his gloves but decided against his. He was washed, brushed and preened…everything for the blue teen a few rooms away. Checking his watch, Victor closed the door behind him and made his way to the bottom of the stairs. Someone was already there, but it wasn't Kurt. It was Rogue. Rogue with Logan.
"Headin' out again Kid?" Logan asked, leaning against the marble banister end.
"Yeah, actually I am." Victor said, checking his watch.
"Jean's stalling Kurt…we need to have a little chat." Rogue said, smiling slightly, like there was some private joke going on.
"What do you…?"
"I told you we weren't blind Kid. The whole Institute knows about you and the Elf." Logan said. Victor raised an eyebrow challengingly.
"And just what does the whole Institute know?" he asked.
"You and my brother…" Rogue answered.
"What about us?"
"You're dating." Logan said.
"I wouldn't call it that…" Victor shrugged.
"Kurt would." Rogue said. Victor found himself trapped in the headlights. He didn't know Kurt's thoughts on what they where doing…what was this all to the blue teen?
"…Kurt's just sorting out some issues." Victor said, crossing his arms.
"Vic…you're the issue. Kurt likes you."
"Y'all saved his life…since then I've watched him change faster than Superman in a phone booth."
"…Everyone changes." Victor said quietly. He wasn't feeling too comfortable with the situation.
"For what it's worth, the Elf is happier then he's ever been." Logan added.
"All he's waitin' for is you. Tell him how you feel and he'll tell you the same thing, if not more." Rogue said.
Victor was trying to take it in. Trying to process what was being said to him.
"You need it spelling out to you Kid?"
"I…I think I might." Victor stammered. Logan was smirking at him.
"Kurt's fallen for you Kid, fallen in a big way. Personally I don't know what he's making such a fuss about but…to each his own."
"Jean and Scott should he finished with Kurt by now…have a good night, okay? And look after my brother…love isn't something he ever expected to find, especially like this."
Kurt had appeared at the top of the staircase, having been given a rather strange lecture by Jean about following his heart and some other confusing stuff. Victor was at the bottom of the stairs, talking with Rogue and Logan. He looked somewhat speechless. Kurt made his way down cautiously…something was going on but he couldn't figure out what. Rogue was smiling at him, Logan was looking smug about something, and Victor…Victor was staring at him like he'd seen paradise. Scott and Jean had appeared behind him on the landing and it all clicked. Scott and Jean, Logan and Rogue…they all knew. They all knew and they where all rooting him on.
"…Everyone's in on this, aren't they?" Victor asked, looking to Rogue. She nodded, smirking in a knowing way.
"I told you we'd be happy for you Kid. You think after everything we've all been through, the slightest change is gonna faze us? So long as you don't have sex in the kitchen, I'm fine with it." Logan said, still smirking. Kurt had now made his way down, looking somewhat confused.
"You okay Elf?" Logan asked, looking to the blue teen.
"Ja…I vas just heading out…" Kurt said, looking from Logan to Rogue to Victor.
"That so huh? Well Vic here was just on his way out…Kid, you wanna give the Elf a lift?"
"Er…yeah, sure. Keys by the door?"
Logan nodded.
Kurt and Victor headed out, both looking confused as hell. Jean and Scott joined Logan and Rogue by the doors, watching them go.
"We taking bets?" Logan asked.
"I've got fifty dollars that says Vic does the asking." Scott said.
"You're on Boy Scout."
"You think Kurt will take that step?" Jean asked Logan.
"The kid's sure got experience…but he's goin' at Kurt's pace. He'll wait."
The motorbike was waiting for them, polished and ready to go. Kurt had been silent through the short walk to the garage, and Victor was too deep in thought to say anything. It was only when they got on the bike that Kurt said something.
"Zey know, don't zey?"
"Yeah…something tells me they do."
"Zey don't seem to mind…"
"I guess not. I think being a mutant puts trivial things like who you date into perspective."
"Then…we are dating?"
Victor spun round on the bike saddle to face the teen behind him. His slipped his glasses off and pocketed them.
"Kurt…tell me honestly. What am I to you?"
Kurt didn't even hesitate with his answer.
"Everything…"
"So…more than a friend?"
"Ja…"
Victor let out a breath he'd been holding for days.
"…Kurt…you don't know how that makes me feel." He said, smiling.
"Can…can I ask you za some qvestion?"
"The answer would be he same." Victor said, smiling. He fitted his glasses, turned back round and started the engine. Kurt's arms where round him, holding on tight; just the way he liked it.
The restaurant was very classy. It wasn't overly decorated with the classic Chinese theme. Subtle hints of it, but not enough to brake out the paper dragons.
Victor had reserved the table in his name; the waiter took them to a table upstairs, with a view overlooking the city street below.
Kurt ordered Plum Duck and pancakes. Victor had the Tofu Special. Victor loved his Tofu.
"So…Mr. Wagner. What do you think we should do about the others?" Victor asked, sipping his mineral water.
"I think zey were pretending not to know." Kurt said, smiling a little.
"Yeah…ah well. They're not very good actors." Victor said, unfolding his napkin with a smile.
"Za vaiter knows as well." Kurt pointed out. Indeed, the waiter had been a little taken back by the two teens, dressed as they where, looking like so much of an item.
"You were practically holding my hand." Victor pointed out. The waiter had chosen that moment to appear with their orders. He was smiling, but the smile held more than professional politeness about it. Were they that obvious?
They chatted happily as they ate, about school, the Institute, their lives before Xavier. Their talk was cut short when the Professors voice filled their heads.
"X-Men, Juggernaut has broken free of his containment facility! He has been sighted on the main highway north of the city. Everyone get there as soon as possible and stop him."
Victor looked at Kurt.
"You know where he means?"
Kurt nodded. Victor pulled out a roll of bills and left five of them on the table. Kurt was already out of his seat, looking very annoyed.
"Vhy do maniacs have no consideration?" he asked as they hurried out of the building. They mounted the bike and sped off, Kurt yelling directions in Victor's ear. The roar of a jet sounded above them as Victor pulled onto the highway. It was total chaos.
Juggernaut had gone to town on the highway. Cars where everywhere, crushed, upturned, abandoned. He was laughing hysterically as he ploughed though. Victor was gunning the engine of the bike, far behind him. The Blackbird was coming round to land, and Juggernaut had noticed. He didn't stop laughing.
"Well, well…the pesky little X-Geeks are here." He observed through his big domed helmet. The Blackbird had landed on the opposite side of Juggernaut to Victor and Kurt. Wolverine had jumped out of the door, holding a bag in his hand. Kurt jumped form the bike and 'ported. Victor saw him appear next to Wolverine and take the bag. Another puff of smoke and Kurt was back.
"Logan got you zis…" he said, handing Victor the bag. "We have to get his helmet off so za Professor can attack his mind…Logan says 'Aim for za neck, kid.'"
Victor opened the bag. Raziel and an ammo belt were inside.
Cyclops made the first move, blasting Juggernaut with an optic blast to level a building. It pushed the mammoth man about a metre. Wolverine went in, claws bared and very lethal looking. Victor was strapping his own weapon onto this arm, loading it. He was surprised to find some shells in there he'd though confiscated. Discarding-sabot armour piercing rounds. He fitted them to his belt. He loaded a pair of ion-charged rounds. The blade slid back along his arm and locked in place, the grip swung away. Jubilee was spraying her fireworks everywhere, but nothing made a mark on the Juggernaut. The blasts deflected off his armour like light on a mirror.
It was Shadowcat who made the first effective strike against him. She jumped him and phased him into the road, up to his waist in concrete. He looked at her like she was crazy.
"Don't you know who I am?!" he demanded, looking at the concrete that held him. "I'm the JUGGERNAUT, BITCH!"
He burst from the concrete like a champagne cork. Shadowcat was blown back by the force. Victor could feel Kurt bristling with anger. He 'ported, appearing above the huge man, landing on his back and attacking the latches that held the helmet. Two of the six latches came open before Kurt had to teleport away. Victor revved the engine of the bike and peeled off, eager to get into the fight. His blood was pumping hard in his veins; he needed some action. Juggernaut didn't see him coming from behind, so his didn't see Victor trust out his arm, Raziel shooting out into his grasp. He didn't see the blade slice him across his back and side, but he felt something. He saw the thin figure on the bike race ahead of him and screech to a stop.
There was blood on the blade, only a slight amount like a paper cut, but enough. Juggernaut could see his own blood on the blade. He was supposed to be impenetrable! Anger rose in the big red man. He charged the kid with the blade…he was going to crush him!
There were shouts of warning; Victor heard them all. The behemoth man was charging him down, and Victor was planning. The unstoppable force was looming down on him; he was done for. Well, the bike was anyway. Victor phased out of the world at the last second…so close he could feel the rush of air as the bike was obliterated and Juggernaut rushed past. The big brute didn't notice his target vanish so fast.
"Yeah! I'm the Juggernaut!" Juggernaut yelled in celebration; parts of the bike where all over the road. Victor appeared metres behind him, looking pissed.
"I don't give a fuck who you are you big, Ketchup looking motherfucker. You ruined my date!" He said; a very vision of ego and confidence. Even Cyclops had to smirk.
Juggernaut turned round looking confused. He even scratched his helmet in thought. It gave Victor time to aim and fire Raziel, two bright blue bolts blasting Juggernaut's feet from under him. He may be unmovable in motion, but standing still…
"Bow down to a true pimp, bitch!" Victor laughed, reloading the blade quickly.
Wolverine jumped the big man, scratching the locks. Another one popped open. Victor rushed in to grab another one but he was too slow. A huge hand swung round and powered through his chest. Victor was thrown clear across the road, slamming into a car door with a crack.
Storm raked Juggernaut with lightning, ravaged him with hail. Iceman froze his legs together, but the ice shattered. Colossus ran in and pounded at the hulking red man. Juggernaut was knocked a round a bit but he always got back up. Victor was trying to figure out why stars were blocking his aim. And why was the blade so heavy? It was loaded…or was it? Might as well load up…might as well…
Another lock came off, but Juggernaut fixed two of them. The team doubled its efforts. Kurt was at Victor's side, he ported him away and Jean took a look at his head. There was a deep gash in his head, spilling crimson blood over his silver locks.
"Uh…ouch…what's going on?" he asked, looking around slightly dazed. Juggernaut was swatting Kurt from his back. "Oh…right."
He stood up. Jean tried to get him to sit down again and Professor Xavier tried to talk him down. Victor could see straight, and he saw no reason not to help his new family. Raziel was now loaded, and the trigger wanted to be pulled.
"End of the game Ketchup!" Victor said, jumping out of the way of Cyclops' reflected blast. The blast had at least taken out a latch. There were three left.
"You again?! Don't you stay down?" Juggernaut bellowed, launching a piece of crumbled concrete. Raziel flashed through the air and two clean cuts made shot work of the projectile. Another came at him but a blast of fireworks and ice turned it to dust.
Victor flicked his wrist and a portal opened to his side.
"Trickshot." He muttered, pointing Raziel into the void. He fired. Juggernaut couldn't see the smaller portal appear behind him. The twin sabot rounds shattered the final locks. Jean pulled the helmet away from above, leaving Juggernaut's head bare. Professor was attacking his mind in an instant, forcing him to his knees. The process must have been taking its toll on the Professor however… he was gripping his head in pain, and Juggernaut was trying to stand again. Victor lashed out with his foot, kicking the man square in the jaw. It hardly made him flinch. Cyclops blasted him, but nothing happened. He was still getting up, however slowly. The Professor was still having trouble calming the unstoppable man. Rogue shed her gloves and pressed her hand to his head. It faltered him, slowed him…it was working. Victor got an idea…dropping Raziel, he leapt onto the huge man.
He sunk his teeth into the huge, chunky neck. The blood was rich with adrenaline and something bitter. Juggernaut was falling to his knees, saying still. Rogue watched in shock as Victor held on like a limpet, gulping down the red liquid. There was something about it…the memories…what was this?
Juggernaut was still, breathing but unconscious. Someone pulled Victor away, panting and spluttering blood. The unknowing among the X-Men looked disgusted, scared, confused. Those who knew looked slightly disappointed.
Why did Victor feel so strange? There was information flooding his brain…he could feel the Juggernaut's power but…
"Vamp, you okay?" Wolverine asked. Victor was leaning against a lamp post, catching his breath.
"Did it work?" he asked, wiping his mouth on the back of his hand.
"Yeah Kid...it worked."
The Professor had made his way over, looking thoughtful.
"Victor…that was an impressive display of…talent."
Victor laughed.
"If you say so…personally I'd rather not have just done that…but…something's strange." He said, scrunching his eyes in thought. What was that?
"What is it?" Professor Xavier.
Victor could feel something within him surging up his spine, through his chest. The information was getting clearer…oh…right.
"It's Juggernaut…he's not…"
Why was it getting hard to breathe? Why was the light around him dimming?
"He's not…not a…a mutant…"
Where was Kurt? He couldn't see him…everything was getting slower…
"He's…not…its…power…"
White light exploded before his eyes and what could only be mortal agony surged through him.
Jubilee and Kurt gasped when Victor lurched so suddenly. A gaping breath escaped him as his eyes and mouth shot open, wide and straining. He was arching like a bow on his knees. His back would surly break if he didn't stop curving like that…it looked like he wanted to scream his guts out, but not a sound escaped him. Cyclops was yelling for someone to fetch a stretcher, Kurt was staring, scared and unsure. Professor Xavier was attempting to reach Victor's mind. None of it made any difference. With a slight cough, blood splattering the floor, Victor crumpled in a heap. He didn't move. He wasn't breathing. His pulse had faded to nothing.
Nothing else. Victor was dead.
