DISCLAIM-I-don't-know-why-I-both-ER: I own my clothes, which I doubt are worth enough to buy the guys, so I live without.

REPOST of Chapter 7: I discovered how to take my writing with me wherever I go… The wonders of a USB flash drive. So now I can work on it while on lunch :)

Also, I received a review stating that the premise of the story was unbelievable, and that people wouldn't regard Kurt as a freak for not wanting to be touched. I have to say I completely disagree with you, but thank you for the feedback.

I still remember how much teasing was directed at the kids who wouldn't get changed in the communal locker room, or shower in a communal shower, and if you didn't get involved in the hallway games you were definitely a freak.

Amongst guys at my school I always found a great deal of messing around, particularly at age 16 – you know, wrestling, bumping into people, even the dreaded noogie (how childish is that by the way) – a LOT of physical contact, and I don't think it would take long at all for someone at my school to be labelled a freak if they avidly avoided any physical contact. I'm not talking about gentle caresses here – I'm talking about those thousand times a day when you brush up against someone's arm while reaching into your locker, or touching fingers when you hand someone something or even bumping into someone in the corridor during a rush between periods. Things that we ignore and take for granted, but that would really stand out if there was someone who couldn't do it.

If anyone else thinks the same though let me know.

Ok, here it is, fresh from the presses.

Chapter 7

Paul had a huge smile plastered across his face as he left the mansion gates. Up until that moment he'd never really believed any of that romantic stuff that girls spouted off about butterflys or foot popping, and while he hadn't felt even the slightest urge to stand on one leg, he could definitely grasp the butterflys. Right now they were delicately brushing the inside of his stomach and chest with their feathery touches - Just south of where his heart was beating like a marathon runner's.

He'd never imagined in a million years that his life could change so suddenly and so amazingly in so short a time. Sure it wasn't like it had happened in a week, but it was still pretty sudden. And considering that it was the first time he'd ever felt so sure about someone it was a pretty amazing step. He'd never really thought about dating that seriously. It had always just been something that you did to be popular. It was expected that when you were well known in the school you were expected to be seen with a girl on your arm. Now here he was wanting much more than just hand holding, and it had nothing to do with popularity, or image. It was an amazing feeling, and to have found that with another guy, and with a mutant at that…

He glanced briefly back at the mansion he'd just left, worrying his lip as he did. He didn't like leaving Kurt behind to face the reactions of his friends, he felt like he should be there to support Kurt, as he was fairly certain the other boy had only done such a public display to please him. He supposed the furred boy would be alright though, he had Scott and Jean to help him out, and the Professor and Logan wouldn't let anything happen to him. Kurt was surrounded by both supporters and protectors. There was no need to worry about him.

He, on the other hand, had no such benefit. And as he moved off down the street, away from the gates, he was more worried about what would happen when he got home, as opposed to the turmoil he was leaving behind. He'd been so nervous about meeting Maximoff in the park that morning to find out about Kurt, that he'd run out without letting anyone know. And if there was one thing that wasn't accepted in the Larsen household it was irresponsibility. Well there were a bunch of other things that weren't accepted either come to think of it, and none of them boded well for him.

Looking quickly both ways, he hurried across the road and moved off through the same park from this morning. He knew it was a rather childish reaction, but somehow he still hoped he could make it home before anyone noticed he was gone. It was a ridiculous thing to think of course, it was a weekend and it was now well after midday. Even the laziest of people were up and about by now, which meant his household most certainly was. So it was no surprise then that when he stepped out of the other side of the park there was a black Mercedes stopped by the kerb, the back door already open as though expecting him.

He wearily climbed in. He should have known they'd been sent out looking for him.

As he pulled the door closed with a soft click, the tinted glass partition slid down behind the front seats, exposing the hard jawed man behind it.

"Mr Larsen."

"Hey Sam." Paul couldn't help the defeated sigh that came out as he avoided meeting the older man's eyes.

"Leaving so suddenly this morning and without telling anyone where you were going is not the sort of behaviour that's expected of you Paul. Your mother was less than impressed." Paul glared at the back of the front seats as the car started moving again, and wished he could just put the partition back up and try not to think anymore.

"My mother came all the way here?"

"Yes. She felt that a visit would remind you that you have responsibilities. She's been receiving daily reports on your progress and she was planning to make a trip down next week anyway. She heard that you're hanging out with the wrong crowd at school." Paul couldn't help the flash of fear that filled his eyes.

"She didn't tell father did she?" He met the burly man's eyes in the rear vision mirror for the first time and collapsed back against the seat in relief when the response was a shake of his head.

"No. You know he's been away taking care of important business. She didn't want to upset him." Paul's heart started to slow down as he evened out his breathing. At least he could handle his mother.

"She did, however, insist on increasing your surveillance. She doesn't want you slipping away again. The situation with your father is escalating at the moment and there have been a lot of threats. She feels it's wiser for you to be more cautious. It took us almost an hour to track you down this morning and she feels that's too long." Paul didn't even try to stop the groan as he let his head flop back onto the headrest.

"She wasn't serious was she? Come on Sam! I have to be able to go to school, and I don't think the Principle would appreciate a bunch of security guys wandering the grounds." A pair of uncompromising eyes stared into his in the rear-view mirror.

"She was totally serious Paul, and what's more I agree with her. She's already spoken to Principle Darkholme who was more than accommodating. Apparently Ms. Darkholme feels the same way about the people you've been seeing and she thinks that the extra security might scare them off." A sudden image of Kurt being patted down by armed guards made him shiver. This definitely wasn't good. Talk about risk of exposure.

"You're not seriously going to interrogate my friends or anything are you?" Silence greeted him from the front seat. He sat bolt upright.

"Oh Man! They said they'd stay out of my private life if I agreed not to make a fuss about being sent here! They promised that the security would be off-campus only and that I'd be left alone!" There was no hint of sympathy or understanding when the voice emerged from the front seat.

"That was before you decided to ditch your guards and run off Paul. You brought this on yourself. Do you know what could happen to you in the hour it would take us to track you down? Your mother doesn't want to take that risk and neither do I. If you'd showed you could be responsible about your protection this wouldn't be an issue, but you continue to try and make it as difficult as possible for us to do our job." Paul let his head thunk against the window, slumped in the seat. Why couldn't his life be simple just once?

"I suppose she's waiting at home to chew me out? God forbid I do anything that could affect Father." A frown was directed at him.

"Your father is a very dedicated man. I would have thought you would appreciate that." Paul felt the bitterness swell up inside him like an overfilled balloon.

"Oh I appreciate it. He's dedicated to his work, isn't that just wonderful!" The sarcasm was as sharp as a knife in the cool air of the car.

"He should be dedicated to his family! He and mother should be more concerned with making sure I'm happy than worrying that I might embarrass my 'oh so important' father by doing something stupid like getting kidnapped. A father shouldn't -." He cut off mid-sentence as he realised exactly what he was doing and shuddered at who it reminded him of. He dropped his head into his hands, speaking through his fingers.

"I'm sorry Sam. I didn't mean to go off at you. It just annoys me that I need sixty guys around me all the time because my father has a problem dealing with reality." He felt tears building but viciously clamped down on them. Puffy eyes would not be well received by his mother.

"I'm sorry, I can't help you Paul. I know you have problems with your parents, but I'm not paid to give you domestic bliss. I'm paid to protect you. The security decisions have already been made, the new routine will start on Monday. If you have a problem, take it up with your mother." Paul nodded in weary acceptance, just like he always ended up doing when his parents made decisions for him.

"Oh, and Paul?" The voice waited for him to look up before continuing.

"Your father might not act like it all the time but he's still your father. Deep down I'm sure he really cares about you. He'd never really do anything to hurt you, despite what you might think." Paul didn't even try to stop the bitter laugh that built up.

"Yeah. Sure Sam." The eyes returned to watching the road and Paul looked away, out the window.

'If only you knew'

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Kurt shifted his feet nervously as Paul departed through the front door. Scott and Jean smiled encouragingly at him and Logan gripped his shoulder in a supportive squeeze before heading out the door, evidently going to keep an eye on Paul. Kurt knew Logan was always gruff on the outside, but inside he was fiercely protective of those close to him. Since Kurt was obviously quite attached to the blonde boy, that was evidently all the reason Logan needed to keep an eye on him.

The Professor and Ororo had taken the opportunity to depart the room also, leaving the blue furred boy alone to deal with the others. Kurt didn't meet any of the eyes staring at him, and his tail moved nervously around behind him. It had always been a sign of nervousness in him, and he felt his current situation definitely warranted the condition 'nervous'. Rogue's expression hadn't changed since the moment he and Paul had entered the Library earlier. Whether that was good or bad he didn't know, however Kitty and Evan were a different story. Evan seemed shocked. Kitty on the other hand seemed freaked. Naturally, he just knew that meant she would be the one to speak, and sure enough her soft, yet still slightly hysterical voice, filled the foyer after just a couple of seconds.

"Tell me that was just like a horrible joke Kurt. You can't seriously be… be… like…" She seemed unable to continue, but Kurt knew what she'd been trying to say. He shook his head and stepped toward her.

"It is not a joke Kitty." She stepped back as though he'd just hit her.

"But you just like, like, KISSED Paul!" Her voice gradually elevated as she spoke, leaving the slightly hysterical and moving into the loudly denying range. He tried to grab her arm but she phased out and his hand passed through her.

"Please Kitty! Let me explain!" She just shook her head, a disgusted look on her face.

"NO! I… I… How could you!?" With one last wide-eyed look at him she phased through the wall and was gone.

Time seemed to freeze for Kurt as he stood there. His hand was still stretched out toward where she had disappeared from view, and he felt the pleading expression on his face slowly morph into one of horror. In the 5 minutes he'd had to think since this morning, he'd never once thought it could turn out this way. It simply wasn't supposed to happen. Weren't friends supposed to love you and accept you for who you were? Weren't they supposed to accept your choices? Out of the corner of his eye the slight movement of Evan backing away toward the front door caught his attention. Skateboard in hand he was clearly hoping for an escape while Kurt was distracted. Instead, Kurt pinned him with his piercing golden eyes, causing the retreating boy to promptly increase his backwards pace.

"Umm. Look, I'm just gonna go out man. Catcha later yeah?" There was a soft swish of the front doors opening and closing, and then he too was gone. That left the cavernous foyer feeling empty except for Scott, Jean and Rogue, and he looked at the latter bitterly.

"Are you going to run avay too?" To his surprise she gently shook her head.

"Ah saw the way you two were acting together." She walked over and grabbed him in a gentle hug, a surprising action for her, considering what her touch could do.

"Ah'm happy for you Kurt. Really." She released him and stepped away, giving him a sincere smile.

"Ah wish ah could find what you have Kurt. Don't worry about those guys, and don't worry about our friendship. Ah think you did great." She hugged him again, giving him a friendly squeeze then nodded to Jean and Scott before strolling out the door. He felt his eyes fill with tears yet again and heard Scott and Jean separate. Jean moved into his line of vision and knelt in front of him, wiping the tears out of his eyes before they could flow down his cheeks.

"It'll be ok Kurt. They'll get over it, I promise. It was just a little shocking for them that's all." He nodded into her hair as she wrapped her arms around him. Her voice became slightly teasing.

"You made quite a spectacle you know. I probably would have gone for a more subtle approach myself." He smiled at her attempt to comfort him, and was glad she was there. Part of him though hated her for it, because she wasn't the one he wanted to be held by. All he wanted now was to see Paul and have his arms around him.

"Why don't you go see the Professor Kurt? He wanted to talk to you earlier remember, and it will get your mind off things for a while." He sniffled as he stepped back, taking the handkerchief Scott offered him with a grateful smile.

"Ja. I think I vill." The two older teens turned and left as he made his way over to the stairs and climbed up to the second floor.

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As he knocked on the Professor's office door and proceeded into the room, Kurt could see by the look in Xavier's eyes that he already knew what had happened downstairs. Of course with his telepathic abilities that came as no great surprise. He gave Kurt an encouraging smile and gestured for him to take a seat.

"Thank you for coming to see me Kurt. I know it's probably the last thing you want right now after the day you've been having, but I think it's important." The soft sound of the wheelchair across the carpet was the only noise as the Professor slowly came close enough to lay a hand on Kurt's forearm.

"I really am happy for you Kurt. You've come a long way and you've managed to deal with the kinds of problems the rest of us can only imagine, yet you've managed to leave those problems behind for the most part, and I'm glad that you finally have found something to complete you." He leant back in the wheelchair and Kurt was sure he felt light brushes of another presence in his mind, soothing out the horror and upset that still lingered there, the soothing voice washing over him like a warm wave.

"Kitty and Evan will come to terms with it Kurt, don't worry about it. They'll realise that he makes you happy and they'll be glad for you." He felt himself nod unsurely, still in a sort of dreamlike state before the presence abruptly withdrew and he came back to himself. He still felt the affects of the incident in the foyer, but now it seemed like it was a bad dream.

"Feeling better now?" Golden eyes rose slowly from where they'd dropped to and Kurt nodded.

"Thank you Professor"

"That's quite alright Kurt. The issue I really wanted to talk to you about concerns Paul and I wanted to make sure you were calm and rational." A slight smile creased his lips. "Though love, as far as I'm aware, is rarely rational."

"Am I correct in assuming he hasn't told you a lot about his past or his family?" Kurt nodded without emotion, but he still felt the beginnings of suspicion and worry squirm deep in his belly. He struggled and failed to stop his eyes narrowing in suspicion at where the Professor was leading.

"I'm not saying he's deliberately hiding something from you Kurt, there's no need to feel defensive. What I am saying is that his parents might not be as accepting of you and he as I, Scott and Jean have been. I happen to know the family on a professional level, though I've never before met Paul. I know you don't want to hear this Kurt, but I know for a fact that you will never be welcome in their house." There was a split second of silence following the Professor's comment, then both he and the Professor were shocked as a sudden growl emerged from deep in his throat. Although clearly surprised, the older mutant took it easily in stride, his voice maintaining its smooth, calming quality.

"It's alright Kurt. I'm not saying you and Paul can't see each other. What I am saying is that you need to be careful. Keep signs of affection within the walls of the institute. Outside these grounds you must never reveal anything of what you are or what you and Paul have become. At school you should be nothing more than friends and above all never ever be caught without your inducer where word could get out. I know that most of these things are just common sense, and they're second nature to you, but I thought it wise to illustrate just how serious this is now. People will be watching Paul. In fact they'll be watching more than ever. Never forget that there are people out there that know about us Kurt, and anyone we're seen with is at risk. Remember too, that you are not only breaking 1 social taboo here, but 2 of them. Paul doesn't live here in the safety of the mansion, and you can't protect him all the time." Kurt leant forward, a serious expression on his face.

"Vhy all these precautions Professor? Vhat does Paul have to fear if our secret got out? I mean I understand vhy I need to be careful in case zhey find out I am a mutant, but vhy Paul?" Kurt was surprised to see Xavier shift uncomfortably.

"Kurt. I can't say much, but to some people being gay is as bad as being a mutant." Clearly this was something major if Charles Xavier was showing discomfort.

"Please Herr Professor." He locked their gazes together; begging with his eyes, but the Professor rolled his wheelchair further away, clearly signalling that no more answers would be forthcoming.

"I'm sorry Kurt. I can't tell you. If Paul wants you to know it is his secret to tell." The growl returned in a low murmur.

"Getting all worked up will do no one any good. Please just relax and hear me out." Kurt forcefully sealed his lips closed, muting the sound, however he could still feel the vibrations in his throat.

"Paul will tell you when he's ready, but it's something that is too private for me to reveal." Kurt watched as the Professor's eyes turned distant, as though staring through the wall into a deep thought. He was surprised at the genuine concern they seemed to convey, and the troubling dilemma he seemed to be struggling with.

"I will, however, tell you this. Paul's family is not one we want to get involved with Kurt. I know it wasn't your intention, nor Paul's that this situation should develop, but it's not just yourselves that are at risk now, but everyone at the institute. That is why I am being so careful, and making sure you understand exactly what the risks you're taking are. And who you're endangering by doing it." Kurt sat dead still after the Professor finished, still churning everything he'd said over in his mind. When he finally spoke his voice was subdued and cautious.

"You really are afraid of something, aren't you Professor? Vhy?" The Professor raised a hand to his chin in a weary expression.

"I am afraid for you Kurt. I am afraid for the students here at the Institute who are under my protection, and I am afraid for Paul because he is not. This is nothing new for me, I deal with that fear and worry every day, but your association with Paul has added a new dimension to the equation. You know better than most people that this is a world full of prejudice. You've seen first hand the evil side of man. And while you have become stronger for it, that is not always the case. Some grow bitter, some grow cold, and some lash out at others. To be a mutant in this world is to be hated and feared. To be gay in this world is to be outcast and mistreated, yet you and Paul are combining the 2 of them. I am afraid of that, because there are people out there with beliefs that go beyond the rational, and they have the power to act on them almost without consequence. And if they were to discover the 2 of you there's no telling what the results would be." Kurt felt a sense of powerful anger stir deep within him, and his tail snaked around and squeezed the wooden armrest of the chair in an effort to suppress it.

"I vould never let anything happen to Paul, Professor. I vill make sure no one does to him vhat vas done to me." His golden gaze pierced that of the Professor, as though trying to impress upon him his earnestness.

"I know you mean well Kurt, and you believe what you say, but Paul has his own life and responsibilities. He cannot be here with you at the institute 24 hours a day, and neither can you be with him when he goes home." The monologue suddenly cut off, as though the Professor feared he had said too much, and Kurt could almost feel the neural connections firing in his mind as he desperately tried to link together the information the Professor had just given him.

Their conversation ran like a tape in his mind, different words toiling like cathedral bells, trying to tell him something.

When the jumble finally sorted itself out and, what he thought was the completed picture, fell into place, he felt an anger he had never experienced before rush up and consume him. His eyes blazed golden fire as his lips pulled back in a snarl, exposing his fangs. A vicious snarl issued forth from his mouth and his tail coiled crushingly tight around the chair arm. A cracking sound filled the office as the delicate woodwork smashed into splinters.

"I vill kill them." It came out through clenched teeth, and he was halfway to the door before he'd even finished speaking.

"NO KURT!" The voice was echoed equally strongly in his mind, commanding him to stop. Kurt struggled against it with every fibre of his being, but the voice was undeniable, and eventually won out. He found himself unable to move any closer to the door, his own body denying him.

"You can not do something so rash." Kurt spun on the wheelchair bound mutant, free to move within the confines the Professor had evidently impressed onto his mind, every muscle in his entire body quivered, taught with fury.

"How could you let him leave! I trusted you! Vhat sort of person are you Professor? You let a helpless boy go to that sort of place vhen you knew vhat vould happen." He watched as the great Charles Xavier wheeled slowly toward him. His expression was hard and his voice carried a no nonsense edge that Kurt had rarely heard him use before.

"He is safe for now Kurt. His family do not reside here with him. There is no danger in him returning to his own house, which, might I point out, he would have to do eventually. We cannot stop his family from seeing him if they wish to, nor can we lock him away within these walls forever. He is perfectly alright at the moment Kurt, however, if you turn up trying to save him, looking like that," he gestured to Kurt's normal blue furred appearance,

"Things will only get a thousand times worse." Kurt felt the anger retreat a little as the words sank in. The Profeesor's tone softened as he noticed.

"If he'd been in danger I would have tried all I could to stop him leaving Kurt, you know that surely. But that is precisely why no one can ever find out about you two. Don't give anyone any reason to search Paul out." Kurt looked away sharply, trying to deny the truth of the Professor's words, wishing desperately that they weren't true, but eventually he nodded his head in weary acceptance, the anger reducing to a slow simmer.

"Very vell Professor." He heard the older man expel a sigh of relief.

"But if anything happens to Paul because you did nothing, or because you stopped me from doing something, I vill never forgive you. And I vill make sure whoever did it pays." The pitying look the Professor gave him accompanied a release of the pressure in his mind. He pivoted lithely on his unique feet and stalked out the door, not quite slamming it behind him. A soft voice echoed in his mind, tinged with sadness.

I fear that choice will soon be upon you Kurt, and I just pray that when it comes, you don't become exactly what you've always feared you really are.

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In the now silent office Professor Xavier stared sadly at the closed door.

He sat in silence for a moment before turning to the television on the other side of the room. Reaching across to his desk he activated the screen with the remote, rewinding and playing the tape for about the hundredth time since last night when he had recorded it.

In vibrant colour, the visage of a moderately attractive reporter stood on the steps of Capitol Hill in Washington, a steady wind blowing her hair slightly out of control.

"Thank you Mike. As you can see, I'm standing here outside the Capitol building, where earlier today the Mutant Rights Act was put before the Senate. Mutants, who for the last couple of months have been appearing around the world, have had unclear legal standing as to their rights and protections, particularly here in the US. Do they qualify as human? Are they protected by the Bill of Rights and other legislation?"

"The new Bill, which would have guaranteed Mutants the same rights and privileges as normal people, was voted down 51 to 49 largely due to a series of campaigns by prominent southern politician Michael Larsen. Senator Larsen, a very vocal opponent to this Bill, has been raising anti-mutant sentiment in a series of campaigns across the country, and is also rallying increasing support for a program of Mutant capture and study." The picture of the woman disappeared and was replaced with a middle-aged man with greying blonde hair who was gesturing wildly in the air behind a podium.

'I believe we need to study these creatures in order to better understand them. These mutations can not be allowed to run around unchecked. They pose a danger to ourselves, our children, and our way of life. Do you want your son or daughter going to school with these creatures? Do you want your child playing sport with someone who could kill them with a look? Or competing in the classroom with someone who can simply read the teachers mind? These 'mutants' need to be isolated for our own protection and studied further to track down the cause so we can stop any more from being born. I am asking all Americans to step up and take the challenge of exposing these animals for what they are. Don't be fooled by these sympathisers who claim they're exactly the same as you and I. When was the last time you tore a bank vault open with your bare hands? When was the last time you burnt someone to ash just by touching them? Don't give these creatures the chance to do more damage than they already are, we must strike first and guarantee a future for us and our children.'

The man was abruptly muted and the footage shrank into the corner, the woman reappearing.

"Despite numerous threats and one attempt on his life, the controversial Senator is still scheduled to continue his national tour this month. Beginning in his home state, the tour list will include most major cities, as well as numerous stops in other towns and urban areas."

"Current polls put the Senator neck and neck with current Democratic President Leethman, and many sources, both within and without the Republican Party believe that it may in fact be Senator Larsen, not the previously suggested Senator Green, who will be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate."

"Although his Bill was defeated today, President Leethman stated earlier in a press conference that he would continue to trumpet mutant rights, and the rejection of his Bill by the Senate was merely a hurdle along the way. As we head into an election year will the bold move pay off? The Democratic Party is hoping it will. I'm Sandra Mitchelton, reporting from Washington."

The tape turned to static then blackness as Xavier switched it off. He wheeled himself over to the window and looked out at the spacious grounds surrounding the mansion, already deeply immersed in thoughts and plans.

He just hoped Paul and Kurt were prepared for what they had gotten themselves into.

End Chapter 7