"Get down!" Peter tried to usher his friends away from the house and out of sight but his warning came too late. Whoever it was at the window had seen them and was coming their way. Peggy heard Peter swear under his breath then felt his hand on her arm, dragging her to safety. He tried to lead the team around to the side of the house, hoping that Kurt could teleport them out before they were caught.

Peggy let him pull her away but her thoughts turned to Carol and she gasped. The girl wasn't following them. She looked back and saw that Carol was standing in the same spot, her expression clouded with fright. Peggy dug in her heels and wrenched her arm from Peter's grip. He protested at first but as soon as he saw what she had, he let her go. Peggy raced across the garden just as a man came through the back door.

"Carol!" She took her by the shoulders and pulled the little girl behind her, shielding her from view. Peggy took a deep, shaky breath as the man stepped into the sunlight. He was tall and shaped like a barrel, with thick arms and legs and an even thicker neck. His eyes were wild and dark, his mouth thin and twisted. At first, he seemed surprised to find so many people in the garden, he'd clearly only expected Carol. He got over his shock quickly. His eyes slid from Peter to Peggy. He was so still, it was unnerving in a man of his size. Finally, he stepped forward onto the grass and held out one large hand.

"Give me the girl." His voice rumbled like thunder. Peggy glanced at Peter out of the corner of her eye and saw him braced for action. She knew Kurt was watching closely but she couldn't see him. The man waited with his hand outstretched but after a few moments, he sighed deeply and unbuttoned his brown leather jacket. He reached inside and drew out a gun. It felt like all the air had left Peggy's lungs. She stared at the weapon in the man's meaty hand, her lips parting as she let out a shaky breath. She'd never seen a gun before, not a real one. Not even the police carried them back home. They were just as terrifying as she thought they'd be.

"Woah, woah, hey, man." Peter tactfully raised his hands above his head. "Chill out a sec." The man ignored him and raised the gun, pointing it straight at Peggy. She stiffened but didn't dare move. Behind her, Carol clutched her hand tight. Kurt instinctively moved towards Peggy, the urge to protect her was far stronger than his fear.

The gun swept away from her and the man pointed it at Kurt instead. He stopped dead but his eyes never left Peggy. He could sense the man was studying him but he didn't care. Kurt's gaze never wavered. Unfortunately, neither did the gun. The man's lip curled in disgust. Kurt knew what he was thinking without having to see the expression on his face. He repositioned his fingers on the butt of the gun, his sweaty palms making the metal slippery.

"You're all freaks." He realised, looking between the X-Men with clear revulsion. Peggy flinched at the word. She'd never had that kind of verbal abuse spat at her before. It stung just as badly as if he'd physically hurt her. Xavier's school was a safe-haven but it was easy to forget that there were still some who didn't accept them. Kurt was used to it. He just kept his eyes on Peggy and tried to stay calm. The man wrinkled his nose as he thought. They waited in silence, using the time to try and think up a plan. "You're coming with me." He said eventually, gesturing with the barrel of the gun. Peter scoffed at the man's words and the gun turned to point at him.

"Where?" He looked exceedingly unimpressed by the man's threats. Peter tried not to sound too cocky for the sake of his teammates. He was in charge, they were under his care. Still, he wanted the man to know that he had no power over them. Peter lowered his arms when they began to ache, regarding the gun before him with frightening nonchalance. When the man didn't respond, Peggy stepped in.

"What do you want with Carol?" She had to fight to keep her voice level. She felt the girl clutch her hand tighter. Peggy was afraid, more than words could say, but she had confidence in both her friends' abilities and her own. They would get out of this unharmed, she just had to keep calm.

Again, the man didn't answer the question posed to him. He took another step forward but he kept a wary distance. Now he knew they were mutants, he was a little more cautious. He couldn't be certain of their powers. The gun in his hand would be of little use in a fight. Still, he raised the weapon and pointed it straight at Peggy's forehead.

"I paid good money for that little freak." He knew he was outnumbered but sheer ignorance and greed fuelled his actions. He cocked the gun. Carol whimpered and Peggy tried to wrap an arm around her, comforting her as best as she could without taking her eyes off the man. "Give her to me. Now!" His voice ripped through the air, making Peggy jump. A vein throbbed in his neck, his skin red and blotchy.

None of them moved an inch. Peggy stared straight back at him, straight down the barrel of the gun. She couldn't predict what he would do, but she knew for certain that she would not let him get his hands on Carol. The man bared his teeth like an animal.

A gunshot is the loudest sound in the universe. It hits you as hard as the bullet being fired. It makes your teeth shake and your eyes squeeze shut. Peggy had never experienced anything like it before. She hoped never to experience it again. Despite being a mere foot away from point-blank range, the bullet never found its target. Unbeknownst to the man, Peter had slipped his goggles over his eyes before he'd even pulled the trigger.

He grabbed Peggy first, moving her through the house and out onto the kerb. She was shortly joined by Carol. He placed Kurt carefully beside Peggy. He was about to go back for the man, whoever he was, but Peter had an idea he wanted to try out first. He repositioned Peggy then sped back into the garden. Peter flicked the bullet so its trajectory veered off to the right then grabbed the man's belt and whipped it off, flinging it into the branches of the tree behind him. Finally, Peter slipped the lunatic's wallet from his pocket, tugged down his jeans and rejoined his friends out front. All this before anyone could blink an eye.

He came to a stop and time seemed to start up again. Carol stumbled but he caught her just in time. Just as he'd planned, Peggy fell into Kurt's open arms. She let out a groan, her eyes squeezing shut as a queasy feeling washed over her. That was to be expected, travelling via Peter always had the same effect. He would've assured her that the motion sickness wore off after a few moments but Peggy seemed preoccupied. Kurt was holding her up, his arms wrapped tight around her waist. It took her a few moments to realise the position they were in, then Peggy just stared up at Kurt in stunned silence.

"Are you okay?" Although he was very much enjoying the feeling of Peggy pressed tight against him, his number one priority was her safety. She merely nodded back, finding herself speechless. Peter stared at his friends. He couldn't believe it had actually worked. Moreover, he couldn't believe that they still hadn't moved away from each other. Peggy had her hands flat against Kurt's chest and their faces were inches apart. Peggy seemed greatly overwhelmed by the whole thing and Peter knew that Kurt was holding back a tidal wave of inappropriate thoughts. Oh, he'd have to tell Scott about this.

"What just happened?" Carol's question broke the silence. Kurt slipped his hands away from her hips and Peggy finally came to her senses. She stepped away, silently cursing Kurt for exacerbating her already spinning head. Peter would have to explain his heroic act later. Right now, they needed to move. The man would be confused by their blink-and-you'll-miss-it exit but it wouldn't take him long to look out front.

"We've gotta go. C'mon." Peter urged his friends, gesturing for them to follow him back down the street. They didn't have to be told twice. They took off towards the harbour, not risking a glance back at the old house. Peter would have taken them back to the jet but he didn't want to waste his strength. If he kept up his inhuman pace for too long, he'd wear himself out and then he'd be unable to protect his teammates and Carol.

Peggy was grateful for the island's minuscule size. She'd certainly got a lot fitter after a month of training but running wasn't her strong suit. She was gasping for breath by the time they reached the marina. Luckily, the group soon stopped to get their bearings. Peggy put her hands on her knees, closing her eyes as she tried to get her thoughts in order. Some nutter was after Carol. Now he was after them. She couldn't help thinking that her first mission hadn't got off to the best of starts.

"Carl Kinnerman. Professional asshole." Peter's voice made her straighten up again. He was rifling through a wallet, drawing out card after card and dropping them to the floor at his feet. He held up a driver's license and Peggy recognised the identification photograph. She would know those frightening eyes anywhere.

"You nicked his wallet?" She couldn't believe that amongst all the panic of the last few minutes, Peter had found the time for petty thievery. He shot her a broad grin as he tucked the ID into his pocket, along with a handful of cash. Usually, she wouldn't condone such a thing but this guy really deserved it.

"He's coming!" Carol suddenly shrieked, pointing down the street. The X-Men whipped around to see for themselves. Sure enough, Carl Kinnerman, as they now knew him to be, was pacing towards them at a speed unnatural for his size. Peter lobbed the now empty wallet into the ocean.

"Kurt!" He cried but his friend's hand was already on his shoulder. Carl was getting closer and closer but they had the upper hand. Kurt pulled Peggy against his chest and instructed her to put her arms around his neck. There was no time to be embarrassed so Peggy did as she was told, trusting her friend without a second thought. Kurt put a hand on Carol's shoulder and closed his eyes. Carl was meters away when they disappeared in a whoosh of blue smoke.

Her feet hit the ground hard and Peggy let out a grunt of surprise. They were on the tarmac again, underneath the wing of the jet. Kurt let go of his passengers and opened his eyes, sucking in a deep breath to clear his swimming head. He had trained extensively with Hank and now he could transport multiple people without passing out. It still took a lot of energy and he felt faint for a second or two.

It probably had nothing to do with the fact that Peggy still had her arms around his neck but he couldn't be sure. Again, her face was very close to his. Her lips were moving but Kurt couldn't hear what she was saying. Her expression was drawn with concern. His head finally cleared and Kurt realised she was asking him if he was feeling alright. He offered her a tiny smile and nodded. Peggy unlaced her fingers but kept the contact, smoothing her hands around until she could squeeze his shoulders.

"Where's Hank?" Peggy and Kurt looked around to see Peter sticking his head out of the open door to the jet. How he'd gotten it open they had no idea. They looked around the tarmac strip, just in case Hank was waiting for them elsewhere. But no, their pilot was nowhere in sight. Peggy and Kurt joined Peter inside the jet and stared at the empty cockpit. Carol was already seated, buckled in and ready to go but it looked like they wouldn't be leaving for a while yet. Peggy glanced at her watch and twisted her lips.

"We're still early." Hank said to meet him back at the jet by three at the latest. It had only just passed two. "He's probably gone for a walk or something." Peter wheeled around, his eyes wide.

"Gone for a walk?!" Peggy somehow managed to shrug with her whole body, her arms out wide at her sides.

"Well, I don't know!"

"Guys, we should suit up." Kurt put in before an argument escalated. Peter considered his suggestion for a moment before nodding seriously. They didn't know where Hank had gone, they also didn't know how long it would be before he came back. They had a guy with a gun and no morals after them, they would be much safer if they put on their armour. The boys went to the back of the jet, leaving Peggy alone and confused. She made sure that Carol was alright before she hurried after them to the tail of the plane.

"What do you-" Peggy stopped her own words as she watched Peter reach for a keypad on the wall. He typed in a four-digit code she was too bewildered to think to memorise then stepped back. Peggy followed his lead, keeping clear even though she didn't know what of. The wall hissed and slid away to reveal a number of compartments. In each of the slots was a suit of armour, similar to the lockers Hank kept in his lab. Peggy barely held back a gasp. "Well, that's fortunate." She murmured instead.

She thought she saw Peter smirk before he stepped forward and retrieved the suit under the name 'Quicksilver'. Kurt gathered his own armour up, watching Peggy out of the corner of his eye. She was studying one of the compartments with a strange little smile on her face. She grabbed her suit then followed Peter back out onto the tarmac. Kurt went to join them, glancing up at her compartment as he went, wondering what had made her smile. On the end of the row, just above head height, the words 'Lyre Lyre' were printed in metallic capital letters. Kurt allowed himself a proud smile before he stepped off the jet.

They decided quickly that Kurt and Peter would get changed behind the jet whilst Peggy remained inside where she could keep an eye on Carol. They still didn't know what powers the little girl possessed, they didn't want to leave her on her own for too long. Peggy ventured back into the jet and closed the door behind her. It wasn't that she didn't trust her friends, but she had a feeling that Peter was the kind of guy who would walk in on her in her underwear and claim it was an accident. She spent the next few minutes debating with herself on whether it would be great or awful if Kurt were to walk in. Thankfully, Carol asked her a question before she got too wrapped up in that train of thought.

"Who exactly are you people?" Peggy looked up from the suit in her hands. Carol was still strapped into her seat, her gaze swapping curiously between Peggy and her armour. She realised they hadn't had a chance to explain. Peggy placed her suit down so she could start getting changed.

"We're the X-Men." She said simply, smiling to herself. It was the first time that she'd said it aloud. She was officially a part of the team, something that seemed impossible only a month ago. Carol wrinkled her nose a little.

"Men?"

"I know, don't get me started." Peggy muttered, rolling her eyes good-naturedly. She'd have to talk to the Professor about that. She glanced back at Carol before gathering her suit up again and stepping around a slight corner in the jet. She wasn't embarrassed or anything, but she'd only just met the girl and alright, fine, she didn't have the nicest underwear on. "We go to a school for mutants. That's people with special powers, like me and you." She raised her voice a little so that Carol could still hear her.

"I know. I saw that lady on the TV." Peggy chuckled as she pulled her dress over her head. Practically everyone on the planet, mutant or otherwise, saw Mystique on the news in all her blue glory. The world hadn't been the same since, mostly for the better. But there were still those, like Carl Kinnerman, who wanted to harm them. Peggy couldn't get his wild eyes out of her head. She could still hear the gunshot ringing in her ears, even if Peter had managed to sweep her out of the way in time. "Do you know her?"

"She's my teacher." Peggy was proud to know Raven. She was still tremendously intimidating but they were close now. She wouldn't call them friends but they worked hard in training together and Peggy trusted her with her life.

"Why are you here?" Carol liked to ask questions. Peggy thought it was endearing. She began to explain as she stepped into the armour. It was like a jumpsuit in design so it slipped on easily. Peggy pulled it up and over her body, slipping her arms inside then zipping it up. Hank had once told her that all their armour was impermeable to bullets and pretty much any other kind of weapon. She ran a hand over the material on her arm. It was like wearing a wetsuit, she didn't know if it could possibly be as strong as Hank claimed.

"We came to invite you to the school." Peggy said once she was sure she was suited up properly. She stepped out from her hiding spot and went to place her dress and impractical shoes in her locker. She grabbed the heavy pair of boots from the bottom of the compartment and went to sit down opposite Carol. "You can learn to control your mutation safely." Peggy laced up the boots then stood again, gesturing for Carol to follow her outside. The girl unbuckled herself and jumped down from the seat.

"Do I get to wear something like that?" She asked, eyeing her suit enviously, making Peggy laugh.

"If you're lucky." They trampled down the ramp and waited for Kurt and Peter to emerge. The wind off the sea picked up and played with Peggy's hair. She quickly swept it up into a ponytail, brushing a few of the shorter hairs behind her ears. The sun had gone behind a cloud making the temperature drop considerably. She'd complained about the heat earlier and Peter had laughed, telling her it was only 84°. Peggy was shocked at first before she remembered he meant Fahrenheit. Now though, she couldn't feel the cold. Hank's suits were temperature controlled. She would have to thank him later.

Where was Hank? It was a tiny island, where was there to go? She didn't have time to ponder over it for long because the sound of Kurt and Peter's chattering grew louder and louder until they rounded the jet. She smiled at the sight of them in their suits. Peter's was silver, of course, with a large X over his chest. He'd kept his trademark goggles. She tried her best not to look at Kurt for fear of turning bright red. "Okay, what's the plan?" Peggy asked, raising her eyebrows at Peter specifically. He was supposed to be in charge, after all. A horrifying thought.

"Peggy!" Kurt practically squeaked. When she frowned at him, his face flushed a dark shade of violet. He couldn't help being shocked, she looked outstanding. The X-Men suits made the team look and feel powerful. Peggy looked this and more. The material was close to her body, outlining her shape in ways he could only have dreamed of. And oh, had he dreamed. "You look... Ich kann nicht… I mean, you look..." He stammered, unable to keep the smile from his face.

Peggy seemed to catch on to where he was heading and felt her face grow hot. Her uniform was comfortable but the synthetic material clung close to her skin. Her mother definitely wouldn't approve, although Kurt certainly seemed to like it. He didn't look so bad himself. She was right, there was just something about these suits. Peggy let her gaze drift over the red and black uniform, making a mental note of his slim waist, the high revealing collar, and his surprising amount of muscle. He looked good, to say the least.

"You too." She replied, a sly smile sliding into place. Peter looked between his teammates with clear disgust. He wrinkled his nose when Kurt's smile turned all dopey again. Peter looked down and saw that Carol was also looking at Kurt and Peggy. He caught her eye and stuck out his tongue. Carol giggled and it broke whatever tension had settled between his friends.

"Oh, my God." Peter groaned, rolling his eyes so hard that they practically turned back into his head. "Can you please keep your hormones to yourselves for five minutes?" Peggy cleared her throat and looked down at Carol, aiming to change the subject as quickly as possible.

"Carol, have you ever seen that man before? Do you know the name Carl Kinnerman?" She asked the girl, hoping to clear up at least one of the many mysterious they were faced with, but Carol shook her head. Peggy bit her lip, thinking hard. "He said he bought her." Peter grunted, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I've heard about this sort of thing. People buying mutants and selling them on." He spoke softly, not wanting Carol to hear. He didn't want to frighten her. Anti-mutant propaganda was terrifying, especially to their youngest students. One of Professor Xavier's main goals was ensuring that the kids knew there was so much that was good about being a mutant. It was easier these days, but then people like Carl Kinnerman reminded them that there was still a lot of work to do.

"What?" Peggy's voice dropped to an inadvertent whisper. She'd never heard of anything so awful. Peter's stance was relaxed but his forehead was all creased up with loathing.

"It's true." Kurt murmured when he didn't say anything. Peggy's wide eyes turned to him and he found it hard to meet them. It had happened to him. Sold from the circus to an underground fight club. Peggy didn't know that about him yet. He didn't know whether he should tell her. She would never judge him, he knew that, but would she look at him differently? He hated the idea of being pitied. Peggy felt sick. Carl said he'd paid good money for the girl. Had Carol's uncle sold her? It was an awful thought but how else could such a deal be arranged?

"We can't stay here." Peter's voice was stronger now. "We'll lead him back to the jet." As he spoke, he looked over his shoulder. They were exposed out in the open. The suits provided protection but they also made them stick out like three sore thumbs. 271 people on the whole island, all Carl had to do was ask if anyone had seen a blue kid and they were done for.

The X-Men agreed the best course of action would be to keep moving. On an island as small as this, Carl would find them in no time if they stayed in one spot. They could only hope that Hank would be back soon. They set off back down East Lakeshore Drive until they found a little side road they could hide in. They followed the lane north, heading away from the harbour where they had last seen Carl.

After a little while, Carol began to ask questions again. They told her all about the school and about the mansion itself. Kurt described the gardens and the lake in great detail which made Peggy smile to herself. Peter saw her and rolled his eyes. She asked him what she'd done that was so funny and he merely shook his head, though he was smiling too.

"Where is it?" This question Carol directed to Peggy. They were walking single file down a little alleyway. Peter led the way, followed by Peggy, then Carol with Kurt bringing up the rear. He was more than happy with his position, his sharp hearing would let them know if they were being followed. The only problem was that it was very difficult not to stare at Peggy's behind, which looked infuriatingly good in her suit. Thankfully, Carol blocked most of his view. Peggy looked around over her shoulder and smiled down at Carol. They were doing their best to keep her calm, even though their own hearts were pounding.

"Westchester, New York." Carol thought about this for moment before she asked,

"Would I have to leave my home?" Before Peggy could respond, Peter came to halt. They had reached a dead end. Peter kissed his teeth and turned on his heel. He looked around until he spotted a side alley they could go down instead. Carol followed him dutifully. She seemed to like Peter, she thought he was funny. Peggy whispered to Kurt about the girl's poor judge of character and he chuckled quietly. Except now Peggy was right in front of him and it was getting harder and harder not to stare. Kurt glanced skywards, praying for strength.

"Only if you want to." Peggy continued, giving the girl a little pat on the shoulder, hoping to show her that there was no pressure to decide. The girl had no family left but that didn't mean she had to come with them. It would be sad to see Carol swept into the system but they couldn't force her to enrol at Xavier's school if she didn't want to.

"I do! I want to go!" Carol said quickly, putting Peggy's worries to rest as swiftly as they had surfaced. "My uncle, he isn't very nice to me." Peter stiffened. He glanced back at Peggy and saw that her jaw was tight. Their gazes met and he gave her a little nod, indicating that she should press the matter further. Peggy swallowed thickly before she plucked up the courage to ask,

"What do you mean?" Carol's head was down, but she couldn't tell if it was because she was trying to avoid all of the rubbish that littered the alley floor, or whether she was uncomfortable talking about her uncle.

"My parents died last year." Carol said in a quiet voice. "They were in a car crash. I moved to the island in the fall." It hurt to know that such a young girl had faced so much sadness. Peggy glanced back at Kurt and saw he was listening intently to everything Carol was saying. "Uncle Jack, he was drunk a lot. Sometimes he hit me." Peter's jaw clenched. His opinion of Carl was already irreversibly low, but it looked like he was being pipped to the post by Carol's uncle. She reminded him of his little sisters, who he loved more than anything else in the whole world. He didn't want to imagine them suffering like Carol had. "I don't like it here. Are you going to take me away?" Carol looked up at Peggy with big brown eyes. She wouldn't have been able to say no, even if she wanted to.

"We're going to do everything we can." Peggy had every faith that they were going to get off this island safely with Carol in tow, but there was still so much danger. She didn't want to make a promise she couldn't keep. They emerged from the alleyway and found themselves on the other side of the marina. There were a few people buzzing around the harbour but they were still very much alone, apart from one lone figure in the near distance. Kurt kept his eyes on him as they began to walk in his direction. By the time his sharp eyes had discerned his face, it was already too late. He took Peter by the arm and pointed down the road.

"He found us." When Peter saw the unmistakable form of Carl Kinnerman coming their way, he let out a loud groan.

"This guy doesn't quit." Carol whimpered at the sight of the man and clung to Peter, burying her face in his side. He was getting closer by the second and they had nowhere to run to. Peter could very easily speed them to the other side of the island and Kurt could whisk them away in the blink of an eye, but that wouldn't solve their problems or answer any of their questions. Peggy decided very quickly that she would take matters into her own hands.

"Peter, take Carol somewhere safe." She ordered, not taking her eyes off Carl's lumbering form. Peter didn't wait around to ask questions. He scooped Carol up into his arms, placing a careful hand on the back of her head so that she wouldn't get hurt. He was gone in a flash of silver. Kurt looked to Peggy, hoping that she had a plan because he was drawing a blank. To his great surprise, she raised her hands above her head and waved at Carl, who was now only ten meters away. "Oi!" She cried, then stuck both her middle fingers up. Okay, that was not what he had in mind. Peggy flashed him a grin then took off down the alleyway, back the way they'd just come through.

"No, Peggy! Komm zurück!" Kurt tried to stop her but when he looked back, Carl was almost upon him. He cursed under his breath and teleported into the alleyway, almost tripping Peggy up when he appeared in front of her. She grabbed his arm and guided him through the maze of back alleys, following the map she'd made in her head. Her memory was outstanding but she wasn't sure whether the adrenaline coursing through her would help or hinder her. Carl's huge feet pounded the cement behind them and Peggy let go of Kurt's arm. They had his attention, now she just had to hope that her plan would work.

They soon arrived back at the dead end they found not five minutes ago. Peggy came to an abrupt halt, trying to catch her breath before Carl caught up with them. Kurt wanted to question her but they were out of time. Carl stumbled around the final corner and loomed over them, practically blocking out the slowly setting sun. Kurt took a nervous step backwards but Peggy did the opposite. She jumped forward and slammed her foot into the side of Carl's knee before he knew what was happening. He shrieked and fell to one knee, which Peggy used to her advantage. She jammed her elbow hard between his shoulder blades and Carl fell like a stack of bricks. Raven had taught her well.

"Who are you?" Carl merely continued to groan and quiver. Peggy waited for all of three seconds before she delivered a swift punch to his nose. Kurt was impressed by her skills, her training was certainly going well. It was pretty damn hot, if he was honest. "I asked you a question." This man had attempted to kidnap a little girl, threatened her and her friends, and chased them all over the island. But worst of all, he called Kurt a freak and that was unforgivable. Carl clutched at his nose, wheezing and whining.

"I work for a guy, we run a mutant trade." He gasped out, then began to complain again. Peggy's jaw fell open. She could hardly believe what she was hearing.

"You're selling people?" Her voice lost its ferocity. She stared down at the man before her, unable to believe that a person could do such a thing. Carl got to one knee, clutching the other between his meaty hands.

"You're not people." He growled, narrowing his eyes up at her. "Your kind, you're less than dirt." He spat at the ground before her feet and Peggy's anger flared again. She stepped forward to strike him but Carl suddenly lashed out and swept her off her feet. Her back hit the concrete floor so hard that it winded her.

"Peggy!" Kurt immediately rushed to help her up but Carl moved with surprising speed. He swung his huge fist and it caught Kurt in the eye. Before he could react, Carl jumped, shoving him hard against the brick wall. Kurt was so shocked, he couldn't concentrate to teleport. He let out a groan as his spine throbbed, both his back and his neck screaming in pain. Carl drew the gun from his pocket. Kurt felt dizzy, he couldn't see straight, but he could make out Carl and the unmistakable shape of a gun just a foot from his face.

"Mutie scum." Carl muttered, spitting out the slur as he lined up the shot. Peggy groaned in pain and turned her head to see Carl looming over Kurt. She saw the gun in his hand and her heart leapt. She was on her feet in moments.

"Kurt!" Without a second thought, she jumped in front of the gun, clutching her friend to her chest. She squeezed her eyes shut, just waiting for the explosive noise of a bullet and then the impact... But it never came.

"What the..?" She heard Carl gasp but didn't dare open her eyes, not yet. The bullet could strike her at any moment. Peggy could feel Kurt's chest rising and falling heavily against her own. Her arms were wrapped tightly around his middle, his hands on her lower back. Peggy rested her head against Kurt's shoulder and prayed and prayed and prayed.

Then the inexplicable happened. She heard Carl mutter to himself. She couldn't make out what he was saying but it wasn't important. Then she heard him walk back down the alley. Kurt watched the hulking man turn the corner and finally let out the breath he'd been holding. What on Earth...? There was no way that Carl had just changed his mind, men like him weren't so easily persuaded. Then he remembered who was clutching him tight.

"We're invisible?" He breathed, looking down at the girl in his arms. Peggy finally opened her eyes and raised her head from his shoulder. Her skin felt warm and like she had goosebumps all at once. The sensation was second nature to her now.

"Camouflaged." Her survival instincts had kicked in, her mutation springing into life to keep her out of harm. But Kurt had disappeared from sight too.

"Did you know you could do that?" Peggy shook her head. She'd never made anyone else disappear before. She wasn't even aware that she was able to. Hank was going to have a field day. But then again, maybe he already had an inkling.

"Hank said my suit would be able to disappear with me." Peggy remembered the first time Hank had shown her the armour she was currently wearing. He'd developed a whole new material just for her. Or, perhaps not. "He must've upgraded yours as well." She realised, sending a prayer of thanks to Hank and his gift of foresight, wherever the hell he was. Kurt could feel his laboured breathing slowly returning to normal. He let out a quiet chuckle.

"I'm very glad that he did." He held her gaze for a moment. His eyes practically glowed in the dying light. Peggy wished she could look away. Recently she had been trying very hard not to think about Kurt romantically, fearing that she might do or say something stupid and ruin their friendship, but right now their position was anything but platonic. She saw his jaw clench and he dropped his gaze. He could have lost her. She had acted so recklessly...

Kurt slid his hands from her back to hold her tightly by the elbows. "Tu das nie wieder." He told her firmly. Peggy was surprised by the severity of his tone. Her lips parted but her attempts to defend her actions died on her tongue when Kurt's gaze met hers again. He wasn't angry, in fact, he almost looked afraid. To her surprise, he pulled her against him in a tight hug. She had never been so close to him. "Peggy, you-"

There was so much that he wanted to tell her. You're my best friend. I care about you more than anything. You mean the world to me. But the adrenaline had retreated and his courage waned with it. Peggy carefully pulled away but she didn't go far. She looked up at him expectantly, still so close that he could reach forward and kiss her. Kurt sighed and gave her a weak smile. "Let's find Peter."

Peggy's shoulders lowered, disappointment clear on her face. She wasn't sure what he'd wanted to say but she knew that wasn't it. Peggy slowly removed her hands from around his waist and Kurt felt a peculiar warmth wash over his skin. He knew that meant he was visible again. A moment later, Peggy shimmered into existence in front of him. Without a word, they left the alleyway.

It didn't take too long to track down Peter. He and Carol were hiding under the pier, watching the steadily approaching tide while they waited for their friends. Peter looked around when he heard hurried footsteps on the wooden promenade above them. He cautiously poked his head out from under the pier and saw his friends. Kurt put a hand on Peggy's shoulder and with a BAMF they arrived beside him. Carol coughed when she was suddenly enshrouded by blue smoke without warning and Kurt apologised sheepishly.

"Are you guys okay?" Peter asked, leading them further under the pier so that they were hidden from view. Kurt began to explain all that had transpired in the last few minutes, including what they had learned about Carl. Peter and Carol listened in rapt silence, looking just as horrified as Peggy must have done. She let Kurt do the talking as she eyed their surroundings.

The pier was enormous, stretching far out to sea. The wood was cracked and old and flaking but still strong. There was one just like it at the beach near her home, except there were roller coasters and amusements at the end. The one that sheltered their odd little group was empty apart from a few telescopes and one or two tourists. "We need to get off the island." Peter said firmly, surmising what they were all thinking. Letting Carl chase them around was pointless but they had no way of checking if Hank was back yet without leading him to the jet. Carl wasn't going to give up, but then, neither were they. Peter was just about to suggest commandeering a boat when Carol piped up.

"We can take the ferry." She suggested. The X-Men all stared at her in surprise and she gave a little shrug. "It's how I get to school every day." Peter exchanged glances with his friends, they were all a little embarrassed that they hadn't thought of that. The ferry carried tourists to and from the mainland every hour, on the hour. Glancing at her watch, Peggy realised they only had a couple of minutes before the boat left. She hated to ask him to use his powers but they would miss the ferry if Kurt didn't teleport them. He agreed without hesitation, so Peggy wrapped an arm around his waist while he placed a hand on Carol and Peter's shoulders.

They arrived at the marina, the ferry port not far off. They began to run but before they could get very far, a man stepped in front of them. Carol cried out and immediately hid behind Peter. Carl had looked scary before but now, with his broken nose and bloodshot eyes, he looked downright terrifying. Kurt immediately stepped to Peggy's side. He knew she could defend herself but he would never let her fight alone again.

"I've had enough of slimy, disgusting, filthy mutants." With each insult, Carl took a huge step forward. He was so large, it felt like they were being hunted by a wild animal. Peggy looked around them, wondering why they hadn't attracted the attention of the islanders, but there was no one around. They were all on the jetty, boarding the ferry. Another minute and it would set sail, leaving them stranded on an island with a maniac. "Give me the girl." Carl growled, holding out his hand. The X-Men stood their ground. Peter reached behind him and put a hand on Carol's shoulder, trying to reassure her that everything was going to be alright.

Carl's gaze swept over each of them slowly, calculatingly. Then at last, he drew his gun again. Peggy instinctively took a step backwards. Why couldn't Peter have taken the gun instead of Carl's wallet? He would claim it was a heat of the moment decision but she silently damned him and his warped priorities anyway. "Give her to me." Carl cocked the gun and Kurt heard Peggy's sharp intake of breath. "I don't miss twice." Peggy believed him. There was a rush of wind and a silver haze enveloped Carl. Before she knew it, Peter had the gun and had tossed it into the ocean. They didn't wait around to see Carl's reaction.

They took off in the opposite direction to the ferry, just wanting to get away from the man. Maybe they could double back, perhaps even run along the beach, anything to get to the ferry port and keep Carol as far away from Carl as possible. But their hopes of salvation vanished as a rumbling air horn rolled through the marina. Peggy looked over her shoulder and saw that all the passengers were boarded. The ferry was leaving without them.

She heard Peter swear loudly. They needed a new plan and fast. Carl was enormous but he moved quickly. It wouldn't be long before he gained on them. They didn't want to fight unless it was absolutely necessary. Despite their extensive training, Peggy and Kurt were only eighteen, barely even adults. Peter didn't want to endanger them. His mind was racing as fast as his heart as he tried to come up with a way out. They passed another jetty, decorated with brightly coloured sailboats. Peter suddenly dug in his heels, putting on the brakes.

"I think I have a plan." He cried, making Peggy and Kurt skid to a halt. Peter quickly explained his idea and they nodded to show they understood. They jogged along the dock and each of them dived into a different sailboat. Peggy chose the one closest to the promenade, it was imperative that Carl could hear her. She tore off the tarpaulin and wriggled behind the wheel until she was out of sight. She tucked her knees against her chest just in time.

Peggy heard the unmistakable thudding of Carl's heavy footsteps along the boardwalk. He was breathing heavily, it took a lot of effort to move his enormous body. She waited with a pounding heart as his wheezing grew louder and louder. She turned her head and peeked out from behind the wheel. She saw Peter stick his head up over the side of the boat he was hiding in, watching Carl move about above her head. He gave her the signal and ducked for cover again. Alright, it's now or never. Peggy collected her scattered thoughts and opened her mouth.

"I'm so glad we got away from that man. He was so ugly and stupid." She called out, borrowing Carol's voice. Her brain had stored away the pitch and intonations of the little girl's speech without her even thinking about it. Now, it was going to save them. "I can't wait to tell everyone about his human trafficking ring. What a bozo." Peggy looked around at Peter to see if Carl was listening.

He poked his head out from his hiding place and gave her a dubious look. Trust him to risk being discovered just to tell her that he thought her performance was lame. She shrugged, mouthing 'what?' He merely rolled his eyes. Peggy scoffed but would have to argue with him later. Carl had stepped onto the jetty. His footsteps made the little pier shudder, the wood creaking worryingly. There was an agonising silence as they waited for him to step into position. Then Peggy heard Peter yell,

"Now!" They sprang from their hiding places, hoping that the element of surprise would give them the advantage. It seemed to do the trick. Peggy rushed forward, aiming for his knees, but one of Carl's windmilling arms swung her way and his enormous fist caught her full on the mouth. She fell to the floor. Carl staggered back and got his feet caught up in a pile of rope left behind by the sailors.

Kurt teleported in front of him and struck him hard in the jaw, then with another BAMF he was behind Carl. He kicked him in the back of the knees and the man swayed like a felled tree then tumbled into a little speedboat. Kurt jumped in after him, intending to deal the final blow and then let Peter rush in to tie him up. But Carl had finally come to his senses. As Kurt reached towards him, Carl suddenly pulled a long, jagged knife from his boot. Kurt tried to back away but the sea made the little boat rock, causing him to fall forward onto Carl. Peggy heard him cry out in pain and felt her blood run cold.

"Kurt!" She shrieked, immediately rushing forward to help him. She didn't care about the plan or about Carl and the knife he wielded. Every fibre of her being was concentrated on getting Kurt to safety. She grabbed him by the scruff of his suit and jerked him away from Carl. He was heavy but fear made her strong. Peggy hooked her hands under his arms and tugged him over the side of the boat onto the jetty. She thought she saw Peter rush past her into the speedboat but nothing could have dragged her attention away from Kurt.

"I'm okay, I'm okay." He muttered breathlessly, a hand clutched to his chest. Peggy made sure he was clear of the boat before she leaned over him, checking for injuries. Her eyes immediately found the startling red sheen of blood escaping from underneath Kurt's palm. She carefully pried his hand away from his chest and saw that Carl had managed to stab Kurt through the open neck of his armour.

"Oh, shit." She breathed, but Kurt shook his head. His injury was minimal, the knife hadn't hit anything important. There was some blood but he could breathe and more importantly, he could fight.

"It's nothing." He tried to get to his feet but Peggy pushed him back down onto the jetty, not even trying to be gentle. He frowned up at her, his hand resting on his chest again to stem the bleeding. "We need to help Peter!"

"I think he's doing just fine on his own." Peggy pointed over her shoulder. Carl was enveloped again by a haze of silver as Peter rushed about the boat, dealing punch after punch. Once Carl was down, he started up the engine. Peter grabbed the rope from around Carl's feet and wrapped it around the accelerator. With one sharp tug, the boat roared into life and sped off down the jetty. Peter jumped off just before it left the marina but Carl was still stunned from his beating. He was halfway out to sea by the time he realised what had happened.

Peter lay on his back on the jetty, letting out a delirious laugh. It had been a long shot but somehow, his ridiculous plan had worked. Peggy began to chuckle as she watched Peter clutch his stomach, his whole body shaking with laughter. Beneath her, Kurt was smiling widely, his eyes closed. They were safe. The last of the day's sunlight warmed his skin, putting him so at ease that the sharp pain in his chest mellowed to a dull throb.

The speedboat careened over the water which was quickly getting choppier. Peggy's laughter began to fade as she watched the boat arc over a tall wave and come crashing back down again. Then suddenly, one wave began to swell, rising higher and higher until it towered over the others, about the size of a house. The speedboat carrying Carl Kinnerman skirted up the wave then all of a sudden, it folded in on itself and swallowed the boat whole.

The sea settled again, lying flat and calm as if nothing had happened. Peggy heard Peter let out a low whistle and turned to see him staring at Carol. She was standing in one of the boats, her little arms stuck straight out in front of her. Peggy watched in awe as Carol lowered her hands, sucking in a deep breath. The little girl turned to the X-Men and gave them a shy smile.


When they trudged up East Lakeshore Drive for the last time, they were all hungry and battered and shaking. Hank was waiting for them by the jet. He began to apologise as soon as he saw them. Apparently, the Professor had tried to contact him, so Hank had spent the best part of the afternoon walking around the island, attempting to get a better signal on his communicator. Peter explained everything as succinctly as possible: Carol's uncle, Carl, his unsavoury occupation, the whole shebang. He just wanted a lie-down, they all did. Hank sensed they were exhausted so he let them board the jet without too many questions. He promised to debrief them tomorrow instead, after they had all recuperated.

Kurt collapsed into one of the seats with a long groan. He'd changed out of his suit. It felt good to be back in his own clothes but it only made him want his bed more. Peter flopped down opposite him soon after. Carol was up front talking to Hank. They hadn't told him about the girl's mutation, they thought he might enjoy discovering it for himself. Kurt's ears pricked when he heard footsteps on the metal floor but he didn't open his eyes. He breathed in slowly, letting his muscles relax. He thought about taking a nap on the flight back, he'd certainly earned one. Someone cleared their throat but he was too comfortable to move.

"Take your shirt off." Okay, that got his intention. Kurt cracked an eye open to find Peggy standing in front of him. She had changed back into that frankly divine blue dress and was fiddling with a little bag. Was this... Was this a dream? Maybe he was more tired than he thought and had already drifted off without noticing. That was the only plausible explanation for why Peggy could be standing in front of him saying those words. He resisted pinching himself.

"What?" He stammered instead. Across from him, Peter was watching them with interest, clearly pleased with the unexpected entertainment. Peggy looked up from the bag and saw the shocked look on his face.

"Oh, sorry." She didn't seem to realise the connotations of her words. "Please?" Kurt would've laughed if the situation weren't quite so dire. He didn't dare look at Peter.

"Why do I..? What are you..?" He tried to ask but his nerves made the words come out all jumbled. How was he supposed to remember his English when she was asking him to undress? Peggy smiled at his stammering and raised the little green bag. He saw the white cross on the front and immediately understood.

"Hank gave me this." She plunked the bag down on the seat next to his. "I'm supposed to check on your horrific wound." Peggy wriggled her fingers and made her eyes go wide to make him laugh. It worked and his shoulders relaxed a little. Kurt held her gaze for a second, trying to see if she was as nervous as he was. There was no hint of apprehension on her face but then again, she wasn't the one who was going to be half-naked. Kurt finally caught the hem of his shirt and started to pull it up.

"Do you know what you're doing?" He asked, just before he reached behind him for the scruff of his shirt and pulled the material over his head. Peggy shrugged even though he couldn't see her, her bottom lip caught between her teeth. She was trying very hard not to stare.

"How hard can it be?" That didn't exactly inspire confidence. Kurt kept his eyes down as he carefully laid his shirt on the seat next to him. His hair was sticking up a little which was just plain adorable. Peggy swallowed thickly, hoping that he didn't hear it. It was nothing she hadn't seen before, but this was Kurt. Sweet, kind, funny, ridiculously attractive Kurt. He was so blue, and she wasn't surprised to find the patterns that marked his face also curled across his chest and stomach.

Peggy crouched down in front of him and leaned in close to check the damage done. All of her wild thoughts came to a standstill at the sight of his injury. The cut wasn't deep but it was long, arcing from just below Kurt's jugular to the top of his sternum. He was a lucky guy. "Bloody hell." She muttered to herself. This was a little more complex than her rudimentary skills could deal with but she wasn't deterred. Kurt gritted his teeth when he felt her fingers prod at the skin around his wound. He saw Peter wiggling his eyebrows at him over the top of Peggy's head and had to look away, afraid that he'd start to laugh.

Peggy hummed to herself, eyeing the cut as she tried to remember what little first aid her mother had taught her. Kurt watched her closely as she unzipped the green bag and rifled through it. He could see that determined look on her face, her forehead creasing slightly in concentration. He loved that look, it meant she had a plan and she wasn't going to give up anytime soon. He began to relax, leaning his head back against the seat. Peter watched them with a little smile. Oh, he wasn't going to stop teasing Kurt about this for a long, long time.

"Do you want me to take my shirt off too?" He asked Peggy, sitting up so he could shrug off his jacket. Peggy didn't even have a chance to respond.

"No, Peter!" Came Hank's immediate reply, twisting around in his seat to give Peter a stern look. He raised his hands in surrender and sat back again, a wide grin on his face. Peggy smiled to herself. Peter was smug and arrogant and a show-off, but he was a good guy. She hoped she would have many more missions with him in the future.

She finally found what she was looking for and let out a happy little cry. She held up the bottle of iodine solution for Kurt to see and grinned. He chuckled at the expression on her face as she settled back down in front of him. Peggy pressed a cloth she'd found inside the bag to the top of the bottle then turned it upside down, just as she'd seen her parents do a hundred times, then reached up and held it close to Kurt's skin. She warned him that it might sting before pressing the cloth to the wound.

Kurt hissed slightly but didn't try to move away. He'd had worse pain and he didn't want to make Peggy's job any harder. She dabbed tentatively at first but as soon as Kurt's expression softened, she allowed herself to add more pressure. She watched his face constantly, the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him. He was touched by how attentive she was. Peggy didn't say a word as she cleaned up his wound, she was still silent when she reached for the right size dressing. She stuck down the plaster with nimble fingers then sat back to inspect her work.

"There. That should be alright." Then Peggy began to frown. "I mean, I dunno. I'm not a doctor." She added, partly because she wanted to make him laugh but also because she honestly had no clue if she'd done it right. "But it's not bleeding so that can only be good." She patted the dressing proudly and Kurt winced in pain. She quickly apologised and he laughed at the horrified expression on her face.

"Very reassuring." He raised his eyebrows at her but let out a soft groan when the skin around his eye smarted. Peggy immediately noticed and leaned in close to study his face, her amber brown eyes darting across his skin.

"You've got a bruise." Carl packed quite a punch. She hadn't noticed it because of the colour of his skin but now she was close enough, she could see the tell-tale black markings beginning to emerge. Behind her, Peter snorted.

"How can you tell?" He asked, then laughed at his own dumb joke. Peggy shot him a look. It appeared she had no sense of humour when it was at Kurt's expense, especially when he was hurt. He'd have to make a note of that. Peggy sighed and delved back into the first aid kit, pulling out a cold compress and replacing the iodine solution. She raised the little blue gel pack for him to see, silently asking if she could treat his eye. Kurt nodded so slightly that she almost missed it. She carefully pressed the pack to his skin, apologising again when the ice cold compress made him suck in a sharp breath.

"He really did a number on you, eh?" Peggy murmured, shaking her head slightly. She was furious with Carl. Just the thought of Kurt getting injured was enough to make her blood boil. It was her fault. He'd been trying to protect her. She knew that Kurt would never blame her, but Peggy felt guilt start to well heavily in her chest. Kurt smiled slightly at her words, unaware of her inner-turmoil.

"You can talk." He said softly, reaching up and pointing at her split lip. She hadn't even noticed it. His finger ghosted across her bottom lip, so light she almost couldn't feel it. Almost. Peggy's lips parted of their own accord, which was extremely embarrassing. She wished her heart would stop hammering. It was so quiet in the jet, he was bound to hear it. Peggy forced a smile as she repositioned the compress.

"Tough as old boots, me." She waved him off. In truth, her whole body ached. She wanted her bed more than anything in the world. Kurt winced slightly and she apologised for what was probably the thousandth time. "Sorry. Sorry." He could probably do this for himself but Kurt was enjoying the proximity far too much to say anything. Her free hand came up to rest on his other cheek, keeping his head still as she moved the cold compress again. Her fingers lay across his jaw, her thumb resting against his cheek. Kurt closed his eyes, relishing in the feeling before it was inevitably taken from him again. "Is that better?" He hummed and she knew that meant yes. He leaned against her hand and Peggy bit back a smile.

"Margarinely." He murmured, his eyes still closed. It took Peggy a second but when she finally registered what he'd said, she gave a breathy little laugh.

"Eh?" She asked, so quietly only he could hear it. Kurt opened one eye.

"Margarinely." He repeated, but Peggy still looked confused. "Like, a little bit more? I learned it the other day." Peggy frowned at him for another second before her expression brightened.

"Marginally." She corrected him, beginning to smile. "Margarine is like fake butter." Kurt felt his face start to burn and hoped she couldn't feel it with the hand that still cupped his cheek. He'd been told his English was practically perfect but that didn't mean he couldn't make mistakes now and then. He knew Peggy was laughing with him, not at him, and his embarrassment retreated a little.

He looked thoughtful for a moment. Peggy couldn't help brushing his fringe out of his eyes. It felt so natural, neither of them even registered it. Peter certainly noticed, though he made a grand effort not to say anything. Peggy repositioned the ice pack for the final time and Kurt didn't even blink. That meant the pain had subsided. Hopefully, the swelling would go down soon and he wouldn't end up with a black eye.

"It is also a name, yes?"

"Marjorie."

"Verdammt."

When she was done, Peggy returned the medical kit to Hank then came back and settled into the seat beside Kurt's. Hank told them to put their seatbelts on, they would be taking off in just a few minutes. Peggy sighed and closed her eyes. They stung at first but she ignored it and tried to put her mind at rest. The day had not gone as she'd predicted. It had been one hell of a first mission. At least, she supposed, she had a good story to tell her friends when they arrived back at the mansion. A yawn escaped her mouth and she reconsidered. She'd tell them tomorrow. She opened her eyes and looked over at Kurt. He looked like he might be asleep already.

"Kurt?" She whispered his name, just in case he was still awake. He opened one eye and gave her a sweet half-smile. She returned it without hesitation. "We were supposed to go to the cinema today." If it weren't for the impromptu mission, they would be on their way to the nearest mall right at that second. Kurt raised his head, looking thoughtful. He also seemed to have forgotten what day it was.

"We were." He agreed. "I was looking forward to it." Peggy let out a soft chuckle. She had been looking forward to it as well. Going to see the new Indiana Jones film would be great fun, but she'd been far more excited about spending time with Kurt on their sort-of date. There was a long pause, filled with the buzzing and whirring of the engines preparing for take-off.

"I think we should consider rescheduling." Peggy said, once the racket had dulled enough so that she wouldn't have to shout. Kurt looked at her for the longest time. The significance of her seemingly simple words resonated with him. After they made the plans a few days ago, Kurt realised that he and Jubilee had practically coerced her into it. But Peggy wanted to reschedule, she still wanted to go. It mattered to her. He didn't know why but the semantics made his chest squeeze. Peggy tried to figure out what he was thinking but his expression was indecipherable. He had this strange little smile, his eyes never leaving hers.

"I think you're right, nachtigall." He said after a moment.

The journey was short. Nobody said a word throughout the flight. Carol was curled up in the seat beside Peter, softly humming a tune under her breath. Peter smiled warmly down at the little girl. He hoped he saw more of her after she enrolled at the Institute, he'd grown rather fond of her. Carol stopped humming when Hank announced that they were around ten minutes away from the mansion. She looked up at Peter excitedly and he chuckled, tapping the end of her nose and making her laugh. She looked over at her other new friends to see if they were as excited as she was but giggled when she saw the position they were in.

Peter looked to where she pointed and rolled his eyes when he saw his friends. Peggy was curled up against Kurt's side despite her seatbelt. Her face was pressed into his shoulder while Kurt's head rested on top of hers. They were both fast asleep, not even the rumbling of a plane preparing for landing could wake them. Peter wished he had a camera, the guys were never going to believe him. Jubilee was going to have a field day.

The jet landed soon after with a whoosh and a jolt that unfortunately made the pair stir at last. They stumbled out of the plane, barely able to keep their eyes open. Peter made his goodbyes fairly quickly. He needed to get home and make sure that his sisters got to bed on time. Before he left, he promised Carol that he would visit soon.

Hank led the remaining students out of the hangar and into the school. He thanked Peggy and Kurt for all their hard work. They were to meet him tomorrow at eleven sharp to go over the details of their mission. They were so tired, they agreed just to get him to stop talking. Despite his exhaustion, Kurt accompanied Peggy all the way upstairs to her room. She tried to protest at first but he insisted and she was too tired to argue. They reached her bedroom door and Kurt opened his mouth to say goodnight but Peggy got there faster.

"Oh! Before I forget," She said brightly, suddenly feeling a lot more awake. "I've got something for you." She opened her bedroom door and rushed inside. Kurt was so exhausted it took him a moment to register exactly what she'd said.

"For me?" He stepped into the doorway. He didn't want to go into her room when she hadn't invited him but his curiosity was too great to wait out in the hall. Peggy was rooting through her desk drawer, making an awful racket as she did so. She let out a triumphant cry then came hurrying over.

"I made you this." She passed him something small and plastic. Kurt turned the object over in his hands and realised it was a cassette tape. On it were the words 'To Kurt, from Peggy'.

"A mixtape?" Peggy nodded hurriedly, suddenly feeling incredibly nervous.

"Jubilee helped me with it." She explained, her words coming out a mile a minute. "I meant to give it to you this morning but then the mission and..." She took a deep breath trying to calm herself down. "I know you like music and you're always looking for new stuff, so I thought I'd put some together. Most are songs I think you'll like but some are just ones that I really love and..." Peggy realised that Kurt was staring at her and her courage faltered. Oh, God, she was such a nerd. A mixtape? Peggy refrained from putting her head in her hands. She swallowed hard. "It's stupid really, you don't have to..." She knew she was blushing. She tried to take the tape back but Kurt held it out of her reach.

"No, no, this is brilliant." He said with a broad smile. "Thank you, Peggy." She blinked at him, surprised by his enthusiasm. She had worked hard on the tape. There were songs on it that she loved and songs that reminded her of Kurt. If she was being completely honest, it was her way of showing that she cared about him. This Peggy would never admit out loud.

"Well, it's not all that." She mumbled, unable to look him in the eye for fear of turning an even worse shade of red. "But you're welcome, I suppose." Kurt was still smiling at her and it was pretty bloody wonderful, but he was making her knees all wobbly. Peggy cleared her throat and smoothed her hands over the front of her dress just for something to do. "Thanks again for basically saving my life, it's much appreciated." She knew Kurt was mad at her for taking off so suddenly and putting herself in danger. If he hadn't stepped in, she'd be a goner. Kurt didn't seem angry now. In fact, he gave a low laugh that she felt vibrating in her own chest.

"It's okay. I know I'm your hero, you don't have to say it." He grinned wickedly. Peggy's mouth fell open but she was laughing before she could chide him.

"That mouth of yours is going to get you in trouble one day, gorgeous." She muttered instead, shaking her head slightly at the floor. Kurt was momentarily dazzled by the term of endearment but he tried not to show it. His smile grew and he raised his eyebrows.

"I do hope so." Peggy looked up at him again, the faintest hint of a smirk on her red lips. He thought she might fire back something clever as she always did but instead, she merely smiled. To distract himself, Kurt added, "Thank you for saving my life." He would never forget that Peggy had stepped in front of a gun for him. Although, she didn't seem all that bothered about it.

"Oh, anytime." She waved a hand about airily, as if she was merely being thanked for buying him a coffee or holding the door open. Kurt frowned slightly. He didn't like the implication that Peggy would put herself in danger again without a second thought, but before he could protest, she stepped back into her room, one hand on the door frame. When Peggy spoke, her voice was soft and oh so enthralling.

"Goodnight, Kurt."

"Goodnight, Peggy." As soon as her door closed, Kurt teleported back down to his room on the second floor. He punched the air in celebration but refrained from letting out a triumphant cheer. Scott was only across the hall and he had ears like a bat. Kurt slowly got changed into his pyjamas, not wanting to aggravate the gash just below his throat. Despite his aching body, he couldn't wipe the grin from his face.

He couldn't be bothered to shower. Instead, he flopped down onto his bed and let out an enormous yawn. He held up the tape Peggy had given him, turning it slightly so that it glinted in the light. She made him a mixtape. Peggy made something for him. Kurt smiled to himself then reached for his bedside table where his Walkman sat, his most treasured possession. It had been a gift from his friends, they'd all chipped in for his birthday last year.

He carefully slotted the tape in then snapped the lid shut. He lay back on his bed, wriggling his shoulders to get comfortable and pulled the headphones down over his ears. Kurt closed his eyes as the first song began to play, one hand clutching the Walkman, the other resting on his stomach. He listened to the tape as he drifted gently off to sleep, slipping from track to track with a smile.

'You talk like Marlene Dietrich and you dance like Zizi Jeanmaire. Your clothes are all made by Balmain and there's diamonds and pearls in your hair, yes there are.'

Whilst Peter Sarstedt sang, he pictured Peggy, hoping that perhaps if he thought about her enough, she would enter his dreams as well.


1. Come back!

2. Never do that again