Chapter 11 - Too (Two) Cute Girls

Sying had been particularly horrible that night because he had been so keyed up after the birthday party, and even though he finally went to sleep, he woke up early and was grumpy over not getting enough sleep. So both Noh and Jubilee were down in the kitchen trying to wake up with the first pot of coffee.

"Didn't think you two would be upright this early," Bobby said in a thick voice as he pulled a face with the first sip of his coffee. "What the hell did K do to the coffee when she made it anyhow? It shouldn't be this hard to get right!"

"I do not know, but I'm sorely missing it right now," Noh said with a sigh as Sying continued to grumpily thump his little fists against Noh until Noh let him down so he could scoot around.

Jubilee poured herself a bowl of Sugar Bombs with a yawn as Bobby clicked on the TV as usual, though when she looked up, she almost smirked. "Looks like someone else had a late night too," she muttered, tipping her head at JJ, who was just starting up his morning news.

"He probably slept on his mustache crooked," Bobby said. "Got a wild hair up his nose."

Jubes chuckled and nodded her agreement as Noh slid her a re-filled cup of coffee, though she quickly lost the smile when she saw the lead-in image for JJ's top story — another picture of Logan and K.

"The top story today — and breaking news," JJ said, sounding tired but incredibly pleased, which usually meant it was something juicy. "Recently uncovered video footage of the Weapon X program irrefutably proves that these government-sponsored sadists established complete control over civilians." He leaned forward in his seat. "During the course of today's story, this reporter will explain how the black-ops Weapon X group intended to create unstoppable weapons out of mutants and people alike, and despite politicians trying to put the focus of the blame on the people they captured and endentured, this program violated not only the laws of this country but the laws of human conscience."

"What … what am I seeing right now?" Jubilee half breathed out, a frown on her face. "Rachel, if you're mind controlling me, this is not funny."

"No, I see it too," Noh assured her as JJ went into his disclaimers, warning viewers that the footage was graphic even with his best attempt to edit it for viewing. "It seems Jameson is… defending Wolverine and K."

"Spidey has to see this," she said. "His head will explode, but he has to see this."

"Your wish is my command," Noh said with a nod before he kissed her cheek and zipped off as Bobby hit the record button and rewound the DVR so that they could show Pete the top of the story and he could get the full effect.

When Noh returned with a very sleepy Peter — still pajama-clad — he set Pete down and then set a mug of coffee in front of him. "You should see this," he informed Peter.

"I am so not awake," Peter muttered. "Why do I need to see this?"

Bobby pointed at the TV with the remote. "JJ's… yeah, you just gotta see this," he said before he pressed the 'play' button and JJ's opening monologue started up again. He'd also mentally called out to Rachel, though she, of course, already knew what was going on — having picked her dad's brain anyway.

Peter glared at them all for a moment. "I can watch JJ lose his cool anytime …" But he faded off as he listened to what the man was saying.

Noh and Jubilee and Bobby were mostly watching Peter's jaw drop through what they'd already heard, but then JJ really got into his story, and everyone in the kitchen suddenly found themselves glued to the screen.

They didn't know about any of this. It was all new — and Noh was almost automatically moving to wrap Jubilee up in his arms as she got madder and madder at what she was seeing. Even the edited-for-audiences video clips they were playing were just… wrong.

When the video section was over, JJ reappeared looking battle-worn and deathly serious as he outlined what he could not show on national television for general audiences.

"Where did he find this?" Bobby asked, almost to himself. He was holding a mug of coffee but hadn't taken a single sip, and when Rachel did finally make her appearance, she simply took it out of his hands and set it aside so that he wouldn't drop it.

"He had to have gotten it from them." Jubilee was nearly in tears.

Noh gently kissed her neck from behind as he wrapped her up in his arms. "From the program? What could they possibly gain from proving their own evil nature to the world?" he asked softly.

"No," Jubes said, shaking her head. "It had to have been stolen from the program."

Bobby shook his head as the newcast switched to commercial, with JJ promising that he would come back with more on this breaking story. "That's just… those are just clips," he muttered. "That's the tip of the iceberg." He was wide-eyed. "Nobody… nobody knew about any of this."

"That's because neither one of them ever wanted to tell anyone," Storm said. She had a hard glint to her gaze as she watched the television, but it wasn't until Scott arrived that anyone who knew it was happening before it happened was there to see the results of their search.

Noh looked up at Scott for a moment. "And now it is nationally known," he said quietly, his head tipped to the side as he seemed to be considering Scott.

"He's gonna be so mad," Jubilee said at almost a whisper.

"Yes, likely he will want someone to yell at," Noh said, still watching Scott though with a small smirk. "When he returns."

"If you can talk him into it, you mean," Jubilee said with a frown.

"I'm sure he doesn't need to be talked into yelling at me," Scott joked, trying to get a smile.

"You know what I meant," Jubilee said, red-cheeked and narrowed eyes.

"Kurt's keeping an eye on the news. As soon as we get a clear idea of how fast the politicians will start backing off when they see what JJ's got ... you know he'll bring them back," Scott promised her.

"And likely he won't ask their opinion on whether they want to leave wherever they'd hidden themselves," Noh said mildly.

"But that doesn't mean they'll stay," Jubes pointed out.

"Jubilee, I doubt they will leave when you are hugging them until next Christmas," Noh told her.

"Ha-ha, you're hilarious, moon boy," she said with a little frown.

"Just give Kurt some credit," Scott said. "He'll get them back for good — you know he'll move heaven and earth to do it."

Kurt had waited until JJ's reports hit the circuits and the politicians were backtracking; the cries for Logan and K's heads turned to cries for Weapon X's heads... Basically, he waited until it would be clear to his friends that they were no longer being hunted. But it had taken some supreme patience, and he didn't wait too long, either — more ready to have his best friend back — before he teleported into the living room of K's cottage.

But he frowned hard when he saw that they were packed and ready to go. K — now blonde — was feeding Elin, and Logan was packing up the last of what they'd need.

He cleared his throat and tried to ignore the way his tail was twitching. "Oh good; you're packed to go home," he said in a tone that brokered no argument.

But both of them gave him a completely dry and unamused look. Logan shook his head and K went back to Elin, simply to let Logan talk to him. "We're leavin,' you got that much right."

"You're no longer being hunted; there's no one calling for your heads that anyone will take seriously. You can come home. We'll celebrate Elin's birthday, and you can see how much Krissy has grown," Kurt said in a rush.

"All the more reason not to go there," Logan said. "They'll hit back. Hard. And when it's over, then it's just a matter of everyone giving us that look." He gestured to Kurt's body language and expression and frowned a bit. "There is a reason I never told anyone."

"I know, and I understand. Better than I ever did before," Kurt told him. "But Logan ... they're going to hit us hard anyway. You should be there to help us fight them. And you should be there for everything else. Do you want J. Jonah Jameson to have the last word on how your friends remember you?"

"Probably will anyhow. Not a damn one of you know when to quit."

"That's why you love us," Kurt said with a nod. He let out a breath and rested a hand on Logan's shoulder. "There will be consequences to today. I know that. But they aren't consequences that should keep you from your family and your friends. You're not going to bring any more danger than usual down on us — and the rest we can figure out ourselves." Kurt gave him a pleading look. "You've been out of our lives for so long. Please don't make it permanent. It will break their hearts."

Logan stared at him for a good, long time. "I don't like pity."

"None of us do. But it's part of what we deal with — do you think Kate was happy when she had her shoulder patched up and everyone could see?"

"This is a little bigger than a patch job around the house. And you made it public."

"I know, and I'm sorry — but that was where the fight was." Kurt looked at him wide-eyed before, when he saw that Logan still didn't look like he was listening, he shifted into anger. "And honestly, Logan, I don't give a damn about your hurt feelings and pride. I just want you back."

Logan shook his head at that but didn't respond except to ask, "Who was involved?"

"The Hawkeyes started it," he admitted. "Well, really Kate did — she got fed up with JJ and decided to put her private detective business back into play." He smiled a bit proudly at that. "And Wade invited himself as soon as he knew what she was up to."

"You let him in on this?" Logan asked with a frown.

"He threw himself into it," Kurt told him. "I've never seen him that… quiet. Focused. Most of what we had before the video aired ... what we were able to use to stop the bill… we owe it to him."

"Why would he want to help?" K asked from the kitchen.

"They're the ones responsible for his insanity," Kurt said simply. "You two are not the only ones who were part of their plans."

"I know," she said, nodding. "I just don't get why he'd … whatever."

"I think he would be the best one to tell you that," Kurt admitted before he paused and seemed to think over his words. "He was the one to get Essex's files."

"Wait, what?" Logan said, looking a bit more taken back. "What … how the hell deep did you go?"

"As deeply as we could," Kurt admitted. "Anything we could use against them. Though at the time, none of them knew it was Essex they were raiding until he proposed his trade for the information."

"What kind of trade?" K asked, looking very concerned.

Kurt's expression turned to one of pure disdain. "He seems to be… looking for a way around my father's spell. Any powers he acquired from stolen samples, he's quickly losing, so ... he needs willingly given ones."

"Sooo…. If I stab him in the face?" K asked, one eyebrow arched high.

"Then I'm not sure if he'll heal from it. Wade didn't tell me if it worked or not, and he likely doesn't know. But I'd suggest doing it anyway," Kurt said with a small smirk. "I'll help."

"You're not stabbing Sinister in the face," Logan said with an irritated tone. "We're not chasing after him. If he shows up on his own …" He let out a little breath. "We should hand it to Scott."

Kurt smiled at that and nodded. "He was on the team as well — you should know he was furious when he saw… well, everything."

"Perfect," he muttered under his breath as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Not at you, mein Freund," Kurt said, shaking his head. "At them. You should have seen the building he leveled." But when neither of them looked like they believed him, Kurt let out a frustrated sigh. "Alright... don't go anywhere. If you want the full story, I don't know all of it. Give me just a moment." With that, he disappeared with a bamf, only to reappear moments later with Kate in tow. She was holding a giggling Krissy and flat out grinned when she saw Logan and K.

"Why are you blonde?" she asked — immediately fixing her gaze on K in obvious shock

"Why do you care?" K shot back, with a frown.

"Because how the heck is Krissy supposed to recognize you if you change too much, you idiot?" she asked, all but skipping over.

K gave her a look that clearly said 'that's the point'.

"And you!" Kate turned to face Logan and level a finger at him. "What's with the beard and ponytail? You guys're gonna have to do something about this, because you can't look like this when Chance and Charlie say hi. It will confuse the heck out of them."

"You recognized me," Logan defended.

"I've seen you and your Canadian beard mutation," she shot back, rolling her eyes.

"Yes, but he made it all … proper," K said. "I know you haven't seen that."

"This is true, but I'm also a Hawkeye and I know how to spot people even when they're hiding behind Canadian beard hair," Kate insisted before she set Krissy down gently and wrapped K up in a hug.

"Hey, stranger," K said, squeezing the purple-clad Hawk in return.

Kate grinned at that before she bounded over to give Logan the same treatment. "No escape for the hug magnet," she teased.

"You'd never find me if I didn't want you to," he warned.

"Well then, it's a good thing you want me to. Clearly. Since I'm standing here," she countered before she kissed his cheek and made a face. "K, how do you stand that? It's weird."

"It's soft," K replied as she let Elin out of her chair.

"Yeah, but speaking as someone who regularly makes out with a fuzzy Elf, the beard-skin sensation is… no," Kate insisted.

"I'm … not going to traumatize you and answer that further," K teased.

Kate grinned as she spun in place to drape her arm around Logan's shoulders before she spotted little Elin and beamed even wider on seeing her walking around. "She's so big!" she said, then paused. "I mean ... bigger."

"Yet somehow, not," K said with a frown as she seemed to notice the size disparity in the two baby girls in the cottage. "You've been outstripped, flicka."

Kurt had to smile at that when he saw Krissy determinedly crawling her way over to where Elin was — even on all fours it was obvious that she was bigger than Elin. The little elfling wasn't making fast progress on her own, though, so Elin got there first, and Krissy sat back down and wrapped her tail around Elin's middle with a contented grin.

Elin scooted closer and pulled her into a little hug. "Sweet baby."

Krissy giggled and snuggled her friend, patting her cheek with one hand as she curled her tail tighter in the snuggle.

"Well, at least she recognizes someone," Kate teased. "Even if Elin's bigger and talking oh my gosh." She crouched down beside the two little girls and settled in to watch the adorable snuggles happening, clearly with an expression that said she could hardly handle the cuteness.

"Don't think playing dirty is going to help your cause, demon," K said as she leveled a finger at Kurt.

Kurt shrugged openly. "You seemed concerned about going back. I thought you should ease into it," he said.

"Right. I'm sure that's what it is," K said as she walked over toward Kate to sit on the floor with the little ones.

Kurt grinned as he watched the girls together and leaned over to Logan with a gleam in his eyes. "Those two are going to be inseparable," he said. "It's only right; every generation needs a Wagner and a Howlett."

"You're shameless," Logan said dryly, arms still crossed over his chest.

"I am half-demon," Kurt defended.

"Yeah, yeah, you can't go leanin' on that excuse all the time," he replied.

"Why not?" Kurt asked, grinning wider now. "It's a very good excuse."

"Because you haven't done anything yet that would be considered anything but goodie two shoes. One way or another."

"You left me alone with our fearless leader for too long then," he teased.

"Wasn't my doin'."

"Then don't extend it," Kurt replied with a smirk. "I clearly need my Wolverine to keep up my troublemaking streak."

"You're gonna eat those words, Elf."

"Gladly," he replied without hesitation. He paused and looked Logan over for a moment before he grinned again. "Would you like to say hello to Natasha and Clint? She's still not quite where she needs to be for you to win our bet, I think. Perhaps you can nudge her," he teased.

"That would be cheating," he replied. "She was the one who broke the code for you, isn't she?"

"I didn't have time to break it myself," he defended. "I was busy rescuing my princess."

"Mmmhmm," Logan said with a little smirk before he called over to K. "You were right; he cheated."

"We should ditch them right now and make him find us," K replied.

Kurt looked offended for only a moment before an impish grin spread over his face and he said, never breaking eye contact with Logan, "Well, I am half-demon."

With that, seemingly to prove his point, he teleported himself and Logan to the bunker — and not a moment later, the girls appeared in a poof of smoke as well.