Chapter thirteen
"You gotta ask her out on a date, blue, before someone else does" Logan growled lowly, watching the woman out on the lawn. Beside him Hank and Kurt rolled their eyes in sync, exchanging a glance that clearly said that Logan was thinking too much,
"Hey Ororo?" Hank cupped his hands around his mouth as he yelled up to where the weather goddess practiced her flying a few feet above the ground. She glided over, all grace and beauty – enough to make Kurts skin darken over his cheekbones and look away from her quickly,
"Yes?" She asked mildly, glancing warily between the three men,
"Logan thinks you need to go out on a date" The Doctor grinned wickedly as Logan scowled at him,
"You're a rotten bastard, McCoy, don't let anyone tell ya any different" Wolverine growled as Hank and Kurt fell about laughing,
"What is all this about?" Ororo asked with a puzzled look,
"The Elfs got it bad for ya, 'Ro" Logan said with a grin as wicked as Hanks. Ororos jaw dropped as she blushed looking over at Kurt who was glaring at Logan with an expression that definitely said 'you're going to die for this',
"Oh goodness me, is that the time?" Hank said loudly, grabbing hold of Logans shoulder, "we'd best be going now" He all but dragged the feral man from here they were standing on the porch, "Wolverine I can't begin to describe how despicable that was" Hank smirked as they walked through the French doors into the kitchen, turning as Logan walked past him, heading towards the fridge,
"Excuse me? This from Mr 'Hey-Ororo'?" Logan snapped, going for the first beer he could find, "Hows the elf doin?" He called over his shoulder, seeing Hank standing close to the window out the corner of his eye,
"Not too badly by the looks of it" Hank reported in distracted tone, "she hasn't slapped him yet at least" He added as Logan came to stand beside him,
"Yeah well there's time-"
"Vhat's going on here?" Both men turned at the sound of a very feminine voice,
"We were just-"
"Actually there isn't much-"
"Don't ya make any noise when-" Both of them babbled as Denday walked forward,
"Vere you vatching Kurt and Ororo?" Logan and Hank exchanged a look over the top of her head,
"Goodness is that the time!" Hank said over dramatically, "Logan we've got to be at that thing, remember?"
"Thing?" The Canadian asked before his eyes widened a little, "oh that thing" The pair headed towards the door, Hank cuffing up the side of Logans head when Denday wasn't looking. The German doctor rolled her eyes as she was left alone, looking out to where Ororo and Kurt were now standing. Kurt was speaking, his nerves showing only through the whip and curl of his tail behind him. Whatever he was saying made an impact as the white haired woman covered her mouth with her hand before flinging herself at him. Denday turned away with a small smile – (1)Brunnen getan, Kurt – as she made herself a coffee, turning a little when she heard the screen door slide open and Kurt and Storm walked in,
"Hi Denday" The white haired woman said with a smile before turning back to Kurt, "so where should we go?" She asked him.
"Ja vell, maybe a nice picnic in zer grounds some vhere" He shrugged, a goofy big grin on his face as he winked at Denday, "vould you do me a cup of coffee, Denday oh second light of my life?" He grinned, Denday rolled her eyes as she did as he asked,
"Why don't we just go into town?" Ororo asked curiously, realisation that something was wrong as his tail swished into a curled shape behind him,
"Erm, let's just say that I'm a little too popular in town at zer moment" He blushed,
"Too popular?" She asked flatly,
"Vell, ja, lets say I may just have hordes of…yelling people chasing me down zer street" He glanced over his shoulder as if expecting to see said horde right now, "only for my autograph of course" He cleared his throat,
"What did you do?" Ororo sighed tiredly, trying very hard not to smile as Kurt turned a too innocent boyish grin on her,
"Nothing that can't be fixed by a vealthy shop owner" He said with a perfected devil-may-care gesture. Behind him Denday rolled her eyes, making Ororo laugh,
"Look out Kurt! He's here to get you!" Denday yelled – BAMPF…
"That is not a nice thing to do Denday" Kurt said from where he hung up side down from the light fitting, swinging gently on his tail as she patted his shoulder,
"Vhen vas I ever nice, Wagner?" She asked with a grin before looking up at Ororo, "vant I should help pack your picnic?" She asked gently, the weather goddess reached out to squeeze the Doctors hand gently,
"No, I think I'm going to see if I can talk him into going for pizza" She smiled, linking her arm with Kurts as he 'ported down beside her,
"(2)Kein lustiges business, Wagner, Erinnern Sie sich, daß sie eine Dame ist" Denday called after the pair as they left the room. Kurt stuck his tongue out at her,
"If I vasn't a gentleman I really vould svear at you, Denday" He called before they disappeared round the corner. Denday laughed softly, wrapping her hands around her cup of coffee and contemplating the swirl of it as she leant back against the work surface,
"Isn't this supposed to be your day off?" A rich, cultured voice rolled over her, as soft, gentle and kind as bubble bath. She looked up, smiling as Hank sidled back into the room, picking up a clip board he'd forgotten to take with him. He'd finally acknowledged just how ill he had been and decided to limit himself – reluctantly – to paperwork,
"Ja…but I don't have any vhere to go really" She shrugged with a tired smile, "vhat are you up to today?" He wrinkled his nose as he moved over, leaning on the counter opposite her,
"I'm on babysitting duty. I've got to take the students on a field trip" He half smiled, "there's a carnival in town…rides, too much fairy floss, ice cream and an out door movie screen" He shrugged before his smile fell away for a moment, "you should come with us" He said softly. Denday felt herself start to blush,
"Vhat?" She asked looking up at him,
"You should come with" He repeated, wondering if she could see how much of an effort it was for him to say that, "I'll need a hand looking after the students after all…someone's bound to eat too much junk food and end up sick" He said, rolling his eyes inwardly at himself, yes because that's such an incentive, oh please say yes
"Vell…I…um…wow…"
"Is this Dr Acacia Denday at a loss for words?" He teased softly, covering his insecurity with a confidence he didn't really feel. The pretty pink blush across her cheekbones – delicate little splashes of rose – darkened a little before she stuck her tongue out at him,
"If you can't cope on your own" She teased softly, something about the tone, the twinkle in her eye made Hank suddenly feel very nervous,
"I didn't say-"
"I'm being cruel, McCoy" She smiled at him, "I'd love to go with you" She said softly, "er, and zer others" She added quickly, putting her half empty cup of coffee down on the side, "I need to change" She mumbled on the way past before pausing, "are you going to be alright going out? Considering you've been...unvell?" Hank smiled down at her, eyes sparkling and she suddenly felt like a moron before she moved on past,
"Denday?" Hank called out, watching as she paused in the doorway, turning to look at him over her shoulder – his heart skipped a few beats,
"Yes?" She asked softly. Hank opened his mouth but no sound came out, "Hank? Are you ok?" She asked, moving closer with a concerned little frown,
"Yes" He forced a smile, "Sorry I…just forgot what I was going to say" He lied. She smiled and shook her head before leaving the room. Hank growled at himself, leaning his elbows on the work surface and holding his head in his hands, "Augh…you do not ask a lady to wear her hair down" He mumbled into his palms, "it's none of your business…you don't even care"
"Care about what, Blue?" Bobby Drake asked as he sauntered into the kitchen, heading straight for the freezer,
"Teenage hormones in adult bodies, Robert" He said with a hint of a smirk. As the conversation started to take off he sent up a small prayer - dear Lord…do you have any idea how inconvenient it is for me to fall in love right now?
(1) Brunnen getan – well done
(2) Kein lustiges business, Wagner, Erinnern Sie sich, daß sie eine Dame ist – no funny business, Wagner, remember she is a lady