Chapter 8

Consequences of Fixation

A month had gone by without anything particularly disastrous happening. A month had also gone by without talking to Kurt about that night. She rubbed her eyes as she waited for lunch break to be over in her classroom. She'd been pouring over her black book again to seek out information about Niamh or anything she could potentially use. But it was difficult to prepare or understand if you didn't know the method or reasons.

She'd become acquainted with most of the staff and spent most of her days talking to Annie or trying to understand Hank in one of his many philosophical speeches. He was a very friendly and enthusiastic person to say the least, but by god it was like following a mental labyrinth. Socrates had nothing on this man.

However others kept themselves at a distance. Ororo was a teacher who seemed to enjoy observing more than anything. Logan was quite frankly terrifying with how intense he was 24/7. His scowl made her want to be swallowed up by the ground. And Kurt kept to himself and his work. Of course they had mild light-hearted conversations every now and then about the weather, if coffee was better than tea, or their shared love of adventure movies. Though they disagreed on the best action hero. Erol Flynn or Harrison Ford. Indiana Jones was an absolute classic and she would die on that hill.

But they hadn't ever mentioned Niamh. Or magic. Even the blood trees. Everyone moved on so quickly from that horror it was almost alarming. Not to mention the times where everyone suddenly just disappeared for the day because of some sort of emergency. Even Annie had to rush off down to the lower levels. A place Layla was restricted from going into until her probation was cleared. She had been surrounded by more people than ever before. But it was just another house on the hill.

One new thing she held on tightly to was her job. You had to be grounded in teaching otherwise your students would see it right away. Super powered or not, they were just like any other teenagers. Bright and creative, but had special knacks for sass, fibbing and moodiness. Sure, she may have needed a bigger desk for the physically larger students and converted her lessons to have subtitles on power points for a student who couldn't take off his headphones. But she only had to use the fire extinguisher once at least! Note to self, don't ask the students to abstract paint their feelings towards homework.

She slumped over her desk and eyeballed the clock; counting down the precious minutes before a new class. Nothing would change if she didn't change it herself. She mulled over the argument with Kurt. Pondering different solutions to the problem. Only one came to a compromise, but it's whether he would accept it that was the issue.

There was only one way to find out. Unfortunately, asking him privately turned out to be easier said than done.

The bell chimed and she slipped back into the teacher mode, sitting straight tweaking her circular glasses and brushing out the crumples in her skirt. A new class filed into the studio, some chatting with their friends, others eying her in suspicion. All of it now just washed over her as she repeated the structure of the lesson in her head.

Until her thoughts came crashing down.

In the doorway, a girl stared back with familiar inhuman eyes.

…

Kurt stared at the community centre door where the remains of the temple should have been. Shocked to find a brick wall bordering up the doorway behind it. Chalk outlines were smudged and washed away around it, leaving him with very little evidence.

'Please tell me you didn't take me all the way into the city to show me a brick wall.' Logan grumbled behind him.

Kurt greatly appreciated his friend, even with his deadpan sass. Not only for noticing that something was wrong. Not only for being patient when Kurt found out he really couldn't tell anyone about the cult or Niamh. He must have seemed like a deranged maniac, his friend just quietly waiting for him to finish before telling Kurt he was talking nonsense. But he also came out here in the morning to back him up should something else go horribly wrong.

'No. I- the wall wasn't here last time.' He teleported them inside the building. But instead of the ruins of the temple, they found a dusty old hall. The floors scattered with broken boards and a ramshackle stage that held stained props of painted bushes and trees from a forgotten production.

Kurt spun around, his tail lashing from side to side in stress. 'This wasn't it.' he shook his head. There had to be something. A clue.

'I can see that.' Logan lit a cigarette and puffed out a long stream of smoke. His attention scanned lazily over the area before returning to Kurt. Only one thing he could clearly see and that was how stressed out his friend was. 'Let's clear the area before we count anything out Elf.'

After a quick sweep it truly did seem like a dead end. No magic. No items. Nothing.

'Logan I swear that something was here.' Kurt jumped down from the stage. His eyebrows tilted up in worry, concern clear.

'I believe you.' He took in a deep breath. Kurt sensed there was something he wasn't telling him. Before he could protest Logan spoke. 'Well we're not gonna go to the city for nothing.' he flicked away his cigarette butt on the ground and snuffed it with his boot. 'Let's get a drink.'

Kurt blinked. 'It's 11 am.'

'And?'

'We have to teach later.' He crossed his arms, playing at being responsible. But a wry smirk played on his lips.

'Were grown men, alcohol doesn't affect me and one drink won't hurt you.' He clapped Kurt on the back and put an arm around his shoulders. 'C'mon.'

…

Layla could have chosen to do anything at that moment of awareness. She could have acknowledged. Could have at any point decided to talk to the girl. Instead she pretended not to notice her.

Throughout the lesson the teenage girl, who's name she discovered was Vira, sat at the back of class. Never paying attention to her actual work, but instead skewering Layla with an intense obsessive stare.

What did she want? The question whispered in the back of her mind as she taught the class. From her mean edgy exterior and muscular build, this girl could easily take her out without even using her powers and present her to Niamh after the class had finished.

Pull yourself together Layla. Figure out a plan!

Nothing bad could happen with eyes on them. It would be too risky. Just make an excuse to leave class and stay with the groups. At least until she could find Kurt and tell him. Sod the awkwardness, that was before students were actively in danger.

The bell chimed and everyone moved to pack their stuff away and Layla weaved her way to the back of the class. She waved out students with a plastered on smile, ignoring the person clearly loitering just at the edge of her vision.

'Mrs Cormac?'

She met the excited inhuman eyes of the girl, her pupils blown out wide as she stared at her teacher. 'Can we talk… privately?'

'I need to go to the staff room, but you can walk with me if you like.' Layla smiled gesturing towards the door.

The girl grinned back, revealing a row of pointed teeth and she awkwardly fussed around with her backpack.

The dread sank in the pit of her stomach as she fell into step next to her, easily adjusting to Layla's speed with her long legs. 'Did you enjoy the class?'

Vira nodded, keeping her eyes to the ground whenever a large group passed them. 'I like art.'

'Me too.' Although that was the dumbest thing to come out of her mouth. She was an art teacher, of course she liked art! But Vira smiled shyly. 'You know, you're the first student to come talk to me.'

'People are betting how long you last.' She shrugged, 'Not gonna invest if you're only gonna be here for two months.'

Layla hummed. What the teenagers didn't seem to recognise was that ostracization did just an effective job at chasing people off. But realizing each and every one of them had probably been isolated by humans gave her pause. Maybe they understood too well. She chose her next words carefully. 'Is that the only reason?'

'Dressing like a depressed Sunday school teacher doesn't help, over half the school knows they could kick your ass.'

Layla snorted, good to know she was officially uncool. 'I prefer Dark Academia.' Something about that comment stewed within her. Is that what they thought of her? Something to fight? If that was the case then she was getting nowhere. 'Vira, I'm not here to look tough, or threaten you.'

'Really?' that same cautious, obsessive stare had seeped back into her face, her pupils dilating into a sideways ovals. It looked like she wanted to say more, but she eyed the few students that were still loitering.

People started thinning out as they found their other classes. Leaving very little time for her to escape. The teachers room was only down the corridor, she could make it!

'Don't you have class?'

'No.'

They reached the door of the teachers office. The open, empty room. Layla turned to politely say goodbye but Vira had managed to squeeze in and close the door.

Fear bolted through her with the soft click of the door.

…

A dozy guitar played out of the grainy speakers of the old school bar. Most of the furniture was made from wood or lino that was just sticky enough to be suspicious and the people were too busy with their own problems down the bottom of a glass to pay any attention to the two mutants sitting at the bar.

Kurt didn't want to make a habit of day drinking. At least on his working days. Alcohol made him sluggish and slow. It made him forget. That was something he did not deserve, but sometimes the relief from the weight was just something he needed.

Logan had seen him through most of it. When Kurt had lost Amanda, he'd kicked the door down and helped him off his ass. Train, drink, keep it together to help others. These were the three things he had told Kurt that had kept him going.

It was good to spend time with him like this.

Logan slammed down another pint on the bar and called for another on the tab.

Kurt sighed, tucking his tail in and twining it around the barstool leg. The last time he didn't, someone grabbed it. 'Logan… More is going on.'

He shook his head. 'No talking shop.'

After a pause, Kurt realised he had been rather wrapped up in this problem for way too long. Even when he was teaching or attempting to relax his mind wandered back to Layla and her black book. He'd been neglecting his friends a little and that wasn't on. 'How are you doing? Are you alright?'

'Me?' Logan shrugged, 'The usual. Work, fight...' He sipped his beer and scanned the area. It took at least an hour before his friend truly allowed himself to relax. 'Did I tell you me and Ro are trying things out again.'

A wide grin spread on Kurt's face, his fangs poking out, 'You're together! Congratulations my friend, she's a great lady.'

'I know that. If anything, I don't deserve her.'

'Ridiculous.' He covered his Logan's glass with his hand, making him look at him. 'What we are isn't measurable. No-one is inherently better than the other. It's what we do and how we show out intent that's important.' His point clearly wasn't getting through so he changed tactics. 'Do you care about her?'

'Jesus Kurt, of course I do.'

'Do you want her to be happy?'

Begrudgingly, Logan accepted Kurt's grilling. He nodded and leant back in his chair, staring up at the photos on the wall. 'Yes. What are you, her dad?'

Kurt's smile softened, 'I want you both to be happy. Ororo isn't one for wasting her time. She's decided you're worth it so accept it.' He lightly punched his friend in the upper arm, pulling a small, proud smirk from the grumpy man. 'And when the time comes, make her happy every day with the small things. Tell her you love her every chance you get.'

Logan pushed Kurt, hating the sad twinge of regret on his face. 'Slow down Cassanova. We hooked up, not confessed under a starry night. What about you?'

Kurt blinked, 'What do you mean?'

'You been thinking of getting out there again?'

'No.' Kurt stretched out, not used to sitting in one place for this long. He felt like there was a point Logan wanted to get at but he was taking a long time to say it. 'Like we have much time with work and saving the world. I can barely get out of the school most days.'

'Who says you need to leave? Go out with that art teacher, the one you make eyes at.'

Was that the point? Did he look so lonely that he desperately needed to date again? And he did not "make eyes" at anyone. He could understand the concern, but he was fine. More than fine with his small world. It was simple. It was good… A lie. Had he been so transparent with his stress?

But no. Layla was off limits. 'She's not really my type.' He shrugged.

However Logan had none of it. He snorted and drained his beer, calling for another. 'No, she isn't someone who could kick your teeth in. But I'm not blind.'

Kurt sighed and rested his chin on his steepled fingers, frowning at the table. 'It's not a good idea. I won't date someone when…' He searched for the right way to explain it, but his friend beat him to the punch.

When Kurt didn't respond, Logan raised his hands in exasperation, leaning back in his seat with concern knitting his brows together. 'It's been over a year Kurt. Amanda's a smart girl, she doesn't need you to save her.'

'You didn't see her Logan.' It was too early in the day to be talking about this. A ball had wedged itself in his throat as he continued. 'She begged me to find her a way out and I couldn't. She's still trapped and I-'

'-Have tried your best.' He countered. 'You need to move on. She wouldn't have wanted you to be like this.'

'Like what? I'm fine.'

'You've been spacing out and being reckless during missions, you don't sleep, the bamfs are loomin' everywhere, you go to abandoned buildings and speak- hell I don't know what that was.'

'I-'

Logan wasn't taking any of his bullshit. 'It's not just me. Ro has seen it too.' He pulled a tight expression but refused to look away from his friend. 'She said heroics is important. But your life is more important. Until further notice, we've decided to pull you from the team.'

The blood drained from his face and a slight ringing seeped into his hearing. 'What?'

...

It had become hard to breathe. Her fingertips had become numb. She forced herself to maintain her breathing whilst also keeping an eye on the student, but her body felt stiff, bracing for action.

What?

'You were there!' Vira grinned. 'At the meeting, Niamh was talking to you!'

'You were sitting at her side,' She plopped down in one of the chairs next to her, giddy. 'What was it like?'

Layla's mouth flapped a little in surprise as she checked the corners of the room for cameras, 'It was… Intense.'

'Of course! She's like a star. So beautiful.' Vira sighed.

It was weird seeing the end results of an influence needle. Layla really couldn't tell that the teen had been magically tampered with. But the Vira in the corridor and the Vira talking to her now were like two different people. 'What made you join?'

'Why else? I was lonely.' Vira smiled and wheeled her chair closer. 'I heard something in my dreams about two months ago. It told me to follow but every time I would wake up, I couldn't hear the music.'

'Wait, why are you lonely? You have lots of people who care about you here.' Layla sat down in her own chair and leant forward. She didn't seem hostile. More desperate to have someone else to talk to.

Vira pouted and scuffed her boot on the carpet. 'This place… It protects me. It protects a lot of us. But I couldn't go outside without fear. It's a pretty cage that no one wants to leave.' Her foot stopped, 'I felt mad. So one day I went to prove others wrong. I went to the city and that's where I heard the music from my dreams.'

'Who was playing it?'

'No one. I just followed the sound until I found the group. They were about to attack me when Niamh stopped them. She told them that they were being rude.' She grinned, lost in the memory and Layla awkwardly smiled in response. 'She told me I was welcome and promised I never had to be alone again. It felt like home.'

'Don't you have family? Couldn't they visit?'

It made her feel bad, watching as her question brought her back down to earth. Like popping the balloon of joy keeping her afloat. Vira picked at her bedraggled hoodie. 'The school has parent invite weeks but my mom is too poor to fly from Ukraine to visit. '

Pieces started to click into place. But one thing still remained. 'Why are you telling me this?' She was not used to teens being so forthcoming with their reasons. It was odd to be confided in so easily.

Vira sniffed, rubbing the sleeve of her hoodie on her eyes before continuing. 'Niamh loves me. But the others; not so much. I thought… if you were working here, you'd be ok with me. A-and you could help me get in.'

Layla wanted to hug her. To tell her that the people she wanted to be with were not worth a shred of her time. A sharp stab of hate, directed towards the monsters that would attack a child because of how she was born, caught her off-guard. It boiled deep inside, but she pushed it down. Instead, choosing to give what her student desperately needed. She offered her some tissues and held her hand gently.

'Vira.'

She glanced back at her teacher, choking back her feelings.

'You're not alone.'

It took time, but overcoming that pain would take time. She waited for Vira who swallowed her feelings and took some tissues, anxiously picking and shredding them apart. She mustered a nod and took in a deep breath. 'Are you coming to the meeting tonight?'

Tonight?!

'Are you?'

Vira hauled her excitement back up to her face, but Layla noticed the growing pile of shredded tissues. 'Of course! We can go together. Meet you at 6pm?'

Layla nodded, gripping the girl's hand. It felt wrong to continue this. Putting a student's life in danger again. But this was a lead.

Vira's phone buzzed and she fumbled it out of her pocket, checking the text. 'Oh. Class is cancelled. X-men duty.'

Double shit. She needed to tell Kurt and fast. Layla rose out of her chair. 'Don't you still have homework to do?'

'Well yeah but-' Vira noticed the look Layla was giving her, suddenly remembering she was still talking to her teacher. 'I should probably do that, huh.'

Layla nodded, crossing her arms and letting an amused smirk pull the corners of her mouth.

The student rose from her chair, seeming way less intimidating than 30 minutes ago. It was a relief, but danger still remained. Layla waited for the girl to slink off to the library, before sprinting down the hallway. Checking classrooms, public areas.

Where was he?!

Eventually she rushed back to her room, finally finding something that could help.

'Blue!'

The bamf was sitting on-top of her black book, trying to weasel his little mitts into the lock that kept it closed. His head swivelled round like an astonished owl but relaxed when he realised she wasn't angry. She scooped up her bag, shoved her black book into it and picked up blue by the armpits. 'I need you to take me to Kurt. Right now.'

…

They got back to the school just in time. Logan's communicator beeped in his pocket to signal another mission just outside the doors to the building. Kurt wondered briefly how long him and Storm had been planning to take him off the team as his communicator remained silent.

'You ok?'

He met the eyes of his friend and attempted a smile. 'I will be.'

'Good. Just… making sure.' They both knew he had to go, but his reservations about leaving left Kurt content. Logan worried about him just like he worried about Logan. Maybe showing it in different ways, but still the same care.

'I understand.' Kurt shoved his hands in his pockets. 'Really, I just won some free time. Oh, what to do with myself!'

Logan grumbled at his dramatics. 'Yeah, yeah you're lucky. Just use the time.'

'Now who's acting like a father.' Kurt folded his arms. It was pointless seeming miserable, even though now he'd lost one of the few anchors keeping him steady.

Suddenly an explosion of smoke erupted that surprisingly didn't come from him. A rather frazzled, coughing Layla blinked and caught her bearings, still clinging to the bamf wiggling about in her arms.

As soon as the bamf locked eyes with Kurt, it chirped with a wide toothy grin up at Layla, who still didn't quite register what was going on.

'Ta-da!' It croaked in a tiny, cheerful tone.

'Oh. Hello!' she registered the two very surprised men staring at her. 'I found this guy in my room again.' She held out Blue who just grinned at the knowing mischief he'd caused his older brother.

Kurt sighed, taking the bamf from her and letting it sit on his shoulder. 'I'm sorry, that shouldn't have happened.'

'It's ok. He was just trying to read my books.' She shot him a private frown. 'I need to talk to you about one of our students.'

He caught the smirk on Logan's face behind them. Giving him an idea. If Logan and Ororo needed to see change, he may as well show it to them. 'Miss Cormac, I know you haven't been here long but would you be interested in going on a date.'

'Eh- Oh? With who.' She blinked, her eyebrows tilting up in mild disappointment. Did she really not consider him an option? Maybe the last proper conversation they had shot the idea out of her mind but it still perturbed him a little.

He chuckled and scratched the back of his head. 'Me.'

Layla's eyes widened in shock. It seemed one of her constant states around him but she looked like he'd just told her that aliens existed. She laughed and hid behind her hand bashfully. The dusty pink of her blush glowing in the early setting sun. 'Um, ok- yes. I mean yes!' Something turned over in her mind and she lit up, 'How about this evening? Say, 6?'

That was... very quick! Maybe she hadn't discounted him after all. And her response made him feel light. He checked the time and noticed that it only left about two hours to get ready. 'Ah, sure!'

He noticed Logan slinking into the school with a cocky smirk. They waited till they were alone before continuing.

'I guess we should get ready then.' Kurt grinned. Butterflies fluttering around his stomach. Logan was right. One date couldn't hurt so long as he set correct boundaries. 'Meet you here?'

Layla nodded, grinning back with a smile bursting with unbridled, shy joy. She shone. Sure she couldn't kick his ass in a fight, but what she could do was far more gentle. Like cupping the flame that was his happiness and letting it grow in his chest, protecting it from the wind.

With that, he nodded and disappeared, ready to teach a class then have the quickest shower in his entire life.

…

Layla coughed as the smoke dissipated, realising she'd been too swept up in the moment to tell him a damn thing.

He'd asked her out. The memory still fresh enough that she couldn't doubt it for a second. The wave of embarrassment hit her at how dense she'd been. For a brief second she'd thought he was giving her a blind date. Awkward considering that her stupid feelings seemed to prefer him. It wasn't her fault it seemed to come out of nowhere. Especially after they'd fought.

Layla let out a puff of air she didn't even know she was holding until now. 'Shit.' She checked her watch, realising her class should have started 5 minutes ago, 'Double shit!' Hoping her students hadn't left, she sprinted back into the school.