Chapter 24
Scott, Jean, Kurt, and Kitty all went down to the foyer together to find that the mansion was in the midst of a semi-controlled chaos.
Tabitha had her headset on and was dancing around in her robe. Bobby, Sam, and Ray were running back and forth out of the kitchen, usually with food in their hands, while Jamie was attempting to tag along with them. Amara was in front of mirror, attempting to do something with her hair. Rogue and Remy were still arguing in front of the doors. And Beast was trying to maintain some semblance of control, as he was trying to yell above everyone else.
Kurt's parents were also in the middle of all of this, trying to get the boys to stop running back and forth.
"Maybe bringing the whole mansion to graduation wasn't such a good idea," Jean remarked as she, Scott, Kurt, and Kitty made their way to the kitchen.
"Vell," Kurt started, "it's really not much more hectic than it usually is in the mornings."
"True," Jean said as the four of them entered the kitchen.
The Professor was seated at the end of the table while Logan was leaning against the windowsill.
Kurt was the only one who had sat down when Bobby and Sam came tearing into the kitchen. Although by this time Logan had completely lost his patience with them.
Throwing down the newspaper he had been reading, Logan stood up straight and growled at Bobby and Sam. "If you two come running through those doors one more time ...!"
Logan didn't even need to finish his sentence. Both boys skidded to stop and quickly ran back out the door.
Logan growled as he sat down at the table next to the Professor. Scott, Jean, and Kitty also sat down quietly, not wanting to anger Logan. However, Kurt and the Professor had barely even reacted to Logan's reaction.
The Professor had only spared Logan one brief look that said 'Calm down Logan' and Kurt had simply helped himself to some waffles and started devouring them. He seemed to have a craving for anything with maple syrup on it lately.
"Hey Professor," Kitty started, "shouldn't someone be leaving soon to pick up my parents from the airport?"
"Ororo already left to pick them up Kitty," the Professor answered.
Kitty groaned. "I kind of wanted to go with her. I haven't seen my parents in like forever."
The Professor smiled at her. "I'm sorry Kitty, but you weren't up on time and I also think you have enough to get done this morning."
Kitty shrugged. "Yeah. I guess you're right Professor."
"Geez Kurt! Slow down. The waffles are still going to be there in a few minutes."
Kurt gulped down what he'd put in his mouth and then smiled up at Scott. "I'm sorry. But I'm eating for two now."
"I just hope this kid doesn't have the same appetite as you Kurt," Kitty said, "I don't think the mansion can afford another one of you."
While Scott and Kitty continued to tease Kurt, the Professor turned to Jean.
"Jean, I was wondering if you could do me a favor," the Professor said to her.
"Um, ... what kind of a favor?" Jean asked as she helped herself to a muffin.
"Well Hank is going to be fairly busy today, but I wanted Kurt to get a check-up today in the lab so I was wondering if you could do it," the Professor asked.
"Well," Jean started, "I don't mind. As long as it's okay with Kurt. I don't want to do anything that makes him uncomfortable."
Both Jean and the Professor looked over at Kurt, who was now staring at them. Kurt shrugged in response. "I guess that vould be all right."
The Professor nodded and thanked Jean just as the noise out in the foyer became even louder.
"Ow! Bobby why don't ya watch were your going?!"
"Are you alright, chere?"
"Tabitha, would you turn off that darn headset!"
"Jamie, quit following me around and get ready to get going."
"Sam, Ray, Bobby, stop running around. You're going to break something."
Just as Hank's voice drifted into the kitchen there came the sound of a loud crash from the other room.
"Logan would you please give Hank a hand in there," the Professor asked, wondering what in the world was broken now.
Logan growled as he headed towards the door. However, on the way out, he paused and sniffed Kurt. "Is that Scooter's shirt you're wearing Elf?"
Kurt glanced down at the table sheepishly. "Ja. Mein don't really fit that well anymore."
Scott and Jean were trying not to laugh as Logan raised an eyebrow at Kurt's comment. The Professor, however, remained completely unfazed.
"I guess this just means we need to get you some new clothes Kurt."
"Does this mean I get to take him shopping?!" Kitty squealed.
Kurt groaned at Kitty's remark. "Nein. Not shopping," Kurt said as his sank onto the kitchen table.
Scott and Jean gave up any efforts of trying not to laugh and completely burst into laughter. Logan just shook his head as he headed out into the foyer. "Kids."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About twenty minutes later, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Tabitha all piled into the X-van with Logan at the wheel.
"How come we're the only ones leaving?" Tabitha asked, as she finally removed her headset.
Logan growled. Still in a bad mood after having to pick up the table Bobby and Sam had broken that morning. "Because you guys have to be there an hour before the ceremony."
Kurt, who was sitting in the passenger seat in both his black robe and image inducer, glanced over at Logan. "I thought either Scott or Jean would be driving us."
Logan shrugged. "Apparently they're not exactly anxious to return to Bayville High any sooner than necessary."
"I hear that," Rogue said, "I'm fairly anxious to get out of here."
"Why doesn't being surrounded by a bunch of mutant haters bother you Logan?" Kitty asked with a slight grin.
"I don't care what anybody thinks of me Half-Pint."
Despite what Logan said, he did feel nervous over what would happen once the group arrived at the school. But he wasn't afraid for himself. He was afraid for the kids he was driving. Logan had actually come to view Kitty and Rogue almost as daughters in the time they had been at the Institute. Tabitha wasn't his favorite person in the world, but he had to respect her because she did what she wanted and like Logan, she didn't care what other people thought.
And than there was Kurt. Probably the most sensitive person who had ever come to the Institute. And he was even more sensitive now due to the pregnancy.
The unfortunate thing about the X-van was that everyone at the graduation ceremony was able to tell that the mutants were arriving. Logan was able to tell exactly when the crowed noticed, because everyone in the crowd turned their heads in the direction of the X-van. Since Rogue, Kitty, and Tabitha had all been at the school every day up till this point, Logan concluded that word had gotten out that Kurt was going to be at the ceremony. Apparently they hadn't gotten a very good look at Kurt.
Kurt seemed to be thinking the same thing as he eyed the crowd. "You know, this seemed like a much better idea a month ago than it does right now."
"You're not gonna back out now are yah?" Rogue asked from the back.
Kurt didn't respond. He just swallowed and looked out the window again.
"Come one Blue. You shouldn't be ashamed to stand before that crowd," Tabitha remarked.
Kurt still looked undecided and completely freaked out.
Sensing his need for a more heartfelt comment, Kitty reached out and place a hand on his shoulder. "You can do this Kurt, I know you can."
Gulping once more, Kurt quickly opened the passenger door before he could lose his nerves. Almost immediately, people began talking in excited voices and pointing at him. But Logan, Kitty, Rogue and Tabitha were right there beside him.
"You know," Rogue started, "we're going to be split up during commencement."
"Ja, I know," Kurt commented. "I'll be fine ... really."
Logan looked around at the crowd as if daring them to do something. "Of course you'll be fine Elf. Because no one's going to try any funny business with you. I'll make sure of it."
"Nein Logan. I just want to get my diploma without a fight," Kurt said, "I'm no monster and I certainly won't act like one."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'Vell' Kurt thought a little over an hour later, 'I probably should have just requested my diploma to be sent by mail.'
The students had been seated in alphabetical order because that was the order they would be receiving their diplomas in. Which also meant that Kurt was seated pretty close to the back. And the people sitting next to him had been very annoying.
"So, he's the blue and fuzzy one."
"That's what everyone's saying."
"He looks completely normal right now."
"My friends told me that watch or whatever that he wears on his wrist somehow makes him appear normal."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Does he really have fangs?"
Finally Kurt had had enough.
Turning to the students who were whispering, he hissed at them, "You know this is a graduation ceremony. You're being very rude."
The student's apparently believed enough of what they heard about him to be scared, because they backed away from him."
Kurt sighed and turned away from the two of them. He completely ignored them and paid attention to the rest of the ceremony, even though he was vaguely aware of the two students still whispering back and forth.
Kurt was too nervous to appreciate the speeches made by the Principal and a couple of the students. He was just glad there was no anti-mutant tones put into the speech. Especially since when Jean and Scott graduated Principal Kelly had strongly hinted at his anti-mutant favors.
By the time the students started being called up individually to receive their diplomas, Kurt was a complete nervous wreck.
Kitty was the first of the Xavier students to be called up to receive her diploma, and Kurt had never been more proud of her. She should have been graduating next year, but she was smart enough to finish her schooling a year ahead of time.
As Kitty was handed her diploma, her eyes searched out in the crowd and met Kurt's eyes. She smiled at him encouragingly and Kurt smiled back at her.
'Vhy did it take me so long to realize that I love her,' Kurt thought to himself. Because he might not have known it before, but he certainly realized it now.
Rogue walked up to receive her diploma the way she did most things. Looking like she was completely bored and thought the whole thing was tedious. Which was a complete contrast to Tabitha, who looked like she didn't have a care in the world.
"Kurt Wagner."
'Well, at least they pronounced my name right,' Kurt thought as he stood up to receive his diploma. All the noise and talking had stopped, and unfortunately Kurt had to walk past all the other students to get to the platform.
Already near panic, Kurt tried to avoid eye contact with anyone as he made his way up to the small stage.
When Kurt had just passed the last row of students, he heard one of the students mumble under his breathe: "Why bother hiding behind that normal person facade. We all know you're the biggest freak of them all."
Kurt froze in his tracks. The entire ceremony was at a standstill as they waited to see how Kurt would react.
Turning slowly, Kurt faced the person who had spoken to him, who was now cowering in his seat. In shame, Kurt glanced down at his image inducer.
'All these months in Bayville, I've been living a lie,' Kurt thought to himself.
'Because this isn't the real me. My whole life I've been taught to be ashamed of who I really am. But it doesn't matter. Because people hate for all kinds of different reasons. People here hated me before they knew what I really looked like.' Sparing short glances at Kitty, Rogue, the rest of Institute sitting in the bleachers, and even Amanda, Kurt realized that there were also people who would always accept him for who he was.
*Go ahead and do it Kurt. You don't need to prove yourself to any of these people. Only yourself*
Kurt glanced up at the Professor and nodded at him. 'Never again will I be ashamed of who I am.' Reacting before he could lose his courage, Kurt reached up and turned off his image inducer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Okay, another chapter finished. First of all, let me apologize to everyone who wanted something BIG to happen at the graduation ceremony. I actually decided to use this as like a turning point for Kurt and I also figured that I was putting Kurt through enough with the pregnancy and the attempts at his life that I didn't want Kelly to do anything 'extreme.' Also I wasn't sure how to write that. I'm trying to write Kelly a little different in the fanfic. Not to make him to a complete 180 in his attitude towards mutants, but at least get him out of the extreme hate range.
I also meant to go a little further with this chapter, but I was really stressed, my roommates were distracting me, and I actually kind of liked the cliffhanger.
Anyway, any questions feel free to ask. And for the reviews:
Pilar Sama: Hey! Glad you like it. Any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
ShadowJax: I'm always willing to welcome new people on board. I'm planning on turning this into a series of fanfics so hang in there.
Raskolian Phoenix: Don't worry. I never took your advice as flaming. Believe me I know what flaming is (people have flamed me and Becky for our stories on daughtersogondor). I was just explaining that my spell check sucks. Grrr...
Glad you liked the way I portrayed everyone.
~C~ I wrote Rogue as being bored, because I figure she's the most like you. hee hee.
InterNutter: Don't know exactly what you were expecting at the graduation ceremony. But I hope I didn't disappoint you. I was never planning a huge fight or another attempt on Kurt's life. Oh well. Hope you like it.
Mayzon: Thanks. I try to put some lighter tones in the story.
Anyway, don't know what else to say expect: keep reading!
~Ice~
Scott, Jean, Kurt, and Kitty all went down to the foyer together to find that the mansion was in the midst of a semi-controlled chaos.
Tabitha had her headset on and was dancing around in her robe. Bobby, Sam, and Ray were running back and forth out of the kitchen, usually with food in their hands, while Jamie was attempting to tag along with them. Amara was in front of mirror, attempting to do something with her hair. Rogue and Remy were still arguing in front of the doors. And Beast was trying to maintain some semblance of control, as he was trying to yell above everyone else.
Kurt's parents were also in the middle of all of this, trying to get the boys to stop running back and forth.
"Maybe bringing the whole mansion to graduation wasn't such a good idea," Jean remarked as she, Scott, Kurt, and Kitty made their way to the kitchen.
"Vell," Kurt started, "it's really not much more hectic than it usually is in the mornings."
"True," Jean said as the four of them entered the kitchen.
The Professor was seated at the end of the table while Logan was leaning against the windowsill.
Kurt was the only one who had sat down when Bobby and Sam came tearing into the kitchen. Although by this time Logan had completely lost his patience with them.
Throwing down the newspaper he had been reading, Logan stood up straight and growled at Bobby and Sam. "If you two come running through those doors one more time ...!"
Logan didn't even need to finish his sentence. Both boys skidded to stop and quickly ran back out the door.
Logan growled as he sat down at the table next to the Professor. Scott, Jean, and Kitty also sat down quietly, not wanting to anger Logan. However, Kurt and the Professor had barely even reacted to Logan's reaction.
The Professor had only spared Logan one brief look that said 'Calm down Logan' and Kurt had simply helped himself to some waffles and started devouring them. He seemed to have a craving for anything with maple syrup on it lately.
"Hey Professor," Kitty started, "shouldn't someone be leaving soon to pick up my parents from the airport?"
"Ororo already left to pick them up Kitty," the Professor answered.
Kitty groaned. "I kind of wanted to go with her. I haven't seen my parents in like forever."
The Professor smiled at her. "I'm sorry Kitty, but you weren't up on time and I also think you have enough to get done this morning."
Kitty shrugged. "Yeah. I guess you're right Professor."
"Geez Kurt! Slow down. The waffles are still going to be there in a few minutes."
Kurt gulped down what he'd put in his mouth and then smiled up at Scott. "I'm sorry. But I'm eating for two now."
"I just hope this kid doesn't have the same appetite as you Kurt," Kitty said, "I don't think the mansion can afford another one of you."
While Scott and Kitty continued to tease Kurt, the Professor turned to Jean.
"Jean, I was wondering if you could do me a favor," the Professor said to her.
"Um, ... what kind of a favor?" Jean asked as she helped herself to a muffin.
"Well Hank is going to be fairly busy today, but I wanted Kurt to get a check-up today in the lab so I was wondering if you could do it," the Professor asked.
"Well," Jean started, "I don't mind. As long as it's okay with Kurt. I don't want to do anything that makes him uncomfortable."
Both Jean and the Professor looked over at Kurt, who was now staring at them. Kurt shrugged in response. "I guess that vould be all right."
The Professor nodded and thanked Jean just as the noise out in the foyer became even louder.
"Ow! Bobby why don't ya watch were your going?!"
"Are you alright, chere?"
"Tabitha, would you turn off that darn headset!"
"Jamie, quit following me around and get ready to get going."
"Sam, Ray, Bobby, stop running around. You're going to break something."
Just as Hank's voice drifted into the kitchen there came the sound of a loud crash from the other room.
"Logan would you please give Hank a hand in there," the Professor asked, wondering what in the world was broken now.
Logan growled as he headed towards the door. However, on the way out, he paused and sniffed Kurt. "Is that Scooter's shirt you're wearing Elf?"
Kurt glanced down at the table sheepishly. "Ja. Mein don't really fit that well anymore."
Scott and Jean were trying not to laugh as Logan raised an eyebrow at Kurt's comment. The Professor, however, remained completely unfazed.
"I guess this just means we need to get you some new clothes Kurt."
"Does this mean I get to take him shopping?!" Kitty squealed.
Kurt groaned at Kitty's remark. "Nein. Not shopping," Kurt said as his sank onto the kitchen table.
Scott and Jean gave up any efforts of trying not to laugh and completely burst into laughter. Logan just shook his head as he headed out into the foyer. "Kids."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
About twenty minutes later, Kurt, Kitty, Rogue, and Tabitha all piled into the X-van with Logan at the wheel.
"How come we're the only ones leaving?" Tabitha asked, as she finally removed her headset.
Logan growled. Still in a bad mood after having to pick up the table Bobby and Sam had broken that morning. "Because you guys have to be there an hour before the ceremony."
Kurt, who was sitting in the passenger seat in both his black robe and image inducer, glanced over at Logan. "I thought either Scott or Jean would be driving us."
Logan shrugged. "Apparently they're not exactly anxious to return to Bayville High any sooner than necessary."
"I hear that," Rogue said, "I'm fairly anxious to get out of here."
"Why doesn't being surrounded by a bunch of mutant haters bother you Logan?" Kitty asked with a slight grin.
"I don't care what anybody thinks of me Half-Pint."
Despite what Logan said, he did feel nervous over what would happen once the group arrived at the school. But he wasn't afraid for himself. He was afraid for the kids he was driving. Logan had actually come to view Kitty and Rogue almost as daughters in the time they had been at the Institute. Tabitha wasn't his favorite person in the world, but he had to respect her because she did what she wanted and like Logan, she didn't care what other people thought.
And than there was Kurt. Probably the most sensitive person who had ever come to the Institute. And he was even more sensitive now due to the pregnancy.
The unfortunate thing about the X-van was that everyone at the graduation ceremony was able to tell that the mutants were arriving. Logan was able to tell exactly when the crowed noticed, because everyone in the crowd turned their heads in the direction of the X-van. Since Rogue, Kitty, and Tabitha had all been at the school every day up till this point, Logan concluded that word had gotten out that Kurt was going to be at the ceremony. Apparently they hadn't gotten a very good look at Kurt.
Kurt seemed to be thinking the same thing as he eyed the crowd. "You know, this seemed like a much better idea a month ago than it does right now."
"You're not gonna back out now are yah?" Rogue asked from the back.
Kurt didn't respond. He just swallowed and looked out the window again.
"Come one Blue. You shouldn't be ashamed to stand before that crowd," Tabitha remarked.
Kurt still looked undecided and completely freaked out.
Sensing his need for a more heartfelt comment, Kitty reached out and place a hand on his shoulder. "You can do this Kurt, I know you can."
Gulping once more, Kurt quickly opened the passenger door before he could lose his nerves. Almost immediately, people began talking in excited voices and pointing at him. But Logan, Kitty, Rogue and Tabitha were right there beside him.
"You know," Rogue started, "we're going to be split up during commencement."
"Ja, I know," Kurt commented. "I'll be fine ... really."
Logan looked around at the crowd as if daring them to do something. "Of course you'll be fine Elf. Because no one's going to try any funny business with you. I'll make sure of it."
"Nein Logan. I just want to get my diploma without a fight," Kurt said, "I'm no monster and I certainly won't act like one."
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
'Vell' Kurt thought a little over an hour later, 'I probably should have just requested my diploma to be sent by mail.'
The students had been seated in alphabetical order because that was the order they would be receiving their diplomas in. Which also meant that Kurt was seated pretty close to the back. And the people sitting next to him had been very annoying.
"So, he's the blue and fuzzy one."
"That's what everyone's saying."
"He looks completely normal right now."
"My friends told me that watch or whatever that he wears on his wrist somehow makes him appear normal."
"How?"
"I don't know."
"Does he really have fangs?"
Finally Kurt had had enough.
Turning to the students who were whispering, he hissed at them, "You know this is a graduation ceremony. You're being very rude."
The student's apparently believed enough of what they heard about him to be scared, because they backed away from him."
Kurt sighed and turned away from the two of them. He completely ignored them and paid attention to the rest of the ceremony, even though he was vaguely aware of the two students still whispering back and forth.
Kurt was too nervous to appreciate the speeches made by the Principal and a couple of the students. He was just glad there was no anti-mutant tones put into the speech. Especially since when Jean and Scott graduated Principal Kelly had strongly hinted at his anti-mutant favors.
By the time the students started being called up individually to receive their diplomas, Kurt was a complete nervous wreck.
Kitty was the first of the Xavier students to be called up to receive her diploma, and Kurt had never been more proud of her. She should have been graduating next year, but she was smart enough to finish her schooling a year ahead of time.
As Kitty was handed her diploma, her eyes searched out in the crowd and met Kurt's eyes. She smiled at him encouragingly and Kurt smiled back at her.
'Vhy did it take me so long to realize that I love her,' Kurt thought to himself. Because he might not have known it before, but he certainly realized it now.
Rogue walked up to receive her diploma the way she did most things. Looking like she was completely bored and thought the whole thing was tedious. Which was a complete contrast to Tabitha, who looked like she didn't have a care in the world.
"Kurt Wagner."
'Well, at least they pronounced my name right,' Kurt thought as he stood up to receive his diploma. All the noise and talking had stopped, and unfortunately Kurt had to walk past all the other students to get to the platform.
Already near panic, Kurt tried to avoid eye contact with anyone as he made his way up to the small stage.
When Kurt had just passed the last row of students, he heard one of the students mumble under his breathe: "Why bother hiding behind that normal person facade. We all know you're the biggest freak of them all."
Kurt froze in his tracks. The entire ceremony was at a standstill as they waited to see how Kurt would react.
Turning slowly, Kurt faced the person who had spoken to him, who was now cowering in his seat. In shame, Kurt glanced down at his image inducer.
'All these months in Bayville, I've been living a lie,' Kurt thought to himself.
'Because this isn't the real me. My whole life I've been taught to be ashamed of who I really am. But it doesn't matter. Because people hate for all kinds of different reasons. People here hated me before they knew what I really looked like.' Sparing short glances at Kitty, Rogue, the rest of Institute sitting in the bleachers, and even Amanda, Kurt realized that there were also people who would always accept him for who he was.
*Go ahead and do it Kurt. You don't need to prove yourself to any of these people. Only yourself*
Kurt glanced up at the Professor and nodded at him. 'Never again will I be ashamed of who I am.' Reacting before he could lose his courage, Kurt reached up and turned off his image inducer.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Okay, another chapter finished. First of all, let me apologize to everyone who wanted something BIG to happen at the graduation ceremony. I actually decided to use this as like a turning point for Kurt and I also figured that I was putting Kurt through enough with the pregnancy and the attempts at his life that I didn't want Kelly to do anything 'extreme.' Also I wasn't sure how to write that. I'm trying to write Kelly a little different in the fanfic. Not to make him to a complete 180 in his attitude towards mutants, but at least get him out of the extreme hate range.
I also meant to go a little further with this chapter, but I was really stressed, my roommates were distracting me, and I actually kind of liked the cliffhanger.
Anyway, any questions feel free to ask. And for the reviews:
Pilar Sama: Hey! Glad you like it. Any suggestions, feel free to let me know.
ShadowJax: I'm always willing to welcome new people on board. I'm planning on turning this into a series of fanfics so hang in there.
Raskolian Phoenix: Don't worry. I never took your advice as flaming. Believe me I know what flaming is (people have flamed me and Becky for our stories on daughtersogondor). I was just explaining that my spell check sucks. Grrr...
Glad you liked the way I portrayed everyone.
~C~ I wrote Rogue as being bored, because I figure she's the most like you. hee hee.
InterNutter: Don't know exactly what you were expecting at the graduation ceremony. But I hope I didn't disappoint you. I was never planning a huge fight or another attempt on Kurt's life. Oh well. Hope you like it.
Mayzon: Thanks. I try to put some lighter tones in the story.
Anyway, don't know what else to say expect: keep reading!
~Ice~