Storm was glad of the silence of the empty corridors, but her footsteps echoed ominously off the lockers and wooden walls, serving to unnerve the woman considerably. Still, the love burning in her fueled her movement, and she was soon at the door.

"Gegrüßet seist du Maria, voll der Gnade. Der Herr ist mit Dir..."

Ororo paused at the door, her fisted hand failing just short of the dark wooden panels. She nearly turned back. She did not truly wish to disturb Kurt's prayers.

"Du bist gebenedeit unter den Frauen und gebenedeit ist die Frucht Deines Leibes Jesu..."

Her hand fell to her side, but Ororo did not harbour any abdicating thoughts. Instead, she was chiding herself. If she ever wanted to speak to the man, now was the time. He would always be praying, anyway. And, if she managed to win her way into a more meaningful place in his life, that would probably stop most of his precious prayer. The worm of guilt worked its way into her, but she ignored it. If the prayer were more valuable than she was, he would choose the prayer, would he not?

"Heilige Maria, Mutter Gottes, bitte für uns Sünder jetzt und in der Stunde unseres Todes Amen."

Ororo heard the final word of the prayer, then, taking a deep breath, knocked quietly on the door.

"Come."

Ororo slowly opened the heavy wooden door, stepped into the room, and gently closed it behind her. She turned around, but did not raise her eyes to meet Kurt's. Instead, she directed them to the polished wooden floorboards.

"Ah! Storm! It is good to see you," the Nightcrawler greeted her with his thick German accent.

She raised her eyes slowly, to meet the blue man's. He was seated on the bed, his back curved in a C shape that Ororo would have thought would cause considerable discomfort. But she knew Kurt felt no such concerns.

"Please," the woman began, and her throat caught. Frustrated with herself, she started over. "Please, call me Ororo." Most called her Storm, anyway, but she would prefer it if Kurt called her by her true name. It felt much more personal.

The slumped man nodded. "Very vell," he answered. "Ororo." The name sounded odd on his tongue, but the mutant woman before him loved him all the more for his attempt. "You haf come to pray?" he inquired innocently.

Ororo shook her head, smiling sadly. Instead of replying, she took a seat next to him on the bed. Kurt watched her silently, his golden eyes never leaving her. The mutant woman kept her head down, wondering what to say. She had come in here, determined to express her feelings, and now… she could not think of a word to say.

Kurt shifted his position, rearranging himself so that he almost mirrored her pose, his long, twin-toed feet planted on the floor next to her own smaller, more normal ones. A moment of silence followed, before the man spoke quietly.

"How did you come to zis place?" he asked. "Ich do not know about you."

Storm looked up in surprise. She had not expected this. Abruptly, she smiled. An opening had come. "I don't know too much about you, either," she replied, barely keeping the slyness out of her tone. It was Kurt's turn to look surprised. But he did as she had subtly requested, and shared his past.

Ororo sat aghast as she listened to the man's long tale of his childhood. By the end she was weeping uncontrollably. She hated to be weak, but she could not see how this man could go for so many years without crying. He had gone through so much!

So she buried her head in her hands, there and then, and wept for him. Kurt had hissed with surprise when the first tear had rolled ominously down her cheek, but slowly his golden eyes had filled with an unrecognisable expression. Ororo did not care, tough, for when that expression came, he wrapped an arm about her slender shoulders and pulled her in close, allowing her to sob into his shoulder.

Ororo stayed there for a long time, her head buried deep into the small nook between his neck and shoulder. He didn't smell like a human, she realised. She remained there, enveloped in his embrace, taking in his wonderful scent and cherishing the moment she had longed for.

"I love you," she mumbled quietly into his black shirt. It seemed the least she could do. After all the love he had lost so tragically…

She gaped in shock, taken aback. He had thrust her back suddenly, jerking her neck uncomfortably. Her eyes widened as she noticed the hurt expression on his open face.

"Vhat?" he asked warily. Ororo could feel the tears begin to well up again. So he did not trust love any more, she thought. Well, she could change that for him. She carefully softened her features.

"I think you heard me. I do not lie about such things, Kurt."

Anger filled his eyes, causing them to flash in a strangely familiar way. "Ja. Ich heard you. Vhy do you say zis?" Strange, thought Ororo. Even when angered, his tone was gentle. It was amazing what faith could do to a man.

She could not stop the next question from escaping her unguarded lips. She had already asked him this, but she still did not understand the answer.

"Why do you have so much faith? How could you, after everything?"

This time, the anger flared up. Ororo instantly regretted her inquiry. She should have known it would hurt him. "Vhy do you ask me zis? You should know, of all ze people! Ich haf told you all of mein past. How could you ask me…?" he suddenly looked more slumped than ever. He dropped his eyes to the floor.

"Ich love ze Lord, for He has saved me. He has made mein life more valuable zan you could believe. He is ze hope for mein salvation. And He is ze one caring for mein family. He is ze keeper of mein…" he struggled for a word. "Ursprung," he concluded, obviously exasperated at his lack of an English word to suit.

He looked up at Ororo then, grief painted all over his face. She could not help it. She broke down in tears. She knew what this was – rejection.

She had not loved another for a very long time, and she guessed that she never would again. She was known as a loner, and she had grown tired of it. And now, Kurt – the one she loved – had forsaken her for a greater love.

The blue man sighed, then raised a three-fingered hand to gently stroke her cheek. "You are very beautiful," he murmured, "but Ich do not love you. You are ze most wonderful woman Ich have met in a very long time, but… Ich cannot love you, in ze way zat you need." He dropped his hand from her cheek, then twisted his lithe frame around on the bed until he was facing the other direction. Ororo knew it was time to go.

She quietly stood, tears pouring relentlessly down her cheeks. He was so sad, and yet he would not allow anyone to cheer him up. He was so lonely, but he would not let anyone in his little cocoon, not let anyone accompany him.

Without a word, she turned her back to his back and put her hand on the brass handle. She paused, hoping beyond hope that he would call her back, apologise, beg for her to stay, so he could wrap her in his long arms, laying her gently upon the bed…

But no heavily accented word came from the silent, perfectly still figure. With a shaky sigh, Ororo left the room.

--------

A/N: Sad, ne? NO! I am an adamant protester against Kurt/Ororo. This is what I think should definitely happen. It is all too clear that Storm has a "thing" for Nightcrawler in the movie, but Kurt is supposed to end up single and in a monastery. So, what do I do? I make it REJECTION!!!

Mwahahaha!

Well, as much as I love hearing from all you guys, and receiving all your really encouraging comments, they don't really… help. See, they don't criticise enough. I'm a bit weird, ne? But I really would appreciate some constructive criticism. N.B.: This is NOT an invitation for flames!

Well, expect one or two more chapters. This was never supposed to be long. In fact, it's longer than I anticipated. Thanks to you guys, asking for more all the time!

Anyway, this chapter was a bit of a bold step for me. I've never tried romance before. I can do angst, sure, but romance? I never read it. How am I supposed to write it?

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

~Kekkie