A/N: Hey ya'll. Here's another installment. I hope that you like it. Oh, and sorry, but for right now Kat is kind of a Mary-Sue…but she's going to change. So don't flame me for that…please. She will get better, trust me. Oh, and there is a spoiler for X2 in this chapter. If you haven't seen the movie, and don't want to know…you may want to wait on this. But other then that, tell me what you think. Oh, and I have no idea how Gambit first discovered his powers, but there's a reference to it in here. If I'm totally off base, sorry! I hope you guys like it!! =)
Just a second later when they landed, Kat was mystified. She'd always watched those scifi movies where they teleported people here and there…and always imagined what it would be like…but she never imagined his. She was in Professor Xavier's office…at least that's what she assumed since he was sitting behind a desk and his walls spoke of his achievements. Nightcrawler was standing to her left clutching her hand to his own cloven one.
When they had landed, Kat had grabbed Nightcrawler's arm with her right hand, and held on for dear life…even though they were just standing there. The teleportation had taken no time at all…but Kat felt like there should be more to it, and was just waiting for something else to happen. After a couple of seconds, she realized how much of a dork she must look like, and looked around, but still clutched his hand. Nightcrawler shrugged at Professor Xavier, who smiled warmly at first him, then Kat. He always liked it when people were impressed by other mutant powers, and just by doing a light psi scan (not reading her thoughts…because he wasn't given permission) he could tell that the young woman in front of him was in a bit of shock (nothing that she wouldn't recover from in a moment or two) but not the least bit afraid of the blue mutant next to her. In fact, she seemed to have latched on to him as much mentally as she had physically in the short time she had met Nightcrawler.
"It's ok now." Nightcrawler said softly, mistaking Kat's reaction for fear. He smiled at her, trying to calm her fears, then patted her comfortingly on the shoulder.
Kat glanced up at his blue face, and bright yellow eyes. She should have been horrified (since she still had hardly any memory of these guys) …yet she was intrigued instead. She wondered about the signs and symbols running along his blue skin, and decided to ask him about it later. She glanced down and practically just realized that she had his arm in almost a death grip. She blushed slightly, and released him. "I-I'm sorry."
"It's quite alright." Nightcrawler assured her, with his thick German accent. "Did you enjoy that?" He asked, meaning the teleportation. Kat nodded slightly, that being the only thing she thought of. She was still a bit disoriented though. "Then I have your permission to do it again sometime." He smiled again at her, liking her immediately. He loved it when people weren't freaked out instantly when they met him. He was used to it, but that didn't mean he liked it. It was refreshing being here at Xavier's school. Much better then a freak show.
"Hello Kat." Xavier said breaking the silence. He watched the usual confusion cross the stranger's face when he used their name without first asking what it was. "I'm glad that you found your way here."
"Wait…" Kat asked slowly, forehead creasing. "How…do you know my name?" She glanced to Nightcrawler who smiled back, then back to Xavier. She still felt a bit off so she decided to ask. "Did I tell you?" Before Xavier could reply, and begin the explanation that he'd told to many mutants many times over, the door swung open. Two arguing X-men, Scott and Logan entered. Logan threw Xavier a smirk and a slight chuckle; while Scott didn't take his eyes off Logan.
"You don't see where I'm coming from, One Eye!" Logan commented. "I found her." He was bantering with Scott, and if Xavier didn't know any better, he'd think that Logan actually looked forward to these encounters with Scott.
"You showed a complete lack of self control, and unnecessary roughness." Scott barked back, not bantering. Scott was totally serious. "You could have immediately come to Xavier, told him the situation, and he could have used Cerebro to locate her." It took Kat a second…but she realized that they were arguing about her. She raised an eyebrow and looked toward the two men. Why would they be arguing about her? She wasn't an important enough person to actually be under the topic of discussion.
The conversation would have gone on indefinitely if Xavier hadn't intervened. He was used to the bickering between these two…it was common occurrence. One loner meets one leader of a team. Who wouldn't expect complications? Logan seemed to get a kick out of their bickering, while Scott always seemed to get defensive. "Enough." He said simply. It hadn't slipped by him, that when Logan and Scott had entered the room, Kat had immediately stepped toward the other side of Nightcrawler. He now was standing between her and the other two with a protective arm around her shoulders. It hadn't slipped by Nightcrawler either. He almost seemed protective. He found someone that he could look after who wasn't repulsed by him. Something inside of him just screamed to look after her. He glanced at the two X-men, almost daring them to come closer. Xavier caught this coming from his psyche, and couldn't help but smile.
"Sorry, Professor." Scott said almost immediately. Logan didn't say anything, but he winked at Xavier. Now more then ever, Xavier was left pondering the depth of Logan's character. The bickering between these two had only increased since Jean's death. It only occurred to him now that the reason Logan kept Scott on his toes was to keep his mind off Jean. Logan cared for the fallen X-man teammate almost as much as Scott had. And when Logan had realized that Jean had chosen Scott over himself, he had been a good sport about it. Him and old 'one eye' would never get a long, but the least he could do was to help him by her passing being a bit smoother. If you asked him he'd flat out deny it…that's the way he was. But there was a lot more to Logan then what met the eye.
Xavier sobered at the thought of losing his friend, and one of his original students. Pushing the thought from his mind, he focused on the task at hand. "That's better." Xavier smiled at the two of them. "Now, I'd like to introduce you to Kat." He motioned toward Nightcrawler, and Kat slowly peeked out from the left side of him. "Kat, I would like you to meet my two very good friends, Scott and Logan." Scott stepped forward, smiling politely at Kat, with his right hand extended. Kat slowly stepped forward (Nightcrawler lifted his arm so he wouldn't hold her back) and shook his hand, then quickly moved back to her spot at Nightcrawler's side, giving Logan a small wave. He smirked and started forward, but Scott could see the fear on Kat's face, and put out an arm to hold him back. Logan gave Scott a look that said "I go where I wanna go". But after he glanced toward Xavier he nodded at him to stop, he did. He could be respectful sometimes. Nightcrawler immediately placed his left arm back over her shoulders again when she settled back by his side.
"I'm glad you found your way to us, Kat." Xavier said, all attention on Kat again…as if the exchange amongst them had never occurred. "Tell me…when did you first discover your mutant powers?"
Kat coughed loudly, and choked out a "What?!" She stared at him with an open mouth, and wide eyes. "Dude…you must be mistaken. I'm not a…mutant!"
"Is there something wrong with being a mutant?" Logan asked, his voice the same low growl that it always was. He was just trying to rile her…he found it amusing. She peeked out from Nightcrawler's side again, then over at Xavier, everyone was waiting for her to answer. Nobody looked angry, they looked like they were used to this type of reaction. Xavier and Nightcrawler gave her reassuring smiles, Scott was gazing off into space, and Logan was smirking at her.
"Uh…no?" Kat asked hesitantly, hoping that would be the end of her being the center of attention. Some people thrived on it…she hated it. She'd rather blend into a crowd then stand before it. It didn't take a genius to know that Logan freaked the hell out of her. Logan punched Scott on the shoulder (none to lightly) to get him to pay attention when Xavier started speaking again. Scott threw him with a glare that was mixed with appreciation for being caught unaware. Even after these six months he could be caught day-dreaming about Jean.
Confused now, Xavier turned his look from Logan and Scott's exchange, back to Kat again. "Are you saying…you didn't know?" Kat shook her head, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. The whole room seemed to shrink around her, and everyone was staring at her. Without even knowing it she moved closer to Nightcrawler's side, and he gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Xavier sent a calming feeling to her brain, and noticed her tense form visibly relax. "What brought you here?" Xavier asked. Kat shrugged, not yet remembering how she had gotten to Xavier's gate. She had memories from her childhood through college. But for the life of her, she couldn't recall coming to the gate. "It's alright." Xavier said in a comforting way. "You just took me a bit by surprise is all. Usually by now your mutant powers would have been manifested. It should have appeared somewhere near puberty."
Kat let that sink in for a moment, then she took a deep breath and ventured a question of her own. "So…what kind of mutant am I?"
"I was hoping that you'd ask that." Xavier said. He smiled at her confused, and tense look. "Would you care to accompany me to the danger room?"
Not knowing what else to say, Kat shrugged and slowly answered. "Uh…okay." She glanced up at Nightcrawler, who glanced down at her at the same time. She felt very safe in his presence. He seemed to emit his inner peace and tranquility in waves. "Will you come too?"
Nightcrawler smiled down at her, still enjoying this task of feeling as a protector. "I won't leave your side." He assured her.
"Scott, Logan." Xavier said, looking toward them…they were standing still, watching the exchange between Nightcrawler and Kat. When Xavier called their names, they both turned to look at him. "I'd like the two of you to accompany us as well…that is unless the two of you had other plans?"
"I'm free, professor." Scott replied.
Logan nodded in confirmation toward him, knowing if the professor had a question if he was going with him, or yes he had plans…that he could read his mind if he chose. He stared at Kat instead with a half smile. "After you, kid." He was taking delight in trying to rile her…he got a kick out of it when it worked. With Nightcrawler leading the way, Kat following closely behind, Logan behind her and Scott and Xavier bringing up the lead, the group of mutants made their way toward the danger room.
~*~*~
Gambit had to remind himself to keep from moaning. He didn't want these guys to be able to get the jump on him by knowing he was awake. He concentrated as hard as he could on his mutant powers, but he couldn't feel the familiar kinetic energy build in his hands. He tried until he was almost straining with the effort, and still nothing. Gambit never had to strain to use his powers. He was in complete control. He taught himself how to have complete power…that's why he was starting to get a little edgy.
Many mutants, especially new mutants, hated their powers…at least in the beginning. "Why me?" they'd ask. But over the years as Gambit had learned to hone his powers…his flow of energy that was his power had gotten him out of more tight spots then he'd care to think about.
He could never forget the very first time he realized he was different. He was thirteen, and had gotten so mad at his cousin for breaking his promise to hook Remy up with the most beautiful girl in the school. His cousin had decided to take her for himself…even though she had showed remarkable interest in Remy. He had been drinking a can of coke, it was now empty. He crushed the can in his hand with his frustration, and charged it by accident. Finished anyway, he threw the slightly glowing can (without even realizing that it was glowing…come on, he's love blinded) into the trash bin…and it practically exploded on impact. Gambit had hit the cement when the trash can blew, covering his head and cursing in French. He had believed he was under attack.
It had been many years since those early days, but Gambit had never thought of his powers as a nuisance…at least once he figured out how to use it. Now, with the feeling gone he felt as if a big part of him was missing. Like waking up one morning, and you realized that your writing hand had been chopped off. That's how Gambit felt now.
"No need to panic, Cajun." A gruff voice came out from above Gambit's head and to the right of him. It took Gambit a moment to realize that he had been clenching and unclenching his hand, attempting to get the usual flow of power in his hand again.
Sighing, Gambit sat up knowing the gig was up. Sitting Indian style, he clutched at his head…which was screaming at him for sitting up too fast. When he got his bearings, he finally looked to the man sitting on a crate in front of him. With a quick glance around the cabin he was in, Gambit came to the conclusion he was in a plane…heading for God only knew where. "Whad did yo' say?" Gambit asked. His throat was parched, and had a strange sort of bitterness to it.
"No need to panic." The man repeated himself. "Cajun." He rolled his eyes at the confused look Gambit gave to him in return. "Your powers have been temporarily displaced. You'll have your energy flow back in an hour or so."
Even as the man spoke, Gambit had dream-like flashbacks. The feeling of two people carrying him…someone opening his mouth and dumping a very bitter powder, that made him want to gag, down his throat…being dumped so unceremoniously onto the cabin floor…and hit with the bat again for good measure on the back of his neck, knocking him out again. He remembered it all now.
"What do yo' wan wit Gambit?" Remy asked, though his throat was killing him, he wanted answers.
"You'll find out as soon as we get to New York City." The man said smugly. "Lets just say…your services are required."
Gambit glared at the man. He clearly did not liked being taken advantage of. "An' what den?"
"You'll find out, mutant." The man sneered. He turned his head to the side, to light a cigarette, and Gambit saw his chance. Without his hands bound or anything, Stupid kidnappers, Gambit thought. He lunged at the man left to guard him. They may have gotten him unaware, but Gambit wasn't going anywhere against his will without a fight. He elbowed the man in the face, followed by a quick punch to his stomach. The guy flew forward. Gambit could only grunt in satisfaction as the guy slammed into the floor. Narrowing his eyes at the sprawled out form, he couldn't help but kick him once. Dat's for takin' my writing hand, homme. Gambit thought menacingly, and his eyes glowed brighter then ever. Glancing around the room for something to tie the guys hands with, Gambit didn't hear the man very quietly stand up.
"Where's da rope when you' need it?" Gambit groaned to himself. Just as he was about to turn back around, the guy produced a taser from his pocket, switched it on, then nailed the Cajun in the neck with it. The volts flowed through him, and Gambit fell to the floor once again. Convulsing on the floor, his eyes caught the malice in the eyes of his attacker, who intentionally held the taser on longer then necessary. Marking the man's face in his memory as he slipped into unconsciousness, he vowed his revenge. No one got the jump on Gambit with out a mark to show for it.
"Filthy mutant." The man sneered, and kicked the fallen man in the stomach. Sticking the taser back in his pocket, he lit the cigarette he tried to light earlier. Glancing down at the unconscious form of Gambit, he couldn't help but feel just a tiny tinge of fear. The Cajun was a mutant, and his eyes had shown he wasn't going to forgive and forget. Not this mutant.
Next Chapter: We find out what mutant powers Kat actually has…and why is everyone picking on our favorite Cajun?! Stay tuned.
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