A/N: Woot! =^_^= Decided to put this bit in the front this time. Thanks to Reikon, Southernbend, Angelfish and Heavenmetal for commenting. I really, really, REALLY appreciate comments so please R and R. C'mon you know ya wanna press that little button on the bottom and do it! =^_^= Special Thanks to Kasdan for Beta reading, yer the best!! I'm doing this bit a little different that before. It's from Ororo's POV. Sorry again for the shortness, but I figure either do this in short bursts quickly or take forever doing one long bit :D
Ororo trudged her way to the kitchen, wrapping her
terrycloth robe tightly around her body. Moments ago, she had bolted out of
bed, a silent scream caught in her throat as images of Jean's death assailed
her. Sleep was impossible after that. Running her fingers through her
disarrayed hair, Ororo sighed and hoped that a cup of hot chocolate would sooth
her jangled nerves.
Soon she was basking in the sweet scent of cocoa as she held a large mug close
to her face. She wandered through the silent mansion, slowly nursing the
scalding sweet liquid. As she walked down empty hallways, her eye caught on a
light coming from underneath the door that led to the gym. 'Who could be up at
this hour?' she mused to herself as she quietly opened the door. At first
glance the gym appeared to be empty. Then she looked up and almost dropped her
cup. A lithe form flew through the air, performing acts of athletic prowess.
Their new recruit, Kurt Wagner, seemed to be working off extra energy by using
the mansion's extensive gymnastic equipment. Long limbs moved with fluid grace,
swinging up from parallel bars to the rings that hung from the ceiling.
Ororo watched in stunned silence at the elegant dance that was playing out
above her. Obviously he didn't notice her presence, so she took the time to get
a good look at this mysterious man. He wore a pair of oversized gray sweatpants
and a khaki colored shirt, both of which looked to have seen better days. Lean
muscles moved underneath his embossed blue skin as his body twisted and turned
midair, to grasp the rings overhead with dexterous hands, feet and even his
spade tipped tail. After a series of flips, jumps, and midair turns, he grabbed
onto a ring with his prehensile toes and swung back and forth hanging on with
just one foot. He hung there swaying back and forth, his free leg folded behind
his knee, his hands held behind his back, and his eyes closed in concentration.
Ororo couldn't help but thing he looked like hanged man from a tarot deck.
Suddenly he let go of the ring and dropped like a stone. Before she could react, Kurt twisted in midair, like a cat, and gracefully landed in a crouch on his feet. He stretched out his long frame and walked to a nearby bench, grabbing a water bottle and taking a swig. She didn't realize how tall he was, seeing as most the time he walked bent over in a slouch. It was as if he was trying to make himself smaller and unnoticed. She must have unconsciously made a noise as she was puzzling over the enigma that was Kurt Wagner, because he suddenly turned to look in her direction.