Author's Note: Sorry it has taken so long to update (and such a terribly short chapter!). Life very busy plus had wisdom teeth out. And, though painkillers may alter the mind and bring inspiration to some, they just make me loopy.
Thanks for all the reviews...and now a little Kurt for the maniacs (I hope to do a full book for him so bear with me! :-)
Chapter Five:
"See now that wasn't so bad, was it?" Kurt Wagner asked the child beside him with a grin.
Artie grumbled unhappily, massaging one side of his jaw with his hand. Dr. McCoy had found a cavity in one of Artie's molars and it had been a small fight to get him to sit still while it was filled. Luckily, the doctor had not seemed too put off by the boy's reaction, or the fact that Artie's tongue was forked and each of his teeth were a little sharper than normal.
They were walking down one of the long white and silver hallways that ran beneath Xavier's school. Students were not generally permitted in the lower levels, and most jumped at the chance of seeing the 'top secret' labs. However, dental check-up day was the one time they tried to avoid being escorted to the lower medical bay.
In recent months, Kurt had earned this duty, especially with the younger children. When he had first arrived at the mansion, the students whom he had rescued with Storm at Alkalai Lake had spread stories around the school about his abilities, and how he had teleported them out of their cell. The fact that he had once performed in the circus also added to their curiosity and he had frequently spotted the children watching him closely.
At first, many of them had been a little nervous because of his strange blue skin and long tail, but anyone who spoke with Kurt quickly warmed up to him. His soft-spoken and patient demeanor stood in stark contrast to his almost 'demon-like' exterior.
Listening to his many stories about his life in Munich soon became the favorite pre-bedtime activity of the younger students. He told tales like a practiced performer, accenting his stories with exaggerated acrobatics and building suspense with his voice.
A conversation with him could also be quite mesmerizing, and the children had formed a quiet respect in regards to the blue mutant. It became quickly obvious that he had a knack at working with children who were belligerent or withdrawn. He had been born with his mutation and most children with obvious physical differences worked more willingly with someone whom they felt could identify with their struggles.
Artie glanced up at Kurt with a frown.
"Do I have to come back again next week?" he asked unhappily.
Kurt smiled sympathetically, "Yes, I'm afraid so. Dr. McCoy just wants to check up on that cavity. He promised no more fillings as long as you brush your teeth more often."
Artie grumbled again, and paused as they approached the elevator. He suddenly gave Kurt a wicked grin.
"Let's teleport up instead!" he said enthusiastically. Kurt laughed.
"You promise me you won't give Ms. Monroe any more problems when you go to see the doctor, yes?" Kurt asked, trying to look serious.
Artie nodded and grinned widely. Kurt placed his hands on the boy's shoulders.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Ready!" Artie replied happily. Kurt closed his eyes to focus, but continued to grin with amusement. Not many of the children liked the idea of teleporting, but Kurt could not help but indulge the ones who asked to try.
* BAMPF *
In less than a heartbeat, Kurt and Artie found themselves standing in another hall, one story up from where they had been. Kurt kept his hands on Artie's shoulders, as the boy stumbled a little from the unusual 'jump.'
Artie laughed, "Cool! See you later, Kurt!"
Kurt waved to the boy as he ran off, and then greeted several other students who had been surprised by the sudden new arrivals.
"Showing off again?" a voice called to him. Kurt turned and noticed Storm heading towards him from down the hall. She had an amused smiled on her face, and an armload of textbooks. Kurt politely relieved her of some of them and she thanked him appreciatively.
"I suppose," he replied, and then added with a shrug, "Once a performer, always a performer, I guess."
Kurt grinned sheepishly, secretly thanking God for his blue skin as he felt the heat rising in his face, as he maneuvered the books onto a nearby cart.
Storm nodded and smiled, "I'm heading down to the Danger Room. Bobby will be demonstrating its uses to Dr. McCoy and a few others. Are you going?"
Kurt nodded, "I would like to. I have only seen this Danger Room once, and never when it was being used for training. Bobby seemed to be looking forward to 'showing off' himself."
Storm chuckled, "Let's hope he does more than put on a good show."
She reached over the pushed the down button on the elevator and glanced at her watch with annoyance.
"I was hoping Mr. LeBeau would be coming also," Storm said, "He seemed interested in...oh, there he is."
Kurt turned and saw Gambit strolling up towards them. His hands were inside the pockets of his long overcoat, and he glanced around the hall with vague interest as he walked. He seemed to be in a much better mood than earlier, and Storm assumed his hangover must have passed.
Gambit nodded politely to Kurt and then grinned broadly at Storm.
"Hope is a wonderful thing, ma chere," he said and then added with a wink, "For you hoped, and here I am..."
Storm's expression remained friendly and even, though it did not escape her attention that he had somehow heard their conversation before he entered the hall. She knew he had been involved with some unsavory individuals in the past, and his ability to see and hear things around him without being seen himself was a learned talent.
"I'm glad you decided to join us," she said, and the elevator chimed open, "Shall we?"
Gambit hesitated a moment before following Storm and Kurt through the doors. For some reason, he felt as if this was the final step away from his old life. Then, he thought of his new powers, and how destructive he knew those powers could be, and decided to continue forward, despite whatever this new life would bring.