A Brave New X-World
By: Night Elf Crawler
Chapter 3
Kitty sat in the dark room, bundled in a blanket, feeling glum, as a fire crackled cheerily in the center, though warmth really wasn't necessary in this underground fortress. The flames did little to cheer her.
Dinner HAD been quite pleasant; Kurt was ever the joking center of attention. Kitty had felt awkward however, as Amanda kept sneaking small kisses to him when she thought their guest wasn't looking. The meal had consisted of the lowest kind of rations she had ever had. She was used to real cooked food, but knew that some had to live off the hydrogenised packets that were sold cheap in the markets. It was nearly unthinkable to be living off the stuff, they lacked substance, and only satisfied her hunger slightly. Add to that, the two were fairly surprised at her claim of refusing to eat meat. Kurt had told her, not too gently that if she didn't get protein down here, she would quickly fall ill, and she had forced herself to eat the dried pieces of cow flesh. how could people marinate and dry this stuff, then eat it and call it gourmet jerky?
She shuddered and felt ill again, but knew she couldn't afford to be sick. Over dinner, some of the conversation had taken the direction of the plans that were being put into effect.
"What do you plan to do, Kurti? It's too soon for any manipulation of the elections." Amanda had said, with a worried tone, serving Kitty her small plate of supper. "Do you think you can afford to make a move so soon?"
"Probably not, but we hardly have a choice, leibling." Kurt spoke as he took a small sip of the amount of water allotted. "I have a few ideas of what we can do, all we need is inside assistance."
Amanda didn't look convinced, and sat down, fiddling with a braid hanging over her shoulder from her multi-plaited hair. "Do you think he's gained enough supporters though?"
Kurt shook his head, but said nothing negative. "All we need are a few in key positions."
"When are you going to put it into action then?"
Kurt had taken his time answering that, chewing thoughtfully on the dried jerky. "I think. tomorrow." He said slowly. "At least go for a 'chat' with dear Daddy."
"Well be careful. and. if you're that way could you.?"
"Of course." He said, in a more gentle tone. "I wouldn't think of leaving without seeing them."
Amanda had smiled gratefully, a look of wistful sadness in her eyes, and the conversation had then turned to the talk of the mutant children doing cute things.
Kitty closed her eyes, the chatter fading from her mind as she watched the flames flicker up and into the hole in the ceiling cut for the release of smoke. It presumably joined the main chamber above the living quarters, where the fumes were released with the rest of the volcanic offshoots.
She wondered silently, why this all was happening to her. She had lived a good life, and suddenly, all this. It wasn't fair. but then, she chided herself, it wasn't fair that Kurt, and those like him had been outcast because they couldn't hide their appearances either. There were many theories about why mutants existed. Some claimed it was an offshoot from the nuclear fallout of the world wars. some claimed it was just a faulty gene in a pool of people exposed to chemicals. some also said that they were just black hearted evil people, born into wickedness. all of which, she had come to know, were wrong.
She was startled out of her thoughts by soft footfalls behind her. She glanced up, expecting it to be Kurt checking on her, but was surprised when she saw Amanda's sleepy face, peering around the corner.
"Hey." She said softly, coming out further, wrapped in a robe, and settled down on the pillows beside her. "Can't sleep?"
Kitty shook her head, and stared back into the fire. "No.it's all just.so much to accept all at once."
Amanda smiled and nodded sympathetically and watched the flames. "I can't pretend to fully understand what you're going through, but I've seen it happen to enough people I can get an idea."
Kitty blinked at her confused. "What do you mean?"
Amanda glanced over at her, and smiled sweetly. "So many people come here with the same story.you learn to know what it's like from talking with children, and adults who've been through it."
"Then you're not."
"No, I'm not a mutant."
Kitty was a bit stunned. She hadn't thought that there would be any normal person out here, since it was only the mutants who weren't wanted in society. "Why? Why are you down here instead of back up there?"
Amanda played with the edge of her robe, a smile on her face. "That's quite a story actually.. Do you want the long or the short version?"
Kitty smiled a bit. She was beginning to like this young woman. They were about the same age, but Amanda looked older, wiser, and more experienced. "Well, I've got nothing planned.."
Amanda chuckled and leaned back, casually. "Well..then might as well spend it, hmm?"
She began, speaking with a serious tone. "My parents were always more accepting than most others, maybe it's because of our heritage, maybe not.anyway, it was three years ago, and I had run out for some food in the market. While I was down there, some kind of anti-mutant rally was going on in the plaza, it was your typical demonstration, quiet, polite, and non- violent." She snorted. "Hard to imagine years ago people were attacked by the police for being violent during things like that."
*** "They're poisoning our society!" Rahhhhhh "They corrupt our children!" Rahhhhhh "They're dangerous criminals and must be weeded out!" Rahhhhhh!!!!
Amanda made a face as she stood there, basket full of fruit and vegetables, listening idly to the stupid chanting of the demonstrators. Why people chose this of all things to protest about, people who were born different. It was an all too familiar scenario, she thought, reflecting on her history lessons in school. Why is it that humans always have to find SOMEONE to hate, even in this day and age when they had no real reasons?
She set her jaw and began to push gently through the crowd of long robed patrons. In this sector of the town, most favored the Middle Eastern, African, and Asian styles of clothing, long robes that covered most of the body, in bright colored fabric. It was like a rainbow sea of crayons, and damn near impossible to spot anyone.
As she made her way by the fringe of the crowd, wanting to stay as far from the bulk of the mass as possible, she tripped on someone's long robes, and went sprawling, some melons and oranges rolling out of her basket down the street between feet as she frantically tried to stop them. Cursing under her breath, she made it back to her feet, and bent down picking the melons up. One was cracked, another ruined, and the third was picked up by someone, surprisingly, and held out towards her.
She glanced up and smiled in thanks, taking it. "My thanks, patron." She replied in the formal manner one normally treated strangers with.
The man, wearing a long concealing robe of black cloth, that completely hid his face from view, and was buttoned with a gold emblem on his right shoulder, just chuckled a bit, and replied in a soft tenor friendly voice. "I would be careful where you toss your items around, fraulein, someone might not take kindly to having a melon for a shoe."
She smiled at his wit, and put the undamaged one in her basket, and the broken ones towards a trash receptacle, as she glanced up at the speakers. Judging from her mysterious good Samaritan's posture, he wasn't happy with what they were saying either. "Sickening isn't it?" She asked, re-joining him and watching the crowd cheer another speech. "Out of everything in the world that people could learn to hate, they only end up hating those who don't deserve persecution."
The stranger seemed to be interested in her words, turning his shadowed head, so she could only barely make out an outline of his face. "Really now? That's not a very healthy concept to go shouting around this crowd." He gestured with a hand, and she noticed he was wearing what looked like a suited body armor glove the guards tended to wear. She frowned a bit, but since he hadn't arrested her for saying something pro-mutant yet, she hoped he wasn't a hard-core sympathizer.
"Yes, I know." She acknowledged. "But since when are we supposed to completely become automatons and behave the way society dictates without freedom of speech. Which is why this whole mutant hating craze is disgusting. They can't help being what they are, why can't we just accept that and work on, instead of persecuting those unable of defending themselves in the laws of today, creating a unified relationship between us all?" He snorted at that, causing her to bristle. "Oh come on, you can't seriously buy into this 'mutants are dangerous' crap. Know what's really dangerous? The guys with the guns, the guys with the law, and the ones in charge. They're the ones who make these ridiculous laws up, and carry them out on innocent people."
His hands raised in defense. "Whoa, easy there. I'm not disagreeing with you, fraulein." He laughed. "In fact, I commend your values. Very few people have them in this society, and those that do are often afraid to voice them." He bowed at the waist. "Bravo, and I hope your enthusiasm is contagious."
She smiled a bit, loosening up at that. "Thanks. well, nice talking to you.er.?"
"Kurt, fraulein." He slipped his hand into hers, and kissed her hand gently.
She blushed a bit at the show of chivalry, and was too distracted to notice that the way he held her hand was a bit odd, and that the brush of his lips had felt stranger than normal. By the time she had recovered, he was gone, like a shadow, disappeared back into the crowd.
She shook her head, and continued on, and arrived home without further incident.
"I'm back." She closed the door to their bungalow apartment, and her mother turned, smiling over at her.
"Did it go well?" Her smile faded a bit. "I hear on the news that they're having another one of those circus rallies." Her mother always called them that, her way of showing her disagreement with the ideas the protesters held. The sad thing was, should anyone host a pro-mutant rally, the defense force would quickly put a stop to it, as 'unpatriotic' activities.
"Yes there was a rally." She put the basket on the table, and sighed faintly, staring at the wall which was displaying the news, covering the rally right now. She rolled her eyes. "Can I change the channel?" she picked up the schedule, and flipped through it to find something a bit more, tolerant.
"Please do. I'm just sick and tired of listening to all that day in, day out. I'll be glad when the election is past, and they've gotten that bill through the system."
Amanda bit her lip, turning back, still holding the guide. "But mother, think about what that will mean for all those mutants still trying to live normal lives in the city. they'll be hunted down, just for being born!"
Her mother gave her a sympathetic look, her green eyes and red hair looking out of place meeting her daughter's soft chocolate brown complexion. "I know sweetie. trust me I know." she sighed. "But you know there's no chance of that bill NOT passing."
Amanda sighed, snatching the melon on top of the basket as her mother began unloading it, turning it over and over in her hands, reminded of the shadow man. "I know. but if just more people stood up to all this. I met someone who had the same view as us today. I mean, there's got to be more out there that think the same way we do."
She turned, and watched the wall, then blinked in slight alarm. The crowd was acting more and more rowdy, which was unusual, until she saw why. Two men were dragging a young child up by her hair, onto the floating platform in the center of the crowd. She was screaming, crying, and looked terrified, but Amanda noticed at once why they had taken her. The young girl's hair was frizzy out from her head, like an electric field was lifting all her hair from her. The men were cursing, and flinching, their own hair standing up, and the equipment around the girl began to short out. She was a mutant, and a terrified mutant meant powers going berserk. Naturally people were screaming, calling out harsh things, and scaring the girl more.
Amanda watched, feeling anger and pity well up, as suddenly a dark figure came out of nowhere, and a man went flying off of the platform into the crowd as a well-aimed boot contacted with his nose.
Instantly, there was mass hysteria. Acts of violence in the city were highly illegal, but it didn't seem to stop the stranger, as she recognize the gold emblem as it flashed by the camera. He was the same man she had spoken with. He was a whirl of action, his robes flapping around him like a cloud as he quickly smashed a fist into the other man's face, leaving the platform empty of everyone but himself, and the girl. There was shouting and screaming, followed by a loud bang. Guns were being fired, and the multi colored beams of light shot by the guards danced around the black figure like fireworks. The stranger stopped to stoop down and speak to the young child, who was looking even more frightened, but upon hearing his words, instantly clung to him tightly as he lifted her up.
Amanda found herself smiling. Her hero. Not only did he hold the same beliefs she did, but he rescued damsels in distress at the cost of his own life and reputation. She watched, still a bit frightened for him. How was he going to. oh.. The man had stood tall, taken a quick bow, and vanished in a plume of bright purple, pink, and black smoke. She beamed at the screen, and laughed at the baffled remarks of the newscaster, who was trying to explain the chaos.
Her mother was standing next to her, and gave her a quizzical look. "That your friend?" At Amanda's nod, she smiled. "I like him."
Just then, both of them were startled by a sudden loud knock at the door. Since they hadn't been expecting visitors, and most people identified themselves by pressing their thumbs to the ID scanner to announce who it was, Amanda approached the door warily, and peered out the front screen panel. Her mouth just about dropped open when she saw the black-cloaked stranger, holding the child, standing there.
She exchanged looks with her mother, who quickly made a snorting noise, and unlocked the door, pulling it open.
Amanda peered out. "I just saw you on the." She was cut off as he brushed by them, and into their domicile, heading for the couch and setting the child down on the cushions.
His head raised a bit, and she could tell for the first time, he was breathing hard, and seemed distressed. "I sincerely apologize for intruding like this but."
Amanda's mother shut the door quickly, and looked skeptical of actually allowing him into their home. It was one thing approving of his activities, it was another becoming entangled with the authorities by harboring a troublemaker. "Look, what you did is very admirable, but. what if they track you here?"
The stranger nodded once. "I know.please accept my apologies for having to involve you in this but." He suddenly doubled over, as if in pain, and it was then Amanda saw the darker splotch on his black robes.
She rushed forward, grabbing the first aid kit on the shelf and putting a hand on his shoulder forcing him down. "How on earth did you find your way here? Now holds still. take that cloak off."
She began to undo the clasp at his right shoulder, taking in the design. It was gold and black, done in an X with a circle around the perimeter. It felt real, which was surprising since gold had no value anymore in society. Most of it had been discarded carelessly, and few people wore any physical wealth anymore.
His hand shot up and stopped her, however, before she got far enough to remove the cloak. She blinked, and looked up at him, catching sight of his face vaguely in the dim light of the lamp. He was dark skinned, which was probably why he blended so well in with the shadows. He also had a pair of dark shades on, the kind that probably had added devices such as infrared and sensor detectors. "Before you do." He said very softly. "Promise that you will not tell anyone. I don't want to further endanger you, or your family."
She blinked a bit, but nodded. "I understand. Don't worry." She then pulled his cloak back, revealing a black therma suit beneath it, a hole burnt in the armor, and blood staining around the injury. She bit her lip, and pulled out the sensor from the first aid kit, and began to scan the wound. It was a clear one, straight in and out through his shoulder. Luckily, it hadn't hit any tendons, and there was little chance of infection from the wound with the energy bolts the guards used. They weren't normally designed for killing or even badly injuring someone, but in the confusion, one of them must have set it on a higher setting and hit him.
She pulled out some bandages, to keep the newly healed wound from stretching, when something odd caught her eye. Where the wound had been, instead of scar-free skin, a soft blue fuzz was poking out of the hole in the suit. She fingered it with a touch, a puzzled look on her face, as she lifted her eyes to look at him curiously. His mouth broke into a smile, and she saw two definite gleaming points to his teeth. "Not that I mind, but do you always have the habit of treating your patients this way?"
She felt her face going darker, and pulled back quickly with an embarrassed cough. "I'm sorry.I didn't mean. er. well it's just." She peered at him with bright eyes, a bit awkwardly.
He shook his head and put a hand up, then slowly removed his hood, and Amanda suddenly understood. "Oh." She said simply, with a blink, as she took in the dark tousled hair that didn't quite hide the blue pointed ears that stuck out from beneath it, and his fur covered face.
It went fairly well after that. Surprisingly, her mother didn't seem the least bit phased by Kurt's appearance, nor did the little girl. It seemed more natural, for some reason. They spent the meal hour together, discussing mutant rights, and Amanda quickly learned the kind of society that hid below the ground. Kurt had been reluctant to explain about it, afraid not of their trust, but afraid of exposing them to knowledge that could prove dangerous. Mid-meal had proved interesting, when Amanda's father returned home, to find his wife and daughter, having dinner with a blue furry elf, and a girl who was making everything electric around her, go haywire.
After the meal, the drugging effect had mostly worn off of Kurt, and he politely stood, thanked them, and handed them a strange communicator. "If you ever need to get a hold of me, this will allow you to contact me, without being traced." He informed them while pulling on the strange gloves he had, which had two stuffed fingers to make up for the fact he only had three. "Thank you so much for the risks you had to take in helping us."
Amanda couldn't help but think that they hadn't been in that much of a risk, but said nothing of that. "I'll see you two outside." She offered with a smile.
She walked them outside, night had fallen and shadows were everywhere. The streets were mostly empty, only the spare guard walking by on their routine beat. Amanda smiled at him and held out her hand expecting a shake, and he clasped it, and kissed it again gently, causing her to blush again. "Stop by again sometime." She smiled, and waved at the child, Auroiana, her name was, who shyly smiled back at her.
"I will make a point of it." He smiled, and bowed, then ushered the child along.
Amanda watched until they melted into the shadows, and then turned to go back upstairs, when she heard a familiar shriek. Auroiana had screamed.
Without thinking about the consequences, she dashed off down the street, heading their direction, and found the alleyway suddenly flooded with law enforcers. Kurt was backed against the wall, the young girl hiding in his cloak, looking as if he were ready to pull the puff of smoke trick, teleporting he had called it. However, as Amanda crossed her fingers, willing him to escape, she felt her hand become twisted up behind her, and a taser pressed to her back. "Don't move." Hissed the law enforcer, in an iron voice. "Sefton, Amanda.age thirteen.arrest issued for mutant collaboration." He was reading her prints, which were linked into the residential database. There was no way she could hide who she was from them.they knew. Tears filled her eyes, and she caught the panicked look of Kurt's face. He hadn't wanted her to get hurt, or in trouble, and now because of him, if nothing was done, she would be severely punished, under the legal representation of the law.
She watched him with tearful eyes, and urged him in her mind, to just escape. But he would do no such thing.
It happened in a split second. He vanished in a plume of smoke, with the girl, then re-appeared behind the guard holding her, and with a swift kick to the head, the guard stumbled, releasing her, enabling Kurt to grab her arm, and with a sickening rush of vertigo, she was suddenly standing in another dark alleyway, with him, being violently sick to her stomach.
When she had recovered enough to look up, she saw his worried face, peering down at her, his glowing yellow eyes piercing in the dark from behind the shades. "I'm so sorry, liebchen." He murmured quietly, as not to be discovered again. "I had no intention of getting you involved in this."
She smiled faintly up at him, and wiped the sweat from her forehead, standing slowly, though she still felt weak. "No. it's not your fault.I'm sorry for all this, you nearly got caught."
They both fell silent, the only sound was the slight sniff of Auroiana's tears. Finally, Amanda spoke up. "There's no choice now." Her eyes lifted, and met his with firm intensity. "I have to go with you. I can't stay here, they'll find me. My parents are smart enough to claim to not to know anything, but if I go back."
His eyes were soft and sad. "I'm so sorry.. You shouldn't have to do this."
"Actually, to tell the truth, I would rather go with you, and live without the constraints of society, than stay here and have to deal with people's hatred."
He smiled faintly, but nodded once, and held a hand out for her, and she took it without hesitation.
*** Kitty wiped her eyes, so completely in to Amanda's story, she hadn't realized that the girl had stopped speaking, until she heard a soft sneeze behind them.
Both girls blushed, and turned, seeing Kurt leaning against the wall, with an amused expression. "That was quite a heartwarming tale, leibchen." He purred, slinking forward on silent feet, and sliding between the two, his tail curling around Amanda's waist, and his arm resting on Kitty's shoulders. "But you left out one part."
Amanda's thin brow arched. "Oh?"
"Ja! I'm quite offended!" He said, sounding very indignant.
"You forgot to mention how the brave hero then stole off into the night with his two beautiful ladies, and they lived happily ever after!"
Amanda snorted. "Oh, but the story hasn't ended yet, you can't say that."
"Ach, too bad." He made a mock pouty face. "Well." He turned to Kitty, and kept a very serious face. "Then tell me the truth, fraulein.." He smoothed his hair back and looked at her, completely straight faced. "Does this shirt make me look fat?"
Author's note: Wow. this is the result of my entire workday *snicker* cause I didn't do anything else ^-^ Well, I hadn't expected to write 10 pages in the 'how they met' scenario, but, oh well..
Chapter 3
Kitty sat in the dark room, bundled in a blanket, feeling glum, as a fire crackled cheerily in the center, though warmth really wasn't necessary in this underground fortress. The flames did little to cheer her.
Dinner HAD been quite pleasant; Kurt was ever the joking center of attention. Kitty had felt awkward however, as Amanda kept sneaking small kisses to him when she thought their guest wasn't looking. The meal had consisted of the lowest kind of rations she had ever had. She was used to real cooked food, but knew that some had to live off the hydrogenised packets that were sold cheap in the markets. It was nearly unthinkable to be living off the stuff, they lacked substance, and only satisfied her hunger slightly. Add to that, the two were fairly surprised at her claim of refusing to eat meat. Kurt had told her, not too gently that if she didn't get protein down here, she would quickly fall ill, and she had forced herself to eat the dried pieces of cow flesh. how could people marinate and dry this stuff, then eat it and call it gourmet jerky?
She shuddered and felt ill again, but knew she couldn't afford to be sick. Over dinner, some of the conversation had taken the direction of the plans that were being put into effect.
"What do you plan to do, Kurti? It's too soon for any manipulation of the elections." Amanda had said, with a worried tone, serving Kitty her small plate of supper. "Do you think you can afford to make a move so soon?"
"Probably not, but we hardly have a choice, leibling." Kurt spoke as he took a small sip of the amount of water allotted. "I have a few ideas of what we can do, all we need is inside assistance."
Amanda didn't look convinced, and sat down, fiddling with a braid hanging over her shoulder from her multi-plaited hair. "Do you think he's gained enough supporters though?"
Kurt shook his head, but said nothing negative. "All we need are a few in key positions."
"When are you going to put it into action then?"
Kurt had taken his time answering that, chewing thoughtfully on the dried jerky. "I think. tomorrow." He said slowly. "At least go for a 'chat' with dear Daddy."
"Well be careful. and. if you're that way could you.?"
"Of course." He said, in a more gentle tone. "I wouldn't think of leaving without seeing them."
Amanda had smiled gratefully, a look of wistful sadness in her eyes, and the conversation had then turned to the talk of the mutant children doing cute things.
Kitty closed her eyes, the chatter fading from her mind as she watched the flames flicker up and into the hole in the ceiling cut for the release of smoke. It presumably joined the main chamber above the living quarters, where the fumes were released with the rest of the volcanic offshoots.
She wondered silently, why this all was happening to her. She had lived a good life, and suddenly, all this. It wasn't fair. but then, she chided herself, it wasn't fair that Kurt, and those like him had been outcast because they couldn't hide their appearances either. There were many theories about why mutants existed. Some claimed it was an offshoot from the nuclear fallout of the world wars. some claimed it was just a faulty gene in a pool of people exposed to chemicals. some also said that they were just black hearted evil people, born into wickedness. all of which, she had come to know, were wrong.
She was startled out of her thoughts by soft footfalls behind her. She glanced up, expecting it to be Kurt checking on her, but was surprised when she saw Amanda's sleepy face, peering around the corner.
"Hey." She said softly, coming out further, wrapped in a robe, and settled down on the pillows beside her. "Can't sleep?"
Kitty shook her head, and stared back into the fire. "No.it's all just.so much to accept all at once."
Amanda smiled and nodded sympathetically and watched the flames. "I can't pretend to fully understand what you're going through, but I've seen it happen to enough people I can get an idea."
Kitty blinked at her confused. "What do you mean?"
Amanda glanced over at her, and smiled sweetly. "So many people come here with the same story.you learn to know what it's like from talking with children, and adults who've been through it."
"Then you're not."
"No, I'm not a mutant."
Kitty was a bit stunned. She hadn't thought that there would be any normal person out here, since it was only the mutants who weren't wanted in society. "Why? Why are you down here instead of back up there?"
Amanda played with the edge of her robe, a smile on her face. "That's quite a story actually.. Do you want the long or the short version?"
Kitty smiled a bit. She was beginning to like this young woman. They were about the same age, but Amanda looked older, wiser, and more experienced. "Well, I've got nothing planned.."
Amanda chuckled and leaned back, casually. "Well..then might as well spend it, hmm?"
She began, speaking with a serious tone. "My parents were always more accepting than most others, maybe it's because of our heritage, maybe not.anyway, it was three years ago, and I had run out for some food in the market. While I was down there, some kind of anti-mutant rally was going on in the plaza, it was your typical demonstration, quiet, polite, and non- violent." She snorted. "Hard to imagine years ago people were attacked by the police for being violent during things like that."
*** "They're poisoning our society!" Rahhhhhh "They corrupt our children!" Rahhhhhh "They're dangerous criminals and must be weeded out!" Rahhhhhh!!!!
Amanda made a face as she stood there, basket full of fruit and vegetables, listening idly to the stupid chanting of the demonstrators. Why people chose this of all things to protest about, people who were born different. It was an all too familiar scenario, she thought, reflecting on her history lessons in school. Why is it that humans always have to find SOMEONE to hate, even in this day and age when they had no real reasons?
She set her jaw and began to push gently through the crowd of long robed patrons. In this sector of the town, most favored the Middle Eastern, African, and Asian styles of clothing, long robes that covered most of the body, in bright colored fabric. It was like a rainbow sea of crayons, and damn near impossible to spot anyone.
As she made her way by the fringe of the crowd, wanting to stay as far from the bulk of the mass as possible, she tripped on someone's long robes, and went sprawling, some melons and oranges rolling out of her basket down the street between feet as she frantically tried to stop them. Cursing under her breath, she made it back to her feet, and bent down picking the melons up. One was cracked, another ruined, and the third was picked up by someone, surprisingly, and held out towards her.
She glanced up and smiled in thanks, taking it. "My thanks, patron." She replied in the formal manner one normally treated strangers with.
The man, wearing a long concealing robe of black cloth, that completely hid his face from view, and was buttoned with a gold emblem on his right shoulder, just chuckled a bit, and replied in a soft tenor friendly voice. "I would be careful where you toss your items around, fraulein, someone might not take kindly to having a melon for a shoe."
She smiled at his wit, and put the undamaged one in her basket, and the broken ones towards a trash receptacle, as she glanced up at the speakers. Judging from her mysterious good Samaritan's posture, he wasn't happy with what they were saying either. "Sickening isn't it?" She asked, re-joining him and watching the crowd cheer another speech. "Out of everything in the world that people could learn to hate, they only end up hating those who don't deserve persecution."
The stranger seemed to be interested in her words, turning his shadowed head, so she could only barely make out an outline of his face. "Really now? That's not a very healthy concept to go shouting around this crowd." He gestured with a hand, and she noticed he was wearing what looked like a suited body armor glove the guards tended to wear. She frowned a bit, but since he hadn't arrested her for saying something pro-mutant yet, she hoped he wasn't a hard-core sympathizer.
"Yes, I know." She acknowledged. "But since when are we supposed to completely become automatons and behave the way society dictates without freedom of speech. Which is why this whole mutant hating craze is disgusting. They can't help being what they are, why can't we just accept that and work on, instead of persecuting those unable of defending themselves in the laws of today, creating a unified relationship between us all?" He snorted at that, causing her to bristle. "Oh come on, you can't seriously buy into this 'mutants are dangerous' crap. Know what's really dangerous? The guys with the guns, the guys with the law, and the ones in charge. They're the ones who make these ridiculous laws up, and carry them out on innocent people."
His hands raised in defense. "Whoa, easy there. I'm not disagreeing with you, fraulein." He laughed. "In fact, I commend your values. Very few people have them in this society, and those that do are often afraid to voice them." He bowed at the waist. "Bravo, and I hope your enthusiasm is contagious."
She smiled a bit, loosening up at that. "Thanks. well, nice talking to you.er.?"
"Kurt, fraulein." He slipped his hand into hers, and kissed her hand gently.
She blushed a bit at the show of chivalry, and was too distracted to notice that the way he held her hand was a bit odd, and that the brush of his lips had felt stranger than normal. By the time she had recovered, he was gone, like a shadow, disappeared back into the crowd.
She shook her head, and continued on, and arrived home without further incident.
"I'm back." She closed the door to their bungalow apartment, and her mother turned, smiling over at her.
"Did it go well?" Her smile faded a bit. "I hear on the news that they're having another one of those circus rallies." Her mother always called them that, her way of showing her disagreement with the ideas the protesters held. The sad thing was, should anyone host a pro-mutant rally, the defense force would quickly put a stop to it, as 'unpatriotic' activities.
"Yes there was a rally." She put the basket on the table, and sighed faintly, staring at the wall which was displaying the news, covering the rally right now. She rolled her eyes. "Can I change the channel?" she picked up the schedule, and flipped through it to find something a bit more, tolerant.
"Please do. I'm just sick and tired of listening to all that day in, day out. I'll be glad when the election is past, and they've gotten that bill through the system."
Amanda bit her lip, turning back, still holding the guide. "But mother, think about what that will mean for all those mutants still trying to live normal lives in the city. they'll be hunted down, just for being born!"
Her mother gave her a sympathetic look, her green eyes and red hair looking out of place meeting her daughter's soft chocolate brown complexion. "I know sweetie. trust me I know." she sighed. "But you know there's no chance of that bill NOT passing."
Amanda sighed, snatching the melon on top of the basket as her mother began unloading it, turning it over and over in her hands, reminded of the shadow man. "I know. but if just more people stood up to all this. I met someone who had the same view as us today. I mean, there's got to be more out there that think the same way we do."
She turned, and watched the wall, then blinked in slight alarm. The crowd was acting more and more rowdy, which was unusual, until she saw why. Two men were dragging a young child up by her hair, onto the floating platform in the center of the crowd. She was screaming, crying, and looked terrified, but Amanda noticed at once why they had taken her. The young girl's hair was frizzy out from her head, like an electric field was lifting all her hair from her. The men were cursing, and flinching, their own hair standing up, and the equipment around the girl began to short out. She was a mutant, and a terrified mutant meant powers going berserk. Naturally people were screaming, calling out harsh things, and scaring the girl more.
Amanda watched, feeling anger and pity well up, as suddenly a dark figure came out of nowhere, and a man went flying off of the platform into the crowd as a well-aimed boot contacted with his nose.
Instantly, there was mass hysteria. Acts of violence in the city were highly illegal, but it didn't seem to stop the stranger, as she recognize the gold emblem as it flashed by the camera. He was the same man she had spoken with. He was a whirl of action, his robes flapping around him like a cloud as he quickly smashed a fist into the other man's face, leaving the platform empty of everyone but himself, and the girl. There was shouting and screaming, followed by a loud bang. Guns were being fired, and the multi colored beams of light shot by the guards danced around the black figure like fireworks. The stranger stopped to stoop down and speak to the young child, who was looking even more frightened, but upon hearing his words, instantly clung to him tightly as he lifted her up.
Amanda found herself smiling. Her hero. Not only did he hold the same beliefs she did, but he rescued damsels in distress at the cost of his own life and reputation. She watched, still a bit frightened for him. How was he going to. oh.. The man had stood tall, taken a quick bow, and vanished in a plume of bright purple, pink, and black smoke. She beamed at the screen, and laughed at the baffled remarks of the newscaster, who was trying to explain the chaos.
Her mother was standing next to her, and gave her a quizzical look. "That your friend?" At Amanda's nod, she smiled. "I like him."
Just then, both of them were startled by a sudden loud knock at the door. Since they hadn't been expecting visitors, and most people identified themselves by pressing their thumbs to the ID scanner to announce who it was, Amanda approached the door warily, and peered out the front screen panel. Her mouth just about dropped open when she saw the black-cloaked stranger, holding the child, standing there.
She exchanged looks with her mother, who quickly made a snorting noise, and unlocked the door, pulling it open.
Amanda peered out. "I just saw you on the." She was cut off as he brushed by them, and into their domicile, heading for the couch and setting the child down on the cushions.
His head raised a bit, and she could tell for the first time, he was breathing hard, and seemed distressed. "I sincerely apologize for intruding like this but."
Amanda's mother shut the door quickly, and looked skeptical of actually allowing him into their home. It was one thing approving of his activities, it was another becoming entangled with the authorities by harboring a troublemaker. "Look, what you did is very admirable, but. what if they track you here?"
The stranger nodded once. "I know.please accept my apologies for having to involve you in this but." He suddenly doubled over, as if in pain, and it was then Amanda saw the darker splotch on his black robes.
She rushed forward, grabbing the first aid kit on the shelf and putting a hand on his shoulder forcing him down. "How on earth did you find your way here? Now holds still. take that cloak off."
She began to undo the clasp at his right shoulder, taking in the design. It was gold and black, done in an X with a circle around the perimeter. It felt real, which was surprising since gold had no value anymore in society. Most of it had been discarded carelessly, and few people wore any physical wealth anymore.
His hand shot up and stopped her, however, before she got far enough to remove the cloak. She blinked, and looked up at him, catching sight of his face vaguely in the dim light of the lamp. He was dark skinned, which was probably why he blended so well in with the shadows. He also had a pair of dark shades on, the kind that probably had added devices such as infrared and sensor detectors. "Before you do." He said very softly. "Promise that you will not tell anyone. I don't want to further endanger you, or your family."
She blinked a bit, but nodded. "I understand. Don't worry." She then pulled his cloak back, revealing a black therma suit beneath it, a hole burnt in the armor, and blood staining around the injury. She bit her lip, and pulled out the sensor from the first aid kit, and began to scan the wound. It was a clear one, straight in and out through his shoulder. Luckily, it hadn't hit any tendons, and there was little chance of infection from the wound with the energy bolts the guards used. They weren't normally designed for killing or even badly injuring someone, but in the confusion, one of them must have set it on a higher setting and hit him.
She pulled out some bandages, to keep the newly healed wound from stretching, when something odd caught her eye. Where the wound had been, instead of scar-free skin, a soft blue fuzz was poking out of the hole in the suit. She fingered it with a touch, a puzzled look on her face, as she lifted her eyes to look at him curiously. His mouth broke into a smile, and she saw two definite gleaming points to his teeth. "Not that I mind, but do you always have the habit of treating your patients this way?"
She felt her face going darker, and pulled back quickly with an embarrassed cough. "I'm sorry.I didn't mean. er. well it's just." She peered at him with bright eyes, a bit awkwardly.
He shook his head and put a hand up, then slowly removed his hood, and Amanda suddenly understood. "Oh." She said simply, with a blink, as she took in the dark tousled hair that didn't quite hide the blue pointed ears that stuck out from beneath it, and his fur covered face.
It went fairly well after that. Surprisingly, her mother didn't seem the least bit phased by Kurt's appearance, nor did the little girl. It seemed more natural, for some reason. They spent the meal hour together, discussing mutant rights, and Amanda quickly learned the kind of society that hid below the ground. Kurt had been reluctant to explain about it, afraid not of their trust, but afraid of exposing them to knowledge that could prove dangerous. Mid-meal had proved interesting, when Amanda's father returned home, to find his wife and daughter, having dinner with a blue furry elf, and a girl who was making everything electric around her, go haywire.
After the meal, the drugging effect had mostly worn off of Kurt, and he politely stood, thanked them, and handed them a strange communicator. "If you ever need to get a hold of me, this will allow you to contact me, without being traced." He informed them while pulling on the strange gloves he had, which had two stuffed fingers to make up for the fact he only had three. "Thank you so much for the risks you had to take in helping us."
Amanda couldn't help but think that they hadn't been in that much of a risk, but said nothing of that. "I'll see you two outside." She offered with a smile.
She walked them outside, night had fallen and shadows were everywhere. The streets were mostly empty, only the spare guard walking by on their routine beat. Amanda smiled at him and held out her hand expecting a shake, and he clasped it, and kissed it again gently, causing her to blush again. "Stop by again sometime." She smiled, and waved at the child, Auroiana, her name was, who shyly smiled back at her.
"I will make a point of it." He smiled, and bowed, then ushered the child along.
Amanda watched until they melted into the shadows, and then turned to go back upstairs, when she heard a familiar shriek. Auroiana had screamed.
Without thinking about the consequences, she dashed off down the street, heading their direction, and found the alleyway suddenly flooded with law enforcers. Kurt was backed against the wall, the young girl hiding in his cloak, looking as if he were ready to pull the puff of smoke trick, teleporting he had called it. However, as Amanda crossed her fingers, willing him to escape, she felt her hand become twisted up behind her, and a taser pressed to her back. "Don't move." Hissed the law enforcer, in an iron voice. "Sefton, Amanda.age thirteen.arrest issued for mutant collaboration." He was reading her prints, which were linked into the residential database. There was no way she could hide who she was from them.they knew. Tears filled her eyes, and she caught the panicked look of Kurt's face. He hadn't wanted her to get hurt, or in trouble, and now because of him, if nothing was done, she would be severely punished, under the legal representation of the law.
She watched him with tearful eyes, and urged him in her mind, to just escape. But he would do no such thing.
It happened in a split second. He vanished in a plume of smoke, with the girl, then re-appeared behind the guard holding her, and with a swift kick to the head, the guard stumbled, releasing her, enabling Kurt to grab her arm, and with a sickening rush of vertigo, she was suddenly standing in another dark alleyway, with him, being violently sick to her stomach.
When she had recovered enough to look up, she saw his worried face, peering down at her, his glowing yellow eyes piercing in the dark from behind the shades. "I'm so sorry, liebchen." He murmured quietly, as not to be discovered again. "I had no intention of getting you involved in this."
She smiled faintly up at him, and wiped the sweat from her forehead, standing slowly, though she still felt weak. "No. it's not your fault.I'm sorry for all this, you nearly got caught."
They both fell silent, the only sound was the slight sniff of Auroiana's tears. Finally, Amanda spoke up. "There's no choice now." Her eyes lifted, and met his with firm intensity. "I have to go with you. I can't stay here, they'll find me. My parents are smart enough to claim to not to know anything, but if I go back."
His eyes were soft and sad. "I'm so sorry.. You shouldn't have to do this."
"Actually, to tell the truth, I would rather go with you, and live without the constraints of society, than stay here and have to deal with people's hatred."
He smiled faintly, but nodded once, and held a hand out for her, and she took it without hesitation.
*** Kitty wiped her eyes, so completely in to Amanda's story, she hadn't realized that the girl had stopped speaking, until she heard a soft sneeze behind them.
Both girls blushed, and turned, seeing Kurt leaning against the wall, with an amused expression. "That was quite a heartwarming tale, leibchen." He purred, slinking forward on silent feet, and sliding between the two, his tail curling around Amanda's waist, and his arm resting on Kitty's shoulders. "But you left out one part."
Amanda's thin brow arched. "Oh?"
"Ja! I'm quite offended!" He said, sounding very indignant.
"You forgot to mention how the brave hero then stole off into the night with his two beautiful ladies, and they lived happily ever after!"
Amanda snorted. "Oh, but the story hasn't ended yet, you can't say that."
"Ach, too bad." He made a mock pouty face. "Well." He turned to Kitty, and kept a very serious face. "Then tell me the truth, fraulein.." He smoothed his hair back and looked at her, completely straight faced. "Does this shirt make me look fat?"
Author's note: Wow. this is the result of my entire workday *snicker* cause I didn't do anything else ^-^ Well, I hadn't expected to write 10 pages in the 'how they met' scenario, but, oh well..