Something was wrong. I couldn't quite sink my claws into the reason why, but every bone in my body itched with the feeling.
Take Jean, for example. I'd long ago realized she wasn't for me. She chose Summers, married him. His scent was all over her. Hrrrrrm.
I wanted to kill him. No reason, no rhyme. Just plunge deep into his chest and eat his heart, then take Jean for my own.
It was weird, though. Something else kept holding me back. It was something about him, the way he behaved. I couldn't think about it, couldn't pin it down, but that something else inside me kept whispering, "No. Not yet. Wait, then strike."
Everything and everyone smelled wrong. The air bristled with tension. Something inside me kept at me, pushing me, and I couldn't sleep.
Maybe a good game of hunt the elf would help. Yeah. He'd been kinda down too, with Amanda off flying all over the world again.
I checked the kitchen. The only person in there was Rogue, with a nasty frown on her face and a cup of yogurt in her hands. Since I didn't want any part of either, I moved on.
On to the Danger Room. Ah. There he was, checking out the controls. I sniffed. He was moving kinda stiff and he smelled of tears, incense, and smoke.
I leaned against the wall, acting casual. "Hey, furball."
He turned to me, wincing a little. "Furball yourself. What do you want?" He looked tired. Maybe he'd already tried the Danger Room out this morning.
I shrugged and lit a cigar. "Wondered if you were up for a little target practice, but I guess you've already had a bit of a workout."
He tried to smile, but stopped. "Not exactly. I don't think I'd be up for anything physical right now."
"What happened to your back?" I tensed, just in case. His face fell and his shoulders drooped.
"I just … I need to see Amanda again soon. I think I'm missing her too much."
I saw my chance, and I dove, slashing the uniform from his back. He cried out in surprise and I sucked in a breath. His back was crisscrossed with thin bruises. "What the HELL is wrong with you, Kurt?" Now I knew it. There was something seriously wrong here, and when the prof got back in a few days, I was gonna tell him.
Tears leaking from his eyes, Kurt turned to face me, then looked away and curled up on the floor, sobbing into his arms. I reached out to touch him. "Hey, Kurt?"
He screamed. "Do not … don't touch me … I can't … promised … in the rain …"
Right. Sometimes you gotta ignore what other people want for what's good for them. I tipped his head up. "Elf. Listen to me. Something's out of whack here with all of us. I can't figure it out unless you help me some. Now. What's driving you crazy?"
"We were outside that day, in the rain," he said slowly, dripping into my hand. "I promised in my heart that there would be no one else. I vowed it to God that I would ask her to marry me, and I did. I cannot break a holy oath but … mein freund, every time I see her, I want to."
" 'Her' who?" If he said "Jean," I might have to kill him, instead of the One Eyed Monster.
He wiped away some tears. "Storm."
Good. That cut down my potential targets. "Well, talk to her."
"Easy for you to say." He sniffled and wiped his eyes again.
"Hey. Is not talking helping you any?"
He got up. "So are you going to talk to Jean?"
I cleared my throat. Gotta lay off the cigars. "We ain't talkin' about me. We're talking about you."
He pressed on. "Why would you not talk to her? Is not talking helping you any?"
I growled. "Yes, damn you."
"How?" He waited for my answer, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
"Rrrrrrrrrrrr." I cut off the growl rumbling in my chest and took a deep breath. "Because, if I talk to her, there's no way I'll just 'talk' to her. I know it." Oh, the idea … gotta stop. Gotta focus. Jean …
He nodded. "That is my fear as well."
Well.
Damn.
I left him there in the dark. Maybe he couldn't talk to Storm, but I could.
