Disclaimer: If I owned X-men and Hellsing, I'd be writing movies, not Fanfic.
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"Guys, he's been, like, gone for hours now." Kitty flopped down and sighed.
Things at the X-mansion were in mayhem. After the appearance of the unknown rogue, they had called a group meeting and noticed the absence of Nightcrawler. Now, they had been searching continuously non-stop for four hours now. Little did they know; that a month had passed in another dimension.
"Don't worry, Logan." The professor tried to calm the raging man. "Kurt is perfectly capable of taking care of himself in these situations."
"Right, the kids never had to deal with anything like this before – he'll panic and mess up, probably spark a riot." The man started to chew at his nails as he started to envision everything the blue mutant was going to do wrong.
"Mr Logan?" Jean smiled and glanced at the rest of the crew before lowering her voice. "He's faced this stuff before."
"And what do you mean by that, red?"
"Well, um..."
The professor raised one hand to bring silence and attention to the room. "I am about to break a trust that I had promised Kurt to keep." He sighed. "His appearance has often granted him unwarranted attention."
"Skip to the details, man." Evan flicked a spike and nervously played with it.
How to put this delicately? "He's been chased by mobs, almost burned at the stake several times, mobs, one attempted crucifixion, has been in a few freak shows, mobs, nearly drowned at birth and did I mention mobs?"
Everyone's jaws hit the ground.
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"Zat's going to scar." Kurt frowned as he ran his hand down the already healing wound. It was broad and cut through his brow on his left eye and down to the cheek below. In total, the thing must have only been two inches long, but he was devastated all the same.
"We'll think of something." Arucard smirked as the mutant jumped, not having realised that the vampire had come to sit right beside him.
"Vhat do you vant?" The blue mutant froze as his chin was caught and his head tilted back, the exposed throat being examined slowly. It dawned on Kurt exactly what that meant and he leapt away and onto the wall, scrambling up it with gravity defying ease.
The vampire smirked. "You're stronger than you allowed us think, why?"
"I don't like fighting-"
"Get off it; you were in your element. Ok, I would have liked it if you wanted to kill that moronic idiot, but all the same, once you tasted the fight, you didn't want it to end."
"You're lying, Arucard."
"I can read your mind; I know that I'm not lying." Arucard paused and exhaled slowly, the action wasn't necessary, but it helped the mutant to relax slightly. "I offer you my blood. You could die tomorrow, or maybe next year. But it will come."
"Then I'll wait for it. I don't want immortality." Kurt growled, crouching on the wall and wanting the vampire to go now. He jumped as Arucard appeared beside him, crouching there with as much ease as the mutant.
"Forget your teachings and listen to me."
"I don't have the time to listen to the devil."
Arucard caught the mutants face again, easily dragging him right up to him. The vampire made a show of pulling the head back to sniff then lick the exposed throat. He chuckled and mumbled into the soft fur. "It could be so easy Kurt, right now I could kill you, let you just bleed to death."
"But you don't. Obviously mortal and alive is more preferable to plain dead for you." Kurt growled, annoyed as his throat rubbed against the vampire who started to purr.
"You're right; I'll have just a nip." That said, he bit.
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Two weeks later, two more hours in his home dimension, but Kurt didn't know that. He was sitting, brooding away as he was usually found to be doing. His neck still hurt occasionally and he knew that Arucard had succeeded in his goal to make him question his mortality.
A soldier sat down next to him and watched for a moment. Kurt absently picked at his hair then rubbed his sore eye. He was considering getting the patch tattooed in, a stripe of colour would be better than a patch of blank fur.
"Um," the soldier smiled and glanced over to the commander who urged him on.
"Vhat do you vant?"
"You'll be getting put in a squad soon; apparently Sir Integra is really keen about your swordsmanship. But, um..."
"Just say it."
"The hairs going to have to go."
Kurt smirked, a gesture he had picked up off the vampire and he looked at the lengthy strand. "Get me some scissors."
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Seras gasped, her eyes widening in shock as she saw the mutants latest hairstyle. Kurt nearly cheered for joy, hoping that she would hate it and leave him alone. He was suddenly crushed in a hug.
"I love it!" She played with the oddly cut strands. It was a sort of punky look, longish so that it fell about his eyes, the deep indigo highlighting his fur tone. He growled and pushed away from her.
"I need to breathe, Seras." He panted for a moment then checked that all his ribs were intact. He paused as he was aware that she had leaned over and stated to play with the strands. Just what had he gotten himself into? He was suddenly tempted to try the buzz cut.
"You wouldn't suit it." Arucard materialised out of nowhere and he smirked at the slight quickening of the mutants heart, it appeared that Kurt still feared him. No doubt the bite hadn't helped matters but...
"I think it's...different." The female paused. "Why did you cut it?"
"Because I'm going to be joining a squad soon, and it was just starting to really annoy me." He growled and moved off, heading for his quarters for some well earned rest and a clean set of clothes.
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Kurt froze. The vampire had beaten him to his room and the mutant nervously looked around, hoping that someone would make him go away.
"Its funny, is it not?" Arucard smirked, turning to face the mutant. "You were desperate to get some common ground with me and now that you have it, you're more terrified of me than you were before."
"I vouldn't use ze vord terrified." Kurt growled and wished that he hadn't left the swords in the weapons room. He flinched as the vampire was suddenly in front of him, cupping his chin.
"I ask again. Do you want my blood?"
"Nein."
"Then I'll have some of yours." Arucard smirked as the mutant seemed to curl in on himself, though he had to give him some credit. At least he wasn't screaming and running away, the vampire mused, Kurt seemed to think that this was just something he was going to have to put up with for a while.
Kurt flinched as the vampire picked him up and pinned him against the wall. He hoped desperately that this was a joke, a charade that the vampire was teasing him with. His tail flicked sharply, showing his sudden panic as fangs grazed his neck.
"By the way, Kurt, I don't plan on giving up." Arucard laughed, finding the torment so easy as he snooped inside the mutants mind. "And, I hope that you like this, I certainly do." He bit down and ignored the sharp kick in his ribs.
Kurt grimaced, baring his fangs at the stinging pain. He was dropped and the pain was gone as quickly as it came, the wound already healing. He looked up into the yellow glasses of the vampire and smiled weakly, trying to move away.
"Such an exotic taste." Arucard indulged in a little more horror as he waited for Kurt to either pass out or get some strength back for round two. It seemed that he was going down the road to passing out as the thin, fur covered frame of the mutant went limp. Sighing, the vampire scooped up Kurt and put him on the bed before sitting down on the chair.
Don't get him wrong, he did like Kurt. It was just that his fondness tended to be shown in different ways to the others. He sat back and crossed his legs, watching the slumbering figure kick out at the monsters in his dreams. Oddly enough, vampires had yet to make an appearance; apparently Kurt had met too many human monsters for that to apply.
Curious, Arucard placed his hand on the mutant's brow and tuned into the nightmare before jerking back, his hunger stirring at the memories of blood. Crucified? Who these days actually crucified demons? Sighing, he continued to watch from the shadows as he had done so often, hoping that his offer would be taken soon.
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The mutant panted shallowly as he struggled between unconsciousness and the waking world where his nightmares seemed to live. He had been hungry and he did pay for the bread, only the man caught a glimpse of the fur and that was it. Now...
He swallowed and struggled against a wave of nausea as he was tied roughly to some wood and began to pray fervently, ignoring the punches and jeers. Kurt had to concentrate, had to wait until he could escape.
The cross was pulled up and he felt pain exploding in his chest as his breathing started to constrict painfully. Didn't those on the crucifix die of organ failure? He started to panic and franticly began to struggle just as a man started to march over, the white collar marking him out to be a priest in his black robes.
In hells fire and brimstone, he teleported only to find himself –
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Kurt jerked awake, trying to control his breathing as well as make sure that the ghoulish monsters of his nightmare hadn't followed him into the realm of the waking. One seemed to have though and he glared accusingly at Arucard.
"Get out." His voice was hoarse, sounding as if he had been screaming for hours upon deaf ears.
"Tell me," the vampire smirked, "the monsters, who were they?"
Kurt closed his bright yellow eyes. "Vhy don't you read mein mind?"
"I want to hear you say it."
"If I do, vill you let me sleep in peace?"
The vampire smirked again. "Tonight."
The mutant sighed and curled under his blankets into the foetal position, his tail curling up next to his head. "They vere just humans. People." He closed his yellow eyes and breathed slowly.
"Good night, and I still offer my blood."
"And I still refuse it."
"Very well." The vampire merged back into the shadows, a deep chuckle the last echo of him. Kurt shuddered and curled deeper under his blankets as he tried to ignore one thought.
Who were the real monsters? Those that hid behind a human guise or those who admitted it freely?
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Integra puffed on her cigar thoughtfully as she waited patiently. The mutant had been with them for nearly a year and she decided that this was the night he was going to have his greatest challenge.
The mutant walked in, he had been going through some metamorphosis of late, like a caterpillar into a moth. She looked at him critically, noting his changes simply as they came to her.
He was no longer the nervous little scrawny runt he had been when he had arrived, now he walked straight and with a purposeful stride. True, he was still scrawny, but Walter was working on that through a well controlled diet of cookies.
The scruffy long hair was gone, replaced with a punkish hairstyle that reminded her of Arucard slightly, except that Kurt wore his much shorter and more down. The cheekbone length wave hiding his eyes yet managing to defy gravity.
His most recent change was the tattoo. How it happened most likely involved a successful mission, alcohol and probably a stoned tattooist. The scar had simply been coloured a blood red. Nothing more, nothing less. Its effect on his face though was remarkable, making him look older and tougher. And perhaps a little...wiser.
Kurt looked at Integra coolly, no longer scared of her wrath but he couldn't help the charming roguish smile tug at his mouth, or the low bow and wink as he produced a flower from her vase.
She noted that the tattoo moved over his eyelid and that it looked fresh and raw, like an unhealed wound. Yet she liked its barbarity, found herself admiring it whilst finding it repulsive. Much like Kurt to society. "I have a mission for you, you're most dangerous yet."
"It is my duty to the Hellsing Organisation." His voice had broken into a deep purr a few months back and it only proved to make him more charming.
"And...?"
"Ve don't have a queen in Germany, its parliament." He grinned roguishly, a glint of fang catching the light. "But I vill gladly bow to such a fine voman as yourself."
The boss smiled, the recent change didn't appear to be affecting his charming skills, and apparently he had started to define his humour. "Now this task is most grave and I expect that you won't take to it kindly."
"Do you vish for me to do it?"
She blinked. "Yes." Did she say that too fast?
The mutant smiled. "Zen I accept ze challenge. Vhat is it?"
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The night was in full swing, the orchestra playing happily on the CD whilst men spoke business and their wives or girlfriends clung to them as if their lives depended on it. It was a simple event, held to help bond bridges between the different organisations.
Oh how she hated these. Integra paused at the door and growled lightly to herself. You were supposed to bring a partner; the invitation had stated that in gold leaf letters and she didn't have one. Last time, she had taken Walter along and that had proved to be the most dire night of her life.
"Excuse me?" She called attention to the gathered people as she arrived.
"Couldn't get a date, Integra?" One of the men guffawed and several joined in.
"Actually, I was about to ask if you would all be polite to him. He doesn't take kindly to stares and I've had to have him in the brig a few times." The woman smiled at the silence. "Kurt?" She called him forward.
The mutant strode over, pretending that he wasn't intimidated by the crowd. He was in his combat trousers and had been made to wear the matching shirt as well. Needless to say, he had only become suspicious when he was told to leave his swords behind. "Christ, you'd think I'd turned normal." He grumbled and smiled brightly. "Never make me do zhis again, ja?"
"We'll see how the evening goes." Integra glared as she heard a whimper of 'my god, what is that thing' and she practically dragged him to the floor. "Tell me you can dance."
"Now zat, milady, is something I can say challenges mein skill vith swords." His tail plucked a trimmed rose from one of the vases and with a deep bow which caught everyone's attention, he offered his hand.
Giggling like a hormone filled teenager, she accepted the strange three fingered hand and she absently noticed that the fur was just a little coarser than the last time he had taken her hand. The rose was flicked into her long hair and she was twirled dramatically.
"Perhaps I may enjoy zis night."
"Your commands are to enjoy yourself."
"Zen things could get interesting; men are ze most jealous of creatures." Grinning wickedly, he brought her low to the floor then pulled her into a light twirl before catching her. "Just vatch."
Sure enough, after the fifth dance, all the men had dragged their reluctant counterparts to the floor and were dancing in such a way to remind her of drunken ghouls. Integra repressed a snigger that was heightened as Kurt pulled back before pulling a zombie face.
"Tell me," he pulled her closer again so that he could whisper quietly, "vhy do you laugh at zem?"
"They are arrogant upper-class bastards with sticks -"
"A lady shouldn't know such curses."
That caused her to blush. "They're arrogant and right now they're acting foolish – it's a memory I will savour to the end of my days. Or, at least until the next dance."
"Next dance?"
"I think you'll be there to see what I mean."
Kurt was about to comment except that Walter entered with the silent ease of butlers everywhere. Why was he here again?
"The meal is ready." He raised an eyebrow at the dancing couples – usually he only had half the number of guests remaining and several bitter glares to deal with when Integra was hosting the party. Everyone seemed to be accounted for though, strange – had his master suddenly fallen ill?
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The meal was a tense affair as Kurt tried to control his gorging habits. He point blank refused the rules about knives and forks though as he wolfed his food down at as respectable a pace as possible.
They were all looking at him. Again. A wicked thought came to Kurt and he glanced at Integra slyly as he reached for several apples.
She shook her head and watched helplessly as three apples started to be juggled. Then five, then eight, then some cutlery and a plate for some unbeknownst reason. Integra had to stop herself laughing as everyone's eyes nearly popped out their heads. This was certainly a very unusual meal, she was definitely bringing Kurt next time, she decided with a wry smile.
Kurt stopped juggling and bowed at the table. "Enjoyed ze show?" He smiled darkly as everyone's eyes fell to their food.
Definitely bringing him next time.
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Yawning and stretching, Kurt started to undress in his room. This had been one very strange night; he smiled and sat down on the bed before yawning again and rolling his head. His sharp senses picked up the stirring shadows and his deep growl rumbled through the room.
"Easy tiger, although I think that's the wrong choice of words." Arucard smiled and walked into the room. "And is that anyway for a gentleman to invite another?"
"You are hardly a gentleman, Arucard." The mutant moved back to his bed, keeping his hands and thoughts busy and he randomly arranged the covers.
"True, I think trying to get that lot of bores to try the Macarena was a bit much. Although, you and master were getting very, very close."
"Don't insinuate anything, I vas ordered zere." Kurt smiled slightly then froze, suddenly annoyed. "Arucard, I need sleep, now go."
"But I've been resting all day and you're so fun to annoy."
"Go."
"No." The vampire grinned at the conflicted look; he decided to continue on about tonight. "I almost envy you; master has taken a shine to you."
"Almost?" Kurt already regretted asking as his chin was caught. Despite his recent growth spurt, he was still short compared to the vampire.
"Of course, such pleasures are so short lasting when you're mortal."
"Must you always do zis?"
"No. I'll stop when you agree." Arucard frowned, annoyed that the mutant had actually been so persistent in his hatred at the idea of becoming a vampire. It was amazing to admit that he had never been tempted beyond his short spells of deep brooding.
"Zen go, for I vont agree." Kurt shook his head, this was getting ridiculous. The perfect end to what had actually been a good night. He yelped as he was pinned against the wall. "Violence isn't going to persuade me."
"No, but you still haven't given me that fight."
"And I don't plan on it." The mutant shifted and managed to turn before being pinned again. It was suddenly a bad idea when he realised that Arucard was facing him and the lick of the fang showed what was on his mind.
"Don't." Kurt growled as his head was jerked back. He knew that the vampire was playing with his head, these short spells when he decided to feed often triggering another bout of his brooding. It wasn't really that common, once, maybe twice a month or so. He gritted his teeth, expecting pain as fangs brushed his neck.
"Maybe not." Arucard teased, red eyes glinting behind the glasses.
"Make your goddamn mind up so zat I can sleep."
"Grumpy today, aren't we?" The vampire grinned. "Well, I'm enjoying this, aren't you?" He laughed at the dark look before freeing one hand to trace over the tattooed scar with a smile. "I like this, it's different. But then again, you're different."
"Are you purposely trying to annoy me, vampire?"
Arucard growled, he hated the way the blue mutant said that word. It was in that same tone that he reserved for the monsters who gave him such terrifying nightmares. Needless to say, that was probably why he hated it so much. "Listen to me, you're strong, in the prime of your life. Before, I could understand your refusal, but now it infuriates me."
"Good." Kurt smirked. "I take great pleasure in zat fact. I vill alvays refuse you, Arucard, so stop vith your offer."
"No." The vampire smiled at the growl and he investigated the neck again, grazing his fangs along it as long as he dared to. The mutant always hated this part, it was so obvious to the vampire, he wasn't in control, something he prided himself with. Finally, Arucard bit and lapped up the warm liquid.
It seemed to have just angered Kurt. The second he was dropped, the mutant was back up and slammed the vampire against the wall, the wound already gone.
Chuckling, Arucard raised an eyebrow. "What are you going to do, Kurt? Bite me?" He laughed and was therefore unprepared for the sting as claws scored across his face. Slowly, the vampire melded back into the shadow, chuckling all the way.
Kurt roared angrily before sitting down. What was the point in this game they played? It would end in tears; he knew that with clarifying sadness. Pausing to try and sense the vampire, he allowed himself to start brooding again, trying to figure out how he could peacefully move from this world to the afterlife.
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The X-men mansion was silent. Their member having been gone for two days. The professor had tried using cerebro, Logan his nose. So far, both had come out empty handed and neither was willing to admit it to the kids.
Sighing, the men looked at one another and shook their heads.
"I'm worried about him, Charles."
"Same here, Logan, but we must hope that he is well." The crippled man smiled. "For all we know, Kurt could actually be enjoying himself."
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Walter was concerned. A year and a half's good work had been put into the mutant, and now Kurt was simply in one of his meditated states. In a few hours, he would come out of it fairly depressed and a lot more likely to start brooding again.
It didn't bother him much that the mutant suffered these spells; it was hardly a secret that he was trying to find a way to get back home. But, every time this happened, the butler knew that Kurt was finding it harder to focus, to find those memories. He poured out two stiff drinks and sat down, watching the blue mutant.
Kurt stirred after an hour or so more meditating and he smiled at Walter and the drinks in front of him. No doubt the man hadn't even touched his glass whilst waiting for this. Perhaps it was another part of the course, waiting and, if that was the case, Walter was top of the class.
"How are you feeling?"
"Tired." Kurt admitted with a wry smile and accepted the tumbler, wondering if it was the same batch that had got him into this mess in the first place.
Walter nodded sadly, knowing that meant that the mutant was probably going to go to his quarters and spend the rest of the night in deep depression only to appear in the morning, slightly haggard, but as cheerful as always.
Draining down the glass, the blue mutant stood up and yawned. "I'll be in my room if you need me."
"Do you plan on sleeping?" The butler sighed as the teleporter froze. "I know what your doing Kurt, it's not good for you."
"Walter? Have I ever questioned you?"
"No." He sighed.
"Then don't question me." Kurt teleported out, the added speed meaning that the butler didn't have the time to read his face.
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Breathing out deeply, Kurt moved onto his bed and sat down before hugging one knee and resting his head on it. It was a position he had found to be surprisingly comfortable for what was about to be a long night. A chuckle made him growl, he was in a dangerous mood to be disturbed.
Arucard appeared and he smirked, too used to seeing this sight now. The vampire sat down on the end of the bed and watched the mutant watch him. Delighted at the obviously foul mood, he sat up straighter and rubbed his gloved hands together.
"Tell me, Kurt, what's on your mind?"
"You can read it, you tell me."
"Why do you still think of this place as a prison?" The vampire smiled at the excessively foul look he was given. "Don't you like it here?"
"I miss mein family." Kurt suddenly wanted to kill. Why did he keep telling the vampire things that he didn't admit to himself? He was amazed that he had any secrets left.
"I thought you didn't live with them."
"I still miss zem." The mutant shook his head. "Go before I do something I regret."
"Like what?" Arucard smiled at mental suggestions of ripping him to pieces. He moved off the bed and hauled Kurt out. "What do you think you'll regret?"
The mutant growled then shook his head. "I need sleep."
"You know you won't get any, you never do after one of those little, 'I want to get home' sessions of yours." Arucard laughed suddenly and he caught the other with ease, receiving an angry kick in the process. "Might do you good to get some of that aggression out, it's my duty here to protect master and I don't want a frustrated mutant on the loose."
"Let go of me."
"No." The vampire smiled at the struggling. "Come on, I want to see that spark again, the one I saw when you fought that fool, Anderson. Show me why I want to sire you again."
"I don't want to be sired, Arucard, get that through that ridiculous hat of yours and leave me be. I am sick of fighting."
"I doubt that." Arucard suddenly let him go before smiling slowly. "If you don't want to fight, then you won't have a problem if I..." He moved forward and laughed as the mutant moved back. Deciding that this had to be done without any pinning or restraints, the vampire tried to get close enough to bite.
The teleport left him with a face full of sulphur. Damn that infuriating trick. At least it meant one good thing, Kurt hadn't given up totally. When he allowed himself to be bitten, that was when he had given up.
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Certain things had to be done. Despite better judgement, Xavier had decided that the blue furred mutant's family needed to be told of his four day disappearance. Trying to keep calm, he had requested to meet Mystique, Kurt's mother, at the local art gallery, safe ground.
The woman had taken on a strict female appearance, her shape shifting ability meaning that she could appear to be anything. She didn't appear to be pleased at being called so they had a hissed argument as they pretended to admire a Monet.
"What do you want Charles?"
"It's concerning your son, Raven."
"Kurt?"
The cripple sighed. "Yes, I have the misfortune to tell you that he's been missing for the last four days. We've tried everything, but nothing has been able to detect him." He sighed at the predictable outburst.
"You lost my son!?" She fumed then froze. "How?"
"An intruder came into the mansion. The children managed to scare them away but..."
"Kurt wasn't there when everyone celebrated." She shook her head, suddenly showing distress. "He can't take care of himself, anything could happen to him."