Perfect By Nature
Chapter XI: Mixed Emotions
By: Michelle
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I know this chapter took a little longer than usual, but I made it longer to make up for it.
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It was always a breath of fresh air to get the kids and their teachers out of the confined mansion. If you want mutants to function in society, you have to expose them to it once in a while. So, every Saturday afternoon in the summer, Xavier arranged for everyone to go to CiCi's Pizza for dinner.
As the bus pulled up, Logan stood up and gave everyone his don't-dare-piss-me-off looks. "Alright, listen up." He bellowed. "You kids better be on your best behavior."
He smelled the fear in them as the nodded.
"That includes you Drake." Logan glared at him hard.
"Yes sir."
"Anything you want to add Chuck?" Logan asked as he continued to glare at the students.
"No Logan." Xavier replied. "I think you scared them enough."
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I can't believe I lost a butter yellow school bus. Leonardo thought to himself as he drove around Salem Center. "Donnie, you got anything on that dragon?"
"Yeah." Donatello replied. "He seems to have stopped. You're headed in the right direction. You should be coming up on him shortly."
"If you say so." Leonardo kept his eyes open and spotted the bus parked in a shopping center parking lot. "I found the bus, but no sign of that dragon."
He could hear Donatello typing on his computer and cursing in the background.
"What's wrong?"
"It disappeared off my screen." Donatello sighed. "I can't track him."
"Shit." Leonardo replied as he parked the car and turned off the engine. It must have cast a spell. "Damnit."
"Leo."
"I'm still here."
"I don't know what to do."
Neither do I. "Donnie just keep trying to track it."
"So what are you going to do?"
"Eat dinner."
"Eat Dinner."
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The dragon climbed from his hidden position under the bus. It wasn't the most enjoyable ride he had, but with his short and agile body he was able to hide well.
He was too noticeable by humans not to be seen out even though the sun was setting. He concentrated hard as he silently recited his spell. The Prism was the perfect way to hide himself from the mutants. By manipulating light Chi energy, he made himself invisible.
He walked towards the diner staring at the multitude of mutants pilling food on their plates. If only Dragon Lord could send his army now.
Using perfect timing, he slipped his way inside and began roaming around. He kept his concentration strong and found him a hiding spot under one of the booths.
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Xavier looked around the room. His students were being well behaved for once, Logan was starting to calm down from his usual grumpy mood, and Kurt and Ororo were sitting at a table eating dinner together. The evening was perfect, except for one thing. He had the feeling they were being watched.
"Hey Chuck, you alright." Logan asked as he sat down with a mountain of pizza on plate.
Xavier didn't hear him. He just concentrated hard and slowly looked around again. He could feel something wasn't right in the room, but he couldn't figure out why.
"Yo Chuck."
He snapped back from his trance. "Yes Logan."
"Are you alright?"
"I'm fine Logan." He replied. "I guess I'm just wondering about the mansion."
"It's going to be fine. We'll catch them bastards. Security is all set. Cerebro isn't going anywhere." Logan said and stuffed another slice of pizza in his mouth. He swallowed and took a sip of drink. "Don't worry about it."
"I'm not worried about Cerebro." Xavier replied. "I have a feeling this intruder wants something else."
"Chuck, it broke in the police station and stole records on mutants." Logan reminded him. "Cerebro holds quadruple the amount. Trust me. It was after Cerebro."
Xavier took a deep breath. Why am I not so sure?
BURPPPPPPP. Logan wiped his mouth after his rude display. "Check them out."
Xavier turned to glance over at Kurt and Ororo eating alone at a table.
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"Eat Dinner." Donatello fussed and tried to get his brother to pick the communicator back up. "Leo. Leo….Damnit."
"What's going on?" Splinter asked as he walked in the lab to check on his son.
Donatello stared at the computer screen. "Leonardo is searching for that dragon and it's not going as planned."
"Leonardo knows what he is doing." Splinter said and placed a hand on his shoulder. "He is going to be alright."
"I sure hope so Sensei."
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"You're not eating any pizza." Kurt said as he looked at Ororo's plate full of salad.
"I'm going to get some cheese pizza and maybe some spinach pizza in a little bit." Ororo replied.
Kurt looked at her puzzled. "You're not going to get any pepperoni or sausage or taco pizza?"
"No." She replied and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. "I'm a vegetarian. I don't eat meat."
"Oh." Duh. I can't believe I've lived at the school for two months and hadn't notice that.
Ororo picked at her food. "You act like that's a bad thing."
"Nein." Kurt replied. "I just realize that I don't know that much about you."
"Well, what do you want to know about me?" Ororo asked.
"I don't know." He thought for a moment. "What was you life like before you met Professor Xavier?"
"Uhh…"Ororo's eyes widened at his question. She wasn't one to talk much about her past. Do I tell him about my parents? No. Too depressing. I don't want him to pity me. Do I tell him about thieving? NO WAY. Kurt would probably think I am a horrible sinful person if I told him that. Do I tell him about being a goddess? "Umm. Before I met Xavier, I lived in Kenya. Because of my mutation, the people in the tribe thought I was a weather goddess."
Kurt looked her over hiding his blushing under the image inducer. I can see why.
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"Ya found anything yet."
"NO Raphael." Venus replied as she tried to concentrate on reading her scrolls.
Raphael leaned over her shoulder. "You can actually read this."
"I could if you would stop breathing down my neck." She replied. "Do you mind?"
Raphael grumbled under his breath and walked off.
Thank the gods. I thought he would never stop aggravating me. Venus thought as she looked back over her scrolls. Now I know I saw that spell somewhere in here.
She sighed and thought about the spell Dragon Lord was reciting. The language he used was so ancient she could barely understand what he was saying. She did however know it was something to do with power.
She rolled back up her scroll and picked up another one to read. 5 down, 15 to go. She thought as she looked over the scroll in her hand.
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Leonardo hid under his fedora hat and brown trench coat. He took a deep breath and opened the door.
He didn't care if the whole school knew he was there. He was hungry and needed to eat. Mmmm. Pizza.
Logan picked up his scent the moment he walked in the door. GRRRR. "I don't believe this."
Xavier turned around and glance at the man paying at the counter. "They must have followed us here."
"Why."
"I don't know." Xavier replied.
"Well, I'm going to find out." Logan said as he stood up with his hands in fists.
"No Logan." Xavier stopped him before he could move. "There are too many people here. We can't have another incident like the other day."
Logan gave him a looked before he sat down. "I can't promise you anything if it makes a move."
Leonardo took his tray and glanced at the feral man staring at him. That's the man from last night. He knows who I am. I have to prove to him that I'm not her to start trouble.
He picked up a plate and placed it on his tray. His stomach growled as he looked at the buffet. I think I'll have one of everything. He thought and began piling on slices on his plate.
Jamie tried with all his effort to get the last slice of pepperoni pizza in his plate, but it kept falling on the pan.
"You need any help kid?" Leonardo asked.
"Yeha." Jamie replied and looked up at the man next to him.
"Here ya go." Leonardo said as he placed the slice in his plate.
"Thank you." Jamie replied and ran over to Evan. "Guess what I saw?"
"What?"
"A giant turtle."
"Cool." Evan smiled. "Where? I want to see it?"
Leonardo sat peacefully in the corner eating his dinner. There was no sign of the dragon, but he had the feeling it was close by. There was just something in the air that didn't feel right. He took a sip of his drink knowing he would have to wait and see.
"Hi."
Leonardo looked across the table to see two young boys sitting across from him. "Hi…Ummm. Aren't you supposed to be over by your teachers?"
Logan looked over at Evan and Jamie sitting across the table from the one of last nights intruders. He didn't like it one bit.
"Are you a mutant?" Jamie asked.
Leonardo's eyes widened. He didn't know what to say.
"Are you mister?" Evan asked.
"How do you know what a mutant is?" Leonardo asked even more curious than the two boys.
"We're…"
"In a whole lot of trouble." Logan said as he looked at Jamie and Evan. "I thought I told you two to stay over by us."
"We were just talking." Jaime explained.
"Move it runts. Go by Kurt and Ro." Logan said ushering the kids away. Then, he turned to him. "I'm on to you. You even think about hurting any of these kids and your mine."
Leonardo watched as the feral man walked away. And I thought Raph had an attitude problem.
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Hours later….
After dinner, Leonardo cautiously followed them back to the mansion. Everything was quiet the whole way home. He just couldn't understand it. The dragon was no where in sight.
"Leo."
He picked up the communicator. "What now Donnie?"
"Our little friend has appeared back on the screen."
"Where is he?"
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"Alright guys." Ororo said as she checked on Evan and Jamie for bed. "It's time to turn out the lights."
"Aunt Ro."
"Yes Evan."
Evan sat up in bed. "Can we tell you something and you promise to believe us?"
She smiled. "Yeah. What do you want to tell me?"
"I saw a giant turtle at the pizza place." Jamie announced to her. "It was bigger than Mr. Logan."
"You saw a giant turtle." Ororo smiled. Kids have the craziest imaginations. "And what was it doing?"
"Eating pizza." Evan said.
"Oh really." She replied. "And what was its favorite pizza?"
"We don't know." Jamie shrugged. "Mr. Logan made us leave before we could ask him."
"I see." Ororo said. "Well, maybe the next time you see this turtle you can ask him. Ok. Now get to bed."
"Good night."
"Good night." Ororo smiled and turned off the lights closing the door behind her. "They are too cute."
"Vat?" Kurt asked as she came out of the room.
She giggled. "Jamie and Evan told me they saw a giant turtle eating pizza."
Kurt smiled. "Didn't last week Jamie saw a giant bunny playing Nintendo."
"Yeah." She laughed. "I swear that boy has the wildest imagination."
"True." Kurt replied, and then changed the subject as they walked to her room. "Ororo, I vas vondering if you vould like to see a movie with me next veekend."
"Kurt." Ororo said as she looked at his sweet face. "Are you asking me out on a date?"
He blushed and smiled. "Ja."
Oh my goddess. He's asking me out. "Ummm." Ororo wasn't sure how to reply. Every bad thought flooded her mind as she thought about what it would be like if she started a relationship with him. What if he breaks my heart? What if I break his heart? What if it doesn't work out? What if something happens to me while fighting? What if something happens to him while fighting? I couldn't bare the pain of losing him. "I can't." She said as she hung her head. I can't let myself get too close to you. "I'm sorry. I can't."
"Oh." Kurt said softly. "Ok. Well, I'll see you ummm at breakfast tomorrow."
"Yeah." Ororo replied. I hurt him. "I'm sorry."
"It's alright." He replied. "I'll see you."
Ororo watched as he walked away. She closed the door of her room and leaned against it. I didn't mean to hurt you. I'm scared. She slid down and sat on the floor as the tears rolled down her cheeks.
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Kurt took a sip of his beer as he and Logan lounged on the balcony. He couldn't understand why Ororo turned him down. They were getting along great at dinner. They were laughing and talking and flirting. Why didn't she want to go out with him?
"You alright Elf." Logan asked as he noticed Kurt's expressionless face.
"Ja."
Yeah right. Logan lit up a cigar and took a sip of his beer. "So what's been going on between you and Ro? You two have been hanging out a lot lately."
"Nothing."
"Don't be shitting me." Logan replied. "You and 'Ro have been flirting all over each other for the past couple of days."
"It was nothing." Kurt replied. "Ve're just friends."
"Yeah right."
"Vhy can't you get in your thick skull that there vas nothing going on between us?" Kurt snapped and slammed his beer bottle down on the ground causing it to break.
Logan just stared at him a moment. He had never seen Kurt act so violent before, excluding the times they destroyed the Danger Room. He didn't drink enough to be drunk. Something had to be bothering him. "You want to talk about something Elf."
'Nein Logan." Kurt said calming down. "I just need have some time to myself."
"Alright."
BAMF
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Kurt didn't know exactly where he wanted to go. He didn't know many places around the area still.
BAMF
BAMF
BAMF
Then, it came to him. He knew where he wanted to go. There was only one place he could feel at peace. Church. And there was one church he was dying to go to since he saw it the other day. St. John the Divine in New York City.
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The dragon eyed him as he left. Perfect. "Majesty."
"Yes."
"The mutant is on the move and he's alone."
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SperryDee and ManniElf18, you both are right. Kurt is Perfect by Nature. Now, Time for some action. Of course, I might have to fulfill that craving for CiCi's pizza first, but another chapter will be along in the next few days.
Thanks for the reviews.
Michelle