The next morning, students trudged downstairs, most of them still rubbing sleep from their eyes. Sitting at the dining room table were Logan, Kurt and Jamie, the latter two discussing who would win a fight between Batman and Spiderman. In the kitchen, waiting for the coffee to perk, were Hank and Ororo. All five looked up and gave various greetings as the others arranged themselves around the room. Kurt nearly choked on his bacon when Amara flopped into the seat next to him, accidentally crushing his tail as she did so.
"Amy!" he gasped, spraying toast crumbs into the air. "Bitte, liebeschen, watch where you're sitting!"
Amara squeaked and shot up, retrieving the injured appendage as she did so. Handing Kurt his tail, she sat down more carefully this time. "Have you had enough sleep now, do you think?" she asked him.
Kurt nodded. "Ja. Herr Logan has decided that I no longer need training at five in the morning, so now I can sleep in to a decent hour."
Logan grunted. "Ya were still up before 6:30, elf," he growled.
Kurt nodded and waved his fork. "But you must admit that there is quite a difference between waking up at five o' clock and working out for two hours, as opposed to an extra hour's sleep."
Kitty sat down opposite him and yawned. "You call this a decent hour?"
Kurt blinked. "What time do you call a decent hour, Kitty?" he asked, confused.
"How about sometime past 7:30 in the morning?" Rogue suggested, but Kurt gave a dismissive wave of his hand.
"In Heirlegart, we woke at dawn to do the work that was required of us. Nobody minded, because it was the norm. Before I came here, I woke at dawn when I slept in. Usually I was awake to greet the rising sun. When I first came here I actually thought that you were all rather lazing."
"Lazy," corrected Amara from his side. "You thought we were lazy, not lazing."
Kurt smiled. "Danke, Amy."
Everyone ignored Evan pretending to gag into his cereal and got on with breakfast. Not surprisingly, Kurt finished first and rose to his feet. "I'm off for the shower," he announced to no-one in particular, made to leave. Before he did, Bobby called out from the opposite side of the room.
"Kurt, you got those physics notes? We got a test in third period today."
Kurt nodded. "Ja, I know. I will give you the notes before class, as long as I don't get sent to see Frau Darkholme again before then. I doubt she would app – appre -"
"Appreciate," supplied Amara. Kurt nodded.
"Ja. I doubt she would appreciate seeing me again so soon."
Rahne shivered. "Ah can't stand Principal Darkholme," she informed the others. "I dinnae know what, but she just smells... off. I dinnae ken why."
Kurt grinned. "She gave me the day off school, Rahne. How bad could she be?"
When they arrived at school later that day, the object of their conversation watched them through the window. Behind her, Magneto put down the folder of information that he'd been looking at.
"Forged," was his verdict. "Mr. Wagner's files don't contain one single gem of truth, except for his actually being from Germany."
Raven turned to face him. "I also haven't been able to work out what he's capable of doing yet. Whatever his gift is, he hides it well."
Magneto nodded. "I've had the same difficulty. He's evidently well used to his abilities, so can easily go without using them."
"So," Raven surmised. "Charles pulls a new mutant out of thin air, one with no past and no sign of having even existed before he came here, and who is adept in the use of his powers. We, of course know nothing about this."
Magneto nodded in agreement. "We need to find out information about young master Wagner. Have the other Brotherhood members follow him and find out what they can. Via any means necessary."
Raven nodded in acknowledgement as Magneto left the room. She'd contact the boys after third period; there was a general free study class in that time slot, so they'd be able to do their job then.
When fourth period rolled around, Kurt would be in for quite a surprise.
Bobby was practically bouncing off the walls as the group walked away from the physics test. Slowing down next to Kurt, he clapped a friendly hand onto the German boy's back.
"Dude!" he exclaimed. "I think I actually aced that test – those notes saved my ass..." Bobby shook his head. "How do you know that stuff?"
Kurt reached back and removed Bobby's hand from his shoulder before answering. "It's just part of being me," he replied with a shrug. "I don't know how I know physics, I just know it. Part of my ability, I guess."
"Kurt!" hissed Scott. "Keep your voice down!"
Amara rolled her eyes. "Calm yourself. There's nobody to hear it." Indeed, the hall was almost totally deserted – unusual for a period when virtually no-one had classes. Turning a corner in the hallway, they came upon the reason.
In the middle of the hall, surrounded by a large group of students, there was a fight going on. Not really much or a fight, though – the odds were four on to one, and the one boy evidently wasn't much of a fighter. Skinny, gangly limbed and bespectacled, he was one of Bayville's many social outcasts, not accepted by the others after being branded a geek. Mostly he was left alone and was fairly quiet, although he was at the top of all of his classes. Nobody ever spoke to him – few even knew his name.
His opposing quartet, however, were well-known to everyone. Scott's breath hissed out as he recognized Lance Alvers, Pietro Maximoff, Fred Dukes, and Todd Tolenski. The infamous Brotherhood Boys. They were currently taking it in turns to knock the defenceless boy to the ground and jeer at him as he tried to get up again. Kurt took one look at the scene before him and acted almost without thought. Breaking through the surrounding ring of people, he grabbed the boy's current tormentor – Lance – and hurled him against the opposite wall. Seizing Todd, the next in line, he slammed the foul-smelling boy against a wall of lockers and growled into his face.
"What are you doing, arschloch?" he snarled. Todd, unable to form words due to Kurt's fists at his throat, could only give a strangled croak in reply. Kurt just sneered at him, dropped Todd on the floor and stepped back. Pietro and Fred stepped menacingly toward him, but were stopped by the arrival of the other students from the Institute.
"Walk away, asshole," spat Scott at them, while Evan visibly restrained himself from attacking Pietro. Todd and Lance got to their feet and stood beside their friends, the latter giving a he-started-it-I'm-innocent look to Kitty. The surrounding crowd began to buzz at the possibility of a larger fight, but were silenced by the PA system crackling to life.
"Lance Alvers, Todd Tolenski, Pietro Maximoff and Fred Dukes report to principal Darkholme's office immediately," squawked the metallic voice. A general groan rose from the audience, which soon began to disperse. Lance continued to glare at Kurt.
"Got yourself a new boyfriend, Shades?" he smirked at Scott. "Gotta admit, the guy's got balls – but I bet you already knew that one, now didn't you?"
Amara stepped up to Lance. "He may have balls," she replied sweetly, "but if you don't want yours ground into paste, I suggest you move along."
Lance glared at Amara, before giving a parting shot to Kurt. "We're gonna finish this later, pal." With that, he left, the others trailing behind him.
Kurt dropped to his knees and helped the groggy-looking boy to his feet. He was bleeding from one corner of his mouth, but his glasses were somehow intact. Kurt held him up so he wouldn't fall.
"Are you alright?" he asked. The boy nodded.
"Just," he replied. "Thanks to you, anyway." He extended one hand. "Simon Kayle," he introduced himself.
Kurt held one hand up to show that he didn't shake hands, but returned the introduction. "Kurt Wagner," he answered.
Jean came up next to Simon and gently took his head in her hands. Inspecting it, she oohed in sympathy. "You're going to get a lump there..." she held one finger in front of Simon's face. "Follow it with your eyes."
Simon didn't even bother. "I don't have a concussion," he informed her. "Just a little wobbly, that's all..."
At this point, another girl ran up and grabbed Simon's arm. In spite of themselves, the boys all raised an eyebrow as she arrived; long blonde hair hung to her shoulders, framing a delicately formed face with enormous blue eyes. This delectable head was placed atop a very well-proportioned body, producing a remarkably attractive young woman. Oblivious to their stares, the girl began questioning Simon furiously.
"Simon! Are you alright? They didn't hurt you, did they? Did they steal anything?" she babbled,
Simon held up one hand, cutting her off. "I'm fine, these guys broke it up before anything bad happened." The others winced at the idea that what had happened wasn't bad by Simon's standards, but he didn't notice. He turned to the others and gestured. "My sister Vicki. Vick, these are the guys who just saved my ass."
Vicki turned to the others. "Thanks," she gushed. "Those jerks have been giving Simon heaps, lately, and he's not real good at standing up for himself, so..."
Kurt grinned. "It was nothing, frau. All in a day's work." As Simon nearly fell, Kurt caught him and steadied him again. "...which is evidently not over yet." He frowned at Simon. "You said you did not have a concussion," he accused the lankier boy. Simon shrugged and Vicki rolled her eyes.
"Come on, Simon, you're going home. You don't have any classes for the rest of the day, so it doesn't matter anyway," she ordered.
Scott looked unsure. "You think he can make it all the way?"
Vicki nodded. "We only live a few blocks away. I can help him go that far."
Kurt shook his head. "I have him now, I'll help you get him home. I have no classes now, either..." he caught Amara's scandalised glare. "What?"
Amara's look could have cracked stone. "Nothing. Kurt. Just fine," she grated. Scott stepped between them.
"Okay, get Simon back to his house," he told Kurt. "Then get back here, pronto, got it?"
Kurt nodded. "Jawohl," he agreed. With one final confused look at Amara, he walked off with Simon and Vicki.
Kitty nudged Rogue and Jean as they began to head off to study hall. "That boy needs a long, long talking to..."
Not far away, the Brotherhood boys walked out of Principal Darkholme's office, deep in thought. Lance raised his head and grinned at the others.
"Brilliant. Absolutely fucking brilliant," he enthused. "This is just what I was talking about. That French kid is gonna get his."
"He's German, yo," murmured Todd. The others looked at him strangely. "Well, he is..."
Lance shrugged. "Whatever. Look, we need to interrogate this guy, and I know just how to do it..."
"What're you thinkin'?" Fred wanted to know.
Lance grinned. "You guys remember the abandoned Trask house just west of town...?"
