A/N: Lost Muse says: Awesome story! I loves I loves! Nightcrawler and Toad are my favorites too...but I like to make them bash heads. It's fun. Like in Evo. nod nod
fetal position
TOAD ISN'T DEAD! HE ISN'T DEAD BECAUSE RAY PARK IS CASTED FOR X-3 AND HE'S NOT DEAD! EH! mental break down
And you're correct. Storm DOESN'T deserve Nightie. No one does...except for maybe an OC. wink Anyway, wonderfullness! and please continue soon!
Muse
Ee'gads that was a long review.
Wow that really is a long review. Okay first of all I have decided to put Toad in (Yay For the hot Ray Park being in for X3!!) and Storm is learn the important lesson of "what goes around comes around." MWHAHAHAHA!!!! Thanks for the review!
The stars shone brightly in the velvety black sky and a soft tune drifted lazily to Charlie's ears. Slowly she was twirled around the garden by her dance partner who smiled, revealing his pointy teeth. As the song ended he dipped Charlie and held her in his blue arms.
A loud knocking filled the room, causing Charlie to stir under the covers of her new bed. Captain fell off the pillow next to her and began to grumble irritably.
"Charlie," someone called from the other side of the door. "Charlie it iz time to vake up." Again the speaker knocked on the door. "You vill miss breakfast if you do not vake up."
"Breakfast," cried the cat as he shot off the bed and headed for the door. "Charlie! Charlie, they've go breakfast!"
The young woman rolled over and glared at the cat. "Shut up," she said groggily. "I was having a really good dream."
"Oh, I am sorry," said the voice from the other side of the door and Charlie recognized it as Kurt's. "I vill leave you zen." He sounded very disappointed.
Charlie literally rolled out of bed and landed with a loud crash. "Oww. No, Kurt I wasn't talking to you," she said as she struggled out of the blanket.
"Fraulein," Kurt asked. The disappointment was drained from his voice and replaced by concern. "Are you alright?"
Finally being released from the blanket's grip, Charlie got up and opened the door. Captain shot out of the room and ran down the hall. She looked from the running cat to Kurt.
"Good morning," she said while rubbing her eyes.
Kurt bowed and said, "Guten Morgen. Are you ready for breakfast?" Kurt's yellow eyes scanned Charlie.
She was slightly disheveled. Her long brown hair hung in messy coils and the clothes Kurt had lent her were wrinkled.
Charlie shrugged. "Ready as I'll ever be," she said as she closed her bedroom door behind her.
The blue mutant led the way down to the kitchen which was full people. There was a young man with red sunglasses, another boy with blonde hair who sat next to a girl with auburn and white hair. There was a woman with white hair and another man who looked rather scruffy.
As soon as Kurt and Charlie entered the room, all eyes were on them. Maybe I should have at least brushed my hair thought Charlie as looked at the floor. She felt rather uncomfortable under their gazes.
Everyvun zis is Charlie," said Kurt cheerfully. "Charlie zis is Scott," he gestured to the guy with shades. "Ororo," the white haired woman smiled at Kurt. "Bobby and Rogue," the boy and girl both smiled and waved. "And zis is Logan," he finished with a gesture towards the scruffy, muscular man.
"Hi," said Charlie quietly as she fiddled with the hem of the borrowed shirt.
"So this is the new kid," asked Logan. He turned to the fridge and began to rummage through it. "Looks like you two had a pajama party."
Charlie could feel her cheeks growing hot and when she looked to Kurt she realized he must be experiencing a similar feeling. Again all eyes were on the two mutants who wore matching pants.
"Uh… Actually I just got here last night and didn't have any clothes," explained Charlie.
"So I let her borrow some of mine," Kurt finished as he took a seat next to Bobby.
Charlie was about to sit next to the girl named Rogue but stopped when something caught her eye. She was just about to open her mouth to warn someone of the tabby cat who was about to steal a breakfast burrito. Too late.
Captain shot off the counter, burrito in tow. Logan saw and laughed as the cat darted across the kitchen.
"That's my breakfast," Scott shouted as he started after the cat. "Whose damn cat is that!?"
Just as the cat was mere feet from the door, Charlie gave a loud growl. The tabby stopped dead in his tracks as if he were frozen to the spot.
"Drop the burrito," said Charlie so everyone could hear her. Captain obeyed. The next command came as meow. "Apologize."
Slowly Captain turned to face the fuming mutant. The cat's yellow eyes met Scott's in a cheeky stare. He mewled an apology and turned his eyes to Charlie. The young woman pointed to the door and the cat sauntered out, tail and head held high.
Charlie shook her head as the cat left. "I'm really, really sorry about him," she said as she picked up the breakfast burrito. "Captain has… respect issues."
Everyone looked from Charlie to Scott and then back again.
"That was your cat," asked the man calmly. Charlie nodded as she sat down. "Keep that thing under control."
With a sigh Charlie said, "I try but he has a mind of his own. He thinks because I was the one who brought him home that he only has to answer to me."
"Well he better learn fast," snapped Scott.
Charlie's green cat eyes narrowed as the man turned his back and began to make another burrito. She muttered an insult that only she would understand.
"So, Tiger," said Logan as he leaned against a counter. "You talk to animals?"
Charlie recognized the gruff voice as the one from the intercom. She nodded, wondering why he didn't seem so agitated now.
"What else can you do," asked Rogue.
"I can turn into animals," said Charlie as she turned to face the girl with white streaks in the front of her red hair.
"Cool," said Bobby as he began stuff Cheerios into his mouth. "I freeze things. Rogue can take peoples' powers, Logan has super senses and these really cool claws. Ororo controls the weather and Scott has laser vision."
"Who has the breakfast making ability," meowed Captain from outside the door.
"Shut up, Captain," called Charlie over her shoulder. "What makes you think you deserve breakfast after that little show? Go catch a bird or something."
The cat grumbled as he stalked off down the hall.
"What kind of a name is 'Captain' for a cat," asked Scott as he took his breakfast out of the microwave.
Charlie looked up at him and said, "When I found him he was a little battered. One eyes was swollen shut like a pirate captain. So that's what I names him."
Everyone nodded to show their understanding. Scott just grunted and walked out of the room with his breakfast. For a few minutes everyone was quiet.
"Well," said Ororo. "I have to go run some errands. Do you want to come, Kurt?" As she asked him, her hand went to the German's shoulder.
"Nein. I am going to show Charlie around and zen take her to get some of her sings," said Kurt with a polite smile. "But danke Ororo."
"Oh," said the white haired woman, sounding defeated. "Well I'll see you all later." With that she left.
"Bobby we better hurry if we want to get to class on time," said Rogue getting up. Bobby followed after putting his bowl in the sink. "Bye," the chorused as they left the kitchen.
Now it was just Charlie, Logan, and Kurt. The three sat at the table in silence before Charlie finally got up.
"Right," she said as she opened the fridge. "Who wants some scrambled eggs?"
Half way through eating their eggs and toast, Captain came back into the room. He sat on the chair next to Charlie and she pushed her plate over to him. The tabby cat ate the remaining eggs with surprising manners.
"Vell," said Kurt s he got up. "are you ready for the ze tour?"
Charlie smiled at her new friend and followed him with Captain hot on her heels. Kurt took them through the entire Mansion and showed them all the classrooms, the rec room, the dining room, the gym, and every other room imaginable. Finally they went outside and he showed them the yard.
After the long tour, they sat in the shade of a tree. The afternoon sun smiling down on the large expanse of land. A few birds sang in the tree above them while Captain glared up at them, his tail twitching.
"Vhat are the birds saying," asked Kurt as he looked into the tree.
Charlie listened for a moment as the birds chirped noisily. "Some of them are fighting over where the best insects are," she paused to listen again. "And there ware two talking about the dynamics of flying."
The blue mutant smiled at her. "I vish I could speak to ze animals."
Charlie laughed as she pulled her hair back into a half ponytail. "It has its advantages but when you can't even walk through a park without hearing birds and squirrels argue, it can be kind of annoying." There was a moment of silence before Charlie asked, "What was it like in the circus."
Kurt sighed as he thought back and said, "Vell zey vere like mein family. Zey treated me very vell. I vas even ze main attraction." He looked at Charlie's green cat eyes and smiled. Soon his smiled faded. "But outside of ze circus zey all sought I vas a demon."
"I'm sorry," whisper Charlie as she looked away from his yellow eyes.
"It's okay," Kurt said. "I do not hate zem for zer ignorance." Charlie nodded in the awkward silence. "Vhat vas it like to live like a normal person," he asked suddenly.
Charlie looked up at him with surprise. It was a question she hadn't been expecting. Kurt's yellow eyes full of eagerness as he gazed at her.
One clawed hand ran up her bare, striped arm. "My life was never really normal, I just blended in. All my life was like a chameleon, keeping my talents hidden from the people around me so I could pretend I was one of them." She sighed. "It's not that great. Normal people only do normal things, there's never anything new or exciting."
"Nothing like Kurt, you mean," said the cat as he stared at the birds.
Charlie glared at the cat causing Kurt to laugh. "I vill never get used to you two talking." Revealing her fangs, Charlie smiled at the blue mutant who checked his watch. "Ah, ve better go if ve vant to get your sings."
Charlie nodded and turned to Captain. "You coming, Cap," she asked the tabby.
Without tearing his eyes from the birds he said, "You go ahead. I'm feeling kind of hungry."
Kurt and Charlie stood up and left the cat behind. They made their way through the mansion and to the garage where they picked out a car. Together the two mutants took to the road. It would be a few hours before they reached New York City.
The traffic in the city was, as usual, horrible. It took them an hour just to get to five blocks from Charlie's apartment. Kurt pulled into a parking garage and found a spot. Before they got out, Kurt reached into the back seat and produced a trench coat, hat, sunglasses, and shoes.
"I don't vant to draw any attention," he said as he began to pull on the coat.
"Here," said Charlie as Kurt struggled with the shoes a few minutes later.
Carefully she maneuvered his two-toed foot into a shoe. Kurt laced it up as Charlie got his other foot into the second shoe.
"Ach! Zey are so uncomfortable," he complained as he opened his door. Charlie followed suit, pulling her hood up as she followed him.
It didn't take very long for them to reach Charlie's old block. The two of them walked side-by-side down the streets, being careful not let their odd skin show.
"That's the one," said Charlie as she stood outside of a large brick building. "I don't have the key with me."
Kurt nodded and pulled her down a nearby alley way. With a bamf! and a cloud of smoke, he was on the fire escape of the neighboring building. He lowered the ladder and Charlie climbed up to him.
In next to no time, the two stood on the roof of the building, looking across the alley to Charlie's apartment building. The pupils of her green cat eyes grew as the sun began to set. She could see clearly into each apartment.
"That's the one," she said pointing to a window. "I'd recognize that plant anywhere."
Kurt looked at the window, the apartment was darkened but he could still make it out. "You vill have to hold on tight," he said as he turned to Charlie
At her questioning look, Kurt wrapped his arms around Charlie and pulled her close. As he tried to concentrate on the apartment his thoughts were almost lost to the girl he held. He could smell the watermelon shampoo she had used in her shower last night.
Charlie held onto Kurt's shoulders, her eyes were clamped shut. While she waited for the teleportation she shifted, resting her head on his shoulder. She could have sworn she heard his heart skip a beat but didn't have time to think about it.
A loud bamf! filled her ears and the smell of brimstone made her sneeze. Her senses were thrown off as she felt herself reel. Charlie clung to the nearest thing and hoped that it would all end.
Her stomach lurched and she felt solid ground again. Charlie still refused to open her eyes as she clung desperately to Kurt.
"It's okay fraulein," he said soothingly. "Ve are zere." His three fingered hands gently rubbed Charlie's back and she began to loosen her grip. "You can open your eyes now."
Slowly her green eyes opened, her pupils adjusting to the light. Charlie was standing in the living room of her old apartment. Everything was as she left it, except the TV was and Xbox had been turned off.
Reluctantly she let go of Kurt, a slight blush rising in her cheeks. Crossing the room to the door she clicked on the lights, her eyes turning to slits.
The blue mutant watched as Charlie entered a small room and dug under a bad. Her face screwed up in concentration as she groped around. Finally she produced a small back pack before she began to fish under the bed again. Charlie found a duffle bag and threw it on top of the bed again.
"Let's see," she uttered to herself as she opened the drawers of the dresser. She began to empty the drawers of their few contents, throwing the clothes into the duffle bag. "Hold this," she said to Kurt as she handed him the bag.
Grabbing the backpack, Charlie walked through the apartment and began to grab all her stuff. She took her toothbrush and razor from the bathroom before she turned to the living room.
Kneeling down in front of the TV she sorted through a bunch of Cd's. "This is mine," she said pulling one of the cases out of the pile and dropping it into the back pack. "These are mine," she said taking a small stack of Queen CD's. "She can keep that one…" It took a minute for Charlie to sort through the movies and Cds but in the end she only took a few.
Standing up she opened the Xbox and took out Fable. "You guys have an Xbox at the mansion," she said dropping the game into her bag. "On to the kitchen."
Upon entering the kitchenette, Charlie went straight to the little white coffee maker. "Hello Mr. Coffee," she said to the machine. "Did you miss me?"
Kurt laughed at her. "I didn't know you could speak to kitchen appliances too."
Charlie unplugged the little machine and said, "This is my most prized possession."
Soon the apartment was devoid of all the things Charlie needed. She turned a slow circle in the living room while she thought of all the things she had. clothes, Cds, Mr. Coffee, toothbrush, razor, Lord of Rings books and DVDs, Fable. What am I missing? She stopped facing the door, her work boots sat on the floor next to it.
Charlie scooped them up and stuffed them in the duffle bag with her clothes. "That's everything," she said to Kurt.
"You didn't take much," said the German with surprise.
Shrugging, Charlie said, "I don't need much. Now let's go."
Kurt pulled her close, wrapping his arms around her again. Charlie suppressed a gasp.
"Uh... Kurt," she said hesitantly. His yellow eyes looked down at her. "As much as I like being this close to you, can we place use the door?" No! You idiot! thought Charlie to herself. You just admitted you like being in this position… with his arms wrapped around you…Just because this is very enjoyable doesn't mean you should TELL him that! Charlie continued the mental scolding.
For a minute Kurt looked at her, trying to process what she had just said. She likes being zis close to me? he thought as he looked into her cat eyes. He smiled, showing his pointy white teeth. "Of course ve can," he said as he reluctantly let go of Charlie.
The lights to the apartment clicked off and Charlie closed the door behind her. She and Kurt made their way quickly down the stairs and out the front door, each of them carrying one of Charlie's bags. Five minutes later they had loaded the stuff into the car and sat down. Kurt immediately pulled off the shoes which had been bothering his feet the whole time.
With a smile at Charlie, he started the car and they began to drive back to the Institute.
These chapters just keep getting longer and longer. Aplogies for any typos.