Illyana lay, curled up in the chair, where Forge had left her.
Her head swam with dark images as the memories of her years spent being evil came flowing back to her. When she had been evil – none of it had mattered. And now that she had reverted to her uncursed self – every one of those actions carried a world of guilt and remorse.
"Shhhh…" The large man on the far bed whispered to her. "It will be okay now…" He said, barely able to speak.
She sobbed for a moment before replying. "You … can't know… couldn't possibly… shouldn't say that…"
He laughed. "Good people… have us now…"
And it was like a weight off her mind.
"Heard them say…" He continued. "…you were under a spell … too…" He shook his head. "Never believed … in magic … myself."
"I've seen too much." She sobbed. "And…"
He waited for a long moment before prodding. "And?"
She swallowed and hesitated. "I was evil. I did evil things… with evil people…" She glanced at her watch. "Most of whom expect to hear from me tonight."
Brian laughed. It was a deep and hearty baritone laugh. "So?"
She looked at him, oddly.
Then he swore in a way wholly unbecoming this fic and added the word "Them."
She spit out a laugh and shook her head through the tears. "What?"
"Yeah." He repeated himself and then he laughed. "They're evil anyway. So screw 'em, right?"
"Yeah…" She laughed a bit. "Yeah… Maybe…"
He laughed. "Maybe? Naw… More like… On purpose, ha, ha ha."
She laughed a bit. "Oww… It hurts to laugh."
"It hurts to breathe." He added.
She sighed. "I'm Illyana Rasputin." She told him.
"I'm Brian. Brian Braddock." He said slowly. "Nice to meet you."
And she got a deep, sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach.
Just out of sight, Kurt began to delegate.
"We'll sleep in shifts tonight." Kurt told them. "Two of us awake at all times watching from the main room. We'll keep our doors open. Got it?"
Everyone nodded.
"Forge and Lucy take the first shift. Kitty and Alistaire the second." He added.
"Are we expecting more attacks?" Forge asked.
"Not expecting." Kurt explained. "Just preparing for. Once this story breaks tomorrow we should be safe – that is – as safe as we ever are. But there will be no more reason to try and eliminate anyone to get their hands on my position."
"What did you do?' Kitty asked him. "To make it… safe?"
Kurt laughed. "The power of my position allows me to rewrite my edicts myself. And I rewrote the ones that give me that power. But I did it last. First Alistaire and I pulled out any of the objectionable or truly abusive passages."
"With only three exceptions." Alistaire smiled.
Kurt smiled too. "Ja. I kept three." He smiled.
He had everyone's attention and so he continued. "One is – I get to name my successor. So, as soon as my announcement is common knowledge – killing me wont get them my job."
"Who'd you pick?" Lucy interjected.
"Kitty." He said. "And Alistaire if she's not able."
Everyone nodded.
"And…" Alistaire smiled. "About the citizenship…"
"Oh, right." Kurt smiled. "Anyone I deputize is officially granted English citizenship and certain diplomatic immunities." He explained. "So, you're all officially English Diplomats."
"Which means?" Tabby prodded.
"It means you can't be arrested." Alistaire replied. "And that anyone who might be after you for outstanding charges outside Britain will have to fight it out with the courts to get you – and even then – it's likely to be denied."
Wow. Lucy thought. It is safe… here.
"That's two." Forge smiled. "What's the third thing you kept?"
Kurt sat quietly for a moment. All eyes on him as he considered how to phrase his answer.
"I kept what they called section seventeen." He said slowly. "It's the search, seizure and detainment provisions. And it's one of the most easily abused provisions of the document."
"He made fantastic alterations." Alistaire added quickly in Kurt's defense. "He added an oversight committee to make himself and others accountable for what they've done."
Kurt smiled slightly. "We needed the provision." He said softly. "It's the only power we have against people like the Hellfire Club. They have everything. And unless we can take it away – we'll never be a threat to them. So wee need it."
Everyone nodded slowly.
"Sooo…" Lucy said slowly. "If we take one of them down… We get to keep their stuff?" She asked with a wrinkled forehead.
"Yeah." Forge nodded. "Sounds like it."
"We need to fight someone who owns a mall." Lucy decided.
"Now you're talking." Tabby winked at her.
"Puh-lease!" Kitty exclaimed. "Jewelry store owners are way worse than people who own shopping malls."
Forge looked mockingly at Kurt. "Car we arrest the guys from Radio Shack? Please?"
Kurt laughed and shook his head. "Maybe tomorrow. I'm really tired."
Alistaire chuckled and eyed the couch. "I guess I'm sleeping here tonight."
"Ja." Kurt added. "I hope whoever's expecting to wake you up at your apartment isn't too put out that you're not there."
Alistaire looked deflated. "I meant to leave a note." He snapped his fingers dejectedly.
Kurt smiled.
"I never know if he's kidding." Forge said with a head-shake.
"That's what makes him think it's funny." Lucy smirked.
Alistaire nodded in guilt and fluffed a few pillows before laying down.
Kurt turned and slipped in to his room, leaving the door cracked slightly.
Tabitha followed him and slipped in to his room quietly.
"K-Kurt?" She asked softly.
"Ja?" he cocked his head to one side.
"Can… Can I sleep in here tonight? It's so much closer than my room and … " She swallowed. "I'd like to wake up and see… another person, you know? For a change?"
Kurt smiled sympathetically. "Sure." He told her. "It's a big bed and there's safety in numbers. Which side do you want?"
She looked delighted, a soft light hanging in her eyes. "It doesn't matter." She smiled wide.
He cocked her head at her. "You're not… taking advantage of this situation, are you Miss Smith?" He asked her jokingly.
"Entirely Mister Wagner." She countered. "Now come to bed."
And he cut her a surprised and startled look as she climbed slowly in to his bed and motioned with one finger for him to join her.
