Chapter 30
To Bayern We Go!
Nightcrawler crouched on a brush covered hilltop to watch the sunrise. He watched at the golden sun banished the darkness for the day and brought the world to life. It was very pretty, to a poet or artist it might be inspirational, but he was not one of those. He simply watched this temporary painting of nature to clear his head and gather some courage. He never used to watch the sun's rising and setting very much. He might happen to watch it if he had nothing better to do at the time but he never did it on purpose before. Now he found himself watching both everyday.
Today he had two goals in mind. First he wished to speak with the giant Russian man. While the muscular man seemed quiet and even-tempered, such powerful limbs made him nervous. If he pressed the wrong buttons here he risked getting broken in half, or so he feared. And second he wished to speak with the French thief. He was very curious about this man, what would this group have to do with a man who made a living stealing from others? Hopefully he could get a better feel for these two after he spoke with them if not turn them into friends.
As soon as the bottom edge of the sun left the horizon he slunk out of his cover and scampered down to camp. The others were only just beginning to stir at this hour so he took care of the horses while he waited for breakfast. He took very good care of every horse except Phantom. Kitty had made it quite clear to him that that mare was off limits to him and unless he heard otherwise he wasn't going to try anything. After re-saddling and packing up all the horses and their gear the call went out for breakfast. He left the horses tied to their places and hurried to get some food.
He took a seat near Piotr instead of Kitty for a change. The sooner he went through with this the better. They all ate in silence and Nightcrawler could feel the speculative gazes rest on him. This was a break in his routine; normally he'd sit with Kitty and pester her until it was time to get going. That's how it always went and now that he'd done something new they all were wondering why. Then Bobby didn't pay attention to the log he was adding to the fire and burned his hand. This took the focus off Nightcrawler and gave him the opportunity he'd hoped for.
"Guten Morgen." Nightcrawler cordially greeted, completely ignoring Bobby's overly dramatic wails and moans.
"Good morning." The massive Russian rumbled back in his deep voice.
"How are you this fine morning?" The German asked politely.
"I am well, and you?" Colossus inquired.
"I am fine." Nightcrawler replied.
"Is there something that you want me to do?" Piotr asked.
"Could you answer a question?" The Cursed German wondered.
"It depends on the question." The muscular Russian answered.
"Fair enough." Nightcrawler agreed. "So how did you end up with English people?" He asked.
"That is a very long story." Piotr replied.
"I don't mind." Nightcrawler said. Piotr studied him for a long moment before slipping into his tale.
"Well, when I was younger my family was very poor so I joined the Russian army to try and make more money than I could by farming. I had only just finished what little training was required when my group was sent out on an assignment. We were sent to an area that I was not familiar with and then a terrible blizzard blew in. I became separated from my unit and wandered for many days in a snowy wasteland. When I did encounter a small village I did not speak their language and they were afraid of me. They tried to drive me away and somehow my Curse emerged and made things even worse. I wandered the countryside without purpose or direction for months trapped in my metal body. Then a special German knight found me and arranged for me to be sent to England and Lord Xavier. Lord Xavier took me in and gave me a new home and purpose. That is why I am with them now." Piotr explained.
"That is an interesting tale, but why didn't you return to your family?" Nightcrawler asked curiously.
"I thought about it many times early on, but now I have decided to never go back. I have been away far too long to ever return. To them I have died long ago and if I were to suddenly reappear they would be frightened and confused. And they are better off without me. I was one very large mouth to feed and I was never a good farmer. They no longer need to concern themselves with feeding me and can focus on others. I no longer belong in Russia; I belong with my new English family where I am useful and welcome." Piotr replied.
"I see." The German mumbled to himself.
Seconds later Logan called for them to break camp. Nightcrawler scampered off to his horse without another word to the Russian. His main question was answered and he had plenty of time to ask any others that might appear in his mind. He was beginning to understand how this odd group of seemingly random individuals came together. As they formed up into a line he found himself wishing that he was one of them. If this Lord Xavier would take in a metallic golem of a Russian on the suggestion of a German knight, why not take in a blue-furred demonic beast? But unlike the Russian man, he still had a home and a family who looked after him. Could he leave his father and his extended family behind forever as Piotr had? No matter how long he thought about it he was unable to come to an answer.
Remy sat a little ways off from the group sharpening one of his knives during the last half of the lunch break. Bobby's suspicious ramblings and far-fetched theories were wearing on the Frenchman's nerves so he had taken to avoiding the ice-wielder whenever possible. And since he wasn't particularly close with any other member of this rag-tag little band he had no reason or compulsion to sit near anyone else. So he sat on the fringe and observed, his favorite past-time aside from stealing. And from his many observations he had learned much.
He knew many of the group's telling habits and routines. He would watch from the shadows as Logan would disappear to hunt small game to add to their food stores and make special note of how he would scent the air like a hound before vanishing. He studied how the massive Russian man Piotr would seem to meditate every morning and evening as if he were reflecting on the days and thinking of the future. He watched as the fire-haired woman called Jean was aware of everything that happened within the camp. The way she carried herself as she moved told him that she was of a noble clan and made her presence all the more interesting. Bobby seemed to simply blunder around until he was fully awake, which on one occasion took all day. And Kitty moved about her business quietly with an air of secrecy and mystery.
But the person who fascinated Remy most was the creature known as Nightcrawler. What he did in the early mornings and evenings was something of a mystery. He would vanish into the brush or up into a tree and return an hour or so later without giving any hint as to where he'd gone or what he'd done. While he seemed open and friendly to a fault, he could be even more secretive than Kitty if certain subjects came up. And then there was his odd attachment to the brown-haired maiden. He followed her around like a loving loyal puppy and did his best to win her over, which was a difficult feat.
And now this particular morning he had defied the one routine that Remy knew of though he didn't understand. He'd abandoned his usual seat near Kitty to eat near the burly Russian. When Logan, Jean, and Kitty were distracted by Bobby's theatrics Remy had seen the enigmatic German engage Piotr in some conversation. What was said the French thief didn't know, but it didn't really matter. What the Cursed German was doing was forming new connections beyond the mysterious one he seemed to have with Kitty. He was figuring things out and trying to improve his standings with the group. While the blue fur-ball put on a silly stupid act similar to Bobby's, he was really an intelligent individual.
"Guten Tag!" Nightcrawler chirped, dropping out of the tree that Remy was sitting under. The cool French thief didn't jump like Bobby might've in the same situation, he'd heard a few creaking branches a few seconds before hand that gave him some warning of the demon's arrival.
"Bonjour." Remy greeted in return not looking up from his sharp dagger.
"How are you this fine afternoon?" The blue demon politely inquired.
"Remy is well, now what is it that you want?" The thief asked, getting straight to the point.
"Why do you follow these people?" Nightcrawler asked bluntly.
"Because they're interesting and Remy has nothing better to do." The Frenchman replied shortly.
"Why is that? One would think that a thief would always be busy." The German wondered.
"Remy got in some trouble and needed some time away for a while." Gambit answered.
"What are you doing?" Bobby demanded having wandered over to find his French companion.
"Just talking, is that a crime?" Nightcrawler asked innocently, picking at a nearby weed nervously. Bobby gave him a hard suspicious look.
"You're up to something." The Iceman declared.
"Really, what?" The demon inquired.
"I don't know, but I'll find out." The English boy scowled.
"Bobby, what are you doing?" Kitty asked, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.
"Getting some answers." The ice boy answered with obviously forced cheerfulness.
"Is he bothering you?" Kitty asked a mildly stunned Nightcrawler.
"Ja" The Cursed German replied quietly.
"Well he won't be anymore, come Bobby." Kitty commanded, grabbing the young man by the ear and dragging him off by it.
The Nightcrawler sat in complete shock for a full minute after Kitty and the annoying Bobby had departed. Then a happy silly grin appeared on his blue furry face and his tail lashed back and forth like an excited puppy's. He skittered off looking absolutely ecstatic leaving Remy behind in the shadows once more. This Cursed German was very strange, a puzzle whose solution still evaded him. The allure of stealing this mysterious object that the English people sought was strong, but the curiosity surrounding this enigma of a man was just as powerful. Even if they never found these Destiny Scrolls he'd still follow this group to the ends of the earth to learn the blue devil's great secret.