Chapter 10: I Think It's Broken…

"Alara! Vait!" Kurt cried out to her.

He bamphed just as she turned around, so she didn't see him.

"Did someone just call me?" she murmured to herself, just as a loud 'Bamph' sounded behind her. She spun around quickly and her hand shot out in surprise, slapping him smartly in the face. He blinked a moment in surprise, his eye watering from impact. Alara, thinking it was tears, covered her mouth and through them, she exclaimed, "Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry!"

She took on of her hands from her face and put it gently on his cheek.

"Are you okay?"

Kurt smiled and put a hand on hers.

"Yes. Yes. I'm fine. But vhy vere you running from me? I vasn't going to hurt you. Honestly."

He took her hand off of his face, holding her hand in his a few seconds before letting go.

"Yes. I kinda knew that, but I just sorta panicked. I'm really sorry. I… uh… I think I broke Pietro's door. I morphed again. I think it was a rhino, but in any case I broke through," she sighed, hanging her head sadly.

Kurt put a hand under her chin and lifted it up to look her in the eye.

"Hey. Don't vorry about it. It'll be all right."

Alara smiled. Then suddenly, she leaned forward and hugged him tightly. Kurt stood there, surprised, for a minute, then hugged her back, smiling.

"Vell," he said after a minute. "Ve really must go back to school. It vould be very bad if I vas late to another class."

Alara nodded and let go of him. Suddenly, she gasped.

"Kurt," she whispered hoarsely. "Your watch stopped working."

Kurt looked down at his hands and sure enough, they were blue, fuzzy, and only had three fingers. His shock was combined with dismay as he saw the shock in Alara's eyes. He turned red and spun around, his back facing her.

"I… I… I…"

Suddenly, Kurt felt a gentle hand on his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

Kurt turned half-way around to look at Alara. Concern filled her face.

"You looked at me… like I vas a monster or something."

She looked confused.

"What?"

"Yes. You looked at me vith a shocked expression on your face. Like I vas a demon child or something."

Tears welled up in her eyes, but she smiled.

"It wasn't that."

"Vhat vas it then?" he asked, defensively.

"I was just shocked," she began to explain, through laughter and one or two tears. "I was shocked that your watch stopped working. I thought those things were more durable.'

Kurt turned all the way around to face her.

"Really? You don't think I'm a monster?"

She laughed, a few more tears falling down her cheeks.

"No! Of course not! I would never think you were a monster! I think blue and fuzzy is cute!" she exclaimed, choking with laughter.

Kurt put his hands on his hips.

"Then vhy are you crying?"

"Oh that one's easy! You acted the exact same way that I did when my foster parents found out what I could do. Only they weren't as accepting as I am and they thr-.." she replied, cutting herself off.

"And they did vhat?" he asked, dropping his arms. It was then his turn to be concerned.

"Never mind. We need to get you out of here. I can help you get to the institute without being noticed."

"Really? How?" he asked, skeptically.

"Get on my back."

"VHAT? ARE YOU CRAZY?"

"No. Just pretend you're, like, five and you're getting a piggy back ride from a babysitter or something."

"Oh, now I feel like a child."

"Just get on!"

Kurt sighed and looked around to make sure no one was watching, then walked behind Alara, who crouched down slightly. Flopping onto her back, he wrapped his arms around her neck. She stood up, grabbing onto his thighs and holding them, both of them blushing, and made sure that he could stay in place.

"Okay, now hold on."

"Vait! Vhat are you planning on doing? Just valking down the street?"

"No, just hold on!"

She turned instantly into Pietro. Kurt opened his mouth in protest when she suddenly shot off towards the institute. Kurt's eyes started to water from the speed. After a few seconds, she began to slow down and stopped at the gateway of the institution. Kurt then bamphed them to the doors, still on her back. Alara changed back into herself just before Logan swung the door open to head outside. He stopped instantly when he saw them. Alara blushed furiously and Kurt began to stutter.

"I… I… I… We… I… We…"

Logan's face grew red.

"Wagner. Do you remember that one thing I said early yesterday after you got back from school?"

Kurt gulped and nodded.

"Alara. What are you doing?" Logan asked, looking at her calmly, almost brotherly.

"Um… I was helping Kurt get back here. His watch broke."

"But Kurt could have teleported here."

"What?"

"Kurt can teleport around."

Alara looked over her shoulder at him.

"Is that true?"

Kurt smiled innocently and shrugged, holding his hands out.

"I guess I just forgot."

She let go of his legs quickly, causing Kurt to fall off and land abruptly on the cement. Wincing, he stood up, brushing off his jeans.

"Vhat vas that for?" Kurt asked indignantly.

Logan glared at Kurt.

"Let's get that watch of yours fixed. And after you get back from school today, you can spend some time in the Danger Room."

Kurt gulped again. Alara blinked slowly.

"What's the Danger Room?" she asked.

"A place you don't want to go ever by yourself," Logan replied. "And speaking of which, aren't you supposed to be at school?"

Alara shook her head.

"Not until tomorrow."

Logan nodded.

"Well, until then, you need to find something to keep yourself occupied."

Alara smiled.

"Can do, Mr. Logan."

Logan glared at Kurt.

"You. Come with me."

Kurt hung his head as he walked inside, not noticing the small, black and green spider crawling up the back of his jeans and that Alara had disappeared.