Chapter Three: Gripes and Grumbles
Mackenzie woke the next day to her 7 o'clock alarm. She groaned and turned it off. She could have sworn that she had just gone to bed. With a sigh she forced herself out of bed. Outside, rain was coming down in sheets, leaving Mackenzie to shiver. She pulled on her robe and slid her feet into her slippers.
'Its coffee time' Mackenzie told herself. She quickly made her way to the kitchen and smiled when she found a pot of coffee in the middle of brewing.
"Sean?" Mackenzie called out. There was no reply, no sounds of any kind, to let her know that Sean was awake. Mackenzie went through the cupboards until she found a mug. She saw a large mug that said 'Kiss me I'm Irish' on it in green letters. Mackenzie rolled her eyes and pulled out the mug. "Sean are you up?"
After getting no response, Mackenzie used her telepathy to see if anyone was in the cottage. It was empty. Mack poured herself a cup of coffee and sat down at the table, where a copy of the morning paper had been plopped down.
The headlines read 'Congress to Discuss New Mutant Law'. Mackenzie sighed and flipped to the comics.
"This is going to be a long day" Mackenzie said to herself.
Across the way, inside the X-Mansion, the older X-men were starting to wake up. Specifically, Kurt Wagner had woken up. He hit his alarm until it shut off and turned to look up at the ceiling. His dreams had been filled with strange things and even stranger, Mackenzie had been there.
"Geez" Kurt whispered to himself. He got up and dressed. He pushed back his curtains to see the pouring rain. He could slightly see Sean's cottage through the trees and noticed that the lights were on. He let his tail twitch from side to side in a cat-like manner. "Perhaps later, frauline."
Mackenzie had finished reading the comics and a few of the other sections of the newspaper when Sean came in from outside. His hair was plastered to his skin and his clothes looked like they had just come out of the wash. Mackenzie stood up and let her mouth hang open.
"What did you do?" Mackenzie asked. "Jump in the pool?"
Sean tapped his head and Mackenzie obliged.
/ Went fer a run. / Sean thought. Mackenzie raised an eyebrow and went to the bathroom. She came out with a towel and tossed it to him.
"You can catch a cold that way" Mackenzie replied. "Want some coffee?"
/ Yes. / Sean thought. He took off his shirt and started to towel himself off.
"Here" Mackenzie said retrieving a cup of coffee for him. Sean took the coffee and sipped it. Mackenzie shook her head, trying not to notice that Sean had a good body just like all the other men. "Should I run upstairs to grab some dry clothes for you?"
Sean signaled for her to turn around. Mack heard him set his mug down and then heard the sound of wet cotton hitting the floor. After a slight brushing of fabric sound, Sean's voice was in her head.
/ It's okay now. / Sean said. Mack turned to see Sean clad only in the towel. He picked up his wet clothes and went upstairs. / Put some clothes on. Breakfast is over at the mansion. /
Mack met Sean downstairs after getting dressed. She wore simple clothes; blue jeans, a black t-shirt, and worn black boots. Sean was dressed similarly to the previous day, but with a thermal shirt instead of a sweater.
"I hope you plan on wearing a jacket this time" Mack said. Sean shrugged on his Celtics jacket and handed Mack her motorcycle jacket.
/ Stop pushing me around. / Sean thought.
"Just trying to help" Mack said. Sean opened the door and followed Mack outside towards the mansion.
"Oh my" Kurt said when he looked at Sean and Mack. Mack sighed and tried to evenly disperse the water through her hair. Sean just gave his head a little shake. "I vill take your coats."
"Thanks" Mack said. Kurt placed their coats over two empty stools.
"How vas your first night here, liebchen?" Kurt asked with a smile. Mack couldn't help but to return the smile.
"Pretty good" Mack replied. Sean passed by the two of them to go sit at the large table in the dining room.
"Sean looks a bit pissy today" Kurt said.
"He got up pretty early" Mack replied. "Went for a run."
"In zis weather?" Kurt asked. "We have an indoor track. Vy didn't he come in here to run?"
"I don't know" Mack said.
"Vell, since it is raining, I vas vondering vat you are doing today" Kurt asked. He held out his hand, which Mack placed hers in.
"I'm not sure" Mack replied. "I'm sure Sean has something for me to do, but he hasn't said anything yet."
Kurt walked Mack into the dining room and made sure that she sat next to him.
"Ve still have zat other movie to vatch" Kurt said.
"Mornin', Elf" Jubilee said as she came into the dining room.
"Good morning, Jubilee" Kurt said. Jubilee smiled and looked at Mack.
"Hi" Jubilee said without much enthusiasm.
"Hi" Mackenzie replied. Scott, Paige, and Emma were already in the dining room, but didn't seem to notice Mack or didn't care. Mackenzie took a deep breath and turned back to Kurt. "So are we waiting for everyone or is this it?"
"Ze others vill be here soon" Kurt said. "I believe Remy is rounding zem up."
It was only a few minutes before Remy, Logan, Kyle, Stanley, Ida and Viola, Hank, and Storm came in.
"When did you get in, Storm?" Paige asked. "Last night?"
"An hour ago" Storm said with a smile. Seats were taken. Paige recruited Jubilee to help her bring out breakfast. Storm sat adjacent to Mackenzie. "Who is this?"
"I'm –" Mackenzie started to say.
"Zis is Mackenzie Burns" Kurt said. "Sean's new assistant and interpreter."
"Welcome" Storm said with a smile. "I am Storm."
"Thanks" Mackenzie said. Paige and Jubilee were quick about bringing out the food. They had a bowl full of eggs, a plate with melon and fruit slices, a plate towering of pancakes, a bowl of hash browns, and a pitcher of orange juice.
"Smells good, kid" Logan said when Jubilee placed the hash browns near him. Jubilee smiled and kissed him on the cheek.
"No toast?" Scott asked. Paige retreated back into the kitchen and came back with a stack of toast and a jar of jam. "Thanks Paige."
The group around the table quickly started in on taking the food that was on the table. Plates became full, syrup and jam was passed around, and the orange juice was quickly emptied.
"So" Jubilee said with a mouth full of pancake. "Are you a mutant?"
The table quieted down and most of the x-men looked directly at Mackenzie.
"Yes I am" Mackenzie replied, taking only a slight pause before eating a forkful of eggs.
"So what's yer power?" Jubilee asked. The others seemed to go back to eating, but they were all still staring.
"Putting up with other mutants who have problems accepting me into their little clique" Mackenzie said.
"Oh" Remy said with a chuckle. "She got you der, petite."
"Shuddup, Cajun" Jubilee said. Mackenzie just took another bite of her eggs. Jubilee scowled at Mackenzie. "Who do you think you are? You can't just –"
Sean's hand came down upon the table, making Jubilee stop her rant. Sean tapped his head and Mackenzie snapped her fingers in response.
/ Tell 'er t'quiet herself. / Sean thought. The table paused in their eating and looked over at Sean.
"They can all hear you, Sean" Mackenzie said.
/ Good. / Sean thought. / Jubilee, stop pestering her. All of you, stop pestering, Mackenzie. /
"But she –" Jubilee started.
"Sean's right" Scott said. "Mackenzie is new around here and frankly, I'm a little disappointed in the reception she's received."
"Actually, Kurt and Remy have been very nice" Mackenzie said. "And the four kids at the end were very pleasant."
"Hmph" Scott grumbled. "Jubilee, I want you and Paige to—"
"No" Mackenzie said. "Don't force anyone to do anything because of me, Mr. Summers. I'm just here as Sean's assistant. I'm not here to be buddy buddy with every single person here." Mackenzie looked down at her eggs and toast. It didn't look very appealing now. "If you all will excuse me, I've lost my appetite."
Mackenzie took her plate to the kitchen and quickly left the mansion.
When the others heard the door shut, Kurt turned his scowl towards the others.
"Vat a nice way to treat ze new person" Kurt said. "Jubilee, you should apologize to her. She has only wanted to try to be friends with everyone. You all have treated her with little respect."
Sean signed ferociously and Hank grumbled. Jubilee brought her face into a pout, but still continued to eat.
"What's Irish sayin'?" Wolverine grumbled.
"He is saying that he's been stubborn with her, but he agrees with Kurt" Beast replied.
"Dey is right" Remy chimed in. "Dat girl has only been nice."
"You two only seem to hang out with her to get an eye full" Jubilee said. "I don't think it's her personality you two like."
"Zat is totally uncalled for" Kurt quipped.
"That's enough" Scott said loudly. The conversation died down. "Jubilee, it would be nice if you could apologize to Mackenzie. Kurt, Remy, try to contain your hormones. We will be having a group training exercise at 11 am."
Groans emitted from the group.
"Good goin', mon ami" Remy said to Kurt.
By four pm, Mackenzie was just about done with all the things that Sean needed to have done and felt more like a secretary then anything else. She had changed from her clothes into pajamas and was close to changing into her tights so she could go running.
A knock at the door made her save the letter she was typing out on her laptop.
"Yes?" Mackenzie asked when she opened the door. She wasn't too surprised to see Kurt standing there. "Hey Kurt."
"How are you doing?" Kurt asked. "I'm sorry zat I didn't come by earlier, but Scott had us training for hours."
"It's okay. Sean put me to work" Mackenzie replied. She moved aside and allowed Kurt to enter the cottage.
"You look like you are ready for bed" Kurt said. Mackenzie shrugged and plopped down on the couch. Kurt sat next to her.
"So, do they hate me over there?" Mackenzie asked. Kurt shook his head and pulled Mackenzie's chin so she was looking at him.
"Zey are only jealous" Kurt said.
"Kurt" Mackenzie whispered. Kurt shifted, but didn't move the hand that lightly touched Mackenzie's face. With a slight incline of his head, he gently kissed Mackenzie. Kurt felt her start to kiss him back and slightly deepened the kiss. Mackenzie's hand came to rest along his neck.
Kurt gently pulled away, resting his forehead against Mackenzie's. "I am sorry, frauline."
"For what?" Mackenzie asked. Kurt smiled.
"I'm not supposed to kiss you until after I take you to dinner" Kurt said. Mackenzie smiled and bit her bottom lip slightly.
Sean's heavy footsteps came down the stairs. Mackenzie pulled away from Kurt with a jerk.
/ Mack, Aye need ye to fax -- / Sean thought before stopping when he saw Kurt.
"Gutentag, Sean" Kurt said. Sean looked at Kurt's wide smile and at the rosy blush on Mackenzie's cheeks.
/ What's going on// Sean asked suspiciously.
/ Nothing. / Mackenzie replied. Kurt looked between the two. / Kurt…is taking me out to dinner tonight. What did you want faxed//
/ Don't worry about it. / Sean thought. He ducked into the kitchen and started clanking some pots around.
"Vat did he say?" Kurt asked.
"He said that we should go out" Mackenzie said.
"Vell, zen get dressed, Schone Dame" Kurt said. "I'll meet you out front."
Kurt stood up ready to bampf out of the cottage. Mackenzie touched his arm. "Kurt, where are we going?"
"Put on some-zing wonderful" Kurt said. "It vill be a surprise."
"Okay" Mackenzie said. "Give me 10 minutes."
Kurt smiled and gave her a quick kiss before bampfing out of the cottage. Three loud claps came from behind Mackenzie. She whirled around, finding Sean leaning against the wall.
/ Only a day and yuir already making moves. / Sean thought. Mackenzie picked up her things and went to stand at the bottom of the stairs.
"At least I have a date tonight, Sean" Mackenzie replied. She went up the stairs, leaving Sean to break out with a small smile.