Chapter 4: Night Prowler
Dinner went smoothly. Kurt had taken Mackenzie to a local French restaurant. Afterwards, Kurt took her on a tour of the local town.
"So what do you zink of ze town?" Kurt asked as they walked back to his car. Mackenzie smiled and glanced at the quaint town.
"It's very nice. Very clean" Mackenzie said. Kurt chuckled and put his arm around her waist. Mackenzie looked over at Kurt, who was using his image inducer. "Do you always have to use that image inducer?"
"No" Kurt said. "But it helps."
"It helps? How?" Mackenzie asked. She shook her head. "I mean, I know how it can help, but it just seems…..oh what's the word I'm look for?"
"I believe ze term 'false advertising' is vat you're looking for" Kurt said. Mackenzie nodded her head.
"You're not offended by that are you?" Mackenzie asked.
"Nien" Kurt said. "Actually, I appreciate ze fact zat you like my real form."
"Blue is one of my favorite colors" Mackenzie said. They approached the car and Mackenzie waited for Kurt to unlock the doors.
"Vat is your other favorite color?" Kurt asked with a big smile.
"Green" Mackenzie replied. The locks clicked open.
Once the two reached the mansion, Kurt walked Mackenzie to her cottage. Standing on the front step, Mackenzie turned towards Kurt. He had turned his image inducer off once they had gotten inside his car. Now, his blue features were black with shadows and his yellow eyes reflected the light from the moon.
"I had a really good time tonight, Kurt" Mackenzie said. Kurt smiled and stepped closer to Mackenzie, taking her hand.
"Perhaps ve should do it again soon" Kurt said. "I had a good time myself."
Mackenzie smiled and let her arm swing a little. Awkwardly, the two stood there in silence.
"Kurt" Mackenzie said in a hushed tone.
"Yes?" Kurt asked. They made eye contact and Mackenzie moved his hand to touch her waist. Kurt smiled again, taking the hint, and leaned in to kiss her. Their lips gently touched. Mackenzie ran a hand up Kurt's chest to rest at the base of his neck, bringing Kurt to deepen the kiss.
The door, behind Mackenzie, opened and Sean stood there with a stunned expression. Kurt's eyes widened and he pulled away from Mackenzie.
"Sean" Kurt said. Mackenzie turned so she could look at Sean. Sean raised an eyebrow.
"We just got back" Mackenzie replied. Sean crossed his arms and looked like a disapproving roommate. Mackenzie turned to Kurt and smiled. She squeezed his hand. "I guess I'll see you later, Kurt."
"Tomorrow" Kurt said with a smile. "Perhaps, we'll have lunch or some-zing." Kurt glanced at Sean before stepping in for a chaste kiss. "Good night, Mackenzie…Sean."
Sean gave him a nod. Mackenzie stepped inside, Sean behind her, closing the door.
/ What was that all about// Mackenzie asked incredulously. She took off her coat and hung it up on a coat hook.
/ What// Sean asked.
/ That look you gave us. / Mackenzie replied. She stood with her hands on her hips and an upset expression.
/ If ye want some spare time with him, then in the future ye can go t'his room. Not here. / Sean replied. Mackenzie was wide-eyed.
/ And what exactly do you think we were going to do tonight// Mackenzie asked. She moved to lean against the back of the couch so she could remove her heels.
/ Aye -- / Sean started.
/ Nevermind. Look, I don't go that far on the first date. Okay// Mackenzie said. / Besides, all we did was kiss. It's not that big of a deal. /
/ Ay….Ay'm sorry. / Sean said looking embarrassed. Mackenzie picked up her shoes with one hand and ran her other hand through her hair. / Ye look nice. /
Mackenzie smiled and stood up. / Thanks. / Mackenzie walked upstairs with Sean following her. / So, did I miss anything around here//
/ The professor will be arriving tomorrow. / Sean said following her into her room. He watched as she pulled off two of her four earrings and removed her necklace. / The professor likes to have a small reception; usually we have food an' drinks. /
/ Okay. What time// Mackenzie asked. She sat on her bed and started removing her nylons.
/ 5:00 / Sean said. He caught himself staring at her legs and quickly turned to play with the necklace on her dresser. / Where did ye go fer dinner//
/ Montblanc. / Mackenzie said. / They had some excellent food. /
/ Aye. / Sean said with a nod. / Ay remember tha' place. It's been a long time since Ay've been there. /
/ Well, I'm going to get a quick shower and head to bed. / Mackenzie said standing. She tossed her nylons onto her bed and pulled her pajamas closer to her.
/ Have a good night, lass. / Sean said. He blushed when Mackenzie started to unzip her black dress and he started to back up to the door. / I'll see ye in the mornin'. /
/ Good night, Sean. / Mackenzie replied.
Outside in the shadows, a man in black watched Mackenzie undress and step into her pajamas. He breathed heavily, enjoying the humid rainy air around him. It was different then the air he was used to…fresher he decided. He watched as she grabbed her towel and left her room.
He waited until she came back. Then, he watched as she climbed into her bed. Mackenzie flipped on a reading light and opened up a book. The man in black smiled, revealing a mouthful of sharp white teeth that clashed against his soot black skin. He jumped off of the tree that he was perched on and slid further into the shadows.
Mackenzie looked at her window when she heard a soft noise. The rain was picking up again and she quickly went back to reading her new novel. Mackenzie looked at the words in her book, but had a funny feeling. Her stomach churned. She marked her spot in her book and stood up. She looked out the large windows and saw nothing. She crept closer until she was looking out at the illuminated backyard of the X-Mansion.
"It was just my imagination" Mackenzie said. She shook her head and turned towards her bed.
Her mind picked up the presence of someone. She could feel them, but couldn't get into their mind.
"Sean?" Mackenzie called. The rain pattered against the window and on the roof of the cottage. Mackenzie couldn't hear anything in the house. "Hello?"
A sudden rush to Mackenzie's mind made her look up at her door just as it opened. Mackenzie gasped and stepped back as the man in black stood in her doorway.
"Stephen!" Mackenzie said her voice laced with fear.
"Hey babe" The man in black said. His red eyes never left her, even as he slowly crossed over to her. "It's been a while. I haven't seen you since you left Chicago."
"I—I've been busy" Mackenzie said trying not to sound afraid. Stephen smiled and Mackenzie couldn't help but being reminded of a predator. "What are you doing here?"
"I've come for you" Stephen said. "I told you that you couldn't leave without me knowing."
"Stephen, please" Mackenzie said taking a step back. Her stomach felt like it wasn't just flopping, but trying to escape from Xavier's estate. Stephen frowned.
"Please" Stephan said with a guffaw. "You should know…by now…babe."
Before Mackenzie could register what was happening, she felt the window at her back shatter and felt the pangs of fear from falling. She screamed and looked up into Stephen's face as he snarled.
The two of them landed on the ground with a thud. Mackenzie groaned after having the wind knocked out of her and having black spots race before her eyes. Her brain felt like pudding. She was picked up by the front of her shirt. She blinked her eyes open just in time to see Stephen's fist coming at her.
"You bitch! Fucking whore!" Stephen screamed. Mackenzie allowed her self to react in her most natural way and placed a force field around her self. She rolled away from Stephen and tried to stand up. Her knees felt wobbly, but she managed to stand.
"Mackie, Mackie, Mackie" Stephen chided. "Your little force fields are no match for me."
"We'll see, Stephen" Mackenzie said. Her face burned where he had punched her. She was surprised that she had managed to stand and keep her eyes open. Stephen flicked his wrist and a red glow appeared around him like an aura. Mackenzie's eyes widened. "Can't-Can't we just talk about this?"
"There's no more room for talk" Stephen snapped before jumping at Mackenzie. His body seemed suspended in the air until he fell through her force field. Mackenzie ducked as he swung his fist at her. She grabbed Stephen's waist with both arms to force him to the ground. The wet grass moved beneath her foot, making her slip, before Stephen's knee came up and caught her in the stomach.
Stephen stood watching as Mackenzie wrapped her arms around her stomach. He flicked his fingers and his nails extended to a sharp six inches. Mackenzie heard the strange noise and did the first thing she could think of. She fell to her back and kicked her foot into his groin. Stephen fell to his knees, groaning in pain. With a quick swipe, he left three claw marks across her cheek. Mackenzie yelped at the sudden pain and moved to get away from him.
Mackenzie had let her shields drop. Stephen had been the first and only person that she knew who could penetrate her force field and block her telepathy. The rain stung as it hit her cheek. Lights in the cottage came on. Mackenzie glanced up quickly and saw the front door open up. She was on her feet and quickly moved to plant a solid kick to Stephen's jaw.
Mackenzie felt cold, clawed hands grip her ankles before hitting the ground. When she looked up, Stephen was straddling her. His claws had been retracted. Mackenzie heard him punch her in the face before realizing what had happened. She tried to make a force field to push him away, but it wasn't working. Her head snapped to the left and then to the right. The cold, wet ground was soaking her backside.
Mackenzie rolled to her side when she felt the weight of Stephen lift off of her. She could barely open her eyes, but when she did she saw a blurry form of Sean beating Stephen.
"Sean?" Mackenzie called out in a half moan. Mackenzie felt her head spin quickly. Remy and Logan came into view, but only for a second because Mackenzie passed out.
"Get her onto the medical bed, please" Hank McCoy said calmly. Sean, who had carried Mackenzie, gently set her down on the medical bed. "What a mud ball. May I inquire as to what happened?"
Logan dragged in Stephen and laid him in a medical bed that had metal wrist and ankle clamps.
"Here's the bastard that was beatin' her up" Logan grumbled. He was also covered in mud, just like Sean and Remy, who followed Logan in.
"Anyone know who he is?" Hank asked. Sean shook his head 'no'. Hank took a deep breath and pulled out a washcloth and a bowl. "Well, let's start by cleaning her up. Sean, will you remove her shirt please?"
Remy and Logan turned to look at Mackenzie and Sean. Sean scratched the back of his neck before moving to get the t-shirt off of Mackenzie. Hank moved to set two towels beside Mackenzie while he waited for the bowl to fill up with warm water.
Sean tried not to stare when he realized that Mackenzie wasn't wearing a bra. He quickly tossed the shirt aside and covered her with one of the towels. Logan and Remy both grumbled their disapproval. They were met with a glare from Sean.
"Thank you Sean" Hank said moving the bowl of warm water and washcloth to the side table next to Mackenzie. "I'll take it from here. You three are free to leave and get yourselves cleaned up."
"You sure you don' need help gettin' her pants off?" Remy asked. Sean glared at him and leaned in, aggressively towards Remy. "Hey, da petite is a beauty. What can I say?"
Sean pointed to the door.
"C'mon, Cajun" Logan said. "Wouldn't want Irish to blow a fuse."
Sean signed with his hands and was somewhat glad that Logan and Remy couldn't understand him. Logan gave him a small gruff and pushed Remy out of the medical lab. Sean turned back to look at Hank, who was wiping the dirt from Mackenzie's face.
"She'll be fine" Hank said. "I'll keep her here until tomorrow, though depending on how she's feeling she might move upstairs to sleep."
Sean turned and left the medical lab.
Upstairs, Remy and Logan tromped towards their rooms making lewd jokes about boobs, specifically Mackenzie's boobs. The door to Kurt's room opened and he poked his head out.
"Vat time is it?" Kurt asked sleepily.
"Almost midnight" Logan said. Kurt's eyes narrowed.
"Why are you covered in dirt?" Kurt asked.
"You missed it, mon ami" Remy said.
"Yeah, some creep was beatin' on Mack" Logan said.
"We just got her to the lab" Remy said. Kurt's eyes widened and he bampfed to the medical lab.
The smell of brimstone was all Hank needed to know that Kurt had arrived.
"Good evening, Kurt" Hank said. Mackenzie was naked, except for the towels that covered her. Kurt stood at the foot of the bed and looked at the battered girl.
"Vat happened?" Kurt asked.
"The man over there" Hank said pointing to his right. "Was found beating her up. It looked like she had a few good hits to him, but Sean, Logan, and Remy had to take him down."
"I can't believe I didn't hear it" Kurt said. He snapped his head towards the unconscious man who was strapped to a medical bed. Kurt stalked over to the man with Hank keeping an eye on his blue friend. "Who is he?"
"Only Mackenzie can answer that" Hank said. He dried Mackenzie's face and neck with a clean towel. "Kurt, could you help me?"
"Sure" Kurt said. He scowled at the unconscious man and moved over to Hank. Hank handed him a damp cloth. "I'm trying to get her cleaned up the best I can. Get her legs, please."
Kurt quietly cleaned her legs.
"After we clean up this side, we have to flip her over" Hank said. The two of them quietly washed Mackenzie up. Hank examined the claw marks on her face and decided that they wouldn't leave scars. Then, with little effort, Hank and Kurt flipped her onto her stomach.
"I guess she fell on her back" Kurt said. Mackenzie's back was caked with mud, grass, and bits of glass.
"Apparently she went through her bedroom window" Hank said. He replaced the cloths for clean ones and they started to clean Mackenzie again. After fifteen minutes of cleaning her up, Hank had Kurt empty the water while he pulled his large magnification lens over Mackenzie's back.
"Is she bad?" Kurt asked when he came back. Hank used tweezers to pull glass fragments from Mackenzie's back.
"I think she'll be okay. Sore, but okay" Hank said. Kurt watched until he pushed the magnifying lens away and reached for a few cotton balls. Hank had pulled 18 pieces of glass from Mackenzie's back.
"Are you going to keep her down here?" Kurt asked.
"Unless she wakes up" Hank said. He pulled out a bottle that had a yellowish-clear liquid. He doused the cotton balls and started applying the liquid to Mackenzie's back. Mackenzie's shoulders twitched. Hank paused. "Mackenzie?"
Mackenzie gave no response, so Hank applied more liquid to her back. Her shoulders twitched again and Hank quickly found him self pushed back by her force field.
"Hank, are you okay?" Kurt asked as Hank fell over in his chair. Hank pushed himself up and adjusted his glasses.
"I'm fine" Hank said. "It seems like her force field is a natural defense for her body, even when she's unconscious."
There was a soft groan from Mackenzie. Kurt and Hank watched as she moved her arms up towards her head.
"Mack?" Kurt asked. "Mackenzie? Are you alright?"
Mackenzie moaned and pushed herself onto her elbows. "Where am I? Why does my back hurt? Where's Stephen?"
"I believe Stephen is unconscious" Hank said. "And, I was cleaning the wounds on your back."
"Okay" Mackenzie said. Her shoulders slumped and her force field dropped.
"Would you like to sleep in a bed or down here?" Kurt asked, noticing that she was barely conscious.
"Bed" Mackenzie said before sinking back onto the medical bed.
"Kurt, you can't let her sleep in her own bed. Her window is broken. I can finish up her back in the morning" Hank said. Kurt shook his head and moved to scoop up Mackenzie.
"I'll let her take my bed and I'll sleep on the couch" Kurt said. Hank nodded and watched Kurt bampf out of the medical lab with Mackenzie.