"I have Jack White with me right now," said Trish Tilby. Behind her Kassandra could be seen, shackled, wearing inhibitors, being walked toward a waiting police car.
"Mr. White," said Miss Tilby, "what do reactions do you and Miss Altheim expect to the verdict that was delivered today?"
"Well," Jack replied, "there's what we expect, and what we hope. Two completely different things. We expect that people who take issue with mutants sharing the world with them will feel emboldened to act upon their hatred. And we expect that mutants and their supporters will feel angry, perhaps betrayed by our justice system."
Ja, that was about right, Kassandra reflected. She could feel that as well, increasing with every step she took toward the car. Jack looked that way, too. Confused and almost despondent. Never mind the confident assurances he just gave before they left that he thought most of those convictions would be overturned on appeal. None of this made sense. And that pushed Kassandra even further into despair. Was the whole world going emotionally unstable along with her?
Warum bemühst du. Dein leben, wie du es kennst, ist irgenwie vorbei. That thought, barely more than a mental articulation of her increasing despondence- where did that come from, verdammt? This would be so much easier if only Kassandra could remove the inhibitors. If only her hands were free. Oh well. Kassandra grit her teeth and tried to redirect her own thoughts. Gott, mein Kopf tut mir weh.
Okay, Oh, mei this burned, but all she needed was to resist enough to interrupt the flow of electricity, and then, so far so good. Right as Gamesmaster planned. But now that she could trace his thought, she'd tell its source she would not cooperate. In No Uncertain Terms.
"This does indeed show we have much work to ensure equal treatment for mutants, yes." Suddenly, Jack's thoughts cleared, and though he still felt quite low and now light-headed to boot, this mysterious urge to mention nothing of hopes for peaceful reactions and successful appeals had subsided. The hard resolve he felt once he recovered from the shock of the verdict returned. "However, on behalf of the Altheims and the victims' families alike, I think it's safe to say we all want everyone to resist acting out of their fear or anger. We do not want any more bloodshed."
The air was pierced by a sudden shriek.
"It looks as if we've already got some commotion right behind you," said Trish's anchor. "Can you see what's going on?"
"I'll find out. Thank you, Jack. Excuse me. Sir?" Trish got the attention of a police officer. "What happened here?"
"Get them off me! GET THEM OFF ME!" Kassandra screeched, amid a flurry of sparks, some of them already smoldering in her hair and clothing.
"Apparently some kind of inhibitor malfunction," said the police officer.
BAMF!
"Kassandra, wartst du," said Kurt, finding himself sitting in the back of a police car, his arms and tail still firmly wrapped around Kassandra. While he had managed to teleport her out of her shackles and inhibitors, this was nowhere near where he intended to take her.
"Sei unbesorgt, Kurt. I haven't restarted time yet. They can't see us."
"Aber, warum sind wir hier?"
"Kurt, We've already talked about this," said Kassandra. "We need to prove that we don't think being mutant makes us above the law. I know I already have my work cut out for me there, but running will just make things worse."
"But the appeals process could take years, and we're still not sure if I'll be able to keep seeing you. Und das-"
"You know I did not want you to get hurt."
"Ja. And you made sure I knew the chances. But it doesn't make things any easier. Still-" He ran his velvety fingertips over Kassandra's forehead, where the sparks from one of the malfunctioning inhibitors had singed her. Not a single scorch mark was left. "You've healed wonderfully."
"Not the way I need to the most. Aber du willst, Liebster, bei-" she couldn't bring herself to say the rest.
"Beizeiten?" Kurt smiled sadly, all too aware of the double meaning.
"Besides, I still have another card to play. Meanwhile, Liebster, you know I'm freezing this moment for a reason." Kassandra twined her fingers through Kurt's indigo hair. "Don't waste it."
And with the entire universe still and faded around them, she gently drew Kurt closer.
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Kurt stepped out of the car and back into time, the soft warmth, pressure, and the taste of what he hoped would not be Kassandra's final kiss still lingering, seeming to transcend any temporal barrier.
"She's all right," Kurt announced.
"But where did you take her?" said the police officer.
"Right here," Kassandra shouted, sitting up in the back of the police car, trying in vain to tidy her hair.
And with that, the door was closed, and Kassandra was driven away.
