It was a fortnight after the Forest Demons' capture, and all had settled down. All that is, but the Blue One himself. The snooty princess and her disdainful attitude really got him down at times. His cage in her suite was far better than the Menagerie, and he could usually ignore the fact that he was imprisoned. The problem was that Amanda always addressed him as "Demon" or similar names, and never bothered to find out his true name.
She probably won't use it anyway. Kurt Wagner isn't demonic enough for her. Even Die FleiderTuefel, his circus name, would be preferable, but he had a sneaking suspicion that she knew some German (if not mein Dame, but some) and wouldn't call him by that name either. He ceased his pondering as she entered the room, and beckoned to him.
"Come Demon, I've decided to show you where some of the rooms are so I don't have to put up with you asking me all the time. Get your lazy blue hide over here."
He stood and walked over to her, and with a theatrical bow, gestured for her to precede him. "After you, mein Dame." She smiled.
When the tour had finished he asked to be excused, surprised when she readily agreed. He left to explore the bathroom. When he emerged from the room his fur was sodden, and a cloud of steam followed him around. He went into the bedchamber, not bothering to check if it was occupied, only he and Amanda were allowed in there on their own, and she was speaking with her parents. He went straight to the small chest that held his new clothes, saying to himself, "An unwashed fuzzy elf is not a happy one. It is sehr schon, being clean again." He put on the obligatory underwear, then loose black trousers and a long sleeved red shirt with a little gold embroidery on it. He liked his new clothes, with the adaptations for his unusual body shape. They were very fashionable at that time.
It was then that he saw he was not alone. Lady Amanda was sitting at her desk on the other side of the room, holding a book loosely in her hands and staring at him. He blushed, it showing as purple cheeks through his fur.
"I hope you had your eyes shut, mein Dame. I, er, happen to be shy..."
"Wha... Oh, I did. Don't be so vulgar minded."
"Entschuldigung, mein Dame."
"Did you say you were an elf, Demon?"
The Forest Demon decided to make use of Amanda's less-haughty-than-usual behaviour.
"My name is not 'Demon' mein Dame, it is Kurt. I'm not an elf; it was merely a nickname. Also, I'm not a demon, but a human, however, you already chose not to believe me on that."
The princess still had a blank look on her face. "Kurt isn't a very demonic name." she managed.
Hah! thought the person in question. Didn't I say that was what she'd say? Yep, I must know her too well.
She snapped out her daze. "We will give you a different name then."
Kurt glared at her. "My name is Kurt Wagner and I'm never changing it." Relenting a little at the look on her face, he added "You can use Der FliederTuefel, if you want. That was my showname from doing trapeze at the circus."
He glares as good as me! Did I just think that? He's softening me up somehow. It was true that these days the Demon, Kurt, had been able to distract small fits of boredom or anger with a joke or a trick. Amanda wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing. "The Flying Demon? No. I shall think of something."
A gong ringing somewhere broke the silence that followed. The princess stood and picked up the collar and leash that had been left on her four- poster bed. As soon as Kurt stood beside her she buckled that which he hated around his neck, and looked at him with new eyes as he led the way to the dining hall.
He has blue fur, a tail, animal legs with two toes and a dewclaw, his hands are two fingered and thumbed, his eyes are golden and he has fangs. Yet underneath the whole never-before-seen ensemble, there seems to be a normal, eager to please human. I wonder if what he said about the seer was true? She shook her head, and raised a sarcastic eyebrow at the waiting lady who was hovering near her, unsure of whether to speak. Continuing, she mentally shook herself back to reality, reviving the arrogance so characteristic of the royal.
Kurt watched her unnoticed. He marvelled at the mere suggestion she might be softening towards him, because she was never soft with anyone. His slight emphatic abilities picked up on her confusion, and that also surprised him.
Later on that night, Kurt lay wrapped in his feather-filled blanket, wondering if he should take the luxury with him when he escaped. For that was what he was planning. After being treated like an average human by his adopted family for so many years, it hurt deeply to be an animal, a pet. He knew it was a simple task to quit the castle; he had certain gifts that made it a breeze compared to a normal human trying. Near-invisibility in shadows and being able to attach himself to practically any surface was very helpful.
He was listing all the possible traps set up by that skilled mage, Jean Grey. He had respect for her, and had often thought that if he looked like other humans he'd have been friends with her.
Telepathic alarm on the window, guards outside the door, waiting ladies on night duty, easy to avoid. There won't be an alarm on the door as she's in and out at all times. He thought, looking in the direction of the princess where she slept in her bed. So it's pick the padlock on this cage, creep to the door, go through on the wall for caution, and find a window. Easy. Ich bin freches, sneaking away, but not really. I'm going to find the troupe again.
Finding his resolve, Kurt began to pick the lock that helped keep him imprisoned. His tail was very sensitive, and it was the work of a moment to open the ancient, crude object. He began to inch open the door and tread softly over the thick carpet; his heightened hearing alert for any squeak or creak. He reached the ornate door that opened on the corridor, and fastened himself to the wall next to it. Anyone watching would have thought the blue demon lost all regard for gravity as he scaled the wall; but he himself could feel his weight still, and the way his padless hands and feet gripped the wall through his fur. He didn't know how it worked, and was just glad that it did. Gently turning the doorknob, miraculously avoiding any noises, he pulled open the door enough to poke his head out. The sentry was half asleep, but would have seen any other person exiting the room had Kurt not blended so well with the blue carpet; aside from his clothes. Had Kurt ever gotten that far.
As soon as his head passed the doorframe, Amanda awoke with a start. She saw the Forest Demon on the wall immediately because she was facing that direction.
Instantly she was out the bed, running over and hauling sharply on his tail; Kurt half-screamed, half-howled from the pain as he fell off the wall and yanked his tail from Amanda's vice-like grip, cradling it in his hands. The sentry and waiting ladies swiftly woke up and whilst the latter fussed and babbled around the young royal, the former pinned the unfortunate blue boy to the floor. Only Amanda spared the time to see the tears that formed the fur on his face into clumps, as he closed his eyes and wished he were free. Kurt only stirred when the princess began to speak and the guard stepped away.
"Trying to creep away in the middle of night, mein tuefel?"
Her use of his first tongue made him look up at her. And so he was re- christened; in a heap on the floor, staring at his princess through tear- blurred eyes.
"I name you The Nightcrawler; Kurt. Now get back in your cage before I decide to punish you."