Author's Note: It's not even something you would probably notice, but due to setting the story in 1995, I needed to change the year Forge recorded the message and possibly got himself into the Middleverse from 1978 to 1972. I just wanted to note it before someone thinks that I messed up the timeline on accident.
It was already December 15th, one week away from the Christmas break for those of the team members that attended school, and most of them already had scheduled flights or other means of transportation to take them to their families for the holiday. Forge heard Jean and Kitty talk about how happy they are to go see their beloved ones, Ororo and Evan were going to drive back to Queens to Monroe's sister, Kurt was obviously ecstatic both about the christmas itself as well as about visiting his mother, and it was quite obvious that sooner or later he will talk Fallen into coming along.
Forge felt oddly unsettled by the thought that he'd be staying only with Professor Xavier and Scott. Now, Wagner did offer him to come to Germany, but he felt uncomfortable with the idea of interfering with an event meant to be celebrated within families, so he politely declined.
"Do you not have any relatives to visit?" Ororo asked him this morning after she told him about her own plan for christmas.
Silvercloud grimaced lightly shrugging. "I've spent too much time stuck in the Middleverse. Family reunions aren't really something that can happen for me at this point."
He didn't feel particularly saddened by the fact either, he always knew there would be no coming back to the old life that he left in the 70s and he had more than enough time to make peace with that. But this whole hustle related to the upcoming Christmas made him think about the new life that he found here.
And made him realize that he doesn't know who he is in this new reality. With future undone and old life long lost, he couldn't contextualize his situation. Both the past and future seemed like unfinished chapters and it felt like he skipped them and tried to write another one, never having the closure on what was already started.
And this is something he decided to figure out for himself before the end of the year.
Episode 6.0: MIDDLEVERSE
Ever since they arrived back in 1995, a couple months before he was initially rescued from the Middleverse, he took on the easy approach of going along whatever happens. Since that route caused him to be recruited into the X-Men he decided to try it this time around despite he previously refused.
But this time was different for reasons such as him being already accustomed to the 90s, unlike that first time when he had a lot to learn and catch up with after the extensive period of not knowing what happens in the world. All the history, technology, even fashion. He was overwhelmed by the amount of changes that he needed to adapt himself to. The new mindsets, new ways of doing things, even the new words that went from slang to dictionaries over the time.
And most of all, his family. He didn't live with them when he got stuck in his middleverse, he moved to Bayville to study at a college that used to be located where Bayville High was right now. He knew it probably delayed the time his family needed to figure out he 'vanished', but after that long he was also sure they long gave up hope he will ever return.
Much less that he would turn up not aged a day.
So he had that to deal with.
Right now however he knew what happened throughout many years, he didn't think it necessary to travel to his hometown once again. It wasn't worth the hustle, better leave it as it is.
Now he should focus on things other than catching up a three-decade gap in his information, such as his stance on being an X-Man. Sure, he accepted the invitation to the team and participated in the trainings, but he felt like he's kind of outside looking in. Not only at his life at the institute but at himself overall.
See, the problem is he should technically have mental age of almost a 60 year old - with all the stuck-in-time and travel-back-in-time deals, he should be an elder if his body were to catch up with the time that passed for his brain. But while he did feel the exhaustion creep into certain areas of his life and sometimes he did find himself looking at people and think of them like they are youth he doesn't get, he didn't actually feel older than he looked.
In fact, it felt to him like it's not right that his physical age gap with Ororo Monroe is smaller than one he had with Kurt or Fallen. It was like a part of him refused to grow out of college and let go of that part of himself that connected him to the past.
And this is exactly why he realized he needs to figure himself out; Because while he felt eager and happy to go along with new currents in his life, a part of him still tried to hold on to the shore. To what he knew and felt safe with.
The crazy 70s, the solitude of his workshop, fighting against laws of physics in mathematical simulations, not fighting against cannons in the Danger Room's very real simulations. He still had that mentality of not having been built for this, even though he realized that he accomplished something that puts to shame those 'challenges' laid in front of him now.
First of all, he needs to figure out whom he is right now. And that was more difficult than it sounds, because he needed to stop trying to think about himself like a scientist and trying to define exactly his age. He figured he needs to go with it like Kurt did - Wagner also had his physical age reduced twice, but you don't see him go around complaining that he's too old for his friends or his girlfriend. He just accepted the fact that he looks a certain age and just decided to identify as a 15 year old who got his shit figured out.
"Doing that would be a start" Wagner said to him when he finally decided to express his concerns that morning. "You just overthink it. It's as if I started to suddenly try to explain to everyone who asks that there's actually an age gap between my body and brain. People can't see that, they would just question my sanity if I said I'm actually 10 years older but time shifted" he shrugged. "You look 24 and think 24 if I do say so myself, so own it."
And that was definitely something he decided to live by.
"Thanks, man" Forge responded staring absently at the Institute's gardens. "I really needed to hear that."
Wagner smiled in response but then the others emerged from the Institute and he left with them for school. Forge stayed outside, for once deciding to clear his head instead of bury his thoughts in a pile of projects and equations. He continued to sit on the cold bench, enjoying the fact that it doesn't snow. Being from Oklahoma, where weather in December rarely if ever went below 0 Degrees Celsius to even theoretically allow snow to fall, he enjoyed very mild winter, warm almost. The years spent in New York never changed that.
"Forge" he heard and looked around suddenly. "It's rare to see you outside."
"Oh… Ms Monroe, hello again. I have a lot on my mind."
"Ororo is enough. We're almost the same age, we can drop the courtesy" she smiled as she closed in.
Silvercloud couldn't help but flinch a little. He exhaled slumping lower against the bench. "That's… part of what I was thinking about."
"Is it?" she chuckled lightly, but there was something so non-judgemental about it that he felt on ease. "Mind if I sit down?"
He just slightly gestured for her and she settled beside him, her blue eyes taking in the surroundings.
"So what is it that you've been thinking about?"
"Just the fact that I've been stuck out of this world for so long that I'm still confused about who I've become throughout that time, and if it's someone who's cut out to be on this team."
The woman turned her face to him with interest. "I heard you've once trapped yourself in that universe of your making… But I don't think I ever asked for how long?"
He grimaced briefly before responding shortly; "23 years."
"23 years" she gasped low. Forge looked unimpressed with his own story though. The more she thought about it the more mortified she was. "How did you survive the time?"
He inhaled deeply. He already told this story to Kurt and then Fallen, but nobody else knew much about him in general. Perhaps because he chose to mostly isolate himself. But now he started to realize that it went beyond his antisocial nature and ventured into just being hesitant about re-entering society when his concept of his own self is so unclear.
Maybe the first step would be to open up to more than two people.
"The term is pocket universe" he said staring into the trees before them. "It's like a universe within a universe. It's small and flawed. The one I got stuck in extended over a part of the building that now is Bayville High. It used to be a collage that I went to."
He took a moment to reach his memory back that far.
"It extended over the gym, cafeteria and a part of the floor. Occasionally parts of the reality would leak into it and I was able to gather a lot of junk that I tried to use to get myself back here. I didn't need to sleep or eat though, it kept me in a loop of time, otherwise I would have been dead within a month or so."
The woman listened attentively. "How did you manage not to go crazy from having spent that much time all alone?"
"Time flow felt different there" he responded. "I did feel like plenty of time passed… weeks, maybe months… I would even believe a few years. But when Kurt appeared and said it's 1995 I couldn't believe my own ears."
"That's actually-"
She trailed off as both of them heard low, squeaky meowing and looked in its direction. A small, gray kitten was cautiously moving towards them from behind the nearest bush. Monroe and Silvercloud looked at one another before the woman got up, but as she stepped towards the animal it took a few quick steps back.
"Oh, no, don't be afraid…" she said softly and knelt down to rub the grass at her feet. "Come here, little one…"
Forge just tried not to move as he watched the kitten hesitantly approach. All its hesitance seemed to disappear when he got his first little rub on the head and proceeded to bend under Ororo's hand to get more love.
"You shouldn't be here, sweetie" she said softly before turning to Forge and switching to normal voice; "Good thing that our security can tell a cat from an actual intruder. Otherwise this kitten would be fried."
"Yeah, good it didn't happen. But what should we do with it?"
Monroe looked down at the small animal asking for backrubs. "I wonder…"
xXx
Charles needed to blink twice at the sight of a small, playful ball of gray fur trying to climb up Monroe's shirt. "Ororo?"
"He wandered into our garden, Forge is looking for his mother, but I don't think she's around at this point."
"So what do you suggest we do about it?"
"Take care of him for a bit" she stated. Seeing the man about to disapprove she added; "It's getting cold, he will freeze outside."
"There are animal shelters in Bayville."
"Yes, but I'm sure kids will appreciate having an animal at the Institute" she smiled. "They're very stressed out with school, trainings and powers. A lot of schools and offices have therapeutic animals to provide stress relief."
The man blinked again. "Ororo…"
"I think it's a good idea."
"Ororo…"
"I'll take care of it for the few days before we leave for Christmas. If he will be troublesome I'll take him to my sister's, Vivian mentioned wanting to get an animal to liven up the house while Evan is living here with us."
Finally the man sighed. "...Alright."
xXxXxXx
When the lunch break came the young X-Men decided to trade their usual table for one in the school yard and enjoy the 'december spring' as Jean called it. Sure, they weren't the only ones to come up with going outside and at least a dozen of others students were hanging nearby, but they still managed to get some space by picking the table nearest to the gym.
"Heck, do you seriously need that much milk?" Summers asked looking at the four 0.3l cartons of the drink that Evan grabbed from cafeteria and placed on side of his tray. He was already halfway through the third one.
"Got all the available tastes. Besides, as Auntie O says, I'm still growing" Daniels lifted one of the boxes in a quick toast and took a big sip.
"Hopefully."
"Are you mocking my height, Harris?"
Fallen smirked. "You're my height. Which means you're basically a gnome."
"HEY!" Pryde, who was another inch short of them puffed up her cheeks. "What does that make ME?"
"A mini gnome."
Pryde punched Wagner in the arm for that remark.
"Aw, violence isn't necessary, Katzchen" he theatrically rubbed his arm.
Jean chuckled at them. "Anyway guys, what do you think about the pre-christmas party at Duncan's? Are you coming?"
"Go to the Duncan Matthews party?" Scott grimaced slightly. "Naaah, I don't think so."
"You gonna finish that moo-juice?" Evan asked gesturing at the chocolate milk that Summers barely sipped.
"You can have mine" Jean smiled handing over her milk before turning to Scott again. "Come ooon, it might be fun!"
"Matthews is a jerk" the boy stated firmly.
"No, he's not" Kitty disagreed. "I'd go."
But Summers quickly brought her down to earth again. "No Freshmen allowed."
That instantly changed Kitty's expression into irritation and she crossed her arms. "Matthews IS a jerk."
"Half of the school will be there" Scott continued making his point. "Suppose somebody gets too close to Kurt - that holo-projector won't stop them from feeling his fur."
"Aren't Freshmen not allowed anyway?" Kurt rolled his eyes slightly.
"You know, I could get Duncan to make exceptions for all of you" Grey smiled at the younger teens.
"I pass either way. Parties are the last places I wanna be" Fallen stated.
"How about the three of you?" Jean looked at Evan, Kurt and Kitty.
Summers exhaled in frustration. "I'm trying to be serious here. Look, we go to Matthews party, suppose Dukes or Maximoff try to start something" he gestured vaguely to Fred in the distance, hanging out with Pietro whom Mystique put on her team almost immediately after they thought he would get a sentence for trashing lockers back in Queens. Much like Fred who trashed the cafeteria upon his arrival - two trouble makers indeed. Add Alvers and Tolensky to the mix and Scott didn't trust this bunch one bit. "We're not the only mutants in the school, you know."
"Yeah, just the cool ones" Daniels stated and high-'fived' Kurt.
"Hey, come on, Scott" Jean started again. "What's wrong with a little socializing?"
"I'm sorry, I just don't think that it's a good idea."
"Dude, how about you don't make that decision for everyone and just chill?" Wagner frowned slightly at the taller boy sitting beside him. "You're our leader in the team, not anyone's parent!"
"I'm just trying to look out for everyone!" Summers spread his arms not understanding why everyone seems to disagree with him.
Wagner opened his mouth to further push his point, but he felt Fallen nudge him with her leg across the table. Looking at her he saw her mouth silently something with a questioning look on her face. Only after the second time he made out what she was saying: Forge's lab.
"Right" Wagner whispered suddenly realizing that this is indeed the day, and almost the very moment he first discovered Forge's old workshop which led to rescuing him from the Middleverse.
"So what do you say we do?" Daniels put another emptied box down. "Pretend we don't exist? Look, I'm not that into the idea of going to Jean's boyfriend's party, but I won't hide all my life for the fear of something going wrong either."
"Evan is right, you know" Kitty agreed. "We'll go crazy if we never get to do anything 'normal'."
Summers exhaled dropping his head on his hand with defeat. "I guess I can't stop you."
"Nah, you can't" Daniels stated casually.
"So do you guys want to come?" Grey asked with her smile widening again.
"Why not" Evan shrugged.
"Of course, I totally love parties!" Pryde's expression immediately brightened.
"That's still a no from me" Fallen waved it off.
"How about you, Kurt?" Jean looked at the conflicted boy. "I don't think Fallen would mind if you went with us, would you now?"
"I wouldn't have any problem with that" Harris shrugged casually and smirked at Kurt.
Wagner looked at her before turning to Jean. "I'll let you know. For now… Fall?" he got up. When she looked up at him he nodded his head towards the sidewalk going along the school.
"Um… okay?" the brunette got up.
"Don't worry, we'll come pick up the trays ourselves" Wagner assured before grabbing the girl's hand and pulling her towards the further back of the building.
"You know I mean it that you can go to that party, right?" the girl asked a bit confused. "Just be careful and all that jazz."
"Ja, I know. But that's not on my mind right now" he peeked back at her before turning down a shirt stairway leading to what looked like the basement.
"Wait, is this-"
"Ja."
She followed him down the stairs watching as he unlatched the metal door and pushed it inward; it creaked as it opened to reveal a dusty room full of old boxes and broken equipment. Wagner didn't hesitate to walk across it to another door directly opposite the exit.
"Is it safe to approach it?" Fallen asked with slight worry as Wagner examined the door.
"Yeah, it won't blow up or anything if we're not inside. I just wanted to make sure the lab is still here. It's locked solid, though."
"Ah saw you enter. Why are ya here?"
They both turned around at the sound of the familiar, southern-accented voice. Kurt stepped away from the laboratory's door; "Rogue, we… we're-"
"What's in there?" the girl asked cautiously watching them and the locked door.
"Oh, there's this- um…"
"Can't a couple look for a private spot on a lunch break?" Fallen cut in seeing that Kurt can't seem to make up any explanation.
Rogue turned her eyes from Wagner to Harris and looked her up and down before scoffing with disgust and turning around to leave. As her footsteps faded up the stairs and back onto the lawn Fallen turned to Kurt again.
Wagner looked amused.
"Well" Harris shrugged. "At least she won't get curious to see what we were looking for in here. That could end bad."
"Yeah, but…" he approached her with his eyes on where his foster sister disappeared. "It's the third time we interfere with her role in all of this."
"Don't worry" Fallen said softly as she took and squeezed his hand. "If she doesn't come around in her time, we'll talk to her properly. For now we should head back."
xXxXxXx
"Forge."
The man turned to see Kurt and Fallen in his cracked door.
"Can we come in?"
"Yeah, sure" he spun around in his chair to face them. "What's up?"
"Did you realize what day it is?" Wagner smirked walking up to him.
"Um…" Silvercloud peeked at the callendar standing on his desk. Of course he realized, it made him think about so many petty things and the wider picture all at once. "The day you got me out of my self-made prison."
"Yep" the german's smile widened more. "We thought we should celebrate."
"Celebrate?" Forge shifted in his chair.
"Yep!"
"Nothing fancy" Fallen chimed in. "Just get some good food, maybe go to movies or something like that. All on us, of course."
Wagner nodded with agreement. "Also there is something you might probably be interested in checking out" he added more seriously. "We checked if your lab is still at our school, and guess what - it is."
"I thought so" Forge got up. "I did think about going there to see if I can recover any files and usable equipment."
"We could sure do that" Wagner looked back at Fallen for her confirmation, which he received.
"But I don't think it's a good idea to go there during the weekday" she said. "Even if you teleport us in, someone can hear it and come. You know how the basement is with its crazy echo."
"Agreed" Forge said. "It's been like this ever since my time. I don't have the keys to it though, so I will still need your help, Kurt."
"Sure thing" he gave him thumbs up. "Anyway! We've basically offered you to pay for food and fun and you didn't seem quite enthusiastic at all."
Forge's face slowly lit up with first amusement and then actual grin. "No, I'd love that! All morning I've been thinking that I need to break out for a moment and get some fresh air."
"He's sick" Kurt stated to Fallen.
"Uh-huh."
"I don't go out THAT rarely, guys…"
The looks the two gave him said otherwise.
xXx
It was getting chilly, but Forge's companions didn't seem to mind one bit. He, however, appreciated i when they entered the mall where it was warm enough to remove their jackets and his attention was immediately off the weather.
"Do you think we should give everyone gifts for Christmas?" Kurt wondered out loud as they passed by various window shops and stores, most of them ornamented with cotton snowflakes, green and red designs and cartoonized caricatures of the Santa Claus.
"I don't think I can even afford that at this point" Forge responded.
"I don't necessarily mean buy them" Wagner looked at him briefly before gliding his eyes over one of the shops' themed displays. "One can make them, or just do something nice for another person. It doesn't have to be an actual item."
"I don't know if I know everyone well enough to know what they'd like" Silvercloud shrugged briefly. "Besides, I don't really do Christmas."
"You can't just not 'do' Christmas" Kurt arched an eyebrow looking at his friend.
"I'm with Forge on this one" Fallen agreed. "Besides, even if I 'did Christmas', I can never even figure out gifts for you, leave alone anyone else."
"You know I don't need you to gift me."
"Well" she sighed. "You brought gifts up. I would gladly just pretend there's no events like christmas and birthdays to begin with. I suck at those."
"I'm fine with that if we keep anniversaries and Valentine's Day" Kurt smiled widely.
"Is this up for discussion? Because I'm not really-"
"Look at that aren't those the X-Geeks I heard so much about huh?"
Hearing the fast-paced voice they dropped the conversation and turned to see a slender boy with white, slicked-back hair and pasty skin tone. Fallen saw him from the distance before, hanging with the Brotherhood boys this entire week, even though he was supposed to be in jail for trashing lockers at the old school he went to with Evan. But she knew all too well that daddy came to his rescue and Mystique didn't even consider putting off transferring him to Bayville High as well as the Brotherhood.
She also saw the other three sitting at a table a dozen feet away, but they didn't seem quite interested in them, unlike their newest member.
"Pietro" Kurt sounded tired of the boy already.
"So you know me. I mean of course you do!" he smacked himself in the forehead. "I'm awesome!"
"Excuse me, but…" Fallen smiled at him overly politely. "We're trying to enjoy this day and you're obscuring the view so…"
A shadow of confusion came and dispersed from Maximoff's face as he turned to look at her. He swiftly stepped closer to her wrapping an arm around her shoulder, just slow enough not to cause suspictions from any passersby. "Feisty. I like that, why are you hanging with those mushy losers?"
She grimaced like she smelled something bad - that being true because he reeked of colon - and pushed the boy's arm off her shoulders. "Keep your distance. And I think you need to take a better look at your own company-"
"Yeah I know it's so generous of me to hang with them" he said replacing his arm around her shoulders again. "But them poor idiots wouldn't make it without me!"
"Didn't you hear her?" Kurt stepped closer regarding the white haired boy with demanding gaze. "Keep your distance."
Maximoff arched his brows and looked him up and down critically. Meanwhile Fallen once again pushed the boy's arm away and turned to face him. "Don't worry, Kurt, I think he might have gone deaf from his own ego" she rolled her eyes stepping away.
"Kurt" Pietro echoed before clapping quickly. "Right! now I know who you are! And guess what" before anyone noticed what's happening his hand was squeezing Wagner's wrist right over his image inducer. "I'm the last person you want to mess with. You mess with me and your secret is out before you know it" he hissed as the german's eyes went wide, just now registering the situation. So have Fallen and Forge and they both twitched, wanting to interfere but unsure how to.
"Maximoff!"
The four of them turned to see Lance who got off their table and approached closer.
"Leave them be."
"You don't get to tell me what to do!"
"But you know who does and what she'd think of it!"
For a moment the two Brotherhood members held each other's gaze like two alpha males measuring chances. Finally Pietro abruptly shoved away Wagner's arm and shot him a threatening gaze as he walked away to join his group. Alvers also looked them all up and down before turning his back and walking to the table.
Kurt's focus only returned as he felt Fallen's hand creep up his forearm. "Come on, let's go…"
"Is he always like this?" Forge asked as they started walking towards the part of the mall where most restaurants were.
"Dickhead who thinks he's better than everyone?" Fallen asked. "As far as I know, most of the time - yes."
Silvercloud shook his head with disapproval. "No wonder X-Men always had beefs with the Brotherhood. Also, sorry that I didn't really say anything but I didn't know what to do."
"That's fine."
"But won't he kind of hate you now?" he looked at Kurt.
"He always kind of hated me, this is nothing new" Wagner sighed. "Now, where do you want to eat?"
xXxXxXx
It was late in the afternoon when they returned to the mansion, however due to the season it was already way after dark and heat of the sun was already wearing off making them glad they took extra outwear to protect them against the cold. As soon as they were in the bright, warm hall they removed all of it. Forge kicked off his winter shoes, Kurt said he needs to put his holowatch on a charger, and so both boys went upstairs to their rooms while Fallen proceeded to untie and remove her combat boots.
"Quite a lot of work with putting them on and taking off, isn't it?" she heard Ororo at the living room door.
"Yeah, but I can trust these boots with my life" the brunette smiled and looked up briefly. Then she looked up again, this time stopping with her eyes on a small animal cradled in the woman's arms. "Wait… what? Is this a cat?"
"A kitten" Monroe responded gently petting the little head.
Finishing with her boots, Harris approached looking at the animal curiously. "Why is it here?"
"It's a she" the woman replied. "She was wandering the grounds. She'll be staying with us for a while… or maybe longer than that" she added lower and Fallen noticed her look over her shoulder.
"Professor doesn't know?"
"He does. But he wants me to take her to my sister's when we go there for Christmas. I may just need to do that. But for now she'll be staying here."
The brunette petted the kitten, it responded happily bending to her hand. "Aren't you a cute one…" she said low as a small smile appeared on her lips. The cat was completely gray, in a few shades of it marking lines over its back. But while it's body was so void of actual colors, its eyes were bright baby blue. "You two look alike"
"Do we?"
"Monochromatic hair, blue eyes. Yeah, you do" she smiled.
"I see where you're coming from" the woman smiled. "Actually, would you mind taking care of her for me for an hour or two? I need to go shopping for a few cat items as well as do grocery."
"Of course, I'd love to."
"There's nothing in particular that you need to do. Just keep her in room with you so she doesn't get lost in the mansion."
"Sure."
Monroe handed the kitten over to the girl. The animal resisted only for a short moment before it realized it's not being removed from affection, just changes the source of it. It became content right away when Fallen started petting it gently.
"Did you name her?" the brunette asked.
"Not yet. But I was thinking about it."
"I think her name should match your monicker."
xXx
"Kurt?" Fallen's head appeared between the cracked door of Wagner's room. "Come to my room when you have a moment. Do not teleport."
Having said that in a lowered, secretive voice, she disappeared again. The boy was a little intrigued by it, but finished collecting what he needed to do homework for the following day of school before stacking it and walking with it to his girlfriend's room.
When he opened the door she looked back at him from where she was sitting at her desk. "Oh, good, you actually made the incredible effort to use the door. I didn't want your bamfing to startle her."
"Her?" he repeated. "Who's her?"
The brunette smiled and spun around in the chair to reveal a gray kitten lying in her laps. "Kurt, meet Cloud. Cloud, this is the former main reason for fur all over my room."
While at first the boy was stunned at the reveal, the girl's remark snapped him right back to earth. "Hey! I don't leave much fur around your room! ...or do I?"
Fallen snickered. "No, I'm just teasing."
Cloud jumped off her laps, still a little clumsy but already getting her cat moves right. Then it approached Kurt and examined him for a moment before the boy crouched and started to pet it.
"...So what's with it?"
"Ms Monroe asked me keep an eye on her for a bit while she goes shopping."
"Right!"
"Right?"
"Ja. Now I remember."
Fallen blinked a few times. "Can you be any more vague- Remember what?"
"That this cat wound up here and it was staying with us for a week or so" german explained as he smile down at the playful creature.
"The show never mentioned it. You never mentioned it" Fallen said before turning back to the desk.
"It was very brief. I think Ms Monroe took her somewhere after that week."
"To her sister."
"Could be. Are you doing homework by any chance?" the boy looked up at the girl working pencil against some notebook.
"No. I'm designing myself a new uniform that the Professor will hopefully accept."
"Alright… Do you want to do homework now?" he asked.
"I already did mine before we left with Forge. If you want to copy the history assignment then be my guest" she smirked looking over her shoulder at him. It was obvious that history is why Kurt hoped to do the homework with her. It was a subject he utmost despised and couldn't quite remember enough to pass without really trying. That's why he only took the mandatory U.S. history class, while Fallen also picked additional European history. History wasn't much of a problem to her, she liked to do research.
Wagner grinned at the offer. "Thanks, you're the best, Fall!" he immediately got up and then picked up the kitten to replace it on the bed where he made himself comfy and spread out his and Fallen's history homework. "Now, be a good study buddy."
"Huh?" she looked at him confused.
"I was talking to Cloud."
The girl just laughed shortly at that and resumed her work. For a few minutes they worked in silence. Fallen sketched, scraped and mixed a few different idea for a uniform that would still go along the general X-Theme and color scheme, but would better suit her personality than the black one-piece with yellow elements and a zipper that she was provided with upon arriving.
Meanwhile Kurt quickly copied the assignment - a lot of it being just multiple choice questions and barely a few asking for one-sentence answers. Being done with it he put away the notebooks on the girls nightstand and focused on entertaining the cat that found it particularly amusing to attack his pencil throughout the homework process.
Now it was sitting on top of his chest as he laid down and basked in the attention it was receiving. At this point Fallen was mostly satisfied with the design she came up with, but wanted to let it sit for a moment in case she figures out some major issue with it.
For now, she switched her attention to where Kurt lay on the bed with the small kitten attentively trying to capture his silently moving lisp with its little paws.
"It has to be the cutest scene I've ever seen in my life" the girl smiled.
"The cat is adorable, I can't deny" Wagner smiled.
"You are too."
Wagner looked at her briefly before resuming playing with the cat, now a shy smile on his lips.
Harris smirked and got up to then lay down beside him. She wrapped one arm around Kurt's stomach while resting her head on his shoulder. The kitten came across his chest to welcome her by tapping her cheek repeatedly for a moment before it lost interest and jumped off the bed completely.
"Shouldn't we get it back here?" Wagner asked trying to lift up enough to see where it went.
"It'll be fine" Harris whispered. "It can explore as long as the balcony and door are closed."
The boy relaxed back and shifted to face her with a sly smile. "So, Christmas."
Fallen's response was quick; "There's still a over a week left until Christmas and I plan to enjoy not thinking about it before then."
"Sure, if that's your wish" he shrugged slightly with the upper shoulder, his hand landing to her side and ever so innocently slipping under her shirt to caress the skin of her stomach. "But you know what I'm going to ask you to do this Christmas."
"...I'm afraid I do" she sighed low with defeat.
"My mom wouldn't let you not come with me now that she knows we're together" Wagner stated.
"I know. But can I just not think about it until I really have to?" she asked smirking almost sadly at him. "You know how negative I feel about Christmas."
Kurt's sly smirk disappeared for a moment as he nodded with understanding and agreement to respect her wish. But the smirk was only gone for so long before returning as he leaned towards her causing her to turn onto her back. "Let's take your mind off of that entirely" he grinned briefly before kissing her.
"Are you trying to copy my ways of distracting you from being negative?" she chuckled as she frowned at him when they pulled apart.
"Don't mind if I do" he flashed her another smile before reclaiming her lips and diving his hand further under her shirt until pulling it off entirely and going for her neck instead.
The girl was just sent Kurt's shirt to the floor to join her own when she felt a little alien creature climb her lap. She gently grabbed it and as she laid back down - placed the kitten on the floor. Then her attention was back in the game and her hands working the buckle of Kurt's belt. Another moment later, as the boy reached under her to work the clasp of her bra she gently stopped him and in response to his questioning eyes nodded her head to the side.
"I believe we're being watched" she whispered in intense, secretive manner that made the german laugh at the sight of the gray kitten watching them as it sat at the edge of the bed.
As if considering that an invitation, the animal slipped under Wagner's arm and climbed between them onto Fallen's stomach. It meowed low as if content to come in between them.
Kurt snickered and moved aside a little as not to accidentally crush Cloud. "I think I have a rival and they're cuter than me" he laughed.
"Nah, you win" Fallen laughed and pulled him in for a brief kiss as she gently took the cat off her stomach. "Come on, little one, get off of me, you're interrupting" and then to Kurt she said; "This is what having children is like. No intimacy whatsoever."
xXx
There was a brief knock on Fallen's door before Kitty's head poked right through the wood. "Hey, am I not interrupting anything?"
The couple looked at her from where they were sitting on the bed chatting and gestured for her to come right in. "No, you're fine" Harris assured.
"Okay. So I was just going to ask if you're like, you know, coming to that party at Matthews after all?" the brunette phased fully into the room. "Because Jean said she'd get us all in and stuff."
"My answer hasn't changed, I hate parties to the bottom of my antisocial soul" the room owner shook her head decidedly and shifted on the bed to lay down against the wall.
"Are you sure?"
"Abso-fucking-lutely."
"Well… if you say so" Kitty said as if the concept of hating parties was something so out of this world to her that she found it hard to believe in. But then again she didn't seem to want to argue and shifted her attention to Wagner. "What about you, Kurt?"
The boy seemed a little bit torn but that was all Pryde needed to keep pushing.
"Please, please, pretty please?" she entwined her hands in front of her chest giving him a big eyed puppy look. "Evan refused to come too and I don't want to be he only Freshman there!"
Kurt shifted his eyes to Fallen and the girl gave him a disinterested shrug. He exhaled with defeat and smiled at Pryde. "Fine, I'll come along."
"Yey!" Kitty almost squealed as her face lit up with a smile. "We'll be leaving in 20 minutes, 'kay!"
She left in a hurry, probably to spend the entire remaining time polishing her party look.
xXx
Making the rounds for usual grocery and some extra for cat equipment took Ororo almost an hour and by the time she pulled up in front of the Institute's main door it was almost eight. She parked a few feet away from Scott's red convertible and started to pull out the bags when the teen himself appeared on top of the stairs.
"Let me help you" the boy called going down the to pick up some of the luggage.
"Thank you, Scott" the woman smiled letting him take part of the stuff so she would have a free hand to close the car's door. "Are you kids heading to that party soon?"
"Yeah, everyone should be here in a moment and we're off" her responded. Then he smelled something odd and looked at one of the bags in his hands. "Is this… cat food?" then his eyes trailed along the see-through bag to spot another item. "And a litter box?"
The woman smiled, amused at the confusion on Summers' face. "Yes. We've gotten ourselves a little friend to stay with us for a bit."
The boy was just about to ask something else about the curious case but then the front door opened and Jean, Kitty and Kurt all joined them. "We're ready to go" Pryde said happily.
"Great" the brunet sighed. He still didn't love the idea of going to the party where things can go wrong, but he gave up reasoning against it. "Get in the car. I'll help Ms Monroe with the bags and be down in a moment."
xXx
"Wow" Kitty said low. "I didn't know that your boyfriend was, um… like, rich."
Jean shrugged ever so slightly as she gazed at the big, modern house with a pool in front of it and a balcony that was bigger than many people's entire flats. "Rich could be a strong word. His parents are doing quite well financially, but..."
Kurt and Scott followed the two girls out of the car, and Wagner didn't fail to notice the clear - even if suppressed - disconcent on his taller friend's face. Anything to do with Duncan Matthews always succeeded to put that disgusted frown on his face, deep enough that even his shades couldn't conceal it.
"To me that totally sounds and looks like he's rich" Kitty stated. "And he's on the football team. I mean, girl!"
Jean chuckled in response.
The frown deepened even more on Scott's face, but both girls walking up ahead were completely oblivious to it.
They closed in on the front door. A few teens were in front of it smoking cigarettes or sipping on beer; a girl with pigtails just left the building as they approached the door and when it opened the muffled sounds of music became crips and loud in their ears. They found themselves on a spacious corridor connected to what seemed like a living room; a few kids cheering as two guys went hard on the fresh-out-the-oven Tekken game that was just released for Playstation earlier this year. Just the sole fact Duncan had both, the game and the console, said something. Further down was an open space kitchen where some self-proclaimed underage barista was fixing cocktails out of whatever he could find.
The four X-Kids didn't even have enough time to question where to go or what to do when they were jumped from behind and a massive arm wrapped around Jean's shoulders. "Hey Jeannie!"
It was the king of the party, Duncan himself. His face was already a little bit red against his blond hair, and it wasn't difficult to guess why based on the dark brown bottle in his other hand.
"What took you so long!" he asked, not really waiting for an actual answer. "Come on upstairs, we're doing a ping-pong tournament. I'll show you my sick moves!"
That was when Kitty inched forward. "Hey, um, Duncan. I just wanted to say thanks for letting us come even though we're Freshmen."
Matthews face became much less excited as he glanced at Pryde and Wagner behind her. "Yeah, whatever" he sounded disinterested as it gets. "Just don't get in my face."
He walked away, pulling Jean along.
Kitty blinked and her face flushed red spontaneously. "He's such a- a-!"
"Jerk?" Kurt suggested.
"Asshole?" Summers offered.
"YES!" she frowned clenching her fists. "Both!"
xXx
The truth was that quite a few Freshmen hung around, however each and every one of them was either already earning the 'cool kid' status or somehow related to one of the older trend-setters. The social food chain was very clear here - with most people hanging with their 'kind', older fold being the loudest and most daring, and younger kids staying usually quiet and trying to pretend like they're not lonely, just hanging with a drink and watching everyone.
It only took so long for Kurt to realize he was indeed over being the high school kid that tries to squish into this ordeal and make himself belong. As soon as Scott was stolen away by the girl - Taryn - and Kitty ended up blushing to a second-year guy who was trying to charm her in the corner of the room - he figured out that maybe Forge was right in a way when he suggested that they're too old for all of this.
He used to love parties - in a way, for a while. They were loud and crazy, perfect time and space to let go, yell at top of your lungs and dance on the tables for all its worth. But now, while he wouldn't necessarily say he feels too old for this, he just re-learned to appreciate less crowded and less chaotic outlets. The music was not his taste, the entertainment was lame, and if you don't like to drink alcohol then there's very little for you to do here.
"Maybe I am getting old after all" he scoffed with amusement as he looked out the edge of the balcony.
"Are you having a middle age crisis at the age of 15?" asked a soft voice behind him.
A voice he knew all too well.
He turned around, masking his mixed emotions as he looked at Amanda. "I think it might just be the case" he responded forcing a brief smile.
"Why so?" she asked joining him by the balustrade. He wished she didn't, but at the same time he didn't want to be salty about a relationship she didn't even remember having with him.
Instead of listening to his first instinct - that would be walk away from her - he rested against the railing and took a deep breath. "I don't know. I just…" and honestly thinking about it, he said; "I've had my share of being immature and I think that… in some aspects I'm just over being a teen by now."
"That's impressive" she said in a small voice that almost made him miss out on hearing the words.
"Really?" he asked with a slight surprise.
She smiled shyly, not looking into his eyes. "...Yeah. I mean, you do seem really mature, and that's rare for guys our age."
'Our age' Kurt couldn't help but laugh at that on the inside. But in real life he just straightened out. "Speaking of which. What are you doing here? I mean, Jean talked Duncan into letting me and Kitty come, but you're at Freshman too."
"Yes, see…" she shifted a bit, a small smile back on her face. "My friend, Monique, she's Duncan's cousin."
"Ah. And where's she now?"
Sefton secretly gestured towards the glass door. Following her hand Kurt saw a girl making out with some guy on the loveseat.
"Ah."
"Yeah."
A moment of awkward silence fell. Kurt's eyes were back on the view from the balcony and the few kids hanging below it with cigarettes. He thought Amanda would get cold and go back inside, especially when there's no conversation going, but she remained there, standing back against the balustrade two feet away from him.
Finally she picked up again, trying to sound casual; "You didn't come with your girlfriend?"
He saw it coming so clearly that he didn't even hesitate before responding; "Yeah. She's not a party person."
"She didn't mind you going without her?" she looked at him with sincere wondering.
"No" he replied softly. "She knows she can trust me."
For a moment Amanda was quiet and in peripheral vision he could see her watch him silently. Then she turned away again, her face a little down towards the floor. Her voice was so soft he could barely catch it; "...It must be really nice to have someone like that."
He thought he could hear it in her voice but needed to actually look at her to confirm the small smile on her lips. The conversation seemed odd enough that he didn't know how to respond to her reaction, so he just whispered; "Yeah", and he turned to the view again.
A part of him wanted to laugh heartily, although bitterly, at the fact that it was still one of the deepest and most interesting dialogues they'd ever had. It was kind of nice to know that Amanda could and did have some genuine interest in him as a person, but also disturbing when he thought that it would start going downhill the moment she'd find out about his more unique qualities and some kind of sick fascination would overpower whatever good could come out of this friendship.
Guess that means that if they met in different circumstances, maybe everything would have been different between them. Maybe if they had developed some kind of bond before she found out about his real appearance it would cause her to not start perceiving him that differently because of it. Maybe they would have stayed together and he would have never considered Fallen that way because he would already be in a well developed relationship. It was crazy to think about, but he was looking at the horizon unable to stop thinking that there is a true, genuine butterfly effect to things we wouldn't usually second guess in our lives.
Amanda's voice brought him back to the current moment and the concerned sound to it alarmed him before the words even registered; "I think your friend is in trouble…"
He looked around immediately, past the glass wall to the light interior of the Matthews' house. Three tall guys towered over Kitty who seemed concerned and lost. He didn't need to see more, he immediately headed inside just throwing over his shoulder without taking his eyes off the scene; "I need to go."
xXx
Kitty stepped back but they followed along. One of the guys loomed so close over her that she almost started choking on his alcohol-and-nicotine filled breath.
"I don't know, Greg, I think you might be a little biased" he said examining her as she tried to lean as far away from him as possible. "She doesn't look half bad."
"Looks like a child, dude" responded another one of them as he gestured with his half-empty bottle to Kitty's chest. "Where your titties at? Left 'em at home?"
"Hey! I won't l-let you talk about me like that!" Kitty exclaimed. She was furious but she was embarrassed, her face flushing bright red for what it was worth with how pale she was from underlying fear.
The guy - who's name was supposedly Greg - turned his attention back to her, clearly unimpressed. His eyes sparkled from being drunk and were a little defocused, but still he looked her up and down critically. And maybe a little bit hungirly as well, but at this point she really hoped she was just imagining that part.
"What is a first year girl like you even doing here alone anyway?" he asked reaching up to cup her chin. Kitty shifted away in what little space she had, but while that didn't discourage the guy in the slightest, his hand was shoved away before it even brushed her skin.
"She's not alone" she heard the familiar voice state firmly as Kurt's back quickly separated her from the pushy folk. "And I think you should go."
Kitty's breath caught before the feeling of gratitude for getting help replaced the sense of being trapped. She peeked from behind Kurt at the guys who tried to harass her. They exchanged amused looks and one of them asked; "Look at that guys, the chick got herself a real knight. Look man, we are just havin' fun, you don't need to go home with broken bones for getting in the way if you just step aside."
"If you so much as look at her the wrong way you will be the ones getting put back together" Kurt responded through his teeth.
Even from behind Pryde could see how Kurt tenses and his fists clench with anger. It was no good, a fight was the last thing she wanted. The guy's laughed at the threat and she could already see Wagner twitch at that, ready to make his point very real for them.
Before anything else could happen, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled it firmly to get his attention. He looked over his shoulder, questioning and uncertain look breaking through the fire of anger in his eyes. "I just want to leave. Can we please just go outside now?" she whispered quickly.
He seemed to hesitate and consider it, his eyes shifting from her to the three guys who mocked them in their drunken, teenage ways and laughed their asses off.
She pulled his attention back with another tug on his sleeve. "Please, I really need some fresh air…"
Finally giving in Kurt exhaled low and relaxed his fists. "Come on" he said to her low as he turned to the side to rush her along gently towards the balcony.
"Yeah you go, this party ain't for children anyway!" one of the guys called after them, but Wagner didn't even look back. He just frowned even deeper and opened the balcony door for Kitty to go first.
It became much quieter when the door clicked closed behind them and the cold, fresh air was a huge shock after the heat and intensity of smells and noises of the inside. As Kitty walked over to the balustrade directly in front of the door, Kurt looked around to confirm what he noted immediately; Amanda left it in the meantime, leaving it empty. Joining Pryde at the balustrade he saw that the patio and pool area below are also empty.
"Are you okay?" he asked seeing that the girl is struggling to stop her hands from shaking.
Only after a moment she turned her eyes to him; the crystal blue was sparkling with tears. "I'm sorry…"
"Sorry? For what?" he asked softly.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes. "I shouldn't have like, insisted to come!"
"You didn't do anything wrong. It's them being jerks" he assured carefully putting hand on her back. He knew Kitty is still a little jumpy around him, but this time she just examined the situation very briefly before leaning against him looking for comfort.
"Thank you for saving me" she whispered faintly.
"Always, Katzchen" his response wasn't much louder as he rubbed her back gently. "We shouldn't stay outside though. It's too cold, you'll get sick."
Kitty moved away from him gently and looked at the havoc inside the house. Her skin was all in goosebumps, there was no denying that, but she didn't want to go back inside at all.
Shifting her eyes to Kurt again and whispered; "I… I think I want to go home, Fuzzy."
Corners of Kurt's lips uncontrollably twitched in a brief smile at the nickname.
"Come, I will teleport you home" he gestured for her to step back to him again.
"But there are so many people-..."
Wagner looked through the glass wall. Everyone were busy, faces down, faces in cups, faces in other people's faces. No one even so much as glanced towards the balcony. "It'll be fine. No one will ever know" he assured and gestured for her again.
Kitty hesitated but seemed to figure out his right because she moved closer. "I've never teleported before…"
"I know" he smirked briefly. "It might make you a little dizzy at first. It'll be better the closer you are to me when we teleport, so is it okay if I wrap arms around you?" he wanted to be careful with her, even though she did seem to be a lot more comfortable around him now.
Kitty blinked once but then nodded ever so slightly, looked down and let him do so as she braced herself but for what she didn't know exactly.
"Just take a deep breath."
She did and then-
BAMF.
xXx
"Ah. I thought I heard something!" Forge said as he entered the kitchen to find Kitty sitting there at the table with a cup of steaming chocolate.
She seemed a little sheepish as she responded low; "...Yeah."
"Weren't you supposed to be at the party?"
"...Yeah" she responded again and then a certain harshness entered her face. "I was. It sucked."
"...Uh-huh…?" Silvercloud arched his brow a bit at her demeanor before pulling out and popping the can of soda he came for. After a few sips and watching her awkwardly he asked; "Are others back too?"
"No" she sighed. "Just me. And Kurt went to like, tell Scott so he wouldn't wait for us or anything after the party. But he said he'll be back in like, a few minutes tops."
Seeing that Pryde doesn't act like herself and seems embarrassed, he decided to just give her the space. Knowing how to deal with emotions and moods of teenage girls was something very far from his field of expertise and he'd rather not tinker with what he doesn't understand.
Luckily Kurt arrived in kitchen with a soft 'bamfing' sound as he appeared with his back to Forge, so he didn't notice him at first. "Alright, I let Scott know we've gone home" he informed Kitty. "I think he's not enjoying himself much either, but he wanted to stay to give Jean a ride back."
"Why do you people even go to parties if not one of you seems to enjoy them?" Silvercloud asked simultaneously letting his presence known to his friend.
Wagner turned to face him, a little surprised. He then waved the question off like he meant not to get him started on that. "Parties aside, let's all watch a movie and actually relax for once, ja?" he turned to Kitty for approval. The girl nodded and smiled faintly.
"Should I go fetch Fallen?" Silvercloud asked.
"I'll do that, you two find us a movie" Wagner teleported upstairs.
A few minutes later Forge, Kitty, Fallen and Kurt all were in the living room with two big bowls of popcorn and a bunch of Blockbuster movies. While chatting about the party briefly they picked Judge Dredd that came out earlier this year and it felt like they're the only group of people around who didn't watch it yet.
"I watched the 2012 remake though" Fallen admitted low when Kitty left for a moment to use the bathroom before the seance.
xXx
+Following day, 16.12.95, Saturday+
It was a cold morning, one could feel it in the air that winter is finally settling and for the first time this month people of Long Island believed that it will actually snow before Christmas. However no snow fell as of yet and it was just gray and damp outside, with cold penetrating through layers of thick clothes with ease.
It was especially chilly when they left shortly after breakfast while the world was still cool from the night. It wasn't quite enough to discourage them though, and by 10 a.m. Forge, along with Fallen and Kurt, made it to the back of Bayville High. For him it still seemed strange as he remembered it as the Bayville College of Technology and Engineering, which it hasn't been for almost two decades.
Right now the building stood vacant for the weekend, so they haven't encountered anyone on the school grounds and didn't need to worry about anyone watching them when they entered the underground storage room by teleporting through the door.
The room they found themselves in was pitch dark, but they came prepared with fleshlights that now illuminated boxes and stacked equipment around the dusty floor.
"Now it's officially a break-in with entry" Fallen commented, although unbothered by the fact.
"It's say it's an entry without a breakin-in" Kurt commented.
But Forge's attention was on something else, the beam of his flashlight directed at the old, industrial door in the back. "Wow" he said low. "It's been forever since I've seen it from this side."
"Should we teleport inside?" Kurt asked.
"If we do we'll breach the security, but I guess it's the only way" seeing the uncertain looks on his friends' faces he added; "I think I still remember the code to disable the blow, don't worry."
It didn't sound completely convincing, but of course they could get away in time if something went wrong after all, so Wagner approached the other boy and gestured for Fallen to come closer as well. Then he teleported them onto the other side.
For a mere second they were in the dark again before a dozen various screens lit up in front of them and casted light at the computers and equipment that neither Fallen nor Kurt had any idea what it could be for. Suddenly Forge's own face popped up on all of the screens and a recording started to play;
"January 22nd 1972. Hi there!"
The real Forge however quickly made it to the main computer and started to quickly punch in some commands that were displayed on a single screen directly in front of im.
The recording continued: "If you're hearing this message you've got 10 seconds before this lab self-destructs. Have a nice day… What's left of it!"
"Did you think you were being funny?" Kurt asked looking with worry at the countdown that popped up. Silvercloud just grimaced but didn't take time to send him a look as he worked the keyboard.
They barely glimpsed the 9 turning into an 8 before it dissolved and the screens went blank. Silvercloud straightened and glanced around as if to confirm the danger's passed. Everything was now quiet.
"Okay, everything looking good I suppose" he said to himself before turning to the pair waiting by the door. "Flick the lights on, the switch is to your left."
Kurt reached to the massive, old switch bulging off the wall by the industrial door; with a moment of delay yellow lights flickered along the ceiling and illuminated the dusty room. Now they had a clearer view of the massive computers interconnected by thick wires that were pinned to the brown brick walls. To their right was an industrial piece of furniture, kind of metal and wood freestanding crafting table with shelves. The shelves were filled with components, tools and other elements they couldn't quite name.
One item particularly captured their attention and Fallen looked back at Kurt to confirm he also took notice of it. It was shaped like a turtle's shell, roughly the size of one too, with two handles poking on either side and a square opening in the front. Approaching the table she carefully turned the object around to reveal a couple buttons.
"Oh, yeah" she heard Forge say as he peeked back while proceeding to download his old data. "The trans-dimensional projector. Or what was supposed to work like one but ended up connecting to a pocket dimension and trapping me there for all that time. I wouldn't poke any buttons if I were you."
"I certainly wasn't going to" Harris assured but decided that maybe it is better to not touch the device all in all. "Do we want to take it back to the Institute?"
"I don't know, it's quite useless compared to the one I made now" Silvercloud shrugged. His fingers still worked swiftly over the keyboard and data proceeded to be transferred to an external disk.
"I think what Fallen meant is that someone could find it end up trapped the same way" Kurt suggested as he walked along the opposite wall looking at every dusty panel there was.
That gave Jonathon a short pause. Then he shrugged again. "Hn, that would be a bummer. Okay, fine. We'll take it and what else could be useful, then we blow everything else up."
That gave the other two a pause.
"Wait, what?" Fallen asked.
Apparently done with getting the data Forge unplugged his external disk and looked at them as if confused. "What, you didn't think I can leave the lab standing here for someone to find, right?"
"But- There's all this technology and-"
"You can't just blow-"
The boy started laughing, which confused them even more.
"Psyche!" he called. "Of course I'm not going to blow it up! Even if someone finds it I cleared all data and we'll take the projector, everything else is technology that isn't very impressive in modern days so no one would question where it came from."
"You had me for a moment there, man" Wagner breathed out with relief as he leaned against Forge's shoulder. "I thought you wanted to willingly set up an explosion!"
"No, I'm good. But we should probably beat feet if we don't want to be late for the training so let's grab that projector and cut out."
xXxXxXx
Finally came December 21st, they were only one day away from Christmas break and starting tomorrow after school most everyone would finish preparing to leave and spend the time with their families. Eventually they also decided that the cat found recently would be staying since Forge volunteered to look after it throughout Christmas, and now Cloud was napping in Jean's lap as she petted it gently.
"I'm fine with staying at the Institute, really" Scott assured when Kitty asked him if he's not upset that everyone but him would be leaving for two weeks. "Besides, Professor and Forge also stay, right?"
"Yeah" Silvercloud agreed trailing off like he wasn't absolutely certain about this decision.
"I'm sure my mom would love it if you came along with me and Fallen" Kurt suggested.
"Wait, I didn't agree to go anyw-mm" she was stopped by Wagner's hand covering her mouth.
"What do you say?" the German asked.
Silvercloud chuckled briefly. "Thanks man, but I'm good. It makes sense for you to bring Fallen but I just don't feel like I would be comfortable butting in on a family event."
Harris' muffled protests continued but everyone just kind of accepted the fact that she's not a christmas person (after about a dozen times she stated it this month) and that Kurt won't let her get away from celebrating it anyway. Seeing no one comes to her rescue she gave up and Wagner finally released her, though instead of arguing she just slumped against him with a grimace.
"I'm really glad I'll get to see my family. I haven't seen my parents and sister in such a long time" Jean marveled.
"You have a sister?" Scott arched his eyebrow with surprise.
"Yes" Grey smiled brightly. "Older one, her name is Sara. You didn't get to meet her because she lives with her husband, but they're both coming over for Christmas."
"Awesome, I had no idea" Pryde almost squealed. "What about everyone else, do you have like, any siblings? I always wanted to have a sister!"
Seeing that the subject is diving too far into family matters Fallen grimaced slightly and got up earning herself a questioning look from Kurt. "I'm going to kitchen, don't worry" she excused herself low and gave him a peck on the temple before quietly leaving the company.
Already in kitchen she poured herself a glass of cold orange juice. She barely took one sip before she heard low rustle as someone entered the kitchen. Looking back she expected to see Kurt, but instead found Forge giving her a tired smirk. "Is there any left?" he asked.
She poured him a glass of juice as well. For a moment they just rested back against the counter listening to the faint murmur of the exited conversation going on in the living room.
"You really didn't want them to ask about your family, huh?" Silvercloud asked finally.
Harris grimaced slightly and shrugged. "Not like it's a secret. I just… see no point to bringing up my relatives. They don't even exist in this dimension, so why bother."
"Do you ever-" as abruptly as he started, so he cut off. Fallen lifted her eyes up to him wondering why so. After a moment he exhaled and continued; "Do you ever get this feeling like the situation- with you family I mean- like there's no closure? Like- you need to finish it to feel at peace?"
She watched him for a moment before waving her hand and refilling her glass. "I'm finished with it alright."
Forge looked at the shorter girl and shadows harshly falling on her face. It was difficult to even imagine what could have gone down for her not to even want to look back at her past.
She turned her gaze to him again as if expecting him to say something. He didn't, so she asked; "Do you feel that way about your family?"
His gaze dropped for a moment as he thought about it, genuinely thought about it. "...I think I do."
"Then why don't you go and finish what's left undone?"
His dark brown eyes traveled to the doorway where warm light poured out along with sounds of giggles and happy exclaimers. "...Just like it would be difficult to explain my family situation to them" he gestured vaguely in that direction, "due to time travel, it is also difficult to deal with it all in all."
"...I imagine."
A moment of silence was broken by the girl again;
"Say…" she started low. "Last time. Did you go see your family? After you initially got out of the Middleverse?"
Silvercloud slumped against the nearest stool looking a bit defeated. That was very unlike him. "I did, and it was… well, I'm not sure if I want to do it again. But I guess I- should."
Fallen slipped onto the stool next to him. "Look, if you don't want to go alone…"
It was strange to admit it, because he was always a loner and never felt like he needs or wants company, but this time he was dealing with something he already tried dealing with alone and he didn't want to feel that way again. "I really don't."
Fallen took a deep breath and tapped on the counter for a moment. "Okay. Obviously Kurt won't give up on Christmas, so how about after Christmas we can go together?" she asked. "Actually, on second thought, he needs to catch up with some grades by winter break. There's literally three teachers fighting for his head right now."
"How about you?"
She nodded slightly. "I'm up for it, if I can be of help."
"I…" he took a deep breath. "I would appreciate that."
She smiled sympathetically at him. "Then we're set. Let's go back to everyone now and we can discuss details later."
xXx
When Fallen returned to her bedroom that evening after taking a shower she didn't bother to switch on the light and instead found her way to the bed in the dim light of moonlight reflected by snow outside. She nearly sat on and squashed an already flat package laying on her bed. Looking around at first she saw no one, but she couldn't overlook the faint smell of fresh sulfur and upon taking a harder look she noticed a pair of gleaming eyes within the shadow casted by curtains of her balcony.
"Don't think I won't see you" she stated and removed towel from her hair.
"I was hoping to see your reaction" Kurt chuckled as he stepped out of the shadow and made himself comfortable at the foot of her bed.
She brushed her wet hair just peeking at the box but refusing to give him satisfaction of opening it already. "You know you didn't need to get me anything, right?"
"It's not exactly from me. And it's not exactly a gift either."
That made her interested, but she still brushed her hair and proceeded to put products in it. Kurt sat cross-legged on her bed waiting, his excitement showing through the anxious movements of his tail and the child-like spark in his eyes. Finally putting away hair brush and bottle of moroccan oil she sat down as well and put the package in her laps.
Opening it she found what at first just seemed like a piece of black material. Only after she pulled it out into the faint light and saw 'accessories' neatly placed below it she realized what she's seeing.
"...And here I was, wondering where that sketch disappeared…" she said low looking with admiration at the uniform she designed for herself a week ago. She never went through with the idea of hanging it over to Xavier and asking if she can 'upgrade' from her default uniform. Apparently the sketch she made ended up in Professor's hands after all.
"What do you think?" Kurt asked unable to stop smiling.
Fallen put it down on the bed and smiled at him. "Okay, Wagner. This one time you got away with surprising me. This is awesome" she crawled over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you, Fuzzbutt."
"Well, it's mostly thanks to the Professor but- I'll take the credit if that means hugs!" he grinned squeezing her tightly. "Now, as for going to Germany for Christmas with me-"
"Oh no, we're not having that conversation, na-ah!" the brunette waved her hands as she tried to move away from him, but he tried to pull her right back into his arms. She forced herself out and slipped under the sheet. "Goodnight sir!"
"Fall-"
"Ghoooh-ghhuuh" she pretended to snore loudly.
"Fall!" he exclaimed laughing as he threw himself on the bed beside her and wrapped one arm around her, shaking her. "Come on!"
"GHOOO-"
"Very mature! I'll wait here until you give up" he stated.
She smirked and opened her eyes. "You'd need to spend the night. And Logan will be pissed if he finds you slept here."
Wagner drew a deep breath and let it out in defeat. "Fine. I'll tell you when we're leaving for Christmas tomorrow."
"But-"
"GOODNIGHT~"
Last thing she saw was his toothy grin before he disappeared from right in front of her face with a BAMF and irritating smell of sulfur.
Next time on X-Men: Revolution:
Even superheroes-in-the-making need some time to relax and forget that there are serious issues in life. For us this christmas season was such a time, myself and Kurt heading off to spend what little is left of the year with his mother back in his home in Germany.
Look forward to Episode 6.5: Christmas Interlude