Chapter 2: A Changing Face

Logan took his time leaving the Danger Room – he hadn't missed the subtle blushes and concealed facial expressions on the faces of both Jean and Sabere, and if they were making mental romantic jokes he was in no hurry to get involved in them. The two couples got into separate elevators, and Logan crowded into the next with Piotr and Kitty. Unfortunately they appeared to be a fairly happy couple as well. Their eyes kept shifting to each other, and Logan could almost see Kitty's heart pounding in her throat. He almost laughed – what a pair! The huge muscular Russian and the short fiery geek had apparently found young love.

Thankfully the elevator opened before Logan had to intervene with anything, and the two immediately exited stage left. Logan strolled over to the clustered adults, who were bandaging various minor scrapes after changing back into street clothes.

"Ooh, I'm sore." Sabere was saying. "I didn't even get shot and I feel like hell."

"Trust me, you'd hurt a lot more," Storm replied, massaging her side. "I know it's supposed to be 'shrapnel,' but really, rubber pellets shouldn't hurt this much."

"Well, I'm fine." Logan, already completely recovered, smirked and jumped up and down a few times, enjoying the winces on his companion's faces. The ability to heal had far more benefits that just the physical. There hadn't been a training session yet where he hadn't taken advantage of his ability to recover almost immediately, and rub it in his bruised companions' faces.

Storm started to retort but a cloud of blue smoke interrupted her. The smoke swiftly cleared to reveal Nightcrawler, ponytail back in place.

"Ach, death by robots is a painful thing," he grumbled, stretching a little. "How are you doing?"

"Some birthday, huh, elf?" Logan chuckled. "I'm fine – they're not."

Sabere froze, and Logan smirked. Looks like someone forgot…

"Something wrong?" Storm asked.

"Oh, nothing…"

"You forgot, didn't you?" Logan tried his best to keep from laughing. "You, of all people…"

"Oh, shush." She turned to apologize to Kurt, but he was already in front of her and had an oversize finger to her lips.

"It's perfectly fine," he murmured, as if reassuring a worried child. "They got me a cake, and that is all I really need right now." He seemed completely serious, and only his laughing eyes gave him away.

"That, and a hot bath," Storm grumbled as she branched away to the elevator to the main school. "Save me cake, okay?"

Kurt heaved a dramatic sigh. "Oh, I suppose I can spare you a very small piece." Logan noted that his eyes had never left Sabere's face.

"Thanks," Storm called over her shoulder.

"Seriously, Kurt, I'll find you a present," Sabere insisted. "It just completely left my mind – I really am sorry – "

"If you keep apologizing, I might change my mind," he chuckled. Then softer, "You know there is only one thing I really want from you anyway."

"Oh, for the love of…I'm leaving." Logan made a face and ran for the uniform room. Kurt's laughter echoed in the hallway with around him as he slammed the door closed.

Lord, the lovebirds were disgusting.

-----

"You are shameless, you know," Sabere told him, grinning, as Logan fled the scene.

He shrugged. "I am allowed to, yes? I am not shameless very often."

"Just enough," she replied, pecking him on the cheek. "See you at dinner?"

"Of course." He kissed her hand with pomp and vanished. Sabere shook her head, laughing silently, and made her way slowly up the stairs to her room. God, she was sore. She desperately wished for Logan's self-healing capabilities, then settled for a hot shower.

A few minutes later she was in a little less pain, and was digging around her room for socks. They had a habit of disappearing…She searched under her bed, trying to keep her towel on, and finally found a matching pair. She stood up and yelped – there was a man standing in her room.

One hand clutched the towel and another went for her knife. The man laughed – a very familiar sound – and held up both hands. "You really don't recognize me, do you?"

Sabere nearly dropped the knife. "Kurt?"

"Ja. The look on your face is priceless, by the way."

"Kurt, you…" Sabere didn't know how to put it. It was Kurt – she knew the voice and recognized the shape of the face – but his dark coloring was gone, replaced by normal skin tones, thick black hair still in a ponytail, and brown eyes, and his hands bore five regular fingers. "You look…different."

"I do, don't I?" He held out his arms and inspected his new arms and hands. "Five fingers, five toes, and – " he turned around – "no tail." He lifted one arm, showing off something that looked like a watch. "It was a gift from Xavier. He calls it an image inducer."

"Wow, um…" Sabere was still shocked speechless. She wasn't sure she liked this new Kurt. Something of his personality had gone with the demonic appearance – some sensitivity, some shyness that she had always loved about him. He recognized her uncertainty and pressed a button on the device. Instantly Kurt was back, tail and all, and he watched her with sad yellow eyes.

"Is this better?"

"Would you prefer it if I said 'no?'"

He shook his head. "I am not sure about it either. I feel…quite strange wearing it, but then, it opens up so many possibilities! I can actually go outside now, see the world, and not fear." He sat down on the bed, as if overwhelmed. "You have no idea how amazing that concept is."

Sabere nodded and looked down at her towel-dress. "I really do sympathize, but, um…"

He laughed. "Sorry. I'll let you change. I just wanted to show off."

"I can understand that, but I'm already showing off more than I'd prefer," she replied, sidling back into her bathroom. "And… you do look good. Just…different."

"Of course," he nodded. "I can remember being so jealous of Mystique – she has that power to hide herself, to look…normal, and yet she did not use it. Now…I can be like her."

Sabere grimaced. "Minus the ruthlessness, I hope. Now can I change?"

He grinned and teleported out. Sabere shook her head, still a little shocked by Kurt's new look. She didn't want to offend him – it was obvious that this device opened up thousands of new opportunities, ones that he greatly looked forward to. Besides, he didn't look half bad –

And you can go on a real date, her heart sniggered.

Sabere dug out a skirt and her favorite shirt, pale blue with long flowing sleeves. She still felt incredibly guilty about forgetting his birthday, and was determined to make it up to him. As she fastened her silver pendant necklace around her neck, it hit her – she could take him out to dinner, in his new image, and be the first to see the world with him. It would certainly be something he would enjoy – beyond that, relish – and it wouldn't cost a lot. She knew the date-worthy and inexpensive restaurants in New York City by heart. Half of her wiggled like a teen on her first date, and the other half shook her more mature head at her antics. He might not even want to, anyway.

-----

As soon as the door opened, Kurt swung the woman he loved into his arms and kissed her deeply, letting her see exactly how much he loved her. He set her down gently, staring constantly into her green eyes, and knelt to present a diamond ring…

The door actually did open, and Kurt blinked back to reality. Sabere looked magical in a long, flaring white skirt and a low-cut blue shirt. Her brown hair lay perfectly around her shoulders, and she smiled curiously up at him. He had left the image inducer off, since apparently she wasn't as wild about it as he was, but he smiled just the same and presented his arm.

"May I have the honor of escorting you to dinner?"

She smiled and took his elbow. "Of course you may." Then she stopped and took his wrist. "I do have something to offer you. Since I was dim enough to forget your birthday – " She pressed the button on the image inducer, and Kurt watched his hand separate into five fingers and pale to match her perfect hands. "How about a date?"

A date? Is she serious? She appeared to be – she watched him expectantly for his answer. "Your favorite pastime, dinner and a movie?" He hoped he sounded as suave as he wanted to be.

"Dinner, at least."

"Well, of course." Amazing. Who would have ever thought?. "Oh…I am going on a date…This is something I have only read about."

She chuckled and took his arm, returning his natural image and leading him down the hall towards the stairs. Kurt hardly paid attention to where they were going – he was in heaven, with an angel.