Chapter 4

Kurt was heading toward the showers after a particularly brutal training session in the Danger Room — thank you very much Cyclops — when he was almost run over by a very distracted and highly caffeinated college freshman.

"Scheiße! Kitty!" he exclaimed. Always quick and agile on his feet, the fuzzy blue mutant managed to move out of the way before she had a chance to slam into him. "Where's the fire?" he asked playfully.

"There's no fire!" Kitty replied a little too hastily.

"Then follow-up question. Why is your voice so squeaky?" Kurt continued to pry with the same impish grin on his face.

"I'm running late," she told him without skipping a beat. "I have to catch a bus in two minutes. I'm sorry. I'll talk to you later, okay?"

Kurt watched her walk away with a curious expression on his face.

Why did he get the feeling she was avoiding him? Sure, he was currently very sweaty and disgusting… but that had never stopped her from talking to him before…

He shook his head in mild amusement and sauntered off in the opposite direction toward the men's locker room.

It was a lot later that afternoon and Kitty still hadn't talked to Kurt, further proving his theory that she was, in fact, avoiding him. He was beginning to notice she wasn't the only one acting a bit strange. Did this have anything to do with why they were all sitting here on a Sunday afternoon right before dinnertime?

Indeed, most of the team was called into the war room for an important meeting. Professor X was already there waiting for them, looking rather pensive with his hands folded in his lap. There was a muted news broadcast on the television screen; Kurt glanced at it briefly and scowled. White letters scrolled at the bottom of the screen on a red background, "STOP THE MUTANTS! SAVE THE HUMANS!".

It was a familiar slogan these days.

"Two nights ago a mutant arrived at the institute," the telepath started to explain once everyone had settled into chairs around the large table. Kurt turned his attention away from the 5 o'clock news and focused instead on his mentor's words.

Of course by now Kurt had heard all about the mysterious mutant that was recovering from his injuries in the medical bay; it was hard not to when all of the students were exchanging juicy rumors about him.

Some of them were actually very interesting and totally improbable.

Despite his mild curiosity and normally impulsive nature, Kurt had so far managed not to BAMF down there to meet him. Unless they asked him to be present or it was relevant to their mission, he usually left it to other members of the team to lead the welcome wagon. He didn't want to make anyone uncomfortable, particularly young new mutants that were struggling to come to terms with their developing abilities.

It was his bubbly personality, obviously. He was just a lot to handle all at once.

"The mutant goes by Indigo. He is a time traveler from 2049 and he is here to help us save the future," Xavier continued.

Kurt definitely would've categorized time travel as 'totally improbable'.

"Before you ask, we've corroborated his story," Scott cut in, looking through a pair of ruby sunglasses toward a skeptical Remy LeBeau.

"I examined the device that brought him here. It's years beyond any technology I've ever encountered before," Hank added with a familiar glint in his yellow eyes. "I

"He also allowed me into his mind. I've seen our fate if we do not act. In three years' time, there will be a devastating explosion in Atlanta that will destroy half the city and kill thousands of people — mutants and humans alike."

"Let me guess, they'll blame it all on the muties," Wolverine grunted, burly arms crossed over his chest.

Professor Xavier continued as if there'd been no interruption. "The political aftermath will culminate into a decade-long civil war between two sides, and after an endless cycle of destroying each other, they will both ultimately lose. Millions of people will perish, and society itself will collapse," he finished gravely. "Indigo believes we can change that."

"How?" Bobby asked incredulously. "If our future selves couldn't figure it out, how are we supposed to fix anything now?"

"We have a time traveler on our side. We have information," Scott answered.

"Professor, you said it was all happening three years from now," Kitty brought up a point that had been on Kurt's mind as well. "It's a long time to just… wait. Is he — is Indigo supposed to just stay in the past indefinitely?" she added.

"I'm afraid Indigo arrived a little earlier than expected," Xavier said with a strained smile. "But it's my hope that, in the meantime, with his help, we'll be able to identify other events that will negatively affect the timeline."

"I don't know about this," Kurt admitted. "I've seen plenty of movies where people mess with time. It never ends well. We could accidentally rip a hole in the universe! Or maybe he could—"

"Accidentally do it with his mom," Bobby chimed in with a grin. "Or his dad, depending on his preferences," he added after a bit of consideration.

Kitty made a very strange sound.

Kurt caught her eye and she turned bright red.

"Are you alright, chérie?" Remy asked with an obvious smirk.

"Yes! I'm okay! I just… swallowed wrong," Kitty mumbled, and then turned to fully face Kurt. Despite her rosy cheeks, her expression was serious once again. "Listen. You've heard what the Professor said! Kurt, if we don't change things, we've got a civil war to look forward to — and the death of millions of people!" Kitty countered. "We're the future's last hope!"

"No pressure," Bobby chuckled darkly.

"I agree. I think it's worth a try. We can't make things any worse," Scott said.

"I've also briefly seen into his mind. I think it's very much worth it if any of that can be avoided," Jean was also in agreement with Kitty, Scott and apparently the majority of the team. Kurt felt like he was the only one concerned about the ramifications.

"We are not gods," Kurt spoke. "We should not have that kind of power."

"No, of course we're not gods," Kitty told him gently. "But if we can save just one life, don't you think that's worth it?" she added.

"We're X-Men. Our whole schmick is helping people and making the world a better place," Bobby said a little reluctantly, as if he wasn't completely sure of his own thoughts on the matter. "I think that includes the world 25 years from now."

"I think we should be talkin' to this fella instead of yammerin' in here," Rogue suggested loudly over the pair of arguing friends. "We ain't gonna get nowhere like this. We gotta hear it straight from the horse's mouth. Then we can make a plan."

"This is a fucking mess. I need a smoke," Wolverine grumbled and headed out of the room without another word to anyone.

Kurt didn't smoke and he had no inclination to start a bad habit today, but he still got to his feet and followed the burly mutant out of the room.

"What do you think, Logan?" Kurt asked once they were alone in the hallway, walking side by side, shoulder to shoulder. Even in his more comfortable semi-crouched stance, the fuzzy blue mutant was still taller than Wolverine by a few hairs.

"Chuck ain't lying, I know that much," Wolverine said, a deep scowl etched on his face. "He smells funny… not from 'round here, that's for damn sure..."

Wolverine walked through the elevator door once it slid open but Kurt remained behind. He'd made up his mind, there was something he needed to do.

"I'll catch you later," he said.

With a BAMF!, the blue mutant was gone, leaving behind only a puff of purple smoke and an odd sulfuric smell.