Again, thanks for the reviews! Chapter 4 below. Chapter 5 will be the last bit of old stuff before the new
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"See! I told you his place was nice!"
"I'm never lettin' you pick the bar again kiddo" Logan muttered. It was bright, fancy, expensive, trendy and techno. He hated everything about it.
"Ah lighten up Logan. It's nice!" Kurt said. He had to try to have fun. They'd been
Rogue slapped Kurt on the butt. "Good to see you cheering up a bit Kurt!"
Kurt turned bright red, stupid inducer made it so obvious when he was embarassed.
Remy put his arm around Rogue. "Uh.. Cheré? You mind?"
Rogue winked at her boytoy and turned her head when someone familiar caught her eye. "Pietro!"
He looked up to see who it was calling out his name, probably just a fan or something. "Hey, Rogue?"
"Howdy darlin'. What're you doin' here all alone?"
"Just out to clear my head, you know."
She moved down one bar stool. "Well, sit down over here, sit with us."
"Us?" he questioned.
Rogue pointed.
"Oh, hello Logan, Remy." He paused on the third, taking a few moments to recognize him. " Hello, uh, Kurt..."
Anyone could have felt the awkward air that descended on them. Rogue watched as the two carefully avoided each other's gaze and realized now it was her job to save this.
"So, Pietro, how has everything been with the Avengers an' all?" she started.
"Not terrible," he replied. "We recently left, though. We needed a break."
"We?" Logan questioned, lighting his cigar.
"Wanda and I," Pietro replied.
Kurt looked down, trying to ignore the conversation. Of all the verdammt people to run into in New York City, it had to be HER brother.
"Excuse, me, sir?" A waitress addressed Logan. "You can't smoke that in here. You'll have to go outside."
Logan glared at Rogue as he stood. "Real great choice, skunk."
"I think I'll join you, Logan," Kurt stood and the two left together.
"You hate when I smoke," Logan replied, taking a long drag after they'd exited the bar.
"I'd rather get second hand smoke than make small talk with him." Kurt crossed his arms and leaned against the building.
"Ain't no reason to dislike him, he didn't do anything to you," Logan responded.
"Yeah but-"
"But he's Wanda's brother, and she hurt you." Logan took another drag. "Afraid you're gonna hear something you don't want to?"
"Nien, that's not it at all," Kurt turned away.
Logan put out what was left of his cigar. "Well, then, let's go back in." He grabbed Kurt's arm and pulled him back into the bar.
"Welcome back," Rogue greeted them. "We were all just catchin up."
"Great," Kurt said, sitting on his stool, holding up his empty glass. "Can I get another, please?" The bartender nodded and made the drink. Kurt downed it.
"You seem to be livin large, mon ami." Remy put his arms on Kurt's shoulder. "Especially at $11 a drink."
Kurt shrugged him off and stared into his empty glass.
Rogue watched as Kurt and Pietro sat. Pietro looked like he wanted to approach the other, but Kurt didn't look the least bit receptive. Especially with the rest of them there.
Logan started. "I think I'm gonna go finish off this cigar." Kurt stood to join him, only to be stopped. "Alone, if ya don't mind."
"Remy, 'member what I tol' ya about the bathrooms? Come on, I gotta show ya!" She winked suggestively to Pietro and Kurt, making it clear that neither was invited.
As Rogue dragged Remy away, Pietro moved closer to Kurt. "So, how have you been?"
"Not bad," he replied as he played with the stir stick in his empty cup.
"Good. Been playing the scene?" Pietro smirked weakly.
Kurt narrowed his eyes as he looked to his companion. "Not lately, no."
"Ah, ok." Pietro sipped his drink. An uncomfortable silence fell over the two.
Kurt broke it. "How is she?"
Pietro looked at Kurt, whose head was still down, gazing at his glass. "She's ok. Things have been really rough, lately, but she's pretty happy."
"Good," Kurt pulled a piece of ice into his mouth and sucked. "She find anyone-um…..anyone else?"
He could tell how hard it was for Kurt to be asking these questions. "No, she hasn't," and he wanted so badly to answer them in full. "But she has been devoting a lot of her time to someone special."
Kurt's eyebrow raised. "Who?"
But it wasn't Pietro's place to tell him, so he saved himself quickly. "Me, hehe. It's been rough, lately, ya know?"
Nightcrawler looked down again. "Yeah, it has."
Pietro stood. "But, I better get goin. Wanda'll be expecting me home, soon."
Kurt simply nodded, not looking up.
"So, I'll be seeing ya?" Kurt nodded again. The speedster pulled out a pen and scribbled on a bar napkin quickly. "This is where we're staying. Maybe you wanna stop by?" And he ran out the door.
Kurt picked up the napkin and stared at it. Carefully, he folded it up and put it in his pocket.
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When Pietro returned to the hotel, Wanda and TJ were already in bed. The dilemma of telling her ran though his head. He knew he probably shouldn't have done what he had, but he had to.
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"What was that?" Rogue questioned.
"It's the number and room number of the hotel they're staying at," Kurt took the napkin out again and just kind of trailed off while staring at it. She was so close, but so far at the same time.
"Um.. would...would it be all right if we left?"
Rouge set her hand on Kurt's left shoulder and just nodded as the other men got up.
The ride home was unbearable. Kurt just sat silently with his head down, looking at the looking at the floor.
The tension in the air could have been cut with a knife. The same knife that was thrust though Kurt's heart. He so badly wanted to just beg Rogue to turn the car around and drive to the hotel, she was so close, but he just couldn't. Not yet.
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The four mutants returned to the mansion, but before Kurt could walk to his bedroom Rogue grabbed him by the arm.
"Come with me." It wasn't a question, more of a demand.
Kurt followed her to the foyer and sat down. "Kurt, you've been moping for too long, and now tonight after seeing Pietro…what happened? What'd he say?"
Kurt shrugged. "He and Wanda left the Avengers. She's happy."
Rogue nodded, sitting down beside him. "Ok. And he gave you their number. So, why not go see her?"
".. I... I can't."
Rogue sighed. "You can't if ya keep saying you can't. I'm not gonna tell you what to do, Kurt, but answer this question. Which would be easier to live with: The outright rejection or the constant fear of rejection? Specially since the second ain't even certain."
Kurt thought for a second, then opened his mouth to answer
"Don't answer now. Think about it." She stood, stretching her arms above her head with a yawn. "An' besides. Ain't you the least bit curious about her?"
Rogue walked out of the room, Kurt watching after her. Of course he was curious about her. Not a day went by that he didn't wonder how her life was going without him. The more selfish part of him hoped it wasn't going well at all, but most of him wished her the best. Now, he had a chance to know.
But, what if she was happy without him? What if her life was going better? Pietro hadn't made it sound like she was suffering. But then, he didn't make it sound like her life was perfect either. Ach, so many things to think about, so much to consider. He'd think about it tomorrow. Or perhaps the next day.
The door slammed open, and Logan threw a coat into Kurt's lap. "Let's go, elf."
"Vas?" Kurt picked the jacket up and stood. "Where are we going?"
"Rogue told me about this whole thing, and I'm taking you to see Wanda." Kurt began to protest. "Nothin you're gonna say is gonna change my mind. We're sick of you moping around all the time. I'm giving you closure. Now come on!"
Reluctantly, Kurt pulled on the coat and followed Logan outside. Logan led him to the car and they both began the trip back to New York City.
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The elevator had stopped, the door had opened and Kurt walked out.
This was it.
Kurt took a deep breath and knocked on the door...
A few seconds later the door knob turned, and the door opened, there she stood.
Kurt looked up sheepishly.
"Hi.. Wanda.."
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Chapter 4 done. Please let me know what you think!