The mild Italian wind ruffled Kurt's black, curly hair as he looked out over the streets of Vatican City. It was a site he enjoyed all the more when he considered how few ever got to see it from his particular angel. Ascending the dome of St. Peter's Basilica was no mean feat, but for him there was no better place to be alone and to think.
He didn't worry much about being spotted. His most distinguishing features, his glowing yellow eyes, were well-hidden by the special goggles he used; he could see out of them perfectly but nobody could see the eyes which lay beyond them. Apart from that, his clothing consisted of a simple dark black priest's outfit and his skin was dark blue, both lending him camouflage in the night. Again, a blessing in disguise; his skin tone made it easy to sneak around, easy to patrol the streets of the city he loved.
Kurt leaned back carefully and looked up at the stars. His back gave a twinge as he did and he guessed that it was probably bleeding. The incision he'd made hadn't quite healed yet. The brief burst of pain made him think of why he'd cut himself in the first place and he frowned. Although the blond priest had swallowed his objections, his emerald eyes had been terribly sad when Kurt told him of his final decision to join the Iscariot division. He knew, had known for a while, that it was not what Anderson had hoped or wished for him.
Honor thy father and thy mother. Despite the fact that he felt it was for a higher cause, Kurt had violated this time and time again to meet with Enrico and Renaldo, discussing what his place was to be in the secret sector. God had given him talents and he felt it was his duty to use them where they would be most beneficial. Even so, it hurt to see Father Anderson gaze at him with pity and despair, as if he were already dead and in the bowels of hell. Anderson was a part of Section XIII too, but it still felt like joining was betraying the only guarding who'd even loved him.
But after all, as Enrico had pointed out, wasn't betrayal of a certain fashion at the heart of Section XIII? You did what you had to do even if you faced recrimination because of it.
A shout from the streets below shattered his revere and made Kurt forget his pain momentarily. He looked down and saw a young nun being flanked by dark figures, clearly threatening her. He could hardly see them, but the way she was grabbed and jerked made their intent clear. His blood boiled; to have so little respect as to commit such crimes in the sight of the cathedral was unthinkable!
Without a second thought, he leaped from the cupola and bamf-ed down into the square below, still hiding in the shadows on the other side of the obelisk that was the piazza's focal point.
"Please, you can't do this, you don't understand!" He heard the nun shout as he caught sight of her, a young, modestly dressed girl, whose terrified eyes peered through large glasses. "You regret it!"
As they laughed at her a scent drifted a across their nostrils and one of them looked at his companions.
"Do you smell sulfur?"
Suddenly, the five men were beset on all sides by a whirlwind of punched. Kurt had always been acrobatic and realized at once that these were nothing but thugs, slightly drunken, clumsy and common. He flung one of them aside with his tail and the others soon focused on him as the timid nun shrank into the shadows then dashed into the protection of the colonnades on the side.
One of the men landed a blow and Kurt tasted blood inside his mouth. He returned but began to realize that though they were taking the brunt of the attacks, he was tiring and their punches were landing with increasing frequency. Just as he was considering teleporting away before the incident grew worse, shots rang out from across the square and each man in turn fell dead to the ground.
For a moment, Kurt stood stunned, fearing that he was next. When no further shots came, however, he spun around; he was reluctant to give whoever had fired a clear view of him but he wanted to make sure that the nun was OK and that the shooter wasn't there to cause more trouble. Looking, he saw two figures making their way towards him, the nun plus another figure holding a firearm he couldn't identify. The second had light brown hair which was swaying in the wind and was dressed like a priest.
"A light if you vould," said the surprisingly feminine voice.
"I am sorry," he said when he finally found his voice. "I do not smoke… frauline?"
"Ja. Ah, vell," she sighed and rummaged in her pockets. "Yumiko?" The nun shook her head no. "Vell damn." She bent over the dead bodies while Kurt looked on, shocked. A smile told him that she'd found what she was looking for. Withdrawing a lighter from one of the corpses' pocket, she lit the cigarette in her mouth then inhaled. "Much better," she sighed.
The nun walked up to Kurt and took his hand, not reacting in the least to his appearance.
"Thank you very much for saving me."
"Bah!" The brunette took a drag. "You could haf done it yourself, if you veren't such a baby about Yumie."
The nun blushed and Kurt looked at them, feeling awkward, as though he were missing something. There was a strange sense of familiarity in their behavior and the nun's name which he couldn't quite place. The smoking one looked at him critically for a moment then nodded.
"A bit rough around the edges, but ve can make do. You vill learn in time."
"Learn? Learn what?" He asked, at a momentary loss. "Who are… Oh."
"Heinkel Wolfe," the one dressed as a priest introduced herself. "Und Yumiko 'Yumie' Takagi. Und you must be the new recruit – Kurt, correct?"
He nodded. "Ja, Kurt Vagner. So – you are the assassin and the berserker?"
"Indeed," she replied, flicking her ashes. "But come. Ve have stayed here too long. Let the police take care of this mess," she gestured to the bodies, "und you may come vith us. After all, you should get to know your future comrades in arms."
Surprised, he ran a hand through his hair and looked down nervously. Then he straightened up, smiled and allowed them to lead the way.
OOO
"Has Enrico told you much about me?" Kurt asked when they reached the quarters where Heinkel and Yumiko lived.
"The basics. Orphan, a performer until a teenager, lived in Ferdinant Lukes. He also described you to us; I had a feeling it vas you when I saw you – how do you say it?"
"Bamf?" Kurt offered.
"Ja. Vhen you bamfed. Vould you like something to drink?" She tossed her guns onto the couch and went into the kitchen as Yumiko settled herself on one chair and Kurt in another.
"Tea?" He called. "Green if you have it."
She re-emerged in a few moments, holding the hot cup of tea for Kurt and a spiked cup of coffee for herself.
"So, do you haf any questions?" Heinkel asked, blowing gently on her coffee as she leaned into the couch cushions.
Kurt wrapped his hands around the mug and looked down into the green tea. The hue made him think of his father's eyes and he recalled what he'd been brooding over before the distraction.
"About Father Anderson… He doesn't seem to agree vith my decision. It pains me to hurt him; and I don't want to seem ungrateful for all he has done for me.""
"He ist alvays like that. He vas upset when Yumiko und I first decided to join too. He vill be upset for a while but he'll get over it eventually. You might even be good for him, if I understand Enrico correctly."
"Oh? How so?" They hadn't discussed the specific details of what his assignment or place within Iscariot would be, other than the general idea that he would be a field agent.
"Anderson does not easily maintain control. You, however, haf the ability to quickly extract a body from a conflict vith your 'bamfing.' Unless I am mistaken, Enrico vants you vith Anderson to keep an eye on him und remove him from the situation if he does not back down."
"I see." He took a thoughtful sip. "Vhat does Father Anderson think of this?"
The two nuns exchanged glances.
"Well…" Yumiko hedged. "He doesn't exactly know, yet. Father Maxwell seems to feel that it would be best if you gained some independent field experience first so that Father Alex wouldn't be worrying about you all of the time when you went on missions together. Most of the missions we go on don't deal with supernatural threats like Father Alex handles so he's even uncomfortable with us helping him out despite our track record; I doubt he'd even consider letting an untried recruit to come along with him."
"That makes sense. Vill it take a long time to train before him ready?"
"You're already an accomplished acrobat and fencer, from what I read," said Heinkel, "So you vill probably go through an accelerated course dealing with the particulars of supernatural battle. I'm not positive, but it will probably take around six months to get you completely up to speed."
A momentary expression of surprise played across his face.
"Fencing is an acceptable form of field combat?"
"Yumie uses a katana," Heinkle informed him and gestured towards the nun who blushed. "I don't see vhy a rapier vould be any different."
It might have been slightly childish, but Kurt found a grin spreading across his face at the prospect of getting to use his fencing skills in real life, putting them towards an actual goal rather than simply being exercise. The conversation then fell into a momentary lull as they sat and drank for a moment, unsure of where to go from there. Eventually Yumiko piped up.
"Excuse me, Kurt; I don't mean to be rude. But I was wondering – what's it like? To be who you are, that is?"
He shrugged.
"Valking around in daylight like this isn't so bad. Most people are just curious. Of course, since I haven't been ordained yet, I haven't been walking around in a priest's outfit like this in broad daylight yet. I suspect people's reactions vill change when I do. And even now, though most people are nice, there are alvays a few who vill be insulting or even shout threats."
"Does it bother you a lot?"
"Niet. Is is much better than vhen I vas in the circus. And as I said, most are just curious. At least here and at Ferdinant Lukes."
"Speaking of vhich," said Heinkle, shifting forward a bit. "Vhen is your ordination going to be?"
"Maxwell vants it done as quickly as possible," he sighed. "But I vant to make sure that Father Anderson is there. Even if he doesn't approve of my joining Iscariot, I want him to see me made a priest. He vas the one who really started me on my journey, helped me to accept the call I heard. If he isn't present when I'm anointed it will feel… incomplete."
The two nodded in understanding.
"As soon as ve hear from him, a private ceremony will be scheduled."
"Vell, ordained or not, ve vill need your help in an upcoming mission." Heinkle went over to a nearby desk and took a folder out from one of its drawers, handing it to Kurt. "Inside you vill find all the details of the operation. To summarize, there is a man being help in an American prison who has expressed sentiments similar to those of Iscariot; he cannot abide or forgive those who vould do evil. He has even already had some training as priest, from when he vas younger. Also, he is a SEAL, highly skilled in combat. In short, ve vould like him to join us but must first arrange a prison break."
"And an agent for whom valls are no barrier vould be helpful?" He smiled.
"Most helpful," she said, returning the smile. "The actual mission won't be for several veeks, but ve vill keep in contact. The number for this apartment is written on the inside of the folder. Call if you need anything und leaf a message if ve aren't here."
Kurt closed the folder and nodded.
"Thank you. And now, I am afraid the hour is late and I should be getting back to my own place."
"Understood. It has been good to meet you, Kurt." Heikle told him, going over to shake his hand.
"Yes, very good!" Yumiko joined in, getting up and standing beside her.
Kurt took Henkle's hand but then, to her surprise, kissed the back of it and then did the same to Yumiko, giving them a rakish wink as he did.
"Guten nacht," he said then disappeared with a bamf.
The two stood frozen for a moment, staring at the puff of sulfur left in his wake, neither wanting to admit to the light blush that crossed their cheeks.
OOO
"KURT'S HERE!" A five year old shrieked and then ran down the hallway.
Kurt laughed to himself as he stood in the doorway of the orphanage. Soon he heard the footsteps of many small feet coming to greet him. He smiled most, however, when he heard the unmistakable lumbering footsteps of Ferdinant Luke's resident priest.
The children jumped him and Kurt did his best to give them each an affectionate squeeze, even letting his tail curl around one or two of them. They were laughing raucously as Anderson looked on in amusement.
"You're back!" "When'd you come?" "Want to see my new book?" "Can you bamf us Kurt?" "Play video games with us Kurt!" "Look! Haven't I gotten big since you were last here?" "Where have you been Kurt?" "Are you gonna be a priest like Father Anderson? The mother says you're going to be a priest!" "If Kurt's a priest, I wanna be a priest too!" "We got a new swing set too! You can push us!"
"Vhoa!" He cried out, laughing. "Not all at vonce!"
"Come, children," Father Anderson broke in. "Cannae Kurt git a moment o' peace?"
They let go of him but remained crowded around, looking expectantly.
"I need to talk vith Father Anderson now, but ve vill play after dinner, OK?" He assured them.
They nodded eagerly, then dashed off to see if they couldn't get the nuns in the kitchen to hurry dinner along. Once they were gone, the two stood still for a moment as an awkward silence passed between them. Then Kurt jumped and embraced Anderson, not unlike the orphans had done with him.
"Please, don't be mad at me Father. I don't vant you to be mad at me. I haven't heard from you yet about my ordination and I couldn't stand it if you veren't there. I am sorry I haf offended you…"
Anderson sighed and patted Kurt on the back.
"Nae. 'Tis I whit ought tae beh asking o' your forgiveness. Ae've been a fool tah git mad wit' ye aboot this, Kurt." He took a step back and looked the young man in the eye. "Did yeh scar yourself o'er this?"
Kurt's gaze shifted to the ground below him.
"I did you dishonor, Father."
Anderson frowned but said no more about it.
"Coom, let us git insaed."
"Father," he said, hesitating. "There is something else. I met vith two of the agents – Heinkel and Yumiko. Ve are… vell… I haf a job."
At this, the aged priest paled a little and grimaced slightly but said no more. He gestured for Kurt to come inside and started walking up to his office where they could talk undisturbed. He unlocked the door to his chambers and opened it wide. Once they were both inside, Anderson firmly shut the door and twisted the lock.
"Kurt…"
"I know, Father. I know you don't vant me to get hurt."
"Nae. 'Tis moor thon tha'. I know ye kin take care oor yerself Kurt. Tis yer soul Ah worry about."
Kurt stood quiet for a moment and when he gave his reply he found he was somewhat afraid to look Father Anderson in the eye and kept turning away to look out of the window or at the floor.
"Father, I vas given, as you have alvays told me, a gift. Vhat good is it if I do not use it? It vould be a sin of omission. My soul is very unworthy, despite my best attempts to follow our Lord. But this – this I can give back to Him who made me. I do not mean to hurt you, who took me in vhen I vas nothing more than a carnival freak. I see you care for those beneath you and vish I had your patience. But Father – vhat else can I do?"
"Anythin' buh this, Kurt! 'Tis tae bloody an' cruel for ye. An' like Ah said, we Iscariots, we face damnation! Yer toh good fer tha', lad."
"I am not afraid of the danger, Father, not when it is in the service of the Lord who has given me strength through all things. I vill stand for him." He walked over to Anderson and put his hand on the taller man's shoulder, facing him eye to eye at last, glowing yellow staring into flecked green. "And ist it not despair, to say that ve are assured a place in Hell? I vill do vhat is necessary for my Lord's church on earth and leave the rest for him to decide. I vill accept what must be, but I vill never doubt His gracious mercy."
For a moment, Anderson was silent, unable to respond. Then he smiled ruefully.
"I see tha' I cannae change yer mind, lad. Thon let it be as oor Lord wills. Amen!" He declared and they clasped hands, as teacher and student, as one priest to another, as one agent to another.
The moment passed and they started down to dinner so that Kurt could visit with the orphans. Anderson exited first then Kurt followed. As they made their way down the steps, neither turned around to notice the door briefly open and then shut again, as if it had been opened and closed in the space of a second. A breeze was felt in the hall, but none were there to feel it.
OOO
And thus we come to the end of another chapter.
From here on out, there will be no author notes at the beginning. At the end, there will be a feature called Crossover Connection (CC) that explains some aspect of the Marvel part of the crossover particularly relevant. So, for this chapter…
CC: Nightcrawler's practice of scarification originates from the Alan Cumming character in X2, the movie. This trait did not appear in any previous comics or alternate universes. As indicated in this story, he ostensibly does it as a method of atonement.