Disclaimers on chapter 1
Chapter 3
Logan knew the moment Mr and Mrs Drake appeared in the front door of the house that doing it Hank's way was not going to get their teammate Robert 'Bobby' Drake back on the teen. Despite this, he just kept quiet whilst Hank tried to persuade the parents to let their son choose for himself.
He was still feeling sore from yesterday, particularly when he found Rogue and Warren Worthington III whose codename was Angel due to the white wings protruding from his shoulder blades. He had let Hank talk to Warren -who told him later that he did not want to join the team but was secretly using his wealth to aid mutants less fortunate than others- whilst he went after Rogue.
Rogue flat out refused to rejoin saying that the team would not be together long if its leader kept disappearing. She then disappeared before he could tell her that it was not him who was doing most of the leadership work but rather Kurt who was currently trying to locate other members of the team whilst Joshua was handling the business of reconstructing the mansion using a private firm that used to work with his company now and again; when he still had it at least. That left Logan and Hank to play taxi service and so far they had no passengers, yet.
"Bobby is eighteen" He heard Hank point out and almost snorted thinking that Hank believed that would help them win the battle of words. "Legally, it should be his decision to make"
"You are not getting our son back!" Mrs Drake declared angrily. "We will not let him leave this house!"
"You guys nearly got him killed last year before he came running home to us" Mr Drake put in.
Logan nearly growled at that. He remembered quite clearly, that Bobby was one of the two people Kurt actually had to yell at to return to their parents when they refused to leave his side. Kurt and Bobby were almost considered brothers in some aspects during their time at the mansion. When it came to pranks, Kurt would plan them, Bobby would execute them and they never missed their mark. When the explosion occurred, Bobby had barely managed to open his mouth before Kurt asked him to help Hank with the wounded using his ice for makeshift casts and ice packs. Logan had to grudgingly admit that, despite Bobby being immature at times, the kid was a loyal friend and X-man.
"This isn't fair" Bobby whined from the staircase he was coming down. "I wanna go with them"
"Bobby, stay in your room until we come for you!" His Mother ordered of him before turning back to Logan and Hank. "I've already called the police, they're on their way!" With that, she slammed the door in Hank's face as he vainly tried to negotiate with them.
'Finally' Logan thought. "We've tried it your way Hank, now let's do it my way"
"Technically, it was actually Kurt's way believing that a peaceful way would be better than-"
"Yeah, yeah, just move from the door" Logan interrupted as he stepped up to the door, and swiftly kicked it open startling the parents. "You comin or what" He said to Bobby whose face immediately lit up before following the usually grouchy mutant.
"Woo-hoo!" Bobby whooped as the MRD chopper they stole the other night took off into the sky. "The X-men are back!"
"Kind of" Logan corrected. "It's just us, a newbie and the elf so far"
"Elf? As in, blue fuzzy dude elf with a sense of humour that matches his appearance?" Bobby asked quickly in one breath eagerly.
"Do you know anyone else who's blue, furry and can put up with you for more than ten minutes?" Logan growled as he felt the familiar migraine that he got whenever Bobby started to annoy him.
"Aw man" Bobby exclaimed cheerfully before suddenly looking worried. "Aw man, we've gotta catch Kitty!"
"Might I inquire to the urgency of this?" Hank asked.
"She told me yesterday that she was leaving for Genosha, she's hoping that Kurt'll be there" Bobby explained quickly. "Her boat left this morning; if we hurry we might be lucky to-aaah!"
Bobby was cut off mid explanation as Hank made the chopper bank hard towards the ocean.
"This might not be the Blackbird, Bobby" Hank said as he plotted a new course that would hopefully intercept Kitty's boat within the next half hour. "But military helicopters can still go quite a speed in the right hands"
-/#\-
Standing on the prow of the ship that would take her to her new home, Kitty Pryde was not thinking about what her new life would be like in a place run by the person she usually saw as an enemy but rather about a person who held a special place in her heart if not her heart itself.
She had first met him nearly three years ago after she spent her first night at the mansion and was looking for the kitchen for breakfast. She had heard him talking quietly to a blonde haired teen her age on the floor below her as she came down the stairs and attempted to lean over the banister so she could hear what they were talking about. Unfortunately, she was still having trouble controlling her powers so instead of leaning over the banister she went through it and landed square in the startled teen's arms.
After weakly apologising once out of his arms, her saviour introduced himself as Kurt Wagner then immediately asked why she was not running from him. When she replied with the question 'why should I be running from a fuzzy elf?' the blonde teen, who she later learned was called Bobby, immediately cracked up whilst Kurt looked at her in equal measures of surprise and amusement.
From that moment on, the three of them became best friends quickly passing the friendship barrier. They would rarely be seen separate from one another and when they were separate it was usually for a couple of hours before they were seen joint at the hip again. As time went on, Kitty began to harbour feelings that were more than just of friendship for the blue elf and she knew that he had some as well.
When the explosion occurred, Kitty and probably everyone else who was able to think straight at the time were surprised when Kurt began issuing orders about like an unofficial leader. She assumed it was due to all the times he worked out prank procedures with Bobby but did not know for sure as whenever the two began talking about causing a prank she would just walk away saying she wanted nothing to do with it, unless Kurt asked for her help.
When Kurt suggested that everyone be sent home, she and Bobby argued with him about staying. Bobby gave up after a short fight; Kitty on the other hand was as stubborn as Logan and kept on arguing pointing out how he would not have a home to return to and anything else she could think of. Despite her admirable attempt, Kitty finally conceded defeat and went home to her home with her parents the same as everybody else.
During the year, she stayed in touch with Bobby and the two of them would either talk about what they did during their time at the mansion before the explosion or ponder over what their best fuzzy friend was doing. When Kitty found out her parents were getting hassled because of her, she quickly made up her mind to leave them and head for Genosha hoping that doing so would help her parents and that Kurt was already at the island.
So here she was; standing at the prow of a ship that was taking her to the domain of the X-men's arch nemesis, when all of a sudden an MRD helicopter suddenly appears before her. At first she was shocked that the MRD was coming for her but that shock swiftly changed to glee when she saw who was piloting the vehicle and what was happening. Taking several steps back, Kitty launched herself at the helicopter and phased through the fuselage to land inside.
"About time you guys showed up" She said as she looked at everyone else who was in the chopper. "Are we going after anyone else next?"
"Fraid not Half-pint" Logan answered the girl's question making her eyebrow twitch at his nickname for her.
"Well, have you tried asking others?" Kitty asked as she let the hated nickname slide, this time.
"Yesterday we found a few members of the team, or at least their location" Hank explained. "Unfortunately, the ones we found did not want to return due to...certain issues"
"Let me guess" Kitty began as she started deducting the reasons why they would not come. "Scott is still overcome with grief; I'm guessing Rogue still hates Logan for leaving again; Angel probably doesn't want to go against his father anymore than necessarily...am I right so far?"
"You sure you only have one power?" Bobby asked in amazement. "They told me all that on the way to pick you up as well as saying that Piotr doesn't want to return"
"I just use my head more than you" Kitty pointed out tapping her temple to emphasize the point.
"You always were more of an 'all work no play' kinda girl no matter what me and Kurt did to make you see otherwise" Bobby teased.
"Oh I know how to have fun, it's just that your version of fun is pulling pranks on people" Kitty said smiling at the ice manipulator. "Speaking of Kurt, have you tried to find him yet?"
"Nope" Logan replied bluntly knowing it would anger the girl.
"Why not?" Kitty nearly yelled angrily at him. "You saw how efficient he was as a leader during the panic after the explosion. He could easily lead the team better than you"
"Ooh, that must have stung" Bobby noted as he watched the girl begin to chew out the supposedly most dangerous X-man without fear or quarter.
"If you let me finish Half-pint" Logan almost growled at the smallest yet bravest teen he had ever met. "I would have told you that the reason we haven't bothered looking for the damned squirrel is because whilst me and Hank have been going round looking for those you mentioned, including you and Popsicle, he's been trying to locate the rest of the team back at the mansion"
The last part temporarily stunned Kitty before she found her voice. "You already found him?"
"Actually, it was rather he found us" Hank chipped in. "As well as introduce us to our new teammate who is currently using what finances he has left to repair the mansion"
"I thought Angel was the only one who had the wealth to do something like that" Bobby said.
"Not unless the new member is the person whose predecessor helped Charles build his dream" Hank replied.
-\#/-
"I've forgotten how fast these guys work" Joshua mused as he looked around the main foyer of the mansion before heading outside. "And in just over a demain en huit to boot"
Joshua had just finished a brief meeting with the construction sites team leaders and was stepping outside for some fresh air when he heard the sound of approaching rotors. Turning to face the direction in which the sound was coming from, he saw the familiar MRD helicopter being piloted towards the underground hanger that used to hold the SR77 Blackbird, the main mode of transport for the X-men.
Quickly moving through the construction site that held an empty mansion, Joshua made his way into the lift that had a big sticker on its doors saying 'Authorised mutants only' and took it down to the lower floors that had not been repaired yet. Both Kurt and Hank had agreed that the repair work for the underground base should be rebuilt by a team of skilled technicians under the command of Forge, an X-man with a gift of technology and a right arm to match, assuming they found him.
Upon reaching the entrance to the hanger, the helicopter had already landed and it passengers were already disembarking.
"Accolga favorevolmente i miei amici e nuovi venuti" Joshua greeted them in Italian with a bow. "As you can see, you're new home will be ready Friday and I am-"
He was cut off when the brunette the team kept on walking and went straight through him as she walked off evidently searching for someone.
"Something amiss with the piccina?" He asked the others as they approached.
"Not so much something as someone" Bobby said having a shrewd idea what was going to happen. "I'm Bobby Drake by the way"
"I did not think we would have to include a cementerio in the reconstruction of this place" Joshua said understanding what Bobby meant as he shook the teens hand. "Joshua Greenwald"
Kitty meanwhile, was continuing her search for the elusive blue elf and had just passed the main computer room when she saw him inside with his back to her as he searched the records for the locations of the rest of the team. She noted that the screen was showing many pictures of them that were grouped under headings such as:
Found and recruited: Beast, Nightcrawler, Tigerhawk (new recruit), Wolverine
Found and declined: Angel, Cyclops, Colossus, Rogue
Found: Iceman
Not found: Forge, Shadowcat, Storm
Kitty pondered for a moment why she was in the last category before remembering that she had only told Bobby that she was going to Genosha and not anyone else. As she stealthily made her way closer to the chair Kurt was sitting on, she saw him raise a hand to the picture of her and slowly drag a finger down it before sighing heavily.
"Where have you gone Kitty?" He asked the screen quietly unaware that the real Kitty was right behind him.
Kitty allowed herself a small smile before wiping it off her face and raising her right hand. After waiting a few seconds to see if he had noticed, she swung it at his head with all her might.
-\#/-
Kurt was silent as he studied the computer monitor that had all the listed X-men of the old team categorised appropriately as well as updating it with their new friend Joshua. It had been a long week and only yesterday had he and Hank managed to repair the base's main computer using the box of supplies that contained the components Joshua managed to procure from one of his contacts.
Thinking back to the start of the week, Kurt remembered the talk he had between himself, Logan and Joshua. Joshua had explained to the two of them that he had been told to find them by the shaman of his former tribe who said in a letter that the three of them were the chosen three in a vision he had. Logan snorted at this until Joshua handed him the letter the shaman had wrote. He had barely read half of the letter before his eyebrows shot into his hair at the part that clearly depicted him.
-*#*-
"You must be kidding me" Logan said as he threw the letter back on the table. "That's not me that quack-pot's talking about"
Kurt picked up the discarded letter and quickly browsed it grinning slightly. "I don't know about that Logan. You're the only veteran berserker I know about"
Logan snorted before glaring at Kurt. "At least I'm not a demonically disguised angel fuzzball"
"Either way" Joshua interrupted. "The letter clearly states that the three of us have to lead the X-men"
"Even so, what does he mean by being 'guided from in front of us'?" Kurt asked curiously. "And how are we going to lead between the three of us for that matter?"
"Well, judging by our recent mission and specialties" Joshua began. "I'll be handling the finances, Logan shall be battle commander whereas you'll be leader whenever there is no battles to be fought"
"Sounds about right" Logan agreed.
"V-vas?" Kurt exclaimed in shock when he realised what this meant. "But I can't lead"
"Could've fooled me" Logan snorted. "You seemed to be in your element during the aftermath of the explosion"
"But I could not keep us together" Kurt pointed out.
"You had no choice, given what had happened" Joshua countered. "Anyone else in your place would have probably done the same"
Kurt sighed in defeat as he accepted his fate. "I just hope the others will think along the same lines"
-*#*-
'So far, it seems that either no one thinks I can keep the position or they just don't want to return' Kurt thought to himself as he gazed at the computer screen particularly at the picture of Shadowcat aka Kitty Pryde.
Kurt knew that things between the two of them would be choppy to start off with not that he could blame her, he did yell at the girl to go home despite her best efforts to remain by his side. Ever since they had first met, Kurt had harboured strong feelings towards Kitty yet hid them knowing that there was no way she would love him the way he loved her and the fact that she was underage at the time.
'Come to think of it, she must be about a couple of weeks over eighteen now' Kurt mused as he brought a hand up to the picture of the girl who had stolen his heart.
Not a day had gone by since the dismemberment of the X-men, did he not think of her. She had always plagued his dreams regardless of whether they were good or bad and wherever he went he saw something that would remind him of her. The moment the computer he was sitting at was working again, Kitty was the first person he searched for only to be disheartened upon finding out that she had left home in the hopes of giving her parents some relief from the anti-mutant crowds.
"Where have you gone Kitty?" He asked the screen quietly as he slowly dragged a finger down the picture of her as if trying to draw some comfort from it. 'I can't do this without you'
Sighing heavily before attempting to at least locate Forge so that he could repair and improve the underground levels with the team Joshua had suggested Kurt suddenly felt something strike the right hand side of his face with such force that he was spun around to meet his attacker.
"Wer in der Welt-?" Kurt began cursing before stopping in his tracks when he saw who the assailant was.
"That was for yelling at me to leave over a year ago" Kitty said quietly as she looked Kurt straight in the eyes.
Kurt averted his gaze, accepting the pain as he brought a hand up to check to see she had left a mark -or rather an imprint- before being surprised again when Kitty suddenly straddled his lap as she wrapped her arms tightly round his neck.
"This is to show you how much I've missed you" She sniffed slightly as the feel of his fur weakened her barriers before pulling away so she could look at his face again. "And this is to show you how much I want you"
Before he could comprehend what she meant in that last statement, Kitty pressed her lips against Kurt's with such passion and force that it was evident that she had wanted to do it for a while now. Regaining the use of the limbs that had frozen when he was hugged, Kurt wrapped his arms tightly round the girl as he returned the kiss with as much passion if not more than what she was giving him. Reluctantly, the two parted when the lack of air became too much to ignore allowing Kurt to see that Kitty had been silently crying throughout the kiss.
"Something tells me I'm not off the hook yet" He joked as he gently brushed away her tears with his thumb.
"Damn right you're not, Fuzzy elf" Kitty replied as she kept Kurt's hand in place with one of her own as she stared into his glowing orbs.
"Hook, line and sinker more like" Came Bobby's voice from the doorway effectively breaking the moment.
"Definitely about time in my books" Hank noted.
"No kidding" Logan agreed.
"Ah love, aussi beau que l'ocean et mysterieux comme ciel" Joshua commented in French before sounding slightly confused. "Or is it the other way around?"
Kitty whipped her head towards the doorway whilst Kurt tilted his to the side to see the rest of the team standing there watching them.
"Have you guys ever heard of privacy?" Kitty all but snarled at the interlopers.
"Isn't that what bedrooms are for?" Bobby pointed out causing Kitty to huff in annoyance.
"For our sakes Mr Greenwald" Hank said as he turned to Joshua. "I do hope you've made the bedrooms sound proof for just such a scenario"
"That was the first thing I made sure was in the blue prints before giving them the go ahead" Joshua answered smirking. "There was bound to be a few relationships to flourish after being separated for so long for some people"
Kurt could not help but suddenly laugh out loud. He could not help it. The reunion with his friends, the discovery of his new relationship, the camaraderie between the team despite the new addition; he was confident that he could lead them now.
~-\#/-~
Translations
demain en huit: a week tomorrow
accolga favorevolmente i miei amici e nuovi venuti: welcome my friends and newcomer
piccina: little one
cemmenterio: cemetery
wer in der Welt: who in the World
aussi beau que l'ocean et mysterieux comme ciel: as beautiful as the ocean and as mysterious as the sky
~-\#/-~
Review if possible & 'til next time
Watch this space & peace out