Disclaimer: Don't own.
Warnings: Cussing. I cuss. Too bad, so sad, ya fucker.
Thanks to those who reviewed! Also, thanks to anyone who is just reading too. Hope you're enjoying it.
As always, reviews are greatly appreciated. Any comments or suggestions on improvement are welcomed too.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Retrieval of Self: Chapter 4
They had been dragged down into the recesses of the abandoned research facility through a hidden doorway that lead to a complex underground with sterile white halls. Logan could smell the antiseptic spray oozing past rooms with closed doors as they were lead up and down stairs and through turns and twists, so confusing that he'd never be able to find his way back. However, what their guards didn't know was that Kurt's ability to teleport gave him an uncanny sense of direction, and Logan could see that Kurt was paying detailed attention to their meandering path. They might be captured, but they weren't down yet.
After what seemed like ages, they were finally led to a room with four cells, two adjacent on each side of the pathway. There were also two doors, one from where they came from and the other directly across. The room looked like the rest of the place, white, stark, and lit brightly. Logan would've preferred for their holdings to be dark like a prison cell, and not this reminder of his time at the Weapon X facilities.
Logan's arms were quickly unshackled, and then with a rough shove, he was forced into on of the cells. Logan growled at his guard, but all he got in return was "shut it, you fucking animal," before having the bars slammed shut.
Scott was similarly released and pushed unceremoniously into the cell cattycorner from Logan.
"What a babe," the guard guiding Jean to the cell next to Scott said as he released the shackles from her wrists, and then caressed her hair.
"Get your hands off her!" Scott demanded, tightly grasping the bars to his cell in anger.
With a lecherous grin, the man moved to touch Jean's hair again, but Jean wasn't going to let him get away with that twice. With a quick twist, she freed herself from his grasp.
"I can walk in on my own, thanks," Jean said and with a shake of her head, she went calmly into her cell. She shook her head at Scott to prevent him from goading the guard anymore. In return, the guard sneered and banged the cell door shut.
A yelp drew Logan's attention to Kurt who was being placed next to him.
"Ach, vatch the tail, ja?" Kurt curled his tail around to his front and petted it in his hands to make the pain dissipate.
"Oh, sorry," the young recruit said reflexively before realizing who he was talking to. "Wait! I'm not sorry! Not to a, um, a rebel, no wait those are the good guys," the recruit muttered under his breath., "a, um– "
"Mein Gott, not another Star Vars reference." Kurt said as he was moved into the cell and watched as his flummoxed guard closed the door. The young trooper gaped like a fish before blushing furiously. He locked Kurt's cell before making a hasty retreat to leave with his fellow guards.
Well, at least that shut him up for once. Logan hoped that Kurt's banter would discourage the guy from future inane comments, but right now, Logan was more worried about Kurt's physical shape. His accent was thick, which usually indicated something was amiss, and his temper usually wasn't so short, even if the young guard did deserve a sharp barb. Looking between the bars separating their cages, Logan studied Kurt as he sat on the floor. Logan wanted to assess what type of shape Kurt was in; he had gotten hit in the head twice by two burly men, not to mention roughened up and his wrist smashed. Logan didn't want to even think about where Kurt was mentally, or heck, what all of them were thinking right now.
Kurt, noticing Logan's stare, tried to look a little more lively. "I'm fine, see?" He held up his injured wrist and wiggled his hand as if somehow that would prove his point.
Logan wasn't convinced at all. Kurt's "I'm fines" were usually code for "I feel like shit" or at least that's how Logan translated it in his head. "And I'm sure you don't have one huge bruise on your temple now, right?"
Kurt just shrugged and looked away, his tail flickering from time to time in annoyance over the attention.
Logan hated when Kurt pulled this shit. Fucking avoidance, as the Professor called it, well without the fucking, but Logan thought it was an apt adjective. Why couldn't he just say, yes I'm hurt or I'm sick? Though, it's not like Logan had room to talk, but at least he healed quick enough for it not to be a concern. Knowing he wasn't going to get anything else out of Kurt, Logan sat down with his back leaning against the back wall so he could keep an eye on his three students. Jean and Scott were sitting next to each other, their hands touching between the bars, and both were looking towards Kurt, appearing at a loss for what to say. Even if they could get Kurt to tell them what's wrong, it wasn't as if they could do anything about it.
With a sigh, Scott turned away from Kurt to face Jean. "The guards better not touch you again, Jean," Scott said as he took her hand in his.
"Scott, I won't let them, but next time don't react like that." Jean rested her head against the bars between their cage, while looking reprovingly on at Scott. "Your reaction just eggs them on."
"I know," Scott looked down at their intertwined hands, "it's just hard to watch and not do anything, to not even be able to do anything." Scott sighed, "I should be able to do something, right?"
"There isn't anything you can do. Not for me or Kurt or any of us. At least, not right now." Jean shook her head. "When we figure out how to get out of here, then I know you'll do your best and show those oafs a thing or two." With a wink, Jean clasped their hands tighter.
Scott smiled in return, and though it was uncomfortable leaning against the bars, neither of them moved away from each other.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kurt hated the collar and he hated the cuffs that were still on his wrists. He hated the pounding headache he had, like a construction site was set up in his head, and he hated the throbbing in his tail that now matched his sore wrist. At least his wrists were cuffed in front of him, so he could use his hands to itch and free some of the fur trapped by the metal collar. Most of all, though, he hated that he couldn't hide from prying eyes. Though they didn't run across many people as they were marched through the halls, the few they did come across took one glimpse at him, stared, screamed, and then ran and hid.
He had tried falling asleep or at least hoped for some form of unconsciousness to take his mind off of the pain and his self-deprecating thoughts, but the pain and general uncomfortableness just led to various positions from learning against the wall to lying curled up on the cold cell floor. He was glad that he had fur because even he was freezing, and he couldn't imagine what Scott and Jean were feeling. Logan never seemed to be affected by temperature. Maybe his ubiquitous chest hair is like a fur coat? Kurt mused.
For now, Kurt was lying curled up on the ground with his back touching against the back wall. He could see that Jean and Scott had fallen asleep leaning against the cell bars with their hands still in each others. Jean was probably going to have a red streak straight up and down her face from where her cheek was depressed against the bar. Scott would have a matching mark as well as a drool spot on his pants, and they'd probably both wake with cricks in their necks from the way their heads were positioned.
Kurt knew Logan was awake because he could still feel his glare on himself from time to time. Kurt bet Logan was mad at him for lying about how he felt. They'd talked about his so-called problem with admitting when he was hurt before. Hell, last time when Kurt had finally almost passed out at breakfast from a high fever, Logan was so mad he took it upon himself to make sure Kurt got well enough for extra Danger Room sessions. Seeing Logan bring in chicken soup on a tray was one of the most hilarious, and yet at the same time, frightening things Kurt had ever seen. Somehow, though, while it was no picnic to have Logan staring at him while he tried to rest in bed, it was at the same time comforting too.
"I'm not gonna let you pull this shit on me, Elf," Logan finally broke the silence, raising his head from where it was resting against his chest, arms crossed as he turned to look at Kurt.
Kurt scowled, glad that Logan couldn't see the expression on his face, but said nothing in response, hoping to feign sleep.
"I know you're awake, and you can wipe that fucking scowl off your face that I know you're making," Logan growled as he stood up and approached the bars separating their cells.
"Vell then, what do you vant me to say?" Kurt also sat up and glowered at Logan.
"I want you to stop this fucking evasive bullshit and just – "
"Stop, both of you!" Kurt and Logan turned towards Jean, who was now sitting up straight, a glare directed at both of them. "This isn't doing any of us any good!"
Kurt, despite his anger at the argument, was slightly amused to see that he was right about the big red line that was now marking Jean's face and the matching one that Scott bore.
"She's right, you know. So can't you guys just cool it?" Scott, too, had been awakened by their little spat and was silently cursing them both for ruining his moment with Jean. And great, he had drool on his pants. Yuck.
"We're all frustrated and frightened - yes even you Logan" Jean directed her gaze at Logan before continuing on, "but this is no time to take that fear out on each other." After getting reluctant nods in agreement, Jean got up and approached the cell door. "Now then, Kurt, are you seriously injured in any way?"
A pause, and then, "no."
"Good. Now Logan, stop taking your anger out on – " Jean didn't get to finish her sentence because at that moment the door on the east side of the room was opened, letting in the leader, some guards, and a scientist or doctor Jean deduced from the white lab coat he was wearing.
She shuffled further back in her cell, suddenly nervous and scared. As the men approached their cells, she noticed one of the guards had a tray with four bowls on it in his hands. Jean didn't realize how hungry she was until she saw the sight of food, even though she didn't smell anything wafting from the bowls. Probably prison gruel of some sort.
"I figured my specimens were in need of some nutrition, and I've come with dinner," the man in the lab coat said.
"Are you the one who ordered these men to capture us?" Scott demanded as he took in the newcomer's appearance. Lanky, average height, slim glasses, and a receding hairline of black hair – Scott thought if this guy was going for the strict high school science teacher, he certainly pulled it off. All he needed was a stiffly buttoned up, overly starched shirt underneath the lab coat.
Instead of answering him, the scientist was grinning maliciously at Logan. "Weapon X, it's been a long time."
"Dr. Falk," Logan wanted to do nothing more than to unleash his claws and slice right through the scientist's throat. The collar barring that, Logan instead approached the man with barely contained fury emanating from his stare. "Seems you were able to escape my rampage when I tore the Director apart, piece by piece. And as soon as I get out of here," Logan spat on the ground, "I'll do the same to you!"
Falk started at the spit in disgust before looking back up at Logan. "And how will you do that with that ingenious collar, if I do say so myself, around your neck, hmm?" The scientist gloated. "I know what you did to everyone at the Weapon X project, and I was lucky to not be there that day," Dr. Falk smirked triumphantly at Logan before continuing. "I couldn't let all the fruits of my labor into the project go wasted, so I developed these collars so that this time I'd be prepared. And thanks to my genius, I can now continue on the project to develop living weapons, starting with my capture of you and your pitiful students." The scientist's eyes swept over Jean and Scott before landing on Kurt. His eyes widened in surprise, then a devious and satisfied grin spread across his face before turning back to Logan. "I doubt you'll be making any successful attempts at escaping this time."
Logan bared his teeth, but he knew Fucking Falk, as Logan liked to call him, had him lock, stock and barrel. Instead of kicking up a fuss and risk being knocked out by the guards, all Logan could hope for was that the doctor would choose him to perform whatever experiments he had in mind instead of on one of the teens.
"Now then, before I allow you to eat your dinner, I shall take one of you with me for a little," Falk grinned sadistically, "one-on-one time."
"I'll go," Scott said audaciously. If anyone was going to suffer, Scott wasn't going to let any one of his teammates do so in his place.
"Quiet down, Cyke," Logan glared at Scott before turning towards Falk. "You'll be taking me."
"Ah, volunteers," Falk shook his head in amusement, "but I think I'll be the one to decide."
Jean was as far back in her cell as possible, and held her breath as the scientist's gaze fell over her, then releasing it when Falk moved quickly on. He was assessing them, choosing, and Jean wasn't brave like Scott. She couldn't volunteer herself up in place for her teammates, her friends. She was ashamed but remained silent.
"I believe my specimen already knows my choice," Dr. Falk said as his eyes finally landed on Kurt.
By now Kurt had stood up, knowing from the way Falk had first looked at him, surprise replaced by fascination, that he was going to be the one chosen. Kurt figured Falk must've once been in a Sadists 'R Us club, with his drawing out the drama of choosing his test subject when he had already made up his mind.
"I do appreciate a smart specimen." Falk nodded to the leader who in turn commanded two of the guards to open Kurt's cell and usher him after Falk.
Logan tried to make a grab for Falk as he passed by his cell, but Falk merely sidestepped his hand. "You fucking bastard! Get over here!" Logan bellowed but Falk and the guards continued towards the exit. "You better not fucking harm him! Ya got me!"
Scott had also been yelling but was drowned out by Logan. He wanted to kick the bowl of gruel right back in the guard's face as he pushed it into Scott's cell, but Scott resisted, knowing it would do no good.
Kurt's back was ramrod straight as he was led out the door, Logan's continued shouting echoing in his ears. He tried to act brave for the sake of his friends, but his heart was beating a mile a minute. Even if his arms weren't shackled in front of him, he knew he wouldn't be able to take out the guards, the leader and the scientist, so he figured the best thing to do now was cooperate. There'd be an opportunity at some point, certainly. There had to be.
Belaying the intensity of the situation, the door shut quietly with a rasp behind the guard who had just finished distributing the food. All that was left behind was resounding silence broken up intermittently by Logan's deep, angry breaths.
XXXXXXXXXX
Gershwin took a deep breath to prepare himself before he opened the door to Dr. Falk's lab. The leader had so graciously assigned Gershwin for his earlier enthusiasm in the van to the task of interrupting Falk when he was preoccupied in his lab. Gershwin regretted being so overzealous in the van to salute, what was it, four or five times? Surely not more than six. He sometimes just got caught up in the moment and all his army training would come rushing back to him, tenfold.
"Man, I sure don't envy you," said one of the two guards standing outside of the lab.
Gershwin smiled grimly, and wiped his sweaty palms on his pants, wishing he had just stayed in the army instead of joining up with this group of mercenaries. Disturbing the doctor was far more frightening than facing any drill sergeant in boot camp.
Knowing it was no use to delay the inevitable, Gershwin knocked…really really softly. And he waited. No response. Now he was just being silly. Pretending that his sister was in the bathroom and he really needed to go, he banged on the door, announcing his urgent need to get in.
"This better be important!" came the muffled response. "I hate being disturbed in the middle of my work."
Taking that as a sign of admittance, Gershwin entered the lab, ready to bear down Dr. Falk's temper.
"Well?" Falk demanded, still remaining bent over the mutant he had decided as his primary test subject.
The mutant was prone on the research table, his hands and feet in leather restraining straps that reminded Gershwin of Terminator 2. Gershwin hoped the doctor realized to not keep any paperclips nearby. The mutant had been divested of his layered shirts, and his pants had gotten a new lease on life as shorts. Currently the doctor was running his hand up and down the mutie's back, poking and prodding along the spine. "Um well, that is…"
"Spit it out already!" Falk finally turned to look at just who had entered his domain. He was in a relatively pleasant mood with his discovery of such an unusual mutant, so he was giving the hapless guard a break by not throwing any of the nearby instruments at him.
"It's already past midnight, sir, and –"
"So?" Falk turned back to his new specimen, already tuning the interrupting guard out. "This mutant is absolutely fascinating," Falk said as he began to prod Kurt's back again. "You see, his spine is flexible, like a cat's, that allows him to run quadruped style, and what's more -"
"So if the mutant was dropped off a building, would he land on all four feet?" Gershwin's mouth asked before his mind caught up with him. Luckily, Falk seemed to actually ponder the question.
"Perhaps, but I'd rather keep him around a bit longer before testing that theory." Dr. Falk paused before beginning to pace, his finger tapping his chin. "What doesn't make sense is how this mutant claims he has no other power beside his physical form. I speculate that he is what I have termed a second-generation mutant."
Gershwin nodded, but then realized the doctor was not actually talking to him but rather was thinking aloud.
"One of his parents must have been a mutant to produce such physical manifestations, but of course, he denies this too. Surely a second-generation mutant would have even more power than a normal mutant." Falk turned back to his specimen, looking at Kurt contemplatively, before continuing. "His unusually high level of sodium, potassium and phosphorus and low levels of magnesium indicate an incredibly fast metabolism, but to what end? His eyes would seem to have a layer of tapetum lucidum by the unnatural glow, but that can't be all his powers." Approaching Kurt, Falk incredulously asked, "Surely you have other mutant powers besides greater eyesight in the dark and the ability to remain thin."
Gershwin looked down at the mutant to see if he would answer, and could see that he was keeping his eyes closed tightly, as if not seeing anything would make this all be just a bad dream. Gershwin actually felt sort of bad for the kid, but realized that this kid's tape-ums lucid-ums or whatever it was could probably blow Gershwin's face right off. These muties were dangerous, and having them locked up and controlled would be better for society. Any pity Gershwin had evaporated.
"Answer me, specimen" Dr. Falk growled as he leaned over Kurt, intimating that he would receive an answer in one way or another.
"No, I don't," Kurt said quietly as he finally looked up at the scientist. He was humiliated, tired, and sick to his stomach from numerous emotions he couldn't began to count. This was one of his worst fears come to realization. He was sick of being probed like a slab a meat, with x-rays taken, vital signs recorded, blood being drawn more times than he could remember, samples of fur and skin being taken, and physical tests ordered.
And now, he felt vulnerable with his back exposed, but still, he refused to give in to this scientist and tell him the truth about his relation to Mystique or about his teleportation.
Gershwin flinched back, ready to leap for cover, as he saw the mutant open his eyes. When his head remained in tact, Gershwin could see that the mutant's eyes were yellow, but besides that, nothing else seemed different. Gershwin felt a bit ridiculous at his reaction, after all the collar should work on any mutant power, even the tapums lucidins thingies.
"Hmm," Falk tapped his chin again before heading towards another table off to the side where several vials of liquids in varying shades were kept, "perhaps your powers simply haven't manifested yet, but that is easily remedied."
Relieved Dr. Falk was in a good mood and now with a pause in Falk's analysis, Gershwin decided to try again with his orders. "Sir, it is late and the leader requested for your presence."
Falk looked up with a syringe in one hand and a vial full of a clear serum in his other. "What is so important that the leader needs me at this very moment?" Falk's voice was quiet but menacing, and his eyes narrowed at Gershwin.
"Um, sir, that is…"
"Spit…it…out."
"It's about the other mutants, sir," Gershwin ducked his head, not wanting to see the scientist's reaction, "the ones we weren't able to capture."
"Weren't able to capture." Falk repeated, his voice even lower and more foreboding.
Kurt, however, felt his heart rise as he saw out of the corner of his eye Gershwin nod in affirmation. The others must've been able to fully escape, despite the men having the key to X-jet. Kurt couldn't stop the small smile that spread across his face.
"Fine," Falk spat as he quickly filled the syringe with the serum, "tell him I'll be with him shortly."
"But I, uh, that is, I'm supposed to – "
"I believe I am the one that hired you. My orders are the law, and I certainly don't need an escort." Satisfied the guard understood who was in charge, Falk continued. "Just tell Leader Kemp that I'll be with him shortly."
After Gershwin had saluted, thankfully only once, and had left, Falk turned back to Kurt. "I would prefer to observe you after I administer the first dose of XfB306, but unfortunately, it seems I've been called away." Falk considered having one of his lab techs watch after his new specimen, but he felt oddly possessive of his new test subject, and didn't want anyone else touching him.
"I'll just administer a low dose to get started." Falk was confident there wouldn't be any complications from the serum, after all he had developed it. There was probably going to be some uncomfortable to painful side effects, but Falk wasn't concerned about those.
Kurt watched surreptitiously as Falk approached. He may have cooperated with the scientist's other administrations, but there was no way he was going to let Falk have an easy time injecting him full of some strange liquid. As soon as Falk made to inject his arm, his tail lashed out quickly to knock the syringe from Falk's hand.
Surprisingly, Falk held onto the syringe as Kurt's tail wrestled with Falk's hand. In a moment, though, Falk had switched the syringe to his other hand and was able to swiftly inject the serum into Kurt anyway.
"And what exactly did you hope to accomplish with that little resistance besides angering me," Falk sneered at Kurt.
Kurt didn't respond, wishing now that he maybe had cooperated because that needle was really big and being jammed with it had really hurt.
"Don't try to resist me, little demon," Falk threatened, his hand gripping tightly where he had just shoved the needle into Kurt.
Wincing, Kurt tried to wiggle his arm out of Falk's grasp but it was useless with his hands bound to the table. Before he could attempt with his tail, Falk had already let go of his arm and had sneered once more before turning away from him.
"Guards!" Falk called out. As soon as they had entered Falk ordered them to return Kurt back to his cell. "And do recuff him, he seems to need some added restraint." With yes sirs from both, Falk left to see to the problem of the escaped mutants.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The next morning, Scott was up, well he would say at the crack of dawn, but he couldn't really tell what time it was down there. He didn't sleep well lying on cold concrete with the bright lights from overhead still bearing down on him. He also couldn't sleep thanks to his worry over Kurt and their situation.
Scott figured, even if Logan was there, he was also the team's leader and he should try something to help them escape. So, when everyone was asleep, he had tested out whether he could still use his powers or not, but opening his visor resulted in nothing. Scott didn't want to risk taking off his visor all the way. If his powers weren't fully blocked by the collar, then unleashing the full force of his optic beam could bring the whole building down on top of them. He had then kicked the wall in frustration and stubbed his toe. He then proceeded to hop around on one foot while trying to muffle his yelp of pain. At least no one was up to see his idiocy.
Scott could see that Jean was still asleep, and guessed that Logan was awake, even though his eyes were still closed. Kurt was also out, but Scott presumed as much, with what Kurt had gone through last night. When the guards had returned, it had already been hours, Scott reckoned. Kurt hadn't told them much, just that he was fine (of course, Kurt could come in with one arm and still be fine, Scott thought), that it was like a really bad physical exam, and that since he had no mutant powers, the scientist had seen it fit to administer him a shot of something. Scott, of course was pleased at Kurt's continued duplicity while at the same time worried over the effects of the injected drug. He hoped that Kurt would wake up soon so that he could eat. Logan had for some reason blown a gasket when Kurt had refused to eat dinner, complaining of the injection. Kurt had merely lied down on the floor away from Logan, ignoring Logan's vehement protests. Scott had no idea what was up between Logan and Kurt, but figured that Logan must be misplacing his anger at the situation onto Kurt for some reason. Sure, Kurt and Logan weren't close like say Kitty or Rogue was to Logan, but still this was a bit out of hand.
Scott was now pacing the small expanse of his cell with his thoughts and worries trailing after him. He could think of a way out of this, he knew he could. Maybe if he had a pack of chewing gum, string and laundry detergent he could do something. Ha, yeah right, last time Scott looked, he wasn't MacGyver. Scott's musings were cut short as the east door to the room opened.
Logan, of course, had not been asleep, and immediately sat up at the entrance of the leader, that really fucking annoying guard, some other random men, and Dr. Falk.
"Do these guy ever sleep?" Scott asked incredulously.
"Their sadism keeps them fucking going," Logan answered, his eyes watching the group's approach.
"Why a compliment from you for once," Dr. Falk returned. "How kind."
The leader watched Falk and the burly mutant banter, wondering why someone as prestigious as Dr. Falk would lower himself to trade insults with a mutie. Well, not his place to question.
Turning away from Weapon X, Dr. Falk turned to Kurt, who, like Jean, had woken as soon as the group had entered. "And how is my little demon doing today?"
Kurt didn't answer him and stayed back in his corner of his cell. He still felt slightly hot and achy, probably from the serum, but it's not like he was going to tell this asshole that.
"Well then, since it seems you're just as prone to being recalcitrant as yesterday, let's get this day started." Falk smiled before turning to the other side of the room. "And of course, I can't let you all rot in here while I'm consumed with my research. So," Falk gestured to a man in a similar white lab coat to approach his side, "how about you and the other lab techs do a little background research on him." Falk pointed to Scott before nodding to the leader.
The leader in turn told the green recruit and the other guards to retrieve the prisoners, or test subjects as it were. The leader remained stoic as he saw that the green recruit obeyed without a single dreaded movie reference but on the inside he was pleased with himself. It seemed that his assignment to the recruit to carry out the permanent vacation of the stuttering, useless guard had wizened up the young man and hopefully the other members of his group of mercenaries. The message that he wouldn't allow anymore disobedience was probably written clearly across their eyes, hopefully in the stuttering guard's blood. He needed good, malleable men if he wanted to remain the finest mercs out there, and if he wanted to be sure he remained the leader without worry of mutiny or assassination attempts for his position.
Turning back to Falk once his men had gotten the two muties out without too much trouble, nothing a few rams of the gun didn't fix, the leader followed his boss out of the room.
Logan was burning with fury inside the whole time, but was only capable of standing behind his bars, grasping them with all his strength, as if he could pull them apart with his bare hands. As Falk walked past his cell, Logan threatened in a deep, low voice, "as soon as I'm outta here, you're a dead man, Falk." Clichéd, yeah, pointless, yeah but Logan didn't want to stand there like nothing was going on, even if he couldn't do anything about it, and by glaring at Falk's retreating form, he could avoid the gazes of Scott and Kurt, not wanting to see the accusations and despair that was surely in their eyes.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Thanks for reading.
Reviewing is greatly appreciated. Really greatly. It's like a little sun in my inbox. Won't you send me a tiny sun?
Concrit also welcomed.
Notes:
- In Terminator 2, Sarah Connor is in a mental institution and hides a paperclip in her mouth to break out.
- All the elements listed are supposed to create a faster metabolism, but I have no idea what having really high levels and low levels of magnesium would do to a person. Also, this is kind of extraneous, but turns out people with fast metabolism are often overweight. So in this fic, Falk saying Kurt has the ability to remain thin as one of his powers would be right in the sense that Kurt would likely be overweight with a really super fast metabolism, but he's not – thus his thinness is connected to his power. Though Kurt's high intake of junk food would slow down the metabolism and thus – okay stopping. Does this make any sense? PS this is info from internet research, so grain of salt please.
- Tapetum Lucidum is what allows cats and other animals to see better in the dark, and it also gives them that glow in their eyes at night or in pictures.