Don't own, don't profit.
(Break)
Kurt and Logan made their way down to the dining room, where everyone else was assembling quietly. Professor Xavier entered and what little noise there was died.
"Ah, very good everyone. Since we are all assembled, I can begin briefing you on the situation." He looked around to see every person in the room looking attentively at him. "This is a drill. You have all performed extraordinarily, and I am proud of each and every one of you. You are dismissed." The group began dispersing when Charles spoke again, his voice ringing out over the group. "Logan. A word?" Logan stopped and walked back to him. Once everyone had cleared out and they were alone he held out a slim folder.
"I have another mission for you. I know you just got back from one, but I think you need to take this one. A young mutant, 16 years old, is going to kill himself unless someone talks him down."
"Why not send one of the others? I'm sure they're all a hell of a lot better than me at that type of thing."
"You have something in common with this boy that the others do not." Logan stared at him.
"You mean he's gay?" Charles nodded. "Then send Kurt."
"Excellent idea. Take him with you."
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
"Regardless, it's what's going to happen. Even if you merely drive and make Kurt do all the talking."
"Fine." Charles smiled
"Good. You will need to leave as soon as possible. Everything you need to know is in the file." Logan took the folder and walked out of the room. "Oh, and Logan?" He turned. "Be nice." Logan scowled and stalked out of the room. He made his way to Kurt's door and tapped on it with one claw. The door swung open to reveal Kurt's back as he put away his things. His tail twitched agitatedly after opening the door.
"I TOLD you Kitty, I vill return your sleeping bag once I have vashed it!" Logan assumed a falsetto and replied.
"But Kurt, I told you I need it for my sleepover next week!" Kurt turned and grinned sheepishly.
"Sorry, Logan. Kitty has been driving me nuts. Vhat's up?"
"Pack your bag again, we have a mission." Kurt's expression became dark and Logan hurriedly continued. "Not that kind of mission. Some kid is going to kill himself because he's gay and we have to talk him out of it."
"Oh. Ok. Vant me to take you to zhe house so you can get your stuff?"
"Sure, that would be great." Kurt put his hand on Logan's shoulder and ported to the living room. "Ok, I'll meet you in front of the mansion in 20 minutes."
"Ok zhen!" Kurt grinned and ported away. Logan sighed. He was not looking forward to the talk he had to have with Kurt.
(Break)
Kurt was waiting under a tree with his backpack and his book when Logan pulled into the driveway and honked at him. He closed his book, walked over and climbed into the truck.
"So, vhere are ve going?" Logan handed him the folder.
"Directions are in there. We should be able to make it by evening." He turned the truck around and started driving toward the road. "Look, Kurt, about what happened in the woods before we had to leave."
"Vhat about it?" Kurt was apprehensive. He didn't like where this could go.
"I really enjoy hanging out with you and I count you as one of my closest friends, I don't want to ruin that by rushing into anything too quickly. I'm not saying I'm not interested, I'm saying that I don't think it would be a good idea right now." Kurt looked relieved.
"I couldn't agree vith you more." He opened the folder in his lap and looked through a few pages before continuing. "So... you are interested in me?" He said with a teasing grin. Logan sighed. He should have know this was coming.
"Do you really need to do this?"
"Yes, yes I do. Vhat exactly is it zhat you like about me? Is it my charming personality, or could it be my rugged manliness?"
"It's the fact that I can survive this truck meeting a tree at 100 miles per hour, and you can't if you don't stop."
"I vouldn't need to survive. I could port avay before you got to zhe tree."
"Just navigate and try to keep your big head in the truck." Kurt knew he had picked on Logan enough for now, so he pulled out the directions and played GPS until they pulled up in front of a modest ranch house in the suburbs. Kurt double-checked the directions against the house number.
"Zhis is it. Zhe boy's name is Mark, and his ability is being able to valk on valls, ceilings, pretty much everyzhing."
"Think he's home?"
"It's 7:00 on a Sunday night, vhere else vould a depressed teenager be?"
"Good point." They got out of the truck and walked up to the door. Logan stood back while Kurt knocked on the door. A pleasant-looking woman opened it a moment later.
"May I help you?"
"Hello, ma'am, I am Kurt, and zhis is my associate Logan, ve are here from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. Ve are looking for Mark." The woman studied them for a moment.
"I know you're not here to harm him. You're here because he's a mutant? Don't look so shocked, you're blue so it's not hard to figure out. He's in the backyard, I hope you two can talk him out of the funk he's been in. His father and I are starting to worry."
"Danke, ve vill try." She smiled and gently closed the door after gesturing to the gated yard.
Logan and Kurt opened the gate and peered into the yard. Mark was sitting under a tree listening to music on an mp3 player and flipping through a magazine. He appeared to be a typical football player, solid build, lots of muscle, stylish haircut. They were halfway across the yard before he noticed them. He closed his magazine, turned off his mp3 player and walked up the tree. They reached the base of the tree and Mark peered down at them.
"What do you want?" Logan leaned against the tree and gestured for Kurt to speak.
"I am Kurt, and zhis is my friend Logan. Ve just vant to talk to you. Ve are here from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters."
"Also known as the mutant school. No thanks."
"Ve are not trying to recruit you. Ve are trying to prevent you from harming yourself."
"Perfectly fine with being a freak, thanks." Kurt sighed and ported up to a branch near Mark and perched there.
"You are no freak, Mark. You are a star athlete, good student, and a regular volunteer at zhe animal shelter. Vhy vould you vant to end your life?" Mark crossed his arms and leaned back against the tree, much like Logan had.
"You couldn't possibly understand."
"I zhink I can."
"No, I really don't think you can." Kurt sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
"Being gay is not zhe end of zhe vorld, Mark. Logan and I vere sent here to talk to you instead of zhe better qualified people because ve have zhat in common vith you." Mark looked at him is disbelief.
"You expect me to believe that he" he jabbed a thumb down at Logan, who was listening with a bored expression on his face. "Is a fag?"
"Watch your language kid, I can cut you in half before you could blink."
"You'd have to catch me first."
"Kurt?" Without a word, Kurt ported down, grabbed Logan, and ported back up to a sturdy branch. "As I was saying kid, you don't want to make me mad. I've been around longer than you can imagine. Trust me when I say this is a hell of a good time to be gay, and if you're going to off yourself, you at least owe your mother the truth before you do the most selfish thing a person can do." Mark tried to look like what Logan had said had no effect on him.
"You're like 35. How long do you expect me to believe you've been around?"
"Try closer to 135."
"Prove it." Logan slid out a claw, watching Mark's eyes widen as the shiny metal appeared from between his knuckles. He very deliberately cut a 3 inch gash on his forearm. He held it out so Mark could see it slowly heal without a mark.
"Good enough?" Mark nodded and began walking down the tree.
"Come on, if I have to do this, you're coming with me." Logan looked at Kurt and shrugged. They ported down to the ground and caught up to Mark as he was walking in the back door.
"Mom?"
"In the kitchen, honey! Make sure you take off your shoes!" Mark rolled his eyes and gestured to a mat beside the door. They all removed their shoes and made their way to the kitchen, where Mark's mom was mixing some kind of batter.
"Oh, hello again you two. Mark, did you three have a good talk?"
"Yeah, I guess. I need to talk to you."
"Ok, just give me one minute." She poured the batter into a pan, popped it in the oven and turned to smile at her son. "You have my undivided attention." Mark sighed and closed closed his eyes.
"Mom, I'm gay." If Logan would give the kid a pat on the back for his bravery, he would give the mom an award for her reaction. She wasted no time enfolding her son in her arms and kissing him forehead over and over.
"Oh, Mark. I love you so much, thank you for telling me. Is this what you've been so moody about?" Mark nodded. "Well, your father and I love you very much, and we support you 120% no matter who you're attracted to." Mark looked embarrassed and wiggled out of his mother's arms. She turned to Kurt and Logan.
"I don't know how I can possibly thank you enough. Would you like to join us for dinner tomorrow? I know it's not much, but its better than nothing." Kurt looked at Logan, who nodded slightly. She would be hurt if they declined.
"Ve vould be delighted Mrs..."
"Anderson. But you can call me Claire."
"Ve vould be delighted, Claire."
"Wonderful. We'll see you tomorrow at six, then. Again, thank you so much."
"You are more zhan velcome, ma'am."
Walking down the sidewalk, Logan tossed they keys to Kurt.
"You can drive now. I want to navigate and make smart ass remarks."
"You are just jealous zhat you didn't think of zhem first." Kurt opened the door, slid in behind the wheel and eyed the instrument panel.
"You can drive a stick, right Buttercup?" Logan asked as he got in the passenger side.
"I am a master at driving a stick, Sunshine. I can also operate a vehicle vith a manual transmission." Kurt grinned and started the truck, using his tail to work the shifter.
"Is there anything you can't do with that thing?" Kurt pondered a moment.
"I vill let you know vhen I find somezhing. Vhich vay to the hotel?"
"Hotel?"
"Didnt you read the file? Along vith directions to Mark's house, zhe professor included information for zhe hotel vhere ha has booked us a room."
"Nah, I just skimmed the top page. Hey, there's a list of restaurants, too. How do you feel about barbecue?"
"Who doesn't love barbecue?"
(Break)
After they had eaten, they drove to the hotel and walked into the lobby. Logan approached the desk while Kurt admired the artwork on the walls. The clerk looked at him before turning his attention to Logan.
"May I help you?" Logan slid a piece of paper across the desk.
"I have a reservation under 'Xavier'." The clerk glanced at the paper and type something into the computer in front of him.
"Ahh, yes. You are Mr. Logan?" Logan nodded. "That must be your guest that Mr. Xavier called about earlier?" Again Logan nodded. "Very good. You are authorized for three days, let us know when you leave so we can bill accordingly. A free continental breakfast is available in the dining room until 11 am. Have a nice evening and thank you for staying with us." As he spoke, he swiped two key cards and folded them into a piece of paper with a speed that suggested he did it many times each day. He held out the paper to Logan and smiled at him. Logan took the paper and walked across the lobby to the elevators, grabbing Kurt along the way. When they were in the elevator and ascending toward their floor, he spoke.
"Did you see the way that guy looked at us?"
"Nein, I do not pay attention anymore." Kurt's tail absently scratched at an itch on his cheek.
"He definitely looked at us funny." Logan watched Kurt's tail as it roamed around as though it had a mind of it's own, tapping on the walls and running along the ceiling. "I bet you can't go the rest of the night without using your hands."
"Vhat are zhe terms?"
"You have to use your tail for everything you would use your hands for, until midnight. If you use your hands, you have to go a whole day of my choosing without teleporting, and you're not allowed to tell anyone why."
"Ok, but if I vin, YOU have to vear a bright pink shirt for a whole day of my choosing, and you also cannot tell anyone vhy."
"Deal." Logan held out his hand and Kurt shook it with his tail. Just then the elevator dinged at their floor and the doors opened. They walked down the hall to their door where Logan held out a key card to Kurt, who took it in his tail without a word. He opened the door with no problems, an accomplishment even for someone using two hands, walked into the room and burst out laughing.
"I know vhy he vas looking at us veird."
"Why?" Logan walked in behind Kurt and looked around the room. It was a standard hotel room, a little bigger than normal, with a desk, a closet, an armchair, two end tables with lamps... and one bed. He smacked his forehead with his hand and shook his head.
"Vell, at least zhere vill be no fighting about who gets vhich bed." Kurt took a running leap and ported to the middle of the bed. He bounced up and down a couple of times before rolling off and walking over to the desk. His tail grasped the handle of his backpack and lifted it off his shoulders. Putting it down on the desk, he glanced at the clock and started unbuttoning his shirt. He got it off without any problems and pulled his undershirt off.
"What are you doing?"
"Getting ready for bed."
"Do you have to do it out here?"
"How else vill you know zhat I didn't cheat?" He rummaged around in his backpack and came up with a pair of pajama pants, which he placed on the desk beside it before unbuttoning his jeans. He noted that Logan quickly turned around and looked around in his duffel bag as he pulled down the zipper. He grinned. This was too easy. When he had his pajama pants on, he pulled out his toothbrush and toothpaste and walked into the bathroom. When he emerged Logan had already changed into his pajamas and he stalked into the bathroom to brush his teeth. He walked out again 5 minutes later to find Kurt flipping through the channels on the tv.
"Call the professor, would you? He's going to want an update." Kurt got his phone out of his pocket, put it down on the desk, opened it, held down a speed dial button and held it up to his ear. Logan put his clothes into his bag and halfway listened.
"Hello professor. Yes, ve found him. Yes, ve vere able to talk some sense into him. No, actually it vas Logan zhat convinced him. Yes. Yes, ve are going to zheir house for dinner tomorrow. Ok. Alright, I shall tell him. Goodnight sir." Kurt put his phone down and turned to Logan. "He says good vork, and ve may as vell stay tomorrow night as vell. Logan nodded absently and put his bag in the closet. "Vhich side of zhe bed do you vant?"
"Doesn't matter to me." Kurt ported to the side closest to the window and settled in under the blankets. Logan switched off the light and got into his side. They watched tv for a while until Kurt started yawning and Logan switched it off. All was quiet until Logan spoke.
"I guess you won."
"I have a confession to make. I've gone a month vithout using my hands before, vhen I vas vith the circus."
"I kind of figured something like that when you started disrobing." Logan sighed. "You still won."
"Ve shall go get you your shirt tomorrow, zhen."
"Oh, joy." They fell silent again, and Logan thought Kurt had fallen asleep when he spoke.
"Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"Vant to cuddle?" Logan was quiet for a minute.
"Yeah." They both moved to the middle of the bed, and Logan pulled Kurt's warm back against his chest. It didn't take long for both of them to drift off to sleep.
(Break)
Logan woke to Kurt poking him in the forehead.
"Vake up, Logan." He pulled a pillow over his head.
"No." The pillow disappeared.
"Vake up. Ve're going to zhe mall." Logan groaned and rolled over.
"It's gays like you that give the rest of us a bad name."
"I don't vant to spend all day zhere, ve just need to get you a shirt. Now, eizher you get up and help me pick it out, or I get zhe most embarrassing one I can find." Logan rolled back over.
"Fine, I'm getting up. But you are NOT dragging me to every store there."
45 minutes later Logan was staring in disbelief at the sparkly pink shirt Kurt held up. Written across the front in silver glittery script was 'Fabulous!'
"Oh. Hell. No." Kurt shrugged and returned it to the rack.
"See, aren't you glad you came?" He held up a light pink shirt with a unicorn on it.
"Not wearing that one either." Back on the rack it went. 15 shirts later, Kurt held up a fluorescent pink shirt with nothing on it. Logan sighed.
"I guess that one will do."
"Finally! You gripe zhat I'M zhe one zhat's going to take forever, and you can't decide on a simple t shirt! Since you had to be difficult, ve are going to Hot Topic and Spencer's." Kurt paid for the shirt and handed the bag to his tail to hold. It swung merrily back and forth beside him.
In Hot Topic, Kurt purchased a black straight jacket and a faux leather dog collar, and in Spencer's he got a t shirt that read 'Keep staring, I might do a trick' and a bracelet with the equality symbol dangling from it. The clerk winked at him as he rang up his purchases and gave him a 10% discount. Logan was waiting for him on a bench outside the store when he walked out.
"Can we go yet?"
"Yes, Mr. Grumpy Pants, ve can go."
(Break)
Back at the hotel Logan flopped onto the bed to watch tv while Kurt sat on the armchair with a book. Eventually he put down the book and threw a binder at Logan.
"Vhat do you vant for lunch? I figured ve could get it delivered." Logan flipped through the pages of take out menus.
"How about Chinese?"
"Ok, but you call. Zhey can never understand me, and zhen zhey start yelling at me in Chinese."
"Fine, but you get it."
"Deal."
When their food came, Kurt answered the door and the delivery guy on the other side took one look at him, screamed, dropped the bag and ran away. Kurt shrugged, picked up the food and closed the door.
"I guess our food is free today, eh Logan?"
"Or you scared the piss outta him by opening the door in a straight jacket and dog collar. Plus the blue thing."
"Eizher vay, free lunch. Do you vant chopsticks or a fork?"
"I'll take a fork. Never did get the hang of those things." They sat on the bed to eat their ill-gotten lunch, Logan with his fork and Kurt doing remarkably well with chopsticks. When the food was gone, Kurt passed a fortune cookie to Logan and cracked his open. Chewing on the cookie, he read his fortune and burst out laughing.
"It says 'You vill have good luck tonight.' Vhat does yours say?" Logan opened his cookie and pulled out the paper.
"It says 'Open your eyes to new opportunities on the horizon.' You know you're supposed to add 'In bed' to the end, right?" Kurt let out another laugh at that.
"Nein, I did not. I suppose my cookie is a liar, zhen. Unless ve hit up a club after our dinner vith zhe Andersons." Logan finished his cookie and gave Kurt a look.
"Ha, ha, very funny. Maybe it just means that you'll wake up blue and not green."
"I vould hope so. I saw a pool zhis morning." He smiled innocently at Logan. "Vouldn't vant you to sleepwalk, now vould ve?" Logan ignored the last comment and turned on the tv.
"Oh, look. They're protesting again." The screen showed an angry mob of people outside some government office at the other end of the country.
"Vhat about zhis time?" Kurt turned around to see the tv and threw the bag of garbage in the trash can.
"Looks like they're trying to repeal gay marriage again." Logan sighed. "Some people's children." He flipped off the tv and stretched back on the bed. "I'm going to take a nap. Wake me when it's time to leave, and no funny business."
"Me? Funny business? I vould never."
"Sure you wouldn't."
(Break)
Logan woke up to hear Kurt speaking softly into his phone. He kept his breathing even and stayed relaxed so he would still appear to be sleeping. Eavesdropping wasn't usually his thing, but he was curious as to what Kurt didn't want him to hear.
"Nein, I don't think he knows. Yes, I know. Kitty, I am vell avare of zhat. No, YOU don't seem to be grasping zhe concept. He's my best friend. No. No!" Kurt's voice got agitated, though he still kept it low. "Vhat do you vant me to do? Say 'Oh, hey Logan, I know ve agreed zhat ve should just be friends for now, but I have vanted you since zhat day I accidentally ported into your lap and it's driving me insane zhat I can't have you'?" Logan jerked when he heard this. "I don't CARE, Kitty. I'd razher respect his vishes and be his friend zhan push for more vhen he's not ready and lose him entirely. Look, I have to go. Ve are to be somevhere soon. Ve'll talk about zhis later. Or never. Bye." There was a click as Kurt snapped his phone shut and collapsed into the arm chair. Logan cracked open an eye to see him sitting with his head in his hands, his fingers curled tightly around his hair as if to keep the top of his head on. Logan rolled over and sat up, rubbing his face as if he had just woken up.
"You ok, Kurt?" Kurt's head snapped up and he hastily wiped at his eyes.
"Yeah, fine." He ported into the bathroom and shut the door before Logan could say another word. Logan sighed and began to look for a respectable shirt to wear.
Kurt emerged from the bathroom a few minutes later and grinned at Logan.
"Do you think I should vear my new shirt? It vould go oh so vell vith zhe dog collar." Logan smiled back at his friend.
"Nah, better keep it as low-key as possible. I'd say keep it normal, but I don't think you know the word." Kurt paused in looking for a shirt long enough to use his tail to throw a pillow at Logan. Back to business as usual. Logan had to admire Kurt for his acting skills. If he hadn't known better, he would think nothing was wrong.
(Break)
The drive to the Anderson house was uneventful, and the dinner passed in a blur for Logan. For Kurt it was more like a crawl. The evening started with Claire opening the door and greeting them with a wide smile on her face.
"Hi! I am so glad you agreed to come tonight. Come on in, I want to introduce you to my husband, Paul." They were ushered into the living room where Mark and a pleasant-looking older man, presumably Paul, were seated. They were introduced and soon were seated on the couch, making small talk with Paul while Claire finished the food, which turned out to be a simple but delicious meatloaf with salad and fresh peaches.
When it was time for dessert, homemade apple pie, Paul began a conversation innocently, not knowing the effect it was having on his guests.
"So, how long have you two been together?" Kurt choked on his bite of pie and took a big drink of water while Logan hurried to reply.
"We're not together. We're just friends." Kurt recovered enough to chip in.
"Do you really think I vould let him go out dressed like zhat if ve vere dating? I swear, he has zhe fashion sense of a colorblind straight man." The whole table burst into laughter and Logan tried unsuccessfully to kick Kurt under the table. The rest of the evening went pleasantly enough, and when it was time for them to leave Paul saw them out.
"I just wanted to thank you again for what you did for Mark. I don't know what you said to him, but it was the right thing."
"You are velcome, sir. Ve are alvays happy vhen ve are able to help someone."
"Even so, if there's anything, and I do mean anything, I can ever do for the two of you, please don't hesitate to contact me." He handed each of them a card which read simply 'Paul Anderson, Attorney at Law. Specializing in Mutant Rights.'
"Thank you Paul. We'll be sure to keep you in mind if trouble comes up. But it's getting late and we have a long drive ahead of us tomorrow. It was a pleasure to meet you and your lovely family." Logan stuck out his hand and Paul grasped it firmly, then shook hands with Kurt as well.
In the truck, Kurt seemed to deflate a little, and when Logan asked what was wrong he said he was tired.
(Break)
Back in the hotel room, both men got ready for bed with little joking between them. Logan was already in bed when Kurt got in, and he reached over and pulled Kurt to him. Kurt didn't resist and seemed to relax a little against him.
"Goodnight, Kurt." Logan said softly.
"Gute Nacht, Logan." Kurt whispered.
Logan knew he wasn't going to sleep anytime soon, and he toyed with the idea of making Kurt's fortune cookie prediction come true. He decided against it, Kurt deserved more than a hotel room while on a mission. Logan began to plan a trip to a nice restaurant with a movie afterward, and drifted off as he was deciding where to go from there.