Notes: Haha, yes, Scruffy, it's a very good thing Cassie's around for these two idiots. They have good friends ;)
Griezz, as longtime Nightcrawler fans know, Kurt's teleportation powers were in fact limited before he died, to a point, but you're not giving our favorite Fuzzy Elf enough credit here. Even before he had the bamfs, he could teleport up to 300-500 miles (depending on the writer). The movies and cartoons limit him more than the comics do because it looks better visually to do short jumps, but he has always been able to do long distance in the Marvel comicsverse.
But when he came back from heaven, his powers had significantly boosted. (See volume one of our fic. In the "This Looks Bad" chapter of "A Wolverine, an Elf, and a Hawkeye Walk Into a Bar," we had Kurt explaining this to Kate, saying that he's been able to 'port further since dying - and further still when he uses the bamfs.)
That's not just a 714 thing, either. That's comic canon. If you haven't read the 2014 Nightcrawler run, first of all, shame on you. The issue after the Death of Wolverine is stunningly drawn and will make you cry as Kurt reflects on all the people he's lost over the years. Sure, we hate the Death of Wolverine arc, but Kurt's reaction was A+ Kurt writing. But I digress. In issue #8 of that Nightcrawler run (which you should read anyway because that issue also involves hilarious bamf shenanigans and Kurt flirting with a space pirate lady omg), Kurt teleports from the mansion to a desert on the other side of the world and then just… sits there in shock for a bit until he figures out that the bamfs are acting like "living superchargers" (his words) to give him even more range to his 'ports.
So now, with the bamfs helping him, as long as he or the bamfs know where they're going, Kurt can get almost anywhere in one 'port. We're actually trying to tone that back in the 714 so he's not as buffed in our 'verse as the 'official' 616 universe, but I understand the confusion if you're not up on your Nightcrawler comic reading.
Chapter 5: "Past the Point of Paperwork"
When Scott and Annie returned from two weeks in Hawaii, they were both tanned and grinning, and Annie giggled when Scott insisted on carrying her through the front door of the mansion, positively beaming.
Anyone that was nearby on their arrival gave them a round of applause as they entered, with Jubilee as the loudest supportive voice — whistling and cheering them on, which only made Scott blush. Annie, of course, loved every second of it and assured him that she was just glad the X-Men liked her, seeing as she'd be part of their lives now.
"It's good to have you back," Storm said with a wide smile and a warm hug as the last members of the team — Kate and Kurt — arrived in a poof of smoke, sweaty and half out of breath in their uniforms, just popping in from a session in the Danger Room, where Kurt was teaching Kate his own style of swordsmanship.
"Wow, you two are working hard," Scott said their way with a smirk. "Anything happen while we were gone?"
Kate and Kurt glanced at each other before Kate answered quickly, "Nothing big. Kurt's been helping me with swords so I can learn the dual wield."
"Is everyone working so hard?" Scott asked, still clearly in a good mood with one hand around Annie's waist.
"Uh — if you count Jubes totally kicking Bobby's butt in the epic prank war you missed? Then yes. Yes they have," Kate said.
"Prank war? Again?" Scott laughed. "What kicked it off this time?"
"Bobby suggested that Jubilee might be trying to lead Noh into their own happy nuptials," Kurt said with a little smirk.
Scott laughed outright. "She's not — they're not serious."
"Yeah, well, Noh didn't understand Earth wedding customs, and it was too good of an opportunity for Bobby to pass up," Kate explained, chuckling as she shoved her hair out of her face.
"Has he admitted that Jubes is winning yet?" Scott asked.
"Has he ever admitted that without someone else stepping in?" Kurt asked with a laugh.
"Is it time for someone to step in?"
"Oh, don't do that yet," Kate said sincerely. "Jubes has one last prank cooked up, and it's going to be glorious, and trust me, you'll want to see it."
Scott just smirked and shook his head at that. "Alright, but if it ends up taking anyone else out — you're going to help with the clean up."
"Yes sir, Mister Boss Man," Kate said with a teasing grin. "One janitor reporting for duty — you know, if it gets that bad." She swept her hair back agains and then gave up and just undid the ponytail to redo it entirely before she turned to Kurt. "Okay. Go again?"
Kurt nodded in agreement — and Scott spoke up. "Mind if I watch? I've never seen him teach the dual."
Kate shrugged. "As long as you don't laugh at me," she teased. "I'm still very much a beginner with my left hand. Very much."
"You're learning a new skill; I'm not going to tease," Scott promised.
"Great! Then you can come if you want," Kate said. She broke into a teasing grin. "Besides, you, mister, haven't finished my training either."
"I know; we're going to have to get back into that," Scott agreed. "We have things to do, I'm sure. Might even start doing some easy missions. Two man runs. Things like that."
"Don't know if you've heard, but I was on a two-man team for years before I met you," Kate teased. "I don't need the training wheels."
"Yeah, fishing Barton out of dumpsters doesn't really count," Scott laughed.
"You've met the tracksuits. We were also fighting them," Kate said, unable to stop the grin.
"Okay, well. If you can do that without laughing then alright," Scott had to admit, still with a little grin. "But how about X-Man two person teams? That's … a little bit different."
"Then, what're we waiting for? Throw something on the schedule, boss man," Kate told him.
"Unfortunately, our line of work doesn't give us a heads up on rescue missions and pick ups. We have to wait on Rachel for that. But — show me what you got." Scott grinned and headed toward the elevators, extending one hand in a gesture for her to go right ahead.
Kate grinned as she and Kurt took the fast way to the Danger Room, and the two of them fell back into the easy sparring they had been doing as a warmup as Scott went up to the booth, half watching the two of them and half skimming through the files to see what all had been happening while he was gone.
He was still partially paying attention to Kurt's gentle instruction and critiques of Kate's form when he got to the files from just after he and Annie had left for their honeymoon, and the grin he'd been wearing for weeks started to quickly settle into a frown as he read over the reports of the team's encounter with Sinister.
By the time he'd finished reading and had settled into a nice glare as he re-read it, Kate and Kurt made their way back to the booth, panting and grinning until they noticed the look on his face. "What's got your goat?" Kate asked.
"What happened with Sinister?" Scott asked, no preamble, as he turned their way, file in hand. "And where is Logan?"
"He's gone to the woods. I'm sure he'll be back soon enough," Kurt said with a shrug. "As for Sinister — well, we didn't win the fight, but he did have to change bodies. That was why Logan left."
But that didn't seem to be enough answer for Scott, who looked nearly accusatory. "Did you know Sinister was around? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were on your honeymoon?" Kate pointed out, one hand on her hip and clearly in disbelief that this was his reaction to finding out they'd stopped that creep from screwing with his happiness. "That's not an interruptible thing."
"It is when there's a psychopath like that running around," Scott said with a tone that made it clear that to him at least, it was the most simple answer in the world.
"There are always psychopaths running around," Kate pointed out, pointing an accusing finger at him. "Attitude like that and poor Annie will never get any romance with you."
Scott sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Sinister is a special case."
"Which is why he came when he did," Kurt pointed out. "He would likely have been thrilled to have interrupted your honeymoon — which is why we didn't let him."
Scott's jaw locked up as he glanced up at Kurt. "And Logan just disappeared right afterward. Sounds about right."
"He got a total beat-down. Him and Noh both. So — you know." Kate shrugged.
"Yeah, I know," Scott said quietly as he simply scrubbed a hand over his face with the weariness evident in his body language and tone. "Nothing changes around here." With that, he put the file back and let out a sigh. "You two looked good down there. Keep it up."
"Go kiss Mrs. Boss," Kate suggested with her head tipped to one side as she watched him. "You look like you need it."
Scott sighed as he looked her over carefully. "Can't hurt, I suppose," he said with a tiny smirk, though he looked a bit distant.
"Can't hurt?" She put her hands on her hips. "Oh, if Annie heard you talking like that, you'd be swimming in Southern right now. Can't hurt. Honestly."
"I don't know what that means, but you might be right," Scott said with a little laugh.
"Of course I am." Kate shooed him toward the door with both hands. "Come on. You should be glowing, Mr. Newlywed. Go get it back."
Scott couldn't help but smirk a bit more at that as he allowed Kate to shoo him. After all, he wasn't going to say no to a little more time with Annie.
When Kate arrived at the simulator a few days later to meet up with Scott for some flight training, she had to tease him when she saw that he was smiling. "Kiss Mrs. Boss recently?" she asked him outright.
"Yes. Much kissing of the Mrs. Boss," he said with a nod and a smile at her antics. "Thanks for asking."
She just grinned and nodded. "Good. I like my instructors happy and well-kissed," she teased. "Puts them in a better mood for putting up with me."
"Yeah, because you're really hard to deal with," he said dryly. "Let's just get some hours put on this thing so I can check it off your list."
"Promise not to crash it if you're nice," she said cheerfully as she climbed in.
"I'm always nice," Scott replied with a winning smile.
"Then there will be no crashing."
However, that went downhill fast. Scott couldn't help but give her pointers and suggestions on even the tiniest of matters, and Kate got tired of his 'help' after maybe five minutes. She quickly established that every time Scott tried to talk her through something that she knew well — and had told him she knew well — she would do something to retaliate and get her point across, from just letting go of the stick and turning to talk to him while the sim crashed to purposely sideswiping his side of the simulator against a rock cliff or any number of silly things that had Scott torn between yelling and outright laughing.
"You said there would be no crashing!" Scott pointed out.
"I said there would be no crashing if you were nice," she shot back after having just crashed them into a cliff. "I told you — I don't need to be told nine thousand times about half this crap. You're supposed to teach me how to get better, not how to get annoyed."
Scott just stared at her for a moment in disbelief before he simply threw up both of his hands. "Okay, fine, Top Gun — show me what you have." He gestured to the controls on the sim. "Just — go ahead. What can you do?"
"Watch and learn," Kate said with a grin — she'd clearly just been waiting for the opportunity. "And zip your lips," she added, complete with zipper miming motions.
With that, she seized the controls and took off, taking them through a few loops, tight spins, and quick maneuvers before she landed them neatly, brushed her hands off, and looked his way pointedly. "There. There. Now — now is the part where you tell me how I can improve."
He couldn't hide the smile as he looked down at her. "Okay. You've got some skills." He shook his head. "Next mission we get — you're pilot."
She grinned outright. "That sounds suspiciously like a compliment, Scott."
"Let's just see how you fly for real."
Kate was all decked out in her uniform, which now included a sword after all the time she'd spent with Kurt, and ready to go as she passed Jubilee and Noh in the kitchen and gave her a jaunty salute. "See ya later, Jubes! Off to go save the world with the boss man," she called out.
"Have fun, try not to kill him," Jubilee called back. "In spite of the stick, we love him!"
"Don't worry — I'm training him well," Kate said with a grin. "Toodles!"
"Good luck with that," Jubilee said quietly as she turned back around on her kitchen stool to shoot a smile Noh's way. "So. What to do, what to do…"
He was sitting in the stool beside her as he seemed content to just grin at her with his chin resting on the palm of his hand until she addressed him. "Well," he said with a shrug as he straightened up to consider the question. "There are so many options... Parties to attend, pranks to plan…"
"Your turn to pick," she decided. "I've been hogging all the fun lately."
"Honestly, I think I could use a little peace and quiet," he admitted, one hand resting on her shoulder as he absently traced the edges of her shirt with the tips of his fingers. .
"Ooooh, how novel," she said with a broad smile. "Unless you mean alone time ... then ... you know. Whatever. I'll find something to do with myself," she added with an overly dramatic pout.
He just laughed and hook his hand around the back of her neck to pull her into a long kiss. "I was thinking a little trip to space. Nothing too far, just a low orbit. I miss the stars," he admitted when the kiss broke, resting his forehead on hers.
"Then we need stars," she said with a nod that moved both of their heads together.
He smiled before he straightened up again and grabbed her by the hand. "Then what are we waiting for, Jubilee? I have music, the universe has stars, and you — you have a delightful smile that outshines them both."
"Well you put the smile there," she countered, smiling at his infectious excitement. "Lead on."
With that, he just grinned and swept her up in his arms to carry her off to the ship in the hangar, and it wasn't long at all before they were in stationary orbit above the school and he was listening to the Ronettes, as usual, the beaming smile obvious as soon as the drums started up. Jubilee was grinning at him and dancing along as he pulled her by both hands, just watching her favorite alien shed every worry and just enjoy himself.
But then — the communications equipment chirped at them to let them know that they were being hailed. Both of them paused in their dancing, and Noh let out a long sigh as he had to turn the music down.
"Never a dull moment," she said with a little smile before she kissed the end of his nose.
"Especially with you," he agreed as he flipped on the communications screens, though he lost a bit more of his smile when he saw the official-looking SWORD emblem and a severe-looking woman with green hair on the other end of the screen. "Can I help you?" he asked politely.
"Noh-Varr, this is Abigail Brand of SWORD," she said in a crisp tone. "We'd like a quick word with you, seeing as you've been living on Earth for some time without going through our procedures first."
"I believed everything was in order after I spoke with the director of SHIELD," Noh said calmly. "If I've done something amiss, that was not my intent. If you have forms — or something else — please, send them my way."
"I'm afraid we're past the point of forms," she replied curtly as she removed her sunglasses. "You'll need to come with our SWORD officers. It shouldn't take too long if you're compliant."
"That," Noh said with his jaw tight as Jubilee could feel the rest of him tensing beside her, "depends entirely upon SWORD's actions."
"Just join the nice representatives that are coming to dock," Brand said. She didn't even blink as she turned her attention to the Marvel's other occupant. "Miss Lee, you are welcome to stay where you are."
"Package deal, lady," Jubilee said with her arms crossed. "Sorry 'bout your luck."
"I'm sure it won't take long," Noh said softly, but with enough venom in his tone that Brand couldn't possibly have mistaken it. "She can come with me to keep you company while I ... decide if SWORD deserves compliance." He was speaking slowly and carefully, but there was no mistaking the fact that he had moved so that he was standing slightly in front of Jubilee with his fists clenched, even if they were only speaking over a relay.
Brand narrowed her eyes slightly. "If we allow Miss Lee to come along, our discussion will be private."
"That's fair," Noh said, again speaking very carefully. "So long as she is allowed to leave with me."
Brand considered it for a moment before an unsettling smirk rested on her features. "I find that acceptable."
Noh turned to Jubilee. "Would that work for you?" he asked. "I don't want to speak for you."
"I'm staying with you," she said stubbornly. "And I will paff the life out of anyone that doesn't like it. Including this ... Brand creep."
"Then we'll meet your representatives at the docking station," Noh told Brand. "And I will have Miss Lee with me."
"Until our meeting," Brand replied. "She can wait that out in a very comfortable office space."
"Jubilee?" Noh pressed quietly.
She looked up at Noh and then to the screen before she pointed a finger Brand's way. "You harm one hair on his head and I'll blow your stupid smug look off your face."
"Somehow I'm not surprised at your reaction," Brand said dryly. "Considering your background, that is. It's a shame you weren't with the X-Men last time I had dealings with them."
"I should note," Noh said, his voice low, "that the same threats Jubilee has uttered apply in my case if you should hurt her."
"For as inseparable as you have been lately, I'm not shocked," Brand replied.
"I take it that means you have been monitoring me?" Noh said coolly.
"It's part of what we do," Brand replied.
Noh frowned and then turned to Jubilee, switching off the communications screen without even an attempt at a pleasant goodbye. He offered her his arm. "Come on. Let's meet these… people at our door," he said with a deep frown, and she latched onto his arm after she made it a point to pop up on her toes and kiss his cheek. Noh had told her his history with SHIELD — most of it, anyway — and she knew how uncomfortable and upset these people made him. Which just made her mad on his behalf.
The SWORD agents that docked with the Marvel and took them to Brand were … stoic. And very well-armed. Though when one got too close to Jubilee and she gave them a false rush with her hands up defensively, the man did have the sense to flinch, at least.
"I don't like this," Jubes said almost inaudibly even to Noh.
He simply responded by grabbing her hand and lacing their fingers together, a silent show that he wasn't going to let them separate the two of them.
When they met up with Brand outside her office, he gave Jubilee's hand a little squeeze rather than extend his own in greeting. "I certainly hope whatever you have to say is worth my time," he said sharply.
"I wouldn't waste my precious time if it wasn't," Brand replied flatly before she gestured to a different office for Jubilee to wait in. "We won't be long, sweetheart."
Noh glanced at Jubilee's' livid expression. "I would suggest you refrain from calling her by names that I use," he said in very nearly a low hiss. "They are not yours."
Sparks were jumping from Jubilee's free hand as she glared at Brand. "One hair," she warned in a tone dripping with ice, "and I will come and visit you alone. And talk about what you pulled with Dr. McCoy while I'm melting your face off."
Brand just gave Jubilee a dry look — but a far more appraising one as well — before she waved Noh into the office, which he noted almost immediately had been soundproofed. "If this is meant to keep me from calling to Jubilee, we will have a problem," he said bluntly.
"I was under the impression that you didn't need the littlest X-Man's assistance," Brand said.
"I don't," he said. "But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the backup, not does it mean I don't believe having her by my side is the best decision I've made since coming to your universe."
She paused and seemed to search his expression for moment, and when he only responded by holding her gaze, she nodded once. "Good to know." She took in a deep breath and took a seat before she got right down to it. "You're going to help us out. We have a little work that we think you'd be perfect for."
Noh raised an eyebrow. "I'm happy to help protect this Earth," he told her frankly. "But I don't understand the need for the theatrics."
"It's not theatrics," she replied, though she seemed almost tired as she slid the file across to him. "Here is your assignment. You can take it the easy way, like a good boy, or we can do this the hard way. Your choice entirely."
He narrowed his eyes at her as he looked over the file — a small mission, but one that would supplant SHIELD's hold on a base in Antarctica. "There is nothing here of interest to you," he told her as he slid the file back to her. "SHIELD is your ally, and this base is one of Fury's. I do not like the organization as a whole, but his choices are less… distasteful."
"As it happens, I agree," Brand replied honestly before the stoic facade cracked for just a moment as she sighed out a little breath. "But this is over my head."
"This is a power struggle," he surmised. He sighed and shook his head. "I don't want any part in a fight between your organization and SHIELD. I don't see how that will protect Earth."
"If I could tell you all the details, I would, but you need to do this job if you want to keep playing around with that little X-Man."
He narrowed his eyes at her. "And if I refuse?"
"You can't. I'm just asking for your cooperation."
"But not my permission."
"If it comes to that," she said with a nod.
He frowned and reached for the file once more, looking at it more closely as he just started to swear in Kree under his breath, cursing SWORD and the situation in general.
"It's not necessary to speak like that," she said, the glare obvious even behind her sunglasses. "I didn't do anything personally to you."
He looked up at her and then pursed his lips. "You speak Kree."
"I speak most languages," she admitted. "It's useful in negotiations."
He pressed a hand to the bridge of his nose as he let out a breath. "I will do this one thing for you. And then you will find another operative."
She smirked his way. "We'll discuss it further at a later date," she replied. "But for now, I think you might want to put your little toy away and get to work."
"What, no earpiece? Instructor following my every move?" Noh asked coldly.
"If you need it, I can have it brought right up," she shot back.
He stood up with a glare. "I've managed on my own without your interference for years," he said.
"Then I'll leave you to it," she replied. She paused, took off her sunglasses, and let out a long sigh. "But for what it's worth — the orders suggested we shouldn't give you the option at all. But I disagree with that assessment."
Noh just glared. "Know this, Abigail Brand: I will find out where the orders came from."
"If I get another order that I disagree with this much, I might just let it slip," she told him honestly as she replaced the glasses.
"Then on that, at least, we can agree." He pushed the file back to her. "I don't need it — I've learned all I can."
"I know," she replied as she gathered up the file and pushed it into an incinerator on her desk. She glanced back up at him with almost a smile. "Good luck — but for what it's worth? I hope you can't pull this one off."
"It's a simple mission for me," he said with a smirk. "But we'll see. Perhaps their security is not as… lax as the reports indicate."
"That would be unfortunate," she agreed with a matching smirk.
He extended his hand to her for a very quick handshake. "I'm sure we'll speak again, Abigail Brand."
"Jubilation should be good and mad by now," Brand said, tipping her head toward the door. "I'd hate to be the one handing down marching orders when she gets really mad. Particularly with a secondary mutation starting to show."
Noh raised an eyebrow, pausing in what would otherwise have been an almost friendly parting. "You would do well to keep your nose out of her business," he said in a low tone.
"Incidental catch," she said with a wave. "Terrans don't interest SWORD."
"Somehow, that makes SWORD more appealing than SHIELD in general for my tastes." He paused and shook his head. "Good day, Miss Brand," he said as he went for the door. "I hope this is the final time we work together."
"At least under these circumstances," Brand agreed.
Noh smirked as he walked out of the office and to the one nearby, where, as expected, Jubilee was pacing, sparks shooting from her fingertips. "Jubilee, you have always looked best when you are ready for a fight," he called out to her the moment he stepped in the room.
"Just because of the sparks, I'm sure," she replied, the color still in her cheeks as she glared at the guards near the door.
"They bring out the color in your face and the sparks in your eyes," he said soothingly.
She paused, though the sparks didn't die down. "No sweet-talking until we're off this tin can."
He nodded his agreement. "I will do as you ask — but it pains me," he teased.
The smirk came on its own as she looked up at him. "You are asking for trouble, mister."
"I so often am," he agreed as he offered her his arm. "Come, let's leave these people behind and go home."
She finally stowed the sparks and took his arm, though she was still ready to blast the first person that touched her. "I'm not sure I feel much like dancing," Jubilee admitted. "But music and you would be perfect."
He nodded as they walked back toward his ship. "I think that would be lovely. We need to go back to Earth anyway."
"That's a shame," she said looking up at him with one raised eyebrow. "We just got to the stars."
He shrugged and did a very good impression of someone who wasn't disappointed. "There's a small matter SWORD would like my help with. I can take you back to the stars as soon as I have disposed of their … ridiculousness."
"I'll just take that as a promise," she said loftily.
"See that you do," he replied, pulling her a bit tighter to him.
"Do you need any help in this stupid secret matter?"
"Not at all," he said with a wave of his hand. "You do not need to be involved."
She wrapped her arms around his waist as they walked. "Okay. I trust you."
He nearly stopped in the middle of SWORD's hallway at that pronouncement, and for a moment, she watched him struggle with an expression that didn't quite make it all the way onto his face. But then he just picked up the pace and swept her up into a warm embrace and a long, lingering kiss the moment they arrived on the Marvel. "I'll strive to be worthy of that trust," he whispered to her earnestly.