Kurt woke early the next morning, snuggling in his blankets while purring his contentment. It was Saturday, and that meant they were going to the beach today! He rolled over to be on his back, one three fingered-hand scratching his stomach idly, ruffling his blue fur. He yawned hugely and eased himself out of bed, shaking his legs to get the PJ pants to stop sticking to his furry skin. He then stretched; bending so far over backwards a normal person would have fallen over. He yawned again as he straightened up, walking over to his dresser, tail swishing behind him. He pulled on a shirt and then decided to take the time to walk to the kitchen area. When he opened the door, however, a small glass thing bumped against one of his two toes. He paused and picked it up. It was a tiny glass vial and there was a funny golden liquid inside. He stared at it, wondering what it was. Was this one of Kitty's make-up tubes that had escaped? He opened the bottle and sniffed hesitantly.
Surprisingly, instead of the sickeningly sweet cherry scent he had expected, the odor that touched his nostrils was thick and heavy and intoxicating and reminded him strongly of raspberries. He took a deeper breath, closing his eyes. For some reason, this little vial made him think of peaceful things. He thought to himself that this must be Jean's. She had tons of these little aromatherapy things. They helped her relax when her powers would start acting up. He then remembered that the stuff Jean bought was pure organic stuff and was even okay to drink. He was her bane when it came to her 'Peppermint Pleasure' solutions; he downed those things as fast as she bought them!
He sniffed the golden liquid again, reveling in the smell of the red berry. He stuck a fingertip in the vial, got a drop on his skin and tasted it, ready to spit it out in case it was some of the synthetic stuff. But no! A strong raspberry taste flooded his senses and without a second thought, he stuck the vial in his mouth, closed his teeth on the neck of it, tilted back his head and with one gulp, drank the whole thing. He spat the vial out, and licked it, making sure he hadn't missed so much as a drop. He hoped Jean had more of this flavor! He dropped the vial into the trash as he headed down to the kitchens, hungry for breakfast.
On the way, however, he passed by the professor's room and noticed the door was open. That was odd. The Professor made it a rule to sleep with his door closed. It was specially shielded so that when he dreamed, his subconscious thoughts didn't enter the minds of the students.
Kurt then went to close the door when he saw that the window was open too. That was very odd. He peered in the room and had a sudden bad feeling in his gut. He suddenly wanted to make sure that the professor was okay and he slipped silently into the room and went to the bed and the sleeping man upon it, knowing that he was risking the sudden daydream nightmare of a psychic awakening. But he went and gently touched the man's shoulder, asking, "Sir? Are you all right?"
He froze. The skin under his fingers was cold and stiff. He withdrew his hand with a cry, backpedaling frantically. He didn't need any further examination. That single touch had been enough to provoke chain of thoughts in his head that whirled fast and faster.
His skin is cold… The blood under the skin is cold… The blood isn't moving… The heart isn't beating… The brain isn't sending a signal to the heart for it to beat…
Logan was suddenly at the doorway, asking, "What is it?"
Kurt didn't look at Logan, but at the man on the bed, whom he had thought was innocently sleeping. But he wasn't. He then muttered softly, "He's dead."
Logan became as still as stone and asked very softly, "What?"
Kurt stood up and backed away from the still form on the bed until he had his back against the wall, murmuring over and over again, "He's dead. He's dead. He's dead…" Kurt squatted down and hugged himself tightly, still muttering words he didn't yet believe. "He's dead. He's dead."
The professor couldn't be dead. He was the strongest mutant alive!
He watched without seeing as Logan ran to Charles' side and began checking his pulse and then falling back, shaking his head.
The professor was just sleeping, Kurt thought. He'll wake up soon! Then we'll go to the beach and everything will be all right.
Logan was walking slowly to the intercom mounted on the door, and was speaking into it.
The professor will wake up, and we'll all eat breakfast.
The students came in the room, Kitty crying openly.
I think I'll have pancakes. Storm makes the best pancakes.
Kurt's mind wandered around, lost and whimpering, as Logan gently covered up the professor's face with the bed sheets.
Why's he doing that?
He suddenly felt very cold, and hugged himself even tighter.
Professor Charles Xavier was dead.