Scott marched Kurt up the stairs, mind burning. How dare Jean tell him what to think?! Who did she think she was? The professor?! His scowl deepened as they walked to the boy's bathroom. Now that he thought about it, Jean had always been a little bit nosy. Always trying to help and interfere. Scott paused at the bathroom door, angrily staring at the white wall. Jean may be a psychic, but she was getting too big for her boots! She needed to learn to stay out of other people's business!
"Um… Scott? That kinda hurts."
The soft German-accented voice brought Scott back to the present. He was still holding Kurt's arm and he was gripping it very tightly. Kurt was staring at him in slight worry and a soft swishing of his tail further displayed his unease. Scott instantly let go, saying, "Sorry, Kurt. Lost in my thoughts." He tapped the side of his head to emphasis.
The blue teleporter gave him a friendly smile and gently patted his arm with a three-fingered hand, saying, "Don't worry about it, man. She was just upset, that's all."
Scott smiled back and opened the bathroom door, gently shoving Kurt inside. "Now wash up." he ordered. "I don't need heightened senses to tell you haven't bathed since you left." Kurt replied by sticking his tongue out at him. Scott grinned, adding, "And when you're all clean, we'll go to dinner, okay? My treat." Kurt's golden eyes lit up and he hurriedly shut the door in Scott's face. There was a soft sound of cloth rustling, then the rush of running water.
Scott laughed as he went to his room, shutting the door behind him. He knew it was a weak barrier in a mansion full of mutants, but the principle of privacy prevailed and he knew he wouldn't be disturbed. For a while, at any rate. As he lay on his bed, he couldn't help but think about Jean and what she kept trying to convince him of.
He shoved the idea aside. How on earth could Kurt hurt someone? He couldn't believe it. He wouldn't. It was just a trick. Like the time Mastermind had brainwashed Jean. That had been a trick too. This was just another attempt of the bad guys trying to divide and conquer the good guys.
Well, Scott was smarter than that! He'd protect the X-Men, just like a good leader should!
He smiled at his little self-decision and heard knocking. Hesitant, he asked, "Yes?" He had expected Jean, trying one last time to convince him that Mastermind's little trick had been real, but thankfully, he saw just Kurt, dressed and ready to go already wearing his watch. He grinned at Scott, saying excitedly as Scott sat up, "Where're we going?"
Scott playfully ruffled Kurt's hair as he walked past him, saying, 'How about Burger King? I haven't been there in ages. You up for that?"
"Sure!" came the enthusiastic response. Kurt ran in front of him on all fours and Scott couldn't help but laugh at the odd sight.
As they went to the stairs, Scott saw Jean waiting at the bottom, a pleading look on her face. Scott glared at her, and reached out and grabbed Kurt's tail before he ran past him. Kurt halted, looking back at him, confused. Scott then said with forced cheer, "How about a little 'poof' to the garage, Mr. Wagner?"
Kurt looked down at Jean up at Scott and then grinned, straightening and giving a salute as he said, "Aye, sir." and 'ported them into the garage.
Scott had to back the car out first and he wanted to check the oil really fast. Kurt said he could wait and sat by a tree, soaking in the sunshine. He felt a light breeze around him, playing with his hair and fur and wow did it feel nice. He smiled to the sun, shutting his eyes. Another breeze came, this time carrying a scent with it. Kurt opened and eye and said softly, so Scott couldn't hear, "Pietro? I'm surprised you'll come so close to me."
The breeze came back and Pietro stood before Kurt. He was standing tall over the German mutant, but if one looked closely, they could see his muscles quivering in fear. He then said to Kurt, "You do realize that if Scotty fails to come back home, Jean's gonna get mad."
Kurt grinned at him, showing his teeth. His fangs were concealed beneath the hologram, but Pietro still felt a little sick and a lot afraid as Kurt purred, "Thanks for the tip." Scott then signaled he was done and Kurt 'ported into the car seat, buckling himself in as he grinned broadly.
As they drove to the fast food, Scott and Kurt just talked about this and that, laughing, joking, and having a good time. They parked and walked into the restaurant, talking intently about the details of how sword fighting really worked. They got in line, barely noticing that there were more of their classmates in the restaurant. Scott ordered a decent meal while Kurt ordered the same, but as a large with extra fries. Scott paid the lady behind the cashier, joking, "You're going to put me into bankruptcy with that appetite of yours, Kurt!" The younger mutant grinned broadly at him before grabbing his cup and going to the soda machine.
The day was slowly slipping into evening, but it was still kinda warm out, so they took their meal outside, where they talked some more, about school, movies, books and other stuff. After about a half-hour, when it was starting to get dark, Scott decided he'd been skating around the ice long enough. Time to get down to business.
He put his burger down, and asked, "Kurt?"
The blue mutant had his mouth stuffed with fries and managed out only a muffled, "Hmmph?"
Scott grinned at the childish act and then asked seriously, "What happened with you and Pietro?"
Kurt paused, chewed and swallowed and then admitted, "I was bored and I kinda went and played a joke on him."
"A joke?" Scott repeated. This was starting to sound like an innocent prank. Kurt played jokes all the time.
"Yeah, he was sleeping, and I wrapped him in a blanket."
Kurt giggled at the end of his statement, making Scott raise an eyebrow. "Wish I could've seen that." he said with a grin. "But seriously, Kurt. I'll be blunt." Kurt looked at him, attentive. "He said you ate him."
Kurt looked confused for a second and then laughed, explaining, "I was hungry at the time and while he was sleeping, I kinda started whispering in his ear, comparing him to a burrito and telling him how hungry I was. I didn't mean any of it, but his face was priceless!"
He laughed and Scott joined him. This was the Kurt he knew! The joker, the kidder, the friendly, all-around guy! "Is that it?" he asked gently, wanting to be sure, without a doubt.
Kurt nodded, saying as he grabbed a few more fires, "Yeah. Pretty much." He drowned them in ketchup and scarfed them down, making Scott chuckle at the funny expression on his face.
A few people came out of the restaurant, but Scott ignored them, chuckling as he grabbed his drink, saying with a smile at Kurt, "You know what? Jean's gonna feel like such an idiot when I tell her." Kurt nodded, cheeks stuffed with fries and burger.
"Hey. You."
Scott looked up. Right beside them were five well-built young men. From the hawks on their lettermen's jackets, Scott realized they were on the football team. The one who had asked him a question was huge, probably like 300 pounds or something and all of it pure muscle. Scott had to admit he felt a tiny bit intimidated. He was tall, but kinda thin and scrawny. But then he remembered why he wore his ruby shades and said easily, "Hi there."
"You Scott Summers?" the football player asked.
Scott looked at Kurt, who looked just as confused as he was. Scott then answered, "Yeah. Why?"
The next thing Scott knew, there was a bright light in front of his eyes and he was on the floor. A warm liquid was in his mouth and it tasted coppery. He was on his back, one leg still on the bench. His right arm was down under his body, the other draped over his chest. He couldn't see Kurt anymore, but heard him yelp, "Scott!"
Scott fought the bright lights out of his vision and slowly realized what had happened. The football player had hit him. For no reason!
Said jock was rubbing his knuckles where they had grazed Scott's tough glasses, growling, "Where's Duncan, fairy-boy?"
"Fairy-boy?" Scott murmured. But he figured that he did indeed look thin and tiny next to those huge guys. Angry now, he got up, saying, "Look, I haven't seen Matthews since the party. And what's with hitting me? I haven't done anything to you!"
The jocks all laughed and the main guy leaned down and grabbed Scott's scruff, pulling him to his feet. Scott heard a shout in German and turned to see Kurt standing up and trying to get to him, but another jock had grabbed his shirt, capturing him. Scott knew Kurt could 'port, but while Bayville knew that Scott Summers was a mutant, Kurt Wagner's identity was still safe. If he 'ported, it wouldn't take long for people to put two and two together.
He then tried reasoning, saying, "Look. Obviously there's been a misunderstanding." Glad of his glasses, he scanned the parking lot, hoping to see someone who could help them, but they were alone. The servers in the restaurant were cleaning the back room or something because no one was around. He then went on talking, hoping to calm the angry jock down. "How about we just sit down and talk this over like the responsible young adults we are, huh?"
But this only got the jock mad and he shoved Scott hard, slamming him roughly against the concrete. Scott felt the skin on his palm break and the sting as blood began to flow. The jock came and stood over him, saying angrily, "After that party, Duncan disappeared. You've had a beef with him since you both started school."
Another one of the football players behind him added, "We figured you and some mutant friends helped to attack him."
"Attack him?" Scott said, incredulous.
Ignoring that he had spoken, the first jock continued, "Now, you tell us where he is, or you're gonna regret it."
Now Scott was getting mad. He knew that sometimes these sport-nuts could be stubborn, but this was pushing his patience. He then replied firmly, "Look, I don't have any idea what you're talking about! Can't you call him or something?"
"Tried already." The jock said. "Now…" he reached under his jacket and Scott's eyes grew wide under his visor as the shiny barrel of a .22 caliber pistol was leveled with his face. "Where is Duncan?"
Kurt, still held fast by the other jock, let out a squeak.
Scott knew better than to recoil or try to blast the gun out of the jock's hand. Any sudden movement might startle the kid into pulling the trigger and he wasn't nearly fast enough to get his hand up to open the slit in his visor. He gulped and said, "Whoa, whoa! Let's put that away and talk, okay? There's no need for violence."
The jock then grinned in that smirking, annoying way all jocks had. The 'I'm-smarter-than-you' grin. He then said, "You've got three seconds, Shades, before I blast a hole right between your eyes."
Scott began to sweat and wished he weren't wearing his glass so he could signal to Kurt to 'port himself out of harms way before things got ugly. Scott then held his hand up slowly and gently, saying, "Look, I don't want trouble and I have no idea where Duncan is. I met him at that party at his house and that's the last I saw of him."
The jock's grin got wider and he said with glee, "Wrong answer, Slim." and pulled the trigger.
Scott ducked as the gunshot echoed loudly in the night air. He felt a rush of wind, but nothing else. No pain, no aching, no nothing. He was expecting to feel the fiery pain of the bullet wound, the one everyone talks about. He was expecting to feel the bullet smash into his body and jerk him backwards, like you always see in the movies.
But nothing happened.
He was so relieved that he kinda fell down. He looked around him and saw that it was only him and Kurt now. The jocks were gone. Suddenly, he saw movement at his feet and he gasped and scrabbled backwards, thoughts of rabid rats running through his mind. But then he saw that the little thing was too small to be a rat. And too colorful.
As he watched Kurt stood up, now free, and walked around the table. He went down and picked up the little thing, and Scott realized with a hitch in his breathing that Kurt was holding the jock that had nearly shot him. He was about three inches tall or so, perfect in every detail, just all tiny.
Kurt's blue eyes were glowing yellow despite the hologram as he hissed, "NO ONE hurts my friends!" Then, stunning and confusing Scott, Kurt quickly shoved the tiny thing into his mouth. Kurt seemed to shift him around a little and then titled back his head and swallowed strongly, eyes closed. He waited for a little bit, then allowed his head to come forwards and gulped a few more times before sighing in relief. His right hand came up and gently rubbed against the front of his shirt, against his stomach, as he licked his lips, purring softly. He then went and picked up the other four jocks, who were also tiny. Kurt then repeated the procedure on each of them, showing no interest in their questions or pleas.
Soon, it really was just Kurt and Scott.
Scott hadn't moved and was staring at Kurt, his mind blank and confused. What had just happened?
Kurt came and gently kneeled next to him, putting a hand on his shoulder, asking softly, "You okay, Scott?" Scott found himself nodding. Kurt then peered at his right shoulder, saying in relief, "I got him just in time." He then let his tail out from around his waist and the barb gently fiddled with the cloth covering Scott's shoulder. Scott was baffled until he felt warm tail touching his skin. He looked and saw that the bullet had blazed right past him, ripping his shirt and blasting a decent hole in the concrete behind him. If Kurt hadn't done whatever-the-hell he had done, Scott knew that his brains would be leaking out from his visors.
But then realization of what exactly Kurt had done struck home and Scott gasped out, "Jean was right."
Kurt froze, saying immediately, "Scott, no! I…"
"You killed them, Kurt." Scott said this softly and plainly, trying to convince himself of what he had just seen.
"They would have killed you, Scott! I saved you!"
Were those tears in Kurt's eyes? But the older mutant wasn't moved, saying softly, "Jean was right. You are a murderer."
The effect was immediate. Kurt kneeled and grabbed his hand, almost begging, "No! No, I'm not! I SAVED you! He would have shot you, Scott! Can't you see? I saved you!"
"Don't touch me!" Scott shouted, ripping his hand out of the three-fingered grasp. He scrabbled backwards and stood up, a new feeling welling up inside him. One that wasn't nearly a friendly as it had been an hour ago.
He glared at the mutant on the floor who was pleading, "Scott, please understand…"
"Get away from me." Scott said coldly, and began to walk off. He turned around and shouted, angry and hurt, "I thought I knew you, Kurt! I though I knew you better than anyone else! I thought you were a good guy!"
Kurt was still on his knees, reaching for him, muttering softly, "Scott…"
Scott then stared right into the fake blue eyes, saying clearly, "I was wrong."
The sound that came out of the other mutant's throat was pitiful to listen to, it made your heart break, but Scott's heart had become tougher than adamantium as he commanded, "Get away, Kurt. And don't come back this time." He then walked off, saying over his shoulder, "We have no need for killers at the mansion."
"Please!" Kurt's cracked voice nearly made Scott stop, but he kept walking, ignoring the soft sobs behind him.
Kurt remained at the restaurant for nearly an hour, crying softly. Being rejected by Jean was one thing. But Scott? Having Scott reject you was the ultimate thing. He knew he could never go back to the mansion.
Yet Kurt wasn't sorry for what he had done. He knew that had he stood aside and watched, Scott would be lying dead at his feet right now. Because of him, Scott was alive. That he was proud of.
But this was thrown into sharp relief with the fact that Scott had officially kicked him out of the X-Men. Where would he go now? His inducer would eventually run out and then what would he do? Hide? Where?
Kurt got up, sniffling. There was still food on their bench, but he walked off, ignoring it. As he walked into the shadows of the alleys, he withdrew a tiny metallic sphere from his pocket.
A sphere with a tiny little button…