3.
BAMF!
"Kurt!" Ororo Munroe sits up in bed to face her early-morning visitor, her sleepy face warm with affection. "If you've come as my replacement alarm clock, I'm sorry to disappoint you. I was just waking up anyway."
Kurt smiles in return, but there is no humor in it. Ororo pulls on her slippers, peering up at him with concerned blue eyes.
"What is it?"
"Ororo," Kurt starts, uncertain how to broach the subject. Jean had been Ororo's closest friend. He doesn't want to hurt her with his news...
"Tell me, Kurt." Ororo strides to where he stands in the shadows, reaching out to take his hands. "If something's wrong, I want to know."
"Meine Liebe," Kurt tries again. "What I have to say may come as something of a shock..."
"Then let me guess. You're leaving. You've found somebody new."
"Was!" Kurt's golden eyes widen, his spaded tail lashing in startled agitation. "Nein! Ororo, I—"
Ororo chuckles and shakes her snowy head, drawing him closer to kiss his thick, blue fingers. "I'm teasing, Kurt. Come now. What's happened?"
Kurt stares at his hand in hers, then sighs and closes his eyes, struggling to find the best way to phrase his news.
"A woman has just arrived," he says softly. "She calls herself Phoenix. But..." He hesitates, meeting her eyes with deep compassion. "She looks like Doktor Grey."
Ororo gasps, her grip tightening until her nails dig into his skin. Kurt represses a wince, reaching out with his other hand to gently loosen her grip and sandwich her hand between his.
"But she isn't..." Ororo stutters, "She can't be..."
"I cannot claim to understand," Kurt says, "but Herr Professor is with her now, as are Doktor McCoy, Logan, and Scott. I felt that, since Doktor Grey was your dear friend, you should not be kept in the dark about this."
Ororo's eyes flash. "And, you were absolutely right. Take me to them. Now. I want to see this Phoenix for myself."
Kurt nods, his tail twining securely around her waist as he wraps her in a close embrace. "Ready?"
"Go."
BAMF!
To Be Concluded...