Disclaimer: I don't own the X-Men. Please don't sue me or steal my stories!

NOTE: This story exists thanks to a special request for more X2 Nightcrawler stories. :D I've been brainstorming about what could come next, after stories like my Arrival Quartet, Lennon's Ghost, Haunted Recollections, Masks, An Unsung Hero, and so on and, though I went into detail about Nightcrawler's life growing up with the circus in Small Steps, Great Leaps, I haven't really explored Nightcrawler's circus in THIS universe. While I probably won't be able to help drawing a bit from Nightcrawler's Inferno and stuff like that, much of this story will be pulled from my own imagination. I hope you enjoy the ride! :D

Thanks so much for your interest in my Nightcrawler stories, and for your request! :D

BAMF!


Tabula Rasa
By Rowena

Part One

"Postcard!" Kitty Pryde called over the chatter and laughter in the X-Mansion's common room, waving the rectangular card above her head. "Postcard for The Incredible Nightcrawler!"

"Over here, Kätzchen!"

Spotting her indigo blue language teacher by the window, Kitty headed straight toward him, phasing through the Clue game Bobby, Rogue, Theresa, and Jubilee had spread out in front of the fireplace.

"Hey, watch it!" Jubilee exclaimed, her fingers sparking. "We're trying to solve a murder, here!"

Kitty smirked. "It's not like I even touched your game," she said, looking down at the board. "I say it was Mustard in the Kitchen with a Pastrami on Rye!"

"Ha ha, very funny, sug," Rogue smirked back, taking her turn to move Miss Scarlett.

"Thanks a lot, Kitty," Bobby groaned. "Now I'm hungry. Hey, Jubes, you're on kitchen duty this week. Do we actually have any pastrami?"

Kitty chuckled and continued through the edge of the sofa and an end table with a lamp to the corner nook where Kurt Wagner crouched at the edge of an overstuffed armchair, his yellow eyes glued to a book and his long, spaded tail swaying behind him. As she approached, he set the book aside and smiled up at her – a smile he managed to make warm and friendly despite his startlingly sharp teeth.

"Guten Tag, Kätzchen," he greeted.

"Hiya, Elfie." Kitty smiled back, glancing at the slim novel's antique-looking book jacket. "What're you reading? Another Horatio Hornblower adventure?"

"Nein." The German mutant shook his head. "This one's a comedy. The Code of the Woosters, by P.G. Wodehouse. Do you know it?"

"Nope," Kitty said, plunking herself down in the chair opposite his. "Why, is it good?"

"So far," he said. "It is a strange book, though. The language this author uses is quite…idiosyncratic. Reading it through… It is almost like a lesson in English vocabulary, except it is very funny. Perhaps I should share it with you students? A book like this may help you ace those advanced placement tests you have coming up."

Kitty shrugged. "Might be better than having to memorize all those vocab flashcards."

"Ja, exactly!" Kurt smiled again. "The Professor's library is truly amazing. I can't help but wish I'd had access to such an array of books when I was a child! I feel…I want to read all of them, all at once, you know? But with classes to teach and Danger Room training and getting my flight hours in, it seems I have so little time."

"Oh, then I'm sorry I—"

"No, it's all right, Kätzchen," Kurt assured her. "You said you have a postcard for me?"

"It says here it's to The Incredible Nightcrawler." Kitty pointed to the large, block-printed letters on the back. "But that's pretty much all I could read. The rest is all handwritten German. Oh – and look. The front of the card says 'Greetings from Las Vegas!'"

"Las Vegas? Let me see," Kurt said, his tail swaying curiously as he took the postcard from her with an intricately scarred, three-fingered hand. "It could be from my dear friend, Christian. I wrote him a letter shortly after I arrived here. After all that had happened… You know, with Weapon X abducting me from my circus, and then the attack on the White House and the destruction of that awful base at Alkali Lake…" He closed his golden eyes against the appalling memories, then took in a sharp breath and straightened his shoulders. "Well, better he get an explanation from me than the news channels, ja? Now, let's see what this says…"

Kurt ran his eyes over the message, then read it through again, his brow furrowing and his lips growing tight.

"What is it?" Kitty asked, starting to get a little concerned. "Is it from Christian?"

"No…it's not…" Kurt stood, his expression distant as he turned his troubled gaze to the window. "It's from my sister."

Kitty stood to join him. "You have a sister?"

"Yes." Kurt's tail lashed, then twisted around his ankle. "Jimaine is my foster sister. Her mother – my foster mother – ran the circus where I grew up."

Kitty nodded, then looked up at him. "Is she OK?"

"She says she is doing well. But…" He shook his head a little, tapping his fist to his mouth. "She says the circus is under new management. It seems this new manager has secured them a booking in Las Vegas. She wants me to come to see the show."

"But, that sounds like good news," Kitty said. "Why do you look so upset?"

Kurt sank back into the armchair, running a hand through his short, wavy hair. "It's just…strange," he said. "Herr Professor and I have been trying for months to contact my old circus. And now… She invites me to be a spectator…? And Margali – running that circus was her life! Why would she step down for this…this new manager…?"

"I guess they've been going through a lot since…well…since they lost you… But, you've been through a lot too. I mean, like… You're here, now, with us. One of the X-Men. Right?"

"Ja." Kurt nodded, his eyes still troubled but a small smile starting to quirk at his lips. "I am here. And, as much as I do love performing, I would not wish to give up the friends and the life I have found with all of you."

"Well, that's good to hear," Kitty said, wrapping her arm around his shoulders for a quick, sisterly squeeze. "I don't think I could take it if you went away and took all your fencing and film classes with you."

Kurt chuckled, ducking his head with a bashful grin. "Thank you for that, Kätzchen," he said. "It's good to know when you're appreciated, ja? But, I should take this to the Professor. If I am to accept my sister's invitation, I will need some time off. And, perhaps, Ororo and Logan might come with me."

"What about me?" Kitty said, straightening indignantly.

Kurt stood, giving her shoulder a warm squeeze with his tail. "Maybe next time, Kätzchen," he said. "We could make it a school trip! But this, I think, will be more personal…"

"Yeah. Family stuff," Kitty acknowledged. "OK, you're off the hook this time, Elfie. But next time your circus comes around, you have to take me along. You promise?"

Kurt smirked. "I'll see what I can do," he told her, slipping his postcard into his book then vanishing in a BAMF of smoke.

To Be Continued…


Thanks so much for reading! Your thoughts, comments, and reviews would be greatly appreciated! :)