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Omg hi everyone! I have loved Nightcrawler for many many years and when '97 came out the voices took over /j I love him so much đđđđđđđđI have been starved for fanfiction of Kurt. I really wanted to write something for him so here we are! Some things to mention before I get started:Y/n will be referred to with gender neutral pronouns. They have plant powers. (More on that later ;) ) The prologue is just explaining Y/nâs backstory and powers a little bit. Feel free to skip, chapter one is where the action really starts.The first few chapters will be from the old 90âs cartoon and then follow X-men â97. Perhaps if I catch up with '97 it might go on hiatus until the next season. Once Kurt joins the X-Men I might start just writing whatever and not following a specific storyline. I usually have a whole 3 arc plot planned out when I start writing something but this time I just wanted to write and went with whatever came to mind. I explain at the end of this a/n why this happened.
Kurtâs personality is based a lot on the cartoons and personal headcanons.This story may have some themes that might be upsetting or uncomfortable for people to read. I will always put warnings beforehand. Some I think will be happening are: Mild violence/injury, non-sexual intimacy, possible sexual content or suggestive content (if I feel like it), grief, trauma, abusive parents, humans mistreating mutants (duh) Possibly others, weâll just have to see!Y/n is not written to be religious in this, but I try to stay respectful of Kurt being catholic regardless. I have bad experiences with that sort of stuff but Kurt is one of the few that uses his beliefs for kindness and helping people so- I do try lmao My religious trauma might seep in through my writing, do let me know if I overstep without realizing <3
Kurt has a German accent throughout all of this. I wasnât sure how to write one so seojfnseofen
Translations (will be added at the beginning of every chapter):Love: LiebeDarling: lieblingTreasure: SchatzMy: MeinPlease: BitteSweetling: LiebchenI love you: Ich liebe dichIâm sorry: Es tut mir LeidMy friends: Meine FreundeMy god: Mein GottMy angel: Mein EngelI missed you: Ich habe dich vermisstYou are beautiful: Du bist wunderschön
One last important thing to note is that I wrote the prologue and 2 chapters in June in the middle of really horrible burnout. The burnout still has not gone away, and I am not sure when I will be able to write again. There's just been a lot going on. I didn't want these chapters to go to waste though so I've decided to edit and publish what I have. So basically, I am unsure when the next update will be. This has been an issue with all my other fics, which is why you might see a lot of them unfinished. 2024/25 has been rough. But I do plan to return to this and all my other stories someday! This is not discontinued!
With that out of the way, I hope you enjoy Kurt being a silly billy! :3
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Being a mutant wasnât easy. It never was.You donât remember exactly when your powers started to surface. There were a few signs in your childhood. Just walking by a plant would perk it up. Sometimes you swore you could feel what they needed, as if they were speaking to you. Your parents had laughed it off, thinking you were just being a silly kid with make believe plant powers.Then one day at recess a group of bullies cornered your (at the time) best friend and pushed her to the ground. They kicked her and called her foul names. You donât know what happened, you just got so angry.Out of nowhere, the little oak sapling near you grew to its full size in the blink of an eye, and then some. Its roots burst out of the ground and snatched up the bullies, leaving them dangling helplessly in the air.You remember your friend screaming and running away. The sound of the bullies crying. The crowd of children and teachers staring at you with wide, fearful eyes.âMutant.â You heard the word whispered in the crowd over and over. Then you returned to your senses and the oak tree begrudgingly dropped the other kids, pulling back into the ground and looking like any other tree.
When you walked towards the others, they backed away from you. You didnât understand it back then; the terror in their eyes, kids and adults alike. The disgust on your parentâs faces when they found out. Your âbest friendâ never spoke to you again.It was clear that your parents didnât want you anymore. They pulled you out of school and kept you locked away (as much as the law would allow), calling you terrible names. Demon was used the most. Dangerous too. You still have nightmares about it.You remember crying in your room, wondering why everyone hated you. Why did your parents despise you? You were just trying to help. You would never hurt anyone. So why?To make matters worse, your powers grew stronger and more uncontrollable by the day. The power of the earth at the fingertips of an 8 year old. Not a good combo. Plants would grow rapidly, completely overtaking the house.Your parents couldnât take much more. Their child was a mutant. How horrified and disappointed they must be. You were essentially left to rot in your room, completely overrun with plants. You couldnât bear to damage them. They were your only companions, and you felt their pain. Did plants have emotions? You didn't know. But pretending like they did was the only comfort you had.Your savior came in the form of Charles Xavier; a powerful telepath who came to you one day, offering to take you from your parents. He said that he could help you to harness your powers.You vividly remember the day he came to your home. After hearing distant voices, you snuck out of your room, tip toed down the hall, and peeked into the living room. You saw this strange man trying to persuade your parents to let you go.Even while in deep conversation with them, you heard his voice clearly in your mind. Do not be afraid. You have a beautiful gift Y/n, and I will help you understand it.
In that moment, you felt your mind clear for the first time in 5 years.It was no surprise that your parents readily agreed. They couldnât wait to be rid of you. It stung. It would always sting. Especially as you recalled how gentle and loving they had been before your powers made themselves known. It would stick with you forever.Still, life got better. You were in a safer place, living in a large mansion with others like you. People who understood, who were also rejected and scared. You lived there for many years, training and learning to understand your mutant abilities. Over time, you developed them into something you could be proud of.You could make plants grow as large and powerful as you wanted. Even if there were no plants around, all you needed was a seed. You kept a bag of them with you at all times.Your presence alone kept every plant in the mansion healthy and bright with color. You could feel what they wanted, and communicated with them in an odd plant language only you could understand. Plants were your entire life now. Your room was full of them.But now, you had more than just plants to keep you company. Xavier taught and guided you with a steady hand. Logan, though grumpy, was never unkind to you. He became like a tired uncle to you. You had friends your age who had similar struggles. Hell, Scott couldnât turn his lasers off even if he wanted to. You all grew extremely close.Once adulthood hit, you graduated with full marks. And of course, you joined the X-men along with the others. You became Nightshade, named after the poisonous plant. But to be honest you preferred to use non-lethal plants if you could.You were one of the X-men. An elite force of heroes that worked to protect all of mankind, human and mutant alike. The ultimate goal was to someday create a world where humans and mutants could live in harmony. A world that did not hate people like you.Did you believe in the cause? Very much so. But sometimes you found yourself wondering if this dream could ever become a reality. You wanted it desperately, but the hatred of humans was almost too much to bear sometimes.Time passed. You fought many battles. Won some, lost others. The X-men were the only true family you knew. But over time, it started to feel lonely. Sure you had your friends, and you loved them all dearly, but every so often you would catch yourself wishing for something more. Someone who understood you completely, who you could give your entire being to. You would always sigh and remind yourself that it was not in the cards for you.
That all changed when you met Kurt Wagner. And it all started with a skiing trip.
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You werenât a very religious person. Your parents had tried to raise you as a devout church goer but after severing your ties with them youâd given it up entirely. So when you heard a group of tourists whispering about a demon sighting in a little town in Germany, you just chuckled and shook your head. Humans will believe anything they hear.You were on a skiing trip with Rogue, Gambit, and Logan. At first it was only meant to be a romantic getaway for the two love birds. But then Logan, being the overprotective guy he was, invited himself along. Much to Gambitâs dismay.Rogue, not wanting to get caught up in the middle of the menâs squabble, begged you to come along. She hoped you could help relieve the tension. And also maybe distract Logan long enough for her and Gambit to have some alone time.It's been ages since you had a vacation. Being an X-man meant that you had to be ready to go save the world at any time. So you practically jumped at the opportunity to get away.Unfortunately, the cold climate of the German Alps seemed to sour everyoneâs attitudes. You watched with a shake of your head as Gambit ran off to try and soothe Rogueâs temper. You felt bad for her. She planned this trip and you both had been looking forward to it. You just sipped your hot chocolate, not wanting to get involved in their little quarrel.
âCome on a demon? You must be kidding.â Your ears picked up on a conversation happening in another part of the lodge. You glanced over your shoulder at a couple sitting nearby. A woman was looking at the man she was with in disbelief. He just shrugged with a grin.âI heard it on the train. The whole town thinks they've been under attack by some dark creature for months. Must be some local superstition.â The man chuckled.You turned and locked eyes with Logan. His silver eyes darted between you and the couple. It looked like he had also been listening. You both smirked mischievously at each other, having the same idea. Finally some entertainment.Logan sauntered over to the couple and placed a hand on both of their shoulders, leaning down to their eye level. His voice was full of mirth as he smiled at the two startled humans. âTell me moreâŠâYou sighed and gulped down the rest of your cocoa. This day just got a lot more interestingâŠ-You flew down the mountainside on your skis, happy to finally be out of that stuffy lodge. Out here, the air was crisp, clear, and clean. Nothing like the smoggy atmosphere of the city you called home.The icy air filled your lungs, causing a shiver of delight to run down your spine. You werenât usually a big fan of the cold. It made growing things more difficult. The plants that did grow here were happy though, you could feel it.You were able to keep up with Logan well enough. Gambit on the other handâŠ. Hearing him struggling behind you made you giggle and skid to a halt alongside Logan.Rogue soon joined you, sticking her ski poles into the snow as you all waited for Gambit to catch up. âExactly how far is this Neuherzl?âLogan nodded towards the snowy hill that lay in front of you. âA couple more miles. Why? You quitting?â He challenged with a grin.You hummed and turned to look in the direction of the lodge. It was far behind you now. You were freezing your ass off, but the idea of an adventure was just too exciting to pass up.Rogue on the other hand still looked unsure. She glanced up at the dimming sky, turning a gorgeous shade of orange. âIt is getting kind of late. Maybe I ought to fly us there.ââWhat, and spoil Gumboâs fun?â Logan teased, pointing to where Gambit was rapidly approaching.You and Rogue turned back to watch as Gambit slid around the snow with the grace of a cat on roller skates. You couldnât stop the laughter that bubbled from your chest as you watched your usually suave friend slip right on his butt and go the rest of the way down to your feet. âPoor Gambit⊠So out of his element.âGambit squinted up at you grumpily, though there was no true anger in his vermilion eyes. âOk. So we donât ski much on the bayou.âRogue chuckled and offered him a hand. âYou sure you donât want help?âGambit sat up and dusted the snow out of his hair. âCourse not. Gambit a natural athlete.âHe stood up on his own, looking really smug for someone who just biffed it mere seconds ago. You rolled your eyes and turned back to continue down the hill. âOne of these days youâre gonna have to let go of that pride swamp boy.âGambit scoffed at you and was about to make a remark, when his skis suddenly unbalanced. None of you had noticed the way they'd been teetering over the edge. He started sliding backwards, letting out a yell of alarm as he did.You whirled around as best you could in your skis. âI didnât mean now!ââRemy!â Rogue shouted his real name in her shock. You both took off down the hill after him with Logan right behind you. âHold on! Weâre coming!âYou put on a burst of speed, watching with fearful eyes as Gambit was at the mercy of gravity. Why did you have to open your big mouth?Gambit flailed helplessly as the mountain grew steeper. Somehow he managed to flip himself over so that he was facing the front, but he was going way too fast. You patted your hip and felt the bag of seeds still attached to your belt. Good thing you hadn't left it back at the lodge.
Before you could even think to use them, you realized that Gambit was heading straight for a tree. You gasped and stretched out your hand, willing it to move out of the way. But it was too late. Trees canât just jump out of the way and Gambit had picked up too much speed. He slammed right into the trunk with a thunk that made you flinch.To make matters worse, his hand grabbed at the bark and in his terrified state, his powers awakened. You watched in horror as the entire tree lit up and exploded. Bark scattered everywhere and you had to stop to shield your eyes as it rained down over you.The explosion rang out across the mountain, rattling your bones. Once the world grew silent again you hesitantly looked between your fingers to find the tree nothing but a smoking memory. Logan had pulled Rogue away just in time. They laid in the snow together, looking just as shocked as you felt.You shook your head to snap out of it and struggled over to where Gambit lay unmoving. âGambit!? Shit.âRogue flew over and beat you to him. You realized with a relieved sigh that your friend was still alive. He groaned in pain, unconscious. But he was alive. Thank godâŠâCome on Remy. Say something.â Rogue whispered, holding his head in her lap. She looked down at him worriedly. You quickly joined her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.âMan doesnât break a sweat against Apocalypse or Magneto. So⊠so what nails him? A pine tree.â Logan grouched as he made his way over to the group.âHe doesnât look goodâŠâ You murmured anxiously. The remains of the pine tree also spooked you. You felt its brief flash of pain before it died. You couldnât blame Gambit for that, but it had still shaken you.Hearing rumbling, you and Logan looked behind you and up towards the towering mountains. Your heart dropped when you felt the earth shake and saw the wall of snow swiftly billowing towards you. âOh noâŠâLogan cupped his hands around his mouth to yell down at you and Rogue. âAvalanche!âRogue didnât hesitate to grab Gambit and fly him to safety. You pulled some seeds out of your pack and tossed them to the ground, hoping desperately that they would work in the snow.Concentrating all of your energy into the seeds, you urged them to grow. It took more energy than usual, but eventually some green vines sprouted up and gently plucked you from the snow. You turned your attention to Logan and had the vines pull him out too.But the snow tsunami came too big and too fast. It tugged you and Logan under, even cascading over Rogue before she could get high enough. All you saw was a blur of white as freezing pain enveloped your body. Then everything went black.-Kurtâs pov đ€There were strangers in the monastery. I heard an unfamiliar voice echoing across the stone walls. Some man was yelling for help. He sounded desperate. Something about his friends⊠An avalanche.Curiosity got the better of me and I teleported to the entrance. I kept to the shadows of the rafters, peering down at this man in concern. He was dragging along three unconscious companions with him.I had to bite back a gasp when I saw one of them. They were an enchanting human with h/c hair and s/c skin that seemed to glow under the torchlight. The snow suit they wore was torn in several places to reveal a few nasty looking bruises and scratches. The most curious thing about them was the small bag attached to their belt. The man carrying them over his shoulder made a point of grabbing it before my brothers could take the strangers to the infirmary.My sharp ears picked up a few snippets of conversation. They were here on vacation and got in a skiing accident. They would stay here until one of them, the man with red hair, received medical care.My tail swung thoughtfully behind me. Seeing new people here was exciting, but my chest stung with the pain of not being able to show myself to them. Surely my appearance would be frightening, as it was to all who saw me.My good mood dampened and I bamfed away to the medical wing where the others had been carried off to. The person I noticed before had already been cared for and had several bandages on their arms, head, and midsection. My fellow monks had left the room, now worrying over the other two.Maybe it was just the excitement of new visitors, but I couldnât help but admire the stranger from afar. They were the most gorgeous creature I had ever laid eyes upon, as if the angels themselves had molded them.As I watched, peering down from the shadows, I realized with a tilt of my head that they were shivering. They must not be used to the cold. My brothers were too busy with the man in critical condition. They wouldnât be giving this stranger a blanket anytime soon.I bit my lip and looked back at them in concern. If I was quick enoughâŠI steeled myself and quietly bamfed away to the storage room, grabbing the thickest blanket I could find. I then returned to the stranger's bedside and gently draped it over their body. I adjusted the blanket around them, making sure they were comfortable before quickly pulling my hands away. The shivering eventually stopped and I watched with a grin as they snuggled into the blanket with a contented sigh.A spark of joy jolted through me. Being able to help those in need was what God called us all to do, and I was finally able to do it myself. I had originally planned to bamf away as soon as it was finished but mein Gott I could not look away. The peaceful smile on their lips and the way their hair cascaded over their face made my breath hitch. Why was I feeling this way? It was as if I was drawn to their very presence.The enchantment lifted when they started to move. My blood froze and in the blink of an eye I was gone. Before they could even open their eyes, I was already back in the rafters, holding my head in my hands with wide confused eyes. What in the world was happening to me?I turned back to look at them as their eyes fluttered open. My heart throbbed when I saw gorgeous e/c eyes. They took my breath away, sparkling like precious jewels.The stranger looked much better now. And warm. I smiled with satisfaction and forced myself to bamf away before I risked being seen.-You groaned and opened your eyes, squinting into the dim light. Where the hell were you? Your head throbbed painfully.
Raging headache aside, you were warm and comfortable. You were almost tempted to drift back to sleep. But you didnât know where you were or what was going on. The faintest hint of sulfur lingered in the air and you scrunched up your nose in confusion, wondering where that smell was coming from.The disastrous events of the day came back to you and you sat up quickly with a gasp, instantly regretting it. Sharp pain pounded in your skull. You held your head in your hands and suppressed another groan.Once the pain eased back into a dull throb you looked around, taking in your surroundings with a look of pure confusion. You were in the most comfortable bed in the world, under the softest blanket. You ran a hand over the bandages that had been skillfully wrapped around your arms and abdomen, then looked back up.The room was like nothing youâd ever seen before. At least not in America. Old stone walls surrounded you on every side, with one glass stained window that revealed the snowy German landscape and the night sky that lay beyond. It looked like something out of a fairy tale.âWhat in the worldâŠ.â You muttered.
âAh, youâre awake.â A heavy German accent came from across the room. You jumped in surprise and whipped your head around, flinching as a fresh wave of pain overtook you.There was a man standing by the door, dressed in brown robes. He was obviously a monk. His eyes were gentle and kind as he walked over to you. âWelcome to our humble monastery traveler. Youâve been in a terrible accident, but your injuries are not severe. I thank God for protecting you all.âYou slowly blinked as you took everything in. âWhere⊠where am I?âThe monk put his hands up in a calming gesture. âPlease, do not worry. This is home to 20 members of our order. We minister to many ski accident victims.âYou sat up straight at the mention of the accident. âGambit! Logan and Rogue, my friends. Are they ok?âThe monk nodded. His voice was soothing and gentle. âThey are all ok. Logan is the one who brought you here. Rogue woke up a few minutes ago. Both are unharmed. Your friend Gambit was in bad condition, but he will be ok in time.âIt felt like a huge weight was lifted from your shoulders. You released a sigh and smiled gratefully at the monk. âThank you so much.âThe monk waved you off with a smile. âThink nothing of it. We are called by God to help anyone who comes here. Your coat was damaged in the accident, but we do have a cloak for you. It will keep you warm. Come, we have hot food for you in our dining hall.âHe turned and walked out of the room. You hurriedly hopped out of bed, wobbling slightly as you did. You found the cloak he was talking about; brown and made of the same material the monks were wearing. It was warm and you felt grateful these monks were here to care for you and your friends. Who knows what wouldâve happened otherwise.Your head still buzzed, but even as you followed him down some stairs you felt a lot better. Something did feel a little bit off though. As you walked through the chilly halls of the monastery you couldnât shake the feeling that you were being watched. You felt this mysterious presence with you as you were led through the enormous building. But everytime you glanced around, trying to pinpoint the source, you couldn't see a living soul. Eventually you just shrugged it off and chalked it up to post accident jitters. You were sure you'd feel better when you saw your friends.Your mood did lift considerably when you saw Logan and Rogue sitting at a table together with another monk. Rogue was wearing monk robes, which looked a bit goofy on her. You ran over to hug them. âYouâre both alright! Thank goodnessâŠââHey kid.â Logan chuckled, giving your arm an affectionate pat. You made a face at the nickname.
Rogue smiled and hugged you back tightly. âGood to see you up sugah.âYou released Rogue and sat down next to her. âGlad to be. My head feels horrible but I donât think thatâll last much longer. Thanks to your hospitality sir.âYou nodded in respect to the monk that was seated with the others when you arrived. He looked to be the head of the monastery. He smiled at you with the same kindness you had seen in the other monk. Really they all seemed so sweet. A stark difference compared to the way people of faith tended to act in your old hometown. It was nice.âOf course. Those in need are always welcome here.â He waved to another monk, who nodded and went through a door in the back. He came back moments later with water and a tray of warm food.Your mouth watered at the smell. You thanked him as it was placed in front of you and ravenously dug in, not realizing how hungry you were until now. Your mind was too preoccupied with the food to talk, but you did listen as the head monk spoke to you and the others.âYou should take care where you walk. Some doors on the upper levels open into thin air. The abbey was heavily damaged during the war.â He warned. You nodded, keeping that in mind.âSo Johann, besides prayinâ and ministerin,â what do you boys do all day?â Rogue inquired to another monk that sat nearby.He smiled sweetly at her. âOur mission is to give shelter and comfort to all travelers.ââAnd of course, to offer a place to renew oneâs relationship with the Lord.â The head monk added, putting his hands together in a prayer. You avoided answering by taking a long drink. Being religious hadnât done much for you in your experience, but you always respected that it helped other people. You wouldnât make fun of them for it.Logan wasnât quite as gracious. âBeing close to heaven didnât help us this afternoon Father.âYou eyed him from across the table, tempted to kick him to get him to shut up. But the head monk didnât look offended in the slightest. âAre you sure, sir? Have you lost your faith? What is it that you seek?âLogan smirked. âAction. For instance, I hear you got a demon hanging around here.âThe sound of metal plates clattering made you jump and look over your shoulder. Another monk that you hadnât gotten the name of yet had dropped a stack of plates, looking shaken.You noticed he'd been glaring at you and the others since you got here. He quickly scooped up the plates and dashed into the kitchen. You rose an eyebrow at that, but turned back to where the head monk was shaking his head. âYou mean down in town, the Neuherzl. Yes, odd rumor isnât it? Uh, personally I've never met a demon.âHe sounded nervous, like he was hiding something. You and Logan exchanged a dubious look but didnât comment.Rogue stood up. âI better go check on Gambit.âHaving already finished your meal, you got up with her. âIâll come too.ââWait Y/n.â Logan tugged on your cloak before you could walk off. He dropped your seed bag into your open palm. âI saved this for ya.âYour eyes lit up and you took it graciously before hooking it back on your belt. Having it with you always made you feel safer, like you had something to protect you if you ever needed it. âThatâs where it was! Thanks Logan. Behave.âYou wagged your finger at him playfully. He just shrugged with a mischievous glint in his eye. âNo promises kid.âYou rolled your eyes and went off with Rogue. The two of you idly chatted as you made your way over to Gambitâs room. In truth, you were wanting to make sure he was ok real quick before sneaking off to do some investigating.Something just wasnât right here. The monks were acting strange and the feeling of another presence watching you hadnât lifted since you got here. Hopefully you could just check in and then snoop around a little. It couldnât hurt.As you and Rogue reached Gambitâs room, you discovered with a start that someone was already in there. He was hovering over Gambit with a cloth in his hands.Rogue stepped in before you with an apologetic smile. âOh! Pardon reverend. We didnât expectâŠâShe trailed off. At first you assumed he was giving Gambit medication, but with the way he jumped and whirled around, his shoulders tense, you knew something wasnât right here. Peering at the cloth in his hands, you saw some sort of gas rising from it and alarm bells rang in your head. âWhat are you doing to him!?âThe hooded monk didnât respond. Instead he threw the bottle of whatever chemical he was trying to put on Gambit at you and Rogue. You both leapt out of the way as the bottle shattered and a cloud of the chemical burst out, enveloping you.The gas filled your lungs and a burning sensation stung your throat. Your eyes began to water as you coughed and hacked, struggling to breathe.The monk took this as his opportunity to push past you and take off running.âHey! STOP!â You managed to wheeze out and stumbled after him. Rogue was hot on your heels, flying above your head. She had discarded the monk robes so that she could fly faster.The two of you chased after the man down the halls of the monastery. It was dark and he had a head start, so now all you were following was the sound of his footsteps.Eventually you came across a part of the building that had been destroyed as the head monk had warned. Disregarding the large âDANGERâ sign, you sprinted into the darkness and vaulted over the rubble. Nobody tried to kill your friend and got away with it.The corridor opened up into more ruins. The entryway was tight, and Rogue had to slow down so that she didn't slam headfirst into the wall.You were able to slip through, only to suddenly be met with chilly night air and a several story drop. You yelled in surprise and skidded to a halt, but it all came too suddenly and you found yourself about to topple over the edge.Your mind didn't register what was happening quick enough. The world tilted around you. Right before you went plummeting, a pair of strong arms wrapped around your middle and tugged you back into someoneâs chest. Your heart was in your throat and your legs felt wobbly as you looked down at what would have been a nasty fall.You smiled and turned around, expecting to see Rogue. Instead, you came face to face with a hooded figure in monk robes. It was the person who tried to kill Gambit! Your mind was too hyped up on adrenaline and muddled by the mystery chemical to think straight, or to register the three fingered hands and golden eyes that pierced through the darkness.Your eyes widened in fear and you placed your hands on the monk's arms, trying to push them away from you. âHey let go!âThey only held on tighter. You struggled against their hold, grunting from the effort. They were stronger than you had initially thought. You huffed and gave one final tug, forgetting about the long fall that awaited you from behind.You slipped and fell, dragging the mystery person down with you. Your hair whipped around as the ground grew closer. Before you could even scream, the stranger pulled you close to his chest and suddenly you were enveloped in a puff of smoke. Smoke that smelled weirdly familiarâŠYou felt your body get warped and tugged, causing a sudden nausea to overtake you. When the smoke cleared you were suddenly on a balcony, safe and in the arms of your savior.They spoke softly to you in a heavy German accent. âThere. You are safe now!âHe finally released you and you whirled around, keeping a hand on your bag of seeds. A pair of glowing golden eyes stared back at you from the darkness. The moonlight briefly illuminated a blue face, with black markings cascading down his forehead. A gasp of surprise escaped your throat. He wasnât human. Still, if he was the one who tried to kill GambitâŠYour eyes glowed a faint green and you readied yourself for a fight. To your surprise the stranger only put his three fingered hands up in surrender, his eyes spread wide in a silent plea. âPlease, you do not understand!âYou hesitated, staring into those shimmering golden eyes with wonder. They didnât hold a shred of malice within them, as far as you could tell anyways. And he had saved you, twice. Why would someone trying to kill Gambit save you from falling to your death, when he could have let it happen?Your hand fell from your pouch and the strange mutantâs shoulders went lax with relief. This was short lived however, because out of nowhere a black blur tackled him to the ground with a snarl.You recognized Loganâs enraged growls and gasped, reaching out to stop him. âLogan wait!ââEasy sugah, youâre safe now.â Rogue finally reached you and pulled you away from the two men wrestling on the ground. More like Logan was trying to rip this poor mutant to shreds and the mutant was trying to get away. You watched as the mutant used his powerful legs to kick Logan away from him so that he could flip upright.Logan spun around with a scowl and aimed a punch, which the mutant skillfully dodged. The stranger gracefully hopped over Loganâs head. The way he moved reminded you of some sort of acrobat.Logan summoned his claws and pinned the stranger with the force of his glare. âTry hopping over these, pal.âYou struggled against Rogueâs strong grip. âNo stop! Stop it! Rogue, we got the wrong guy!âRogueâs grip on you lessened. âPardon!? But-ââTrust me Rogue, he didnât do anything! He was trying to save me.â You begged for her to let you go. You didnât want anyone to get hurt, not Logan or this poor mutant that got caught up in the crossfire.Rogue hesitated, then released you with a sigh. âI hope you know what you're doing hun.âYou turned back to where Logan was trying to shred the mutant with his claws. Heâd managed to back the mutant into a corner, and you watched in horror as Logan stabbed right through him. But a puff of smoke materialized right as it happened, leaving nothing behind but the monk garments he had been wearing.The mutant rematerialized several feet away. Now that he wasnât obscured by the robes, you got a better look at him. He was covered in beautiful blue fur, with those black markings going down his forehead and nose. Pointed elf-like ears stuck out of his tousled black hair. A long tail with a spade at the end whipped back and forth behind him, clearly upset. Just like his hands, his feet only had 2 toes. He wore some sort of black suit with white gloves, and a red v that started at his shoulders and came together at his pelvis.You were taken by surprise at his appearance, though not in a bad way. His golden eyes glowed with so much kindness, more than you had ever seen in another person before. And they were beautiful. He was beautiful.âI do not wish to fight.â The mutant was pleading with Logan as he advanced on him. He put a hand out in a friendly gesture, offering a smile that showed off a pair of fangs.Logan paused and took his hand. For a moment the mutant looked happy, thinking he had been accepted. You knew Logan better though. You snapped out of your stupor and ran towards them. âLogan no!âToo late. Logan swung the mutant around and threw him into a wall. The mutant grunted as his back hit the hard stone, and you gasped. âLogan stop it!âYou reached them and slid in front of Logan, glaring at him defiantly. Logan looked at you in a mix of surprise and confusion. You made sure to put your body between him and the stranger, who you didnât see was looking up at you with awe. âIt wasnât him Logan. He saved me. Please calm down.âYour voice was stern. Over the years, you had become one of the only people capable of talking Logan down. You understood he got enraged without much control over it, and was just trying to protect you. Your smile helped to put him at ease and his claws retracted. âIâm ok, really.ââYour friend is right Logan.â The head monk ran in, having heard the scuffle. âYou musnât hurt him. He is my brother.âYou let the two of them talk it out and turned to check on the mutant who had saved you. He was still huddled by the wall, looking unsure. When his gaze met yours, his eyes softened.You kept your smile gentle as you knelt down to him. âAre you alright?âThe mutant seemed doubtful for a moment, staring at you with emotions you couldnât quite place. Was he surprised you were helping him? Perhaps he wasnât used to being treated like a real person. If he was the âdemonâ everyone in the town said he was, maybe he wasnât used to being treated with kindness.After a moment's hesitation, the mutant managed to find his words. He sat up slowly, checking himself over for injuries. Thankfully he looked unharmed. âI⊠I think so.âYour eyes softened apologetically. âIâm sorry about my friend. He mistook you for⊠well heâs very protective. And Iâm sorry about earlier, I thought you were the one who tried to hurt Gambit.âThe mutantâs unsure expression morphed into a bright smile that made your heart melt. He was adorable when you really thought about it. âIt is alright. I understand emotions run wild tonight.âYou felt yourself getting lost in those eyes once again. They were so mesmerizing, you completely missed the infatuation mirrored within them. With a shake of your head you pulled yourself out of the brain fog and offered a hand to your savior.He looked at you, then to your hand with a look that nearly broke your heart. He really wasnât used to this, was he? After some uncertainty, he finally accepted your hand, wrapping his three fingers around your own. When you didnât flinch or make a disgusted face, his cheeks tinged a deep purple and he let you pull him to his feet with a shy smile.You smiled kindly back and released him, missing the way his hand twitched, as if wanting to snatch yours back again. Desperate for affectionate touch that came rarely for him.Instead you turned back to Logan and Rogue, who were still looking confused. And to be honest, so were you. It was time for an explanation.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
âBrother?â Logan asked, voice full of disbelief.You had all decided to get out of the cold and check on Gambit, who was thankfully unharmed. In fact he was awake and even sitting up.Rogue sat at the foot of his bed, holding an ice pack to her temple. That chase through the monastery had been tougher on her than youâd realized, and sheâd gotten hit while trying to fly through that tight doorway.You stood with Logan, the head monk, and the mutant who you learned was named Kurt Wagner. He also went by Nightcrawler as a code name.âI donât see the resemblance.â Logan added. You glared at him and lightly elbowed him in the side. He grunted, shooting a scowl back at you.âBrother in the ecclesiastical sense.â The head monk corrected, pointing upwards to heaven. âThat is, a member of our monastery.âKurt nodded in confirmation before giving you an apologetic look. He gently took your hand in his. âI am sorry I startled you herr/frĂ€ulein/frann.âHe brought your hand to his lips and kissed your knuckles, smiling up at you with a charm you didnât expect. Your cheeks went hot. You weren't used to this kind of chivalry. At least not in America.âI did not know you had powers.â He added before releasing your hand.
You giggled nervously and suppressed the urge to rub the place where he had kissed you. âIts ok. I didnât know you could do⊠whatever it was you did.âYou trailed off, unsure of what exactly happened. Kurtâs cheeks had grown purple when he noticed your blush, and he seemed relieved to have something else to steer the conversation. âTeleportation. I think of a place Iâd rather be, look to it, and I am there.âHe tapped his forehead as if to demonstrate. Gambit finally spoke up, still looking out of it. âGambit rather be in Monte Carlo.âHe groaned and took Rogueâs ice pack, gingerly setting it on his forehead. âThink you can work that out?âYou grinned at him. âHey you got your humor back. Thatâs a good sign.ââEnough small talk!â Logan interrupted, calm as ever. âAre you the guy who attacked Gambit?âHe sent Kurt an accusatory look and you rolled your eyes. âFor the last time no. It was someone else.âKurt shot you a grateful look before turning back to Logan. The head monk waved Logan off. âOf course not. Brother Nightcrawler is a man of God.ââBut,â Rogue jumped in, âyou are the demon we heard tell about?ââIn a manner of speaking, yes.â Kurt confirmed. He didnât sound offended by the questions. âLike yourselves, I am a mutant. But unlike most mutants, my condition was obvious from the moment I was born.âHis eyes darkened, haunted by horrible memories. âThe villagers drove my mother away, for bearing such a freak. I never even knew her name. She abandoned me, but I did not die. Instead I was found by a family of traveling performers. I became Nightcrawler, the star attraction of their little circus. For their freakish world, I was perfect! But when the spotlight went out, I was still an outcast. Shunned and hated.âHis voice was thick with a pain you knew all too well. You felt your own heart cracking with every addition to this story. He was just like you in a sense, hated and shunned by his own blood. âOh Kurt, Iâm so sorryâŠâKurt looked to you with a sad smile, seeing the compassion and understanding plain on your face.âGuess there no peace for the wicked looking.â Gambit remarked.You and Rogue gave him a disapproving look. âGambit!ââNo, heâs right.â Kurt agreed. âThough all people are flawed and all struggle with the capacity for sin, none likes to be reminded of our shared human weakness. My appearance does not make it easy.âYou could never understand how he managed to be so sweet and understanding towards the people who had caused him so much suffering. You never had it within you to forgive your parents. This man was so pure of heart. You wondered how such a loving person could deserve this treatment.âDonât it make you crazy?â Logan said what was on your mind.âIt did once. But then I found peace by devoting my life to God. He directed me to this place, where they value the character of my heart, not my appearance.â Kurt explained.You couldnât help but smile. Though religion hadnât worked out for you, it clearly did wonders with Kurt. You were happy that he had something to ground and comfort him.âWhat are you talking about? Weâre mutants! God gave up on us long ago!â Logan spat, bitterness in every word. Your heart ached. Logan was a man that had seen much suffering. But unlike Nightcrawler, he never really found peace.Kurt shook his head. There was no anger at Loganâs claims. The way he acted was so different from the people you knew back at home. Even people of the same religion. âNo my friend. God does not give up on his children, human or mutant. He is there for us in our times of joy, and to help us when we are in pain. If we let him.âOut of the corner of your eye you saw Gambit shake his head, clearly not buying it. You werenât about to give yourself to God either, but it was oddly comforting to think about regardless.âDonât give me that easy answer garbage! Iâve tried! Donât you think I want that? I donât need a sermon from some circus boy preacher.â Logan snapped. He stormed out of the room and you sighed.âLooks like you touched a nerve.â Rogue observed.âI am sorry. I did not mean to upset him.â Kurt sat down heavily in a nearby chair.You reached out to pat his shoulder. âDonât be, heâs a man who has been through more than any of us could stomach. He lashes out but heâs a good man deep down. You didnât do anything wrong. He just needs time to cool off.âKurt perked up, looking relieved. He smiled up at you and placed a hand over yours.Gambit managed to sit up further, interrupting the sappy looks you and Kurt were giving each other. âFine. Now Gambit got a question. If youâre not the guy who tried to put me out for good, who was?âYou all looked at each other blankly, no closer to the truth than you had been an hour ago.-An icy breeze gently played with your hair. You sighed and hugged yourself, looking out over the town and the snowy peaks that lay beyond. It had been a long night, full of misfortune. Yet here, on one of the monasteryâs balconies, you felt strangely at peace.Rogue was keeping an eye on Gambit, in case that scoundrel that tried to kill him came back. Logan had stormed off hours ago, stewing away somewhere deeper in the monastery. You were tempted to go talk to him, but you knew how he got sometimes. It would be better to wait until later, when his anger was spent.And then there was you⊠So many emotions swirled in your chest. Worry for Gambit and your friends, sadness over Kurtâs hard past, and reawakened bad memories that threatened to drag you under if you werenât careful.The professor had been helping you with these memories since you were a child, and you were usually able to find an outlet. But sometimes they resurfaced with a vengeance. Hearing Kurtâs story had been the trigger this time.âWhile the view is beautiful, I do not recommend being out in the cold for too long.â It was as if your thoughts had summoned him.You flinched and turned around to find Kurt staring at you from the doorway. You relaxed and smiled at him before returning to admiring the streets below. âI just needed some air.âYou felt the hesitation in the air, and your grin grew wider when he finally came over to stand next to you. The two of you stood in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, just drinking in the sights of the German countryside.Curiosity got the better of you and you snuck a few looks at him. He was gazing down at the town with a longing you more than anyone could recognize. He wanted so desperately to be down there, among the people. But he couldnât because they chased him away.You remember being in your room, unable to leave. You would often look out your window and watch the other kids playing in the street, wishing that you could join them. Then you would look around your dark room, choked with vines, and realize that you never would. Never again.Golden eyes turned to you and your cheeks burned when you realized that you had been caught staring. You quickly swiveled your head back to the front, ears reddening when you felt his eyes linger on you, taking in every detail. He did eventually turn away from you and you snuck another glance, noting with surprise the purple that tinged his pointed ears.The two of you eventually regained your bearings and Kurt nodded back to the monastery. âI spoke with herr Logan. You were right, he is full of so much anger and pain. He cannot understand why any god would allow such horrible things to be done to him. He has searched in vain for peace.âYou nodded. âYeah, heâs always been like that. But his friends ground him. He doesnât act like it on the outside, but secretly heâs a big softy.âYou chuckled, thinking about all the times Logan showed he cared in his own subtle way. Kurt tilted his head at you, looking more like a puppy to you than any demon. Seriously, how can anyone this adorable be hated so much? âYou and Logan are very close, yes?âYou grinned and nodded. âYeah. Heâs known me since I was a kid. Heâs grown to be⊠kind of like an uncle to me. I always hate seeing him like this.âKurtâs tail swayed thoughtfully behind him. âI can see how much he cares about you. He spoke of you like a father would his child. You help him.âKurtâs words soothed your worries. It made you happy to know that you helped your old mentor, even just a little bit. âThank you, he means a lot to me.ââI can tell.â Kurt smiled toothily, his fangs poking out the way a catâs would. âWhile everyone was focused on Loganâs outburst, I couldnât help but notice the brewing emotions within you. Your pain mirrors mine. Why is that?âYou squeezed your arm, a new flash of pain stabbing at your heart. Looking at Kurt, you only saw kindness there, and a longing for connection. You felt it too, perhaps that is why you let your walls down. Just a little bit.âWhile my experience isnât quite as extreme as yours, I do know what it feels like to be shunned by everyone around you. To have people fear you over something that is out of your control. I have always had a connection with plants. Before the X-men took me in, the people in my hometown were terrified of me. My parents hated me and kept me locked up in my room for five years. I yearned for human connection but what I had was destroyed, and I was never able to make those connections again after my mutant powers were discovered. I was a freak, monster, demon. So yes, to an extent, I do understand what that feels like. I donât want anyone to feel what I felt. Nobody deserves to go through that. So when I heard about what youâve been through⊠It just makes me so angry. You donât deserve anything that happened to you. And you are so so kind. To everyone. I don't think I could have the strength to forgive what was done to me. Thatâs what makes you so incredible.âKurtâs facial expressions had shifted many times as you spoke. From the patient understanding of a monk, to sad sympathy and understanding, a hint of anger at the way you were treated, and finally with your praise of him, surprise and a face so deeply purple you were worried he might pass out.Kurt ducked his head with a bashful smile and your heart did that weird fluttery thing again. âTo tell you the truth, I still struggle with my anger. The pain of my birth mother abandoning me, and the cruelty of humans still hurts. But in God I find peace, and pray everyday for him to lend me the strength to forgive. You might think that you are a bad person for not forgiving those that have harmed you, but from what I have seen you are kind, and care for those around you. Despite the harsh life you were dealt, you still have a big heart and a gentle touch. You came out of it as a good person with a lot of love to give. Not letting the bitterness consume you and warp your mind is the strongest thing you can do, and it is what makes you so magnificent, Y/n.âYou opened and closed your mouth, words failing to reach your tongue. His reassurance was like a breath of fresh air, putting out your angry inner fire. He saw so much good in you, just as you did him. Staring at Kurt now, with that sweet smile, you knew that there was more to him than you initially thought. And you wanted to discover every detail.The spell was broken by the sounds of distant yelling. You and Kurt tore your eyes away from each other to stare back down at the town. Squinting through the darkness, you could see the dim flickering of torches in the distance, growing closer with each second.Your blood ran cold, already guessing what this was about. The head monk burst out onto the balcony, looking winded. His next words confirmed your worst fear. âBrother! There is a mob headed up the road from the town. They must have discovered you are here.âYour eyes narrowed at the mob. âAnd I donât think theyâre here just to chat.âKurt hid it well, but you could still see the hurt in his eyes. Heâd be forced to uproot his life once again if this went south. âThe town is isolated. The people know nothing about mutants. Perhaps I am here to help open their hearts. I must leave so no one will be hurt.âHis voice broke at the end, causing your chest to burn with anger. He shouldnât have to endure this. Why were humans always so cruel? You had tried to be understanding at first, but after fighting and saving them so many times, only for their cruelty to double, it was starting to wear down on you. And now Kurt, the sweetest man to ever walk the earth, was paying for it.You placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping that your eyes showed how much you cared. âIâm so sorry.âKurtâs shoulders shook slightly. âWhy? Why must they always hate me?âYou shook your head and drew him into a hug, trying to give him any semblance of comfort. He tensed up at first, not used to being touched, but quickly relaxed in your hold and buried his face into your shoulder.It was weird, you two had only just met but somehow you felt as if youâd known him forever. Kurt had found his way past your walls and into your heart without even trying.He choked out a sob and you tightened your hold on him, keeping him steady against you. Your voice was gentle as you whispered to him. âI donât know, I canât understand how someone as sweet as you could ever deserve such treatment. What I do know is that youâre not going to be killed tonight. I won't let that happen. And neither will my friends.âYour face hardened in resolve. Those townsfolk wouldnât touch a hair on Kurtâs head. Not if you had anything to do about it.-âRemember Logan, those people arenât bad. Theyâre just scared. Be careful.â Rogue murmured. The three of you were walking through the monastery, preparing for the mob that was on its way.
You scoffed. These people would rip Kurt to shreds if they got their hands on him. It was well past understanding why they were scared. The life of an innocent mutant was at risk.No one had any idea how the townsfolk discovered Nightcrawlerâs home to be the monastery. You had a gut feeling it was that weaselly monk Reinhard, the one who had been glaring at you and your friends all evening.âCareful? Fifty against three?â Logan growled, voicing your thoughts.âQuatre, mes amis. Donât you know Gambitâs ready for anything?â You all turned in surprise. Gambit was leaning against the railing with a smug look.âYou sure youâre up for this?â Rogue asked, her concern for him obvious.You nodded in agreement. âYeah man, you were bedridden only a couple of hours ago.ââ'Course chere.â Gambit started, standing upright. He immediately flinched and groaned, gripping his head. âSoon as the room stop spinning.âRogue ran over to help him stand while you just shook your head. If it were up to you, Gambit would be sent straight back to his room. But he was a stubborn man who made his own decisions, and you respected that.Down in the pews, the monks were all gathered together in prayer. That was all they could really do right now, none of them could defend themselves. You realized that they were in danger too.As you and the others went down to join them, the sound of shouting reached your ears. You couldnât understand what they were saying, but the anger in their voices was clear.âWelcome wagons arrived.â Logan mumbled beside you. Anxiety sparked in your chest as you listened to the enraged yelling and the barking of dogs outside. They banged at the barred doors of the monastery and threw rocks through windows, causing glass to cascade down on everyone. You quickly stepped out of the way, pulling a monk with you by the back of his cloak.Your mind immediately went to Kurt, who was in the upper levels right now. The thought of him alone made you antsy, so you took your leave. Logan was perfectly capable of protecting the monks on his own. His sharp eyes looked at you questioningly as you left, but he didnât pry or try to stop you.
You found Kurt in the library on the second floor. He was standing by a window, gazing anxiously down at the angry mob below. You walked up to him, about to tell him to get away from the window, but before you could the mob noticed him. The word demon rang through the group and you swore under your breath when you saw one of the men (you guessed he was the police) lift his gun and fire at Kurt.You sprinted over and tackled Kurt away from the window, sheilding him from the shattering glass. The whole monastery seemed to shake as a group of men took a tree log and started ramming it against the doors.You hissed through your teeth, your back stinging from the little shards of glass that had burrowed their way into your skin. Warm blood seeped into your clothes, but you clenched your jaw and forced yourself to ignore the pain for now.Gambit had followed you up here and ran past the two of you, throwing charged cards down at the people below. He was careful not to hurt anyone, only wanting them to be scared off.You looked down at Kurt, who you realized was still pinned beneath you, your body curled protectively over his. His eyes were bright with terror and he gripped your arm like an anchor. You helped him stand and quickly led him out of the room. âCome on, letâs get you further inside.âKurt didnât respond, numbly letting you take him away. You pursed your lips. No matter how many times these things happened, it was still scary. You both jumped when the sound of wood breaking echoed through the halls. Another string of profanities that Kurt thankfully didnât register fell from your lips. You picked up the pace. âThey broke down the door.âYou could hear the mob running in, on the hunt for their demon. You knew Logan and Rogue would keep them away, and smirked to yourself when you heard their yells of anger turn to ones of surprise when Logan made his presence known.You and Kurt got to the upper levels of the chapel when you saw some townsfolk cornering the head monk and Johann. They were pressed up against the wall, begging for the people to see reason. But they were blinded by their hate and fear.âYou are a pawn of the evil one!â One womanâs voice rang out. âTell us where your monster is hiding!âYou turned to grab Kurt, knowing what he was about to do. He was already gone in a puff of smoke, out of reach before you could stop him. You turned back to watch with a worried frown as he teleported in front of his brothers protectively. âI am not hiding!âTo your relief he grabbed the monks and teleported away once again, leaving the townspeople shocked. The ones down below screamed and dropped their farming tools, running out of the monastery.You sighed. âWell I guess thatâs one way to scare them offâŠâYou glanced around, and your stomach dropped when you realized that you had lost Kurt. He'd taken the monks to safety, but now you had no idea where he went.âYou! You serve the demon! Leave this holy place!â An unfamiliar voice cried out behind you. You spun around. Five townsfolk had found their way up to where you were and were charging at you with their makeshift weapons.You sighed and grabbed a handful of seeds from your bag. âI really donât want to do this, but you leave me no choice.âYou threw your chosen seeds to the ground and your eyes glowed a soft green. You felt the potential for life within them, ready to be released. This would have been easier with some soil, but beggars canât be choosers.Pouring your energy into each seed, you asked them to come to your aid. Green vines rapidly sprouted from the seed, large, sturdy, and full of life. They did as you commanded and wrapped around the townspeople. Not enough to hurt them but enough to keep them at bay.You ignored their terrified screams and lifted your hand, willing the vines to take the people out of the monastery. From there you had the vines release them, letting them fall onto the snowy ground. Usually you were more gentle with civilians, but you were pissed off now.You ran towards the entrance. Logan, Gambit, and Rogue had gotten the mob to flee back outside, but it was only a matter of time before they tried again.You grabbed a few more seeds and tossed them to the ground, using your gifts once again. This time a huge wall of thorns sprouted up and shrouded the entire front entrance. It would take a long time for the townspeople to cut through that, if they werenât already deterred by the thick, cruel thorns. You felt a surge of pride at your work.âKid! Get out here!â Loganâs voice called from outside.You ran through the front, the thorns parting for you before refilling the hole. Out in the open, you saw Logan fending off the few townspeople that were left. âDid everyone get out?ââAlmost.â Logan grunted, kicking a man in the chest to send him flying. âMost of the monks got out, but Nightcrawler is still inside.âYou looked up at the monastery in concern, tempted to go find him. But you were needed down here. A man came barreling towards you and you responded in kind with a swift kick to his gut.He fell over with a groan, clutching his stomach. It felt weird fighting people who couldnât fight as well as you could. Normally you were stuck with the likes of Magneto or Friends of Humanity.You called to the massive pine trees outside, and they answered. Roots plunged out of the ground and snatched up anyone they could reach, suspending them in the air. This time you kept them up there. âHopefully this will cool you off!ââDefiler!âYou jumped and whirled around when you heard the yelling coming from within the monastery. Your eyes rounded in fear at the sight of a raging fire lighting up the night sky. It grew at an alarming rate, eating up everything in its path. The fact that it had started in the library definitely didnât help, with all the books and wooden furniture. The flames grew bigger and licked at the stone walls, glowing from the heat.
To make matters worse, you saw Kurt grappling with Brother Reinhard up on the balcony. Kurt was trying to get the gun out of Reinhardâs hands, who looked completely mad. It was he who had started the fire, and if you had to guess, the one who had betrayed Kurtâs location. Anger bubbled inside of you.âThe demon is attacking Brother Reinhard!â A man yelled out.You glared harshly at him and slapped a root over his mouth. âShut up.ââI shall surrender!â Kurtâs statement just barely reached your ears.Your eyes widened in horror. âNo! Theyâll kill you!âReinhard wasnât persuaded. He was too determined to purify the monastery of Kurt, despite Kurtâs willingness to comply. The fire grew stronger as the struggle continued, engulfing the monastery in smoke.You took a step forward to help, but Logan grabbed your arm with a shake of his head. âNo! It's too dangerous now kid. And Nightcrawlerâs got his own battle to fight.âYou struggled against his firm hold, watching the battle unfold in distress. When you saw Reinhard nearly fall off the balcony you felt your stomach churn. But despite all that he had done to him, Kurt still caught him and helped him to his feet.The fire was now too intense for you to hear the words exchanged, but Kurt was still trying to reason with the madman. It seemed to be working now, but you werenât sure from where you stood.The light of reason returned to Reinhardâs eyes as he stared at the burning monastery in dismay. A fire that he had caused all on his own. He put his head in his hands, horrified and ashamed of his actions. You watched in amazement as Kurt wrapped his arms around his brother in a comforting hug, then teleported them both to safety.Once again, Kurt chose to forgive. And once again, you were in awe of his pure heart. That was one incredible man.-The morning sun shone through the trees, causing the snow-covered landscape to sparkle like diamonds. The smoke had cleared away thanks to the quick work of the firemen. The monastery was ruined, but not completely burned to the ground.Your back had been taken care of, and at this point you were covered in so many bandages you were sure you looked more like a mummy than a person.
You and the others stood nearby, watching the work being done all around. It was shocking how such a violent night could make way to a peaceful dawn. And it was all thanks to Kurtâs compassion and forgiveness.Logan lowered the map heâd been studying beside you, glancing up at the approaching Nightcrawler. He smiled at the two of you in a way that made it impossible for you not to return it.âThank you my friends. Your presence here was a great blessing.â He thanked you all, meaning every word. Of course he did.Your eyebrows shot up and you looked back at the monastery, blackened and withered. Logan beat you to the punch. He crumpled up the map in his hands, the usual grumpy expression gracing his features. âWhat do you mean blessing? Look at this place! We blew it!ââI disagree.â Kurt said calmly, undeterred by Loganâs testy attitude. âBrother Reinhard understands his tragic mistake and has repented. The townspeople no longer look at me with fear in their hearts. There was no loss of life. All are reasons to be thankful.âA large grin was beginning to form on your face. Kurt, bless his soul, never stopped seeing the good in everything around him. Even after everything, he still loved with his entire being. It was inspiring, and nearly brought a tear to your eye. You quickly looked away before it happened, feeling Kurtâs eyes on you as you did.âWhat about the monastery?â Rogue pressed, still not sure. You looked back up and Kurt looked sadly at his old home. âA great tragedy. But it was only stone and mortar. The foundation God has built in our hearts can never be destroyed.âLogan huffed and shook his head. âMan, I donât get you.âHe turned to stomp away, but Kurt placed a hand on his shoulder and turned him back, Bible in hand. âHere, Iâve marked a few passages you may find rewarding. Remember herr Logan, different eyes.âTo your amazement Loganâs eyes softened and he calmed down, accepting the Bible offered to him without further complaint. You didnât know what they had talked about in the monastery, but it seemed to have affected him more than you thought. It gave you a bit of hope that maybe someday, Logan really would find the peace he yearned for.-You were all about to take your leave. A day trip to hunt a mysterious demon had turned into the adventure of a lifetime. You were exhausted and ready to go home. There was talk of heading to Paris for a real vacation, but to be honest this had been enough vacation for you.While the others got ready to go, you stood by yourself on a snowy hill overlooking the damaged monastery. Someone cleared their throat behind you and you turned, not surprised to find Kurt standing awkwardly at the foot of the hill, as if unsure whether he was welcome to interrupt your time alone.Heâd been staring at you all morning, but neither of you had gotten the opportunity to talk. Not alone anyways. You offered a friendly grin and beckoned him over. The way his eyes lit up made your heart flutter in your chest.His feet crunched in the snow as he walked over to join you in surveying the beauty of winter. After a long comfortable silence, you couldnât help blurting out what had been on your mind. âWill you really be ok? You know thereâs always a spot for you with the X-men. The professor would love you.âKurt brightened, looking tempted by your offer. You deflated when he eventually shook his head. âNo, my place is here. I must help my brothers to fix our home, and aid in helping the townspeople grow closer to God. I will be ok. But it makes me happy to know that if I am ever in need of it, I can find help in the X-men.âYou nodded, respecting his decision. Youâd only known him for a night, but Kurt had wormed his way into your heart regardless. You would miss him terribly. âYouâll always have a place there. And hey, youâre welcome to visit, even if it's just for a little bit. Donât be a stranger and all that.âA throaty chuckle from Kurt followed your words. His lips peeled back into an amused grin, his fangs poking out. âI would like that. I have a feeling Iâll be seeing you again mein freund. I will count the seconds until I am blessed with your warm light once more.âHe wrapped his three fingers around your hand. His grip was always light and gentle, and as he brushed his lips against your knuckles your stomach did backflips.The way his golden eyes shimmered up at you with the slightest hint of slyness did things to you that youâd never felt before. This shy mutant had a mischievous side, one that you were slowly coaxing out of him.When did your face get so hot? You could only pray that he assumed it was the cold making your cheeks turn red.When you managed to find your words he had already let go of your hand and his eyes were bright with something you couldnât quite place. He smiled sweetly at you as you spoke. âI hope thatâs soon then. See you around Kurt.âYou turned at the sound of Logan yelling for you to get your ass over to the others, scrunching up your nose at his bossiness. Before you walked away you flashed one last smile at Kurt before murmuring a soft goodbye and walking down the hill towards your waiting friends.You felt his gaze linger on you as you left. You were suddenly overcome with a sadness at having to leave. Kurt was different from all the men youâd ever met before, kind and courageous. He wasn't afraid to be vulnerable and be helped by those around him. And you couldnât deny that the warm fuzzy feeling in your chest every time you looked at him felt nice. But now you would be going back home to reality, where the fight never stopped.You wondered if youâd ever see Kurt again, or if he was just a short infatuation that would melt away with time. Either way, you were grateful to have met him.It wouldnât be until Halloween that you saw him again.