AN: Just in case you don’t figure it out (not to be sarcastic, but seriously, some might not get it), this chapter is actually taking place directly after the events in X2: X-Men United. At least, the way I see it ^_~

Chapter 15

A new life

Kurt had thought Amanda changed her mind completely and he would be happy. He did find it strange that she wanted to run away from her own mother, but he was just content with the fact they would be together. With Kurt’s ability to teleport, they fled to the church in Boston where they would hide out until they figured out where to go from there. It was the only place Kurt knew they could go where they wouldn’t be discovered.

It was hard to sneak around the sleeping circus camp to gather a few personal possessions—including some clothes, his tattoo kit he made up, and a bunch of the posters with his picture on it that were made to promote the circus.

He thought he could handle it. He was almost twenty-one—he was capable of going on his own. But nothing could have prepared him for the beating, the torment, and the anger that all came from an illusion. He never expected someone to find him in that old run down church.

Never in his life had Kurt thought that he would have become an object or even fall victim to anyone’s sinister plans. Never had he thought he would attempt to break one of the Ten Commandments he feared most. Under any normal circumstances would Kurt believed to have attempted murder.

That whole experience in the White House shook his nerves to practically nothing. If it wasn’t for learning so much about the United States and where such landmarks as the White House were, he wouldn’t have had the slightest clue where he was when he teleported to a tree outside of the Oval Office.

He remembered the sharp pain the bullet caused after it had swiped against his flesh. A little further in and it would’ve been caught in his arm, and he could have just imagined what it would have been like to get it out.

But even a wound that wouldn’t stop bleeding couldn’t stop Kurt from running to the only place he knew where to go. As educated as Kurt was, he had no idea how to get to Calgary from Washington D.C.; and besides, he didn’t even know how long he had been away from the circus, so there was no telling where it was by the time he returned to his natural senses.

The church in Boston was his only choice. It was the first and only place he could think of in such a time of desperation. Kurt figured if he stayed in Boston then maybe he would see the circus return to catch the boat home to Germany.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t until Kurt had settled himself in the upper levels of the church that he remembered the circus’ final stop was in New York City and they’d be leaving from there. And by then, Kurt was too tired from non-stop teleporting up the east coast to go to New York.

During the night he would venture outside, on foot, to get some fresh air; during that time he found several newspapers that all had the basic same headline: Mutant Attack on the President. He knew he had been that mutant, but he couldn’t put all the pieces together on what happened before that. For some strange reason his memory was fixed that he had been in the church before the White House. Half of him knew he was in Canada and pulled the stupid stunt during the show, but after that it was all a blur.

Kurt remembered thinking he was going to live happily ever with Amanda, but certain events after that were extremely foggy. Although, after hearing a gust of wind on a breezeless night blowing open the church doors and two women dressed in black uniforms walked in, he knew he’d get some answers very soon.

Kurt Wagner now found himself sitting in the most miraculous jet he had ever laid his yellow eyes on, with the most remarkable people he had ever met. They called themselves the X-Men, people who fought for mutant tolerance and freedom. And except for a glance from a few of them, these people had accepted that Kurt was who he was.

However, he wasn’t so sure about one, who called himself Wolverine. This man had completely ignored him when Kurt introduced himself and made a mention of his circus life. But after a few hours with this Wolverine, he discovered it just the man’s personality.

But it was more than just new mutants that thrilled him. This journey had already taught him so much. To his greatest surprise, there were other mutants out there that looked different.

Mystique, a mutant who was able to shift her appearance to match any other she chose, was just as blue as Kurt and had similar sharp yellow eyes. She hadn’t been very cordial to him, but he figured she had her reasons. He wished he could’ve had more of a chance to talk to her. He wasn’t much sure why, but he had a gut feeling that somehow he’d be able to relate to her. Maybe it was because her skin wasn’t “normal.”

And then there was Rogue, a girl who was tossed out of the jet at one point and was saved by Kurt and his ability to teleport. Rogue gave Kurt a new outlook on life; he now knew that his demonic appearance wasn’t the worst thing in the world. Rogue was unable to touch anyone without taking his or her life energy. His heart went out to her when he figured she’d never be able to feel the touch of someone that loved her.

Meeting the X-Men was lucky, but it all didn’t go as smoothly as he thought it might have gone. It dealt with him returning to a secret underground military base at Alkali Lake in Canada, the very place Kurt had been taken advantage of with his mutant powers. It wasn’t until he returned to the base that those foggy memories he had started to clear and he remembered that he did commit the worst crime. Kurt had killed a man when he was being tested for his powers. He had hoped it was just a bad dream, but he knew it was true.

Although Kurt was pleased to know he had helped put a stop to William Stryker’s evil desire to destroy all the mutants, being the very man who pulled Kurt from his circus life. Yet with victory comes sorrow. He didn’t know her more than two days, but he felt sorry for the X-Men’s loss of Jean Grey. Friend and mentor, Kurt could see Jean was loved dearly among each individual in his or her own way and it broke Kurt’s heart to see them suffer and not have a chance to celebrate their accomplishments.

With the pain and pity that hung in the air of the jet, Kurt sat in the back by himself, letting the others mourn their loss and not have to worry about him while he reflected back on his entire life, remembering the good times as well as the bad. Besides, Kurt figured he’d be returned to the church in Boston where Jean and the weather goddess, Storm, found him in the first place.

* * *

“Hold on everyone, we’re landing,” Storm announced from the cockpit of the jet. Her voice wasn’t nearly as happy as it had been when Kurt talked to her the previous day, but he couldn’t blame her.

When the jet’s engines died down to a low rumble and then to silence, Kurt got to his feet and looked out the windows, having been in the back and not seeing any scenery before this point. He expected to see the busy streets of Boston, store lights, and most certainly the under-construction-church.

Yet when the floor’s hatch-doors opened and everyone filed out, Kurt realized they were in some sort of hanger. He didn’t take the time to ask questions, but instead helped one of the X-Men, Cyclops, help the crippled man Kurt had helped Storm save back at the compound.

During the ride home Kurt had picked apart conversations and learned this man that required a wheelchair for mobilization was the professor Jean and Storm had mentioned in the church while mending Kurt’s bullet wound. With the way things turned out when Miss Grey died, Kurt figured out that this Professor Xavier was a telepath.

But no matter how many mutants Kurt had met that day; none of them would have been considered a freak like he was. Already he felt out of place, but when they all journeyed upstairs, after getting Xavier into a spare wheelchair, he found he was in a place he wasn’t used to and didn’t belong in.

Kurt had spent his life in a small little farmhouse in the fields on the outskirts of Munich, or traveling with the circus, living out of a trailer for weeks or months on end. Now he found himself in a huge and elaborately decorated mansion—although Storm told him quickly this was the school she had mentioned to him the day before.

Feeling out of place was a hard thing to deal with. Everyone seemed to know where he or she was going, what they wanted to do, or let themselves feel at home, (because they were). Kurt stood off to the side in the hall watching the others talk and leave. His tail tapped against the wall gently out of nervousness, but it seemed his quietness hadn’t gone unnoticed.

“Hey, I just wanted to thank you for everything,” Cyclops said, putting a friendly hand on the blue mutant’s shoulder. “We never would have been able to save the professor if it weren’t for you.”

“You’re welcome,” Kurt said humbly, barely looking into Cyclops red-tinted sunglasses.

“Yes,” said a voice coming up behind Cyclops. “Your talents are remarkable, Kurt Wagner.” Kurt didn’t say anything. He just looked at the professor, waiting for him to continue.

Xavier gave Kurt a warm smile. “Would you mind if I had a word with you?”

“Nein,” Kurt said taking a step forward when he noticed the professor wheeling down the hall away from the other X-Men.

Kurt tried hard to take the scene of the mansion in all at once, but it seemed impossible. Not one square inch of space was wasted—the walls were covered with beautiful paintings, corridors with fancy statues, and ceilings with lavish woodwork.

Along with seeing the sights in the house, he noticed many students he hadn’t seen before—the students that escaped the night Stryker attacked the school. They all stared at Kurt, many jumping back with a loud gasp, looking the stranger over. Kurt knew he must look like a monster to them. He was sure they had never seen a blue mutant with a tail and pointy ears before. Not to mention one that wore a long coat, leather vest, and striped pants.

“Children, I’m sure you all have places to be,” Xavier commented in a pleasant manner as they passed. The kids nodded and hurried off, but not before getting one last look at the strange mutant.

Kurt followed the professor into a large room complete with bookcases, chairs, a lovely view of the grounds, and a desk in the center. Kurt stood by the door; his knees bent more so than usual making his height look shorter than it was.

“Please, sit down,” Xavier offered as he wheeled behind his desk. He wasn’t surprised when Kurt hesitated, but slowly made his way to the chair in front of the desk and sat down, his tail coming around to rest on his lap.

Kurt looked around, noticing a great deal of paintings, scientific charts, and other objects that he would love to investigate. However, the uncomfortable circumstances left him sitting stiff, one hand resting on the arm of the chair and the other fiddling with the rosary beads that hung from his vest.

“Kurt, I can tell by your accent that you’re from Germany. You grew up in the circus, helping you develop your skills of agility and making you a superb acrobat, am I right?”

“Ja… How did you know that?”

Xavier smiled once again. “I’m a telepath, Kurt. I know quite a bit about people before we have a chance to talk for the first time. But I won’t intrude on your mind without your consent. It is clear to me now why you attacked the President, and especially why Stryker was so fascinated with you, but I didn’t need to read your mind to figure that out. He could have done some pretty extensive damage with you as his personal weapon.

“I know because of Stryker and the results of his assaults on you that your life will be much different now. Unfortunately I don’t know where the circus you were with is at the moment; if I knew, I’d tell you.”

Kurt nodded his head, looking down at his feet. He knew Amanda and the others were gone now and he’d have to find a way to adjust to this new life he was thrown into.

“But let me get to my point,” the professor said. He folded his hands on his desk and looked at Kurt seriously, yet still friendly. “I’d like to offer you a home with us in the mansion. I know the children will love you once they get to know you, and you’d be a great aspect to the X-Men if you so chose.

“You’re more than welcome. Our home is your home.”

Kurt looked at the brown eyes of Xavier and saw he meant every word he spoke. Yet it was still hard to realize someone was willing to give him a place to stay, a chance to be “normal” and live with people who weren’t much different than him, in the mutant way, that is.
“I…I don’t know,” Kurt said softly. “I don’t want you to go out of your way—”

Xavier held up a hand to stop him from continuing. “Kurt, please listen. I know how you’ve been treated. I know how people have used you, but I’m not doing this because I feel I should. I’m offering you a home here because I want to. I’m sure no one will mind. We have plenty of space for you, and the gym downstairs can be set up to let you keep up your acrobatics. I won’t beg. It’s your decision. But know you’re not alone in this world.”

Kurt looked around the room, as if looking for a way out of this predicament. He had been taken in before by Margali and lived with her and her daughter for his entire life. Now this American telepathic mutant was willing to do the same for him, as if giving him a second chance.

“Danke, Herr Xavier,” Kurt said finally. “I appreciate what you’re doing.”

“You’re more than welcome, Kurt Wagner. I’ll have Cyclops show you to a room to settle into.”

Soon Kurt found himself walking up a staircase in the foyer to the second floor whose hall overlooked the first level on one side. The artwork wasn’t as extensive as the first floor was, but it had more of a sense of home and warmth.

“Here we are,” Scott Summers said opening a door and flipping on the inside light switch. “Jean and I…. I’m across the hall if you ever need anything.”

Kurt caught the first part of his sentence. He couldn’t imagine losing someone like Scott had. In a way he lost Amanda, but at least he knew she was still alive and well.

The bedroom looked very simple and plain. The walls were a creamy color, and the hardwood floor was covered with several area rugs. The bed was a double with a nightstand on each side. But what caught Kurt’s attention were the large windows. He went over to them and was delighted to see they were actually glass doors that opened to a small balcony, just big enough for two people and maybe a chair.

Kurt went to the bed and dropped his worn duffle bag onto the soft mattress. Storm had insisted he’d pack his things when they left Boston, although he didn’t realize he’d be moving in with her and her friends. There wasn’t much to unpack, expect a change of clothes, the circus posters and a small beat up wooden box. Putting the clothes in the middle drawer of the dresser across the room and the posters on the table situated next to a wall, Kurt sat down on the bed and opened the box. He took out Alexi’s knife, the now ripped out page from the magazine featuring the article on the symbols he found years ago, a small cross he had found lying in one of the churches he visited in Europe and most importantly…

Kurt held the photograph in his hand and gazed at it, memories filling his head once again. He remembered the day it was taken. Margali had wanted an up-to-date picture of her, Amanda, and Kurt. He couldn’t remember exactly why he had asked, but he remembered Margali having a copy made for him.

Kurt replaced it in the box, shut the lid, and pushed it into the drawer of one of the nightstands. He looked over the posters and wondered if he should bother putting them up. Then again, this would be his room now. Why not?

It didn’t take long. But as he looked around he knew there was something missing. Without thinking on it more than a second, Kurt went to the nightstand, took the box out once again, and held up the picture. He smiled when he balanced it against the small alarm clock and lamp that sat on the piece of furniture.

A sudden knock on the door made his heart jump and a familiar voice saying, “Kurt? You in there?”

The Southern American accent this person spoke with automatically told him it was Rogue. He opened the door for her and she gave him a warm smile.

“We’re having dinner downstairs. You coming?”

Kurt gave her a genuine “Wagner smile” for the first time he had demonstrated in months. “Ich würde geehrt.” Before following Rogue back downstairs to the dining room where most of the mutant students were sitting to eat dinner, Kurt turned and looked at his new room. This was it. His life in the circus was over. But now he had something else to look forward to—his life as part of the X-Men.

The End

**********

German Translations: Nein-No

Danke, Herr Xavier- Thank-you, Mr. Xavier

Ich werde geehrt -I will be honored (?)

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