Nightshift 39: Main Hallway 2-East

[ruthless_hunter]

[from here]

Lockdown checked the map again with his flashlight. He was almost where he needed to go. Hopefully Starscream was still holding out. Lockdown knew that he could always find another employer if something happened to Starscream, but that did not mean he would not try to hold onto the one he had now.

He went over Starscream's instructions

Comments

[i_dont_paint]

Even with the warning, Tony's first instinct was to recoil from the appearance Kurt revealed when he dropped the sheet. He jerked as though scalded, though he managed to catch himself before actually vocalizing his shock. Intellectually, he knew Kurt wasn't one of the monsters stalking the hallways. The ones he'd run into had been all hunger and base instinct, and the ones he'd heard of had sounded much the same. They certainly hadn't been coherent enough to talk, integrate into a group, and generally behave like normal human beings. That still didn't stop the gut-deep holy shit response to someone so alien in appearance.

Tony could understand the reasoning behind the sheet now. Most people running into the kid in one of those dark hallways would probably assume monster first, and ask questions later, if they even bothered to do so at all. And even allies...

He didn't often feel like an asshole, even when he was going out of his way to be as frustrating as humanly possible. This, though? This was one of those rare exceptions. He cleared his throat and managed to mutter, "Sorry. I, ah, wasn't expecting..." He trailed off there, not entirely sure of what he had been expecting.

[fuzzy_diablo]

Again, Kurt wasn't surprised to see Tony freak out at first. Even Scott and Jean had, and they were among his best friends now. It didn't mean anything--it didn't mean anything unless Tony got violent. Then he'd wake up in a body cast and it would be all Kon's fault.

It was funny, in an ironic sort of way. Tony was recoiling... from a teenager who wouldn't hurt a fly. Perhaps that was what was so sad about the situation. Kurt looked like a monster, but he wouldn't hurt anyone who wasn't attacking him. And even then, he wouldn't seriously injury anybody. The mutant looked worried that Tony was going to turn around and run, but in the end he received an apology for it. He tried his best to smile--without showing his teeth. One step at a time, he supposed.

"It's alright. I understand. I've grown up with people saying things like that, so it's nothing new," Kurt said, his smile turning a little sad. "I'm a mutant. I have a gene that gives me abilities and... a different appearance. That's not always the case though--I'm just different.

"But I'm euh... one of the good guys!" Kurt said, trying to be cheerful and just feeling absolutely awkward. "I'm with the X-Men and Professor Logan!"

[i_dont_paint]

Well, that answered that question. Tony was a little relieved; there didn't really seem to be a good way to ask someone 'what are you?', especially with alternate universes muddying the waters. "I'm aware of mutants, actually," he admitted, giving Kurt a slight grin. "Most people these days are, at least in my dimension. I haven't met many, though. You guys are pretty rare."

Or pretty under wraps, he guessed. He didn't exactly go around asking, and with most looking like any other person, there wasn't any reason to assume until the dinnerware started hovering.

Kurt's final assurance caught Tony's attention, though possibly not for the reason it had been meant to. He stared at the teen in frank surprise. "Wait, Professor Logan?" He might have pegged the gruff older man as many things, but an educator wouldn't have been one of them.

[fuzzy_diablo]

Kurt blinked. Was Tony from his future, maybe? From a place where most people were aware of mutants? And okay with coexisting? Maybe Professor Xavier's work had done some good, and Kurt wasn't in hiding anymore.

"Y-yeah, we're pretty rare--or just in hiding. I lived with Professor Xavier at an institute he set up for young mutants--so we could learn how to use our powers and deal with the anger people felt towards mutants. Logan teaches there, sometimes." Other times, he was just riding around on his bike or glaring.

"Have you seen him, by the way?" Kurt asked. "I've been trying to find him, but I haven't seen him at all."

[i_dont_paint]

"I can see being in hiding," Tony admitted a bit grimly. The mutant issue hadn't been one he'd ever given much priority, but it was evident enough in the public consciousness for him to be aware of the tension.

"I ran into him the day I first got here. He gave me the rundown on this place. I haven't seen him since. I'm pretty sure he's still around, though. He's had a few messages posted." Which wasn't very comforting, considering the apparent turnover. He made a mental note to track Logan down when he had a chance.

"What does he teach anyway? Advanced ass-kicking?"

[fuzzy_diablo]

Kurt looked startled and stared at Tony. "How did you know...?"

After a moment, he started laughing. Obviously there was no better teacher, combat-wise, than Logan. Professor Xavier handled the more mentally-geared part of their mutant education, and Logan headed up the physical part. Which included regular trips to the Danger Room and leading missions when available.

"Sorry, just joking! It's something like that, though. He teaches us how to use our powers in different situations--mostly dangerous ones. We have this... room in the institute that has all sorts of traps and obstacles and weapons, and every once in a while, we all go on missions, as a team. He deals with that sort of thing."

[i_dont_paint]

Tony grinned. "Given the read I got on him, I'm not surprised." That Logan would teach those sorts of skills, anyway. The obstacles and weaponry were a new one on him, and not the sort of thing he'd expect to find in a place set up for teenagers. "So, what, you're a group of mild-mannered high school students by day, and superheroes by night?" Somehow, it didn't sound as far fetched as it might have months before. Or even a week before. He still couldn't guess at the directing force behind their abductions, beyond the clues Landel dropped, but whoever it was, they certainly seemed to have a thing for heroic types.

"The hall we want is just up ahead."

[fuzzy_diablo]

"Well... mild mannered is a bit of a stretch," Kurt admitted with a nervous laugh. "I try not to cause trouble though. If my image inducer was damaged, I might start a riot without intending to, you know?" he said, tapping the medical bracelet around his wrist. "But other mutants sometimes use their powers at school--and then we have to stop them without revealing ourselves and... eugh, it's hard enough being a teenager without powers."

Kurt looked down the hallway Tony had indicated and, not seeing anyone, he turned and nodded. "Okay! Looks clear, let's go!"

[ To here.]