Night 43: Sun Room

[oldestremnant]

[from here]Finally, the Sun Room. Unlike the hallways, this one actually had some light in it. Specifically, moonlight coming from the big window on the ceiling. It did help to have some light, but the big, dark room washed in moonlight didn't exactly make the place look too inviting

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[fuzzy_diablo]

Kurt looked back at Kitty when she grabbed his shirt, a little confused. It was Peter. He was just messing around with them, wasn't he?

Wasn't he?

"I just... didn't mention it because I never saw him in it..." Kurt said defensively. "And I thought it might have been a brainwashed patient, but people... people sometimes wear different clothes here even when they aren't brainwashed," he said to Alex. But the pieces were already falling into place. The spider silk, the costume, the fact that Peter was blocking their path... all of it pointed to brainwashing. "And that's why I didn't recognize him. He doesn't wear it usually...

"But last night we fought together, remember Peter?" Kurt asked, sounding very scared suddenly. Peter didn't recognize him. It was hard not to remember Kurt--he was not only blue and fuzzy, but had some very distinctive features about him. Namely his glowing eyes, tail, and fawn legs. "Harry was attacking you, remember? It's--" he stopped and glanced sideways at Alex. Some things were too important to choose saving face friendship.

"It's Kurt--Kurt Wagner. Nightcrawler?"

These were most likely futile attempts to snap Peter out of it. He'd seen what the guy who burned him had been like, and he'd seen Harry too. Would Peter try to kill them all like Harry had tried to before?

[goesthruphases]

Oh, boy... When Kurt had mentioned brainwashed patients earlier that day, Kitty hadn't thought she'd end up running into one that very night. And she certainly had thought that it'd end up being someone that Kurt was friends with.

She moved her hand to Kurt's shoulder, trying to get him to back up again. If Peter did choose to attack -- and if he was brainwashed that seemed likely -- it wouldn't be good for him to be close. With some luck though, maybe they'd be able to avoid that by talking him out of it. It had worked with Mr. Logan, hadn't it? Of course Peter didn't seem to be remembering Kurt at all right yet, but maybe (hopefully) that would change.

"Listen -- Peter, right? I'm sure you're a really nice guy, so just hear us out, okay?" Kitty did her best to smile and keep her voice as friendly as possible. As long as he wasn't attacking, there was no need to risk provoking him into anything. "Like Alex said, we don't want to fight you. We're not looking to start any trouble; all we want to do is get through here. So just give us... say, ten or so seconds and we'll be out of your hair." Crap, did he even have hair under that mask? "Or, um, web... How does that sound?"

[gothamsfuture]

Terry smirked when Peter complained about their lack of subtlety, and the insult about freaks. Having a bit of experience in the area, he was able to answer the question pretty quickly. Something of a no-brainer, really. "Not where I'm from they can't." Being Gotham's resident expert on the subject, Terry was pretty confident in his answer.

Everything Peter said only made it clear exactly what scenario they put into his head. Terry could sympathize, having had a few scenes wired into his brain thanks to Spellbinder. But similarities aside, how this whole confrontation was probably going to end was also becoming pretty clear. Given their resources, and not knowing what Kitty or Nightcrawler (aka Kurt Wagner) were capable of, the options for getting out of the room unharmed seemed limited to one that didn't sit well with Terry in the least.

"You really don't recognize him. But I don't think a splice job like that comes cheap. Just how many blue guys have you met, anyway?" Terry didn't let his expression shift when the couch came crashing down. Better for Peter that he not think he'd done so much damage whenever the brainwashing wore off, even in terms of intimidation. He did take a step back, however, enough to where he could lower his voice so hopefully only Kitty and Kurt would hear. There'd be a problem if he could read lips, but Terry wasn't about to turn away from the guy and give him an open shot at his back.

"Okay you two, here's the deal. Peter's sense of reality is gone for the night, and he thinks he's guarding a prison instead. Whatever programming they did must have been pretty thorough, since none of what you're saying is getting through--not even calling out his secret identity in front of a couple of strangers." Guys didn't wear masks when they wanted the world to know who they were, after all, and Terry remembered just how unhappy he'd been when Max let out his real name while he was in costume.

"So like he said, we've got two choices. We either leave, or we stay. But even though he was nice enough to get us a seat, I don't plan on just sitting around quietly." If they headed back out, there was an alternate route--one that hopefully wouldn't be filled with the same obstacles. But if they stuck around, then it wouldn't be for a lecture; Terry got more than enough of those in family studies, thanks. "We probably can't beat him without getting hurt. He's got enhanced agility and strength at the very least, not to mention that web stuff. But maybe we can stop him from hurting someone else, even if it's just by putting up a distraction."

Terry preferred the latter himself. He wasn't exactly the type to stand by and do nothing, not even since before he got the title of Batman. But Kurt and Kitty were in on it too, and Terry wasn't going to force the risk on them if they weren't up for it. Besides, either way, Peter was going to have a lot of guilt to deal with in the morning. It was possible that Kurt especially didn't want to add to it by making himself a target.

"Whatever you guys decide. He's your friend."

[fuzzy_diablo]

Not Nightcrawler? Uh... yes he was. And Kurt was also pretty sure that he'd never met anyone else like him, so thinking all 'blue people' looked the same was kind of... impossible. But, like Alex said, 'Reality' had checked out of Chez Peter for the night. Which was probably why he was hurling furniture around... not that Kurt had flinched or anything when the couch had come down next to them in two pieces (How were they supposed to sit on that...?).

"I don't know..." Kurt said, turning around to face Kitty. "He might hurt someone if we leave him here. If I just, you know, stayed here and talked to him--pretended like I was a felon--" he rolled his eyes a little at that part. "--then I could distract him from attacking other people who might not be as willing to go back. Then you and Alex can head up to the closet, get something to fight with, meet me back down here and we'll go back to our rooms."

It did involve Kurt being left by himself, and he didn't know how much Kitty would approve of that, but it seemed like Peter wasn't being overly violent or threatening. He just wanted people to go back or listen to him lecture them.

"What do you think?" Kurt asked, focusing mostly on Kitty. "He's... he's had a really bad week Kitty, I don't want this to make him feel any worse than he already does."

[goesthruphases]

Peter admitted to meeting Nightcrawler before, but claimed Kurt wasn't him? Wow... Alex was right when he said Peter's sense of reality was gone. Nothing they said seemed to be getting through either, as was proved by the couch's sudden relocation.

Playing up a distraction might really be for the best. They probably wouldn't make it through without getting hurt themselves, as Alex already said, but that wasn't anything new. You didn't become a part of the X-Men if you were afraid of getting hurt. She hadn't counted on Kurt suggesting he stay there alone, but she still responded fairly quickly.

"No, absolutely not. There's no way I'm letting you stay here alone." Kitty shook her head. "Kurt, the guy thinks we belong in a prison and he just hurled a couch across the room. Do you really think he's going to be fine with just talking to you?" He seemed content with using intimidation tactics right now, but who was to say he wouldn't decide on outright attacking at some point? If she and Alex did leave, they wouldn't have any idea how Kurt was until they managed to make it back. Needless to say, Kitty didn't like that particular plan.

"I know he's your friend, but there's no telling what he might do now. If you plan on staying here and acting as a distraction, then so am I."

[fuzzy_diablo]

[Skipping Tad because she is sicktastic. ; ;]

Kurt smiled faintly at Kitty's words. He always had known he could count on Kitty, even if their relationship had started out a little rocky. Now they really were a team, working together and staying together, even if Kurt was suggesting otherwise.

He didn't have a chance to answer, though. Kurt looked back over his shoulder when Peter started moving again, tensing slightly. However, he wasn't looking to attack Alex, himself, and Kitty, but some other group. Oh no... Peter would seriously be upset if he managed to cause someone else head trauma while brainwashed.

"Peter, don't!" Kurt shouted, turning around and bounding over to Peter on all fours. He had to stop him before he caused some serious damage. Aiming to restrain Peter's arms, Kurt launched himself at Peter's back, arms ready to wrap around his shoulders.

[goesthruphases]

Kitty hadn't immediately noticed other patients moving into the room. Even so, it was kind of hard to miss the comment Peter threw out.. And it was even more difficult to miss the painting he had also thrown. The good news was that he hadn't decided to hurl the painting at them, but the bad news was... he hadn't decided to hurl the painting at them.

So much for acting as a distraction, huh? There was nothing they could do about that now, but they could at least try to make sure he didn't cause anymore damage.

Kitty moved after Kurt, trying to run around to Peter's other side. If Kurt managed to grab him, that'd be awesome. But if not, they stood a better change at stopping him if they came from different sides. She'd be ready either way.

[fuzzy_diablo]

Kurt gave a strangled yell as Peter tossed him unceremoniously into Alex. He considered teleporting before he hit the other guy, but there just wasn't enough time. Peter was fast, faster than Kurt was now.

He came down hard into Alex, feeling his back connect with the other young man's solar plexus. They both went down, landing in a heap. Kurt didn't hear Alex make any noise, but once he'd disentangled himself from the other boy, Kurt couldn't help but notice that Alex wasn't getting up or moaning or even moving.

A little dazed, but still more with-it than Alex was now, Kurt managed to get to his feet and take hold of Alex's wrists. He didn't want him to be in the way of traffic.

"Kitty, I'm going to move him, keep Peter busy! But don't let him touch you!" That should have been easy enough for Shadowcat. ...right?

[goesthruphases]

"Look out!" Kitty yelled, mostly on impulse since it did little good in the end. She couldn't help but wince when Kurt plowed right into Alex -- that seriously had to hurt. Thankfully Kurt didn't seem too out of it from the impact, but apparently Alex was another story.

Keep Peter busy, right. She could do that. Don't let him touch her, also okay. That sounded simple enough. Even if Peter was able to move quickly, being able to phase would definitely make things easier. Besides, she just had to keep his attention on her long enough for Kurt to move Alex out of the way. No problem.

Hopefully, anyway.

"Hey, Peter," Right, first things first. Try to grab his attention so he hopefully wouldn't go after the others. "You caught him, but do you think you can catch me?" People hated being taunted, right?

[fuzzy_diablo]

Jeez Alex was heavy. For a skinny guy, Kurt didn't think he'd have that much muscle to him. ...ah well, Americans worked out a lot or something, right? Or Alex had just had one too many cheeseburgers and they all miraculously... went to his chest or something. So unfair.

Once Alex had been tucked away safely in a corner, Kurt turned back to the ongoing distractionary-mission. He trusted Kitty enough to be able to keep Peter off her (she would have said something if her powers weren't working, right?), which gave him time to plan the counter-attack. Obviously getting on Peter's back wouldn't work, so a more frontal-approach would have to do.

Peter fired off a web at Kitty, and in the same instant Kurt teleported--right into the space barely two feet in front of Peter's stomach. He sprang at Peter, trying to tackle him to the ground or at least put a shoulder in his stomach.

[goesthruphases]

She had hoped that Peter would've taken a run at her himself. That would've been easier. Maybe. Oh well. The important thing was that he hadn't gone after Kurt or Alex, so that was good. On the other hand, there was the matter of the incoming webbing, and Kitty really didn't want to get tied up in it. Going intangible, then, was an instant reaction; one she didn't really have to think about.

Kitty hadn't expected the dizziness that came afterwards though. It had happened back in her room when she had first tried out her powers, yes, but she'd attributed that to being so nervous. Nevermind that there had never been any bad effects like that before (except for the whole falling through the ceiling thing, back when her powers first emerged).

Thankfully Kurt was back in action now. She just needed a few seconds so the room would stop spinning.