Tails of Change [Revamping!]

26) Time to Go

[Author's Note:

X-Men Characters in this Chapter: Nightcrawler (Kurt), Professor X (Charles Xavier), Wolverine (Logan)

OC Characters in this Chapter: _____(Sorin)

*Italicized words are either German words or English words with a more Germanic spelling. Any words that are dissimilar to the English version (or a bit out of context) will have a translation appearing here:

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{9.28.2020} Revamped! New material!]

Kurt should have gone for a walk. Maybe he could've caught the bus back home. Maybe not. Either way he would not have heard Sorin climax. He would not be imagining what face Sorin made when he did, or white splattering across his stomach. And he certainly wouldn't be as turned on or nearly as hot in the face if he'd walked away.

But Kurt had stayed. And he'd heard. And now Logan was standing in front of him, looking at him with an arched eyebrow. Kurt pointedly avoided looking at Logan's nether region. Or any other part of Logan. He gestured to the bathroom, trying not to picture Logan and Sorin in bed together. Without a word spoken between them, Logan breezes through the bathroom door, and Kurt hears him knock on a stall door. Willing his embarrassment to go away, he pushes up off the floor.

"Time to go." Logan's voice is a gruff as ever.

There's some shuffling, the sound of the stall's lock opening, water running, the paper towel dispenser whirring, and then Logan emerges from the bathroom with Sorin in tow. Sorin's face is still flushed, and he has that pungent smell that hovers after sexual activity, but he's moving of his own volition. Kurt follows them out to the hummer. Logan doesn't turn back to see if they are following him, and Kurt knows this is probably because he can smell them. Especially Sorin.

Sorin fumbles with the car door for a moment before Logan opens the backseat door for him, waits for Sorin to climb in, and then closes it. He himself climbs into the driver's seat and motions for Kurt to get into the passenger seat. By the time Kurt yanks the passenger door closed behind him, Logan has the engine started and has shifted into drive. Logan wasn't one to waste time.

The ride back to the Institute is awkward and tense. No one speaks. Kurt pretends he can't hear Sorin fidgeting in the backseat. As Logan stops the hummer in front of the entrance, he says,

"This is your stop, Fuzzy Elf."

Kurt disembarks, feeling like he's gone into an alternate universe. The surreal haze makes everything look clearer but his mind is having difficulty focusing. He takes the stairs one slow step at a time, so lost in thought he's barely registering them. All these months that have gone by, and Sorin's been dealing with that. All these months, and each time Logan whisks Sorin away to an unknown location for days. How has Kurt not noticed their regular absences? Their coinciding absences? Because Sorin has been mostly absent from the beginning, Kurt reminds himself.

The hummer is almost at the end of the long driveway when Kurt looks back.

Settling on the top step, Kurt watches the hummer reach the end of the driveway and turn right. After it's out of sight, Kurt finds himself staring after it, until the door to the Institute opens, the noise bringing him back to the here and now. Unsure of how long he's been sitting there and feeling like he's just woken up, he turns to see the Professor in the doorway.

"I've just made some tea. Why don't you come join me for a cup?"

Of course the Professor would sense something was off. Although this time the security cameras may have something to do with it.

Kurt follows the Professor back to his office, and eases onto the couch. The Professor doesn't immediately initiate conversation but makes himself busy with pouring tea for Kurt and himself, letting Kurt gather his thoughts in peace.

"Logan gave me a call from the road," the Professor began when both had a teacup in hand. "He's taking Sorin to a safe house for a few days until Sorin is stable."

The Professor, who had eased back in his wheelchair, raised the cup to his lips. He appeared relaxed, as usual. Kurt, making an effort to relax as well, brings his cup up and takes a sip.

"How much do you know about this situation with Sorin?"

"I know the," Kurt felt a new wave of embarrassment warm his face, "the effects his mutation is having. This is vhy he was locked in his room when he first got here. He told me how often it happens." He swirled the liquid within the teacup, watching the way it moved.

"I'm sorry, Kurt. I know you were concerned. It is never pleasant keeping something from someone else. I told who I thought needed to know in order to help Sorin and ensure others at the Institute were not at risk. Everyone else, well that is Sorin's choice whether or not to share."

"Vhy vould others be at risk?"

"Sorin looses most, sometimes all, of his impulse control. Our concerns of what that would mean for someone to encounter him in such a state are significant."

Kurt blanched, understanding. "You think he would force someone?"

"Unfortunately, there is that possibility. And Sorin shares this concern. He does not want that to ever happen, as I'm sure no one else does either. So, during this time, Logan escorts him to one of the safe houses and makes sure he stays isolated. And Hank has been working on a medicine that will have a quenching effect on what we've been referring to as 'heat', but so far his efforts have not had the desired result."

Kurt wanted to ask about what went on between Logan and Sorin at the safe house, but he realized the Professor may not know, and he didn't want to sound jealous or insecure. Only Jean had any idea Kurt was interested in Sorin. Aside from her, he wasn't even sure anyone knew he was bi. Including the Professor. Besides, the answer could be that absolutely nothing was happening. He decided it was best not to ask such questions. So instead he asked,

"Who knows?"

"Jean: she brought it to my attention when she accidentally overheard him. His thoughts broadcast loudly when he loses control. Another reason, it is best he is not present." Kurt sipped as the Professor talked. "I informed Logan, Ororo, and Hank so that they might assist me in assisting Sorin."

Kurt didn't recall seeing Ororo at the meeting he'd seen take place during what he now knew was Sorin's first heat here, but the door had been closed relatively quickly and there were places in the office she could have been that were not visible from the doorway, so he put that concern to rest.

"Scott?"

"Jean assured me she has not shared Sorin's situation with Scott. Though she hates keeping things from him."

Kurt flopped onto his bed after his sit down with the Professor. He pressed his hands over his face. Three to seven days. Sorin would be at a safe house with Logan, and Kurt would be here, thinking about it. There were only three days until graduation. Three days of staying at home, relaxing, goofing off, having fun. Kurt had been looking forward to spending time with Sorin now that the classes and homework weren't occupying their time. Now, he'd be spending it alone. Those that had not returned to their family's home, or gone back for a visit, those that hadn't gone to the summer training camp either as a trainee or a trainer, those that weren't already busy with danger room activities, missions, and studies, were probably planning their own brand of fun. Well, maybe not alone, he considered. Perhaps some that remained would be around. Three to seven days. Kurt wasn't sure what the usual number was, the average, but it was likely that Sorin would miss graduation. Kurt frowned. Sorin had worked so hard for it. It didn't feel right that he'd be cooped up in a safe house during the ceremony. And if he missed the graduation ceremony, he'd miss the after-party bash.

There went any thought of trying to use the bash to get closer to Sorin. He'd be spending the whole bash in bed making those soft noises Kurt had heard earlier. And there went Kurt's brain, right into the gutter. Kurt groaned. It was going to be a long week.