B A M F

// Long time no see! If the fuzzy blue boy is still your bag and you wanna come play, I’ve moved him across to my shiny new multi at @compassofsouls​! 

// Hey guys! A heads up that Kurt is going on hiatus for a lil’ while.

Really, really sorry to my partners for dropping this on you, I feel kinda garbo but muse is quiet, the lockdown situ hasn’t been great for me mentally, and I’m struggling with operating two independent blogs. I’m putting my focus on Thor and Scott for the moment. 

I can never truly keep away from Kurt for long though, so expect he’ll bamf back in. I’ll likely still be around to reblog artwork and such or chat hc’s/plots for the future.

All of my partners are absolute gems - if we don’t already have a thread/follow on Thor please feel free to come pounce on him and send a meme/talk abt a plot because I’d love to keep communication up with you!

“Logan isn’t know for being subtle,” she agreed.  No, indeed, her friend was more apt to cause a scene and Kurt was correct.  If this were truly going through legal channels then force would not be wise.  “What’s the legal origin then?”  Some places were easier to get in to and hack than others.  There were some folks who would make it vastly more difficult, even for someone with her considerable skills.  “Do we know who’s running the place?”

A small smile.  “I’m reasonably good at being unseen.”  An understatement.  “You may be able to disappear faster than most can track with a weapon, but we need to consider the possibility of help.  If they start getting into probabilities for instance….”  She had a very basic idea of how Nightcrawler managed to pop from one place to another.  It was her job to know these things.  But she’d never dug into the details.  There were other mutants who were a far bigger threat.  Besides, he was never questionable in his loyalties or which way he fell when things went down.  His threat level was low.  But that didn’t mean she was willing to risk his life.  Aside from the fact he didn’t deserve it, she also knew a good chunk of the mutant community would at least attempt to come down on her head.  “It’s still a risk to you.  That’s something you need to be clear on.”

The flattery made her snicker quietly.  “I’m sure,” she replied dryly.  Not everyone could boast her skills, and of those who could…. well…. she put them to shame.  “Something prompted the need to get this done ASAP.  What was it?”  If they had debated it this long something had to be the tipping point.  Not that she wasn’t going to do it, she just wanted to know what it was.

He chuckled softly, mirthlessly, at the warning.  It was incredibly kind of her – and revealing of her character – to express concern for the safety of a potential partner, but Kurt was well aware of the risk. He was not particularly well-known in the upper circles of superheroes (and was rather content for things to stay that way, thank you very much), but he had done his fair share of missions with both X-Men and Excalibur. “Were it not for their security measures chances are Kitty or me would have done this. I can look after myself, Ms Romanoff: my concern’s more about the data. I’ve dealt with enough goons in my time. I don’t think you’ll have much of a problem with them yourself, from what I hear.”

Another grin and Kurt’s gaze dropped to the dossier. “I believe finer details are all in here about the suspect purchases and legal paperwork we managed to dig up. If you want to do some of your own research on this before making a move, you’re of course more than welcome to see if you can get more. As far as we know, there are…certain strands of the government rather interested in this but naturally keeping it played low-key beneath several layers of deniability. We’re hoping that putting pressure on the systems – or making it unusable – would shake their faith in funding these endeavours.”

Hopefully he was offering enough information: as prepared as he was to jump into action he hadn’t prepared to be the one holding this talk. “Concerning why now, it’s a ticking clock.” Kurt shrugged. “The longer we give them access to these databases, the more likely it is there will be copies made or other organisations interested in getting their hands on the information. Research aside – which, as I say, progressing at an alarming rate – we don’t need that spreading. We want to put an end to this before they begin scooping up test subjects or selling the files. So…”

Kurt’s first comment had Loki blinking. Looking like someone’s mother was not particularly conducive to them progressing down their flirtatious path, though Nightcrawler quickly backtracked and rescued the moment.

“Mm,” he agreed. “I believe I shall explore this form more. At present I am somewhat apprehensive of misusing its application of seidr. A little like that human myth of Midas.” He examined his hands, turning them before he shifted back to his pale Asgardian form.

“If I’m to attempt handling you, I’d rather not transform you into a block of ice.” Loki grinned.

Oh, good, he hadn’t entirely killed the moment. Visibly relieved that Loki was indulging the conversation still, the mutant relaxed once again. It was almost a comfort to hear the trickster speak so candidly about his abilities; that even he, for all of his age and prowess, was not above learning. It was humble in a subtle manner and a pleasant reminder that, even for someone of Loki’s age and experience, there was ever more to learn in the universe. It made him all that more real.

     “Well y’see I’m in need o’ yer teleportin’ abilities. Usedta’ have ourselves a ‘porter by th’ name o’ Wraith who had th’ job title o’ Get Us Th’ Hell Outta Here Now: Extraordinaire an’ he was helluva good at it, too. Unfortunately th’ sonuvabitch isn’t kickin’ anymore– because o’ yer’s truly.” Pointing to himself. “S’that’s where you come in t’ th’ picture… y’re gonna teleport me t’ a series o’ locations until say–” He turns away to look at a crumpled up piece of paper that he’s reopening in his lap, “–midnight? Y'ask no questions. Y'just get me from point A t’ point B.      “Yeah, that sounds ‘bout right.” Keeping his eyes trained on Kurt up in the rafters, “An’ in exchange, I’ll track down yer Mommy. I’m sure y’can do fine by yersel’ but yer odds o’ findin’ that shape-shifter will raise tremendously if y’got a nose like mine on yer side, wouldn’t y’say?”      He chuckles.”S’what’s th’ verdict?”

He reasons with himself – at first desperately, then with mounting determination – that this is a good thing. No claws out (far); no fur (his) flying; and no threats for him to exacerbate with stupid remarks. This was taking a surprisingly laconic pace, and yet for all of his hopes his hackles are still up. It defies logical explanation: perhaps it is something in the other man’s mannerisms, his dynamic with Logan or indeed Mystique which makes the teleporter feel that much younger, out of his depth. For all his experience and years on various teams, he feels like a youngster. It sits ill with him, and he has to rein in defensive impulse.

All desires to help and understand are swiftly clouded: the request and subsequent offer catches the mutant off-guard and it shows. Kurt stiffens briefly, tail coiling about the rafter as he stares back in silence. There’s much to unpack there between the demise of Wraith to his turbulent relationship with his birth mother but little time afforded to process it. Perhaps it had been presumptuous to look at Victor as the one in need of a chat.

Loki sat up and thumbed the image Kurt had sent him, rubbing at an eye with the heel of his palm. He zoned out of whatever was being said at the sight of the ‘writing’. 

The living language shifted before his eyes, reforming itself to make conversation. No, not conversation. Threat. When was there ever going to be a crisis that wasn’t his fault somewhere down the line? 

“Kurt, get -.”

Too late. Stupid, stupid, should have paid attention. Kurt had already cut off.

So come and get him, the voices lured. Ones last heard by the Sorcerer Supreme.. when the title had been his.

“So much for a lie-in,” he whinged, and teleported.

Next stop: the Estonian coast. 

Loki’s presence had prompted little reception – in fact it appeared none for the first few minutes. Salt-rimed steel creaked and boomed ominously, hollow noises to fill a silence interrupted only by the ocean. The tanker had been grounded for a week and empty possibly years prior: any signs of life had been long swept away by both passage of time and whatever was now aboard.

Writing began to re-appear upon the walls only moments before a pair of large, golden eyes blinked out of the gloom down a long corridor. They stared flatly, the look somehow as smug as it was accusing. For the moment there was no attempt made to get any closer, content to linger in the shadows which so well suited the talents of this borrowed body.

He wasn’t prying, but the weight felt heavy on her shoulders. He was her son, and the things she had done to him. . she had no idea how he could look at her the way he did. He was so forgiving and kind, unlike her  –  and she wondered just how someone like him had come from something so evil like her. It melted her heart, and made her want to cry.

❝ I carry this weight on my own because I have to. ❞ It’s self made.   ❝ But at least things are calming down. . for now. ❞ Shrugging her shoulders, she failed to mention the fact she was going slightly mad from the fact Irene was still deceased, thanks to Charles. That tidbit would remain untold for fear of judgment.  ❝ Who knows? It’s always quiet before the storm. ❞

It was something. A tiny thread to follow in the scheme of things but he had become used to being offered far less by others. Residual defensiveness ebbed into something softer. The line here was incredibly thin. Push enough and he might make a breakthrough; push too hard and he could risk his mother defaulting to a more defensive mood. He hoped for a level of vulnerability and patience he was not even certain Raven was comfortable offering but, as ever, he maintained hope. might be a pro in the circus but this tightrope is ridiculous.

Sometimes … well, it was always a pretty difficult task to get Thera to give up, to actually drop something as a write off and let it go. She could blame her long history of time on the battlefield for that, where giving up often meant she or somebody else was going to die. Or, alternatively, she could own up to the fact that she was plain old obstinate.

Countering it this time around was her mechanical knowledge (in general - some specifics of the jet itself were beyond her), plus the hour and the smell of burning circuitry that lingered in Kurt’s hair … yeah, maybe it was time to let this one rest. Even if she still thought calling for help was a valid idea.

“I’m not sure we’ve got any other option …” She heard herself even as she said it, and resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Way to make it sound like you’re forcing yourself there, girl. As in, the circumstances were, but overnight on the jet was hardly the most terrible thing. And hanging around overnight with Kurt … that gave her pause, though not in a ‘didn’t want to do it’ sort of way.

It was far more of an ‘are we on the same page?’ - not to mention wondering what that page might actually be. She studied him for a second or two, thoughtfully, then chuckled and pushed up out of her seat. “I’m game if you are. What sort of bits and pieces are we talking, here?”

 On Kurt’s end, his mind was on so many pages with so many overlaid thoughts now that there was a vague course of action that he could very contentedly been encouraged in any direction. Flashing a fangy grin of enthusiasm when Thera relented, he sprang from his own seat and back down the jet.

“Well let’s have a good look – I’m hoping those dear friends of mine haven’t stopped being their usual selves and sneaking things aboard.” Making his way to the lockers at the back of the craft, the teleporter began poking through for all of the not-so-hidden stashes and long-haul entertainment. He could always pay his companions back, though with the Blackbird’s poor record of survival few kept anything of actual value aboard.

The mutant’s tail wagged like a dog searching for their favourite ball and it wasn’t long until he began talking once again. “Hah!” he crowed in triumph, “here we go. We’ve got some beer, of course.. quite a lot..A couple of books, a little..games thing. Uh. It is old and makes me feel old, I have no idea what it is..” He hopped back a little to start putting everything in better reach. “Pack of cards though nobody uses them; couple of blankets. No pillow, but there’s those neck-pillow things and we can improvise. With a little persuasion the radio could be working.” He stooped to open the lid of one of the seats and gestured to the contents. “Snacks a-plenty. It might not be a thrilling night for you, but we’re only missing a movie and some pyjamas to make a proper sleepover.” He paused for a beat. “I would assume.”

     “I s’ppose it is, my furry blue friend. I s’ppose it is.” Victor knew a thing or two about it, having his brain tampered with so many times he lost count. Some points in his life he would forget who he was and what he was capable of for the benefit of the program that had him under their employee at the time. It was a good way to keep the Lupine under their proverbial boot.       “It’s been a dog’s age since my last confession.” Victor admits. St. Alamander. Barcelona. He had killed the whole convent. Turned that place of worship into a ghoulish abattoir… it’s been a long while since Vic’s needed “the glow” to rein in his homicidal impulses. The sentiment makes him think of Birdy. He smiles.

     “Fortunately, Disappearin’ Smurf, I ain’t here fer yer Ma.” He rises out of his seat, both simultaneously keeping an eye on Kurt and the statue of Jesus Christ.            (Ah’ll beat th’ Devil outta ya if Ah hafta, boy!)      “I’m here fer you.”

Slow breath in. Exhale. Kurt’s eyes make a near-imperceptible shift to the rafters; gives himself the assurance that at worst he has an exit strategy. It’s a long-ingrained practice born from years of service to the X-Men and more years yet of poor treatment at the hands of mankind. Regardless it serves its purpose and he relaxes further. This would be fine. It always pays to be cautious, but he is not a man driven to harsh words and passing judgement. As long as Victor maintains the peace he is content to offer the same courtesy.

The admission earns a tilt of the head and thoughtful frown. Were he asked Kurt would hold no objection to holding confession, but for the moment he bites his tongue on making the offer outright. Now may be neither the time nor place for either of them, but that does not mean he abstains from giving it some consideration. Indeed, part of his mind wanders to the manner of counsel he might even need to provide. Would it truly, at the end of the day, be that much different to Logan?

In later hindsight (when he would be either repairing his own door or keeping it closed with a chair), Kurt would curse himself for being so foolish. He honestly should have taken himself direct to Hank, but his irrational, exhausted mind had let him make one final ‘port and only on an instinctual level. That would prove little comfort later when he was whingeing over the locks. 

The thunk of his door barely drew a flinch, though he made another grumbling noise which was smothered by his pillow. The bedding felt sticky now. He was probably bleeding again; hardly a surprise considering his tendency to end up in trouble. 

Even feeling as he did, Kurt wasn’t of a mind to entirely ignore Rogue. Lifting his head from the pillow with Herculean effort, he brought her face into focus with a groggy blink and managed a smile. “Oh..the usual. Really tired. ‘M fine. Just want to rest a while.”

The folder was open in front of her, but her attention was on Kurt.  Widow listened as he spoke, picking out the important bits as he spoke.  Illegal database.  Likely testing.  Sentinel security.  Shady origins.  A mostly standard day then.  Natasha leaned back in her chair with a soft sigh.  At some point one would think these people would stop, but she knew better.  Humanity had very few redeeming qualities in her experiences and these types didn’t have any of them.

Kitty?  “I probably don’t want to know what held up Ms. Pryde do I?”  Kitty was one of Logan’s favorites and she wondered if he were lurking around on the fringes of this one.  She made a mental note to touch base with him.  Even if he didn’t already know, he would want to.  Lips twitched in a smile and she shook her head.  “I usually stay out of mutant affairs.” They didn’t want her there anyway.  “But I understand how this is a concern.”  Her brain turned it over a few minutes before she asked, “Do we know how deep they are scanning with their tech?  I might know a way to by pass it as long as it’s not completely down to DNA.”  It had been a while since she had looked into the Sentinel program.  But she remembered a fair bit of it.  No doubt it had upgrades since then though.  “Do we know the origin of their tech?  Was it legally obtained or did they thieve it from somewhere?”  Their source could tell them a lot.  That they weren’t in agreement about her didn’t shock her in the least.  “And what made you decide it was worth coming to me?”  Truly she was curious.  While she and Kurt had crossed paths now and again, they had never really spoken much.

“Please tell me they weren’t running out of an old Hydra facility or something.”  She hadn’t crossed paths with that group in a while.  Apparently there were multiple perks of ditching SHIELD to operate on her own.  Going in alone didn’t bother her.  That was something she had been doing since she was a child.  She worked better alone.  “You could easily be at risk if you went as well.  Any of you who carry the mutant gene would pop up on their radar.  And if they didn’t know about any of you, they would as soon as they managed to ping on you.”

Well, she was certainly prepared with such a thorough series of questions. It didn’t come as a surprise to Kurt but it was a pleasant affirmation that all of the tales were stacking up to prove true. They had not had much opportunity to work closely prior to this, so it was nice to be able to have this time. As useful as it was to know the enemy it was just as important to get to know one another - though he rather suspected she was getting a better read on him just by his mannerisms. 

“Far as we know it was obtained through legal channels, which makes things..a touch more complex. Just another reason why discretion is preferable to Logan taking his claws to the lot. We probably could brute-force it but that won’t help us in the long term when it comes to their reaction. If things are this terse, we don’t need to give them extra ammunition.”

A flick of the tail and he considered the final question with a tilt of the head. “Risky though it could be, if they get a read on me just within the grounds it might be fine - and most of the security is internal. Misdirection isn’t a bad option, after all. The more they focus on a possible incident the less attention is on you. Other than that, I can poof in and out faster than guns can track: I can drop you off and be off their radar fast enough they’d see it only as a blip. You might just need to be cautious if they’re alert.” Admittedly for all the tabs they had been keeping it was a last-minute decision to make their move, prompted by necessity when it seemed that plans might progress.