X-Calibre Trilogy: Long Hard Road Out of Hell

I awoke that evening with a queasy stomach, the result of my nervousness concerning my traveling companion. It didn't get any better the closer to the ground I got, but I shored myself up for what was coming. I came upon him as he sat by the campfire, tending to the food he was cooking. He glanced over his shoulder once he heard me and invited me to sit; I accepted, tongue-tied as I debated on what, if anything, to say.

"I owe you an apology," he began, keeping his eyes on the fire. I don't know why this directness surprised me -- it wasn't like it were out of character for him -- but I turned my full attention to him, studying him. He seemed guarded, but not as cold as he'd been previously. "I was too forward with you yesterday. You had every right to pull away, and I shouldn't have taken it personally. You're a proper woman after all, nicht wahr [not true]?"

So that’s what it was about! But . . . "But I didn't pull away from you, I--"

He placed the tip of his tail against my lips to shush me. "It was subtle; I didn't think you realized it. It's alright," he sighed and drew his tail back to himself, "we're still getting to know each other. I was out of line." He took the pot off the fire, opened the lid, and tipped the contents into the grass.

"Bad stew?" I tried to see what it was.

"Nein. Boiled eggs."

"Don't tease me like that," I sighed. A few weeks ago I never would have considered them the delicacy that I did now.

He handed me one wrapped in the rag he'd used as a pot holder. "There's a farm a few miles up the road. I couldn't resist -- I've not had eggs in years." He laid out another three in the cooler grass. "I also want to apologize for what happened at the river. It really was an accident that I saw you, but I could have done things differently."

Any anger I still had within me evaporated, but I couldn't help remembering the threats he'd made. "Do you still want to part ways?" I tried to be diplomatic. "You do have a point, I am just slowing you down . . ."

He winced and drew a slow, deep breath; then he stared at the ground for a moment, shoulders slumped, tail draped limply over his right knee. I bit my lower lip and looked away, uncomfortable.

"My mother used to say," his voice was so soft that I had to focus on hearing him, "that it's not our appearances but our actions that make us ugly. She said it every day during the persecutions before the war. It was why she joined the Underground as the ferrywoman to Avalon; it was why I joined the X-Men." He swallowed before drawing another breath. "I've not been the man I try to be, Miriam. Instead I've been as ugly towards you as the beast that looks back at me in the mirror. There's no excusing that." He looked over at me, his eyes catching mine. "I value your company and have enjoyed traveling with you, but I'll understand if you want to go on separately."

I held his gaze for a long moment, tears burning my eyes. There was no way an apology that detailed and sincere had come easily for him; I was truly impressed. "I accept your apology, Nightcrawler, and I forgive you," I reached over to squeeze his hand. "I don't want to leave, either." I smiled tentatively at him.

The beginnings of a smile tugged his lips and he squeezed my hand in return. "Danke schoen [thank you very much]," he whispered. "Friends again?"

"Absolutely."

"Are you hungry?" he turned back to his initial task by the fire. "I also picked up some bacon."

"Ooh, you're going to spoil me!" I laughed, relieved that things had come out this way. Then I remembered something. "Oh, wait, I'll be right back!"

"Where are you going?" he asked as I ran towards the water.

"I have something for you." I returned five minutes later bearing the liter bottle and my pack.

"Fresh milk! Who's spoiling whom, liebchen?" His eyes were alight and a toothy grin split his face.

"Just wait, there's more." I rummaged in my bag until I found the fruit, which I handed to him.

"Is this what I get for picking fights? I'll have to do so more often!" he winked as he bit into an apple.

"Be forewarned, I can get bitchy." I worked on unpeeling an egg.

"I'll keep it in mind."

We ate in relative silence, relishing the bounty we'd acquired and occasionally glancing at each other. When I was done I turned to face him, and he turned towards me.

"I just want to tell you that I don't think you're ugly." I took in his finely-chiseled features and thought how other-worldly they were. Different, yes, but not ugly. "I think you're rather handsome, actually, in an exotic way."

There was that funny look again. "Liar," he smiled and got to his feet. "Thanks for the ego boost though."

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Over the next few weeks he began to teach me hand to hand defense techniques during rests on our way north. After only a few days of it he began to take time at the end of the night, before we settled in for sleep, to spar with me so I could apply my new-found knowledge. He claimed I had a knack for it and it was a true shame that I'd not been taught the martial arts before this. I tended to blush at his praise even as I kept working hard at it, eager to master the next move he had for me. Somewhere in Pennsylvania we took a break from traveling, as we were way out in the country and fairly sure we could get away with staying put for once. Nightcrawler took the opportunity to push me in my training, building my speed and ability to anticipate the next incoming move while improving my stamina for fighting.

Unfortunately, I was very sore after the third day of it and almost couldn't move; and so it was that I was now laying on my stomach in the sunshine, Nightcrawler straddling my hips as he loosened up my back and arms.

"It will get easier, I promise," he pressed hard with the heels of his hands along my lower back.

"If you say so," I tried to not cry out in pain. I knew it was because my muscles were so tight, rather than because of anything he was doing wrong, but damn did it hurt!

"We'll take it easy tomorrow, just a kata or two before we get going again. How's that?" He was about half-way up my back now.

"Hey! There are ribs there, you know!" I squeezed my eyes shut as he focused on a problem spot under my right shoulder.

"No, that's a rib," he demonstrated rather painfully, which earned a yelp from me. "The place before that was a knot. Important difference." He rubbed over the rib with his open hand to sooth the pain he'd inflicted.

"I'm guessing you've never taught anyone before," I muttered.

"And why is that?" His voice held a slight warning note to it.

"Because if you had, they'd be dead now. Ow!" He hit the knot again, getting it to loosen under his touch.

"Sorry about that," the warning tone was replaced by the now-familiar sympathetic amusement. "Shall I kiss it and make it better?"

"That sounds suspiciously like flirting." I couldn't help smiling.

"That's not an answer." He moved on to my other side, which wasn't as sore.

"You'll have a lot of kissing ahead of you," I warned.

"I don't mind."

"You may proceed, then." I felt him lean down to press his lips to my right shoulder, then down to the rib he'd almost surely bruised. He continued to work, kissing each site gently before moving to the next. I laid there and melted into a puddle of Miriam.

At last he moved from being on top of me to laying beside me in the grass, on his side and propped up on an elbow. When I moved to look at him he laid a hand on my head, petting my hair as he did so. "Shh, just enjoy it," he instructed, and I obeyed. He continued petting me, moving from my hair to my still-sore back then down my arms and back up again.

"What are you thinking?" I asked drowsily after a few minutes.

"Two things. The first is that you are very beautiful, and the sunlight in your hair is a particularly nice highlight. The second is that I think I'll take a nap with you if you don't mind."

"And are those thoughts related to one another?" I yawned.

"I plead the fifth."

"Huh?"

"I refuse to answer that question, liebchen," he restated himself as he tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. "Do you mind?"

"What, playing with my hair?"

"No," he chuckled, "my taking a nap next to you."

"Oh, that." I yawned again. "I'd like that very much."

He curled up next to me, his left arm extended alongside mine so that he could rest his head on it. His right arm held me loosely around the waist while his tail draped over my back. I reached out with my fingers to touch his; he hesitated for a moment before caressing mine in return, and a moment later our hands were clasped together as we dropped off to sleep.