In Fear of Three Little Words

One more and I'm going to bed. Another nasty headache just caught up with me. Or maybe it's just Kurt trying to get out of my head.

Chapter 28


Wolf whistles greeted Kurt when he entered the kitchen, Bobby making kissy faces at him.

Ray sidled up close and said in a sultry voice, “oh, Logan what big muscles you have.”

Well, it wasn’t as if he hadn’t been warned. Kurt shoved Ray away and headed for the refrigerator. Amara grinned at him as he passed and giggled.

Jean and Scott were sitting at the table, Scott pretending to ignore the others’ behavior, but Jean offered Kurt an apologetic expression and leaned over to Scott and said, “Scott, do something.”

Scott shook his head. “As far as I’m concerned he’s getting what he deserves.”

“Scott!” Jean exclaimed. “I can’t believe you.”

Kurt jerked open the refrigerator door and rummaged, but his appetite disappeared when the teasing didn’t stop. Behind him, kissing sounds and thinly disguised innuendo flowed in a constant banter. He slammed the door and whirled on them with a glare.

Everyone shut up for a moment then went right back to teasing mode, Sam and Ray and Bobby and Roberto making an effort to pass by him with baiting remarks.

“How was the fishing, Kurt?” Bobby asked. “Catch something big?”

“I bet it was cold up there in the mountains,” Sam said. “Find something to keep you warm all night?”

The kitchen door opened and Logan stood there wearing jeans and a black tee shirt, looking hot to the touch. All conversation stopped instantly.

“Is there a problem in here?” Logan asked in his usual morning growl.

“No. None. Huh uh.” Came the round of denials.

Logan pierced Kurt with a gaze that softened instantly. A brow went up asking him silently the same question.

“No,” Kurt said. “There’s no problem.”

“Good,” Logan replied, and headed for the coffee maker and poured himself a cup.

Kurt finally poured a glass of juice and settled at the table.

“That can’t be all you’re having,” Kitty said, standing beside him with her hands on her hips.

“I’m not very hungry this morning,” he replied and sipped his juice, deliberately not looking at Logan. He expected the teasing to resume once they were at school.

“The boys being obnoxious this morning?”

“Yeah, you could say that.” He glanced around but everyone was busy now eating breakfast.

Rogue dro a t a toasted bagel in front of him and shoved the cream cheese across the table to him. “We can’t have you faintin’ in the middle of World Economics. Eat.”

“My sisters,” Kurt muttered. “What would I do without you both.”

“Starve yourself obvious,” Rogue replied.

“That won’t last for long,” Logan said without looking up from his paper.

Kitty giggled and Kurt grinned sheepishly.

Jean stopped beside him. “I’m sorry about Scott while ago. He’s...not come around yet, but I’m sure he will.”

“You know, Jean,” Kurt said, gazing up at her. “I don’t really care if Scott approves of me and Logan or not. As long as he doesn’t let it interfere with the team.”

“Touche,” Logan said. He caught Kurt’s eye and gave him a wink.

Jean patted Kurt’s shoulder and left. Kurt only hoped she was going to give Scott Summers a piece of her mind. Maybe literally considering Jean’s talents.

“Hey, you guys,” Rogue said from the doorway. “We got to go. Kurt, it’s your turn to drive so hurry it up.”

Everyone seemed to scatter at once, but Kurt lingered, still sipping his juice. Logan folded his paper and met Kurt’s gaze.

“We knew it wasn’t gonna be easy, elf.”

“Yes, well they won’t dare say anything to you. I’m the one who’s got to take it.”

“You’re strong. You can handle it.” Logan rose, shoving back his chair and coming over to Kurt. Logan’s nearness sent a giddy feeling running through Kurt’s chest and stomach. He looked up and Logan reached out and stroked his hair, a thumb running across his cheek. “Rise above it, sweetheart. Don’t take the bait and you’ll show them what it means to be an adult. Anyway, it’ll make a man outta ya.”

Kurt offered up a sly grin. “Iughtught you had already done that.”

“Hey!” Rogue said, sticking her head in the door. “Do I have to separate you two? Come on, Kurt. We’re goin’ to be late for school.”

Logan pulled Kurt up from his chair, turned him and gave him a gentle shove. “Get goin’ or there’ll be hell to pay.”

Kurt waved back and let Rogue drag him out of the kitchen.

**************

Kurt rummaged through his locker, looking for his World Economics book. So far, he’d had a quiet morning. No Bobby or Sam, no Roberto or Ray coming up to him with juvenile comments about his love life.

At least he had a love life. They wouldn’t know a love life if it bit them on the ass.

“Hey.”

Kurt looked up tnd Bnd Bobby standing beside him. He gave a sigh and steeled himself for more teasing.

“I still can’t believe you and Logan are doing it.”

“Would you please keep your voice down?” Kurt said, slamming his locker and spinning the combination with a vicious twist. He glanced around, but nobody seemed to have overheard Bobby’s comment.

Bobby sidled closer. “Don’t get me wrong, Kurt. It’s cool...really. Us guys don’t care, but you have to admit, you’ve left yourself wide open for a good long tease.”

“Oh, I see,” Kurt said, whirling on Bobby. “Your juvenile behavior is all my fault. I should have realized.” He stalked away, not knowing how to deal with any of it.

Bobby fell into step beside him. “Don’t get bent out of shape. We’ll keep it quiet at school. It’s hard enough being a mutant around here without everyone knowing you’re a...you know.”

“Fag mutant?”

With a shrug, Bobby said, “you said it, not me. Hey, and thanks for not siccing Logan on us this morning.”

“I don’t need Logan to fight my battles,” Kurt replied.

Bobby put up a hand and grinned. “No battle here, bud. Just some good-natured teasing.”

A whoosh of air swirled around them and Pietro stood before Kurt, blocking his way.

“I heard an interestiumorumor about you this morning, blue boy,” Pietro said, hands on hips, signature smirk plastered on his lips. “I heard you and Wolvie were doing the nasty.”
“Oh man,” Bobby said beside him. “It wasn’t me. I swear it.”

Kurt flung Bobby a glare. There had been a kind of truce of late between the X-men and The Brotherhood, a truce born of together surviving Apocalypse. But Pietro was still Pietro, always looking for trouble or a way to needle any one of them. Someone had handed Kurt over to The Brotherhood on a silver platter.

“So it’s true?” Pietro pressed. “You and Logan. What would Mommy Mystique think of that?”

“I don’t care what Mystique thinks,” Kurt hissed, panic rising.

“Is that any way to talk about your Mommy?”

A rumble from around the nearby corner announced Blob had arrived and with him a distinct odor that belonged to only one guy, Toad.

“So, is it true?” Blob asked, loud enough to get the entire hallways’ attention. “Is the blue freak letting wolfman fuck him?”

Gazes turned their way.

“Shut up,” Kurt said, whirling on Blob.

“I guess it is, bro,” Toad stated . “Kurty’s got a boyfriend. Kurty’s got a boyfriend.” The sing song tone made the hackles rise on Kurt’s neck.

“Stop it!” he yelled.

Bobby took hold of his arm and tugged. “Come on, man. Cool it. Let’s just get to class.”

Kurt felt eyes on him, his classmates watching...judging. He so did not need this. He bared his teeth at them then turned from Pietro’s smirk and Toad’s slimy grin, letting Bobby pull him away and down the hall.

“You have got to learn to let this crap roll off, Kurt. These guys thrive on making other people miserable and now that they know about you and Logan...man.”

“You are not helping me calm down, Bobby,” Kurt replied. “Who told them?”

“I have no idea. But it wasn’t me. And the rest of the guys agreed we wouldn’t tell anyone. We can hassle you, but it’s something else all together for somebody else to hassle you.”

“Gee thanks. My friends,” Kurt offered with sarcasm.

Bobby gave a shrug. “Gotta peel off here. This is my class.” He gave Kurt’s arm a. “. “Good luck. Maybe we’ll see you at lunch.”

“Maybe,” Kurt muttered to himself. “If I’m not hiding in my locker by then.”

**************

Kurt glanced around the cafeteria, looking for someone he knew. Kitty sat with Lance, snuggled way too close. He watched her laugh and Lance slid an arm around her with a smirk of smug confidence.

Oh Kitty, be careful with that one.

“Hey Blue,” Tabitha said, sidling up close beside him. “Let’s do lunch and talk.”

“Talk?” he said. She turned and winked at him then made a head motion towards an empty table. Kurt sighed and followed.

“How’s it going with you now that your mother has moved to town?” Kurt asked, settling into a seat and opening his carton of milk.

“Pretty good,” Tabitha replied. “She’s working hard to put food on the table and I guess she’s gotten over Dad getting sent up the river again. I’m kinda glad she’s here. We’re trying real hard to get along.”

“I’m glad for you. But you know you’d be welcome back at The Institute any time.”

“I know. I’m...just not ready for that full time.” She flashed a smile. “But it was fun kicking Apocalypse’ ass, wasn’t it?”

Kurt gave her a cynical expression. “ I’m afraid Apocalypse pretty much kicked my ass, but I know what you mean.” He took a bite of his hamburger and waited for Tabitha to get to the real reason she’d latched onto him.

“Blue....” Tab beg began, not looking at him. She gazed down at her plate and swirled her straw through her ketchup. “I heard a rumor this morning...about you...and, I know this is crazy, but Logan. That you two were doing it.”

Kurt let out a sigh. “Where did you hear this rumor?”

“We’ll actually maybe it’s not so much a rumor...huh? It came direct from The Institute.”

Kurt sighed again and his appetite disappeared. “Who?”

“Amara told me...and I guess I must have said something to Pietro...or maybe it was Lance. I knew it was stupid the minute I said it,” she went on in a hurry. “I’m real sorry.”

He imagined “popping” Amara out to the ocean, dropping her in and watching her sizzle for a while. Then doing the same to Tabitha.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done by telling The Brotherhood what should have been my personal business?” Kurt hissed.

Tabitha bit her lip. “I swear I didn’t mean any harm, blue. You know I’d never do anything on purpose to hurt you.”

“Well, if I get beaten up at school, you can tell yourself that and feel better.”

“Ah, come on. At first I didn’t even believe it. Then Amara said you and Logan went away for the weekend together. What else could it mean?”

“Right,” he said dismally. “And it’s not that I want to hide my feelings for Logan. It’s just I don’t need this at school.”

“I know. I know,” she offered. “I wish I could take it back. I wish I could fix it.”

“But you can’t.”

She reached out and lifted Kurt’s chin with a finger. “So what brought this on? I thought you had the hots for Amanda whatshername.”

“Amanda’s gone. She’s been sent off to boarding school. But that’s not the reason. Let’s just say Logan and I went through some things together, some bad things and it brought us together.”

“Wow. Who would have thunk it?”

Kurt shrugged. “Neither Logan or I...until it happened.”

“Hey, Wagner,” Lance said, coming towards them with Kitty beside him. Lance’s smug smile told Kurt he was about to get harassed royally. “What’s this I’m hearing about you turning your ass up for Logan?”

“Lance!” Kitty said, slapping his arm. “Leave Kurt alone.”

“Sorry.” Lance put his hands up. “I didn’t know blue boy needed your protection.”

“I don’t need her protection, Alvers,” Kurt said, shoving back his chair and standing. His hands instinctively balled into fists. “Not to deal with you.”

Kitty and Tabitha pushed between them.

“Hey, boys,” Tabitha said. “Relax. There’s no need for fighting.”

“Yeah,” Kitty said. “And if you don’t leave Kurt alone, Lance, we are so not going out on a date on Friday. Is that clear?”

“Kitty,” Lance said. “I was just checking out the rumor mill. Seems it’s not a rumor after all and Kurt and Logan are the newest item in town.”

“It doesn’t matter. You got that?” Kitty replied, her finger poking Lance in the chest. “You and the rest of the Brotherhood keep your mouths to yourselves.”

“Absolutely, Kitty,” Lance said. “Ift’s t’s what you want. That’s what you’ll get.”

“Well, okay,” Kitty said. “I’ve got to get to class. See you later Kurt. And oh, Lance is driving me home. So don’t wait for me.”

“Sure. Later, Kitty.”

Kurt watched them walk away and Lance turned just enough to mouth the word “fag” at him then grin and slide an arm around Kitty’s waist. He couldn’t help but notice most of the rest in the crowded cafeteria had witness the confrontation.

“What a jerk!” Tabitha said.

Kurt whirled on her. “Do you see the trouble you’ve caused?”

She looked startled then contrite. “Yeah...I’m sorry.” Then she brightened as if all was well again. “Gotta go.” She reached out and ran a finger across Kurt’s cheek. “Catch ya later, blue.”

Kurt sat down, feeling eyes on him. His food sat half eaten and that was how it would stay. He rose again, dumped his tray as well as Tabitha’s and slunk out the door, hoping to avoid any other confrontations.

The rest of the school year was bound to be anything, dulldull.