Pretending

Later in the evening, Scott found himself glancing nervously at his clock as he hunted through his wardrobe for what felt like the millionth time that evening. Clothes were scattered all over his room as he tried to find the perfect outfit. With a sigh he settled on jeans and a smart black shirt, swiping a hand back through his hair he headed out, looking for Kurt so they could arrange a time to meet by the gates.

Kurt was sitting in his room, hunched over the desk and absently tapping the end of his pencil on a blank piece of paper. He sighed. So much for getting some homework done. He leaned back in his chair, using his tail to hold the edge of the desk so he wouldn't fall over, and glanced at the clock.

"Six thirty-four," Scott said, leaning against the doorway with his arms folded, figuring on looking here first and presto here Kurt was. "Our movie's on at six and the table is booked for quarter to eight." He smiled.

"What are you up too?" He asked curiously, nodding to the paper on the teleporter's desk.

He jumped slightly at the voice and glanced over, righting his chair once again. Kurt nodded then sighed again. "I'm supposed to write some essay that's due on Thursday, but I'm not sure how to start it."

"What's it about?" He asked, hoping he could help out; it was the least he could do after all that Kurt had done for him so far. "What time would y - Sandra like to meet me at the gates?" He added, pushing away from the doorframe to stand upright, hands in his pockets.

"Ah, just those standard 'write about something or someone that inspired you' things." He smiled lightly, pushing back the chair and standing up. He arched his back-- inhumanly so-- to stretch. "Mm, maybe ten minutes?"

Scotts mind melted a little as he watched Kurt stretch - I wonder if Sandra can do that? The suggestion he was going to offer for Kurt's essay sailing off out the window as he blushed a little.

"Ten minutes?" He squeaked, clearing his throat before smiling. "I thought girls took longer than that to get ready?" He teased.

He stuck his tongue out at Scott. "I'm sure she'd be ready in five minutes if you asked, Mister Romeo," he said, teasing right back. Who cares if it wasn't as effective?

"Well if she likes me all that much," He winked, not entirely sure with whom he was trying to flirt with anymore. Confusion and just a little fear started to creep up the back of his neck, wiping away his smile. "So... ten minutes and I'll see y - Sandra by the gates?"

He nodded then moved to push him out the door. "So move it then. It'll probably take you ten minutes to weave through everyone and get out there." He smirked, closing the door once Scott was out.

Scott smirked at the door.

"Hey, can't I stay and watch?" He called through the door, not sticking round to hear an answer. He wandered through the house, ignoring the questions people shot at him before heading out and towards the gates, a frown on his face as he thought about his feelings towards Kurt and Sandra. What the hell was going on there? He leant back against one of the posts to wait, knowing it wasn't too far a walk into town.

Kurt quickly patted down his fur and hair before switching on his inducer, adjusting it to change the clothes Sandra wore to a dull red dress. He glanced at himself, frowning a little before reeling his thoughts back in and 'ported outside the institute.

Scott looked up at a familiar 'bamf', his smile freezing a little as he spotted Sandra.

"Wow," He said flatly, caught between ordering his blood back north and tearing his eyes away from his - her hips and, er, other areas. "You look, um, there's a lot of, er, you're very -" He caught himself babbling, pushing away from the wall as he looked down at her, "- nice. Really, really nice," He finished.

Kurt laughed and moved closer, slipping an arm through Scott's. "Thanks. You clean up well, too. So where are we headed?"

"Clean up well," Scott sighed but grinned down at her, his heart doing something totally un-necessary as her arm went through his own before they started to walk. "Well, considering it's early, I thought we could check out the movies first and then mosey on over to the restaurant later on? Would that be okay?"

Kurt smiled and nodded. "Sure, sounds good."

--

After the movie Scott had led the way to the restaurant, holding the door open for Sandra as he finally blurted, "I can't believe you talked me into going to see a chick flick."

He just laughed, walking in. "You know you liked it. It wasn't that bad," he said, smiling. And it hadn't been-- but he wouldn't really admit that. At least they'd get laughs from it later on.

Scott shrugged before looking over to the waiter who was looking at them questioningly. "Reservation for Summers?" He said, before turning back to Sandra. "The film was awful but the company? Well... that couldn't have been any better," He smiled as the waiter showed them to their table.

He smiled back, blushing a little as he sat down. "You're sweet," he murmured, his smile widening just a bit.

Scott blushed a little, just about resisting the urge to hide behind the wine list.

"I suppose that depends on who you'd ask," He smiled back, glancing up as the door to the restaurant opened up. "Jean's here," He murmured, barely moving his lips as he looked back at Sandra, frowning a little as part of him wished he hadn't booked a table here, but somewhere they could be more alone. He'd practically forgotten that Sandra wasn't an actual girl.

Kurt frowned as well, enjoying the time he'd had with Scott. Despite that he knew Scott got distracted-- which actually made him laugh more than once-- it was nice. But of course it was all really for Jean.

Scott reached over the table, winding his fingers with Sandra's as Jean glanced over at them, eyes narrowing before she plastered on a fake smile.

"Are you still okay with this?" Scott asked, frowning in concern, "Or shall we go?" He asked, offering Kurt - no, Sandra, a way out.

His frown lifted to a smile and he shook his head. "No, it's fine. Thank you, though."

Scott squeezed his hand in silent thanks, hyper aware of Jean watching them even though he wasn't looking at her anymore. He nearly jumped out of his skin as the waiter came over, asking for their order.

"Medium rare steak, please." He smiled at Sandra. "What about you?"

His smile widened slightly, a light blush coming onto his cheeks, trying not to look over at Jean. "Um, chicken parmigiana, please."

The waiter nodded before he bustled away through the busy restaurant. Scott glanced at Jean who was pretending to read the menu before looking at Sandra - what a choice... Choice? What choice? This is about Jean, damn it!

"You've gone quiet; should I be worried?" He teased a little. "Or are you just pondering how awful that film was?"

Kurt pouted and smacked his arm lightly. "It was a good movie, so shut it you." But he couldn't help but smile again. "And, no, you shouldn't be worried. Just because a girl doesn't gab all the time, doesn't mean something's wrong, you know."

"The movie sucked, big time, next time we go I'm choosing. Er, if we go again," He blushed, looking away for a moment. "Maybe I'm just not used to girls not gabbing." He smirked, rubbing his arm where Sandra had smacked, "and you shouldn't pout, you know, it's very dangerous."

His smile widened, a mischievous look coming into his eyes. "Oh, really?" he asked, purposely pouting again and fluttering his eyelashes a little. Okay, so seeing Kitty flirt with Lance wasn't such a bad thing when you needed pointers.

"Sandra, I mean it. Unless you want to be ravished right here in public," Scott smirked, shaking his head as he tried to clear the mental imagery that caused. "Which, while it would be interesting to see how Jean reacts to that, I don't wanna quite go that far with a guy to get her attention."

He changed his expression quickly from sultry to innocent. "And just how far would you go?" he asked. Yeah, he really wasn't shy like this.

"Don't be gross, K - Sandra," Scott murmured without looking at her - him, too busy watching Jean talking with the waiter. "I told you I'm not interested in men," He said, his hand unwinding from Kurt's so he could take pour a glass of water from the pitcher in the middle of the table.

"I know," he said, frowning, his expression changing to hurt. It wasn't so much rejection again, but that he said gross. Had to remind him. "I know that," he repeated, adding, "I'm just joking."

"I know but let’s not get carried away, huh?" He asked, smiling a little as Jean's friend said something that made her laugh. "After all, it's for her... God I hope she notices..."

"Yeah," he muttered, his heart stinging a little. "I'll, uh, be right back." He pushed back his chair, standing up.

Scott looked up, seeing Jean's line of sight follow Sandra's movement.

"No, please," He murmured, catching hold of her wrist, pulling her down onto his lap. "I'm... I'm sorry," He whispered, looking up into perfect crystal blue eyes that held a world of hurt. "I'm sorry," He whispered before leaning forward to kiss Sandra softly.

His eyes widened and he stiffened up, his mind going into overdrive and stopping all at once. Soon enough he gave in-- more to himself than anything else-- and kissed back just as softly and tentative in case Scott panicked and withdrew.

Scott's arms moved around Sandra's waist, drawing her closer to him and not caring that he could feel hints of soft fur beneath the image of femininity. The kiss was so sweet, almost innocent and - he pulled away suddenly.

"Um, sorry?" He offered tentatively, seeing people - including Jean - staring at them out of the corner of his eye but not caring, his focus entirely held by Sandra.

He blushed deeply and shook his head. "It's... it's okay," he mumbled, not quite able to meet Scott's eyes-- afraid of what he'll find there. He started to pull away and stand up again.

Scott didn't want to let her go but he wasn't going to force anything she didn't want. He glanced round, watching people - watching Jean - quickly look away.

"Um, maybe I should take you home?" He suggested, feeling awful. God, she couldn't even look at him, he had to go and mess it all up.

"Y-yeah," he said, knowing he'd just feel too awkward otherwise.

Scott nodded as he stood up, catching sight of the waiter he called him over and cancelled their order. He wanted to offer his arm to Sandra as they walked out and down the road but... she couldn't even look at him.

"Look," He said when the mansion finally loomed in the distance, "I'm sorry if... if what I did offended you," He said, heartfelt honesty behind it, "and I hope I didn't..." Mess it up.

Kurt shook his head, glancing over at him. "No, it... didn't," he said, knowing he didn't really mean anything by the comments and, well, the kiss... "It just... it surprised me."

"It surprised me too." Scott laughed, "What was it you said earlier? Blue fuzzy charm?" He smiled at her - him, trying to let him know it was all okay. "You're just too interesting as a girl, Wagner."

He flushed red again then punched him lightly in the arm, not caring that he was still disguised as Sandra. "And what's that supposed to mean, Summers?" he asked, sticking out his tongue.

Scott laughed, rubbing his arm.

"I swear you're gonna leave a bruise. Well for a start you've got a great pair of -" His voice shut itself off, no matter that he knew it was really Kurt, he just couldn't be vulgar to a girl, "- brains," He finished lamely with a shrug.

Kurt stared at him then burst into laughter, bending over and steadied himself by putting his hands on his knees. "A great p-pair of... brains?" He snickered, quickly trying to calm down his laughter. "Mein Gott, Scott. No wonder you needed this plan to get Jean."

"Hey! What?!" Scott asked, grinning as he watched Sandra laugh, reaching out to try and help steady her. "What was I supposed to say then oh wise guru?" He asked, still smiling.

He shook his head and calmed down, standing up again. "I don't know, but not something like that. Who has a pair of brains anyway?" he asked, grinning widely.

"Well, there's the two main hemispheres on the left and right so -" He paused, realizing he was sounding like a geek. "Um, alright, maybe I do need help..." He trailed off with a bit of a smile before it fell away. "Are you, um... gonna change before we go inside?" He asked, pausing with his key in the door.

He snickered again, just nodding as he readjusted his inducer again, changing back into his own holo-form.

"Don't laugh, man," Scott said, able to punch him back - playfully - on the shoulder now that he looked like a guy again. "Not all of us can be Romeo's gay cousins, alright?" He teased before waving, taking the stairs inside two at a time. "See you later, Kurt." God he needed to think.

In a room off from the corridor, Rogue leant back on the sofa, watching the scene with interest.

"What was all that about?" She called out curiously, idly flipping channels without looking at the screen.

Kurt shook his head, smiling to himself then came back from his thoughts at Rogue's voice. He grinned again, walking over to her and flopped down on the couch next to her. "Oh, he just complimented me on having a nice pair of brains," he said, laughing again.

Rogue laughed, nearly choking on the coke she'd been drinking, grinning as she looked up at Kurt.

"Sometimes ah can see why the Brotherhood call us geeks with an example like that," She thumbed over her shoulder, meaning Scott. "Why did he say that of all things?" She asked putting her feet up onto the table.

"Yeah, well... he means well anyway. I think," he said, smirking to himself, before it faultered. "He, uh... was too shy to say..." he trailed off, hesitating on telling her. He knew she wouldn't get mad-- except maybe about that small confession she had earlier, but... it was still weird. And supposed to be a secret.

"Shy to say what?" Rogue asked, turning off the TV and turning to face him in curiosity. "C'mawn Kurt, ya know me. Ah won't tell a soul, ah swear," She promised. "Not like he confessed his undying love for you, is it?"

He blushed deeply but quickly shook his head. "No, of course not. He's too deep in with Jean. You know that." He hadn't technically come out to Rogue, but it was really a given between them that she knew he was gay anyway.

"So, c'mon Kurt, you're killin' me with curiosity here." She smiled a little, holding up a pillow. "Don't tell me I gotta beat it out of you."

"Ach, no," he said, holding out his hands in a placating gesture. "He... he was too shy to say boobs," he continued, his face heating up again. Well, there's really no going back now.

"Er..." Rogues eyebrows raised nearly to her hairline. "Boobs as in..." Something in her mind went click and things began to fall into place, "Oh God, Kurt, tell me you didn't," She groaned, letting her head fall back against the sofa. "Ah knew it... Ah knew it as soon as she said 'guys dig me'."

He flushed more and rubbed the back of his neck. He grinned weakly, managing a small laugh. "Okay I won't..." he mumbled.

Rogue hit him with a pillow. Hard.

"You idiot," She said fondly, shaking her head at him. "Alright, so before ah string Summers up by his balls, wanna tell me what's goin on?" She asked, only one eyebrow raised.

Kurt let out a squeak, falling back on the arm rest. He sighed before glancing down at his lap, frowning. "He... wants to make Jean jealous. Big surprise there, hm?" He peaked up at her from behind his bangs. "So he asked me to... well, be a girl, for lack of a better explanation. I guess he's been noticing the way I've been drooling over him, so..." he trailed off, shrugging and frowning a bit more, realizing he'd used Toad's words from earlier.

Rogue mirrored his frown though it was a little more concerned than anything else.

"Kurt... You do realize he's using you, right?" She asked bluntly, yes, but unable to think of another way to do it. "Why are you letting him do this to you?"

He nodded slowly. "I know, but... I just... I like spending time with him. He's really a good friend when he tries to be. And sometimes I just don't know. Like--" he cut himself off, not sure if he wanted to go further.

"Like?" She urged, biting her lip against a torrent of well meaning advice that she knew could escalate into a huge row between them. God Summers, I knew you were a jerk but geeze...

Kurt sighed heavily and continued, "Like when he... Okay, when we were out, he was saying again how, um, two guys are... gross. And obviously it hurt, but then... The next thing I know, he's... kissing me." He paused. "Yeah, I was still technically Sandra, but... he knew it was me."

Rogue stared at him in surprise for a moment, unsure whether or not to be happy for him or to go up and castrate Scott right now.

"What did you do? Slap him, I hope." A bit of a grin started to form as she asked, "Is he a good kisser?"

He shook his head and let out a snort. "Of course not-- I kissed back." He fell quiet, thinking. "Well, uh... I guess. It... was pretty hard to tell. It was only a chaste kiss."

Rogue rolled her eyes.

"Then it's defintely not worth it," She said, inwardly plotting how to kill Scott and make it look like an accident. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly. "Ah mean, that'd a bit of a mind fuck tellin' you it's gross one moment an' then... hang on, you were Sandy right? So you really do like him?"

He blushed again and nodded slowly. "Yeah, I do," he said, only just now starting to feel uncomfortable talking about it.

Rogue groaned again, leaning forward to put her face in the pillow over her knees.

"Kurt," She growled. "You moron." She looked up at him with pitying eyes, knowing just how much Scott loved Jean. "Why couldnt you... Augh... What am ah gonna do with you? You ain't gonna do it again for him. Are you?" She asked.

Kurt sighed again, glancing away. “Love me?” he responded, trying to joke again. “I… honestly don’t know.” He figured he would, but he didn’t want to tell Rogue and make her angry.

Rogue frowned and shook her head, swiping a hand back through her hair.

"Want my advice or do ya wanna work this out on your own?" She asked with a heavy sigh.

"Um," he paused, fidgeting a little. "I guess... I don't know if I'll listen, but..." He trailed off with a shrug. Hey-- at least he was honest.

Rogue turned round, grabbing the front of his clothes and shook him carefully, enough to get his attention but not enough to hurt.

"Don't - do - it - again," She enunciated before letting him go and sitting back. "You're just gonna end up with a broken heart, Kurt, and ah don't wanna have to pick up the pieces you know." She looked at him with a frown, hoping he'd listen.

Kurt glanced away, frowning a bit. "I know, Sis. But... you won't have to. I mean, I know nothing's serious with this. I won't get caught up in it; I promise," he said, finally smiling.

"Well, as long as ya promise..." She said, ever so slightly suspiciously, "Ah don't wanna have the professor all up on my back just because ah murdered Summers," She teased, half serious. "Want ah should have a word with him? Just to be sure?"

His smile widened and he shook his head. "No, it's okay. Plus I'm sure he'd lose every single bit of his pride and ego if he found out someone knew."

"You say it like it's a bad thing." Rogue smiled back, punching him on the arm. "So while you're tryin' not to get lost in the scarlet crystal of his glasses an' chaste kisses, y'got anyone else lined up for the blue fuzzy dude?" She asked with a smile.

He felt his face grow warm and he grinned a little. "Um, kinda... I mean, I really do like Scott, but I know there's no chance... But, I heard some rumors from un-named sources--" he coughed 'Tabby', grinning, "-- that I'm not the only gay mutant in the institute. And, well..." He shrugged. "I don't think anything would happen though."

"You're not?" Rogue asked in surprise, "I mean, er, of course you're not there are loadsa gay mutants around..." She managed to stay still and quiet for all of five seconds before her curiosity became too much to handle.

"So who is it?"

He grinned, getting that glint in his eyes again. "And what will I get in return for spilling such gossip?"

Rogues eyes narrowed at him.

"It depends on what ya want," She said, folding her arms. "How about ah don't whoop ya ass with a pillow in return?"

Kurt pouted, putting on puppy-dog eyes. "You wouldn't do that to your little brother, would you?" He paused, knowing of course, that she would. "What about if you make your special chili? I never actually had dinner out with Scott," he said, his tail whipping back and forth in excitement.

"Yeah, ah'd quite happily do that to ya," She said, covering her mouth with her hand so he wouldn't see her smile. "Chili you say?" She pretended to think before standing up. "How about ah cook an' you talk?" She asked, already walking towards the kitchen.

He cheered, jumping up off the couch and following after her. "So... Apparently, Tabby heard from Pietro, who heard from Lance, who heard from Kitty, who heard from Jubilee..." He paused, frowning a bit. "Okay, so maybe it isn't reliable, but..." He shrugged, but didn't continue, teasing Rogue.

Rogue straightened up from where she was hunting for ingredients in the fridge, waving an onion at him with one hand, the other on her hip.

"Get on with it, Kurt, or ah'll make you eat this raw," She said, rooting around for the right spices. "What did Jubes tell ya?" She almost whined.

He just grinned, hopping up to crouch on the counter. "Nonono, Jubilee told Kitty, who told Lance who... well, you know. So you know how Jubes and Iceman used to get along real well, right? Well, apparently, his attention's been elsewhere for a while-- on Cannonball."

"What? Really? Bobby?" Rogue said, looking thoughtful as she threw ingredients into the pot. "Now that ah think about it, ah'm not that surprised..." She trailed off before smirking at Kurt. "So gonna look to him for some tips?" She teased.

He blushed a little and shook his head. "No. And anyway... I mean, even if something could come out of it, he's fawning over Sam." Like I am with Scott.

"Here, make ya self useful and stir this," She gestured to the wooden spoon in the pot, "Hmm, ah wonder if there's anyone else you can get with..." She said, only half realizing that she was playing matchmaker, but then she was half determined to get his mind off Scott. "Besides, what if he wasn't fawnin' over Sam?"

He stuck his tongue out at her, but obliged. "I don't know. I guess maybe I'd approach him, but..." He frowned again. "It'd be more of a... you're there kind of thing, I think."

"An available hole," Rogue teased, wondering if she could still make him blush, throwing the last of the spices in before looking for a clean bowl. "Ya... ya sure you won't get in to deep with Scott?" She said softly, placing a bowl down and leaning her elbows on the work surface as she looked up at him.

"Oh, ha ha," he said then sighed. "Like I'm not already?" He shook his head and smirked. "I'll be fine, Rogue."

She punched him on the arm.

"Just because ah worry about ya doesn't mean that ah like ya or anythin'," She lied, narrowing her eyes as she ladled out some chili into a bowl. "If ya want rice, cook it yourself," She snapped, trying not to grin.

Kurt rubbed where she punched and took up the bowl with a spoon. He grinned. "Ah, ah ah, that's not what you told Sandra," he said in a sing-song voice before porting up to his room with the food.

Rogue threw the kitchen towel uselessly at where Kurt had been only second before with a growl before she let out a sigh and went back into the den.