xp_logs | Kurt and Chris, Monday morning (Reply)

A runaway dog leads to Kurt meeting Chris Summers again, in slightly more sedate circumstances.

Chris stepped out onto the back porch, taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air and smiling slightly at the view of the grounds. The school's natural setting really was beautiful. He came down the steps, intending to explore a little; it was early, and he wasn't supposed to meet Alex until later. A walk might be just the thing to clear his head a little - he hadn't slept well, but then, he rarely did. The habit of years was hard to break, even in a safe setting.

Starting along one of the walking trails, he was soon distracted by excited barking, and then the appearance of a small brown dog trailing a leash and clearly on a mad dash for freedom. "Hey there," he said, kneeling down to intercept the dog, which bounded over and sniffed, then licked at his hand. "I suspect you're not supposed to be running around free."

"Triscuit!" came a strongly-accented voice from somewhere among the trees. "We went over this training. Twice. I thought you had got it this time." Kurt had never seen anything wrong with talking to his animals.

Chris scooped up the puppy and rose, smiling at the sight of an X-Man he recognized. He and Kurt had been very briefly introduced in Madripoor. "Yours?" he asked. "Very cute. This isn't one of Alex's dog's... uh, offspring?"

"He is", Kurt confirmed. "His mother is a King Charles spaniel, to explain the... unusual... features. We are trying to learn 'stay' at the moment, but I do not think he wants to."

Triscuit was looking entirely unrepentant. Chris chuckled, scratching him under the chin for a moment before putting him down - but keeping hold of the leash, which he handed to Kurt. "There seem to be quite a few pets around the place," he said. "It's nice. Kind of a touch of normality."

Kurt took it and, with a pointed look at the dog, didn't let go again. "Oh, yes, there are many. Two dogs, two cats that I know of, a parrot, a turtle, Laurie has a pig... so not quite normality in all cases", he finished with a touch of amusement.

"Still. Normal in comparison to the plane that comes out of the basketball court, the paramilitary team, not to mention the other wacky adventures I've heard of. Were there really demon attacks?" Chris asked curiously. "I mean, we occasionally have strange and possibly supernatural things happen on Madripoor, but still..."

Kurt looked a little evasive. "I wish they would not still tell people about the demon attacks. That has not happened for several years now. But yes, there really were."

"Ah. Well, then." Chris stroked his mustache reflectively. "I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all of this, I must admit. I thought my life was unusual."

"It is a very common reaction", was the sympathetic response. "I was raised in a travelling circus, and it was certainly mine."

"Can you tell me a little bit about the X-Men?" Chris asked as they walked down the trail, Triscuit behaving himself admirably, as if to make up for the attempted flight. "I got the basics from Xavier, and of course, I've seen your team in action. But I suppose I'm wondering what kind of life an X-Man has."

"I... am not sure exactly what you are asking", Kurt said after a moment. "Each of the team lives their life as they wish - outside of missions, there is no 'X-Man life'."

"See, that alone tells me a lot. If you feel that missions aren't necessarily an integral part of your everyday life."

"They do not happen every day, for one thing. We are also teachers, students, diplomats... even when missions do happen, they can be something as small as collecting a new student from their home. Not that that always goes as smoothly as it might."

"But sometimes it's more. Rather a lot more, if I understand correctly."

"And just what is it you understand?" Kurt asked blandly.

"Well. We did meet while you were boarding a ship and throwing yourself into combat in the middle of the ocean," Chris pointed out, just as blandly.

"Very true", he acknowledged. "Yes, when the situation arises, we will do so. Usually in America - those particular children were under the protection of Elpis, who are based at the mansion, or we probably would never have heard of them." That was regretful.

"Ah, well. You did, and God knows we appreciated the help." Chris smiled a bit wryly. "Even if we did wind up fighting each other at first."

"Indeed. I hope none of our people injured any of yours too badly?"

"Nothing worse than bruises," Chris reassured him. "All in all, it could have been much more unfortunate. I'm glad I heard Jean call out Scott's name, though, or it might have gone on for considerably longer than it did." A faint, disbelieving laugh escaped him, as if he was reliving that moment and still found himself astounded by it.

"That it certainly might have. And either I or Rogue might have attacked your man Chod if we had not seen him dispose of one of the true pirates first."

Chris looked sideways at him. "You all seemed very disciplined," he said. "Although, I did notice you having a bit of an argument with my son while you were aboard my ship..."

"I did not wish to leave your ship", Kurt admitted frankly. "I have, shall we say, a special interest in stolen children." He shrugged. "But an order was an order."

"Very disciplined," Chris mused.

"We are a team", he said simply. "And every team needs someone to lead it. We were fortunate in ours... as, I think, were your people." He was usually a fairly good judge of people. Family aside.

Chris gave a brief laugh. "Well, with me, it was more a matter of need than a choice... but thank you. And it's good to know how you see Scott." I'm starting to think the only way I'm going to get to know my son on this trip is to see him through other people's eyes, he thought, but didn't say.

"They have stayed with you", Kurt pointed out. "I grew up knowing less of a family and more of a clan. Everyone in it was our own. I find that the way things are here is much the same."