Kurt & Fred

[x-nothungry.livejournal.com]

Kurt confronts Fred with one of his few phobias, and the two chat outside




The smoking porch was generally a calm and quiet place, but today the calm was about to be broken. A mildly irritated but patient voice rang out over the grounds. "Triscuit! Come here!"
Fred, who'd been half-napping, jerked slightly at the voice, and inhaled from the cigarette that had been in his mouth while he napped. He looked around for the source of the voice, almost convinced he'd dreamed it...
He was quickly proved wrong, as a small brown and white dog ran up towards him with Kurt in hot pursuit. "Triscuit, heel. Heel!"
The dog had smelled a new smell, though, and wasn't about to give up investigating that easily.
Fred watched the dog run towards him, and the lithe blue man following him, and sighed a little. First squirrels, now dogs, bane of his existence. 'Although who is that following the little mutt?' he thought.
Now time for introductions, however. He had a dog to evade. Fred got to his feet and moved behind his chair, hoping the dog would heed its master before it attacked him.
Kurt gave up chasing the dog on foot at that point, and cheated. With a hand tucked in Triscuit's collar, he glanced up at the young man on the porch. "I hope my smoke did not bother you. Or the dog."

Fred actually fell back in surprise as the man who was far away was now right in front of him. He looked, shock on his face, from Kurt to the dog, "Whosawhatnow!?" he said as he got to his feet...
"...sorry", was the slightly abashed response. "I had not realized you did not know. My name is Kurt Sefton, I am a teleporter."
Fred managed a weak, embarrassed chuckle, "I, uh, I'm Fred Dukes. I, uhm, had _heard_ of you, sir. But...to see someone actually...teleport?" Fred shrugged a little as he grinned, "It's a real trip to actually see..." Fred looked at the older man for a moment, and regarded his appearance. After having known Yvette, and having seen some of the other mutants, Fred had gotten used to the idea of mutants like Kurt. He'd had more in common with them, really, than mutants like Julian; he similarly couldn't really hide behind a 'pretty' facade...
Fred's train of thought was derailed as he noticed the dog again, and did his best not to notice it. Maybe it was one of the few dogs on this Earth not demonically possessed...
Kurt grinned back, fastening Triscuit's lead to his collar and straightening up. He barely seemed to notice Fred studying his appearance. "Every teleporter has a different way of it, in my experience. Who has been talking about me, then, and what have they been saying?"
Fred put his hands up, "Oh, nothing, bad sir. Nothing, really, at all. Just heard you mentioned by Yvette once or twice. I, uh, I really don't pay attention to when people are talking..." he scratched the back of his head, and shrugged again. Fred took a drag off of his cigarette, and moved a little away from the dog. Best not to press his luck.
"Ah, little Yvette." The grin turned to an affectionate smile. "I would not think for a moment she said anything bad. So how are you settling in?"
"Not bad. Everyone's been...pretty cool." Fred looked quizzical, as if searching for better words. He seemed to give up quickly, however. "I, uh...I've never really been one for classes, but they're not going as bad as I thought they would..."
"You will find most of the teachers here are fairly patient. It being such a small school, we have more leeway to give individual help where needed." He smiled again. "You may be surprised how well you do."
Fred smiled back at Kurt. While he'd just met the man, and he'd brought a dog with him of all things, he found the man instantly likable, in both attitude and demeanor. "Why, uh, thanks sir. They all do seem to be pretty receptive."

Kurt wandered over to sit on the porch rail, relaxing in the sun - or what there was of it. "If you have any questions that have not yet been answered, I would be happy to help."
Fred resumed sitting in his chair, and dragged off his cigarette once more, "I think I get most of it...well, the most I can I suppose...what is it you do here, sir? Are you a teacher too?"
"I am", he confirmed. "German, gymnastics, and occasionally Romany for those who want one more language."
Fred's brow furrowed a little, and he smiled, "No wonder we haven't run into each other: I'm certainly no gymnast, and I gotta hard enough time with English, let alone German or, erm, that other one...
"Perhaps when you have been here a little longer", was the placid response. "Or if not, then not. They are not for everyone."
Fred sat silently for a moment, but his curiosity finally got the better of him, "Sir, uh, what's like? To, uh, to teleport?"
"I... am not sure I can describe it", Kurt said, thinking about it. "In my case, I go through another place to get where I want to, but I can only go relatively short distances."
Fred nodded. Since he'd started, with the help of the doctors, investigating his own power, he'd become interested in how others felt when using their abilities. Plus, he thought teleportation sounded like one of the more 'poetic' powers out there. "I imagine it's kind of a freeing sensation, though...being able to move like that..."
"It is, in its own way", he agreed. "Though a little scary, when it first manifested."

Fred looked at this alleged 'Triscuit', and decided that if he master was as nice as he was, maybe the dog was as well, he reached his hand out, tentatively, to pet the animal, "So this thing yours?" he asked, his voice a little wary.

"He is - Triscuit, say hello." He nudged the dog forward a little with his bare foot. "Adopted from a litter born here. He is very friendly."

Fred slowly, carefully, placed his hand on the dog. When it didn't seem to bark or snap at him, he smiled and began petting it. 'Alright', Fred thought, 'one of the good ones'. "Nice dog. Most dogs hate me. Couldn't tell ya why..."

"Perhaps it is something about your scent", Kurt suggested. "Mutations can do funny things, even if we are not aware of it."

Fred pushed his lips out, "Huh. Never thought of that." This was not an uncommon thing for Fred, however.

"It is only a possibility", he said with an easy shrug. "But it would make sense, I think, for difficulty with dogs."

Fred threw his cigarette to the ground, and stomped it out, "Are you staying here for the holiday? Most people seem to be going home..." Fred knew a lot of the inhabitants of the mansion had odd family situations, himself included, and tried to be careful with his words...

"No, I think I will be staying here. I have a brother and sister in Germany, among our clan, but it is a long way to go for a short visit, and my other three sisters are here."

Fred raised his eyebrows, and smiled, "Mighty number of siblings you've got there, sir. But like my mom used to say, lots of family means lots of good times," Fred lit another cigarette, blowing the smoke out of his nose, "You have three sisters here? Have I met them?"

"My family is complex, but mostly in a good way." He smiled back. "It is quite possible - they are Amanda, at Snow Valley, Marie who teaches here and Meggan, the youngest."

"Now Meggan I've met, at least in passing. Had lunch with the, uh, New Mutants-" Fred thought that was the name, but wasn't entirely sure, "-when I first got here. Nice girl. The other two, I don't think I've met..."

"Marie teaches gym, but she has been in Canada lately. I am sure you will meet her sooner or later - and perhaps Amanda, too, she comes to visit quite often." He tilted his head curiously. "Will you be joining the New Mutants, then?"

"I, uh...t'be honest, sir, I don't know..." Fred looked down for a moment, suddenly becoming very interested in his cigarette. He looked back up to Kurt, "Right now, me and the Doctors are trying to figure out my power. See what's goin' on with it...I don't know..."

"You are in the best possible place to find out", Kurt assured him. "Except perhaps Muir Island. The doctors will find out what is going on.

"Yea, all the doctors have been great," Fred said, then sighed. He'd gotten so used to ignoring the ache he'd constantly felt, that when the opportunity to be rid of it presented itself, it had started to occupy his mind entirely. It was beginning to feel like the only thing he thought about. Fred figured it was time to change that. He looked back to Kurt and gave an easy smile to the blue mutant, "But it's no big deal. We'll figure it out at some point. So, you and your sisters gonna celebrate Easter together? I know Mister Logan and Ms. Crawley were putting together a cookout of some kind..."

"We will most likely do something, yes - even if it is only attending the cookout with everyone else. Perhaps I will see if Stefan and Jimaine want to come here, too."

The patented Fred Dukes confused look blossomed again, "Who?"

"My brother and sister", Kurt explained. "Stefan has responsibilities at home, but perhaps I could persuade him to leave them for a little while..."

"Oh. Well yea! Sure! I'm actually in charge of potatoes and stuff. All I know that Mister Logan is cooking is, uh, heh, stakes." He smiled a bit. Fred really liked Logan's style, "Is there anything I can get for you and your sisters, sir? Fish or vegetables or something?"

"We are none of us picky eaters", Kurt said cheerfully. "You will have to ask them as to favourites but for me, I will eat anything. Amanda is in Scotland but she may be back in time, and there is still Meggan."

Fred nodded, "Well, I think Kyle is making veggies as well, so I guess we'll be covered if no one is particularly picky..."

"Then I imagine we will be fine."

"Great! Actually, I better run to the store and buy that stuff. Don't imagine many stores will be open tomorrow..." Fred stood up offered his hand to Kurt as he smiled, "It was a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Sefton."