Mutation Sternutation: Powers Lesson

[x-traction.livejournal.com]

Kurt gives Marie some powers instruction and they talk a little about what's going on.

"So Ah think Ah only have one more question. How do Ah get the stench out of my clothes?" Marie said as she furrowed her brow and popped from where she was to a few yards away. Even though she'd gotten the grasp of her new powers fairly quickly, she still had made sure to schedule time with Kurt to fine tune her control.

"I find soaking them in baking soda and warm water for a time before you wash them works", Kurt told her easily. "Air them, soak them overnight, then wash them - and hang them out to dry, do not use the machine."

"That sucks. Maybe Ah'll just dry clean. 'cept don't know that Ah want to explain to the cleaners how my clothes got to smell like they've been to hell and back," she replied with a smile.

"Quite literally." He grinned. "It would certainly be less time-consuming, that much is true."

"So how are things going with your new set of skills?" Marie said, her eyes flitting down to the device around Kurt's neck.

"With my little helper here", he patted the air scrubber, "unproblematically. I do wonder if I should learn to use them... but it cannot be forever."

"Yeah," she said, Marie's mood obviously shifting to a darker place. "Callie...it's just not fair. She was so down when we talked. No one else ever needed to have my burden...and to use it on someone. At least Julian's ok. Ah just keep trying to remind myself things coulda been much worse."

"Very much worse", Kurt agreed, as much to reinforce it for her as anything. "Julian is alive, and he will recover. And while it is not fair, remember that it is not your fault."

"Ah just hope Jean and Moira figure out what's going on. And fast." She shook her head, almost a physical attempt to shake the thoughts from her mind, though with little effect. "You know, it's actually pretty lucky that he was the most serious injury. With some of the powers that got changed...things could've been really bad, y'know?

"I do know", he said sombrely. "Once again, it seems we have been lucky."

"You know what?" Marie said as she hesitantly placed her bare hand on Kurt's arm, an incomprehensible look on her face. "You look like you need a drink. And Ah know Ah need one. Harry's? My treat."

"Harry's it shall be." Without any hesitation of his own, he laid his own hand over hers and squeezed it. "I will meet you at the front door, if you wish to change first."

Marie was silent, her eyes locked on their hands. After a moment, she relaxed and pulled away, the smallest hint of a smile on her face. "Race ya." Without waiting for a response, she disappeared in a cloud of smoke.