Log: Kurt and Scott

[x-cyclops.livejournal.com]

Scott and Kurt meet in the war room while waiting for news from Genosha.

Scott slumped over the "sand table" his head in his hands as he stared at a rendering of the citadel on Genosha. The X-man was oblivious to his surroundings as he went over the assault plans again and again, trying to spot any flaws or weaknesses. He couldn't afford to screw this one up, they had to get the kids back one way or another.

 Kurt appeared in the doorway, paused as he took in Scott's dejected posture, then stepped in and made his weary way to the table.  "You too?"

Scott started in shock, the sound of Kurt's unexpected voice momentarily shaking him out of his stupor. "Yeah," he agreed dejectedly. "I can't believe we let this happen. We're supposed to protect them,"  Scott told his friend as he gestured towards the table. "Instead they're trapped on that island."

"We cannot protect them from what we never see coming", Kurt pointed out, dropping into a chair.  "And no one saw this."

"Maybe we should have," Scott replied. "Miss Ransome and Mr Moreau told us how bad their country was, but we never gave their stories the importance they deserved.  After they vanished from their hotel room, how could we...I not have suspected something like this would happen?"

Kurt shook his head.  "Their disappearance was bad, but it was Genosha taking back its own citizens against their will, not taking ours. A different level... but I also keep thinking, maybe we should have."

"Their own citizens maybe, but on US soil, and on our watch too; that's twice the Genoshan's have stolen a march on us." Scott's fist slammed through the image of the Citadel to hit the table behind it. "If only taking down the place was that simple," he said ruefully nodding at his hand.

Kurt snorted.  "I wish it was too.  With all our powers together, we could make such destruction... and kill everyone inside, including the prisoners."

"And they know it too," Scott pointed out sourly. "We can't do anything overt otherwise they'll...," he swallowed, "well they hold all the cards at the moment. What kind of mind would it take to kidnap little kids and use them as hostages?"

 "A cold and monstrous one", was the sombre reply. "When it was teenagers, I was angry, but I suppose I could see how it might look as they say it does to them.  But to take Rachel, Rachel..."

"Is beyond anything we've ever faced before," Scott finished. "I just want to know who told them about her...or about any of this" he continued gesturing vaguely around the room. "If I catch their informant..."

"There could easily be more than one", Kurt said with a shrug. "It is not as if we have made a shortage of enemies in our years. For all we know, it could even be Magneto acting through a  proxy without the Genoshans ever guessing."

Scott stared at Kurt in alarm, "You don't think...he wouldn't do that?  Would he?" Scott turned his gaze back on the image in front of him, as if hoping to make it reveal its secrets by sheer will. "We have left a lot of loose ends over the years" Scott agreed eventually, "but how many of them would strike back at us like this."

"Would?  Most of them, no doubt.  Could – probably not as many, though the potential number is still higher than I would like. As for Magneto, what other group has been such a thorn in his side as we have?"

"We've been a thorn in his side," Scott agreed, "but he's all about mutant superiority. Magneto wouldn't ever put mutant children in the situation they could be hurt if he had any say in the matter."

Kurt smiled faintly.  "No?  I think Magneto would do many things in the pursuit of his ends, such as taking down a state that abuses mutants.  Remember what he did to Marie."

Scott nodded, "A fair point," he agreed. "Let’s hope he doesn't find out about this anytime soon. The last thing we need is for him to show up confirming everything that the Genoshan’s have been saying about us all along."

"Indeed."  He nodded.  "Which is why I did not try to find my mother, strong though the temptation was."

"Yeah," Scott nodded, "although various threats to sit on you might also have had something to do with that."

"One!  One threat", he protested.  "The others were all far more reasonable about it."

"Reasonable?" Scott asked. "I distinctly remember someone threatening to smack you."

"She is my sister and has privileges."

"Family privileges? There is no way I'd let Alex threaten to smack me." Scott replied with a wan smile.

"I seem to remember him doing more than threatening", Kurt teased.

"I...well ok. He managed to do a little more in the past Scott replied. "With all this going on, I'm worried about him Kurt, he's off on Hawaii without anyone to support him if anything happens." he admitted.

"...I know", Kurt said quietly.  "It is part of why I sent Nick to Attilan.  At least there he will have people to look after him."

"If I even suggested that I think he'd shout me down," Scott said sadly. "I just hope he'll be safe."

"I think if they have not taken him already, and I assume they have not or you would have said so, it is not so likely they will now. They have more than enough leverage."

"I know that intellectually, but a big brother can't help but worry. You know how it is."

"I know", Kurt said softly.  "I have so many little sisters.  Two are kidnapped, one trying to get them back... Jimaine, at least, I know is in hiding, but I do wish I knew where Marie was."

"Well there is only one way to make sure that our loved ones stay safe" Scott said as he gestured as the table. "We need to make sure that they can't hurt anyone ever again."

"And we will."  His voice firmed on those words.  "One way or another, we will."