Every Breath You Take

Author’s Note/Disclaimer: I’ll be going down some very dark paths in this fic. I love Kurt. And we always hurt the ones we love. Don’t we? “Every Breath You Take” is a song by the Police from the eighties. I used to love the song. More than a decade later I listen to the lyrics and realize just how creepy they are. I think it’s perfect for this story.

BTW: This Kurt Wagner is the Nightcrawler from XMen Evolution and hasn’t had quite the rough life his comic book counterpart had. At least up until now.

Please rate and review folks! You should know the drill by now if you've read this far.

05/24/2007 – I just found a major error on my part that had made all the character’s internal thoughts invisible when posted online. I usually refrain from pulling up my own stories so as not to inflate the hit counter, but apparently I need to proofread online.

{This means character’s internal thoughts.}
**This means projected thoughts, as in telepathy.**

Chapter Fifteen: How My Poor Heart Aches

The boy had retreated within in the face of his own guilt, leaving the body they shared in his control. He glanced at the mirror as he began to clean up the evidence of Kurt’s rage. Oh, he’d manipulated the boy, as much as he was able, but the boy had gone beyond expectations. He’d had to intervene and take away the shears, fearing Kurt would go too far. It was the first time he’d been able to usurp the body when Kurt was awake and alert. Good to know it could be done.

He prepared some wet cloths and located some bandages. Kurt would be gone for a while and was up to him to care for her. It would be a pleasure, even if she had chosen the boy over himself. He remained silent as he returned to the bedroom and found her unmoved, still crying quietly into her pillow. He frowned at the bloodstained remains of her clothes and Kurt’s carelessly discarded pajamas. He set his burden down on the dresser and quickly hid the ruined clothes in the hamper and laid Kurt’s clothes neatly across a chair.

He felt a little pity for her as he watched the tears trickle across her cheeks. But no remorse. She’d done as much and worse to young Kurt. The boy deserved his revenge. And he himself had a right to object to her refusal to acknowledge him and their bond. He carefully unwound the ropes from her wrists and ankles, coiling them precisely before placing them on the floor beneath the bed. She was pliant, allowing him to reposition her as needed.

He gathered up his things and sat down beside her. He began to slowly wipe away the blood and fluids from her body. He didn’t speak as he did not wish to frighten her now. He thought she would know the difference in their voices.

As Alpha-9 and again as Adrienne, she’d given what affection she could spare to the boy, never to himself. She’d never allowed him to touch her this way and he reveled in it. When he was done, he returned to the bathroom to dispose of the dirty cloths and bring back a towel to dry her damp skin, before applying the bandages.

At last he was done and he dimmed the lights, drawing her into his arms and letting her cry against his chest. He stroked her hair and she slowly relaxed against him. Her sobs quieted and her breathing slowed until he knew she slept. He closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of her hair and soon he too was asleep.


Kurt woke to the sound of his cell phone chiming somewhere in the dark. He blinked his yellow eyes in confusion as he realized he had been sleeping with Adrienne in his arms. She was naked and warm against him. His heart thudded and his stomach twisted as the memories of what he had done began to play through his mind. How was it that they were sleeping in each other’s arms like lovers?

The cell phone stopped chiming, then began again a moment later. He gently disentangled himself, careful not to wake her. He rose from the bed and began to search for his clothes. The phone stopped again before he found it. Someone had laid his clothes across a chair. He dug it out of his pants pocket. It began to chime again in his hand and he flipped it open.

“Hello?”

“Damn it. Kurt! Where the hell are you?” Scott’s voice was loud enough to make him wince and glance at the sleeping woman. She didn’t stir.

“What do you want? It is nearly four in the morning.”

“We need you back here, now.”

“It…is not a good time.”

“Make it one. There’s a fire at the hospital. A big one. We need everyone on it.”

“O.K. Be right there.”

He did not want her to wake up alone. With any luck, he would be back before then. He quickly dressed in the dark, then paused to check and make sure she was sleeping peacefully. Then he disappeared.

“Bamf.”

A few hours later, Adrienne began to wake. Her mind was numb as she sat up in bed and immediately groaned at the pain from her injuries. The memories of the night before began to filter through the fog as she looked around for Kurt.

{Where is he?}

Her heart sank as she realized he was gone. The way he had held her last night…she thought the terrible rage had passed. But he was gone. Would he come back? Did she want him to?

{Who will he be if he comes back?}

The thought frightened her and she stumbled out of bed. Images of the night before began to play through her mind. No more. She couldn’t take any more. She made her way slowly to the bathroom, hoping a shower would help soothe her aching body if not her chaotic thoughts. She turned on the water and stepped under the warm spray.

She tried to shut out the images: Kurt’s angry face, the shears, and the cold eyes that told her that it was *someone else* looking back at her. She began to shake under the water. Something deep inside seemed to give way and the tears came again. She slowly sank down and wrapped her arms around her knees as the sobs shook her, tears mixing with the spray. Even when the water turned cold, she couldn’t find the will to move. She no longer had any conscious thought. Only an endless well of tears.

That was where Kurt found her, his clothes covered with soot, eyes wide. When he pulled aside the curtain he found her shivering under the cold spray, arms wrapped tightly around herself, her head leaning against the hard tile. The water had washed away some of the bandages and he could see the marks of his anger on her.

“Adrienne! I am so sorry.” She didn’t seem to hear him and he reached to turn off the water. She flinched and sparks hissed and spat around her. He snatched his hand away and waited for them to pass.

“Adrienne…” He called softly. “Let me help you.” He reached slowly to touch her shoulder. She pulled away from his touch and the sparks flared again.

“No…I can’t…No more. Please.” Her voice shook. She turned her face away from him and closed her eyes.

“I’m not going to hurt you. I’m so sorry. Please let me help you.” He reached again slowly to turn off the water. She shrank from him, but there were no more sparks.

“Is it really you?”

“Yes. It’s me. Who else would it be?” He reached to touch her arm. Her skin was cold. “You’re freezing! Let me get you out of here.” He grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her before lifting her from the tub. He carried her back to her bedroom and placed her on the bed and began to towel her off. She continued to shiver uncontrollably and her eyes were frighteningly vacant.

“Adrienne? Please talk to me.” He pulled away the soggy bandages and was shocked at how deeply he had bitten her. “Adrienne? I think I should take you to a doctor. I…these bites look pretty bad. Did I…Are you hurt?” He remembered how he had taken her, there had been blood and it had frightened him… Then there was nothing until he woke up in her bed.

“No doctors… questions. Think you hurt me.” She whispered through chattering teeth. He wrapped the blankets around her.

“I did hurt you.” He rubbed her arms and back, trying to warm her up. “I’m so sorry. I don’t understand what’s happening to me.”

“Don’t…” She began sobbing and he pulled her onto his lap. He rocked her back and forth, trying to comfort her, but it didn’t stop.

{I have to get her help. It doesn’t matter what happens to me. I deserve to be punished for this.}

He gathered her up, blankets and all and stood, preparing to ‘port. She clutched at him.

“No…”

“Bamf.”

They reappeared in the Mansion’s infirmary, startling the Beast and Jean. They had been busy treating some of the younger students who had suffered minor burns and bruises during the evacuation of the hospital. Logan was helping to herd the last of their patients off to bed when he heard Kurt’s arrival.

“Please, help her. I know the Professor did not want her here, but I cannot take her to the hospital.” Kurt stood fearfully with the girl in his arms, her face pressed against his chest.

“No Kurt…” She whispered.

“What happened?” Jean came forward and reached for the blanket. Adrienne flinched away and clung to Kurt.

“I…she was sleeping when I left her. I thought she would be O.K. But she’s not…”

“Let me see.” Beast approached cautiously and gently pulled the blanket away.

“What did you do?” Logan circled around, hackles rising as he took in first the abrasions on her wrists, then the bite wounds on her shoulders. “You left her like that!” He could smell the scent of sex and blood and fear coming from the blankets and Kurt’s clothes. He growled.

“I…Things went too far. I went too far…” He held her closer as the others closed in on him.

“Give her to me.” Beast reached for her. When his hands touched her, her gift flared to life, snapping and sparking across his fur and Kurt’s. It stung them both. He backed away.

“Adrienne, please. They won’t hurt you.” Kurt tried to transfer her to the Beast’s waiting arms, but she clung to him tightly. Beast wrapped his arms around her and pulled gently. She released her hold reluctantly and allowed herself to be placed on a bed. Kurt followed, holding her hand.

“Get him out of here.” Beast grated as the blanket fell away and he could see more of her injuries. He too could smell the blood/sex/fear scent coming from the blankets.

“No!” Adrienne refused to let go of Kurt’s hand, but Logan stepped in and pulled the boy roughly away. As the contact broke, so did her control. Her gift flared wildly, reaching for Kurt’s retreating form, arcing across the room, licking across the equipment and causing monitors to shatter and machines to smoke. Beast was forced to retreat again.

Kurt watched horrified from the doorway as her gift reached hungrily for his friends.

“Mein Gott! Adrienne!” Logan held him back as he tried to reach her.

“Jean! Put her to sleep, now!”

“I’m trying!” Jean crouched behind another gurney as she tried to concentrate.

Suddenly the girl went limp and the energy winked out.

“Good work, Jean.”

“It wasn’t me.”

**It was me. ** The Professor’s voice echoed wearily inside their heads, along with images of a late-night flight. **Keep her sedated for now.**

**Put Kurt in one of the cells downstairs with a power damper. I will deal with this after I’ve had some sleep.** He spoke in Logan’s mind. **You were right to call me.**

{Only wish I’d done it sooner.} Logan replied as he marched the boy off to his cell.

Jean and the Beast concentrated on their patient, their expressions darkening as they began to catalogue her injuries. How could Kurt have done this? How could they have missed the signs? Why had they never considered he’d turn his rage on her? Or had they chosen to ignore it on some level, believing she deserved to be punished?

They’d had to forbid Rogue from entering the infirmary. When she had learned Kurt was being locked up, she demanded to see him but was turned away firmly by Logan. Then she had made an angry beeline for the infirmary. She’d refused to believe the accusations even after seeing the woman’s wounds for herself. She’d even tried touching the unconscious Adrienne.

“Ah’m going to find out for myself. No way Kurt did that!” That was when the Beast had firmly shoved her out the door. It was decided to keep someone present with their sleeping patient at all times, just in case.