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Hot and humid. That's two of the three 'H's in terms of summer in New York City. There's not enough sun to be 'hazy', so instead, broiling comes in a slightly greyed sky. The sounds of the city, sounds of the block are still turned to the happy, though the kids are starting to drag a little as the novelty of being home for the summer begins to wear off. Back to school is coming, and there are actually a few snippets of conversation that are turned towards actually looking forward to such a thing.
It's in this backdrop that Sgt. Nick Fury returns home from 'somewhere else'. He's got a flight bag in hand, and as he takes the front steps, he's got a key in hand, and he's working with it to get it right so he can just put it in the door when he finally gets in. Looking back behind him, Nick pauses to look at the street, those gathered in the area of the tenement, his expression thoughtful. "Dream, my ass. More like fantasy…" is murmured.
*
Nightcrawler is usually out with the kids on days like today, but he isn't yet. If one of the kids is asked, they'd explain that he said he'd be back out later, but that he was inside. Indeed, Kurt was in the washroom as Fury's key is entered into the door and he's coming out about the same time that Fury is stepping in. There's a gauze bandage on his forearm, which is then quickly held behind his back when he sees the slightly older man, and a switchblade which is quickly grabbed by his tail and tucked into the back pocket of his jeans. "Herr Nick! I thought you were coming back later?" Did he mean to be caught like that? Probably not.
*
Hot outside, hot inside, and once in the hall, Nick's leaving all that behind him for the time being. Key in lock, and as it turns and he opens the door, he catches the blue elf 'in the act', as it were. Brows rise at the quick glint of metal first before he pulls his head back, brows rising. "Uh huh." Beat. "Surprise."
Shaking his head, Nick puts the kit bag down and moves to pass Kurt heading towards the kitchen for a cold drink. Anything will do. "Don't do that, Kurt. I've got my fill of people out there hiding crap.. don't do it in my house. You got something you're embarrassed about? Shit, we all do." He doesn't even bother turning around; it's said into the kitchen, but obviously directed to his erstwhile 'son'. "Only reason to hide something from me is if you think I'm gonna go out and have words with the offending party." 'Words'.
Nick reaches the icebox and pulls out a carafe of iced tea, and gets to pouring himself a glass, now obviously waiting on the response.
*
Nightcrawler was grinning but the chastizing causes that grin to fade away. His eyes widen as Fury mentions having 'words' with an offending party and he holds up his hands, now showing the gauze bandage on his arm, "Oh, no! There is no one who…you do not need to talk to anyone!" He looks to his arm and then back before giving a shrug, "I did this to myself."
How did Fury think he got all those designs on him in the first place?
Another item is pulled from his back pocket - this is a small, well-worn leather moleskine notebook that is then held out if Fury wants to look in it. Inside are sketches and drawings of symbols, many of which are on the elf's body already, and a few words written in German as descriptors or explanations.
*
There may be a few, old blood speckles on some of the pages
*
Nick turns around slowly with his glass of tea and gives the elf a full look before he chuckles softly and shakes his head. "Sorry Kurt. When you're so used to things jumping out at you, you sorta expect it." Reason one why he's not a parent. Or even a husband. Or a 'significant other', as far as can be told.
He steps forward to take the notebook, and opening it, sees the designs. His one eye traces the patterns, reads the German, and recognizes the blood for what it is. He nods towards the bandages now in gesture, "Praise or atonement?" The notebook is closed and Nick returns it to the blue elf. "Or a reminder?"
*
Nightcrawler takes the notebook and tucks it back into his pocket. There's a sigh before he answers, "Atonement." It's what many of them are for, truth be told. And they're constant reminders. "I broke into a gymnasium last night." Fury isn't his priest, but he's right — there shouldn't be secrets. Not yet. When, or if Kurt feels the need to keep them so close that he cannot tell one of his Soldiers, then he'll most definitely move out. "I did not break anything, I just wanted to use the mats and the equipment."
But enough about him, "Where did you go? Can you tell me or is it a secret Agent thing? Did you have to hunt anyone? Did you catch them?" He's most definitely trying to change the subject.
*
Mind, Nick doesn't need to hear grisly details of a tryst or confessions of whatever thoughts; but hiding something? In his mind, it's called 'choose your battles'. Unfortunately for Kurt, he's living with one of his Soldiers. Born for battle.
"Gymnasium, huh?" Nick takes the few steps to the living room to sit down in a seat that he hasn't occupied for a little while, and he does it with a soft grunt. "I can see that. A good workout takes a lot. And you're something special, so you need a bit more… room to move around in to really get that workout." Ceiling beams, wires…
A swallow of tea is taken before he chuckles again. "Was down in DC for a little while. Flew out to Chicago. Meetings, mostly. Looking for traction for what needs to be done. Nothing super secret, but I'm gonna stop at naming names." Nick looks back, brows rising. "How's work?"
*
"It is still being rebuilt after the police raid." Did Kurt tell Fury about that? Maybe? Maybe he figured Fury would have known about it? "I tried to go into the gymnasium in the day, but they would not let me." All he did was use some electricity, when it came down to it. "I have tried out here, some, but it is not very safe with just the grass or the sidewalk." The apartment certainly isn't big enough.
But he did want to change the subject, so, "I have a card from another mutant. He said that if I needed a job to call him. I was thinking to, but I don't know what sort of jobs he was thinking." Sharp teeth show in a grin, "He dresses well so it may be something I cannot do."
*
"After the police raid…" Nick lets that go, but he sets that in the 'active' section of the 'back of his mind'. "Yeah.. the street isn't really good for that. And the kids'll try and copy some of your easier moves." Which, for Kurt, is easy. For others, not so much.
Brows rise and another swallow of tea is taken as he sits forward a little. "Who is it? And 'job', like.. not in that bar." It's a question, really it is. "You can do whatever you damned well please, no matter if the guy dresses well or not. Did he tell you what that job is?"
*
Nightcrawler gives a nod, "That is what I was thinking! I did not want the kids to try without me there to help, but…I know I would have done things without someone there when I was little…" and while he usually managed not to severly hurt himself, he wasn't always successful. Practice does take time but also supervision.
The question about the job gets a shake of his head, "Nein. But can you see me working in an office? At a desk?" Even he seems amused by that. "I would not like that…and I think I could not do that. But I will ask him and I will find something. I promise that to you." He knows the kids are going back to school soon so that 'job' won't be available anymore…not that he was getting paid for it.
*
"Weren't you working as a bartender for a little while?" Nick is puzzled, but he accepts the response with a grin. "You are not suit and tie. And the moment you drink your coffee with your tail because your hands are busy?" He shakes his head and a quiet laugh exits. "Yeah, no. And really.. don't worry about it. I got a promotion a little while ago. Not sure it comes with a pay raise, but if nothing else, I get better death benefits." Guess who a beneficiery is (and has been for at least a decade!).
"Yeah.. the kids look up to you. I wouldn't be surprised if your name came up to settle an argument. 'Kurt wouldn't say that!'. Give it a little longer, and half the neighborhood'll be wearing tails."
*
"Learning to be a bartender. I was putting glasses on the bar and cleaning up, mostly," Kurt grins still. "It was at the bar in Mutant Town, which is different, I think." He knows Fury understands about his difficulties. "A promotion? You did not tell me! Is it good? And why would you want death benefits? You are not going to die, are you?"
At the mention of the kids, he shakes his head, but in a bemused way. "The kids have taught me and helped me so much. I think they'll be changing the world because they knew us and that kind of feels nice." Although wearing tails would be very flattering. Maybe there will be a lot of Kurt costumes during Halloween!
*
Nick nods at the information; learning how to be a bartender is a bit different. It had given Kurt some spending money, but now?
"Yeah, a promotion. Didn't really get too much of a chance to tell you, though. Been a little busy." The news is filled with 'exciting stories', after all. "But what it comes down to is that I get to be that line between good and the people who want to get in good's way." That is given with something of a wolfish smile; he means what he says. "And there are a lot of people, people who think they're being helpful, and those who really don't like what's coming, who mean to get in my way."
But, work? Nick just escaped work for the moment, and he drains his glass down to the click of the ice. The glass is set aside in preference to a pack of cigarettes. Time for one more. "Those kids…" Now, he gets to be philosophical. "They're gonna be the ones. You. Them. As much as they're teaching you, you're teaching them. Not being all teacher-like, nah.. but kids watch. They listen. They're too damned sneaky sometimes. They know what's real. You can't put something over on them without them calling you out on it."
*
"You will be careful, being that line," it's not really a question. He knows that Nick's job involves him putting himself in danger quite often, but he also knows that Nick wouldn't have it any other way. Kurt then moves to sit as well, or rather perch or pull his legs up with him onto the chosen seat. "I think I like kids better than the adults. You know when the kids are lying to you or when they are hiding something. They also use their mind more, I think." He lets his thought sort of fade before he gives a sigh and focuses back on Nick. "Danke for not being mad at me."
*
"Ah, hell no. Where's the fun in being careful?" Nick takes a pull from his cigarette, recently lit, and exhales the smoke through nostrils. "If I wanted 'careful', I'd have taken some desk job, or as some lame ass security guard job somewhere." He shakes his head, and he leans forward, watching Kurt as the elf takes his perch. "These are big days, and I mean to do something with it. Make a statement."
Nick sits up and takes another pull from his cigarette before he knocks the ash into an ashtray. He chuckles and nods at Kurt's observations, adding, "Yeah. Me too. They don't get stupid until they get older." His expression does shift at the 'thanks', and it grows a touch more sober.
"Some people.. some people think they con't feel unless they feel pain. It's a reminder about life. Before you're done, I want to be sure you feel more than that. That's your right." Nick shakes his head and takes one more draw from his cigarette before he stubs it out carefully. "Mad? Nah. I get it. I do. Just don't go nuts on it, okay?"
*
Nightcrawler just sort of makes a dismissive sound as Fury disagrees with his request to be 'careful'. However, he's not upset by it…maybe a little amused. They are both daredevils in their own way, it would seem, seeking adventure in a world where the definition is changing rapidly. Maybe that's why Kurt is feeling a little restless.
"Maybe some of these kids won't get that stupid. I hope not." There's a distant look for a moment, "I should find that stupid kid who called me a Nazi Demon. See if he has learned anything." It's his right as someone who is older, right?
Yellow eyes flick back to Fury, "Ach, I can feel more than pain!" It's a quick response, but he seems to believe it. "If I were to do this everytime I did something sinful, I would have no space left for more."
*
Nick actually laughs at the last bit. "Sometimes sin is a whole lot of fun, and there shouldn't be that much shame in it." So says the Soldier. "Just don't go nuts," is repeated. "Everything in moderation."
Rising from his seat, Nick takes the emptied glass back to the kitchen, calling back, "If you do, just be careful, okay? Because if anything happens to you, I'll bring the whole damned world down around his ears." There's no hint of jest at that threat. "I know people." As if he couldn't do it himself?
"I'm not going to be around a whole lot.. so make sure you make yourself at home. Seriously. I'm gonna be doing a lot of traveling, so you'd be doing me a favor by staying here and keeping an eye on the place."
*
Nightcrawler's grin widens, "Ja, I know it is! But the girls here are very different…" not for lack of trying. He uncurls from his seat and moves to follow Fury into the kitchen, a hand reaching out to touch the man's shoulder. "You are a good man, Herr Nick. And you have been good to me. I will be as careful as you would be, I think…" is that a little dig? Is that a hint that the other has someone worried about him too?
The offer to keep an eye on the place is met with that concerned look again, "You are going away? For this new job? I will look after the place, ja, but…" but he takes a moment and then nods. "All right."
*