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It's morning in NYC, and a fairly quiet street. Not much to talk about, or anything for the news, but for a girl dashing in fear. Flaming red hair, she bites her lip and stops in front of some trash cans, looking around for a place to hide.
With her summer dress slightly torn, she looks into an alleyway. She knows that this is likely a bad choice, but she can hear her pursuers coming up behind, and glances up at the sky for another option. Seeing none, she sighs and ducks into the dark alley, as a group of leather clad junkies clunk into sight. Bearing no weapons save for their fists, one of them cries, "In there, get her!" and they give chase.
The girl ends up in the alley, realizing that it dead-ends, and comes to the brick wall with her hands pressed against it. Then turns, seeing her captors, and raises her hands to ward them off. "Please, don't…"
She can be heard, if anyone was nearby.
*
With the neighborhood kids nearly out of school for the Summer, Kurt is still making sure that they get off to their busses and to the schools as safely as possible. He's on his way back from walking a couple of younger children to their elementary school when the scuffle catches his attention. He peeks into the alley for a moment, catching sight of the girl being cornered by the ruffians. Well, that won't do. With a frown, he disappears in a puff of brimstone-laced smoke only to reappear between the girl and the men with the same smoke. Yellow eyes narrow at them before he tosses back a German accented, "Take my arm," to the girl.
Hopefully she won't be too frightened to do so.
*
The girl, a young lady really, has her hands out already when Kurt arrives. She blinks, gives a small 'yeep' noise (understandable really), and tries to take a step back. Oh yeah, brick wall.
Then a glance past Kurt to the other available option, she makes her choice right quickly, grasping the gentleman's arm with a quickly breathed, "Thank you," as she looks him in the eyes. Something about her says that it's not quite so simple, but she still grasps, and hopes he knows what he's doing.
*
As soon as he feels her grasping his arm, Kurt looks to the ruffians and…sticks his tongue out at them. Only then does he disappear in that puff of smoke with the young woman, reappearing on the rooftop of a nearby building. This one, at least, has a fire escape as he's learned that most people can't actually handle his teleporting well. He's used to it. Most others? Not so much. "Are you all right? Did they hurt you?" is asked once they're safely away from the leather-clad mooks.
*
The lady grips her rescuer's wrist very tightly for just a moment, her first teleport making her panic just a tiny bit inside. And maybe outside, a bit. Then she visibly takes a long breath, calming down with a quiet sense of will, and lets him go. She isn't so quick to answer, needing a second, but gives him a smile that's not feigned. "I'm…I mean, I'm so sorry. Thank you." The way that she looks at his dark skin, his odd eyes, suggests that it's not her first time seeing somene a bit odd.
"I'm not hurt, I just…I'm glad you got them away from me."
*
Nightcrawler takes a step away, giving the young woman some room to breathe without the lingering scent of Brimstone so nearby. "There is nothing for you to apologize for. I am sorry that they were chasing you." At least, that's how he saw it. He's been known to be deceived before, but it's what happens when one tends to see the good in people. Sharp teeth then show in a grin, "Nein, it was you I got away from them. I did not wish to fight them."
*
Firestar's smile fades a little, giving the impression of embarrassment, or perhaps confusion. Either way, she presses her hands into the small of her back, looking at Nightcrawler in this way. And then says, "Neither did I.." as she looks away. "I really don't want to hurt anyone. You saved me from that."
Looking back up to him, she says, "I'm a mutant," as if it's a great confession and one that she's terrified to admit. Given the fact that many mutants are hunted…she may have reason.
*
Yellow eyes look the woman up and down, not in any sort of lascivious way, but as if looking for something that stands out as being particularly 'mutant-like' about her. "I beg your pardon, Fraulein, but I do not think they were chasing you because you are a mutant." Certainly not in comparison to someone like him.
*
Green eyes look back. Soft, pretty, certainly not like him. But she bites her lip as she's judged and found wanting. Then says, "No…they just wanted sex, that's all. And I…just didn't want to melt anyone today," she says as her left hand bursts into flame. And the rooftop beneath her feet begins to bubble. She looks downward, then looks up at his dark eyes, and says, "Damnit," as she visibly fights to make it stop. It does, but not til she's fought it down.
*
Nightcrawler gives a little hop back as the tar on the roof begins to bubble due to the woman's power. "You, ah…may not want to do that…" is offered quite unhelpfully. He glances down to see if the men might be trying to follow them, but he's hoping that they got spooked enough to give up and move on. "I think it would not be a good thing to melt anyone ever, but…" he shrugs, showing sharp white teeth again, "That is my thought."
*
Firestar holds her left wrist with her right hand, holding it tight. "Odd coincidence, that was my thought too.." she says, finally showing a little humor even though she's still upset. "I'm so sorry, please don't be scared of me. I'm not a freak, please don't be afraid." She's genuinely worried about Nightcrawler thinking that she's awful. And lowers her eyes again. "I'm..Angelica. I'm sorry, thank you for saving me. I'll go."
*
Dark eyebrows arch up, "I am not afraid of you, Fraulein." He's not going to be cowed by a little fire…not after all he's been through. The comment is given with a friendly sort of chuckle and he lifts up a foot to show the woman, "No shoes. I did not want my feet to be burned." As if to add to the fact that he's not afraid of her, he offers a three-fingered hand, "I'm Kurt. It is good to meet you, Angelica. There is a fire escape if you wished to climb down. I know that my method makes people feel not so good."
*
Angelica blinks. She smiles, hesitantly, then with real emotion as she takes Kurt's hand in both of hers. Enthusiastically, happily, and with a smile that's so willing to give it could be an child's. "Thank you, you have…" she rethinks her statement on the fly, realizing that he probably does have an idea, and maybe more than she does, and blushes visibly. Her train of thought is so easy to see on her face. "I mean, you probably know far more than I do but it still, I mean, it's so nice to meet someone who understands! I can get down, if you want I could fly, but you're Kurt! That's great." Yeah, she talks a lot when she's excited.
*
Nightcrawler does seem surprised at the enthusiasm, but he merely smiles and lets her take his hand. "I think there are many more who understand, but they, like you, are afraid. I think those men there are not like most people…und while it might be scary to go out und about, you just be who you are. Und do not burn things down, but I think you know what I mean?" She should have no shame at being a mutant, especially since it doesn't show. She gets another glance as she mentions flying, "I do not think you wish to fly in a skirt."
*
Firestar looks down, as he finishes his words. She blushes, then says, "A sundress would probably not be my first choice, especially since I'd probably burn it off." Totally trying not to blush, failing, she sighs deeply and slowly relaxes. "I'm sorry, I've just always been scared of hurting someone. You can teleport? That's really a lot cooler, being totally honest now." Totally changing the subject now. Away from the idea of burning her outfit and ending up nude.
*
"It is warm out, but ja, I do not think it would be good to burn your dress off." Maybe she should stick to the fire escape? As for his teleporting, he shrugs, "It is me." That seems to be the explanation. There's a tilt of his head before he then offers, "Being afraid to hurt others is good. But being afraid of yourself is not. Maybe you should work to be in control of what you can do so that -you- will no longer be afraid of it?"
*
Angelica sighs. She nods, sitting on the edge of the rooftop, hands pressed to her sides. "I'm getting some help with it, soon. Someone approached me about that problem and I was going there, but I needed to do some shopping while I wait. Life doesn't stop for silly things like our own needs, I guess." She glances over her own shoulder to the street, then adds, "and then those sad men saw me and I guess figured it would be fun to play a game.." She shudders, for obvious reasons. Then a smile, of all things. "Soon. And you. You, Kurt, are sitting there listening to me. It's nice."
*
Nightcrawler tilts his head again, "Good. I think you will be less afraid when you are the one in control." Maybe he knows what it's like not to have that control, maybe not…but he has a good imagination! "Nein, life never stops und that is a good thing! We would not want it to." Yellow eyes blink as she seems so happy that he spoke with her, "Why would I not listen to you? You have been kind." It she wasn't, he wouldn't have hung around.
*
She says, "I guess it's my way of prolonging the moment," with a sigh as she glances at the fire escape. "I know, you probably have a lot to do. It was nice to talk to someone for a change though. Maybe when I've got a bit more of that control I'll be as helpful as you are." She doesn't mention how fire is not the best tool for helping, but that's her issue to overcome. Her challenge. And her hair moves in the rooftop breeze, shining in the sun. "You're pretty kind yourself, Mr. Kurt. I'm glad you were my knight today."
*
"I am more than happy to talk to you whenever you would like, Fraulein Angelica. I am often in Hell's Kitchen if you go there, but be careful if you do. It is not the kindest neighborhood." Full disclosure and all of that. "I think you will find ways to be helpful even now, if you wish." When she mentions that he was her knight, well, that just gets a big old smile and a flourished bow. "It was my honor to help you in your distress."
*
Firestar blushes. She seems to do that a lot in his presence, which may be a good thing. But then, she rises and steps to the ladder that leads toward groceries and safehouses, and lessons in time. And stops to look back, seeing Kurt and smiling. "Look for the flame, I'll be the one waving back." Then she…well, she'd jump over and vanish, but her sense of grace isn't that good. So she makes do with not showing her underpants and waves as she slips down. "Thank you!"
*