Ivy League
By MC

Synopsis: A foreign student brings friendship for Nightcrawler and her own deadly secret.

Rating: PG

'Shipping: Mild Kurt/OFC

Author's Note: All dialog marked "_ _" is in German.

****

Kurt Wagner rushed through the hallway of Bayville High School. Despite his powers of teleportation, he could never seem to be on time!

It wasn't his fault today. His image inducer had been on the fritz. It had taken Professor Xavier twenty minutes to figure out what was wrong with it.

Better for Kurt to go to school late, than as the fuzzy blue mutant he really was. He could not reveal to the world his mutation. That would mean witch hunts for the boy, and the X-Men he had come to cherish as family. He needed to have the world think he was a normal, brown haired German boy-- with slightly pointy ears and hands in a constant "Vulcan" sign.

Kurt raced to his locker, pulling out his books. One fell to the ground with a loud thunk. Cursing beneath his breath, Kurt bent to pick it up.

"Mis-ter Wagner!" A voice commanded. Kurt looked up slowly, his eyes meeting the cold stare of Principal Raven Darkholme.

"I was just going to class!!" Kurt exclaimed, picking up his books and rushing off.

Ms. Darkholme grabbed him by his collar. "Not so fast, Wagner." she forced a smile. "I have a project for you."

A project? Kurt relaxed slightly. What kind of project could Ms. Darkholme possibly have for him? She was not a trustworthy woman. In fact, Principal Darkholme was Mystique, one of the X-Men's most feared enemies.

"Come to my office." Ms Darkholme commanded.

Kurt was hesitant at first. Could it be Mystique wanted him to turn against the other X-Men? Maybe she wanted to use him as a spy. Or to destroy the entire Mansion!

Kurt sat down in Ms. Darkholme's office. "Ms Darkholme, I will no--"

"Listen, we have a new student here."

"Vas?"

"We have a new student here at Bayville. She just moved here from Germany. She doesn't speak English. I would teach her myself, but I don't have time to deal with the huma...." she trailed off. "TO focus so much time on one student."

She sat on the edge of her desk, leaning forward. "Now, I know you are bilingual. So, I would like you to take this new student under your wing. Show her around, and teach her English. You will receive a language credit for successfully teaching her."

"Gee, Ms. Darkholme.... I dunno...."

Ms. Darkholme opened the door. "Astrid?"

A gangly girl with blonde hair entered. She was shaking horrible. "Ja, Frau Darkholme?"

Kurt looked at Ms. Darkholme. For once, there was no malice in her eyes. She had no interest in Astrid. She was only a human student. Mystique was probably quite annoyed with having to deal with a foreign student.

Astrid looked scared. Kurt understood how she felt. She was in a new country, away from everything she knew. At least Kurt understood the language everyone spoke. She was completely stranded.

"Guten tag, Fraulein," Kurt said softly.

"Guten tag," she murmured, wringing her hands.

Turning to Ms. Darkholme, Kurt smiled. "I'll do it."

"Good." Ms. Darkholme said curtly. "Astrid will be in several of your classes: European History, Geometry, Gym and Biology. Where you used to take French, you will teach her English. Is that okay with you?"

"That's great, Ms. Darkholme." French was Kurt's worst subject. Two languages were enough!

In German, Ms. Darkholme informed Astrid of the situation. The girl nodded. She turned to Kurt, waiting for his lead.

Slipping his hand inside his sleeve, he took her hand. That way, she couldn't feel the lack of fingers or his fuzz. "Come on."

The two students left. Ms. Darkholme growled, morphing into her normal, blue-skinned form. Being Principal here was wearing on her nerves.

But no, she had to stay around. The Homo superior children here would make excellent additions to Magneto's Brotherhood.

****

"_My name is Kurt Wagner,_" Kurt said softly to Astrid, leading her down the hallway.

She nodded. "_I'm Astrid Strauss._"

"_It's nice to meet you, Astrid._"

"_The same._" She bit her lip, looking around the hall.

"_How long have you been in America?_" Kurt needed to pry some information out of Astrid, get her to open up. The way she carried herself. She did not want anyone inside her world.

"_Two weeks. It is strange here._"

Kurt nudged her shoulder gently. "_It is not bad when you get used to it._"

Astrid pushed a lock of her shaggy hair over her ear. Her light blue eyes seemed sad. "_My home.... It was separated from a lot of the outside. My father was one of the only people in town who spoke English._"

"_I will show you everything you missed!_" Kurt exclaimed, grinning."_English movies, English music! Where do you think I learned the language?_"

"Danke, Kurt."

"_Why don't we try our first bit of English? Instead of 'Danke' say 'Thank you'._"

For the first time, Astrid smiled softly. "Thank you, Kurt."

****

Scott Summers scanned the lunchroom, his vision filtered through red lensed glasses. If it was not for those glasses, an optic blast would punch a hole through the wall, and anything else in the way.

"Where is Kurt?" Scott asked. "He's never late for lunch."

Kitty Pryde shrugged, chewing on her carrot stick. "Maybe Duncan finally killed him. He was really mad when Kurt tripped him."

Jean Grey, the redheaded beauty of the group, sighed. She rose from her seat. "I should check. Duncan was mad. It wasn't even Kurt's fault. At least Duncan didn't see Kurt's tail."

"Don't worry, Jean," Evan Daniels said, pointing to the door. "There's Kurt now. Who's the girl with him?"

Scott looked over. Indeed, Kurt was coming in, leading on pretty blonde girl. "I don't recognize her."

Kurt and his friend came to the table. The girl was staring at her feet. Prodding her in the side, Kurt tried to urge her to speak. Suddenly, she started to rapidly speak in German. Scott, Jean, Kitty and Evan stared in confusion.

"Auf Englisch," Kurt said gently.

The girl blushed. "Goot Morgen. Mein name is Astrid. I haft just moved to America."

"Pretty good," Kurt said. "No g in 'morning'. morn-ing."

"Goot morn-ing." Astrid carefully repeated.

Kurt turned to his friends. "Astrid doesn't speak English. Ms. Darkholme assigned me to teach her."

"Nice to meet you, Astrid," Kitty said. Kurt translated.

Astrid shook Kitty's hand. "Nice to meet you." she repeated, carefully going over the words. "Wie heissen Sie?"

"She wants to know your name." Kurt explained.

Kitty nodded. "Kitty. Kitty Pryde."

"Kitty...." Astrid thought for a moment. Her face then lit up. "Ah! Kaetzchen!"

Kurt laughed. "Ja, Kaetzchen."

"What?" Kitty asked. "What does that mean?"

"Relax. It just means Kitty." He introduced the rest of the X-Men to Astrid.

"So why were you move to America?" Evan asked. Kurt again acted as interpreter.

"Meine Mutter...." she started. Looking at the faces of the X-Men. She leaned over, whispering into Kurt's ear her reply.

"Her father was transferred," Kurt said. "_Why was that hard, Astrid?_"

"I go." Astrid said firmly, hoping she used the right English words."

"Where?" Kurt asked, a bit worried.

"The.... washroom."

****

Astrid felt dizzy as she entered the washroom. Her mind was muddled. All of these new words for things she already knew....

She had lied. Why didn't Astrid tell Kurt and his friends the truth?

Pappa had not been transferred. It had been a lie. Astrid herself was still in denial on what had happened.

Kurt was nice. He was a life line; a connection to her former life.

Astrid's head was pounding. She needed air. Opening the small window, she stuck her head out. She took in deep, gasping breaths.

The maple tree near the window swayed in the breeze. It grew more violent every time she took in a breath. One of the branches started to hit the windowsill.

"Nein....." Astrid murmured, moving away. "Mein Gott, bitte. NEIN!"

She scrambled backwards. "NEIN!"

A thunderous crack filled the air as the trunk of the tree split, sending the entire tree to the ground.

****

Astrid had been in the washroom for a while now. He walked down the hall, heading towards the girl's washroom. Maybe she was lost. Maybe Duncan was bothering her. Either way, Kurt wanted to go help her.

Halfway there, he watched the tall blonde raced past him. Tears were streaking down her pale cheeks. "Astrid?"

He went after her. "ASTRID!"

The slippery hall floor reacted with Astrid's tractionless shoes and she slid onto the floor. Kurt reached her. "Astrid, Was ist los?"

"Nein.... Nein...." she murmured between sobs.

"_What happened?_" He was lost. She was not responding, just kept crying in his arms.

He wanted to hold her close, to wipe her tears away. But he could not risk his secret.

"der Baum...." She sobbed, her body convulsing with the force of her tears.

"Was?"

Before Astrid could reply, Kurt heard footsteps behind him. He turned to see Rogue. "Hey Elf, what are you doing?"

"Ah, Rogue. This is Astrid. I am trying to find out what scared her. She said it was a tree."

"She must have meant the tree in the courtyard." Rogue replied. "Ah saw it in math class. It collapsed all of the sudden."

Kurt smiled. "_Is that what scared you?_"

Astrid got up, her eyes filled with relief. "Ja."

He smoothed down her hair. "_You'll be fine._" he gestured to Rogue. "_This is my friend, Rogue._"

"Goot to meet you, Rogue." Astrid said, nodding to Rogue.

"Ah gotta go," Rogue said. "See ya latah."

She walked off, leaving Kurt and Astrid alone. She was taking in deep gasps.

"_Are you going to be okay?_" Kurt asked, still concerned.

"_I'll be fine. It was very loud._"

Kurt helped her up. "_We should go to the library. Practice our English._"

Astrid nodded. "_Then let us go._"

****

"Hallo? Pappa? Tante Gretchen?" Astrid set her books down as she came in the house.

A youthful woman came out of the kitchen. "_Astrid, I'm so glad you're home. What took you so long?_"

Kissing the woman on the cheek, Astrid smiled. "_Hi, Aunt Gretchen. I stayed at school late._"

"_Why?_" Gretchen took Astrid into the kitchen, pulling a chair out for her.

"_A boy at school was teaching me English. He is German._" A blush crept into her cheeks.

"_A boy?_" Gretchen smiled. "_Is he handsome?_"

Smiling, Astrid nodded. "_He is very handsome. His name is Kurt._"

"_You will have to bring him over._"

There was silence in the room. Astrid fiddled with the ring on her finger. "_I had an accident._"

Gretchen went still. "_An *accident*?_"

Astrid nodded. "_A tree. It broke in half._"

"_Was anyone hurt?_"

"Nein."

"_Good. You must be careful._"

Nodding, Astrid slowly rose from her chair. "_I am going to my room now._"

****

Astrid laid down on her bed, sighing deeply. She stared at her hand, looking at the beautiful ring on her finger.

It was silver, a small emerald in the middle. Pappa had worked for months to buy the engagement ring for Mama. Now, instead of being on Mama's hand, it was on her's.

She picked up a photo from her nightstand. She remembered that night well. It was only two years ago. They had been at der Jahrmakt. Astrid had always been in awe of the circus.

Running her fingers over her mother's image, Astrid sighed. She had been so beautiful; tall and regal. Not like Astrid, who was a gangly collection of limbs. Mama had walked with grace and a nobility. Astrid could barely walk two steps without tripping over her long legs.

"Mama," Astrid whispered hoarsely. "_I don't know what to say._"

She stared into the light blue eyes of Mama. "_I have been trying. The more I try to stop the accidents, the more they happen...._" Her eyes welled with tears. "_I will contain them. I promise, Mama._"

She set the photo down next to her potted rose. One of the blooms stretch out, caressing the glass. Astrid let her tears fall. "Ich liebe dich, Mama."

****

Ororo Munroe opened the door to Cerebro. Keeping her head held high, she walked to the helmeted man. "Charles, you must take a break."

Sighing, Professor Charles Xavier pulled off his helmet. "I can't get a good reading on this mutant, Ororo. I sense a new mutant in the area. However, they are keeping a tight reign on their powers. I cannot distinguish them from the others."

"It will eventually work out, Charles. I am sure of it."

Xavier nodded, rolling away from the machine. "Are the kids all right?"

Before Ororo could answer, Kurt ran in. "I'm sorry to disturb. Professor, do you have any books I could use to teach English?

****

"Hallo, my name ist Astrid Strauss. Vould you be pleased to help me?"

Smiling, Kurt watched Astrid fumbled over the words. He had been working with her for a week solid, during school and after. "_For someone who just started, you are very good._"

"_Really?_" Astrid's big blue eyes lit up.

Kurt shut his English book. "_I would like to try having a conversation. In English. We have not really talked._"

"I vill try," she replied, her accent incredibly thick.

"What is your father's job?"

"He is being in photography." Astrid replied.

"And your mother?"

She went quiet, staring down at her book. "She... She ist..." She took in a deep breath. "A... Haus Frau. Your parents?"

"My foster mother is in Germany. She is in der Jahrmakt."

Astrid's eyes lit up. "Der Jahrmakt?"

"You like the circus?"

"I love the... Ist circus the vord?"

"Ja. I was in the circus myself."

"Vhat vere you being?"

"An acrobat."

"Ah..." Astrid looked closer at Kurt. "Vait..." she smiled. "Herr Indigo?"

"You saw me?"

"You vere..." she gestured to her face. "Blau."

"The word is blue." He nodded. "Yes, I was."

"It vas... costume?"

"Ummmm.... Ja. I had a costume."

"You vere goot." she smiled. "How dit you be being in another place?"

She had seen him after he had started using his teleportation in his act. "It is a circus secret."

****

"And Daniels fakes passed Wagner...." Evan dribbled the ball, keeping a commentary. He stopped and shot. "He shoots and scores!"

He held up his arms in triumph, looking at Kurt. He lowered his arms, furrowing his brow. "Hey 'crawler, you okay?"

Kurt look up. "Vas?.... I was just thinking about Astrid."

Evan picked up the ball, twirling it on her finger. "You like that fraulein, don't you?"

Kurt felt the heat in his cheeks. "It is nice to have a bit of home around." He took in a deep breath. "She saw me... While I was in the circus." He held out his blue hands, gesturing to his fuzzy face. "Like this."

"Does she know?"

"She thinks it was a costume."

"No harm, no foul then."

Kurt shuffled his feet. "I'd like her to know. I don't like lying to her. She's... She's a good friend."

"You know you gotta, Kurt. The norms can't handle us. It's safer."

"I know." Kurt smiled, taking the ball. "My ball!"

****

"It ist nice today, Ja?" Astrid said, looking up at the sky. She and Kurt were in the courtyard, studying as usual.

"I love spring." Kurt said. "The birds sing... Flowers bloom... Love is in the air."

"Love?" Astrid whispered. She felt her heart start to race.

"Hey! Did you see that?" Kurt looked at the garden. "That flower just burst open!"

"R... Really?" Astrid stuttered. She looked at the flower.

"Ja. It was amazing!"

Astrid licked her lips. She slipped back into German. She could not say this in English. Not yet. "_Kurt? Do you believe in... Special things? Things that... Wouldn't happen normally?_²

"_Very much,_" Kurt whispered. "_I have seen many special things._"

"Kurt... I am being having emotions..." Astrid whispered.

Kurt's eyes went wide. "For me?"

She leaned forward, shut her eyes. She waited for Kurt to meet her lips.

"I... I can't." he whispered. "I'm sorry."

Astrid opened her eyes, pulling back. "I am sorry." She collected her books. "I am to go now."

"You don't have to--"

She got up. "Auf Wiedersehen, Kurt."

He took in a deep breath, watching her walk away. When he went to collect his books, he noticed the flower had withered and died.

****

Astrid scaled a tree near the parking lot, resting her head against the rough bark. She tried not to cry. She felt humiliated, foolish. Kurt had no interest in her outside of teaching her English.

The branches of the tree started to shiver. She let her tears fall.

Scott and Jean were walking in the court, holding hands. He noticed Astrid in the tree. They walked over to the towering oak.

"Astrid?" Scott called out. "Are you all right?"

"Was?" she asked, raising her head.

"Was ist los?" Jean asked.

"Go avay!" she cried, the tree branches whipping around.

"Not when you're crying..." Scott said. "Come down."

"GO AVAY!" A branch reached down, hitting Scott in the chest. He was knocked three feet, hitting the ground. His glasses fell off, sending an optic blast into the air.

"SCOTT!" Jean cried, rushing to her boyfriend. She knelt on the ground. Using her telekinesis, she retrieved his glasses. She put the protective lenses back on his face.

"Was?" Astrid whispered, staring at the pair. "Nein...."

She leapt from the tree. She could not move.

"Astrid...." Jean started. "Please. You have to listen to us."

"NEIN!" she cried.

"You're like us..."

Shaking her head, Astrid started running.

****

"She wanted to kiss me, and I rejected her. All because of my stupid fuzz!" Kurt moaned, hitting his head on the picnic table.

"Big deal." Rogue muttered. "You kiss someone, they find out you're a freak. Ah kiss someone, they DIE."

"She's the first girl who liked me in--" Kurt started. He stopped when Jean and Scott ran up, breathless.

"It's Astrid--" Scott gasped.

Kurt jumped up. "What about her?"

"I think-- She's a--" He took in a deep breath. "Mutant."

"No way!" Evan said. "Astrid?"

"She seemed to be controlling the trees," Jean said.

Kurt thought back. "The flower.... Where is she?"

"She ran off." Jean replied.

"The Professah can find her, using that machine of his, right?" Rogue said.

Scott nodded. "Let's get to the mansion."

****

"Kurt, you're going to wear a hole in the floor if you don't stop pacing!" Scott said. "Logan, Ororo, Kitty, Rogue AND Evan are our looking for her. And the Professor has been looking with Cerebro."

"I should have gone too."

"You're too emotionally involved."

"It's been five hours!" Kurt cried. "No one's seen her! Her English sucks! The Brotherhood is looking for mutants! I'm not going to have my friend stolen by Toad and the Blob!"

Jean hushed him. "There's someone at the door." She answered it.

Standing on the steps was a handsome older man. "Hello. Is Kurt Wagner here?" He had a heavy German accent.

She nodded. "Yes, come in. Kurt, the door is for you."

Kurt went to the door. "Is it Astrid?"

The man nodded. "I am Daniel Strauss, Astrid's father. She has not come home. I thought... I know you are her friend."

"We've been looking for her," Kurt said. "She got very upset today."

Mr. Strauss sighed. "I have been waiting for this."

Jean offered him a seat. "Will you tell us?"

"Astrid has been very distraught since her mother died."

Kurt's ears prickled. "Astrid told me her mother was a housewife."

"She was, before she died." Mr. Strauss sighed. "Three months ago, my wife was in an accident. Astrid blames herself."

"If you don't mind me asking," Jean said. "What happened?"

"The stairs in our home collapsed while my wife was walking down them."

"Why would Astrid blame herself for that?" Kurt asked.

Jean looked from Mr. Strauss, to Kurt. "It's because of her powers."

"Her powers?" Mr. Strauss said. "How did you-- Did she tell you?"

"No," Jean took his hand. "Mr. Strauss, we help people like Astrid. Now, can you tell me what happened?"

"I was away on business. A thief broke into our house. Astrid was fighting him off with.... with her powers. For about a year she has been able to make plants grow. To control wood. She was throwing furniture at him with her mind. She had trouble controlling so many things. It collapsed the stairs.... As my wife was...."

"It's okay. We understand. We can help Astrid."

Kurt looked out the window. "If we can find her."

****

Kitty wandered through the park. "Okay. Like, Scott told you to look in trees," she said to herself. "So, look in trees."

After half an hour of looking in trees, Kitty was about ready to give up. She passed by a bush, hearing soft sobs. She looked behind it. Astrid was there, a branch stroking her cheek.

"I've been looking for you."

"Kaetzchen," she whispered. "Guten Abend."

She sat down. "Tell me what's wrong?"

"I passed unto Kurt."

"Huh?"

"I.... Ummm.... Tried to kiss."

"Oh." Kitty hugged her knees. "You know, there is a really good reason why Kurt didn't."

"I vas being saddened." Astrid whispered. "Had an accident."

"You have a lot of accidents, don't you? You made the tree break, didn't you?" She didn't wait for the answer. I'm like you, Astrid." Kitty concentrated, phasing her hand through Astrid's chest. "It's not bad. We can help you."

"Help?"

"We're all mutants."

"Mu-tants?"

"The Professor can explain it be--"

"Well, well.... What do we have here?" Kitty and Astrid turned, laying their eyes Lance and Todd, aka Avalanche and Toad of the Brotherhood of Mutants.

Lance grinned. "Two, count 'em two sweet young things."

Todd knelt down next to Astrid. "Nice ring, girl. I'd sure like that." He grabbed her wrist, pulling the ring off.

"Mama...." Her eyes filled with anger.

Lance pulled Kitty up, snarling. "Miss me, Kitten?"

She gave a shriek, phasing out of his grasp. "Run, Astrid!"

Astrid stood up, eyes burning. They flashed green as the ground beneath Toad broke. Tree roots grabbed him.

"HEY!" he leapt up. "She's a mutant!"

Avalanche laughed. "She's not the only one who can make the ground shake."

The ground started to tremble, knocking Kitty and Astrid off their feet. A branch from a maple darted down, wrapping around Avalanche and pulling him up.

He struggled to get out. "Now I'm getting a little mad...."

Astrid took in a laboured breath, trying to control both the branches and the tree roots. Her head was aching, the bush starting to tremble now.

Kitty tried to help, not noticing the branch come up behind her. She didn't have time to phase and was knocked upside the head. She hit the ground with a cry.

"Kaetzchen!" Astrid cried. "Mein Gott!" She ran to Kitty. "Kaetzchen... Avake! BITTE!"

She noticed a communicator that had fallen out of Kitty's pocket. She picked it up.

Avalanche and Toad had gotten free, advancing on Astrid. She flipped the switch. She tried to remember the English word. "HELP!" she was crying. "HELP!"

Just as Avalanche and Toad were about to attack, there was a battlecry behind them. They turned to see Wolverine leaping towards them, claws out.

They ran as soon as the admantium claws got an inch close. "Cowards!" Wolverine cried.

As Toad was running, a branch whipped out, knocking the silver jewelry from his hand. A branch wrapped around it, presented it to her. She took it, slipping it back on her finger.

"You must be the one the elf is so worried about," Wolverine said, helping Astrid up. He collected Kitty in his arms.

"Kaetzchen...."

"You knocked her out good. But she'll be fine."

****

"How you feeling, Kitty?" Jean asked. Scott, Rogue and Evan were with her.

"A little headache," Kitty replied, rubbing her bandaged head. "Astrid packs some heat."

Scott handed Kitty a daisy. "Kurt asked me to give this to you."

"Where is the Elf?"

****

Kurt watched Astrid speak with her father, then give him a hug.

"Auf Wiedersehen, meine Liebling," Mr. Strauss said.

"Auf Wiedersehen, Pappa." she replied.

Mr. Strauss waved, then turned to his car. Astrid picked up her bag, staring at the Xavier Institute.

Kurt stepped out the shadow. "May I help, Liebchen?"

Astrid dropped her bags, gasping. "KURT!"

"Did I startle you?" He was not wearing his image inducer. "I know...."

"Herr Indigo."

"_This is what I really look like_." He said. He took her hand. "_This is why I didn't kiss you._"

"Ve are being... Mutants?"

He smiled. "Yeah. We're both mutants." He sat her down on the steps. "_Why didn't you tell me about your mother?_"

"_I was scared,_" Astrid whispered. "_I killed her._"

"_It was an accident._"

"_She died because of ME!_" Astrid cried.

Kurt wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "_It wasn't your fault._" he stroked her cheek. "_Believe me, it wasn't.... It just happened._"

"_The Professor. He will help me?_"

"_All he can._" Kurt smiled. "_You'll learn to control your powers._"

"This ist the 'circus secret'?" she said softly in English.

There was the sound of rushing air and the stench of Brimstone. Kurt teleported to the other side of Astrid. "Ja."

"Unglaublich!"

Kurt smiled. "_You'll be fine here, Astrid._"

"_Really?_"

"_You have me. I'll take good care of you._"

"_I don't doubt it._"

Mustering up his courage, Kurt leaned forward, pressing his lips to Astrid's cheek. She blushed. He pulled back, smiling. "Welcome to the X-Men."