After the meal was over, Wally said, "We should explore more. Maybe they have rides."

"It's not a theme park," Shine said.

"It's basically a theme park," Wally said.

"There's a trolley." Rogue had noticed it earlier. "That's kind of like a ride, if you want to go real slow."

"What about a horse drawn tour?" Storm said. "I saw a sign for it."

She had Rogue at "horse drawn."

"What a borin' idea," Logan said.

"Mr. 1800s Man ought to think a horse drawn carriage was normal way to travel," Shine said.

"The thing about that is, people invented cars because horses were too slow and they smell," Logan said.

"I can't argue the last part," Shine said, "at least those poor ones they have at fairs, but they do keep them out in the sun too long. A nice, well cared-for horse doesn't smell that much."

"Well, I'm goin'," Rogue said. "And Mr. Buzzkill can just sit here if he don't want to have fun. I swear, Logan, you're allergic to it."

"Maybe we should split up," Shine said. "All of us can explore what we want, then. The trolley sounds fun, just like in the movies."

"Sounds slow," Wally said. "But that's okay. We can just get off when we see something interesting."

"Compromise is the foundation of most relationships," Shine said, getting up.

"If a trolley is excitin' to 'er, I wonder why she does this job," Logan said.

"You don't want to explore anything at all?" Storm said, almost disappointed. "What would Morph say if we passed up this opportunity?"

Logan shrugged. "Like he'd care. He's probably out in a cave somewhere right now."

Shine pursed her lips. "Logan, you have got to learn that brooding over everything doesn't make it any better. Come on, I challenge you to pick an activity, as your teacher."

"Some things ya don't teach." Logan stood up. "And this is one of 'em." He took out a cigar and walked to the street.

"He...didn't mean that," Rogue said. "I think..."

"Sometimes," Wally said, "I think we get so far with on of you guys, where you almost get it, but then it's like you just stop and back up. I don't know why."

"You can't blame him for being upset," Storm said.

"No, not for that," Shine said. "Just for missing that just for the loss of one friend is no excuse to neglect your other ones and not try to be there for them when they need you also."

She shrugged. "Perhaps I should have just said that, but it would have felt like guilt tripping."

"Do it," Mystique suggested. "You trick people every other way imaginable, why stop there."

"That is not funny, Raven," Shine said sharply. "If that is how you feel, then you can just stay with someone else. Wally and I intend to at least enjoy this while we can."

"Yeah," Wally agreed. "We've done enough hard stuff for one day, guys, you have to breathe sometimes."

He took Shine's hand and they walked away.

"Mother, why does she keep calling you Raven?" Kurt said. "Is it a biblical reference?"

"She knows," Mystique said vaguely, now put out.

"Well I think you deserved that," Storm said to her sternly. "That was a very rude thing to say."

"I meant it as a compliment," Mystique took a sip of her drink languidly. "As a master manipulator, I admire her ability to get results. She's caught up by that moral code of hers though."

"Perhaps we should be glad of that," Kurt said. 

"A master manipulator, hmm?" Storm tilted her head. "And yet you cannot persuade us to trust you. Well, Rogue shall we hunt down the carriage?"

"Unless you want to do something else," Rogue said. "There's a lot to see around here, You don't have to just for me, I can go alone, I'm a big girl."

"Why not just split up how you usually do?" Kurt said innocently.

"Come on, Chere," Gambit took that as his cue.

Rogue was a little puzzled. "But--"

"Rogue," Storm hissed. "I have felt Gambit is upset still, perhaps he wants to talk to you. You two are close, aren't you?"

"Well...but..." Rogue was trying to say she had no idea what to say if he was upset.

"You have to try," Storm said. "Perhaps he will not open up to anyone else."

"Well...fine, I guess..." Rogue said uncomfortably. "Are you going to be okay with grumpy puss and them?"

"I'll be fine," Storm said.

Rogue followed Gambit.

"Nicely done," Mystique raised her glass like she was toasting Storm...mockingly.

"Oh be quiet," Storm said. "You have been acting odd today, Mystique."

Mystique made a face at her when she wasn't looking.

"Herr Logan is troubled," Kurt said. "Do you think it would be best to leave him alone?"

"Logan doesn't like to be bothered," Storm said. "Do you wish to explore?"

"I have never been here, and I probably will never return," Kurt said. "I don't mind seeing more of it...but is there more voodoo?" He looked nervous.

"We'll stay away from that," Storm said dryly.

They walked off down the sidewalk, or banquette. [Thanks American Girls]

Mystique followed, reluctantly, she'd take them over Wolverine.

Logan saw them go. He'd actually heard what Shine said, though she had thought he was too far away. He felt conflicted.

He didn't really think of this as the others needing him, but maybe this was there way of trying not to worry, and not to be miserable, and he was only adding to their difficulty.

Logan was usually one to think people need to be more serious about things, and that's why he was a buzzkill. But they'd scored a big victory today too...there was good, there was bad...Morph would probably actually say it was better to look at the bright side. Wherever he was...

Sighing, Logan followed them, though at a distance.

***

Rogue liked the carriage ride just fine, but she thought Gambit was not enjoying it at all.

"What's wrong?" She finally asked, not very confidently.

"Nothing," Gambit said.

That about summed up  what she'd thought he'd say.

Rogue was irritated. She never had much patience for people making her guess at things (and no, she didn't see the irony of that). 

"We're getting out early," she told the driver. "Thanks anyway."

The drive shrugged.

Rogue hopped out, the ride was too slow anyway, she'd walk faster.

Gambit got out, looking confused. "Why are we stoppin', did ya see something?"

"We're stopping because I don't need someone eavesdropping," Rogue said. "Now I ain't got a lot of patience about this, what has gotten into you? Things went pretty good today, I don't see what there is to be so down about. I mean, Morph's gone, but we can find him again, he's alive, we know that, so it's nothing to be so moody about. You're remindin' me of Logan."

Silence.

"Fine, don't talk to me" Rogue three up her hands. "I knew it was no use." She walked forward.

"Chere," Gambit said.

Rogue stopped.

"You run even after dey help you with dat Marvel woman," Gambit said. Which cut kind of deep. Making Rogue sorry she asked. "Why?"

Rogue stood stock still.

She crossed her arms, not wanting to answer. Then she looked up at the sky, and then back down.

"I guess...maybe it was too much all at once, I couldn't take in it," she said finally.

"Dat make sense," Gambit said, and then he kept walking.

Well...that was really all he needed to say.

Rogue often found this trait annoying but it was also one of the things she liked about him, being able to just say it, point blank, where she almost never could, not when it was personal. The annoying part was that she couldn't.

She caught up, but was quiet.

It was a nice enough evening though. Normally this would be a nice thing to do as date...but maybe it had all been a little much, now that Rogue thought about it. A lot to handle...she could brush it aside more because she hadn't had that much to do with it, and she never troubled herself about things she wasn't involved in that much...but maybe Gambit was different, or maybe it just was too personal.

"You...think Bobby'll be okay?" She finally ventured, not sure if it was smart.

But Gambit didn't really care about that...though he'd been stunned by it. "Bobby probably won't quit," he said. "But he keep his word, guess dat good enough."

"Why'd you two split like that?" Rogue asked. "Uh... I mean, if it's all right to ask..."

Silence so long she thought maybe it wasn't.

But finally Gambit said. "Bobby got me into da guild...Gambit didn't want it, but dat how it work, a lot of people get in dat way. Den he no like it when I leave. We never spoke ta each other since, 'cept dese two times."

Rogue was shocked. "He...got you into it...but...why?"

"Who know? It just what dey do. I had a mutation, maybe it was for power," Gambit shrugged. "Den he get chosen, and things get worse. Finally, I leave. You know da rest."

"I really don't know that much," Rogue said. "You never talk about it."

"And you talk about yore past?"

"Well...no," Rogue said.

"Some things is better left in da past," Gambit said. "I an X-men now, dat what matter."

Rogue was quiet.

"Gambit never want X-men to know about it," Gambit went on, after another long pause. "Dis exact thing could happen...and it happen twice."

"But, the X-men are your friends," Rogue said. "Ya can't trust us?"

She wanted to say "me" but was afraid that he'd come back with a why didn't she trust them then?

"Trust work different sometimes," Gambit said. "Trust someone with da future, but not da past. It ain't deir problem...not till two busybody want ta dig it up."

Rogue put a finger to her chin, thinking.

"I can't say I liked them digging up my dirty laundry either," she said. "But I'm glad, now, that Shine did it. Once she said it all, I felt freer...and it worked. I guess it ain't pleasant, but maybe that's not really the point, huh? It had to be done...maybe they'll be better off now."

"Maybe," Gambit said.

This didn't seem to be what was bugging him.

It was, in fact, that he was wondering if he was going to be better off. Everyone now knew just how deeply messed up it was, and if one time it had blown over, would it a a second time?

More importantly, if it had gone badly, he'd have probably been responsible for Shine and Wally dying, and the X-men if they hadn't been able to fight their way out.

The whole thing was terrifying.

In fact, why Rogue was't taking it more seriously he couldn't fathom, it was kind of annoying.

"Don't you realize how it would have gone," he said. "If dey hadn't been able to do what dey did?"

"But they did," Rogue said.

"Gambit not know dat," Gambit said. "If dey had been wrong...it not like dey knew. Dey just thought...dey talk a big game, but dey ain't always as sure as dey seem. Dat much was clear."

"They seemed sure to me," Rogue said.

"Not pay close enough attention, Chere."

Rogue wondered if that was true.

"But it still worked out, why focus on what could have gone wrong?" She shrugged.

"How many more time do dey think dey can push deir luck?" Gambit wondered.

"Are you mad just because this is the second time they done did somethin' because you said somethin' to set them off?"

She had finally gotten it, almost by accident.

Sullen silence.

"Oh," Rogue regretted her words.

"Gambit never expect dem ta take it serious," Gambit said in a much smaller voice, now that it came to the point.

"I'm pretty sure they take everything serious," Rogue said. "But...it's...it's what they wanted to do, y'know. It wasn't like they were forced, they just wanted to help ya, same as all of us. Them and Kurt always want to help...I mean, I wish I was like that, I think all they think about it what's best for other people...I bet they figure you didn't mean it, but they wanted to."

"Gambit know dat," Gambit said.

"If you know that, why are you blaming yourself?" Rogue was getting exasperated. "I don't get it."

"Suppose not," was the helpful answer.

"You ain't helpin' me understand." Rogue shot back.

"Not something Gambit can put into words," Gambit said.

Silence again.

Rogue's anger died down, and she felt sad instead.

Maybe it was more like her own doubts than she'd thought...that uncertainty of what to trust.

"Y'know, I think I get that," she said finally. "Not being able to explain it. I don't get the 'it' itself, but I get that part. That probably don't really help, but..."

"Gambit take it," was Gambit's way of trying to patch things up.

Rogue finally managed a small smile.

"'Course it be better with a kiss," Gamibt added.

Rogue's smile died. "Oh why don't you shuddup!" She snapped. "Honestly! You know how to ruin a thing, I was trying to be sympathetic."

"Gambit know," Gambit was trying hard not to laugh.

"Stop that!" Rogue said. "I see that smile! You know you just like puttin' me off, that's what I get for trying to help."

"Ah, don't be like dat, Chere."

"Then shut up!" That Rogue didn't fly away right then showed she was still trying to compromise slightly out of an effort to be sensitive.

Gambit wisely decided to quit while he could and change the subject. "How you like New Orleans?"

On a different note, Rogue relaxed.

"Actually it's real pretty," she said. "Though I'm almost sorry we were here to see Mardi Gras, always did sounded like a good time,"

"Overrated," Gambit said.

"Overrated? That does sound like Wolverine..."

***

https://youtu.be/Hxq8mqLYugI

Speaking of Wolverine, Logan was finally caught following them by Storm.

Mostly because Mystique had slipped into an ally and Kurt had gone to find her.

Storm didn't like how dark it was, and remained standing on the sidewalk.

Then she finally saw Logan had been following them.

"I thought you were going to wait," she said.

No answer except a shrug.

Storm was quiet also.

Kurt appeared, with Mystique, who looked peeved.

"For the love of--, I wasn't even going to do anything," she whined. 

"Then why did you sneak away," Storm said.

Mystique looked at her feet. "I had to..."

"Oh," Storm said.

"Apologies," Kurt said. "But you really ought to give us some varning."

Mystique glared. "Why? I can't even do that now?"

"Please, we would have understood," Storm said.

"Herr Logan," Kurt noted him. "You joined us? This is gut, we can split off."

Mystique blinked. Then looked at Storm.

"No," she said.

"Do you have a problem with me?" Storm said.

"I don't play with lightning." Was Mystique's answer.

Logan smirked. "One thing she might be smart about."

"Ve can all stay together then," Kurt said.

"No," Mystique said again.

"Why not?" Logan said.

"I don't like you," she said.

"I ain't crazy about you either," Logan said. 

"You've made that abundantly clear," Mystique said.

"All right," Storm clapped her hands together. "Kurt, as your mother is not at ease around either of us, you can take her with you. We will remove ourselves from her presence, just meet us back at the car by the agreed upon hour."

"If that is what you prefer," Kurt said.

"Wait..." Mystique saw her mistake now.

But Storm, now determined to punish her for her remarks, took Logan by the arm and led him away.

"Perhaps she'll be a little more respectful," she said. "Anyway, Kurt can keep up with her better than I can."

"Are you gonna let go?" Logan said.

Storm let go. "Sorry, I thought you might just stand there.

"I probably would have, but you're gonna make a scene," Logan eyed the other passersby.

Storm brushed herself off. "Of course now that it comes to it, I have no idea where to go..."

"Just stand here then," Logan lit another cigar.

Storm didn't want to just stand there either.

"Perhaps I will look for a gift for Jubilee...a sort of welcome home present," she said. "She seems to like things like that."

"Shopping for someone else is how you'd spend a day off," Logan noted.

"Are you implying I do not know how to have fun?" Storm said.

"I'd a were 'both about equally bad at relaxing," Logan said.

"I don't think so," Storm said. "I think I have fun."

"Name the last time you did something for fun."

"Well...I--"

"Doing it because Rogue wanted to doesn't count," Logan interrupted.

Storm stopped. 

Then she frowned. "This proves nothing."

Logan shrugged.

"And why don't you have fun?" Storm said.

"My idea of fun is pool in a bar," Logan said. "Not all this nonsense. Or fightin', fighting is fun."

 "A fight can be enjoyable, but don't you ever feel your reliance on violence to be entertained might be a problem?" Storm said.

"Maybe," Logan said. "What can I do about it?"

"Perhaps Miss Likstar's advice is prudent," Storm said. "Learning to be able to relax a little. I marvel at how they never appear to stay stressed."

"If I didn't know better I'd say they were on something," Logan said. "No one is that happy all the time who's seen what they've seen."

"Or they have some secret we don't possess," Storm said.

"That much is obvious," Logan muttered.

"I wonder what it is," Storm mused.

[Pause to appreciate that this conversation is a hilariously believable thing for them to be talking about instead of anything remotely normal like movies or books]

Storm then put her hands together. "I have a thought. Maybe if we try it, we'll figure it out. It's probably one of those things you only learn by doing."

"I'm not frolicking around," Logan said.

"Do what you will, Logan, but I'm not spending my time worrying," Storm said. "I think I'll continue my walk, stay or come."

She did as she said.

Logan followed, really, he had nothing else to do.

"Happy?" he said sulkily.

"Perhaps," Storm said, with a glint of humor. "Are you?"

"No," Logan said. 

"Then things are normal," Storm said.

A while of not talking, but Storm and Logan were both people who could not talk without really feeling awkward about it, and the silence was not really either of them sulking, they just had nothing to say.

Storm didn't say anything at all until they were passing a shop that had music boxes on display in the window. One must have just been wound, because it was playing "Amazing Grace."

"Oh, that's the song Shine sang at the church," she paused. "So that's the melody...I like it."

Logan had heard the song before he just shrugged. 

"That would be a good gift," Storm mused. "I'll be right back."

But Logan followed her into the shop anyway.

Though he looked like he wasn't enjoying it.

The owner was glad enough to get customers at this hour. "We close in a few minutes," she warned.

"I just want this," Storm picked up the music box.

"You have excellent taste, madame," said the owner. "There's one with 'How Great Thou Art," also, you're of a religious turn?"

"You could say that," Storm said. "Though it's all very new to me."

"We need more people like that in this city," the owner remarked. "You look like tourists though. I always like to see couples shop together."

Storm found this error amusing, but Logan almost choked.

"Are you nuts?" He said.

"Forgive him," Storm said. "You're mistaken, we're simply friends."

"Oh," the owner looked embarrassed. "Sorry, I just assumed...the usual...and buying a jewelry box...my mistake."

"Perfectly understandable," Storm said. "Probably will not be the last time, I imagine, but no, we have other friends, we just split off to cover more grounds."

"A tour then?" The owner said.

"You could say that, yes," Storm said.

[The 'mistaken for a couple' cliché is common, but it happens a lot in real life, from all I hear, so at least I can use it without feeling like I'm contriving it. Imagine how awkward it is when one of the people is already married though, ugh.]

Once they were finished and outside, Storm said, "It was just a mistake, Logan. I thought you were going to break half the shop. Don't you think you overreact?"

"That doesn't bother you?" Logan said.

"Why should it?" Storm said. "It's a reasonable error. I don't get ruffled over honest mistakes. They happen all the time."

"Maybe," Logan said. "They caught me off guard."

"If I didn't know better I'd say it was because you were worried about someone making that exact mistake," Storm said, calmly walking away.

If she'd seen the look on his face right then, she'd have realized her joke was actually exactly on point, but as she didn't, Logan hid it fast enough.

[He would.]

* * *

Kurt and Mystique had nothing to talk about, on their own, though Kurt tried to comment on how nice the city was.

Mystique, being her buzzkill self about it, reminded him that the city was full of dishonest people and witch doctors and immorality.

"Why do you care?" Kurt asked. "Or do you think I should?"

"I just think a monk ought to be more careful," Mystique said snidely.

"Vell..." Kurt said, "it is true, I do not associate vith such things myself, but I cannot just avoid them. I think you may have the wrong idea of me. Before I left the circus I vas exposed to plenty of things like what you're describing... Gypsies are not known for their morality. But I think all that is partly what made it so clear to me vhat I needed. It vas all empty."

Mystique sniffed.

"I...can't help but notice every time ve talk, you try to argue," Kurt said. "This is because you are not comfortable around me, ja?"

Not this again.

"Kurt, I don't want to rehash it," Mystique said. "I told you, it's for the best to leave it alone."

"But what if I did vant to rehash it?" Kurt said. "Do I not get a say here?"

"Why do you want a say?" Mystique said. "You can see what kind of person I am, Kurt. If we were total strangers, and we crossed paths, we would never even speak, let alone be friends. What is the point?"

"We choose our friends, but not our family," Kurt said.

Mystique gritted her teeth.

Kurt certainly annoyed her enough to be her actual family.

Then she sighed. "I did choose--I gave up on that ages ago."

"But I didn't," Kurt said.

Mystique rolled her eyes, but half-heartedly.

"You say you are the kind of person I vould never speak to," Kurt said. "But how is that? Herr Logan has his past also, and so do the others. What makes it much different? And so do I."

"I doubt you could even conceive of the kinds of things I've done," Mystique said. "Did they tell you about Archangel? What I did to him?"

"It does not matter," Kurt said.

"Oh, but it does," Mystique said. "I took away his choice...made him full of hatred... Rogue undid it, but that only harmed her. I almost did it to her also."

She smiled, but it was more of a grimace. "I did that to 4 people, and I laughed at them."

Kurt was stunned.

"Vhy?" he said, sadly. "Why vould you do such a thing?"

"I was afraid of Apocalypse," Mystique said. "And I didn't care about them... Fools, trying to take away their mutations, as if any of us would ever be able to do that. Weaklings..." She shook her head. "I hated them too."

"But you do not hate Rogue, and she struggled vith this...and so do I," Kurt said. "Who knows? Perhaps I vould have chosen it if I could have."

Mystique doubted anyone could make Kurt hate everyone, but who knew?

"Rogue has some excuse," she said. "But perhaps...in a way, I thought it served her right."

Saying it, she realized it must have been true. She'd resented Rogue for leaving her...whatever she'd told herself.

"Love can grow to be nine tenths hatred and still call itself love." The words of that book taunted her.

"For vhat?" Kurt said.

"Nothing," Mystique said. "That is just what I felt like. It's of no consequence."

"Your feelings are of no concern?" Kurt said. "I do not think that is true. You are angry.... Ve feel angry vhen ve are hurt or scared. Vhat is scaring you, you don't have to face it alone if you don't vant to."

"Leave me alone, Kurt," Mystique warned.

Kurt shook his head. "If you vish. I hope that someday you vill let someone in. It is dreadful to be alone."

Anger re-surged up in Mystique...anger because of fear, or he'd just hit a nerve.

"Dreadful?" she said, livid. "It is still better than the alternative. The only way to not be alone is to lie and deceive people, up to a point. But it's not really not being alone. No one is really not alone."

"I believe that ve are never alone," Kurt said, "not vith Gott."

"Nice for you." Mystique was cutting. "But for the rest of us, it's inevitable. You don't know me, Kurt. Once, I tried what you think will work. Being a part of something and being with others...always ends the same way. I've been around long enough to know that. If you're happy your way, fine, but leave me out of it. I'm not anxious to try that again."

Kurt was taken aback.

But then he said, "Vould you try it vith people who vould only be there to use you?"

Mystique stopped short.

"You vork vith people when you have reason," Kurt said, "just not anyone who vould vant to help you, just because... I see that you do not trust us, and that is fair enough, but vhy do you trust people who do not even pretend to care about you at all? Vhy do you throw your life to them like to the dogs? I just do not understand it."

"Maybe I have no choice!" Mystique lost her composure entirely.

"But you do!" Kurt protested. "Alvays."

"No, I don't," Mystique said. "And you must stop trying to save me, Kurt!"

Then silence as those words sank in.

Kurt's tail went down like a dog's.

"I know I cannot save you," he said, slowly. "You are right...but I still believe Gott can do all things...so I vill keep hoping. But I vill not trouble you vith it anymore."

He walked forward.

Mystique found her hands were shaking.

As always...Kurt had shaken her up, put her off balance...but she was reminded again that she could not shake him. No matter what, he would have his beliefs, and his hopes.

Oh no, she thought. He must be the Psyche.... D--- that book.

[Yeah, don't you just hate it when someone puts your whole inner turmoil into words like that?]

* * *

Shine and Wally spent her time doing as they usually did and not worrying or talk about anything too serious.

They enjoyed seeing the city...and veered away from the parts of it they didn't care for.

Out of all the groups, they were probably the most rejuvenated by the time they met back up.

Rogue and Gambit had had a sort of peace, though, after their talk, and weren't in a bad mood.

Storm and Logan had continued in their usual tranquility with no more incidents.

Kurt and Mystique had clearly had a fight, but no one asked them what it was. Mystique had her usual dead look--that she'd lost it at all even briefly was the real surprise.

Kurt was sad, clearly, but he told them later it was not really for himself.

"It is just that my heart hurts for her," he said. "Vhatever is stopping her, it seems so insurmountable. I fear she vill just give up on herself eventually and run, and she vill never come back."

Shine and Wally understood.

"I fear that with many people like her," Shine said. "But if it is helpful, I have not seen God spend so much time on any one person without them eventually coming to see Him. Some things are just clearly destiny. Your mother is meant to be on the side of good, but she is the last person who can believe that about herself, just now. We must keep believing for her until she can."

"So you think it vill vork out?" Kurt said.

"I can promise you nothing," Shine said. "There is no one formula for knowing if people will turn, Kurt. You know this as well as we do. But it is more often than not, and her getting angry about it may well just be a sign that she is sensing the pull and is fighting it... She is fighting us the only way she knows how, you know--to show herself to be what she believes she is...and so she is, but that doesn't matter to God, and we must not let it matter to us. Whatever she's done. We are none of us innocent. That is important to remember."

"I do," Kurt said. "But she does not believe me vhen I try to say this."

"Do not try, then," Shine said. "You have said your say, Kurt. She will have to make the next move. You be patient and loving. But family members are sometimes the last people who can help in these cases. She is more open to us because she has no personal connections with us, and that is just how it is. Her guilt can't go as far. When she has started to heal, then is the time for you to pick this back up. It gets better then, trust me. There was something much like this on our last mission. But they have become close now. Not...as close perhaps as people who have never had anything in between, but I think it is close in a different way. Those of us without the pain bond in one way, those of us who bond through pain in another, and both are good, but they are vastly different in development."

"This does make me feel a little better," Kurt said. "Thank you."

"That's why we're here," Wally said, patting his shoulder. "Don't give up, buddy. I think you've made an impression on her, really. Just gotta give her stubborn self enough time to realize it."

"And try not to fear," Shine said. "As much as it's tempting, fear only piles on the pressure."

Kurt nodded.

[Don't worry, we'll get back to Morph the next chapter. We just needed a bit of a break from the action.

Yay, shipping!

And no one say I'm shipping Kurt and Mystique. This isn't Game of Thrones, and I find that repulsive. Please no one say that.]