ax_main | Kurt and Shen

Shen talks to Kurt about coming out. Plans are made!

Shen walked up to Kurt at the end of their biology class. "Heeey. Are you busy? I wanted to talk to you about something." Maybe Warren had already told him that she was joining them, but maybe not. Either way, she absolutely had to talk to him.

Kurt looked up in the middle of stuffing his books into his bag and smiled at Shen. “For you, Shen, I have all the time in the world.”

"You're lucky I don't need quite that much," Shen told him with a smile. "Can we go somewhere private-ish? Wherever."

Kurt finished packing his bag, zipped it closed, and slung it over his shoulder. "Lead the way."

Shen nodded, and led the way out of the classroom, and towards the stairs. "How have you been doing, anyway? With the whole 'daughter from another world' thing?”

Did everyone know about that? “I am good,” Kurt said as he followed alongside Shen. “It is taking some getting used to, but it is fine. It must be harder for her. She is the one away from everyone she knows in a world that may look like her own, but is not her own.” His face screwed up into a thoughtful expression. “I have been thinking about introducing her to my family.”

"You're too good for this world, Kurt," Shen told him with a genuinely fond smile. "Have you told them about her at all?”

Kurt shook his head. “Not yet. I want to make sure it is okay with her first.”

Shen nodded. "Makes sense. She's lucky to have ended up somewhere you are.”

"Thank you," Kurt said with a warm smile. That was nice of Shen to say.

She led the way up the stairs, and away from most of the students, and decided not to wait until they reached one of the upstairs reading rooms. "So, I don't know if Warren's told you, but I've decided to come out, too."

Kurt broke into a big, proud grin. "He did not! That is wonderful! Welcome to the club, mein Freund."

Shen grinned back at him. "Thanks. I was so psyched to know you were joining the club, but I figured I'd do my part for diversity. And if you and Warren weren't letting wanting to be on the X-Force stop you, neither should I." They'd figure something out with the image inducers.

"Thank you," Kurt said with a warm smile. That was nice of Shen to say.

Shen smiled at him, then led the way out of the staircase. "So, yeah, I was talking to Warren and telling him a press conference was not my thing, and he mentioned..." There, an empty reading room, and she tilted her head to invite him to join her. "He mentioned you were thinking about a protest?”

Kurt wondered if this was going where he thought it might be. “Yes,” he answered as he followed Shen into the room and closed the door behind him. “I am thinking a sit down kind of thing in the park. Something with signs.”

"Would you like some company?" Shen asked, grabbing an ottoman to sit comfortably, wings draped in her back as she looked up at Kurt. "It's totally cool if you'd rather do it alone. I don't want to steal your thing. It's just - such a cool idea. And I'd feel a bit better doing it with someone, I think."

Kurt vaulted over the arm of the chair across from Shen to crouch comfortably on the seat. He waved a hand, his grin excited. "Protests are no more my thing than press announcements are Warren's. You are more than welcome to join me--Anyone is. The more, the merrier." He was thrilled! He hadn't even done the Q&A yet and someone wanted to join in!

Shen beamed at him, relief and nerves and joy all fluttering in her chest. "Thank you! I feel so much better now.”

“There is nothing to thank me for,” Kurt said and he extended a hand to Shen. “I should be thanking you.”

Shen put her hand in his and squeezed it, still beaming. "Let's both be thankful, then." She tried to stifle the urge, then wondered why she was, and told him, "Hug incoming," so he could tell her if he didn't want one.

Grinning, Kurt opened his arms to Shen.

Enthusiastic consent, check, and Shen moved from the ottoman to wrap her arms around Kurt, squeezing him tight - but not too tight, she paid attention since coming into her strength. "You're the best.”

Kurt hugged Shen right back. “I am happy to have you by my side for this.” He grinned at her once they broke from the hug and winked. “Once they meet us, there is no way anyone could not love mutants.”

Shen laughed at that; no one could pull off cheeky winks like Kurt. Maybe it was part of his mutation. "Clearly. Watch out, haters, we're about to make you love us."