Chapter Text
Pryde woke up with a major headache. It hammered her and hurt behind her eyes with a tight pressure. Her mouth felt dry like sandpaper. She moved her head slightly despite the pain and heard how someone shifted at her bed side.
“Kitty?” the voice asked and Pryde recognized it.
“Be—Betsy?” she managed to say despite her lips wanting to glue together.
“Oh, Kitty! You are awake! Lord, I was so worried!” Betsy cried, hovering over Pryde’s face. She brushed her brown curly bangs away from Pryde’s forehead. “How are you holding?”
“My head hurts.” she replied opening her eyes.
“It’s the side effect of the antidote. You got a hit of a poison arrow.”
Suddenly there was newfound vitality in Pryde. She gasped loudly.
“Ah, shit! I remember that! Where’s Nightcrawler, Piotr and Logan?”
“Piotr and Logan arrived an hour ago and are eating. Logan plans to stay here one night and continue his journey back home tomorrow. Both are unharmed.” Then Betsy sighed. “What comes to Nightcrawler, he’s just right there.”
Pryde turned to look at the direction Betsy was pointing at and saw Nightcrawler laying next to her in her bed, on his side facing her. The man looked like he had been gotten a heavy battering. Pryde lifted herself to sit up with the help of Betsy, eyes locked on the sick looking Nightcrawler.
“Oh my God! What happened?” she asked, fingers trembling.
“He teleported you here from wherever you got hit. I heard from Piotr it was pretty soon after you had left from Weusi.”
“My God! That can get him killed! What was he thinking?!” Pryde couldn’t believe her ears. First, she was angry. Angry that Nightcrawler had put himself in danger because of her. She didn’t know much about Nightcrawler’s teleportation ability, but he had told her he had a limit which he couldn’t cross. And now, he had clearly crossed it. However, Betsy’s soft voice calmed Pryde down.
“He’s your Right-Hand Man. He did what he was supposed to do and saved you.”
Pryde was quiet, feeling how her eyes were getting moist.
“My poor Nightcrawler…” she whispered sadly, running her palm along his face, neck and up to his shoulder and down his upper arm over the scarred tattoos. He didn’t react to her touch.
“He’s been unconscious for hours, but we expect him to heal. His heartbeat has calmed down and there’s no bleeding anymore from his mouth or nose,” Betsy explained, her hands on Pryde’s drooping shoulders. “Can I get anything for you?”
“I’d kill for tea,” Pryde replied quietly, still petting Nightcrawler. She noticed that Nightcrawler’s nose did have a hint dried blood in it.
“Tea coming right up,” Betsy promised, leaving Pryde’s bed. As she opened Pryde’s room door, Logan entered the room, confused to run to Betsy.
“Uh, um, I came to see if the ‘boss’ is awake already?” Logan explained. Pryde stretched her neck to see Logan better.
“Come on in, Logan. Do you want some tea? Betsy, bring tea for Logan, too.”
“No need to, thanks,” Logan declined the offer with an open palm, nodding to Betsy that it was okay to arrive with a one cup of tea only. Betsy left Logan and Pryde to speak. Logan came to Pryde’s bedside and took a stool nearby, tossing it underneath him.
“How are you doing?”
“Head hurts but that’s all.”
“And him?” Logan nodded at Nightcrawler’s direction. Pryde turned to look at him and sighed sadly deep from her chest.
“Unconscious,” she simply replied, running her hand over Nightcrawler’s side of a face gently. “My Nightcrawler. Always there for me even if it killed him. Idiot. But my dear idiot.”
“Idiotic friends and loved ones are the best ones. They would do anything for you, even the craziest things. That’s how much they care,” Logan smiled leaning against his elbows, and there was father warmness in his eyes. “I’m sure he’ll be fine. He’s in a good care, I can tell that.”
Pryde chuckled shortly, caressing Nightcrawler’s short hair.
“Like you with your wife?” she asked finally, not looking at Logan.
“Like me with my wife. Like you with him, too, if there is a need.”
Pryde hummed, her head pressing softly down. She sniffled.
“Like me with him,” she agreed. Her hand left Nightcrawler as she turned to Logan, folding her arms on her lap. “I heard from Betsy that you and Piotr got back without issues.”
“Yeah. It was a kindergarten trip what it comes to the journey but damn, your Left-Hand Man was freaking out, hurrying that we should get here as fast as we could.”
Pryde smiled, nodding.
“That’s Piotr alright. The sensitive and worrywart Left-Hand Man. His intuition and sensitiveness are what I need at times besides his strength and metallic form.”
“He’s a good man,” Logan agreed without hesitation. “A lot better than me. But that’s a long story and I’m not going to bore you with that.”
Pryde got the hint. As she was about to ask more about the rest of the trip from Logan, Betsy arrived with a small tray with a cup of tea and some dried dates. She thanked her and waited for Betsy to leave until she turned again to speak with Logan. The tea mug in her hold trembled and Logan helped her hands to get steady again.
“I must thank you, Logan. This journey was success despite my own carelessness at the finish line. You were one of the best clients I have worked with,” Pryde complimented Logan, taking a first shaky sip from her tea which Betsy had cooled down into a right temperature.
“No complains on my end either.”
“I heard you will leave tomorrow?”
“Yeah, can’t keep the sick missus waiting,” Logan joked but Pryde could see that he was genuinely worried for his wife. Pryde hummed approvingly to Logan, her eyes traveling to Nightcrawler. Logan’s wide and rough palm landed softly on Pryde’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry for him. He smells alive. I have seen men smelling worse to get back on their feet. He’s just charging his inner batteries. You just pet his pretty little head and feed him some meat and he should be up in a few days.” Then he took a deep breath, frowning. “The smell of the smoke hid the smell of the poachers. I would have gotten them otherwise.”
“Epesi is a shit place for us mutants. I don’t know how Meggan and Brian make it with all the kids, but it must be the reputation of Brian Meggan mentioned,” Pryde muttered. She patted Logan’s palm. “Thanks. I trust your nose with this.”
“You better. It has never failed me,” Logan assured. He stood up from his seat with a soft groan, giving a one more look at Pryde. “If we don’t see after this anymore, you have my thanks. Thanks, boss. Look after your boys.”
“I will. Safe journey back home. Tell your wife I said hello and before you leave, find Ali. He will give you some seeds for your wife’s garden. A little memory if you please.”
A smile rose up to Logan’s lips and for a second, he looked touched. He composed himself with a cough and gestured his hand at Pryde and Nightcrawler.
“Like I could ever forget you guys.”
“If you happen to wander nearby someday, come to say hi.”
“Would Prydes’ need some work up north, let me know. Trust me. The message will reach Logan if you just send it out towards North.”
“Oh, you never told you are well-known,” Pryde noted. Logan only shrugged, chuckling with a raspy tone.
“You never asked.”
“Thanks, Logan. Travel safely. If you need water, take it with you and some salt. We have plenty of salt here.”
Logan thanked Pryde for a generosity and they shook hands. Pryde found the whole situation bittersweet, which was odd to her. She reasoned that Logan just hold a certain presence, like some people did. You meet them once and they stay in your mind forever. Judging how Logan’s eyes were forlorn despite his board smile Pryde assumed Logan was feeling the same. Now, she really wished she could meet his wife. A man like him must have had a very remarkable and wonderful spouse. Logan left the room without further ceremonies, leaving Pryde alone with Nightcrawler. She finished her tea, ate a few of the dates without really having any appetite and laid then back to bed. Her head was still hurting, and it took her a while to fall back asleep. While waiting for the sleep to arrive, she softly played with Nightcrawler’s hair. She fell asleep her palm on Nightcrawler.
When she woke up, it was lighter than when she fell asleep. Someone had brought her a tray with water and some food next to her bed. The tray teetered riskily on the small stool Logan had sat on. Judging from the way the sunshine in the room Pryde came into a conclusion that she had slept whole yesterday and the night. She thought it had to be a side effect either of the poison or the antidote – or both. She wondered if Logan was still in the building or had he left already. She kind of missed him. Piotr had probably shed a few tears when departing with Logan.
Slowly Pryde sat up and got surprised when she heard a faint groan from the other side of the bed. Nightcrawler was stirring awake, one of his eyes opening slowly. Pryde nearly jumped on him on all her fours, face close to his.
“Nightcrawler?!” she called him, getting a dry gulp as a reply. Nightcrawler turned on his back and licked his lips.
“P-Pryde?” he asked, unsure.
“Yes, I’m here,” Pryde replied, taking a gentle hold of Nightcrawler’s face. “How are you?”
“Pryde alive?” Nightcrawler muttered, trying to focus his tired gaze at her. When he saw Pryde’s face, he smiled weakly. “Good. Pryde well.”
“I’m fine, all fine. Thanks to you, you idiot! Almost getting yourself killed because of me!” Pryde hugged him tightly, burying her face into his fuzzy neck. “Idiot.” She sobbed, holding him tighter.
Nightcrawler croaked out a short chuckle and tried to hug Pryde back, but his hand just placed on her back. It still hurt.
“Sorry. Nightcrawler sorry. Pryde important, can’t let her die,” he mumbled tenderly, nuzzling his head against hers.
“Promise me you don’t do stunts like this. My poor heart can’t take it,” Pryde spoke into his neck, biting back a sob. “My poor Nightcrawler. My poor man.”
“Nightcrawler only tired. Much rest and all is better,” he soothed upset Pryde down. “Just tired but Pryde got poison. My fault.”
“No, no one’s fault,” Pryde’s head got up. She locked her eyes with Nightcrawler, frowning with a wrinkled nose. “Those bastards had them coming. Would they have hit you I would have---”
Nightcrawler’s cough fit got Pryde in guard. She reached out for the water jug that was on the tray and helped Nightcrawler to drink. He looked relieved after a few gulps, sighing.
“Wash?” he asked, pointing himself with his finger. “No; bath. No wash.”
“Yes, I’ll get you into a bath when you have gotten your strength back. We haven’t washed ourselves properly since when we left. I could really use a good soaking in the tub, if the seawater tanks are filled,” Pryde promised, putting the jug away. She stretched herself slowly next to Nightcrawler, drawing a line on his nose with her finger. “I’m happy you are here and alive. You got me really scared.”
“This is home,” Nightcrawler replied, trying to widen his arms to take the whole room in but he could move his hands only a bit. “Not go anyway. Stay here.”
“Good,” Pryde pooped his nose and reached then to place a small tender kiss on his forehead. “My Nightcrawler,” she whispered against his fur. He smiled, fangs peeking out between his lips.
“My Pryde,” he sighed, settling to rest under her arm as he fell back asleep.
There, he was safe and sound from everything and everyone. In the arms of his own Pryde.
- THE END -