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“Psst. Kitty,” Peter called her attention during class.
She responded, still writing as she spoke, “Yes?”
“Is Kurt okay? He's acting… off, y’know?”
Peter tipped his head to Kurt sitting across the classroom in the back. Their seats were arranged in alphabetical order by last name, so Kitty and Peter got lucky to sit next to each other. Peter got lucky. Kitty, not so much.
Kitty turned to look at Kurt. “He seems fine, why?”
“He's just staring.”
“You know he's always daydreaming.”
“Yeah, but look at his tail.”
Kitty looked at Kurt's long blue tail. The end of it was lying on the floor, loosely wrapped around his chair legs so people wouldn't step on it accidentally. “I don't see anything wrong with it.”
“It's still!” Peter whispered.
“I don't understand what you're getting at here, Peter.”
“Usually when he's daydreaming you could assume what he's thinking about from the way his tail moves. It hasn't moved all the class period. If he weren't blinking occasionally, I'd think he was asleep.”
She watched Kurt again. “I don't inspect his tail the way you apparently do.”
Peter watched the German for a bit longer after Kitty went back to doing her work. He saw his tail flick against the ground and Kurt jolted up like he was startled. Kurt looked around before calming down again. He caught Peter staring at him and gave him a little smile and a wave. Peter tilted his head to the side, trying to ask Kurt what's going on, but Kurt looked down at the paper in front of him and started to do his work. He filled out a few questions before he stopped entirely again.
“You looking at him is distracting me,” Kitty said to Peter.
“Sorry,” he mumbled and turned back to his work.
Everyone started cleaning up their desks a few minutes before the bell rang. Everyone but Kurt. Peter put his stuff away and looked at the demon, waiting for him to move, but he didn't. The bell rang and Kurt jumped again. He looked at all the other students leaving before he caught up with what was going on and started putting stuff away.
Peter walked up to Kurt, opting not to run so he wouldn't spook the boy by appearing in front of him out of nowhere. That still happened, though. Kurt turned to grab his pencil off the desk to put away and saw Peter standing there. He flinched before relaxing again.
“I have asked you not to show up in front of me like zhat,” Kurt said, putting away his pencil.
“I walked over here. What's wrong with you?”
“Peter! Zhat is very rude!”
“I didn't mean it like that!” Peter apologized. “I mean, you've been out of it all class.”
“Nonsense,” Kurt dismissed him, picking up his bag and throwing it over his shoulders. Peter recognized the smell of sulfur and quickly held Kurt's arm so he'd go wherever Kurt was going. “Peter, vhat are you doing?” he asked, pulling his arm back.
“I just want to know what's bothering you,” Peter said, quickly adjusting to the new location. They were now inside of Kurt's dorm.
Kurt set his backpack down. “Who said anyzhing vas bothering me?”
“You were spaced out all class. It looked like you either weren't thinking at all or you were thinking too much. I know a thing about thinking too much,” Peter laughed at his joke about his ADHD.
“Zhere is nozhing wrong, I promise you.”
Peter crossed his arms, “I don't believe you.”
Realizing the boy wasn't going to let this go, Kurt sighed. “I vas zhinking about ze circus. Is zhat vhat you vanted to hear?” Kurt said, looking away from Peter.
“Why were you refusing to tell me that?” Peter asked.
“Ze circus vas my home, Peter. I miss my family.”
Peter thought for a moment. His arms fell down to his sides. “I know I can't bring the people back, but I'm sure we can code the Danger Room to imitate your circus if that will help you feel at home.”
Kurt turned around to look at Peter with wide eyes. “Is zhat possible?” He asked, hopefully.
“We can ask Dr. McCoy.”
Kurt took his hand and teleported them outside Hank's office. He knocked on the door excitedly, but realized his fur probably muffled the sound. “Could you…?” Kurt asked Peter. Peter smiled and knocked on the door.
Hank came to the door and opened it for the boys. “Mr. Wagner, Mr. Maximoff. What can I help you with?”
“Ze Danger Room can do anyzhing, ja?” Kurt asked.
“You're not planning to do anything unwise, are you?” Hank asked.
“Not this time,” Peter smiled and Hank scowled at him. Peter has shown up in the infirmary several times from stupid things he's done. “We just wanted to know if it can be used to imitate Kurt's old circus. The Danger Room is meant for training anyway, right?”
Hank nodded thoughtfully. “I'm sure I could find a way to do that. Though it is designed for combat training, you do know that, correct?”
“I've seen Kurt fight, he has to have picked up that kind of thing from his act. Right Kurt?” Peter said, elbowing him in the side playfully.
Kurt nodded. “Being in ze circus has taught me to be agile vhen I can not teleport nor use my tail.”
Peter smiled, “See? I think that could be helpful in some situations.”
“You don't have to convince me, boys. But if the Professor asks, you'll have to tell him that, but I'm certain he won't have an issue with you doing something that you enjoy. As long as you're not in any danger,” Hank glared at Peter, “that is. Go reserve a time slot and come back when you have one. I'll come set it up for you and oversee that hour, if I'm not busy. I'll ask Storm to do it for me if I'm needed elsewhere.”
“Zhank you, Dr. McCoy!” Kurt said excitedly, teleporting away with Peter.