Final installment. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
*****
Kurt felt both restless and hopeless at the same time, pacing rapidly back and forth on the little boat that would soon take them to the island. He didn’t even want to look at Lenna and Erik – he felt cut off from them suddenly, tainted by something evil. Azazel had ruined his life – again.
The minute his feet touched shore he turned back towards Lenna. She had been keeping her idea a secret the whole time, but had promised to tell him as soon as they reached the island.
“Well?” he said, “What’s your idea?”
Lenna smiled and said nothing, stepping nimbly over the side of the boat until she, too, stood on solid ground.
“A paternity test,” she said.
*****
Why hadn’t he thought of it before? Kurt was almost giddy with glee as he nearly raced down the corridor, heading for Hank McCoy. Surely he would be able to sort things out – with a few little samples of DNA the whole mess would be cleared up for once and all.
Hank, however, was not so certain. “It’s a great idea, Kurt,” he said, “But paternity tests don’t work very well with mutants. Because a mutant, by definition, has mutated, it is usually extraordinarily difficult to get a positive paternity test. The only thing we can do is rule out somebody who definitely isn’t your father.”
Lenna pulled out a little baggie with a few small tufts of red hair in it. Kurt stared at her.
“What?” said Lenna, “He certainly wasn’t going to give any DNA up willingly. I wouldn’t worry, he probably didn’t even notice what happened.”
Kurt felt like hugging her, but refrained, turning to Erik Wagner. He felt both hopeful, and a little frightened.
“Well?” he asked, “Are you willing to let us take a DNA sample from you?”
“Of course,” said Erik.
*****
It was the waiting that was the unbearable part. The several days of sitting and doing nothing at all were infuriating. Kurt tried to keep busy – certainly there was plenty to do on the island that he could help out with, but in the back of his mind he was always thinking about the test. His whole body felt tingly when he thought about getting the results – and not always in a good way.
Finally, the day came. Erik and Lenna had to be there with him, to support him.
Hank had a very solemn look on his face, and Kurt felt worried. What did that mean? Bad news, obviously. Kurt tried to calm his beating heart.
“What is it, Hank?” he asked finally, “Give it to me straight.”
“Well,” said Hank slowly, “The test certainly isn’t what we would have hoped. But it’s not as bad as it could be either.”
“Yes?” Kurt felt like his throat was constricting.
“After extensive tests, Kurt,” said Hank, “I’ve come to the conclusion that either one could be your father.”
Kurt felt suddenly as though his legs would not support him. Not again! Another dead end – another loose thread that would never be tied up. The whole thing had been a wild goose chase – he still stood in the same position he was when he started out – fatherless.
He hadn’t realized that his legs really had given out, that he was now sitting on the floor and there were tears slowly wending their way through his fur. Almost mad at himself, he wiped the tears away angrily, but they still kept coming. Why had he even tried to do this? Now he felt even more hopeless than ever.
Suddenly there was someone standing over him. He looked up to see Erik Wagner. Kurt turned his head down. This “almost-daddy” was the last person he wanted to see.
Erik didn’t seem to notice Kurt’s discomfort. He crouched down, much in the same way that Kurt always did. Gently, he placed a hand on Kurt’s knee.
“Kurt,” he said, very quietly but with great intensity, “I don’t care what the tests say. I know you’re my son. And even if you aren’t, that doesn’t matter. It’s your actions that dictate who you are, not your father. Kurt, you have a rare opportunity that few men ever get. Today, you get to pick your family. It’s your choice, Kurt. But I would be deeply honored to call you my son.”
Erik almost choked on the last few words. There were tears running down his face just as fast as they were tumbling down Kurt’s. Something tightened in Kurt’s throat, but it was something happy, and the tears running down his cheeks had turned to tears of joy.
Kurt leaned forward and threw his arms around his father’s neck, sobbing happily into his shoulder. “I choose you,” he whispered, “Of course I choose you.”
The End
*****
Do you spot the moral for Nightcrawler fans everywhere?