Author's Intro



Allo all! Fluffy Walrus here! We've decided that even though X-Men Evolution sucks (Where are the bloody accents? Where, I ask you?!!), it had one good moment (Well, it had several, but we're only gonna mention the one), and that good moment was the episode 'Day of Reckoning'. Why you ask? Because GAMBIT and COLOSSUS CAME IT!!!! That's right, there's so cool! And even if the show destroyed the other characters (and their accents) that scene with Gambit and Rogue was pretty cool! '^_^' (who else was busy screaming at her to drop the card? Come on… you know you were!)

So! I did have a point in there somewhere!

Ah! There it is!

What we've done is take that episode and what happen in it, then change back to the comic universe, then take that and make them slightly younger. Not as young as in Evolution, but younger then the comic universe. Basically we bastardized it! (Yes we're damn proud of it!) Ages, let's see, Gambit's about 24 (I think, I'm not too sure about the age difference between him and Rogue), Colossus is about 24, Shadowcat is 19 and Rogue is 21. Everyone get it? Got it? Good!

One last note. ***Step around the plot holes and you'll do just fine***

(Remember, Evolution plot line, but comic characters!!)

Anyways! Enjoy!

FluffyWalrus

Disclaimer: We own nothing except everything.

Rating: PG-13 for slightly sexual and violent content.

Chapter One: The Cat and the Swamp Rat



Kitty sat in the chair; because it was the only chair in the ransacked Brotherhood house that wasn't covered in Toad's slime or squashed flatter than a pancake from the Blob. Which made it about as flat as Cyclops' personality.

It creaked as she shifted her weight, folding her knees within the circle of her small arms, her curly hair falling over her slim shoulder. She sniffled loudly -loud enough that Avalanche heard her over the static-filled tv.

"What's the matter with you?" he demanded. Lance barely looked up from the television, but he was able to see her peaceful expression: hazel eyes misty with heavy thoughts and her smiling mouth unusually straight. That was a bad sign. Kitty was always thinking, and, usually, the less it looked like she was thinking, the more disturbing her thoughts.

"Go back to your 'Days of Our Lives'," she irately growled. She didn't like being mentally interrupted. The rickety chair groaned as she moved away from the bothersome Avalanche.

So what if she was smiling and was a little less optimistic? People were allowed to have moments to sulk, now and then. It was perfectly natural! Especially after they'd lost somebody they loved. . . .

The X-Men were her new family. Everyone of them knew that. They looked after each other. Like how Wolverine had saved her during that whole "demon" trouble episode, how he'd helped to rebuild the mansion over and over, how I phased people, or how Nightcrawler had been known to save people from following her. No matter where Kitty went, there were her fellow X-Men, whether they were there physically or for emotional support. As much as Kitty wanted time on her own now and then, she never realized how much she'd miss her family members until they were gone.

Beast wasn't reciting poetry or Shakespeare anymore. The Professor had vanished, and somehow all the X-Men were finding his lack of fatherly presence unnerving. And then there was Rogue. . . .

Her slender fingers began to tremble. She shoved her frail body further into the smelly furniture, trying to hide her shivering frame from Lance, or anyone else who might happen to pass by the decrepit television room. Since the other day, she'd been wracked with guilt. With more than just guilt.

She'd felt guilty for calling Kurt a fuzzy blue elf when they had first met, but they'd gotten over that little incident. She had felt deplorable the first time she had used telepathy to talk with the Professor, giving him such a headache he'd needed to take acetaminophen for a week straight.

This was far worse than all of that. Katherine Pryde, the ever-cheerful, occasionally sickeningly optimistic computer genius of the X-Men was wallowing, and all round dying, of guilt.

Right in front of her, Rogue had been captured, caught in some horrible type of green glue. She hadn't been able to move. Kitty had nightmares just thinking about it! What it was like to be aware of what was going on around you and not to be able to help yourself. It must have been horrible! If it had been her, she would have gone nuts! She was slowly beginning to understand Storm's fear of closed spaces, although this was slightly different. . . .

But then, who was to say that Rogue knew what was going on anyway?. . . .

'I should have done something!' she told herself for what had to be the millionth time, that day alone. The guilt began to climb up over her head. She had managed to phase out of the green globule (whatever it had been) so why hadn't she gone and phased Rogue out too?

'Of course,' the other part of her mind said, 'it might have been good thing you did nothing. What if that caused... brain damage or something? I don't think Rogue would have appreciated it if you turned her into a vegetable for the rest of her life. Although she does kind of look like a carrot. None the less, I should have at least tried! If I'd tried, then I might have been captured too! Then who would be here to save them? But, thus far, we haven't. . . .'

Her rapid-fire mind slowed, as if it had run into a wall -or would have, minus her phasing ability. Kitty had just had a flash of brilliance that was unparalleled to anything else she'd ever thought. Katherine's course was clear and laid out before her. Her hazel eyes widening, she smiled. It wasn't her normal, friendly, and dazzling smile, but something sly and mischievous. As if her old namesake, Sprite, had suddenly been resurrected and turned sinister, or Mystique was wearing her face.

Avalanche caught the expression and was frightened. That didn't look like the Kitty he knew. Nervously, he shut off the television, turning all his attention to the girl he'd often tried to use. "Hey, Kitty-Cat," he said, "now I know something's bothering you. You look like the cat that just stole the cream."

"Yeah, well," she began, feisty at once again being disturbed. "Yeah, you look like... aw, shut up!" Unable to come up with an intelligent remark, she phased, floating up to the second level.

She snuck by Kurt, who was busy fencing; past Cyclops as he sat staring at the window, pondering the Professor's whereabouts; past Mystique as she lounged seductively on the bed of her remaining bedroom, reading a Daniel Steele novel as if nothing was wrong. She traversed through the door to the bedroom she shared not only with Jean Grey, but also with Amara.

Both of them were asleep. That suited Kitty just fine. She wasn't Shadowcat for nothing. Changing from her jeans to her X-Men uniform, she stuffed her pockets with anything she might need, from food rations to a small tool kit. Katherine went over the plan (or lack thereof) again in her head. She should bring someone else with her?

Phasing back through the door, she almost passed right through Kurt before she noticed that he was standing there. She grabbed her heart, glad she hadn't reacted by hitting him, and thoroughly frightened. "Holy crap, Kurt! You scared the living daylights out of me!"

"Katzchen," he said in his thick accent. His yellow-white eyes glowed impishly, his tail wavering behind him. "Vere are you going? Did you really think you could sneak be da fuzzy blue elf? These ears aren't just for decoration, you know."

For a moment she thought about bringing Kurt with her, but this was Kitty's mission. She couldn't ask her friend to come with her, even if she did want the companionship. Knowing she couldn't lie to such a close friend, she hugged him, catching him off guard. His arms wrapped around her waist. Kitty buried her face in the blue fur covering his neck, inhaling deeply, as if she were afraid she'd never see him again.

"I'm leaving, Kurt," she muttered, wrenching her eyes shut. "I've got to do something. I believe we survived to help the Professor and the others, but we're here doing nothing! I'm nineteen years old, Kurt, old enough to make my own decisions. I'm going to help my friends!"

"Katzchen," he sighed. The monk let her go, bamfing after her as she passed through the floor, back downstairs. He hung upside down, prehensile tail wrapped around an unstable candelabra. "If you're so serious to go, at least allow me to go vith you. Two is better company than one, Liebchen."

"No," she growled. Kitty whirled as she was -literally- half in, half out of the front door. With her eyes glowing and determined, and her wavy brown hair cascading around her shoulders, Nightcrawler thought she looked like a saint. "I'm not letting you put yourself in danger, Kurt. You stay here. If you want to help me, cover for me. I'm the one who's best able to bust them out of... wherever it is they're being held. I'll see you soon. Hopefully," she added before leaving the house -and her fellow X-Men- for what might be forever.

Kurt crossed himself and cast his eyes heaven-ward; although, given his precarious position, it was actually towards the ground. "Holy Father, who art in Heaven, please, send your angels to protect mein Katzchen. And, if you're not too busy, help her save our freunds. Amen."



[Meanwhile. . . .]



'Ah'm not hung ovah, am Ah?' was the first thought that crossed her mind. The second was how ridiculous the first had been. 'Fool girl, Ah've nevah been hung ovah! Ah can't be hung ovah! So why does mah head hurt so dang much?'

With a moan the twenty-one year old X-Man known as Rogue pulled herself into a sitting position and assessed the situation. She was in a cell, and not a comfortable one either. It was no more than ten by ten feet, with an old smelly mattress pulled under her. A sad excuse for a bed, she concluded. The only other furniture in the room was a small sink and a toilet seat that was so vile in both appearance and scent her stomach began to turn at the notion of using it.

"G'mornin', Petite! Gambit was beginnin' to wonder if Petite'd ever wake up," came a heavily accented voice from just outside her cell.

Upon hearing his voice Rogue pulled her protesting body to its feet and assumed a defensive stance, just in case the boy wanted to try anything. From what little she could see in the dim light, he didn't seem to be overly strong, but if he was a mutant, she'd have to watch herself. There was no telling what his powers could be.

"Woah, Petite, take it easy! Gambit not here to hurt you, he here with food." He moved a bit closer to Rogue's cell and presented her with a tray of rather spicy smelling food. He knelt down to place it on the floor, and for the first time Rogue got a clear view of his face.

"You!" she exclaimed as she pushed toward the bars. "You're that swamp rat that handed me the explodin' card!" She moved with a speed that caught him off guard and grabbed his jacket lapels, pulling his face closer to her own. "Tell me who ya are, and where Ah am! Talk, or Ah'll. . . ."

He cut her off. "You'll what? Sorry, Petite, but that collar you wearin' turn off all your powers. You can do nothin' to Gambit." He put his big hands over her yellow, gloved ones, and grinned at her.

Rogue growled, and though fast. He was close enough, if she stretched just a little bit. . . . "We'll see, Cajun!" With that, she crushed his lips to her own, waiting to feel the familiar pull of her powers. She waited for a few seconds. Nothing was happening. She was about to pull away when she felt something. Oh. She felt something alright!

His tongue!

Her emerald eyes flew open in surprise as his tongue danced across her lips. What did he think he was doing? She tried to shove him off her, but she was without her powers and he was stronger than she'd given him credit for. She gasped in surprise as he took both her hands in his left one, and moved his right hand to caress her backside.

The Cajun took the opportunity, and thrust his tongue into her mouth. She let out a moan as she felt herself begin to respond to his advances. Hell, it wasn't everyday she was given the opportunity to touch another living being, let alone kiss one. Her eyes drifted shut of their own accord and she let herself enjoy his administrations.

They remained locked together for a few moments longer before Gambit pulled away from her. He smirked at her dazed expression. "Told ya, Petite. Now, Gambit went ta all the troubl'a cookin' you a nice southern meal. Bon apetit!" he said with a wave as he turned to leave her alone with his meal.

"Wait!" Rogue called out as soon as she found her voice once more.

Gambit turned. "Oui?"

She looked into his dark eyes for a moment before asking, "Why'd ya kiss me?"

Gambit smirked and moved towards her once more. "Because, Petite. If there be one 'thing Gambit knows, it's that you start anythin' you don't intend ta finish." He paused, then added, "See ya around. . . Chere." With that, Rogue was once again left alone.

She raised a hand to her face, which felt a considerably warmer then it should have. 'He kissed me. . . .' she thought, still a little taken aback. Then, all of a sudden, the realization of what he'd done hit her with the impact of Wolverine on a bad day.

"That no good, smooth talkin' swamp rat took advantage o' me!" she yelled as she balled her fists in anger. "That bastard!" She muttered a few choice words under her breath before turning back to her dinner. Rogue ate it, glaring all the while.

'He may be scum, but a'least he can cook!' she thought as she stuffed the gumbo into her mouth. She'd get him back for that one.

. . . .One way or another. . .

~*~

To be continued…. (mauwhahahaha)

So? What'd y'all think? We like it! But then again, you're not us! So we don't know what you're thinking! Review and let us know! Thank you!

See ya on the flip side!

FluffyWalrus