It had been merely a week since her life at Asteroid M began, she cared after herself mostly, some nights all five of them (Quicksilver being stationed elsewhere with a few other of Magneto's Acolytes, including his sister, the Scarlet Witch) would eat a dish that Gambit prepared, soupy mostly and definitely spicy, Kitty had gone through three glasses of water at dinner that night to stop her mouth from burning, with the aid of a slice of bread.
Her training sessions began with Mystique, who would use every opportunity to put Kitty into some sort of submission hold in her hand-to-hand combat training, nearly breaking one of Kitty's bones every session. This had created a good deal of bitterness between the women. Kitty was to start her weapons training soon, much to her surprise.
"Weapons training?" Kitty questioned confused. "I didn't think that we used weapons."
Mystique let out a hearty laugh at this, earning a look from Magneto before she was addressed by him. "We must be prepared for every situation Shadowcat;" he said simply, "Gambit will begin your lessons tomorrow."
Kitty nodded and shoveled another spoonful of the spicy gumbo into her mouth, thinking about what this would exactly do to her.
Later that night she sat in Magneto's library, reading Heart of Darkness near a dusty table lamp.
"What are you doing in here?" a voice called from in front of her, startling her from her book as she looked up at the disgruntled Pyro.
"I'm reading what does it look like?" she retorted with just as much bane in her voice.
"Did you ever think that anyone else was reading that?" Pyro asked clearly frustrated.
Kitty didn't look up, turning the page she replied, "I didn't think that you used books for anything other than coasters."
Fuming, Pyro turned to leave, clicking the lighter attached to his wrist.
"Wait," Kitty said, finally looking up at his back, holding the heavy book out to his reach. "Take it, there is a library full of other books I can choose from."
Pyro paused at the door, tensing his shoulders before relaxing and easing his way back into the room. He snatched the novella from Kitty's outstretched hand and throwing himself into a leather arm chair, he laid his right ankle across his left knee, opening the book to an ear leafed page.
She observed him with a curious grin before shuffling off to an expansive bookshelf and grabbing a familiar title. Making her way back to the plush leather couch adjacent from Pyro, she curled up against the arm and opened the title.
For a while, silence and the occasional sound of a turning page was the only noise that filled the room. But soon, as Kitty moved her way around on the couch, switching to a comfortable reading position she shivered as the cold leather came in contact with her exposed skin, and from the feel of the sticking material, it didn't appear to be absorbing her body heat enough to warm up. She suppressed her shivers until a small chatter escaped her lips, her teeth clanging noisily together in the barren room.
Pyro spared a glance up from his book and saw her shaking form. Without a second glance he turned and reached his hand out, allowing the wrist lighter to click and a small jet of fire bolted into the fireplace, kindling it to life.
Kitty couldn't help but smile to herself as the warmth rushed over her body and she looked up from Pride and Prejudice to Pyro who sat continuing to read, one hand holding the book and the other resting on the arm of the chair, his fingers jittering. She observed this for a moment before she saw the fire surge and retreat, drawing her attention to it.
From what she saw, she could make out the flames portraying a steamboat making its way downstream and she watched it avidly, before speaking out, "I've already read that part," she said startling him slightly. With his concentration broken he looked at her confused as she frowned, the flames dying and returning to simple singed wood.
He spared her a glance and she looked at him expectantly and he relit the fire, but no pictures danced in the flames.