NOTE: Sorry for taking so long to update, guys. I was gone for a couple
day. Plus I had a smidgen of writer's block (again), but an idea came to
me, and now I'm very much excited to pick up this story again. And I am up
to 40 reviews. Woohoo!!! Thank you so much, guy. I love you all! Also, in
this chapter I mention the Remy is Rogue's first kiss. I am fully aware
that in Evolution she did kiss him briefly in Dark Horizons. And I am also
aware that how Rogue initially discovered her powers (in the comics) was
through kissing Cody. But this is my story, and I'll make up any random
details I want to. I just want to it to be known that I know my version
isn't accurate.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rogue awoke the next morning with Remy's head resting on her stomach. He was passed out. She didn't blame him. They were up half the night making out.
'I finally kissed a guy,' she thought to herself happily. She gently stroked Remy's hair. The only thing that could make her happier than she was just there was if her power.
Remy stirred and slowly lifted his head. He sat up straight and looked at Rogue.
"Morning, chere."
"Morning."
"Sleep well?"
"Probably better than you. I was actually lying down."
"Well, you wouldn't let me climb in there with you."
"We don't know when my powers will kick back in. The last thing I want is for you to end up in the hospital."
"As long as my bed is right next to yours, I'm fine." Rogue smiled. Remy leaned over to kiss her, but she moved her head.
"No," she said softly.
"What's wrong?"
"We don't know if my powers have come back yet. The professor said they probably would've by now."
"How will we know if we don't try anything?"
"I don't want to hurt you, Remy."
"I'm not afraid, chere."
"I know, but I am."
"Why?"
"I told you. I don't want to hurt you."
"You worry too much." Rogue sighed and leaned back in her bed. Remy moved his chair closer to her, rested his head on her chest and wrapped his arm around her blanket-covered waist. She wrapped her own arm over his shoulder and used her other hand to mess with his hair once again, being as careful as she could not to touch her skin with hers.
"Still tired?" Rogue asked.
"Mmhm," Remy murmured.
"Maybe you should just go back to sleep," she suggested.
"Mmhm."
"Remy, don't you think you'd be more comfortable in your room, in your own bed?"
"Not unless you're with me, chere. We've been through this already."
"So you're just going to sleep partially sitting up?"
"Mmhm." Rogue laughed lightly.
"You're so strange, Cajun."
"You're so beautiful, chere."
Kitty climbed out of bed. Kurt was sound asleep. She didn't blame him. He was so exhausted. He tried talking to her all night about how excited he was for Rogue, and she had just tuned him out and fell asleep.
And she dreamed about Lance.
She took a shower and got dressed. She wrote Kurt a little note explaining that she went to see Lance and find out what was going on with him. She walked back over to Kurt's bed, lightly kissed his cheek, then phased through the floor and into the kitchen.
Logan was sitting there, sipping at a cup of coffee.
"Morning, Half-Pint."
"Morning, Logan." Kitty had feared since their little affair that being around Logan would be awkward. It was a little, but not nearly as bad as she thought it would be.
Kitty opened up the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea.
"Coffee's the way to get the caffeine jolt." Kitty wrinkled her nose.
"No, thanks," she said. "Especially not black, like you drink it."
"I suppose you prefer those trendy crap drinks at Starbucks?"
"I don't mind the occasional latte, no." Logan shook his head and turned a page in the paper.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm not fifteen anymore, Logan, you don't need to know everything about my schedule."
"Try again." Kitty laughed.
"I'm going over to the Brotherhood house."
"What the hell for?"
"To see Lance."
"I thought you said he left town?"
"Well, Kurt said he saw him yesterday."
"I thought we were done with the X-Men dating Brotherhood dramatic crap."
"I'm not dating Lance."
"Why are you going over there?"
"Because I think he owes me some explanations."
"For what?"
"Well..." Kitty considered telling him about Lance's letters. She shook her head. "I just want to catch up and see how he is, you know?" Logan growled lightly.
"Watch yourself, Half-Pint. I don't want to have to chase someone down later."
"Since when?" Kitty smiled. She put her glass in the dishwasher and grabbed the coffee pot. "Refill?" Logan pushed his cup forward without looking up from the paper. Kitty refilled it and then put the coffee pot back. She started out the door, but Logan's voice stopped her.
"Thanks, kid." She turned back.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Logan," she said. "You know that." He sighed.
"Yeah, I do. Be careful."
"I always am." She phased out. Logan shook his head. He had a really bad feeling about her visiting her former flame. His claws shot out, almost involuntarily.
He was ready.
Kitty knocked on the Brotherhood's door. The door cracked open, and Lance peered out.
"Kitty!" he said, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Kitty pushed the door slightly and let herself in.
"I could, like, ask you the same thing," she said. "Kurt told me last night that he saw you."
"Ugh, I was hoping he hadn't seen me," Lance said wincing.
"So what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, when did you get back? What have you been doing? How were your friends? Were you, like, planning on telling me that you were back?"
"Kitty, you really shouldn't be here."
"Lance, you know me better than that." Lance sighed.
"Yeah, I do know you better than that."
"So, like, catch me up. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Kitty."
"Did you get your high school equivalency?"
"What? Oh, no, not yet. I'm still working on it."
"I got your letters. I wanted to write back to you, but I didn't know how to reach you."
"That's okay."
"So how was...wherever it was you were?"
"Kitty, I never left."
"What?!"
"I never left."
"What do you mean you never left?"
"What part aren't you getting?" Kitty felt as though she'd been punched in the stomach. Lance had never spoken to her like that.
"Why did you tell me you were leaving?"
"Because I loved you, and I wanted to make your life easier."
"How does lying to me make my life easier?"
"You wanted to be with Blue Boy. You didn't care about me anymore"
"Lance, you know that's not true."
"You shouldn't be here, Kitty."
"Lance, I'm not going anywhere, do you can, like, stop saying that now."
"Whatever." Lance leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. Kitty had made herself as comfortable as possible on the ratty old couch.
"You know a part of me is always going to love you, Lance. And I still wanted to be friends with you."
"So why did you leave me, then?"
"I had to Lance! You were dealing drugs. I didn't want to be associated with it, and I still don't. I know you cleaned yourself up and everything since then, but I, like, just couldn't deal with that, you know?"
"Kitty, you really, really shouldn't be here."
"Did you send all those letters from here?"
"Yeah."
"And that's why you didn't put the return address on it? Not because you couldn't let me know where you and your friends were, but because you didn't, like, want me to know that you were still in town?"
"Something like that."
"Lance, come on...why can't you just be straight with me?"
"I'm always straight with you, Kitty. I told you the truth in those letters. I do love you, and I am still jealous that you chose the furry one over me."
"No, you chose drugs over *me*."
"Whatever. You shouldn't be here."
"Is it really that big of a deal, Lance?"
"Yeah, it is."
"Fine, I'll leave. But I'm coming back."
"Whatever."
"Do you, like, want me to call next time or something? I don't want to show up at a bad time or anything."
"Why would you come back here?"
"Because I don't want to lose you as a friend, Lance. We have a lot of history together."
"And that actually means something to you?"
"Of course it does. How would you even think that it doesn't?" Lance looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry, Kitty."
"For what?"
"Everything. Everything I've ever said or done that's hurt you."
"I know."
"But I'm serious, Kitty. You really shouldn't be here."
"Lance, can I ask why you're so hell bent on me not being here?"
"I can't tell you."
"Since when can't you tell me things?"
"Kitty, I'm completely serious. I cannot tell you this, and you absolutely have to leave. Like, right now."
"Why?"
Suddenly, there was a loud pounding on the door. Without thinking, Kitty went to answer it.
"Kitty, stop!" But she didn't listen. She swung open the door. On the other side were three huge, creepy looking guys that she'd never seen before.
"Where's Alvers?" one of them asked.
"Who are you?" Kitty responded. They pushed past her and made their way into the house.
"Excuse you," she mumbled. One of them stopped and looked at her.
"Hey Frankie, Alvers' has got a little chick here." One of them, Frankie, Kitty assumed, looked back at her.
"Well, ain't she pretty." The first one backed Kitty into a corner.
"Yeah, you're real pretty," he said, flashing her a smile that made her blood run cold. "What's your name?"
"K-K-Kitty," she stammered.
"Kitty? Pretty Kitty," he said mockingly. Pretty Kitty was what Lance used to call her. All of a sudden, she absolutely hated that name. Kitty tried to side step the guy, but he put his arm out, blocking her. He used his other hand to slightly grope her.
'I think I'm going to be sick,' she thought wearily. She gave him a hard push. He stumbled back. She made a mental note to thank Logan and Scott for all the hours of training they'd put her through in the past several years.
She ran into the living room where the other two guys were with Lance.
"Pay up, Alvers," Frankie said.
"I told you, I don't have it," Lance was saying. Frankie grabbed Lance's shirt.
"You said you'd have it today. We gave you plenty of chances."
"Yeah, well I'm going to need another one."
"Lance?" Kitty asked from the doorway. The two guys whipped around.
"Kitty, I told you to get out of here!" Lance said.
"What's going on?" she asked, confused.
"Kitty, leave!"
"No, Kitty, stay," Frankie said. He nodded at her, and she felt someone grab her from behind. It was the same guy that had be grabbing at her. He tossed Kitty across the room. Lance managed to catch her.
"What's going on?" she asked again.
"This your little girlfriend?" Frankie asked.
"No," Lance said.
"I'm his ex-girlfriend," Kitty offered timidly.
"How did a gorgeous thing like her put up with someone like you?" Frankie asked. Clearly he was the leader, and the other two were his lackeys.
"Lance happens to be a very good guy," Kitty said.
"Yeah, a good guy who owes us $1000," Frankie said. Kitty looked at him, shocked.
"Why do you owe them that much money?" she asked.
"Kitty— " Lance began, but Frankie cut him off.
"Coke." Kitty stared hard at Lance.
"I thought you were done drugs."
"I told you to leave," was all Lance had to say. Kitty shook her head, tears stinging her eyes.
"Yeah, I hear you. I'm going." She started to leave, but the second lackey, the one who hadn't said anything, blocked her. She was tempted to use her powers, but she knew better. "Excuse me."
"You're not going anywhere, girly," the lackey that tried to grope her said. He pushed her back towards Lance. She lost her balance and fell over.
"Kitty!" Lance cried. He knelt down to try to help her up, but Frankie stopped him.
"Don't move!" he shouted. Lance glared at him, and then proceeded to try to help Kitty. Frankie pulled out a gun and aimed it at Lance. "I *said* don't move!" Lance stood up straighter.
"Look, I'll get you your money," he said. "It just may take another week."
"Yeah, well I ain't got a week," Frankie said. "Give it to me now, or I'll shoot you."
"I don't *have* it now."
"Oh, well." Frankie's finger went to the trigger. Kitty jumped up and in front of Lance.
"Wait!"
The gun fired.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Rogue awoke the next morning with Remy's head resting on her stomach. He was passed out. She didn't blame him. They were up half the night making out.
'I finally kissed a guy,' she thought to herself happily. She gently stroked Remy's hair. The only thing that could make her happier than she was just there was if her power.
Remy stirred and slowly lifted his head. He sat up straight and looked at Rogue.
"Morning, chere."
"Morning."
"Sleep well?"
"Probably better than you. I was actually lying down."
"Well, you wouldn't let me climb in there with you."
"We don't know when my powers will kick back in. The last thing I want is for you to end up in the hospital."
"As long as my bed is right next to yours, I'm fine." Rogue smiled. Remy leaned over to kiss her, but she moved her head.
"No," she said softly.
"What's wrong?"
"We don't know if my powers have come back yet. The professor said they probably would've by now."
"How will we know if we don't try anything?"
"I don't want to hurt you, Remy."
"I'm not afraid, chere."
"I know, but I am."
"Why?"
"I told you. I don't want to hurt you."
"You worry too much." Rogue sighed and leaned back in her bed. Remy moved his chair closer to her, rested his head on her chest and wrapped his arm around her blanket-covered waist. She wrapped her own arm over his shoulder and used her other hand to mess with his hair once again, being as careful as she could not to touch her skin with hers.
"Still tired?" Rogue asked.
"Mmhm," Remy murmured.
"Maybe you should just go back to sleep," she suggested.
"Mmhm."
"Remy, don't you think you'd be more comfortable in your room, in your own bed?"
"Not unless you're with me, chere. We've been through this already."
"So you're just going to sleep partially sitting up?"
"Mmhm." Rogue laughed lightly.
"You're so strange, Cajun."
"You're so beautiful, chere."
Kitty climbed out of bed. Kurt was sound asleep. She didn't blame him. He was so exhausted. He tried talking to her all night about how excited he was for Rogue, and she had just tuned him out and fell asleep.
And she dreamed about Lance.
She took a shower and got dressed. She wrote Kurt a little note explaining that she went to see Lance and find out what was going on with him. She walked back over to Kurt's bed, lightly kissed his cheek, then phased through the floor and into the kitchen.
Logan was sitting there, sipping at a cup of coffee.
"Morning, Half-Pint."
"Morning, Logan." Kitty had feared since their little affair that being around Logan would be awkward. It was a little, but not nearly as bad as she thought it would be.
Kitty opened up the fridge and pulled out a pitcher of iced tea.
"Coffee's the way to get the caffeine jolt." Kitty wrinkled her nose.
"No, thanks," she said. "Especially not black, like you drink it."
"I suppose you prefer those trendy crap drinks at Starbucks?"
"I don't mind the occasional latte, no." Logan shook his head and turned a page in the paper.
"Where are you going?"
"I'm not fifteen anymore, Logan, you don't need to know everything about my schedule."
"Try again." Kitty laughed.
"I'm going over to the Brotherhood house."
"What the hell for?"
"To see Lance."
"I thought you said he left town?"
"Well, Kurt said he saw him yesterday."
"I thought we were done with the X-Men dating Brotherhood dramatic crap."
"I'm not dating Lance."
"Why are you going over there?"
"Because I think he owes me some explanations."
"For what?"
"Well..." Kitty considered telling him about Lance's letters. She shook her head. "I just want to catch up and see how he is, you know?" Logan growled lightly.
"Watch yourself, Half-Pint. I don't want to have to chase someone down later."
"Since when?" Kitty smiled. She put her glass in the dishwasher and grabbed the coffee pot. "Refill?" Logan pushed his cup forward without looking up from the paper. Kitty refilled it and then put the coffee pot back. She started out the door, but Logan's voice stopped her.
"Thanks, kid." She turned back.
"I'm not a kid anymore, Logan," she said. "You know that." He sighed.
"Yeah, I do. Be careful."
"I always am." She phased out. Logan shook his head. He had a really bad feeling about her visiting her former flame. His claws shot out, almost involuntarily.
He was ready.
Kitty knocked on the Brotherhood's door. The door cracked open, and Lance peered out.
"Kitty!" he said, shocked. "What are you doing here?" Kitty pushed the door slightly and let herself in.
"I could, like, ask you the same thing," she said. "Kurt told me last night that he saw you."
"Ugh, I was hoping he hadn't seen me," Lance said wincing.
"So what's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, when did you get back? What have you been doing? How were your friends? Were you, like, planning on telling me that you were back?"
"Kitty, you really shouldn't be here."
"Lance, you know me better than that." Lance sighed.
"Yeah, I do know you better than that."
"So, like, catch me up. How are you?"
"I'm fine, Kitty."
"Did you get your high school equivalency?"
"What? Oh, no, not yet. I'm still working on it."
"I got your letters. I wanted to write back to you, but I didn't know how to reach you."
"That's okay."
"So how was...wherever it was you were?"
"Kitty, I never left."
"What?!"
"I never left."
"What do you mean you never left?"
"What part aren't you getting?" Kitty felt as though she'd been punched in the stomach. Lance had never spoken to her like that.
"Why did you tell me you were leaving?"
"Because I loved you, and I wanted to make your life easier."
"How does lying to me make my life easier?"
"You wanted to be with Blue Boy. You didn't care about me anymore"
"Lance, you know that's not true."
"You shouldn't be here, Kitty."
"Lance, I'm not going anywhere, do you can, like, stop saying that now."
"Whatever." Lance leaned back in the chair he was sitting in. Kitty had made herself as comfortable as possible on the ratty old couch.
"You know a part of me is always going to love you, Lance. And I still wanted to be friends with you."
"So why did you leave me, then?"
"I had to Lance! You were dealing drugs. I didn't want to be associated with it, and I still don't. I know you cleaned yourself up and everything since then, but I, like, just couldn't deal with that, you know?"
"Kitty, you really, really shouldn't be here."
"Did you send all those letters from here?"
"Yeah."
"And that's why you didn't put the return address on it? Not because you couldn't let me know where you and your friends were, but because you didn't, like, want me to know that you were still in town?"
"Something like that."
"Lance, come on...why can't you just be straight with me?"
"I'm always straight with you, Kitty. I told you the truth in those letters. I do love you, and I am still jealous that you chose the furry one over me."
"No, you chose drugs over *me*."
"Whatever. You shouldn't be here."
"Is it really that big of a deal, Lance?"
"Yeah, it is."
"Fine, I'll leave. But I'm coming back."
"Whatever."
"Do you, like, want me to call next time or something? I don't want to show up at a bad time or anything."
"Why would you come back here?"
"Because I don't want to lose you as a friend, Lance. We have a lot of history together."
"And that actually means something to you?"
"Of course it does. How would you even think that it doesn't?" Lance looked at the ground.
"I'm sorry, Kitty."
"For what?"
"Everything. Everything I've ever said or done that's hurt you."
"I know."
"But I'm serious, Kitty. You really shouldn't be here."
"Lance, can I ask why you're so hell bent on me not being here?"
"I can't tell you."
"Since when can't you tell me things?"
"Kitty, I'm completely serious. I cannot tell you this, and you absolutely have to leave. Like, right now."
"Why?"
Suddenly, there was a loud pounding on the door. Without thinking, Kitty went to answer it.
"Kitty, stop!" But she didn't listen. She swung open the door. On the other side were three huge, creepy looking guys that she'd never seen before.
"Where's Alvers?" one of them asked.
"Who are you?" Kitty responded. They pushed past her and made their way into the house.
"Excuse you," she mumbled. One of them stopped and looked at her.
"Hey Frankie, Alvers' has got a little chick here." One of them, Frankie, Kitty assumed, looked back at her.
"Well, ain't she pretty." The first one backed Kitty into a corner.
"Yeah, you're real pretty," he said, flashing her a smile that made her blood run cold. "What's your name?"
"K-K-Kitty," she stammered.
"Kitty? Pretty Kitty," he said mockingly. Pretty Kitty was what Lance used to call her. All of a sudden, she absolutely hated that name. Kitty tried to side step the guy, but he put his arm out, blocking her. He used his other hand to slightly grope her.
'I think I'm going to be sick,' she thought wearily. She gave him a hard push. He stumbled back. She made a mental note to thank Logan and Scott for all the hours of training they'd put her through in the past several years.
She ran into the living room where the other two guys were with Lance.
"Pay up, Alvers," Frankie said.
"I told you, I don't have it," Lance was saying. Frankie grabbed Lance's shirt.
"You said you'd have it today. We gave you plenty of chances."
"Yeah, well I'm going to need another one."
"Lance?" Kitty asked from the doorway. The two guys whipped around.
"Kitty, I told you to get out of here!" Lance said.
"What's going on?" she asked, confused.
"Kitty, leave!"
"No, Kitty, stay," Frankie said. He nodded at her, and she felt someone grab her from behind. It was the same guy that had be grabbing at her. He tossed Kitty across the room. Lance managed to catch her.
"What's going on?" she asked again.
"This your little girlfriend?" Frankie asked.
"No," Lance said.
"I'm his ex-girlfriend," Kitty offered timidly.
"How did a gorgeous thing like her put up with someone like you?" Frankie asked. Clearly he was the leader, and the other two were his lackeys.
"Lance happens to be a very good guy," Kitty said.
"Yeah, a good guy who owes us $1000," Frankie said. Kitty looked at him, shocked.
"Why do you owe them that much money?" she asked.
"Kitty— " Lance began, but Frankie cut him off.
"Coke." Kitty stared hard at Lance.
"I thought you were done drugs."
"I told you to leave," was all Lance had to say. Kitty shook her head, tears stinging her eyes.
"Yeah, I hear you. I'm going." She started to leave, but the second lackey, the one who hadn't said anything, blocked her. She was tempted to use her powers, but she knew better. "Excuse me."
"You're not going anywhere, girly," the lackey that tried to grope her said. He pushed her back towards Lance. She lost her balance and fell over.
"Kitty!" Lance cried. He knelt down to try to help her up, but Frankie stopped him.
"Don't move!" he shouted. Lance glared at him, and then proceeded to try to help Kitty. Frankie pulled out a gun and aimed it at Lance. "I *said* don't move!" Lance stood up straighter.
"Look, I'll get you your money," he said. "It just may take another week."
"Yeah, well I ain't got a week," Frankie said. "Give it to me now, or I'll shoot you."
"I don't *have* it now."
"Oh, well." Frankie's finger went to the trigger. Kitty jumped up and in front of Lance.
"Wait!"
The gun fired.