AN: So this took forever to post but at least for all of you loyal readers it is a long chapter. I had lost all inspiration and urged to write for a while but I am now back to it and may even work on some of the other new content that I had posted first chapters of. You can go to my profile and check those out as well if you ever want to see some other work of mine. Thank you as always to all of you who keep coming back no matter how long I have abandoned you.
Classes progressed normally the next day and Kit and Elle bowed out early, leaving Adam to finish his hand balance class and lock up. They took their time shopping for Elle's accessories and grabbed a quick snack at the mall before leaving to meet with Marinette so they could beg for assistance.
The bluenette met them in the bakery and the three trooped upstairs to Marinette's room with green dress the in tow. Laying out the dress the young designer took a look.
"Well the color and fabric are perfect for you Elle. But you're both right, it needs something extra."
"So what can you do for us Mari?" Kit got to the point and watched as Marinette went into full design mode.
"Let's have her put it on and address alterations first. We can go from there."
"Why do I suddenly feel like I'm going to become a living dress up doll?" Elle spoke exasperatedly as she grabbed the gown and went into Marinette's bathroom to change. Kit and Mari giggled at the good natured comment.
"So what's up with your dress Kit?" Marinette turned her attention fully to the older woman.
"It should be here tonight. I want to make sure it fits and maybe add something, but we'll see I guess."
Kit paused and thought back to the only time she'd worn the dress. That night had set things into motion that eventually lead up to her tattered heart. Shaking herself out of the past, Kit looked up as Elle came out, now dressed in the gown. Kit stood and helped her lace up the back and adjust the bodice to sit properly.
ODaG
Marinette stood and circled the older girl, her designer's eye taking in every minor detail and piecing various mental images together. She could add some beading but that could be time consuming.
"Okay, first thing's first. The hem is a bit long so let's take that up and see where some detailing will go after that."
She pulled out a short stool for Elle to stand on and grabbed her pins to set the hem. Ten minutes later, she stood and stretched before reassessing her work. Walking back a step, Marinette leaned on her desk and blindly reached for her sketch book. She could already see a beaded applique at one hip and maybe something simple at the hem line.
She sketched some quick details over a brief outline of the dress on the page and had then had Elle turn around so she could see the back. Marinette instantly changed her mind and drew some embroidered lace with simpler beading. She could use her new embroidery machine for the lace designs and save time with some lighter bead work. It was definitely doable.
"Okay, whaddya think of this?" Elle came over and Marinette explained the design changes.
"I love it Marinette. That's perfect, thank you so much." Elle gave her a quick hug and Marinette tried to hide a slight blush at the praise.
"I'm glad you like it. I can get the hemming done tonight, and then I just have to get the embroidery machine to print off the lace appliques, and then I'll do the beading by hand."
"You're a miracle worker Mari," Kit spoke up, drawing the designer's attention.
"Hey, you still owe me," Marinette joked to the older woman.
"And I will pay in full; promise," Kit answered quietly with a serene smile.
ODaG
As Elle went to change out of the dress with Marinette's help, Kit sat back and contemplated the event to come. The more she thought about that man, the more the past tried to rear its ugly head.
The last time she saw him came to the front of her mind and would have pulled her under until Elle and Marinette came back out. Shaking out of her thoughts, Kit stood and thanked Marinette again.
"It's no problem, really. I'm glad I could help." Marinette blushed again and brushed off the praise.
"I'll be by tomorrow as soon as my dress gets here." Kit made final plans with the designer for the next day and then she and Elle left with friendly goodbyes and headed back to the studio.
"So, are you sure you're ready for this weekend?" Elle's question was quiet but her concern was evident.
Kit gave the younger woman a reassuring smile. "I think I'll be okay. Maybe I'll get lucky and he won't show," she responded optimistically.
Elle took her joking tone in stride and gave a sympathetic nod. Just then, Adam pulled up to meet them at the gym doors.
"Have a good night Kit," Elle hugged her goodbye and climbed in the passenger side as Adam rolled his window down.
"How'd it go, did you girls have fun?"
"Do you actually wanna know pretty boy?" Kit gave him a mocking grin.
"I will take that as 'it went great'. Have a good one boss."
"Goodnight Adam." Kit waved them off as Adam put the car in gear and drove away.
Turing, Kit headed inside and Kyubi came out of her shadow as she locked the front doors for the night. Kit glanced at the address label on the large package on the counter.
"Looks like Mom came through, Ky." She picked up the box and made her way up the back stairs to her apartment, fox demon in tow as she set the alarm.
Once in the kitchen Kit carefully cut the tape on the ends of the long box and slid out a familiar garment bag. A note was pinned to the front of the bag and her mother's familiar penmanship caught her eye.
Akita,
I got the dress out on a rush, the other package with shoes and accessories should arrive a day later.
-Mom
Smiling and shaking her head, Kit set the note aside and hung the bag form a cupboard knob. She zipped it open to get a look at the dress that had really started it all.
As Kit parted the sides and flipped the top behind the hanger to hold it out of the way, the familiar shimmer of the black fabric slid through her fingers. Looking the dress over, Kit was drawn back to that night.
The music trickled through her memories and she could vaguely remember the feel of his hand at her back, hers at his shoulder. That had been the one and only time Kit had danced and she had done it with the man who would later manage to shatter her heart.
Kyubi growled as her human's emotions flowed out. The pain had finally peaked and the fox couldn't take seeing her partner so conflicted.
'If it hurts this much, why are you doing this?'
The woman looked down at her. "Because I want answers," she spoke quietly. "And I don't want him to win." The last came out almost as a growl and Kyubi tilted her head in curiosity. It seemed this human was stronger than the rest.
"I'm not the strongest, Ky. Just stronger compared to some."
Kyubi perked at the response. Apparently she had projected that last thought. Their connection was growing stronger.
The fox watched silently as Kit covered the black, shimmering garment once more with a sigh. Hanging the dress by the door, she headed to the bedroom, demon fox on her heels.
ODaG
Kit called Marinette first thing the next morning and headed over with her dress.
"So this is it?" Marinette was practically giddy at the chance to work on a designer gown.
The older woman chuckled , "Yes, it is."
Marinette took Kit upstairs to her room and had her change. When she came back out in the shimmering black gown, Marinette could only stare. The dress was a wearable work of art; she couldn't think what Kit could possibly want to change about it.
"Still fits, that's a surprise." Kit shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other.
"It's gorgeous, why would you wanna change anything?" Marinette immediately shut her mouth after that particular word vomit. But her fears fled when the older woman smiled gently.
"I guess you're right." Kit looked in the floor length mirror off to the side. "No ideas, though?"
The question sounded unsure to Mari. Pulling herself together, Marinette circled her friend and looked the dress over.
"Maybe some subtle beading at the strap and along the back edges. Other than that, altering anything would just be a crime to such an amazing dress." Marinette offered her honest opinion.
"Would you have the time?" Kit's question was once again hesitant.
Giving a friendly smile, Mari responded, "Of course. I can get started while my new toy prints out the appliques for Elle's dress tonight."
"Just don't push yourself Bug. You're amazing, you know that, right?"
Marinette felt herself blush at the praise. "Just go change so I can start." Her exasperation showed with the snarky comment. The woman smiled again before turning to do as she was told. When she came back out, Marinette snagged the dress and immediately started adjusting her dress dummy to fit so she could start on the bead work.
Kit hugged her and bid Marinette goodbye and Mari responded halfheartedly, already absorbed in the work ahead. She couldn't let her friend down.
"Bye Tiki. Don't let her stay up too late."
"I won't." Tiki's voice piped up and Marinette looked up to give a proper goodbye and promise not to overdo it.
ODaG
Friday, Kit and Elle locked up after the last students left and walked down to the Dupain-Cheng Bakery to meet Marinette. When they arrived, Tom and Sabine were finishing with a last minute customer. The women waited, and once the two owners were finished, they ushered to two upstairs to the living quarters and told them to head on up to Marinette's room.
The girl let them in after a brief knock on the shut trap door and Elle immediately cooed over the finished dresses.
"Marinette these are incredible, I can't believe you got them done so fast."
Kit chuckled at the young designer as the girl blushed. She stepped up and looked over the gowns. Elle's green dress was perfect. The added lace appliques were perfectly shaped and didn't detract from the overall silhouette and the beading was simple and would match Elle's chosen jewelry. Marinette had done a great compliment from the pictures that Kit had sent her.
Kit finally turned her attention to her own dress. Marinette had added a subtle applique with some beading to the single shoulder and extended the bead work along the neckline in a starburst pattern. Stepping around to the back, she saw the light beading continued along the side of the lacing and down across the lower back.
"It's perfect Marinette." Kit hugged the girl with a slightly water smile. "Thank you." The designer returned the smile with a small one of her own.
The ladies conversed and gushed for a few more minutes and then bagged up the gowns. Marinette saw them out and waved them off as they left.
"I still can't believe how fast she got them done." Elle was clearly ecstatic with the results.
"She certainly came through. That girl is a walking miracle," Kit agreed.
She hoped Mari hadn't applied too many sleepless nights this week or she would have to have words with the young designer.
ODaG
Saturday came and went far too quickly for Kit's liking. It was time to get ready for the Gala. Elle followed her up the back stairs to the apartment and it didn't take long for them to change and get their hair and makeup in order. With a few minutes to spare, they made it downstairs and waited by the door for the car Kit had ordered.
Kit felt her old nervous tick start as they waited in the line of cars at the event location. She still hated these waits.
"Why do you suddenly look nervous?" Elle's question was distracted as she excitedly gazed out at the line of cars and the brightly lit entrance.
"Do I?" Kit watched her friend and smiled at Elle's childish delight in the atmosphere.
"Now there's a smile. Something like that in that dress is going to leave the man silent and stupid."
They giggled at the mental image and Kit relaxed a bit.
Finally, after what felt like eons, they pulled forward to the steps. Getting out, Kit and Elle walked up the entrance and handed over the invitation. Having left a bit later, they were among the last to arrive as the doorman announced their entrance. The main hall quieted at the mention of Kit's family name.
ODaG
At the announcement of the name he had been waiting all night to hear, the room fell quiet and he paused his conversation to look at the main staircase.
The sight was like a punch of déjà vu to the gut.
All he could think about was that night and he stood frozen in place of the side of the room. He stared as she descended the stairs and made her way through the room. Just like that night she made brief small talk with some familiar faces and quickly took up her customary wallflower position against a pillar along the perimeter.
Unlike back in the day however, she now watched the room with an eagle eye and constantly scanned her surroundings. The change was a bit jarring. She had always been tough, but never wary. He wondered what had happened to cause this new demeanor.
A clap to his shoulder had him turning to see his best friend. Carter smiled at him.
"So she's finally here. You'd better be ready to cup and run brother, she's gonna rack you." Carter chuckled at his own prediction.
"She'll probably do worse than that. I'm betting on total removal of his family jewels." Carter's girlfriend, soon-to-be fiancé stepped up beside them and gave her own two cents. He couldn't lie, he agreed with the woman. He'd have to handle the situation carefully. Maybe if he kept her close enough, she wouldn't take aim for his important bits.
AN:Song O' the Chapter is Attention by Todrick Hall. I wanted a song that would capture the the nature of what Kit was trying to accomplish in the chapter. I didn't ever intend to do super long chapters and this is probably one of the longest I will ever post.
If you can find the Princess Bride reference and leave a comment I will give props in the next chapter's AN.
Thank you all again for supporting me and sticking with me even through my unintentional neglect of this story. I do have it mostly planned out in my head and I write everything down first before typing it up and posting. This means that I have several more chapters written just in case of a writers block situation. Actually posting during those times is usually rare only because when I have nothing to write I usually walk away completely.
Love you all, Shadow