A Moment Alone

"Lance leave me alone!" Kitty stormed away from him, her face and sweater covered with shaving cream.

"Kitty I swear it wasn't me who put the shaving cream in your locker!" Lance told her, catching up to her.

"It doesn't matter," She snapped. "Why are you guys being such jerks?"

"Yeah you're the ones who stole our teammates!" Lance defended.

"We're not the ones who nearly killed Peter!" She whirled around and snapped at him.

"How is he?" Lance asked his voice suddenly much softer.

"He's in a coma," Kitty looked at him. "Magneto did a number on him."

"Yeah he and Mystique are really on the warpath," Lance sighed. "They ordered us to really start hassling you guys. That's why all this stuff is happening!"

"So you just jump and do it when he tells you to," Kitty snapped.

"What do you want me to do? Go tell him to jump in the lake?" Lance cried. He looked around. "Come on we need some privacy," He led her into a deserted classroom. "Kitty please listen to me. Magneto's really ticked off about this. You don't know what he's like."

"I think I'm getting a very good idea what he's like," Kitty said.

"Kitty what do you want from me?" Lance asked. "I mean okay we lost. I can live with that. But you're mad at me for stuff that isn't my fault! I mean look at it from my point of view, you guys took two of our best guys and Magneto and Mystique are out for blood. It took everything I could think of to make sure the guys didn't do worse to you! I'm the one risking his neck, not you! Think about it Kitty, what's the worst you have to put up with for us being together? A little scolding? Believe me this isn't exactly a picnic for me either!"

Kitty folded her arms. "I don't know why I put up with you sometimes. If I wasn't so crazy about you I'd…"

Lance gently took her in her arms. "Kitty I promise, we won't do anything worse than some pranks. I promise. I won't let them hurt you. Just please, please be patient. Okay?" He kissed her forehead. "Please?"

"Okay," Kitty sighed. "I guess it's not like we haven't gone through stuff like this for a few days anyway."

"Trust me Kitty," Lance told her as he escorted her out of the classroom. "This will all blow over soon."

"Hey you two," Risty waved at them. They waved back.

"I promise Kitty," Lance said as he held her hand. "Nothing bad is gonna happen. You'll see."

Risty glared at them as they walked away. "I see I'm going to have to take matters into my own hands," She sneered. "It's long past due that Alvers had a reminder of whose side he's on."