The Ultimate Challege A/N: I just realized...when and where did Kitty and Pietro first meet? She certainly wasn't there that night Pietro got arrested. The only time she has any kind of screen time with him is when Scott points him and the Blob out at the beginning of "Middleverse." How would he know her name? Mystique briefing? Lance? Hmm...oh well! Plot holes are fun!

2.
Kitty smiles as she follows Jean through the crowd and resists the urge to hug herself. This is just so totally cool! As far as she can tell, she is the only freshman there--any doubts that Duncan might have had about her being here were quickly erased with one bat of Jean's eyelashes. Of course, she isn't allowed to drink--Scott may have loosened up considerably since the fight with Kurt, but he still gave a talk about "responsible behavior" before he let any of them out of the car.

Still, this is so cool! The place is loud and crowded, but friendly. A couple of junior girls, cheerleaders who would normally never acknowledge her existence wave and say, "Hey Jean, hey Kitty..." Jean introduces her to Ethan and Stu, two of Bayville's more intelligent football players. Ethan offers her a soda and flirts mildly with both her and Jean, while Stu starts telling a funny story about some pranks the team pulled on Bayville's rival school... Kitty glances over her shoulder and sees Evan playing PS2 with a bunch of seniors on the 70-inch flatscreen TV, Nightcrawler (trying to) breakdance on the dance floor and relishing the spotlight. Things are lively but not out of control, kids are drinking but nobody's throwing up. Even Scott, who is talking to Paul, seems to be having a good time. After the scuffle with the Brotherhood earlier--not to mention almost losing Nightcrawler in a parallel dimension--they're all a little tense. It feels good to act their age for once and be like normal teenagers whose greatest concern is whether the party will be cool or lame.

Could this evening get any better? Kitty thinks as she heads to the dance floor with Jean, Karen, Piper and Stu. Wait'll I tell Becky and Erin on Monday!

Suddenly (wonder of wonders), the strap on her platform sandal comes loose and Kitty nearly trips over her own feet but manages to regain her balance in time, thus avoiding supremo public humiliation. She blushes and retreats to an empty space near the door to tie her sandal, glancing around and hoping against hope that nobody saw her little slip-up.

Then, of course

"What's a stray kitten like yourself doing in a place like this?" The voice is smooth, arrogant and masculine, but the words pour fast out like water rushing over rocks, very sharp rocks, sounds that she isn't sure she should like or dislike. In the few seconds it takes to redo her strap, Kitty thinks that the voice might be familiar but she can't quite place it--in her kneeling position all she can see is his legs. He's wearing dark blue jeans and light blue sneakers. So she puts on a smile and raises her face, pretty and confused and eager-to-please, towards this upperclassman with the cool shoes...

Oh NO

That unmistakable shock of silver-white hair that no bleach could create, those gravity-defying bangs that almost look like devil horns, the lean frame drawn up in that too-proud stance, the aquiline features that are more marble than flesh and those freezing cold blue eyes looking down at her...

Kitty realizes she is still in a kneeling position and quickly scrambles to her feet. Her eyes dart around his thin silhouette for Scott or Jean, but there is no sign of any of her teammates.

He is being cheesy. Let her think that he is trying to flirt with her. "Whatsamatter, kid? Cat gotcher tongue?"

"Like, what are you doing here?"

"What am I doing here? What are you doing here? I thought no freshmen were allowed," Pietro sneers.

She crosses her arms and tries to match his contempt. "Not like it's any of your business, loser, but I'm here with my friends."

"You mean the rest of Bayville's own genetically-warped Brady Bunch? Gee, that's really swell of Mr. Xavier to let you out on weekends every once in a while. Especially you, Kitty." He manages to make her name sound like an insult. "Ooh, just look at the time! Shouldn't you be in bed by now?"

He is talking so fast that it is hard for Kitty to understand what he's saying--except that he is teasing her. Teasing, or making fun? From the little that she's heard about Pietro from Evan--told in language that earns him a look from his Aunt Ororo that could freeze a lake in July--she only knows that he's super fast and has an ego the size of a space shuttle. She has never seen him up close and, uh, personal.

"Uhm," she is still completely off guard, not good to be around an enemy like this, "gotta go--"

"Heeyyyy now," In one swift, graceful motion Pietro blocks her exit. "C'mon Pryde, it's a party! Don't be so anti-social. You know, I don't believe we've ever been properly introduced." He extends his hand in a gentlemanly fashion. "I am Pietro Maximoff. Pleased to make your acquaintance." Before she can protest he grabs her hand and plants a hard, dry kiss on top of it.

Kitty's cheeks burn with anger, embarassment and a disorienting kind of--certainly not pleasure! Pietro watches the apples of her cheeks flush a deep rose, and he smirks. Watching the play of emotions on her pretty face flicker between confusion and fear and delight is--for some reason Pietro cannot understand--more fun than trashing lockers! Most people turn beet red when they blush, but her embarassment suits her, he notes absently.

They stand there for a while. Actually, it's only three seconds. Long enough for Kitty to come to her senses and realize that this is a bad guy! A social misfit, a dangerous mutant, part of the Brotherhood and the dark icky side--even if he totally doesn't look the part.

"Ew, are you like drunk or something? Like, get away from me!"

"Oh, I had a coupla drinks, beer's pretty good here, can I get you one?" Pietro grins. "Oh right, I'm sorry, forgot--good little girls like yourself don't drink. Just say no! That what they teach you that at the Institute?"

"Kitty!" Kurt suddenly appears behind Pietro--even without his power he always seems to be popping up unexpectedly in the most random places. But Kitty has never been so glad to see the fuzzy blue elf (even though he's got his holo-watch and isn't fuzzy, blue or elfin at the moment) before in her life.

"Kurt!" she replies, a little louder than necessary.

Kurt makes a great show of rubbing his back. "Man, breakdancing is a lot harder than it looks! C'mon Kitty, let's dance!"

"Totally! In fact, I was just leaving." She turns on her platform heel and quickly walks away.

Kurt, better known as Nightcrawler or that blue-furred freak to the Brotherhood, shoots a look at Pietro over his shoulder before following Kitty out onto the dance floor. The two boys have never met and know nothing about each other, but their mentors and teammates are on opposing sides, therefore they must be enemies. But Kurt's eyes are not hateful or even distrustful, just open and questioning, perhaps a little suspicious or even a little

jealous?

Pietro doesn't know, doesn't notice, he just sees Kurt looking at him. Pietro doesn't move, doesn't try to appear more at ease or more confident than he already is. He just holds the X-Man's stare and simply projects--though he's not a telepath, his posture and expression are enough to get his message across--

Yes, I am way better than you could ever be

but Kurt doesn't hold Pietro's gaze nor make a point of turning his back, just turns to join Kitty in a movement that is as natural as can be.

Ha! Pietro feels triumphant, thus he is able to dismiss Nightcrawler entirely. Pietro almost takes a step to follow Kitty because his head knows even if his brain doesn't that he wants more of that blush.

Oohh, BLUSH. Thiiiinnnkkkk PINK! Pink? Pink Panther-PINK KITTY! Pink Kitty cat! Hello Kitty! Pepto Bismol! I'm hungry.

Typical Quicksilver line of thought. He forgets all about Kitty and goes off in search of cheetos.

To be continued! You didn't think that was the end, did you?^^