The Ultimate Challenge A/N: First off, I'd like to thank everyone who has reviewed the story--thanks so much, you have no idea what this means to a first-time ficcer! With reviews like these, I'll definitely keep going^^ Anyway, I'm still hung up on the fact that there's not much interaction between the X-Gee--err, I mean, the X-Men and the Brotherhood. Unless their respective caretakers brief them on a regular basis, all their knowledge of each other is based on rumors, assumptions and lines in the sand. Hmm...

3. Semi-circle of Friends

"Vhat was that all about?" Kurt asks as soon as they are out of earshot of the Brotherhood member.

"I...I'm not really sure," Kitty finally says. They stand on the outskirts of the dance floor.

"Are you OK?" Kurt's eyes are wide with concern and Kitty knows full well what he is really asking.

"Yeah..." she is OK though her world feels a little shaky, not just from her encounter with Quicksilver but everything with the upperclassmen and the music and that heady party feeling--"but Evan's totally right about Pietro--he's a total jerk!"

"No surprise there," Kurt jokes. "Are you sure you're OK, Kitty?"

"I'm sure--uhm, like all he did was talk to me..." Kitty says, not knowing what to make of this overprotective edge in Kurt's voice and not wanting to deal with it tonight. He has flirted with her but not in any serious way, not yet. She hopes the furious rose color has faded or it's too dark to see things clearly in here.

Kurt gazes at her a moment longer, then decides that she is fine and goes back to his normal

?!

exuberant Kurt-self. "Let's dance!"

Kitty smiles, but before they go, she figures she owes him this

"Uhm, Kurt?"

"Ja?"

"Thanks."

He grins as wide as she's ever seen. "Anytime, Kitty."

But before they can reach the dance floor, Evan pushes through the crowd of people and slams into both of them.

"Whoa! Easy man!" Kurt points to his holo-watch.

"What did Maximoff want?" Evan demands angrily.

"Like, geez, took you long enough," Kitty says sarcastically, rubbing her arm. "He was just asking why I was allowed to be here, since there's like a no-freshman policy."

"Oh..." Evan's eyes narrow as he scans the room for that silvery-white hair and brown sweater, then looks back at Kitty and shakes his head as if he has just remembered something. "Uh, you OK? He didn't hurt you or anything, did he?" Evan asks almost eagerly. He clenches his fist. Muscles tense over thick bone.

"No. Sorry to disappoint you," Kitty replies, still rubbing her arm.<

"Huh. Well, you better watch out for Pietro from now on, Kitty," says Evan. "He's a creep, stay away from him."

Just a second ago Kitty was thinking the exact same thing, but the way Evan has just spoken to her--like he was the almighty team leader instead of a fellow freshman--and her arm still smarts!

"Why?" she asks simply.

"Why?" Evan stares at her. "Just stay away from him!" he practically shouts. It has only been a few days since the rivalry between Evan Daniels and Pietro Maximoff came to a head. "He's...dangerous! He's mean! He's our enemy, for crying out loud!"

"What's going on here?" Jean emerges from the crowd. "Evan, not so loud," she speaks mildly and rubs her temple.

"The Brotherhood. They're here. Vell, Quicksilver is anyway." says Kurt.

Jean raises an eyebrow. "Where's Scott?"

"Here. I heard." Scott approaches them. His mouth is set in a straight line. "Just ran across our old friend Lance Alvers. Any sign of the others?"

"Lemme check..." Jean closes her eyes in concentration. "No, but it's hard to tell with so many people here. They could be outside...not that Duncan would ever let Toad or the Blob past the front gates."

"Uhm, like does this mean we're leaving?" Kitty looks up worriedly.

Scott sighs. "Well, as long as we're here we might as well stay. There's a lot of people here and if Alvers or Maximoff try to start something, we have to do damage control."

"Aw man, just how I wanna spend my Friday night--babysitting the Brotherhood!" This from Evan.

"You said it, mein friend!"

"So like what are we supposed to do, then?" asks Kitty, relieved that they are going to stay but nervous about another encounter with the silver-haired speed demon...or even worse, Lance.

"Try staying away from them," Evan says sarcastically. "Especially Pietro. If he comes up to you again, just turn around and walk the other way."

"Say what?" Scott turns to look at Kitty and frowns. "When did this happen?"

Kitty opens her mouth to speak--

"Just a few seconds ago. I saw them talking and came over--uhh, soon as I finished my round of Tekken." Evan.

"I got there before Evan but I think he vas talking to her for a while." Kurt.

"What could Maximoff possibly have to say to her that would take more than a second?!" Evan, yelling.

"Don't know. He kissed her though." Kurt, quietly.

--then closes it and sighs.

"He kissed you?" Both Scott and Jean look at Kitty incredulously.

"Uhm...just my hand."

Scott's frown deepens with suspicion--but not towards Kitty, of course. "Evan's right, Kitty. Maximoff may not have been there during our fight with the Brotherhood, but it sounds like he's up to something. I think you'd better steer clear of that guy. If you see him coming, just let us know. If anything happens, we'll deal with it."

"Yeah Kitty, leave Maximoff to me." A small spike suddenly protrudes from Evan's forearm.

"Hey, watch the spike!" Scott moves to shield Evan from the crowd's view. "Remember what we talked about...and I thought Kurt would be the one to lose control," he says dryly.

"Hey!"

"I think it woud be best if you stayed away too, Evan," says Jean.

"Fine, whatever." Evan lowers his arm and the bit of bone sticking out from his arm disappears. He turns to go back to the PS2, muttering loudly, "best if we all stay away from him."

"You don't need to like tell me more than once." Annoyed, Kitty turns to break away from the semi-circle but Scott stops her.

"What did Maximoff have to say to you, exactly?"

Kitty sighs. "I don't know--he was just like curious why I was here, you know cause I'm like a freshman and all."

"Are you sure?"

Well, he did mention the Institute, Kitty thinks, but Scott's obvious lack of faith in her perceptive abilities prompt her to say yes, she's sure. The party is happening all around them and the latest song from Cher comes blasting through the stereo, but they're all stuck standing there in a corner because of--what? Kitty, almost boiling with impatience and annoyance shifts from one foot to the other. "This is supposed to be a party, right?" she says. "Like is it so impossible that a guy would want to talk to me?"

"Not one from the Brotherhood." A slight look of revulsion passes over Jean's perfect face.

"Look, it's no big deal, Evan's totally blowing this way out of proportion--I mean it's not like the guy was trying to pick a fight with me or anything."

Scott's handsome face is still tense and drawn. Kurt remains silent, but Kitty doesn't notice him. "I don't trust that kid farther than I can throw him--he's completely unpredictable. Keep a lookout, Kitty, and let us know--"

Jeez, how many times can a guy repeat himself? "I can like take care of myself, you know."

Scott and Jean exchange looks. "It's not that, Kitty," says Jean. "It's just that we've seen this guy in action and we're concerned about what might happen to you if--"

"For the last time, I'm totally OK! Ooh, they're playing Cher--gotta go!" Before her teammates can repeat themselves again, she runs off to the dance floor.

Kitty is a natural dancer. She quickly loses herself in the music, a dancer in her element. Her slender body is graceful while her moves hip and modern. Finally, she thinks in that unthinking state of synthesis of mind and body, finally...

Pietro re-enters the huge living room, flicking imaginary orange crumbs from his brown cashmere pullover. He does not look for Kitty, he hasn't even thought about her since his mental free association that began with her ended in a hankering for Cheetos. But he catches sight of that little pink cardigan

Pink! his brain cries joyfully

so he watches her get her groove on to

Do you BelieEEeeVE in life after love--

"Man, Matthews has the worst taste in music!" Pietro hears Daniels say and for once he agrees with him. But he can't be bothered with thinking nasty thoughts about his arch-rival right now--plenty of time for that--because he is watching something pretty dance. She's...not bad, he decides after four seconds. "Not bad" from Pietro Maximoff is like a standing ovation from anyone else.

His desire to see her blush renewed, Pietro heads to the dance floor. Maybe he can insult her dancing--yeah, that might work...

Kitty sees him coming but she doesn't give notice and she doesn't stop dancing. When she is dancing she is on, she is free, no one can touch her any more than they could when she is in phase form. Perhaps it is because he has embarassed her and she knows that in such a state she could get back at such an enemy--a totally cute and sexy enemy at that. Perhaps it is because of Lance, Kurt and every other weird guy whose interest she does not return, at least not in that way. Perhaps it is the frustration, boredom and annoyance at having to hear Evan. of all people, and Scott lecture her umpteen million times. Perhaps it is the fact that everyone, even those who know her best, continue to underestimate her...partly her own fault. Or maybe, above all things, it's the thrill of being out late at night doing something fun and normal, something in the air besides the pungent sweat of bodies moving to the beat, the heady feeling that something must happen that inspire Kitty to say

"Hi, Pietro. Wanna dance?"


So what's the challenge? Read, review and find out!