"Ah just don't undastand professor!" Rogue blurted out in the middle of
the meeting, just after Professor Xavier announced the news. "First Jean,
and now Kitty?" She clenched her fists and plopped down into the nearest
chair.
The whole team was sullen. "Professor, why is this happening?" Scott was the first one to break the silence.
Xavier lowered his head for a moment. "My only guess is that Mystic and the brotherhood have discovered a way to brainwash them. They must have got a hold of Kitty at school." He watched the reaction of everyone. They apparently believed this story. He searched each of their minds quietly. Prepared to change any doubts that might arise.
Scott, who was probably the most hurt at the moment, was the first to switch to commando mode. "Who do you think they will go after next?" He asked, hardening his facial expression, so as to hide his hurt.
The Professor shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. But regardless, we must be prepared." He looked at the team, which now, despite feeling betrayed stood alert and ready for battle. "I order each of you to avoid contact with Kitty and Jean, no matter what!" He spoke firmly, and with conviction. No one was about to second-guess him, that is, except Scott.
"But Professor, we can't just give up on them! They were both part of the team, they still are X-Men, Mystic just has them brainwashed, you can bring them back can't you?"
Professor Xavier felt himself get hot, and begin to perspire. "Well…." He had to think of something to say without giving anything away. "Jean's, or that is, someone's telepathic abilities are keeping me at bay. However, if I could reach them in person, there might be a chance." He turned to Scott. "Don't worry, I have no intention of giving them up. The brotherhood will never make them join. They are my X-Men! If I can't have them, then no one will."
His closing words sent chills up everyone's spine. Scott was the only one, who began to think, why did they really leave?
*************************************
Lance awoke to a strange sound. One that he didn't recognize, but it was vaguely familiar. He got up, wearing nothing but jeans. He thought about putting a shirt on, but that's when he remembered Kitty was in the house, so he changed his mind.
Walking into the living room, he realized what the noise was. "A vacuum?" He looked stunned as he watched Kitty, would had a bandana tied around her head, vacuum the living room. "It's a vacuum!" Now for the second realization. "Kitty? Why are you vacuuming our house."
She shut it off, then turned to look at him. "Because apparently, no one else has for a long time." Her words might have been taken as a scold, if it were not followed by a warm smile. She dropped her dust rag and ran up to him. "Good morning darling!" She gave him a hug and a light peck on the lips.
"Wow." Lance said with a grin. "I could get used to that."
Pietro and Todd stood in the doorway. "Hey what about us?" Pietro looked hurt, and Todd made a puppy dog face.
Kitty just merely rolled her eyes. "You guys got breakfast."
"Hey what about me, don't I get breakfast?" Now Lance looked hurt.
Kitty shook her head. "Nope! You don't get breakfast till after you take a shower and get dressed." A mischievous smile then spread over her face. "Not that I don't mind you being half dressed." She looked him up and down. He had torn blue jeans, which showed the top of his boxers, and no shirt, which showed his muscles.
"Yo, I think I'm gonna be sick." Todd whined, making a mock gag noise. As Pietro covered his eyes.
Lance shrugged and Kitty sighed. "I guess I can't please everyone." He gave Kitty a wink and raced up stairs.
Jean walked in, also with a bandana tied around her head. She carried a bucket of water and soap. "I guess this leaves me with the kitchen." She said as she noticed Kitty cleaning the living room.
Pietro and Todd still stood in the doorway as Jean brushed by them into the kitchen. They looked from Jean to Kitty, to Jean then back to Kitty again. "Ya know, I could really get used to this." Todd announced putting another fork-full of pancakes into his mouth.
Pietro nodded. "Me too." He looked over at Jean, who now was scrubbing to counters. "You know," He said in a lowered voice. "Red don't look so bad, now that shes not an X-geek, if ya know what I mean." He winked at Todd, who nodded in agreement. Pietro who was already done with his breakfast turned to set the plate down. When he "accidentally" dropped his fork on the floor. "Wups." He said with a sheepish grin. He watched eagerly to see if Jean would pick it up. She merely said nothing, and the fork lifted off the floor, hovering a few feet in the air in front of Pietro.
"You know," Jean began in a rather annoyed voice, her back still to both of them. "I could make it fly forward and poke you in the eyes, that is, unless you decide to put them back in their sockets." She narrowed her eyes, and the fork floated menacingly in front of him.
"Darn it!" Pietro said turning back around. "Stupid telepathy powers!" Todd shrugged and went back to his food.
"Ahhhhh!" A shrill voice sounded from the living room.
Pietro jumped in place while Todd nearly dropped his plate. "Ow!" Pietro said irritably. "Do you have to yell so loud? Theres better ways of getting our attention."
"Ya." Todd joined in. "You could threaten us with forks." Pietro glared at him.
A moment later lance came running out from the bathroom with a towel around his waist. His hair was dripping wet, and still slightly soapy. "Is everything okay?" He asked excitedly.
Kitty, who had been watching everyone's reaction, now tried to suppress a smile. "Yes. But what is this for?" She said, he voice filling with disgust as she lifted a jar. Upon first glance it just looked like a jar filled with dirt. However, looking closer everyone could see that what appeared to be dirt was really flys, and spiders, and other insects. Hundreds of them, all of which had suffocated from a lack of air.
"So that's where it went!" Todd said leaping over and taking the jar from Kitty's hand.
"Eeeuuu!" Kitty looked at the jar and then at Toad. "Do you actually eat those?"
Everyone else started at Toad with the same morbid look, including Jean who had come running from the kitchen, almost slipping on the sudsy floor.
Toad's jaw dropped. "What? It's protein I tell you! Protein!"
*****************************************
An hour later Jean, Kitty, and Lance plopped down onto the couch. Jean and Kitty from the exhaust of cleaning, and Lance because he was so incredibly full from the breakfast Kitty had cooked him. A few minutes went by.
"Okay." Jean took off her bandana and sat up. "I'm gonna go to the store and get us some food. After making Fred breakfast I used up what was left." Kitty and Lance both smiled at the remark. Jean sounded rather surprised. She hadn't yet realized that that was his normal consumption of food per meal.
"Kitty? Do you wanna come with me, or stay her?"
Kitty looked at Jean, who sat waiting, then glance at Lance, who blew her a kiss, so many choices. "I think I'll just stay here, if that's okay." To which she quickly followed, "Unless you want me to come or something?"
"No that's okay." Jean said knowingly, smiling and rolling her eyes at the two lovebirds. Then got serious. "Just be careful Kitty, keep your guard up, okay?"
Kitty nodded. As soon as Jean got up, Lance scooted closer to Kitty. "So, how you doin?" She giggled.
"Oh ya," Jean said walking back into the room. "When the others get back, tell them not to mess anything up! This took forever to clean, and if they mess it up, they won't get dinner." Kitty and Lance nodded as Jean walked out again. Lance smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
"One more thing!" Jean said walking in again. "Please don't let anyone leave, once they get back, we need to have a serious talk tonight about what we're gonna do." Lance and Kitty, who were now quite annoyed, nodded again. "Okay!" They both answered in unison.
"All right!" Jean smiled and put her jacket on. "See you guys later!" She waved then walked out the door.
Kitty looked back to Lance, who held up a finger. "Hang on." He jumped up and ran to the front door, locking it. Then ran back to his place next to Kitty. "Now, where were we?" He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. This however, only lasted a few minutes.
"Hey? Where'd everyone go?" Fred's voice rang as he bounded down the stairs. "Oh Lance, Kitty, where'd everyone go?" He said as he saw them sitting on the couch looking up at him in annoyance.
Kitty yawned. "Pietro and Todd went off to cause trouble."
"And Jean went to the store." Lance finished.
"Oh good! We needed more food!" Fred said happily. "I have to go take some movies back." He lifted a bag to show them, filled with about two dozen cassettes. "They're about a month late."
"Buh-bye." Lance called as Fred closed the door behind him. He turned to Kitty. "Do you want something to drink?" She blinked her eyes and smiled, a tired expression covered her face.
"Sure." She managed a smile as she yawned again. Lance hurried off to the kitchen.
"You know, I was thinking……" He began as he carried two cans of cola into the living room. He stopped in his tracks as he saw Kitty lying sound asleep. Smiling, he set the soda down, and kissed her on the top of the head. "Sleep tight kitten." He whispered. He sat down on the couch next to her, and slowly dozed off too.
*************************************
About an hour later, Lance woke up. HE blinked his eyes. He remembered the morning, and falling asleep next to Kitty, but now he stared up at the ceiling, he felt something was wrong. He tried to move his hands when he realized that they were stuck. Sitting up. He found himself on the couch, with his wrists and ankles handcuffed.
"What on earth…" he began, then he saw Kitty. "Kitty, what's going on?" He asked in bewilderment. She stood idly by the front door, putting a jacket on. Her eyes were lifeless, her movements slow, she looked like a zombie…..
"Xavier!" Lance said, his blood boiling. Kitty turned to him with a malicious smile.
"How ever did you know?" It was Kitty's voice, but a cruel and heartless tone. Definitely not her own.
"What have you done to Kitty!" Lance demanded through clenched teeth.
"Kitty? Kitty's fine, just fine. She fell asleep, and let her guard down, how unfortunate for you. But don't worry, I'm not going to hurt Kitty, and in order to prevent you, I found it necessary to use….such precautions." She pointed to the handcuffs.
"Where did you…" He began, but was interrupted.
"Toad stole them from a policeman last month, or don't you remember? Oh no, you weren't there, were you Lance? You busy searching the library for records of your parents. How pathetic."
Lance glared at Kitty, or rather the Kitty being controlled by Xavier, she continued. "But then you were always searching for hope weren't you? With your parents, that maybe someday they would return to their reject son, and even with Kitty, that maybe she would be hear for good. Don't bother though, this'll probably be the last time you ever see her."
"You won't get away with this Xavier!" Lance tried to get up, his face red with anger, but he could even stand, the cuffs were locked so tightly around his ankles.
"Oh don't despair Lance, not all hope is lost, not even for you, maybe someday I'll have use of you too, then you just may be able to see your beloved Kitty again, not that she really ever loved you the same!"
"Shut up Xavier!" Lance yelled, completely enraged. "I'll never listen to your lies, unlike your zombie X-men. Not that they would listen to you either though, if they had a choice!" The moment Lance said that he felt a splitting pain inside his head.
"Goodbye Avalanche!" Kitty called, "I promised Jean I'd meet her, and I don't want to be late, for her, or the rest of the team that's waiting."
"No!" Lance yelled, as the door slammed shut. The earth started shaking violently, but he knew that not even that could stop Xavier. He had to get to Jean before it was too late, only then did he even have a chance at saving Kitty.
The whole team was sullen. "Professor, why is this happening?" Scott was the first one to break the silence.
Xavier lowered his head for a moment. "My only guess is that Mystic and the brotherhood have discovered a way to brainwash them. They must have got a hold of Kitty at school." He watched the reaction of everyone. They apparently believed this story. He searched each of their minds quietly. Prepared to change any doubts that might arise.
Scott, who was probably the most hurt at the moment, was the first to switch to commando mode. "Who do you think they will go after next?" He asked, hardening his facial expression, so as to hide his hurt.
The Professor shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. But regardless, we must be prepared." He looked at the team, which now, despite feeling betrayed stood alert and ready for battle. "I order each of you to avoid contact with Kitty and Jean, no matter what!" He spoke firmly, and with conviction. No one was about to second-guess him, that is, except Scott.
"But Professor, we can't just give up on them! They were both part of the team, they still are X-Men, Mystic just has them brainwashed, you can bring them back can't you?"
Professor Xavier felt himself get hot, and begin to perspire. "Well…." He had to think of something to say without giving anything away. "Jean's, or that is, someone's telepathic abilities are keeping me at bay. However, if I could reach them in person, there might be a chance." He turned to Scott. "Don't worry, I have no intention of giving them up. The brotherhood will never make them join. They are my X-Men! If I can't have them, then no one will."
His closing words sent chills up everyone's spine. Scott was the only one, who began to think, why did they really leave?
*************************************
Lance awoke to a strange sound. One that he didn't recognize, but it was vaguely familiar. He got up, wearing nothing but jeans. He thought about putting a shirt on, but that's when he remembered Kitty was in the house, so he changed his mind.
Walking into the living room, he realized what the noise was. "A vacuum?" He looked stunned as he watched Kitty, would had a bandana tied around her head, vacuum the living room. "It's a vacuum!" Now for the second realization. "Kitty? Why are you vacuuming our house."
She shut it off, then turned to look at him. "Because apparently, no one else has for a long time." Her words might have been taken as a scold, if it were not followed by a warm smile. She dropped her dust rag and ran up to him. "Good morning darling!" She gave him a hug and a light peck on the lips.
"Wow." Lance said with a grin. "I could get used to that."
Pietro and Todd stood in the doorway. "Hey what about us?" Pietro looked hurt, and Todd made a puppy dog face.
Kitty just merely rolled her eyes. "You guys got breakfast."
"Hey what about me, don't I get breakfast?" Now Lance looked hurt.
Kitty shook her head. "Nope! You don't get breakfast till after you take a shower and get dressed." A mischievous smile then spread over her face. "Not that I don't mind you being half dressed." She looked him up and down. He had torn blue jeans, which showed the top of his boxers, and no shirt, which showed his muscles.
"Yo, I think I'm gonna be sick." Todd whined, making a mock gag noise. As Pietro covered his eyes.
Lance shrugged and Kitty sighed. "I guess I can't please everyone." He gave Kitty a wink and raced up stairs.
Jean walked in, also with a bandana tied around her head. She carried a bucket of water and soap. "I guess this leaves me with the kitchen." She said as she noticed Kitty cleaning the living room.
Pietro and Todd still stood in the doorway as Jean brushed by them into the kitchen. They looked from Jean to Kitty, to Jean then back to Kitty again. "Ya know, I could really get used to this." Todd announced putting another fork-full of pancakes into his mouth.
Pietro nodded. "Me too." He looked over at Jean, who now was scrubbing to counters. "You know," He said in a lowered voice. "Red don't look so bad, now that shes not an X-geek, if ya know what I mean." He winked at Todd, who nodded in agreement. Pietro who was already done with his breakfast turned to set the plate down. When he "accidentally" dropped his fork on the floor. "Wups." He said with a sheepish grin. He watched eagerly to see if Jean would pick it up. She merely said nothing, and the fork lifted off the floor, hovering a few feet in the air in front of Pietro.
"You know," Jean began in a rather annoyed voice, her back still to both of them. "I could make it fly forward and poke you in the eyes, that is, unless you decide to put them back in their sockets." She narrowed her eyes, and the fork floated menacingly in front of him.
"Darn it!" Pietro said turning back around. "Stupid telepathy powers!" Todd shrugged and went back to his food.
"Ahhhhh!" A shrill voice sounded from the living room.
Pietro jumped in place while Todd nearly dropped his plate. "Ow!" Pietro said irritably. "Do you have to yell so loud? Theres better ways of getting our attention."
"Ya." Todd joined in. "You could threaten us with forks." Pietro glared at him.
A moment later lance came running out from the bathroom with a towel around his waist. His hair was dripping wet, and still slightly soapy. "Is everything okay?" He asked excitedly.
Kitty, who had been watching everyone's reaction, now tried to suppress a smile. "Yes. But what is this for?" She said, he voice filling with disgust as she lifted a jar. Upon first glance it just looked like a jar filled with dirt. However, looking closer everyone could see that what appeared to be dirt was really flys, and spiders, and other insects. Hundreds of them, all of which had suffocated from a lack of air.
"So that's where it went!" Todd said leaping over and taking the jar from Kitty's hand.
"Eeeuuu!" Kitty looked at the jar and then at Toad. "Do you actually eat those?"
Everyone else started at Toad with the same morbid look, including Jean who had come running from the kitchen, almost slipping on the sudsy floor.
Toad's jaw dropped. "What? It's protein I tell you! Protein!"
*****************************************
An hour later Jean, Kitty, and Lance plopped down onto the couch. Jean and Kitty from the exhaust of cleaning, and Lance because he was so incredibly full from the breakfast Kitty had cooked him. A few minutes went by.
"Okay." Jean took off her bandana and sat up. "I'm gonna go to the store and get us some food. After making Fred breakfast I used up what was left." Kitty and Lance both smiled at the remark. Jean sounded rather surprised. She hadn't yet realized that that was his normal consumption of food per meal.
"Kitty? Do you wanna come with me, or stay her?"
Kitty looked at Jean, who sat waiting, then glance at Lance, who blew her a kiss, so many choices. "I think I'll just stay here, if that's okay." To which she quickly followed, "Unless you want me to come or something?"
"No that's okay." Jean said knowingly, smiling and rolling her eyes at the two lovebirds. Then got serious. "Just be careful Kitty, keep your guard up, okay?"
Kitty nodded. As soon as Jean got up, Lance scooted closer to Kitty. "So, how you doin?" She giggled.
"Oh ya," Jean said walking back into the room. "When the others get back, tell them not to mess anything up! This took forever to clean, and if they mess it up, they won't get dinner." Kitty and Lance nodded as Jean walked out again. Lance smiled and leaned in for a kiss.
"One more thing!" Jean said walking in again. "Please don't let anyone leave, once they get back, we need to have a serious talk tonight about what we're gonna do." Lance and Kitty, who were now quite annoyed, nodded again. "Okay!" They both answered in unison.
"All right!" Jean smiled and put her jacket on. "See you guys later!" She waved then walked out the door.
Kitty looked back to Lance, who held up a finger. "Hang on." He jumped up and ran to the front door, locking it. Then ran back to his place next to Kitty. "Now, where were we?" He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her. This however, only lasted a few minutes.
"Hey? Where'd everyone go?" Fred's voice rang as he bounded down the stairs. "Oh Lance, Kitty, where'd everyone go?" He said as he saw them sitting on the couch looking up at him in annoyance.
Kitty yawned. "Pietro and Todd went off to cause trouble."
"And Jean went to the store." Lance finished.
"Oh good! We needed more food!" Fred said happily. "I have to go take some movies back." He lifted a bag to show them, filled with about two dozen cassettes. "They're about a month late."
"Buh-bye." Lance called as Fred closed the door behind him. He turned to Kitty. "Do you want something to drink?" She blinked her eyes and smiled, a tired expression covered her face.
"Sure." She managed a smile as she yawned again. Lance hurried off to the kitchen.
"You know, I was thinking……" He began as he carried two cans of cola into the living room. He stopped in his tracks as he saw Kitty lying sound asleep. Smiling, he set the soda down, and kissed her on the top of the head. "Sleep tight kitten." He whispered. He sat down on the couch next to her, and slowly dozed off too.
*************************************
About an hour later, Lance woke up. HE blinked his eyes. He remembered the morning, and falling asleep next to Kitty, but now he stared up at the ceiling, he felt something was wrong. He tried to move his hands when he realized that they were stuck. Sitting up. He found himself on the couch, with his wrists and ankles handcuffed.
"What on earth…" he began, then he saw Kitty. "Kitty, what's going on?" He asked in bewilderment. She stood idly by the front door, putting a jacket on. Her eyes were lifeless, her movements slow, she looked like a zombie…..
"Xavier!" Lance said, his blood boiling. Kitty turned to him with a malicious smile.
"How ever did you know?" It was Kitty's voice, but a cruel and heartless tone. Definitely not her own.
"What have you done to Kitty!" Lance demanded through clenched teeth.
"Kitty? Kitty's fine, just fine. She fell asleep, and let her guard down, how unfortunate for you. But don't worry, I'm not going to hurt Kitty, and in order to prevent you, I found it necessary to use….such precautions." She pointed to the handcuffs.
"Where did you…" He began, but was interrupted.
"Toad stole them from a policeman last month, or don't you remember? Oh no, you weren't there, were you Lance? You busy searching the library for records of your parents. How pathetic."
Lance glared at Kitty, or rather the Kitty being controlled by Xavier, she continued. "But then you were always searching for hope weren't you? With your parents, that maybe someday they would return to their reject son, and even with Kitty, that maybe she would be hear for good. Don't bother though, this'll probably be the last time you ever see her."
"You won't get away with this Xavier!" Lance tried to get up, his face red with anger, but he could even stand, the cuffs were locked so tightly around his ankles.
"Oh don't despair Lance, not all hope is lost, not even for you, maybe someday I'll have use of you too, then you just may be able to see your beloved Kitty again, not that she really ever loved you the same!"
"Shut up Xavier!" Lance yelled, completely enraged. "I'll never listen to your lies, unlike your zombie X-men. Not that they would listen to you either though, if they had a choice!" The moment Lance said that he felt a splitting pain inside his head.
"Goodbye Avalanche!" Kitty called, "I promised Jean I'd meet her, and I don't want to be late, for her, or the rest of the team that's waiting."
"No!" Lance yelled, as the door slammed shut. The earth started shaking violently, but he knew that not even that could stop Xavier. He had to get to Jean before it was too late, only then did he even have a chance at saving Kitty.