Author's Notes: No, this isn't the final part, but finals kinda crept up on me, so look for more updates within about a week. Silly school.
(4 June 2003)
Part 3: Straight on 'til Morning
The wind ripped through Rogue's hair and she couldn't help but let out a jubilant cry. In the driver's seat, Kitty echoed the cry, her face split with a grin.
"Listen to us," she yelled to be heard over the wind, "we sound like Thelma and Louise!"
Rogue either didn't hear or didn't care. She was half dangling out of the car window, which was speeding down the highway at 70 miles per hour. Both of them knew that it wasn't quite the same as the power of flight that Rogue had recently lost as a result of injuries sustained during the alien invasion of Madripoor, but at the moment it was as good as she was going to get. Besides, when Rogue closed her eyes, she could imagine that she was really soaring miles above the earth without a soul for miles…
A piercing sound shook both girls from their thoughts. The red and blue flashing lights made it clear that the fun was over. Rogue quickly ducked back inside the car and crossed her arms with a huff. "Shoot, jus' when ah was startin' t' get into it, too."
"What do you think?" Kitty asked, watching the police car through the rearview mirror. "Try to make a break for it?"
"Nah. Knowin' our luck we'd end up on the next episode of Cops. We'd never live that one down."
"You're no fun," accused Kitty, but she slowed the car and pulled onto the shoulder. The sun was just starting to set, and the highway was relatively clear of any traffic.
Rogue reached into the glove compartment to fish out the registration. "Ah'm glad it was you drivin', sugah," she said, piling old gas receipts and CD cases into her lap. "No license," she admitted at Kitty's questioning look.
"What?!"
"Well you try getting' official ID as 'Shadowcat' sometime an' see how successful you are."
Kitty frowned at Rogue. "You could use your real name, y'know."
Rogue snorted. "Yeah, that's gonna happen. Ahh, here it is." She handed the papers to Kitty and started shoving everything back into the glove compartment as the other woman smiled at the approaching officer.
"Ladies," the officer said by way of greeting. "Do you have any idea how fast you were going?"
"Speed limit?" said Kitty hopefully.
The officer smirked. "Not even close. Try 82 miles an hour."
Kitty boggled. "82?? I was sure not to go over 75!"
"Oh, yeah, that reminds me," Rogue said quietly, "the speedometer's broken."
"You are so dead."
"As for your friend here, what was that stunt all about?" the officer asked, indicating to Rogue.
"She must've been channeling a Labrador Retriever or something," Kitty said, still glaring.
Rogue gave an indignant "Hey!" but the policeman ignored her and continued talking. "I know you young people think that you're invincible, that the world can never hurt you, but take it from me, that's not the case. I've seen kids your age and younger who've been seriously hurt or worse from taking too many stupid risks. You're not as invulnerable as you like to think."
Kitty and Rogue looked at each other, but said nothing.
The police officer sighed. "Look, it's getting late. I'll let you off with a warning this time, but don't let me catch either of you doing something crazy like that again. Understood?" He nodded approvingly at the "Yes sir"s. "Good. Now you two girls head on home. And drive safely."
He walked away from the car as Kitty started it and pulled back onto the highway, making sure to stick to 65 miles per hour.
"That was lucky," said Rogue, right before Kitty swatted her arm. "OW!"
"'Oh, yeah, that reminds me'," Kitty spat mockingly.
Rogue rubbed her arm, more out of shock than pain. "Ah'm sorry. Ah was gonna tell ya b'fore we left, but once ah started feelin' that rush again… Well, ah just forgot all 'bout it."
Kitty had originally planned to make Rogue squirm a bit more before letting her off the hook, but since they hadn't actually gotten a ticket, Kitty decided to just drop it. "Good stuff, huh?"
"It was great," Rogue said enthusiastically. "Not as good as the real thing, o' course, but f'r a moment there, ah really thought ah could jus' kick off the ground an' keep goin'." She laughed. "Maybe jus' as well that cop came along when he did, ah might'a tried it."
Kitty laughed as well. "Eww, Rogue pancakes. Talk about not living something down. You've faced off against some of the most dangerous people this world has ever seen and what finally takes you out? You fall out of a car."
"Heroic to the end, that's me."
The two continued driving in silence for a while, finally broken by a question that had been on both of their minds.
"So where are we going, anyway?" Kitty asked.
Rogue chewed on her bottom lip, considering the question. "No idea," she finally concluded. She smiled at Kitty's amused chuckle. "Well let's hear your suggestion, sugah."
"No idea," echoed Kitty. "I guess… We just keep going until we stop. Whenever and wherever that is."
"Sounds like as good a plan as any t' me."
"Second star on the right and straight on 'til morning."
"Thank you, Peter Pan."
"You're welcome, Tinkerbelle."
