JANUARY 18th
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 10:30 A.M.
"I still can't believe he would do something like that," Rogue said over breakfast. Kurt had told all the other X-Men what had happened between Lance, Kitty and himself three days ago. When he had told them several of them, Scott especially, had been eager to find Lance and teach him a lesson. Kurt and Professor Xavier had managed to dissuade them by saying that this was a matter between Lance and Kurt. Kurt was just glad that Wolverine was on the road again, because he doubted that anything could have stopped him from finding Lance and destroying him for what he did to Kitty.
"I knew he was low, but I never knew he would do something that low," Scott scowled over his glasses. "So where is Kitty anyway?" Since her confrontation with Lance, Kitty had taken to secluding herself in her room and hadn't allowed anyone else to see her.
"Still in her room I guess," Kurt said quietly. He hadn't seen Kitty since three days ago, except once when the Professor had talked to him and Kitty privately. His mind had been in turmoil ever since then; part of him wanted to go and tell Kitty that he loved her, but the other part was telling him that he couldn't do it now, while Kitty was so broken up about Lance. And that was the side of his mind that was winning at the moment.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 10:30 A.M.
After recovering from the confrontation he had with Kurt three days previously Lance had been driven by a burning desire for revenge, and because of this he hadn't returned to the Brotherhood house. He knew he could have got Fred, Pietro and Todd to help him attack Kurt, but this was a personal matter between himself and the X-Man.
Unfortunately Lance had no ideas on how to get revenge on Kurt. He had seen the Institute's defensive system in action and he knew he couldn't get Kurt whilst he was at the Institute. In search of inspiration Lance had gone to the forest south of Bayville and was currently stalking the tree line, muttering to himself. "Stupid X-Man… If I get my hands on him…"
Lance suddenly heard movement behind him and whirled around. "You!" he took a step backwards and prepared to use his power.
"Wait!" The figure said. "I heard what you were saying. You want revenge right? Well so do I. So I've got a proposal for you. If I help you to get this Kurt, then you help me to get something, okay?"
Lance considered the man's proposal. "Okay, you got yourself a deal."
"Good."
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 12:00 P.M.
Kurt stood outside Kitty's room and took a deep breath. He had been deliberating all morning about whether he should reveal his true feelings to Kitty and he had finally decided to. Taking another deep breath he knocked on the door. When he received no answer he teleported inside the room to find it empty. Confused, Kurt teleported out of the room and headed off to find the Professor.
Xavier was in his study when Kurt found him, puzzling over a file. Kurt cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Professor?"
Xavier looked up and smiled. "Ah Kurt. Have a seat." He pointed to the empty seat opposite him.
"No thanks Professor. I was just wondering if you could tell me where to find Kitty?"
"You'll be glad to know I can help you in that respect. Kitty left on her own about half an hour ago. She should be in the park by now."
"Thanks Professor," Kurt turned to go.
"Oh, and Kurt."
"Yes?"
"Don't worry. She won't turn you down." Kurt grinned as he teleported to the park.
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:06 P.M.
Kurt finally found Kitty sitting in the shade of an enormous oak tree. She was sitting with a sketchbook in her hands, sketching something that Kurt couldn't see. Kurt could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he took a step closer to Kitty. His breath caught in his throat as he realised how beautiful Kitty looked with her skin dappled with sunlight shining through the trees' branches. He said a silent prayer and then plunged forward.
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:07 P.M.
Lance watched, hidden in a grove of bushes, as Kurt walked over to Kitty and sat down by her. He smiled as he saw them talking. This was just the chance he had been waiting for. "That's them?"
Lance turned to grin at his larger companion. "Yeah." He turned back to the clearing, where Kitty was showing Kurt some of her sketches. "You ready?"
"Of course."
"Let's go then."
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:12 P.M.
Kurt could feel beads of sweat trickling down his back as Kitty showed him her sketches. He had finally got her on her own and he was working up the nerve to tell her how he felt about her. Just as he was about to open his mouth a familiar voice interrupted him. "Well, well. I told you we'd meet again Wagner."
They both looked up to see Lance standing in front of them, grinning smugly. Kurt stood up. "What do you want Alvers?" He asked angrily.
"No need to be so angry Wagner, I just wanted to talk, that's all."
"Well talk then."
"You remember how I said I would win Kitty back?"
"Hah! Lance I told you we are totally through!" Kitty stood up a stormy expression on her face.
"Really? Well I was thinking of how to do that and during my musings I met an old friend who agreed to help me." There was an ear-splitting roar and a figure burst out of the bushes. Kitty grabbed hold of Kurt and turned them both intangible and the figure passed straight through them. He skidded to a stop and then turned to face them, a feral grin on his face.
"S, Sabretooth!" Kurt exclaimed in horror. Sabretooth paused for a moment before lunging at Kurt. As Sabretooth's claws closed on Kurt's jacket, Kurt teleported out of his grasp to a spot next to Kitty. "Kitty, I'll hold him off. You go back to the Institute and get help. Go!" Sabretooth suddenly lunged again, but both of his targets dodged out of his reach. Seeing Kitty run off, phasing through trees, Kurt turned to Sabretooth. "Hey, over here you overgrown cat!" Kurt had to buy Kitty enough time to get help. He teleported up into a tree and yelled down to Sabretooth, "up here you giant hairball!" He teleported again and yelled another insult at Sabretooth further enraging him and blinding him to the fact that Kitty had vanished. As Kurt teleported, Sabretooth suddenly charged at him and grabbed him by the throat, crushing his windpipe in his massive, clawed hand.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 12:16 P.M.
Kitty ran blindly on, not looking or caring which direction she was going in. She kept glancing back, wishing Kurt hadn't stayed behind to challenge Sabretooth. She was just thinking this when she ran head first into Lance. Lance grabbed Kitty's wrists as she flailed her fists at him and smiled at her. Only this time his smile wasn't caring or loving. It was smug and selfish and borderline insane. "Well, well Kitty. I'm so glad that we've got the chance to have a little talk." As he said that he forced Kitty to her knees, his grin getting wider.
"There's like, nothing to talk about Lance," Kitty gritted her teeth against the pain. "We're finished remember. Through."
"Oh come on Kitty. I'm sure we can talk about this. I mean when Sabretooth finishes with your boyfriend, you'll be single again."
"Look Lance, I would not go out with you if you were the last guy alive, okay?"
Lance's expression changed from almost amiable to enraged. "Well then Kitty, if that's the way you want it. If I can't have you then neither can anyone else." Lance raised his hand, but Kitty struck before he had time to do anything. She put all her anger and hatred into her kick and her foot connected hard with Lance's crotch. Lance's eyes flew open in pain and he dropped to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream. Kitty looked down at him and smiled.
"We're over Lance, okay?" Before Lance could reply she hit him squarely in the jaw, knocking him unconscious. She was rubbing her knuckles when she heard a noise behind her. She whirled around, expecting to see Sabretooth, but instead she came face-to-face with Wolverine. "Logan!"
"Hey half-pint," Wolverine grinned. "I saw what you did. Nice style." He nodded at Lance's prone figure.
"Thanks." Kitty suddenly remembered Kurt. "Kurt, he's back there!"
"What?"
"Kurt's back there with Sabretooth."
"Sabretooth!" Wolverine stood up. "Show me kid," Kitty ran back the way she came with Wolverine right behind her.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 12:24 P.M.
The barely conscious form of Kurt Wagner hit the floor with a thud. Sabretooth was impressed by the boy's stamina, he had lasted a lot longer against him than he had expected. As he moved in to finish Kurt off, Sabretooth was interrupted by a very familiar voice. "Hey Creed! How about you pick on someone your own size!"
Sabretooth turned and saw Wolverine standing a few metres in front of him. "Logan. I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up." Sabretooth moved away from Kurt and dropped into a fighting pose.
Wolverine copied him and suddenly the two adversaries leapt at each other. They grappled in mid-air, Sabretooth barely avoiding Wolverine's claws and Wolverine just ducking Sabretooth's massive fist. The two landed and Sabretooth tackled Wolverine to the ground. Sabretooth leapt high into the air to deliver the finishing blow, but Wolverine rolled out of the way and Sabretooth's fist smashed into the ground.
As Wolverine and Sabretooth fought Kitty hurried over to Kurt's prone form. As she ran to him she had an awful feeling that she would find a lifeless corpse. 'It was all my fault! Kurt please be alive!' Kitty knelt next to Kurt and felt a warm rush of relief as she felt a pulse at his neck. "Kurt, Kurt!" She shook him to try and wake him up. "C'mon Kurt wake up." Kurt groaned as she shook him and put a hand to his forehead.
"Oh, where am I?" Kurt propped himself up on his elbow and looked around.
"Oh Kurt you're okay!" Kitty flung her arms around him. Kurt looked slightly confused as he returned her hug. Kitty let go of him after several seconds and helped him up.
Wolverine slashed his claws across Sabretooth's face knocking him backwards into a tree. Sabretooth groaned as he pulled himself to his feet, blood trickling down his face. "You win this time Logan. But remember, 'One shall fall by the other's hand. Our destiny, we can't change it." With that Sabretooth turned and disappeared into the trees. Wolverine retracted his claws and sank to his knees, exhausted by the fight.
"Mr. Logan? Are you okay?" Kitty's voice was anxious.
"I'm fine kid. Just give me a minute." Wolverine drew in large gulps of air, fuming mentally. 'I must be getting old if a little fight like that tires me out.' "You two should go back to the Institute. I'll follow you."
"Right," Kitty turned to go, but then stopped, "uh, Mr. Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you find us here?"
"I was on my way back to the Institute when Charles contacted me and told me you were here and in some kind of trouble."
"That was lucky," Kurt cut in.
"Yeah, thanks for helping us Mr. Logan."
Wolverine smiled, "no problem kids. Now go on home."
"Right." Kurt and Kitty set off towards the Institute, but when they were out of Logan's sight, Kurt stopped.
"Listen Kitty there, there's something I have to tell you."
"What Kurt?" Kitty was startled by the seriousness of Kurt's tone. Kurt was usually very light hearted.
"Kitty," Kurt took hold of her hands, staring into her eyes, "I should have told you this a long time ago, but I was afraid. Afraid that you'd turn me down."
"Okay Kurt, you're like totally freaking me out here."
"Kitty, I, I, I love you."
Kitty blinked. "Pardon?"
"I love you Kitty."
Kitty was stunned. Finally she turned away from Kurt and laughed. Kurt was heart broken. "I understand Kitty," Kurt turned away. "Thanks for letting me tell you."
"Wait Kurt! I'm not laughing at you."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"I'm laughing at myself," Kitty took Kurt's hands in her own and looked into his eyes. "I'm laughing at myself for being such an idiot. Kurt, I love you too."
"You do!"
"Yes. I just never realised it before."
This time it was Kurt that was stunned. He blinked several times and was about to speak when Kitty put her arm around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss that lasted for a long time. When they broke apart Kurt blinked and grinned stupidly. "Wow!"
Kitty smiled. "Shall we head back to the Institute and carry on where we left off here?"
"Sure."
XAVIER INSITITUTE - 1:00 P.M.
Kitty and Kurt materialised in Kurt's bedroom. "So Kurt, where were we?" Kitty asked.
"I believe you had just kissed me. Now it's my turn to repay the favour," Kurt said before kissing Kitty.
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 1:01 P.M.
In his study, Professor Xavier looked up from the file he was studying. Slowly he smiled. All was well amongst his X-Men again.
Fin.
The last part of Love and War is finished. Yay! ^^ Thank you everyone who has reviewed me, you are all great!
pilot06-cosmos - Chapter one and two were the wrong way round, so when you read it, chapter two should have been before chapter one. However, I have now fixed this and all the chapters are in the right order.
Silvershadowcat and Starian Princess - I decided not to include a Kitty/Pietro pairing in this story. Instead I am working on a Kitty/Pietro story dedicated to you.
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 10:30 A.M.
"I still can't believe he would do something like that," Rogue said over breakfast. Kurt had told all the other X-Men what had happened between Lance, Kitty and himself three days ago. When he had told them several of them, Scott especially, had been eager to find Lance and teach him a lesson. Kurt and Professor Xavier had managed to dissuade them by saying that this was a matter between Lance and Kurt. Kurt was just glad that Wolverine was on the road again, because he doubted that anything could have stopped him from finding Lance and destroying him for what he did to Kitty.
"I knew he was low, but I never knew he would do something that low," Scott scowled over his glasses. "So where is Kitty anyway?" Since her confrontation with Lance, Kitty had taken to secluding herself in her room and hadn't allowed anyone else to see her.
"Still in her room I guess," Kurt said quietly. He hadn't seen Kitty since three days ago, except once when the Professor had talked to him and Kitty privately. His mind had been in turmoil ever since then; part of him wanted to go and tell Kitty that he loved her, but the other part was telling him that he couldn't do it now, while Kitty was so broken up about Lance. And that was the side of his mind that was winning at the moment.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 10:30 A.M.
After recovering from the confrontation he had with Kurt three days previously Lance had been driven by a burning desire for revenge, and because of this he hadn't returned to the Brotherhood house. He knew he could have got Fred, Pietro and Todd to help him attack Kurt, but this was a personal matter between himself and the X-Man.
Unfortunately Lance had no ideas on how to get revenge on Kurt. He had seen the Institute's defensive system in action and he knew he couldn't get Kurt whilst he was at the Institute. In search of inspiration Lance had gone to the forest south of Bayville and was currently stalking the tree line, muttering to himself. "Stupid X-Man… If I get my hands on him…"
Lance suddenly heard movement behind him and whirled around. "You!" he took a step backwards and prepared to use his power.
"Wait!" The figure said. "I heard what you were saying. You want revenge right? Well so do I. So I've got a proposal for you. If I help you to get this Kurt, then you help me to get something, okay?"
Lance considered the man's proposal. "Okay, you got yourself a deal."
"Good."
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 12:00 P.M.
Kurt stood outside Kitty's room and took a deep breath. He had been deliberating all morning about whether he should reveal his true feelings to Kitty and he had finally decided to. Taking another deep breath he knocked on the door. When he received no answer he teleported inside the room to find it empty. Confused, Kurt teleported out of the room and headed off to find the Professor.
Xavier was in his study when Kurt found him, puzzling over a file. Kurt cleared his throat. "Excuse me, Professor?"
Xavier looked up and smiled. "Ah Kurt. Have a seat." He pointed to the empty seat opposite him.
"No thanks Professor. I was just wondering if you could tell me where to find Kitty?"
"You'll be glad to know I can help you in that respect. Kitty left on her own about half an hour ago. She should be in the park by now."
"Thanks Professor," Kurt turned to go.
"Oh, and Kurt."
"Yes?"
"Don't worry. She won't turn you down." Kurt grinned as he teleported to the park.
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:06 P.M.
Kurt finally found Kitty sitting in the shade of an enormous oak tree. She was sitting with a sketchbook in her hands, sketching something that Kurt couldn't see. Kurt could hear his heart pounding in his ears as he took a step closer to Kitty. His breath caught in his throat as he realised how beautiful Kitty looked with her skin dappled with sunlight shining through the trees' branches. He said a silent prayer and then plunged forward.
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:07 P.M.
Lance watched, hidden in a grove of bushes, as Kurt walked over to Kitty and sat down by her. He smiled as he saw them talking. This was just the chance he had been waiting for. "That's them?"
Lance turned to grin at his larger companion. "Yeah." He turned back to the clearing, where Kitty was showing Kurt some of her sketches. "You ready?"
"Of course."
"Let's go then."
BAYVILLE PARK - 12:12 P.M.
Kurt could feel beads of sweat trickling down his back as Kitty showed him her sketches. He had finally got her on her own and he was working up the nerve to tell her how he felt about her. Just as he was about to open his mouth a familiar voice interrupted him. "Well, well. I told you we'd meet again Wagner."
They both looked up to see Lance standing in front of them, grinning smugly. Kurt stood up. "What do you want Alvers?" He asked angrily.
"No need to be so angry Wagner, I just wanted to talk, that's all."
"Well talk then."
"You remember how I said I would win Kitty back?"
"Hah! Lance I told you we are totally through!" Kitty stood up a stormy expression on her face.
"Really? Well I was thinking of how to do that and during my musings I met an old friend who agreed to help me." There was an ear-splitting roar and a figure burst out of the bushes. Kitty grabbed hold of Kurt and turned them both intangible and the figure passed straight through them. He skidded to a stop and then turned to face them, a feral grin on his face.
"S, Sabretooth!" Kurt exclaimed in horror. Sabretooth paused for a moment before lunging at Kurt. As Sabretooth's claws closed on Kurt's jacket, Kurt teleported out of his grasp to a spot next to Kitty. "Kitty, I'll hold him off. You go back to the Institute and get help. Go!" Sabretooth suddenly lunged again, but both of his targets dodged out of his reach. Seeing Kitty run off, phasing through trees, Kurt turned to Sabretooth. "Hey, over here you overgrown cat!" Kurt had to buy Kitty enough time to get help. He teleported up into a tree and yelled down to Sabretooth, "up here you giant hairball!" He teleported again and yelled another insult at Sabretooth further enraging him and blinding him to the fact that Kitty had vanished. As Kurt teleported, Sabretooth suddenly charged at him and grabbed him by the throat, crushing his windpipe in his massive, clawed hand.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 12:16 P.M.
Kitty ran blindly on, not looking or caring which direction she was going in. She kept glancing back, wishing Kurt hadn't stayed behind to challenge Sabretooth. She was just thinking this when she ran head first into Lance. Lance grabbed Kitty's wrists as she flailed her fists at him and smiled at her. Only this time his smile wasn't caring or loving. It was smug and selfish and borderline insane. "Well, well Kitty. I'm so glad that we've got the chance to have a little talk." As he said that he forced Kitty to her knees, his grin getting wider.
"There's like, nothing to talk about Lance," Kitty gritted her teeth against the pain. "We're finished remember. Through."
"Oh come on Kitty. I'm sure we can talk about this. I mean when Sabretooth finishes with your boyfriend, you'll be single again."
"Look Lance, I would not go out with you if you were the last guy alive, okay?"
Lance's expression changed from almost amiable to enraged. "Well then Kitty, if that's the way you want it. If I can't have you then neither can anyone else." Lance raised his hand, but Kitty struck before he had time to do anything. She put all her anger and hatred into her kick and her foot connected hard with Lance's crotch. Lance's eyes flew open in pain and he dropped to his knees, his mouth open in a silent scream. Kitty looked down at him and smiled.
"We're over Lance, okay?" Before Lance could reply she hit him squarely in the jaw, knocking him unconscious. She was rubbing her knuckles when she heard a noise behind her. She whirled around, expecting to see Sabretooth, but instead she came face-to-face with Wolverine. "Logan!"
"Hey half-pint," Wolverine grinned. "I saw what you did. Nice style." He nodded at Lance's prone figure.
"Thanks." Kitty suddenly remembered Kurt. "Kurt, he's back there!"
"What?"
"Kurt's back there with Sabretooth."
"Sabretooth!" Wolverine stood up. "Show me kid," Kitty ran back the way she came with Wolverine right behind her.
BAYVILLE FOREST - 12:24 P.M.
The barely conscious form of Kurt Wagner hit the floor with a thud. Sabretooth was impressed by the boy's stamina, he had lasted a lot longer against him than he had expected. As he moved in to finish Kurt off, Sabretooth was interrupted by a very familiar voice. "Hey Creed! How about you pick on someone your own size!"
Sabretooth turned and saw Wolverine standing a few metres in front of him. "Logan. I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up." Sabretooth moved away from Kurt and dropped into a fighting pose.
Wolverine copied him and suddenly the two adversaries leapt at each other. They grappled in mid-air, Sabretooth barely avoiding Wolverine's claws and Wolverine just ducking Sabretooth's massive fist. The two landed and Sabretooth tackled Wolverine to the ground. Sabretooth leapt high into the air to deliver the finishing blow, but Wolverine rolled out of the way and Sabretooth's fist smashed into the ground.
As Wolverine and Sabretooth fought Kitty hurried over to Kurt's prone form. As she ran to him she had an awful feeling that she would find a lifeless corpse. 'It was all my fault! Kurt please be alive!' Kitty knelt next to Kurt and felt a warm rush of relief as she felt a pulse at his neck. "Kurt, Kurt!" She shook him to try and wake him up. "C'mon Kurt wake up." Kurt groaned as she shook him and put a hand to his forehead.
"Oh, where am I?" Kurt propped himself up on his elbow and looked around.
"Oh Kurt you're okay!" Kitty flung her arms around him. Kurt looked slightly confused as he returned her hug. Kitty let go of him after several seconds and helped him up.
Wolverine slashed his claws across Sabretooth's face knocking him backwards into a tree. Sabretooth groaned as he pulled himself to his feet, blood trickling down his face. "You win this time Logan. But remember, 'One shall fall by the other's hand. Our destiny, we can't change it." With that Sabretooth turned and disappeared into the trees. Wolverine retracted his claws and sank to his knees, exhausted by the fight.
"Mr. Logan? Are you okay?" Kitty's voice was anxious.
"I'm fine kid. Just give me a minute." Wolverine drew in large gulps of air, fuming mentally. 'I must be getting old if a little fight like that tires me out.' "You two should go back to the Institute. I'll follow you."
"Right," Kitty turned to go, but then stopped, "uh, Mr. Logan?"
"Yeah?"
"How did you find us here?"
"I was on my way back to the Institute when Charles contacted me and told me you were here and in some kind of trouble."
"That was lucky," Kurt cut in.
"Yeah, thanks for helping us Mr. Logan."
Wolverine smiled, "no problem kids. Now go on home."
"Right." Kurt and Kitty set off towards the Institute, but when they were out of Logan's sight, Kurt stopped.
"Listen Kitty there, there's something I have to tell you."
"What Kurt?" Kitty was startled by the seriousness of Kurt's tone. Kurt was usually very light hearted.
"Kitty," Kurt took hold of her hands, staring into her eyes, "I should have told you this a long time ago, but I was afraid. Afraid that you'd turn me down."
"Okay Kurt, you're like totally freaking me out here."
"Kitty, I, I, I love you."
Kitty blinked. "Pardon?"
"I love you Kitty."
Kitty was stunned. Finally she turned away from Kurt and laughed. Kurt was heart broken. "I understand Kitty," Kurt turned away. "Thanks for letting me tell you."
"Wait Kurt! I'm not laughing at you."
"Then why are you laughing?"
"I'm laughing at myself," Kitty took Kurt's hands in her own and looked into his eyes. "I'm laughing at myself for being such an idiot. Kurt, I love you too."
"You do!"
"Yes. I just never realised it before."
This time it was Kurt that was stunned. He blinked several times and was about to speak when Kitty put her arm around his neck and pulled him into a passionate kiss that lasted for a long time. When they broke apart Kurt blinked and grinned stupidly. "Wow!"
Kitty smiled. "Shall we head back to the Institute and carry on where we left off here?"
"Sure."
XAVIER INSITITUTE - 1:00 P.M.
Kitty and Kurt materialised in Kurt's bedroom. "So Kurt, where were we?" Kitty asked.
"I believe you had just kissed me. Now it's my turn to repay the favour," Kurt said before kissing Kitty.
XAVIER INSTITUTE - 1:01 P.M.
In his study, Professor Xavier looked up from the file he was studying. Slowly he smiled. All was well amongst his X-Men again.
The last part of Love and War is finished. Yay! ^^ Thank you everyone who has reviewed me, you are all great!
pilot06-cosmos - Chapter one and two were the wrong way round, so when you read it, chapter two should have been before chapter one. However, I have now fixed this and all the chapters are in the right order.
Silvershadowcat and Starian Princess - I decided not to include a Kitty/Pietro pairing in this story. Instead I am working on a Kitty/Pietro story dedicated to you.
