[AN: Depending on the progress of this story and the readers response (because I'm losing interest in Tori's special ability) Her powers are subjected to change. I need you, the readers, to give suggestions. Credit will be given where it's due. Just e-mail me the ability you think is best. The ability I like the most will be chosen. You'll be e-mailed a response. Shoutoutz2: Kase, SimplyWritten-KG, blaithlin-windmistress, Kerrigan, Elfchik, KamiSusan, and Snowfire for being the first few to r/r my work.]

Besides the quiet chime of the clock on the wall every hour, The Rec. Room was quiet. Like most newcomers, she was nervous about her first day at Bayville High. As she sat near the fireplace reading one of Rogue's gothic novels, she giggled. Not at the expense of the storyline but at the words of Kurt and how he referred to himself as the fuzzy elf. It was quit amusing to see someone as different as him have a strong sense of self-admiration. It was also pleasing for him not to care what others thought of him. Other thoughts started to brew. She laughed at how Gambit always said his name in most of his sentences and how Kitty teased Logan about his drinking. Tori looked up at the sound of footsteps and saw Tabitha coming down the stairs. Dressed in higher fashion than the nightgown Tori assumed she was supposed to be wearing, Tabby smiled down on her.

"What'cha up to?" The blonde bombshell asked. Tori tilted her head and looked at the other's attire. Miniskirt. Halter Top. High Heels. Not the typical nightwear for a high schooler.

"What am I up to, Cher'? Zhe question is what are you up to?"

Tabitha pulled on a suede jacket. When she was settled, she placed an index over her mouth and Shh'ed Tori.

"I have a date."

Tori blinked in surprise.

"A date? With who?"

Tabby giggled childishly and thought back to her stay at the Brotherhood. She sighed and Tori waited. Shrugging with a twirl, Tabby giggled once more. Kitty poked half of her body out onto the top stairwell. She made sure she was well hidden from the two and listened in on their little conversation. Well, …She's been listening ever since Tabitha snuck out of her room. Tabby held out an index finger and swished it side to side.

"Uh-uh-uh. I'm not telling." She sung. Tori frowned.

"I never get to pry. Oh well. Have fun okay?" Tabitha nodded and pranced toward the door. She twisted the doorknob.

"Huh? Hey!" She turned to Tori. "It won't open!"

Kitty sniggered quietly. It was a good thing she reminded the professor to set the alarm system before they went to bed. They couldn't dare take another intrusion like when Kurt and her faced the three boys from school. Yet, she couldn't bear to see Tabitha dating the one guy she respected yet loathed. Tori got up from her seat on Ororo's rocking chair. She sat the novel on the top of the fireplace and walked over to the front door. She placed her hand to the door's control panel. Shutting her eyes she concentrated and her hand trembled, drawing out as much electricity as she could, but only enough to weaken the sound system and motion detectors. To get a better look, Kitty moved slowly down the stairs, making sure that her body hugged the wall. The light on the panel turned green. Access to the front door was then granted. Tori shuddered as she held her hand close to her.

"I'm never doing that again." Tabby grinned and gave Tori a brief hug. If she would of embraced her any longer, Tori would of suffocated in the warmth of her cloak. She was also surprised. Since her stay no one really wanted to be near her because of her distance from others. The only ones daring enough was Kitty, Kurt, Jubilee and Rogue. Logan had his hands full trying to keep Remy focused on Rogue. Although she liked the attention, she felt it was right what Logan was doing. Remy is much better off with Rogue than herself. Breaking her thought, she smiled to Tabitha and nodded.

"Thanks!" Tabitha covered her mouth and looked around as her voice echoed.

"oops" she whispered into a giggle. Tori faintly smiled.

"You're welcome."

She watched as Tabitha took off down the stretched pathway and firecracker her way past the gate. Shaking her head, Tori laughed quietly to herself. Kitty jumped out of hiding, pointing an accusing finger at the beret-wearing 17 year old.

"Ah ha!" She squealed as she dropped to her level. "You're in like, BIG trouble, Tori!"

Tori tilted her head, not amused by the lil' spy. She blinked and gave no response. Kitty eased back a bit.

"Aren't you like, the least bit scared that like, I might tell on you?"

"No."

Kitty grunted. "Why not?"

"Because as I see it, you were out of bed when you have a curfew to uphold."

"Uh, like, no. I got out of bed because I noticed Tabitha missing!" Tori crossed her arms as a sign of disbelief. She rolled her eyes.

"So you decided to spy on Tabitha from the stairwell?" Kitty's jaw dropped and she stammered.

"I…no..but…How'd you know that?" she demanded. Tori shrugged as she walked toward the fireplace. She picked up the novel once more.

"I'm a mutant." Kitty grunted as Tori walked past her with a yawn. She stretched a bit and trudged toward the stairs.

"Wait a minute." The hand that clasped her shoulder brought Tori to a stop. She turned to face Kitty.

"Where'd she go? I have to know! She's trouble!" Kitty stared up at her and Tori blinked. She shrugged once more.

"I don't know. She didn't say." Kitty stomped her feet and groaned quietly.

"Aww c'mon! You must, like, know something!"

Tori brushed Kitty's hand off of her cloak and took a step back. She felt uncomfortable with Kitty or anyone that close to her.

"I don't. All she said was that she had a date. She was happy about it." Tori's mouth twisted into a frown at her own words. The words "date" and "happy" replayed in her mind. Like, Rogue, she longed to be able to touch someone and for someone to touch her. But was quite unstable with her ability. Somehow she wished she could acquire a new one. Something other than the gift she was born with.

"Are you lying to me?" Kitty crossed her arms and passed Tori a conniving look.

"Hey, ma chere, if you don't believe me then ask Tabitha when she returns."

When Tori turned to leave, Kurt BAMFed in front of her with a yawn and a scratch of his head. Still half asleep he yawned a hello to Tori and Kitty and trudged tiredly into the kitchen. Blinking in unison, Kitty and Tori both followed. They watched as Kurt lifted his head from the fridge in surprise.

"Kitty? Tori?! Vhat are you two doing here?"

"What am I doing here? Like, what are YOU doing here? with our food?" Kitty frowned with both hands perched on her hips. Kurt closed the refrigerator door with his tail and smiled sheepishly as a few items cluttered to the floor near his feet. Silence and time stood still as they watched a jar of jelly roll across the room and under the kitchen table. Tori blinked then looked directly at Kurt.

"Uh…um…I vas hungry!" Kurt explained. "If zhat's a crime zhen sue me!"

"Never mind that." Tori smiled. Kurt nervously smiled back. Why was she smiling? This was scaring the fuzzy one. Kitty noticed the contact between them and stalked over to Kurt. She reached for a few of his items and set them onto the table.

"Hey!"

Kitty quickly covered his mouth and Shh'ed him.

"Are you crazy?! Like, don't wake up the whole house!" She whispered. Tori yawned and turned to leave very quietly. Success! She was eager to escape. Tiptoeing as Kitty bribed Kurt to go with her to get Tabitha, Tori was well on her way to the stairwell.

"1!2!3!…" she counted internally as each foot patted softly against the stairs. Something grasped her and she shrieked being pulled through the wall. Kitty and her both fell back against the kitchen floor. Tori grumbled and Kurt rushed to help her up.

"Thanks." She murmured. She glanced over to Kitty. "What do you want? I was going to sleep!"

"No you weren't" Kitty protested.

"Yes, I was."

"Were not!"

"Were too!"

"Not!"

"Too!"

"NOT."

"Girls!" Kurt yelled.

Tori gritted her teeth and grabbed Kitty by her neat pink collar. Kitty shrieked.

"Look! I have the tiniest bit of patience with you. Don't blow it!"

Smirking, Kitty fazed right through her grasp.

"Unless you can get a grip, you're coming with us. Right, Kurt?" Kurt was already on his way out the door when he heard his name.

"uh…um. Right, Kitty." He sighed and hung his head low. Kitty grabbed his hand and held tightly onto Tori's, who desperately tried to free herself. Kitty nodded to Kurt.

"Alright Kurt! Get us past those gates!"

Kurt sighed then nodded. "Fine."

Tori grunted as she eagerly tried over and over again to escape this little rendezvous. Because she was growing tired with fatigue very quickly, she failed in her attempt.

BAMF!

Logan trotted downstairs with his claws extracted just as Kurt's traces disappeared. The voices and noises had once filled his ear not too long ago, so he couldn't have been dreaming. Trained as he was, he jumped into the kitchen ready to brawl. Seeing nothing but ingredients for a sandwich lying on the kitchen table, he growled lowly.

"I thought I heard something…" He grumbled, rubbing a hand against that handsome face of his. "wait.'

Looking upward, he sniffed the air.

Sniff …Half-pint. Sniff …Fuzzball. Growl …Arcane.