Moving On
~*~
I saw you coming from a mile away
Trying to hide behind that pretty face
Bet my last dollar baby you been bruised
Poor little heart all black 'n' blue
.
Last thing you need's another pickup line
You must have heard them all a thousand times
God only knows what you been through
Believe me I been broken too
-Bon Jovi
~*~
Two weeks later
"She still won't come out," Rogue said. The group stood outside of the Kitty and Rogue's room. "What should we do?" Kitty had locked herself in their room emerging only to use the bathroom, shower, and eat.
"We can't force her," Mr. McCoy said.
"Bullocks," Pete said. "The hell we can't." He went into the room. Kitty was in another sweatshirt and pair of jeans.
"What do you want?" Kitty asked. Pete picked her up carrying her outside and putting her in his car. "What are you doing?"
"You've been feelin' sorry for yourself, Pryde. Which was fine for a while, but I for one refuse to allow you to fade away."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Don't know," he admitted glancing at her. "I just knew I had to get you out of the house."
Kitty looked at him then at her outfit horrified. "In this? Wisdom, I can't let anyone see me dressed like this!"
He grinned at the fact that she was finally showing interest in her appearance. "`At's my girl. Don't worry, Pryde, I won't take you anywhere where your peers hang out. It's just . . . you stayin' up there all the time, it scared me, it did. I'm not one to scare easily, I was afraid you'd do somethin' stupid."
"I wouldn't have killed myself."
"There are other forms of self-destruction, kid." He pulled over. "You want to drive?"
"You're actually allowing me to drive your car?"
"You need to do something, we're on a very long back road which just leads to other back roads, so yeah."
Kitty smiled widely. "This, sir, is something you may regret." They switched sides.
"Nah, I've heard the stories. You just need the right teacher. With the right person it's easy, and fun." His voice had dropped a couple octaves in those last few words making her blush warmly. "Right, so, put the car in drive and ease off of the break." She obeyed. "Okay, now push down the gas slowly." She did this and they began moving. "Now, do whatever you want. There are never any cops on this road, drive as fast as you want." She looked at him unable to believe that he was actually saying that. He sat back looking at her seriously.
Her smiled widened even more. "Put on your seatbelt," she said realizing that he meant it. He smiled obeying. She tore down the road. Pete sat back smiling when he saw how happy just driving made her. They stopped about an hour later to switch drivers back. "I'm impressed."
"Why?"
"You can, like, actually handle my driving."
"It's nothing. Okay, it might be a little scary on a highway," he said with a significant look. She blushed looking down remembering the only time she had ever seen Logan scared. "But here, it was nothing."
"Thank you, Pete, I needed this."
"I know," he said. "The others had this idea that you needed to be left alone but I figured that you had enough of that."
"I just didn't want to face everyone. Sympathy I can deal with but pity I can't."
Pete looked at her sympathetically. "Kitty, they're your friends, plus you have to see them sometimes. Even if I have to drag you out of your room kicking and screaming."
She felt her lips curve up a little at his concern and saluted him mockingly. "Yes sir!"
He grinned at the fact that she was beginning to get some of her fighting personality back. "Now, ready to go home?"
"Yeah, might as well get this over with." He drove back to the Institute and the two walked into the building.
"Vhat were you thinking?" Kurt demanded crossing his arms. "Where in the hell were you two?"
"Driving," Pete said shrugging. Rogue who was standing with the elf and Remy lifted her eyebrows. "I told you we could force her out of her room." Kurt looked between the two and took in the way Kitty seemed almost happy. His tail drooped. After Lance had left he had hoped that maybe she would turn to him for comfort. She hadn't instead she had gone to the Englishman. He had still held out some hope that maybe the two of them . . . but now he could see that Kitty had chosen. He bamfed away unable to watch them.
"I'm sorry, guys," Kitty said.
"Pas de problem, petite," Remy said waving a hand dismissively.
"We were gonna watch a movie," Rogue said. "You want to join us?" Kitty smiled.
"Sure," Kitty said. The four went into the rec. room. Rogue and Remy stretched out on the floor wrapped in each other's arms while Kitty and Pete sat on the couch, on opposite sides. The movie, to Kitty's extreme dislike, was horror so through the whole thing she inched closer to Pete surprised when the Brit reached out and pulled her firmly into his arms.
She relaxed as he laid his head on top of hers whispering: "Stop beatin' aroun' the bloody bush, Pryde."
The next day
Kitty woke up and got out of bed to take a shower. She then walked down the stairs running into Pete as she turned the corner into the kitchen. "We seem to meet like this often," he said.
"Morning," she whispered.
"Well, you're out here without it being time for breakfast. `At's a good sign." Kitty sat down at the table.
"Well, I was thinking and all this moping, it just gives Sabretooth power over me. I can't let that happen so here I am."
Pete smiled. "Good girl." He sat down beside her grabbing an apple and handing it to her. "The professor wants us to take all of you on a little trip."
"Where?"
"The forest. We'll be spending the night out there."
Kitty made a face. "In the woods?"
"Problem, Pryde? Can't handle it?"
"Trying to bait me, Wisdom?"
He grinned. "Ya got me. It's supposed to teach you. `ell, I have no bloody clue what its supposed to teach you."
"Fear of mosquitoes?" Kitty offered. He chuckled.
"Possible." Rogue and Remy walked in holding hands.
"Bonjour," Remy said.
"You two packed?" Pete asked.
"Oui," Remy said.
"We're leaving today?" Kitty asked.
"Yeah," Rogue said. "I'll help ya pack." The two girls went back upstairs smiling.
"Dis is heaven, non?" Remy said leaning against the wall.
"I'm just happy she's wearing normal clothes again," Pete said.
"Oui," Remy agreed.
Logan came in shouldering a duffle bag. "The bus is waitin' outside."
"Kitty's upstairs packing," Pete said.
"She's comin' with us?" Logan asked surprised. The two girls came downstairs both sporting green suitcases.
"We're ready," Rogue said. The new recruits came in grumbling about the time and carrying their bags.
"Let's go," Logan said. He looked at Pete and Remy narrowing his eyes. "You two are here as instructors. Understood?"
"Of course, mon ami," Remy said.
"Yeah, do you think we'd abandon you?" Pete asked trying to look innocent and failing miserably.
"Yes," Logan said. They stored the bags in the back of the bus. Logan sat in the front of the bus, Remy in the back, which left Pete in the middle. He laid his head on the window. Kitty came to sit next to him.
"You don't seem to be having fun," she said.
"Pryde, I'm stuck on this bloody bus with a bunch of kids," Pete grumbled. "Fun isn't even a possibility."
"Kids? Is that what you think I am?" she asked looking hurt. She started to get up but he grabbed her arm.
"Sit down." She obeyed glaring at him for ordering her around. "Don't be daft. You know I don't think that."
She looked into his eyes seriously. "I don't know what you think." With that she got up and went back to her seat with Kurt.
"Vhat's vrong?" Kurt asked.
"I don't know," Kitty sighed. "I just feel like he doesn't want me."
Kurt paused looking at his best friend. He paused before responding to her. He knew that this was his chance but he also knew that he wanted Kitty to be happy, even if it was away from him. "Katzchen (sp?), that's not true. I'm sure it's not."
Kitty smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Kurt, things are just. hard."
"Don't worry, Keety, it'll get better."
In the back "Iceboy was right," Remy said.
"That's something no one ever says," Rogue said. "What was he right about?"
"Those two do need to sleep together," Remy said.
"Yeah," Rogue agreed. "They've had this sexual tension since they met. But Pete is being a gentleman, which seems like it should be out of character, and Kitty's still getting over what almost happened to Sabretooth."
"Poor femme," Remy said softly. "Mais, dose two are either going to kill each other or screw."
"What about you, Mr. LeBeau?"
"What do you mean, chere?"
"Well, you mentioned sharing a tent? Did you convince Logan?"
Remy smiled. "Oui." Rogue softly kissed him.
"Can't wait."
~*~
I saw you coming from a mile away
Trying to hide behind that pretty face
Bet my last dollar baby you been bruised
Poor little heart all black 'n' blue
.
Last thing you need's another pickup line
You must have heard them all a thousand times
God only knows what you been through
Believe me I been broken too
-Bon Jovi
~*~
Two weeks later
"She still won't come out," Rogue said. The group stood outside of the Kitty and Rogue's room. "What should we do?" Kitty had locked herself in their room emerging only to use the bathroom, shower, and eat.
"We can't force her," Mr. McCoy said.
"Bullocks," Pete said. "The hell we can't." He went into the room. Kitty was in another sweatshirt and pair of jeans.
"What do you want?" Kitty asked. Pete picked her up carrying her outside and putting her in his car. "What are you doing?"
"You've been feelin' sorry for yourself, Pryde. Which was fine for a while, but I for one refuse to allow you to fade away."
"Where are you taking me?"
"Don't know," he admitted glancing at her. "I just knew I had to get you out of the house."
Kitty looked at him then at her outfit horrified. "In this? Wisdom, I can't let anyone see me dressed like this!"
He grinned at the fact that she was finally showing interest in her appearance. "`At's my girl. Don't worry, Pryde, I won't take you anywhere where your peers hang out. It's just . . . you stayin' up there all the time, it scared me, it did. I'm not one to scare easily, I was afraid you'd do somethin' stupid."
"I wouldn't have killed myself."
"There are other forms of self-destruction, kid." He pulled over. "You want to drive?"
"You're actually allowing me to drive your car?"
"You need to do something, we're on a very long back road which just leads to other back roads, so yeah."
Kitty smiled widely. "This, sir, is something you may regret." They switched sides.
"Nah, I've heard the stories. You just need the right teacher. With the right person it's easy, and fun." His voice had dropped a couple octaves in those last few words making her blush warmly. "Right, so, put the car in drive and ease off of the break." She obeyed. "Okay, now push down the gas slowly." She did this and they began moving. "Now, do whatever you want. There are never any cops on this road, drive as fast as you want." She looked at him unable to believe that he was actually saying that. He sat back looking at her seriously.
Her smiled widened even more. "Put on your seatbelt," she said realizing that he meant it. He smiled obeying. She tore down the road. Pete sat back smiling when he saw how happy just driving made her. They stopped about an hour later to switch drivers back. "I'm impressed."
"Why?"
"You can, like, actually handle my driving."
"It's nothing. Okay, it might be a little scary on a highway," he said with a significant look. She blushed looking down remembering the only time she had ever seen Logan scared. "But here, it was nothing."
"Thank you, Pete, I needed this."
"I know," he said. "The others had this idea that you needed to be left alone but I figured that you had enough of that."
"I just didn't want to face everyone. Sympathy I can deal with but pity I can't."
Pete looked at her sympathetically. "Kitty, they're your friends, plus you have to see them sometimes. Even if I have to drag you out of your room kicking and screaming."
She felt her lips curve up a little at his concern and saluted him mockingly. "Yes sir!"
He grinned at the fact that she was beginning to get some of her fighting personality back. "Now, ready to go home?"
"Yeah, might as well get this over with." He drove back to the Institute and the two walked into the building.
"Vhat were you thinking?" Kurt demanded crossing his arms. "Where in the hell were you two?"
"Driving," Pete said shrugging. Rogue who was standing with the elf and Remy lifted her eyebrows. "I told you we could force her out of her room." Kurt looked between the two and took in the way Kitty seemed almost happy. His tail drooped. After Lance had left he had hoped that maybe she would turn to him for comfort. She hadn't instead she had gone to the Englishman. He had still held out some hope that maybe the two of them . . . but now he could see that Kitty had chosen. He bamfed away unable to watch them.
"I'm sorry, guys," Kitty said.
"Pas de problem, petite," Remy said waving a hand dismissively.
"We were gonna watch a movie," Rogue said. "You want to join us?" Kitty smiled.
"Sure," Kitty said. The four went into the rec. room. Rogue and Remy stretched out on the floor wrapped in each other's arms while Kitty and Pete sat on the couch, on opposite sides. The movie, to Kitty's extreme dislike, was horror so through the whole thing she inched closer to Pete surprised when the Brit reached out and pulled her firmly into his arms.
She relaxed as he laid his head on top of hers whispering: "Stop beatin' aroun' the bloody bush, Pryde."
The next day
Kitty woke up and got out of bed to take a shower. She then walked down the stairs running into Pete as she turned the corner into the kitchen. "We seem to meet like this often," he said.
"Morning," she whispered.
"Well, you're out here without it being time for breakfast. `At's a good sign." Kitty sat down at the table.
"Well, I was thinking and all this moping, it just gives Sabretooth power over me. I can't let that happen so here I am."
Pete smiled. "Good girl." He sat down beside her grabbing an apple and handing it to her. "The professor wants us to take all of you on a little trip."
"Where?"
"The forest. We'll be spending the night out there."
Kitty made a face. "In the woods?"
"Problem, Pryde? Can't handle it?"
"Trying to bait me, Wisdom?"
He grinned. "Ya got me. It's supposed to teach you. `ell, I have no bloody clue what its supposed to teach you."
"Fear of mosquitoes?" Kitty offered. He chuckled.
"Possible." Rogue and Remy walked in holding hands.
"Bonjour," Remy said.
"You two packed?" Pete asked.
"Oui," Remy said.
"We're leaving today?" Kitty asked.
"Yeah," Rogue said. "I'll help ya pack." The two girls went back upstairs smiling.
"Dis is heaven, non?" Remy said leaning against the wall.
"I'm just happy she's wearing normal clothes again," Pete said.
"Oui," Remy agreed.
Logan came in shouldering a duffle bag. "The bus is waitin' outside."
"Kitty's upstairs packing," Pete said.
"She's comin' with us?" Logan asked surprised. The two girls came downstairs both sporting green suitcases.
"We're ready," Rogue said. The new recruits came in grumbling about the time and carrying their bags.
"Let's go," Logan said. He looked at Pete and Remy narrowing his eyes. "You two are here as instructors. Understood?"
"Of course, mon ami," Remy said.
"Yeah, do you think we'd abandon you?" Pete asked trying to look innocent and failing miserably.
"Yes," Logan said. They stored the bags in the back of the bus. Logan sat in the front of the bus, Remy in the back, which left Pete in the middle. He laid his head on the window. Kitty came to sit next to him.
"You don't seem to be having fun," she said.
"Pryde, I'm stuck on this bloody bus with a bunch of kids," Pete grumbled. "Fun isn't even a possibility."
"Kids? Is that what you think I am?" she asked looking hurt. She started to get up but he grabbed her arm.
"Sit down." She obeyed glaring at him for ordering her around. "Don't be daft. You know I don't think that."
She looked into his eyes seriously. "I don't know what you think." With that she got up and went back to her seat with Kurt.
"Vhat's vrong?" Kurt asked.
"I don't know," Kitty sighed. "I just feel like he doesn't want me."
Kurt paused looking at his best friend. He paused before responding to her. He knew that this was his chance but he also knew that he wanted Kitty to be happy, even if it was away from him. "Katzchen (sp?), that's not true. I'm sure it's not."
Kitty smiled at her friend. "Thanks, Kurt, things are just. hard."
"Don't worry, Keety, it'll get better."
In the back "Iceboy was right," Remy said.
"That's something no one ever says," Rogue said. "What was he right about?"
"Those two do need to sleep together," Remy said.
"Yeah," Rogue agreed. "They've had this sexual tension since they met. But Pete is being a gentleman, which seems like it should be out of character, and Kitty's still getting over what almost happened to Sabretooth."
"Poor femme," Remy said softly. "Mais, dose two are either going to kill each other or screw."
"What about you, Mr. LeBeau?"
"What do you mean, chere?"
"Well, you mentioned sharing a tent? Did you convince Logan?"
Remy smiled. "Oui." Rogue softly kissed him.
"Can't wait."
