Lost Identities
By Saturnian Blonde
Standard Questionably Useful Disclaimer: Marvel owns all rights to characters, names, etc. No profit is being made from use of anything. Yet.
Rating: PG-13
Comments: Ho humm…. I figure today's a good day to post some more chapters… hope you like it, I don't know if I do…..
Chapter SIX
"Come on, you mean to tell me what there's not a single guy here you like?" London lay on her stomach on her bed, groaning at Kitty's refusal to drop the subject of guys and romance. Even Rogue seemed interested in the conversation when it turned to London, although she was sure it was only to keep the conversation off of herself.
It had been almost a week and a half since she had come to stay at the mansion, and still she felt like it was her first day. She was so nervous sometimes, around groups of people, that she always seemed quiet and shy. When she only had to focus on one person, it was fine. The only person she would strike up a conversation with was Rogue. And she still refused to look most of the teachers in the eyes more than half the time.
Perhaps it was just that she was still adjusting. That's what she had heard some of the adults say when they thought she couldn't hear. She laughed at the thought. She was more afraid of her powers shifting to someone with a more physical mutation than just the change of scenery. She spent almost half the days she wasn't teaching in the Danger room, running through gene maps and simulations, trying to harness her current DNA, trying to hold off any sudden changes that might sneak up on her.
Trying hard not to, she still subconsciously avoided some people when they might have had a change to sneak up on them. Whenever Kurt was in a room, she was always aware of where he was, and could do nothing but try to suppress her own DNA from changing. It was the same with Remy; for some reason, she had to really concentrate to keep from switching to his empathy, or worse, his kinetic charging. Even London was aware that it hindered any thoughts of a social life. But who cares about that? I'm only here for business anyways…
"For the millionth time, Katherine Pryde: I am not interested in anyone of the male species that I have encountered thus far during my stay here in Bayville." She said slowly, emphasizing her words. "Besides, just because a guy looks hot doesn't mean he's Prince Charming. Look at that Duncan kid that you said Jean went out with. Sure he may be handsome, in a prep-football-player way, but he's got the IQ of a cannoli."
Not that it mattered to Kitty.
"Then it's just because you haven't met the right guy then. I know a couple guys in my calculus class that you would die for." She said, fawning over each word dramatically. London rolled her eyes.
"I have no intentions of dying for anyone." She turned to Rogue, who only sat on her bed with a smug look on her face. "Can't you shut her up?" she only chuckled.
"Okay then, I know! I'll go get my yearbook from my old school! There's gotta be, like, some guy you like in it!" Kitty jumped out and ran off to fetch the book. As soon as she left the room, London sprang up and ran to the door, locking it.
"Yah know, she can just phase through that door…" Rogue said, sitting down and picking up her guitar, strumming a few chords absently. London just stared at her, horrified.
"Is there no end for the torture?" She plopped down on her bed again. "She really that clueless?" Rogue looked up from her guitar, eyebrow raised. "About… well, me and the fact that I don't like guys…"
"Oh, that…" London marvelled at how uncaring Rogue's voice was. "Kitty ain't exactly the sharpest tool in the shed. Either she'll eventually figure it out on her own, or she'll hear a rumour 'bout it. She's definitely one for gossip. I wouldn't worry about it though. Hopefully, the worst you'd have to put up with is her tryin' ta set you up with some guy…"
Kitty sat in her room, rummaging around for her old yearbook when suddenly it hit her. Why else would London not care about guys? Because she's a lesbian? Nah, she seems way too…. Straight. She frowned, then ran over to Bobby's room in the Guy's wing. He would know, right? Him or Kurt, because they were in the group that brought her here… or maybe I could ask Jean, because she's psychic.
"Hey, Bobby, you home?" She knocked on his door, which was open a bit. She peeked her head through the crack.
"Vhat can ve help you vith?" Kurt asked, working over some homework.
"You were there when London was found, right?"
"A-duh." Bobby mumbled.
"So you know a little what she's like, right?" He frowned a little, looking over at Kurt, who only shrugged his shoulders.
"Is she… how do I put this gently," She thought for a moment, "Is she gay?" They both stared at her bluntness, wondering where this was leading.
"Vhy, are you afraid of her hitting on you?" Kurt laughed, finally finding something more worthwhile for him to waste his time on.
"No! I mean… well…. Damn, I guess I , like, never thought of that…"
"Honestly, Kitty, why would that even matter? Does it matter that Kurt has fur?"
"Hey, chicks dig the fuzzy dude! The muscular arms, the colour of ze soft, silky fur… I'm a babe magnet!" Kurt posed, looking like some kind of odd underwear model. Kitty only raised an eyebrow, staring at him unimpressed. "Oh, never mind." He rolled his eyes, turning back to his copy of Hamlet.
"But it's just not…. like, right and stuff!" She protested.
"Kitty, I can't believe you! People hate us because we're mutants, and you hate that right? How is this any different?" Kitty looked at him for a moment, humbled, before her eyes narrowed.
"YOU like her, don't you?" Her eyes lit up. Bobby stared at her for a moment, before regaining his composure.
"What ever gave you that idea?" He said, shaking his head. But she was already gone, with a mischievous look to her.
"Will someone please tell me what's going on?" Kurt patted him on the back.
"Come on, dude, isn't it obvious? She is so gonna, like, set you up!" He said, waving his hands and doing his best imitation of Kitty.
Fuck. "You're kidding me…" he said.
"Vell, do you even like her?"
"Well… she's nice, and funny to talk to. She's kinda pretty…"
"There you go. All you need now is to get to know her."
"Kurt, she's a lesbian. What would make you think that she'd be interested in me?" Kurt only shrugged his shoulders.
"Maybe she's bi." Kurt grabbed his books and left the room, leaving Bobby there with a thoughtful look on his face.
A small, light knock on the door brought Charles out of his reverie. He could tell it was London; everyone else knew that if you wanted attention around this house, you had to be loud about it.
She opened the door, just peering around it to see if he was there or if anyone else was already talking to him.
"You can come in if you'd like," he called across the room. She sheepishly closed the door and crossed the room. He could still see that she was nervous when talking to him; in fact, she was nervous when talking to most of the adults. She was very quiet, almost to a point where she could slip in and out of a room almost effortlessly. He had been surprised more than once to find her in the room when he could not sense her. He wondered if that should be something he brought up with her, but decided against it.
"I need to go back to Toronto." She said, unconsciously wringing her hands. He inwardly sighed. It was impossible to have anything more than a one sided conversation with her unless he used his telepathy to encourage her.
"Not that I'd like to leave, but I have finished the external perimeter security, and since I'm halfway done the rest of things, I was wondering if I could just take the weekend off, to go back home and tie up a few loose ends."
"That would be quite fine. Would you be going alone?" Confident though he was that she would return, he was still reluctant to let her go alone.
"You don't approve?"
"Why don't you bring a few students along. I promised them that they could have a weekend 'road trip' as they like to put it, and I would be more confident that you would be okay in a bigger group."
"Who exactly do you have in mind?"
"Well, I know Kitty was the one asking, but I'd leave it in your discretion as to who you'd like to invite along. Just leave me with a list of everyone that's going, and where you'll be, and I'm sure it will all be acceptable."
"Okay…. Thanks." That was so much easier than I thought… she said to herself as she excused herself and left his office. But who would I invite? Besides Kitty, and I think I dread that opportunity. Rogue would be okay to come, if I can convince her to go… maybe even Kurt, but I don't know him very well…
She entered the TV room where Bobby, Kurt and Scott were playing some racing game on the Playstation. Rogue was sitting on the couch a couple feet away, trying to read a book over the other's noise.
"Rogue, what'cha doin' this weekend?"
"Hmm, let meh look at mah calendar. Nope, sorry, all full." She said, not lifting her eyes from the book.
"Road trip?"
"Just tell meh where and what to pack." She said, throwing the book over her shoulder, conveniently hitting Kurt in the head. London blinked at the sudden shift in attention; she didn't think Rogue would really be into it.
"I've gotta go back to Toronto to see a few people, and Xavier said I could take some people along. I don't know who to ask, so I thought I'd just let you decide who else."
"Well, fer starters…. Kitty, because if yah don't let her go, ye'd never hear the end of it. As for the rest of em-"
"You ov course vant to take me, right?" Kurt asked, bamfing onto the couch beside her and draping his arm over his shoulder.
"Sure," London agreed. She had no idea how this was going to turn out, but the only thing that concerned her was seeing Lena once she go there. Lena was pissed off, to say the least, when she'd found out over the phone that she was leaving town for some length of time that she didn't know about. She had tried to call her during the week, but either she wasn't home, or wasn't answering her cell phone. And she knew that she had already been to the meeting for the possible record deal. Both the facts that she had missed the interview and that Lena hadn't told her anything about it had hurt her, and she couldn't help but wonder what was going on with her and their relationship. She looked up.
"Bobby! You'll come too, right?" She asked, hopeful that she could bring him along as a sane voice to help regulate Kurt. A different part of her laughed at her reasoning, because part of her wanted him along with her. What? I don't think that! He's a friend, nothing more. Besides, she added in a silly voice in her mind, Boys are icky.
"Uh, sure!" he agreed, smiling. Kurt shot him a thumbs up, grinning widely.
"Great, well, I guess that's settled then." London sighed, looking to Rogue.
London waited in her SUV for the others to finish packing the back with their luggage. How is it that they can bring along almost three bags each? There isn't gonna be enough room if this keeps up. She groaned. And of course Kitty has been talking of nothing other than shopping all week, so there's even more crap to bring home...
"Are you guys ready yet?" She called over her shoulder, waiting for the rest of them to finish fighting over who got to sit where.
Bobby managed to fight for the front shotgun seat, and quickly hopped in, locking the door. London shot him a sideways look from under her sunglasses.
"I take it you won." He only grinned wider.
"How come you didn't invite Remy?"
"You want that alphabetically, or by category?" he shrugged.
"It doesn't matter anyways, if Mr. LeBeau wants to come, you know he'd find a way to get there himself. I wouldn't be surprised if he manages to show himself at some point this weekend."
"You're probably right…" They both looked back as both of the back doors shut. Kurt appeared somewhat dejected to be sitting in the middle of the two girls. Kitty looked flustered, and Rogue's hair was a mess. "Wow."
"Before anyone even says it, Ah call shotgun on the way home." Rogue said, putting on her walkman and crossing her arms, staring darkly out the window. "Yah'd think the one with the poisoned skin would get to sit in the front…"
"Are ve there yet?" Kurt asked, leaning forward to talk to London and Bobby as she started the car.
"Kurt, you do know it's gonna take 5 hours to get there…"
"What???" The chorus cried from the backseat.
"Oy." London groaned, resting her head against the steering wheel.
"Shouldn't it take longer than that to get to…"
"Not the way I drive it doesn't." She grinned somewhat evilly as they pulled out of the mansion and onto the road.
"I have a question for you," Bobby asked after a while when Kurt had settled into the conversation in the back seat and it was relatively quiet.
"Shoot."
"When we first met –"
"When you jumped me." She said with a slight laugh. Bobby grinned as well.
"Okay, when we jumped you… how come you just sort of stopped fighting? And how come you let us come back to your apartment? Most people wouldn't have taken it as lightly as you… well, eventually did."
She smiled a little, but it faded away as her countenance shifted to an impassive expression while she thought.
"I… I don't really know… I could say it was because I knew you wouldn't hurt me, but as soon as I saw Logan all notion of that went flying out the window…"
"Yeah, he does manage to be pretty intimidating…"
"Could it possibly be the 9-inch claws?" she said, slightly mockingly. "Nah, he still scares me. Maybe it was Remy, because I've known him… I guess, after the initial shock wore off, then I realized that his friends probably weren't all that bad. Hells bells, Bobby, it could have also been Remy's charming ability, or Jean's Telepathy that made me calm down…all I really knew at the time was that I was caught." She blushed, which made him wonder at the double entente of the words. He looked at her, and was almost taken by how pretty she looked, but reminded himself violently that she was a lesbian. Why is it I always end up 'just being friends' all the time?
"Are ve there yet?"