Through Hellfire and Back,
Part 2
Disclaimer: X-men Evolution is the property of Marvel and Kids WB. All the characters in this story are the property of Marvel and Kids WB. Come to think of it.......do I own anything in this story? **shruggs**
Enjoy!
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Kitty could barely keep back the tears as she stuffed her things into
a bright blue suitcase. Ever since she heard her parent's declaration
last night, a deep fog seemed to penetrate over her thoughts, a dark
gloom enveloping her feelings, one she couldn't seem to break free
of. Over, her time here was all over. She had helped save the
mutants' world, only to have her parents rip her own apart. Life, as
was the common expression, was so not fair at times.
Focusing her attention on her bags, Kitty unwillingly started to sort
through her things, folding up shirts and briefly flipping through
books. Cloths, pictures, momentos, what few personal items that
survived from the first mansion; all entered the case without a
thought. Once or twice she found herself stopping, picking up
something with more memories attached then most, hesitating before
placing it in the bag. Kitty had never really understood reason for
the adamantium-enforced chest each student was assigned when she
first entered the institute, but she was grateful for it now. Some of
her most valuable keepsakes and possessions, including her photo
album and laptop, had been locked in there for storage when she left
to fight Magneto. Now, they were among the few items which she had
left. Everything else she owned- cloths, books, CD's, had been
purchased on a well-deserved shopping spree between her and the other
Xavier females. The guys had gone along as well, but for some reason
split up, balking at the idea of spending over an hour in the shoe
department alone. Kitty and the other girls on the other hand walked
in and sported their charge cards with glee: even Rogue enjoyed a
good mall crawl, and shoe shopping was a must for any visit. A pair
of pink and gold sandals joined black dockers in a brown box.
There was only one item that she wasn't taking, Kitty realized as she
stared longingly at her closet. Her X-man uniform. Slowly, unable to
stop herself, she let go of her satin slippers and slid up to the
refinished oak doors, opening them wide and reaching in to touch the
outfit from it's hanger. The fabric always seemed so soft, silky,
unreal, as if it had been created just for her. With it's unstable
molecule design, perhaps in some ways, it was. Blue and black, with a
yellow trim..... Shadowcat's colors. This was no solid black trainee
uniform, like those worn by the new mutants. This was one of a kind;
her own special outfit, to wear every time she stepped into
battle.
Now, she continued to reflect with a tear in her eye, she'd never
wear it again.
Had it really been that long ago when she first moved to the
institute? When she had discovered she was different from those she
walked among in school.... special? When Professor Xavier had
introduced her to his other students, Scott, Jean, Kurt, telling her
all about the new responsibilities she would undertake? At first, she
admitted, she had wanted to leave right away. Her mind had still been
adjusting to her newfound talent for walking through walls, and
hadn't been prepared for anything like what Xavier told her. Being a
mutant was one thing, being a near vigilante was another. She had
been, as she told Scott and the others during Logan's defense systems
demo, 'seriously freaked' by it all. Even after she had adjusted, she
admitted there were days when she had wished she could return to
being normal. Days when all the hiding made her want to cry, to wake
up and return to being a regular High School student; no powers, no
responsibilities, no danger. Solemnly she closed the closet door. It
looked like she got her wish. Unfortunately.
So engrossed in her own thoughts was she, that when she returned to
packing, she failed to notice that she was no longer the only person
in the room. A pair of heavy gloved hands crept up and rested on her
shoulder, causing Kitty to slightly jump. She turned around, to see
long brown hair and matching eyes as sad as her own.
"Lance?" She whispered, a hand reaching out to stroke his cheek.
"How-?"
"I came as soon as I found out. Logan let me in." His arms wrapped
around her back as Kitty buried her face in his shirt, committing to
memory every scent, every sound that he made, grateful for his
presence. Absently, Lance reached up and ran his right hand through
her chocolate bangs, a lone finger traveling down the side of her
face and coming to rest under her chin. Kitty's gaze was directed
towards his face, their eyes locking together in a mutual stillness.
For a moment that seemed like an eternity, neither spoke a word.
Finally, Lance broke the silence.
"So when do you leave, Pretty-kitty?" The words were soft and slow,
echoing only in Kitty's ears.
"In a few hours," she choked. "Mom and Dad, they- they said they
wanted me out of here, as soon as possible." She could feel Lance
stiffen for a moment at her statement, his eyes breaking from hers
and averting to the ground.
"That soon?" He whispered, releasing her chin and stroking her hair
once more. Kitty could only node in response, clutching him closer as
she closed her eyes.
"Lance, I, like, don't want to go." The tears started to fall,
wetting the black fabric in front of her.
"I know."
"But they... they're my parents. Deep down I know they love me and
I.......... I love them..... I can't....."
"I know." He whispered into her ear again, his chin nuzzling her
gently. She looked up to face him. Their eyes locked again, deep blue
meeting smoldering brown, faces drawing closer and closer to each
other. A single finger swept between them, Kitty reaching up to brush
Lance's bangs away. They moved closer still, lips finally touching
for a slow and gentle kiss. As they continued, Kitty wished it could
have lasted forever.
Slowly, they broke apart, as Lance forced himself to help her pack,
closing a box of books and sorting a few more shoes. "Hey," he spoke
lightheartedly, trying to lift the mood, "it's not like you'll be
dropping off the face of the earth or nothin'. We can still
write."
"Mmm-hmmm." Kitty nodded solemnly, placing a few more t-shirts into
another bag, before snapping it shut.
"...and I can still call you. Course, not as often cuz it'll be long
distance, but still....."
Kitty's eyes reached up to re-meet his, an expression of sadness and
seriousness written across her features. "I'll call you Lance. I'll
call you the minute I get there."
Lance smirked. "And I'll keep the phone free until you do." He
chuckled under his breath. "Wanda'll have to find someplace else to
call her mystic hotline for a while. It's costing us enough as it
is."
"I'd like to see her expression when you tell her that!" Kitty
couldn't help but giggle a little, even as another tear ran down her
face. "Don't get yourself placed in a body caste because of me
Lance."
"I could think of worse fates." In a slightly chivalrous gustier,
Lance took her hand and kissed it. For someone who claimed to be a
walking demolition artist, Lance was getting good at sweeping Kitty
off her feet. It seemed so unlike him, Kitty couldn't help but feel
amused.
"Next thing you know you'll be taking tips from that Cajin we saw
with Magneto. Charming every girl you see with a smile."
Lance winked. "Worked on Rogue."
"Just don't try to blow me up a minute later." Kitty grinned.
"Blow up? Naaa, you know me Kitty, explosions aren't my style. I
prefer to shake things up m'self." To emphasize his point, Lance sent
a minor tremor under Kitty's feet, amused at her surprised gasp and
catching her in his arms instantly. Once steady, Kitty phased through
his grip, standing behind.
She raised her eyebrow. "Hope no one else felt that or you won't be
the only one doing some shaking."
Lance shrugged his shoulders apologetically. He casually leaned back
on the windowsill. "Hey, speaking of shaking things up, any sign of
Mag-not-so-neto and his new players? No word down at the Brotherhood,
although Wanda's still out for blood, and the rest of us are trying
to get over Pietro." His voice lowered ruefully. "Still can't believe
Speedy ditched us like that......."
"No word over here either." Kitty sighed and shook her head. "There's
been no sign, not even when we rescued the Professor. Cerbro II's
still being completed, not that Professor X thinks it'd do too much
good. Magneto's always been good at cloaking himself from us." Her
gaze shifted past Lance and out the window. "Besides, these days
there's too many signatures out there, more then he can process." She
looked at Lance soberly. "We're not the only ones out there."
"We never were. But we'll survive, you'll see."
"You will." Kitty returned to the window. "I'm being taken out of the
race."
"You'll always be a mutant Kitty." Lance moved over to the bed and
zipped up one more of her bags. "Going away won't change that."
"Lets hope my parents realize that, for both out sakes." Locking her
remaining baggage, Kitty grasped the handles of two of her suitcases,
as Lance helped her with the rest. Following Lance's lead and walking
to the door, she stopped short, her head turning and eyes falling
back on the now half-empty room. For the briefest of moments, Kitty
stood silently in the doorway, taking one last look at the room she
had planned to share with Rogue throughout the passing says. So many
memories........
With a sigh on her lips, she and Lance headed out the hall and down
the stairs, so that she could properly say goodbye to the others.
**********
Saying goodbye was never easy, not even for an X-man. As Kitty
stepped down the stairs to an awaiting crowd of teammates and mentors
alike, it was all she could do not to break into tears on the spot.
The emotion in the air was so thick it could have been cut with a
knife. Whatever reservations her friends might have held against
Kitty leaving, it wasn't about to stop them from properly seeing her
off. One by one, they each made their farewells.
"Ve'll miss you, Katchen." Kurt gave Kitty a blue furred friendly hug
goodbye, his color matching his emotions perfectly.
"Yeah K-girl," Evan clapped her on the back. "You were a good
friend."
"Are." Ororo corrected, giving her own hug after Kurt. "Your time
here will not be forgotten."
"You were a good student." Hank interjected.
"And a great teammate." Scott, placed a hand on Kitty's right
shoulder as she stepped away from Ororo.
"Ace's all the way." Logan nodded, accepting Kitty's hug- possibly
the only person who ever hugged him without consequences. "You made
me proud half pint." He drew up her chin to look her in the eye.
"You're still making me proud."
"Won't be the same here without you." Jean's gaze shifted from Kitty
to the floor, as she absently flicked away a strand of liquid red
hair.
"Even though it was trying at times for both of us, ah know....."
Rogue's voice drifted off, her hand quickly brushing off a spot of
wetness on her cheek before the others could notice, "ah know I could
never have found a better roommate. Or close friend."
"Amen." Tabitha and the other new mutants nodded.
"It's never easy for a teacher to let a pupil go..." Xavier started,
uncertain, "particularly not one who's flourished so much as you. I
only hope, Kitty, that someday our paths will cross again. Remember,
no matter where you go or what you decide to do in life,for good or
ill, you will always be among the gifted in your generation. Leaving
the institute will not change that." He took a deep breath, looking
her straight in the eye. "Our door will always be open, should you
ever be able to return. We will be here for you."
"Thanks Professor." Kitty sniffed. "Thank you, everyone." She wiped
away another crystalline tear. "I know, like, it wasn't always easy
living here, but if there was ever a place I'd call home....." her
voice drifted off. "I guess what I mean to say is you've all been
wonderful. In the time I've been here, you've all really become like
another family, always looking out for me and helping me along my
way. I... I still can't believe I'm really leaving. I'll miss you,
all of you."
Jean offered up another hug, and Scott a warm handshake. "Keep in
touch?"
Kitty forced a smile. "You bet." She turned to Lance, who blinked
back his own misty eyes. Guys like him, he once tried to explain,
never cried. She didn't believe it for a second, and had a shaky
feeling he's be breaking down tonight.
"Ready?" His voice was nearly cracked with emotion as he offered up a
small reassuring smile. Kitty's voice was lost to her, she could only
nod in response. Picking up her bags, the duo headed outside to her
parents and the cab awaiting them; the other Xavier institute members
following in their wake.
Out the door, down the stairs and through the gates....... away from
her life as an X-man, forever.
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