All Better
~*~
She's a mystery
There's no defense
It's innocence
But she won't let you see
'Cause she's a mystery
-Bon Jovi
~*~
By the time that Kitty woke up Pete was just coming in. He saw her and smiled slightly. "So you did sleep," he stated.
"I guess I was a little more tired than I thought," she admitted. He brought her some more soup, which she ate quickly. He took back the bowl and started to walk through the living room surprised when he saw her attempting to walk into said room.
"What are you doing?" he asked crossing his arms.
"Walking," she snapped.
"I got `at much." He went to her side slipping an arm around her shoulders to help her. "Where do you want t' go?"
"Home," she said honestly. "But since that's, like, not possible I guess the couch." He led her to that piece of furniture and she sat down carefully. She took the remote from him and turned the TV on.
"`At's bad manners ya know," he said. "Stealin' a man's remote." She merely stuck her tongue out at him. "Don' do that unless yer gonna use it," he said. Kitty flushed and her mouth dropped open. Smirking Pete reached out a hand and gently closed it. Kitty's blush went even deeper. She settled back to watch an old black and white move on TCM. Pete rolled his eyes lighting a cigarette. Kitty looked at it in plain distaste. "Problem?"
"Yes, that's like totally disgusting."
He took a deep purposeful drag from the cigarette slowly letting it back out. "Yer point?" She rolled her eyes returning her attention to the television. The two finished watching the movie. Then Kitty stood back up. Pete helped her back into his room. She stretched out on his bed.
"I never thanked you," Kitty whispered already half asleep. Pete cocked his head to one side, confused.
"Fer what?"
"Saving me and taking care of me. Thank you, Pete."
"No thanks necessary."
She yawned snuggling in his blanket. "If you want to sleep here, you can." Not one to pass up on an offer like that Pete stripped down to his boxers and got into the bed. He gently drew her to him surprised when she sighed contentedly and snuggled against him. With a soft sigh of his own Pete fell asleep.
The next afternoon
Pete woke up and changed her bandages. He realized with a pang that she was healed enough to go home. While the girl annoyed the Hell out of him he was willing to admit (to himself only) that she felt right here somehow. Kitty looked at him tiredly as he finished with the last bandage. "Ready t' go `ome, Pryde?" he asked softly.
"Um, yeah," she murmured seeming a little reluctant herself.
"It'll take a day t' get the arrangements," he lied; truth was with his connections he could have a ticket for her on the next flight. Kitty seemed to sense that for she grinned briefly before nodding. He lifted her up into his arms and carried her into the living room where he sat her on the couch. "I'm gonna go make a few calls. I'll be right back." He went into the kitchen and dialed the Institute.
"Hello," Logan said.
"`Ey, mate," Pete said. "Just wanted t' let ya know that the bird'll be back t'morrow."
"How is she?"
"She's fine," Pete said looking into the living room where Kitty was channel surfing.
"Let me talk t' her," Logan said his voice holding no room for argument.
"`Ang on," Pete said. He covered the mouthpiece. "Kitty, someone wants t' talk t' you." Kitty stood and limped over to the kitchen. Pete came forward taking her arm and helping her. "I would `ave given you the phone, Kit."
Her eyes lit up when she heard him actually use her first name. "I know; I just, like, wanted to get up." She held the phone up to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, half-pint." A huge smile spread across Kitty's face.
"Hi, Mr. Logan," Kitty said.
"How're ya doin'?"
"I'm fine." She paused looking back at the British man standing behind her. "Pete is an excellent nurse-maid."
"`Ey!" Pete exclaimed annoyed. Kitty merely grinned.
"We're comin' to London," Logan said. "If you guys are at the Gateway pub we'll take ya home."
"Oh," Kitty said softly.
She could hear the smile in Logan's voice as he spoke. "Ya don't sound too happy about that."
"Oh, I am!" Kitty tried to say.
"Right, half-pint," Logan chuckled. "We're gonna be there at seven tonight. It'll give ya plenty of time with the kid."
"Mr. Logan, I totally don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure," Logan said. "Bye, half-pint." Kitty hung up looking slightly annoyed.
"What?" Pete asked.
"Mr. Logan was just being... Mr. Logan," she finished lamely. Pete raised an eyebrow at that. "He told me that they're, like, going to be at the Gateway Pub at seven."
"Oh," Pete said suddenly wanting to hit the Canadian mutant. "`Ow do ya feel, Pryde?"
"Fine," Kitty said. "I can walk pretty well now."
"In that case can I show you around town?"
Kitty smiled up at him. "Sure." He stood and grabbed a pair of jeans.
"These belonged to Roma," he told her. Kitty went into his bedroom and put on the jeans. She came back out frowning slightly. "What?"
"Do you, like, have another shirt that I could wear?" she asked.
"Sorry but the jeans were just luck," he told her.
"Well," she mused, "at least it's comfortable."
"An' ya look sexy," he told her point-blank.
Kitty flushed warmly. "What?" He grinned but didn't respond.
He took her arm. "C'mon, let's get out o' here." They left his apartment and went down to his car. He went around and unlocked her door for her before opening it.
"Thanks," she whispered getting in. He got in on the other side and started the car. He took her to all the major landmarks before pulling into the parking lot of the pub. "It's only six," she said, "trying to get rid of me, Pete?"
He grinned. "Never, just thought you might want a drink."
"So you're, like, trying to get me drunk?"
"Well, you are eighteen."
She raised a hand. "Wait, how did you know how old I am?"
"Your file from Black Air."
"So you were a member of the organization that we were trying to shut down."
"Were bein' the operative word," Pete told her getting out and opening her door for her. "It's also why I didn't `ave the X-Men come get you at me apartment. The operatives at Black Air are still after me."
"You could, um, come with me."
"I can't. If they think I care about you guys you would be targets."
"Pete, we *are* the X-Men. We can take care of ourselves."
"I know," he said as they walked in and he ordered a few things before they sat down across from each other. "But you `ave t' understand, Kit, they ain't gonna come up to you guys with a clear challenge or something' if they go after you it'll be a shot coming from a dark alley."
"What about you?"
"I worked fer `em. I already look over my shoulder all the time."
"But you're still all alone-"
He smiled taking her hand over the table. "I'll be fine, luv." He saw a light blush tint her cheeks and his smile grew. Just then the door opened and Pete looked up his eyes narrowing slightly at the group coming in. He motioned for her to move next to him, which she did looking bemused. The first person who spotted them was a blond man who smirked ordering the drinks for the group and paying before coming and sitting in front of them.
He smiled widely at Kitty extending a hand. "`Allo, luv, John Constantine at yer service."
"Kitty Pryde," she said placing her hand in his. Still grinning he bowed slightly to kiss it.
"So, Pete, where `ave ya been?" another man asked approaching.
"Jardine," Pete nodded. "Just layin' low."
"Who's your lovely friend?" yet another man asked.
"Guys, this is Kitty Pryde. Kitty, these wankers are me mates: Jardine, and Doyle." Kitty shook each of their hands in turn.
"Hi," she smiled. The three guys studied her and the way Pete kept his arm over hers unconsciously staking his claim. Pete was trying to get her to try some of his scotch as she sipped her coke. "Do you, like, not realize that it's illegal?" she asked finally.
"Wait," John said catching that. "Exactly `ow old are you?"
"Eighteen," Kitty said.
"Robbin' the cradle, Wisdom?" John smirked.
"An' you `ave room t' talk?" Pete asked.
"We aren't-" Kitty started then paused when the door opened again. In walked Logan.
"Hey, half-pint," he said dropping down beside her.
"Where are the others?" she asked surprised.
"Ororo was my copilot," Logan said. "She didn't want to come in." He took Pete's bottle pouring himself a glass.
"Help yerself," Pete said raising an eyebrow.
"I was," Logan said taking a drink. "As always, Wisdom, nice choice."
"The man may not have taste in much but `e is good with women and booze," John said. Kitty raised her eyebrows at that looking at Pete who was glaring daggers at John.
"C'mon, kid," Logan said getting up. "We should probably get going." Kitty frowned at that looking up at Pete who stood taking her arm.
"I'll walk you two back," he told her ignoring Logan's soft chuckle. He turned back to the others. "I'll see you guys later."
~*~
She's a mystery
There's no defense
It's innocence
But she won't let you see
'Cause she's a mystery
-Bon Jovi
~*~
By the time that Kitty woke up Pete was just coming in. He saw her and smiled slightly. "So you did sleep," he stated.
"I guess I was a little more tired than I thought," she admitted. He brought her some more soup, which she ate quickly. He took back the bowl and started to walk through the living room surprised when he saw her attempting to walk into said room.
"What are you doing?" he asked crossing his arms.
"Walking," she snapped.
"I got `at much." He went to her side slipping an arm around her shoulders to help her. "Where do you want t' go?"
"Home," she said honestly. "But since that's, like, not possible I guess the couch." He led her to that piece of furniture and she sat down carefully. She took the remote from him and turned the TV on.
"`At's bad manners ya know," he said. "Stealin' a man's remote." She merely stuck her tongue out at him. "Don' do that unless yer gonna use it," he said. Kitty flushed and her mouth dropped open. Smirking Pete reached out a hand and gently closed it. Kitty's blush went even deeper. She settled back to watch an old black and white move on TCM. Pete rolled his eyes lighting a cigarette. Kitty looked at it in plain distaste. "Problem?"
"Yes, that's like totally disgusting."
He took a deep purposeful drag from the cigarette slowly letting it back out. "Yer point?" She rolled her eyes returning her attention to the television. The two finished watching the movie. Then Kitty stood back up. Pete helped her back into his room. She stretched out on his bed.
"I never thanked you," Kitty whispered already half asleep. Pete cocked his head to one side, confused.
"Fer what?"
"Saving me and taking care of me. Thank you, Pete."
"No thanks necessary."
She yawned snuggling in his blanket. "If you want to sleep here, you can." Not one to pass up on an offer like that Pete stripped down to his boxers and got into the bed. He gently drew her to him surprised when she sighed contentedly and snuggled against him. With a soft sigh of his own Pete fell asleep.
The next afternoon
Pete woke up and changed her bandages. He realized with a pang that she was healed enough to go home. While the girl annoyed the Hell out of him he was willing to admit (to himself only) that she felt right here somehow. Kitty looked at him tiredly as he finished with the last bandage. "Ready t' go `ome, Pryde?" he asked softly.
"Um, yeah," she murmured seeming a little reluctant herself.
"It'll take a day t' get the arrangements," he lied; truth was with his connections he could have a ticket for her on the next flight. Kitty seemed to sense that for she grinned briefly before nodding. He lifted her up into his arms and carried her into the living room where he sat her on the couch. "I'm gonna go make a few calls. I'll be right back." He went into the kitchen and dialed the Institute.
"Hello," Logan said.
"`Ey, mate," Pete said. "Just wanted t' let ya know that the bird'll be back t'morrow."
"How is she?"
"She's fine," Pete said looking into the living room where Kitty was channel surfing.
"Let me talk t' her," Logan said his voice holding no room for argument.
"`Ang on," Pete said. He covered the mouthpiece. "Kitty, someone wants t' talk t' you." Kitty stood and limped over to the kitchen. Pete came forward taking her arm and helping her. "I would `ave given you the phone, Kit."
Her eyes lit up when she heard him actually use her first name. "I know; I just, like, wanted to get up." She held the phone up to her ear. "Hello?"
"Hey, half-pint." A huge smile spread across Kitty's face.
"Hi, Mr. Logan," Kitty said.
"How're ya doin'?"
"I'm fine." She paused looking back at the British man standing behind her. "Pete is an excellent nurse-maid."
"`Ey!" Pete exclaimed annoyed. Kitty merely grinned.
"We're comin' to London," Logan said. "If you guys are at the Gateway pub we'll take ya home."
"Oh," Kitty said softly.
She could hear the smile in Logan's voice as he spoke. "Ya don't sound too happy about that."
"Oh, I am!" Kitty tried to say.
"Right, half-pint," Logan chuckled. "We're gonna be there at seven tonight. It'll give ya plenty of time with the kid."
"Mr. Logan, I totally don't know what you're talking about."
"Sure," Logan said. "Bye, half-pint." Kitty hung up looking slightly annoyed.
"What?" Pete asked.
"Mr. Logan was just being... Mr. Logan," she finished lamely. Pete raised an eyebrow at that. "He told me that they're, like, going to be at the Gateway Pub at seven."
"Oh," Pete said suddenly wanting to hit the Canadian mutant. "`Ow do ya feel, Pryde?"
"Fine," Kitty said. "I can walk pretty well now."
"In that case can I show you around town?"
Kitty smiled up at him. "Sure." He stood and grabbed a pair of jeans.
"These belonged to Roma," he told her. Kitty went into his bedroom and put on the jeans. She came back out frowning slightly. "What?"
"Do you, like, have another shirt that I could wear?" she asked.
"Sorry but the jeans were just luck," he told her.
"Well," she mused, "at least it's comfortable."
"An' ya look sexy," he told her point-blank.
Kitty flushed warmly. "What?" He grinned but didn't respond.
He took her arm. "C'mon, let's get out o' here." They left his apartment and went down to his car. He went around and unlocked her door for her before opening it.
"Thanks," she whispered getting in. He got in on the other side and started the car. He took her to all the major landmarks before pulling into the parking lot of the pub. "It's only six," she said, "trying to get rid of me, Pete?"
He grinned. "Never, just thought you might want a drink."
"So you're, like, trying to get me drunk?"
"Well, you are eighteen."
She raised a hand. "Wait, how did you know how old I am?"
"Your file from Black Air."
"So you were a member of the organization that we were trying to shut down."
"Were bein' the operative word," Pete told her getting out and opening her door for her. "It's also why I didn't `ave the X-Men come get you at me apartment. The operatives at Black Air are still after me."
"You could, um, come with me."
"I can't. If they think I care about you guys you would be targets."
"Pete, we *are* the X-Men. We can take care of ourselves."
"I know," he said as they walked in and he ordered a few things before they sat down across from each other. "But you `ave t' understand, Kit, they ain't gonna come up to you guys with a clear challenge or something' if they go after you it'll be a shot coming from a dark alley."
"What about you?"
"I worked fer `em. I already look over my shoulder all the time."
"But you're still all alone-"
He smiled taking her hand over the table. "I'll be fine, luv." He saw a light blush tint her cheeks and his smile grew. Just then the door opened and Pete looked up his eyes narrowing slightly at the group coming in. He motioned for her to move next to him, which she did looking bemused. The first person who spotted them was a blond man who smirked ordering the drinks for the group and paying before coming and sitting in front of them.
He smiled widely at Kitty extending a hand. "`Allo, luv, John Constantine at yer service."
"Kitty Pryde," she said placing her hand in his. Still grinning he bowed slightly to kiss it.
"So, Pete, where `ave ya been?" another man asked approaching.
"Jardine," Pete nodded. "Just layin' low."
"Who's your lovely friend?" yet another man asked.
"Guys, this is Kitty Pryde. Kitty, these wankers are me mates: Jardine, and Doyle." Kitty shook each of their hands in turn.
"Hi," she smiled. The three guys studied her and the way Pete kept his arm over hers unconsciously staking his claim. Pete was trying to get her to try some of his scotch as she sipped her coke. "Do you, like, not realize that it's illegal?" she asked finally.
"Wait," John said catching that. "Exactly `ow old are you?"
"Eighteen," Kitty said.
"Robbin' the cradle, Wisdom?" John smirked.
"An' you `ave room t' talk?" Pete asked.
"We aren't-" Kitty started then paused when the door opened again. In walked Logan.
"Hey, half-pint," he said dropping down beside her.
"Where are the others?" she asked surprised.
"Ororo was my copilot," Logan said. "She didn't want to come in." He took Pete's bottle pouring himself a glass.
"Help yerself," Pete said raising an eyebrow.
"I was," Logan said taking a drink. "As always, Wisdom, nice choice."
"The man may not have taste in much but `e is good with women and booze," John said. Kitty raised her eyebrows at that looking at Pete who was glaring daggers at John.
"C'mon, kid," Logan said getting up. "We should probably get going." Kitty frowned at that looking up at Pete who stood taking her arm.
"I'll walk you two back," he told her ignoring Logan's soft chuckle. He turned back to the others. "I'll see you guys later."