Dreams
~*~
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
And that somebody wants you
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're priceless and you're precious
Even when you are not new
-Semisonic
~*~
"I hate Americans," Pete muttered as he and the two other men finished off the bottle of scotch.
"Yeah," John said, "you really seemed to hate that one."
"Go t' hell, wanker," Pete snapped.
"Been there," John said. "Kinda lackin' in the air conditioning."
Jardine rolled his eyes at the usual arguing from the two men. "Wisdom, do us all a favor, admit you're attracted to her."
Pete shrugged. "Never said I wasn't."
"Then go find the girl, have a nice shag so you'll lighten up," John said. Pete looked at him incredulously.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're sick?"
"Yes, never could figure out why."
Rolling his eyes Pete stood. "Right then, I'll see you idiots tomorrow." He walked away. When he entered the cabin he shared with Romany he heard someone crying. Confused and suspicious he went towards the room finding that the noise was coming from his own room. He walked in and saw that Romany had put Kitty in there. He was even more surprised at her state.
She was curled up in a small ball sobbing. He climbed into the bed behind her and drew her to him gently. She uncurled herself allowing him to hold her, not waking up. Her sobs quieted and she leaned into him. He started to get up and she whimpered. He laid back down sighing and pulling her against him. She sighed happily relaxing against him.
The next morning
Kitty awoke curled up against a man's wiry frame. She leapt to her feet with a soft gasp. This woke him up. "Mornin'," he said sitting up.
"What? How-?"
Pete smirked. "Very articulate. Long story short, this is my bed, you were crying. I comforted you and you didn't want me t' leave."
"This is your bed? I was wondering about the smell."
"Now you're sayin' I smell?"
"Yes," Kitty said. "You totally smell like smoke and alcohol."
"I smoke and drink so, yeah, `at's about right," Pete shrugged. Suddenly realizing that she was just in a pair of short shorts and a small tight tank top Kitty blushed warmly. Pete followed her blush from her cheeks down. The thought of how far down the blush went entered his mind and he shook his head to stop that thought. "Like the outfit."
"I'm sure," Kitty said resisting the urge to grab the sheet and cover herself.
"If you want a shower there's one through there."
"You have showers?" she asked her eyes widening.
"Yes, we do bathe you know," he drawled.
"I haven't seen many places with running water."
"I'll see you in the living room." He walked into the living room where Romany and John were already sitting and arguing. They stopped turning and looking at him knowingly. "What?"
"Nothing," Romany said innocently. "It's just that you stayed in there with her all night."
"Take my advice?" John asked.
"Constantine, Hell will freeze over before I start to take your advice," Pete said. "She was upset, I comforted her, that simple. Where's the rat?" A low growl answered the question.
"He slept out here," Romany said stroking Lockheed's head.
"That leads me to a question, dear sister," Pete said narrowing his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Why exactly was the bird in my bed to begin with?"
"I didn't think you'd mind."
"Most guys would rejoice t' find a pretty girl in their bed," John said. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Wisdom."
"If said pretty woman lying on my bed naked I may have been happier," Pete said.
"Men," Romany muttered. Kitty came out her hair hanging in wet curls around her shoulders. Lockheed flew to his mistress licking her cheek and cooing affectionately. She hugged the little dragon and petted his belly.
"Well, let's go for a drive," Pete said. "Pryde, you ready?"
"Sure," Kitty said.
"Rom, John?" he asked turning to his friend and sister.
"Nah, you two go ahead," Romany said.
"Would you get Lockheed something to eat?" Kitty asked Romany.
"Sure," the other woman said.
"Let's go," she said turning to Pete. He nodded and the two went to a Jeep. He loaded a couple of boxes into the back and they started driving. After ten minutes they made it to the plane.
"Nice," he said impressed.
"It's my baby." He rose an eyebrow at that. "Come inside," she led him into the cockpit. "See this?" He looked at the great amount of lights and buttons. "Forge, Arcade and I did almost all of this."
"Who?" Pete inquired.
"Two other mutants. They're all geniuses."
"That what you are?"
Kitty laughed. "Like, no."
Pete leaned against the wall studying her. "Then how'd you do this? Not to mention, just learning how to fly this thing across the ocean."
"I'm just good with computers."
"Right. Let's get the things moved out." Together they carried the boxes out and placed the new boxes in. "You going to leave today?" he asked.
"I figure I'll stick around one more day," she shrugged. "They won't send a search party until tomorrow."
"Comforting." They got into the Jeep.
"I'd, um, like to thank you."
"For what?"
"Holding me last night," Kitty blushed looking down. "It was the first night I slept well in two years."
"My pleasure, Pryde," he said gently. He started the Jeep and they pulled onto the road. Soon they arrived back at the camp. He pulled in and surprised her by going around and opening her door for her.
"Wisdom!" a man called. Pete visibly flinched before he turned around.
"Brian," he nodded. "Kitty, this is Brian Bradock."
"Hi," Kitty smiled. Pete's scowl lessened slightly when he saw the person behind Bryan.
"And his sister, Betsy," Pete said.
"It's nice to meet you," Betsy said.
"Likewise," Kitty said.
"Allistaire asked us to file in with the night report," Brian said.
Pete groaned. "God, this is boring."
"Let me remind you, you set it up," Brian said.
"Yeah, yeah," Pete growled. "Fine, let's go." He turned to Kitty apologetically. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Okay," Kitty said.
"Do you want me to show you around?" Betsy offered.
"Like, sure," Kitty smiled. They walked around the camp.
"I'm curious," Betsy said. "What are you doing here?"
"Opening up trade," Kitty said.
Betsy smiled. "So you're the American."
"Yeah."
Betsy glanced at Kitty out of the corner of her eye. "Are you going to come back?"
"I don't know."
"I thought maybe you and Pete-"
"Me and Pete what?"
"Well, you were kind of projecting your thoughts-"
"You're a psychic?"
"Yes."
"What exactly did you hear?"
"Well, Pete's thought's I'll keep to myself," Betsy smiled.
"Um..."
Betsy chuckled at her expression. "Don't worry, it wasn't anything unusual for a healthy man to be thinking about a girl. Besides, your thoughts weren't much different." Kitty blushed deeply at that.
"Ladies," Brian said approaching. Pete also walked over looking incredibly bored.
"Having fun, Wisdom?" Kitty asked.
"A ball," Pete said dryly. The four walked back to the cabin when Lockheed flew straight to Kitty licking her cheek happily.
"Is that a dragon?" Brian asked in shock.
"Can I pet him?" Betsy asked. Kitty handed Lockheed to the British woman. The entire group talked for several hours until they started dissipating for dinner. After the meal Romany and John had lookout duty so Kitty and Pete were left alone, mostly.
"Pryde, if you don't get me fags back from your flyin' rat yer going t' `ave a new purse."
"Lockheed!" Kitty scolded. "Let the rude man have his disgusting habit." Laughing the dragon dropped the cigarettes into her lap. "I'm rather surprised."
"`Bout what?" he asked.
"Well, you may be rude, crude, blunt, and have some annoying habits but you are a man in power."
"Is that what surprises you?"
"No." Kitty waved a hand in dismissal. "I'm, like, talking about the fact that there's no Mrs. Wisdom."
"The reasons you just gave are precisely why."
"You're rude, crude-"
"No," he interrupted. "The fact that I `ave power here. If a woman were t' be with me it would be for that reason only."
"I don't know about that," Kitty said.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, you may be all of those things but you have your redeeming qualities."
"Such as?"
"Your eyes for one."
"My eyes?"
"They're... intense."
"Anything else?"
She pretended to think about it. "No... nothing... just your eyes."
"`At `urts," he said putting on a mock-injured look.
"Well, I'm used to all of your bad qualities," she admitted. "Remy has almost all of them. In fact the only difference between the two of you is that Remy's charming."
"I'm not?"
"No, you're way too blunt. I mean, don't get me wrong, you can be really sweet but you're not up to par with the Southerner."
"I'll have to see about that," he said looking at this as a challenge. He remembered all of his training in Black Air; he could charm his way into almost any situation. He just never used that skill. He never really wanted to, especially with women, at least in his real life. He figured that if he had to resort to that they weren't really worth it. "What about you?"
"What?"
"Any guy in your life?"
"Nope," Kitty said.
"I find `at of hard t' believe. I mean yer not exactly bad lookin'."
"As you said, that is precisely why."
"Come again."
"In Remy's camp there's a large imbalance in the male to female ratio. The boys really out number the girls."
"Yeah."
"So, any guy that sees a pretty girl goes all caveman. Pretty soon they're going to use clubs. I mean, even with me-"
"What do you mean: 'even with you'?"
"I'm not really pretty." She shrugged.
He scoffed at that. "Manner of opinion." She looked at him surprised by that comment. "So, how'd the Cajun get leadership?"
"People just sort of flocked to him. Rogue and I had gotten lost when the X-Men were hiding out during the wars and we stumbled upon his camp. We were the first ones to join up with him actually."
~*~
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're lovely and you're perfect
And that somebody wants you
I'm surprised that you've never been told before
That you're priceless and you're precious
Even when you are not new
-Semisonic
~*~
"I hate Americans," Pete muttered as he and the two other men finished off the bottle of scotch.
"Yeah," John said, "you really seemed to hate that one."
"Go t' hell, wanker," Pete snapped.
"Been there," John said. "Kinda lackin' in the air conditioning."
Jardine rolled his eyes at the usual arguing from the two men. "Wisdom, do us all a favor, admit you're attracted to her."
Pete shrugged. "Never said I wasn't."
"Then go find the girl, have a nice shag so you'll lighten up," John said. Pete looked at him incredulously.
"Anyone ever tell you that you're sick?"
"Yes, never could figure out why."
Rolling his eyes Pete stood. "Right then, I'll see you idiots tomorrow." He walked away. When he entered the cabin he shared with Romany he heard someone crying. Confused and suspicious he went towards the room finding that the noise was coming from his own room. He walked in and saw that Romany had put Kitty in there. He was even more surprised at her state.
She was curled up in a small ball sobbing. He climbed into the bed behind her and drew her to him gently. She uncurled herself allowing him to hold her, not waking up. Her sobs quieted and she leaned into him. He started to get up and she whimpered. He laid back down sighing and pulling her against him. She sighed happily relaxing against him.
The next morning
Kitty awoke curled up against a man's wiry frame. She leapt to her feet with a soft gasp. This woke him up. "Mornin'," he said sitting up.
"What? How-?"
Pete smirked. "Very articulate. Long story short, this is my bed, you were crying. I comforted you and you didn't want me t' leave."
"This is your bed? I was wondering about the smell."
"Now you're sayin' I smell?"
"Yes," Kitty said. "You totally smell like smoke and alcohol."
"I smoke and drink so, yeah, `at's about right," Pete shrugged. Suddenly realizing that she was just in a pair of short shorts and a small tight tank top Kitty blushed warmly. Pete followed her blush from her cheeks down. The thought of how far down the blush went entered his mind and he shook his head to stop that thought. "Like the outfit."
"I'm sure," Kitty said resisting the urge to grab the sheet and cover herself.
"If you want a shower there's one through there."
"You have showers?" she asked her eyes widening.
"Yes, we do bathe you know," he drawled.
"I haven't seen many places with running water."
"I'll see you in the living room." He walked into the living room where Romany and John were already sitting and arguing. They stopped turning and looking at him knowingly. "What?"
"Nothing," Romany said innocently. "It's just that you stayed in there with her all night."
"Take my advice?" John asked.
"Constantine, Hell will freeze over before I start to take your advice," Pete said. "She was upset, I comforted her, that simple. Where's the rat?" A low growl answered the question.
"He slept out here," Romany said stroking Lockheed's head.
"That leads me to a question, dear sister," Pete said narrowing his eyes.
"Yes?"
"Why exactly was the bird in my bed to begin with?"
"I didn't think you'd mind."
"Most guys would rejoice t' find a pretty girl in their bed," John said. "Sometimes I wonder about you, Wisdom."
"If said pretty woman lying on my bed naked I may have been happier," Pete said.
"Men," Romany muttered. Kitty came out her hair hanging in wet curls around her shoulders. Lockheed flew to his mistress licking her cheek and cooing affectionately. She hugged the little dragon and petted his belly.
"Well, let's go for a drive," Pete said. "Pryde, you ready?"
"Sure," Kitty said.
"Rom, John?" he asked turning to his friend and sister.
"Nah, you two go ahead," Romany said.
"Would you get Lockheed something to eat?" Kitty asked Romany.
"Sure," the other woman said.
"Let's go," she said turning to Pete. He nodded and the two went to a Jeep. He loaded a couple of boxes into the back and they started driving. After ten minutes they made it to the plane.
"Nice," he said impressed.
"It's my baby." He rose an eyebrow at that. "Come inside," she led him into the cockpit. "See this?" He looked at the great amount of lights and buttons. "Forge, Arcade and I did almost all of this."
"Who?" Pete inquired.
"Two other mutants. They're all geniuses."
"That what you are?"
Kitty laughed. "Like, no."
Pete leaned against the wall studying her. "Then how'd you do this? Not to mention, just learning how to fly this thing across the ocean."
"I'm just good with computers."
"Right. Let's get the things moved out." Together they carried the boxes out and placed the new boxes in. "You going to leave today?" he asked.
"I figure I'll stick around one more day," she shrugged. "They won't send a search party until tomorrow."
"Comforting." They got into the Jeep.
"I'd, um, like to thank you."
"For what?"
"Holding me last night," Kitty blushed looking down. "It was the first night I slept well in two years."
"My pleasure, Pryde," he said gently. He started the Jeep and they pulled onto the road. Soon they arrived back at the camp. He pulled in and surprised her by going around and opening her door for her.
"Wisdom!" a man called. Pete visibly flinched before he turned around.
"Brian," he nodded. "Kitty, this is Brian Bradock."
"Hi," Kitty smiled. Pete's scowl lessened slightly when he saw the person behind Bryan.
"And his sister, Betsy," Pete said.
"It's nice to meet you," Betsy said.
"Likewise," Kitty said.
"Allistaire asked us to file in with the night report," Brian said.
Pete groaned. "God, this is boring."
"Let me remind you, you set it up," Brian said.
"Yeah, yeah," Pete growled. "Fine, let's go." He turned to Kitty apologetically. "I'll be back in a few minutes."
"Okay," Kitty said.
"Do you want me to show you around?" Betsy offered.
"Like, sure," Kitty smiled. They walked around the camp.
"I'm curious," Betsy said. "What are you doing here?"
"Opening up trade," Kitty said.
Betsy smiled. "So you're the American."
"Yeah."
Betsy glanced at Kitty out of the corner of her eye. "Are you going to come back?"
"I don't know."
"I thought maybe you and Pete-"
"Me and Pete what?"
"Well, you were kind of projecting your thoughts-"
"You're a psychic?"
"Yes."
"What exactly did you hear?"
"Well, Pete's thought's I'll keep to myself," Betsy smiled.
"Um..."
Betsy chuckled at her expression. "Don't worry, it wasn't anything unusual for a healthy man to be thinking about a girl. Besides, your thoughts weren't much different." Kitty blushed deeply at that.
"Ladies," Brian said approaching. Pete also walked over looking incredibly bored.
"Having fun, Wisdom?" Kitty asked.
"A ball," Pete said dryly. The four walked back to the cabin when Lockheed flew straight to Kitty licking her cheek happily.
"Is that a dragon?" Brian asked in shock.
"Can I pet him?" Betsy asked. Kitty handed Lockheed to the British woman. The entire group talked for several hours until they started dissipating for dinner. After the meal Romany and John had lookout duty so Kitty and Pete were left alone, mostly.
"Pryde, if you don't get me fags back from your flyin' rat yer going t' `ave a new purse."
"Lockheed!" Kitty scolded. "Let the rude man have his disgusting habit." Laughing the dragon dropped the cigarettes into her lap. "I'm rather surprised."
"`Bout what?" he asked.
"Well, you may be rude, crude, blunt, and have some annoying habits but you are a man in power."
"Is that what surprises you?"
"No." Kitty waved a hand in dismissal. "I'm, like, talking about the fact that there's no Mrs. Wisdom."
"The reasons you just gave are precisely why."
"You're rude, crude-"
"No," he interrupted. "The fact that I `ave power here. If a woman were t' be with me it would be for that reason only."
"I don't know about that," Kitty said.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, you may be all of those things but you have your redeeming qualities."
"Such as?"
"Your eyes for one."
"My eyes?"
"They're... intense."
"Anything else?"
She pretended to think about it. "No... nothing... just your eyes."
"`At `urts," he said putting on a mock-injured look.
"Well, I'm used to all of your bad qualities," she admitted. "Remy has almost all of them. In fact the only difference between the two of you is that Remy's charming."
"I'm not?"
"No, you're way too blunt. I mean, don't get me wrong, you can be really sweet but you're not up to par with the Southerner."
"I'll have to see about that," he said looking at this as a challenge. He remembered all of his training in Black Air; he could charm his way into almost any situation. He just never used that skill. He never really wanted to, especially with women, at least in his real life. He figured that if he had to resort to that they weren't really worth it. "What about you?"
"What?"
"Any guy in your life?"
"Nope," Kitty said.
"I find `at of hard t' believe. I mean yer not exactly bad lookin'."
"As you said, that is precisely why."
"Come again."
"In Remy's camp there's a large imbalance in the male to female ratio. The boys really out number the girls."
"Yeah."
"So, any guy that sees a pretty girl goes all caveman. Pretty soon they're going to use clubs. I mean, even with me-"
"What do you mean: 'even with you'?"
"I'm not really pretty." She shrugged.
He scoffed at that. "Manner of opinion." She looked at him surprised by that comment. "So, how'd the Cajun get leadership?"
"People just sort of flocked to him. Rogue and I had gotten lost when the X-Men were hiding out during the wars and we stumbled upon his camp. We were the first ones to join up with him actually."