Logan's POV

I shoulda done just what everyone else does when Kitty comes after them with that 'I wanna drive' glint in her eyes, but like an idiot I just stayed working on my motorcycle and hoping she wouldn't notice my presence in the garage.

Like I would ever have that kind luck.

So I now find myself being subjected to her puppy dog pleading eyes and promises that 'it'll just be a quick spin around the block' and avowals that 'she's gotten better since the first time. Like anyone would in my shoes, I fold and agree to accompany her so she can get some more practice driving with her learner's permit.

When she actually waits until the gate opens to pull from the institute's driveway onto the main road, I'm thinking this may not be as nightmarish and experience as the first time I got suckered into this duty. Maybe her expeditions with Cyke or the Prof. helped her get a bit of that recklessness out of her system.

Then she starts fiddling with the radio dials, taking all her attention off the road, until she finds a station blaring pop music only a kid her age could enjoy. For a moment I'm too busy grabbing onto the dashboard for dear life as the van veers off the road straight toward a very large oak tree to really notice the migraine inducing tunes. After she realizes she's about to wreck with a giggly 'Oops' before quickly jerking the wheel to put the vehicle back on the road I dare to breathe normally again and that's when I hear the music.

"No distractions," I growl and reach over to shut the noise maker off. "Keep your eyes and the van on the road."

She sighs at that, but says nothing as she approaches an intersection.

Just as she had the first time I endangered my life by being a passenger with her behind the wheel, the kid not only does not come to a complete stop at the stop sign on the corner, she takes a quick look to make sure there's no other traffic around then turns to the right, cutting the turn so tightly she has to use her mutation to phase through the sign or else take the thing out with the van. The journey continues much like that, with her attention wavering and the vehicle weaving left into the lane of oncoming traffic then right to bounce off the edge of the road until she takes out an innocent mailbox and I finally have reason to put a stop to the outing.

"Home," I order in my most intimidating tone. "Now."

"But - " she begins with her eyes leaving the road to focus imploringly on me.

"Now, Pryde."

Visibly pouting she does as ordered and turns us toward home, where she phases straight through the front gate rather than even trying to open the metal barrier.

I gladly yank the keys from the X-Van's ignition the second she's managed to park it in the garage without driving through the back wall of the building or hitting the other vehicles parked inside.

She turns to look at me and clearly intends to say something in her own defense, but I open the passenger side door and exit the van before she can say anything. As I quietly shut the door after touching down on the ground, I hear her exiting the driver's side.

"Look at this," I growl as my eyes settle on the chipped paint and small dent on the vehicle from her crashing it into that mailbox.

Tentatively she comes to stand beside me and look at the damage I'm glaring at.

"Oops. It's, like, not that bad," she glances at the dent then at me then bites her lip and goes back to staring at the mark.

"This time," I cross my arms over my chest and sink completely into lecture mode. "This time the damage isn't bad, Pryde, but the next time it could be. The next time it could be a person instead of a mailbox. The next time the van could be totaled and you killed because of how easily distracted you can be while behind the wheel," she's got that pouty 'but I didn't mean to' look in place as she stares at me a bit blankly waiting for the lecture to end. "Look, I know you're really excited about having your permit and that you really wanna get your license and be able to drive yourself around, but the fact is driving is a privilege not a right. Some people aren't qualified to handle a potentially deadly piece of machinery like a car. I'm not saying you're one of those people," I hold a hand up to stop whatever she's planning to say at that.

"You've got a lot of work to do yet and there a few things you have to accept before you get around to that work. The number one thing you have to remember is that you can't rely on your mutation. You have got to pay attention to the road ahead of you and avoid obstacles, not just phase through them at the last minute. And you have to remember to stay in your lane. The white line marks the edge of the road and you don't wanna go over that. The yellow lines divide the road into two or more separate lanes and often in that other lane you have oncoming traffic. You endanger yourself and others when you wander into that lane then swerve sharply back out of it when you realize there's a truck heading straight at you," I arch my brow in a way that reminds her that just that kinda thing happened and she closes her mouth instead of making whatever protest she'd been thinking of. "Another really big thing that's gonna stop you from passing an actual driving test is your failure to stop at Stop signs. And your depth perception's a bit off if the way you take turns is any kind of indication. You cut them far too closely for anyone's good. Those sidewalks you so casually run up over often have pedestrians on them and hitting pedestrians with a virtual tank like the X-Van would be a very bad thing."

As would your actually getting a driver's license, I add mentally. I mean, who in their right mind even gave this girl a learner's permit?

Uh-oh.

She's looking at me all angry and shocked and I'm guessing I spoke those thoughts aloud.

"Look, Kitty," I try to be a bit nicer about this, "I don't mean to …," I trail off as she's suddenly placing her hands on my shoulders and leaning against me in a blatant invasion of my personal space. "What - "

Next thing I know the kid's kissing me.

Not a little peck on the cheek like she's done a time or two to thank me for doing something nice, but an all out actual kiss. Her little body's pressing into mine, her little hands are locked around my neck with her fingers playing in the hair at my nape and her …

My God, her tongue is playing with mine!

Eyes wide open in complete shock at this, I clamp my hands on her shoulders and push her away as I slowly step back. She doesn't put up much of a fight at my rejection, but just in case whatever came over her occurs again I keep my hands firmly locked on her shoulders to keep her at a relatively safe distance as I try to figure out what the heck just happened.

What just …Does she … Did she … Did I … Who …When … How … Was that … Why … What the … Huh?

A couple hundred questions suddenly whirl around in my head, but no complete sentence forms to actually be asked so I slowly close my gaping mouth. Watching closely for the slightest hint of another move toward me on Kitty's part, I cautiously move my hands off her shoulders and begin stepping back with my arms remaining upraised to ward her off should she try making a move.

She seems pretty ok just standing right where she is, so I take a deep calming breath and lower my arms. An utterly self-satisfied smile curves her lips and lights her eyes at my reaction and my mind and body both agree at that moment that it is time to get the heck outta Dodge.

I turn on my heels and exit the garage with my thoughts revolving around whether that had actually been a kiss or a really weird kinda Twilight Zone episode. Then when I'm forced to admit that the half-pint actually laid one on me, I begin wondering what exactly I did to encourage her and how the heck I can undo it.

"Ah, Logan, there you are," the Prof suddenly interrupts my thoughts as I enter the mansion via the front door with plans to go destroy a few things in the Danger Room to help myself think. "How was your excursion with Kitty?"

I give my standard noncommittal grunt, fish the keys to the X-Van out of my pocket and toss them to the bald man.

"Never again. Hank, Jean, Ro and Scott are all of age to be that kids test dummy. Next time you sic her on one of them when she gets that determined gleam in her eye," I order while walking past him.

"Did something happen?" he asks with a bit of concern.

Yeah, you could say that, I think while giving him an 'I don't wanna talk about it growl' in answer to the question.