Paint By Numbers
Chapter 7
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"Peter? Can you feel your feet?" Kitty asked, sitting on the edge of the bed in Piotr's room and gingerly pulling off her shoes, trying to avoid aggravating the blisters on her heels.
"Da," he answered in an exhausted voice, collapsing onto the bed. It was their first day back from Europe, and Wolverine had welcomed the group home with an backbreaking session in the Danger Room.
"Lucky," she muttered, crawling over to him and burying her head against his chest. He put his arms snugly around her and she closed her eyes, completely at peace. "How'd we get so outta shape in only a few days? she questioned lazily, absently tracing the outlines of the muscles on his stomach through his t-shirt.
"Too much of my mother's cooking," Piotr joked as he ran his fingers through her hair. "And the fact that we have hardly had any sleep since Russia," he reminded her, sounding slightly wistful.
"Do you still miss it?" Kitty asked, looking up at him.
"What, sleep?" She rolled her eyes in mock exasperation, causing him to smile. "Of course, Katya. It's home," he explained, trying to sound indifferent. But the truth was, had it not been for her, holding onto his hand as they boarded the Blackbird, there was a good chance he would have stayed.
She studied his face, sensing there was more to it then what he told her. After a few moments she gave up and rested her head back on his chest, choosing not to press the subject. "Your sister was so cute. Growing up I always wanted to have one just like her."
"Why would your parents want to have another child? You were so perfect that they didn't need another one."
Kitty burst out giggling from the lameness of what he had just said.
"What's so funny?" he asked, puzzled.
"You," she managed to choke out in between her laughter.
"Bobby promised that would be a good thing to say," he protested.
"Bobby? You took dating advice from Bobby? Why?" she questioned, still giggling.
"He guaranteed it would work."
"Really?" Kitty asked, sitting up so she could see his face. "Tell me Peter, how many girlfriends has Bobby had?"
"None."
"Exactly. Which is why the moral of this little story is never take romantic advice from Iceman."
"Sorry," he apologized, embarrassed by her laughter.
"Don't be, it was sweet. Corny, but sweet. Hey," she said softly, noticing his embarrassment, "You know you don't have to try to make me like you, Peter. I already do." He didn't say anything, but she saw him smile. Taking it as a sign that she was forgiven, Kitty snuggled back in next to him, trying to force herself to sleep. But before she could, the memory of what he had said flashed through her mind, causing a little giggle to escape.
"Katya?" he asked, sounding somewhat perturbed.
"Sorry, couldn't help it," she apologized sheepishly.
"Not that. Do you miss yours?"
Kitty sighed. It wasn't a topic she was particularly fond of talking about. "I dunno. I guess when I think of home, I think of the X-Men. My real family, it's not always so wonderful. I mean, I love my parents and they love me, it's just that most of the time they don't really love each other. They used to fight all the time, ever since I was little. They still do, I'm just not around to hear it anymore. After awhile, I kinda got used to playing the waiting game, knowing it's only a matter of time before they get divorced," she confided to him. He looked down at her, concerned, but she wouldn't meet his eyes. So instead he held her tighter, and she cuddled up closer to him, finding solace in his arms. "You know," she teased, trying to lighten the mood, "We can't all have perfect childhoods like you."
She felt his body tense up next to her. "My childhood- it was not perfect."
"That's not what it looked like to me," Kitty said lightly, confused by his discomfort.
"I was lucky to have a family like mine. But my childhood, it was not so easy to hide being a mutant in such a small village. And the people were not so accepting."
"You were a loner." It was more a statement than a question.
"Da."
"So was I."
His deep blue eyes stared at her in surprise. "I find that hard to believe."
"No, it's true. Rogue likes to say that I make up for all my years of not having anyone to talk to by never shutting up. But back in Deerfield I didn't really have any friends. Probably cause the cheerleaders liked to pick on me. A lot. That's how I met Lance, you know? He went to my school then, too. He helped me after Reilly and her friends, they, uh, well they stuffed me in a locker. That was the same day I realized I was a mutant. Lance, he told me that he was one too, helped me feel like I wasn't alone, like I wasn't a freak. But then he got me into trouble, he tricked me into using my powers to help him steal. I guess that was always one of the big problems with our relationship. Most of the time he was always more concerned about what he'd get out of it then he was of me."
Piotr stayed quiet. This was the first time Kitty had mentioned Lance since Muir Isle. Back then, it hadn't really bothered him. She had been avoiding him for weeks; he was beginning to think he had been nothing more then a distraction, someone to keep her amused while she was unhappy with her boyfriend. He had been so relieved to find out there was a reason for her behavior that he hadn't thought much about her promise to her ex. Then, in Russia, away from all the drama and the intensity of the X-Men, it had been so easy to forget about all their problems and pretend that they were in their own little world. But now that he was away from his home, he had lost the confidence he had found there, and all the old doubts and insecurities were flooding back. He couldn't shake the thought that perhaps the reason she had agreed to Lance's promise was that there was a part of her wanted to stay with him. Much as he tried to forget, Lance was still a factor in his and Katya's relationship, and he was still a part of Kitty's life. Piotr had feelings for her. In Russia, he tried to tell her, in the best way he could, how strong they really were. But it was moments like these that made him doubt those feelings were returned.
"You should go," he said gruffly, pulling away from her.
"What? Why?"
"We shouldn't be doing this. It is not- proper."
"Peter, were not doing anything bad, we're just resting. And after that training session from hell, I think we deserve it. Besides, we left the door open." He still looked troubled. "Talk to me," she pleaded. "Tell me what's really wrong."
"The promise you made, this is ok? This doesn't cross the line?"
"It, well, um, not really, I guess. I mean, it's not like we're together or anything," she reasoned.
"Are you certain?" he asked intently.
"Yeah," Kitty said, a little doubtfully, unsure which one of her statements he was referring to. Piotr remained silent. He allowed her to curl up next to him once again, but this time he didn't put his arms around her. She didn't understand what she had done to make him pull away, but she was worried. Then she thought about Lance, about how hurt he would be if he saw them right now, and she couldn't help but feel guilty. She didn't feel so at peace anymore. "I forgot, I have to uh, go help the, uh, Mr. McCoy. So, I'm gonna go," Kitty choked out, trying not to cry. Still, Piotr said nothing. She looked at him one last time before she left the room. He was still laying flat across the bed; his eyes were closed and he looked like he was sleeping. Kitty knew he was pretending.
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Kitty wandered dejectedly through the house to the kitchen, hoping to find some comfort food. She found Rogue there, sitting alone at the counter, surrounded by a few pints of ice cream, trying to decide which one she wanted. This annoyed Kitty. "Why are you bogarting all the ice cream?" she asked grumpily.
Rogue shot her an resentful look. "Great. You sound happy," she muttered sarcastically.
Kitty frowned and stared down at the floor, hurt.
She instantly felt guilty. "Look, maybe those'll cheer you up. They were delivered this morning," Rogue told her, motioning the bouquet of flowers sitting in a vase by the sink. "And Ah'm not bogarting."
She ignored her friend's last comment and picked up the flowers. "Nhhh," Kitty groaned miserably as she read the card.
"Least they're pretty," her roommate commented.
She scowled at the bouquet. "I had really hoped he was done sending me stuff. You would think after all the time I've spent ignoring him Lance would finally get the picture. Plus, he can't afford this. I mean, why is it, even when they're trying to be nice, boys still find a way to suck?" she ranted, climbing onto the stool next to Rogue and setting her forehead against the countertop.
"Dunno. Who would you rather ask, Ben and Jerry or Mr. Haagen Dazs?" Rogue questioned, holding up a carton.
"What flavors?" she mumbled, her face still against the counter.
"Vanilla, Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, New York Super Fudge Chunk, and Chocolate Rum."
"Gimme the rum," Kitty ordered, turning her head and holding out an open hand.
"Ya do know there's no real alcohol in there, right?" she teased.
"Funny," she scowled, not in the mood for jokes. Rogue made a face at her and Kitty stuck out her tongue. "Achk. That stuff's nasty," she complained after taking a bite of her ice cream. "What's in this?"
"Let's see," Rogue said, reading the carton. "Rum ice cream, chocolate swirls, and raisins."
"Raisins? Why would anyone put freakin' raisins in ice cream?"
"Well some people like 'em," Rogue said defensively, feeling as though Kitty was blaming her since she was the one who gave her the ice cream. She glanced over at her friend, who was still melodramatically staring at her food in silent revulsion. "Too bad ya don't like yours. Mine's real good." she gloated.
"Let me try some," Kitty demand, trying to scoop out a bite.
"No, get your own," Rogue protested, moving the carton possessively towards her. "Here, you can have the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough," she said, pushing the container towards her friend.
"Fine," Kitty sulked, opening the lid and irritably throwing it on the counter.
Rogue stared at her, annoyed. "What now?"
"Nothing," she snapped, digging out a piece of cookie dough. "Bogart."
Rogue glared at her. "Moocher."
They ate together in silence, both in bad moods, both feeling guilty over the way they had treated each other.
"So... what emotional void are you trying to fill?" Kitty finally asked.
"Huh?"
"Rogue, a girl doesn't usually eat a full pint of chocolate ice cream without reason. What's wrong?"
"Ah'm a mutant incapable of physical human contact living in a world that hates and fears me, who attempted to kill my own mother and helped an evil psycho try to take over the world," she recited monotonously.
Kitty nodded. "So Gambit again, huh?"
"Yep."
"You want to talk about it?"
"Nope."
"Oh. Then can I talk about mine?" she pleaded hopefully.
"If Ah say no, will it stop you?" Rogue asked.
"Probably not."
"Figures," she muttered, expecting Kitty to start babbling, but, oddly, her friend stayed silent. "Well, you gonna tell me or not?" she finally asked, fed up with waiting.
"I....not," Shadowcat told her, sounding a little surprised with herself.
"Really? You're actually givin' up a chance to talk? That's a first."
"No, it's just... I can't always keep running to other people and expect them to fix my problems for me. I mean, it's my problem, right? I shouldn't be dependant on someone else, cause then I'm not really dealing with the problem. I'm just letting someone else deal with it for me. I just, I think it's really important that I figure this one out myself." She groaned in frustration and pushed the ice cream away from her. "Maturity sucks."
"Yeah," Rogue nodded, relating to her friend's obvious misery. "So is that stuff good or what?" she asked, pointing to the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.
"It's ok," Kitty shrugged.
"Oh. Ah'll trade ya," she offered.
"But I thought you liked yours."
"Look, you wanna trade or not?" Rogue demanded.
"Ok." They exchanged cartons and ate in silence once more. "Rogue?" Kitty asked, ending the quiet.
"Yeah?"
She looked gratefully at her friend. "Thanks."
Rogue gave her a begrudging little half-smile. "Don't mention it."
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Sorry this chapter took so long to post. Writer's Block. If I had to stare all dumbfounded at the computer screen for another five minutes, I was going to smash my laptop. Which would be bad. But I planned out the next few chapters, so hopefully they won't take so long to finish. And to any of you Iceman fans, I wasn't trying to be mean to him. Poor Bobby just never gets a girl. Evo at least tried to hook him up with Jubilee, but she went away. Of course, if she had stayed, she would probably fallen in love with Alex Summers, as all of Bobby's girlfriends eventually do. Anyway, hoped you like the chapter. It's not the happiest one I've written, but I was trying to bring more development to Colossus and Kitty and Rogue's friendship.
Thanks to oldprydefan, The Uncanny R-Man, Dark-bat, KittieKat8, ishandahalf, *B, Junkyard, Steph Silverstar , DemonRogue13, The Rogue Witch, Lladyred01, SperryDee, and Sanity: Questionable for all the reviews. You guys rock. And I honestly don't mind criticism, so if there's ever anything in the story that you don't like or doesn't make sense, just speak up. Cause sometimes certain things I write only make sense in my own head. Anyway, thanks for the reviews!