X-Men Evolution

Enjoying Life

Date With Destiny

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The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, they say. For those who had the mental strength to wake up and look towards the sea at the Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters would get the chance of seeing a huge burning ball rise from the horizon and cover the land with its golden light. Changing the dull skies over the sea towards the empty east to a colorful scenario in a charming pink light, with small floating white cotton pieces here and there.

It was Sunday morning at the institute and like all other Sundays here, the day would be peaceful for a comforting change. A little by little, the common room in the first floor lit up by the morning light, gently waking up a sleepy Nightcrawler.

Slowly opening his pale eyes, he was first greeted to a new day by the sweet smell of his best friend who lay nuzzled into him, still sleeping as peacefully as a baby. He smiled warmly at Kitty's petite figure, staring at her closed eyelids that covered the most beautiful eyes he had ever seen. Suddenly getting a tickling feeling at the tip of his tail.

Carefully pulling the blanket a bit away so he could see her full face, his eyes widened at what he saw. Kitty's small hands held a good grip around his tail and chewed softly on the spade-tip in her sleep. It didn't hurt as it felt more like a puppy cuddle-bite its master's hand. She held it like it was her favorite stuffed-animal. Her teeth and lips gently chewed on the fuzzy tip and Kurt couldn't help but to feel like the luckiest guy alive. She was so cute, so beautiful. So innocent.

Kurt's heart ached for her. What had a bully such like Lance done to deserve the joyful feeling of her company on the sacred thing called 'date'?

He sighed and removed a piece of her hair with his finger to behind her ear. The light brush of his fur against her skin made her smile in her sleep. Seeing her smile like this, Kurt continued to let his finger stroke her chin. Kitty moved in her sleep and stopped chewing on his tail and pulled it into a hug instead, giggling softly under her breath. Kurt could have swore his heart would burst through his chest.

Suddenly the giggling stopped and her eyes slowly opened. Kurt stopped his tickling and pretended to be asleep. If only he could get a bit control over his swishing tail in her hands. But having to feel the warmth in her hands gave the tail a life of its own.

Kitty opened her eyes and felt something tickle her breastbone. Looking down, she saw that she was tucking Kurt's tail close to her chest and that the tail now swished gently from side to side in her hands.

She felt the comforting warmth from the blanket flow through her body. Her own bed couldn't be compared with this. Not in a million years. But her mind continued to wonder why Kurt would stay with her through the night.

She smiled to herself as she let the tail go and carefully moved out of the comfort of the blanket. Trying not to wake up Kurt who looked like he was still deep inside his dreamworld. Stretching her limbs she turned back towards the fuzzy blue teen with a warm smile. Tucking him into the blanket, she turned towards the kitchen and was gone before Kurt even knew it.

Pulling the blanket closer, Kurt inhaled all the smell of her that still remained in the spot she had slept on. The sweet smell of strawberries reached his nose and he heard himself start to purr.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The rest of the day went on like any normal Sunday at the institute. With Logan still on the open road somewhere and Storm still having the younger recruits on their weekend trip, Scott had put them on a very easy obstacle in the Danger Room.

The objective was simply to get to the switch on the other end of the room while the platforms they used changed position as well as level of height. For Kurt this session would have been a walk in the park, but feeling the automatic responsibility for Kitty, he always stayed close enough to grab her if she would fall. And if they ended on a platform that was going down, he told her to climb on his back and he would use his powers to climb the wall like a spider. He could easily port, but that would ruin the training.

After the Danger Room, everyone returned to their daily routines. Homework, playing around or help the others. All they did, brought them closer and closer to the evening. Kurt didn't look forward to that.

As the clock stroke the eight stroke, the doorbell rang and Scott opened the door. Had it been a door-salesman or Witnesses of Jehovah he would have been actually happy, but to see Lance standing there brought an ancient anger in the old teen.

Neither Scott or Lance said a word to each other. But Lance's face turned from angry to a bit more happy as he saw Kitty come from behind Scott. Wearing a cute blue dress and her hair tied in a bun behind her head. Looking like a young princess from a fairytale.

Kurt sat by the window in the second floor, watching the worst scenario he could imagine. Looking down at the drive-in, he could see Lance walk with Kitty close to his side towards his car. He felt his stomach turn into a knot as Kitty leaned up to Lance and placed a kiss on his cheek. He didn't wanted to see anymore of this and jumped off the window ledge and walked towards the stairs. The emptiness of the hall matched his feelings perfectly.

He ended up at the kitchen, only to find Scott sitting at the table eating a little snacks. The older boy lifted his head at him when he heard the door open. Scott was like a big-brother to him. He and Jean were the first one to live at this institute when he came here for the first time.

"Hey, Kurt......no porting tonight?" Scott asked when he suddenly realized that it was Kurt who opened the door. The only answer he got back was a silent shake of the blue teen's head.

"Kurt...?......Is something wrong?" he continued. Noticing right away that something was eating Kurt.

Kurt didn't seem to pay much attention as he brought forward a bowl, a spoon, some milk and some cereal. Flopping down on his chair, he finally looked up at Scott as he worked on his upcoming meal.

"Oh......so you know about their date......" Scott nervously started.

"Knov?....I vas zhere when he called her," Kurt replied and dig in on the cereal. His face seemed expressionless, but his voice gave him away that it was tearing him up inside.

"Oh man...I'm sorry, Kurt."

"Jah. Danke, Scott," Kurt mumbled still eating.

"I mean it, Kurt. You know that I dislike Lance as much as you do. And I hate seeing her with him as much as you do," Scott said. The look Kurt now sent him made he correct his words.

"Okay...not as much as you do, but I'm close."

There was a growing silence between the two of them. Scott constantly watching his young friend, and Kurt who felt glaring at the toaster was the best form of entertainment.

"You really like her, don't you?" Scott suddenly said to break the silence that was about to drive him nuts. Kurt froze in his eating and stared right at him with his pale eyes filled with surprise.

"Vas????"

"Kitty, I mean," the older teen said, trying to hold back the laughter that was building up inside of him seeing the look on Kurt's face.

"Oh come on, Kurt...You've been obvious since the first day you met her. Remember that behind these shades there is a pair of eyes that work."

Kurt swallowed Scott's words along with his cereal. If it had been so obvious, then why didn't Kitty know? Was she doing this to play with him? To keep him stumbling in the darkness, looking for a light of hope? Scott noticed Kurt wasn't going to talk so he continued his speech.

"I know exactly how you feel, Kurt. I've been there myself. All the time Jean was with Duncan...it was horrible. My mistake was that I waited too long to tell Jean how I really felt. It's a mistake that way too many good-guys do."

Kurt sighed. He knew he should have told Kitty how he really felt a long time ago. Now it was too late.

"So vas do you zhink I should do?" Kurt asked and looked over to his friend.

"I say that you tell Kitty about your feelings. We both know she deserves to be with someone better than Lance. And that someone should be you," Scott said and had the typical voice that when you hear it, you know that he's right.

Kurt sighed deeply. How on earth was he suppose to tell the girl he loved above all else to switch from the boy she dated to him? In pure frustration, Kurt banged his head into the table. Realizing a bit too late that he was still eating cereal.

SPLAT!!!

Scott froze on his seat. The mix of milk and cereal floated over the table. Standing up in order not to get milk on his pants. Looking over at Kurt who still had his head deep into the bowl he had to cover his mouth to prevent himself from screaming in laughter.

Slowly, like nothing had happened, Kurt lifted his head. His face was covered in milk and pieces of the cereal.

"Zhat vas not such eine gut idea...vas it?" Kurt asked as he stumbled towards the sink to clean up. Scott shook his head 'no' and quickly left the room. Jean would so love to hear about this.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

Kurt lay in his bed and watched the little picture of him and Kitty on his table. Him sitting in a crouch, smiling while looking up at Kitty who sat in a similar crouch on his shoulders. She really looked like she was having a good time there. Kurt's mind were having a huge argument about ideas. About what he would say to Kitty.

His balcony door stood wide open. Letting the gentle wind enter his room and brush over him with its invisible hands. To be autumn, tonight was rather warm. The moon shining high above the ground behind a small group of fluffy clouds. Like ghosts floating on the dark sky.

The sad blue teen sighed as he turned his eyes away from the picture and up to the ceiling. His discussions in his head dimmed off as he asked himself another question. Not what he would say to her...but did he deserve her?

Was really just being a friend enough nowadays? He took the relationship between Lance and Kitty at closer eye. He didn't like it, but it had to be done right now.

Lance had never qualified as a friend in Kurt's eyes. Being on the side of The Brotherhood and always be the first one to start a fight when they were in the field, he could not be a friend like Kurt was. And he remembered the day Kitty decided to join the X-Men. Lance had already made plans on using her powers to his own advantage. And when she turned him down after realizing the truth, Lance had showed his good nature by bringing down the entire school building down on her and her parents. Talk about high-valued friendship.

But still...after all Lance had done to her, to himself and the rest of the X- Men, she was now on a date with him. Kurt shivered by the mere thought of it. But Lance had one big advantage compared to Kurt. He looked normal. It didn't matter what he did, Lance would still be more human than Kurt could ever be. Even with the Image Inducer, Kurt couldn't feel completely human.

He reached out his hand and turned off his night lamp and pulled his covers closer to himself. What he had experienced last night was just a dream. A dream he knew he would only see once in a lifetime. Last night he had felt a hope. It turned out to be a fool's hope.

Suddenly, he was dragged back to the reality by the sound of his cellphone ringing. Looking at the alarm clock on his nighttable, it read 10.03 p.m. Who could call at this hour?

"Hello?" he asked as he picked it up. The person in the other end better have a good reason to call him.

"Kurt..." he heard the voice in the other end say.

"....Keety?.....is zhat you?" Kurt continued. He could hear the heavy music thunder in the background, but he was absolutely certain the voice belonged to Kitty. His fur crawled on his neck as he realized Kitty wouldn't call him unless something was wrong.

"Yes, it's me, Kurt. Can you, like, come and get me?" Kitty said. There was something in the way she spoke. Something sad.

"Keety, are you okay?" Kurt wanted to know, but Kitty didn't answer his question.

"Just come, Kurt...please. I don't want to be here anymore," Kitty finished and hung up the phone.

Kitty put the phone back on the wall and turned towards the big party at the disco. This hadn't been what she had expected at all. Usually, the disco would be filled with normal partying kids from the school. Listening to the music, dancing and have fun.

But the gang in the main hall tonight was nothing like that. The dancing was replaced with jumping up and down and listen to hard rock so loud she couldn't hear herself speak. There was a lot of alcohol on this party and Lance had been tasting both this and that all evening. She moved over to a dark corner and leaned against the wall. Seeing kids fool around this way wasn't her idea of a date. She just hoped Kurt would show up as quickly as possible.

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

A cloud of smoke appeared on the roof of the disco and Kurt looked down to the entrance. Behind his imageinducer, his anger started to boil as he heard what kind of "party" this was. Crawling down the wall in one of the dark alleys, Kurt quickly made his way to the entrance and walked inside undetected by the guard.

Inside was a total chaos of partying drunken teenagers. Kurt began to wonder who on earth would arrange a disco-night like this. He didn't like this one bit. But he wasn't here to like anything. He was here to bring Kitty home.

Searching the outside of the main group of kids, Kurt finally saw her. Standing in a corner alone and with a sad expression on her face, Kurt couldn't help but to feel sorry for her.

"Keety..." Kurt nervously started. The young girl looked up at him but her expressions didn't change. She just walked past him towards the exit and pulled him with her.

Halfway across the floor, Kurt felt a strong hand grab his shoulder and pull him backwards. Turning his head in fear of letting the person to feel his fur, Kurt's fear quickly turned into anger as he looked into the eyes of Lance himself.

"Where do you think you're going with my girl, freak?" Lance asked and held Kurt by his collar with both hands. Kurt's stomach twisted as he felt the stench of alcohol from the grumpy boy's breath.

"Lance, like, let him go. Kurt is taking me home. And don't you dare calling him a freak," Kitty said and tried her best to look brave. Kurt was impressed, but Lance was obviously not.

"Trying to steal her away from me?" he growled and punched Kurt right in his face. Kurt didn't have time to regain his balance and stumbled to the floor with a thud, feeling his whole face ached and the taste of blood in his mouth. Half-drunk, Lance was even more hot tempered than usual.

Kitty immediately ran over to Kurt. Most of the others on the dancefloor laughed at Kurt and Kitty. Pointing at the fallen teen and mocking him for losing the fight. Some even cheered for Lance to keep going. And the drunken teen was feeling encouraged by their cheering and walked towards Kurt to deliver another punch.

Kitty stood up and told Lance to stop this madness, but he wouldn't listen as he pushed her out of the way and pulled Kurt up on his feet.

"I'll teach you to stay away from her, you freak," Lance growled. Kurt felt his rage seed inside of him and glared deep into Lance's eyes. He had enough of him.

Kurt clenched his fist and shoot it upwards between Lance's arms and rammed into his chin so hard that Lance flung his head backwards and the already dizzy boy fell to the floor, stiff as a stick and knocked out cold. The whole room went quiet as all they saw was Kurt standing over Lance's fallen body with clenched fists and a furious look on his face. Little by little, the people around them got bored of watching the finished fight and returned to the party.

Kitty took Kurt's arm and they exited the building as fast as they could. Walking down the empty dark street, Kitty didn't dare speak up at Kurt. They entered the alley, Kurt turned towards her.

"I'm porting us home."

"No.....don't......I want.....I want to walk home. Please...I want to clear my head," Kitty said and looked at the cold asphalt under them.

"Oh....okay......do you need meine company?" Kurt asked and tried to look her in the eyes, but failed. All she responded with was a little nod.

After a little while, Kurt turned his head towards kitty. She still seemed like she was in another world, but his words quickly snapped her back from her dreams.

"Keety......vas made you call me?" Kurt asked. Not quite sure what to expect in return.

"I guess I didn't feel that I, like, belonged there, Kurt. I never really liked that type of party," Kitty answered. The whole evening had been crushed because of these few hours.

"Not vas you expected, is zhat vas you are saying?" he continued. Seeing her so sad just because of this made his heart ache for her more than ever. Kitty didn't deserve to be sad. She was suppose to be happy.

"I was laughed at because I didn't want to drink what Lance offered me. I feel like such an idiot, Kurt. I should never agreed to go there tonight," Kitty whispered.

"Zhat does not make you eine idiot, Keety."

Her sweet face lit up in a tiny smile upon hearing those words. This was Kurt in a nutshell. Always backing her up.

"But aren't you cold?" Kurt suddenly asked as he looked down at her dress.

"I don't care," she said back. But under her tough voice, Kurt could easily detect that she was lying to him.

"But I care," he suddenly said and took off his jacket and placed it over her bare shoulders. Kitty flashed a pair of surprised eyes up at him.

"Please. Don't do this for me, Kurt. You need this yourself."

"I insist," he replied and smiled down at her. To his heart's joy, she returned the smile.

"Thanks... my knight in fuzzy armor," Kitty whispered to him and looped her arm around his as they continued to walk down the nearly empty streets. The streetlights lit up their path towards a place they truly belonged.

Home.

Kurt smiled to himself as he felt Kitty rest her head on his arm as they walked. This could be his chance on telling her his feelings, like Scott had told him to. But seeing her still bearing the sad expression behind a thin shelter, he told himself that he could wait. If his dreams actually had a small chance of breaking through the wall that separated dreams from reality, she was worth the little wait.

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End of chapter 3.

I'm sorry for my late update. But nowadays I'm sure we all have the final exams to worry about. Lucky for some of us that already have been rewarded with their longlost freedom. I'm so proud of having so many reviews already. I can't thank you guys enough for letting me know what you think of this story. And like before, I have some special thanks to hand out.

First out is as always my dear friend and allied, ToiletDuck85. Thanks for liking the "fuzzy tail here. Ya better get used to it, cause it shall return again.

To The Uncanny R-Man. It's quite alright to cry at the end of Armageddon. I cried meself the first time I saw it on the cinema. I'm glad you liked this story.

To Quill Of Molliemon. I can understand yer anger towards Lance. You ain't the only one. I'm so glad you liked chapter 2 better than the first chapter.

To Nightcrawler03. My newest friend on the MSN. I'm glad to see that you want to comfort poor little Kurt. I think we all do.

To Raphaella. Glad to see the other artist from ToiletDuck85's page show up. I really hope ya have rented Armageddon by now. If not, yer missing a masterpiece.

To Queequegg. It's always nice to receive reviews from such highly lover authors as yerself. I'm glad you liked it and hope ya liked this one as well.

To Rukinha Lokinha. I just love when Kurt and Kitty go all fluffy and cute- couple thing meself. So I feel with ya.

To Dragorath. My dear friend and nearly neighbor back home. Always nice to see you in here once in a while. I can't wait for the update to yer story.

And finally, onoM. I thank you very much for yer advice in my writing style. Don't worry, I didn't take it as offending, cause I know it wasn't mean as an insult. So relax. Hope ya enjoyed this chapter.

That's it for this time, my dear colleagues. But fear not, Darkness1 shall return soon. Until that time, I bit ya all a very good summer vacation.

Peace out. Darky.