Reader Replies:
Sweetbebe: I think that Kitty just gradually fell in love with Kurt and never even saw it coming until she actually knew she was. So, it's just one of those things.
Anwen: thanks! Glad you like my story, and...you'll have to see how it ends. mischievous grin
Random reader: I'm glad you like it! Please review the ending, which I think is this chapter. Wails so upset!! But, this is Kitty's story.
My mind feverishly examined several ideas as I felt the eyes of all the X-Men and the smug villains on me, the X-Men knowing that either way they would lose a valuable addition to the team, and the villains knowing that either way my heart would be wrenched in two.
And I made my decision. With two swift steps, I strode up to Rogue and unlatched her. She dropped to the ground, and our eyes met. In an instant, each knew what the other was thinking, and we nodded.
Nightcrawler cried out as the bonds began draining his life force, and Magneto laughed evilly. "Go!" Rogue shouted to me, and leapt forward with a roar as I dashed back to where Nightcrawler was beginning to pale and gasp for breath. I leaned in through the bonds, my transparent body going straight through them, and I worked fearfully on the locks as Magneto's eyes widened and he understood what I was doing and the mistake he had made.
"No!" he shouted, and started towards me, but Rogue blocked him, throwing off her gloves and showing her white hands, grabbing onto his own hand and squeezing as she focused on drawing out his energy.
His eyes widened even further and he made choking sounds. Mystique leaped at Rogue, and she hit her in the groin, driving her back.
I ignored them as the seconds slowly ticked by, sweat dripping into my eyes and stinging. I watched as Nightcrawler began to slip into death, and with a sudden burst of fear and anger, my hands found the latch, and it was turned off. Color seeped back into Kurt's face and he gasped in oxygen as I wrenched him from his bonds, and he fell to the ground. I did not have time to stay with him: Rogue was being defeated. So, I leaped to her defense, striking Mystique's arm away as she came in for the kill.
"I got her," Rogue said. "You sure?" I gasped as Magneto came up behind me and wrapped his arm around my neck, cutting off my air. "Positive!" Rogue answered. "Save the others!"
"You forgetting something," I rasped at Magneto, and slipped through his arm. "Ha!" He didn't even see my fist coming, and the next moment he was lying on the floor beside Kurt, who was slowly getting up.
Just then, he vanished from sight, having teleported from the lighthouse, hopefully to get help.
Within seconds, Magneto was unconscious, and Mystique was fighting Rogue violently, and steadily winning. The odds looked good, that is, until Toad and Sabertooth arrived. But by this time, I had freed Wolverine, who let his claws out and raced into the battle with a roar of rage to defend Rogue who was steadily being choked.
"Jean!" I cried out, as Sabertooth headed my way. I was in a panic now, my energy and strength having been used up.
"Fight!" Jean said to me earnestly. "Fight him, and I will work on getting out. Kitty, look out!"
I dodged just in time as Sabertooth lashed out at me. However, I was a little slow from exhaustion of fighting physically and emotionally, as well as using my curse to free two others, so his claw sliced my arm.
I cried out in pain as blood splashed onto the floor, and I looked at the ugly cut on my arm, blood pulsating from the wound, and I realized with horror an artery was torn. If I didn't receive help soon, I could die from blood loss. I looked up in fear at his grin, and then slowly, all my nervous energy was transformed to rage.
I growled deep in my throat, and his look of smugness was transformed to slight confusion, then shock as I lunged forward, my fingernails aimed for his eye. I struck true, and, howling, he turned away as blood seeped from his eye.
I jumped up to Jean, and with one slash of my hand, I found the release, and she dropped free. I looked around, seeing red-both from my blood and my unstoppable rage, looking around for my next victim.
Jean focused her energy on Magneto, who was now up and kicking, and within seconds, all of our enemies were unconscious, just as Nightcrawler arrived with Scott and Storm. They looked at us, Rogue racing over to Bobby, who was watching the whole thing with wide eyes, and Wolverine and I breathing heavily, Jean standing there calmly under control.
And then, I glanced down at my arm at the torn artery. The blood was slowing and I felt all my energy leaving me. Time seemed to slow, and I could see it pass ever so slowly, and I could my heartbeat in my ears, at first rapid, and then slowing gently to a stop.
And I saw the ceiling become the ground as I fell into the sky...and time passed me by...
My eyes flickered open to see the white ceiling of my room, and I could pages slowly being turned, one after the other. I slowly turned my head to see Rogue bending over her history book, skimming, as usual.
I looked back up at the ceiling, and just thought. Why am I alive? I wondered. I should be dead right now. My artery was torn-I saw it! No one can live long on just that amount of blood. It's relatively impossible!
Wait...I...I saved the X-Men. If it hadn't been for me, then they would have all died. Rogue, Bobby, Jean, Wolverine, and...Kurt!
My heart leaped.
Wait...why am I so concerned for Kurt? Yesterday, or today, or last week, whenever it happened, I was so worried about Kurt...is it possible that-nah. Couldn't be. He's my friend. Of course I was concerned about him.
But my heart only leaped again, denying my previous thoughts.
It's true! I do love him! But, all the other times I've been in love, it's never actually been so heady, so crazy. Maybe...maybe I never actually loved the others. Maybe I'm in real love.
"I'm in love," I whispered, just loud enough for Rogue to hear. She looked over, and grinned, coming over to sit beside me.
"Hey you," she said, hitting my shoulder playfully. I felt a brief touch, cold as ice, and then warmth again. I looked in surprise to see her gloves were off, and then smiled back at her, my heart feeling as if it would burst with happiness.
"I'm in love, Rogue," I said, my voice breaking as I felt indescribable joy fill my soul. I practically floated off the bed, heading to the closet despite the dizziness created by loss of blood.
"Um...you are?" Rogue asked, a bit surprised. "Yes!" I said, coming out again dressed in jeans and a black T-shirt with lace. "Oh, Rogue, now I understand why you want to be around Bobby so much! It's such a heady feeling!" "That's your dizziness," Rogue said tartly, sitting down on the bed. I slapped her lightly. "No! Well, maybe partly," I admitted, "but I'm in love with Kurt!" "Kurt?" Rogue asked, a bit surprised as I continued.
"Oh, it's so beautiful!" I sighed. "Oh, Rogue, I'm sorry I ever teased you about being with Bobby so much!" "Um, you never have," Rogue said. "Well, it sounded good, didn't it?" I asked, heading for the door, but Rogue stopped me, holding a hand to my forehead for a second, only long enough to feel my body heat, and not long enough to steal it.
"You're delirious," she said after a moment. "Delirious? With love, perhaps," I said, and sailed out of the room after hugging her.
I raced down the halls, searching eagerly for Kurt. I saw him nowhere, and in fact, the halls were empty as people were either in class, or the dining rooms, or in their own rooms doing homework. I dashed out of the school in my bare feet, and to the gardens, shivering as I felt the cold November air wash over me.
But my search paid off as I saw Kurt sitting on a bench, gazing into the distance. "Kurt?" I asked, coming to sit down by him. He looked up, and smiled. "Kitty, you're awake," he said.
"Yes," I said, suddenly feeling shy. We sat in silence for awhile, and then I cleared my throat and asked, "How long was I out of it?" "A week," Kurt replied, glancing at me and smiling. "We were not sure you would make it. You were delirious for several days as we pumped new blood into you and repaired your artery."
We looked at each other, suddenly not sure of what to say. Finally, I spoke. "Kurt," I said, swallowing. "On that...mission...I realized something important." "As did I," Kurt replied, gazing into my eyes.
"Kitty," Kurt said, "when our lives were in peril, I realized that...I, um..." "Yes?" I asked, my heart speeding up as I anticipated his words. "What?" Kurt looked at me again, his eyes filled with fear-perhaps of rejection-and hope. "I...am in love with you, Kitty," he said. "I am not sure if you return my feelings, but I feel better now telling you."
"Oh," I said, feeling as if the world had suddenly brought me a gift, and my eyes filling with tears. "Oh," Kurt said, distressed. "I am sorry, Kitty, I did not mean to upset you, please-"
"No, you fool!" I said, choking slightly as I laughed. "I love you, too." "You...you do?" Kurt asked in surprise. I nodded rapidly. "I just figured it out when I woke up. You are...you are the only person I have loved this way."
His eyes filled with great joy, and we kissed.
The next few months were filled with joy as Kurt and I became closer and closer, and Bobby had now joined the X-Men, so all four of us were closer than ever, and we all loved it.
A new mutant joined the school, by the name of Anwen. Her powers were extremely great in the area of telepathy and teleportation as well. Eventually, she as well joined the X-Men, and all five us became close friends.
Today, we all are living quite happily at the school as X-Men, and our friendship has endured many trials. For instance, a strange mutation happened to Bobby, and it caused him to reject all four of us, effectively breaking Rogue's heart. Eventually, however, it was determined that all of this was Mystique's doing, and let me tell you, she will never mess with Rogue's heart again.
My life is full and complete, and full of joy, and I will never regret my decision of becoming an X-Man and living at the school.
And I finally understand: my curse was not a curse. It was a precious gift, given to me by God, and it had brought Kurt and I together. I will forever understand this now, and I will always be and X-Man. But more importantly, my love for Kurt will last...forever.
A/N: sobs I really enjoyed writing this story!! I am so sorry it's over now! Hope you enjoyed it, please r and r and give me your final thoughts. Much appreciated!
iLuvHawkeye