Prompt: Apology

Timeline: Between X2 and X3

Winner Take All

She was lying horizontal across her bed, tearing paper into thin strips that fell to the floor like feathers when Bobby walked into her room without knocking. Announcing his presence had become something of a moot point these days-she didn't acknowledge him whether he did or not.

"We missed you at lunch," he said quietly. Kitty didn't even look up. Two more shreds of paper fell to the floor.

"You have to eat something, Kitty. I could bring you up a tray…?"

"Not hungry." Her hands were slow and deliberate. A careful rip, then a close examination to be sure each jagged strip was the same size as the last. He noticed that she blew gently on each piece before letting it slip from her fingertips.

Bobby stepped in front of her, kneeled until he was level with her eyes. "It wasn't your fault."

For the first time in two weeks, she lifted her head to look at him directly. "Shut up, Bobby."

"Kitty-"

"I said shut up." Her eyes went back to the paper in her hands. From up close, Bobby realized the paper she was shredding had writing on the side that faced her, blue ink and some blurry blotches where something had dripped on it and made the words run.

Bobby reached out and picked up the trash can, gathered a handful of paper, tossed it in. He continued until the floor was clear again, and left the gray plastic cylinder directly under Kitty's hands. She gave no indication that she noticed or cared.

"I'll be back to get you for dinner. Or Rogue will, one of us." He stood up, dusting his hands off on his pants. Bobby only took a couple of steps towards the door when he stopped and looked back. "I'm sorry, Kitty."

She lifted her eyes again. "What?"

"I could have tried harder…I just didn't think-"

He didn't get to finish his sentence, because Kitty rose to her knees on the bed, pale and shaking. "No. NO." Her hands balled into fists, and she crumpled what remained of the torn page in them. "You don't get to apologize for him."

The sudden burst of fury was startling, and Bobby took a small step back. "I wasn't apologizing for him. I mean, I'm not trying to-"

"He left, Bobby. He left. So nobody owes me an apology but him, and I'm not going to forgive him until he stands in front of me and I hear him tell me what a sorry excuse for a sentient being he is." Kitty closed her eyes and let out a short, bitter laugh. "And we all know how likely that is to happen, right?" She deflated back onto the bed, curling into herself like a charred leaf.

He stood there for an awkward moment, unsure if he should comfort her or scold her or just leave her alone, until finally she spoke without looking at him. "I'll be fine, Bobby. Just…I need to be alone now. Please."

"I'll be back to get you for dinner," he repeated, but Kitty only nodded. Finally he stepped out into the hall and shut the door, resting his hand on it for a moment and leaving behind the faintest trace of frost that started to melt almost before it had finished freezing.

Well, there you go, John, Bobby thought to himself. You win by default because the rest of us lost. Hope it was worth it.