Chapter 5
Never again, Kitty swore, would she let Rogue pick out her clothes! After their date three nights before, Kitty couldn't stop thinking about Piotr and comparing him to Lance. She saw the brunette flirting with the waitress, or at least eyeing her very inappropriately, yet Piotr hadn't so much as spared her a passing glance. His attention had been fully focused on Kitty, something the young phaser could honestly say Lance had never been able to accomplish when another pretty woman was in the room.
Rogue somehow knew of her inner dilemma, probably from absorbing a telepath, and took it upon herself to redress Kitty more maturely, which in turn would make Piotr notice her more. Or so Rogue said. What Kitty found when she looked in the mirror made her make the aforementioned vow.
Rather than pink and yellow, as were her dominant colors, Rogue dressed her in dark green and black. The black jeans fit snugly against her, snugger than even her usual hip huggers did. The sweater, while not at all bulky yet still warm, looked good with them, Kitty felt it was a little too much for her. Part of her stomach could be seen through, and it proved she didn't have nearly as much chest as Rogue did. Her petite breasts barely poking out.
How would this make Piotr see her as anything more than a stick? She knew he didn't put as much consideration into the human body as he did into the mind or heart, but he was still a man! He would surely notice that the other girls were bigger than she was! Kitty wanted him to notice her for her good qualities, not her barely developed body.
Never before had the young valley girl felt so self conscious, but at the moment she did. The saddest part, perhaps, was that Rogue dressed her in her own clothes. Kitty purchased this very sweater when she was with Lance, and the pants were a pair she'd had for a couple of years but had forgotten about. Needless to say, feeling ugly in her own clothes, Kitty didn't want to leave the room.
Rogue, however, refused to let her stay there. The southerner frowned when Kitty continued to stare at her reflection, looking unsurely between her lightly painted face and tight clothes. She refused to let Kitty wear those pastel colors she was so fond of, and instead placed more natural looking makeup on her face. Not that she wore all that much makeup anyway, but it looked like she was wearing even less today.
She looked fine, in Rogue's opinion, better than ever actually. She just knew Piotr would be speechless when he saw her today, and she hoped that it might make him see the light and take Kitty as his own! Of course, she knew the law all too well, but there was never a rule that said you couldn't date someone younger than eighteen so long as you don't sleep with them. And Rogue knew Piotr would wait until Kitty was ready for that step, even if it took eighty years. He was just that kind of guy.
Too bad Swamp Rat cain't be like that, she thought to herself. Flashes of their many times together flashed through her mind, and Rogue smiled slightly. Then again…
Shaking those thoughts away, Rogue stood from the bed and grabbed Kitty's arm. The girl looked like she didn't plan on leaving her room anytime soon, so Rogue would naturally have to take matters into her own hands. Kitty struggled against the iron grip, but Rogue didn't budge. She wasn't using super strength, but she certainly wasn't giving Kitty any chance for escape.
Phasing briefly crossed her mind, and she knew there was nothing Rogue could do to stop her. However, deep down, she knew she wanted Piotr to see her like this. As ugly as she looked to herself, she had to admit she did look more mature. In fact, with the natural makeup and darker colors, she looked more like a short seventeen-year-old.
The two "marched" down the stairs to breakfast where most of the mansion had already assembled. Kitty blushed when everyone turned to look at her and Rogue. The older woman smirked at her, winked, and went to the empty spot between Remy and Scott. Immediately, the six (Amara and Pyro sat across from them, and Jean next to Scott) bent their heads and began talking in low murmurs.
"Wow, Kitty," Roberto piped up suddenly, letting out a low whistle, "lookin' good!"
Kitty's blush intensified and she smiled slightly. Walking to her usual seat, she gained several compliments on her attire and who had done her makeup. When she told them Rogue, the southerner was bombarded with many pleas by the other girls to work on theirs as well. She looked at first amused, but eventually annoyance took over her features and the girls let off. No one was brave enough to cross the Rogue.
Piotr smiled and blushed when Kitty settled next to him and began piling fruits onto her plate. Being a vegetarian sometimes made breakfast harder for her, but she always found something good to eat that would keep her fully sustained until lunch. Kitty really did look good, and he was all too aware of just how well she looked. Not that he should be, he had no right. He was only a friend, and she was much too young, but still he had to admit she looked good like Roberto said.
"You really do look nice, Katya," Piotr whispered. Kitty blinked in shock, and blushed as she turned to smile at Piotr. Lowering her eyelids, she gazed at him.
"Thanks," she mumbled shyly. "So do you! I mean you look nice too, Piotr."
And indeed he did. He wore a blue t-shirt, which fit snugly against his muscular frame and a pair of blue jeans with his usual boots. Really, there was nothing special about his attire, similar to what he wore everyday, but he always looked good to Kitty. So, today was no different, except she could comment and not feel like a total idiot.
Piotr blushed. He didn't think he looked all that good. His shirt had paint stains on it in various places, and his jeans were torn at the knees. He planned to paint some more today; the fountains in the garden had been in his dreams, which meant he needed to paint them soon. Whenever something appeared in his dreams like that, he always painted it and found the painting better than he could've imagined.
"Thank you, Katya."
Rogue elbowed Scott, smiling apologetically when he winced. Sometimes she didn't realize just how much strength she put behind her actions until someone was in pain. Tilting her head toward the duo, Scott followed where she'd been looking and grinned in satisfaction at the blushing pair. Had he and Jean blushed that much? He wondered idly, and sincerely hoped they hadn't.
Jean, Amara, John, and Remy also looked at Kitty and Piotr. While Amara and Jean gave mental "aww's", John made choking motions to which Amara elbowed him sharply. He winced and grabbed his side as though in great pain. Rolling her eyes, Amara made her excuses and dragged John off for a little fire-lovin' cure.
Seeing their departure, several of the occupants stood to make their leave. Thanking Storm for the delightful breakfast, they hurried off before anything could happen between either fire manipulator. The professor made sure to soundproof both Magma and Pyro's bedroom – though he didn't really approve of them sharing – and Rogue and Gambit's, but that didn't mean they wanted to be around for when the two came downstairs still caught up in each other.
Rogue and Gambit shared identical smirks and quickly rushed up to their own bedroom. Any remaining residents in the mansion, including instructors and the professor, hastily finished their meal and went off to do their own things. Away from the mansion. Far, far away from the mansion.
Kitty smiled when she saw Piotr polishing his motorcycle. He didn't seem the type to ride a motorcycle, but surprisingly enough he was. He loved it dearly, perhaps the one materialistic thing he allowed himself to treat almost human, and took just as much care of it as he did his paintings. He too had joined Scott, Rogue, Logan, and Remy among the "mechanics" of the mansion and joined in with the discussions over engines and the like.
Unlike Rogue who'd learned mechanics from the boys in her hometown, Scott who learned from mechanics classes and listening to his father describe the differences between planes and cars, Remy who learned from hanging around various mechanic shops when he was younger and homeless still, or Logan who learned from his time in the army (that he remembered), Piotr was self-taught. He had to work on tractors and lawn mowers when he was young, and eventually learned to differentiate between engines and types of oil and anything else a true mechanic knows.
A complete contrast to the sensitive artist he usually was, but a contrast Kitty liked all the same. It showed that he had layers in her opinion, that he wasn't just a "what you see is what you get" man. He was more, so much more, and Kitty very nearly loved him for it.
"Hey Piotr!" she greeted enthusiastically. He turned and smiled at her, nodding his own greeting.
"Katya, did you miss your ride to school?" he asked, noticing the lack of Scott's convertible. The teen left earlier with the other students, claiming he was in a hurry and couldn't wait for anyone. Piotr thought Kitty must've been among the jumble of students clamoring into his car and didn't think much of it.
Kitty huffed when she realized Scott's car was indeed absent and nodded. "Apparently," she answered bitterly. "I can't believe he just left like that! It's, like, so not fair!"
"Now, now, Katya," Piotr soothed. It seemed that he always soothed her when she felt her temper rising. "I am sure Scott didn't mean to leave you behind. So many were climbing into his car, I would not be surprised if he thought you were among them."
"Maybe," Kitty sighed in agreement. She had a feeling that wasn't the case at all, and so, secretly, did Piotr. "But how am I supposed to get to school now?"
"I can give you a ride," Piotr said as he finished the last touch on his bike. Throwing the dirty rag in a nearby bucket, he grinned at her. "Just allow me to grab my jacket and wash my hands."
Kitty smiled gratefully. "Thanks Pete! I owe ya one!"
"It is no problem," Piotr reassured her. "I am happy to help."
Without another word, he hurried into the mansion to wash his hands and grab his favorite leather jacket. Sometimes riding his motorcycle made him chilly, not that he wasn't used to the cold. He was from Russia after all. Kitty smiled when he reappeared wearing the leather jacket and waited for him to climb on the motorcycle before climbing on after him and placing the helmet he gave her on her head.
"Are you sure it's fine?" she asked hesitantly, voice muffled by the helmet. She wasn't sure if he had plans or not, but she wouldn't put it past Piotr to delay his own plans in the face of helping someone else.
"Of course, Katya, anything for you." He blushed at the proclamation, as did Kitty though he couldn't see it. Starting the engine, the motorcycle roared down the road. Kitty gripped his waist, not used to riding on motorcycles, and couldn't help but notice how nice it felt to hold him. In front of her, Piotr too was more than a little aware of how nice it felt to have Kitty's arms around him.
The motorcycle came to a stop as he parked in Bayville High's parking lot. Kitty climbed off the back of the bike grudgingly and removed the helmet. Her hair, normally up but Rogue insisted she keep it down today, settled around her face as it had been before. No worry of helmet hair, thankfully.
She gave the helmet to Piotr, who'd gone without since he could merely make himself metal to avoid incident. Of course, Kitty could've phased should any harm be about to come to her, but Piotr didn't want to take chances. He was used to turning metal within a span of a millisecond, whereas Kitty usually had forewarning when she needed to phase.
"Thanks again, Pete, I really do owe you."
"Do not worry, Katya," Piotr smiled, placing the helmet on. He lifted up the tinted glass, and gazed at her with his oh so blue gaze. "As I have said, I am glad to be of help."
Then, flipping the tinted glass of his helmet down, he restarted the engine. Kitty smiled, waved goodbye, and ran towards the large building. Several students were still milling around the courtyard, but the bell would be ringing soon, and even they were starting towards the doors. Piotr watched her disappear in the cluster of students before driving off and missing the feel of two small arms around him.
&&&&&&
Unknown to either of them, a pair of brown eyes watched the whole scene from behind a large tree. Tabitha had gone in earlier, angry at him for paying so much attention to that waitress a few days ago. He wasn't worried though, she was starting to grate on his nerves. He really thought he and Tabitha would be good together, but everyday they spent together she complained more and more, or demanded bigger more expensive gifts from him, knowing he couldn't afford it and didn't want to risk getting caught stealing again. One time had been bad enough!
Kitty, Lance sighed. He missed her surprisingly enough. He hated the thought that she might've moved on since she was supposed to still be hung up on him. He glared at the muscle man he knew he'd attack next battle with the X-men. No one was going to steal his girl! Even if he had cut her loose.
Planning how he would confront her later, Lance headed for his first period. Lunch, he decided, would be the best place for that particular confrontation. Kitty hated causing scenes, and Tabitha would undoubtedly be off bugging Pietro or some other poor guy in order to make him jealous. Without the blonde around, he could easily talk the younger girl into going someplace private to talk. Kitty, after all, was always ready to talk.
A/N's:
Sorry guys, while I love Kiotr as far as comics go, I'm actually a Lancitty shipper for evolution. Don't worry! The title is Shadowcat and Colossus, which means, this will be Kitty/Piotr, but there will also be sprinkles of Lancitty throughout this too.
I don't have this story completely planned out, I never do plan them out, but of course I'll be finishing this and the others in the series one by one. Until then, I do have the next stories in the series planned out (well, the summaries anyway). Here's a little glimpse at what's to come:
Matchmaking: Storm and Wolverine
Summary: Part 3 in the series! For once jealousy isn't the problem. It's a matter of getting Wolverine to admit he's in love, and Storm to admit even savages have hearts. This could prove to be the hardest mission yet for our matchmakers.
Matchmaking: Rogue and Gambit
Summary: Part 4 in the series: We all know how Scott and Jean got together, but what about Remy and Rogue? Who brought them together? How did Rogue come to be so obsessed with matchmaking anyway?
Matchmaking: Magma and Pyro
Summary: Part 5. Now that Rogue and Gambit's story is known, what about Magma and Pyro? Who could possibly want a pyromaniac and an obnoxious princess together? Well, someone obviously!
Matchmaking: Iceman and Jubilee
Summary: Part 6! Persuading Jubilee to like Iceman isn't the problem, it's that Iceman can't get over his ex-girlfriend back home – Lorna.
Matchmaking: X23 and Quicksilver
Summary: Part 7. Setting up X-men was hard enough, but how do you do it for a member of the Brotherhood? Rogue will somehow manage it, in the name of matchmaking! (Most likely the last in the series)