Author's Note- Pete's friends are OC's but only because they never go into any of his childhood friends in the comics.

A Meeting

"Welcome to London," Warren said as he landed the Blackbird. "Meet back here at eight, American time. Kitty, if you need any help just call my cell."

"Warren, I'm not a little kid, you know," Kitty said.

"Let's just go," Rogue said grabbing Kitty's arm. They caught a cab and pulled over to drop Kitty off at a sort of seedy neighborhood.

"Are ye sure ye want tae stop here, lassie?" the cabbie asked in a thick Irish accent.

"Not at all," Kitty admitted.

"Go on," Rogue prodded pushing the door open. "Meet us at the Braddock place at seven."

"I will," Kitty promised as she got out. She took a deep breath and started walking. She finally made it to a building that she thought might be the apartment building. She paused seeing a group of young men, all around seventeen/eighteen years old. They were sitting on the steps or pavement talking animatedly. Kitty softly chewed on her bottom lip. Situations like this had always made Kitty nervous, which made it hard for her to control her powers. On the other hand they might be able to tell her if she was in the right place.

"Excuse me," she said approaching.

"Yes, luv?" one of the men said taking in her form slowly. Kitty blushed at the scrutiny.

"I was, um, wondering if you could help me."

He smirked leaning back against the wall lazily. "That all depends, wot's in it for me?"

"Gabe, try not t' be a complete wanker," another man said standing. He walked over to her and for an instant Kitty lost her breath. He had the most beautiful blue eyes that she had ever seen. He was slightly taller than her with rumpled back hair and one earring. He smiled slightly and she realized that she had been staring. She dropped her eyes, which didn't help, now she was staring at his chest. He was dressed in a black t-shirt, which read: "It's been fun, but I have to scream now" and a pair of blue jeans. "So, wot do ya need?"

"Am I anywhere near here?" she pointed at the building on the map. He took a step closer to look at it then rolled his eyes.

"Okay, I'm gonna tell you wot I told all the other wankers at came here," he said. "Okay, I'm not but that's only because yer a girl an' that wouldn't be nice. I ain't joinin' yer stupid team. So just sod off, bloody American twit."

Kitty blinked. "I, like, take it that you're Pete Wisdom."

Pete bowed mockingly as he took out a Marlboro and lit it. "Right, an' yer one o' Xavier's lackey's."

"I am not a lackey!" Kitty shot back hotly. "I am a student. Xavier's Institute is a school-"

"Yer cute when yer angry," Pete interrupted. His friends, who had been listening to their dialog, began snickering.

Kitty crossed her arms and glared up at him. "You said you'd at least hear us out."

"I only said that to get me da offa me case."

"So your honor means nothing."

His eyes flickered red for a second and stepped so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. He saw a shiver go through her petite frame. "Don't piss me off. Why don't you just run along?"

"This was my first mission alone, and I botched my first recruitment mission. I'm supposed to tell the professor that you wouldn't even listen? I'll never be sent alone again."

Pete shrugged. "Tell 'im that we had a long talk and reached a nice mutual decision."

"Have you ever tried to lie to a telepath?"

"Damn it, gel, wot in the bloody hell do ya want from me?"

"Just hear me out."

"No."

She crossed her arms again. "I'm not leaving until you do." She raised her head defiantly to emphasize her point.

Pete took a step closer, now his body almost touched hers. "Are ya spendin' the night then, luv?"

She flushed deeply averting her gaze in what he had to admit was an endearing motion. "If I have to."

He chuckled. "Tell ya what, luv. Let's make a deal. Spend four hours with me and the guys. If you don't run off I'll agree t' hear ya out. If you do then you leave and ave t' stay away and get the rest of yer lot t' do the same. Okay?"

"Fine." Kitty stuck out her hand to seal the deal. He smirked, grabbed her hand, and pulled her tightly against him. His mouth met hers and led it in a slow, lazy dance. To his complete shock, she didn't try to pull away, she didn't respond either but she made no move to get away from him. When he finally backed off his friends were cheering and she looked completely confused. She blinked and he could see her anger as it stole over her. "What was that?"

Pete laughed. "Damn, gel, it's pretty sad when ya can't recognize a kiss. Perhaps another demonstration?"

"You said I couldn't run off," Kitty reminded him stepping away. "You, like, said nothing about not hurting you." The guys laughed again and even Pete chuckled a little.

"Fair enough, have a seat." She walked to the steps and sat down. He sat down next to her. "Just a warnin', I'm not gonna pull any punches here. I plan t' be as obnoxious as I can."

She raised her head meeting his gaze evenly. "Bring it on."

"By the way. Wot's yer name?"

"Kitty Pryde." He snorted. "What?"

"Nothin'." The smirk on his face stated otherwise. "These are me mates. You've spoken to the idiot, Gabe. These are Matt, Chris, and Evan. Guys meet Kitty. An' am I the only one who thinks that name is more fitted t' a stripper?" The next thing Pete knew he was looking up at Kitty from the ground.

"Oops," she said sweetly as she looked down meeting his eyes. "My hand must have slipped."

"Ya know, I'm startin' t' like you," Evan said as Pete got up.

"The pub?" Pete asked smirking.

"Hell yeah!" Gabe exclaimed.

"Aren't you guys a little young?" Kitty said.

"One: no," Pete said. "We're eighteen, the drinkin' age is lower here, yankee. Two: even if we were, at wouldn't stop us."

"So, you're going to get drunk on a school night. Assuming of course that any of you actually go to school."

"Kitty, luv, you need to get laid," Pete said.

"What?!"

He smirked. "I'm serious. You are way too uptight. A nice roll between the sheets might help."

"I- you-"

"Breathe, mebbe that'll help," Pete offered.

"This is more entertainin' then the tellie," Matt smiled.

"How old are you anyhow?" Chris asked.

"Sixteen," Kitty said.

"How cute, she's still a kid," Pete said. He saw her eyes narrow and filed that one away for future use. The group stood and walked to a small pub. Pete took out another cigarette; since he had lost his when Kitty knocked him over.

"You know, that's totally disgusting."

Pete raised an eyebrow. "Ya know, it's funny, when we were kissin', you didn't say anything about bad breath." He was amazed when she didn't have a comeback for that one.

"Pete six, Kitty three," Gabe announced.

"Yer loosin', pet," Evan said.

"I'm just reluctant to have a verbal war with someone who is obviously not as intelligent as I am," Kitty shrugged.

"Point, Kitty," Gabe said.

"Gabe, mate, shut the bloody hell up," Chris said rolling his eyes. The guys snagged a corner booth in the back.

"Pete gets the first round," Matt announced.

"Thanks," Pete said slowly. He looked at Kitty. "So, wot do ya want, grasshopper?"

"Just a coke."

Pete looked at her evenly. "A Coke?"

"I don't drink."

He snorted. "Figures." He ordered for the group and sat down, as close to Kitty as he could get.

"Haven't you ever heard of personal space?"

"No. Why?" She rolled her eyes as a waitress brought their drinks over. She was young and pretty and knew each of the guys by name. The guys flirted outrageously with her to Kitty's intense embarrassment.

"Aren't you here on a date?" the waitress said to Pete of Kitty.

"With her?" Pete snorted. "Nah, she's just a... well, friend is too strong of a term."

"You can just shut up," Kitty said. The waitress sauntered off.

"I have fallen in love," Gabe said. "I've just noticed that Hannah has the biggest set of-"

"Mate, there is a girl sittin' at the table," Evan said. "Try t' be a little civil."

"Don't see it happenin'," Gabe shrugged. Each of the guys pulled out a cigarette and Pete lit them. He offered one to Kitty.

"I don't smoke."

Pete smirked. "You don't smoke, you don't drink." He snorted. "Yer probably still a virgin too." He saw the look on her face and laughed softly. "Holy shit, you are! This is too good."

"Shut up, Wisdom."

"You're the ultimate good girl," he snickered.

"Wisdom, I swear." Kitty raised one hand to hit him, which he caught in his own.

"Except the violence. Aren't good little girls like you supposed t' be against violence?"

"I am not-"

"You are. Bloody hell, Kitty, have you ever done anything bad? I'll bet you've never cut school either, or even a class." She didn't respond to that, which answered his question perfectly. "You really do need to get laid."