X-Men is a trademarked
product from Marvel, all the characters are
owned by Marvel and not me. This is a work of fiction based off of said
comic series. I make no money off this, yadda yadda yah.
"It's My Life" - by Val Shrum (kiyonekatz@yahoo.com)
"Newsflash
Pete. I have a job. I have school. I have no time to be gallivanting
around the globe for one cause or another. I gave that shit up,
remember? Selective memory loss from a half hour ago?" She gestured, a
bit exaggerated to her outfit.
"I heard through the
rumormill that it's Spring Break for you." Pete picked up a glass of
water that had just been set down on the table. "So you don't have
school, least not for the week."
"Okay, but I do have
bills to pay. I can't just abandon my job because a ghost from my past
wants me to."
"S'all I am to you, a
ghost?"
"Well,
you WERE dead. I've already freaked myself out once this year. At least
you're really... you. In all your unabridged glory." Kitty's tone of
voice was frustrated, almost annoyed.
"Bloody 'ell, Pryde.
You know I'm tougher'n that. Just let people think I'm dead. Safer that
way."
"So really, you want me
to go with you... somewhere... why?" Kitty looked confused.
Pete
gestured, holding up his index finger as if to motion 'one'. A waitress
approached the table. Pete gave his order of a simple cup of coffee.
Kitty did so as well. Folding the menus and putting them back, Pete
waited until the woman walked away before he started to speak. "I got a
dillema."
"Such as?"
He pulled out a matchbook
and started twirling it in his fingers, "'Bout three months ago I got a
call from my Aunt. She remembered I was in with some
government-hubbubs, whatnot. Her husband was military, American
military. Seems my little cousin apparently has all grown up with
certain gifts and he was the one who won her over in the divorce. Long
story short, he's callin' and accusing who knows what the bloody well
else and she's gone missin' stateside."
"Gifts, huh. Mutant
runaway I presume?"
"Bingo.
He's not too pleased 'bout that. Wants to keep her secret. Family would
rather just have her home if he don't want her, in England."
"Have you tried
Xavier's? It's like an open door mutant haven nowadays."
"My
contacts say she's out west." Pete tapped the matchbook down on the
table. A bit impatiently. "You don't think I thought 'bout that first?"
"Okay... then...
explain to me, what exactly are you doing here? Camp counselor and
runaway expert I'm not."
Pete
smiled. "I hadn't gotten that far yet." He pulls out two plane tickets,
setting them down on the table. "I need you to play under cover."
"Ooh, again? How about
no, but thanks for stopping by?" Kitty glanced down at the plane
tickets. "Las Vegas?"
"Last
phone call traced her in a city called Henderson, right next door to
the gambling capitol. Might be involved in a weird sort of mutant gang
or cult."
"I wonder if that's
what people thought the X-Men were..." Kitty wondered out loud.
"Ha-ha,
very funny. I need you not only to go under-cover, but to also be a
driver. I've got a car lined up and ready to go, all we gotta do is--"
"Look,
Pete... I appreciate what you're asking me. I'm even flattered that you
might have actually came to me because you thought I could possibly be
useful on this... mission of yours, but I've still got responsibilities
here and now."
"You haven't even
listened to a word I've said, 'ave you?" Pete wondered.
"I
have." Kitty sighed. She reached over and touched Pete's hand. "We were
a great team. Were. I think back and remember and it's like... I'm
sixteen ALL over again. But I'm not sixteen anymore. And you really
don't need me for this. What, were you in the neighborhood and thought
you should liven things up in my life? Like I need this?"
"When'd you get so
goddamn selfish?" Pete snapped at her. He shook his hand away from hers.
Kitty frowned, "You're the one who left."
"I'm asking for a
bloody favor, not reconciliation."
"Who's
asking for reconciliation? It's MY life you're entering into,
unannounced! You expect me to just drop everything I've worked for...
for your OWN selfish reasons. You have TONS of friends. More than
CAPABLE friends. Why me?"
"Y'want the truth?"
"It better not be
because you missed me so much. If you did, you wouldn't have let me
believe you were dead."
"What would it've
mattered to you?"
"It MATTERED. It still
matters. God, Pete... I swear..." Kitty looked like she was about to
stand up.
"No.
It wasn't because I missed you at all. You're an unknown face. You're
young and've got more training than any one of those louts I could call
contacts, not to mention the all important aspect that you're a mutant.
Who knew you'd be workin' in a pub and pretending to be Miss College
Student USA?"
"I'm not pretending.
This is what I've
chosen to do with my life. I was sick of the hurt and pain that went
with being a 'superhero', or whatever the hell we were."
"I'm
not askin' you to play superhero anymore either, luv." Pete grumbled.
He could feel the pain behind her words, and every time he tried to
make light of the situation only made it worse. Something he was never
good at, defusing her when she was angry. "Look. I wouldn'tve even
bothered you if I had any other choices. Time is short, whether I like
t'admit it or not, you're my last choice." He picked up one ticket, and
moved the other toward her. "Take it. If you show up, fine. If you
don't, I'll understand."
"This leaves TOMORROW
morning?
I mean TODAY. Like... five hours from now." Kitty sighed. Was she
actually considering this. "Pete? I don't know..."
"You
got time to think it over. Just imagine... the weather out there has to
be better than this place." Pete took a drink from his coffee which
finally had arrived. "I'm not asking for the world. I'm asking for a
week of your time. All expenses paid. Can't get any better'n that."
Kitty looked down at her cup. "...I'll think about it."
"Fantastic."
He stood up, finishing the drink. He put a few bills on the table and
said. "T'was good seeing you, Kitty."
The expression on her face softened when he used her first name. "Yeah.
It was... good seeing you too, Pete."
He
did a quick wave and headed out of the cafe. Kitty watched through the
window to see him light up a cigarette and walk down the street out of
her view.
---
The keys dropped out of her hands and
clanged against the computer desk. Kitty sat down in the chair, undoing
the laces on her workboots. 'A weeklong trip, huh? Getting to play
detective... hang out with my ex...' She shook her head. 'Sounds like a
recipe for trouble. I can't help but fold at the look on his face. This
is his family. God knows I'd do the same for mine. Dammit... dammit
dammit dammit!'
A knock echoed from the door. 'Huh?' Kitty
thought. She slipped back on the untied boot, stepping over to the door
and opening it with the chain still closed. She looked out, "Yes?"
"It's Shan." said the
figure. "Where were you?"
"Shan,
oh geez... sorry." Kitty unlocked the door and opened it for her
friend, Shan. Otherwise known as Xi'an Coy Mahn, was once codenamed
Karma. "The bar closed later than expected, and I ended up going out. I
didn't even get anything to eat, I got wrapped up in an argument."
"Argument? You okay?"
Shan looked concerned. "I've still got some leftover dinner over at my
place. Still hungry?"
"I'm
fine. Though actually, food does sound pretty good. I thought you'd be
asleep by now." Kitty sat back down, pulling off her boot and loosening
the strings on the second one.
"I was up working on a
paper."
"... it's spring break,
Shan." Kitty couldn't help but let out an amused chuckle.
"I
know! It was an easy paper." Shan walked over and put her hands on
Kitty's shoulders. "Must have been a rough night, you're tense."
"More
than you know." Kitty leaned back in the chair. "Hey, you don't have to
put yourself out for me. I can eat out of my fridge for once."
"You'd
starve. I've eaten your cooking and it sucks." Shan pushed Kitty
forward, "C'mon, slip out of your work clothes and get your butt over
to my place."
"Okay, fine. Don't be
pushy." Kitty stood
up and stretched. "I've got to stop by Dylan's real quick. I'll be over
in a few, okay?"
"Alright. Hurry though,
it is getting late." Shan waved, heading out of the apartment.
'I
know.' Kitty thought. 'Making this decision harder than it should be,
that's what.' Kitty stepped into her bedroom, slipping out of her work
clothes and into a loose pair of jeans and tee-shirt. She pulled on
some sandles and grabbed her keys, locking her door and stepping into
the hall. She headed downstairs to a door labeled 'Manager'. She
knocked softly, the light still on inside.
"Who's there?"
"Dylan, it's Kitty. I
need to talk."
"What's
wrong?" Dylan answered the door. He was dressed far more casually, a
pair of sweatpants and a loose shirt. "Come in."
Kitty nodded,
heading into Dylan's apartment. It was just luck that her apartment
manager just also happened to be her boss at work. She took a seat on a
plush couch. "Crazy night, huh?"
"We're alive, that's
all that matters." Dylan smiled, closing the door and joining her on
the couch. "What's on your mind?"
"Remember that guy from
tonight?"
"The mysterious
ex-boyfriend."
"Right.
Well, he asked me a favor. A big favor. It concerns you as much as it
does me." Kitty sighed. "And I don't even know why I'm asking."
"C'mon girl, just spit
it out." Dylan nudged.
"He
asked me to take the week off, go with him to Vegas. He needs help with
some business down there. And I feel like such an idiot for even
considering this. Why am I even asking? You need me at the bar, right?
It's Spring Break." Kitty seemed like she was talking herself out of it.
"Whoa,
slow down. Kitty, we've got plenty of help. In fact, the schedules are
easier to mix around because college kids are on spring break." He put
a hand on her shoulder, "Is it important?"
"... as much
as I'd hate to admit it, I think it just might be. Dammit. It's either
get a good solid week of work in that might give me a good financial
buffer... or go do something that I might regret not doing. Well, I'd
regret not making that money, but the other one is a little more
selfless." Kitty grumbled.
"Go then. You've got my
blessing. I can overwork you when you get back if you really need the
cash."
"You
know you could tell me 'No, you have to work!' and I'd be okay with
that too, right?" Kitty half-smiled, attempting to give Dylan the hint.
"I'd
be lying. And I'm also somewhat of a nice-guy. Comes with the
territory." He leaned back. "So... how soon would you leave?"
"Like...
four hours from now. I've got a plane ticket with my name on it in my
jacket pocket upstairs. I don't believe this." She leaned forward,
rubbing eyes in mild disbelief.
"What was he to you?"
Dylan wondered out loud.
"Huh?" Kitty blinked at
the suddeness.
"The guy. Your ex. Was
he just some guy you dated, or was it something more?"
"Kinda a personal
question, don't you think?"
"You were never one to
open up."
"No,
I suppose I'm not." Kitty contemplated. "He was... one of the factors
of me leaving my former life. I was under a false impression... about
what had happened to him. I dated him when I was clearly not old enough
to have the mature relationship that we had with each other. And I
broke his heart. Me being the bad guy, in that case, haunted me a
little more than I thought it should. Accept, move on, and learn from
those mistakes. At least now I get closure."
"Is closure all you
want? Are you doing this because you felt guilty about how things wound
up?"
"Nothing
like that. The favor he's asked has nothing to do with 'us'. I just
happen to have to interact with him, and work with him, and be around
him. No, Dylan. I'm doing this because he does need my unique help. At
least, so he claims." Kitty shook her head with a sigh.
"Then you've made a
good choice. Bring me back something cool, huh? Like a poker chip." He
smiled.
"I'll
try my best. I am still underage." Kitty stood and started for the
door. "Gotta head upstairs to get packed and eat. Oh... and Dylan?
Thanks."