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)


Chapter 9

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"You're tellin' me they're not even in Las Vegas anymore?" Pete sounded annoyed, taking a bite of his pizza slice.

"That's what my little assassin said. Said they took off to Los Angeles. There's five of them." Kitty sat down on the bed beside Pete, munching on her own slice.

"Just peachy." Pete looked troubled.

Kitty looked concerned, "Something's wrong?"

"I have to call someone." Pete got up, putting his slice down on a plate.

"But wait, I haven't told you everything. One of the girls from the group is the sister to some kid I talked to at the arcade. They were visiting from Japan when her mutant powers manifested. She freaked out and ran off, joining up with this group while her parents are still trying to work with the police and government to find her." Kitty finished the slice, taking a drink of water. "The poor guy could barely speak any English. I think he said he was a mutant, too, but his powers were below the radar and not as--"

"Doesn't matter. She's obviously not the mastermind behind all this. It's one of the other unnamed three." He actually looked upset, "Dammit!" Pete reached into his jacket pocket and retrieved his phone, "I'm stepping out for a minute. Be back." He headed to the door and went outside.

Kitty looked confused, 'What was that all about? This is progress on the case. Something just isn't adding up, again. The question is... should I follow him outside and eavesdrop or should I trust... who am I kidding?' Kitty climbed off the bed quickly and went to the door, pressing her ear up against it to hear anything immediately outside. She the triggered her ability to slowly phase through the door to peek outside and look where Pete was. Kitty ducked back in, then went to a safer exit point, phasing through that side wall and listened to the conversation from around the corner, at least, as much as she could hear of it.

"---don't bloody care. Los Angeles is definitely out of both our juristictions, mate. You can do whatever you want." Pete's voice paused. "Yes. I know. That's somethin' I'll have to deal with tomorrow. S'bound to come up sooner or later, the bird has nothin' t'do w'me. It's not my business. Maybe YOU should ask her." He sounded annoyed, walking closer to the wall Kitty was leaning against.

She took in a breath. Ready to phase back into the room at any point, but then he stopped walking and stood nearby, still talking on the phone.

"You don't understand m'situation at all. Of course I care about her, I wouldn't've asked her to come along unless I had a damn good reason to. You wouldn't believe me if I told ya, anyway. Fine, call me tomorrow if you can extend our juristiction, but otherwise I think we're done with this case. Now I get to find other things to occupy our time. Very funny, mate. Y'might as well write 'Here lies the bloody beaten corpse of Pete Wisdom.' I'm not looking forward telling her the truth. Ye of little knowledge, Pryde is not one to have as an enemy. Dangerous is putting it lightly. But that doesn't..." Pete paused, caught up in a moment with an obvious bout of emotion, "... sorry. Maybe I'm basing this all off the girl I once knew. Fact is, she's changed, and that's why'm so damn worried. A'right. Take care. Well, just give me a ring when you know about L.A. The longer we can keep this charade goin', the better this is for everyone involved. G'night."

Kitty let his words sink in. What did he mean? No time to dwell, she phased backwards, into the room to quickly retake her seat on the bed and picking up the remote to the television. 'This isn't about the case at all, it's actually about keeping me busy. For what, though? And why would Pete care? Too many questions, and I know full well he won't outright tell me.' She glanced at the clock. It was after ten at night. 'Well, he did say he wanted to go out... maybe I'll have a sudden change of heart.'

The hotel door opened as Pete stepped back in. "Good news is we get a break."

"Good to know." Kitty idly flipped through the stations, then turned to Pete, "Hey, you know what? I'm feeling a lot better. You said you wanted to go out? Did you have somewhere in mind?"

Pete blinked, caught off guard. "Y'want to go out?"

"Sure, why not?"

He seemed stunned, "Suppose we can hit up the Ghost Bar. I hear it's nice there."

"Sounds like a plan. We should call a taxi, I don't wanna drive and I doubt you will either. I don't think there's a way to drunk-proof a Miata. What should I wear?" Kitty went over to her bag, unzipping it and shuffling through it.

"Planning on picking up a fella?" Pete joked.

"Maaaaaaaaaaaaybe." Kitty smirked, "Do they have a dress code? It's not a nightclub, is it?"

"More like a lounge." Pete commented.

"Can we dance?" Kitty wondered.

"I'm sure it's not completely against the rules." Pete glanced at his bag, "Should I change?"

"... your choice. I'm going to try to not look like a bartender, myself. Do you even own anything other than white button up shirts and black slacks?"

"You insultin' my wardrobe again?"

"Was just curious if you were going to be dressed to the nines... or like a secret agent, that's all." Kitty pulled out and sorted some clothes. She picked out an outfit and headed to the bathroom. "I'll get changed, then. Perhaps if you brought something other than suits, you can coordinate with what I come up with, hmm?"

Pete shook his head and chuckled as she closed the door. He went into his bag, pulling out the few pieces of clothing that were different. A dark sweater, a black button up shirt, and a grey long sleeved shirt. He rubbed his chin as he looked over his choices before he felt a body press into him from behind. "...what the devil? Pryde!"

Kitty laughed putting her hands on his shoulders. "Tense much? Oh God, is that all you have? I seriously need to take you shopping someday."

"That's what you said last time." Pete shrugged and waved a hand at the few pieces of clothing. "And all I got are me black slacks. What'll you force me into?"

Kitty let go of Pete and hummed to herself, stepping aside to look. "Grey shirt with the button up over it, but don't button it. Keep it loose." She nudged him forward before stepping back over toward the bathroom to check herself in the mirror. She was dressed in a tight pair of black pants, a low cut blue top with a black fashionable jacket. She idly fussed with her hair as Pete protested in the backround, dressing in what she told him to change into. She brushed her hair back, glancing at Pete as he tucked in the grey shirt, leaving the black over-shirt untucked. Kitty stepped over and started to button up the bottom buttons.

"What're you doin?"

"Experimenting." She made eye contact, "Does it bother you?"

"No." Pete tried to sound annoyed.

Kitty reached up and straightened out his collar. 'Must keep focused, the plan is to get him obnoxiously drunk and spill about what this is really all about.'

"Y'look nice." Pete noticed.

"Thanks. Surprisingly, so do you." Kitty stepped away, observing him.

"I know how to take a compliment when I'm given one." Pete smirked and offered an arm. "So, ready to paint the town red?"

"Damn straight." She took his arm and headed to the door, her own personal mission in mind.

---

"Hey Mitch... I need another scotch and... uh... something blue." Kitty said to the bartender.

"Something blue? You're real specific there, Kit." The man identified as Mitch said.

"I'm getting less picky as the night goes on." Kitty waved a hand. "How about a 'Blue Motorcycle' if you must have something particular."

"How's the drinking contest going?"

"He's ahead. That's a good thing, actually." She smirked. "Right now I'm somewhere in that warm and fuzzy stage."

"That's the best stage." He laughed and passed her the two drinks.

"No kidding." She pulled out some bills and handed them to him. "I still can't believe how expensive drinks are out here."

"Different environment, hun. You'll have to tell me about your bar sometime before you leave." Mitch smiled.

"If I remember. Thanks again!" Kitty carefully carried the two drinks across the floor and out to the balcony where Pete was standing. She held out the shot glass to him. "Your poison of choice, good sir."

"Thought I told you never to call me 'sir'." Pete took the glass. "This view is gorgeous."

"Hmm? Force of habit, sorry." Kitty turned her attention from Pete to the lights of the Las Vegas strip. "Definitely a city of lights."

Pete easily downed the shot. He held onto the empty glass without much thought. "Having fun chatting up the bartender?"

"He's from Northbrook - we had a bonding moment over the Cubs and bartending. Something I've learned in the past twenty four hours - apparently no one is actually from here, they're all transplants." Kitty nudged Pete, "Soooooooomeone's jealous."

"Not likely." Pete scoffed. "Just seems kinda wrong, bloke comes in with a lady and someone is already movin' in on her. They got rules against that somewhere."

Kitty shook her head, "He's been a perfect gentleman, Pete. That's like the first thing you learn - make a connection. Sometimes you're not just a bartender, but you're also their marriage counsellor, their therapist, their best friend. It's good for business, and really good for tips. He's just doing his job." She nudged Pete again, "So how're you feeling?"

"I might be able to walk a straight line." Pete lightened up a bit.

"Sounds like you're on your way to full out drunken goodness." Kitty sipped her drink. "Want a taste of this?"

"Looks like a fu-fu drink for girls." He waved a hand, "I'll go get something else from the bar."

"'Kay." Kitty took in a deep breath. She knew she had to gain a little confidence to breach the subject. It was the right time, it's just a matter of hitting the right stride of conversation. So far all they've talked about was what she's been through these last few months and a few vague updates on mutual friends. After her fifth drink, she started to feel the effects of the alcohol in her system. There was no way she could keep up with Wisdom, but at least when she kept offering to go get drinks from the bar, he was quite willing to continue to drink.

"Oi, Mate. Get me a Kamikaze." Pete said to the bartender.

"Sure thing. Say, that girl of yours is quite sharp." Mitch said to Pete as he mixed the drink.

"Oh Kitty? She and I go way back. Met overseas through work." Pete leaned on the bar, "Let me tell ya, the United Kingdom was a much nicer place when she was around."

"I can only imagine." Mitch passed the drink to Pete. "You're a lucky guy."

"Was, Mate. Was." Pete nodded and paid the bartender. "Cheers." He headed back over to the balcony where Kitty waited. "You haven't even made any progress. How're you going to catch up at this rate?"

"Catch up? That's sooo not going to happen. I'm already pretty buzzed. I don't want to get sick. Unlike you, I haven't built up a huge tolerance." Kitty rolled her eyes, then quieted down as she thought about how to approach the subject.

Pete noticed the silence, "Wot's wrong?"

"Pete... uhm... the case..." Kitty started.

"Wot about it? We'll find out tomorrow what we can do." Pete took a sip of his drink.

She looked over and made eye contact. "I'm not talking about that. Okay, look... the clues just don't match up."

"Clues? About?" Pete wondered.

"You, for example." Kitty didn't break her gaze, "The Thomas girl isn't really your cousin, is she?"

An expression of pure guilt washed over Pete's face. He was caught. "...took a day and a half for you. You're quick as ever, Pryde."

"...that's just the tip of the iceberg, isn't it Pete? Why the hell would you fly me all the way to practically the West Coast? What is this about?!" Kitty grew angry. "I could so kick your ass if you..."

"Your voice just got loud..." Pete let out an exasperated sigh, "Look, there's a perfectly good reason for all this. It wasn't meant to dupe you."

"Then what is it, Pete? Just spill it already." She poked him with her finger agressively.

"Bloody hell, couldn't you've brought this up at a better time?" Pete quickly finished his drink and had a pregnant pause in his statement. He matched her gaze and said in a thin voice. "You're in danger in Chicago. If I didn't get you out... you were to be killed."

---

To be continued...