Notes: I want to thank Lu Baihu for making me get this fic done: he poked & prodded me into writing it, was major help with the dialogue (writing well over a third of it), never mind betaing it…
Okay it's probably obvious by now but this is an AU from shortly after I started writing it — in broadcast order, "Walk on the Wild Side" — in proper time order, "Shadow Dance".
Warnings: Femslash.
Pairings: Rogue/Kitty.
The girls stand in the mansion's kitchen, looking for something for lunch. Rogue is poking in the fridge. "We've got low fat turkey, ham, oops you don't want that, roast beef, Swiss; cheddar, American…" She pauses waiting for Kitty's answer. "Kitty?"
"Yeah… little out of it… like, just whoa that was, like, some party last night, right?" Kitty giggles.
"And after…" Rogue leans over and kisses Kitty softly. "But before we get yelled at for leaving the fridge open — turkey, roast beef, or just cheese?" She sets the roast beef and Swiss on the counter.
"Cheese for me, love."
"Which kind?"
"That milky cheese stuff, like over there."
"The American?" Rogue asks with a smile.
"Yeah."
"Okay" She gets it out and turns to the fridge door "Mustard, mayo, pickles?" She asks, putting the mustard on the counter,
"Light mayo."
Rogue adds it to the pile, and then reaches into the crisper for lettuce and tomato, before asking, "Anything else?"
"You in vanilla with a cherry on top!" Kitty says jokingly, and then giggles.
"Hmm later, Love" Her eyes twinkle at the thought. She closes the fridge. "Think you can find the bread?"
"Yeah," Kitty phases into the pantry and grabs four slices of bread, while Rogue gets a couple of plates.
"Thanks." Rogue puts the sandwiches together; Kitty phases things back into the fridge as Rogue finishes with them. "There a perfect sandwich for my perfect girl."
"From her perfect girlfriend." Kitty lightly kisses her nose.
The professor comes into the kitchen looking worried. "Do you know if Pietro's still here?"
"No, like, why?" Kitty replies.
"I need to talk to him." He sighs, "I guess I'll see if they're still in Evan's room."
"'Tro's hair stuff was still in the bathroom a half hour ago but…" Rogue answers.
"D'ya mean they-" Kitty asks flabbergasted.
"Don't tell me you didn't notice — they made more noise than we did last night."
"I think that's into the realm of too much information… I'll just keep looking then." Xavier leaves to look for Pietro.
Kitty looks blankly at Rogue.
"Now that I've horrified the professor…" She says smiling.
"Let's talk about other stuff! Truth or dare?" Her eyes twinkle with mischief.
"Upstairs, love — don't want the world to hear your secrets…"
"I know… but like, let's start now! Truth or dare?"
Rogue hands Kitty a bag of baked chips to and grabs a 2-liter of soda. "Truth - but I don't promise to answer till we're upstairs."
"I gotcha…" Kitty hurries them upstairs. "Let's see … let me know if it's really inappropriate, and I'll, like, ask something else — Didja really like that thing I did last night with the glow?"
"Yep, a little risky but so cool. So's your turn — Truth or Dare?"
Kitty pauses, thinking. "Truth…"
"What really happened with you and Lance? Ah know he's with Tabby now but…"
"I think he caught on about me…"
"Ya mean that he wasn't the only one ya were looking at?"
"No! I mean, I just figured he realized I was bi…"
"Don't think that would bother him — not after dealing with Todd's crush on him…"
"Oh, I didn't know about that … speaking of which, does that end my turn?"
Rogue nods, "Eh truth again, I guess."
"Hmm, like, you asked me, so… What happened with Risty?"
~Oh shit, she hadta ask that one~ "Well, she's… um… well…"
Kitty looks over concerned and a little annoyed.
~No half answers possible here~ "She's Mystique." Rogue finally gets out.
Kitty stops in shock. "What?" she questions, in a low voice.
"She was my fucking mother — well one of 'em" ~Hope I still have a girlfriend after this~
"W-what?! W-why didn't you tell me!" Kitty screams, aghast.
"S'not like it woulda made a difference, she was outa town the next day."
"B-but like, but like, why?? Y'you, I thought she… she…" ~Hated you — us — and that's why she really left~
"Though she had till she tried to grab my shoulder…"
"Then… oh…" Kitty's visibly shaken, unable articulate her discomfort. "I…" Kitty shakes her hand around trying to get the words out, "I…"
"Ah'm sorry…."
"I…" Kitty won't meet Rogue eyes. "I don't know…" ~what to believe anymore~
"Much as I hate her sometimes, she still helped raise me, y'know. I don't want her hurt if she doesn't hafta be — I was worried 'bout the professor not you and well ya remember how much happened that day"
"The professor? Why? I remember what happened, but why weren't you worried about me?"
"You're not gunna run off and attack Mystique on your own…."
Kitty stops trying to make sense of Rogue's words.
"I wish this whole mess hadn't happened" ~Raven, Rayne, all this shit we hafta deal with~
"What?!" Kitty cries, shocked. "You-we've been together for over a week now, we've poured our hearts out to each other, and now all of a sudden you don't, like, fucking want me?!"
"Kitty! I didn't mean — I wouldn't trade you for anything — the other shit that's happened…" ~How did I get my self in this mess?~
"That's like so not true! You're just covering for your own ass!" she shouts bordering on hysterical.
"Kitty…" She reaches out to Kitty who pulls away. "I love you. Mosta the rest of my life I'd like to toss in the compost heap but I love you Katherine Pryde."
"Oh really? Why when you couldn't tell me up front, like, that she was like your mother? What else are you keeping from me, huh?" ~Been lied to enough times~
Rogue answers in a tiny voice, "I was scared." ~Dunno what woulda happened if the Professor found out~
"Of?" Kitty yells.
"I've got 3 people in the entire world I can call family, so excuse me for not wanting something to happen to one of them." ~Kurt, Raven and Irene, and some day maybe you if we can just get past this…~
"Oh?" Kitty asks in an icy voice.
"I may not agree with her politics but Raven's family and…" ~Just want her safe, long as you and Kurt are too~
Kitty blinks, sitting back down on the bed. "I know, I know, you don't give a…" She sighs, and then looks away. Now I don't know anymore…" Kitty pulls in on herself going almost fetal.
Rogue asks gently, "Know what?"
"Why… why I was, like, so…" Kitty throws her hands into the air, sounding frustrated.
"It's okay — it is pretty weird."
"No… I-I…" Kitty starts to cry softly. "It's my fault, I-like started everything…"
"You deserved to know…" ~Shoulda told you before now~
"No, but like, how I reacted and all…"
"It's okay Kitty — rather have you yell than just sit there stewing." ~That never helps~
"Why? Why couldn't I not do that, and hurt your feelings… god, this wasn't supposed to happen, I wasn't, like, supposed to… hurt you…" Kitty reaches up to wipe away tears.
"Kitty…" Rogue wraps an arm around Kitty. ~Haven't we been here enough times before~
"Yeah… I… I promise I won't, like, do it again…" Kitty looks at the mattress forcing herself to stop crying. She pulls in
tighter, as rogue scoots in closer behind her bringing both arms around in an attempt to comfort her.
"Hey Ah'd rather hear about what's going on with you than not know when you're upset…"
"Yeah, but how am I supposed to… like, I want to, like, be a help, yet when you told me, I just completely exploded and, like…"
"Hey it took 10 minutes — if we can't spend 10 minutes making this relationship work we're in sad shape."
"And bring it closer than before to breaking it off, except by my fault and not Rayne's or whoever…"
"It's ok, Love."
"J-just, just forgive me?" Kitty twists around to look at Rogue. "No conditions or anything? Is that what you're asking, because if it's not, I…"
"No conditions." ~Ever~
"… Alright… thanks…" Kitty phases though Rogue to turn around completely, snuggling close for a kiss.
Rogue brings her arms back around Kitty leaning into the kiss. Finally, they have to break the kiss and pull back. Rogue cuddles against Kitty for a moment, and then asks, "Was there anything else you wanted to ask? You don't hafta play truth or dare to ask me a question."
"Like… um…" Kitty says sounding very nervous.
"There's nothing else Ah've even halfway meant to keep from you — but s'not like we know everything…" ~Nothing that's mine any way~
"I…" Kitty sighs, looking at her hands. "Now, how much do I want to know?"
"'Start at the beginning, go on till you reach the end then stop.' Anything you want to know from when I was younger?"
Kitty pauses, thinking. "Like, I, I guess you got in trouble back at home, right? Like what?"
"Remember one time — was about 6-7 - Raven hadn't been home for what felt like forever, and she was supposed ta be coming home that afternoon. I snuck out and climbed the big tree in the front yard to look for her — in my good dress no less."
"And then?"
"Ah'm not sure how much trouble Ah woulda been in cause when Raven got close enough Ah let go of the tree to wave at her and well…" ~spent the next 6 weeks in a cast~
"Oh… I mean, like, with 'the system' and all that…"
"You mean cause a Raven & Irene?"
Kitty nods.
"There were some nasty people, here & there. If there were too many, we just moved on."
"At least you never, like, spazzed out and got taken away or whatever?" Kitty asks, looking into Rogue's eyes with concern and holding her hand tightly.
"Mah life was pretty quiet, until-" She plucks at her glove. "Raven made sure her jobs stayed away from us—even when that meant her staying away."
Kitty takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Why?"
"Raven's worked for Magneto a long time and for others…"
Kitty shudders. "No more on that, please, then"
"How about you? Anything interesting happen when you were a kid?"
"Oh, like, the usual bullies, girls didn't like me for some reason or another and that."
"Nothing too bad?"
"Lucky me…" Kitty hugs Rogue, trying to comfort both of them.
Rogue rubs her cheek against Kitty's shoulder. "There are people who had it worse…" ~and some of 'em's memories are runnin' round my head~ She shudders.
"I won't ask."
"Thanks." Rogue takes Kitty's hand.
"Y'never, like, got into trouble coz you ended up crushing on your camp counselor or anything, right?" Kitty asked, a bit wary about crushes in light of the Risty revelation.
"In trouble no…"
"But, besides the trouble, it happened, right?"
"Yeah — looking back — Ah'm pretty sure she was with another counselor — and well it was an all girls camp."
Kitty smiles, "I get whatcha mean - what, a schoolgirl crush, or…"
"Pretty much. Nothing serious - was kinda my first real crush though."
"And like, another girl your age?"
"I dunno exactly," ~before you~ "despite e'rything Irene & Raven told me I kinda let mahself get pressured inta dating guys…"
"Oh … I don't remember," Kitty looks up at Rogue, "Like, if I was really -attached- to a girl, like, just glancing looks and maybe being close or noticing their bodies, but like, I didn't really date at all, not even boys, just… I kept going into cliques and getting booted, next clique, next booting, strange I never figured it out…"
"And then Lance…"
"Yeah… musta come out real late, huh?" Kitty chuckles. "Least I never hated a girl who liked a girl…"
"Yeh."
Kitty leans in. "What else do you wanna know?"
"What was it like dating Lance — he can be such a goof sometimes?" ~try a lotta the time unless he's stressed out, like lately~
"Yeah, but like, he was funny, just that he figured I was on the side and all, like, just to impress his friends…"
"Sure impressed them when he ran off and left them for you."
"Oh yeah … but it's not like we, well, did anything, I swear, you were my first and-"
"Ah believe ya — you were mine too — you just made it sound like he didn't care and even if he did break it off…"
"Sorry…" Kitty looks down. "But from what, well, how he acted, at least how I see it, that… that's what he was." She looks up at Rogue. "I'm sorry, Rogue…"
"He's an ass for dumping you — though if he hadn't…" ~we wouldn't be…~
"I know… S'like, what do you think of, like, the rest of the guys he hangs out with?"
"The brotherhood?" She pauses. "They were never the reason I left…"
"I know, but like…"
"I still consider them my friends… though Lance and I didn't really got along at first."
"It's okay, I get what you mean, but, like, anything special? Like, y'still like him the most out of them, or…?"
"Ah think Ah was closest to Todd — and Ah've still got Visual Arts with him."
"What are they really like? "
"I swear, you think trying to cope with Kurt hogging the bathroom in the morning is bad? You've never hadta share with a psychotic speed demon, before he's had his coffee or worse after… Wanted to kill him a few times… but his father being who he is…"
"Huh? Who?"
"Magneto."
"I thought he was joking…" she trails off, eyes widening.
"Nope."
"And Freddy?"
"Don't get between him and the fridge, and everything will be fine. Seriously, he's pretty cool to hang-out with, not the brightest but…"
"Yeah, I can guess…"
"Between Fred's grades and Pietro's, Lance spends way too much time tutoring."
"What, too high or just a waste of time?"
"I mean just ta keep 'em passing."
"Oh my that is bad…"
"Freddy's just lousy at bookwork of any kind, and Pietro? he's good at some stuff, but the stuff he sucks at he sucks at. 'S like no one ever bothered to try and catch him up on stuff he missed before."
"What about Todd?"
"School stuff? He's pretty good, not like you, but he is in your English class, right?"
"Yeah."
"'Round the Brotherhood house, he tends to be the quiet one — well if you discount his stereo." Rogue smiles. "Likes to draw and write… watch how much sugar he's had though — a hyper Todd is a far different creature"
"And so is his tongue!" Kitty giggles. "Am I right?"
"You don't want to know what he can get into after too much sugar or a few butterflies…You really don't."
"Gotcha."
"The Brotherhood's one wacky zoo, huh?"
"Yeah… glad I'm not there anymore."
"Must be something."
"Four guys, one girl. Dunno how Tabby puts up with them. I had Raven at least…"
"Lucky you… I guess…"
"Better here though especially with you." Rogue gives Kitty a sappy smile. "But what do you think of that guy Todd was with last night? Ah mean Todd gets into quite enough trouble on his own." ~And after everything…~
"I've never seen him do anything, just looked a bit too flashy last night to look like he wanted to be there."
"Ah dunno, Ah'm just worried he's in over his head." ~Don't wanta hafta put him back together, after…~
"Aww, look on the bright side," Kitty curls up against Rogue, wrapping her arms around Rogue's arm. "The sweet innocent princess and the Goth-looking punk with a heart of gold? Take a look at us."
"Yeah you're right." Rogue smiles. ~I hope~
"Give them a chance, Roguie" Kitty brushed her lips through Rogue's cheek. "Look how far we've come, after all."
"Ah will." Rogue cuddles against Kitty. "And we have, haven't we?"
"Yeah," She looks up frowning slightly. "How long has it been now?"
Rogue pauses, thinking. ~Last Wednesday night, and this is Saturday…~ "Eleven days."
"Wow." Kitty blinks in shock. "Feels like a lot longer …"
"This week's been crazy, trying to set e'rything up for the dance."
"But still… at least, it feels right… do we really hafta explain it to ourselves or whatever?"
"Not to ourselves, not to them, not to anyone if we don't want to." Rogue says firmly.
Kitty nods cuddling against Rogue. After a couple of minutes her stomach grumbles. "Whoops! Sorry about that, but I'm thinking — ice cream! Yeah, y'wanna go get it with me and we can sit outside and what not?"
"The stand down by the park is open on weekends now — that's walking distance, no begging for the car keys required."
"Yeah!"
A short walk brings the girls to the park. They take the entrance nearest the ice cream stand, and start up the path towards it.
"Glad it's finally getting warm up here."
"Y'didn't notice it earlier?"
"Ah'm from down south — this is just barely warm."
"Oh, don't know if I'd want to live down there, I'm a born-and-bred country girl from Illinois, remember?" Kitty winks. "By the way, what d'ya want?"
"Fudge ripple, Ah think."
"I'll go with vanilla, that's my thing…"
"Regular or large? — We do have a workout session later to work this off…"
"Regular, even so." As they reach the stand, Kitty pulls out her money.
"Okay" Rogue digs into her pocket, pulling out her wallet. "Put that away — my treat."
"Thanks…" Kitty smiles warmly.
Rogue orders for them, and then comes back holding two cones. "Here ya go."
"Mmm…" Kitty takes hers, and loops an arm around Rogue's; then they start slowly walking back toward the Institute.
An older teen they recognize vaguely from school comes towards them. "Hey it's the dykes."
"Hey!" Kitty exclaims annoyed.
"Oh god." Rogue murmurs sounding strangled.
"Come to put on a show for us?" The guy leers at them.
~Don't wanna deal with this… Just want to keep my Kitty safe…~ Rogue ~How many times are we gunna hafta…~
"Let's go…" Kitty whispers quietly to Rogue.
Rogue nods. "Yeh" They head away from the guy, walking faster now.
"Ooh, it looks like you're headed home — Can I come watch?"
~What's he gunna do?~ Rogue shudders.
"No!" Kitty screams.
A man comes over, attracted by Kitty's yell. "Is everything okay?"
"I was just talking with 'em." The guy says.
"Ya call that talkin'?" Rogue growls.
"Preying on girls who just went out for ice cream isn't talking!"
"I ain't listening to this shit." He heads off looking angry.
"I doubt he'll come back anything soon but…" The other man says.
"Thanks."
"Yeah…" Kitty shivers involuntarily.
Rogue pulls Kitty in close, trembling a little herself "We oughta head home before…"
"Let's go." They hurry home, sighing with relief as they enter the mansion.
"Why…" Rogue murmurs to herself.
"I don't know," Kitty says, "Guess what happened wasn't enough to change some hearts…"
Amanda and Kurt look over at the girls, concerned.
"Hi" Amanda says.
"Hi…" Kitty answers, obviously uneasy.
"Vat's vrong?"
"Just some idiot…" Rogue sighs.
"Yeah, he did the same thing those other kids did back in…"
"Ouch…" Amanda replies.
Kurt asks them, "Are you two alright?"
"Just talk — scary though especially after…" Rogue responds.
"All we were doing was getting some ice cream…"
"Some people seem to think their vay is the only right vay…"
"S'not like we're hurting them." Rogue mutters.
"Yeah, oh well… Rogue, our ice cream's kinda-"
"And I'd better get home before my parents come looking — Don't want them to know I wasn't staying in a guestroom…" Amanda says, smiling.
"The Professor's pretty cool, huh?" Rogue replies.
"Yeah, see you later," Kitty says; then she turns to Rogue. "C'mon, it's starting to drip…"
"Coming."
"I'll see you two at supper." Kurt replies talking Amanda's hand.
Rogue drops her voice, and tells Kitty, "Then I'll just have to lick it off." She smiles teasingly.
"Of where?"
"You." Rogue giggles.
"Oh my…" Kitty begins to giggle as well. "But, seriously."
"Yeh, we'd better eat this before we wind up paying to have the rugs cleaned…"
The girls are sprawled on the TV room couch, when the phone rings.
"I'll get it!" Kitty replies.
"Kay."
"Hello, Xavier Institute." Kitty pauses then says warmly "Hi." She turns the phone away slightly and whispers to Rogue "Parents."
Rogue nods and sits back on the couch. ~Know she's scared about them finding out and after e'rything…~
"Y-you're coming over here??"
~Oh god… can't exactly keep it secret when e'ryone knows…~
"Oh, that…"
~What? Wish I could hear~
"Ummm… Okay, mom…"
"Yeah, I guess… alright, I'll remember. See ya soon." Kitty hangs up, and turns to Rogue in shock. "They're coming over…"
"Lordy. When?"
"Tomorrow night, but it's only a one-night stay, my dad's on business after all. Guess this puts a damper on our long weekend…"
"Yeah… How do you want to play this?"
"Ummm… deny, deny, deny?" Kitty bites her lip looking nervous.
"Sure thing." Rogue nods.
"Okay, I guess we can just put it off, or tell everyone so they don't say anything…"
"It's just one night…
"Yeah, we should make it…" Kitty looks at the time. "Hey, don't you have homework to finish up?"
"Ick… yeah"
"I'll help you," Kitts says. She takes her hand, and they go up to their room.
The next day they're sitting in the front hall waiting for Kitty's parents.
"Ah'll just keep outa the way…"
"No, it's okay-" Kitty takes her hand. "You don't have to, just, like, you know, be cool about it, act like just friends… it's only one night…"
"We got your bed cleared off, right?" Rogue asks nervous. ~Don't want 'em to see it hasn't been used in a while…~
"Yeah,"
"Good… Oh lord, here they come." A taxi pulls up in front of the Institute.
Kitty goes to the door, letting her parents in.
"Hi!" Kitty smiles. "It's, like, nice to see you."
"Hello sweetheart," her mother smiles.
"It's nice to see to you as well, Kitty," her father replies.
"So, like - hey! Rogue!" Kitty turns to her parents. "I've told you about her. My roommate and friend?"
"Hi y'all — nice to meet you." Rogue says politely.
"Oh hello, it's nice to meet Kitty's friends here." Both parents shake Rogue's hand. "Well we're just visiting for tonight, but we'll be around and Kitty's volunteered to give us a tour of the place, so we'll see you later, perhaps?"
Roberto comes through the room, headed outside. "How are our resident love birds doing this fine afternoon?"
Kitty freezes speechless. ~Oh god, how're they — he — going to react?~
Rogue pulls slightly closer to Kitty, looking ready to bolt. ~Roberto! How could you — if she gets hurt…~
"I just found the greatest spot for your next date." He continues oblivious.
Mr. Pryde exclaims, "Love birds?!?"
"Date!" Mrs. Pryde cries.
Yes, the next chapter will be out soon. ^.^
R/R? — [email protected]