Welcome

[Storm]

[Ororo in from offpanel]

Shadow King in Africa, and now slavers. In space. Just the thought sent a chill up her spine. However, she'd spoken to Scott, and found that while the emotional wounds would be a long time healing, physically, the children were fine. Emotionally, all they could do was offer them all the help they could find.

She'd often wondered what psychiatrists would think of their life.

After checking on the children, Ororo had gone to the kitchen. There was one person that she had to check up on and hadn't seen recently.

Kitten had also been in space. No doubt she would be hungry. Ororo hummed softly, making up the tray – even adding some of the fudge she found in the walk-in. No doubt Kitten would enjoy the empty calories, though she was also going to get some real food along with it.

Adding a bottle of the Starbuck's Frappchino in the fridge, Ororo turned for the upstairs.

She stopped outside Kitten's door, balancing the tray on one hand while the other tapped at the door in a jingle of bangles. “Kitty?” She called through the door. “It's Ororo,” Ororo said.

She wondered how Lockheed had fared among the Starjammers. Scott hadn't said much about being with his father – which spoke volumes about what had transpired.

Her talk with Kurt had helped her sort out her feelings about Shadow King. With the return of the children, the weather had also cleared. The skies outside were sunny and warm, now, without the dark clouds and the occasional rumbles of thunder.

Now, all she needed was to make sure her Kitten was alright.

[Shadowcat]

[In from off-panel following Who Needs Jim Kirk?]

There was a reason space was the final frontier. It had something to do with space being filled beyond all reasonable capacity with delicate balances of interstellar governance, seditious, mutant child stealing slavers, and egomaniacal space pirates with an equally bad taste in pants and plans. It also had a lot to do with every time Kitty came back from a space mission she was sore and tired and smelled vaguely of extraterrestrial exudation.

Ever since the team had triumphantly touched down, Kitty had wanted to go check in on Ororo and make sure she was all right. But first, she needed a shower. A long shower. A long shower with ridiculously hot water and that Moonlight Path body wash she saved for special occasions. Afterward, she could go see ‘Ro.

As Kitty began preparing for her shower, a strong craving for caffeine struck her. She hadn’t been properly caffeinated since before the mission, and she really needed the jolt.

And then came the idea of combining two of her wants into one. Take a long shower with ridiculously hot water and that Moonlight Path body wash she saved for special occasions while simultaneously drinking a steamy cup of coffee? And afterward going to see ‘Ro?

No, she decided, that’s too much hot for one sitting…

But taking a long shower with ridiculously hot water and that Moonlight Path body wash she saved for special occasions while simultaneously drinking a frosty Frappuccino? And afterward going to see ‘Ro?

That’d be heaven, Kitty thought as she finished peeling off her uniform top.

Unfortunately, a minor detail conspired to wreck her plans, namely the fact that she’d drained the last Frappuccino in her mini fridge the night before she’d left for space.

Upon opening her fridge and discovering her lack of any Starbucks trademarked bottled cold coffee, Kitty expressed her jilted emotions with a grunt before affixing Lockheed with her most saccharine of smiles. “Hey! Locky! Bestest Dragon Pal Anyone Could Ever Have! How would you like to swoop down to the kitchen and grab me a Frap? Maybe of the vanilla persuasion?”

Lockheed, who’d taken to fidgeting—in a distinctively dragonish sort of way—on Kitty’s bed, snorted his disinterest in Kitty’s caffeine deficiency. Instead he continued his fidgeting. Once he was content he had Kitty’s full attention, he began tracing a path with his eyes from Kitty to the door and back again. It reminded Kitty of a dog warning its master it was time ‘to take a walk’…unless, of course, the master didn’t mind puddles of piddle on his pillow. But Kitty knew better. Lockheed would never risk piddling on a pillow he’d likely lay claim to in a few short hours, so something else must have been bugging him.

Kitty took a seat beside her dragon and rubbed a hand down the back of his neck. “What’s with you? It can’t possibly be mating season again?”

The distinctively dragonish fidgeting stopped long enough for Lockheed to narrow his eyes at her, suggesting this was not a line of razzing Kitty wanted to pursue.

Before Kitty could decide whether to press the jest, a light knocking derailed her. The knock was quickly joined by a familiar voice which said, “Kitty? It's Ororo.”

“Ororo?” Kitty echoed with more than a twinge of excitement in her voice. She hopped off the bed, grabbing what might have been a clean shirt from a pile beside her dresser and slipping it over her head as she made for the door.

“Ororo!” she exclaimed, opening the door with full intentions of tackle hugging the resident goddess and making sure she was all right. At the sight of the tray Ororo was holding, Kitty pouted a little. “No fair. I can’t tackle hug you if you’re holding a tray.” Kitty stepped quickly to the side. “So come on in and put the tray down. I demand hugs.” She espied the Frappuccino on ‘Ro’s tray. “Many, myriad, mucho hugs.”

She tried to ignore the errant thought of, What about taking a long shower with ridiculously hot water and that Moonlight Path body wash I save for special occasions with Ororo while simultaneously drinking a frosty Frappuccino?

[Storm]

“Kitty? It's Ororo.”

Kitty had, apparently, just thrown on one of her shirts. Ororo raised an amused eyebrow at how she looked. And then she pouted and Ororo couldn't help but remember the small fourteen year old that had been almost lost among the adults of the mansion.

“No fair. I can’t tackle hug you if you’re holding a tray.” Kitty stepped quickly to the side. “So come on in and put the tray down. I demand hugs.” She espied the Frappuccino on ‘Ro’s tray. “Many, myriad, mucho hugs.”

Ororo chuckled and found a flat surface to put the tray down on. She turned and pulled Kitty into a tight hug. “I think I can accommodate that.” She teased, resting her cheek against Kitty's hair. It felt good to hug her Kitten again, and know that she was alright.

She pulled back and looked Kitty over critically. She appeared to be in good condition, without any major injuries to worry over. “Go,” she said. “Get your shower.” Ororo shooed her gently. “I will be right here.” She said, folding herself to sit on the edge of Kitty's bed.

She raised one white eyebrow. “And you can come eat and tell me about what happened.” She said, somewhat amused. She felt a beak nudge her arm. “Do not worry,” she said, reaching over to pull one of the chocolate cookies off the tray. “I brought enough for her to share.” Amused, Ororo offered Lockheed the cookie.

She looked up at Kitty. “I will keep your Frappaccino cold.” She promised. She knew her Kitten would want to get clean after such a long trip. The first thing she'd done, following their adventure in Africa, after checking with Sage, had been to take her own, long, shower.

Some things were a constant in the mansion, no matter who it was.

[Shadowcat]

“No fair,” Kitty complained at the sight of Ororo’s full hands. “I can’t tackle hug you if you’re holding a tray.” Kitty stepped quickly to the side. “So come on in and put the tray down. I demand hugs.” She espied the Frappuccino on ‘Ro’s tray. “Many, myriad, mucho hugs.”

Ororo chuckled and found a flat surface to put the tray down on. She turned and pulled Kitty into a tight hug. “I think I can accommodate that.” She teased, resting her cheek against Kitty's hair.

“Good,” Kitty said, feeling at home in Ororo’s arms. It was odd. No matter how much Kitty railed against being treated like anything but a fully capable, and somewhat adult, X-Woman, she couldn’t help but feel like a child around Ororo. It wasn’t long after Kitty met the X-Men when she began looking to the windrider as a mother-figure. Someone to look up to. Someone to respect. Someone to emulate. The feeling only increased after The Divorce and Kitty’s subsequent falling out with her ‘real’ parents.

After a while, Ororo pulled back and inspected Kitty. When she was satisfied, Ororo said, “Go. Get your shower.”

“But--”

“I will be right here.” [Ororo] said, folding herself to sit on the edge of Kitty's bed.

Kitty didn’t want a shower. Well. Actually. Yes, she did. But not at the expense of spending time with Ororo, especially after the goddess had taken the time to seek her out. To be honest, she felt a little guilty. Ororo was certainly more important than bathing needs, so couldn’t she have waited another few hours to shower off? Shouldn’t she have found Ororo first? “I can shower later,” Kitty protested. “Really, it’s not a big deal.”


She raised one white eyebrow. “And you can come eat and tell me about what happened.” She said, before turning her attention to Lockheed, whose agitation seemed to be assuaged by Ororo’s presence. “Do not worry,” she said, reaching over to pull one of the chocolate cookies off the tray. “I brought enough for her to share.”

Lockheed took the proffered cookie and proceeded to douse Kitty’s bed with crumbs. Maybe the little guy was just hungry, Kitty thought.

She looked up at Kitty. “I will keep your Frappaccino cold.” She promised.

Despite her protests, it looked like Kitty was getting that post-alien ablution. She smiled at Ororo as she gathered up some pajama bottoms and a shirt. It really was nice having someone around with maternal instincts. “Five minutes,” she declared. “Time me.”


Fourteen minutes later (stupid hair and the time it takes to wash it) Kitty re-entered the room a much cleaner person. “Okay, so much for that five minutes,” she said, sitting down next to ‘Ro and resting her head upon the goddess’s shoulder. “And now that I’m finished being all selfish and shower-hungry, tell me. How was Africa? How are you? Is everything all right? Is everyone all right?”

[Storm]

Kitty protested getting a shower, but Ororo was adamant. She smiled to Kitty's insistence she be timed. Ororo knew all too well that there was no way Kitty could take a five minute shower. She just smiled indulgently, and watched Kitty head for a needed shower.

Ororo stayed on the bed, gently stroking Lockheed. “She is well?” She whispered. She got a nod in return and relaxed slightly. Lockheed wouldn't lie about that.

Looking up as the door finally opened, Ororo smiled seeing a much refreshed Kitty. When the young woman sat next to her, one long arm encircled younger shoulders.

“Okay, so much for that five minutes,”

Ororo just smiled and rested her cheek against Kitty's damp hair. She closed her eyes, enjoying the floral scent she could smell.

“And now that I’m finished being all selfish and shower-hungry, tell me. How was Africa? How are you? Is everything all right? Is everyone all right?”

Ororo squeezed Kitty into her side. “Farouk is gone, once again.” Ororo assured Kitty. “We sent him back to the Astral where he cannot hurt us.” She rubbed Kitty's arm. “Jono was hurt, but he is recovering.” She smiled, warmly. “As for me, I am fine.” She assured the young woman.

Honestly, she was impressed that all had gone as well as it had. She decided to omit her own loss of control. Kitty didn't need to know that just yet.

“Now. Tell me what happened in space.” Ororo murmured, wondering if she would get the entire truth.

[Shadowcat]

“Okay, so much for that five minutes,” Kitty said, wondering how she’d look with G.I. Jane hair…because that was the only way she could ever manage a five-minute shower. She quickly decided it wasn’t worth the tradeoff. With that settled, Kitty sat down next to ‘Ro, leaning her head on Ororo’s shoulder. “And now that I’m finished being all selfish and shower-hungry, tell me. How was Africa? How are you? Is everything all right? Is everyone all right?”

Ororo squeezed Kitty into her side. “Farouk is gone, once again.”

“Farouk?” Kitty questioned, unable to suppress the shudder that ran down her spine. No one had told her it was Shadow King responsible for attacking Ororo’s homeland.

“We sent him back to the Astral where he cannot hurt us.” She rubbed Kitty's arm. “Jono was hurt, but he is recovering.” She smiled, warmly. “As for me, I am fine.”

Kitty pulled in tighter to Ororo and frowned. “I’m sorry, ‘Ro. I didn’t…if I’d known it was Farouk I would have came and found you. Instead I’m up here doing the whole Bath and Body Works thing.” She pulled her head back to better look at her friend. “You’re sure you’re all right.” It wouldn’t, after all, be beyond Ororo to downplay her un-all-rightness for the sake of Kitty’s concern.

“Now. Tell me what happened in space.”

Sighing, Kitty collapsed softly back onto her perch on Ororo’s shoulder. “I’m guessing you’ve already heard the ‘Renegade-Slavers-Took-Students-to-Somehow-Upset-Shi’ar-Politics’ headlines?” Kitty shook her head. “They had the students locked up in some huge room with the cast of Babylon 5. They were dressed in prison uniforms and everything. Corsair’s plan to get them out was to slap Scott in irons and send him in as a prisoner.” She paused, wondering what Ororo would think of such a plan.

“Luckily Scott’s a genius. He sent me and Colossus…” Whose name Kitty pronounced with some small exasperation. “…to sneak through the backdoor. We found the students easily enough. Getting them out though…” Kitty sighed again. “…was less than easily. Sometimes I swear there’s some semi-divine cosmic power floating around up in the ether whose sole purpose it is to make sure out plans get mucked up.”

[Storm]

Ororo heard the concern in Kitty's voice when she spoke Farouk's name. She held the younger girl close, feeling the shudder. She drew comfort from Kitty's presence, and from being home.

“I’m sorry, ‘Ro. I didn’t…if I’d known it was Farouk I would have came and found you. Instead I’m up here doing the whole Bath and Body Works thing.” She pulled her head back to better look at her friend. “You’re sure you’re all right.”

Ororo smiled slightly. “I'm fine,” she assured her Kitten. “Now. Tell me what happened in space.” She would be fine. Farouk's touch left a stain, but it was washed away with the presence of her friends, and her family.

Her plants had also helped.

Kitty's sigh said it all really.

Ororo listened bemused as Kitty reported on what had happened. She raised an eyebrow when Kitty said that Scott had been put in irons. She needed to get a hold of the report.

Uh oh, there was a tone when Kitty said Colossus. What had happened now? Patiently, she listened until the end. Reaching one long arm over, she picked up the plate and set it in Kitty's lap. Nothing special, but it would tide her over.

“I heard that Piotr had stayed with the Starjammers.” She said gently. She knew that despite what had happened between them, the pair remained close. “Perhaps, with him with them, they will be able to prevent anything like this from happening again.” Ororo said.

She gently shifted, and opened the frappacino. “As for Scott,” she shrugged. “He was there, I wasn't.” She would like to know what had happened, but she wouldn't second guess him. “I'm sure he had his reasons.” She sighed. “I'm not sure what they were, but I'm sure he had them.” She said dryly.

She wondered what they were.

“I've spoken to most of the children.” She hadn't managed to find Kevin, or Ruth just yet. “What else happened?” She asked, knowing that couldn't be it.

[Shadowcat]

When Kitty finished her story, Ororo deposited a plate in her lap. There was fudge on it. Other, non-fudge items also inhabited the plate, but at the moment it was glorious fudge, and glorious fudge alone that drew Kitty’s attention. “Thank you,” she said, remembering her manners as she grabbed the chocolaty square and bit into it.

“I heard that Piotr had stayed with the Starjammers,” Ororo said, putting a bit of a damper into the whole ‘chocolate lust’ thing.

Kitty took another bite before answering, hoping the gesture might cover up any frowns. “Yeah. He said… He thought he could help them out.”

“Perhaps, with him with them, they will be able to prevent anything like this from happening again.” Ororo said.

It was a nice thought, but one Kitty wasn’t buying. As great and powerful as Colossus was, he was just one organic steely skinned mutant in a wide, wide universe. His presence alone wouldn’t prevent much of anything. Unless, of course, word spread of a large, metal man doing Rorschach impressions on slavers across the 'Verse. Still, Kitty suspected his decision came more from some desire to do for others what he hadn’t been able to do for Illyana. Or he just wanted a viable reason to stay in Heartless Tin Man Mode longer. Not that Kitty was going to say any of that aloud right now. Instead she just agreed with Ororo. “Yeah, you’re probably right.”

As Ororo opened the chilled, bottled coffee, Kitty tried not to eye the bottle too greedily. If Ororo wanted to drink it, she told herself, that was fine. It didn’t matter that Kitty was very much a caffeine addict and very much in need of a fix. She could share. At least until she got really desperate.


“As for Scott,” [Ororo] shrugged. “He was there, I wasn't.”

Kitty wasn’t sure where Ororo was going with this. After all it wasn’t Scott’s fault the original plan sucked so magnificently. It was his father’s. As far as Kitty was concerned, Scott saved the plan. She didn’t even want to think how the mission would have went down had Kommandant Klink been left to his own devices.

“I'm sure he had his reasons.” She sighed. “I'm not sure what they were, but I'm sure he had them.”

“Maybe he just didn’t want to put up with daddy,” Kitty offered. “I mean, it wasn’t like Corsair was too accepting when I objected to the plan.” She left out the part about Loganing at the old pirate. It just didn’t seem to fit the narrative.


“I've spoken to most of the children. What else happened?” She asked.

Having finished her fudge square—and being slightly disappointed that there was no more fudge to be found—Kitty finished detailing the ins and outs of their mission. She ended with: “And that’s about it. As far as I know, nobody was hurt. Not seriously anyway. Though I’m not sure any of the students will be sleeping easy for a while. Especially Wicked, not after getting grabbed by the Two Who Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.”

[Storm]

Ororo didn't comment when Kitty mentioned Corsair. She knew all too well that the relationship between the pair was strained. They didn't need her commentary on it.

She remained silent through Kitty's rendition of what had happened. Finally, she sighed, offering Kitty the opened frappacino. “It does, indeed, appear as if everything went as well as it could. Considering the circumstances.” She smiled a bit, and tucked hair behind Kitty's ear. “And everyone came home safe. We can't ask much more than that.” She pointed out.

Ororo reached over and gently stroked along Lockheed's beak. The dragon was unusually quiet. She wondered if he were alright, but he didn't seem to be too troubled. “Eat the real food as well,” Ororo admonished, amused. She knew most people around here considered chocolate a food group, but she didn't.

“How did Corsair seem? It's been rather a long time since we've seen him.” Ororo mused. Sure, Scott would object that it hadn't been nearly long enough. She enjoyed the company of the Starjammers.

She paused for a moment. “And how will your dreams be tonight?” She asked gently.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty finished her tale of intergalactic intrigue and received the much lusted after frappaccino as a reward.

“It does, indeed, appear as if everything went as well as it could. Considering the circumstances,” Ororo said as Kitty imbibed the sweet, chilled caffeine. After the first lengthy swig Kitty let out a contented sigh. Ororo pushed a bit of errant hair back behind Kitty’s ear, and Kitty tried really hard not to feel like a doe-eyed fourteen-year-old. It wasn’t a completely successful endeavor. “And everyone came home safe. We can't ask much more than that.”

“No,” Kitty agreed, “I guess we can’t.” Though Kitty was greedy enough, she would have asked for Piotr to stick around. At least somewhere close enough to get cell phone reception.

While Kitty feverishly worked to inhume any and all thoughts relating to Petey, Ororo busied herself with Lockheed. Who’d been uncharacteristically demure for the duration of Ororo’s visit. Kitty decided to chalk it up to space-lag.

Another hit of the frappaccino brought the bottle to half empty. “Aaah. Cold coffee and chocolate. Next time we decide to go all Deep Space Nine, remind me to pack a survival kit with some Starbucks and Ghirardelli."

“Eat the real food as well,” Ororo admonished.

“You mean there are food groups beyond caffeine and chocolate? What heresy be this?” Kitty joked, mindful to be in the process of selecting a nice, plump apple as she did so.

“How did Corsair seem? It's been rather a long time since we've seen him.” Ororo mused.

Kitty took a noisy bite of apple before answering, using the chewing and swallowing time to come up with a suitable response. “He seemed okay. All swaggery and charming. Very Jack Sparrow…just without the--” Kitty held her hands out, still holding the apple, and swayed unsteadily to mimic the fictional pirate’s seemingly drunken twitching. “Plus, he really doesn’t look like Johnny Depp. Which is too bad. That would have made up for the whole ‘Horrible Plan’ bit.”

“And how will your dreams be tonight?” She asked gently.

“Well, if they involve Johnny Depp…” Kitty took another bite of apple and batted her eyes innocently. “Seriously? I don’t know. If I get really lucky, maybe my subconscious will take the night off and skimp on all the ‘What Might Have Been’s.”

[Storm]

“Eat the real food as well,” Ororo admonished. She knew Kitty too well. If she allowed it, Kitty would sit and eat nothing but chocolate, and caffeine. That was the reason for the fruit on the tray. She would make sure Kitten ate well. In spite of Kitten, if necessary.

“You mean there are food groups beyond caffeine and chocolate? What heresy be this?”

Ororo chuckled, watching her choose an apple. At least she was eating. “How did Corsair seem? It's been rather a long time since we've seen him.” Ororo mused. She actually liked the old pirate. For a given value of 'like'. She wondered if he'd be coming back any time soon.

“He seemed okay. All swaggery and charming. Very Jack Sparrow…just without the--” Ororo raised an eyebrow watching Kitty's reenactment. “Plus, he really doesn’t look like Johnny Depp. Which is too bad. That would have made up for the whole ‘Horrible Plan’ bit.”

Ororo chuckled, shaking her head. “You cannot have everything.” She pointed out, gently. “Besides, as you said, the plan worked, after a fashion.” She shrugged. She watched Kitty for several moments. “And how will your dreams be tonight?” She asked, gently.

“Well, if they involve Johnny Depp…”

Ororo grinned. Her Kitten wasn't as innocent as she was pretending to be. But Ororo would always see her as her kitten.

“Seriously? I don’t know. If I get really lucky, maybe my subconscious will take the night off and skimp on all the ‘What Might Have Been’s.”

Ororo reached out and brushed her fingers through Kitty's newly-washed hair. She smiled. “You know you are more than welcome to come find me, should you need it.” Then again, perhaps Forge would be stopping by. “Just make sure to knock first.”

Normally, she didn't care, but if Forge was going to be staying, then Kitty should probably give a warning, before just climbing into her bed.

[Shadowcat]

Ororo’s question of dreams initially met with a Johnny Depp crack, which Kitty followed up with a more sober, “Seriously? I don’t know. If I get really lucky, maybe my subconscious will take the night off and skimp on all the ‘What Might Have Been’s.”

As Kitty finished off the apple, Ororo ran long, gentle fingers though Kitty’s hair. She tried to imagine how this scene would have looked to an outsider. Kitty curled up next to Ororo, being chided into eating apples, while having her head stroked. Yep, I’m fourteen again. But since no one was around, Kitty was content to roll with it. “You know you are more than welcome to come find me, should you need it.”

The offer was supremely appealing, and Kitty considered pouncing on it then and there. However, she still wanted to see how Sooraya was holding up after the last few days. Maybe afterwards. She was about to state the likelihood of taking Ororo up on her offer when the goddess added, “Just make sure to knock first.”

Kitty huffed and dropped her jaw in mock indignation. “I swear. A girl accidentally phases into someone’s bedroom one time, and she’s branded as a voyeur for--” Kitty’s mouth twitched as Ororo’s words sank in, really sank in. Ororo always had an open door policy. Always. Ever since Kitty had first signed on. The only thing that could possibly change that was… Kitty’s eyes widened. And then they narrowed. “Ooooh, somebody’s got a boyfriend,” she sang mockingly. She scooped up a handful of grapes and popped a few of them in her mouth. “Okay. So. Spare no details,” she said around her half chewed grapes. A mischievous grin split her face, “Well, maybe spare a few of the details. But seriously. Spill.”

[Storm]

Ororo told Kitty that she could come upstairs if she needed. “Just make sure to knock first.” She admonished. She doubted that Forge would appreciate being woken by, well, anyone crawling into bed with them.

Of course, she was assuming quite a lot, in thinking that Forge would even be staying. She wasn't sure that he would, but she hoped so.

“I swear. A girl accidentally phases into someone’s bedroom one time, and she’s branded as a voyeur for--”

“It wasn't just once, Kitten.” Ororo pointed out, amused. She watched Kitty's expressive face finally registered just what Ororo had said. She merely smiled and waited for Kitty to verbally catch up to her mind.

“Ooooh, somebody’s got a boyfriend,” [Kitty] sang mockingly.

Bright blue eyes rolled and Ororo said nothing, but crossed one leg over the other.

“Okay. So. Spare no details,” [Kitty] said around her half chewed grapes. A mischievous grin split her face, “Well, maybe spare a few of the details. But seriously. Spill.”

Ororo merely smiled and leaned back on her hands. “And why should I tell you?” Ororo asked archly. “It is none of your business young lady.” She pointed out, her foot bouncing.

“However,” she continued, after letting that sink in for a few moments. “If you must know,” Ororo said primly. “I might have company in the evenings, and he would not appreciate being intruded upon.” She didn't know that Forge would be staying, but she'd rather he not be scared off.

“Now,” she continued. “If you are finished interrogating me, is there anything else I should know?” Ororo asked, smiling. She wasn't going to give up a name, not until she at least had the chance to speak with Forge, beyond a mission.

[Shadowcat]

“I swear. A girl accidentally phases into someone’s bedroom one time, and she’s branded as a voyeur for--”

“It wasn't just once, Kitten.” Ororo pointed out, amused.

Okay, so it was more than once. For that matter, it was no longer in the single digits, but that wasn’t the point. At least that wasn’t the point to Kitty right now. But as Kitty sought to bring the conversation back to Her Point, the gravity of Ororo’s words set in, producing a singsong, “Ooooh, somebody’s got a boyfriend.”

Ororo rolled her cerulean blues at Kitty’s antics. More telling, however, was what Ororo didn’t do. She didn’t deny, contradict or correct Kitty’s accusation. Which meant there was something to know here. Something Kitty didn’t know. Something Kitty must know.

The younger X-Woman grabbed a handful of grapes and deposited a few of them in her mouth. “Okay. So. Spare no details,” Kitty said around her half chewed grapes. A mischievous grin split her face, “Well, maybe spare a few of the details. But seriously. Spill.”

Ororo merely smiled and leaned back on her hands. “And why should I tell you?” Ororo asked archly. “It is none of your business young lady.” She pointed out, her foot bouncing.

In her mind, Kitty conceded that Ororo had a point. But Kitty was Kitty. In point of fact, in this case, Kitty was Kitten. And as much as Kitty was Ororo’s Kitten, Ororo was Kitty’s Momma ‘Ro. So if Momma ‘Ro was seeing someone, Kitty needed to know. She needed to know that this Mystery He was good enough for Momma ‘Ro. That he would treat her right. And, in turn, Mr. Mystery needed to know that if he hurt ‘Ro, in any sense of the word, Kitty would phase his man-bits into the nearest light socket.

“However,” [Ororo] continued, after allowing Kitty to stew for a few moments. “If you must know,” Ororo said primly.

“I must,” Kitty interjected quickly. “Please!”

“I might have company in the evenings, and he would not appreciate being intruded upon.”

Evening company. That was something. Not much. But it was confirmation. All there was to do now was ferret out the specifics. “Okay,” Kitty capitulated, her voice a bit too soothing. She waited a half breath before eagerly tacking on, “Is it Luke Cage? Did Misty finally get you two set up?” If so, maybe Kitty could swing a little meet-and-greet with Iron Fist, the only man besides Errol Flynn who could make green tights sexay.

“Now,” she continued. “If you are finished interrogating me, is there anything else I should know?” Ororo asked, smiling.

Kitty pasted on her sweetest of smiles, hoping somehow it would shake something loose, all the while knowing it wouldn’t. “That I love you? And that you love me? And that if you don’t tell me, I’ll be up all night wondering who, what, when, where, why and possibly how?”

[Storm]

Ororo deflected Kitty's questions, unwilling to give away anything just yet. She and Forge needed to talk before she began making any sort of announcement.

“I might have company in the evenings, and he would not appreciate being intruded upon.” She said, instead. That was as close to a confession as Ororo was willing to get.

Kitty capitulated far too readily, and Ororo raised one white eyebrow, waiting.

“Is it Luke Cage? Did Misty finally get you two set up?”

Ororo sputtered out a laugh. She shook her head, denying it. Luke? Really?

While he wasn't unattractive, Ororo wouldn't be sharing his company any time soon.

“Now,” she continued. “If you are finished interrogating me, is there anything else I should know?” She asked, still smiling.

“That I love you? And that you love me? And that if you don’t tell me, I’ll be up all night wondering who, what, when, where, why and possibly how?”

Ororo shook her head, and huffed out a sigh, sitting up. “Then perhaps you should find something else to occupy your mind for the evening.” She was done discussing it. She tucked hair behind Kitty's ear. “Now, finish your food, and I will take it down, so that you can pursue things that are not cleaning related.”

She teased because she cared. She'd given up, a long time ago, about helping Kitty keep her room clean. There came a time when a parent had to let a child sink or swim, even if it was their own dirty clothes they drowned in.

Ororo watched Kitten. “As long as you're sure there's nothing else I should know.” She pushed gently. She wanted to be sure that Kitty wouldn't be too disturbed tonight in her sleep. Ororo would sleep better, knowing her Kitten would sleep alright.

[Shadowcat]

“Now,” [Ororo] continued. “If you are finished interrogating me, is there anything else I should know?” She asked, still smiling.

Kitty, not quite willing to give up the chase yet, conjured her most saccharine of smiles. “That I love you? And that you love me? And that if you don’t tell me, I’ll be up all night wondering who, what, when, where, why and possibly how?”

Ororo shook her head, and huffed out a sigh, sitting up. “Then perhaps you should find something else to occupy your mind for the evening.”

From Ororo’s reaction, Kitty got the sense that she’d pushed this bit as far as she could. Actually, she was a little worried that she might have pushed it too far. Ducking her head slightly in a showing of heartfelt remorse, Kitty said, “Sorry, ‘Ro.”

[Ororo] tucked hair behind Kitty's ear. “Now, finish your food, and I will take it down, so that you can pursue things that are not cleaning related.”

That was a good sign. If Ororo was willing to poke fun at Kitty’s lack of Donna Reed-inspired housekeeping skills, then Ororo really wasn’t too upset with Kitty’s prodding. With that in mind, Kitty affected a hurt expression, complete with gaping jaw. “This is not my fault. If the Professor had just hired that personal butler I suggested last year—you remember, the English one from ButlerForYou.com that looked yummily like Jude Law—we wouldn’t have these problems. My room would be always clean, my clothes washed and pressed. I could even start my mornings off right with a freshly baked scone and a mega-mug of coffee. Is that really too much to ask?” Kitty grabbed up the last of the grapes and ate them, speaking between bites. “I mean…the Avengers…get a butler. Why can’t…I?”

“As long as you're sure there's nothing else I should know.”

“I can’t think of anything,” Kitty said, giving her friend a reassuring smile. “Well. There was that one thing where I was forced to mate with a Nebari and subsequently impregnated with some kind of alien spawn that’s due to burst out of my chest and prance across the bed singing ‘Hello! Ma baby’ any minute now." Popping the last grape in her mouth, Kitty shrugged. "But outside of that everything’s good.”

[Storm]

“This is not my fault. If the Professor had just hired that personal butler I suggested last year—you remember, the English one from ButlerForYou.com that looked yummily like Jude Law—we wouldn’t have these problems. My room would be always clean, my clothes washed and pressed. I could even start my mornings off right with a freshly baked scone and a mega-mug of coffee. Is that really too much to ask?” Kitty grabbed up the last of the grapes and ate them, speaking between bites. “I mean…the Avengers…get a butler. Why can’t…I?”

Ororo laughed. “The Avengers are a bit different from us.” She pointed out. “And Mr. Stark couldn't find his shoes without help.” She said, grinning slyly. Tony was a charming man. The problem was he knew how charming he was and thought that increased his charm.

Ororo enjoyed being appreciated. Mr. Stark didn't appreciate, so much as leer. Ororo really disliked being leered at.

“As long as you're sure there's nothing else I should know.”

“I can’t think of anything,” Kitty said, giving her friend a reassuring smile. “Well. There was that one thing where I was forced to mate with a Nebari and subsequently impregnated with some kind of alien spawn that’s due to burst out of my chest and prance across the bed singing ‘Hello! Ma baby’ any minute now." Popping the last grape in her mouth, Kitty shrugged. "But outside of that everything’s good.”

She rolled her eyes again, and got to her feet. “Well, have it clean up your room and fetch you more frappacino.” She said. Leaning over, she dropped a kiss on Kitty's forehead. Ororo gathered up the tray.

“Don't forget that there's a barbecue tomorrow.” She reminded Kitty. “And Kurt's home.” Ororo winked. “I might even be persuaded to tango should the mood be right.” She teased. “And, Scott is manning the grill.” She smiled, giving Kitty a one-armed hug. “Take care of her Lockheed.” She admonished the dragon, before heading out to clean off the tray for Kitty.

[Ororo out to off panel stuffs]

[Shadowcat]

“I can’t think of anything,” Kitty said in response to Ororo’s question. “Well. There was that one thing where I was forced to mate with a Nebari and subsequently impregnated with some kind of alien spawn that’s due to burst out of my chest and prance across the bed singing ‘Hello! Ma baby’ any minute now." Popping the last grape in her mouth, Kitty shrugged. "But outside of that everything’s good.”

As Kitty finished her bit, Ororo rolled her eyes and stood up. “Well, have it clean up your room and fetch you more frappacino.” She said.

Kitty smiled as Ororo leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “Maybe we could hire it to be my butler.”

“Don't forget that there's a barbecue tomorrow.”

Kitty nodded. There would be copious amounts of free food and the ever-looming threat of a pool fight; Kitty was so there.

“And Kurt's home.”

At that bit of news Kitty’s eyes lit up. “Kurt’s home?”

“I might even be persuaded to tango should the mood be right.” Kurt? And tangoing? The mood had better be right. Else Kitty resolved to light some candles and locate some massaging oil. “And, Scott is manning the grill.”

“Well, at least we have Kurt back and tangoing going for us, right?” Kitty joked.

Kitty returned Ororo’s one-armed hug with bother of her own. “Take care of her Lockheed.”

The dragon—who’d been conspicuous by his lack of interaction thus far—answered with a muted grunt. The under-reaction did not escape Kitty’s attention.

[From here Kitty will obsess over her dragon until going to find Sooraya.]