Love is a confusing matter only a fool would try to tangle. No one is ever truly logical in the field of love.
Gossip isn´t unusual for people to entertain themselves, regardless of their social position or their jobs. Especially if the people, inside those rumors, are celebrities of sorts and what is juicer than superheroes dating life? Kitty Pryde, in her tender 19 years old, is not a novice about love and its drama. For example: one time, Dracula was so enamoured with Storm, he was so adamant in having her as his queen...almost condemned her to a life in the darkness.
But even as Kitty is walking amidst the halls of Shields, interacting with humans who are working for the government, romance still flies into her ears. Some speculated, in a mean tone, if Maria Hill got such a position thanks to "nice" favors given to her superiors.
Kitty donned her blue uniform, heard all those rumors, and rolled her eyes. Maybe is true, maybe is not. One thing is sure, even agents of Shield like to gossip.
"You saw...what she wore that day?" one of the agents whispered among each other, with disgust written on her face. Kitty frowns as she imagines it is about her choice of clothes, well, Kitty is never one to be a real fashionista. "It was her brother´s shirt" This line is laced with disgust and erases Kitty´s frown.
"Well, they're brothers…" one of them replied in a weak tone. "Brothers do share their clothes" is tentative, almost hopeful, and Kitty is only intrigued by such a rumor.
The other asks her tongue loudly, it resembles a snake. Has Excalibur dealt with snakes? The woman continues in her impish way. "Brothers don't kiss each other…I'm telling you Wanda Maximoff is a weird one. Even more, as her brother is married"
The name jogs Kitty´s memory. She goes to those ladies, Kitty is always aware of how young people perceive her to be. Kitty is always tired of her age. "Excuse me, what do you mean by Wanda and her brother?"
Jean, before the Dark Phoenix, confesses her friendship with Wanda and Pietro and how they are the Magneto´s kids. Jean, before her timeless demise, made a comment that is still ingrained in Kitty´s brain. ''They are so close...too close'' At that time, Kitty feigned ignorance but the implications were there.
Wanda and Pietro are so close.
Wanda and Pietro married other people…
And are still so sinfully close.
The ladies exchange looks, Kitty´s status as a mutant is never hidden. Why? Kitty has pride in her name. Finally, one of them spoke.
"We saw them kissing...It was in a convention of sorts," the employer comments how she´s fuzzy on the details. "about humans and Inhumans...his wife, Crystal, was flirting with Human-Torch. I´m being charitable in saying flirting here" The woman blushes and implications are well noticeable here. "and Wanda and Pietro kiss"
Reproval is the only look those women share.
It´s curious as Kitty remembers how the X-men were ok with her and Piotr, for some reason. How Excalibur and X-men were okay with Amanda and his foster sister.
Amanda is blonde and has blue eyes.
Kitty has chestnut hair and doe eyes.
In the past, Kurt shared with her, of all people, how he and his sister are in a relationship. Oh, maybe he said that. True to be told...I don´t think Amanda ever gave a concrete answer to Kurt. I also think....she tried to sleep with Piotr, maybe. Not sure if happened or if Piotr´s words hold any truth.
Kitty tugs a few loose strains, still listening to how the reunion with the Inhumans was stranger. Medusa and Black Bolt are cousins and no one cares. No one cared Crystal was being so "flirty" with Fire-Torch...nor when they vanish together leaving Pietro and Wanda alone.
There was no recollection of Pietro ever being unfaithful to his twin either until now...but then again, Kitty heard from Scott-of all people-how the marriage is getting a ''space divorce''
Maria Hill arrives in tow. "Ah, thank god you were here earlier. We need your help with the computers right away" explains briefing Kitty on the situation as much as possible. No detail was forgotten, nor the superior gave much thought to the other ladies and their mindless gossip.
Her time away from the Xmen is to give her clarity. If Excalibur taught her something, is to always expect change...and to be naked in random places.
"Wanda will return soon and we'll need to store the information she'll bring" clarified Maria. There's a pause as the older woman accesss Kitty.
The other employees sashay away. For a moment, Kitty has a gut feeling the two nameless ladies were part of a test. For me? Whatever I faced was much worse…images of Ogun play in her mind, and images of Kurt after Amanda does too. "I'll do my best to fix it. Can't promise the impossible"
Maria nods. "It´s all what we ask" and adds. "Whatever gossip you hear here...please ignore it, unless is about you"
It seems Kitty has passed the test.
–
The US spends no dime in crafting the best lab for Shield, but even so is not like Cerberus nor the X-mansion. Fixing computers is not a grand task for Kitty Pryde. However, is not something she can do in 2 minutes. "Whatever is here sure eats a lot of space in the HD" Her concentration is on the main computer.
The mission is simple. Kitty can´t help herself to imagine something awful will happen...
Just fix a computer Kitty, no demons, no robots trying to kill us...for now.
"Are you the new member?" A new voice asked in a saccharine way, it´s heavy on an accent that Kitty didn´t fully grasp. It´s not like Kurt´s accents.
Wanda Maximoff is a figure Kitty only knew by other people, Jean knew her, Storm knew her and even Angel did. Kitty is seeing her today.
The famous Scarlet Witch is cladded in red, doing justice to her name as SCARLET Witch, undergoing many missions lately-a piece of information Maria Hill shares with Kitty- one must wonder if it was because her marriage with Vision ended and all the jokes are made at someone´s else expense.
Wanda or Vision?
Wanda is cladded in red, however, her headpiece is red but is possible to see blue in her. A blue ring in her hand, a blue hairclip in her shining hair...Wasn't her brother's uniform…blue?
Kitty beams a smile. Wanda was once an X-men, even if it was short-lived. "Yes, the computer shall be running smoothly in a few hours, the motherboard here was problematic" Kitty confessed pouting as imaging if it was either out of ignorance or greedy Shield opted for this type of Motherboard. I mean, they sure have the means to have better equipment.
Wanda tilted her head. "Please, don´t tell me this is a joke with Vision?"
Kitty blinks and then it hits her. "Oh no, I mean the motherboard" points to the item in question apologetically. If Kurt was here for sure the elf would be charming and outgoing, Kitty lives by her nickname´s sake.
Kitty blinks. Unsure how to respond. "Computers can be almost magic but…once you get the gits, nothing is impossible"
Wanda chuckled. "You'd know I can do magic"
Kitty responds. "All the magic in the world can't fix computers as fast as I do" There's a bit of bragging, it's her major after all. "Can I ask something?"
Wanda held her breath.
"Why did you decide to join the Avengers now?"
Wanda blinks. "Is this…what you truly want to ask?"
"Yes…what else I can ask ?" Kitty tilted her head as the prospect of magic was not appealing to her. Plus, Scarlet Witch was, once, the de facto leader of the Avengers. Why join the Shields now?
"I needed some perspective"
"Same here"
Suddenly, a blue spot enters her view. It registered in her brain how it was Pietro, of course, speedesters can do that. Still, her mind has a hard time processing someone running so fast… Kurt can teleport, every time he teleports with me…wasn't so far-fetched.
Pietro and Wanda are talking in a language Kitty can't understand. They are close, but not obscenely so. Their lips aren't touching yet.
The talk ends as Pietro looks at Kitty. Kitty, for her part, refuses to be intimidated. "This is my lab for now. I won't be kicked out…try and I kick you out"
Pietro blinks or maybe it's what her mind can understand. "Nah, not interested in the TI talk…we need to talk, I bring her back in a sec" promised Pietro scooping Wanda in his arms- the gesture is akin to Hollywood's greatest romances- Wanda wrapped her arms around his shoulder, speaking in their language.
Kitty waves goodbye. "Ok…now where is that map…" as soon as such words are uttered from her lips Maria Hill arrives and with her sudden arrival, any chance of studying maps is kicked to the curb.
Maria has a neutral face. "They…run off together" is a statement that carries heavy implications. "Pryde, you're a brilliant woman but…you need to understand, that Shield is a unique place" Her eyes are on the spot where Wanda and Pietro used to be.
Kitty remembers the embrace and how the contrast between Kurt AND Amanda is. Amanda and Kurt slept together, sharing one mother, but there was never tenderness. Pietro and Wanda have.
"Is she forcing him?" Kitty asked, remembering the bad implications Amanda and Margalia created in their little body swap. If I can be honest…the relationship never felt equal. It still disgusts me.
Maria Hill shakes her head.
"Is he forcing her?" The thought seems a bit funny. Scarlet Witch is very powerful, then again, abusers don't need to be the most powerful guy in the room. There's a scene where Amanda tries to steal Kitty's magical sword. It's a memento from Ilyana, even as she is back that sword is still precious. No brawling happened, just textbook manipulation.
Maria Hill shakes her head again. "But…they are…" stops as Kitty rises and catches a map.
"I see two adults being able to consent and do what they want without hurting anyone. That's enough for me" Kitty informed. "Do you have a mission for me?"
Maria Hill ponders for a second.
Her words or the request for a mission?
"I'd need a ninja…and you can bring your map"
Life in the X-mansion, as is lovely dubbed by the senior X-men such as Bobby, is chaotic even if there´s no villain in tow. Scott, the ever leader, is still recovering from the fiasco of Madelyn and Jean´s return. Ororo Monroe is being courted by another king and is pondering whether she should entertain the idea or not.
Kurt, for his part, is marathoning Errol Flynn´s movies, eating popcorn as the scene shows Errol Flynn kissing a lovely woman. The woman in question is a bombshell and is blonde with green eyes. The kiss scene is as romantic as it is possible and Kitty Pryde enters the living room, Lockheed is perched on her shoulder.
Kitty is donned in a new uniform. Dark blue and black, the only strong color is from her faithful dragon. Yellow eyes notice her as the young woman is pouting. The kissing scene is frozen as Kurt goes to Kitty.
“Everything ok?” His voice is laced with concern. The dragon hisses but is ignored as Kitty Pryde greets him.
“Everything is fine, I mean…” frowns as she remembers her main problem. “My date…stood me up” murmurs something in the line “Stupid men” and Kurt tries to console, knowing very well no touch is allowed under Lockheed´s watchful eyes.
Lockheed seems to agree the man who stood her up is not worthy of her thoughts.
Kurt shares the same sentiment.
“Katzchen, you´re like a sister to me, I don't want to see you hurt by a stupid man” flashes images of Piotr and Pete glosses his mind making his face darken. Kitty tilted her head as the word sister was different coming from his lips.
He has kissed Jimaine knowing they are brothers. He introduces her as HIS SISTER. No one makes a fuss.
He has slept kissing with his sister while calling Margalia his mother.
He dated his sister.
His sister left wordless and is still unclear if she tried to sleep with Piotr.
Kitty blinks again, and again. “You see me as a sister?”
Kurt nods, not fully grasping why the confusion, as in hopes to swell her mode, asks how her time in Shields is going. “Heard you're working with the Maximoffs…aren't they magic users?” It's not a secret Kitty has some prejudice of magic, at the same time, she would go to hell and back again to Magik.
Kitty says something to Lockheed, whatever it is, causing the little dragon to fly away. The height difference between them is not great, not like Piotr- Kitty prefers to keep dark thoughts away - Using all her skills as a ballerina, Kitty touches his face gently. “You called me sister?” there´s no malice, nor disgust, only pure curiosity.
Kitty can remember the gossip of Wanda and Pietro. Some kisses could be heard in Shields but no one “saw” anything.
Kurt and Amanda used to kiss a lot in Excalibur.
Kurt used to be miserable a lot because of Amanda.
“Of course, you´re my sister,” Kurt replied once again cheerful as ever, like he was when Amanda entered the team.
Kitty blinked again and then gave a short peak on his lip. It hardly overloaded steamy action, let alone one people would see in any good romance novel. “You used to kiss your sister all the time…I got a bit confused, sorry”
Wanda and Pietro kissed…it´s different.
There was love. There was secrecy…
Kurt and Amanda … were anything but love. It was lust, and sometimes, Kitty had the impression even the lust was one-sided.
Wanda and Pietro wouldn't be in such a position.
Kurt is silently touching his lips.
“You used to call her…your sister, and pretty much slept with her, I was really confused. You even flirt with Rogue before the reveal” Kitty expanded on her explanation. Now, Rogue and Kurt are not related by blood but they still call one woman their mother.
She continues. “I was worried because…When I see Wanda and Pietro, when I hear about them…it's not even similar to you and Amanda's relationship and…I…” she pauses, not being able to read his face. “I'm concerned for you. I don´t know why I did that, sorry”
The movie is forgotten as Kitty sits him down and they talk…
Amanda is beautiful…
Amanda is lovely…
But she often leaves Kurt alone…never looking back, never caring. The movie is forgotten and Kurt opens up about how the relationship begins.
Amanda is beautiful…
This is the only thing Kurt can say about her.
Kitty didn't seem to mind him crying on her or him hugging her. The kiss is not mentioned. Kitty doesn't seek more dates for now.
The kiss is not mentioned again but Kitty sometimes feels yellow eyes looking at her. Nothing malicious nor seeking retribution for the kiss. Kitty is still wearing blue and working on projects for Shields in the X-mansion for a change.
“Oh I need to go to Shields again” Kitty bites her lips wondering what's the best way to get to her temporary place. Ok, it's funny if I go on a bus or X-Jet.
Brimstone smoke appears assaulting her nostrils. Kitty almost gagged, almost. I think I'm getting used to the smell.
“Can I take you to your work?” Kurt replied in his cheerful way. The height difference is noticeable, Kitty doesn´t mind.
The kiss is not mentioned.
A lift is a lift.
Kitty, once in her workshop, recalls how she clings to him just like Wanda did to Pietro. Maria Hill arrives to see Kitty´s check pink. No questions were asked.
Kitty is no stranger to big-name heroes such as Thor or even Ms Marvel, oh, now she goes by Cap. Marvel is one of the closest friends of Scarlet Witch and can be seen headstrong marching on Shields Hall. Courtly requested privacy to talk to her friend, Scarlet Witch.
Kitty is sharpening her katana. She's not noisy and leaves them be…but the conversation is not over as she returns to the hall and catches a few words thrown without context.
“I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE DOING THIS…IT'S GROSS, WANDA, GROSS” Cap Marvel howler.
“RICH COMING FROM YOU” Wanda shouts in an equal tone.
“MARCUS WASN'T SOMETHING I CONSENTED!”
“WASN'T TALKING ABOUT MARCUS…”
Silence rules both of them.
“It wasn´t the same as you and Pietro, Wanda, please…I'm worried about you. Was your time as Vision´s wife that horrible?”
“It left me scars, but I´m not with HIM because of one failed marriage…”
More silence.
“You love him? For real?”
“Always had”
“I don't understand…I don't, but if you are telling me…no one is being mind controlled, I can at very least be somewhat relieved.”
“No one is mind controlling me…I would know better than anyone else”
More silence and Kitty left…she really shouldn't be here.
Rogue had planned an outing with her brother and Kitty. Kitty, close to 20 years old, is donned in a nice short white dress- she developed as a woman but still is growing and learning. It still makes her think about the past. Don't want to think about Piotr, leave the bad thoughts far away- Kurt is using a hologram. A random handsome white man.
It hides him, for sure.
In London, he could wear his natural blue skin… Kitty can't help by notice the stark difference. “It's so strange seeing you like that and not in your handsome blue self” Kitty answers and Kurt replies how he prefers to have a calm night.
Calm as in no one bothers him or no woman throws at his feet?
Kurt offers his arm to Kitty, ever the gentleman. They don't talk about the kiss. Rogue´s power evolved where she can use dresses that show more of her skin, at the same time, Rogue keeps a good distance between her many admirers.
“She fought with Remy,” Kurt whispers in Kitty's ear out of the blue.
“I didn't know that…” Kitty reveals feeling a bit guilty. I even forgot about their relationship for a moment. “Was bad?”
“Very much so…she even said they are on a break. Not sure how long this will last” Kurt reveals as much. Their first meeting, Kurt and Remy, wasn´t the best but for sure is hard to forget.
Rogue had planned an outing with her brother and friend, but plans changed and the bar she picked was closed. Now, they are going to a new location. A restaurant to drink and celebrate.
Rogue is booking a seat for them.
Kurt is watching the menu.
Kitty can spot Wanda and Pietro in the corner. They are having a dinner for two, with candles and just their own company. They are smiling and talking about anyone's guess. There was a time Kurt, in Excalibur, tried to talk with Amanda and the blonde woman was so disinterested…even the non-human guests asked Kitty if this was normal.
“Katzchen?” Kurt asked to sit in a position where he couldn't see the other couple.
No one minds controlling anyone and they are adults…
“So…do you think they have good beers here?”
Rogue chuckles and says how they must have for what they are charging.
“Logan would feel so old if he hears you say that”
“Elf, he IS old”
And they laugh. They had a nice night. No one looks at Wanda or Pietro in that seat nor sees them leaving once their meal is over. No one seems to even notice how Kurt is carrying Kitty back as she and booze are still not a stellar combination.
“Elf, elf…do you dance?” her words are sluggish. Rogue calls a taxi, all is a blur for Kitty Pryde.
“I don't think I'll ever dance with you” Kurt affirms. “One day, he can remedy that”
“I dance ballet, let´s do Swan Lake,” suggested Kitty. “Don´t worry, won't try to kiss you…unless you want to”
Kurt doesn´t offer any positives or negatives. His sister looked at him with one eyebrow raised. “She's drunk…I won't kiss or dance with a drunk girl”
Rogue´s face wide as she points to something on the left side of Kurt. He turns expecting to see monsters or even his mother. All he sees is Wanda and Pietro holding hands.
“Did you…”
“Let's go home, sis, Kitty is drunk and I´m tired”
Rogue wants to argue about the big pink elephant in the room, however, one look at Kurt makes her rethink that. “Sure, let's go home, little brother. Hold Kitty tight” Rogue comments as Kurt is holding her as in bridal style.
They just go home one look behind.