Kitty couldn't help but think it was a bad sign how Jean came into her room. Not just that she
did
āa rare occurrence for a student with a teacher. She certainly hadn't spent much time in Hank's quarters when she was a kid. But Jean didn't knock or anything. Her telekinesis unlocked the door and she just walked in, already talking.
"Hey, Kitty, did you know they made
another
Indiana Jones movie? Awesome, right? You wanna watch it with me? Just sit back, relax, I'll make the popcorn. I brought some grape soda, too, you like that, right? Don't worry about anything, I know how stressful this place is, I'm gonna pamper you, okay? Hey, who's Shia LeBeouf?"
Kitty took a deep breath and nodded to the door. Jean picked up her surface thoughts, closed it for her.
"What is it? What's wrong?"
Kitty bit her lip, wishing she knew what to say. The universe had turned her into Colossus, the bitch. What would
she
have said to convince herself that maybe twenty somethings and thirteen-year-olds shouldn't date?
Start small: "I'm not sure that's a good idea, Jean."
Jean deflected. "We can watch something else. I heard they made new Star Wars movies too. I know I'm not a nerd like you, but I'll give 'em a shot..."
"It's not the movie, it's us." Kitty hedged, putting her hands on the back of a nearby chair so she had something to do with them. "Wouldn't you rather spend some time with Hank or Warren or Bobby? You're kind of their bossāI'm sure they'd appreciate some facetime."
"Facetime? Kitty, I'm gonna spend the rest of my life with them. What there is of it. I'm not gonna remember any of this, soācan't I be with you a while?"
Kitty saw herself walking over to Jean, taking her hands, holding them tight and warm, a connection flowing between them as she said what had to be said, but would that make this easier or harder? "I don't think we should spend so much time together."
It snapped into place. Kitty saw it in Jean's eyes. The green caught the light like a knife's edge. "I didn't come here to have
sex,
okay, I just wanted us to be together!" She spoke harshly, her voice almost raised.
"Jean, that's not itā"
"Then what is?"
Now Kitty went to her. She took Jean by the armājust her fingertips, a subtle touch on Jean's shoulder, but the girl went so willingly. She let Kitty sit her down on the couch and crouch beside her. Not touching, but able to feel each other's warmth. Or imagine it, at leastāthis close.
"Jean, what we did, it wasā"
Wrong.
"Inappropriate."
It felt so good, I knowā
"You liked it," Jean replied, almost an accusation. "I liked it, what'sāwhat's the big deal?"
"I'm a teacher, you're a student..."
"I'm not your student! I'm some... refugee from the past who's stuck here. Everything feels wrong except for you."
"I realize that." Kitty saw the tears in Jean's eyes and knew she couldn't wipe them away. "What happened wasn't a bad thing, but it was a bad idea, and I should've known better. It's not your fault, it was just a mistake... that happened... and when you get the Professor to wipe your memories, it'll probably be for the best."
Inwardly, Kitty winced. Yeah, that hadn't sounded harsh at all. Jean was looking at her like she'd been poisoned.
"Was I not...
good?
"
"You were fine, Jean, better than fine..."
"Is it because I wouldn't let you do stuff? Because I'll let you! I could hear you in my head, thinking how much you wanted my assāI could've known from the way you grabbed itāI would've been fine with it, really, we can still do it. You could be my first."
"Jean,
stop."
Kitty felt her voice go firm,
adult.
"This is not a healthy relationship and it's not going to continue. I want you to leave my room now and the next time you interact with me, I want it to be official X-Men business, am I clear?"
"Yeah... yes." Jean let herself cry, wearing the tears like warpaint. "Yes,
ma'am.
"
She stomped to the door. It flew open for her, telekinesis battering it into the opposing wall. She looked back at Kitty in the doorway, about to burst into flame.
"You know, sleeping with you was the one time since I got here that I haven't had a nightmare? Not even a little one. And fucking you was the only time I felt good."
Kitty's hand was at her waist, but the fingers were reaching out to Jean. "That's something you should have with someone your own ageā"
"
Don't!
" Jean roared, and the door slammed shut. Cutting her off from Kitty.
***
"What up, Frosty?"
As a valued member of the team and faculty, Kitty had to interact with Emma Frost, politely and efficiently. That didn't mean she couldn't be annoying. Especially when Emma called her to her office like Kitty was her student and Emma was headmistress; the relationship Frost had always wanted with her.
"Sit down, Katherine." Emma gestured to the chair before her desk. Always just enough for however many guests she was expecting. Right now, it was one.
Kitty phased through the chair, then dropped back into it. Slouched. Got the raised eyebrow she was looking for her. In her simple blouse and pleated skirt, she looked as out of place in Emma's Neo-Classical design as a stripper would in the Philharmonic Orchestra.