Day 2

[goawayleavemealone]

He wakes with a start, his eyes darting around the room quickly, and then falling on Kitty, still asleep with her head on his chest.

He blinks, looks around again, and frowns as the events of the day before come back to him.

What had began a simple phone call to check up on an old flame had turned into him inviting her to run away to London, and her confessing that she thinks they belong together.

Which is terrifying, brilliant, and probably short-lived.

She'd promised the night before that she wouldn't hurt him again, and he wants to believe that, but he knows that jumping into this so soon after she was supposed to marry Piotr Rasputin is playing with a very specific kind of fire.

It's hard to ignore how good it feels to have her so close though. He lays back, staring at the ceiling, thinking about the last time they were like this. it was so long ago, before things had gone south. By that point, they'd been sleeping on opposite sides of the bed, barely touching.

But before all that...when things were good?

Things were really good.

It's painful to admit how much he's thought about being able to do this with her again; how pathetic it makes him that he kept missing this.

He closes his eyes and tries not to think about it.

Comments

[enduring_pryde]

She smiles, pulls him by the tie and kisses him.

[goawayleavemealone]

He almost drops his coffee as he kisses her back, sliding an arm around her.

Right. It's nice to know that, if nothing else, this still works for them.

He rests his forehead against hers, his eyes only half open. "What wuzzat for, then?"

[enduring_pryde]

She nestles against him. "I needed you to know where I'm coming from now and I needed to know that you still trusted me." Plus she needed to trust herself. Being able to travel between dimensions could be a lasting power. After all, there was Widget, Kate Pryde. Who sent Rachel back in time. This was always going to be her power. "I love you, Pete."

[goawayleavemealone]

"Love you, too," he says quietly, rubbing her arm and holding her close.

"S'gonna be alright, Pryde," he reassures her. "We'll get it sorted."

[enduring_pryde]

"You know what is also nice? You've never made me have to chase you. You've always been the one to come to me. Thank you for that. And thank you for being able to handle me, with all my contradictions, issues, and baggage." Cause wow, she knew that she is a lot to take on. Even talking about her cosmically-boosted abilities and Pete remains calm.

[goawayleavemealone]

He doesn't know what that says about him. He doesn't know if that makes him pathetic or a sap or what, but she's right. He's always come to her.

On the other hand, she's here now, and she seems like she wants to stay.

So maybe being a bloody idiot and an open book will pay off.

"Most people are contradictions filled up with issues and baggage, Pryde," he comments as they start walking again, heading up White Hall's steps. "That's just life. S'not like I'm a walk in the bloody park, is it?" He nods to the man at the front desk. "'Lo, Herbert."

[enduring_pryde]

"Yeah. But while there are most people, then there are people like me and we are over in this galaxy by ourselves." She shrugs. "But you have normal things next to mine." She smiles at Herbert and flashes her ID.

[goawayleavemealone]

He leads her to the elevator and is suddenly hit with the urge to kiss her again, but holds back, knowing that the door could open at any time.

"Like I said, we'll get it sorted out."

[enduring_pryde]

She smiles and takes Pete's hand, then gives it a light squeeze.

"Were you always this self-assured about whatever set of circumstances get presented to you? Was I just blind?"

[goawayleavemealone]

"Oh, no, I'm never like this," he tells her, sipping his coffee. "This is all for your benefit. I generally think we're all fucked."

He gives her a grin.

[enduring_pryde]

She rolls her eyes. "No you don't, Pete. You found hope." She kisses him on the cheek and ducks away with her chai and hot bun.

[goawayleavemealone]

He watches her as he follows out of the elevator.

"Have not. I'm still bitter, and a bastard. Ask Braddock. Ask anyone. I believe Faiza and Dane regularly call me 'the worst' and Jac is generally ready to throttle me at any given time."

[enduring_pryde]

"Have so. You have gotten yourself a team that you co-lead and it helped give you a whole new lease on life. I'm in awe--and grateful. You've accomplished a lot." And she was going to be part of it, and whomever they could bring over from the X-Men.

[goawayleavemealone]

"speaking of work, it's time to get to it," he says, heading for his office.

[enduring_pryde]

"Of course, Director." She smiles, switching gears. "I'll be with Alastaire if you need me. You can expect my recommendations for my associate requests within the hour."

[goawayleavemealone]

He nods. "Good. Right. Later, then."

He disappears into his office and blows out a breath.