TimeWarp: If we'll ever come full circle, we have to start somewhere...

[just_a_phase]

Some days, she hates being the only true student here, despite what the others are listed as being.

It means she has to do actual schoolwork, and Kitty Pryde does not want to be comparing the various leaders of the Civil Rights movement with specific mutant activists today.

Not that she gets to choose.

Comments

[konocc]

He's been muttering to himself all day.

"Katherine, will you accompany me...No...Kitty, do you like to dance? Yes, she does. That will not work. Can you become my -" His voice becomes as small as an ant's. "Girlfriend."

This is the one time Kitty pouncing on me would make things easier.

He runs a hand through his black hair. Why are alien invasion easier than young women?

[just_a_phase]

A question men have asked sine the dawn of time.

Um. Or a version of it, anyway.

She hears his feet before anything else; he's not a person who stomps about, or anything, but he walks deliberately, and she can hear the sound of his shoes on the hardwood flooring.

It makes her smile, a bit, to herself.

[konocc]

One must always check if one is truly alone in this house. His blue eyes scan the room before fully entering and approaching Kitty.

He fidgets and grabs his hand with his other hand so as to not make too many nervous gestures.

"Are you busy, Katya?"

[just_a_phase]

Kitty grins up at him as she tilts backwards in her chair, balancing it carefully on the rear legs. "Not any more!"

Never has his face been such a welcome sight.

And she really likes his face.

"What's up, Peter?"

[konocc]

Words have escaped him. He practiced this! He opens his mouth to speak several times and closes it. Red is creeping up on his cheeks as he looks her up and down several times just...trying...to...get...the...words.

[just_a_phase]

"--Are you okay?"

She's a little worried, on her way to alarmed, now.

[konocc]

He looks like he's going to choke. His face is fully red now, and the silence makes him feel like Atlas.

"Um..." He ducks his head. Maybe this will be easier if he's not looking at her. And stops fidgeting.

[just_a_phase]

...She's starting to feel oddly helpless, because she's not at all sure what's going on, here.

So after a moment of biting her lip, Kitty ducks her head as well, then tilts it up a bit so she can look into Piotr's face. His eyes.

"Piotr." Quietly. "What's going on here?"

[konocc]

He tilts her head up with one of his fingers.

He kissed her before, when it appeared she was being transferred to Emma's academy. That was a wild and insane impulse. This time his lips tremble as they lightly brush hers and it lingers for what seems like an eternity to him.

[just_a_phase]

She's startled, in a quiet sort of way.

It doesn't keep her from letting her eyes drift close after a moment, doesn't keep her from softly returning the kiss.

When he pulls back, he's left a small smile behind on her face.

[konocc]

That feels unfinished as a moment. With a shy smile, he moves her hair back just a little and gives a soft kiss on her upper jaw.

"You are all right with that, yes?" he asks, mouth suddenly dry.

[just_a_phase]

"What do you think?" she asks, smile a wide grin now.

[konocc]

She generally pounces him. It's now it's his turn. He sweeps her up off her feet. His smile is still shy, but it grows as she settles into his arms. He squeezes her closer.

[konocc]

His eyes narrow. "Seems like a waste of time." Then, he realizes what he's saying and this might be...What is the term? 'Turn key?' Something that would frighten her off.

"Which would you prefer, little one?"

[just_a_phase]

Her eyes narrow, now. "Nuh-uh. I asked you first."

[konocc]

"Katya!" He sighs. "I am lousy at jokes. You will find anything I do tends to be very serious."

[just_a_phase]

She relents.

A little.

"Peter? I kinda already know you suck at jokes. It's okay. I suck at plenty of things. You're going to have to figure out which ones by paying attention, I guess. But..."

And she's looking, with great interest, at her feet now.





"I still asked you first."

Here's a surprise: Kitty can be shy, of all things.

[konocc]

He says it along with an exhale. "Court."

[just_a_phase]

"Ah." Not squeaked, which she thanks God, should He exist, for.

There's that small blessing. Small, because she's not sure how to answer Piotr out loud.

She tilts her head a little, finds her right hand has cupped his left cheek, and just studies him thoughtfully in silence.

[konocc]

"Is this acceptable?" Because he's now worried. This is so much easier in Russia!

[just_a_phase]

Well, something should be. (Rimshot!)

She considers that question for a moment.

Considers her answer.




"I haven't walked away, Piotr." Quietly, but with a faint smile. A little bit, maybe, of a duh to her tone, but a bemused one.

[konocc]

"Ah."

There's a moment where he puts her down.

And another with him shuffling his feet.

"So what is it people do in America when courting?"

He really should have thought this through some more.

[just_a_phase]

"Uh. We kinda stopped doing that in general, I think, when we stopped using the horse and buggy, Peter," she says, after a moment's thought that results in just a blank look on her face. "Well. I mean, I'm sure some people do, but...some people still use horses and buggies, too, for that matter. Um." She thoughtfully scratches the back of her upper right leg with the toe of her left foot for a moment before squaring her shoulders and looking a little more serious.

"Okay. It's what we want to do while...you, um, court me. That matters, I mean. So. We need ground rules," she decides, nodding firmly. "If we're courting."

[konocc]

He spreads his arms in apparent defeat. "Please suggest things. I have not had many girlfriends."

[just_a_phase]

Her eyes don't meet his. "I had a boyfriend. Once." Beat "He was an asshole. Let's never talk about him again. Um. Anyway. While we're...doing this. Since we're starting with courting--we don't date anyone else. I don't, and you don't either, I mean."