1963-10-21 - Planning Ahead
Summary: Brighton Beach in Brooklyn seems like a quiet place to roost.
Related: N/A
Theme Song: None
piotr kitty 


It's been a busy few days of job interviews and apartment hunting throughout Brooklyn. It'd taken some time to look around the borough to find potential places to roost. And coordinating all the important things like community and affordability had been time consuming activities. Having finished the job interview gauntlet for the day, Kitty and Piotr had met at one of the few locations with the most potential: Brighton Beach.

"There's a synagogue on virtually every corner," Kitty marvels. "Mom and Dad would be impressed." Her lips turn up into an easy smile as her fingers interlock with Piotr's. "Honestly. They'd at least approve of the Jewish-ness of the neighbourhood," if nothing else.

Her throat clears, "And I heard someone say Da, which is clearly Russian," she may be overselling this area a bit thanks to the proximity to the ocean.

*

"I heard there were whole streets you could walk further in, and never hear a word of English," Piotr says, sounding just as enthused as she is. There is a burned out building across the street from them, right now, and other places are obvious in disrepair, but he doesn't seem at all deterred. "Your parents, though, we could move into a synagogue and I think they would still not be happy. Unless I am mistaking them for two different people." Piotr tugs Kitty a little closer and kisses the top of her head, even though they're in public. "But all I care about is your happiness."

*

"I don't know, you made an impression on Dad," Kitty offers him a one-shouldered shrug. "Mom… well, I'm pretty sure she thought my being a mutant was a phase," pun-intended? You'll never know, "and that someday I'd just grow out of it." She cringes, "She's pretty tightly wound about the whole Bugle thing. Like, incredibly so."

Her cheeks become hot with blush, and the public display actually has her sliding into him to wrap her arm around his midsection, "And I care about yours. So there." She beams. "And I am happy. Truly." Evidently even a bit of affection goes a long way. Her cheeks flush further and she cants her head upwards to try to catch his gaze. Her throat clears, trying to gain some semblance of seriousness despite the nearly dopey expression she casts towards him. "Buuuut — " the long drawn out syllable always bears with it something on her mind in a clear tell. " — I have been thinking about something. And I don't know if…" her teeth toy at her lip "…the X-men?" her eyebrows lift. It's the one thing she hasn't brought up yet. "I mean. We're moving away. You know?"

*

"Yes, I am expecting we will need to resign. We can no longer be privy to impromptu meetings, among other problems." Piotr looks solemn about that. He puts his arm around Kitty, pleased to have her so close. This is good, being together, being here — for all its flaws. "That is my only regret. I feel as though I am abdicating — is that the word? — leaving behind the responsibility I should be carrying. Perhaps that is why this neighborhood appeals a little."

Piotr gestures around at the signs of poverty and struggle. "There is work to do here. It will be a little drop in the bucket, but it will be something. I did like to feel as though I might make a difference that was bigger, though."

*

"Well… " Kitty's lips purse. "I know some of the other former students are still pseudo-members. Like… from a distance. Only called on when needed. Regardless I don't know whether I belong there either." She tucks one of her stray curls behind her ear. "I was wondering if maybe we should consider something new. I mean, new as in hero-new. New along with all the other crazy changes we're trying to embrace. Like seeking justice and engaging with it in a meaningful way." Her eyes drift to the streets and she nods. "We certainly can do a lot around here, but, I mean… maybe we just need to step outside the X-Men and try our own thing. Find like-minded people who are also leery about too much government oversight — "

*

Piotr listens and he's quiet when Kitty trails off. His expression is serious, he's taking what she's saying and turning it over in that way he has. Looking at it from all angles. After half a block of silence, he nods slowly.

"You will not be satisfied with being still. Even before you were not but now you understand more how terrible inaction is," he says thoughtfully. "I think it would cause you pain to not-act when you could act, and I would never want that for you. Even if it is a risk. And it is not a thing to do alone, so you need others to help."

Down at the far end of the street, the ocean is a smudge of pure blue under a hazy purple evening sky. Piotr stops on the corner with Kitty and turns to face her, big hands on her shoulders. "I will help you. You lead, I will follow. Wherever you want to go. I trust you to make good choices, to listen and to be wise. We will find other people — they will find you, because you are brave and they know your face. It is a good idea, Katya. Not easy. Not safe. But good. Like you. So we will do it."

*

Seriousness begets seriousness, and so Kitty silently listens to Piotr talk through his thoughts. But when he turns to face her, the soft smile that tugs her lips is unmistakeable, and with each word uttered, it grows until it's dimpled. Despite being on the corner of the street, Kitty presses up to her tiptoes using whatever ballet training she'd had in her youth to brush her lips lightly against Piotr's.

The smile becomes smaller as she returns to flat feet. "You're too good to me," she says softly. "In every way." Her grin remains. "I'm not wise, but I will and do listen. Especially to you. Always to you. I know that I'm impassioned and excitable which, I guess, could make me volatile, but you're even, patient, and kind. Your heart is one of constant sacrifice. I need that. I couldn't hero without your support. And I don't mean because I'm living with you, but because I need you to anchor me."

*

Piotr kisses her on the forehead in return. "I will always do that, no matter what comes, Katya. You are passionate, like a light in a dark room for me. You show me more than what is right in front of me." He looks her in the eyes, smiling. "I have a good feeling about this. About this place, too. You and I could never settle anywhere too finished, too easy. And I think you like the idea of being near the beach," he adds with a wink.

*

Kitty grins and nods. "I like that it's rough around the edges. It feels homier than way somehow. Different than the school. Less polished. More real." She clucks her tongue. "Now to find an actual apartment… and then move in. Together." The smile grows and then falters. "We should tell Illyana soon, probably. I mean, last I talked to her she still assumed you'd become one of her Generals in Limbo. So… this might not be the move she'd be hoping for."

*

Piotr says, "We should, yes. And she might be unhappy, but…" Piotr's expression twists. He pulls Kitty to his side and crosses the street with her. "I cannot imagine leaving for Limbo. I love Illyana, I do. But it would not be a good thing for me, not now. I could do it but I fear I would lose myself somehow. I must choose someone to put first and I choose you." He doesn't look happy about it — more torn than angry. "You are my partner, Katya. I will tell Illyana that we are starting our life together. Our life."

*

"Limbo is a terrifying place," Kitty's voice turns distant. She'd been coy about her own visit; vaguely mentioning that she'd run into a memorial to some older different version of herself named Cat that had raised Illyana. "She's got a lot going on that no one should have to live with. I didn't really realize until I went there." Kitty's eyebrows lift. "I know you love your sister — no one would ever question that. But… I also know that some of her antics can be challenging," her voice slows over the word, "for you. The physical distance might be good for both of you. And it's not like she can't just pop in — " Kitty lifts her free hand " — not that we'd exactly invite her to, but boundaries are a thing she struggles with."

Her arm laces around Piotr's side. "I love you. You know that, right? And.. I like you referring to me as your partner. It feels strangely accurate." Her cheeks glow a healthy pink.

*

"Well, you are not my wife, though you might be some day if it suits you. And you are not my girlfriend, though you were it now seems a bit insufficient. Is there another word in English that I missed?" Piotr looks puzzled, genuinely. "I like it. It is what you are. My other half."

*

"I like it too," Kitty replies. "So even if there is another word," which she's not convinced, "I think this one works. Honestly I don't think it's one I've heard often, but calling you my boyfriend lately really hasn't felt adequate. It seems too… small." She nods. "Partners. Yes."

Unless otherwise stated, the content of this page is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License