Piotr slowed to a stop as he parked next to the sandy shore of the beach. He couldn't think of any other place Kitty could be. He got out of the car and looked around. Everything looked deserted, no other people, no other cars. The only sound was of the waves lapping up onto shore. Piotr took off his shoes threw them in the back of the Blazer and then stepped out onto the beach.
If he was here for any other reason, it would be have been absolutely serene. The moon brightly lit the sand of the beach, making it seem almost as if it were glowing. The sound and smell of the ocean calmly lulled him into a slow rhythm. He continued to look around. No Kitty. Maybe he'd been wrong. Or stupid. It frustrated him. It was too easy to figure out. Kitty coming to the beach he and she has visited long ago, the one she had showed him in the picture earlier that day. He gave one last look and he saw something he had overlooked before.
Someone was sitting on the beach, he couldn't tell if it were a man or a woman. They were just sitting there, watching the ocean. Unmoving. He couldn't be certain if it was his Katya. But now, he had some small sliver of hope, that it could be her, and so he started walking in that direction.
Kitty stared out at the ocean. She was huddled into a ball, her hands stuffed in the jacket's pockets and her hair was in a held down by a hood. She lifted her hands and pushed it back. Her hair flew back at once and Kitty closed her eyes and felt the wind dance with her hair and listened to the soft, gentle lapping of the water.
It felt so cleansing, in a sense. If she tried to lose herself here, she could. But something was holding her back. Though the beach was beautiful, and serene, it was still the beach she had come to with Piotr. That's why she had driven here in the first place. She opened her eyes and stared out at the dark water. She had almost felt redeemed for a moment, almost forgotten how she had put herself on the line and lost today. Having your heart broken was not something Kitty particulary liked.
"I should go," she whispered aloud to no one but herself.
"Go where?" she answered herself in her head.
She was alone, no where to live. She could go to her Mom's or her Dad's. She loved them and they would always love her, unconditionally. But it wouldn't feel right. Most 18 year olds are moving out now, not moving back in. So, she sat silently on the beach, watching the ocean, and yet not until she heard the slight crunching of sand behind her. She was instantly on guard.
"All those endless hours in the Danger Room didn't go to waste," she thought to herself.
"Listen," Kitty said aloud without even bothering to turn around," I already took down some morons today who thought they could beat me up and I'm assuming I could do the same to you, whoever you are, so I think it'd be best if you turned around and walked away. Trust me on this one."
"Well Katya, I do not doubt that you couldn't take me."
Kitty froze. She knew who it was. Only one person on the entire earth called her that. Piotr. He had found her.
Kitty turned around and looked up at him. Piotr didn't fail to notice the hurt glazed over in her eyes.
Kitty couldn't say a thing. They simply stayed where they were for a moment. Looking at each other. Until Kitty finally broke the silence.
"Why are you here, Peter? Why did you have to come and find me?"
"I...I have something to tell you, Katya."
Kitty was upset now. She felt like she was trapped in a corner, she had already made a fool in front of Piotr today and she wasn't in the mood for it again. Usually, she was able to keep her occasionaly hot-tempered temper in check, but now, it call came out.
"What?" she said, unable to keep the hurt and bitterness out of her voice, " 'Don't leave Kitty, you're a valuble to the X-Men. We all can't fight an unappreciative world who couldn't care if we were blown off the face of earth without you.' Please, Peter, we all know that isn't true. You are all very capable of doing that without me. Just tell everyone I'm sorry, obviously I'm not as cut out for it as I thought I was." She managed to keep the tears forming at the bottom of her eyes from falling out. She refused to let him see her cry.
Piotr kneeled to be closer to Kitty. She felt his breath on her neck. He was going to tell her. That's why he was here. But she was so beautiful he couldn't help but stop and look at her. She was putting on a brave front, trying her best not to let him get to her again. He loved her even more for it. He reached out and took her hand and was glad when she didn't try to take it back.
Piotr couldn't help but smile sheepishly when he said it,"Katherine Pryde, I think you're wonderful."
Kitty turned her face at his. She looked surprised, shocked. She wasn't sure what he was getting at but she wanted it to be what she thought.
"I love you, Kitty." Piotr sincerely said to her. Meaning it with all of his heart.
Kitty gripped his hand tightly, unable to say anything. Her tears of sadness had changed to tears of joy and they began to fall freely down her face.
He leaned over and held her tightly and she did the same. His tears began to fall freely too. It had been so long since they had even admitted anything like that to each other.
"Oh Peter,....why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"I would have, but you ran out too soon. I've been looking everywhere for you, I was so afraid I wouldn't be able to find you and you'd be gone forever."
Kitty laughed. "Guess I shouldn't have ran out so fast, huh?" They continued to hold each other. Both breathing in each other. Piotr had wanted to hold her like this for so long, it almost seemed surreal. Like a dream.
He started to stand and so did she.
Kitty rested her head on his chest. Feeling the up and down motions of his breathing. Piotr ran his fingers through her long hair. He leaned his head down and kissed her. It had been ages, and they both were surprised as to how long it had been and yet, nothing had changed.
Piotr pulled his head back up, "So, Katya, will you reconsider coming back to the X-Men?" he said as the corners of his mouth were smiling.
"Welll...,"Kitty said, her mouth identical to his, " I dunno. I mean, I would have to some incentive..." she smiled.
Piotr and Kitty kissed again. "Well....yeah, I think I'll go back."
They held hands as they walked back to the car and Kitty fell asleep on his shoulder as he drove back.
For the first time, in a very long time, Piotr Nikelievitch Rasputin was completely and utterly happy.
The End.