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When Kitty asked her out, Illyana became paralyzed. How could such a simple question render her so weak? Because it wasn’t just any question, of course. It was Kitty’s beautiful and bashful smile and her wonderfully dark eyes. It was her proximity; so close, so close- the only one Illyana allowed to enter her space. It was how Kitty’s hands shyly toyed with Illyana’s fingers as she asked the question quietly, just for her to hear.
Want to go out with me on Saturday?
As Illyana offered nothing back due to her paralysis, Kitty cleared her throat and tried again, just as soft, just as gentle.
Like, just you and me. On a date. Wherever you wanna go, whatever you wanna do.
Illyana got her jaw to unhinge, slowly opening her mouth to say something. Anything.
Nothing.
Kitty’s face bloomed into worry, losing color.
That-that’s okay, I get it. It’s fine, I- I…
Illyana grasped Kitty’s hand. Praise the gods. She had summoned a second wind. Her hand tightened over Kitty’s fingers and gave a gentle tug closer to her.
Yes.
Illyana got the word out on the weakest of projections. Her ears singed with heat and her cheeks succumbed to a blush.
Yeah? Really?
Kitty’s voice had gone up a few octaves, becoming an excited squeak, her eyes shining.
Illyana surprised herself with a smile of her own, but kept her head down, overcome with shyness.
This was ridiculous! She was an all-powerful demon sorceress! She had ended lives. She had done countless things to survive, and yet, she couldn’t find the courage to look Kitty in the eye? Kitty had cupped Illyana’s jaw and cautiously raised her up, allowing their eyes to meet. Illyana made herself hold their gaze. Her heart beat wildly, like a stallion finally free of its corral.
Are you sure?
Kitty asked lightly, watching Illyana attentively.
Yes. Illyana replied. I’m just… I’m just new at this.
-
New indeed. Kitty had offered a mid-day date, wanting to keep things casual and comfortable. Illyana said she wouldn’t mind whatever Kitty ended up picking. All she asked was that she wouldn’t tell Piotr. Or anyone else.
That request resulted in a bizarre expression on Kitty’s face, but she seemed to swallow it and nodded. Illyana had explained it simply: I don’t want Piotr to get in the way, and if others know, he’ll know. I just don’t want him hovering over this.
This Kitty understood, but Illyana could tell that her … girlfriend? Nonsense, titles would surely come after their first date- but anyway, she could tell that Kitty applied a lot of energy in restraining herself whenever they saw each other during the remainder of the week. For example, Illyana could tell that Kitty was thinking about holding hands whenever they walked together, as her knuckles always brushed against hers. Illyana had daydreamed about holding Kitty’s hand for so long, that she almost gave in and blew their cover. Kitty ended up withdrawing most of her usual acts of affection just to be on the safe side. This worried Illyana a bit, and the day before their date, she approached Kitty and did what she always did when she need reassurance from her: she reached out and clumped some of Kitty’s shirt in her hand. It was always the material above Kitty’s hip. Just a clingy, infantile desire to feel connected, no ulterior motive. She knew Kitty always understood it. Instantly sensing Illyana’s worry without a word, Kitty tenderly nuzzled against her. Illyana’s shoulders lost their tension, and her heartrate was soothed.
Illyana felt understood. It was so hard for her to express many things since she had returned, and even though everyone seemed to be patient with her, Illyana often felt impatient with herself. However, Illyana never felt that awkward, waiting, judgement from Kitty. No. It was like the mother tongue of her soul was touch and not spoken word, and Kitty was the only one who knew the language. Illyana didn’t like to be touched. So, in essence, she prevented this touch-based communication with everyone. But Kitty had always walked into her trust like she had a spare key.
That night before the date, Illyana was watching a movie with her New Mutants team.
Illyana had little interest in the romantic comedy at first, but as the film went on, and the protagonist started to recognize feelings for their love interest, that changed. She found herself relating, and for the first time, allowed herself to be pulled in by art- even if that art was a cheesy teen chick flick that would be forgotten to time until she was a nostalgic 30-year-old. Her teammates chatted away, making jokes about the angst and cringey humor, but Illyana’s ears tuned them out, dazzled by what was happening on screen. The protagonist pressed up on their toes, arms outstretched as their crush leaned down. Illyana’s soul stirred with a sense of connection. She could see herself in the main character’s shoes, closing the gap, with Kitty holding her by the waist, leaning forward to seal the kiss. Her imagination caused her heart to take flight. A new wave of excitement for tomorrow’s date swept through her body.
A kiss! To share a kiss with Kitty? The possibility sparkled within her like treasure.
She smiled to herself as the scene continued to play out, her eyes now gazing into the distance, dreaming of her date. Of holding hands. Of Kitty smiling at her. Of a kiss at the end of the night.
“What a boring first date!” Berto chuckled to the others, pulling Illyana out of her daydream.
“Oh, don’t be that guy!” Dani groaned, leaning her head back against the couch.
“Just saying,” Berto shrugged with a confident grin. “They had way too much tension this whole movie, and all they do is kiss?”
“What, you want them to fuck in front of the Ferris wheel?” Sam teased Berto with a chuckle. “I think a first date at a county fair is good. You can win each other prizes, get scared together on rides, eat overpriced funnel cake. I’d be down.”
“Yeah, and who knows, maybe there’s stuff afterwards, that we don’t get to see,” Xuân said, reaching for some more popcorn. “This movie is PG-13. Don’t know what you were expecting to see.”
Illyana observed as a chill spread through her, like cold water poured into a hot bath.
“Ugh,” Berto groaned, “Who picked a PG-13 movie?”
“What?” Rahne questioned genuinely. “What’s wrong with a little pure romance?”
“That’s the religious trauma in you,” Berto said, pointing a finger as he held his beer bottle.
It was Sam’s idea that they steal some beers from Logan’s mini fridge in the garage. Illyana was told that they weren’t allowed to drink yet. That you had to be 21 here in America, and most of them were 19. Illyana thought it was funny. She had so much wine in Limbo. But then again, she ruled it.
“That’s uncalled for,” Dani said, a defensive edge in her voice.
Berto held up his hands in playful surrender. “I take it back; I take it back. Sticking up for your girlfriend. That’s good.”
“The point is,” Dani continued, relaxing back into the couch. “Sex on the first date… it honestly isn’t that big of a deal. If the couple wants to, sure, but no one has to.”
“I never said they had to,” Berto corrected, “I’m just saying these two definitely should have smashed.” He laughed as he pointed back to the screen. “Sure, nobody has to, but everyone is secretly wishing they get to!”
Dani threw a pillow at Berto in disgust.
“Nah, that’s scum behavior,” Sam chimed in. “There was this one guy, back in Kentucky, real scumbag; he told me that he only got flowers for girls that he was planning on… you know, and would always start bitchin’ about the ones who didn’t do it, talking about how he ‘bought flowers, so she shoulda known’, and all this shit.”
“Well, fuck, I’m not talking about ‘buying sex’ with a date,” Berto defended boldly. “Me saying people want to have sex isn’t the same as me saying everyone is trying to trade for sex. Don’t put words in my mouth.”
The group erupted in a passionate debate as the credits began to roll
Illyana didn’t want to join that debate. No. Berto’s words kept echoing in her mind.
Everyone is secretly wishing they get to!
Illyana herself actually hadn’t thought that far ahead. Her fantasies were nowhere near that! … Were they supposed to be? Suddenly, she felt embarrassed over her previous daydream. It was childish, wasn’t it? Was… was Kitty secretly wishing for it? While Illyana dreamed of being held at night, soft and warm, was Kitty thinking of … other things? When she cast her eyes on her- those beautiful dark eyes- was there a more adult idea behind them?
Maybe she should cancel.
Illyana wasn’t ready for that. She knew it. She didn’t want that. Not yet anyway, and she wasn’t sure if she ever would. Not after what she went through. In the horizon of her fantasies, sex was nowhere to be seen. If that was the kind of night Kitty was looking for, Illyana wouldn’t be able to meet her expectations. Heat flared on the back of Illyana’s neck as her nerves got the best of her.
In the commotion, Rahne had noticed the change in her. Subtly, she leaned closer to her, ignoring the ongoing hubbub.
“Don’t let the boys put such rubbish in your head,” She whispered softly. “They’re just being crass.”
“Does everyone…” Illyana felt silly for being bashful with this question, “does everyone secretly want it on a date?”
Rahne looked at her for a moment, care shining in her eyes. “I think everyone wants to have the best experience they can with their partners, and sometimes that could include sex. Some people are hoping for it, some aren’t. We’re all different. But it’s not like some kind of… mischievous planning or anything. Sex isn’t a transaction.”
Illyana felt herself heat up more, only feeling more frustrated than relieved at Rahne’s words.
Rahne reached out and held one of Illyana’s hands. “Having the best experience with someone doesn’t have to include sex. Don’t let anyone pressure you. If you don’t want to, you don’t have to. And if they don’t want to, they don’t have to. It doesn’t matter how much you like them, or how much you don’t want to lose them, or how much you want to please them- if you don’t want to, if you’re not ready, it is one hundred percent normal to say you don’t want to.”
Illyana nodded at those words, trying to re-engage with her group, as Berto switched the movie- to a rated R one. Everyone groaned in unison, except for Sam, who was laughing up a storm.
“Wait! Wait, it’s a good one! It’s got something for everyone,” Berto laughed as he pressed play for a film that was an action-packed blockbuster. “Titties galore, and for those who like a little sausage, if you pause just right, you can see at least two dicks.”
“Can we remove film-picking privileges from you?” Dani asked incredulously.
Everyone’s voices began to drown out as Illyana felt her heart in her throat, and her palms growing clammy.
She was now way too nervous for her date tomorrow. How in the hell was she going to be able to sleep in the same room as Kitty tonight?
-
The next morning, Kitty had gotten washed up and dressed fairly early, then disappeared for a bit, but right as 11 o’clock hit, Kitty had returned with a lovely bouquet of red and white roses.
“It feels kinda weird to give flowers at the start of a date,” Kitty blundered as she handed them over, the plastic and paper wrapping crackling in Illyana’s hands. “Because it’s like, where are you supposed to put them during the whole date? Just have them sit in the car the whole time? But then it’s like, you can’t really pull them out of nowhere at the end, right? I figured we could just put them in a vase now before we head out.”
Illyana was struck by their beauty. The colors were so pure, the petals so unblemished, and the scent of greenery was so calming. But then she remembered what Sam said last night, about that man in Kentucky. She didn’t want to believe that Kitty’s flowers were tainted with a scheme, but the seed had been planted and was lost to the soil, impossible to unearth.
“They’re beautiful,” Illyana muttered. Kitty’s proud smile faltered at Illyana’s lackluster acceptance. Illyana couldn’t bear the sight, so she turned her back to Kitty and tended to the roses briefly, putting them in a vase next to the bedroom windowsill. Kitty reapplied her happiness as she escorted Illyana to the garage of the mansion. The whole walk Kitty couldn’t keep her eyes off her. At first, Illyana had no idea why. She was dressed how she normally was, but then the horror of last night flashed back into her mind. Quickly, she took her gaze off Kitty and kept her vision straight ahead. Kitty had stuttered over her words at the abruptness of it.
Kitty opened the car door for her and given Illyana control of the music for the drive to town. She also put in a lot of effort into keeping conversation going as they traveled. But Illyana, infected with fear, barely reciprocated anything.
When they pulled up to the busy main street of the charming town Kitty had picked, Kitty reluctantly reached for Illyana’s hand. Illyana’s heart surged- a dream of hers coming to life! Even though she was still incredibly nervous, Illyana entwined their fingers together, their hands fitting as if they were a completed set. It felt right. It felt perfect. Illyana hadn’t noticed how pale Kitty was until her face rushed with color in relief at their touch.
They walked for a bit, doing a bit of window shopping as they made their way to the place Kitty had picked for their lunch. The strip was dominated by local stores, cafes, and restaurants. They passed by a shop dedicated to handmade soaps- and the aromas wafting through the open door were so sweet and relaxing. There was a shop that specialized in clothing for pets. And then there was a storefront that made Kitty blush and weakly laugh, “Oh, I forgot that was here. My bad, just look forward.” Illyana looked back anyway.
Adult Emporium, the sign above the door read. Neon posters littered the storefront windows with “25% off all DVDs,” and “Buy 1 toy, get another 50% off!”.
“What is that?” Illyana asked.
“Oh,” Kitty’s voice wobbled with shyness. “Just the local sex shop.”
Illyana’s face paled. The storm clouds of her worry just wouldn’t leave her alone!
“You know, Berto once bought me an erotic novel from there- for my 18th birthday.”
“Doesn’t surprise me,” Illyana muttered.
“It wasn’t that good,” Kitty continued. “Really cheesy. But I don’t think he actually meant to get me something good. He just wanted to give me a joke as a gift.”
“Hmm…” was all Illyana offered in return.
Kitty’s energy had shifted. Illyana felt it easily. However, Kitty soldiered on, giving their hands a squeeze.
“Uh, here we are,” Kitty motioned to the restaurant with their joined hands.
It was a teppanyaki place- Kitty had to explain it, of course. Illyana definitely did not get a chance to experience this before she was abducted. Kitty had told her not to worry about the bill, and to just get whatever she wanted to try. Illyana marveled at the inside. The lighting was warm, but the atmosphere mostly dark and subdued- easy to fall into a relaxed state in. There was of course, impressive art on the walls, and the overall design was clean and high end. There were only a few other patrons- Kitty explained that most people came here for dinner, and that coming in for lunch would be better for their date. It would be quieter. Calmer.
Whatever nerves Illyana had, they were put on hold for a few minutes. She watched with awe as the chef did some flashy tricks, spinning eggs, cracking them in unique ways, and then remained mesmerized as he made the entirety of their meal. When their plates were handed over to them, Illyana finally looked back at Kitty.
Kitty seemed weary, tired even. But she smiled when Illyana looked at her. Her spirits were low. No doubt she felt the growing distance between them. Illyana frowned with guilt. Kitty’s expression paled upon seeing it, and Illyana knew she had to do something quick. She reached out and grabbed Kitty’s hand.
“I…” Illyana started. Her throat tightened, and her head weighed with anxiety. “…I’m just nervous. I’ve never been on a date before. I… don’t know what to do.”
Illyana didn’t have the courage yet to tell the whole truth.
Kitty shifted to angle herself closer to her, and covered their joined hands with her free one, her palm warm atop Illyana’s skin. “You don’t have to do anything special,” Kitty explained, her small smile returning. “Just be who you are with me like any other day. If it makes you feel any better, I’m nervous too.”
“You don’t have to be,” Illyana said without thinking about it.
Kitty’s smile grew a fraction. “I really like you,” she said, and it felt like an arrow had burst into Illyana’s chest, like Cupid had flown by. “You make me nervous all the time.”
“But we live together,” Illyana murmured in confusion.
Kitty laughed, and it sounded genuine. “Yeah, and it drives me crazy- but in a good way! We’ve been roommates for a few months, and that’s who you were to me for a time. Easy as that. But we started to spend more time together, just you and me. We started talking about things we’ve never shared with others, and it felt…” Kitty paused, holding whatever she was going to say back. “One day, I woke up and realized that you were in my heart. And I know that probably sounds cheesy,” Kitty sighed dejectedly, reaching for her water for a quick sip. “But I really don’t know how to explain it. Like, I always knew you meant so much to me, but that day, I felt…”
Illyana sat there as Kitty fumbled her words, trying to find ways to explain herself, and it grounded Illyana. She did not anticipate Kitty to come across as … inexperienced. Why, Kitty had been here, living a normal life (well, as normal as being resident of the Xavier Mansion could allow), surely she was no stranger to these things, like Illyana was. Illyana’s fear that Kitty had expectations waivered slightly. This was curious. Most curious.
Kitty was still rambling, poor girl, so Illyana decided to put her out of her misery. She thought about last night, and how she felt before Berto clouded her mind. About her daydreams.
“You know,” Illyana started, causing Kitty to pause. “I think about holding your hand a lot. I find myself thinking about it all the time. It just makes me feel… bright, just thinking about being able to touch you. Do you think it’s silly… that I daydream about something so simple?”
Kitty’s expression changed from embarrassment to surprise. “Absolutely not!” She answered quickly. “That actually makes me feel so much better,” she chuckled with relief, her cheeks turning pink. “I kinda thought for a bit that maybe you had changed your mind and weren’t interested.”
“What do you think about?” Illyana probed. “Like, what do you think about, when you think about me?”
“Oh,” Kitty’s eyes widened slightly, caught off guard. “I mean, I find myself thinking about… you know, cuddling on the sofa on a Saturday morning. Just holding you for hours on end. Things like that.”
Illyana felt her mouth curve in a slight smile. So, Kitty just wanted to be held too? Or was she just playing it safe? Surely there was more. Dare she ask? Maybe Kitty expected cuddling to lead to something else? Or did she leave out half the fantasy, where they slept together first, and cuddled second? Gods, she cursed Berto for getting in her head, but she couldn’t get the effect of his words out so easily.
“Nothing else?” Illyana asked. Kitty’s eyes searched Illyana’s face for a moment. It was clear that Kitty was aware of the ice they were standing on.
“I mean…”
Illyana was then struck with the realization that Kitty was very uncomfortable. Her left hand, which was resting in her lap, was closed tight, her thumb rubbing against the side of her index finger at a fixed tempo. It wasn’t an excessive movement, but it was enough to be caught by someone who cared. One could have passed it off as date jitters, but Illyana had seen Kitty do this before, and it was only when something was bothering her. Illyana was pained to know she was the cause- her anxiety betraying her. Getting in the way of her and the growth that she could be sharing with Kitty. So, forcing down the struggle, she came clean, speaking so fast, she wasn’t sure Kitty had actually understood her.
“I’m afraid that you’re expecting something from me that I’m not ready to give.”
Kitty, graciously, said the words Illyana’s nerves wouldn’t allow her to say. “… Are you talking about sex?”
Illyana felt like such a fool for being so sheepish about all this. She killed demons, for god sake!
“… Berto said last night, while we were all watching a movie, that people who go on dates are secretly hoping it happens. And I haven’t been able to stop thinking if maybe that’s what you’re hoping for too.”
The color in Kitty’s face reset, her pallor returning to normal. She was relieved, and quite frankly, slightly humored.
“Don’t listen to Berto,” Kitty smiled, her eyes soft but concerned. “He’s just trying to be what all boys think they’re supposed to be. Sure, there’s nothing wrong with being honest and open if he wants sex on the first date, but, he does not represent everyone.” Kitty reached over for both Illyana’s hands, and held them, her warmth adding to her reassurance. “I don’t know how to put this, so bear with me, okay?”
Illyana nodded apprehensively.
“I did not ask you out in hopes that you’d have sex with me.” She looked Illyana in the eyes, full sincerity reflecting in them. “I’d never dream of pressuring you, and if I ever give you the impression, please tell me so I can fix whatever is making you feel that way.”
“So you don’t want to have sex with me?” Illyana muttered quietly, side-eying the chef, who was taking a very long time to clear his grill.
Kitty matched her volume. “No. Wait, I mean-” Her voice raised slightly in panic. “I don’t want you to think I’m not attracted to you or anything, because I am- it’s not like I wouldn’t ever want to… like, uh…. This is really hard to explain. The thing is, I really like you, and I wouldn’t have asked you out if I didn’t want to have a different kind of relationship with you, yes. I do like you romantically, and physically. But I haven’t like, ever fantasized… about that.”
“Are we supposed to be?” Illyana asked.
“Are we suppo-” Kitty’s own blush had returned. “Like, should we already be thinking about each other that way?”
Illyana anxiously nodded.
“I mean, in all honesty, I don’t think its wrong for either,” Kitty shrugged. “There’s nothing wrong with thinking of your partner sexually, nor is there anything wrong with not feeling that from day one. No one is ‘dating wrong’ if they have sex on the first date or not.”
Illyana blushed, feeling ridiculous and relieved at the same time.
“I’m sorry this was bothering me, and that I kinda ruined the vibe,” Illyana muttered.
“No, no, you didn’t,” Kitty quickly reassured. “In fact, you saved it. If something is bothering you, you should tell me, and that’s what you did. God, can you imagine if you didn’t tell me? I would have worried myself into a headache trying to figure out what I did wrong.”
“So you want to keep going? You don’t want to go home?”
“Illyana, our food’s getting cold,” Kitty said happily, shifting forward in her seat and picking up her chopsticks. “Let me know if you need the training wheels one,” she said, digging into her meal.
Illyana looked down at her chopsticks, still to be separated from each other. She did struggle with this, but she had only been back for a couple of months, so she wasn’t that mad at her lack of proficiency. “Training wheels?”
“Yeah, there’s this little adjuster thing that goes on ‘em,” Kitty explained, covering her mouth with her hand as she chewed. “Or we can ask for the kid ones- they have like animal heads on top.”
Illyana rolled her eyes at the tease, separating her set and doing her best to pick up just one slice of meat.
“… You didn’t want to go home, did you?” Kitty asked. “Because…”
“No,” Illyana answered, trying to grab the food again. “I want to stay.”
Kitty smiled tenderly as she returned her attention to her food. “I want to take you to the nearby nature park afterwards. I hope you don’t mind me not going the typical dinner and a movie route. I don’t want to spend half the date not talking to you.”
Illyana almost grunted in agreement, her attention stretched between Kitty’s voice, and this damned piece of beef that kept slipping from her improperly aligned chopsticks.
Kitty watched for a moment, then felt pity, and leaned over, helping her with hand placement. “We can get forks, if you want.”
“I got it,” Illyana muttered passionately.
“Okay.”
Illyana tried again. She would not be defeated.
“Miss,” the chef spoke up, “Would you like a fork?”
“I said I got it!”
“I ruined the date, didn’t I?” Illyana repeated as they walked through the park Kitty had mentioned. It had a wide open space in the center for picnics and families, but was surrounded by all kinds of colorful trees, and within those trees, were paths that went over old stone bridges and bubbling brooks full of crimson and emerald moss. It was very beautiful and relaxing.
Kitty gave her a soft smile and shook her head. “No. I had a great time.”
“Don’t lie,” Illyana frowned, her shame returning to her like an ember reigniting a flame.
“Would you like to go out with me again?” Kitty asked, her smile changing into an energetically hopeful one.
“You want to… after all I did?”
“You were nervous,” Kitty explained. “You are not the first person in the world who has let their nerves show up on a first date. But do you? Can I take you out again sometime?”
Illyana was flustered, Yes. The answer was yes. She couldn’t believe that after how she behaved that Kitty would still be interested.
“Yes, I would like that,” Illyana said, “But… but…” Illyana really didn’t know where she wanted to go with that thought, but it had everything to do with not feeling worthy, and not being good enough to be Kitty’s partner. Kitty had reassured her that she didn’t have adult plans in mind, but what if she wanted to on the second date, or the third? Or any date? What if one day came by where they were well into an official relationship and Kitty asked her when the hell they were finally going to do it? What if she took too long and Kitty’s patience ran out and all she did was waste her time?
Kitty took up Illyana’s hand and threaded their fingers together.
“Illyana,” Kitty started quietly, taking a step closer. “I know you went through something that you are still sorting out, and that can even take a lifetime to sort out. I know our relationship, if you want one, could end up being way different than what people consider the norm. I accept this. I don’t want to force you to ‘be normal’, or to ‘date normal’, or anything. Dating you may come with experiencing something different, and I accept that. I’m not hoping that you ‘shape up’ or ‘get over it’, or… or…”
Illyana’s heart was beating wildly as Kitty rambled.
“I don’t want what the world wants,” Kitty continued. “I just want you. I just want to hold you, and to stare into your eyes, and to be yours, and to… to kiss you. Illyana I just wanna be with you. There’s nothing we could do, nowhere we could go, where I wouldn’t feel satisfied just to be by your side. Just to hold your hand and to kiss you.”
Illyana embraced her. She fell forward and wrapped her arms around Kitty, holding her tight. She wanted to crush Kitty into her heart and carry her there. She wanted to meld together in some way to constantly feel this love and strength.
Kitty held her in return.
“Do you really mean it?” Illyana asked. Do you really mean it that there’s nothing to be afraid of?
Kitty nodded, her head moving against Illyana’s as they remained together.
“Yes.”
Illyana pulled away and searched the galaxy of Kitty’s dark eyes, and saw the genuine sincerity within them. Kitty was her safe haven. Her greatest ally and friend. How she could have doubted her heart this whole time was an offense to their very foundation.
“I’m sorry I thought you were like that…” Illyana said. “That you didn’t see me in any other way but… that.”
“It’s okay,” Kitty said. “I’ll just beat up Berto later.”
Illyana chuckled as her heart began to open further. Kitty watched her with love, happy to have made Illyana laugh. And then, as the last slips of laughter died down, Illyana felt a needy, and comforting bloom in her chest. It told her to be happy, and to be a teenage in love, and to trust. It told her to…
Her heart kicked away with excitement as she leaned forward.
Her arms draped over Kitty’s shoulders.
Kitty’s hands tenderly rested on her hips.
They gazed at each other, their souls communicating with the very energy of their heart.
Kitty pulled her closer.
Illyana closed the gap.
Her foot lifted off the ground in anticipation…
And their lips pressed.
Illyana felt like they were floating. This wasn’t like the floating drop of her stepping disk. It felt like Kitty had taken her up into the sky. She felt ethereal. She felt nothing else of the world.
Just Kitty, and her warmth, and her soft lips, and her safe embrace.
She melted. She ascended. She…
They pulled away and Illyana burst with emotion. She covered her face as she cried- but also, laughed. Kitty anxiously questioned her, making sure she was okay.
Yes. Yes, she was okay. She was more than okay. She was happy.
She had her first kiss, and it was everything she had daydreamed it to be. Berto’s reality was a distant planet. Her dream had come true. Everything she wanted. Love. Tenderness. Romance. Was real and attainable, and even though she had lost so much of her life prior, through this kiss, realized that there was still so much left for her to have.