Chapter Text
Of all the people Illyana could be captured by, a bunch of mad scientists dressed as beekeepers were the least expected suspects.
However, Kitty could worry about poking fun at Illyana and the New Mutants for letting A.I.M. get the drop on them later. Right now, she was more concerned with getting her out of the maniacs’ gloved hands.
Illyana had been captured alongside Roberto, Dani, and Rahne. Sam and Amara were injured, noncritically thank god, and Xuan had gone uncaptured when she helped Amara to hide an unconscious Sam while the A.I.M. agents detained and depowered their friends. While Amara and Xuan tried to blame themselves, none of the X-Men let them. If they had tried to fight, they would've either been captured themselves or possibly killed for intervening.
What mattered was that they took the New Mutants alive, which meant a myriad of horrible possibilities. A.I.M. might be looking to experiment on the mutant gene, particularly its mechanics in children.
Or interrogating the New Mutants for any information and weaknesses on their true targets, the X-Men. Either for their own gain or some third-party payer or benefactor.
Kitty didn't care about the reason, the purpose. She just wanted her friends back safe and sound. Illyana most of all.
So the X-Men tore through the A.I.M. facility. Kitty paid little mind to the scrambling scientists as they screamed in pain and horror as the Wolverine tore through their ranks and the Goddess of Weather ripped them from the ground and into the air.
Eventually, they found the holding cells where they were keeping the New Mutants. First was Dani’s, then Rahne.
When they opened Roberto’s, Kitty's stomach dropped. A scientist had a large syringe to Roberto’s neck, the boy strapped to a large, upright operating table. He was quickly dispatched by a teleporting Kurt.
It was what Roberto said as they untied his bonds that made Kitty's heart plummet.
“I have no clue what was in that, but they said they already gave it to Illyana!”
She didn't bother waiting for the few seconds it'd take Bishop to open the steel, electronic door of the cell, Kitty phased through the walls.
Illyana was still strapped to the table, this one left horizontally inclined. Her hair was wild, strands thrown over her face, which was drowning in sweat.
There was blood. All over her lips, dripping down her chin. Getting closer, it looked like she had bit her own lips, hard.
She seemed so still, so… no, she couldn't be. She caught on to the sound of Illyana’s breathing, slow and ragged.
The door opened and the others rushed in just as Kitty began undoing the leather straps of the table.
“She's alive!”
She heard Piotr thanking God in Russian under his breath, a mighty release of stressed air from Storm as they helped Illyana out of the table.
Illyana didn't wake the entire trip back.
Kitty kept her focus on her friend as the Blackbird flew away from the smoking debris of the A.I.M. facility. Watched Hank use his portable medical equipment to stabilize and check her vitals. Watched Piotr pace around as he waited desperately as she was for Hank to figure out what the hell A.I.M. did to the girl they both cared so much for.
It wasn't until they got everyone back to the mansion, got Illyana in the medical unit, did Hank debrief them on her condition. While the others were attending to the less critically injured New Mutants, Piotr and Kitty had stayed with Hank as he examined and treated Illyana.
“Truth serum,” He answered their barrage of questions bluntly. “They gave her what was essentially a very strong, powerful formula of truth serum.”
“Truth serum did that to her?” Piotr guffawed, waving at Illyana laying in the medical bed. She looked more peaceful now, cleaned up and breathing at an even pace.
“I believe it was less the chemical make-up of the serum that caused damage and more her attempts to stop herself from confessing.”
Kitty winced, remembering Illyana's bloody lips. Had she really nearly bitten her own lip off to stop herself from talking. When they were in the Blackbird, Hank had found fresh bruising on the back of her head. Kitty assumed it was from her captors beating her in the cell. It had made her blood boil but now… had Illyana knocked herself out by hitting her head against the operating table they strapped her too.
She wished they had done more than just burn down their facility now.
“She'll be fine with time and bedrest. The serum has no risk of permanent harm, it just needs to be flushed from her system. It's strong and they used a lot, so even if she wakes up soon, she'll likely still be under some of its effects. It's best we keep visitors light and rotating out so she doesn't wake up confused and surrounded.”
“I'll stay with her,” Kitty blurted out and everyone turned to her. Including Piotr, who had this look of… knowing? Something between hurt and smug.
“Or– Piotr, you should stay with her first.”
“No, it's alright. I'll go check on the other's recovery.” He began to leave, turning his head over his shoulder as he exited the care unit. “Besides, she'll probably want to see you first anyways.”
She didn't like the way he said that last part. Full of some odd certainty that didn't settle with her. The idea that Illyana would want to see Kitty over her own brother made Kitty feel funny. A little happy but also worrying that it made her happy.
She'd stay in the medical unit while Hank returned intermittently to check on Illyana's vitals. It was a little odd, watching Illyana as she remained unconscious. Though the oddity sadly came less from the fact that she had never watched over the girl while she was asleep and more so that she usually didn't do it during the middle of the day.
Kitty wondered how Illyana would feel if she knew the brunette could only fall asleep when she kept her sight trained on the sleeping, blanket-veiled form of her roommate. Always worried that if she looked away Illyana might be taken away in the night. Always wanting to bridge the gap between their beds and join under Illyana’s covers…
To comfort her and keep her safe!
She didn't want to hold her, keep her warm during cold nights and feel the rise of her chest with every breath, for any selfish reasons, for any reason that benefited her alone.
Kitty bit her lip, trying to return her attention to the duty at hand.
Waiting for Illyana to wake up. Which, luckily for her, didn't take much longer.
Illyana began to stir, eyes lazily sliding open, tiny murmurs escaping her lips.
“Hrmm…”
She began to rise, only for Kitty to gently place a hand over her collarbone and press her back down.
“Relax, ‘Yana. You need to lay down.”
“Katya?” Illyana slurred, eyes half-open and looking up at her in a daze. “S'that you?”
Hank was right, she seemed to still be under the truth serum's effect.
“Yes, ‘Yana, it's me.”
“Where– A.I.M…. the team!”
“They're all safe and sound. A few of them are a little roughed up but nothing some bandages and milkshakes can't fix.”
“Milkshakes?”
“Ororo's planning on taking everyone for ice cream and milkshakes once they're recovered. But don't tell ‘em yet.”
“Kinda hard to keep it a secret… when this truth serum is still in my system.”
“You can tell?”
“I mean, yeah, especially when I keep having the urge to tell yo– MMRM!”
Suddenly Illyana bit her own lip hard, sending Kitty into a panic.
“Illyana!”
She grabbed both sides of Illyana's face and squeezed. Her eyes, full of concern, met Illyana's and she saw the guilt flash in the blue of her eyes. Illyana stopped biting her lip, pushing Kitty's hands off her face so she could bury her head away from Kitty.
“I'm sorry, Illyana, I didn't mean to freak out, it's just… I know what you did to stop yourself from spilling to A.I.M.. You hurt yourself and… I can't bear to see you do that.”
“You don't get it, I can't tell you what my brain is insisting I tell you,” Illyana pleaded before shoving her face into a pillow.
“If that's the case, I'll leave. As long as you promise not to hurt yourself just keep some embarrassing secrets locked down.”
“Wait, Katya.” Illyana removed the pillow, her lips angled down in a regretful pout.
“It's okay, I'm not gonna stick around and force ya to spill something you don't want others to know. It's okay for even roommates to keep some things from each other.”
Kitty offered a reassuring smile, a hand smoothing over Illyana's head, fingers trailing through her golden hair. Illyana smiled back, though she kept her lips sealed tight.
“I'll talk to you later, once the serum has faded.”
Kitty made her way around the bed and began exitting towards the medical unit door.
“Bye, Illyana.” She waved before turning fully to the door to depart.
“Bye, Katya,” Illyana surprisingly responded. Kitty had expected pure silence with how much Illyana had freaked out about possibly telling Kitty her secret.
“I love you.”
Kitty froze midstep.
She turned slowly. She wondered, no, no wondering or speculating, Illyana had to have meant it platonically. Loved her as a friend. Except, Illyana had never used the word “love” to describe their friendship.
Maybe that was her embarrassing secret, that she loved their friendship so much. She was often very reluctant to open up emotionally, even to Kitty.
But turning to face Illyana shattered that idea.
Illyana had clasped a hand over her mouth, sitting up in the bed with eyes shot wide open.
She looked horrified.
Kitty didn't say anything, couldn't think of anything to say to address what Illyana had just said. So she left. Very quickly.
“Katya, is Illyana awake?” Piotr was approaching the medical unit and herself. She just nodded and phased partially through him, not wanting to meet his eye.
She kept marching down the mansion halls until she finally found her room. Their room.
She phased through the door, paced around the room in a loop. On the third pass, she flopped onto her back on the bed and stared.
Illyana's words replayed in her head. The fear and shame in her eyes.
Kitty tried to let those three words sit in her head.
“I love you.”
She mouthed the words to herself, closing her eyes as she did. She brought her hand to her chest and felt the violent thumping of her own heart.
That can't be good, how fast the blood was being pushed through her veins. And she felt warm, far too warm.
“I love you.”
This can't be good.