xp_logs | Monday, after classes, Jamie, Kitty, and Lockheed.

Short log: Jamie tracks Kitty down after classes to comfort her about the fight with Illyana; he gives her his take on the situation and tries to tell her that he thinks there's hope yet, but mostly just stays with her.

Kitty had made it through class. It was actually a bit of an achievement. She'd gotten through all of her classes and made it out of sight of everyone before she started crying. It was the work of a minute to get into one of the parlors in the other wing of the Mansion - Lockheed was too young for her to be comfortable trying to phase with him, but an there was an unlocked parlor that was at least reasonably comfortable. Once there, she practically collapsed onto one of the couches, curling up around the little dragon who was making distressed noises at the tears.

True to form, it was only a little while before Jamie's soft knock sounded on the door. He'd kept a worried eye on Kitty during the classes they shared, and as soon as class got out he started trying parlor doorknobs. "Kitty?" he called softly. "You in there?"

A watery "Uh huh" answered him, along with a slightly louder "Mer."

Jamie tried the door, found it unlocked, and pushed it open, crossing the room and settling down next to Kitty. He put one arm around her shoulders, stroking her hair with the other hand. "How you feeling, love?"

Kitty sniffed, shoulders shaking under Jamie's arm. "She doesn't want to be around me. She doesn't even want to be near me..."

"She's just in shock, that's all, I hope," Jamie said soothingly. "Little purple guy took her by surprise. You're best friends, that's not gonna end just because of this."

"You saw what she said, Jamie. 'I derive no pleasure from being near either of you'." Kitty sniffed again. "She's already asked the Professor to change rooms."

"Well, she's overreacting in a huge way, but I don't think she can help it, or she would. She's mad, and . . . maybe scared, but I don't think she really meant what she said. And it's not your fault she's acting that way. Or Lockheed's." He held her closer, rocking her gently. "It's just a big mess right now."

Lockheed actually shifted a paw so Jamie could get a better hold of Kitty, and she leaned against him, still crying softly. "I just... I just... Why would she say that?"

"Well, this is what I think." Jamie paused, trying to organize his thoughts. "Okay. If you saw a little kid about to stick a fork in an electric outlet, you'd yell and grab the kid away, right? Because the kid doesn't know any better and it might get hurt, and you can't tell, just looking at the outlet, whether or not it's live. And the kid would be scared and upset either way. I think 'Yana . . . thinks we're all little kids, sometimes, when some stuff comes up." He paused again. "She was gonna tell you something important, a while ago. Did she ever get around to that?"

It made sense, but it didn't stop the hurt. The question, though, did distract her. "Yeah, she did. About her teleportation."

"Okay." He sighed. "She showed me, after the Asgard party, when Jubes ran off--'Yana was teleporting places to look for her, and I asked if I could help, and she let me. And I'm pretty sure she took me to about the safest spot there was, in Limbo, but still . . . I don't think she can look at Lockheed and not see something dangerous, because where she grew up everything was dangerous. And she should't've blown up at you anyway, but . . . there was a handle for her to fly off of, if that makes sense."

"It... it does, but..." Kitty shuddered. "God, Jamie. It hurt, so much. I'd do anything for her, and she... she..." Kitty couldn't continue

"I know." He leaned her head on his shoulder. "And if I thought a swift kick would do her any good, I'd be lacing up my boots right now, believe me. And if she doesn't get the picture pretty soon and apologize--for hurting you, at least--I still might."

Kitty nodded slighly. "Don't," she said. "Just stay here with me."