Coming Home
Characters: Kitty Tagging: Everyone at the Mansion! Location: Foyer of X-Mansion Timeline: Present Description: Kitty comes home after a long break at college. Rating: G-PG
Wrapped in brown vinyl glory, complete with plastic corners and a removable lid, the 60s style suitcase rolled around in the trunk of the taxi, further denting the well-used sides. It jumbled and jumped for thirty miles, subjected to the hasty driving of a New York cab driver. The suitcase had been lost in snow in Japan, covered in sand in the Middle East and had gone through the O’Hare Airport enough times to know the music played by the gift shop by heart. It briefly considered the lyrics to Chicago, That Toddlin’ Town, before being interrupted by the lifting of the trunk lid and a large hand, which grabbed its handle and placed it upon the curb at the foot of a young woman.
Kitty Pryde thanked the cabbie, handing him the (probably inflated) fare and before turning to gaze upon the mansion at which she had arrived. Even despite the enormity of its structure, the strict neoclassical style of its architecture and the general impressiveness of its look, the young mutant found herself admiring the little things: burn marks on the grass, a slightly different color on the walls from when part of the building fell apart, the aged, wise look of the sign proclaiming the mansion as an institute for learning. She hadn’t been here in more than a few years, but it still felt like home. She could still identify which window was her room, and if she looked closely enough, she could see the headboard of her bed.
She had asked Xavier to keep her room unchanged, saying that she would visit as often as she could, but she never seemed to find the time. Still, she couldn’t wait to go lay on her old bed and go through her clothes. Most of what she held in her suitcase now was new, from University of Chicago sweatshirts to jeans and even jewelry – there was even a framed diploma in there somewhere. The only thing that hadn’t changed from four years ago was the suitcase itself. If Kitty thought philosophically for a moment, she could say that it represented a rebirth or renewal – but, much to her Humanities professor’s disdain, Kitty never really thought that way.
Hearing the sounds of a track and field class somewhere on the grounds, Pryde gave a small laugh before gripping the handle of her suitcase and moving forward, wandering down the front path. She moved slowly, giving herself time to observe the newly planted flowers (was there a new mutant who could control plants?) and the unfamiliar dents in the pavement (had there been an accident?), before finally stepping up to the front door. She didn’t even consider knocking, as the mansion always was a home to her; instead, she phased through the door and stopped in the entryway.
Although she heard voices in nearby rooms and hallways, the front room was empty. Her brow furrowed slightly. That was odd. She remembered this to be a heavily trafficked area. Dropping her suitcase, she glanced around before calling out, “Hello? Anyone home?”