Jean-Paul assumed the hesitant 'thanks' wasn't directed at him, especially since Kitty was looking skyward. He wasn't sure what she was thanking anyone for in the first place, but clearly she'd gotten the source wrong so when she finally realized she wasn't alone, he couldn't help but let out a hearty laugh. That was something he needed now after being stuck with Peter and the moody mutant. Neither were terrible company but they lacked a good sense of humor, something that Kitty delighted in.
"Oof," he exaggerated at her touch but quickly give her a big hug, using it to pull her off the ground in a happy greeting. In fact, he was happy enough to forgive her soapy hands, even if they did get him messy. It was also true that people had to let Jean-Paul grow on them or they'd never get along and he knew those on both sides of that argument. He just wasn't quick to trust others and his immature attitude often got on others' nerves, except for the students. They seemed to enjoy it.
"Yep, just ran in." The mood fell instantly as he got a good look at Kitty, noticing the fresh scar that definitely wasn't there before he left. Honestly, he didn't think she looked or smelled bad at all and any thought of that would be completely gone now that he was drowning in even more concern. Ignoring all her other questions, which they could talk about later, he tensed up. "Kitty," he started, lifting a thumb to graze over the edge of her face, his own contracting with premature lines, "what happened?" He knew the answer to that already without the full details and his jaw set as he got even angrier. He never thought about how his friends might have been hurt in the fight - they were all supposed to be invicible, mutants that no one else could touch. That wasn't the truth, of course, but he always hoped it was.