Who: Illyana and Kitty Where: From the house to Illyana’s store What: Kitty shows Illyana her house, and they have emotional friendliness When: Before the wedding announcement Warnings/Rating: PG-13 Status Complete
Illyana was excited, bouncy, hopeful, really. She had managed to talk Kitty into taking her to see the store she supposedly owned. And to help her find out about how it was doing. She wanted to know. She was feeling better than she could remember feeling since she had woken up.
She was garbed in a sundress and sandal, things she had been bought by her amazing friends. She felt rather verklempt. Her friends were making her return to life something amazing, and she sometimes didn’t know how to react. She felt like she should be even more giving, more helping, more enthusiastic.
She just didn’t know how to be.
So here she was, bouncing, eyes warm as she waited for Kitty.
Kitty was wearing a nice pair of skinny jeans and a large flowy blue shirt. She generally avoided dresses if she could help it(save for really special occasions and dates), but wanted to dress nice to match Illyana. She came out of the bathroom as she finished brushing her hair. She’d recently cut it into a pixie type cut and it still felt weird.
“Ready to go?”
Illyana approved of this new haircut, even if it interfered with certain friendly dreams she had. She reached out to slide a hand across Kitty's scalp with a grin. She knew it was silly. She didn't care.
"I'm ready."
Kitty purred, her hair one of her greatest weaknesses. Hair pets were her favorite thing. "We'll take the car as that dress isn't motorcycle friendly. Easier to talk that way, too."
Illyana smirked. "Da. Flashing half the interstate might be fun, another day." She grinned. "Thank you for this."
She was hoping for a fun day.
Putting her arm around Illyana, Kitty led her outside, and to the car. There were three vehicles now. Xi’an’s, the motorcycle, and the truck that Kitty had bought. She thought it would be useful for moving things.
It was blue.
She climbed in after opening the doors.
Illyana stoppe for a moment, staring, then shook her head and chuckled as she slipped into the truck. “A blue pickup truck? Truly you are more American than Apple Pie, Kitty.” She licked her lips at this saying.
“Oh, thank god. I was afraid between this and the haircut you were going to call me something else.” Kitty laughed, buckling up. She revved up the motor and pulled out of the driveway. The pickup drove smoothly and was very quiet. Kitty took a shortcut she knew,
“You mean butch?” Illyana stuck out her tongue. “You are a very sexy woman, Kitty. And I know you squeak when poked.” She chuckled. Buckling and smiling, she listened and watched. “Do I... did I know how to drive?” There was still so much she did not know.
"I'm too girly to be butch," Kitty replied, grinning. She focused on the road, glancing occasionally at her friend. It felt like most of the people that meant the most to her were slowly migrating to this area. All she needed was Rachel and she'd probably be set.
"You couldn't drive. No license. And I think you were pretty terrible."
Illyana chuckled. “Da. You are.” She lapsed into silence and settled quietly to watch and think. She liked being around Kitty. there was a self-assuredness with her, and they did not have the ‘tear each other’s clothes off’ issue that seemed to sometimes overwhelm her and Clarice. She grinned. A wonderful issue, mind you. One she needed to read again.
“No? Terrible? Hm. Sad-making. Ah well, I will just have to beg you and Clarice for rides everywhere.” she made a cute face at Kitty.
"Yeah, for the safety of the rest of the road," Kitty replied, grinning. She pulled into commercial neighborhood, and found Illyana's shop. It was a magic shop tucked into the corner of a strip mall. "You and Clarice don't need rides anywhere, woman."
Kitty parked, she got out and led Illyana into the shop. It was filled with books and statues and all the nicknacks you expected, but the real secret were the ingredients, tarot cards, and other things with real power.
Illyana deadpanned. “But you give such nice rides.” then she smirked and slid out after Kitty, following with a bounce in her step. That bounce faded as she slowed inside, eyes wide and looked around. It felt familiar, but was completely alien at the same time. Damn.
She wandered around almost immediately, sensations filling her as she felt things around her. She breathed in the dust and the smell and something more and her eyes lidded halfway as she took a deeper breath yet. Without knowing it, she fell into a more confident, more sensual step, as she moved about, not quite touching things, not knowing where to look, what to do.
“Krasivaya” The Russian word for beautiful fell from her lips with an almost unconscious gasp.
"Yeah, isn't it?" Kitty had dated a Russian long enough to remember certain words, and that was one of them.
The scent of the store was heady. The woman that Kitty had hired to keep the store afloat had aired it out recently. "You'll have to meet the person that kept it going while you were...gone."
Illyana glanced over then nodded, and was back to herself just that fast, then moved to Kitty “I would like that, da. I am very thankful.” She looked around, smiling. “I like this, a lot.” She shivered. “It feels homey, somehow.” The sensations were heady, indeed.
"I get the heebie jeebies." Kitty put an arm around Illyana and squeezed her tight. "It's like a home to you, I think. You always had a link to magic. I mean you were Magik." Kitty wondered where the Soul Sword had gotten. Illyana had pulled it out of her, but had it gone back after her death? Or gone into someone else, like Kurt.
Illyana hugged Kitty. “Don’t want you getting those.” She hugged Kitty again and smiled, kissing her cheek. “I wish I could remember all these things. But they are mostly still blanks to me.” She did not like it. It felt weird, and like a hole was in her mind, her heart, and her body.
She giggled, then, thinking how Clarice was filling all the holes she needed filled, in her body anyway.
"It'll come to you. I hope. You're remembering some things, right? So it might just be...we need to be patient." Kitty. Patient. Ahah.
She gave Illyana a bit of a look, as though she knew exactly where the woman’s brain was going.
“Some yes. I want more, now.” She nodded, not quite petulantly. Okay, maybe a little petulantly. She grinned at Kitty with big eyes and a big grin. And with her tongue hanging out the side of her mouth.
Just because.
Kitty tried to keep a straight face, and succeeded for all of 3 seconds before she doubled over, laughing. It was a happy, clear sound, and the kind of belly laugh she hadn’t had in months.
Illyana smiled, satisfied that her work there was done. Then she pounced and tickled, because it seemed that sort of moment.
Heh.
Squealing, Kitty flailed and tried to get her friend back. She phased to escape, then pounced Illyana and tickled her, a triumphant grin on her face!
Illyana growled and pouted when Kitty phased, then squeaked when she was pounced, and flailed. “No fair!” She laughed and wiggled, and poked back, attempting to tickle in turn and just enjoying herself. When she finally ran out of air and energy she laughed and lay there making faces at Kitty and more than likely flashing her as her dress had ridden up quite a bit. It was not made for tickle warfare!
Kitty sat up, looking down at her. She tilted her head and snickered. “Do I want to know where you got a thong like that?”
Illyana looked down at the rather small and nearly transparent scap of silk imprinted with the face of mickey mouse and laughed. “I have no idea? It was in the closet. I need to go shopping soon. I am thinking of dragging you along so i can buy many embarrassing outfits to make Clarice blush with.” She nodded firmly.
Then she looked at Kitty. “I also need razors.”
"Razors?" Kitty was okay with going shopping for embarrassing things. Her wedding was coming up. She'd need honeymoon supplies. And babysitters. She grinned mischievously at Illyanna.
Illyana nodded. “There is grooming to be done, in a fun way.” She waggled her eyebrows, thin that they were. “And we can make like silly people and plan out fun things for our girls.”
“Fun things for our girls?” Kitty asked. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know. “Speaking of fun things, we’ll need someone to watch the twins while we’re on our honeymoon...” A big mega hint hint hint!
"Da. Toys!" She grinned. She loved to tease her friend. When Kitty spoke, Illuana nodded. "Of course. I will do it. Clarice might even keep their innocent minds safe."
She grinned cheekily.
“Oh.” Kitty turned red, but she didn’t move, and fought through her embarrassment. She leaned in and whispered a few kinky suggestions into Illyana’s ear. Then she sat back up and grinned again. “And thanks. I really appreciate it. Just..try to wear a top around Leong? I swear that boy has a crush on the both of you.”
Illyana listened and nodded eagerly. "Mmmm, definitely." She smirked, hands resting on Kitty's hips.
"I suppose I must. I would not want Clarice to kill him. " Then she grinned wickedly. "Only a top?" She laughed, teasing.
“No nakedness, no open doors, no sexy stuff where the kids could walk in on you and for god’s sake I soundproofed all the bedrooms for a reason.” Hers included. Duh. Kitty was giving Illyana a very stern look, which only came off as unreasonably cute with her new haircut.
"Da. I was teasing you, sexy butt. We will be good." Illyana smiled softly. "No sex ed for them."
“Not until they’re fifty.” Kitty hopped to her feet and held her hand out to her friend. “Get up, you’re going to get that pretty dress dirty! And we have more store to check out.”
Illyana laughed then nodded. She bounced up with help from Kitty, then grinned at her. “More store? What more’s in store?” She peered around, curious now, wanting to see everything. “Is this really mine? Because it feels... more.”
“Stuff in the back. I know there’s a lot of herbs you have. There was a garden that Romany was growing before she gave you the shop...” Kitty frowned at the name, then shrugged her shoulder. “I think your sole employee has kept it up since then.”
“Romany? She owned it before? What was she like?” She caught the frown and frowned too. “Or should I not ask?” She listened. “I definitely want to meet this employee and learn more about everything!”
“She was an odd duck. British, and kind of strange, but it turned out she wasn’t who she said she was. So I don’t...know. It’s complicated and I don’t even know the whole story.” Kitty shrugged her shoulder. “What’s important is it’s yours now.”
Illyana smiled, and nodded. “Okay.” She resolved to so some digging later. Maybe when she remembered more, she would know more. She sighed. “I wish I remembered more now.”
She hugged Kitty and looked around. “Show me these herbs and this garden? I want to see it all.”
Nodding her head, Kitty put her arm around Illyana and guided her into the small little office in the back. In addition to a shiny computer, there were racks of indoor greenhouses, filled to the brim with herbs.
Illyana followed her and peered around, and went to those greenhouses and herbs and peered over and under. There was so much to see and smell and take in and her eyes were wide as she tried to sort everything in her head. Fingers touched leaves carefully, hesitantly, and with love. “So much... so beautiful.”
"I'm glad you think so." Kitty sat on the edge of the desk, fidgeting a little nervously. She watched how Illyana took everything in very closely and the smile on her face was more emotional than she realized.
Illyana turned to Kitty and smiled. “Thank you, Kitty.” She moved and hugged her friend, hard and warm. “Thank you for being amazing and for being the best best friend anyone could want.” Her own voice was thick with emotion and there might have been a sniffle.
Kitty tried to speak, but she was too choked up. She wrapped her arms around Illyana. Her voice was thick and weepy. "I just...it was all we had left of you and I didn't want to let it go because it meant you'd be gone forever."
Illyana snuggled her close. “I’m back and I’m healthy, and I’m staying and you are a big softy kitty and I love you.” She was sniffling more and possibly crying now and unsure what to think or say or feel but she knew she liked this person. “You are very much a softy and I would have you no other way.”
Resting her cheek on Illyana's cheek, Kitty closed her eyes, and rocked her as they hugged. "There isn't anyone else, Illyana. Except for when I was sick with the flu, the only one manning the shop has been me. I didn't even tell Clarice about it."
She'd wanted to be..her thing. Her last link to Illyana and no one elses. A little selfish, but she wanted to hold onto it until she'd have no choice but to sell.
“Oh,. Kitty...” She hugged her tighter and kissed her cheek, and cried openly. Maybe a little quietly, but still! too much emotion! “My silly koshka.” The Russian word for she-cat slipped out and she hugged her tight, then smiled. “Thank you for taking care of this place. Thank yu for being my friend even when I could not know.” She sighed and rested against Kitty, and held her, smiling.
Sniffling, Kitty hugged Illyana tighter, her fingers digging into the other woman's arms. "Always, Yana, always."
Illyana hugged Kitty and smiled, holding her close. “Come, we should have tea, and snuggle and talk, and not cuddle like this or people will talk.”
And just to be helpful, of course, she moved one hand to place it on Kitty’s butt. “Like if I were to cup your butt like this, they would think maybe we were being naughty.” She was helpful! really!
"Like anyone will come into the shop this time of day." Kitty laughed, hips jerking at the butt grope. She smacked Yana's hand playfully. She got a lot of her regular work done, all she needed was a laptop and the internet, really. She could do it from anywhere, so tending the shop hadn't been a real hardship.
Kitty chewed her lip. If there were people who weren't Xi'an that she could see herself with, Illyana was near the top of the list.
Illyana laughed and pulled her hand away, then nodded, and peered at her. “Thank you, really. For doing this and being here. I know you were friends with the previous me and you and I are friends now, but... thank you.”
Illyana was attracted to Kitty. She thought she was intelligent and quirky and wilder than Clarice in some ways. She was growing to be very content and very in relationship with Clarice, but that did not mean she hadn’t thought about Kitty, a lot.
"Thank you sweet heart." Kitty wiped at her eyes. She rested her face on Illyana's shoulder and squeezed her tight. She was so happy, and a little bittersweet sad. She wanted her friend to remember everything. She wanted things to be how they were, even if they never could be. They'd have to build anew.
She was surprisingly okay with that.
Illyana smiled softly and hugged Kitty, stroking her back, and just holding her, thinking of weird days gone by and new days to come. She wanted her memories back, but there was a growing fear in her. She was different from the Illyana of before. She knew it. what if, when the memories came back, so did that Illyana? What would happen to her?
Would she be gone?
She didn’t want to go.
Kitty rubbed her back as if sensing her anxiety. "You know, I only have two me's to deal with. You have like four you's if you count dream you and the queen of limbo. But if you ever need to talk, I can listen."
Illyana snuggled closer. “I am not even sure if I know how to be the Illyana you know. I mean, I remember some of what she remembered, and feel some of it now, but I also feel different, and still un... un-me.” She didn’t know if she would be the Illyana they knew, or forever a fourth one.
“You’re still Illyana,” Kitty assured her, kissing her cheek. “And you’ll always be Illyana, uniquely you. I think that’s what matters.”
Illyana blushed and smiled softly. “Thank you.” She was not so sure. She didn’t know who she was, really, not yet. And she hoped she was as good as the former Illyana had been. Argh.
“Thank you.” She nodded and then hugged Kitty one more time, sneaking in a grope, then chuckling. “Show me more?”
“Dangerous words, Rasputin.” Kitty smiled at her, then straightened herself out. “Come on, I think you’ll like this next thing...”