Stray Cat

Disclaimer: Xmen, New Mutants etc...not mine. Kara and her nameless "Master"....Mine. No money...no sue.
For me this is a very dialogue heavy chapter...but fear not...there is finally some real sex in there. Hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed writing it. This is the final chapter...at least for now.

Over the next few weeks, page after page of carefully written work appeared on the teacher’s desk. Each one was carefully signed, “Kara.” The Professor, seeing this as a positive sign, failed to notice the girl’s continued withdrawal. Kitty, however, missed little. When she discovered her friend had begun to write, she pressed Kara for an explanation for her withdrawal. Kara, she found, would only answer those questions she wished to answer. Hoping to loosen her up, Kitty introduced her to computers, email, and instant messaging, even giving her a laptop she wasn’t using anymore. Unfortunately, it backfired. Kara spent even more time alone. She would respond to any message sent her, but her answers were quite formal and held little personal content. Kitty was frustrated, but refused to give up as she was the only friend Kara seemed to have left.

The only other person who matched Kitty’s persistence was Roberto Da Costa. Disappointed with Kara’s terse responses to his emails and her lack of attendance at her once-loved mutantball games, he began shadowing her after class. After several days, he managed to catch her alone.

“Hey Kara! Wait up!” She had been moving quickly down the hall, but she turned at the sound of her name. She waited with a pensive look on her face as he approached.

“We’ve really been missing you at the games. We’d really like you to come back.” He smiled his most charming smile, but she shook her head. “Come on. Why?” She hefted her knapsack in answer. “You can’t be spending all your time studying. You’ve only got two classes.” She shrugged, shuffling slowly away from him.

“Well, maybe I could help you study then. I’m free this afternoon.” He moved closer to her. She gave a weak smile but shook her head no again. “Come on, Kara. I like you. I know you’re not hanging with Nightcrawler anymore, so what’s the problem? Don’t you like me?”

Kara shrugged, then turned to leave. Roberto reached out to stop her, “I just want to…yeowch!” When his hand touched her shoulder, she whirled and shoved with both hands. She backed away from him as red dots of blood seeped through his shirt. Stunned he looked down at his bleeding chest. “What did you do that for? I just wanted to talk to you.” By the time he looked up, all he could see was her fleeting form as she turned a corner and vanished.

“Ouch. That’s what I get for being pushy.” Not wishing to answer questions and feeling vaguely guilty, Roberto hurried to his own room to check the damage and change clothes.

Meanwhile Kurt and the other XMen found themselves caught up in a protracted hunt for a group of fugitive mutants wanted for robbing several banks. They relied heavily on Logan’s tracking skills and spent much of their time waiting in motel rooms for their next lead. With so little to occupy his attention, Kurt found himself brooding over Kara’s desertion. It wasn’t long before his teammates began to notice his uncharacteristic seriousness.

“Why the long face, sugah?” Rogue stooped to pull out a pudding cup from the motel’s mini-fridge before plopping down on the beige loveseat. Kurt was perched on a chair pretending to watch passing traffic through a gap in the blinds.

“Just thinking.” He hunched his shoulders and flicked his tail unconsciously. He wished he could find someplace private, but he’d scare the life out of the other motel guests if he wandered outside. With the whole team crowded into this suite they were using as their “headquarters” it was impossible to be alone.

“What about?” Rogue persisted, then slowly licked pudding from her spoon as she waited for an answer.

“Nothing.” He continued to stare out the window. He heard Rogue sigh behind him.

“Mighty big nothin’, if ya ask me. You’ve been moping ever since we left the institute.”

“I am not moping.” His tail flicked again.

“Uh huh…Look, you can either tell me, or you can tell Jean. Ah got the short straw.”

“The what?” He turned to look at her for the first time.

“The short straw…you know. Ah lost.” She grimaced as she scraped the bottom of her pudding cup.

“Oh, that makes me feel so much better.”

“Yeah, it should. Could be Jean, and no matter what she says, Ah know she snoops.” She pointed her spoon at him for emphasis. “Or can you imagine pouring your heart out to ‘Roro?” She rolled her eyes.

“I have no intention of ‘pouring my heart out’ to anyone.” Nightcrawler scowled at her.

“O.K. Then I guess it’s twenty questions. Seein’ as how I’m bored out of ma skull, Ah’ve got plenty of time, honey.” Rogue tossed the empty pudding cup and plastic spoon in the wastebasket and sprawled across the loveseat. “Does your ‘nothing’ have a name?” She waited a handful of heartbeats before answering her own question. “Betcha it’s ‘Kara.’”

Nightcrawler looked around and realized that they were actually alone in this half of the suite. He sighed. “Where is everyone?”

“Jean and ‘Roro are keeping everybody out from underfoot for a bit.” Rogue smiled brightly. “So…You’ve been Mr. Bluer-than-usual since she dumped you.”

“She didn’t dump me… There was nothing going on between us. She just left.” His tail thumped against the chair leg.

“Then why do ya look like someone shot your dog? Why’d she leave?”

“I…I’m not sure. We had a…disagreement.” His tail twitched nervously, he couldn’t seem to keep it still.

“How do you have a ‘disagreement’ with a girl who don’t talk?” Rogue sat up and leaned forward, curiosity piqued. When Kurt didn’t answer she smirked.

“You’re not real good at lyin’ are ya?”

“We had a disagreement… she misunderstood something and ran off before I could explain.” Kurt wrapped his tail around the bottom rung of his chair to stop its restless motions.

“So why’s she been avoiding you? And Kitty too? What’d ya do?”

“Me! I didn’t do anything! She…” He clamped his mouth shut, glad that his fur hid his blush.

“Let me see ifAh got this right… Nothing was going on and she did something, you didn’t, then she got upset and left…” Rogue said thoughtfully, then sat up straight. “Oh! Ya really are the last boy scout aintcha?”

“The last what?” Kurt did not like where this was leading.

“Boy scout Oh! And that’s why Kitty is pissed. She was so sure you two had hit it off.”

“Is nothing in my life private?” Kurt hung his head in his hands.

“Nope. Not ‘round here.” Rogue rested her chin in her hand philosophically. “Why’d you turn her down? Any fool can tell ya got it real bad.”

“Got what?” He blinked, his command of English slang failing him at the moment.

“Got it. For her. For Kara. Or ya wouldn’t be so bummed out.” Rogue rolled her eyes at his denseness.

“It doesn’t matter. She made a mistake…She was confused. She’ll be grateful one day that nothing happened.” He said through gritted teeth.

“Grateful…What the hell Kurt?” Rogue looked truly concerned now.

“I am…” He paused for a moment, searching for words. “Look at me. What can I offer a woman? A life in hiding? Waiting for someone who may not come home? And what woman would ever chance having a child of mine?”

Rogue sputtered. “Do you really think that Kurt? You are one of the sweetest, kindest, funniest men I’ve ever met. If I had a sister, I couldn’t think of a better guy for her.”

“But not you. Or Jean. Or Kitty. Or Ororo. Or any of the other women at the Institute.” Kurt’s voice was bitter, cold.

“Kurt…” Rogue was speechless, grasping. “Ah…Ah can’t touch anyone. If Ah thought Ah could… If there was a way... Ah try not to think about anyone that way… but if Ah could, blue and furry wouldn’t stop me.” Rogue fell silent a moment. “Ah can’t speak for the others. Jean fell for Scott long time ‘fore anyone else showed up…Kitty’s had it for Peter forever…Ororo … she’s so private about some things…Ah have no idea.”

“There are things about me…no one knows. From before I joined the XMen. I’m not as…sweet…as you think I am. Kara…is better off without me.” Kurt closed his eyes, wishing Rogue would just drop it.

“I doubt it. Kitty’s been spamming my email about that girl. I don’t think she’s ‘better off.’”

“What?” Suddenly, she had the man’s full attention.

“Don’t know all the details. Maybe Petey does. Somethin’ to do with Sunspot. Something neither one of them wants reported to the Professor.” Kurt’s eyes narrowed at the mention of Sunspot’s name.

“If he’s touched her…” The chair creaked as Kurt’s tail tightened around the bottom rung.

“From what Ah hear, she’s the one what drew blood.”

“Bamf.” Kurt vanished in a puff of purple smoke.

“Well, guess that’s better than mopin’.” Rogue stretched out on the loveseat, grabbed the remote and flipped on the T.V.

In the next room, Colossus suddenly found himself accosted by a very serious Nightcrawler. “Yes Kurt?”

“Tell me what is going on with Kara and Sunspot. Now.” Peter’s eyebrows climbed towards his hairline.

“I know very little, only that Kitty thinks it is responsible for Kara’s odd behavior. You should ask Kitty.”

“What odd behavior?”

“According to Kitty, she sees no one else outside of class. She keeps to her room and it’s always dimly lit. Kitty thinks she goes out on the grounds at night, but hasn’t actually seen her. She will respond to emails and notes, but her answers are quite formal and short.”

“This is not good. Why did no one tell me? No one even told me she was writing.”

“You didn’t ask.” Peter shrugged.

A few moments later, Kurt was on the phone with Kitty.

“I’m not sure what happened, Kurt. Kara’s not telling me anything. ‘Berto seems pretty confused, but he’s not lying about the marks. I’ve seen them.”

“Why didn’t you tell me, Kitty?”

“I don’t know…At first I was mad at you. But, now, I just wish you guys would come home. I don’t want to go to the Prof about this, but I’m in way over my head here.”

“I need to talk to her. You said this started when she moved out?” Kurt ran his fingers through his hair nervously.

“Yeah. Took me a while to catch on ‘cause I was so busy with school. But yeah, I think so.”

“Do you think she will see me?”

“I don’t know. Probably. Try emailing her. Her ID on the school’s system is ‘Silence.’ She’s like, totally compulsive about answering emails. Even if it is just to blow you off.”

“Call me right away if something else happens. If we don’t get a break sometime today, I will head home on my own.”

“O.K. Bye, Kurt.”

“Goodbye, Kitty.”

Taking Kitty’s suggestion, Kurt emailed Kara and received a prompt, if terse response. Two days later, he found himself in front of Kara’s door. Hoping to keep things relaxed with a private dinner for two, he was laden with a tray of steaming food. He was fumbling with it when the door opened in front of him. He smiled nervously as Kara waved him in. She was wearing something red and loose, like a caftan. She padded barefoot across the Persian rug to a low table flanked by cushions. She sank down gracefully on the cushion facing the door. Kurt swung the door shut behind him with his tail and deposited the tray on the table, taking the cushion opposite Kara’s.

Unsure of how to start, Kurt busied himself with the tray’s contents. He looked up when Kara offered him a cold bottle of his favorite imported beer. “Thank you. Where did you get this?” He asked curiously. She smiled slightly and shrugged, fingers curling around a can of soda.

As they ate, he made small talk, asking about Kara’s classes and other subjects he hoped would be neutral. He watched her as they ate, stealing quick glances between bites. The dim light was no barrier to his night vision as he studied her face. With her so close, he couldn’t deny how her absence had left an emptiness in his life. He sighed. She looked up at him, her expression questioning.

“I…I’ve missed you Kara.” The words hung in the air between them. She dropped her eyes to her plate, avoiding his. He bit his lip. He meant to say he was worried about her, but what came out was: “I want you to come back.” She looked pained at that. That said, he could only go forward now.

“I’ve been thinking about the night you left a great deal. I’m sorry about how things went. You…you caught me by surprise. I didn’t handle it well.” He waited for some response, but got none. “I thought I was protecting you. From me. Not just what I was. But…but what I am. I can’t offer any sort of…normal life. But maybe that doesn’t matter?” He looked at Kara, she’d let her hair fall forward to hide her face, her hands were clasped white-knuckled before her.

“Kara?” She didn’t look up. So he continued. “I am trying to say that if you…I mean I’m hoping that your feelings haven’t changed.” He watched as a tear fell onto her clasped hand, sliding slowly over her fingers. “Kara? Please look at me. Even if you aren’t interested in …in that anymore, I’m still here for you. I’m worried about you.” He reached to touch her hand, but she flinched, rising from her cushion and backing away, face still shrouded, hands tucked into her sleeves.

“Kara?” He moved towards her and she backed away again. Confused he stopped. “Maybe this was a mistake. I’m sorry. I’ll…I’ll go.” He turned to leave.

“Kurt…don’t…” The voice was choked, so quiet he wasn’t sure he’d actually heard it. He turned and advanced on the girl.

“What did you say?”

“Don’t go.” It was barely more than a whisper. This time she held her ground as he approached. She extended one hand, palm up. Kurt took it, puzzled. She flexed her fingers and claws glinted in the dim light, then vanished, slipping beneath her human fingernails.

“I don’t understand.” She pulled her hand back and reached for a lamp. She pulled the shade from it, bathing her face in light. In the glare her eyes narrowed to slits…but, she hadn’t shifted. She tucked her hair behind one ear with a shaking hand and he could see it was pointed, its shape changing slowly even as he watched. Now he could see the fine fur creeping across her forehead and cheeks, slowly covering it like a grey mist.

“I can’t stay human anymore.” She whispered, not meeting his gaze.

“Kara…what is this?” Kurt still didn’t quite understand what was happening. This wasn’t a form he’d seen before, he was sure. And her shifts had always been accomplished quickly, much too fast to follow. Kara replaced the lamp shade and walked over to her small writing desk where her laptop sat open. She punched a few keys, then turned it around so that Kurt could see the screen. Kurt stepped forward to read the title recognizing it as one of Dr. Mccoy’s papers: “Spontaneous Secondary Mutation: Effects and rate of incidence in non-latent mutants.”

“Secondary mutation? Mein Gott! How long has this been happening Kara? Why didn’t you tell us?” He crossed the room to grasp her by the shoulders, she looked frightened. “You shouldn’t have to deal with this alone.” She refused to meet his gaze and he could feel her trembling. By now, her features were sheathed in a short silvery pelt. “Did you think we wouldn’t want you here?” She made a choking sound. Comprehension dawned on him. “You thought I wouldn’t want you.” She nodded without looking up.

“It happened before…” Unable to think of a better response, Kurt took her face in both of his hands. She didn’t resist as he turned her face up to meet his lips. He began to kiss her, tasting the salt of her tears on her lips. After a moment she began to respond and he slipped his arms around her drawing her closer. Suddenly, she began to pull away, pushing against him with carefully balled fists. “No… I’ll hurt you.” He caught her wrists and held them tightly. He studied her tortured expression. Suddenly, all the details of her “Master’s” cruel punishment and final abandonment made sense.

“It was an accident, wasn’t it Kara? Like Roberto.” Her eyes widened.

“I didn’t know. I didn’t understand how…He was so angry…The blood…so much blood.” She began to pull against his grasp, as if she could run away from the memory. Run like she had the night she broke his mirror. He held her tighter.

“You can’t hurt me, Kara. Not unless I let you.” He continued to hold her wrists tightly as she pulled harder against him. “If you can’t trust yourself, then trust me.” He continued to hold fast against her struggles until she began to relax, then he drew her closer. For a long while he just held her firmly, refusing to let her go. Finally, she relaxed into his embrace, but he could feel her flesh writhing, looking down he could see a desperate struggle to hold her human form playing across her features.

“You’re fighting it aren’t you?…If it is secondary mutation, you can’t stop it, Kara.” He spoke gently. She continued to struggle, panting with the effort.

“What am I? What if I can’t change back?” Her voice was pained, verging on despair. Her eyes were wild, pupils dilated with fright.

“I will still be here. Relax and see where the change takes you. Trust me. You can’t hurt me.” He wrapped his tail tightly around her waist and took her face in his hands again, drawing her into another kiss. He shamelessly played on the conditioning he knew must be there, filling her mind with her need to please him. He slipped the caftan from her shoulders, releasing her only long enough to let it fall from her body. As her resistance faded, her body began to change more quickly. Clad now only in her bodysuit, he could not only see the fine silvery fur covering her body, he could feel it as he allowed his hands to explore, keeping her distracted. She moaned as he touched the small of her back and allowed his hand to drift lower, discovering that she now had a long cat-like tail, covered with longer silky fur.

Glancing over her shoulder, he spotted what must be a mirror, carefully covered with a sheet. He began slowly removing her body suit, unzipping it at the seams and letting it fall away. Now she made no pretense of resistance as her hands began to roam across his body, plucking at the buttons of his shirt, slipping inside to stroke his ribs and chest. He began to kiss her even more aggressively as he guided her towards the mirror, at last reaching out to slip the sheet from its frame. He gasped as she slipped her hands into the waistband of his pants reaching downwards towards his tail. He pushed her gently away, and, satisfied that her change was complete, turned her around to face her image. He wrapped his tail around her waist as he leaned her body back against his chest. Together they studied her new form.

She was covered from hairline to toes in a fine silvery fur, standing out in bright contrast to his own indigo color, almost ghostly in the dim light. Her body and posture had changed subtly, shifting her balance to the balls of her feet. Her eyes were still green-gold, but cat-slitted. Faintly defined lines marked her forehead and eyes as well as rings around the last quarter of her long graceful tail. Unlike her transitional form, which was almost sexless, this one was undeniably feminine. Her lips, the palms and soles of her feet, and her nipples were the only visible skin not covered by fur.

“What am I?” She whispered, eyes wide. He felt her body grow tense against his.

“You are beautiful.” Kurt whispered and began to slowly caress her body as she leaned against him. Her eyes were glued to her image in the mirror, fascinated. He began murmuring in German as he kissed and nibbled at the back of her neck and her shoulders. When he started to purr she pressed even closer, pinning his erection between their bodies. He allowed one hand to slip between her legs and she gasped. He smiled into her hair as he found one more spot not covered with fur. He played with her inner lips and gently stroked her, causing her to writhe against his body. She was panting now, her hands urging his to touch her even more intimately. Swinging her up into his arms, he carried her over to her bed, placing her in the center. Then he stretched out next to her, meeting her lips again.

Claws momentarily forgotten, Kara quickly stripped him of his shirt. When she began tugging at his pants impatiently, he batted her hands away, preferring to slip them off himself so that his tail wouldn’t be caught in the fabric. All trace of shyness gone, Kara’s hands roamed freely across his body, making it hard to think. Mindful of her claws, Kurt captured her hands, pinning them at her sides with his own as he began to explore her body with mouth and tail. She resisted briefly, then lay back as he suckled at one breast, then the other while his tail snaked between them. He could feel her tail undulating slowly, tickling the inside of his thighs. She gasped when the spade-like tip of his tail found its mark, teasing her. He shifted, allowing his erection to press against her thigh as his tail continued to play across her pleasure center. Now he could reach her lips and trailed kisses from her collar bone to her lips and back again. She was panting and straining against him, hips rising, seeking the tail teasing at her swollen nether lips. He claimed her mouth with his own one more time as he slipped the tip of his tail inside her.

She moaned into his mouth and her body shuddered as he began to move his tail slowly, exploring her with its sensitive tip. He began to stroke her in earnest, never releasing his hold on her wrists. He could barely resist the urge to plunge his aching erection into her body as she moved ever closer to a climax. But, first, he wanted to see if her fears were grounded in reality and he held tightly to his self control. Soon her body began to shudder under his as she reached her pinnacle. He felt her hands ball into fists, but a quick glance showed him no claws, so he released her, allowing her to embrace him. She held him tightly for several moments, before her hands began roaming again, her lips nibbling at his neck and chin.

Unable to stand it any longer, Kurt groaned and shifted once more so that his erection now rested at her entrance. Her hips rose beneath him and looking down, he could see her biting her lip. Her hands slipped downwards to his hips and urged him forward with steady pressure. Pulling her close, he allowed himself to slip into her tight wetness. He heard her satisfied sigh as he began to slowly thrust, willing himself to go slow. Kara, however had other ideas as she rose to meet him, her teeth latching onto the join of neck and shoulder, partially unsheathed claws raking down his back. Unable to contain his lust anymore, his body took over, all thoughts of gentleness overwhelmed by raw need. His thrusts became harder, almost violent as he drove recklessly toward his own climax. Kara met him thrust for thrust, mouth and hands driving him on anytime he began to slow. She bit him again as her body shuddered against his, a low growl rumbling from her chest. He felt his own climax building as her sheath tightened around him. Finding her momentarily pliant, he pinned her to the bed as he began his final thrusts, hard and merciless. Finally, a deep growl was ripped from his throat as he thrust one last time into her body. After a timeless moment, he allowed himself to collapse against her, panting.

When he was capable once more of coherent thought, he rolled aside. Suddenly worried he had gone too far, he searched her face anxiously. Kara’s solemn gaze held his for a moment, before a slow smile spread across her lips. She snuggled against him with a contented sigh. They lay there a long time, slowly caressing and kissing. Kurt marveled at the soft, sensuous texture of her fur, much shorter and finer than his own blue pelt. He caught her tail in one hand and as it curled around his palm, he wondered at the differences. Hers was lithe and flexible, but lacked the strength and dexterity that his tail possessed. Her features still said “Kara” and anyone who knew her would recognize her. He said as much, then began kissing her again. Holding her close, he paused.

“I’m not going anywhere Kara. But, just so we know…Can you change back?” Suddenly anxious, she looked at him for a long moment, then closed her eyes. Her flesh rippled beneath his hands and fur and tail receded. Her brows furrowed in concentration briefly and her features seemed to “snap” back into their familiar, human shape. She opened her eyes and flexed her fingers. She moaned in despair as claws slipped in and out of hiding.

“I can’t…they won’t…” He stroked her hair soothingly, trying to keep her calm.

“It’s close enough, don’t worry. Is it when you get upset that you can’t hold this form?” She nodded slowly, but looked as if she wished to say something. “Something else?”

“I…now I change…when I’m not careful…when I’m tired…I…This isn’t me anymore. It’s a…a mask.” She was struggling to explain what had happened. Kurt continued to soothe her as he thought this over.

“I think I understand…This new form seems to be your ‘resting form’ now, when it used to be your human one? I believe that’s the term the Professor uses. Your resting form is the one that is easiest to maintain, even if you were injured or unconscious.” The girl nodded vigorously, relieved that someone understood what she hadn’t been able to express. He looked at her again, thoughtfully.

“Can you change back now?” Kara nodded, closing her eyes briefly. This time the change was much swifter, effortless. Kurt nuzzled her neck, a purr began to rumble from his chest. “I think I like this one better.” Then he proceeded to prove it.