The day passed like any other. I made more deliveries, took shortcuts due to traffid kept my eyes out for trouble. The city seemed calmer than usual. By the time the afternoon rolled around, I was more than ready to call it a day. So, after rep back to work, I clocked out and headed home to get ready for my date.

  I took a quick shower and dressed up. A simple blue shirt, jacket and bck jeans. Nothing too fshy, just enough to look presentable. After a quick look in the mirror and a mental cheake sure I wasn't looking like a plete fool, I grabbed my keys.

  "Alright, time to go," I locked the door ao the little garage.

  Wait! It's our first date and I 't possibly take her out in that beat-up ine, I?

  It didn't take long to find a rental service. I rented a good car. The car wasn't too fancy or too cheap, and most importantly, it looked good. It's an Audi A6. I took a test drive around the block, cheg to make sure everything was in w order. Everything seemed fine, so I drove it to the mutant school.

  I was ten minutes early when I reached there.

  "Phew!"

  I took a few deep breaths as I parked the car and got out. I had been nervous before, but this felt different. Multiple retionships with Jean and Kitty where they are siderate of each other's feelings, well, I'm a lucky guy.

  Kitty soon came out and she was wearing a simple bck dress with her hair tied in a bun. She looked good as usual. Ohh, she put on some makeup, I see. I couldn't take my eyes off of her as she made her way towards me.

  "Hi," she said with a smile.

  "Hi," I replied with a smile. "You look... beautiful."

  "Thanks. You're not so bad yourself," she said, her cheeks blushing slightly. "So, where are we going?"

  "Truth be told, it was sudden and I didn't get enough time to pn things," I told her the truth. "But, how about a long drive and dinner, maybe a drive-in movie after? If you're ied, of course."

  "Sounds good," she replied, nodding. "And it's hat you're spontaneous. It's... exg."

  "Oh, I'm full of surprises," I chuckled as I opehe car's door for her. She smiled at me and got in. I closed the door and walked over to the driver's side and as I was about to get in, I saw Jubilee, Rogue, and Jean peeking their heads out of the door like three spirators. They even gave me a thumbs-up. I shook my head and got in.

  As I settled into the driver's seat, I caught Kitty gng over at me with a grin.

  "Something funny?" I asked, starting the engine.

  She ughed softly, shaking her head. "It's just... I saw Jean and the others spying on us."

  I chuckled. "Yeah, they're not very subtle, are they?"

  Kitty rolled her eyes pyfully. "Nope. But, it's sweet. They've been teasing me about this for weeks."

  I shot her a sideways gnce as I pulled out onto the road. "You? Nervous? I wouldn't have guessed."

  She shrugged, looking out the window with a slight smile. "I don't get nervous about many things, but this... I guess it's different."

  "Different how?"

  Kitty turned bae, her expression softening. "We've known each other for a while, right? But this... us... it feels like uncharted territory. I wao make sure I was ready before... well, before we did this."

  I nodded, appreciating her hoy. "I get it. It's a big deal. But we'll take it oep at a time. No pressure."

  Her smile widened. "I appreciate that."

  The tensioween us eased, and the atmosphere in the car felt lighter. We tinued driving through the city.

  "So," I said after a moment, gng at her. "You into drive-in movies, or did I just luck out with that suggestion?"

  She ughed, brushing a stray strand of hair behind her ear. "I love them. Jeao rent a car and we would often sneak out without permission. It was fun. Plus, you get to sit in a cozy car instead of those cramped theater seats."

  "Good to know. I think I've got the perfect spot in mind."

  "So, how's work?" she asked casually, leaning ba her seat. "Busy with deliveries?"

  "You know how it is. The city never sleeps, aher do the packages. It's been a little busy tely, but nothing I 't handle," I replied. Yeah, it's been a little too busy tely. Gotta put in some more effort. If not for these fug surveilnce cameras and shits all over the city, my job would have been much easier. I o find a mutant with teo ability or something simir. That way, I should be able to disable nearby cameras and all. Anyway, let's focus oe.

  Kitty nodded, her smile widening slightly. "Anythiing happeely?"

  Exg... Well, yeah. I just fueled a war in the mafia world. In a couple of days, I'm gonna start a war. End a couple of gangs together. That's kiing, right?

  I chuckled, keeping my voice light. "Exg? Not unless you t getting stu traffic for an hour or almost getting side-swiped by a cab. uing with a er about whether or not their package was insured. I swear, some people are just—"

  I stopped abruptly, realizing what I was saying. "Sorry. I guess I just o vent a little. I shouldn't be pining about my job on our first date."

  "It's alright," She ughed, shaking her head. "Sounds like the gmorous life of a delivery guy."

  "Yeah, I really live on the edge," I teased, grateful that the versation stayed focused on my day job. "Mostly it's just packages and paperwork. But every now and then, you run into something weird—like that guy who signed for a package wearing a bathrobe and snorkel mask."

  Kitty burst out ughing. "You're kidding!"

  "Nope. One hundred pert serious. I guess everyone's got their quirks."

  We tinued chatting and joking.

  After a rexing drive through the city, we ended up passing by a cozy little diner. I was ready to pull in and suggest dinner.

  "Actually," she said, "I was thinking... how about we grab some burgers and fries ahem at the drive-in? You know, something simple and fun."

  I agreed, loving the idea. "That sounds perfect."

  We pulled into the diner's parking lot, and I quickly ordered a couple of cheeseburgers, fries, a Mt. Dew for her, and a Coke for me. While we waited, we leaned against the hood of the car, chatting about random things: movies we liked, her favorite ice cream, and all those hings, you know, getting to know more about each other. It felt so natural, so fortable.

  After we picked up our order, I paid and we made our way toward the drive-in movie. It was a bit far, but it was ok.

  ..

  [Drive-in Movie]

  I found a good parking spot, and as soon as I turned off the engine, Kitty reached for the takeout bag. "This is way better than a fancy restaurant," she said, pulling out the fries. "Burger, fries, drinks, movies and you... It's the best."

  "We should do this more often then," I said as I uned my burger.

  "Yeah, we should. ime, maybe with Jean... You know, three of us together," Kitty said with a shy smile.

  "Sounds like a pn..." I replied.

  We munched on our burgers, ughing at the cheesy one-liners from the a fli the s and trading fries like it was the most natural thing in the world.

  There was something about the simplicity of it all... The food, the movie, and just being there together, made it feel like the perfect first date. No pretenses, no awkwardness, just... us.

  After a while, Kitty leaned back, her eyes on the s but her attention clearly elsewhere. "You know, this is nice. I was worried it would feel weird, going from friends to... this. But it doesn't."

  I gnced over at her, taking in how the glow of the movie flickered across her face. "Same here," I admitted. "But holy? I'm gd we're doing this. It feels... right."

  She smiled at that, a soft, tent smile. "Yeah. It does."

  We stayed like that for the rest of the movie, enjoying the movie, the food, and each other's pany. By the time the credits started rolling, the night air had cooled, and the city beyond the drive-in was calm and quiet. I couldn't help but feel like the night had goer than I could've hoped for. I mean, my first date with Jean got interrupted over and ain, but thankfully, tonight was good... Really good.

  "Ready to head back?" I asked, stretg my arms and gng over at Kitty.

  She nodded, but there was a warm glow in her eyes. "Yeah, but I had a really good time tonight."

  I smiled, starting the car. "Me too. Let's do this again sometime."

  "Definitely," she replied, settling ba her seat as we pulled out of the lot and headed back toward the school.

  As we drove through the city, the sileween us wasn't awkward or heavy. It eaceful, filled with the quiet uanding that this night—this first date—was just the beginning of something more. And for the first time in a long time, I felt like I didn't o rush. We had time, and I was okay with taking things slow.

  ----

  Chapter: Bck Widow

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