Masks: A tale of the X-Men
"Aren't we a little old for this?" the catgirl asked, reaching up to adjust the black ears she was wearing nervously. Kitty Pryde looked good in the simple one piece leotard, black stockings and elbow length gloves completing the outfit.
"You're never too old for costume parties," Rachel said firmly, her own black leather outfit clinging to the redhead's slim form. The dominatrix outfit was just barely decent, mostly consisting of black panties, a corset and a lot of leather straps.
"Who are you going as," Kitty sounded just a bit envious, "the Black Queen?"
Rachel just smirked, "Why not? My mom wore the costume, once."
'Right before she went Dark Phoenix on us,' Kitty thought but kept her mouth shut. "So what party are we going to?" she asked as they strode down the New York street together.
"We could always crash the Hellfire Club one," Rachel joked.
"Don't even think about it," Kitty shuddered, "I don't even want to consider the sort of things they'd be up to on Halloween."
"There's a few clubs in Mutant Town we could hit," Rachel relented, "it sounds like it'd be more your speed."
Kitty gave Rachel a look, "Don't tell me you've actually visited the Hellfire Club recently? They're our mortal enemies, remember?"
"Even with Roberto as a member?" Rachel challenged.
"A point," Kitty acknowledged. She frowned slightly, "I just get nervous going in there, especially when I remember when Emma captured me."
Rachel shrugged slightly, "Which just goes to show that people and things can change, considering that Emma Frost is an X-Man now."
Kitty and Rachel dodged a group of costumed revelers, most wearing Avengers costumes, but a few daring to be dressed in mutant themed outfits. "Something you weren't very happy about," Kitty noted, "though I notice that's changed."
"I don't think I'll ever be friends with her," Rachel shrugged, "but I have to accept reality. She's here and in a relationship with Scott, if I like it or not."
"Still, it can't be fun," Kitty reached out to gently squeeze Rachel's hand.
"So, Hellfire or...?" Rachel asked.
Kitty took a deep breath then, knowing it was probably going to be a mistake, said, "Let's live dangerously, the Hellfire Club."
"You won't regret it," Rachel laughed, keeping hold of her hand and gently tugging her along through the evening crowds.
Before they knew it, Kitty and Rachel had reached the Hellfire Club, a ornate building in the center of New York. The young woman at the door was dressed in a fetish maid outfit, glossy black rubber hugging her slim form as the blonde said, "Welcome Miss Summers, Pryde."
Kitty felt nervous as they entered, feeling a bit better at the fact the main floors were done up in a fairly normal style for Halloween. Orange and brown banners and drapes, skulls and ghosts, all the typical decorations for the season were scattered around the massive room.
The costumes people were wearing were all a bit more extreme, of course. There were a certain number of historical outfits, from turn of the century on back, while darker fantasy figures mingled. Elegant vampires prowled for blood, beautiful demons tempted the soul and ethereal spirits drifted together across the dance floor.
"Let's get a drink," Rachel said, leading the way up to the bar.
"Right," Kitty agreed as she warily scanned the crowd.
Rachel elbowed her way through the waiting customers with long practice, Kitty right behind her. She ordered their drinks then looked back at the visibly tense Kitty, "Relax! They aren't going to try anything openly."
"Don't be so sure," Kitty answered.
Rachel collected their drinks then passed one to Kitty. "See anyone you know?" she asked, taking a look as she took a gulp of her beer.
"Lady Deathstrike is here," Kitty noted the samurai standing not too far away. She looked thoughtful, "Wonder if Viper and the Silver Samurai are around?"
"Viper's associated with the club," Rachel noted, "but I think Harada is tied up with clan Yashada business." She waited for Kitty to answer only to realize that the other girl was dead silent, standing there stiffly as she saw a certain figure in the crowd.
"Courtney," Kitty breathed out, her eyes narrowing.
The platinum blonde cut through the crowd easily, her outfit nearly a fetishist dream. Her body was sheathed in white, glossy material that looked like it had been painted on. "Hullo, Kitten," Courtney Ross purred, smiling at both of them.
"You do not get to call me Kitten, Ms. Ross," Kitty said stiffly, ignoring the clearly amused smile on the older woman's face.
"It's been a long time," Rachel said, trying not to move protectively between the older woman and Kitty. It surprised her, that protective instinct, but she didn't question the emotion.
"I'm hurt," Courtney said, reaching out to touch Kitty's cheek, "considering how close we were, once upon a time." She turned gracefully, "Oh well, I hope you have a nice time."
Rachel let Courtney move off before she turned to Kitty, "Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," Kitty reassured her, "I still don't quite get what she wanted, tho."
"We came here to party," Rachel decided it might be best to change the subject, "so let's go."
There was dancing, wine and good company, and Kitty and Rachel threw themselves into the celebration with a passion. Despite sticking close together they danced with both men and women, many of whom seemed interested in more than friendly company. Still they returned to each other, taking a moment to catch their breaths at one of the side tables.
"Your hotness must be rubbing off on me," Kitty sighed happily, "I actually got propositioned a few times out there."
"Or maybe it was your own hotness," Rachel teased. She looked towards the stairs as she added, "I hear the real party is upstairs. Do you want to take a look before we go?"
Hearing the eagerness in Rachel's voice Kitty gave in gracefully, the two of them winding through the crowd to head upstairs. The plush carpet absorbed their footsteps, the beautifully decorated hall nearly silent as they walked, moving through the smaller group of people up there.
As they passed one door it opened silently, a young man moving up behind Rachel to press a small device to her neck. A soft hiss of releasing chemicals and the redhead slumped, the man catching her smoothly before quickly pulling her into the room and shutting the door.
The lights winked out, leaving the hall in gloom even as people called out in alarm. "Rachel?" Kitty asked, looking around intently.
"Here," the redhead appeared from the crowd, moving to catch up. "Sorry, I got caught up back there," she said, her black leather choker gleaming in the dim light. She looked around, "Let's duck into one of the rooms, at least until the power comes back on."
"But shouldn't we try to leave," Kitty started to say as she followed Rachel into the room.
Rachel pushed the door shut then surprised Kitty by pressing her mouth to Kitty's in a hot kiss. Kitty stiffened in surprise as Rachel's tongue touched her lips, her full figure pressing tightly to hers in the near darkness of the small room.
"I've wanted to do this for such a long time," Rachel gently kissed her neck, licking to taste the salt on her skin.
Kitty could feel her knees getting weak, her breath coming fast as Rachel reached up to stroke her breasts through the thin cloth of her costume. "No," she whimpered softly, "Rachel, we can't!"
"Shh," Rachel purred as she bent down to take a breast in her mouth, sucking on gently. Nipping delicately through cloth she surprised gasps from Kitty, switching from mound to mound hungrily. Her hand slipped down Kitty's belly to the v of her thighs, chuckling as she felt the wetness.
Kitty opened her mouth to protest only to moan as Rachel dropped to her knees, pressing her mouth to the mound that was wetly revealed beneath her tight leotard. She couldn't seem to catch her breath as Rachel flicked out her tongue to taste there, then kissed more forcefully as hands tugged her clothes down.
"So excited," Rachel sighed happily as she ardently kissed that bare flash, bringing another choked gasp from Kitty. With surprising skill her tongue and lips worked on the reddened flesh, intent on achieving one thing only.
"Ahh!" with a cry Kitty came, orgasming against Rachel's hungry mouth. Again and again those devilish lips and tongue brought her off, until finally Kitty's strength completely failed her and she slumped to the floor.
"Sleep well Kitten," Rachel rose to look down at her fondly, "we'll be doing this again soon enough." With that she strode away, leaving the room as Kitty looked on in dazed confusion.
Kitty lay there for a few moments, trying to get her thoughts in order, then on legs like rubber she pulled herself to her feet. 'Why did Ray just leave like that?' she thought dazedly.
Rachel's voice called out in her mind. Before she could form a response the door was slammed open,. a clearly furious looking Rachel Summers stood in the doorway... oddly dressed in a white costume just like Courtney had worn earlier.
"Wha'?" Kitty managed weakly.
"That bitch," Rachel growled as she rushed forward, gently holding Kitty up even as she helped her get her clothes back in order. "They drugged me," she bit out angrily, "I've been out cold for the last half-hour."
"Then who...?" Kitty said even as the pieces fell into place with a sickening thud. "Courtney."
In a upper floor room of the Hellfire Club Courtney Ross watched Kitty and Rachel soar off into the night, Rachel holding Kitty in her arms. 'I'm glad I knew about this psionics-shielded room,' she thought as she pulled off the red wig, removing the choker off that disguised her voice, 'or the young Marvel Girl would be taking me apart.'
Courtney smiled as she licked her lips in satisfaction, "The Kitten's cream was as sweet as I hoped... now I just have to see if she comes back for more."
The End?
Notes: Courtney Ross and Kitty first met in early issues of Excalibur, but things didn't get interesting until Courtney took Kitty under her wing when the team was MIA. There were a great deal of "subtexty" moments between them and a clear sense that Ms. Ross was trying to turn Kitty to the dark side, but that story was largely abandoned when the original writer left.
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