Fighting Chance 2-8 Outline (Patreon)

Kitty Pryde is in a fancy hotel suite in Midtown Manhattan while her Mom and Dad are walking around getting ready for touristy couple stuff

Dad's checking his camera for the millionth time

Mom's applying sunscreen like she's going to the beach instead of Ellis Island

Kitty's sprawled on the couch, flipping through channels

Mom: "You sure you don't want to come, sweetie? The Statue of Liberty's supposed to be, like, really inspiring?"

Kitty: "Mom, I'm fifteen. I think I can handle shopping by myself."

Dad: "Manhattan's a big city, Kit-Kat. Lot of weirdos out there."

Kitty: "Besides, you know nothing can hurt me."

her parents share a look

Mom hands over an envelope: "Two hundred and fifty dollars. That's it."

Kitty: "What am I supposed to do with two-fifty in New York?"

Dad: "Buy something nice. And stay in the safe areas."

Kitty: "What's a safe area? Like, the whole city's basically concrete and traffic."

Mom: "Just... use your judgment, okay?"

Whatever that means in New York

Her parents leave the hotel suit and Kitty slumps backwards as the cartoon on screen continues playing.

Still getting used to this whole mutant thing

First semester at Bayville High was... interesting

Living at Xavier's School for Gifted Students still felt like boarding school for freaks, though

Which, honestly, it kind of was

Still confused as to how mutants were a secret

Like, how do you hide people who can walk through walls?

Or shoot lasers from their eyes?

But she didn't really question it after Professor Logan mentioned it

"Chuck's got his ways, kid. Don't question it too hard."

That guy's powers were weird

Like, mind control weird

Better not to think about it too much

Next Scene

Kitty is in SoHo shopping district

She's trying to find something she can afford, something cute that doesn't scream "tourist"

Maybe a new top for when she gets back to school

Definitely avoid anything her mom would pick out

New York City was different from Illinois, and different from Bayville

Louder, faster, more... everything

People here had this energy, like they were all late for something important

She liked it

The Collision

Exiting the store:

Kitty walks out of some boutique with a bag

Not watching where she's going, checking her phone

Texting her friend back home about how "NYC is literally insane"

The impact:

Bumps into someone—hard

Nearly falls backward, bag flying

Strong arms catch her before she hits the sidewalk

"'scuse me."

Getting her bearings:

Kitty's raised back to her feet

Blinks, confused but surprised

Looking up at the smiling face of a taller kid

Dark-skinned, fresh short haircut, wearing a blue muscle shirt

Okay, hello there

Kitty (teasing tone that's half-flirting, half-challenge): "Watch where you're walking, tough guy."

Tough guy raises an eyebrow: "You walked into me."

His voice has this bounce to it, like he's ready to argue or laugh

Kitty can't help but grin: "Okay, fair point."

"But you could've moved. Like, seen me coming?"

"I'm not exactly stealth mode here."

She gestures to her bright yellow sundress

She laughs: "I'm Ki-Katherine..."

Didn't want to sound like a little girl in front of a cool-looking guy

"Zain."

Kitty raises an eyebrow: "Zane?"

Zain: "No, see, I can tell you're saying it wrong."

"It's Z-A-I-N, not A-N-E."

Kitty blinks: "Is that supposed to be better?"

Like, what kind of name is that?

Zain: "My friends call me Zee, I guess."

Kitty: "Do they, really?"

Zain: "No."

They both crack up at that

His honesty was refreshing

He was younger than her—maybe fourteen

But something about him seemed... older

Like he'd seen stuff

And those arms...

"So what's with the muscle shirt? You trying to show off or...?"

Mostly because she couldn't stop looking at his arms

Zain: "It's hot. I'm practical."

"Plus, I earned these."

Flexes slightly, not showing off but definitely not hiding it

Kitty: "Earned them how? You lift cars or something?"

Half-joking, but also genuinely curious

There was something different about him

Zain: Nooo... more like beating up hardened criminals.

Kitty rolls her eyes: "Suuuure."

Zain: "So you're not from here, right? I can tell."

Kitty: "That obvious? I'm here with my family. Tourist stuff."

"You?"

Zain: "I live here. Been here a while."

Kitty thinks he's interesting

Definitely trouble

She likes trouble. He was definitely cooler than Captain Glasses or the Fuzzy Dude.

Zain seems genuinely curious about her

Not just hitting on her, actually listening

They lean against a storefront

People walking past, typical New York chaos

But they're in their own little bubble

"So what do you do? Like, for fun?"

Zain: "I train. Work out. Hang with my boys."

"You?"

Kitty: "School. Friends. Normal stuff."

Except for the whole mutant thing

There was something about him

Something that made her want to phase through the sidewalk

Not from nervousness

From excitement

"Fighter boooooyyyy," sung out in a teasing, sing-song voice

Female, definitely flirtatious

His eyes widen like he just heard his death sentence

"It was nice talking to you, Katherine."

Suddenly formal, already backing away

He takes off running

Not jogging—full sprint almost as fast as she'd seen Fuzzy Dude book it

Leaving Kitty standing there with her mouth open

What the hell just happened?

Someone turns the corner really fast

White hair, black Hello Kitty inspired outfit

Tank top and short skirt with tall black boots

Eyes narrowed, scanning the crowd

"I know you're here, fighter booooy."

Her voice has this playful menace to it

Like a cat toying with a mouse

She runs in the direction Zain went

Moving with impossible grace

Like she's barely touching the ground

Kitty watches the whole thing

So that's his type

White hair, goth-cute, probably dangerous

Great

The sigh:

Picks up her shopping bag

Checks her reflection in a store window

Maybe she should dye her hair

Final thought:

"Why are the cute ones taken?"

Story of her life

The interesting ones always had baggage

Or in this case, apparently a super hot stalker who dressed like an anime character