We Are The X-Men

Growing Pains

WARNING: Trauma and self-loathing, description of a panic attack, intrusive thoughts, mention of death/fatal accidents, mild violence and injury, unwanted touching.

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A/N: This is a Reader-Insert fanfic, so I'll be using a few abbreviations. Here's a key:

Y/N = Your Name

Y/F/N = Your Full Name

Y/L/N = Your Last Name

Avatar = Your codename

Other Notes: Reader is she/her and I pretty much write out Kurt's accent, replacing w's with v's and th's with z's. If it turns out it's too hard for people to read that way, I'll change it.

Enjoy! :)

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"Which top do you like better?"

You grin as you sit on Kitty's bed, watching her hold up different clothes in front of the mirror. "You look great in everything, Kitty."

"Flattery will get you nowhere, Y/N. Seriously, which one?"

Figuring if you don't help then you'll miss the game, you answer, "Okay, the blue one then!"

Her brow furrows at her own reflection. "I'm kinda feeling the red."

You chuckle. "Why did you even ask me?"

"Because I like a second opinion!" She replies, slipping on a cute red sweater. "Now let me do your hair."

"The wind will just ruin it."

"Debbie Downer." She grabs some barrettes and sits behind you. Despite your contrary comment, though, you quite enjoy how it feels when someone does your hair. It's comforting, almost familiar. When she's done, you gently touch the barrettes and smile. "Thanks, Kitty."

"Anytime."

You hear the door open and turn to see Rogue enter the room. Your heart skips a beat. Rogue looks at you both and raises an eyebrow. "Ain't you supposed to be at school?"

"Jeez, someone can't wait to have the room to herself." Kitty points a hairbrush at her roommate, who scoffs. "Where else am I supposed to get some peace and quiet with all the demons running around?"

Ah, yes, the new students. With the new Cerebro system working better than ever, the Professor's been able to find a lot more mutants. Now the Institute is home to more kids like you, all from different places around the world. It's amazing, and admittedly hectic.

"Are you sure you don't want to come with us to the game?" You ask hopefully, and Rogue is quick to shake her head. "Nah. I'm not really the 'Rah-Rah-School-Spirit' type."

"Oh, okay." You say, a little disappointed. Then a flood of positive energy appears out of thin air along with an impish boy. "C'mon, you two, ve're going to be late! Let's go, futbol!" Kurt exclaims, holowatch already set to disguise mode.

"Kurt!" Rogue yells, fanning away the sulfurous smoke with a magazine. "What did I say about teleporting in here?!"

"Oh, sorry, I hear Scott calling me, bye!" Your friend says quickly before teleporting again, a new plume of smoke left behind. Rogue and Kitty groan as you laugh. "We should set a booby trap in here for him." Kitty says completely seriously before taking your hand and pulling you out the door. You manage to wave a quick goodbye to Rogue and catch a small smile on her face.

"Flirt later, Y/N, stop dragging your feet!"

Ignoring the first part of that sentence with a furious blush, you exclaim, "Me?! You took a half hour to get dressed!"