Chapter Text
The Blackbird slowly rolled back into the hangar of the X-Mansion, pulling to a stop slowly along the runway. Professor Xavier wheeled himself over to the extending exit ramp cautiously.
“I take it space wasn’t fun?” he asked as Logan practically tumbled down the ramp.
“Let’s just say we dealt with worse than jet lag,” Logan growled as he picked himself off the floor, stumbling off to go heal in peace and quiet.
“Do you…” Colossus panted, stepping from the ship tiredly. “Do this…often?”
“This was our first foray off-world,” Storm informed him, leaning on the hull of the Blackbird as she limped down next to him.
“I’ll give you a full report later, Professor,” Scott called from up in the ship.
“When I wake up.”
“Oh my,” Charles sighed.
“I take it the ‘Brood’ as I heard they were called were formidable?” Charles asked.
“Lemme put it this way,” Rogue scoffed as she rubbed her shoulder, wiping sweat off her brow.
“Sigourney Weaver had it easy.”
“Non, chere, you mean Ellen Ripley,” Remy corrected as he trudged after her lamely.
“Sigourney Weaver is an actress.”
“Remy, mein bruder,” Kurt coughed as he followed Remy out.
“You are hurting my ears.”
One puff of smoke and Kurt was gone, most likely to have first pick of the infirmary beds.
“How is the mansion?” Ororo asked as Jean tried in vain to drag Scott out of the Blackbird.
“The New Mutants have been coping well enough,” Xavier shrugged. “They got used to not needing a safety net. But if I recall, there were two other young mutants I sent with you.”
“And what a mistake that was,” Lance grumbled as he walked down the ramp, his busted helmet under one arm and a leaning Kitty Pryde under the other.
“Toad was right. I should have sent Pietro instead.”
“You don’t mean that,” Kitty sleepily muttered.
“I’m sure Director Fury will appreciate the hard work you have put in today, Lance,” Charles smiled.
“Yeah, maybe I’ll only have to run one obstacle course,” Lance smirked.
“Oh, come on Lance,” Kitty nudged him, a smile finally creeping back onto her lips. “Without you, who would have protected me from all those scary monsters?”
“We would!” Peter declared proudly.
Lance glared at him. Peter held up his hands sheepishly, realizing the misunderstanding.
“Well, I’m glad that everyone is-” Charles began, before a loud banging sound came from the interior of the ship.
“Scott?” Charles called.
“It wasn’t him, Professor!” Jean called. “Scott’s with me. Out cold.”
“Then what-” before he could finish that sentence, there was a loud crashing sound as Jean yelped in surprise. Seconds later, a small purple creature flapped its wings and rolled down the stairs, a trail of soot and smoke behind it. It landed at Kitty’s feet, flipping its head by her ankle.
“Oh my goodness!” Kitty squealed, suddenly not tired anymore.
“Hey little guy!” she beamed, picking him up happily and turning him over, inspecting his scaly purple hide for wounds.
“Who’s too much of a good boy to die? Yes you are, yes you are!” she giggled.
Lance pursed his lips.
Charles glanced at Lance’s expression.
“Would you like to introduce our new friend here, Lance?” Charles asked. Lance cleared his throat, putting on a smile.
“This is Lockheed,” he pointed at the purple dragon, who was now on the floor as Kitty aggressively rubbed his stomach.
“He was on the planet we ended up on, and he was fighting the Brood too,” Lance shrugged. “So, Kitty brought him along, cause he was really good at that, and she named him Lockheed after her favorite stuffed dragon. Cause, y’know, he is a dragon. An alien dragon.”
“Why did we not see him on the ship?” Storm asked.
“I thought this little guy got left behind!” Kitty was now holding Lockheed so tight that Lance was worried he’d turn a darker shade of purple.
“But you just snuck on board, didn’t you?” she crooned. “You’re a stowaway, you cute little prankster, you!”
Charles glanced at Ororo.
“Well,” she looked at Charles.
“You were the one who wanted to put off any rules about pets.”
“I’ll, uh,” Charles glanced at the cute little dragon whom Kitty clearly wasn’t giving up anytime soon.
“I’ll have to talk to all the teachers,” he nodded, wheeling out.
Soon, all of the X-Men began funneling out of the room, dragging their exhausted bodies towards the infirmary. Kitty was the last to leave, the sleeping dragon tucked softly into her arms as she carried him.
At least, she thought he was asleep.
“Just play dumb,” Lockheed thought to himself.
“They can’t kick you out if you’re just a cute, silly dragon.”