Marvel: Pat to Win Gambling 27

Chapter 27: Moonlight Memories

The rays of the morning sun hit me like a beam of laser, burning my eyes and making me shift uncomfortably within the sheets.

“Mhm…”

But when I did open them, a surprising moan and grumble made me freeze. My eyes shot open while my body locked up.

I could feel the weight of something on me—or someone. It was warm, soft, and smooth.

Nervously, I lifted the blanket a little, and what I saw kept me stuck in that awkward position, hand still holding the edge of the blanket.

My mind spiraled into confusion, scrambling to piece together how I ended up with a naked woman lying over my equally naked body.

And that woman… was Kitty. Curled against me like an actual kitten.

I desperately tried to dig through my memories, clawing for any clue, anything at all.

‘Think! Daniel, think!’ I yelled in my head, and slowly, the memories began to return.

Memories of being drunk. Memories of stumbling, barely making it back inside the mansion.

As everything finally came flooding back, only one word managed to leave my lips.

“Fuck…”

…

…

[Hours Earlier]

“I-It’s alright,” Kitty hiccuped, swaying. “I can… walk on my own.”

Her eyes were half-lidded, legs wobbling, and sense of direction utterly gone. Still, she stubbornly pushed forward, refusing any help.

“Are you sure you two don’t need a ride?” asked the youngest of the trio, Peter—stone-cold sober and more than a little concerned.

“We’ll manage,” Daniel waved him off. Though, honestly, he wasn’t in much better shape than Kitty. The only thing he had going for him was a somewhat steady sense of direction.

Peter hesitated, debating whether to insist, but one sharp look from Kitty shut him up instantly.

Truth be told, she scared the hell out of him. No way was he about to offend her.

“Let me at least call a cab?” he offered, hopefully.

Kitty laughed, hiccuped again. Daniel chuckled with her.

“D-Don’t worry about it,” she said, “our place is straight ahead.”

Peter looked around, confused. “Straight ahead” led to a row of buildings, wall to wall, no gaps. That wasn’t a path—it was a dead end.

Then it clicked. She could phase. As for Daniel? He hadn’t shown that ability yet, but given he had a new one every time they met, Peter wouldn’t be surprised if he strolled through buildings next.

“Race you home?” Kitty grinned at Daniel, eyes shining despite the alcohol.

So far, Daniel hadn’t shown anything to suggest he could match her on foot. Kitty, meanwhile, could literally run through walls.

Any inconvenience to the public? She’d chalk it up as fair game. After all, she did save people from monsters and maniacs on the regular.

“I won't lose,” Daniel smirked, clearly tipsy and loving the moment.

“We’ll see~”

Peter blinked, still processing. “You two—”

Neither of them listened. Their focus shifted entirely to the “path” ahead—a solid brick wall.

“Three!” Kitty shouted, already crouched and ready to sprint.

“Two,” Daniel muttered, hands finally leaving his pockets.

“One!”

And just like that, they were off—leaving Peter dumbfounded behind them.

He blinked behind his mask. “Did they just…?”

Kitty phased clean through a streetlight and then the building wall like it wasn’t even there.

Daniel? He leapt.

Kitty caught a glimpse of him mid-phase, and her grin faltered for just a second. The man soared. No, he launched—shooting to the rooftop like gravity didn’t apply.

“Insane…” Peter muttered, left staring at the sky. “Both of them.”

Daniel had reached the top of a building over 200 feet tall in under a second. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, he flew—skimming across the skyline without any visible gear. No tech. No suit. Just raw manipulation of the magnetic field and gravity.

He could move like a bullet—faster, even.

But then he saw her.

Kitty, below, running with her usual overachiever stride, phasing through pedestrians and poles and leaving a trail of terrified yelps in her wake.

Daniel slowed his flight, gliding instead of bolting. Matching her pace, little by little.

Kitty wasn’t about to go easy. She never did. Winning mattered. If someone handicapped themselves, that was on them.

But tonight? It wasn’t about winning. It was fun. The kind of carefree thrill she didn’t get to feel often—especially not with guys.

Most were either ancient mentors or immature idiots. The powerful ones? Usually way older. The young ones? Annoying, arrogant, or assholes.

Her mind flashed to a certain sunglasses-wearing dickhead. She banished the thought.

Up ahead, the mansion gates came into view. She knew the professor was going to give her hell for this, but she didn't care.

Daniel landed just inside the gates, switching to his feet.

“You can’t win now!” Kitty shouted, pushing herself harder. “Not on foot!”

Daniel meant to respond—maybe tease her—but one glance was enough to throw him off.

The wind pushed her shirt just right. Her curves were outlined. Her flushed face lit by the moonlight. His eyes lingered, brain stalled.

And in that instant, she passed him.

He snapped back too late.

By the time he caught up, they’d already crossed the lawn and reached the mansion doors.

“I won!” Kitty cheered, nearly tripping but catching herself with her hands on her knees, panting hard. Her cheeks were burning—not from embarrassment, but from the run.

Daniel blinked, shook his head to snap out of it. “I-I guess you did.”

He was stunned—and embarrassed.

And Kitty?

Grinning like a devil.

She took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air—something damn near impossible back in the city. Out here, surrounded by open space, trees, flowers, and fountains, everything just felt… lighter. Cleaner.

Daniel kept watching her, not really sure why. Or maybe he was sure—he just didn’t want to admit it.

She was… nice to look at.

“Do you think they’re asleep?” she asked, a fair question.

It was well past midnight, creeping close to two. Daniel knew for a fact the Professor didn’t stay up this late. The man rose early, which meant he went to bed even earlier.

“Bobby might still be up,” Daniel shrugged. “Guy games till sunrise.”

“And Hank?” she frowned. “Probably neck-deep in his research.”

The rest of the mansion would be out cold by now. Which meant they could sneak in without being seen.

Daniel suggested just that. “Wanna head in? Grab something to drink? I’d rather not wake up with a hangover from hell.”

There were anti-hangover drinks in the fridge—some weirdly effective concoctions Hank brewed himself. Daniel knew. He’d used them.

‘Pretty sure he made those for Jean,’ he thought. The girl had been drowning herself in booze before Daniel ever met her. Hank, in his infinite kindness, made her something to kill the morning-after pain.

But Kitty shook her head. “Nah. I don’t want to go inside.”

“You don’t?” Daniel raised a brow, amused.

“Look at the night,” she said, twirling like a kid. “Coral jasmines, moonflowers, orchids... you don’t get to see most of them bloom in the day. And the smell? You can’t enjoy it like this in the morning.”

Daniel took a deep breath. Okay, yeah—she was right. The air carried a blend of floral sweetness, fresh and calming.

“They do smell nice,” he admitted. “How about a stroll?”

She beamed—brighter than the fading moonlight.

“Shall we?” she asked, extending her hand.

Daniel blinked, caught off guard. But he took her hand anyway, and she immediately tugged him toward the garden, past flowerbeds exploding with color in the soft night.

He wasn’t sure if she was still drunk. He wasn’t, not anymore—his head had cleared. And hers seemed to be, too. She looked grounded. Content. Glowing in the night.

“Pretty, isn’t it?” she asked, crouching by the flowers, still holding his hand.

“Very,” Daniel replied—though he wasn’t looking at the flowers.

“Thank you,” she said quietly, eyes on the blooms. “I had a lot of fun today.”

Daniel had missed out on work, training, and probably a couple dozen serious conversations because of her—but still. He couldn’t deny it. He had enjoyed himself.

“You’re better than I thought you’d be,” she added. “You’ll make a good addition to the team.”

“Uh… thanks?”

“Mhm.” She finally looked at him. “So… did you have fun?”

“I didn’t,” he said without missing a beat. Then, smirking, he added, “You were better than I expected too.”

She was exhausting, yeah—but also... something else. Every girl on the team had their thing. Jean was ruled by emotion. Ororo was stoic and disciplined. Illyana didn’t give a shit about anyone.

And Kitty? Kitty was Kitty.

Excited, unpredictable, fun—and, yeah, beautiful.

“I loved today,” she said, standing—still holding his hand.

“Oh?” he muttered. ‘Yeah,’ he thought. ‘I think I loved it too.’

But maybe he didn’t quite get what she meant—until she tiptoed up, leaned in, and kissed him.

It was soft. Barely there. Gone just as quickly.

He froze. Unsure. Caught off guard.

“How about we go inside?” she asked. “It’s getting cold.”

It wasn’t. Not even close. But he got why she said it.

“I—” he started to say something more, but she didn’t let him.

She tugged on his hand, and he followed—like he’d been doing all night.

“I got the door,” he said, remembering he’d finally gotten his fingerprint registered.

“No,” she smiled, grabbing his collar and pulling him in close. “You don’t have to.”

She kissed him again—rougher this time. And before he could even process what the hell was happening, he felt himself phasing through the door.

He hadn’t known she could do that. Bring someone with her.

But the kiss…

That was all he could focus on. Each second deepened it. Each second blurred everything else.

That moment—that moment—was one of the last clear flashes he could recall…

…before everything shifted…

And he was staring at a very naked Kitty Pryde.

Wet hair. Fresh from the shower.

A memory burned into his brain forever.