Beyond the Romance Section

Posted on Sun May 31st, 2026 @ 4:15pm by Kennedy Kelly

3,552 words; about a 18 minute read

Mission: Episode 7: Pathogens and Contagions
Location: Salem Center Public Library
Timeline: March 13, 1992

While the library at the school was impressive, it mainly held text books for school and classic literature rather than anything modern or new. So every Thursday afternoon Kennedy offered to take students to the public library in Salem Center in an attempt to get students to read something for fun in their free time. But since cable television had been installed and the SEGA gaming system had been gifted to the students for Christmas, very few people actually took Kennedy up on the offer.

Nevertheless the blonde continued to offer the trip to anyone interested. She was a voracious reader herself and preferred a book to the mindless blinking lights of television and video games. Even if no one else arrived it was an opportunity to check out her own new library books for the week.

Glancing down at her diamond faced, gold wristwatch, Kennedy decided to wait another five minutes before departing for what she assumed would be a solo trip to the library.

Desmond yelled as he nearly fell off the stairs coming down. His shirt was backwards, he had one of his boots in his hands and one on his foot, his jacket was nowhere to be seen. He had wanted to go to the library all week, but between schoolwork, training time, chores, and time with Maeve hadn't really found the time. So Kennedy's offer was as good an excuse as he could find. Now if only he hadn't overslept.

He slipped again and fell down just after the turn. His frame made an impressive thump as he landed at Kennedy's feet. "Sorry I'm late." He groaned as he got up, smiling his goofy grin.

“Oh gosh Desmond, that’s quite the entrance." Kennedy couldn’t help but chuckle a little at his awkward, loud arrival. It was obvious that he was okay thanks to how quickly he got to his feet, the impervious teenager was durable and standing before she even had time to offer him her hand. “Go ahead and take a minute to get yourself together.” She noticed how disheveled he looked. “I think you’re the only person joining me today so there’s no real hurry.”

Desmond brushed his shirt off, and then noticed he had it on backwards. Without thinking much of it he took it off, turned it around, and dressed himself once again. He then balanced awkwardly as he pulled his other boot on, hopping to one side and righting himself just in time to not fall down again.

As she waited for Desmond to fix his appearance he noticed she was carrying a large leather bag that contained her books for the library. Upon his arrival she suddenly clutched it tightly to her side, making it seem like she was worried about him seeing something inside of it.

“I always take the van to the library, just in case people actually want to come with me.” Kennedy said while jingling the keys in her free hand, “It’s parked out front so we’re ready to go.”

It had snowed last night but the ground had thawed for spring, leaving a few pathetic piles of snow amongst the mud and puddles that the sun was creating. Wet and chilly, it seemed like a day indoors was better than time outside, which meant the school was going to be chaotic today with too much energy needing to be burned off in the hallways of the mansion rather than out on the lawn.

"You normally don’t come on library trips.” Kennedy commented as they walked to the van and hopped inside, thankfully the vehicle was large and roomy enough for Desmond. “Why today?”

"Mrs Summers informed me that I'm not allowed to drive for another week." Desmond sighed, and rolled his eyes. "Like writing 500 words and being cooped up at the Mansion wasn't punishment enough for a single beer. And it wasn't even a whole can even. Just three sips."

As he looked at the dangling keys, his eyes were also drawn to the protectively clutched bag. "You want me to hold that? It looks heavy."

“Oh no! I have it!” Kennedy’s initial response was a bit more defensive that was expected when Desmond offered to carry her bag. Her declining his help was also out of character as she always relished any bit of chivalrous behavior that was provided. “I mean, it’s not that heavy. It’s totally fine.” She clarified in a more relaxed and natural tone as she snugly tucked the bag under the seat Desmond was going to sit in.

“So you’re stir crazy and need someone else to bust you out of the mansion for a bit?” Kennedy said with a smirk as she climbed into the driver’s seat of the van. Her long legs made the action a smooth, seamless motion. “I can get behind that. Maybe we accidentally miss school lunch and then get hungry while we’re out… so you know, we just have to stay in town and eat before we head back?”

While the Boston born princess presented herself as prim and proper, she had checkered past with a history of breaking a rule or two when it suited her. Maybe it could be considered as entitlement and privilege that made her impulsive but regardless of the reason why, she was still willing to have fun when the opportunity arose. “I will say, that took balls to just come walking out with a can in your hand right in front of Jean.”

"That sounds like a terrible mistake. We forget the time and just kind of have to grab a meal outside." Desmond faked his gasp as he climbed into the van. His bulk made the van rock from side to side as he clicked his seatbelt on. His backpack was stationed between his legs.

"I still don't really see what the problem was though." Desmond remonstrated, again. "I'm legally an adult now. I can vote, join the army. I've been driving for two years too. So why can't I just have a beer at a party." He had tried this argument with Jean after delivering his essay on Monday. It had made no impression on the headmistress.

“Yeah I guess it is kind of hypocritical, we do some wild stuff as X-Men that I’m sure would get us in a lot of trouble in some circles. It seems a little stupid to call you out for doing something so minor like drinking a beer.” Kennedy agreed while turning on the van and pulling out of the circular drive way, “Then again I’m probably not the best person to tell you what battles to pick, my own brush with the law is still haunting me.” It was still funny to think that perfect, teen dream, Kennedy was one of the biggest offenders at the mansion.

“Besides…” She continued as placed her foot on the accelerator, the van rattled from the wind as she did so “I don’t think you could push back on her choices even if you wanted to. At least I couldn’t when I was forced to do things by a telepath.”

"I don't even want to consider the implications of Mrs Summers being a telepath." Desmond said. "Would we even know if she changed our minds on things?" A slight shudder ran across his back, making him shift his shoulders in respond. "Telepaths are scary that way. Even besides her being a telepath, I don't think we could physically push back against her with the whole team. Doesn't she also have scary strong telekinesis too?"

“I think so,” Kennedy replied as she kept her eyes on the road in front of her. “Bobby told me a few stories about stuff they did back in the day and it was pretty wild. I watched her rip an entire sentinel apart during a fight, she just telekinetically pulled it apart like it was a poorly made scarecrow. Now that bird follows her around, it's made of the same fire that she used to level Genosha.” She too shivered as she thought about the destruction of that island, its surface looked like the moon in the end.

“I agree, just do whatever Jean says. Hypocritical or not, it’s probably best that we all stay on her good side.” It didn’t matter that Jean was kind and generally empathetic to their wants and needs, her personality and behavior didn’t matter. In the end, it was her mutations that caused them to form their opinion of the headmistress.

“I was told that if you want to drink and not worry about being busted for it that you need to go camping in the woods.” Kennedy provided a bit of deviant intel she had collected from her year and a half of living at Xavier’s. “It’s close enough to the school for a weekend trip that it’s easy enough to get approved and since the property is so isolated as you head out towards the park you can relax and get some privacy.”

"You're telling me Jean Summers wouldn't notice if a bunch of went camping in the woods, and came back the next day smelling of beer. Or at least wouldn't object?" Desmond said with a snort. "Is that some plausible deniability strategy on her part?" He couldn't imagine that that would work. "Besides, wouldn't we still be taking the booze laying around the Mansion? Have you ever done something like that?"

“Have I ever gone camping so I can fool around in the woods while getting buzzed?” Kennedy actually looked over at him as she answered his question with a question. Her voice and expression dripped with a sardonic tone. The idea of Kennedy getting dirty and sleeping on the ground willingly was slim to none. She shook her head and laughed as her gaze returned to the road, “Absolutely not.”

“Look, I’m not saying that it’s a fool proof plan but it’s better than just rolling into a party with a beer in your hand.” Kennedy continued as she lightly teased him, “Besides there is a ton of camping gear in the attic so it’s been a valid activity for students to do at some point in time and I’m sure you could swing it as some sort of nature, educational thing… bring Joey, he likes that stuff.”

"You just want me to bring Joey so he doesn't keep annoying you." Desmond countered with a wide grin. He had witnessed first hand how his rodent-controlling friend had enjoyed getting under Kennedy's skin. "You really don't like therians, do you? Next you'll be telling me to take Rahne out camping with us too?" And he gave his best impression of a knowing look.

“I wouldn’t mind therians if they were nice to me…” Kennedy said with a huff and Desmond watched her lips form a faint pout. “Rahne is a little girl and I try to be patient with her but some days she’s too much for me. Joey just thinks I have a stick up my ass but I don’t understand what his motivations are for making me squirm. It’s all so juvenile.”

There it was again, that supercilious tone that seemed to be ingrained in Kennedy’s demeanor. Despite some sliver of genuine emotion of hurt feelings her pout conveyed, there was always this tone of disdain in her words. But then her shoulders slumped a little and her perfect posture crumbled.

“I understand that I’m not like the rest of you…” Kennedy’s voice softened and became small, “I wasn’t allowed to be a kid, everything had to be perfect because I was constantly being watched and judged, my cage was gilded but it was still a cage. It’s just hard to turn all those expectations off, especially since I’m not really a kid anymore… I’ll be twenty this year…”

"You're not the only one who had a difficult time growing up." Desmond said. His tone had shifted from his more pleasant, teasing tones in a serious register. "I grew up with three young sisters, a mother who was the most generous soul, and a father who was only home during the weekends. As soon as I was old enough to change a diaper mom had me helping raising them, like some sort of sibling-parent." Desmond studied his hands, turning them over to look at the large palms with their rough texture.

"I'm not complaining about my childhood, or attempting to compare your life growing up." He attempted to give her a smile that conveyed that genuine intent. "Just trying to express that everyone is overcoming their past experiences. Besides, aren't just like five months older than me. Miss Almost Twenty?"

Kennedy looked over at him once more with a slight smile on her face. “I didn’t know we were counting months now.” She laughed a little and shook her head, “It’s a good thing no one is as tall as you because we would probably have to count centimeters too.”

With her eyes off the road, Kennedy didn’t see the herd of deer that had decided to leap and bound across the rural road. A flash of brown fur moved out of the corner of her eye, she managed to slam on the brakes just in time to avoid impact with the animals causing the van to screech to a sudden and dramatic halt.

“Shit!” She gasped the word as she white knuckled the steering wheel and watched the deer vanish just as quickly as they had arrived. “Are you okay?”

Desmond had slammed into his seatbelt. But with his mass and size, it hadn't really held him. The fabric in the belt was still intact, but the mounting point on the B-pillar hadn't. So he had slammed face-first into the dashboard. He was just pulling his face out of the shattered plastic when Kennedy turned to him. There was a large gash in his forehead, and a large chunk of it had embedded itself in under his eye socket.

“Oh no!” Her blue eyes were wide from fear as Kennedy gasped and covered her mouth as she saw the injury Desmond had received.

With casual disregard Desmond pulled the plastic out of his face, not even flinching the involved eye. He brushed the rest of the bits from his forehead. "Oh yeah, I'm fine." The gash was slowly closing already, the green-ish blood having stopped. "Though I want you to take the blame if Mrs. Summers gets mad about the car."

“I’m so sorry.” she mumbled as Desmond collected himself and her heart rate began to slow to a more normal pace.

"What about you?" His eyes ran across her face and chest, making sure that there were no red stains or anything worse. It was then he saw it. Her books had slid out of her bag. Desmond's eyes grew larger as he saw several titles. "Kennedy..." Desmond sounded aghast as he uttered her name.

Kennedy’s eyes slowly followed his to the floor of the van and the contents of her bag which had been so closely guarding were now scattered between Desmond’s feet. The sight made her gasp all over again…

Half a dozen books litter the floor that some would describe as romance novels while others would call them cheap, tawdry smut. A dashing knight, a swashbuckling pirate, a lonely cowboy were among the covers, each in some form of undress as they clutched a swooning woman in their arms in a moment of heated embrace.

“No, don’t look!” Kennedy groaned as she felt her cheeks starting to turn hot from embarrassment. Unbuckling her seat belt and placing the van in park, she sank down onto her knees and began to pick up the books in an almost frantic manner.

Desmond was deceptively fast for his size, snatching two books out from under Kennedy's hands. His worried expression made place for a wide grin. His eyes roamed over the cover, taking it all in. "I can see why you're always going to the library!" He almost cackled the words.

'The Pirate King and his Alabaster Booty' showed a dashing, deeply tanned pirate. His goatee had a rakish aspect, and he stared down the dress of the well-endowed woman that he had his arm wrapped around. "So when you read this, do you imagine you're the pirate king, or his alabaster booty?" He couldn't help himself. She had been so guarded about his bag, and it was something so silly as spicy books.

“Stop.” She whined while picking up the rest of the books and stuffing them back into her bag. But Desmond’s chuckle was hard to deny and Kennedy felt like she had to laugh along with him to keep from dying from embarrassment.

“That’s a silly question…” She chortled her replied while returning to her seat and snatching the books from his hands in one fluid motion. “Always the booty.”

He gave her a grin as the books went flying. "So that's why you were so protective about your bag? You read some books with a little heat in it? The big guy shook his head and then fidgeted with the remains of the seat belt draped around him. He unbuckled and tossed the bits behind him.

"Did you get these from the shelves, or are they on special request?" His tone was one of genuine curiosity. "And do you think I should read some of them?"

“They have some there but you can also order them from other branches to be deliv…” Kennedy stopped in her response as the full weight of Desmond’s comment finally reached her through the haze of embarrassment. “Wait… you want to read romance novels?” Now it was her turn to laugh at him, “You don’t seem like the bodice ripping type.”

“What? I’m not allowed to want a little romance in my life?” Desmond asked, feigning offense. “Besides, it gives me ideas for when I ask Maeve out on dates.”

“If only...” Kennedy replied wistfully as she gathered the books and slipped them back into her bag. She glanced at each book’s cover featuring a broad shouldered man and a swooning woman locked in some form of passionate embrace. “I think I’m starting to realize that love like this doesn’t exist. It’s a nice fantasy, but Mr. Darcy isn’t real.”

Desmond frowned at the reference. “Who’s Mr. Darcy?”

“A character from a book,” Kennedy said. “That’s all.”

The answer was brief, but the sadness behind it was obvious. Ever since Kurt’s departure, the hopeless romantic in her seemed to be fading a little more each day.

“Oh, come on. It can’t be that bad,” Desmond said, noticing her mood sink. “There are plenty of fish in the sea, right?”

“Maybe.” Kennedy slid back into the driver’s seat. “Sometimes I wonder if there’s really anyone out there for me. At least not anyone who stays. Everyone leaves eventually.”

She stared through the windshield for a moment before starting the engine. Thoughts of old relationships tugged at her heart, bringing with them a familiar ache. “I worry that I already met the person I was meant to be with,” she admitted quietly. “The person I wanted a future with. But I think he’s moved on. Honestly, I don’t even know what he wants anymore.”

“Then why not talk to him?” Desmond suggested. He looked slightly uncomfortable giving relationship advice, but he pressed on. “If you reach out and he answers, that probably means he still wants to talk. Sometimes the first step is the hardest one.” At least he could speak confidently about that part.

Kennedy turned toward him with a knowing smirk. “You really like Maeve, don’t you?”

Desmond immediately stiffened. “Yeah,” he admitted, a faint blush spreading across his bark-like skin. “I really do.”

Kennedy laughed softly. “How about this? We plan your date together. You tell me what you’ve got in mind, and I’ll tell you whether it’s a terrible idea.”

“A terrible idea?” Desmond repeated.

“Or a good one,” she corrected with a grin.

“I’d appreciate that,” he said, visibly brightening. “Actually, I’m supposed to meet Jean later today. She said she found an image inducer that I might like... whatever that is.”

Kennedy pulled the van onto the road, abandoning the trip to the library for another day. “Sounds like you’ve already got a date to help you plan your date.”

Desmond groaned at her comment. "If corny lines like that one are what you're offering, I think I might pass."

Kennedy laughed, and for the first time that afternoon, the weight on her shoulders felt just a little lighter. As the van rolled toward the school, the conversation drifted away from lost loves and lingering doubts, settling instead on nervous crushes, first dates, and the possibility that neither of them was quite as alone as they feared.

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