Hank McCoy was man of words.  Well, a mutant of words, at least.  He'd read the sayings of many a wise man and woman, and he had seen the fundamental truths they describe enacted in the world around him.  One of his favorite books was a dictionary of quotations.   He liked to thumb through it every now and then, looking for wisdom to impart the children who surrounded him and permeated his life.  He was currently sitting in the library of the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, monitoring the research of one of the newest students.  A girl named Laura, who tended to seek out…inappropriate material.  As it was, she was looking for sources for a paper about the importance of prostitutes in Latin American literature.  Laura did not require his undivided attention, however, so Dr. McCoy felt free to peruse his book of quotations.

            "Dr. McCoy, I think I've found what I need."

            "Excellent.  Go work on that paper now, and I'll edit it, if you'd like.  I'll be in here reading," the big blue guy replied.  Laura nodded and walked to the door.  When she opened, the library filled with the sound of two other students fighting.  Well, one student shouting and another desperately trying to calm the shouter down.

            "But, cherie—"

            "Don' you 'cherie' me, swamp rat!  If Ah find you reading my diary again, Ah'll put you in a coma…permanently!"

            Dr. McCoy rolled his eyes good-naturedly at Laura who glanced back at him in total shock.  "It's really not that uncommon, dear.  You'll get used to it.  Leave the door open; it's far too quiet in here."  Laura scoffed, unbelieving, and slinked out into the hallway, trying to evade the attention of her peers.  Smiling, Dr. McCoy looked back at his book, and his eyes were immediately drawn to a certain Thomas Mann quote.

            Just then, Remy slouched into the library, having finally been defeated by his lovely Rogue.  Well, abandoned by her anyway.  Rogue had taken the arm of some newbie, dragging the poor girl, saying something about a promise to go to the mall.  [Meanwhile, a very disgruntled Laura was composing a paper in her head, while trying to drive to the mall in her much beloved Jetta; Rogue's constant complaints were aiding in neither endeavor.]  He dropped himself dramatically into a chair.  "Why she so mean to Remy?  I ain't been nuttin' but nice to dat fille, and she treat me like de scum'a de earth.  Beast-man, you smart.  You got any advice fo' me?"

            Dr. McCoy laughed out loud and read the quote that had commanded his attention to his dejected young friend.  "'He who loves the more is the inferior and must suffer.'"

            "Dat's not what Remy wanted to hear, mon ami."  Once Dr. McCoy stopped the bout of laughter that followed Remy's response, he looked at his book once again.

            "Here is one you might like better, dear boy," McCoy cleared his throat.  "'There is no disguise which can hide love for long where it exists, or simulate it where it does not.'"  He looked to Remy to gauge his reaction.

            "Is dat so?  You t'ink Miss Rogue be wearing a disguise?  You t'ink Remy has a chance?"  Remy began to cheer up, thrilled by Dr. McCoy's implication.  However, he was not answered as encouragingly as he had hoped.

            Dr.  McCoy sighed and looked at Remy appraisingly.  "Have you ever read Le Petit Prince, Mr. LeBeau?"

            "Oui, it was my favorite story when I was a petit prince, myself."

            "Do you recall the chapter in which the little prince meets the fox?"

            Remy smiled fondly, "oui.  Le petit prince tames de fox and dey become friends."

            "Yes.  It is necessary to be very patient.  You must sit very far away and say nothing.  Words are the source of misunderstandings.  But everyday, you may sit a little closer," Hank paraphrased the fox's wise words on how to tame himself.

            "Remy knew you smart, Beast-man," Remy replied.  "Merci beaucoup, mon ami."  He stood and walked to the door, but Dr. McCoy's voice stopped him before he could leave.

            "'Les hommes ont oublié cette vérité, dit le renard.  Mais tu ne dois pas l'oublier.  Tu deviens responsible pour tourjour de ce que tu as apprivoisé.  Tu est responsible de ta rose…(1).'

            "Oui, je sais.  Je sais (2)."  And then he departed.

A/N:  This is my first X-Men: Evolution fanfic.  I really hope you liked it.  I was just going through my quotation dictionary and the idea bunnies started hopping all through my head.  There was shameless self-insertion, but it was too overbearing, I hope.  I'm fairly sure this is just a one shot, unless there's an overwhelming demand for more.

Translations:

(1) "Men have forgotten this truth, said the fox.  But you must not forget it.  You become forever responsible for what you tame.  You are responsible for your rose…."

(2) "Yes, I know.  I know."

If you need anything else translated, email me.  And, by all means, REVIEW!!!  I'm a bit proud of this one, even if I did get far a-field with my literary references.  ^-^