DISCLAIMER

Characters and trademarks are the property of Marvel, 20th Century Fox and the genius that is Stan Lee. No money is made by the author for this work of fiction.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Set approximately six months before the events of X-Men. Will contain references to m/m slash, yaoi, boy love or whatever colloquialism the fangirls (and fanboys) are presently using. This contains boys kissing boys. Okay I know that's why you're reading it, but I'm stating it again so as to not get angry flames from the moronic.

A Trick of the Light

Chapter 01

Mutant High

Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters
Westchester, New York

Robert 'Bobby' Drake swallowed nervously as his tall, stoic guide led him down the hall. The school was a maze. Much larger than what he had been expecting from the brochure his parents had been shown a week earlier. The mansion alone must have been about the size of his entire street back in the sleepy suburbs of Boston, never mind the grounds.

His escort, a darkly dressed man in his late twenties or early thirties, wore reflective red sunglasses, and had introduced himself simply as 'Scott Summers.' Barely a word had been exchanged between him and fifteen year old in the journey from the cab that had delivered him. Within the space of a very fast paced minute, Summers had purposely led him through the foreboding mansion with barely enough time to keep track of his own feet, let alone turn his head and marvel at the expensive looking wood panels, and more expensive looking paintings that framed the pathway.

Bobby's mood had brightened however, when he saw kids his age running down the hall. But this feeling had fallen as the kids had screeched to a more sedate pace upon sighting Summers, their apparent good will stopping at the same time as they walked quietly past them. He hoped the discipline in this place wasn't too harsh. Prep schools often were notorious for their hazing, with in-house methods of punishing students that stray off the infamous honour code. If his silent companion and the opulent woodwork were anything to go by, Xavier's might not be a very fun place. He was starting to regret coming, despite the school's eminent reputation.

Summers led him towards a section of wood panelling. Bobby was confused and about to ask what he was doing, when he noticed the man's hand was reaching towards a handle.

'Cool,' Bobby thought to himself. 'I wouldn't have guessed that there was a room there.'

His guide opened the door without knocking, and the panel swung inwards on silent hinges into a bright and airy office making him blink a couple times to adjust to the white panels after the faux-darkness produced the by the endless stained wood of the hallway.

"Ah, Mr Drake, come in," a man with a cultured baritone voice called out. The teenager looked over the desk to see a bald man with a disarming smile behind the desk, looking unsurprised by their sudden entrance.

"Thank you, Scott," the man said. His escort nodded and left as silently as he came. "I'm Professor Charles Xavier" the man, Xavier, said gesturing for Bobby to take a seat in one of the chairs set in front of the impressive oak desk. "How was your flight?"

Bobby, a little flustered at his host, eased himself into a seat. "Um, fine. It was just from Boston."

"Yes, I know," Xavier acknowledged in a focused manner that was a little creepy in Bobby's opinion. "I'm glad your family decided to accept my offer. I'm quite certain you will find a place for yourself here." Bobby frowned.

'The only place mutants can find themselves is a gutter,' he thought.

"My parents were very impressed by the school's placing," he said neutrally, after considering his words.

"But you don't think you will fit in?" Xavier probed. Bobby shrank somewhat inwardly. The intensity of Xavier's gaze made him want to tell the truth.

"No," he said honestly after a pause.

"I see," Xavier said in a level tone. "Well, I hope that time will make you change your mind. This is a school for gifted youngsters, you wouldn't be here if you weren't uniquely special."

"I'm not that special," Bobby intoned quietly. 'I'm a freak.'

"You're not a freak Robert," Xavier said strongly.

"What!" Bobby ejected, surprised and confused. "Did I say that out loud?"

Xavier smiled a sad smile.

He grew nervous as Xavier's hands left his desk, and was surprised to hear the sound of an electric whine. Xavier's chair moved around from behind the desk, and the schoolboy realised it was not an office chair, but a wheelchair. He quickly schooled his look of surprise into a neutral face so as not to insult the man by staring.

"Robert, I'm sorry you prefer, Bobby, yes?"

"Err yeah, only my parent's call me Robert," Xavier nodded in understanding before fixing him with a piercing look.

"I know you're different from other boys, Bobby." The boy felt his pulse begin to race. 'Does he know I'm a mutant?'

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do. You're constantly terrified that today will be the day you slip up and that someone learns your secret. Even when you're at home, you're terrified that your parents will find out. Find out that you're special." The boy was rapidly becoming scared, but he did his best to not let it show.

"There is nothing different about me Professor, I'm normal".

'Yes, you are,' Xavier said. Bobby's eyes widened. Xavier's lips hadn't moved, but he still heard it. Or not heard it.

'You're not the only one with gifts,' Xavier's voice said in his head.

Bobby leaped out of his chair like he had been shocked.

"What the hell!" he cried.

"Please calm down, Bobby," Xavier said aloud this time, trying to placate the boy.

"No, I will not calm down! I heard you, but your lips didn't move. Oh God! You're a mutant!"

"Yes," Xavier said gravely. "And so are you. I want to help you Bobby."

"Help me!" Bobby said in a high voice. "You can't help a mutant!"

"I can help you, Bobby. You're not a freak of nature, and you don't need to be afraid. Please take a seat and I will explain." He didn't know why he returned to his chair, but there was something in the man's voice that made him want to hear him out, before doing anything rash.

Bobby listened wide-eyed as the professor explained that the school was a refuge for mutants. A place of safety. A place to be around others of the same kind, to learn to control their gifts safely in a nurturing environment, and to find a place in an unfriendly world. He would still be getting a very elite education, but he would be doing it with peers in the exact same situation as he was. Although Bobby was still very apprehensive about the entire situation, he was experiencing something he had never experienced in the three years since his powers first manifested. Hope. Hope for a place where he could fit in and not be afraid to be himself.

"Give it some time to settle, and I'm quite certain you will fit in," Xavier assured. "And if you are still uncomfortable, you may return to complete your schooling outside these walls. Though I am sure it will not come to that." Bobby nodded limply.

The door to the office opened suddenly, surprising the boy, but not Xavier, whom the teen assumed thanks to his psychic powers, could probably give permission to enter his office, long before anyone reached it.

"Thank you for coming, Evan," Xavier greeted to the figure entering his office.

Bobby twisted in his seat to look at the newcomer. He was a few inches shorter than Bobby, wearing black denim jeans and a white jacket, the buttons left unfurled to show the crimson shirt underneath. He had semi-long flaxen hair that matched his jacket, pallid green eyes, and the lightly bronzed skin of someone who spent more time in the sun than he did. Bobby guessed he was probably a year younger than he was though, given the shorter stature and trim build.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Evan asked, the sound of a long softened indeterminate accent, layering his words.

"Yes, Evan. I want to introduce you to a new student that just arrived. I've just been telling him about the school, I was hoping you could give him a tour."

"Of course," Evan said amiably, turning his attention on Robert and holding out a hand. "Hello, I'm Evan Ross."

Bobby stood up. "Robert Drake," he greeted awkwardly, shaking his hand. "But everyone calls me, Bobby".

"And would you prefer me addressing you by what everyone calls you, or do you prefer Robert?" Evan asked. That kind of threw him off a bit.

"Err, I prefer Bobby," he said after a moment's hesitation.

"Bobby it is, then." Evan said with a friendly smile. Bobby couldn't help but laugh slightly. He looked back at the professor.

"Evan will get you settled in," Xavier assured him. "Don't worry, you're in excellent hands." Nodding apprehensively, he followed Evan out into the hall, the door to Xavier's office closing behind him with a click.

Outside of Xavier's Office

Bobby followed the other boy outside into the darker hallway, pausing as Evan turned to close the door behind him. Bobby stood there dumbly for several moments waiting, neither boy saying anything.

"So, how about that tour then?" Evan broached, blinking his eyes a couple times like he had been dismissing a thought from his mind. Although as far as Bobby knew, that may indeed have been the case and Professor Xavier had been passing mental instructions to the young guide.

"Uhhhh, yeah," Bobby said. "But how about my things?" he asked. Scott had told him to leave everything behind in the cab when he had been escorted to the Professor.

"Don't worry, they should have already been taken up to your room," Evan assured. The boy gestured along the hall, and the newest member to the school allowed himself to be led down the passage, though at thankfully slower pace than the rushed treatment that Scott had given to him. He hadn't been able to get a real good look at anything on the way in, and now he curiously eyed the various marble sculptures and paintings as even led him along.

He looked away from a snowy landscape he had been glancing at over at the other boy. "So um, how long have you been here?" he broached cumbersomely, hoping to learn more about the school and the other boy.

Evan shrugged. "About a year," he revealed freely. "Since I was fourteen."

"You're fifteen!" Bobby exclaimed. "I would have thought you were younger!"

"Are you saying I'm short, big guy?" Evan challenged with a pointed look.

"Uh...yeah!" Bobby exclaimed. "You're like a- a toddler," he said with a superior look.

"Ha!" Evan said shaking his head in amusement at the friendly jibe. "Yep, you will definitely fit in with your room mate." Bobby stumbled slightly in surprise.

"Room mate!" he exclaimed. Bobby hadn't shared a room with anyone before. Not even with his brother, but then they weren't particularly close. Not antagonistic, just nothing in common. In truth he wasn't sure if his younger brother wasn't a little insecure about himself.

As a kid, Bobby had always been the big brother, meaning whatever his younger brother had done, Bobby had already done it. Although this was normal with siblings of different ages, Bobby was also smart, good looking, athletic, popular with the girls. He suspected that Ronnie was more than a little jealous of him. Ironic somewhat, since he was the one who was insecure about himself ever since his powers had manifested when he was twelve.

"Don't worry, the Professor wouldn't have placed you with him, if he thought that you wouldn't be able to get along," Evan assured. Bobby considered that, nodding. Bobby mentally shrugged. 'Maybe it won't be so bad.'

"So who's my roommate?" Bobby enquired earnestly. Evan chuckled slightly.

"You'll be rooming with John. He comes across a bit hot-headed, but don't take it personally. He's a good guy." Bobby eyed Evan closely, detecting a trace of a smile, as if thinking about something amusing.

"So when you say 'hot-headed...'" Bobby asked.

"He'll probably hate your guts," Evan finished. Bobby's wasn't sure whether to laugh or not. He decided on the former.

Evan smiled faintly at Bobby's laugh. Bobby's laugh trailed off when the blond didn't offer any more details and they walked in a comfortable silence for about a minute. Ascending a set of mahogany stairs, the two boys had to move to the sides as a young boy, probably around the age of eight or nine, came hurtling down towards them at breakneck speed.

"Whoa!" Bobby said in surprise. At first glance the boy appeared outwardly normal, however the sign of a tail, caused him to make an elaborate double take.

"Slow down, Zak!" Evan called after the boy, as the kid leaped the final four steps, landed on all fours gracefully, and was quickly up and running at full speed, pausing to only give a quick wave to the teen, before sprinting off again.

Evan took in Bobby's startled expression. He was still staring dumbfounded after the young tailed boy. "You do get used to it," Evan said in a quiet reassured voice. Bobby was looking a little nervous.

"Sorry, but. But I'm not used to being around...around other..." He fell silent lowering his gaze.

"Mutants." Evan finished levelly.

"Yeah," Bobby said, a little uneasy and guiltily. "I've never been around other mutants before. It's very...new," he finished lamely.

"You're not a freak, Bobby," Evan said pointedly, unknowingly channelling Xavier's words from earlier. It did cause Bobby's mental hackles to rise however.

'Does he have the same powers to read minds that Xavier has?' he wondered, suddenly finding himself to be much more nervous around the strange boy than he had been already.

"That's the same thing that Xavier told me," Bobby said protectively. "Are you psychic as well?"

Evan paused their excursion, looking a little startled.

"Of course not!" the boy exclaimed in genuine surprise, before quickly calming himself. "I don't need psychic powers to know what you're thinking. It's written on your face." Bobby looked at Evan a little doubtfully.

"This may be somewhat insulting, but everyone who comes here has been through the exact same thing you have. Everybody is afraid of being hated for being what people would say isn't normal, the only thing I can really do is promise that no one here will ever hate you for being yourself."

"Wow, that's... profound," Bobby said, with a touch of sarcasm to his tone. Evan gave Bobby a level expression.

"Maybe so, but, it's the truth. You don't have to be afraid whilst you're here. Professor X and the others, really do want to help."

Evan started walking back up the stairs, and after a moment of floundering where he had been standing considering that, Bobby quickly caught up to the other boy proceeding up the stairs ahead of him.

"So you've been here at the school for a while right?" Bobby asked, trying to start the conversation again to break the uncomfortable silence that had befallen them.

"Yes," Evan said simply. "Although I've known the Professor since before I came to the school, so I'm used to being around mutants." Evan gave a shrug.

"Does he really want to help us? Mutants I mean?" Bobby wasn't sure what to think of the man.

"I've known the Professor since I was Zak's age. People like us don't find many people who are willing to live with us, let alone try to understand or help us." Evan gave Bobby a piercing look.

"You can trust the Professor. But if you think you can find a better offer elsewhere..." Evan grew a little less friendly towards him, and Bobby let his line of questioning drop, foreseeing he wasn't going to turn the student against a mentor.

They rounded a corner and Bobby who had been looking at the blonde almost walked right into someone.

"Hey, careful there," a voice said, a strong grip on his shoulder steadying him. Bobby looked up, and up and up to see a friendly face with buzz-cut hair smiling at him. The guy was a veritable mountain, having the build of an Olympic heavy-weight champion, and he simply towered over Bobby. He must have been at least eighteen. Eighteen stone that is.

"Sorry," Bobby apologised automatically, stepping back.

"No harm done," the guy assured. "You new?" The man-mountain moved a basketball from hand to hand whilst he waited for his answer. Evan answered for him.

"He just arrived. Bobby this is Piotr. Piotr, Bobby." Piotr moved the basketball to one hand and shook Bobby's hand in a strong grip.

"Nice to meet you, man," the giant said.

"Yeah, you too," Bobby replied, intimidated by the guy.

Piotr looked over to Evan.

"So baby boy, wanna shoot some hoops?" Piotr asked spinning the ball on his finger in a display of dexterity. Bobby hid an amused smile at the nickname.

"Thanks big boy, but I think I'll pass." Piotr shrugged at the declination.

"Your loss, baby boy." he glanced in the other boy's direction. "You game, Bobby?"

"Err...yeah I guess," he answered in surprise at the offer.

"Cool, I'll see you later." Piotr gave Bobby a friendly slap on the back as he passed. Unfortunately for the brunette, it was much stronger than he expected. He waited until the guy was out of earshot.

"Ooow!" he exclaimed, rubbing his shoulder, foreseeing bruises in the near future. Evan laughed in amusement at him.

"That's why I usually say no. He forgets his own strength sometimes."

"Apparently," Bobby marvelled.

They walked down the hall the 'Colossus' had originated from. Music could be heard playing behind a few of the closed doors.

"This is one of the student dorms," his guide revealed. "About a dozen of us live in the rooms along here. Your room is past this thing," Evan remarked, referring to a bust of some historical figure that Bobby could only guess the identity of.

"Hey Evan!" a teenage girl called out, running from behind to catch up to them. Bobby turned to see a pretty young teenage girl with curly brown hair run up to them. She was out of breath.

"We still up for skating tomorrow?"

"Yes. I'll see you after class," He confirmed. She smiled brightly and made to run off, but Evan grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Kitty, this is Bobby Drake, he just arrived."

"Oh hey! Sorry, I'm Kitty Pryde. Nice to meet you!" she gushed.

Bobby flushed as the girl took his hand and shook it. "I'll see you in class maybe. Though you're older, so maybe not. I'll see you around!" The girl gave an infectious smile and quickly ran off. Bobby followed her progress and was startled when the girl ran head first into a wall, and then to his surprise, continued through it. Not to say she ran through the wall making a human-sized hole, but rather pass through the wall like it wasn't even there.

"Wow!" Evan laughed at the shocked expression on the boy's face.

"So, how many mutants are there in this place?" he asked bewildered, as he was led down the hall again. "I mean Xavier can read minds, that guy Piotr is really strong, and Kitty can apparently run through walls." Evan shrugged.

"The Professor employs quite a few regular people to look after the mansion and grounds. He can afford to I suppose, he's worth something like ten billion dollars. Not counting the staff, there are around ninety mutants here."

Bobby's jaw dropped. "That's a lot! Exactly how many mutants are there!"

"What in the world? I don't know. I suspect the Professor is the only one would know something like that. Your room's this last one off to the right," Evan said, pointing to a door that was mid-way down the hall. They had passed about seven or eight doors lining either side of the hall, and were at the final set of dears, before an open common area with large airy common area, after which the hallway continued further to what was likely more dorm rooms.

"What's your power?" Bobby asked spontaneously. He had been growing steadily more curious, and after seeing the demonstration from Kitty, along with nearing the apparent final destination, he might not get another chance to ask any time soon. Evan paused outside the door, heavy metal music was playing from within.

"What's yours?" his guide countered.

Bobby floundered, wondering how best to describe his power. Seeing a window down the hall, he held his hand out and a blue white wisp was emitted striking the glass. The glass frosted over with a thin film of ice.

"I can freeze things," Bobby explained with a smile. Evan looked impressed.

"That's pretty ...cool," the boy said and Bobby smiled at his approval, and the pun contained in the remark.

"So, what's your power?" Bobby asked again, flexing his shoulder from where it ached from the back-slap from Piotr.

"I didn't say I would show you", the teen replied. Bobby scowled at his self-satisfied smirk.

Evan chuckled after a moment, and placed his hand a few inches away from Bobby's shoulder. There was a soft glow beneath the boy's hand, and a few seconds later he lowered it back to his side. The brunette was confused though.

"What was that meant to do?" he asked.

"What do you think it did?" the other boy challenged.

"Nothing, my shoulder feels fine," Bobby said in confusion.

"Good," Evan said turning away from him to knock on the door. "John!" he yelled through the door.

Bobby frowned. As far as he could tell, Evan had done nothing, his shoulder felt fine. His eyes widened in surprise as he put it together.

"Wait! My shoulder was stinging from where that big guy back-slapped me, but now it feels completely fine. You healed me!" Evan nodded at Bobby.

"It's a handy power. Though getting people to answer the door clearly isn't a ability I possess," as he gave up on knocking on the door, and just opened it instead.

Bobby followed Evan into the room. It was a decent sized room, with large windows at the opposite end, a couch beneath them. A pair of single beds, framed either side of the room, with matching study desks and shelving. The end of the room bent around into an L shape holding a pair of cupboards, and another desk supporting the stereo which was pumping music into the room.

"Could you not hear me knocking John?" Evan asked the figure reclined on the couch.

"I heard, I was just ignoring you," the teenager answered, flipping through a comic, apparently giving a valiant effort at holding true to his words.

"I guess you heard you've got a new room mate," Evan said, guiding Bobby into the room with a reassuring look. The blond walked over and turned the music down, and John lifted his comic away from his face to give the boy a venomous glare. However the process of doing this, allowed Bobby a better view of his new room mate. He was his height and age, with brown hair, and rather contemptuous looking amber eyes.

"I guess," John said jerking a thumb behind his head in direction of the bed that wasn't in complete shambles. Bobby recognised his luggage at the base of it. No guessing was required to see how John felt about it.

"Try not to be a total arse to this one okay John" Evan warned. John gave him the finger. Bobby gave an apprehensive look to Evan that read

'Are you sure this is a good idea?'

"Don't worry, rich boy," John said with a sneer having caught the look. "I won't put a pillow over your face at night."

"Great," Bobby dead-panned. John looked back at the comic book and the proceeded to ignore the two intruders.

"Um... you sure this is a good idea?" Bobby whispered to Evan at the door.

"Don't worry," the teen assured. "He may be a dick, but John's a good guy. Xavier wouldn't have put you here if he thought there would be problems." John apparently heard them as he snorted derisively.

"Serious problems, anyway," Evan added dubiously. He gave Bobby a sympathetic look. "My room's the very last room down the hall. Come find me when you've settled in and I'll show you were the classrooms and stuff are," he offered.

"Thanks," Bobby muttered.

Evan left the room, and Bobby found himself alone with his new room mate who was apparently ticked off about having to share.

"Err, so how long have you been here John?" Bobby broached tentatively. The last thing he wanted was to have a room mate that just ignored him the whole time. The boy on the couch looked away from his comic book and glared at him, practically throwing down the comic onto the couch as he stood up to face the newcomer.

"First of all, my name is Pyro, not John," the boy said in annoyance.

"But Evan was just calling you-"

"Are you Evan!" he asked angrily. Bobby fell silent. John, or rather Pyro walked over to the stereo and turned the volume back to its previous level.

Turning to face him again, Pryo fished out a Zippo lighter from his packet. He clicked it loudly, the small flame appearing. To Bobby's surprise though, the small flame leaped from the lighter into Pyro's hand, were it grew to the size of a baseball.

"Don't touch any of my shit!" he threatened, before clamping his fist shut to extinguish the flame. Pyro returned to the couch and flopped down on his back, retrieving his abandoned comic book. Bobby swallowed nervously.

"Great," he muttered to himself.

End Chapter

Authors Note:

Chapter 01 complete. wordcount 4242. Beta'd by EmeraldReporter, 08/08/2010.
Comments and feedback appreciated.

Edit: 10/08/10 Improved spacing at suggestion of Carlough

Edit: 30/08/11 Fixed a couple typos.

Edit: 17/04/12 Fixed comma usage and a couple more typos. Let it not be said that I shy away from revisions.