AN: Ok so I love making my own characters. Most of the time these characters are nothing like me personally and this one is no exception. I love Chris for who she is and how she is. This is not a fluff story. Logan and Chris will not dance around each-other for twenty chapters before sharing their first kiss etc... sorry love those stories, but that's not this one. Chris has a complicated past and future and so does Logan. I love reviews, but I don't beg or plead or bribe or blackmail for them. Leave them if you feel strongly about a chapter. I write because I love it. I do this because it makes me happy. If it doesn't make you happy then why are you reading it? Also this might be the only AN you ever get so PM me if you want a response. I write in my own time. I already know I'm going to be out of the country for a month with my parents living under one roof with them so I may not write at all then, or I may write two chapters a day just to escape no promises. I do tend to write more on stories people seem interested in, but mostly I do it for my self. I am currentl working on editing and streamlining the story... also I think there might be a chapter that got missed when I was posting... so I'm gunna try to see what's up.
DISCLAIMER: Only time I'm gunna say this so listen close and be smart. Only character I own is Chris. If there was ever a mutant named Rebel I'm sorry I didn't mean to jack the name it's just the one I wanted and I couldn't find one. I don't own X-men or any intellectual or physical property there of.
Taking her last deep breath of semi-untainted air Christina LeBeau raised the large brass knocker and let it fall on the great wooden door of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. The door was opened almost immediately by a man with an odd set of sunglasses on who, despite being unable to see his eyes, was clearly unimpressed with her appearance. Brushing the sideswiped bangs of her pixie cut hair out of her face she entered the mansion easily carrying the few possessions she owned. In the entry way sat the Professor, who had contacted her, in his wheelchair, a coffee colored woman with long white hair, a disgruntled looking burley man, a woman with long red hair and an equally aghast look, and finally Remy. Dropping her bags to the floor Christina ran forwards and threw herself into her big brother's arms. Her crop top shirt rode even higher up on her belly clearly exposing her pierced naval as if it had not been apparent enough before and her leather jacket stretched over her shoulders even as her leather skinny jeans rode up her ankles an extra inch. Even in her four inch heals her brother was still a couple inches taller and took the liberty of lifting her from the ground and spinning her around.
Setting her back down and ruffling her dirty blond hair he said, "So Chrisy still hangin' in there hu?"
"Makin' it." She said swatting his hand away and giving him a playful punch on the arm.
"Still wearin' this hu?" He asked picking up the red die with black snake eyes on every face but one that hung around a leather thong on her neck.
"Good luck charm" she teased kissing him on the cheek.
"And these?" he asked picking up the metal dogtags that lay under it, "These good luck too?" he asked.
Her face turned hard as she turned away from him pulling the tags into her own hand and holding them tightly, "Even good luck needs a balance." she said voice icy.
Sensing a lull in the sibling's conversation the Professor address Christiana, "Welcome to the School Christina. As you know, I am Professor Charles Xavier, this woman to my right is Ororo, but prefers Storm, the gentleman who answered the door is Scott, this is Doctor Gray, and that gentleman over there is Logan. Would you care to introduce yourself?"
Christina nodded, "Hi everyone, I'm Christina LeBeau, as you may have guessed I'm Remy's sister. Normally nobody but family gets away with calling me anything but my code name, but since the Professor seems to think that it's not cool for the kids to call a teacher Rebel, you can call me Chris if you want. Remy's the only one who get's way with Chrisy and anyone who calls me Christina gets a knife in the back. Just ask my Mama."
Dr. Gray cast her eyes down, and Scott let out a nervous cough and scuffed his foot across the carpet in the beat of awkward silence that followed her statement.
The professor cleared his throat and said, "Yes well Chris will be joining the teaching staff here with us," but whatever he said after that was lost to Chris because her attention was drawn to the Logan man. He was shifting forward and back on the balls of his feet muscles bunching and unbunching sniffing the air and it was driving her bonkers.
"Excuse me Professor." She interrupted reaching into the top of one of her boots lightning fast and drawing out a thin-bladed knife. With stunning reflexes she threw it at the man, and it would have imbedded in his right shoulder had he not deflected it in the knick of time. "Stop stalking me dog. You're bad at it." She said, "I'm a cat get over it."
"But you're not." Logan said voice gruff and affronted sounding as he picked up the knife to look at it. Chris waited for him to take a step then began willing the chain of reactions that would bring her knife back to her. First Logan tripped, then the knife slipped his hand, then he kicked it on his way down, then it bounced off the banister railing, then clattered across the floor to slide up and land agains the heel of her boot where she bent down and picked it up before sheathing it once more.
Chuckling to himself slightly the professor said, "Perhaps you should explain Chris."
"Like I said, Code name's Rebel. I don't fit the bill, I'm like y'all's dog over there" she said pointing to Wolverine who growled as he heaved himself off the floor, "a feral. Increased senses, heightened strength, speed and agility. Healing ability, but its very slow, no real physical affirmations of my animal, just some personality traits and instincts, which is what makes me sure I'm more of a feline feral. Tiger to be exact. If it were just that I would just be a level 3 Feral with level 4 or 5 senses and stat increases; odd, but possible I guess, but I'm not; I'm also like the rest of you, I can kind of suggest things do what I want them to."
"Psychic?" Scott asked, but the Professor shook his head.
"No no, it doesn't always work, it's more like... luck." She said lamely. "I don't really know. I just sort of plan out how something is going to happen, a chain of events like, and then will them to happen I tie them into me, I feel it the same way I feel my heart beat and hear my blood rushing through my ears and my breath in my lungs and each step has a different sound and feeling, and it just goes from one to the next and happens."
Remy placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and said to the group at large, "It's a bit like trying to knock over a domino on one side of the room with one on the other, she just places all the ones in between and watches them fall. She can't push them, but once they start, if they're laid out right, then they end up knocking over the one at the end." Chris smiled her appreciation over her shoulder at her brother.
"So you're both a Feral, and a non-feral mutant?" Storm asked.
"Yup."
"Cat" Logan grumbled.
"Dog."
"Children" Scott scolded.
"Speak for her, I'm older than Wheels over there." Logan said.
"I'm 33!" Chris protested back at him.
"No chance in Hell Kid."
Remy shrugged, "She's only two years younger than me."
Logan grumbled while Chris gave a cocky grin.
"As I was saying," the Professor interrupted pointedly, "Chris will be joining Logan in teaching armed and unarmed combat." Logan let out a little growl in her direction and Chris stuck her tongue out at him. "She will also be teaching a couple of Remy's French classes so that he may focus elsewhere, as well as three new classes: Basic battle strategy, advanced battle strategy, and strategy of war. Only our oldest students will be placed in these new classes. An age limit of 14 will be placed on the intro class, and 16 on the two advanced classes. Thus far only four students have been selected to enter the two advanced classes this year."
Remy took ahold of Chris' shoulder turning her to look at him so that he could stare into her clear green eyes so much like their mother's before saying, "Are you sure about this Chrisy? You came here to get away from all of that."
"Rem, we all know what's coming, there's no point in trying to fool ourselves it'll only get us killed." Remy studied her for a moment longer before letting her go and both turned to face the group again.
Everyone was watching them curiously, but no one had the chance to ask as the Professor spoke up again, "Very well, now on to some general announcements. As many of you know the kids are on a trip with my dear friend Hank right now visiting Washington DC and will be back in two days for the start of the new term. Our oldest student, Piotr, has graduated and turned 18. He has asked to join the X-men. He has a very useful mutation, is a good fighter, has a good mind, and a good heart. I have granted him a provisional place on the team under the condition that he is to attend all three of Chris' classes acting as a student in both advanced classes, and a TA with her larger beginner class. He will also be required to attend all advanced training sessions and classes with Chris and Logan and will be under either Chris or Logan's command in the field dependent upon who's fighting style he matches best."
"She'll be going in the field?" Logan asked incredulously arms crossed and eyebrow raised.
"She is highly capable I assure you." the professor responded before Chris had a chance. "I suspect however Logan, that you would be better suited to fight alongside Colossus. From what I have seen, Rebel's fighting style is considerably faster paced and more agile then either of you have ever experienced, although I do hope she will be able to teach even you some new tricks Logan."
Chris smiled at the old dog pun and almost doubled over in laughter when she realized the dog was too dumb to catch it.
"Secondly" the professor continued, "In the same discussion Piotr asked me to consider removing Kitty's name from the X-men recruitment roster. I admit I had never considered doing so before, but it seems despite the age gap the two have become surprisingly close, and they both have concerns."
"Sir," Scott jumped in, "She's 14. If they are having inappropriate relations," the professor held up his hand and Scott hushed like an obedient child.
"He assures me they have not nor would he ever, and I have assured him that I shall know if they do. As I was saying, While her gift is phenomenal, and her intelligence is astounding, it would seem that even the unnecessary violence disturbs her, and that she wishes to live a more peaceful life."
"With all due respect Professor a war is coming. I know he has a soft spot for the kid, he always has, but he can't spend the whole war protecting her we need him." Logan said gripping the banister with bone white fingers.
"Nor does she expect him to. She, through Piotr, has requested to become apprentice of Dr. Jean Gray. She believes that she would be most helpful phasing into places and pulling out wounded soldiers and patching them up somewhere safe."
The room was silent for a moment as everyone thought about what kind of 14 year old would come up with a life plan like that before Dr. Gray said, "Yes, of course, I would be happy to have Kitty."
"Very good then. She will be excused from advanced and lethal level fighting classes, as well as future involvement in advanced tactical courses and shall focus her attention on learning medical practice. I believe that is all. Are there any other questions?"
"Just one Sir," Chis said, "Where are my rooms?"
"By mine of course." Remy said.
"Women's wing." Jean said.
"My appartment." Logan said.
The Professor looked between his teachers looking highly amused as Chris looked at them all like they were crazy school girls arguing over bunks at camp.
Remy began to loose he temper with Logan, "Why the hell would she be staying next to you? They put you in you're own special corner for a reason: you're dangerous."
"And she's not?" Logan demanded. "There's a reason the kids aren't allowed in my wing and it ain't for their safety Bub!"
"Of course it is you're a feral, you can't control yourself! You'd cut them into little child flavored salsa and then..."
"Enough!" The professor's voice boomed out over the room both in the air and in each head. The room grew still and silent. "Logan is right. Chris is part Feral. She will go with Logan into the Feral wing. The rules stand as they always have been no one enters the feral wing without express permission from them each time. It is not for your safety, but to give them a place that they can relax and be themselves without worrying about the people around them. It also minimizes the noise, scents, lights, and other general scene clutter that comes along with being feral. She needs a den to go back to just as much as he does."
"Then give her her own." Remy argued. "How is she going to feel like she can be herself living with him?"
Chris huffed a sigh, but said, "We'll normalize, it's not ideal, but I appreciate the thought professor. As long as I have my own room and my common areas are shared with another feral I'll be ok." She looked over at Logan who was watching her. He looked her up and down once more, sniffed in her direction again, then nodded once and slowly turned allowing her to collect her bags before following him up the mansion stairs to the secluded appartment on top.