I do not own X-Men Apocalypse.

But I'm giving this a whirl.

X-Men: Age of WTF.

It was a decently good day.

One of the better ones.

Hank taught his class. Answered questions. Guided learning.

He was even able to look people in the eye as he did so.

Think relatively positive thoughts about them.

Perhaps even smile in a way that didn't feel like his face would shatter.

The sun didn't seem so false, the company of other people didn't seem so mockingly cruel.

It was a good day.

And he should have suspected something.

He should have known better.

That when everything seems to be going your way, often times that's because you just might be about to unsuspectingly drive right off a cliff.

But Hank McCoy never saw it coming.

It started out simply enough.

With the appearance of two sudden guests standing watching the ebb and flow of students and teachers from class to class.

Hank was coming down the staircase, minding his very own business in the world as it was.

And there they were.

Two previously unforseen mutants.

Standing there.

We really need to start implementing some security measures around here.

Just standing.

They could have been anybody just walking in and standing in our foyer.

Right in the foyer.

Watching a decidedly huffy Jean Grey excuse herself from their presence.

Making friends, everywhere you go. Just making friends.

But Hank was glad to see him nevertheless.

"Alex Summers?"

"Hank McCoy!"

We should at least install a doorbell or something.

Alex had gone off awhile back, supposedly, to check on his family.

Problems with his brother or something.

And he had stayed gone.

Long enough for his army crew cut to grow out into a fashionable mane that might have looked out of place in any other decade.

Still pretty, I see. And haven't aged a day in appearance. How is that possible?

"This is my brother, Scott."

An unassuming and commonplace person, save for the wrappings around his eyes.

Ooh, a new specimen! Ahem, young mutant in need of guidance, I mean.

He thought he had seen quite a variety of manifested powers since the reopening of the school.

And was already curious about this one.

But Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters was first and foremost, a welcoming place.

For all kinds of mutants. With all kinds of abilities.

So he introduced himself.

"I'm Hank. I'm a teacher here."

I'm also a genius and sometimes blue and furry, but we'll get to that.

Scott didn't seem quite as verbose as his elder sibling.

"Mmm."

Okay, then.

But then again, many students came to the school cagey and squirrelly and withdrawn.

It seemed to come with the territory

I remember what that felt like.

"How incredible, another mutant!"

He still remembered the sting of being mercilessly outted in one fell swoop . . .

Charles, you ass.

. . . in front of a whole group of people who didn't know him from a hole in the ground.

And Mr. Oliver.

And decided to cut the kid some slack.

As Alex took over.

"Do you know where the professor is?"

Yes, of course I do. Where else would he be? Holding court.

And he was.

Teaching, actually.

And he was quite good at it.

Philosophy, literature.

All the stuff that was too open-ended for Hank's preferences.

". . . think the author meant when he wrote all that?"

Though Hank wondered how he managed not to get dizzy slowly spinning around and around in that wheelchair.

Charles' face visibly lit up as he caught sight of Hank escorting the semi-newcomers and Hank almost smiled.

Hey, Chuck, guess who I found!

Then he remembered Hope had affectionately, and once not so affectionately, called Charles 'Chuck' from time to time.

And stoically pushed that rising well of emotion right back down into the pit of his stomach.

As Charles dismissed his charges.

And Alex made introductions yet again.

"This is my brother, Scott."

And Charles Xavier warmly pronounced some of his favorite words in all of the English language.

"Hello, Scott. Welcome to the School for the Gifted."

He just loves to say that.

But Hank didn't really mind.

Charles had come so far, fought back from so much, that he deserved to have some pride over what he had brought about.

A quiet, relatively, peaceful, relatively, sanctuary for children and young adults with powers the ordinary world was not yet prepared to understand and accept.

They welcomed them, taught them.

Trained them to control their powers so they wouldn't have to be afraid.

So they could choose how to live their own lives.

And it worked.

For almost ten years it had worked.

And now they would do the same thing for Scott.

And Hank was just glad he could say he was a part of it.

And that he wished Hope could still be part of it as well.

All these things he was thinking as the blindfolded Scott . . .

"It doesn't feel like much of a gift."

. . . echoed the feelings of so many that had come before him . . .

"They never do at first."

. . . and got his reassurance from the professor himself.

Hello!

Okay, this movie screwed up a bunch of my fanfiction and so I'm trying to intermingle my storylines with it.

Comes with the fanfic territory, I guess.

And yes, my OC Hope exists here as well. Or rather, the memory of her. Because she was, and still is, good for Hank.

Anyway, if you're willing to give this story a try, I'll be willing to do my best and appreciate your time.

Everybody appreciates feedback.

Leave a review if you like.