Two large men appeared at the great double doors of Charles Xavier's mansion. Both were gigantic, though the one actually towered over the other. Both wore large trench coats and fedoras. The bigger knocked on one of the doors, revealing a massive orange rock covered fist. "Do we really have to do this?" asked the smaller.

"Damn it I already told ya, this is the best way for ya to adjust. So quit babblin, and let me knock!" snapped the bigger male.

"Fine," replied the other, he folded his arms against his chest and waited. The bigger knocked on the door again.

"Coming! Hold your stinkin horses!" came the voice from inside. The doors flew open to reveal an angry looking Wolverine. "What the hell do you want!?"

The bigger visitor snorted. "Good to see you too short stuff."

Wolverine cocked his head to side then laughed. "Benjamin Grimm, aint every day we get a real live superhero here in Bayville. What can we do for you?"

Ben Grimm, also known as the Thing, removed his hat. "I was hopin I could talk to the prof bout something."

Wolverine looked at the Thing's companion. "That something this here kid?"

Ben pushed past Wolverine into the mansion. "Nothing gets by you does it?" Logan glared but didn't say anything. At the top of the stares X-23 crept out to see what was going on. Most of the other students were out or practicing. The mansion was oddly silent.

The smaller Grimm glared around as he followed his father. "Still don't see the point in being here. 'Specially without Alyce."

Ben sighed. "We've been over that Jake, your sister don't want to be in this line of work. You do. And this place is better than most for training young heroes. Sides, it ain't healthy living up in that tower, no contact with kids yer own age."

"He's right, Mr. Grimm, children develop better if they have friends and classmates their own age," came a new voice.

Ben smirked as he turned to the voice. "Professor, a pleasure to see ya sir."

Professor X, along with Aurora, came out of his office, the weather witch pushing the professor's chair. "You as well Mr. Grimm, and this is your son yes?"

"Yes sir, this is my boy, Jacob," replied Ben. "Well, say hi boy." Jacob waved, slightly.

He turned and looked at the mansion's foray. "Where is everyone?"

The professor smiled. "Out, some are in school, others home or on a mission. The rest are about." The massive teenager nodded. "Come to my office, I'm sure we can answer any questions you have."

Ben smiled. "That's fine with me." The three adults and teen left for the office. Meanwhile Wolverine found his younger clone.

"Enjoying the show darlin?" asked the older mutant.

"They smell funny," replied X-23.

Wolverine threw back his head and laughed, he crossed his arms behind his head as he sat down next to her. "That they do, cosmic radiation will do that to a fella."

Inside the study, the Professor wheeled himself behind his desk while Aurora went to get refreshments. "I must admit Mr. Grimm, I was unaware you had children."

Ben nodded as he rubbed his head awkwardly. "Yea, funny story that. Involves different dimensions, crazy super villains and an ex-wife I didn't know I had. Long and short of it, I got two wonderful kids out of it, Jacob here, and his twin Alyce."

"Where is Alyce?" asked the Professor.

"She's staying at the Baxter building; she's not real keen on following in her poppa's footsteps. And, she don't have the anger issues this 'um has," replied the Thing. Jacob grumbled but didn't say anything in his defense. "My boy is a good kid, but rough 'round the edges, and I figured this would be the best place for him to learn how to deal with his issues. And keep him out of trouble."

Professor X nodded as he leaned forward. "Jacob, do you want to be here?"

Jacob shrugged; he pulled his hat off and sighed. He had inherited his father's powers, a rocky skin covered him, though he was a tad more proportional than his father, but he had the same four fingers, and massive upper body. He even had the Thing's famous blue eyes. The only real difference was his rocky hide was darker, a muted brown, instead of an orange like his father. "I don't know prof," Ben smacked his son upside the head. The boy glared but shook his head. "I'm sorry, I mean professor, I aint never been round kids my own age, 'cept for a few relatives. I, well it won't hurt having my own work out equipment. And I heard that danger room of yours can make just about anything under the sun."

Professor X smiled as he nodded. "It can indeed. And this school was built to help children like yourself learn to control their powers."

Jake dipped his head. "Then I guess this is where I should be. Sides it aint like my pops over here gonna let me go home."

Ben grinned. "That's the gospel truth."

After sorting out tuition and other details, the two Grimms walked outside to the waiting fantasticar. Jacob grabbed several large duffle bags out of the flying car then turned to his dad. "So, this is it huh?"

Ben grabbed the boy in a fierce hug. "Don't act like yer goin to Negative Zone, we're just a phone call away, and New York's an hour by car. You'll be home soon. Fer now, make some friends huh?"

Jacob nodded. "Love ya dad."

"Love you too kid," replied Ben. The Thing clambered into the flying car, waved at his son and took off. Jacob stared at the retreating shape for a while before he turned.

"Come on bub, I'll show ya yer room," said Logan. Jacob nodded and followed the Canadian hero as the two returned to the mansion. "So, yer father teach you how to fight?"

"And fly," replied Jacob as the pair wandered. "Who's the shadow?" Jacob jerked a thumb over his shoulder and pointed at X-23.

Wolverine laughed. "That's good you noticed. That's my…daughter, Laura. Laura come meet our newest student." X stepped into the light. She was a small girl, only reach Jacob's chest. But she wasn't scared of the rock skinned mutant. The two stared at each other before Jacob stuck out his hand.

"Name's Jake Grimm, pleased to meet ya," said the boy. Laura cocked her head to the side and walked away. Jacob watched, confused.

Wolverine patted the boy on the shoulder as he walked by. "Don't take it personally, Laura's not much of a people person. Come on bub, after you stow your stuff we're goin to the Danger Room, see just how much yer pops trained you."

Jacob snorted as he shouldered one of his bags and followed. After navigating seemingly endless hallways, the pair stopped outside a room. "This is yers. You got here in a lull so be happy, you got yer own room. Dump your stuff and come down stairs." Logan opened the door and Jacob walked in. A twin bed was pressed against the wall, a book case and a desk near it. A bathroom was attached to it, complete with a shower. Jacob nodded as he walked in. Then he pressed a hand on the bed.

Jacob cocked a rocky eyebrow. "I'm gonna need a new bed. And a map oh and a stronger chair."

Logan laughed as he walked away. "I'll make sure the prof knows. Chuck will send a guide to get ya, so relax for a little." Jacob sighed. He leaned on the bed; it creaked, so he backed off.

Instead he went about putting his clothes away. Being the son of the Thing had some benefits, such as a complete closet of custom fit, custom tailored outfits. However, the downside, Jacob couldn't go shopping, since most clothes didn't fit. Still made the mutant teen appreciate his clothes all the more. So after everything was put away, Jacob hung up his trench coat, and took off his shoes. Despite being custom made to his size, Jacob hated wearing shoes, it felt strange, he preferred walking around barefoot. Unfortunately this led his sister to calling him an oversized hobbit, but that's life. All the thoughts about home set a deep melancholy in his stomach, so much so he almost sat down before he remembered the bed would break under his weight. Alyce, how he missed his twin. It was so strange not having her within shouting distance. Not to just feel her.

A knock on his door interrupted his musings. And homesickness. X-23 opened the door. "I was told to bring you to the danger room."

Jacob smiled. "Ah shadow, pleased to see ya again. Laura right?" She nodded slightly. Jacob smiled. "Jake, nice to meet you, again."

"You are strange," replied Laura. "And smell weird."

Jacob just burst out laughing. "Yea, I guess I do. Well shadow, you're my guide right?" She nodded again. "Well then let's go then. Don't want to keep yer pops waiting."

The two walked down the halls, and Laura, out of habit, examined her companion. His body was literally cut stone, with muscle groups defined by cracks in his skin, along with the regular cracks that gave him a checkered look. His blues eyes, brilliant, were hidden under a heavy brow. His arms were slightly longer than proportional, but he seemed completely balanced, they did not drag or hang awkwardly. His feet, bare, were as dexterous as any regular human, and he was well balanced.

"Staring's a bad habit darlin, best get out of it," said Jacob all of sudden.

X looked up at him. "I was not staring, merely examining a potential teammate."

"Semantics, you were staring," replied the rock teen. The girl glared slightly but didn't say anything. Jacob just guffawed at the girl, his laughter ringing down the halls. Despite herself, X started to smile slightly.

Eventually they made their way to the danger room, hidden under the mansion. Jacob whistled as he examined the X-men's headquarters. "Almost rivals the Baxter building. So, what's this test yer pops cooked up?"

Laura just smirked. "You'll see." She backed out of the empty metal room leaving Jacob alone.

The Fantastic teen turned slowly, his mind already working. "Logan's run initiated, level 3," came the computer's voice. The danger room shimmered then turned to a burning ruined city.

"Capture the mutant!" reverberated through the room. Jacob spun to see several purple and blue Sentinels approaching him.

Jacob sighed. "Giant robots, great." With that the teen took off, smashing through ruined buildings as he tried to put distance between him and the Sentinels. Jacob ducked into a destroyed coffee house and hid in the doorway. He scooped up a large chunk of rubble and counted backwards. The first Sentinel footsteps shook the ground as it approached. When Jacob reached zero he sprang out of the door. "Here's the wind up, and the pitch!" The chunk of rubble flew through the air as Jacob rolled away. It hit the Sentinel square in the eye and shot out the back.

While the first fell Jacob smashed into the leg of another. "Going Down!" screamed the teen as he heaved with all his might. The Sentinel fell backwards and crashed into the ground. The others fired energy weapons on Jacob. Jacob roared and ripped the downed Sentinel's leg off. Using it as a club, the massive teen smashed the robot's head in, before chucking the leg at another machine. Jacob dodged into another building as more Sentinels appeared. The teen tried to slow his breathing as the Sentinels began to scan the area. "Ok Jake, think, giant robots, a lot of them. But they aint doom bots and you've run this sort of stuff before." Jacob smacked his head. "Yea, but usually I had help. Fuck, think what would Kristoff do, Doom Jr. would scan them, give us the details and these tin cans weak points. Franklin would come up with some plan, usually with him in the center, Alyce would provide cover, and I'd hit something. Fuck." He poked his head over a ruined wall. The Sentinels were scanning the downed bot with the leg in its head.

Jacob did a quick count. "Five left. Fuck me, seven giant robots is a hell of an initiation." With a groan, Jacob launched himself back into the fray. An hour later Jacob stood on a pile of Sentinels and was trading blows with a fake Colossal. He was bleeding through his rocky hide, and he was gasping for air, but he didn't let up. Finally the programed mutant made a mistake. He threw a haymaker that put him too close to Jacob. Jacob grabbed the arm and spun, throwing Colossal over his shoulder as he moved. The mutant slammed into the ground and the scenery changed. This time it was a snow covered forest. Jacob grumbled as he leaned against a tree. "God damn it, can't I breathe for five fucking minutes." A rumble from the trees was his answer. Jacob sighed as he pushed himself off the tree. He shook his head a few times then lumbered into the woods. Only for the woods to disappear. "Oh thank god," sighed Jacob.

Logan, in his X suit, appeared from the control panel. "Not bad kid, most people cant do my run on their. Though you only made it bout half way, still, not bad."

Jacob collapsed on the ground. "You suck, so much."

Logan laughed as he offered the kid his hand. "So I've been told."

Jacob laughed. "I'd rip your arm off while you're trying to help me up. Sides, I got it." Jacob clambered to his feet as Wolverine guffawed.

Wolverine smacked him on the shoulder as the professor and the Beast appeared. "Well Logan, what do you think of our latest student?"

"Should give Magneto's boys a hell of a surprise next time we tussle," replied the Canadian.

Beast wandered over to the boy, examining him. "Remarkable physiology, however I think your lesson was a tad harsh Logan, he's bleeding from a dozen spots."

Jacob shrugged as he winced. "My own fault, not used to fighting by myself."

Wolverine smirked. "Good attitude bub. Well Doc, get the kid fixed and Chuck the boy needs some new furniture."

"Of course, Mr. Grimm, please follow Dr. McCoy," answered Charles. Jacob nodded as he followed the mutant doctor.

In the hallway Jacob slumped against a wall, hand wrapped around his side. "Damn, that was painful."

McCoy appeared at his side and removed his arm. Flecks of stone fell away as Jacob bled. "Jacob why didn't you tell Logan you were injured! The danger room is there to train not kill."

Jacob smiled as he pushed himself up. "Point is to be prepared, sides, it'll heal in a few days. Just need a bandage doc."

McCoy shook his head. "You're going to be a repeat customer, I can tell. Well, come along." McCoy helped Jacob down the hallway to med bay. After some bandages Jacob left, heading to the rec room. He collapsed on the massive couch, which, surprisingly, did not break under his weight.

"Got to say thanks for the little things right?" whispered Jacob as he grabbed the TV remote.