AN: Another Chapter.

Disclaimer: I only own Terry. SHE IS MINE! Everything else belongs to their respective owners.

Take Away My Skin

Chapter 2 Enter Sodapop

The X-Jet landed in a vacant lot in what appeared to be a more suburban version of the New York slums. The houses were in a state of disrepair and looked like they were either sinking or falling apart. Scott and Rogue followed the Professor to a small blue house just down the next street. It looked just like every other house in the neighborhood. Personally, it reminded Rogue of the Brotherhood house, only smaller. much, much smaller. Inside, all the lights were on, indicating that someone was indeed home. The old beat up truck in the driveway was another good hint. Scott opened the old rusty gate. It let out a loud and horrible squeaking sound, which could probably wake the neighbors if it was completely silent. By the sounds of it, that was impossible. You could hear children crying, dogs barking, and people screaming at each other. Rogue shook her head and followed her friend and mentor. The three mutants walked up to the door, Scott helping the professor up onto the porch. He nodded to Scott, who gently opened the screen door, and knocked on the door.

They heard muffled voices, and the front door opened a crack a few seconds later. A girl, about seventeen years old looked through the crack. Her eyebrow furrowed and her hazel colored eye stared the group down. "Who are you?"She asked defensively not opening the door anymore than that small three inch crack.

The prof smiled at her,"My name is Charles Xavier,"He said his smile not fading,"and this is Scott Summers, and Rogue,"He continued gesturing to his two students as he said their names. "We're here to speak with your brother, Darrel. May we come in?"

She eyed them suspiciously."Give me a minute,"She said abruptly closing the door.

"How polite. Jeez, professa ya sure pick tha best ones don'cha,"Rogue said sarcastically. "She ain't commin' back is she?"She asked Scott about a minute later.

He shrugged in response,"To be honest, I wouldn't let us in either,"He stated. "We are strangers and, in a way, kind of weird."

"True,"Rogue agreed looking at her glove covered hands and then at Scott's ruby red shades. It was nighttime as well just to add to the strangeness of their arrival. It would be kind of weird to see a guy actually wearing sunglasses at night.

The door opened again, but this time it wasn't the girl who has previously opened the door. A man stood there, he was pretty tall and, his hair was cut short and was a shade of dark brown. His eyes were an icy blue that caused a shiver to go up her spine. They reminded her too much of Wanda's eyes only less dead, and not so cold and full of anger. He looked very tired, the kind of tired that comes with age. But he couldn't have been more than twenty five.

"See, ah knew she wasn' comin' back,"Rogue said looking at Scott speaking in her usual southern drawl.

"Can I help you?"The man at the door asked eyeing the three mutants suspiciously, much like the girl had.

"Yes Darrel,"The professor said,"We're here about your brother, may we come inside?"

The man shook off the look of surprise that had appeared on his face when the professor said his name. "Yeah, sure,"He said reluctantly, moving aside for the chair bound telepath and his companions. Suddenly, a look of recognition washed over his face, and it paled a bit.

Xavier smiled warmly and wheeled into the small, yet cozy house followed closely by Scott. Rogue sauntered in slowly after them. She sat down on the couch and crossed her arms over her chest yawning in a bored fashion. Scott down next to her and watched as the man the prof had called Darrel closed the front door and sat down on the chair adjacent to the couch.

"I think you know exactly 'why' we are here Darrel,"Charles said folding his hands in his lap.

He nodded,"Sadly, yes I do,"He responded with a tired sigh. "I take it you know about this morning."

The Professor nodded,"Yes, I do,"He replied seriously. "I know it has been a difficult time for you and your family, but I don't think you can keep denying that the boy is indeed different. We can't keep it from him any longer Darrel. I know that your parents wanted him here, but you must realize that here is not the best place for him right now. Soda is going to be potentially very dangerous if he's left to his own devices,"He explained knowledgeably.

"Don't you think I know that,"Darry snapped, "It's been three years. You can only play blind and pretend for so long Charles. And then, it all blows up in your face, and quite literally!"He raged.

"Relax sug,"Rogue said in a bored tone,"That vein in yere head is poppin' out a little too far."

He glared at her, "This is the first time Soda's exhibited any use of his powers,"He said calmly turning back to the professor. "It's only been small stupid stuff, but why now?"

"Well, I think the last year has been quite stressful for you and your family. Mutant powers tend to manifest during times of heightened emotional stress,"Charles expounded. "His powers seemed to have been suppressed until this morning, when all of the stress compounded on top of one another was too much, and it exploded."

"So you're saying that all the crap we've been put through over the last year with the state, police, and death in combination with whatever happened this morning made his powers 'manifest." He suggested trying to process all this information. It was a lot to take in all at once.

He nodded,"Yes, I'm afraid."

Darry was silent for a while. He just sat there starring at the floor before sighing and running a hand through his hair. He looked at the professor,"What should I do?"

"I extend an invitation to Soda to join my institute to gain control of his gifts."Professor X offered,"I think he'd be a fine addition to our group.

"Well, I don't know,"Darry sighed again, his eyes falling back to the floor in front of him.

"I know it's a lot to take in,"Scott spoke up, "But it could really help your brother."

Darry sighed, and feel silent for a few minutes. Rogue was beginning to get annoyed at the whole thing, it was tiresome, and tedious. Darry finally started again,"I can't make that decision,"He admitted tiredly. "I'll let him decide and I'll let him do what he wants. I can't just tell him he has to go with you."

Charles nodded,"I understand. It's a wise choice Mr. Curtis."

He shuddered at the,"Yeah well, for his sake, I hope he goes with you guys. It sounds like you'll help him.

"Believe me, we appreciate your confidence in us,"Scott said with a friendly smile.

Darry sighed again, something Rogue figured he did often,"It's not like I have a choice really. I can't help him, so you're the only ones left who can." He watched the three mutants for a moment before turning his head over the chair. "Starr!" He yelled up the stairs. "Wake your brother up."

It wasn't for a few minutes that Soda came downstairs. His blonde hair was tousled, dirty, greasy, and messy. It was from both sleep, or lack of, and the events of the morning. His normally bright brown eyes were dull and tired. He yawned and ran a hand through his hair standing beside Darry's chair, not noticing the three strange people sitting in the living room with his brother.

Soda looked up tiredly,"What is it Darry?" He asked wiping the sleep from his eyes. He looked at the three mutants and blinked slowly. He stared at them for a few minutes before turning back to his brother,"Who are they?"

"These are people from the Xavier Institute,"Darry replied slowly, "They're here about what happened this morning."

"Oh,"Sod said his eyes widening. He shook his head now fully awake. "What about it?" He asked sadly, his voice clearly showing his emotions.

"Well, I'll be honest with you Soda,"The professor told the young boy,"You have a special gift, a mutation that makes you different."

"What do you mean?"

"Soda, this morning wasn't just an accident. You're powers, your mutation decided to completely manifest,"He explained hoping the seventeen year old mechanic would understand.

Soda thought for a minute before chuckling. "That's a good one man,"He said running his hands through his hair again. He became serious once again. "Now, seriously, why are you guys here?"

"It's no joke,"Scott said leaning forward a bit so he was in a more comfortable position. "Trust me on this."

"Sure."

Rogue glared at him and stood up. She was very annoyed at the younger teen. "Look, why would we waste our tahme ta come all tha way here ta make some stupid bullshit up when we don't even know you?"She asked her anger and annoyance evident in her voice.

He shrugged,"You have no life?"He suggested sheepishly.

Rogue let out a frustrated sigh,"It makes absolutely no sense! How tha fuck would we know what happened this mornin' if we were lyin'? We live all the way up in fuckin' New York!"

"Rogue language,"Professor X reminded her in the middle on her 'rant'.

"Sorry professa,"She said before turning back to Soda as if she had not been interrupted at all. "Ya have ta be prettay dumb if ya think that it makes sense, at least ah think so." She finished sitting back down on the couch.

The room tell silent after Rogues little tirade. Soda looked down at the floor in from of them, then looked at his hands."Ok fine,"He gave in reluctantly, "I'm listening."

Xavier smiled at Rogue for her 'ranting' skills briefly before turning back to the boy. "Well Soda, you have the uncanny ability to create something we call 'shockwaves'. These shockwaves are a concussion of air that disrupts the matter around them,"He explained in the best way he could think of. Soda look slightly confused.

"Like an explosion?"A female voice said from the stairs. The girl who had answered the door stood there, her arms wrapped tightly around herself. Her dark brown hair fell past her shoulders in silky waves that framed her face. Her hazel eyes looked at the with curiosity, not the suspicion that she had before.

Professor X smiled kindly at her,"Yes, like an explosion,"He confirmed with a nod. The girl smiled back. "You see, that is why you blew up the gas station. The high emotional stress became too much for you and your powers manifested in a very negative fashion,"He expounded.

Soda looked down at his hands and said tucked them into the back pockets of his jeans. He looked at the floor with his head down, his somewhat long hair falling into his eyes.

"Hey, it wasn't your fault," Scott said placing a hand on the younger boy's shoulder,"It was an accident."

Xavier nodded,"Scott's right Soda. No mutant has control over their powers when they manifest, be it shape shifting, intangibility, super speed, telekinesis, or the power to generate earthquakes."

Rogue rolled her eyes crossing her pale arms over her chest,"Oh brotha."

The prof shot a glance at Rogue before turning back to the seventeen year old. "I am here to extend to you an invitation to join my institute."

"I don't know,"He said running his hand through his hair, which Rogue assumed was a habit he had when he was thinking. "What would I do there exactly?"

"At the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, you'll learn to control and use your powers to their fullest as they evolve and grow, much like you will. This does take you away from home, to New York with us,"He explained folding his hands under his chin.

Soda glared at Darry,"Oh, so that's what this is about huh Darry?"He said bitterly,"I'm just going to cause problems so you're just going to send me away. Get rid of me." He accused his older brother.

Darry let out a sad an tired sigh,"That's not it Soda,"He started ,but he was cut off.

"Oh yeah? Well, I killed some guy this morning, and blew up my work, and now these people come here and invite me to a school for freaks? In New York no less,"He ranted glaring at his older brother, not caring who else was in the room. "Sounds like it to me, so you know what? Fine. Now you'll be rid of me and not have to fucking worry about what other people in this god forsaken fucking town think!" He yelled ascending the stairs and walked into his bedroom, slamming his bedroom door behind him.

Rogue watched him turn and go up the stairs,"Damn,"She said quietly to herself as she eyed him. She glared at Scott when he elbowed her in the ribs.

Darry leaned forward placing his head in his hands. The professor smiled sympathetically at him. "Most teenagers have the same reactions, but I can assure you Darrel, he'll be safe at my institute."

"That's not really what I'm worried about Professor,"Darry explained to the telepath.

He nodded,"Yes, Soda is rather sensitive, and sometimes childish. You'll be able to talk to him whenever you, or he like. He knows you don't want him to go, but he's just being stubborn,"The prof explained reading both of the boy's minds.

Darry nodded after the surprise of his words wore off,"I forgot you were a telepath."

"Well, I did meet you the first time I came here just before you turned nineteen."

"Yeah, then all the shit hit the fan,"He replied somberly

"Yes well, life isn't always as fair to some as it is to others,"Scott said leaning back against the couch.

The professor smiled and turned to Rogue,"Why don't you go and talk to Soda, maybe he'll be less...hostile is one of you reaches out to him,"He suggested to the glove wearing teen.

"Why meh? Why not Scott,"She asked gesturing to her friend beside her.

"Something tells me that you'll have more of an impact on the boy than Scott."

Rogue sighed,"Fine,"She said standing up and fixing her shirt, which had rode up a little from sitting down. "Ah don't see why, Scott is much bettah at this than ah am,"She said walking up the stairs.

"Yeah,"Scott asked looking at the professor through his ruby colored glasses,"Why Rogue?"He asked. He was just as curious as Rogue had been.

"I believe that Rogue and Soda will connect and understand each other more than you and him."


Soda sighed shoving more stuff into his duffle bag. He felt bad for what he had said to his older brother. Now that he had, had some times to think, he realized what an asshole he had been to him over something so trivial as his best interest. He ran a hand through his blonde hair once again, before folding another pair of his jeans and placing them in the bag neatly.

He didn't look up when he hears a knock on the door. He continued to put what little he owned into the tattered, old, brown duffle bag that was sitting on his bed. "Come in,"He called blandly,, letting the person on the other side know they were allowed to enter.

Rogue opened the door and poker her head in,"Ah assume that ah'm allowed ta come inside now,"She said walking into the small cluttered room.

"Yeah sure,"He replied with a shrug. He continued throwing things into the old beat up duffle bag. It had been buried in his closet for god knows how long.

Rogue looked around as she sat down on the lone chair in the bedroom. It was very obvious that it was a boy's room, and well lived in. Messy, cluttered, lots of garbage, and pictures that were drawings, or just very old looking drawings, and some random pictures on the walls. "Nice place ya got here,"She remarked kindly before looking around the room again.

"Thanks,"He replied half heartedly as he went through both his and his brother's thing. It was a good thing he wasn't home or they would have had another dilemma to deal with.

"So..."

"Look, with all do respect lady,"Soda said turning around to face her,"I ain't in a talking mood."

"Lady?"Rogue scoffed with a chuckle,"Ah'm hardly a lady Sodapop,"She said stifling a laugh,"That's Ms. Perfect."

He raised an eyebrow inquisitively,"Ms. Perfect?"He asked curiously.

"Her name is Jean, she's this prissy and snobby girl that lives at tha Institute,"She explained tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

He turned back to his bag,"I see,"He said zipping the duffle bag up, and turning his whole body around to face her,"So why did they send you up here to talk to me?"He inquired.

She shrugged,"They said something about meh relatin' ta ya more. That an' ah know Scooter boy down there would jus' preach about tha institute an' shit like that."

Soda chuckled,"Can I ask you something?"He asked sitting down on his bed.

"Sure."

"Why do you wear gloves" Just out of curiosity," He questioned politely, yet curiously.

Rogue was taken aback by the question. No one ever really asked her why, they just assumed she was weird. "Wow, ah don't get asked that much."

"Sorry, you don't have to answer."

"Nah, it's alright,"She assured him with a friendly smile. "It's a part of mah mutation. Ah can't touch people,"She explained.

"Oh,"Soda said feeling bad for asking,"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

"Nah, it's alright. Ah'm used to it,"She assured him once again.

"Ok. So, what happens if you do touch someone?"

"Ah absorb that person's thoughts, memories, life force, an' in tha case of mutants, their powers too."

Soda whistled,"Ok, freaky,"He remarked before turning around,"That sucks."

She nodded as he picked up his bag. He turned around again and smiled warmly at her. She smiled back appreciating the kind gesture. She stood up and followed the younger boy down the stairs and into the living room. She cast a satisfied glance at Scott and crossed her arms over her chest. The professor smiled at the two.

Soda sighed and looked at his older brother,"I'm sorry Darry."

"It's alright little buddy,"He replied with a small smile.

Soda smiled back, then turned to the professor,"I guess I'm leaving then,"He said with a shrug.

Before he could respond, Soda was down on the floor after being tackled by the brown haired girl who had answered the door.

"Starr get off me,"Soda grunted pushing her up and off of him.

She stood up, helping him back onto his feet. She hugged him and kissed his cheek,"Call me ok."

Soda looked at her as if she had two heads,"Of course I'll call. Jeez did you think I'd leave and forget about you guys? Sheesh."

She laughed and hugged him again,"I'll tell the guys that you left."

He smiled,"Thanks Starr,"He turned to his older brother the smile remaining on his face. "Bye Dar."

He smiled back and hugged him,"Bye little buddy."

Soda grinned slinging the duffle bag over his shoulder,"Well, shall we,"He said to the prof.

He nodded and the four mutants headed out the door of the cozy blue house. They boarded the X-jet, but Soda stooped just before getting inside.

Starr stood on the porch and called out to him,"Don't be a stranger!"She said smiling.

"I won't!"He replied with a wave before boarding the jet. He took a seat next to Rogue and buckled up. The plane took off quickly after that, and Soda said goodbye to Tulsa, and hello to Bayville.


AN: Sorry it took me so long to get this up, but I just haven't had time to write. It's kind of a filler chapter, but whatever. I'm back on track now and have chapter 3 done, and chapter 4 started. Chapter 3 should be up soon, so chapter 4 shouldn't take much longer either. Thanks for a all the reviews and I hope you enjoyed this chapter too.

Next: Trouble From the Very Start

Response to Reviews:

4Rogue: Well, I can't say that Soda getting with Rogue wasn't my intention, actually it is. They're actually quite a lot alike, so I thought it would work better between them than Jean or Kitty. I'm sorry if you don't like that idea, but hey, you can't please everyone. I'm not going to make him uber powerful or anything, but quite powerful, not without weaknesses and pretty basic ones at that. I'm not a Mary-sue maker. I hate Mary-sues. Thanks for the review.

spiriterx: Well, there you go. : )

Just another fanatic: Well, here's some more for ya ; )

FoxyRogue: Thanks Anna, and sorry it took so long.

BrOKeN dArK ANgeL: lol, I'm glad you like it so far. That's cool that we have the same name too ; )