4

The next day, Jacob's life at the X-mansion began in earnest. After carrying and assembling his new bed, Jacob was introduced to the other students in the rec. "Everyone this is Jacob Grimm, our newest student," said Professor X.

A couple of the new mutants all stared. Finally Bobby talked. "So…is he like, a Thing wannabe?" Most of the students laughed, the teachers, and especially Jacob didn't.

Jacob growled. "I'm not a damn wannabe; I'm the man's son!" That got everyone too look at the teen. "Yea, my name's Jake Grimm, son of the ever lovin blue eyed Thing, any questions!?"

Wolverine just started to chuckle. "Oh yea, I can already tell, this kid is gonna fit in just fine here. Right team two report to the Danger Room, its training time!" Groans erupted from the group as many of the younger mutants broke off from the rest. Jacob sighed and went into the kitchen. He grabbed some snacks before making his way back to his room.

"Where are you going?" asked Laura. The younger girl was following Jacob.

Jacob glanced back at her. "To my room, gonna relax fer a bit, that fine wit you Shadow?" She shook her head and grabbed his arm. "Hey girl, I'm on friggin med leave! I aint fit for no Danger Room, Doc's orders."

Laura snorted as she kept a grip on his arm. It actually amused, and surprised Jacob that she had a decent grip. Sighing to himself, he followed the smaller mutant. She took him to Professor X's office. "The professor wants to see you."

Jacob just pinched the bridge of his nose. "You could have just told me that instead of dragging me."

Laura smiled slightly. "I didn't drag, you followed."

Jacob glared as he brushed past her. "Semantics Shadow. You stick here, lord knows I get lost trying to get round this place." Laura just leant against the door. Jacob opened one of the study's doors. "Professor, you wanted to see me?"

Charles Xavier nodded as he turned away from the window. "Yes Jacob, please come in." Jacob stepped into the room and stopped in front of the professor's desk. "I have two things to talk to you about, first all students here at the Institute must attend school."

"Whoa prof, school? Not my strong point sir, aint been in public school ever," interrupted Jacob. "Sides, disregarding my appearance, all the furniture would break, no, no sir."

Professor Xavier held up his hand. "I understand, so, I've set up several private tutors to help you get your GED, if you prefer. Also, the second item is this." He held up a large watch. "This is a holowatch. Another student, Kurt wears one to appear human. It projects a hologram that follows your every movement. So when you go to town you will not be harassed." Jacob gaped as he took the watch. "Your father told me you prefer a more classic style, so to activate the hologram press the dial three times. Do the same to deactivate."

Jacob slipped the watch on his wrist; the watch was oversized for his hands, despite Jacob's innate dexterity. He pressed the dial and took a breath. Professor X chuckled slightly. "You should look at yourself Jacob," he said.

Jacob let out a breath and turned to the mirror in the corner. He almost fell over. Gone was the rock skin, the heavy brow, even his four fingers. Instead he looked like pictures of his dad before the FF, though he had bright red hair, like his mother. He was well built, thanks to years of being trained by his father, but he looked…normal. Jacob touched his face and felt rocks. "Right, hologram," he whispered.

Professor X rolled over to the teen. "I know you want to be as normal as you look, but for now this is the best I can offer. One day I want to make it so you won't wish to be human, you would be normal as you are normally. But until then, it doesn't hurt to indulge a little," he said with a smile. "Now then, are you sure you don't want to go to school?"

Jacob nodded as he turned off the hologram. "Got no need for, my old tutor was Reed Richards along with my dad. We all got our GEDs years ago. Uncle Reed was strict with school."

Charles laughed slightly. "Ah well then. If you would be so kind as to be a tutor for the other students, and do tell your father to send a copy of all your educational accomplishments."

Jacob nodded. "Sure thing Prof, well if ya don't need me sir, I'm gonna finish my lunch and maybe work out a little. Thanks fer the watch sir." He walked outside to see Laura still waiting. "Come on Shadow, I'm still hungry, and a twig like you should eat more."

"I'm at the perfect weight for my body shape and size for optimum combat efficiency," replied Laura.

Jacob picked the girl up and threw her on his shoulder. "Twig, come on." Laura beat him for a while, even tried to stab him with her claws, but Jacob just laughed it off. Many mutants, both students and teachers stopped in mid stepped and watched as the pair made their way through the school.

"Let me down you overgrown pile of rocks!" snapped Laura as she beat Jacob's back.

Jacob guffawed. "Finally a normal insult. Relax Shadow, we're almost there."

A claw appeared from her foot as she thrashed. Jacob whistled. "Again with the foot claws, darlin' just relax." He caught the leg and kept walking. Ororo walked toward the pair a frown on her face.

"Jacob, what exactly are you doing to Laura?" asked the weather witch.

Both froze and looked at Storm. Jacob let go of Laura's leg and scratched his head. "Well, I was gonna get some food, and I figured Shadow here should eat a bit. I can feel ribs, and…you know for a girl yer size you're heavier than I'd expect." Jacob looked back at the girl, and the claws. "Oh, metal bones right?"

Laura huffed and glared. "Obviously, now put me down!"

Ororo couldn't help the chuckle that wormed out of her. "Well, I cant disagree with Jacob, but do put Laura down, I don't want her to break something flailing as she is, or stab you with her claws."

Jacob laughed. "If the Shadow promises ta eat with me, sure."

Laura exhaled before finally nodding. "Fine, if you put me down I will eat with you."

Jacob grinned as he set the girl down. "See, wasn't that hard was it Shadow? Come on food time." The two walked off, Ororo watched with a small smile.

Xavier wheeled out of his office with a quiet grin as he joined Ororo. "I think Mr. Grimm will fit in very well around here, don't you?"

Ororo nodded. "He's already made friends with one of the most closed off students. Yes I think he'll do very well here. Shall we professor?" Xavier nodded and Ororo pushed the professor's wheel chair back to his office.

However, despite the peace that seemed to hang over Bayville, not was all as it appeared. Friends of Humanity, the anti-mutant terrorist group, were marshaling their forces. The last vestiges of the Apocolypse incident was finally fading, but these crazed zealots were determined to wipe all mutant kind off the face of the planet so nothing like that could happen again. As such, small cells of FOH were stock piling advance weaponry, ammunition and as much information as they could, to prepare for the great cleansing. One such cell was buried in Bayville, observing and studying the students of the Xavier institute. Their job was to find the School's weak points, and determine the best method of removing such a bastion of mutant power.

In a secluded warehouse, the terrorist cell met to discuss plans on how to deal with the X-Men. One brought a portable dvd player, with footage of a certain villain. "He's not a mutant, some crazy magic power, but more importantly combined, the X-men and the magnetic freak couldn't take him down. Its only cause the one in the wheel chair got inside the freak's head that they took him down," said the leader, the DVD playing, "imagine gentlemen, what this weapon could do, if we controlled it. To that end, I have started making arrangements, the juggernaut shall be ours." A chorus of cheers met the man's statement as the Friends of Humanity began plotting on how to free the unstoppable villain.

But, for now, these plans were far from fruition and the X students were able to go about with their lives. Like now. After getting some food Jacob decided to get to know Bayville. So he set out, taking a long walk around the town. Thanks to his powers his stamina was massive and he could walk for miles with little fatigue. A pair of shoes hung over his shoulder, and his holowatch was activated, so as he walked by he looked like a massive, well-built teen, instead of a rock monster.

Jacob reveled in the feeling, no one stared or whispered, at best he got a few stares for walking barefoot, but that was it. No outrage, no fear, no anger, just beautiful anonymity. Jacob smirked as he walked, whistling to himself. But his perfect day was about to end. As Jacob passed a random side street he heard jeering. Tempted to keep walking, the son of the Thing stopped when he heard a woman curse. A grim expression wormed its way onto Jacob's face as he turned toward the noise.

Down the road, a girl, about Jacob's age, was surrounded by men, all of them sporting FOH shirts. Jacob growled. "Yo!" he roared. They all turned to look at him. "Now then, I don't know where yuse are from, but where I come from, if a lady starts yellin' at me ta leave, I damn well leave! Now I'll give ya ta the count of three."

"Or what hero boy!? She's a god damn mutie! So turn around and walk away!" shouted back one of them. The girl seized on the momentary distraction. She threw her arms out and waves of power shot from her. One guy sunk into the cement, another went flying. The others turned only Jacob decided to help. He sprang forward, grabbing the two closest and threw them into a building. Both men slammed into the wall with a sickening thud. Jacob grabbed the girl's wrist and ran.

"Sorry bout that, but it's best if we make ourselves scarce, names Jake by the way!" said Jacob over his shoulder as they ran.

The girl, dressed in dark scarlet clothing tried to rip her hand from his grasp. "I didn't need your help back there I was fine on my own!"

Jacob sighed. "A simple thank you would be nice. Anyways." He pulled her into a side alley and crashed behind a dumpster. When no one came running by after ten minutes the teen stood up. "Looks like they're still unconscious. Say where you live, I'll walk you home."

The girl jerked her arm out of his loosened grip. "I didn't need help, and you don't need to walk me home. Just cause you helped doesn't mean we're friends, now leave me alone!"

Jacob growled. "What's your problem!? The least you could do is say thanks you know! I didn't need to help, and even if you were fine on your own it shouldn't damn well matter!" The girl stared at Jacob, shocked that he fought back at her. Jacob growled and pressed the stud on his watch. "Look I'm a damn mutant too ok!?" The illusion disappeared to reveal Jacob as the massive, rock covered, muscle bound teen he really was. The girl took a step back in surprise. Jacob let out a bark of grim laughter. "Yea, not all of us are so blessed as to look so damn normal. To hell with it, get out of here." Jacob turned away and started fiddling with his holowatch.

The girl stared for a little while before finally speaking. "Thank you, and my names Wanda."

Jacob turned, a big smile on his face. "Wanda, nice ta meet ya."

Wanda blew her hair out of her face. "Whatever, anyway I'm leaving. So…bye." With that she turned away.

Jacob caught up with her. "Hey darlin, where ya going, let me walk you home." He put his arm on her shoulder and she shook him off.

Wanda turned back with a fearsome glare, one which actually made Jacob pause. "I'm fine, leave me alone."

"Just tryin to help darlin, no need to get angry," replied Jacob. Wanda just spat and walked away. Jacob stared as she left, confused.

Jacob shook his head, stuck his hands in his pockets, and just walked away. "Crazy dame," he muttered under his breath.

After his brush with Wanda, Jacob decided it was probably time to head back to the Institute. After several hours of walking, Jacob appeared outside the mansion. He avoided everyone as he made his way to his room. Despite his annoyance, he couldn't help but smirk slightly when a familiar presence made itself known. "Hey Shadow."

Laura stepped out of the shadows. "You seem angry."

Jacob rubbed the back of his head. "Ah I'm fine, just ran into some idiots when I went for my walk." She nodded. "Whats up with you darlin?" Laura shrugged. Jacob smirked slightly. "Want to chill in the common room, watch a little TV?" Laura smiled slightly as she nodded. "Well alright then, shall we?" He held out his arm to her, and despite herself, Laura took it. The pair walked off.

Logan stared from his vantage point. "He seems good for her," said Ororo.

Logan nodded. "He doesn't know bout her past, and he treats her normal. He's not afraid or gentle round her, it makes her feel human. Makes me hopeful."

Ororo smiled. "Me as well. Come we should not spy." The weather witch held a hand to the feral mutant, who took it as he stood up. Arm in arm, the pair walked off.