Episode 0.5: BEYOND THE 4TH WALL
Installment 2 of 2
"We're fucked" Fallen muttered under her breath as she threw her feet off the edge of the bed and got up immediately after Kurt's mom withdrew to return to the guests. Margali seeing her share the said bed with the woman's son, the questions left unanswered the previous day, and now Professor Xavier waiting downstairs that was both - something to explain to Kurt's mom AND to deal with personally; the girl wouldn't even know where to begin sorting all this out.
"We'll be fine" Kurt assured however by the sound of that it was something he just hoped for, not knew for a fact. "Let's just go hear the Professor out and see how it goes. As for mom I'll..." he trailed off trying to come up with something. "I'll talk to her later on. For now we need to focus on the terms of getting to the Institute."
"So how you guys want to go about talking to Xavier?" Forge asked as he fixed his bed a bit before they'd leave the room. "I mean, I were to just bring us here and that's what I did, even if we ended up in the past, but there was nothing I could do about this part. It's up to you how to proceed from here though, so... Better tell me how much we want to reveal before I blurt something out."
"Fallen?" Kurt looked at the girl.
"...I'll figure this as we go" she said and nodded towards the door to hurry them along.
She knew she'd be the one expected to know how to deal with presenting the situation to Professor Xavier, but in fact - she didn't. She just hoped that she'll be able to maneuvre the conversation as it unfolds, and brief the man in on enough facts for him to make the same choices he made in the future.
She let the two boys go ahead of her as she followed them downstairs. It felt like it took more time to get to the living room now than before, and too many thoughts crossed her head during this short distance, but once she arrived at the doorstep she was able to clear her mind and focus on what's important.
At first all she could see were sides of a wheelchair as Kurt and Forge were in the line of her sight, saying their greetings to the man sitting in it. At the same time she noticed a woman standing a feet to the chair's left, one whose dark skin, sky blue eyes and pure white hair were a mixture so exotic and unique that there was no questioning her identity for the girl as she mouthed her name silently, a tad surprised to see her come along.
The last thing she noticed was Margali watching everyone cautiously and clearly trying to understand the last bit of what was being said between the two strangers and two young boys.
But before the girl had time to give more thought to any of this, Forge and Kurt both stepped asides, turning their heads to her and creating a clear path between her and the arrivals.
"-and this is Fallen" Kurt finished whatever he was saying, gesturing to her. Only now the girl sobered and noticed the two adults gazing at her with polite smiles on their familiar faces.
She only saw them for a little before now, and the circumstances were certainly much different and more urgent. She never had the necessity to formally introduce herself, and now she was caught off guard for a moment before recovering and unfolding her arms as she approached them, offering her hand.
"It's pleasure to meet you both" she said as first the man, then the woman both shook her hand briefly responding with similiar greetings.
Their attention shifted away from her with ease she wouldn't dream to utter herself right now. Professor Xavier's eyes were on Kurt again as he spoke up in british accent; "I would like to talk to you and your mom, if that's alright. Your friends can stay but they must keep our conversation a secret, however that, I believe, won't be a problem" he briefly smiled at Fallen and Forge only to turn to Kurt alone once more. "I realize your mother doesn't speak a lot of English, but I can temporarily remove this problem. As to how I can do this, it's a part of what I want to talk to you about."
There was a little bit of sudden commotion after the man shifted his eyes to the woman and lifted hand to his forehead, appearing to focus. Margali seemed perplexed and her face was that of clear discomfort, but when the man spoke up again, her eyes widened;
"Now, all I ask is your attention for a few minutes."
"Ich wersteche dir!" the woman exclaimed almost jumping onto her feet shocked at the fact she stated - that she understands what the man said.
"Yes, I temporarily allowed myself to translate for you. It's going to feel more like an instinct telling you the context than actually understanding the words, but it'll be enough for you to understand us."
"Wie-..." she couldn't focus due to being so shocked what what he's apparently done, but she shifted back onto the armchair.
"I'll explain everything shortly" the man ran his eyes over the others as if to assure. "As for the three of you, I understand there's no need to aid your english, is there?"
They just shook their heads in response. Kurt slid onto the couch beside his mother and nodded at Forge and Fallen to settle there as well. "You can go ahead and take the armchair, Ms. Monroe" Kurt smiled at the woman lightly gesturing to the remaining piece of furniture. The woman smiled nodding her thank you and sat down, Xavier driving his own chair to her side to face the people they'd talk to.
All three of the teens wondered whether and what should they say, but neither of them dared say a word. It was the bald, semi-formally dressed man who cleared his throat and spoke calmly;
"As I already said, my name is Charles Xavier, I am a founder of the Xavier Institute located in Bayville, New York, and this is my right hand, Ororo Monroe" the woman smiled at them when he mentioned her. "We're only beginning, but the goal of my Institute is to gather young people who show to have an addictional piece of DNA that causes them to experience unique changes. My students call it powers, and that would make telepathy mine. You experienced it with the translating" he smiled at Kut's mom. "And altough it's not scientifically accurate, we refer to those who have them as mutants. You, Kurt, are one of them."
It was almost funny, hearing something like that being told to Kurt was a lot like telling an 'A' student at a universtiy how to do gradeschool level mathematics. The boy just listened, letting it out with one ear as he wished the formalities were over as soon as possible.
"Am I right assuming that you were born looking the way you do now?" the man asked after a moment of concluding that nobody's going to ask questions regarding his previous statement.
The boy wetted his lips. "Probably."
"Probably?' the man seemed just a little bit surprised and his eyes shifted to Margali.
The woman opened her lips to respond but the boy stopped her with taking a hold of her hand and squeezing it to assure he'll handle this. It seemed the wise thing to do, given she couldn't respond in english, even though she could understand now.
"I was adopted" Kurt said, adding sort of in his head, given there was no paperwork done on this and the adoption was lawful only as long as law enforcement didn't know about it. "My parents found me when I was a couple months old. But I did look like this at the time already."
'Look like this' and anything among the lines used to go through his throat leaving such heavy and hard feeling, as it was pointing mental fingers to the way he was different, but in back of Kurt's mind he noticed how by now it left little bad aftertaste. Just stating a fact that may or may not cause awkwardness, yet no longer tinted his cheeks with shame. Fitting in turned out to be much less important than he was made believe before.
From then on the questions rolled off Xavier's tongue and in between he'd offer them a word or two on things they knew and took for granted years ago. They all let him explain the purpose of his school in more detail as well as give a little lecture of evolution and prejustice he wanted to rid of. But all they waited for was a gateway, a good moment to introduce him to their own facts that would be by far more ground breaking.
Fallen sat on the couch, elbow rested agains the upper of her crossed legs and the nail of her thumb between her front teeth as she listened to Kurt respond to questions, as if at a friendly interrogation by Professor Xavier who asked about the complexities of his physical mutation and teleportation skills, such as the period of time he learned to 'bamf' himself places. Kurt's responses were honest and to the point, he didn't feel the need to make things more complicated and the man had already learned enough of his turst and respect - altough in the future - for him to open up like a book without so much as worry that the man could bat an eye.
In fact now he noticed something that escaped his attention the first time around, or perhaps he just missinterpreted what he saw - the look in the man's eyes. Back when they had a similiar conversation for the first time, it was still there, but to Kurt it was something new and hard to define, but by now the glisten was familiar as he saw it in a lot of faces. It was fascination; perhaps in case of Professor Xavier not one of the pathological kind, but fascination none the less.
"I'll be honest, Kurt" the Professor said, "at first I was surprised you managed to make it into your teens without being exposed in front of the world, nowadays one person knowing about something so out of ordinary such as yourself is all it takes for the entire world to hear about it. But I see that your family and friends did very well protecting your secret."
"Yes, they did" Kurt glanced back and Fallen and Forge with a smile, one that for the outsider would pass for gratefullness, but to the two looked more playful than anything.
The man's eyes shifted to them as well for a moment before he turned to Kurt again. "You seem like a very mature and resolute young man, you probably know what I'm going to ask."
"You want to know if I'd come to your Institute" Wagner responded, his voice slightly lowering and his eyes casting onto a random object on the table as he considered how to respond. His eyes then traveled to the two of his friends who occupied the armchair. "I will, but there are some things we need you to know before anything's decided."
"I'm listening, then."
Kurt shifted his eyes to the man again. "Forge and Fallen must come with me."
There was a look of perplexion and discomfort on both Xavier's and Ms. Monroe's faces. They exchanged looks and the woman gave a barely visible nod meaning she would handle delivering the reality check. Her blue eyes moved to the teenagers, the smile on her lips friendly and yet looking like she took pity on them.
"The Institute is created to help mutants learn how to control and use their powers" she recited, nearly word for word a line Xavier delivered just minutes ealier. "We plan to create a team that would serve justice and ease the politics, should we be persecuted by it when the world learns about our existence. No disrespect to the two of you, as I can see you're great friends with Kurt and must be a lot of support for him, but don't you think an institution created to help mutants should focus on enrolling the said mutants alone?"
This could be possibly one of the nicest but most inarguable ways of telling someone they're not wanted, Fallen thought. At least that was true for the recent years as far as she could recall. She wished Ororo would have been just straight to the point about it, at least she wouldn't feel like shit for trying to butt in anyway.
Lucky for her, Forge delayed her unavoidable comfrontation by being the one to shift forward on the couch and speak up;
"Actually, before you make up your mind you should have a look at this" saying so, the boy extended his hand and allowed his skin and bone to translate into mechanical equipement stored in the cannon-shaped iron limb.
Everyone but Kurt and Fallen had a look of utter surprise on their faces.
"I guess I pass the entrance exam" he stated chuckling awkwardly before having his hand return to normal. Only after it did the three adults shifted their eyes to his face and the goofy smile still present.
"Well, in this case..." Ororo slowly turned first her head and then her eyes to Xavier.
"Of course, Forge is welcome to come along" the man gave a single nod, connecting the fingertips of his hands in front of his chest.
'Signature move' Fallen thought. The thought was was gone instantly as the man looked her straight in the eye.
"How about you, Fallen?" he asked. "Are you going to surprise us with something?"
The semi-joke didn't amuse her at all. In fact it made her tense and all of sudden she felt exposed. "No, I... I'm not a mutant."
"Alright then. But you are welcome to visit your friends" the man smiled, too polite for the way it made her feel rejected.
"But- Professor!" Kurt exlaimed, the way the title felt familiar in his lips bringing him back to the future where the man became of a father figure. But now, it was something reflecting bitterly on the situation. "I can't leave Fallen behind, I won't go without her!"
"Kurt, this decision is not to prevent you from seeing your friends or saparate you from anyone" Ororo was first to speak and Xavier let her. "It is to assure they are safe."
"Vaguely" Kurt had a glisten in his eye that would have one knowing him well be aware that he won't back off if the world falls apart. "But in reality you just don't need anyone who isn't mutant so you don't have them live with you. But it's a different case."
"I understand completely that it feels like a different case to you" Xavier assured. "Your friends must mean a lot to you and vice versa. But-"
"It's not that simple" Forge interrupted shaking his head, but before he could say anything more Xavier was on his point again.
"Of course" the man lifted his hand to ask patience. "I know your situation is more complex than the most but-"
"It's by far more complex than you think" Kurt cut in again.
The girl's eyes were stilled intensely on the table between them, her fingers digging into the couch couchion making her knuckles white and she listened to the chaos unveil around her.
"I do have a surprise of my own, actually" she stated causing sudden silence and bringing all eyes onto her. Her own eyes turned to Kurt for a moment as she placed her hand on his (which didn't escape Margali's attention). "Thank you, for sticking up for me, but I'll take it from here" she told him.
She watched his mouth close as he quieted his fervent arguments to allow her to maneuver this situation as she finds appropriate. She turned her eyes to the Professor, a man who was nearly a legend in her life, and whom now she faced in circumstances that required her to probe through a wall of completely reasonable arguments against her request. At first still feeling the taste of hesitance, she shed it all as she peered into his dark eyes and saw that the only thing that could change his mind, is the truth.
Her back slightly straigtened with motivation as much as to simply put out a brave front.
"It's something that relates to all three of us, actually" she ever so slightly motioned to the boys sitting at each of her sides. "But also to you" now her eyes were on Monroe and Xavier.
And they just sat there, listening with, what was it, deep in their eyes - skepticism?
"We..." she started, but felt the need to take a deep breath before she could speak. "We actually met before, the three of us and you two. The future versions of you two, anyway" the grimace on her face was fleeting. Looking at the faces of the two she found questioning frowns and now, this time clearly, skepticism. But they didn't seem in complete disbelief, which encouraged her to continue. "Kurt here, and then Forge, lived with you in the future, at the Institute. Years passed and due to some circumstances Kurt ended up traveling to a different dimension... MY dimension" she swallowed to clear her throat. She knew she long passed the point of no return. "Long story short to bring him back and bring me along Forge invented a trigerer for Einsteins' Bridge which caused us to end up in the past of this dimension."
Skipping large portions of the facts, she also chose to skip the facts about the cartoon and everything else that would make the story sound even more insane than it already did. She was pretty sure that what she already said was enough for them to call bullshit on her.
But as she focused enough to take noice of their faces she saw not bias, but interest and surprise. "Is... I'm... I'm sorry, I simply didn't expect that" Xavier said. She could see Ororo look at him with disaproval, but he just leaned in a bit. "Are you saying that the boys are from the future and you are from another dimension?"
She blinked quickly a few times, before giving a small, but firm nod. "Yes, sir."
"That is not possible" Ororo stated.
Forge was instantly on his feet, explaining. "It is, all you need to travel is enough energy to trigger and sustain the Bridge and then-"
"No, Ororo" Professor Xavier put a hand up to ask Forge for silence. "It is possible, I have fist hand see it happen before" the statement woke interst but nobody had the time to question it as the man truned to the teens. "The question is can our new friends provide us with evidence to back the claim."
In fact, she expected they would not be convinced untill she presents them with quality evidence. Point is it would be difficult for her to provide any, other than various facts she knew but shouldn't. Except this one piece of evidence she held on to dearly.
"The future you said I was welcome to stay at the Institute if I get to be here" she said eventually. Her eyes lifted to meet the man's. "He told me, should we end up before you know who I am, I should give you this" she stood up, pulling a folded note from her back pocket. It was slightly worn off, a little torn on the edge, but generally prevented well. She handed the note to Xavier.
The man's eyes remained skeptical as he took the paper and unfolded it. Everyone could observe the change on his face as he read it. Ororo was able to look over his arm and see a familiar handwriting; On behalf of the future You, I must ask that you allow Fallen to join Your ranks. She is telling the truth, You may see for Yourself in case of doubt, and I know You do doubt. Give her a try to be a part of Your team, and may she be an asset. - Charles Xavier
There was a worn out photography clipped with the note. Xavier felt a stir in his guts as he gazed at what clearly was his study, filled with a group of young people with him perched in the front. Somebody wrote the date 03.2001 in the lower right corner, "six years from now" the thought was unvolounteered.
There was lingering silence and Fallen could see Xavier's hand tremble slightly as he held the paper. Of course, she knew a few lines of 'recommendadion' so to say won't do, and she also knew what she had to do now.
She stepped forward and lowered herself off his center, dropping to one knee as she caught the man's dreadfully bewitched eyes. "I'm happy to cooperate" she said in a lowered voice.
She could see the adam's apple shift on his throat when he swallowed as the reality dawned on him. There was no more skepticism in his eyes, but she knew he would still want to confront the claims with reality. She knew, because instead of skepticism there was now some cousin of fear, of messing with future and the past. He was, in a way, scared to discover that what they claim is true, but he would never sleep soundly if he didn't make sure.
So he placed the paper down in his paralyzed laps and reached his hand slowly to the girl's temple, as if hesitant about whether he gets her intent alright. But as her eyes slowly closed he knew that she knows what's going to go down. His cool fingers floated to sides of her temple, two on each and pressed ever so slightly.
She felt electricity, or more like a warm energy spread across the line between his fingers and swirl it's way back and all around her brain. Her eyes, altough being closed, seemed to go blind for a moment before flashing images as if she were looking at them right now. She saw herself, at the age of 13, her eyes probing the darkness searching for someone she knew was lurking in the shadows. Then she saw herself perhaps a few months later, sitting across from Kurt as the two of them tried to make sense of why he's so alike and bears memories of what she called a 'fictional character'. Then there was a more intimate moment as the two of them were relaxing, sharing personal thoughts and a kiss every now and then. Then there was her sudden, short visitation at the Institute with Forge and the Professor showering her with oceans of information about how and when they could bring her and Kurt to his dimension for good. She saw it standing a few feet away, yet it was all clear as day. Only the voices were muffled and echoed unclearly. The last thing she saw was when Xavier handed her this folded message to pass on to his past self in case that turned out to be the one.
Darkness enveloped this world before her eyes and it remained still until she opened them to see Xavier looking back at her.
If anyone else in the room said anything, she didn't catch it, too distracted looking into the man's eyes, at the look she sought to bring out. And now it was there, burning along with shock and fascination.
Charles Xavier believed her.
Charles Xavier believed her. But that didn't solve anything yet.
"I will hold no resentment if you don't decide to have me as a part of your crew" she said, her eyes refusing to look away from his own. "The only thing I ask is that you don't do what you're considering right now."
The man shifted a bit, sombering up. He was so surprised at what he just learned that he forgot that diving into one's mind is, with some of them, often a two-way road to an extent. The girl clearly sensed his intent on perhaps altering her memory of the future. And only when he saw the intense, yet desperate look in her eyes, he realized just how much the perspective of someone knowing the future AND facts kept so far a secret being among their ranks has startled him. And he sensed it, like a flood enveloping the memories he traced - the knowledge. Extensive knowledge of the comics and the cartoons and all that exposed the secrets of their past, their present and their future for profit and-
His heart sunk.
"We are fiction" he barely made any sound as he mouthed those words. Then his widely opened eyes shifted to Fallen as his voice became low, but now clear, though shocked. "We are fiction in your dimension" he repeated as if to make it easier for his own self to proceed through. "But how?"
And just like before due to the temporary connection she sensed the urge to wipe her own memory only to realize it wasn't her urge, but Xavier's, now she sensed that this revealation was bigger than him. Bigger than he ever saw coming.
"Subjecent dimensions such as this one are sometimes created based off someone's imagination from the 'mother dimension', in this case the author's. They put a lot of thought into designing of their worlds, and thought has a lot of power" she peeked towards Forge, who was one of her few sources on this case. The boy nodded to her to confirm she's getting it right. Fallen looked at Xavier again. "It's enough for someone to focus enough to create a set of synapses for a character until it's a solid personality, then an entire dimension shapes around it like an auto-generated map in the game of the Multiverse. The author's its god, so to say, and the first character is the Adam."
She realized everyone were looking at her in silence so absolute that when she finished, she could hear the monotonous tick-tacking of the clock and as she swallowed to clear her throat, the sound was loud in both of her ears.
"I don't know when or who or how exactly" she said drawing in another breath. "But I know this dimension is here, real as my own, and now I am in it thanks to two of your amazing students, and I am not going to use what I know to cause you any trouble. In fact I was hoping what we know" she briefly glanced at Kurt and Forge, "could actually help-"
"No."
She cut off and her eyes rapidly shifted to the man's eyes. "Wh-... 'No' what?"
"I will have you join my ranks" Charles recovered his composure and did all there could be done to wash shock off his face at last. "But under one condition. You will NOT reveal to anyone nor try to use your knowledge of the future and the fictional stories to change major events unless you consult it with me first and receive approval."
She had never, for years to come, seen Professor Xavier as lost as she saw him during this first conversation they ever had. But after the initial shock was shed and he came up with this request - order? - there was something new about him that she also didn't quite associate with him before. A certain cold esteem and non-compromising tone to his voice. And seeing him like this caused it to dawn on her under how much pressure they might be put regarding that they hold valuable information. And information is the most valuable thing to obtain, so keeping it a secret from whoever might lust after it for wrong reasons, was - indeed - a must. Leave alone using the information wrongly on your own and ending up with some butterfly-effect ignited disaster that is going to outweight all the good that could come out of using the knowledge right. Bad effects always seems heavier than all things nice and positive.
And as much as she realized that upon agreeing she would subject herself to restrictions and control, those being among two things she hated the most, she felt herself nod her head. "Yes, sir."
Because that, at this point, was the only reasonable thing for her to do.
xXx
Margali sat dumbfolded, her hands rested in her lap and eyes peering into the far corner of the room, but their focus was on the image her memory brough up of the conversation from a few minutes ago. Everything that has been said and done was only sinking in, slowly and heavily replacing the initial shock and skepticism.
...Addictional piece of DNA... my students call it powers, and that would make telepathy mine...
She couldn't anymore bring back the exact words, whatever the man did to influence her understanding of English wore off soon as he was out of sight, but she remembered the context. It was a big surprise, but not something entirely unexpected. She did always, in back of her mind, think that Kurt can't be the only unique one and one day some of the others will turn up with answers as to why it is so.
In all honesty, the fact that there are mutants out there and Kurt is one of then was the one part of it all that was the easiest to accept. But beyond that lay a pile of revealations she never expected and didn't feel ready for when they hit.
...Kurt here, and then Forge, lived with you in the future, at the Institute... Kurt ended up traveling to a different dimension... caused us to end up in past of this dimension...
The girl sounded a quiet alarm in back of her head right away, more so than the boy who was with them - Forge. There was something off about her, the look in her eyes like she had something to hide from her. Margali didn't think much of it before, putting it off like a bad feeling that didn't seem reasonable. That's because she was glad to see Kurt make any friends and she hoped they are good people and it's just some paranoia tingling her senses.
But now she knew, not only Fallen was hiding something, they all were. No doubt Kurt seemed to act different than what became his usual these days.
Yet what turned out to be the reason behind his oddly new behavior as well as Fallen's secret-bearing eyes, wasn't something remotely close to anything she could have expected. They were - all three of them - from the future, and the girl - from a dimension where this one was apparently fiction. Not only does that mean extreme things universe wise - the existence of alternative worlds and time travel being just a tip of the mountain - but indicated things more personal.
The memory played back in her mind, of when Fallen stopped Kurt from speaking on her behalf, her hand taking a hold of his own, and as she continued to speak their hands remained clasped for another moment, something that could have been easily missed, casually tucked between them, if Margali hadn't been such a good observer. And them cuddled together, fast asleep this morning. She thought she's probably overthinking it when she previously spotted the glint in their eyes when they'd look at each other, but now she started to grow more aware that it could be more than her imagination.
Especially given the fact that Kurt apparently lived through some of the future already, and at this point she could only imagine it wasn't very little, as there was enough time to bring these three together and have them figure their way back to here and now. Apparently portion of that time was in Fallen's dimension.
It made her heart somewhat sink to think that her beloved boy was somewhere so far out of reach, someplace strange and probably dangerous to him. All the same her heart warmed when she looked at how his attitute now indicates that in the long run the entire period was more of a healing than a dramatic experience. His spirits were lifted, his confidence back on track and he even brought friends.
Or maybe even more than that.
...I can't leave Fallen behind!...
That sound to his voice. Just how close are they really?
Her eyes focused again, she made herself sober up and stood up from the armchair. She needed to get to work, there were more people over for the dinner than she had in years.
After all the revealations and agreeing to allow Kurt to come to the Institute - as it was the second time for him and he assured her it's going to be fine - the teens were offered to either come with them right away or join in later on their own. After a little bit of talking they decided to come right away, but Margali offered that now not only Fallen and Forge, but also Miss Monroe and Professor Xavier stay for the dinner, and only take off after they rest. This would give her some time to digest the sole fact that her son would be leaving for the Institute.
But last thing she wanted was to make him stay when she knew he wanted to go, could make friends and get proper education, and already went a long way to be able to return there.
She checked what food they had stored in the fridge and cabinets as well as a little pantry in the back and she gathered a tablefool of indegredients that would be enough to cook up a nice dinner for everyone. Cooking was something she enjoyed so now she hoped it will at least help her relax.
After everyone agreed to stay until the afternoon, Professor Xavier and Miss Monroe returned to their jet to prepare it for the way back, make sure it's safely concealed, and contact someone back at that Institute of theirs. Forge went along with them, meanwhile Kurt talked to Margali, apologizing for everything coming out so out of blue and assuring her everything's fine, then he said he'd start packing and went upstairs. Fallen was with him for a few minutes but eventually came downstairs.
Margali was halfway through cutting the second carrot when the girl appeared at the doorstep. She appeared as though she didn't expect to find Margali here, but she quickly rid of startlement on her face and nodded her welcoming. For a moment she stood there, a little uneasy, just examining the situation before she approached closer.
The woman grabbed celery and was about to start chopping it when the girl extanded her hand. The woman looked at her questioningly, and the brunette smirked uneasily. Margali smiled at her as she handed her the vegetable and a knife. For a moment they worked in silence, the woman was just quietly wondering whether she's getting it right, regarding Fallen.
She looked at the girl, her brown hair obscuing her eyes as she tilted her head above the kitchen top, her lips tightly closed. She looked 15 but after everything that's been said Margali knew it's a young woman trapped in a 15 year old body. A young woman who may or may not be someone more special in her son's life - the portion of it that wasn't even there the other day - than they admitted to her.
"[This morning was very eventful, wasn't it now]" she said.
But the look of confusion and worry on the girl's face told her this is beyond the limited German she compreheands. "[I don't understand]" Fallen said apologentically.
"[That's alright]" she said softly. Believe it or not, Margali appreciated that the girl cared to learn any german at all.
As on Fallen's perspective, she wished he had learned more. It was always a plan, something she wanted to do at one point, but with the crazy squedule and so many other things occupying her mind all life long, she never found the time or energy to actually sit down and do something about it. All she knew were pieces and bits that rubbed off onto her during those years with Kurt and after listening to so much german music that he introduced her to.
If she saw this day coming, she would probably have taken the time to actually study it, but it never occured to her that if she gets to meet Kurt's mother, they would not have a common language to communicate with. But she didn't want to just avoid her for that reason, after all - she is her mother in law, even if she doesn't know that yet.
xXx
Kurt looked up when Fallen returned, he was just sitting cross legged on the bed, shuffling through a box of CDs to chose the best ones to take to the Institute.
"What took you so long?" he asked casually, a light smile on his face.
"I helped your mom a little" she responded, making him look at her again with interest. "I'm just trying to find something to do, I'm too nervous to just sit and stare at the walls" sighing she sat down behind him and fell back, hands rubbing the socets of her eyes. "Unless you have something I could help you with here?"
Kurt peeked at one big bag laying under the wall and another, small one atop of it and half-empty. "Not really, I'm almost done."
Suddenly they heard the doorbell. Wagner turned to her; "They must be back."
They both got up and headed down. First thing they saw was Forge almost falling as he removed his winter shoes. "Guys!" he smiled dropping the shoes and running up two stairs to meet them halfway. "We're all set!"
"Yes, but we will gladly take up on your mother's offer to stay for the dinner" Ororo smiled at Kurt. "Are you ready to take off afterwards?"
Wagner couldn't help but smile widely as he gave her one firm nod.
xXx
In many homes in Europe, the avarage time for dinner was ealier than that in the U.S., so it wasn't long and they were at the table minutes to 2 pm. The atmosphere was kind of heavy - not in an angry way, not even in an awkward one, but the kind that has everyone remain silent and think about all the crazy reveals from ealier.
Miss Monroe and Professor Xavier were probably still digesting the fact that there's all those universes, including one that apparently created them by making up a fictional world, and that not only have their new students been there, but they are also from their own future. It was something that surely Margali also couldn't stop going over in her mind - along with a few other things. However with the first two, Fallen grew convinced that they are actually having a conversation on the topic, held telepatically by the Professor.
Only Kurt tried to be vocal as he exchanged a few sentences with his mom. Eventually after a few first minutes passing like this, Margali asked the Professor to 'turn on' translating for her again and she started asking questions about the Institute, such as if they are allowed to visit, how often, if the meals are covered or if Kurt needs money of his own for it, and what is the overall cost of staying there.
"It's completely charge free, Mrs Szardos" the man assured. "We provide all food, I cover the cost of education and the alike. There's also pocket money for every student to spend or save as they please."
Margali kept nodding her head as he answered her every question. "Just one more thing I need to know, Professor" she said as the meal was nearing the end. "You say Kurt's supposed to attend a public High School, but how do you imagine him turning up in classes when he's so different from other kids?"
Xavier seemed to think about it as his eyes shifted to meet Kurt's. Meanwhile the boy stopped eating and swallowed his bite before bitting on his lip as if wondering about something as well.
"I think I know someone who could design an image casting device to disguise Kurt's unique features" the man said. "His name's Howard Stark, you might have heard of him. He's a brilliant mind responsible among the others for inventing-"
"There won't be any need to rush with that, Professor" Kurt eventually spoke up. Seeing questioning looks from everyone but Forge and Fallen, he pointed to the black and navy blue electric watch on his left wrist. "Already got it from the future you."
Charles seemed to have quickly realized that his jaw was a little loose and he closed his mouth again, clearing his throat. "I should have known, excuse me. It's not easy to keep in mind that there's our future already behind you."
"That's fine" Kurt's low response got lost behind his mother's question;
"How does it work?" her brows were pulled in the middle of her forehead as she examined the watch with her eyes.
"Oh, um" the boy put down his fork and fiddled with the device. "It just creates this light absorbtion based image if I recall correctly" he clicked the top part back in place, "basically it's a hologram" he pushed the 'on' button and his blue fur and fair yellow eyes were replaced by the reverse scheme of caucasian skin and dark blue eyes.
Margali, Ororo and the Professor were all staring at him, as he just ran his eyes between them. Fallen and Forge excachanged looks that were both awkward and amused with their staring. The boy turned the device off again and smiled awkwardly at the adults before focusing back on his plate.
xXx
The field was open, slightly angled towards the forest and a river down the moutainside, but it was an empty space more than anything, not fully flat but mostly even and covered in wild, yellow grass.
One could merely notice Ororo pulling up a small remote control, then just a dozen feet ahead of them the air turned into something dark and solid, and all of sudden an enormous aircraft sat there, perched on it's three wheels in middle of the lawn, its pitch black surface reflecting cool October glow dimly.
The white haired woman gestured towards it. "This is our-"
"SR-72" Fallen said, her eyes scanning the lean, sharp shape of the vehicle.
Ororo looked surprised at first, but then she smirked with amusement. "Yes, but you're getting a little bit ahead of me, Fallen. I just wanted to say this is our jet and we're going to use to to travel to the Insitute. I believe Mrs Szardos didn't expect it quite the way you could have."
Margali - still pinned up to telepathic translations - shifted her stunned eyes from the craft to Ororo. "Well... every time I think I'm prepared for everything, this day serves a new surprise. How was it invisible?"
"That's a masking module I acquired from a friend with an origin story possibly equally shocking to the one we learned about today" Professor Xavier smiled apologentically for he wasn't about to get into any details on that matter. His eyes shifted to the three teenagers. "Are you ready to board?"
Forge nodded and grabbed one of Kurt's two bags to help him out, as he was the only one with any actual luggage. Wagner himself however looked down at the other bag and lifted his eyes to his mother, before shifting them to Fallen. He needn't say anything.
The girl turned to Margali and smiled politely. "Thank you for housing me and Forge, and for everything else, Mrs Szardos. We really do appreciate that."
"Oh, you've thanked me enough" the woman chuckled giving her shoulder a light squeeze. "Kurt's friends are welcome here, do visit next time he comes here."
"I'll keep your invitation in mind, thank you" Fallen smiled a bit. She looked at Kurt briefly before turning to the woman again. "You two can say your goodbyes, I'll wait inside" she stepped back. "Goodbye, Mrs Szardos."
"Goodbye to you too, Fallen."
The girl heard Kurt and his mother speak in German as she walked away, their voices growing lower as she headed towards the open ramp below the jet; Professor Xavier smiled at her softly from where he waited at the foot of it, up until moments ago still helping with translating for Margali.
"Are you not going to come out before we take off?" the man asked, but the soft sound to his voice didn't make her feel judged.
Fallen looked back at the remaining two. "...I think she already figured out" she whispered. Her eyes turned to the man again. "It's been many enough reveals for all of us for now."
Xavier nodded his head ever so slightly with understanding as he unfolded his arms to reach the control pad and drive his armchair onto a lifing platform in the middle of the ramp. Fallen went along on his side, climbing into warmly lit cabin with seats lined on both sides of the alley and a wide, curved control panel in the front. Ororo was already there, and Forge sat behind her.
"Take a seat, Fallen. We'll be taking off when Kurt joins us" Xavier said as he made his way to the front and clicked something that made one pilot's seat be pulled down into the floor, leaving only clips to secure the wheelchair instead.
The girl took a deep breath of metalic smelling air and sat down near the front. The two adults started chatting low about some settings and coordinates, making sure everything is alright before the final take off. Fallen just watched everything, taking in her surroundings and trying to guess what everything's for.
Finally Kurt appeared on top fo the ramp, carrying his other bag. Xavier opened his mouth to tell him where to put it, but stopped seeing the boy already is about to. It will take some getting used to.
Eventually the boy went to the front and slipped past Fallen onto the seat beside her, sitting down like he longed to sit for a very long time. "How did it go?" she asked low enough to keep it private.
He inahled deeply. "Better than the last time anyway. She was less worried when I was able to assure her I already know what it's going to be like there."
"I'm sure."
The ramp clicked back in place and a low hum of the engines made the metal floor vibrate slightly.
"Everybody buckle up."
xXx
"You seen exhausted" Kurt said low after two dozen minutes of the flight. Fallen looked at him as if surprised by the statement. The boy smiled wrapping his arm around her to pull her against himself. "Try to rest."
She wanted to open her mouth to argue, to say that she doesn't want to sleep when there's so much to think about, when they're on the way to the Institute, when everything finally came down to this moment... but the words dissolved in her mouth because she felt that she does need to rest her mind and not think about any of it for a moment.
Resisting the urge to deny herself that time of rest, she slipped her arms around the boy's stomach as she rested her head on his chest and exhaled low, closing her eyes.
When her eyes opened an hour later, she felt like she's able to look at things without the prism of stress and unreasonable worries. The sky spread out in front of the jet was baby blue with white, soft ocean of clouds below them far as an eye could see. For the first time since yesterday her feelings went along with what she knew - that she and Kurt, along with Forge, are entering a new life and even if they've been swept back all the way to the beginning of the series, it is still something they should appreciate.
And she smiled softly, feeling the appreciation actually break through the coat of worries. She looked up at Kurt, who was looking at the view between two front seats taken by the Professor and Mr Monroe. By now he slid lower in his seat and appeared sleepy but content. As she tugged slightly on his shirt to get his attention, he looked down at her.
"We're almost there" he whispered smiling softly.
She smiled at those words and let her head rest against his chest again.
An automatic voice at the front panel informed; *Preparing for landing.*
"Put on your seatbelts on again, please" Ororo said.
Fallen looked at Kurt briefly before seating straight in her seat and clasping the belts at her chest. She could feel the craft slow down and lower, soon the front window was no longer obscured by clouds and then landline appeared ahead of them, a mile away, meeting the ocean with a waterfall coming down at a side of the scarp. A little further into the land she could see tip of a building and she didn't need to ask to know exactly what it is.
'I guess that's where it all really starts' she thought watching it grow closer.
Author's Afterword: I want to offer you a very life-like experience with this story, show the humans behind the powers, people who breathe the same air that you do but live in a reality more challenging. Although I do plan a lot of action, I also want to show that there's more to 'superheroes' than just tight spandex and more to 'villains' than just 'taking over the world' or 'revenge' cliché agendas.
For the curious souls: Yes, this story is going to follow every episode of X-Men: Evolution, then follow Marvel's ideas for unreleased season 5, and then season 6 will be all mine. Also episodes "point five" (0.5, 1.5 etc) such as this one will happen occasionally, some of them as fillers and some are legit parts of the main action. I will write a note at the beginning to inform you if it's an important one or if you can just skip it, but I do recommend to read them all since I may refer to them in later chapters.
Disclaimer for all installments of the story: X-Men belong to MARVEL, I only own Fallen, some background characters and the idea for re-creating the cartoon's plot.