I do not own X-Men anything.
And yes, despite it all, I still love Hank.
Once Upon a Time
Stir Crazy
And life wasn't all that bad for some people.
"Happy birthday, Jean."
"Oh, Scott, roses. Thank you."
Worse . . .
"Oh my god, Michael Jackson's hair caught on fire!"
"Shut up, you're kidding!"
"No seriously, he was doing a Pepsi commercial and it just went up!"
"You're making this up!"
"I can't!"
"Seriously? Oh my god, so is he a burnt up zombie now or what?"
"What?"
"You know, Thriller?!"
"Oh my god, shut up!"
. . . for others.
And downright tragic and frustrating . . .
". . . news, Charles? Your humans you love so much are killing children. Human children."
. . . for a select few.
"Yes, Raven. I saw."
"At their schools, Charles."
"I know, Raven."
"What do you think they will do to us? Given half a chance."
"Yes, I know, Raven."
"So why are you insisting on colluding with them, Charles?"
"Talking, Raven."
"Groveling."
"What would you have me do? This is our only world and we inhabit it together."
"We don't have to."
"And just what are you insinuating?"
"Don't bow to the humans, Charles. They'll only step on you while you're down there."
". . . crapfest the big guy left behind, Professor."
And it wasn't just about mutants versus humans either.
"Well, yes, Scott, it is a problem, but . . ."
Even though sometimes it was.
And sometimes, it wasn't even about mutants versus mutants either.
". . . more beautiful than all the stars in all the galaxies . . ."
Although sometimes it was about that too.
"Yeah, sure, Kurt, I get that she's hot and that but . . ."
Sometimes, straight up and not simple at all, . . .
"Professor? Mrs. Estelle said to let you know we've got some missing pantry inventory."
. . . it was about mutants versus themselves.
"Alright, thank you, Billy. I'll see to it."
Despite everything she had endured and perhaps because of it, Ororo Munroe on the other hand . . .
"Hey, Storm, want to come shoot pool?"
"Maybe later, I have to get to chem class."
"But . . . pool . . ."
"Learning! Do you know, in my country, only the wealthy are allowed to learn? Here it is open to everyone! Even mutants!"
"Jeez, maybe I better go to chem class."
"You don't take chem class."
"Maybe I should."
"Yeah, maybe you should."
. . . was having the time of her life.
As the humans strove to rebuild their world amid a renewed fear of mutants . . .
"We are grateful for all you have done, Professor Xavier. However, these mutants who aided and abetted this En-Saba-Nur, they were undocumented. They came out of nowhere and meant to destroy our world and harm and enslave the entire human race. We had no knowledge and still don't of their remaining whereabouts. A required registration for all persons with extraordinary abilities would allow us to keep track of any and all dangerous mutants that might mean us harm in the future."
"I'm sorry Mr. Secretary, but I cannot agree to support such a restriction. Mutants already fear for their lives in the wake of this tragedy even more so than before."
"Professor Xavier, you have lead us to believe that you and others like you are willing to cooperate with us. Peacefully."
"Yes, I have. But these mutants have not asked for these powers and many of them simply wish to live in the world without fear of persecution."
"Was it not persecution what happened only months ago in Egypt?!"
"Mr. Secretary, I really must beg that you reconsider-"
. . . Charles Xavier strove to both rebuild the physical and mental stability of his safe haven for all mutant children.
As well as maintain the civility between the factions of dominant species of human and mutant.
"Professor Xavier, you have to realize-"
"I am sorry, Mr. Secretary, I truly am. But on this issue, I will not be swayed."
Both out in the world.
And close to home.
Directly after the cataclysm, Charles had sequestered staff and students alike to the grounds and house out of concern and the very real threat of the distrought humans.
And it had not been . . .
". . . mall, Professor?"
"Not today, please."
. . . easy.
"Please?"
"No, Kurt."
And the mutants . . .
"Just for a few hours?"
"No."
. . . were as easy a target for their fear/blame as anyone.
"But Professor, I . . ."
"No."
And so the mutants residing in Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters had . . .
"Please?"
"No, I'm afraid not."
. . . gone into hiding.
"But I promise I'll be good!"
Compassionate but firm shake of the head.
"I know. I know that, Kurt. It's not your potential behavior that concerns me. It's the humans'. They've experienced quite a terrifying ordeal at the mind of one of the most powerful mutants on earth. And they may, however unfair, redirect their fear and confusion onto you. I can't risk your safety, Kurt, not the safety of any of mutant in my charge."
"But if they attacked us, we could just use our powers, right? Just long enough to get away, you know?"
"And what sort of effect do you think that would have on them, Kurt? It would serve to terrify them all the more. They might do something rash that would most likely affect all of us. Negatively, I dare say. I can't take that chance. I'm sorry."
"But that's so unfair, Professor!"
"I know. I know it is, Kurt. But that is the way it has to be. For now."
So they had stayed.
A day.
A week.
A month.
And they had almost killed each other.
"Stupid something somewhere else!"
"Yeah, well, you blah, blah, blah!"
"Children, please! What is going on?"
Pretty much a typical day in the world of mutant teenagers.
Only escalating for more that previously.
"I think they need to get out of the house, Professor."
"You know they can't do that, Peter. It's not safe out there."
Twenty-seven year old Peter Maximoff.
Casual. Calm.
Cool.
Slurping down Tab.
Nodding.
Casting a pointed eye about the general area.
"Not really too safe in here though, is it?"
Irritated, slightly huffy Charles Xavier.
Who knew the young man was right.
"No, I don't suppose it is. If only they'd act their age."
Raised eyebrow from the grounded speedster.
"They are, man."
So he had let them out.
With ground rules.
Never alone.
Only on the weekends.
And always alert an adult to your intended whereabouts.
And that was okay.
That worked.
They went. They came back.
Most of them didn't even really want to leave anyway.
Unless The Karate Kid was playing at the local cinema.
Or Sixteen Candles.
Or Star Trek.
They just wanted to know that they could leave.
Sometimes it worked well.
". . . and the Temple of Doom!"
"No way!"
Sometimes . . .
"Calm down, Kurt. Calm down and tell me exactly what happened."
Tear-filled yellow eyes, face that could never blush with shame or humiliation.
. . . it didn't.
"They . . . threw things at me, Professor! They threatened me and threw things!"
Charles Xavier's face pulled down into a frown.
"Please, Kurt. From the beginning, if you will."
The teenager, now mute with misery, simply shook.
May I?
Silent nod.
"Hey. I'm Jenny."
"Hi."
"You're a mutant, aren't you?"
"Yeah. I'm Kurt. I'm blue."
"Were you one of the ones that fought against that big crazy guy in Egypt?"
"Yeah."
"Oh. Cool. So you and your friends, like, saved us."
"Uh, yeah."
"Awesome. Hey, you want to go get a soda?"
"Uhhh, sur-"
"Hey! Hey you! Get away from my daughter, you mutant freak! She's not some who-"
Kurt's eyes filled with tears as the memory surged in his mind.
"He threw things at me, Professor! Yelled at me. He threatened me!"
Charles Xavier felt his heart leaden with sorrow.
"Oh Kurt, I'm so sorry."
A moment to allow grief.
"But I did ask you not to leave the school grounds, did I not? This is precisely the sort of altercation I was trying to prevent-"
"So you're blaming him because the humans are small-minded idiots?!"
"Please excuse us, Raven, we're having a private conversat-"
"No, Charles, I will not excuse you! You're teaching him to hide from the humans! You're teaching him that what he was doing was wrong!"
"No, I simply-"
"Yes, you were! You're blaming this child-"
"I'm not a child-"
"-for the actions of an adult!"
"Raven, please. We should discuss this in private-"
"Why? It happened to him, why wouldn't we discuss it with him-"
"Raven-"
Not that sometimes there seemed like much good to go out into the world for.
". . . Satanic rituals. God, what a bunch of morons."
"What are you two talking about, please?"
"The humans. Their teachers are, like, using the kids in, like, Satanic rituals, something."
"What?"
". . . serial killer or something?"
"Yeah. I figured it was too cold to do stuff like that in Alaska."
"Too dark too."
"Pardon, what are you talking about?"
"Can't go to McDonald's anymore now."
"I know, right? I mean, it's called a 'Happy' Meal for a reason, man."
"That is an incredible insensitive statement."
"Oh hey, Professor. Sorry."
"The kids see what the humans are doing to each other, Charles."
"Yes, it is all over the news, isn't it?"
"And they see how you're pushing aside all of their brutalities and atrocities and trying to make everyone hold hands and sing Coom-Bye-Me."
"Kumba- . . . never mind. Raven-"
"Save it, Charles. They can see your folly. And one day they will resent you for it."
While the others were fighting battles out in the big global world and the smaller northern New York state area . . .
"Scott seems to be doing well with his new visor."
. . . Hank McCoy was fighting a much, much smaller battle . . .
"Yes."
. . . inside his own mind and soul.
"We'll be out of sentinels by the end of the week if he keeps this up."
Between his life.
"Yeah."
And the life that kept trying to . . .
"Good night, Hank."
. . . encroach itself upon him.
"Good night, Raven."
Without his express permission.
They had a . . . working relationship.
Hank and Raven.
At the behest of Charles Francis 'Can't We All Just Get Along' Xavier.
And Hank was . . . managing.
They trained the mutants deemed mature . . .
"Mature, huh? Well, gee, Prof, I don't really know if that's a compliment or an insult. You know-"
"Yes, thank you, Peter, I'm sure you'll do swimmingly."
. . . and responsible . . .
"But I don't want to use my powers, Professor. I could hurt someone with them."
"And that's exactly why I would like you to practice, Jean. So that you can learn to control them and use them for good."
. . . and usable enough for the team.
"Really? Me?"
"Yes, Kurt. Your power is extraordinary."
So they did.
He and Raven.
In the Danger Room.
Perhaps not daily.
But
And it was . . . confusing.
Uncomfortable.
Unnerving.
His cells, his very DNA, were linked to hers.
Permanently, forever.
Unchanging.
But like a man who has discovered that his beloved nicotine-laced cigarettes contain poisonous substances harmful to man, Hank had gone cold turkey.
Forever.
And was not . . .
"How are you getting on, Hank?"
. . . ever . . .
"Fine, Charles."
. . . going back.
"And how is Raven?"
I don't care.
"You'll have to ask her, Charles. I don't speak for her. She speaks for herself. You know that."
"That's not what I mean, Hank."
I know what you meant. Chuck.
And I don't want to talk about it, okay?
Not in this lifetime anyway.
But all in all . . .
"Well, Reagan's President again."
. . . they all seemed to be . . .
"Better than John Wayne."
. . . trudging along . . .
"I cannot believe you're still doing this."
. . . as best . . .
"Yeah, it's kind of my thing."
. . . as they all could.
Kind of a mess, isn't it? I wish I could hide in the X-Mansion sometimes.
Thank you, brigid1318, for reviewing previously. :)
Let's see what we can get up to next.
