Chapter 4
So first day back at school.
That is what today is.
That means the weary troops...the ones able to that is, march down to the kitchen for breakfast. They were still quite a few of them recovering from the battle with Apocalypse. It has only been a week.
Man it's only been a week.
Is that all?
When you live through the fallout of something as stupendous as what happened with Apocalypse it seems all the longer somehow.
Course school meant facing this protest against them Kelly had organised but face it they would with their heads held high.
Why would it be any different?
They're not ashamed of their status as mutants. Plus they saved the world. If anything Kelly should be on his knees thanking them that he's either not dead or a mutant himself right now.
In fact from what Clark is saying that is what attracting those mutants that are coming into Bayville. They see the X-Men as heroes...and protectors.
The Professor was working on it. He had in fact gone to see and talk to the new arrivals and had his lawyers working on the ownership issue of the district. His intent, if he could, was simply to buy as much of the district as he could. Make himself their landlord so to speak. Then the Professor is in the best position he can be to help his fellow mutants.
In fact he had already spoken to the charities he helps fund and requested their help in aiding the mutants in the short term. These are the charities who promote human/mutant relations that get the money from the power inhibition technology sales.
Also on Charles' mind; expanding the mansion. They were getting pressed for space and you just can't throw up an extension in a day. It needs plans and permissions and architects and agreeing prices with builders...assuming you can find a firm that'll work around mutants.
What was bothering Scott the most this morning was that he wouldn't be there, at the school to protect his team. He and Jean graduated remember. They've got college to start.
Could they manage that and still fulfil their X-Men duties?
It had been a question both asked themselves over the summer from time to time when they had a free 5 minutes...which wasn't very often.
The answer is they don't know. They're going to just try and see...and if they can't...well they'll have to talk to the Professor if that moment comes.
So anyway Scott had talked to Sam and his brother, Alex(the other teams leaders) over the subject of watching out for everyone and he had plenty faith they could handle it...but it'll still bother him that he isn't there personally. It's his nature.
Mostly everyone would attend school except for Penance, Piotr and Chloe.
Penance is rather obvious why she wouldn't considering her state.
And as for Chloe...she's just not in the place she's comfortable being out in public yet. Plus you know, she's faking her death. That's still a thing.
Piotr was actually past school age at 20. What he needed to do was find a new focus for himself...which was hard when he couldn't give up the slimmest hope that his sister might still be found. He liked farming and liked helping Mr Kent with the Institute's farm, make no mistake about that. In fact the Professor had started paying him a wage for his work.
Piotr had been reluctant at first to accept but the Professor had argued him down in the end saying this was to allow him to have his own money, live his own life. Piotr was grateful for that. Magneto had denied him those things, using his sister as leverage to enslave him essentially.
The point is for now it was a way for Piotr to have a life of a kind. He had never really imagined himself doing anything but working on the family farm to be honest...perhaps with the exception of his art.
On those days he allowed himself to dream being recognised as a great artist was what he dreamed about.
Dust would be going back to school and it would be the first time she has really come face to face with her former Hellions teammates since she left. She wasn't really looking forward to it but her conviction, her faith she made the right choice remains as steadfast as ever. That's all she needs in many ways for as long as she believes she is following the path set down by Allah she has all the strength she requires.
For some other people this would be them starting school since for the 1st time since they arrived at the Institute.
Wanda was finally caught up enough to attend...though she wasn't exactly thrilled at the idea but the Professor had made one of his impassioned arguments about why it would be good for her that is really hard to say no to.
Joining her would be Bart...which considering how easily Bart gets bored is probably a good thing. Not that he thinks so.
Jubilee was teasing him silly at the kitchen table right now, gently, playfully poking his cheek up into a smile, claiming he needs to be more excited.
They were actually kinda a cute couple.
And of course this was Doug's big day...as in him taking a big step back into the world and attending. Jonathan had volunteered to drive the bus and to see Doug off considering how much work he has put into the aiding the young teenager. It was doubly important with this protest thing apparently going to happen.
Surprisingly the last person into the kitchen this morning; Clark.
Why?
Superman 2 SHIELD 0
A pain in Clark's ass. All he was doing is what he always does, what he is going to continue to do no matter his internal struggles or how the press is currently portraying him. He was helping people but as soon as he does anything that gets any level of attention apparently that is all it takes for SHIELD to show up. Damn modern world and social media...which is what Clark is assuming SHIELD is monitoring.
There has to be privacy laws against that surely.
Hey, maybe he could make that the next thing he writes about.
Question is whether that is on his blog or in the school paper. He has to see the new Principal about that sometime today and give his decision. It's not exactly been top of his list of things to consider but the Professor has been saying that the way to stay Clark Kent and not succumb to War is to do the boring, ordinary things Clark Kent does.
And he has to be optimistic. They'll find a way to vanquish War and therefore, this being Clark's last year at school, he has to get his life ready for the next stage.
So yeah, he'll make his decision one way or the other before the day is out.
Bayville High...
As the bus with the Xavier Institute's students arrive they find not one but two protests. One anti-mutant and one pro-mutant, separated by lines of police.
The anti-mutant one is the larger with many hundreds of people led by Mayoral Candidate Robert Kelly.
The pro-mutant one is a complete surprise. They thought everyone hated them so even if there aren't that many of them, several dozen at most, it makes them feel less alone.
"Don't react," Jonathan advises from the driver's seat. "Just go past them, heads held high. You have a right to attend this school. Show them they can't take it away from you."
The simple act of enforcing your rights can be very symbolic because if you let anyone take your rights away you tend to find it's a hellish task to get them back.
As soon as they step off the bus the shouting and yelling begins as the two groups trade insults at each other.
The X-Men do as Jonathan suggests. They walk, heads held high. Jonathan makes sure to escort the less confident students to the door.
Once they're all inside he turns round and actually just looks at the scene. When was the last time the country was this divided? Do you have to go back to the Civil Rights Movement? Possibly.
Kelly is in the middle of one of his 'speeches'...though Jonathan would more call it a bigoted rant.
Someone has to stand up to this man...and you know what if no-one else will Jonathan will.
And that is precisely what he does...
All the students gather in the hall as Principal Fine addresses them at the start of the year.
"Good Morning, Boys and Girls and for those returning, welcome back, while for our new students a very first welcome to Bayville High. For those not in the know I am your new Principal, Milton Fine...but I hope in time you'll come to see me as your friend and partner in this journey we're about to undertake. What you learn here and now will shape your entire future. Here, is where you choose which direction and shape your future lives and prospects will take. Let me ask you a question. Do you know where the greatest supercomputer in the world resides?"
Stony silence.
Principal Fine smiles and taps on his own head. "Right here. It's the human brain...yet far too many people use far too little of it. It will be a partnership between yourselves and the fine teaching staff here to help you utilise all of it. In that cause I am a strong believer in discipline and order to create the best teaching environment. There are rules and I expect them to be obeyed. For our mutant students that means no use of powers on school grounds. For the rest of you, your personal opinions on mutants stop at the gate. The law entitles you all to the same education and I will ensure you all get it. Obey my rules and I can be your best friend but push my patience by flouting my rules and you will also find I can be your worst nightmare."
He deliberately pauses to let that sink in.
Principal Fine claps his hands together loudly. "That being said I'm optimistic we'll have a very interesting year ahead of us. I foresee many great things happening..."
Lunchtime is when Clark finds himself on his way to the Principal's office to give his decision over the school paper.
The morning was fairly typical for this school. The looks, the muttered under the breath disparaging comments about his friends and himself for being friends with them. Avoiding the Hellions like the plague if he can help it. They hadn't changed.
Though on the plus side; no Hellion just like Clark thought. Ok, ok, he's got some guilt over that but not that much.
That's not to mean some of his other friends don't hang out with them. Rahne and Catseye get on like a house on fire and Betsy has that friendship with Ali. Not to mention Alex and Jen being all boyfriend/girlfriend around each other.
Like himself Dust just chooses to ignore them and any comments they might send her way. Clark admires her strength of faith because that is what she falls back on to get herself through the day.
Clark wishes he could have that sort of faith but it's kinda hard considering what he's endured lately.
Then, on top of it all, there's the added distraction of War in his head so if his grades suffer this year Clark will have a genuine excuse rather than his usual deliberate attempts to let his grades slide so he doesn't stand out.
"Hi Clark!" the 3 nightmares of the imitation of each other blonds Tempest, Tyler and Carly coo as he passes them in the hall. Clark rolls his eyes and moves on. At first he thought their flirtations aimed in his direction was just to annoy Rogue when they were dating but even after he and Rogue broke up they never stopped. God knows why they do it because he isn't the least bit interested. They're complete air-heads.
Moving on...swiftly he reaches the office, speaks to the secretary and gets the invite in. He finds Principal Fine sitting behind his desk reading.
"Ah, Mr Kent," Principal Fine greets him. "Come in, sit. I was just reading a book which boasts that it contains the History of the World," he mocks slightly...because that is the actual title of the book. 'History of the World'. It's a surprisingly thin book in that case. "How are you on History, Mr Kent?" Fine wonders.
"Ok, I guess," Clark responds modestly as he sits down across the desk.
Fine looks at him carefully. "See what you make of this statement, Mr Kent," he invites a response. "We could sit here and discuss all about the Greeks, Romans, and Spartans, the stories of which are all very enlightening but let's look at the word history. History is not about facts..."
"It's about context," Clark jumps in. "It's about who is is telling the story. As Churchill said; History is written by the victors. They invariably put their spin on the version of the story that tends to survive."
Fine looks impressed. "That being true what is history? What is herstory? What is your story, Mr. Kent? How will you affect the world around you for generations to come?"
Clark isn't sure how Fine turned the debate into that question. "I'm not sure you can know that at eighteen," he argues.
"Tell that to Alexander the Great or, to bring it closer to home, someone I believe you once knew, Lex Luthor."
Clark blinks. How did Principal Fine know he knew Lex?
Fine continues before Clark can ask. "Now, he's not much older than you are Mr Kent but look what he created out of the ruins of his father's madness? One of the largest multinationals in the world...and a leading defence contractor. In fact that's all that keeps his company afloat from what I hear. Of course it all started with him running his father's aggro branch in Smallville. He's gone from feeding people to killing them, and yet he sells his story that he's a white knight who's put a small Kansas town on the map. Beware of white knights, Mr Kent. They don't slay dragons. They train them for their own dark purpose. Think of Hitler, Stalin, Napoleon."
"Lex is not a saint, but I don't think you can put him in the same league as those guys," Clark says, not in Lex's defence because Clark is well aware of Lex's dark deeds but because he truly doesn't think Lex has quite reached the mass-murdering despot level. Amoral businessman, yes but wannabe tyrant? Don't think so.
"An honest opinion. I like that," Fine compliments Clark for expressing one.
"That's not to say Lex doesn't have to answer for things he has done because he does," Clark feels a need to moderate his own answer.
"And what things would those be, Mr Kent?" Fine asks. "As I recall the Congressional Investigation into him after his father's final battle in Smallville barely slapped his wrists."
Yes, Clark remembers. Could not believe it. Some days you truly have to wonder if Kent Brockman is right and democracy simply doesn't work. "Well the best way to keep any government in check is by having a free press," Clark states.
"And I suspect that's a very cleverly thought out way to bring our conversation to the topic that brings you here," Fine guesses.
Well occasionally even Clark can have a smart idea or two he'll modestly admit. "I thought over what you said about helping restart the school paper...and I do believe journalism is what I want to do."
"Bringing light to the dark recesses those in power like to hide their skeletons in?" Fine queries.
"Something like that. The point is if I'm going to go to college, get the necessary degrees, get an internship, I need to gain as much experience as possible in my last year here."
"Well as I said when last we met my preference was to see the school paper restored so if you're willing to help re-establish it then you have my permission," Fine tells him.
Yeah, Clark can do that. He can round up everyone who use to work on the paper who is still here and didn't graduate. He doubts they'd take that much persuading. Especially Iris.
"And I'll pop by from time to time to see how you're getting on," Fine adds. "I'm keeping an eye on you, Mr Kent. Don't let me down."
Ah, ok, a little weird that he seems to be focussing on Clark, not for the first time either but maybe that's just his way. After all Clark barely knows what sort of guy his new Principal is.
At the Institute...
It was fairly late at night and Clark was in the Professor's office discussing his day, discussing how he coped with it all with War in his head.
For now, until they figured out a way into Clark's mind, all Charles could do was have daily sessions with the alien teen in the more traditional sense of talking, teaching him about methods of mental control.
Whatever else making sure Clark doesn't completely cut himself off. For now Charles remained the only one who knew of Clark's condition.
"So, I, uh talked to everyone who use to work on the school paper and they all agreed to come back," Clark is telling the Professor.
Charles nods along. "That's good. You seem to enjoy your writing," he remarks his observation.
"Yeah," Clark says with the tiniest hint of a smile. "Yeah, I do."
And Charles knows that Clark's parents support this focus he has. It means looking forward, a career, a life away from from all this...which is not necessarily a bad thing. It's too easy to hide behind the Institute's walls and forget there is a world beyond it. A real world that needs to be lived in.
It is what Charles tries to avoid and why he sends the students to Bayville High. The point is experiencing that real world and bringing those experiences back elevates all.
"So was it a bad day in regards to keeping War quiet?" Charles gets onto that.
"It was ok. I mean I can still feel him clawing and trying to get loose...and really the obscene language is just unnecessary," Clark tries to make it a joke.
Charles accepts Clark making it a joke.
"You know I feel like I shouldn't be burdening you, Professor," Clark thinks. "You were turned into a Horseman too."
"Then we can share our experiences. Help each other," Charles proposes in the hope he can get Clark to open up more. As for himself...he was coping. He talked to Lilandra, to Hank. He made sure to keep an eye on how Storm was doing but Logan seemed to be doing an admirable job aiding her. Right now his main worry was helping Clark through this.
Clark's head drops, not meeting the Professor's gaze.
Charles sighs. That just reinforces what is quite clear that Clark is holding something back. "I'm not pressurising you, Clark. Just know I am here."
Clark nods in acknowledgement of that.
After he leaves the Professor Clark wanders the halls. He was still feeling awkward around people, especially those he hurt as War. He couldn't quite look any of them in the eye no matter the fact most of them...well all of them really seemed ready to forgive him.
The issue was that Clark was not ready to forgive himself.
He wanders towards the kitchen where he finds it surprisingly empty...apart from his father watching the news...which is turned down low.
And the main story on the news...Jonathan himself and his confrontation with Kelly.
With Clark's hearing he can hear it.
"...And what comes after Registration? Making mutants wear little yellow stars?!..."
Ooh, that one is a killer. Kelly practically goes red...while the pro-mutant protesters behind his father cheer loudly at that and start throwing insults of 'Fascists!' and 'Nazis' at Kelly and his supporters.
That's only a tiny bit of what was almost an award winning retort made by Jonathan to Kelly.
"So...you're still headline news I see," Clark comments.
"Hey son," Jonathan greets him. "It's crazy," he comments back, stunned by the reaction. All he did was confront the lies and bigotry and speak the truth. The truth, as the saying goes, shall set you free. What Kelly and his ilk need is the light of truth shined on their lies and distortions and have it shown as the outright racism it is. That's all Jonathan tried to do because he couldn't just stand there and not do something. He couldn't but try and aid the children he's grown so fond of.
"Perhaps...but from what I hear you're trending number 1. Even have your own hashtag."
Jonathan looks puzzled. He can barely keep up with all this modern social media stuff.
"Well I don't know who started it but there's #KentforMayor floating around," Clark explains.
Jonathan chokes with laughter. "Me? For Mayor?"
Clark shrugs.
Jonathan laughs some more at the ridiculousness of that concept. "Look, I'll support anyone who stands against what Kelly is preaching but I'm not a politician," he insists.
"Well you know these things nowadays dad, I'm sure it'll pass in a couple of days...or you know there's a press scrum outside the gate if you change your mind," Clark teases with a smirk.
Jonathan aims his son a dirty look.
Clark sniggers. He couldn't help himself.
Jonathan shakes his head. He's sure Clark's right. It'll pass. The modern attention span is shockingly short. By the end of the week at the latest he's certain they'll have found something else to overreact about.
Author's Note: I tried to write out Jonathan's confrontation with Kelly but I never liked it so I cheated and skipped over it and you can assume whatever he said was awesome! Yes, it does seem odd, doesn't it, how Fine not only has an interest in you Clark but already seems to know quite a bit. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; It doesn't pass and Jonathan ends up having to make an important choice.