* The X-men and their world belong to Marvel, not me. Please review!
When I awoke, I looked to be in a hospital. I felt awful and there was this annoying buzzing in my head. As I had for the last two and a half months since finding Leah and the twins, I felt a sense of panic. Where were the kids? Were they all right? What was going on?
"She is avake, Jean!" A rich German accented voice made my head turn. I found the blue skinned, yellowed eyed man with the tail that had grabbed Jenny. His tail was wrapped and had a splint. "Good morning fräulein!"
I jumped out of my bed only to fall to the floor, my legs were so stiff! I scurried back from the man, confused. I felt someone walking towards me.
"Its alright! Honey, you're safe, everything is fine!" The red headed woman came up to me, kneeling in front of me. Again her closeness hurt my head, but not to the same point as before. "Kurt, will you go to the Professor? Tell him that she's awake."
"Right away." The blue man she called Kurt disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"W-where are the others? Are they okay?" I stuttered. The woman helped me back into my bed.
"They are fine, better than they have in months." She soothed. "But how are you?"
"M-my head hurts." I stuttered. I had a stutter since I was a child, but around grade six it disappeared. After the death of my family, it had resurfaced.
"Hmm, strange, so does mine." The lady frowned slightly. Then smiled and offered her hand. "I'm Dr. Jean Grey, I've been looking after you and your friends. I'm a mutant, like you."
Dr. Grey gave me another smile. I saw a flash of fire in her eyes and suddenly utensils and instruments from around the room were lifted up into the air. The woman using her powers made my head hurt a little more. She was telekinetic, like me.
So does this mean I can trust her?
"Dear, do you remember me? From after the Sentinel attack?" Dr. Grey asked softly.
"Y-yeah. You came out of that jet, and I got this horrible pain in my head. Then," I thought hard, but all I could remember was darkness. "Then I was here. Um, where is here?"
"You and your friends are in the Xavier Institute. You're safe here." Dr. Grey said patiently.
"What happened? How did we get here?" Now Dr. Grey was checking my blood pressure.
"After the fight, we were both knocked out. The X-Men, the group of mutants who fought the Sentinels with you, took you and your friends here to the Institute. Your friends have all been enrolled in the school and have been assigned rooms. They told us all you've been through." She gave me a sad look, one full of pity.
"We were knocked out? How?" I asked.
"We, meaning Professor Xavier and I, have a few theories. But we're not really sure. This was the first time you met another psychic, isn't it?" I nodded and she continued. "Well, sometimes the first time a young psychic comes near another; they experience a little pain in their head. Though we've never heard of it being strong enough to knock out the mutant or to even affect the other psychic."
As I thought that over, Dr. Grey continued. "Shadow, I'd like to do some tests." She knew my name, I guess the others had told her. "A few to check you psychic aura, how powerful you are. Professor Xavier would usually do this sort of thing, but because of how you were affected by my aura and how you are still being affected, we decided to keep distance between the two of you for now."
With that we started her "tests". Lifting different weighted objects with my mind and making them do different actions, showing how long I could hold up objects, and how far I could throw them. I showed her how I could fly. I thought I was doing really well, but Jean kept frowning whenever she thought I wasn't looking.
"Um, am I doing these wrong or something?" I asked nervously. I never met another mutant with my powers before so I didn't know what level I was. I was afraid that I was way behind the others and that's why she was frowning.
"Hmm? Oh, no, you're doing really well. Maybe just a little too well." I stared at her, waiting for her to continue. "You're way above the average adult telekinetic, and your control is very good."
I got a sense that she doubted what I said about not meeting another like me. But I didn't tell her again. I really didn't know much about this school and I wasn't sure if being too powerful was a good thing.
"Well, that's it for the telekinesis tests, lets move on to your telepathy." Dr. Grey said.
"Um, well I can feel people's emotions without trying. And I can make illusions." I started.
"All ready?" I saw and sensed fear in her. Was that the wrong thing to say? "Well, that's, that's really good. Now about mind reading and communicating telepathically-"
I interrupted her. "Oh, I don't like doing those things." I blushed when she looked at me. "That sort of stuff, well, it messes with my mind. I can do it, but I think I over do it. If I just try to find out whether someone is lying, I usually get their entire childhood. And once I go into someone's mind, I take a bit of it with me. Or rather a copy of it. I have their mind with mine and its awful."
Grey gave me a sympathetic look. "I know the voices around you can be unbearable sometimes, and I don't want you to have more in you mind than you have to. But I really need to know your level. Its for your safety and the other students in the school. It will also help us to know how to teach you control."
Kurt had teleported back into the room. He gave me a smile and a thumbs up. Despite his demon like appearance, he seemed nice. I guess it was because I was a mutant and the kids I've been living with and looking after looked different from other people that made me not really afraid of his appearance. Now that man, the customer from the diner entered the room through sliding doors. Though he looked normal, he did scare me a little. I saw how those metal claws sprung from his hands. I know we can not control what our mutations are, but his scared me. From the diner, I sensed his pain but no wounds. He hurts but does not know why. When we were fighting the Sentinels, I could feel an animal inside of him, loving every minute of the fight.
"Yah alright, kid?" The man asked roughly.
"Y-yes, I'm fine." I stuttered.
"Logan, considering adding an addition to your adopted litter?" Dr. Grey teased. Logan snorted and walked over to talk with Kurt.
"Logan has this reputation of being a tough rebel guy." Grey told me quietly. "But he has a soft spot for teenage girls. Nothing inappropriate, he just gets very protective over them. He's become kind of like a father figure for some of the girls here, when their own fathers aren't. And with his codename, Wolverine, we call his girls his "litter"."
"I have enhanced hearing Red, it doesn't how quietly you talk I can hear you." Logan called from across the room. "Stop telling the kid that garbage."
Though he pretended that he didn't like her talking about him this way, with his reputation and all, I knew otherwise. He was immensely proud and protective of his "litter". These girls that he looks out for, they need him. Most don't have fathers who are there for them because of their mutation, so he is. He pushes them to do their best, be's there for them, takes them out for diner or other treats when they did well or just need to get away, and protects them. Suddenly I sensed that was right, I was a new member to the "litter". But why? We really didn't know each other. Curious, I put down my shields a teensy bit to learn why.
Apparently it was too much. A flash of nonsense flew into my mind. I got a memory of when we first met, at the diner and a wave of pity for the poor girl being abused by her boss. The way that she fought to keep her dignity, no matter how many times he knocked her down emotionally and physically. He respected the fighter that she was. Another memory. The girl flying away. Calling someone to tell about her. Following her back to an old cabi-
"You were following me?" I accused, pulling myself back from his mind.
Logan shared a look with Dr, Grey before answering. "Yeah." With that he patted the blue man on the shoulder and left the room.
"Did you read his mind?" Dr. Grey asked.
I looked down, ashamed. I've been using the power for so long, knowing it was wrong to go into other people's minds. Then I did it to keep others safe, but now I shouldn't do it now that we were all "safe". "I shouldn't have done that. I'm so sorry, I was thinking."
"It's all right, we all lose control sometimes." She gave me a forced smile. "I was just surprised that you could make out anything when reading his mind. Most young mutants just get flashes so quick that they can't make any sense of it. And at the Xavier Institute, we do have policies about reading only willing minds. Just a warning."
I couldn't meet her green eyes, I was still too ashamed.
"Logan was just following you because he was worried. He saw how you were treated at that diner and how saw how tired and under fed you were." Grey explained, thinking I was upset by being followed. "When he learned you were a mutant, he called Professor Xavier and got permission to follow and look after you. He was just looking out for you and the other children. He saw how you protected the others, but thought you could use some protection yourself."
So the "wolverine" had a soft side for pity cases and damsels in distress. Well, that was fine. I didn't need anyone to look after me. I didn't need anyone. I shouldn't even get close to anyone until I avenged my family.
"Shadow, I can see that you're tired. I think we can wait to do the telepath tests later on." Dr. Grey said kindly. "How about I show you to your new room? Unless you rather stay in the Med Bay a few more days?"
I smiled gratefully to her (at least I get to propone having my mind messed up!). "Actually, I'd really like to get out of here. I'm not too fond of hospitals."
Dr. Grey led me out of the Med Bay and into an elevator. This school must be monstrous! I thought to myself. We went up seven levels just to reach the ground floor. Dr. Grey told me that she would send up some forms to choose my classes. She had already enrolled me in her class for telepaths, so that took up on space. She pointed out where I can go to eat and when meals are.
She was telling me about what courses the school provided as we got into the elevator. I was listening intently when suddenly I let out a yell. A head was poking through the elevator doors.
"Kitty, mind that you don't phase through anything that will break the elevator." Dr. Grey said sternly as a body of a girl followed the head into the elevator. The girl had friendly brown eyes and a ponytail of brown hair. She was a little taller than me but looked to be my age. She smiled friendly at me before answering.
"No prob, Professor!" She said cheerfully. "I've been practicing."
To me she said. "I had to learn that one, the guys never hold the elevator for me. Hi, I'm Kitty Pryde, who are you?"
"Kitty, this is your new roommate, Shadow." The professor introduced.
"New roommate! Cool!" With that Kitty gave me a hug and another huge smile. The girl is certainly friendly enough, I thought. I offered her a timid smile.
She laughed pleasantly, "You're a little shy, aren't you? Well, don't worry, I can usually talk enough for the both of us."
The elevator stopped six stories about the ground floor. Kitty didn't wait for the doors, just walked through them. I watched her in amazement.
"Kitty can phase through objects." Professor Grey explained as we followed her through the now open doors.
"Cool." Was all I could think of to say.
Kitty bounced up and down impatiently in front of a door at the end of the corridor. When the teacher and I got to the door, Kitty didn't bother waiting for Jean Grey to get out a key and open the door, she just grabbed the two of us and phased us through the wooden door. It was extremely weird sensation. She laughed at the look on my face. "It's a good thing I have this mutation, I'm too impatient and I lose keys easily."
It was a medium sized room, but it seemed smaller because of all the furniture. The room contained three twin sized beds, three wardrobes, two writing desks and a dresser with a large mirror. Over one bed with a hot pink comforter (and so many stuffed animals!) was posters of popular bands and movies, and lots of pictures of people. With a closer look, I guessed that to be Kitty's bed, because she was in most of the pictures.
She must be a popular girl, I thought, seeing her in pictures with large groups of friends. And why shouldn't she be? She's friendly and seems nice enough. And from all those science awards, I glanced over the plaques and certificates on her bedside stand, she's very smart too.
The other bed had a comforter with black and white flowers on it. There were pictures of people around this bed too, but there were less. A small bookshelf stood beside this girl's bed was crammed full of promising looking books. I stared at them hungrily, it had been so long since I was able to just sit down and read a new book. While on the run for your life, you don't really have the time to get into a good book or have the money to buy one. And while in bad times, that's when I needed to get lost in a story the most. Maybe this other roommate would lend me some.
The last bed had a plain faded yellow comforter. The bedside table had a lamp on it but nothing else. There were no posters, pictures, stuffed animals, books, or anything personal. Leaning against the bed was my ragged schoolbag, the one that held my few possessions while I was homeless.
I went over and sat on my bed. I took a crumpled picture of my family (a small item to remind me of better times) and leaned it against the lamp. Home sweet home, I thought sadly.
"Shadow," Professor Grey said, walking over to my bed. "the school has a budget for students that need new clothing. I already took the other children that came here with you shopping, so they are set. But we can taking you out tonight, if you're feeling up to it, to buy you some clothing."
I only had what I had on, my uniform from the diner and another shirt in my bag. The other clothing I salvaged went to Megan and Diffuse. Though we had a system of giving clothes to small for us to the next younger kid, I had given them my clothing before I outgrew them. They were sensitive about their appearance, and I thought that if they had more clothing they could feel more…human.
"Oh, can I come too? Please? I can help pick out some cool clothing. Rogue and Jubes will want to come too." Kitty begged.
"Rogue has a session with Professor Xavier tonight. And it will be difficult for the teacher taking her out to look after all of you." Jean said.
"But me and Jubes can help pick out clothing!" Kitty coaxed enthusiastically. "It could help Shadow get to know knew people."
"Well," I could see Jean start to cave. "its, really up to Shadow…"
I nodded and said quietly. "Could they come, professor? Please?"
Kitty beamed at me.
"I guess I could get Storm to help me supervise." Jean sighed. "But don't you or Jubilee try to get us to buy anything for you two. You both have enough clothing. This shopping trip is just to get Shadow what she needs. I'll go ask Storm now. Kitty, why don't you show Shadow around? Meet me in front of the school at three."
After she left, Kitty came over and sat beside me on the bed. She gave me a mischievous grin. "Thanks Shadow for letting us come along. Its always a treat to get out of the school. And she always says no new clothes for Jubes and me, we always get something. Come on, I'll give you a quick tour. The others are still in class, but I got a cancelled class, so we can look around without being run over by the others."
Kitty took my arm and once again pulled me through the door. I was glad I had a new friend, but I still couldn't help but worry about the kids who I looked after all these months. And whether I should accept clothing and help from these people, when I just planned on leaving them as soon as I could.
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