Logan whistled. "Nice plane, Chuck."

The sleek, black jet gleamed under the harsh florescent lights of the hangar that the Professor had brought both Storm and Wolverine to visit. He chuckled at the expressions the two wore when they paused to admire it from the hangar entrance.

"... Magneto's exploits have been getting more and more ambitious as of late," he said, as he followed his two companions at a more sedate pace as they started to approach the plane. "I felt that we may need certain resources if we want to keep up with him."

"So you step up the game and got us an honest-to-god SR-77." Logan smirked and shook his head. Must be nice to be able to afford military planes at the drop of a penny...

"And who will be piloting the jet, Charles? If you do not mind my asking." Ororo asked in awe; it was her first time to see such a thing.

The Professor cleared his throat. "I may not look like it, but-"

"Woah, woah woah." Logan turned and stared. "You know how to pilot one of these planes, Chuck?"

He smiled. "As it happens, I do. We flew a few of these in Vietnam..."

Both gave him equally surprised looks. "... Although I suppose this Blackbird here is in a class of its own, when compared to the earlier model..."

"It's amazing, Charles. But wherever are we going to keep this?" God bless her little heart, but sometimes 'Ro sounded just like a mother.

"I've already spoken to our engineers and contacted the contruction company about a hangar for the Institute, my dear Ororo."

Understanding flashed in her eyes. "Then I am to guess that the construction in your mansion is more than just simply expanding the basement?"

"An underground hangar, eh, Chuck?" Logan was clearly impressed. Damn. "Damn."

"Yes; there will be an exit for take-offs that opens in the waterfall behind the grounds. I am thinking of installing another on the lawn, as well."

"Shit, Chuck. James Bond's got nothing on us!" (Ororo swatted his arm. "Logan, language!")

Charles chuckled. "I'm hoping to relocate the latest Cerebro prototype into the sublevels some time in the future. There are also blueprints for an infirmary in the works."

Ororo nodded. With Magneto's recent burst of activity, they would definitely be needing the latter.

"In any case, I am thinking of enrolling the both of you in aviation classes. What do you think? It would be best if you two are licensed pilots, I feel."

"Nah, Chuck." Wolverine smirked. "May not remember everything, but I do know for a fact I can pilot this baby," He had S.H.I.E.L.D. to thank for that knowledge. "As for why I can, though, I ain't rightly sure."

The Professor nodded. "I expected as much, but I hadn't been certain." He turned to Ororo, who had taken a few steps forward to have a closer look at the plane. "And you, my dear? How do you feel about learning how to fly a jet?"

Logan watched her lift off from the ground in a smooth arc. "You really gotta ask that, Charles? Can't imagine it'll hold a candle to literally flying, bub."

Charles chuckled. "Of course. Even still..."

Ororo had floated up to the nose of the jet and laid one careful hand on the gleaming metal. "I can't say I've ever in my wildest dreams thought I would learn how to fly a plane, Charles." She turned to face them both on the ground. "But it would be a helpful skill to learn, I admit."

Charles clasped his hands together, smiling brightly. "I'm glad to hear that. I shall sign you up for lessons as soon as possible, then."

"Can Logan not teach me?" She tilted her head his way curiously.

Logan blinked. "... M'not much of a teacher, 'Ro."

She chose that moment to start her descent towards them. "Lessons cost money. Why spend when we have two experienced pilots right here?"

Charles glanced between them thoughtfully. "You know that money is not an issue, Ororo. But you make a fair point, I admit."

She had her head bowed slightly as her feet touched the ground. "And although I hate to mention it, I'm not certain I would be comfortable with anyone else..." She'd made mention of her struggle with small, enclosed spaces to them before. He felt like there was more to it than what little she told them; looks like he was right. A Blackbird's cockpit was far from tiny, but it was probably the thought of prolonged periods of time in flight with recycled air and not much room to move with a stranger... Logan shook his head at himself, how did that slip his mind?

"Right, that settles it." He grinned. "Like I said, not much of a teacher but between the two of us we'll make it work somehow, 'Ro."

His carefully calculated inflections on certain words made her cheeks color the slightest bit, to his delight. And just because he wanted to see if he could do it again -

"Not that I'm complainin'; can't say I'm opposed to having private lessons with you, darlin'."

She playfully rolled her eyes at him before speaking to Charles again about how the dynamics of this would now work. He tuned them out; he was just happy to note that she hadn't denied it.

Haven't you ever wondered the how and why behind the mansion's elaborate structure and architecture? Seriously, what did Charles Xavier have to do to convince various engineers and construction companies to build him an underground hangar complete with secret hidden waterfall entrance/exit...

Also, I realized I Didn't Do The Research after I wrote this, oops. I have no idea how acquiring a license for flying a plane would work. Do you need special classes from a licensed teacher? Can you show up at flight school already knowing how and just take a test to qualify for a license? I have no idea. Let's say the Prof pulled some (mental) strings and got them licenses in a jiffy or something.

And please don't lynch me if I got my facts wrong for what I did end up doing research for; SR-71's were indeed used in recon missions over North Vietnam in the late sixties to early seventies. I know comics!Xavier was drafted into the Korean War, but Evo is set in the early 2000's. I thought it'd make a bit more sense if he was born a little later, and drafted into the Vietnam War instead. And, credit where credit is due: I got the idea from IronRaven's own "In the Beginning" fic about the Professor, which you should all read immediately, because he actually knows what he's talking about!