An hour after school, everyone was in the danger room as promised. Mostly the new recruits were going at it, with Logan leading them. Benson helped out a little by pushing the buttons she was told to push and what not. Until Charles asked:

"Benson, why don't you go in the danger room? I want to see the full effect of your energy powers. You can go up against a few robots we've created."

"Okay then." Benson proceeded to sit down and take off her shoes and socks.

"What are you doing Sparky?" Logan asked puzzled.

"T-taking off…my…shoes."

"I can see that. Why"

"Oh, it's just a lot easier for me this way." Benson stood back up. There was a bright flash, and suddenly Benson was completely yellow and glowing, clothes and all. Her eyes were pitch black with no visible pupils, and her hair was gold and flowing straight up.

"What the hell?"

"My most powerful form, get over it."

"Fine, okay, just go, kid." Benson walked over to the door separating the two rooms. The doors slid open.

"And by the way, stop calling me kid!" Benson got on all fours and sprinted into the room. Her tail arched out. She stood back up, and looked around. Nothing was near yet, but she knew it was coming soon.

Benson heard footsteps. Large, mechanical ones. She turned around to see an eight-foot-tall drone ready to attack her. Benson put her hand on the figures 'chest' and absorbed the energy from it. It fell to the ground, and she was left standing there, without even breaking a sweat.

Charles came to her telepathically. Benson, try to defeat these without your energy powers for now .I realize your powers aren't ones that don't need practicing with drones.

Uh, okay Charles.

More drones came rushing towards her. She was surrounded. Benson took one by the head and smashed it down onto her knee. It fell to the ground, head dismantled. The next Benson kicked square in the chest. It fell back. She kept fighting these robots with great strength and stamina until she heard;

That's good for now Benson. I think that's all our budget can handle.

Benson came back into the room. The X-men and the recruits looked at her in awe.

"What? So I'm super strong. It's just when I turn into this."

"That was very good Benson. Students, today's sessions are over. You may do as you please."

"Hey Benson, zat vas awesome! I didn't know you could do zat!"

"It's just when I turn into that form. Like, I can't lift you up now, but I could if I went macho."

"Vell, vhatever, zat was just fun to vatch."

A few hours later everyone was in their rooms going to sleep. "G'nite Kurt."

"Goodnight fraulein."

The next morning Benson came down the stairs for breakfast wearing some cheap, worn-out, giant red headphones, humming the beat of a song.

"Those are almost as big as her ego," Kitty whispered to no one in particular.

Benson twirled the fork she was currently using to eat her scrambled eggs so it pointed straight at Kitty. "Ya say one more thing about me or my headphones, this fork is going straight up that nose. If it hits your brain, it's your own fault." Kitty stared wide-eyed at the utensil, and didn't say another word. Benson proceeded to drop her fork on the table and continue eating the eggs with her fingers.

"Seems to me you still haven't gotten used to normal life. Please, do not threaten our team, Benson," Charles said while rolling into the kitchen.

"I don't believe in normal. Besides, why should I comply with society's orders? It's corrupted mankind for decades. I'm not gonna change for an idiotic system."

"Amen," mumbled an incoherent Logan.

"I understand that there are some problems with how society works, but we are human beings. Just like everyone else, we should comply."

"Human beings that could kick everyone else's ass," Benson said quietly enough so only the few sitting around could hear.

"Well, it looks like it's time to go to school. Come on, Kurt, Benson," Scott said.

"Vhen are you going to stop fighting everyone?" Kurt said in Scott's car during the ride to school.

"When I feel like it. My life, my choices."

"If you keep living your life the way you damn well please, it's going to end up biting you in the ass. And if you hate society so much, why are you at Xavier's Institute?"

"I was hungry. Listen, pretty boy, usually, I hate everyone who passes me, 'cause they hate me first. This is the only place where I don't have to hide every part of my powers in a trench coat. I can live here, not just survive. I may not like the people, but I like the lifestyle of guys not wanting to burn me at the stake at the first sight."

"Let's just get to school," said a now antsy Kurt.

Later in the day was 3rd period, study hall with Kurt, Kitty, and Benson. Kitty had been noticing something strange about Kurt from the day they picked Benson up, and she was finally going to talk to him about it.

"Okay, fuzzy boy, what's going on with you and Benson. You've been gawking at her all period."

"Vhat? N-no, I haven't. Benson's my friend. N-nothing's going on."

"Don't play dumb. I know you have a crush on her. What other reason is there to your stuttering?"

"I just… ugh fine, I kinda like her. I mean she's the first person I've ever met who looks anything like me other than Mystique, and she's unique, beautiful. It's just that… it seems like she hates everyone, everything. I would never be able to talk to her without getting her pissed off."

"Tell me about it," Kitty mumbled. "Well just try to talk to her when she's relaxed. That might do you some good. You know how Rogue was when we first met her."

"I suppose. Thanks Keety. Now I have to actually do the homework I've been putting off."

"Okay, I'll see you later fuzzy."

A few minutes later, Kitty walked over to where Benson was sitting to talk to her. "Hey Benson. Listen, sorry about the headphones comment. I didn't mean it."

"Yeah, uh, sorry about the whole threatening to kill you thing. I meant it."

"Okay…um, so, have you met anyone you've really liked here?"

"Like who? What are you plotting?"

"Nothing, I swear. I was just curious. So, will you answer the question?"

"Uh…well, I've noticed one guy. But he is probably creeped out by me or annoyed at me. That's how I am."

"Really? Who?"

"No one you need to know about."

Just then, the bell rang.

"See ya," Benson said before fast-walking to her next class.

During lunch, Benson once again was having trouble looking like a normal girl.

"God..damn…it! How the hell are you able to use these things? For god sakes, I just want to eat my crappy salad."

"It's just a spork. Come on, you could do it."

"Ugh!!! Please?!" Benson looked at Scott with pleading eyes.

Scott turned to look at her. "Fine. Just don't be too messy. Ignoring Scott's comment, Benson grabbed the lettuce with her hands and started scarfing the salad down without caring how fast she was eating.

"Slow down will ya? Like, you're getting dressing all over you're shirt."

"It's been through worse. I can just wash it when we get back."

"How hard is it for you to just, you know, be normal?"

"How many times have I said this? I don't believe in normal. I'm hungry. Let me eat."

"I envy you," Kurt said so softly he thought no one heard.

"Why would you envy me? I have nothing. I'm disgusting and rude to everyone I meet."

"But zat's the zing. You don't care. It doesn't matter to you whether people like you or not."

"You'd be surprised how much I care," Benson said even softer than Kurt, so that no one really did hear. "When is school over?"

"In about three hours," Scott said.

"Why me?"

"Not just you everyone."

"At least you're used to it."

The rest of the day went off without a hitch. Until the ride home…

"So, what's wrong with you, Kurt?"

"Pardon me?"

"In every conversation we've had, or any time we've been in the same room, you get so serious. People've told me you were the jokester of the house. What, do you hate me or something?"

"I don't hate you." Quite the opposite, actually. "It's just that, well, you're…unique. Special. Not like anyone I've met. You…intimidate me."

"Special like, 'stop eating the paste' special?"

"Special like…special."

"So I'm special. That is so cheesy."

"Is not!" The two started chuckling.

"It totally is! Almost as bad as 'it's not you, it's me.'"

"It's not that bad."

"Wanna bet? Scott, what do you think?"

"I'm staying out of this."

"Joy killer. Anyway, Kurt, I intimidate you? Like, scare the shit out of you?"

"Uh… not exactly. You're just, stronger than me, that's all."

"Well of course I'm stronger than you. That's my power."

"Not that vay, like, emotionally. Personality vise."

"So I'm special, and I have a strong personality. That's even more cheesy."

"Benson, you--."

"We're here." With that, the trio got out of the car from the 70s and into the mansion, just as Storm, Logan, and Prof. X's meeting ended.

Benson, please see me in my study.

"Hey, I have to meet the Prof in the study…where would that be?"

"Here, I'll show you." Kurt led the way to the professor's office.

"Thanks, bye." Kurt bamfed away.

Benson walked into the room to see Charles at his desk writing on some documents. "Uh…hello?"

"Yes, Benson. Logan, Storm, and I had a talk about you." Oh, here we go. Benson, leave. "And we've decided that you should use some of your energy in an after school activity. Maybe a sport."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You want me to play a sport after school? Like social activities?"

"Possibly. If it could get your aggression out."

"Wonderful."

"I asked Jean if she could sign you up for try-outs to get on her soccer team. Don't worry about the supplies, Jean said you could borrow some of her things."

"So, do I have a choice?"

"Technically, yes. But not without leaving this mansion."

"Fine, I'll try out."

"Good, the audition is at 4:00 tomorrow. You may skip danger room sessions this time."

Sulking, Benson moved out of his office. Great. Soccer. How is soccer even a sport? You can't use your hands. Benson walked to Jean's room to get her 'supplies.' Bang, bang, bang, bang.

"Hello? Oh hi Benson. You're here for the soccer gear, right?"

"Yep…"

While Jean was walking further into her room, she said, "So, you'll probably get on the team. Since I'm captain I have a big role on who makes it."

"Thaaanks," Benson said, the sarcasm dripping from her tone. She walked away without another word.

Benson was standing in a line along with other soccer hopefuls on the field the next day.

"So we're going to have a scrimmage. Yellows are Jackson, Fawcett…"

Blah, blah, blah. I'm already going to make it because of Jean, why do I need to try out?

"…and Raider. Grays are everyone else."

Wonderful. Wow I say wonderful a lot. Maybe cause this is just so damn wonderful. Wonderful. Now I'm talking to myself, Benson was thinking as she grabbed her yellow penny and walked out to the field.

Surprisingly to Jean, Benson was pretty good. When she had the ball she flew by the other players, and she scored a few times. She got along with the other players too. How could this be? This is only her first time playing any sport? Oh, she thought, she must be using her powers to move so quickly and kick the ball so hard.

"We have to have her," said the co-captain Jean was standing next to. "She's kicking everyone else's butts."

"I don't know Claire, I mean she's never played before in her life," Jean said, frightened that she might not do so well without her powers.

"I don't care if she's thirteen! She can play! Come on Jean, it's what's best for the team."

"Okay, she's in."

When the two came home Scott was the first to ask how it went.

"Turns out I'm even more awesome than I already thought I was. I kicked the other team's ass!"

"Language, Benson," said Charles, coming into the room, "I'm glad to hear you made the squad."

"I'm not sure if she's in yet," Jean said.

"What? You said I did well."

"Yea, but, well…" tried Jean, struggling for the right words. "I'm not sure if…Did you use you're powers?"

"Uh, no. Trust me, if I was in my full form where I have that extra strength and stamina, this watch couldn't hide a thing. I glow too much. I mean I already glow a little like this, but in full form, I could see every nook and cranny in the darkest cave on earth."

"Okay, I believe you. I guess that means you're on the team."

"Just another win under my belt. Thanks."

"I zought you didn't vant to do soccer," said Kurt walking into the room.

"I didn't, but once I saw how I could beat everyone so easily, I was up for it. I love to win."

Jean yawned. "Well, I'm going to bed. Try-outs lasted longer than I thought they would."

"You sure you don't want to stay? Most of us are going to hang out in the den. It'll be crazy as always," Scott suggested.

"No thanks, I'm pretty tired."

"Hey, am I invited?"

"Yea, sure. We would have asked you before, but you seemed like you wanted to be left alone."

"Probably would of, but I think I might be up for it tonight."

"Then come on down. Everyone's already down there."