What a view.
Billy loved her room; it had the best view of Bayville in the entire manor. The two large windows open to her balcony, the cool night air outside seemed a mutual compliment to the warm atmosphere of the rosy glow inside. Leaning a hip against the balcony's banister, Billy was spellbound with content looking out to the world. The last smoldering wisps of smoke from prior hours were deliberately avoided for obvious reasons.
Sighing, the young mutant looked to the florescent lights of the city, resting her hip against the balcony's railing. B-e-a-utiful. Something always attracted her to city lights, how they twinkle and flicker as if by man's fancy to copy the stars.
Laughing at her own idea she found herself spying a car approaching the manor. She watched the gates opening, letting Xavier's private car onto the property, Xavier and Ororo were coming home. Being the enthusiastic youth she was Billy was more than excited to welcome them home. In five minutes, Billy was loping downstairs into the entrance hall as Charles and Ororo opened the doors. "Ororo!" Before recognition could set in, Billy had the weather caster in a snug bear hug. "I missed you!" Surprised as she was, Ororo could only smile to her pupil returning her gesture of affection with a softer embrace.
"I wasn't gone long, Billy."
"I know, but it's too quiet when you're not here." The blonde flashed her big perfect blues with a smile as bright as her powers. "Where did you go, anyway?" Xavier rolled forward, a smile of his own meeting theirs.
"I was hoping to surprise you and the others in the morning, but I suppose it's just as well you meet our new guest now." The rustling of an outsized coat turned their heads. A figure covered from head to toe stood in the doorway, his face hidden under his hood. If he was trying not to draw attention to himself, he was failing miserably. Billy leaved go of Ororo's hold, looking curiously at this new fellow. "Billy, this is Kurt Wagner." And like any other, Billy did what anyone would have done when presented another person.
"Hi Kurt!" Her smile bright and her eyes warm she approached the cloaked Kurt, extending a hand only to have him shrink away. "Oh-" Billy pulled back seeing their guest withdraw. The looks of her teachers showed she had done no wrong. "Sorry man, I didn't mean to scare you." She held out her hand again, Kurt just seemed to stare at it. "I don't bite." Kurt looked at the young girl, then to their elders. Again, there was no sign of wrong between the two. It came as quite a surprise when he took her hand. Where five fingers would have been, there were three, three fingers fuzzy and blue held hers. She would have lied if she said she wasn't surprised, blue fur was quite a fashion statement, and the three digits were without a doubt something else. But… "That's quite a grip you got there." Kurt was a mutant just like her, and it was going to take more than a fuzzy hand to scare her off.
"D-danke…" It was Kurt's turn to be surprised, the look on his face lay hidden under his hood but not in his heavy accent. Billy laughed to herself, squeezing his hand in her own.
"Why don't you show Kurt around the grounds, Billy?" Elated by the psychic's idea, Billy all but pulled at Kurt's arm. While pulling the new mutant further into the manor, Ororo seemed a tad opposed to Xavier's idea.
"Do try not to be up all night, Billy." A wry glance found its way to the weather caster. "You do have school tomorrow."
"Are you kidding? I'm too excited to go to sleep!" This entire hubbub had given Billy a second wind; no way was she going to turn in anytime soon. "Call in and tell them I'm sick." Ororo gave her pupil a disapproving look that the young blonde simply ignored.
"With what?" However halfhearted with the thought of lying much less for trivial motives such as this, Ororo was not foreign to Billy's adolescent excitement. She had been young once, just as curious and keen as the lumokinetic she now cared for. Billy was overjoyed with the arrival of their new student; it would seem a cruel joke to turn her down. The blonde mutant was already dragging her newfound friend down the hall before she bothered to answer back.
"I don't know tell them I've got chicken pox or something!" Billy noiselessly nudged Kurt forward.
"Hey vait-"
"Be creative!" The charismatic quiet laughter of the professor seemed to follow them down the halls before they disappeared into the manor.
"It seems Billy has taken quite a shine to him."
"So it would seem, professor." The adults retired to themselves, leaving the youths to wander.
"Now, where do you want to start?" Billy so eager led Kurt wandering the manor's seemingly endless halls. "There's the study, the kitchen, maybe we can scope out a room for you upstairs."
"Vait a second-"
"But know Storm and the professor, they probably already got you set up with a room to crash."
"Hold on." Kurt stumbled to a halt, ceasing Billy's gentle pushing. Curious as she was, Billy looked to her heavily garbed companion.
"What's up?" Kurt turned to the blonde, his facial outline barely visible in this movement. He seemed uncertain, trying to word out what seemed to be on his mind. As to what, Billy waited but only for a moment.
"Are…Aren't you scared of me?" While obvious as to why Kurt would ask such a question, Billy seemed almost puzzled by it. A questioning eye raised, Billy scratched at her golden lock scalp.
"Scared of you…why, should I be?" Two furry three fingered hands raised in defense.
"No! But…the vay I look? Doesn't it bother you?" Puzzlement became understanding, be a mutant as she was there was diversity. Unlike herself, Kurt's mutation lay on his skin for the entire world to see. It could not have been easy to wear one's difference for all to see, hell that's how wars started.
…However…
"How can your looks bother me if I can't see them?" Billy couldn't deny her curiosity, she wanted to know what was under that coat and she wanted to know BAD. Kurt not oblivious to her curiosity seemed in debate with himself of his next course of action for he had not spoken or moved. But as before with the handshake, his stillness did not last long. Kurt took his hood in both hands, and with a sheepish pull gave Billy another round of surprise.
As were his hands, Billy saw that his face also had the same blue fur. His hair bore a darker hue as it fell to his shoulders around his what seemed elf-like ears. Gold eyes seemed searching her cobalt blues, looking for what he'd come to expect. Shock, alarm, fear, and the ever popular disgust…but what he found was not what he expected. "This is what you were worried about?" Billy brushed her fingers across his fuzzy temples. "Please, this ain't nothing but peach fuzz." A pinch and a pat, Billy stepped back. "You should see some of the guys back at my home town, tattoos, piercing, tongue splitting, that's some freaky stuff!"
"You don't mind the vay I look?" Far from it, if at all possible the blue allure seemed to draw to her like a moth to a flame.
"Heck no, blue is cool, blue is in, blue is now." With the way she was talking made it sound like the fashion statement of the year. "You know what," A smirk playing at her lips, Billy raised her hand. A snap of her fingers and a pop of light like a firecracker, Kurt with eyes wide and open-mouthed saw Billy's skin change from its tan complexion to a pastel blue. "Now I'm blue too."
"H-how did-"
"Lumokinesis, I can control lights and that kind of stuff, pretty cool huh?" No sooner had the words left her mouth did her skin faded to her original color. "I'm still learning a few things about this power, but if this place ever has a power outage we won't be stumbling around in the dark."
"Cool." Just as Billy had been fascinated by Kurt's appearance, Kurt was entranced by her abilities. Billy turning bashful without realizing she was, smiled at her blue friend.
"Totally." Here, awkwardness discarded these two teens. Talking, laughing, as though life long friends but having only known each other for but a day. They go about talking about everything and nothing, Kurt speaking fondly of his parents back home, Billy listening to every word. The night could have last forever and they wouldn't be the wiser of it, they were simply having too much fun. "So is there a power that comes with these looks, or is it just this handsome mug?" Kurt was laughing, Billy playfully pinching at his cheek.
He circles her wrist with his blue hand, gold eyes sparkle with amusement but Kurt's thoughts were good. And with a puff of smoke they were outside the manor, standing in the drive. No way! In an instant, before she could blink, Kurt Wagner had actually teleported them both to a separate area from where they once were. It wasn't far, but it was impressive. "Vhat do you think?"
"What do I think?" Repeating his question, Billy's face lit up like a kid in a candy store. "That was the coolest thing EVER!" This handsome creature was just one surprise after the other. Billy latched to his arm with giddy excitement. "Do it again!" Kurt would only laugh and smile before he and Billy disappeared in another puff of smoke.
"Give it up, Jean. It's hopeless." Oh, shut up. Billy groaned tiredly, turning in her sheets in morning's bright hours. The night not ending long ago she laid her head on her pillow just as Scott and Jean rose from theirs, sleep however came quite difficult with their noisy morning routine.
"I'll be done in a second." Seems it was Jean's vanity which delays their leave, of course no girl in their right mind would go to attend school without looking their best, it was high school, you come unprepared and they would eat you alive.
"Come on, we're gonna be late." Scott didn't seem to understand the time and work to put one's face on, his impatience though understandable was annoying to the sleep-deprived Billy.
"Almost done." A defeated sigh and covers cast aside, Billy lugged herself from the comfort of her bed. Sleep obviously not an option, she may as well grab some coffee and try again later. She tied her hair back not bothering to dress from her bed clothes, stepping from her room Billy treaded her way through the manor coming up to her senior mutants as Scott once again attempted to draw the redhead out.
"Look, do you want be to blow this door-" The opens with a ready Jean smiling on the other side. "-down?"
"So, are we going or what?" Jean stepped out of the bathroom, swiping a quick finger at his chin playfully as she passed him. Scott smiled, of course he would. Oh, the hopelessness of these two. They were walking down the stairs, when Scott called out to the professor.
"We're heading out, professor!"
"Just a moment you two," Xavier's voice rung clear from his study. "Come here. I'd like you to meet someone." Billy going by noticed their curious looks smiled knowingly of their 'new guest'. They obediently headed for the study, Billy taking a different direction.
"I'll catch up with you guys in a sec." With no reason to rush, Billy made her way to the kitchen where Ororo was pleasantly reading one of her books, a steaming mug in hand. "Morning."
"Good morning," Ororo welcomed the young blonde as she pawed through the cabinets, fishing out a mug of her own. "Did we have fun, last night?" Billy beamed, pouring her coffee. "I'll take that as a yes."
"He's incredible Ororo." Billy leaned against the counter. "He's sweet, he's funny, and he's got a great accent!" The coffee is good, and strong, it goes down easy as Billy drank it. "And his powers, his powers. Oh what a trip! The smoke smelt funky, but it was SO cool!" Ororo smiling to herself turned a page in her book before turning to Billy who shared her smile.
"Seems you've taken quite a liking to Kurt." In good spirits Billy giggled gently, her face rosy looking into her cup. She couldn't help it, this guy Kurt was like a flame and Billy the moth drawn to its glow. Laughing at her own ideas again, she sipped at her coffee. "Are you not a little young to be drinking coffee?" Smile turned to smirk, Billy sashayed herself out of the kitchen taking a big swig of her coffee, leaving Ororo a silent answer as she made out her way to the study.
"Uh…so, you heard about last night?" Her timing as bad as ever, Billy found herself walking into a discussion of last night's...Mishap. I've really got to work on that. Xavier leaned forward in his wheelchair, a mild scolding look in his face.
"Difficult not to, it was on all the news channels."
"It was a bad situation, and…it was an accident." Scott scratched the back of his head in his own frustration. "I'm sorry."
"I know, fortunately no one was badly hurt and the true cause was not discovered." Xavier knew it was an accident, but he pressed his point on. "But you must be more careful, Scott."
"Come on, Professor! I'm packing a bazooka behind each eyeball!" Scott's temper got the better of him, he ranting like every other misunderstood teen…with the exception of death ray eyeballs of course. "What do you want from me?"
"Control Scott!" Xavier raised his voice, loud enough to make it clear. "That's what you're here to learn! That's why you're all here." Rotating his chair, he turned to Kurt whose hood had been pulled up again. Billy scowled to herself, after all the hard work getting past that bulky thing! "Scott's eyes emit a destructive optic blast beam." Billy's scowl was short-lived; Kurt pulled back the obstructing hood with a wide smile on his face.
"Cool."
"How about you, Kurt?" Jean moved towards Kurt, smiling like she always does. "Got a special gift that brought you here?" Billy laughed quietly into her coffee mug as Kurt teleported from one side of the room to the other in his smoky fashion.
"Maybe." Kurt smiled humorously, his spaded tail waving to and fro in plain sight.
"Awesome, huh?" Billy making herself known smirked at her friends awestruck faces before they said the ever popular-
"Whoa." Oh yes, it was going to be a good day.
"I'll be helping Kurt get settled in."
"Me too!" Billy added, tapping the last few drops out of her cup.
"We can talk more tonight." There was no objections, no questions being asked, not even Scott scolding Billy for staying home when clearly there was nothing sickly about her, Scott and Jean simply left for school saying their goodbyes as they left the manor. The three who stayed took a different way, upstairs they went, hall after hall and just as Billy had been inhabited to this place, Kurt was lead into what would be his room.
"Whoa." It was as big as the others, filled with all the commodities that the professor thought he would enjoy, same as all the others. "This bedroom is mine?" Kurt walked into the vacant room, seeing all that would be his in his stay.
"Of course Kurt, this is why your parents sent you to us." The 'P' word brought a sour taste in Billy's mouth, swallowing her quick contempt; she warmly welcomed Ororo as she made herself present behind them with a package in hand. "Because they knew you would happy here."
"Happy?" Kurt's happy demeanor seemed to drop at the word; he approached the group before turning to the mirror, his reflection staring at himself. "How can I be happy when I look like this?" Ororo ambling by, on his bed she placed the package she was holding with a relaxed smile. Curious as she was, Billy followed Ororo, sitting cross-legged on the said bed looking intently as the mystery box. "I scare people!"
"Hm…I have a surprise for you, Kurt." Xavier fished through his coat, drawing out a small watch-like device. "Put this on." Holding the device out, Kurt saw no harm in taking the watch as the professor instructed. Kurt fastened the device fitting comfortably so, but this was no ordinary watch for what happened next was anything by ordinary.
A small beep sounded, no different than that of any other electrical watch, his image in a flash changed almost completely. His hair unchanged held its dark blue color, from down on was a different story. His skin once blue and covered in fuzz looked smooth now in a creamy Caucasian color. His gold eyes now dark blue, his pointed ears were rounded and his tail was not there, and lastly his large overcoat was replaced with a deep red shirt, a tan button tee opened of the red shirt, and hunter green pants. Kurt Wagner looked like a normal Joe.
"I don't believe it!" Giving him a look-over, Kurt couldn't believe his eyes, even his tail was gone! "I…I'm normal!"
"Of course you're normal, Kurt." Ororo spoke, meaning every word. "But not because of that machine."
"Storm is right, Kurt." Rolling up to the boy, Xavier turned Kurt to the mirror again. "Normal is what you truly are, never think otherwise." Xavier reached for the device, a quick press of a button and Kurt was back to his real self. "This is just a disguise, a disguise so that you won't be persecuted by those who do not understand your gifts." Kurt looked in the mirror, at his real face with real thought.
"I understand professor," Another beep and Kurt's façade was up and functional. "But nonetheless, you rule!" They smiled for Kurt, knowing he was more than thrilled about his new toy. He could walk out in broad daylight and no one would be the wiser of him being a mutant; mingle, hang out, all of it. Billy was just glad she wouldn't have to see him in the coat anymore, she leaned her chin on her hands smiling for him as the psychic and weather witch left the room. "Can you believe it?" Kurt turned around, a toothy grin threatening to split his face in half.
"Yeah, you look good." He did look good, really good. His furry side wasn't hard on the eyes either-wait, what? "The Prof. does some great work, I'll give him that." Kurt smiled wider if that was possible; Billy smiled back as kindly as she could. "Oh, yeah!" Billy had almost forgotten about the little parcel sitting in front of her. Picking it up, she held it out for Kurt. It was light. "Ororo left this for you."
"Oh." Kurt to the mystery box, curious of its contents he gave it a shake. A soft rustle came out. Putting it down between them, Kurt opened the box. Imagine to his surprise how he found an outfit of black and red, held fast with an X-branded buckle. Both found an excited smile between them as Kurt picked it up. "Cool!" Quick to try it on Kurt put his 'uniform' down, turning off his holo-watch. The annoying coat was just coming off, Kurt turned to see the blonde had nod moved. "You mind?"
"No." An awkward second later "Oh!" Billy scooted her little behind off his bed, backtracking her steps. "Oh, oh…heh heh…" Grabbing for the doorknob, she laughed childishly. "Um…Excuse me!" She ducked behind the door. Sure she was gone, Kurt shimmied out of his coat, but blue eyes were peeking mischievously from the door. "…bye!"
"Billy!" Door slamming shut, Billy giggled herself silly almost skipping through the manor. Unaware of the small smile that snuck across the boy's face as her laugh faded. "Vhat a funny girl."
A/N:
For those who don't know what Lumokinesis is, it is the ability to mentally alter light particles so that one might be able to generate, manipulate and intensify light at will. This ability can be used to increase one's vision range, bend light around oneself (to turn invisible), perhaps bend light to cast optical illusions, and even fire offensive lasers, rays or bolts of light, of varying heat and intensity (from heat rays to freeze rays), or just concussive light beams. One with this ability may even be able to form solid constructs of light or access the abilities Luminescence (blind foes with extreme light bursts, which are also usually very hot. One with this ability may even be able to glow in the dark) and/or Light Absorption.
With this as a controlled ability one can increase their surrounding light source and amplify the brightness of light as well change the color of it. Lumokinesis can be confused with Umbrakinesis which is the manipulation of shadows and the ability to decrease the light from a light source. While it is possible for a Lumokinetic to decrease the amount of light they usually tend to only focus on increasing the brightness of the light.
P.S
Also I'm thinking of Giving Billy a OC friend and honestly...I don't have jack yet. If anyone has a suggestion or idea or even a request, I'm more than happy to take it into consideration. And you will get full credit for it, Writer's honor.
Rate and Message, Thanks for reading!