Hello! Okay, so I might have dragged this out a bit, but it's time for another peek in on our little group. ;) BIG THINGS COMING. That is all.

robbie - again, your help with Scott is invaluable and I love that you're enjoying this as much as I am (maybe more!)

Scruffy - HI! So glad you liked this one. Hopefully this one will be a good follow up, if not something for a lot of clarity.


Chapter 7: First Student


The first day of class with Professor Xavier was like nothing that Scott had ever experienced. They started out not long after coffee, but as it turned out, Logan and K were in a habit of being up and about well before the Professor, and Scott had joined them for breakfast since … if he was being honest, even though he was glad to get to working on his abilities … he couldn't quite see what it was that the professor was going to do for him.

The little trio had gotten through their coffee when Charles reached out for Scott telepathically as Scott was raising his mug to his lips. It was an odd sensation for Scott, and for a moment he paused with the mug halfway to its mark. He didn't know how to respond, so he nodded to himself as he set the mug down and tried to think back as he'd done at Stark's hidden house. Okay. I'll just …

He looked up at his pa- his dad and K and pushed back from the table. "I have a lesson to get to."

"Yeah, I gathered," Logan said, only then tipping Scott off that he had been watching him.

"Right." Scott's ears turned bright red for a moment as he got to his feet and with a last look to the two of them he headed down the hall. He didn't know how he knew he was going the right way. Or that he knew before he opened the door that it was the professor's classroom - not his office - that he was meeting him in.

"Good morning," Charles said brightly. He gestured to a high-backed, open seat. "Why don't we get started?"

Scott smirked to himself and took a seat, though he was a little put out by how little was happening. As he tried to get comfortable, Charles watched him with an almost unreadable smile, though his eyes were narrowed slightly.

It seemed, for all intents and purposes, that nothing was happening - outside of the obvious passage of time as Scott listened to the loud tick-tock of the tall grandfather clock on the wall. The relative silence seemed to stretch on for some time before Charles gave Scott a somewhat warmer smile. "Scott, I think that before we get started on your optic blasts, perhaps it would be best if I told you a bit about myself - at least, something that your parents haven't dug up on their own."

Scott nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, then paused, still feeling kind of guilty about the misunderstanding… "It's just Logan," he said suddenly. "K's not - they're together, but not… anything official."

"All the same, I'm rather interested in how you came to have such protective guardians. Neither of them would fall into the classic adoptive parent profiles- and that's before considering their employers."

Scott frowned at the phrasing for a moment and shook his head lightly. "The Department doesn't have anything to do with my family," he said. "Not if we can help it." When Charles frowned at Scott's tone, Scott took a deep breath and tried to explain himself a little better. "Logan found me. I think he took exception to someone … experimenting on me." He looked down at his clasped hands and let the statement hang in the air. He still didn't like to think about what had happened, even if it had been how he'd met his dad.

"I'm sure that you hold a totally different perspective than I do, but I've done some work myself for the military and even the CIA. It's a different type of personality that can do that type of work and sleep at night."

"My dad was in the military," Scott said with a frown. "My birth father was a pilot." He shook his head. "I guess you have some previous contact with K, but both of them have saved my life; I trust them." He let his shoulders drop. "I'm only here because I want to keep them safe, professor," he added softly.

Charles paused for a moment at that. "I'm afraid I don't understand then," he said. "I thought their commitment to the government was over. Unless they are still under contract, they shouldn't be in any danger. Or am I missing something key?"

Scott paused over his answer. He wasn't sure how much Logan and K would like revealed about their own pasts when it was clear that they weren't happy about what had been done to them. But on the other hand, he also couldn't stand to think that anyone would think they were tied up in the Department…

He took a deep breath. "No, they're not… they don't want to be part of that department," he said, trying to explain it. "But when I've got this big red beam telling the world where I am when I'm not wearing these…" He tapped his glasses with his index finger. "Well… it's hard to keep them from finding us. They already did once, and it…" He let out a breath. "It was not good."

"Perhaps you could explain it to me," Charles said. "Or, if you would permit it - you could show me."

Scott paused. "Show you?" he repeated. "I'm not sure how…"

Charles smiled softly at that and gestured to his own temple. "As you already know, I'm a telepath," Charles said. "With your permission, I could look into your memories. You could guide me, of course, once we were on the psychic plane."

When Charles saw the confused look on Scott's face, he quickly went into a reasonable explanation of what exactly that meant - that a person's mind exists on a plane separate from their own body - sure to outline how Scott could show him memories.

Scott quietly listened to everything Charles had to say before he at last nodded slowly. "Alright. I think, as long as I can show you - that might help, actually."

Charles nodded and again gave him a kind smile. "Perhaps it would be best if you took a seat at the couch. It can make people a bit dizzy their first time."

Scott nodded and headed over to the couch, still quiet and a little nervous before he leaned back and simply closed his eyes. "I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do to help…"

"Just try to relax, and it will be much easier once I can show you how it starts," Charles said before he very carefully started to slip into Scott's mind - though it was a bit harder than he'd expected to get going. He frowned to himself, sure that the boy was just nervous, but it wasn't long before he heard Scott next to him as he took in the mental landscape around him. "This is quite the psychic plane you have, Scott." He turned to him with a broader smile. "Is this where you consider home?"

Scott looked around at the mountains and soft blanket of snow and couldn't help but grin as he nodded. "Yeah, this is where I grew up," he said. "Haven't seen it since I was a kid." As a force of habit, Scott closed his eyes and frowned lightly, focusing on trying to remember what it smelled like where the mountains met the sea in Alaska. Dense spruce and freshly fallen snow - accentuated by an icy breeze that picked up in his mind's eye. "Huh."

Charles nodded at that. "The next part is up to you," Charles told him. "We could certainly stay here and you can reminisce about your childhood, or you can show me how it is that you got to where you are now."

Scott nodded as he looked around the mountainscape, frowning and holding his breath when he noticed the wispy curl of smoke on a far point in the mountains. He stared at the curl of smoke for a long moment, unsure exactly of what to do or where to go, but when he tore his gaze from the mountains and saw that there were some more shadowy areas further out, he figured that might be the right place to start. They had an almost reddish glow to them as they got closer to the caves where he and Alex used to go exploring - and Scott figured that lined up with his own red glow.

But when they got up to the caves, as soon as they stepped inside, they weren't in Alaska anymore - though they were certainly still underground. This was a much more artificial setup, the only lights those used for examination, and Scott quickly recognized it as the basement at the orphanage - complete with the crisp astringent scent that morphed quickly into something overly sweet and medicinal.

It was familiar - something straight out of his nightmares, but it wasn't quite the same setup as when Logan had come to help him. He looked toward the examination table and held his breath when he saw himself. Scott was younger, and he had his eyes screwed shut as a recognizable pale figure spoke in a cajoling voice, trying to prompt Scott into "showing his power" in a tone that instantly had Scott on edge and taking a step back.

"Can I assume that's not someone you'd like to see?" Charles asked. "Someone from the department, as you call it?"

Scott shook his head. "No," he said, taking another step back. "No, that's… no, this is before Logan found me. Can we just-" He turned to look for the exit. "Door…" he muttered to himself and threw open the first one he saw, half jogging onto the beach in Alaska in the summertime and only stopping when he could feel the sun warming his skin. He bent over, his hands on his knees as he stared at the sand underfoot trying to catch his breath and focus.

Charles didn't say a word, simply keeping up with Scott and watching his reactions as they went. There would be plenty of time to delve deeper into that ball of nightmares once they were out of the boy's mind. But Charles couldn't help but ask. "How long were you … wherever that was?"

"A few years," Scott said quietly, shaking his head. "After my parents died - before Logan got me out."

"And I'm to assume that Logan didn't come looking specifically for you?"

Scott paused and turned Charles' way. "No," he said slowly. "He was looking into that doctor - and found me."

Charles nodded. "Forgive me, I'm still having trouble seeing how it all ties together."

"That's what I meant to show you," Scott said, taking a moment to look around, though it was another little while before he spotted the area of forest much like the one where he and Logan had been neighbors with K. "I think this is it," he said, almost relieved when it was, in fact, the little cabin where the Department had managed to get the drop on him. The scene started out simply enough as the light went down in the forest - and then the ambient sounds went silent as Charles saw for himself Scott's recollection of what had happened, from his own capture to the department's method to capture an already surrendering Logan, then Scott annihilating a large chunk of the forest and soldiers to finally, K finishing the job and rescuing both of them.

Charles was frowning to himself as he watched the scene unfold, more and more quiet as it went on. "Then what happened?"

"We ran," Scott said quietly. "And tried to hide, but I mean… you saw what happens when I let loose. It's not easy to hide."

"No," Charles agreed. "I can see that hiding isn't an easy option with what you can do."

"But if you can help me - show me how to turn it off," Scott said, starting to pick up steam a bit away from the memory, "they won't find us."

Charles nodded at that. "My concern, Scott, is that frankly, this is the first I've seen any proof of any misdeeds on an official level. There have been rumors, of course … but … if this is a government backed program, it will be much harder for anyone to evade."

Scott shook his head at that. "No, we can do it. We have to - I mean, you've seen what happens if we don't."

Charles gave him a little smile. "Then perhaps we should move this to somewhere that you can let loose and try to work toward control."

Scott nodded his quick agreement. "Great. Thank you," he said - and with a little coaching, he found himself back in Charles' classroom instead of in Alaska.

"How do you feel?" Charles asked.

"Alright," Scott said, tipping his head to the side as he considered it. "Am I supposed to feel any different?"

"Not necessarily, but as I said, some people find themselves to be a bit off kilter after their first session into the psychic plane." He gave him a tight sort of smile as he gestured to the door. "There is a target range in the basement. You can work there safely."

"Thanks," Scott said as he got to his feet. He paused and seemed to consider something. "Was it like this for you?" he asked suddenly. "When you had your powers - Logan and K don't have to turn theirs on or off but you would, right?"

"For me, it was a bit different," Charles admitted. "I could hear people's thoughts. Only it took me quite some time to realize that's what was happening. I've taken years to learn to block them out, and I can tell you that 'on' is very likely the struggle most young mutants have when they first manifest. You'll learn to control them. But it will take some time to do so."

Scott nodded thoughtfully. "Hopefully not years," he muttered.

Charles let out a hollow sort of a chuckle. "It's my hope that if I can guide you, it would be considerably less time than that. At least you won't be fighting through on your own."

"That's true," Scott agreed, nodding almost without realizing it as he followed Charles to where the range was.

"As you can see," Charles said once they got to the range properly. "The tunnels beneath the school reach far out into the estate. They make perfect shooting lanes, and in the event that something were to go wrong, you'd only hit the tunnels."

Scott couldn't help but smile when he saw the setup. Charles was right - there was plenty of space to work with, and no one would be able to see the bright red beacon he poured out every time he took his glasses off.

He glanced over his shoulder at Charles for a moment before he took a breath and removed the glasses, sure to face as straight-on to the target as he could before he opened his eyes again… and knocked himself nearly prone like he'd done in South Carolina.

It's alright Scott, Charles' voice echoed in his head. Try to relax. And focus. Don't worry about anything but your focus.

"Focus on what - not falling over?" Scott asked as he climbed to his feet, putting the glasses back on before he dared to look over at Charles. "It's not something I'm focusing on doing - it just happens."

"I understand that. But you should try to focus on the intensity of the beam. Don't try to simply shut it off. Try to turn it down."

Scott frowned at that for a moment before he nodded and seemed to set his shoulders - though he couldn't hide the frustrated sort of sound when he ended up flat on his back once again. "I think that was worse," he muttered, rubbing his eyes while they were still closed. It hurt just behind his eyes to let it out like that.

"You're doing well," Charles said. "Especially considering that you can't possibly have used your abilities much in the time that you've had them."

"Only a few times, yeah," Scott admitted as he got back to his feet. "And I usually had to be stressed to do it. Now this - this happens whether I'm in danger or high-stress or not."

"That might be a result of your abilities strengthening - whether you're ready for them or not." Charles took a moment to consider it. "Have you been able to do the usual routines with your father that were helping you to relax?"

Scott blinked at Charles for a moment before he slowly shook his head. "Not since the department showed up," he said slowly. "Not really."

He tipped his head forward and gestured openly. "Scott - if it helps, by all means - you're all welcome to do what it is that helps you."

"I hadn't even considered it," Scott admitted. "I mean, I didn't want to get in the wa- well." He caught himself. "There's been a lot going on."

"Scott," Charles said with as close to a chiding tone as Scott had heard yet. "How would that interrupt anything when you know your adoptive father is going out of his way to make sure that above everything … you are safe?" He shook his head. "I didn't even realize that your father had gotten as deeply into the school as he had until they made it so plainly clear at the tour."

Scott almost smirked at that, though he brought a hand to the back of his neck self-consciously without even realizing it. "Well, you saw… we had to make sure that you weren't running an experiment," he said with one eye closed, though Charles couldn't see it behind the glasses.

"I still think I may need to speak to them," Charles said. "To know the extent that this agency will go to find any one of you."

"Maybe you should," Scott said. "I mean, you seem to have things laid out the way you want them here and I don't think - I wouldn't want them to show up here."

"Mr. Summers," Charles said, almost with a laugh. "If anything were to happen here, I do believe I'd welcome the redecorating. This house has been stagnant for far too long - and I have my own ghosts that I wouldn't mind evicting."

"Huh," Scott said with a small frown before he nodded and went back to looking downrange - though it was only another two or three tries before he was completely spent anyway, and he had to head up to end the short training run.

When Scott returned to the main floor, Logan and K were outside, and again, Logan was smoking as the two of them looked as though they were simply staring out at the forest's treeline as it loomed over the pristine lawn. Though Scott knew better.

"There's a shooting range underground," he said as he came to sit by K.

"Yeah?" Logan said as he turned toward him. "How'd you do?"

"If I don't have bruises on my back when I wake up in the morning, I'll be surprised," Scott admitted. "But it's nice to have a place to practice that won't give me away."

"More than Stark could offer," K almost sang out under her breath. "Shooting range and privacy?"

"So what's your thoughts?" Logan asked before he took a long drag on the cigarette. "Like it?"

Scott stopped to consider his answer before he nodded. "Yeah. It's nice to have something to do that at least feels like moving forward," he said. "But … I don't know. It's just the first day, and I can't exactly make a judgement call on one day of falling over."

"Yeah, we're not going anywhere," Logan said, shaking his head. "At least, not until you're sure one way or the other. I want you to take your time."

"And then if it makes it easier on you, we'll get out of your way. Give you your privacy," K added.

Scott frowned at that answer but shook his head and decided to approach that when the time came. "I wanted to ask you something, actually," he said, turning to Logan. "About the Home for Foundlings."

Logan nodded and settled in to hear what was going on. "Shoot," he said as he crossed his arms and leaned back.

"I was wondering if you knew what that guy was doing or… how often, I guess," Scott said, going back to rubbing the back of his neck.

Logan stared at him openly for a moment and gently shook his head. "I don't know," he admitted. "I was only in town for a little bit. I recognized his scent and went after it. After that … when I saw how he had you restrained and the layout he had you in, I snapped." He let out a breath. "All I know for sure is that you were in pain and he wasn't done with you."

Scott nodded, and it was clear to both ferals that he wasn't all that comfortable with the topic, but curiosity was overriding everything else. "It's just that the professor and I - when I was talking with him, in my head, I guess… I don't remember what I saw, or I didn't until we were there watching it… but it was that creep again."

Both Logan and K were frowning at the fact that Xavier had been poking around in Scott's head, but the questions Scott was after was something that Logan was sure would come out with time anyhow. "Pretty sure I killed him," Logan said.

"I know," Scott said. "I just didn't remember it, that's all. And I wasn't sure if you knew if he'd been doing… whatever…"

"Scotty, you were strapped down," Logan said. "He hadn't cut in yet, but the instruments were all there. I've seen it enough to know what was comin' and the whole place down there smelled like you - and blood. It was a recurring thing."

Scott took a deep breath and closed his eyes before he nodded. "I just remember the time you came," he said in the breath he let out.

"Probably better that way," K said. "Remembering isn't all it's cracked up to be. At least for things like that."

"Yeah," Scott said, leaning his head back against the tree he was leaned against. "I was trying to tell him - he doesn't exactly trust you, and I wanted to show him what the department did when they came after us. Show him why I want to get this under control. I guess I just wasn't expecting to find something else."

Logan nodded his head at that. "If he's got questions about us, send him to us. No reason for you to have to explain for both of us. Or all three, for that matter."

"Just trying to help," Scott said with a shrug.

"I'm sure it made perfect sense," K said, giving him an encouraging little smile. "Probably still does. The guy wants to know how you got from A to B. Part of that is your story too. Even if you're not the only one in it."

"That was sort of the point," Scott admitted.

"Yeah, figured that was gonna happen," Logan said. "So what's he missing to complete the picture?"

"It seemed like - well, going in, I don't think he believed you weren't working for them," Scott said. "Now? It's more like… he wants to know what kind of threat level we're looking at."

"That's a step toward reality anyhow," Logan said dryly.

"You have to understand, Scott," K said as she got up and stretched. "The official line from the Department is that anyone in it has volunteered to be there."

Scott pulled a face at that. "Yeah, well, seeing what they did to Logan, I don't see how the professor can think that anymore, so…" He shrugged. "That solves that part, at least."

"Maybe," Logan said. "So what's next? Same thing over and over?"

"He means did you like the way your day went so far," K said.

"I think so," Scott admitted. "Outside of an unwanted glimpse at stuff I'd rather forget - besides the falling flat, it's actually nice to let loose." He tapped his glasses. "I just get a headache when I'm out, though."

Both of them smirked at that. "Maybe it'll ease up the more you let loose," Logan said.

"That would be nice," Scott agreed. "Or maybe it'll be easier if I'm not, you know, blasting full-bore."

"Are you adjusting the power level?" K asked interestedly. "That sounds fun."

"Well, I'm trying to anyway," Scott admitted. "Right now, it's just a lot of trying to focus and then getting blasted off my feet, but that is the plan."

"So let's work on bracing yourself better," Logan suggested. "Least that way you wont end up flat."

"Oh, yeah, that reminds me." Scott turned to Logan, this time with a little more of a grin. "Do you think we could go back to what we were doing before? Spend the mornings working together?"

"You mean the meditation? Sure," Logan said with a little nod. "Just say when."

"Great." Scott grinned at both of them, much more relaxed as he let his hands rest behind his head. "Let's do that tomorrow, then."

"First thing?" Logan asked before he pulled K over to him and made her sit back down with him.

"Yeah, you guys get up before the professor, so there would be time - unless you had other plans," Scott added quickly, looking between the two of them with half a smirk.

"Nope," Logan said, shaking his head. "Nothing planned that can't wait until after."

"Thanks," Scott said. "The professor thinks it might help if I relaxed more."

"Then we need to find you a pretty girl," K decided, smirking at Scott just to see his ears turn red. "Because you were pretty relaxed with sweet little Far-rah."

Scott shook his head even as his ears were burning. "That's not - no-" he spluttered.

"You should have seen them," K said, turning slightly just before Logan stole a kiss. "They were adorable in the cafe every day." Logan smirked and K grinned wider at him before she turned back to Scott. "I think it'd be precious. You can have a reputation … breaking hearts from one coast to the other … and everywhere in between."

"I don't want - no," Scott said, turning even redder.

"Kissing bandit … caramel kisses from sea to shining sea …"

"Please stop," Scott said, dragging his hand over his face. "That's just not even remotely - just no."

"It' is. You know it could be anyhow."

"You're making things up," Scott said.

"Sorry, not sorry," she said. "You're cute enough to pull it off, and nice enough for all of them to know it's not malicious."

He shook his head at her. "I don't want or need that kind of reputation," he said in a sigh. "Come on."

"She's teasing," Logan said as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer so she was nestled in much better. "Don't let her get to you. You already know how she is."

Scott couldn't help but smile at that. "Yeah. I know. Just gotta make sure the truth gets heard every once in a while too."

"You love it," K defended. "Both of you."

Scott didn't say anything but to smirk at that. "So, what about you two? See or do anything noteworthy?"

"Just been runnin' the perimeter - checking out the nearest towns, nothing too earth shattering," Logan said. "Have to see what this place is about. Bit by bit."

"And I've been exploring … looking through the old family photo albums and whatnot," K said.

"You'd tell me if you found something, right?" Scott said, shooting Logan a look. "Because last time…"

"I'll tell you if I find anything," Logan promised, looking almost tired at the thought. "I don't want it to go down that way either."

Scott nodded for a moment and then paused. "I'd want to come with you… I guess, if I have this under control enough not to blow our cover," he said, adding the last part more quietly.

"I'd want you to go either way," Logan said. "Unless you got comfortable and didn't want to."

"No, I do, I just don't want to get you caught," Scott said quickly.

"I've been caught before," Logan said with a wave. "Rarely have they gotten me all the way to a facility."

"That's true," K said, pointing a finger at Logan. "They hate the transport of this one more than the capture."

"Then maybe when we're doing our morning routine you could show me some of that too," Scott offered. "I want to be able to keep up."

"Some of what?" K asked.

"How to get out of that kind of situation… maybe some, I don't know - we were learning some martial arts before but we could adapt it?" Scott said.

"That'd be a good spot to start up," Logan said. "But the rest of it's a matter of figuring out how to fight your way out."

"And basic science that you've probably already figured out," K added. "Using things as levers - or other simple tools, even if they aren't meant to be."

"Do you want to help?" Scott asked with a small sort of half smile her way.

"Do you want me to help?" K asked.

"Well, yeah, it's not like it's just me and Logan anymore, right?" Scott pointed out.

"Yes, but I think the most amazing thing I've taught you is how to make a decent latte," K said. "That's a far cry from whatever you're getting from your Dad."

"Try me," Scott offered. "If it doesn't work out, I'm still learning from Dad, but you can take down the department - I've seen you do it. I'm sure you could help."

"I can try," she said, shrugging. "But that only really worked because you two were such irresistible distractions."

"Hey, if nothing else, we can practice that. I'll be a very bright light and you guys take them down," Scott offered with a smirk. "It's a solid plan, right?"

"Only as long as they don't know she's involved," Logan said. "And let's be realistic here. Chances are good they'll be pulling in Creed if they're serious about bringing any - or all of us - in."

Scott paused for a second before he allowed a small smirk to cross his face. "Then I guess it's good I'm practicing my aim."

"Oh, I love how this kid thinks," K said, smiling his way. "Can you aim enough to get him hit by a semi? Somehow?"

"I… don't see how, but considering how far he flew last time, it probably felt like getting hit by a semi," Scott said, the smirk growing a little wider.

"She just wants to see him splattered," Logan said. "Not that I'd complain."

"Yeah, well, I'm fine with just sending him the length of a football field and getting him away from us," Scott said with a shrug.

"So thoughtful," K said. "So … are you done for the day? Did you want to do something with your Dad?"

"What if we just grab something to eat together?" Scott asked. "You don't have to go anywhere, really."

"Sure," she said after she stole a quick kiss from Logan. "If that's what you want to do … I'll make lunch while you boys … be boys."