Chapter 7: Thank You For Your Time

Claire woke up, her eyes blinking slowly. She usually awoke to an alarm, she wasn't used to just waking up on her own.

She sat up with a gasp as she took in surroundings and it all flooded back to her.

She was in a new school, away from her home, her family; but with people like herself. She would learn about her powers, while still learning a proper education. And she knew that it was a good path for her despite leaving her family; the reactions of the other students to her ability was priceless, they were amazed, not scared like her family was the first time it happened.

She grinned and jumped out of bed, running a hand through her hair once or twice to comb it through. She saw she had the same clothes on as yesterday, but didn't care. She didn't put on any shoes, she liked walking barefoot; the Alaskan weather didn't permit it that much.

She maneuvered around her boxes – not knowing how they even got there – and left her room, wanting to find a certain someone.

She walked down the hall and took a turn, glancing at the decadence around her. Polished wood, art with expensive frames; the carpet felt so soft on her bare feet.

She looked down the hall and noticed a large blue figure walking away.

"Hank!" she called out.

Hank, dressed in pants and a black shirt that had his fur sticking out amongst the hems, stopped and turned sideways when he heard Claire's voice.

Claire jogged forward.

"Hank…" she said, now looking at him up-close, in his blue haired, yellow eyed, animal strength glory… she halted in her sentence.

Hank sighed, and moved to turn away, but Claire stepped forward, reaching out and brushing his arm hair. He stopped mid-step, and turned back to her. Claire took a step back, lowering her hand.

"Sorry," she muttered.

"No, it's…"

"It was wrong of me to act like-"

"I'm used to it-"

She frowned, and raised her head to look at him straight on.

"Okay, firstly, you shouldn't be. Secondly, I'm so sorry, Hank. I shouldn't have been so insulting," she said, raising her head to look at him straight on.

Hank half smiled, shaking his head in confusion.

"I'm sorry, but I must ask-"

"I was homeschooled, Hank. I lived in the mountains of Alaska, learning with my idiot older brother," she stopped, and shook her head. "Don't hate me for saying this but I must speak the truth," she sputtered out, "but it was like coming face to face with a blue bear…"

She faltered off, but spoke again before Hank could say anything.

"My parents taught me every day that judgment can be swift, but it's our responsibility to intercept it. I mean you are... I wasn't prepared for-"

Hank brought his hands forward, and gently grasped Claire's.

She faltered to a stop in her babbling, and glanced at their hands intertwined, the contrast of his large blue furred hand holding her tiny clear skinned ones.

She looked up at Hank, smiling back at him.

"Thank you for saying that Claire; I know I can be intimidating at first, but honestly-"

"I can see it now-" she said over him-

"I'm just a harmless… beast."

Claire's face fell, and she shook her head.

"No, you are anything but that, Hank," she said, and he faltered, tilting his head.

"You… you haven't seen what I can do yet," he said frowning.

"Well, as I can tell from Charles, he only means for us to use our… abilities… for the better. And as you said, such a harmless 'beast' couldn't do anything too bad, right?"

Hank looked confused at first, but then grinned and shook his head.

"I couldn't have said it better myself, Claire," he said, still grinning.

"Thanks for understanding Hank. You probably get enough crap from the others; I don't want you to think that-"

"You hungry?" he asked.

"What?"

"Janie makes a great breakfast, and I smell cinnamon, which means that Zoey is helping as well which is always a special treat; she's usually a late sleeper."

Hank held out his arm, motioning her to go first. She smiled and stepped forward, and Hank walked along side her.

"Wait!" she said stopping and turning to look at him, his words finally hitting her.

"You can smell Cinnamon? The kitchen is a floor below us!"

Hank smiled.

"Breakfast is all set up in the dining room already, I guess we were the late sleepers this morning. But it's part of my ability, and I can even smell the remains in the kitchen as well."

Claire smiled.

"I'm… intrigued… to get to know you Hank."

Hank titled his head, then shook it.

There was a moment of silence before Hank replied.

"I'm also interested in getting to know you as well, Claire."


Charles and Zoey were each reading textbooks later that day; Charles on Biology, Zoey Psychology, their first classes. Well, official classes, Charles taught one on one before they started accepting other students

Frank came briskly into the room, per usual. However he looked somewhat flustered.

"Mr. Xavier, sir," he said stuttering.

Charles looked up, raising an eyebrow.

"My dear Frank, firstly, I will continually insist you call me Charles, and secondly, what's the matter?" Charles asked.

Zoey looked up from her book, frowning. Frank knew the truth about everything, but was a trusted butler of the Zavier family.

He was always reserved, even when Zoey tried to crack jokes with him and get to know him better; he was always the impersonal yet always friendly butler.

"Sir, there's… there's a car at the gate…" Frank stuttered.

Charles almost dropped his book. Zoey closed her Psychology textbook and put it aside.

"Sorry, what?" Charles asked.

"There's someone at the gate. They wish to speak with you… they said something about the Board of Education…" Frank said.

Charles closed his eyes for a moment, and then opened them.

"Frank, please let them through, stall them slightly but don't make it too obvious. Once he leaves, you can take the rest of the day off."

Frank grinned.

"Thank you, Mr. Xav – Charles, I will let him know," he said, turning around and briskly walking out of the room.

Zoey looked over at Charles.

"Charles, what is this?"

"I expected this to come… I mean I was expecting a letter or something, but never something like an officer coming to view the grounds! I knew I should have changed the name to the house..."

"Charles-"

He brought a hand up as he lifted the other to his head, his eyebrows furrowing.

Charles sighed after a minute, bringing his hands down.

"Someone has reported us… we are an un-accredited school, and it's of importance because we are a boarding school."

"We both know it was the La Vega's," Zoey said, closing her hands into fists.

Charles nodded.

"We didn't leave on the greatest of terms. They knew what Joey could do. I erased him from their memory... as he asked... did we send our pamphlet?"

Zoey frowned.

"Yes, of course, but we used decisive language, that couldn't-"

"A curious mind can take one very far... they must have looked into it, we're not in the phone books, records..." he stopped, and took in a deep breath, shaking his head.

"What do we do, Charles?" Zoey asked, her fists shaking.

Charles took a deep breath.

"We're a school, just as we planned. And I can't make him forget this… if there is a visit it means we are now on file. We'll probably have to go to a hearing, and present the school for accreditation-"

A knock on the door cut him off. Tensely, they both moved towards the door, Zoey opening it, putting on a bright smile.

"Hello, sir!"

Charles smiled as well, obviously fake.

"You wanted to see me, sir?"

The man had black curly hair and thinly framed glasses. He was wearing a grey suit, and had a clipboard portfolio in his hand.

"Charles Xavier, headmaster of the Xavier Institute of Higher Learning?"

"Yes. And you are?" Charles asked, holding out a hand.

The man ignored it as he forced himself across the threshold, taking a look around. He frowned, and opened the folder to make a note.

"Call me William," he muttered, his pen racing across the paper.

"Well, William, I heard you are-" Zoey started, but William interrupted, dropping his pen into his suit pocket and closing his portfolio with a snap.

"It's come to the attention of the National Board of Education that you have recruited students to a boarding school without accreditation. This is considered a criminal offense, however considering the student rate is low, this is your first offense, and the general curiosity of the Board, they are willing to invite you to a hearing," William said, shortly but eloquently.

Zoey glanced at Charles. He was only staring at William, his left eyebrow twitching.

"We accept the Board's invitation, sir. Is there anything else we can help you with?" Zoey said, turning back to William.

He finally turned to face them, looking at them as one usually does during conversation.

"I will require a tour of the grounds, to prepare for the hearing."

Charles frowned.

"I hate to pull this card, but since this was an unwarranted surprise visit, I cannot let you do that," Charles said.

Zoey nodded, crossing her arms.

"Mr. Xavier, I highly-" William started.

"Actually he is right," Zoey interrupted him, "Considering we are being contested, and due to our 'hearing', this request applies. Allowing you, the prosecution, to simply tour our grounds without a warrant or due cause is illegal," she said, quirking a corner of her mouth.

"You aren't implying-"

"Actually my co-Headmistress is right. Considering that there is a hearing, there cannot be a warrantless search of the school."

William was getting red.

"Sir, I would rather not go and get a warrant…"

"You get a warrant, and you can give us the names of the Board members as well as all perceived questions for this hearing. That will make it fair, don't you think?" Zoey asked.

"Zoey!" Charles whispered. She looked over at him, not feeling sorry. William was out of line the second he forced himself inside uninvited.

William took a deep breath, and straightened his suit.

"Well, Mr. Xavier, Ms…"

"Atkin," Zoey said sternly.

William frowned even more.

"And Ms. Atkin, I am sorry this visit did not go in your favor. This will affect the consideration of the Board members for the hearing."

Zoey smiled.

"Alright then, William, have a nice day," she said, opening the door and holding out an arm.

William brought out a letter and practically threw it at Charles, it landing on his lap.

He then let out an 'hmph' as he left. Charles gave Zoey a look, and held out the letter. She took it and Charles followed William out, bringing a hand to his head.