Chapter Seven: The Institute

When the morning sunlight began pouring through the pellucid drapes, it began awakening the students lying asleep in their rooms. Bright, mostly-refreshed teenagers stretched their arms above their heads and yawned as they sat up. A vast majority of the students smiled and rose from their comfortable beds, and warm greetings of friendship welcomed everyone as they rubbed the sleep out of their eyes. But then the real day began…

"Get out of there!" a boy shouted angrily, pounding loudly on the wooden door. "You've been in there forever!"

"Yeah!" a girl cried loudly. "Classes start in twenty minutes and I still have to shower and brush my teeth!"

Loud shouts and yelling slowly began to echo throughout the entire vicinity as each student lined up for the bathroom.

"Come on, Rogue! Let someone else have their turn!" an Asian girl finally shouted. "Seriously, woman! You can't be that disgusting! You took a shower last week! You can wait another day just to get one in!"

"Very funny, Jubilee!" a muffled voice snapped. "You're a jerk!"

Laughs followed the girl's facetious remark.

However, the comment seemed to have worked because the door finally opened.

"Thank the Lord!" Jubilee exclaimed, patting her best friend on the shoulder as she emerged from the bathroom. "I was beginning to think you were dead!"

Marie D'Ancanto only gave the girl a steely glare and paced toward her room.

Turning the knob, Rogue pushed open the door to her dorm and collapsed onto her bed. She'd woken up early to take a leisurely shower, but it hardly mattered how much earlier she had woken up. The raging stampede of wild animals had come pounding on the door and her time of bliss was over.

Nevertheless, she loved living in the mansion and going to the school.

Then there was Bobby…

Iceman, she thought with a pleasant shiver, what I'd do to warm him up…

Her mind interrupted her one moment of glee: she was thinking about intercourse when her mutation forbade even the simplest touch. Skin-to-skin contact was something that Rogue simply could not do, unless she wanted absorb the life force of whomever she was touching before her powers involuntarily killed them.

Life could be so difficult.

When mid-day finally arrived, the halls were immediately flooded with the entire student body.

The quick shuffling of feet and loud conversations echoed all over the estate as everyone emerged from their classrooms and hastily made his or her way toward the dining hall. However, one mutant in particular strayed away from the teeming masses and headed calmly toward the front door of the mansion.

Pushing the solid door open, the mutant stepped outside and inhaled the fresh February air.

"Hey, Rogue!" someone shouted, making the brunette pause. "Rogue, wait for us!"

Purposely taking her time in an attempt to not seem excited, the girl turned and faced her two best friends.

"What's up, guys?" Marie asked, smirking a bit when Kitty Pryde and Jubilation Lee ran up to her. "Skipping out on the calorie factory?"

However, the silver-streaked brunette noticed their somber expressions and cocked a curious eyebrow.

"You're seriously skipping out on lunch again, Marie?" Kitty worriedly asked, tucking a stray strand of light brown hair behind her slightly-pointy ear. "This is the third time this week, you know."

"Guys, it's not what you think," Rogue sighed, pushing a silver lock of hair away from her face. "You've seen me eat before, so it's not like I'm anorexic or whatever, you know?"

"You aren't?" Kitty asked in surprise, blinking at her waist before she caught herself. "Wait... that came out wrong!"

"You seriously think I look anorexic?!" Marie squalled in shock, throwing her gloved hands into the air; Jubilee backed away slightly and Kitty flinched at the response. Rogue stood still for a moment, blood beginning to boil when the two girls merely stood there and gawked at her: apparently, they weren't even going to reply, and that ticked her off so badly that she stormed away from them. "Fine! Believe what you want! I don't need friends like you!"

"We don't think you're anorexic!" Kitty wailed in horror, jumping up and down. "I have problems getting anything to come out right! You know that! My mind works differently than other people's, so I think out loud all the time!"

"We were a little worried and she ended up blowing it out of proportion again," Jubilee cut in, patting Kitty's arm when she buried her crimson face in her hands. "Anyway, you're absolutely right: we've seen you eat."

"Sorry, Marie," Kitty mumbled past her hands ; Rogue slowly felt her anger beginning to wash away as her friends stood there and stared. She wanted to be angry but she couldn't since there were no reasons.

"So, it's not an issue?" Rogue tentatively asked. "I don't really look... that skinny, do I? I eat healthy, honest..."

Kitty and Jubilee immediately shook their heads in an attempt to soothe her.

"You're not anorexic! Now, let's go scope out the boys!" Kitty sighed, grinning at her. "I hear John's wearing the hottest shirt!"

"Yeah, and Bobby's pretty cool as well!" Jubilee added, nudging Rogue's arm with her elbow. "Not to mention slick!"

All three friends laughed hysterically at the inside jokes being fired off and strolled back toward the mansion to eat lunch, problems forgotten. Several tones of laughter emitted from the group of friends when they sat down around a large circular table. Rogue had strategically placed herself right next to Bobby, letting her legs graze his once in a while. She thought her actions had been in vain, so she reluctantly stopped.

Then she felt something against her.

Surreptitiously looking down, Rogue caught sight of Bobby's leg retracting from hers; she glanced up at his face but his expression gave nothing away. He continued to chuckle at the random jokes and gossip that people were throwing around, and the casualness made Rogue blush, which was an exceedingly rare sight.

"What's wrong, Rogue?" Jubilee asked, giving her friend an intent look. "You look flushed."

Rogue flushed scarlet when everyone turned to look at her.

"Nothing, I'm just dyin' from the heat," the brunette lazily drawled, calmly fanning her face; cynical looks greeted her everywhere she turned, so she desperately tried to change the subject. "Anyway, who's going to the dance?"

All of the students immediately turned away and her friends happily began talking about their outfits, makeup, and hair. The guys avoided the topic at all costs, though, and chatted amongst themselves about miscellaneous 'boy things.' Rogue sighed in relief as the attention was directed away from her and sat back in her chair: Bobby's leg rubbed against her a second time, though, and she blushed before sinking down even further.

"Nice goin'," Bobby whispered, grinning at her with a wink. "That was some smooth cover."

"Thank you," Marie whispered faintly.

"So," Bobby chuckled with an impish grin, looking at her with a raised eyebrow, "are you going to the dance?"

Rogue stared at him blankly before she turned away from his penetrating gaze.

"I… I don't know," she stammered. "I haven't really thought about it."

"Really?" the blonde boy sighed, giving her a disbelieving glance.

"Well, I mean," Rogue mumbled, feeling the blood rushing to her face again, "I haven't found anyone to go with."

"Ah, I see," Bobby replied, giving her a smile that could melt the ice around any woman's heart. "Interesting."

"Hey," Kitty suddenly murmured, looking around with a blink. "Has anyone seen Kurt around today?"

Marie snorted and rolled her eyes.

"Blue's probably takin' a snooze in that big ass cherry tree again," she sighed, flapping a dismissive hand. "The poor guy just doesn't get how gross caterpillars are. That tree is crawling with them. Ugh."

"I think it's kinda cute how he can nap on a tree branch," Jubilee piped up. "He's like a huge blue cat."

"Speaking of which," Bobby murmured, frowning a bit. "Has anyone asked him to the dance yet?"

Everyone fell silent.

And it was in that moment that Lyralianna woke up.

"Huh...? Where am I?" she whispered, glancing around in groggy confusion; after a moment, she very nearly jumped out of her own skin. "Eh?! What's going on?! This isn't my bedroom!"

After sitting up, she took note of her surroundings.

She was in an average sized room with a dresser and mirror against one of the walls, along with a nightstand next to the bed; there was also a bathroom door, a desk, a closet, and two large windows. Even though the bed was comfortable, she started freaking out—and the moment her hand made contact with a small book on the nightstand, it sparked and exploded in a cloud of paper.

Jerking away with a gasp, Lyra set her hand on the bed... then let out a shriek since the comforter and pillow caught fire. Rolling out of the bed, she leapt away from the flames... but as she did so, she fell against the nightstand, and the entire thing blew up, throwing her to the ground on her stomach.

All that remained of it was huge splinters of wood on the floor.

I need to get the hell out of here! Lyra thought frantically to herself, quickly getting back up and stumbling through the door of the bedroom. If I don't, I might end up losing control again...

Her long silver hair swirled around her bare back like a satin blanket when she darted into the hallway, looking around the bizarrely ornate corridors for signs of other people. Shivering madly at the sight of her unfamiliar surroundings, she leapt forward and ran for it, bare feet slapping against the marble. She hid behind a pillar when someone walked by and covered her mouth to keep from letting out a startled squeak.

However, her golden eyes lost their reflective sheen when the person stopped and sniffed the air.

What's he doing? Lyra silently wondered, trying not to squeal when the sniffing person began to move in her direction. What the fuck...? What the fuck?! Please don't tell me this is really happening. Is he... sniffing me out?! Like a bloodhound?! How the hell is he doing that?!

She didn't know, but he kept moving in her direction, which made her heart pound.

Closer... and closer.

No way... no way! she silently squealed, clutching her mouth with hunched shoulders and huge eyes. This guy really isn't normal! Can he really SMELL me?! What the actual fuck!

However, when whoever it was somehow managed to sniff his way to within three feet of her hiding place, the tiny girl lost her cool and took off down the hall at top speed with a shriek—not even bothering to look behind her, even when she heard a man's voice shout at her.

"Hey, come back here!" he roared, deep voice echoing after her. "Don't even think about running off!"

"Stay away from me!" Lyra wailed, tearing down the halls at top speed. "Leave me alone!"

With an animalistic snarl, the sound of sprinting footsteps ensued: Lyra darted down a set of nearby stairs and tore through the building in an effort to keep away from the man. Her fear was slowly starting to fuel her powers, which charged her body with electricity: every time her hands brushed against something, it exploded only a moment later due to the electrical charge being released into it.

Turn right, a commanding voice suddenly instructed, seeming to echo all around her. Hurry.

For some reason or another, Lyra decided to listen and turned right—long hair vanishing into the hall.

Turn left at the next corner.

Lyra turned left at the next corner, ducking with a squeak as a statue blew up.

Turn right and run into the third door from the end of the hallway.

She followed the instructions and ran into the room, slamming the door shut behind her.

Once she was safe, the girl's legs buckled and she collapsed to her knees only a few seconds before she had a panic attack. However, after she had calmed down a little bit, she looked around and was shocked to death by the sight of a balding, middle-aged man who was sitting behind a large desk not two feet away.

Good morning, Lyralianna, the silent voice stated; the man simultaneously smiled at her. I'm glad you made it.

"It was you giving me those directions?" the girl squeaked, instantly going bug-eyed. "How?! Your mouth didn't move!"

"I'm a psychic," the man explained, making the girl's jaw drop; just as he smiled, the doors flew open again and someone stomped inside. "Ah... Scott, my boy, how are you doing?"

"I was running all over the damn institute with Logan trying to catch up with her," Scott panted, glaring at Lyra from behind his glasses—who flinched and shrank back against the wall. "She runs... really, really fast."

She shivered before she glanced up at the professor with uneasy golden eyes.

"I-I... I d-don't mean to be r-rude, sir," Lyra stated, voice coming out as little more than a whisper, "b-b-but… w-where am I exactly?"

However, when the crippled man wheeled out from behind the desk and slowly rolled forward, the small girl tensed and weakly scooted back: he kept coming until his chair was resting directly in front of her. When he turned his cerulean eyes on her, she felt her heart palpitate.

For some reason, she felt like a rabbit under a hunter's gun.

"You are at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," the bald man proudly explained. "This is my school."

She stared at him blankly, not processing the statement.

"Huh?" Lyra droned, blinking in total confusion; after a moment, however, she shivered and drew her knees up to her chest. "Okay, um... look. How… exactly, did you manage to find me? And how... how did you stop my abilities?"

"Let's just say that you are a very... unique girl," the man carefully explained. "It was fairly easy to find you."

"What exactly do you mean by 'unique'?" Lyra asked, looking up at him; much to her evident dismay, he came even closer and placed a gentle hand on the top of her head. "H-hey... please, I... I... don't..."

"You fear being touched. However, things are going to be different from now on, my dear," Charles stated quietly, watching as a jolt of shock twitched through her. "I want you to trust that I will never strike you with this hand. I was able to hear your thoughts, Lyra... you were able to project them quite well, I might add: I heard you from a distance of thirty miles away, which is a feat that none have achieved until now."

Lyra slowly brought her hands up to her face when they started shaking, eyes growing blank.

There's more to my powers than what I have already? she silently whispered, feeling horrified. No... no!

"I understand that you've been through hardship," the Professor sighed, rubbing the top of her head; her hair slid through his fingers in soft tendrils as she sat there, shaking all over. "As I said, though... things are different now. This place can be a haven to you... not just a house, but a home. You are safe here, Lyra... and you don't have to hide anything anymore... because we, and we alone, can help you with your powers."

"You don't understand anything!" the girl shrieked, standing up and jerking away from him. "I can't use this power consciously! I'm a human lightning bomb, for Christ's sake! Everything my power touches either EXPLODES or spontaneously combusts! It's not something that can be controlled!"

It was true... everything it touched either exploded or caught fire.

Even living creatures.

The second time she had lost control of herself, her power had come into contact with a group of birds sitting in a tree. She would never forget the horror of seeing half of them catch fire and plummet from their nests... nor would she forget the sight of some of them exploding in bright splatters of red.

She shuddered, breathing a little more erratically.

"As long... as I'm careful..." she whispered, looking down at her small white hands. "And as long... as I don't let myself feel anything at all... I... can at least... prevent them from... rising to the surface."

"You don't need to do that anymore," Charles stated calmly, making her stiffen. "Your powers... can indeed be controlled. You simply need the tools to do so. And we can teach you how to use those tools."

In that moment, a small surge of hope swept through her.

And just like that, her hands started to glow: the girl's golden eyes went blank when the tips of her fingers began sparking uncontrollably. Mouth quivering, she instantly backed away from the professor's outstretched hand, shaking her head and clutching her hands close to her chest to prevent him from touching her.

"You're safe," Charles soothed, meeting her eyes with a firm expression. "Even if you lose control."

"You're crazy!" Lyra whimpered. "Nothing is safe from my abilities. Not even you."

So saying, she whirled around and darted out of the room

The two men stared at the empty doorway with identical expressions of surprise.

"Should I go after her?" Scott asked, giving the professor a questioning look. "She seemed ready to freak out."

"You can have Storm keep an eye on her—just to make sure she doesn't get into any real trouble," the crippled man offered, wheeling himself back behind his desk. "I'll be introducing her to the students tomorrow evening, but we need to make sure that she doesn't lose control of her powers. From what I can sense, she's heading towards the Northern Courtyard... most likely, she'll rest near the cherry tree."

That sense, as it usually was, was completely correct.

After making her way outside, Lyra had curled up into a little ball beneath the sheltering leaves of the biggest tree she could find, making sure her emotions were under control. Looking at the beautiful green canopy above her, Lyra emptily leaned back against the wood. Her entire body slowly went limp, feeling as though it had turned into dead weight. Unmoving, she stared off into space, consumed by her memories.

Memories of her dog... of being betrayed by Erika... of Miss McKinley and everything she'd ruined...

It made her want to cry.

But she fought against that urge.

Years upon years of being abused by people had given her an extraordinarily high pain tolerance, as well as a few mental tactics to escape from her pain. If something hurt too much, she normally was able to go somewhere else inside her head... but as she sat there, all she could do was think about Bandit.

Slowly falling over on her side, the girl ignored everything around her.

It was her fault... his death was her fault.

And she knew it.

If she had never met him... if she had never chosen to make him stay... he would still be alive.

Her hands twitched, and she drew them close to her chest, shivering as the agony washed over her heart. The yearning to hold him... the desire to wrap her arms around his small body just one more time. The ache to embrace a living being who could never embrace her back.

It was so painful.

A reminder of why she hadn't wanted to get close to anything or anyone.

This ache... it was the same no matter who it was felt for.

Even though her mind kept telling her that her dog was gone, the void in her heart continued reaching for him. Just as it had for her parents, and many other people, once upon a time. And the worst part was the she knew, deep down, that she couldn't escape from this pain... nothing could ever ease it.

Not even time.

Unbidden, tears stung her eyes like acid and began streaming into her hair, but she didn't even care enough to wipe them away. Her vision clouded over and blurred as her pain took on physical form and trickled down across his nose and onto the grass beneath her head. The cheerful sunlight and green scenery began to ripple as her pain continued rising... smothering her... forcing her heart to pound.

She was so tired of holding back her tears, tired of suppressing her emotions, and tired of acting expressionless when she was so full of misery. It felt as though the pain would kill her if she didn't cry. Lifting her hands, she slowly curled into the fetal position and buried her face in them when it started.

Her shoulders shook and her face scrunched up... then, she was weeping.

And as she lay there, crying under that tree, she didn't even realize that her barely audible tears roused someone lying sprawled out on a branch not too far above her. She cried until there were no more tears coming out... then wiped her eyes and nose on her sleeve and slowly sat up, still sniffing.

Her eyes were puffy and her nose was a tad red.

However, just as she was about to stand up, she heard a sound that sounded like an old-fashioned buggy letting out a puff of exhaust.

Hallo!" a cheerful voice called from from directly above the girl's head, making her jump. "I vas not aware zat any ozher people liked to relax at mein favorite tree!"

Lyra's head snapped up in an instant.

However, when she found herself looking at a dark blue face that was hovering only an inch above her own, she squealed in surprise. Someone was dangling upside down from a tree branch right above her!