I do not own claim to any of the X-Men or their universe (just my girl Mimik) and I make no money from this. Enjoy!

I quickly step away from the console and stand there trying to look casual as the danger room doors opened.

They walk out, side by side, laughing and smiling.

She playfully punches Wolverine in the shoulder, "Don't be a sore loser, Logan. I won fair and square!"

He growls, "That last one was mine."

She shakes her head, "You only took it down, and I'm the one who disabled it, making me the one who actually took it."

"How about a draw?"

"Nope, I won, and I don't know why you're trying to weasel outta of it, but the fact that you don't wanna do it makes me want to go shopping even more."

She crosses her arms and sticks her tongue out at him. He crosses his arms as well and looks sternly at the green woman.

I watch this display with awe.

Since I met them at the facility, I haven't seen either of them act so nonchalantly before and I have never seen a smile like that on Kim's face…

Suddenly both of them look at me, the playfulness disappearing in an air of annoyance.

I smile awkwardly, rubbing the back of my neck, "Fancy seeing you two here, I was just waiting to use the Danger Room…"

She eyes me suspiciously and my stomach does a weird flip.

She cocks her head, "Where is your accent?"

I sigh, relieved, and then quickly start to explain. "Well, remember when you taught me how to speak English? Well I explained it to the Professor and asked if he could help me mask it in order to fit in better here. I-"

She laughs mockingly at me, "Your accent is what's keeping you from fitting in?"

She gives me a look that was questioning how serious I was.

I look down at my hands, rubbing my thumb over my two other digits and Logan huffs, "You wanna join us for lunch, Elf?"

I look up at him, grinning happily, "Really?"

He rolls his eyes, "Would I have asked if I didn't want you there?"

I wave my tail and smile at Kim who is studying my face like it was something confusing and interesting to her.

I can feel my face warm slightly, so I turn, pointing to the end of the hall with the elevator, "Shall we then?"

Logan grunts and we walk down the hall.

My feet were silent against the cold metal because they were bare, (I have yet to find a pair of shoes that have felt comfortable on my oddly shaped feet) but Kim's were silent as well, even with the large boots she had on.

Wolverine had tan steel-toed boots on his feet and he made a clomping noise that echoed down the hall. I fought myself to not turn around and watch her walk, to see if she actually just floated.

Thankfully we came upon the elevator and I pressed the only visible button, the door sliding open. I turned and smiled, waving my hand at the elevator.

As they both walk in and I glance down at Kim's feet, frowning as I see her stepping as heavily as Logan, but with no sound.

My eyes glance up at her mesmerizing, green tail waving back and forth with each step.

I quickly step in when she turns around, keeping my eyes to floor.

The lift moved smoothly, taking us to the first floor, in silence.

When the door slides open I look up staring as Kim's green skin, became pale white. Her black and green hair, which was a lot shorter than I remember it, became longer and brown, in a ponytail. Her tail wrapped around her right leg and then vanished into the material of her pants.

I stare in awe as she steps out of the lift, a normal, human-looking, version of her green self.

She looked like that when we first met her, but I never watched her change like that up close…

I quickly follow them as Logan leads the way to the dining hall.

I smile and nod at the people we pass by, some returning the greeting, others looking away quickly with a slight hint of fear in their eyes.

That never used to bother me as much back in Germany, but when I came here each look seemed like a little needle jabbing into my heart.

I frown and then return my attention to the intriguing woman in front of me.

She walks all tensed up, like she's waiting for an attack. She keeps looking around her, like she's trying to memorize the area while scanning for possible enemies. And every time a person passes, she looks to the ground, hands balled into fists.

The students passing by stare at her, trying to figure out who she is, trying to understand why she was being escorted by Herr Logan and me.

As we approach the doors to the dining hall Wolverine glances at Kim, "Just so you know, there's probably gunna be quite a few people in there, kid. I figure we could hurry, grab our food and maybe eat in one of the studies."

She takes a deep breath and says, "I don't have to eat, I-" He growls and says, "You're gunna eat, kid. This ain't the facility; we don't let our kids starve."

She shrugs and grabs her arm, that one little sign of uneasiness slipping through her tough act.

I walk around them, "I could always go in there and bring some food out for you."

She sets her jaw, frowning at the door before looking at me and saying, "Do I look weak to you? I can handle being in a room with a bunch of kids. I'm not some pathetic little girl who's never had to deal with a crowd before."

She walks towards the doors and I look at Wolverine, trying to explain, "That's not what I meant…"

He nods and then follows her into the dining hall, noise bursting out as the doors open. I quickly follow them, hoping that the others don't mob her like they did me when I first arrived.

.

I step into the room, frustrated at myself and at Logan and Nightcrawler, and then cringe as the din of at least 30 people meets my ears, the smell of the food hardly even registering.

I look around at the long tables where there was food being tossed between people, groups of friends were laughing together, some mutants were using their powers on their food to show off, and there were a small handful of people who were eating quietly by themselves.

I slowly try to make my way around the nearest table, trying to be inconspicuous, but more and more people notice and start staring.

As I make it around one table, I start to weave through people to the kitchen's swinging doors.

I would have made it without incident too, but suddenly a girl's head appears through the back of the person next to me smiling and saying "Hi!"

I give a small shout and jump back, bumping into Nightcrawler, who grabs my shoulders gently to steady me.

The rest of the girl emerges from the young man, holding a tray of food, and stands there smiling. She's thin, about 5'5", with brown hair and brown eyes.

She puts out a hand and cheerfully says, "Hi! My name is Kitty, Kitty Pryde. Are you Kim?"

She smiles and waits. I stare at her hand and then back up at her in disbelief. The people surrounding me are all staring now and I almost feel glad that Nightcrawler is still holding my shoulders.

I shrug, making him let go, than say. "Yeah I'm Kim."

The air around me suddenly became tense and from the others watching me I hear quiet gasps and hushed, excited whispers.

I try to take deep breathes, trying to stay calm.

She bounces a bit, grinning excitedly, "Well I guess we're gonna be neighbors then. Jubilee, Boom-Boom, and I are in the room next to yours."

"Ah…"

I try to look around her and her other people around us, at the kitchen door, but too many people have gathered to watch.

I turn and look at Nightcrawler, begging him with my eyes to help.

He smiles understandingly and leans around me, "Kitty, I'm sure you two can talk later. Kim needs some breathing room and some lunch as well. So if you all would be so kind as to make a path…"

Kitty gives him a quick dirty look and grips her tray tightly, glancing at me, "Sure thing, Kurt. Talk to you later then Kim?"

I hesitate and then nod, just to get her out of my way.

She gets this victorious look and then turns to face all the people blocking us, "All right, guys! You're all being rude, bothering this poor girl while she's trying to get her lunch. Now move it!"

She starts to push through the group and they shout, upset at her actions, and begin to shuffle out of the way.

I follow the odd girl and when I can reach the kitchen doors I quickly slip in and when I find it empty I lean against a bare wall and sigh.

I close my eyes trying to recollect myself, so I don't seem weak when the other two come in.

When the door swings open I quickly sand up, crossing my arms watching Nightcrawler and Logan walk in. "See, told you I was fine."

I glare at Nightcrawler, ensuring he wouldn't say anything about my silent cry for help.

Logan, unconvinced, nods, "Sure you were, kid."

I watch him as he crosses the kitchen and opens up the huge, steel fridge; leaning in to examine the contents.

Thinking of food reminded of my previous escort, "Where's Gambit?"

Logan grunts, "Probably sleeping, seeing as he was up all night. He's got insomnia or sumthin'."

"Ah, I see..."

He emerges from the fridge with a large blue plastic container and a couple of red and white cans.

I track him, curious, as he moves about the kitchen grabbing two glass plates from a cupboard and a couple forks.

As he's moving he glances at Nightcrawler who is still standing near me, like a little blue dog, "You're gunna have to fix something for yourself, Elf. There are only two steaks in here."

My stomach growls quietly at the word steak and I watch him with a little more intensity.

He lifts the lid off the container, which is labeled 'Wolverine's' with three claw marks drawn in marker on it. On each plate he drops a huge, thick steak and then he puts them in the microwave.

As they're cooking I watch Nightcrawler rummage through the fridge, pulling out the makings for a large sandwich.

When the microwave dinged I nearly jumped.

Logan pulls the plates out and hands one to me, "It not the Cajun's cookin' but it's food."

I take the plate, the cold can with the words 'Coca Cola' on it, and the offered fork and knife and sit at the table in the same spot I did this morning.

Logan sat in the same seat as well, but Nightcrawler teleported in a flash of black-blue smoke, reappearing in the seat right near me on my left.

I growl at him, my fork bent slightly, from the shock.

I sniff, smelling the odd burnt, fiery smell that must be coming from his smoke…

I fix my fork and then cut off a piece of the meat, still bloody, but warm.

I smile in happiness as I eat it, "This is really good, Logan. You made it right?"

He nods and continues eating. Nightcrawler munches on his sandwich noisily, looking like he hasn't eaten in over a month.

I pop open the can and take a sip of the drink, fizzy and sweet.

"What is this?"

Nightcrawler laughs, "It's soda, have you never had it before?"

"I wasn't allowed sweet things or junk foods. They were counterproductive to their torture and training methods."

Sadness flashes over his face before quickly being covered by a smile, "Well then, I'll have to take you to this amazing place in town called Big Bob's Burgers!"

I look at him like he's crazy before returning to my lunch. I continue devouring it in silence, watching the swinging doors, hoping no one decides to come in here to eat as well.

When I finish, Logan takes my plate again and washes it. Nightcrawler teleports out of his seat and does the same.

Spotting the clock I frown, it's only 1pm. What am I gunna do until Xavier's ready?

I get up and glance at the door near the table, "Is that another exit?"

I can still hear a commotion in the dining room, so I really hope so…

Nightcrawler walks over and opens it, revealing an empty hallway, "If I had thought about it I would have suggested we used this door to begin with…"

I glare at him and step out into the hall, enjoying the total silence.

I turn to face Logan and ask, "So what now?"

I study his stance and notice a drooping in his shoulders.

Before he can suggest anything I say, "You need a nap."

He frowns, not expecting that suggestion.

Nightcrawler looks at him too and says, "You do look tired, Herr Logan. You have not slept much since you've been back and I'm sure the naps in the Med Lab didn't do much for you."

Logan runs a hand through his hair and sighs, "Do you think you'll be alright with the Elf for a couple hours?"

I shrug, "I'll read a book or something and we should be fine. Stop worrying about me and get your ass to bed. If I do have an 'episode' later what good are you gunna do when you're falling asleep in your chair?"

He frowns, studying my face before, huffing in defeat, "Meet me back at your room at three and we'll go talk to the Professor."

"Kay."

He hesitates and then walks off down the hall towards the main entrance.

Once he was gone I turn to look at Nightcrawler, "So…"

He grins mischievously, "Would you like to see the roof?"

I contemplate it, "Sure, why not."

He holds out his hand and I ignore it, putting a hand on his shoulder, and he teleports us, leaving behind that fiery smelling smoke.

.

I sit Indian-style on the sloped roof, staring out at the town rooftops past the trees.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Nightcrawler lying on his back, arms behind his head, staring up and the clouds.

I wonder why he's been so nice to me… He saw firsthand what I'm really like and yet he acts like I'm a friend.

I just don't understand these people…

I sigh and begin to rub my knuckles, contemplating just leaving, but again the fact that the files are here somewhere holds me back. "Do you like it here?"

He props himself upon his elbows and looks at me, "So far, yes. I'm still trying to get used to their routines and rules, but compared to the other places I've been, this is by far the best."

"Do you think that I could fit in here? I mean the facility is only place I've ever lived and-"

"Yes, yes you will. You just need to let the others get to know you and see that your past does not control you and you need to see yourself as the person you actually are, not the one the Wraith made you think you are."

I glance at him as he sits up and then I return to looking out at the trees.

He seems so sure, but he doesn't know all the things I've done… Hell, I don't even know all the shit they made me do, but he seems willing to give me a second chance.

Logan said this was a place for second chances; maybe I can be more than Project X's weapon…

I'm startled out of thought by Nightcrawler jumping up and clapping his hands together.

He smiles and says, "What do you want to do now? Train more? Play a video game? Meet some of the others? Take a walk downtown?"

I don't normally make any decisions so I just I shrug, "I don't know, what do you-"

"Nope you have to pick, fraulien."

He's quickly beginning to annoy me; I have no idea what I want to do.

"Well I don't think I'm quite ready to meet anyone else, especially after lunch and I have no idea what a video game is…"

He brushes off his blue jeans and fixes his red t-shirt, waiting patiently for an answer, his tail flicking back and forth slowly.

Suddenly I have an idea, "Gambit said there are libraries here?"

He smiles and nods, "Would you like to go visit one?"

I stand up, maintaining my balance on the sloping shingles, "Why not? I haven't read a book in years, ever since Wraith found out I liked it."

He smiles sadly at me and holds out his hand again, "Well then the library it is then, maybe we can scare any occupants out, so you don't have to worry about being interrogated."

He snickers and I put my hand on his shoulder again, allowing him to teleport us to the library.

When we arrive with that noise, smell and smoke two young girls sitting at a desk with open books jump, causing Nightcrawler to grin.

They stare at him, a hint of fear rolling off them as they take in his demon-like features.

He waves playfully and says, "Boo!"

They jump and quickly gather their things, stuffing them in their backpacks, before hurrying out the nearest door.

I smile a little as Nightcrawler laughs at his little prank.

"Is that how you charm all the girls?"

He chuckles, his blue cheeks darkening in a blush, "I have always been quite the lady's man, fraulien."

I shake my head, smiling as I take in the musty, dim room.

The walls are lined with stuffed bookshelves and the rest of the room was filled with more large bookshelves, comfy-looking chairs, and desks for studying. Near the door was a little scanner to record what book you borrow I assume. There are no windows, just dim lights and desk lamps to help protect the books.

I walk towards the shelves, glancing at the new and old books, catching a title here or there. A lot were reference books to actually study from with topics like history, geography, physics, anatomy, genetics, and art. Then along a long wall I find nothing but fictional books; romance, adventure, science fiction, and bunches of others.

Nightcrawler follows me and seeing the adventure stories he crouches down, examining the ones on the lower shelves.

One spine's cover catches my eye and I remove it from its place. It's a thick, black hardcover book, red blood shown dripping down from the top. I turn it over and read the title, 'Welcome Home'.

I smirk at the irony and flip open the cover, reading the synopsis.

Apparently it's about a disfigured young man, abandoned as a child, living on the streets, begging for money. Then one day he meets a young woman with a matching disfigurement who lives life as normal and average as possible. He shows her the darker side of life while in turn she shows him all the things good about it and slowly they begin to discover that their horrible disfigurement is part of a secret of what they actually are.

A romance, fantasy novel… I tilt my head, deciding on whether or not to bother with it.

Something tells me I should, so I leave Nightcrawler to peruse the books and I locate a cushy chair to sit in and read.

I plop down, curling my legs underneath me, leaning on one of the arms. I open it up and begin reading, enjoying the feeling of the pages as I flip through them.

Nightcrawler walks over eventually and plops down in a chair nearby, glancing at the cover of his book I see a man dressed as a pirate, holding up a sword.

Thinking back to his file that Sabertooth made me read that said he liked to think he was a swashbuckler, I roll my eyes and then return to my novel.

.

Half way through the book Nightcrawler interrupts me, standing up and saying, "Wolverine said that we had to meet him at three back at your room. What exactly for, may I ask?"

I close my book, memorizing the page number and while standing up and stretching, I say, "The Professor has the files that I rescued from the labs and he asked me to wait until he was done with classes to look at 'em."

A flash of worry goes over his furry face, "Why have you wait so long? What are the files?"

"He's worried I'm gunna go postal like I did when I saw Wraith… Those files hold all the information on me, Logan, and Sabertooth that the scientist thought important to record. They never kept information on the computer just in case S.H.E.I.L.D. or somebody hacked into their systems and found out they were basically just torturing mutants."

Wide-eyed with understanding, "So you might find out who you're parents are!"

I nod, "Although, Wraith gave me a detailed a description of how I murdered both my parents right before they took me…"

He shakes his head, frowning, "But he could've been lying."

"Maybe..."

I go put the book back on the exact place on the shelf where I found it and then ask him, "Are we walking or teleporting?"

He grins, "You're the first one who's taken so naturally to my teleporting, the others usually get sick afterwards."

"I'm sure that you don't need to be told that I'm not like everyone else."

"I certainly do not."

He gives me a smile and holds out his hand.