Autobot base, 3rd POV
"Arcee, you can't be serious!" Ratchet exclaimed, giving the femme an incredulous look. Arcee crossed her arms and gave the medic a look.
"Ratchet, we have the ground bridge. If the 'cons attack or you guys need help with recon, I'm just one 'bridge away. Jack's my partner, and the Professor that runs the place says it would be fine for him to have his 'motorcycle' there. And to tell the truth, I'd rather be there with him than here."
Optimus pondered what Arcee was asking. To be in Bayvile with Jack. Arcee and Jack were both trustworthy, loyal to the bone to the 'bots. He could trust them both to take the secret of the 'bot existance to their graves.
"Optimus?"
The Prime looked at Arcee, noting the painful hope that flickered in the femme's optics.
"...Very well, but you will need to keep your lifesigns off the radar, and remain in your alternate mode at all times, unless in a highly secure location."
Arcee grinned, but quickly hid it and nodded.
"Thank you, I'll be leaving tomorow." She said before looking at Ratchet.
"Well, Docbot, time to get to work! My lifesigns won't hide themselves."
Two days later, The Institute, 3rd POV, Jack's dream
I stumbled through the halls of the institute, grabbing desperately at my head as pain struck through it again and again.
"Release...Escape...RELEASE ME!"
Jack cried in agony as his own voice, but more feral and horrifying, ripped through his mind.
Bones cracked as his feet shifted, and spikes came from his shoulder blades. His hair elongated slightly, and his nails grew into terrible claws.
Jack arched back, gripping his head as he let out a terrified scream, revealing a deadly set of fangs.
"RELEASE! ESCAPE!"
Jack thrashed around, clawing at his ears.
More cracking bones, but wasn't the transformation already done?
More agony struck him.
"NO!"
Outside of dream, 3rd POV
Everyone in the institute awoke to horrible screaming. Logan though, was the first to recognize it.
"Jack!"
Doors opened up and down the hall, students and teachers alike rushing towards the newest mutant's room.
Logan was first to burst into the room, and he looked around wildly.
Jack lay in his bed, screaming and thrashing. His nails had grown into six inch claws and he was scratching at his own flesh, staining himself and the sheets a sickening red.
Logan moved forward and grabbed Jack's arms, forcing them down while everyone else crowded into the room. Logan glanced over at the Prof.
"A lil' help here Chuck!"
"The sheilds within his mind are still up, I cannot bring him out of his nightmare." The Professor replied, voice strained with worry.
Logan growled and looked down at Jack. He strugled, taking both of the teen's wrists in one of his hands before using his free one to shake Jack.
"Jack! Pup, c'mon Pup! Wake up! Jack!"
A paticularly hard shake awoke the raven teen, and his fist flew up.
Logan grunted in pain as the fist caught him, hard, in the jaw. Jack panted heavily as he stared up in shock at Logan, then regret filled his eyes. Noticing this, Logan grinned as he rubbed his now sore jaw.
"Nice right hook, Pup."
"L-Logan! Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I-I-!"
"Kid, relax, it's fine. You okay? Ya woke the whole Institute up with your screamin'."
Jack sat up and looked around, guilt making him flinch as he saw everyone staring at him in worry and fear (for him, not themselves).
"God...Guys, I am just so, so sorry. I didn't mean to wake you guys, it was just a bad dream. A really...really bad dream."
The Prof. looked at the students.
"Children, why don't you all go back to bed? You have school in a few hours, you all need your rest."
The students all agreed in their own forms before departing, leaving Jack alone with the adult mutants.
Ororo moved to sit on the oppisite side of the teen's bed, mimicing Logan's previous actions and avoiding Jack's legs, and Beast moved forward to examine the teen.
"You look pale, Jack, are you sure you're alright?" Beast asked. Jack nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine, don't worry."
Everything was silent for a moment, then Logan gave a sigh and stood.
"Just get some rest, Pup. We don't want ya passing out on your first day of school."
He ruffled the teen's raven hair before leading Ororo and Professor X out of the room, leaving Beast to tend to Jack's self-inflicted wounds.
Jack sighed when the door closed, forcing his claws away and letting Beast begin to clean the claw marks.
"...You have scars everywhere, this has happend before?" Beast finally asked. Jack hesitated before nodding.
"Tonight was a new nightmare, but I've had bad dream's...Every night."
Beast's eyes snapped up to stare at Jack's emotionless face, his shock evident. Knowing the look on the teens face, the large mutant dropped the subject (making a mental note to speak with Professor Xavier).
With a sigh, Beast finished dressing the wounds and he stood, patting Jack's arm.
"Be carefull to not re-open those wounds. Goodnight."
"'Night."
Bayvile Highschool, 3rd POV
Kitty and Kurt were the first to jump out of Scott's car.
Jack chuckled as he grabbed his backpack and gripped the side of the car, jumping over and landing quietly on the pavement.
"Hey, are the colored contacts in right?" Jack asked, looking over at Scott. The older male grinned.
"Yeah, don't worry. Just check now and again, we don't want people freaking out about you having eyes that are like an animals. Anyway, think you can find your way to the office to get your schedual?" Scott asked.
Jack looked over, smirking when he saw Scott watching Jean as she leaned against the wall of the school building.
"Yeah, don't worry 'bout me! Go get her, hot-shot." The raven haired teen replied, laughing when Scott flushed.
Giving a parting wave, the onyx haired teen left in search of the office.
Later
Jack sighed as he walked out of the school, searching for a familiar face to share lunch with.
"Hey Jack! Over here!"
The raven teen grinned, waving in return to Evan before begining to walk over to his friends.
Jack gave a small sound of surprise when someone forcefully pushed past him. The teen glanced up, wanting to groan. This was like Vince all over again, he realized, when he saw the smirk as the stanger turned slightly to look at him.
"Oops, sorry newbie."
Jack swallowed the feeling of building anger as he straitend and met the jock's gaze squarely.
"Don't worry about it. I mean, with an ego as big as yours, I'm surprised you didn't knock your friends there over with it." Jack replied cooly, nodding at the other jocks.
Everything fell silent as everyone stared in shock at the raven teen who showed no fear before Duncan.
After a moment, the Jock moved forward, grabbing Jack's collar as he sneered at the teen.
"What did you say?"
Jack calmly lifted a hand and gripped Duncan's forearm.
"I'd suggest you let go. I assure you that you don't want to do this."
"Oh, I think I really do." The jock replied, smirking as he tightend the grip on Jack's collar.
"Let. Go."
Duncan winced in surprise and pain when Jack's grip tightend as well, making his arm ache.
"I'll say it one last time. Let. Go. Now."
Everything was silent as Duncan stared into ebony haired teen's defiant eyes, and slowly, his grip loosend and Jack slipped out of the jock's grip.
A few more shocked moments.
Then Duncan scoffed, shoving past the onyx haired teen.
"Whatever, you're not worth my time anyway."
The jock walked off, and Jack fixed his shirt, acting as though nothing had happend.
He went over to the table where the others sat, setting down his tray. He was about to dig in when he noticed the wide-eyed looks he was recieving from the others.
"What?"
"Dude, no one's ever stood up to Duncan like that! That was awesome!" Evan exclaimed, laughing as he patted Jack on the back.
The ebony haired male shrugged, attacking his food. The others laughed at the enthusiam with which he ate.
"Hard first day?" Jean asked, smiling kindly.
Jack swallowed before answering.
"It's been okay for the most part, I'm just really hungry. I didn't eat much for breakfast today. Anyway, I've got some good news! I forgot to mention it earlier."
"Veally? Vhat?" Kurt asked, eagerly leaning forward.
Jack grinned.
"Prof. X is letting me ship over my motorcycle. It'll be here in the next few days."
"OOO! Can I have ride?" Kitty asked, now just as eager as Kurt.
Jack laughed shrugging.
"We'll see. She's kinda...tempermental."
"She?" Rogue teased, raising a brow.
Jack flushed slightly, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, causing everyone to laugh. Rogue smirked as she leaned forward slightly.
"Bet your mom didn' 'spect the first girl ya brought home ta be a motorcycle."
Jack scoffed.
"You kidding? The day I score a date is the day pigs fly."
"Aw, c'mon Jack! Look at you! You're, like, a total hottie!"
Jack flushed bright red, choking on the food he'd been chewing on and coughing. Scott gave him a couple solid thumps on the back.
Jack gave the older teen a nod of thanks before looking at Kitty.
"Uh, th-thanks...I think?"
Later, The Institute
Jack sighed, relieved as he collapsed in one of the chairs at the table, backpack thudding as it hit the ground beside him.
"Jack. How was your first day of school?"
Jack smiled at Ororo before going about getting the colored contacts out.
"Hi, Miss Ororo. It was interesting, but good. How's your day been?"
The woman smiled, turning back to the stove.
"My day has been well. Thank you for asking. I went shopping, so if you're hungry, the pantries are re-stocked."
Jack smiled, finishing with the contacts and looking back up at the weather witch with acid green, slit pupiled eyes.
"I might just do that."
Jack jumped slightly in surprise as a thumping came from outside the kitchen. Evan's head suddenly poked in.
"Jack! There you are. We've got an extra danger room session in ten minutes! Hurry up dude and get changed!"
Evan then left. Jack sighed as he stood, grabbing his backpack.
"Shoot. Guess I'll have to pass up on that snack. See you later, Miss Ororo."
The woman smiled, inclining her head.
"Good luck with the Danger Room session. Don't be reckless."
Jack grinned, calling over his shoulder.
"Will do!"
Jack clambed up the stairs, going into his room and shutting the door behind himself. He tossed his backpack onto the bed, set the colored contact holder on his desk, then went to the closet.
The raven youth pulled out his training clothes, changing into them as he hummed to himself.
He looked at himself in the mirror. The clothing was original, that was for sure. The black and yellow, and the many 'X' pieces. Not that he minded. He wasn't one to care about fasion, besides, he was here to learn to control his mutant abilities.
Jack, realizing he only had five minutes to get to the Danger Room, left the room at a quick sprint.
He nearly tumbled down the stairs, but caught himself in time. Then I nearly ran into the others, who where crowded infront of the door to the Danger Room.
"Woah, Jack! Where's the fire?" Scott joked as he caught the ebony haired male by the shoulders.
"Sorry! Thought I'd be late."
"Yah a'hmast were." Rogue replied, crossing her arms and grinning.
The door opened and Logan walked out.
"Alright, bubs. Today we're trainin' outside."
Everyone scrambled to follow, except Jack, who followed at a slower pace, bringing up the back of the group with Rogue.
As they continued on, Rogue and Jack quietly chatted.
"So you just touch someone and you can gain their memories?"
Rogue nodded, face grim.
"Yeah. If they're a mutant, than ah can gain their power for a bit. But usually they pass out ahn it's painful for me, it messes with mah head."
Jack patted her on the back, offering a small smile.
"Then I'm guessing it's lucky that you're strong, huh?"
"W...What?"
Jack blinked, brow furrowing as he gave a small, confused smile.
"I mean, it takes a really strong person to have to deal with that sort of thing. It takes someone really brave to go out everyday, even though it might be dangerous."
Rogue blushed slightly, ducking her head.
"Th-thanks. That...that means ah lot."
Jack smiled fully, nodding.
"Anyway, how long have you been here at the Institute?"
Rogue grinned.
"Ah'while now. Don' really keep track. So, have ya had any luck figurin' out what yer powers are?"
Jack grimaced, shaking his head.
"No luck yet. But I'm getting more control over things, like my claws and fangs...and that felt so weird to say."
Jack and Rogue laughed as they went out the back door, standing at the back of the group. Logan held up a ball and began to explain.
"Listen up, bubs! The goal is to get the ball ta your teams side. Mutant powers are allowed, jus' don't kill eachother. Figure out your teams and pick which side you want."
He paused, gesturing to the left, then the right, before continuing.
"Goal for th' team on this side is the back pourch, team on the other side, your goal is th' tree. Touch the ball ta your goal an' you get a point. Now get movin'!"
"Jack! Wanna be on our team?"
The raven teen looked over at Scott, who was waving at him from the right side of the backyard.
Jack nodded, smiling and jogging over. Soon, the tems were decided. On the left side, the team consisted of Jean, Kurt, Kitty, Bobby, Ray and a few others. While on Jack and Evan's team, there was also Rogue, Amara, Jubilee and the remaining few.
Logan threw the ball onto the feild.
Everything became hectic.
Jack quickly moved to avoid being run over by the others, then watched, waiting for a time to jump in.
Then it came, the ball was in the air, and everyone was just staring at it in surprise for a moment.
Jack sprung, using his strangth to jump high enough to catch the ball. He landed and began running towards the goal.
A sudden scent of sulfer and Jack barely managed to duck as Kurt popped up and tried to take the ball.
The ebony haired male kept running, the others on his team cheering him on.
It was still strange, doing things with so many people, to have so many friends...
But he liked it.