DC576: Well, hello all. Been a while. I know it's been about three years, but you know sometimes life just gets in the fucking way of everything. My one laptop crashed hard. I'm surprised it didn't honestly burst into flames at being 8 years old and still plugging away after everything I did to it. Poor thing was on life support. And I've kind of already fried the keyboard on my new one because I am just that excellent.
Anyways, we're all trapped inside now and I got some creative juices flowing again while I recover from being sick. I've been playing a lot of League of Legends. Like an obscene amount during my absence and this kind of struck me. Neeko is my main, and I am sure a few other champions will make an appearance here in here too. Chapter 2 is being worked on after this upload, but after I saw a few friends reviewing and uploading, I thought I'd throw my dusty hat back in the ring too. I am sure things are misspelled and typo-ed to death because I originally started this story on my phone. I have tried to go back and review and revise most of what I found, but sometimes my brain just glosses over mistakes like cheap chapstick. Either way I know this isn't my best work and it'll probably get a rework sometime, but here it is.
The woman thrashed on the cold table. Hands and legs bound. The bindings cutting into her wrists and ankles. A horrified scream was released.
The blonde woman kept her cold hands affixed to the victim's head. Searching her memories! Doing what needed to be done, either erasing locking away secrets, ideas, memories, names, faces….
Tears slowly leaked out of tightly shut eyes. The patient screamed again and there were loud snaps sounding. A long, scaled tail wrapped around the blonde's neck and tightened hard, starving the blonde of air. The tail gathered strength and threw the attacker away. The mental connection broken and both women spent. Bodies heaving, a scaled hand tore free of her other bindings and pushed herself up. Amber eyes glared at the other woman.
The other held her neck, still catching her breath. A malignant bruise encircled where the tail once was.
"Who are you? What did you do to Neeko?!"
Neeko startled awake, gripping her tree branch she had slept in. Her camouflage slipping away. A perfect mimicry of the bark gave way to emerald scales, the long, feathers turning from verdant leaves to their vibrant pink shade. Neeko brought her purple-tinged hands to her face, rubbing her eyes with a sniffle.
"Neeko hates that dream." She muttered, wiping away a few errant tears. Where that dream, or the place it occurred always eluded her. The memory of it slowly faded as she took in her surroundings. A tall, lush tree had been her home for three days. She stretched, wondering what to do today. She didn't feel safe leaving, but hunger demanded her attention.
The lithe body slipped through the branches, causing little disturbance before dropping to the ground. Her stomach growled loudly. She hummed and slinked into a nearby bush. She watched people stroll by from her hiding spot, her skin instinctively changed to match her surroundings. She was invisible to passers. Fleeting thoughts, names and ideas came in and out. It was a strange feeling, she didn't understand.
Neeko watched a pair of women approach a cart and order what looks like a treat. Both redheads got their ice cream and sat on the bench by Neeko's hiding place. Rogue. The name floated into Neeko's head. She looked at the other. Jean. The other name came to Neeko.
"Always with the chocolate huh?" The one named Rogue asked. "But what's with the strawberry cone?"
Neeko would like strawberry…
Jean smiled. "Well, we're not alone, and I'd thought our friend here might like it." Jean spoke calmly, but turned to the bush. She seemed to know where Neeko was, staring at her. Rogue fell silent, watching Jean work.
Neeko froze. She looked around, seeing if Jean could have been talking to anyone else.
"Well, would you like it?" Jean held the cone just in front of the branches.
Neeko frowned, most could not have ever known where she was, but the cone looked so enticing. She swallowed.
It's alright, we're friends. We're here to help. A voice chimed in Neeko's head. Jean smiled.
That almost startled Neeko out of her camouflage. She recoiled and hissed, "No more in Neeko's head!"
Jean seemed surprised, mostly at a bush yelling at her, but it confirmed their target was there. "Alright I'm sorry. That's my power, like what you have. We can help you, Neeko."
Neeko snorted. "Neeko not sure."
"Can you come out?" Jean offered. "The ice cream is melting. We can at least talk."
Neeko hummed. "Neeko…. Does not look like you, but can be."
After a moment, an exact replica of Jean sauntered out and begrudgingly stood.
"Oh! That explains why we had a hard time finding you." She gave the promised ice cream to her other self.
Neeko studied it a moment, before giving a lick, with an abnormally long tongue. She grinned before mowing it down.
"You might-" Rogue started.
Not-Jean shivered. "Head hurts!"
Rogue finally giggled. "Brain freeze."
Neeko pouted, but slowed down the licking. "Why look for Neeko?" A few persons passing by looked at the identical twins. Neeko shrunk a bit.
"We knew you were in trouble. We have been looking for you for days, to try and help."
"Why?" Neeko crunched down on the cone, turning a moment to study the waffle pattern.
"It's what we do. We can help you get control of your powers-"
"Neeko knows how to use powers. Neeko is Neeko!" Jean's face pouted again. But she looked at her hands, these weren't hers. "…Neeko wants to be safe." Hiding in a tree for days and sleeping for four hours a night was taking a toll. Neeko felt tired.
"We'll keep you safe, from whatever you want. You can have a home and your own room."
Room. Neeko winced visibly.
Jean gave Rogue a pointed look. "Neeko, you're not happy here, right." She asked
The copy's head shook solemnly.
"You can live with us at least for a few days, and if you don't like it, you can leave. How does that sound?" Rogue offered.
Neeko started at the three pairs of feet. A frown still across her features. Eyes moving as she seemed to parse the thoughts. Sharing Jean's body also brought more emotions to Neeko's mind, what Jean felt like. She felt nice and good.
"…Neeko will… try."
As the trio walked towards their destination, Neeko, as Jean, seemed to relax a bit.
"Jean and …Rogue are friends now, yes?" Neeko asked.
"I think we are." Jean smiled, then stopped a moment. "….Neeko, how did you know our names?"
Neeko turned and smiled to them, "I felt them."
Both women stopped, "Felt….them?
Neeko nodded. "Neeko can ….feel things." She stopped and tried to explain. "Neeko can feel what things are. Jean is good and nice. Calm, but bossy, yes?" Neeko struck a few poses in Jean's body, especially a cheesecake natured one. Jean blushed furiously.
Rogue started laughing loudly. "She is dead on!"
Not-Jean smirked at Rogue's distraction and shifted into a Rogue copy, a quick flash of light. "Rogue feels… hmm…" Neeko looked at the gloved hands, the skin-covering garb. "Warm, but lonely. She is nice too, but more…. Cool. Spicy. Neeko likes." It was Rogue's turn to blush slightly as Neeko took the liberty to actually prance.
"Please don't do that when you look like me." Rogue muttered.
Jean laughed at the exchange. Then paused, "What does Neeko really look like then?"
Neeko froze. She sighed and turned to Jean and Rogue. A sad smile across Rogue's borrowed features. "Neeko is… a monster."
That opened a world of possibilities of what Neeko meant. Many mutants had been called monsters before despite looking as human as ever.
"Neeko, you'd never be a monster here." Jean smiled and took Neeko's camouflaged hand.
Neeko felt the blood rise to her cheeks. She shook her head of the thoughts, "Where is 'here?' and is 'here' safe?"
Jean nodded her head towards the gate in front of the expansive mansion. "This is Xavier's School for gifted children. There are people here with abilities that are different than other people."
Neeko took in the size of it. "Big." She took a step back, feeling her guard come back up.
Jean saw the action, "Remember, you're only going to give it a try. But you'll be safe here. I promise."
"We both do" Rogue chimed in. It even got a look from Jean.
Neeko felt their sincerity, they seemed to want her trust. Neeko looked between the two of them, searching their eyes, and the feelings she felt for anything bad. Flashes and feelings from Neeko's recurring nightmare came and went. Neeko then gave a nod.
"….okay."
The trio walked into the house. Neeko cowered behind Rogue and held onto one of Jean's hands, gripping tightly. Jean had inhaled to take a breath before a very young brunette came bouncing up.
"Did you find the new person? Is that her?" the new teenager struggled to get a look at the Rogue copy but Neeko moved to keep Rogue between herself and the interrogator.
Jean sighed, "Kitty, do you mind? You know being in a new place is stressful enough. She doesn't need you badgering her."
Neeko clutching Rogue's arm. Hiding herself further, trembling a bit.
"Look, I am sure you'll get to know her eventually, but let's let her settle in a bit." Jean paused for a thought, "And this doesn't mean she's your roommate either."
Neeko's grip tightened further, getting a hiss from Rogue. She tried to keep a calm demeanor but even the fingers hanging on to her fabric gave a soft glow.
"Do you mind leaving Kitty? You're really spooking her." Rogue felt Neeko tremble. Kitty finally took the hint and left the foyer. Neeko exhaled in relief.
"Is this the new one?" A serene, calming female voice called down the foyer in the entrance. An African beauty strolled down the steps. Flowing white hair and light eyes, she exuded peace. Neeko visibly relaxed further.
Rogue nodded to her copy. "This is Neeko. Neeko, this is Ororo. She's a teacher here. She'll help you get settled in." Rogue tried to step aside, but Neeko still clung to her.
"Neeko, you can go with her, she's alright." Rogue explained.
Neeko looked between the two. She relaxed further looking at Ororo. She reached out to take the other's hand but froze. She trembled in place.
"…Neeko?"
Rogue's copy only gripped her head. "…Stop!" she lurched and dropped to her knees. Tears streaming out of tightly shut eyes. She looked to Jean, petrified, "No more in Neeko's head!"
"I'm not-" the realization hit Jean, but before she could get the message out, bright light encircled all of them and binding them in place. Neeko, shifting into Ororo's shape, now took off down one hall, and another split off into another direction.
Professor, I- Jean started. The circles of light seemed to disappear after a few moments.
It's alright, it's my fault. She has some serious mental blocks and barriers. I should have been more careful. An older voice spoke. I suppose we'll have to find her the old-fashioned way.
Neeko ran down the hallway until it came to an end. Looking down which hallway to run. She panted, her energy running out with lack of food. She came to a large window.
Outside. Neeko needs to be outside. Not safe here.
Neeko heard sets of feet behind her, she sent another copy of Ororo down one wing, and pressed herself against the wall, camouflaging herself into the pattern behind her. She tried to catch her breath and quiet it before her chasers could hear.
Jean and another man came running. He was a light brown-haired man, with red glasses. Neeko glowered. Too business. Not fun. The feeling she got from him. She looked to Jean. She felt worried and sad.
"Scott, go down that way. I don't know who she's going to look like. She's similar to Mystique." Jean ordered. The man took a moment and headed off with a nod.
Jean sighed. "Neeko, I'm sorry. I didn't get a chance to tell him not to go in your head."
Neeko narrowed her eyes. She assumed Jean's form and frowned. "How do you know where Neeko is?"
Jean turned around in shock, but calmed. "I think when you are 'feeling' things I can feel it too. I followed you that way."
Neeko folded her arms. "Neeko is not sure she wants to stay here. It is scary like last place. Puts scary… things in Neeko's head."
Jean made a mental note to ask about where Neeko came from some other time. "Neeko I only want to help you. I know you're scared and lonely. We can help you. We can help you with the scary things." Jean took a step forward and Neeko only moved back.
Neeko looked away. Jean felt sorry, but confused to Neeko. She sighed. "You can look, in here." She gestured to her own head. "It is scary, but maybe you understand. Understand why Neeko is scared." She looked to Jean pleadingly.
Jean was stunned, but nodded. "I can try. I… I won't hurt you I promise."
Jean, I wouldn't-
Before the professor could interrupt, Jean had already started probing Neeko's memory. It was only a mere moment before violent flashes of imagery happened. Monstrous images. Screams of pain. Blood and ichor all violently swirled around. All she could see clearly was a blonde woman. It felt… awful. It felt as though the blonde woman was gripping the sides of Jean's head. A terrifying snarl across her features and it changed into a fearsome creature. Mandibles snapping, multiple pairs of eyes.
Jean couldn't find anything other than these loathsome memories. Nothing of a family, or who Neeko was.
A tightening sensation on her wrist snapped her out of Neeko's mind. She panted and was soaked in sweat.
The other form smiled weakly. "It's….scary…. Neeko is… monster."
In front of her wasn't a copy anymore, but a lithe, woman. A long scaled tail had emerged and was gripping onto Jean. It went lax as the smaller woman collapsed.
Jean moved to catch the other. She ran her hands through royal blue hair, but felt the scales on Neeko's arms and where there was skin. Clad in a simple t-shirt and modified shorts, Neeko was a mere 5'2" and underweight. Feeling some of Neeko's ribs along her sides. The long tail growing from the shorts seemed heavy. The long feathers down her tail were limp. Arms dangled and the scales covered her forearms, changing into a gradient from vibrant green, to a near indigo at Neeko's fingertips.
Neeko's breathing slowed to a sleeping rhythm. She winced in her sleep and Jean offered a soothing pet through the blue locks. The smaller form snuggled further into Jean's body.
"I'll help you get through that," Jean promised to Neeko.
Neeko stirred. She sniffled before opening her eyes. She felt…. Covers. Across her skin and scales. Her tail coiled as she pushed herself up.
"Head hurt…." Her gaze blurred, wiping away the sleep with her scaled hands. She panicked a moment she found herself in a simple bed in a quiet bedroom. Not her tree. She hissed when she heard the door open. Her hands glowing, preparing an attack, but once she saw a familiar red head, she softened.
Jean entered with a tray of water and some food. "Oh, you are awake!" Neeko still looked confused and in shock. She noticed the glow, the extent of Neeko's powers was still unknown. "It's alright, it's just me, Neeko. I brought some food."
Neeko sniffed and brought the covers to her body. The T-shirt was oversized for her small frame, the collar hung off the side of one of the scaled shoulders. "Neeko's head hurts." She rubbed her forehead, before the memory of letting Jean see inside her head occurred to her. "You… saw inside."
Jean nodded. She set the tray beside the bed and sat on the mattress. "I did. I want to help you, Neeko." Jean offered a hand. "It was… terrible. Scary, as you said."
Neeko studied the outstretched hand. She looked away. "Neeko is monster. Monsters in head make Neeko a monster."
Jean balked. "Neeko." She dared to rest a hand on the exposed shoulder. "What is in your head is the monster. What put those images in your head, is a monster. I… I saw the blonde woman." Neeko went rigid. "I… I want to help you. I want to find that person. Let me help you." Jean begged.
Neeko whimpered. It was all so scary. Her long tail curled around her legs. Long enough to go around one time her folded body, and more. She stayed silent. "Neeko… doesn't remember… Anything. When she tries to think… Monsters in head happen. When others go in Neeko's head, monsters…." She swallowed hard. She shook her head and felt the tears welling up again.
Jean leaned over and hugged the small form.
Neeko stiffened to the sudden attention. She then relaxed. It felt nice, and calming. Her tail unfurled and then wrapped around Jean loosely. "Nice." All Neeko uttered.
The pair sharing the moment before a loud rumble from Neeko's middle sounded.
Jean smiled. "Here. I don't know what you like to eat, but I brought some food. You should eat before seeing Dr. McCoy." She offered the tray of food.
Neeko sniffed the sandwich. It was tuna salad. She bit into it before making a noise of approval and indulging into it quickly. "Who is 'McCoy?'" Neeko asked through a mouthful of sandwich. Her tail tip twitching as she enjoyed her food.
"He's a doctor here." Jean noticed the flinch at the word 'doctor.' "I'm going to stay with you, Neeko. Even though it's safe."
Neeko grumbled, even with her mouth full of the last bit of sandwich. The feathers even gave a rattle in discomfort. Neeko then eyed the other snacks. "What are these?" She pointed at a pouch.
"Oh, they're a gummy. Like a candy. I saw you liked the strawberry ice cream. I thought you might like these too."
Neeko remembered the word 'candy.' She hmmed, "Neeko likes candy." She opened the pouch and ate one. She then made another noise before dumping the entire contents into her mouth, smiling happily.
Neeko again clung to Jean as they went through the various hallways. "C-can Neeko change?" She whimpered.
Jean smiled as they stopped in front of a door. "Remember what I said? Dr. McCoy needs to see you like you are. That's how we can make sure you are okay." Jean gave a reassuring squeeze to Neeko's hand. Jean made it a point to take the back way to McCoy's office. Neeko was clearly very shy about her appearance and made sure the hallways were vacant.
"What does 'McCoy' know about Neeko?" Neeko pouted.
"He doesn't know much but, he is very smart. I think you will like him Neeko. He is somewhat like you." Jean gave a smile and knocked on the door.
Neeko's eyes widened. She was greeted by a very big, blue…. Thing.
"Ah, Jean…." He leaned over and smiled to Neeko, "And you must be, Neeko." He offered an oversized hand to the chameleon.
Neeko was stunned. In front of her was a very large, blue, furry man. "You know… Neeko?"
McCoy patted the table, "Please sit, Neeko. I just want to get to know you." McCoy, Hank, as he corrected Neeko, was very friendly. He felt nice and friendly.
Neeko sat on the table, still in the oversized clothing from wherever she came from. Her tail relaxed over the side. Jean sitting in a chair next to the table.
Hank smiled. "You are quite interesting Neeko. I hear you can copy people."
Neeko smiled. "Neeko can copy anyone!" She exclaimed happily. She looked to Hank. He felt peaceful. Intelligent. Strong, but gentle. She closed her eyes and after a moment of light, a copy of Hank McCoy sat on the table.
Hank smiled and laughed. "Well, you have a handsome choice there!" Neeko also bared his borrowed tusks. Original Hank made a few notes. "Do you mind changing back? I just need to do doctor appointment things."
Neeko nodded and her petite form reappeared. "You taste… Hmmm... Fuzzy." Neeko giggled. "Looking like boys is... strange."
Hank took a moment to look a bit befuddled. Blinking a few times, "Thanks?" Hank made more notes on his clipboard. He did the standard tests of her pulse, temperature and measuring her height and weight. Her tail was longer than Neeko was tall, by a few inches. Her body scanned a couple times by various machines.
The door knocked again and opened. A bald man wheeled in on a mechanical wheelchair. Neeko bristled and hissed. She had felt him before, her chest tightened. Jean went to her side.
"Neeko, please, this is Professor Xavier. He sent us to help you." Jean tried to soothe her, rubbing where skin and scales blended on Neeko's shoulders. The feathers still standing on end on Neeko's tail.
"He… went in Neeko's head." She complained.
"Please, Neeko. I meant no harm. I didn't know… everything." He conceded. "I only meant to help, get an idea of whom you were. I do that with most students. I didn't realize what was all inside of you." He looked sad.
Neeko looked between Jean, Hank and the professor. Her feelings again tried to get a grasp on him. He felt smart. He felt calm. He felt powerful. But he also went inside of Neeko's head without her permission.
"…do not do again." Neeko spoke softly. "Neeko does not want to see those things. She does not want to feel those things." She asserted befoer hugging into Jean.
The expression softened on Xavier's face. "I won't, not without your permission. But I also just want to help you, Neeko. There are many things I can try and help you with." He noticed Neeko's glance to Jean. "She can also help."
Neeko took a moment to take it all in. She itched her arm, where her scales were. Some began flaking off. "…okay."
"Neeko, can I ask, do you remember how old you are?" Hank asked.
Neeko froze. She scratched and shook her head. "Neeko… does not remember much. She remembers… bad things." Her grip crinkled the paper on the doctor's table. "Just the bad lady… and monsters, Neeko swallowed and forced a smile, "Then meeting Jean and Rogue, and here."
Hank and Xavier shared a look that Jean picked up on. She offered a hug to Neeko. Hank smiled. "That's alright. All I need is a blood sample."
Neeko froze. "N-needle….?" She sought Jean's hand, and found it. She took a deep breath. "Neeko… trusts you…." She offered her left arm.
After the draw, Jean and Neeko were excused to give Neeko time to her room with Jean.
"What do you make of her, Hank?" Xavier asked plainly.
"Well, she's eighteen or nineteen. My x-rays show that her wisdom teeth are gone so they must have been removed. I'll have to study her blood to see the extent of her 'copy' factor. They way she speaks in third person must be the result of the mental blocks you mentioned. The poor girl can't remember anything outside of whatever loathsome conditions she came from and these 'monsters' she speaks of in her mind." Hank rubbed his chin. "She also seems quite gifted in empathy. Jean mentioned that Neeko seems to 'feel' emotions, thoughts, and ideas. She cannot manipulate them, but it may go into her ability to 'copy' folks. I'd like to spend more time with her. I'd classify her as a feral with her given animal-like appearance. But I am worried about her mental capacity, any sort of mental attack could break her easily. She seems to be quite fragile in that regard." Hank ruffled through his notes some more. "Deep things aside, her tail is prehensile as she grabbed several of my tools from me with it and it is probably strong enough to hold her own weight."
Xavier steepled his hands as he took in the information. "She seems to need deep therapy, but if she cannot handle it right now, then I'd advise against it. Her trust is possibly very fragile, given wherever she came from. Rogue and Jean have a report with her. We'll keep Neeko with them as we can. And given her age, she should be tested for college courses. I am curious what she can do in a normal capacity."
Neeko was either shadowing Rogue or Jean for the next several days. She hid from the younger students as Xavier's, opting to hole up in either Jean or Rogue's room; more often Rogue's. Jean's room smelled like Scott at times. Despite Scott's attempts to try and make friends with Neeko, it often resulted in a loud hiss, a feather rattle, or even a blast from Neeko's abilities that were deemed "magical."
Her testing proved that she was poor in most subjects. Her math level was very basic, and her English levels were even worse given the mental barriers in place.
Neeko floundered in her studies, the studies putting her at a middle school level. Even then, she was barely managing a C. Xavier's school covering some of her troubles by saying English was not Neeko's first language. However, she seemed to excel in arts, painting distinctly. Her arts excelling anyone's expectations. Her courses quickly changed to accelerating her artistic abilities. Her empathy to "feel" things seemed to accelerate her artistry. She favored painting the most.
Neeko was granted her own room as she was an older student a week later, but there was still a spare bed in case a roommate as assigned to her. Neeko never used her own bed. Xavier and Ororo caught Neeko outside in a tree three times too many. They conceded and gave Neeko a lofted bed. The higher spot made her feel more secure.
The other part of Neeko's room was set up with various canvases in different stages of painting. Her desk, located under the bed, was littered with other drawing and coloring pencils.
Jean knocked on the door. Neeko grumbled something of a greeting, she was staring at her language arts book before flopping on her back with a groan.
"This is impossible! Neeko knows what she says." She tossed the book off the side of her bed. Neeko rolled over when she didn't hear the book hit the ground. "Jean!"
The book floated harmlessly back onto the elevated shelf beside Neeko's bed. Jean gave a smile. "Well, I see your homework is going well."
The lizard stuck out the long tongue. "Neeko hates homework that is not art." She pouted. "Are you here for tutoring Neeko?" Jean often helped Neeko with homework, when her own was complete. Neeko pushed herself to sit up on her mattress.
"Mmm… I'm going to help you, but not with your homework. We're going to try something out today. And you'll need shoes."
Neeko looked at Jean curiously. "Something new?" She also grimaced at the thought of shoes. She hated them.
Jean offered her hand and the scaled hand laced into hers. The pair headed towards the door where Neeko dug her heels in.
"Is Neeko to change?" Jean usually gave a heads up before they headed anywhere. Neeko usually copied either Jean or Rogue before going out.
"Yes, but I want you to practice something. Neeko, I want you try and see yourself as a human. No tail, no scales."
Neeko looked confused. "So… Neeko… but not Neeko?" Her tail flicked in agitation as she tried to figure that out. She sighed and tightly shut her eyes. A light covered her for a moment before disappearing. It worked, save for the vibrant blue hair, but that could be explained away with hair dye.
"Good work. Do you think you could hold it for a while? We know you like to hide, but you'll need to be able to be around people at some point, Neeko." Jean tried to explain as Neeko fidgeted.
Neeko still pouted. "Does not like it." She shook her shoes as though she were a wet cat. "It does not feel right to copy self. Just… Blah."
"Come on…" Jean urged. "We need you to meet the younger students at some point." Neeko still groused. "And you could go to the art store without waiting for me or Rogue now." That captured her interest. The art store a was a bit of a walk, but Neeko always had to plan who could take her and copy someone else.
Neeko heaved a sigh as she sat on the stairs, still fussing with the shoes. "Neeko will… try. But can we go to art store now?" Her tail slipping back into view and offering a wag.
"Soon as you fix that."