Golden followed Cyclops down the halls, just like the room he awoke
to, warm with color, deep reds and beautiful wood flooring. He was
impressed at how clean the place was. He admired the décor of the building
the whole time he was following Cyclops. Until he reached the door where
Cyclops stopped. Presuming it was where Professor Xavier would be found,
Golden put his hand through his hair to make sure it wasn't too messy and
straightened his shirt out.
The two men entered the room where, as Golden had guessed Charles
Xavier sat behind a large wooden desk. Golden looked at nicely finished
desk with awe, also glancing toward Charles's yellow chair. It took Golden
a while to find out that the room was full of other people. All their
attention was on him. Well almost.
Charles Xavier raised a hand up to his chin looking straight into
Golden's eyes. "Hello, Golden Flare."
Golden felt intimidated by him. He knew of his power to read minds,
so Golden made quiet sure to keep his mind clear of anything foolish.
Xavier was obviously waiting for an answer but not a word escaped from
Golden's lips. "Why don't you start with your name, introduce yourself to
everyone. I'm sure not everyone has had the pleasure of meeting you."
Xavier sounded kind and trustworthy.
Golden straightened his stance trying not to look like a fool in
front of the other people in the room. "Ok I guess." He was very tense. "My
name is Golden Flare, I'm a member of X-Counter." He paused and thought
about how dumb that sounded and added, "A former member."
Xavier smiled. "No, not your code name, I meant your real name."
Golden was surprised, caught off guard. Not expecting him to actually say
his real name, he thought of how foolish must appear to the others. He
started to sweat slightly from the anxiety of it all.
"Oh my real name. It's been so long since I've actually said it or
heard it. Damn, it seems to almost mean nothing to me anymore." Golden
Flare gave a slight chuckle trying to lighten the mood of the people
staring at him. Golden guessed that Xavier told them not to say anything to
him. He thought how intelligent that was on Charles Xavier's part for
telling them that, considering what happened. "Ok. My real name." He
whispered to himself. "I can do this." He told himself quietly. What if
they thought his name was funny? He didn't want to be laughed at. Knowing
he couldn't change his name he decided he might as well say it. Say it for
the whole room to hear. "My name is," he paused one last time. "My name
is."
