Glen did not have a particularly pleasant homecoming when he returned to
the Institute. When he stepped off of the X-Jet, he saw the faces of the
other mutants looking at him. They appeared relieved that he was safe, but
he could sense an air of suspicion, as if he were a completely different
person. And in a way, he was. He walked past them, trying to ignore their
glances. Rogue was looking at him especially hard, holding the cast around
her broken wrist.
Xavier accompanied Glen to the infirmary, where Beast had the medical table all ready to go. He regarded Glen curiously as he lay down on the bed. The furred mutant started up the scanners. "It'll be a little while," he said to Xavier. "I'll let you know when it's complete," Xavier nodded his consent and wheeled out of the room.
Glen watched the olive-colored scanning beams play over him as he lay motionless. "Will you be able to turn me back to the way I was?" he asked Beast.
"I don't know," Beast said cautiously. "We weren't able to study the effects of the Cauldron when Scott went through it. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll be able to find some way to help you," He turned back to the scanner, which was beginning to confirm his fears that they would NOT be able to restore Glen to his prior state.
A little while, the scan finished. Beast nodded slowly as he saw the results. "I'll be right back," he told Glen, and turned to walk out the door.
"Wait, what did the scans say?" Glen asked, but he received no answer. Looking through the translucent doors, he could see the shadows of Beast and Xavier. Beast was leaning over Xavier's wheelchair, and Glen could see Xavier's shoulders slump. He felt himself start to sweat when he saw Xavier's reaction.
The doors parted, and Xavier and Beast walked back in. Beast paused in the doorway and leaned down next to Xavier. "I'll be right outside if you need me," he whispered in Xavier's ear. Then, he turned and left, leaving Xavier and Glen in the room alone together.
Xavier wheeled up to the side of the table as Glen sat up. "Glen, I don't know how to explain this," he began.
Glen saw the pained look on Xavier's normally passive face and immediately realized the results of the scans. "I think I can figure it out, Professor. I'm stuck like this, aren't I?"
Xavier sighed. "For the time being, yes,"
Glen's shoulders slumped as it sank in.
"Beast was at a loss as to why your changes didn't wear off like Scott's had when he went through the Cauldron," Xavier said. "Scott reverted back to his prior state as soon as that Cauldron was destroyed, but this one."
"Magneto said it was weaker than the first," Glen said. "He said it would only be temporary,"
"Glen, I am afraid that it is very possible that Magneto deceived you to make you more willing to help him," said Xavier. "When Scott went through the Cauldron, it changed his mind, making him Magneto's willing servant,"
"He must have been trying to do the same thing with me!" Glen groaned. "The whole time, I was hearing these voices in my head. They were telling me to join him!"
"Then he must have been counting on keeping you at his side after you returned," said Xavier.
Glen burst out crying. "Oh god!" he cried. "He killed Sam and I actually trusted him! I should have just let him kill me!"
"Glen, do not say that. Your sacrifice would have accomplished nothing," Xavier said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Besides, you stopped Magneto from carrying out his plan, and your friend is alive and well now. I know you are feeling betrayed, but you have NOT betrayed me, no matter what anybody might think," he said, referring to the stares Glen had gotten from the other X-Men upon his return.
For the first time, Glen thought of Sam and life outside the Institute. "But if I'm like this, how will I be able to go back to school? Are you absolutely sure I'm stuck like this?"
"I cannot say for certain," Xavier said. "Magneto's technology is well beyond our capacity for understanding. There is a chance that the changes may wear off and you may wake up someday to find yourself as you were, but there is a very high probability that these changes will be. permanent,"
Glen lowered his head somberly. "Sam nearly dies, and my life is ruined, all because of Magneto," he said. "But at least he won't be hurting anybody else,"
"What do you mean?" said Xavier. "I thought you said that he escaped before his base was destroyed.
"He didn't" said Glen. "At least, I don't think he did," And then he told Xavier exactly what had happened in the encounter between himself and Magneto. When he finished, he saw Xavier looking at him with a clear look of disappointment on his face.
"I'm sorry I've failed you, Professor. If I had had the power to, I would have killed him myself," said Glen. "I let my rage overcome me. I wanted him to die, to suffer for what he had done to Sam. I ignored everything you told me because I wanted Magneto to feel exactly the way Sam felt,"
"Glen," Xavier said slowly. "You have not failed. Sometimes we get so involved with ourselves and the fact that we live completely different lives than most people, that we forget that we have so much in common with normal people. We've become so wrapped up in our own fantasy world that we forget how to deal with real problems. Things like death and the loss of friends. If Magneto is truly dead, then I regret that he died without being able to see the day when humans and mutants could coexist peacefully. It would have done much for him,"
"And if he's still alive?" asked Glen.
"That is not important. What matters now is you. How you are going to move on from these events," said Xavier. "And how you are going to go back to your friend,"
"I don't want Sam in any more danger," said Glen. "I wish I had never exposed him to all of this,"
"I understand that," said Xavier. "And while we cannot undo what has been done, we can make sure that nobody will ever use him to manipulate you," He explained to Glen what he had in mind.
A short time later, a limo pulled up in front of Sam's house. Two people, one in a wheelchair, got out of the car.
Inside the house, Sam heard the doorbell ring. He opened the door and saw the people that had gotten out of the car. He recognized Xavier from the brief time that he had seen him at the Institute, but he did not recognize the other man with the silver hair.
"May we come in?" asked Xavier.
"Sure," said Sam. "What's going on?"
"We need to talk," said Glen, and Sam's eyes went wide as he recognized the voice of his lover.
It had been a very painful conversation for the two boys as they both realized that it would be impossible for them to see each other again, even if Sam could remain in Bayville. There was no way Glen would ever be able to return to school as he was without people getting suspicious. Despite the pain of the separation, Sam had tried to remain in as good of a humor as he could. "Hey, you look good with long hair, even if it makes you look like you're 60," he said. "Er, sorry, Professor," he said quickly, realizing his faux pas.
"You always had a good eye for beauty," Glen said, chuckling.
In the end, Xavier had arranged for Sam and his family to move across the country to a house in San Francisco. Since Sam's father worked for the government, they were able to do this with relative ease and security. If Magneto did return, he would have a very difficult time indeed if he tried to locate Sam. The house sold quickly, and a few days later its contents had been packed up and loaded into a moving van. Glen and Sam stood together in the driveway of the empty house.
"Promise you'll try and visit some time?" asked Sam.
"I don't know if I'll be staying here much longer myself, but I will try," Glen said. "Besides, San Francisco's a pretty cool place,"
"It won't be as cool without you around," Sam muttered.
"I know. I'd give anything to stay with you. Hell, I already have," Glen said. "But it's just too dangerous for you to stay here. Magneto may still be alive, and if he is, he's going to want revenge. I'm not going to let him use you against me again,"
Sam put his arms around Glen in a tight embrace, which Glen eagerly returned. It was a long time before they broke apart. Sam kissed Glen once on the lips, and said, "That's to make sure you come out and visit," and got in the car, which slowly drove away.
Glen's own time in Bayville came to an end shortly after that. Xavier made arrangements for him to attend university in London, and had given him a few mutant contacts over there for him to look up once he arrived. Tired of looking like an old man, Glen had gotten his hair treated, and on the day he departed, he stepped out of the limo at the airport with blond hair, pulled back in a tight ponytail ("Looks good on you," Kitty had said when she first saw the change). . The entire Institute had come to the airport to see Glen off. All the animosity that had existed between them was a thing of the past. Even Rogue had forgiven Glen for breaking her wrist ("I probably would have done the same thing to you," she had said with a laugh- Glen had not been as amused). As he walked towards the plane, Kurt called out, "Have a great time, and don't forget to write, ja?"
"Oh, I'll keep in touch," Glen said. "And who knows, if you're very lucky, I might stop by to say hello from time to time," With that, he climbed the steps to the plane and disappeared inside. The door closed, and the plane began to roll off down the runway.
"Man, I'm going to miss him," Kurt said to Kitty.
"I know," she replied. "The place won't be the same without him. Hey, what's that?" she asked, noticing something shiny lying on the tarmac.
She bent down and picked up the shiny piece of fabric. "I don't believe it!" she said, looking at the silver sash Glen had bought during their first trip to the mall together.
"That vas NOT here a second ago," said Kurt, looking back at the plane, rising off of the ground. "Vhat's that inside of it?" he said, pointing at the small bulge inside the fabric.
Kitty unrolled the sash and found a picture inside. It was the picture of the three of them at the mall, when Kurt had turned off his image inducer. She grinned and showed it to Kurt.
"'Never be afraid to show the world your true colors,'" he said, reading Glen's last words to them. He looked down at the illusion of his human- looking hand, then back at the picture. Deciding to take one last chance, he switched his image inducer off and joined the rest of the X-Men as they walked back to the limo. Despite the stares he got, he had never felt more confident in his life.
Coming up next: One more humor fic before I resume my serious writing. Lance and the rest of the Brotherhood are in for some misadventures in babysitting when an orphaned mutant child turns up on their front porch. Will they be able to control the child themselves, or will they have to resort to a more feminine touch? (no, Pietro doesn't count!)
Xavier accompanied Glen to the infirmary, where Beast had the medical table all ready to go. He regarded Glen curiously as he lay down on the bed. The furred mutant started up the scanners. "It'll be a little while," he said to Xavier. "I'll let you know when it's complete," Xavier nodded his consent and wheeled out of the room.
Glen watched the olive-colored scanning beams play over him as he lay motionless. "Will you be able to turn me back to the way I was?" he asked Beast.
"I don't know," Beast said cautiously. "We weren't able to study the effects of the Cauldron when Scott went through it. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll be able to find some way to help you," He turned back to the scanner, which was beginning to confirm his fears that they would NOT be able to restore Glen to his prior state.
A little while, the scan finished. Beast nodded slowly as he saw the results. "I'll be right back," he told Glen, and turned to walk out the door.
"Wait, what did the scans say?" Glen asked, but he received no answer. Looking through the translucent doors, he could see the shadows of Beast and Xavier. Beast was leaning over Xavier's wheelchair, and Glen could see Xavier's shoulders slump. He felt himself start to sweat when he saw Xavier's reaction.
The doors parted, and Xavier and Beast walked back in. Beast paused in the doorway and leaned down next to Xavier. "I'll be right outside if you need me," he whispered in Xavier's ear. Then, he turned and left, leaving Xavier and Glen in the room alone together.
Xavier wheeled up to the side of the table as Glen sat up. "Glen, I don't know how to explain this," he began.
Glen saw the pained look on Xavier's normally passive face and immediately realized the results of the scans. "I think I can figure it out, Professor. I'm stuck like this, aren't I?"
Xavier sighed. "For the time being, yes,"
Glen's shoulders slumped as it sank in.
"Beast was at a loss as to why your changes didn't wear off like Scott's had when he went through the Cauldron," Xavier said. "Scott reverted back to his prior state as soon as that Cauldron was destroyed, but this one."
"Magneto said it was weaker than the first," Glen said. "He said it would only be temporary,"
"Glen, I am afraid that it is very possible that Magneto deceived you to make you more willing to help him," said Xavier. "When Scott went through the Cauldron, it changed his mind, making him Magneto's willing servant,"
"He must have been trying to do the same thing with me!" Glen groaned. "The whole time, I was hearing these voices in my head. They were telling me to join him!"
"Then he must have been counting on keeping you at his side after you returned," said Xavier.
Glen burst out crying. "Oh god!" he cried. "He killed Sam and I actually trusted him! I should have just let him kill me!"
"Glen, do not say that. Your sacrifice would have accomplished nothing," Xavier said, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Besides, you stopped Magneto from carrying out his plan, and your friend is alive and well now. I know you are feeling betrayed, but you have NOT betrayed me, no matter what anybody might think," he said, referring to the stares Glen had gotten from the other X-Men upon his return.
For the first time, Glen thought of Sam and life outside the Institute. "But if I'm like this, how will I be able to go back to school? Are you absolutely sure I'm stuck like this?"
"I cannot say for certain," Xavier said. "Magneto's technology is well beyond our capacity for understanding. There is a chance that the changes may wear off and you may wake up someday to find yourself as you were, but there is a very high probability that these changes will be. permanent,"
Glen lowered his head somberly. "Sam nearly dies, and my life is ruined, all because of Magneto," he said. "But at least he won't be hurting anybody else,"
"What do you mean?" said Xavier. "I thought you said that he escaped before his base was destroyed.
"He didn't" said Glen. "At least, I don't think he did," And then he told Xavier exactly what had happened in the encounter between himself and Magneto. When he finished, he saw Xavier looking at him with a clear look of disappointment on his face.
"I'm sorry I've failed you, Professor. If I had had the power to, I would have killed him myself," said Glen. "I let my rage overcome me. I wanted him to die, to suffer for what he had done to Sam. I ignored everything you told me because I wanted Magneto to feel exactly the way Sam felt,"
"Glen," Xavier said slowly. "You have not failed. Sometimes we get so involved with ourselves and the fact that we live completely different lives than most people, that we forget that we have so much in common with normal people. We've become so wrapped up in our own fantasy world that we forget how to deal with real problems. Things like death and the loss of friends. If Magneto is truly dead, then I regret that he died without being able to see the day when humans and mutants could coexist peacefully. It would have done much for him,"
"And if he's still alive?" asked Glen.
"That is not important. What matters now is you. How you are going to move on from these events," said Xavier. "And how you are going to go back to your friend,"
"I don't want Sam in any more danger," said Glen. "I wish I had never exposed him to all of this,"
"I understand that," said Xavier. "And while we cannot undo what has been done, we can make sure that nobody will ever use him to manipulate you," He explained to Glen what he had in mind.
A short time later, a limo pulled up in front of Sam's house. Two people, one in a wheelchair, got out of the car.
Inside the house, Sam heard the doorbell ring. He opened the door and saw the people that had gotten out of the car. He recognized Xavier from the brief time that he had seen him at the Institute, but he did not recognize the other man with the silver hair.
"May we come in?" asked Xavier.
"Sure," said Sam. "What's going on?"
"We need to talk," said Glen, and Sam's eyes went wide as he recognized the voice of his lover.
It had been a very painful conversation for the two boys as they both realized that it would be impossible for them to see each other again, even if Sam could remain in Bayville. There was no way Glen would ever be able to return to school as he was without people getting suspicious. Despite the pain of the separation, Sam had tried to remain in as good of a humor as he could. "Hey, you look good with long hair, even if it makes you look like you're 60," he said. "Er, sorry, Professor," he said quickly, realizing his faux pas.
"You always had a good eye for beauty," Glen said, chuckling.
In the end, Xavier had arranged for Sam and his family to move across the country to a house in San Francisco. Since Sam's father worked for the government, they were able to do this with relative ease and security. If Magneto did return, he would have a very difficult time indeed if he tried to locate Sam. The house sold quickly, and a few days later its contents had been packed up and loaded into a moving van. Glen and Sam stood together in the driveway of the empty house.
"Promise you'll try and visit some time?" asked Sam.
"I don't know if I'll be staying here much longer myself, but I will try," Glen said. "Besides, San Francisco's a pretty cool place,"
"It won't be as cool without you around," Sam muttered.
"I know. I'd give anything to stay with you. Hell, I already have," Glen said. "But it's just too dangerous for you to stay here. Magneto may still be alive, and if he is, he's going to want revenge. I'm not going to let him use you against me again,"
Sam put his arms around Glen in a tight embrace, which Glen eagerly returned. It was a long time before they broke apart. Sam kissed Glen once on the lips, and said, "That's to make sure you come out and visit," and got in the car, which slowly drove away.
Glen's own time in Bayville came to an end shortly after that. Xavier made arrangements for him to attend university in London, and had given him a few mutant contacts over there for him to look up once he arrived. Tired of looking like an old man, Glen had gotten his hair treated, and on the day he departed, he stepped out of the limo at the airport with blond hair, pulled back in a tight ponytail ("Looks good on you," Kitty had said when she first saw the change). . The entire Institute had come to the airport to see Glen off. All the animosity that had existed between them was a thing of the past. Even Rogue had forgiven Glen for breaking her wrist ("I probably would have done the same thing to you," she had said with a laugh- Glen had not been as amused). As he walked towards the plane, Kurt called out, "Have a great time, and don't forget to write, ja?"
"Oh, I'll keep in touch," Glen said. "And who knows, if you're very lucky, I might stop by to say hello from time to time," With that, he climbed the steps to the plane and disappeared inside. The door closed, and the plane began to roll off down the runway.
"Man, I'm going to miss him," Kurt said to Kitty.
"I know," she replied. "The place won't be the same without him. Hey, what's that?" she asked, noticing something shiny lying on the tarmac.
She bent down and picked up the shiny piece of fabric. "I don't believe it!" she said, looking at the silver sash Glen had bought during their first trip to the mall together.
"That vas NOT here a second ago," said Kurt, looking back at the plane, rising off of the ground. "Vhat's that inside of it?" he said, pointing at the small bulge inside the fabric.
Kitty unrolled the sash and found a picture inside. It was the picture of the three of them at the mall, when Kurt had turned off his image inducer. She grinned and showed it to Kurt.
"'Never be afraid to show the world your true colors,'" he said, reading Glen's last words to them. He looked down at the illusion of his human- looking hand, then back at the picture. Deciding to take one last chance, he switched his image inducer off and joined the rest of the X-Men as they walked back to the limo. Despite the stares he got, he had never felt more confident in his life.
Coming up next: One more humor fic before I resume my serious writing. Lance and the rest of the Brotherhood are in for some misadventures in babysitting when an orphaned mutant child turns up on their front porch. Will they be able to control the child themselves, or will they have to resort to a more feminine touch? (no, Pietro doesn't count!)