What Night May Hide
The dark-haired boy sat before professor Xavier, the crippled man in no way losing any of his presence as a result of his condition. He commanded every inch of his office, causing the boy to withdraw even more, his face hardening into an even greater mask of indifference.
"Well, I suppose you should begin by telling me your name."
The boy was silent for a moment, then replied.
"Van."
"Very well then, Van. Why have you come here?"
"Because I had nowhere else to go."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I would rather not say in such company."
He shifted his eyes in Logan's direction. The man sat on a couch, scowling, his arms folded. He had already had a confrontation with the boy earlier:
"HELP! Somebody, help me!"
Nightcrawler tore across the Academy grounds as fast as his legs would carry him. Dashing up the stairs to the mansion, he reached for the front door. It opened for him, and he crashed into Evan. Kurt crashed back down the stairs. "Hey, what's the rush!?" Kurt flipped back to his feet and hopped nervously from foot to foot.
"Killer goth! Back zhere! Bad mojo! Now let me through!" "Where?" Replied Evan, "I don't see any..."
"Zhat's the point!"
Kurt bamfed out of his current location, and reappeared behind Evan with a puff of smoke.
"You can go ahead and velcome him! I'm outta' here!" Kurt dashed up the stairs and out of sight. Scott scratched his head.
"Crazy elf. HEY!"
He was shoved against the doorframe by an invisible force.
"Out of my way." An equally invisible voice ordered. Evan looked down at the Oriental rug that dominated to foyer. Two indentations in the shag disappeared and reappeared across it. They looked somewhat like feet. Then the space above them, in some indescribable way, twisted and rippled as the dark-haired boy returned to view. He looked about the room.
"So, this is it. The Xavier institute."
Evan turned towards the newcomer.
"Who are you?" One hand clenched to a fist, spikes sprouting along the forearm.
"The new kid."
"Get out!" The dark-haired boy shrugged. "You're no fun." In the blink of an eye, the boy disappeared. A flurry of spikes flew through the space he had occupied a moment before. They stuck into the far wall, quivering. He sprouted more across both arms, looking for the boy.
"Come on! Show your face!"
The invisible voice sighed.
"You really have a lot of aggression. Do you take any medication?" A punch knocked Evan backwards, his nose spurting blood.
"Now, could you tell me where Xavier is?"
"You're gonna' pay for that!" Spikes bristled from across Evan's body. Then, they launched, covering the entire foyer. There was a moment of silence. Logan chose this moment to walk into view, standing at the top of the stairs. He surveyed the scene.
"Kid, you've got to learn some control." He said, shaking his head. He began to descend the stairs, absently knocking spikes out of his way. Halfway down, He felt... something... sniffed the air. He scowled, then spun around and snatched the dark-haired boy from thin air, slamming him against the wall. One fist went up on his chin, two claws framing his face.
"All right, kid. You've got some explaining to do."
Logan reflected on this, as he stood outside Xavier's office. Kitty passed.
"Hi, Mr. Logan."
He stiffened. For some reason unknown to him, blood rushed to his face, and all he could manage was a stuttering, slightly less gruff than usual 'hello'.
"So after the death of your mother, you used your powers to travel here."
"Yes."
"That is a tragic story, however, not an uncommon one."
Xavier's chair whirred as it moved out from behind his desk.
"Van Lee, I accept your application. Welcome to the Charles Xavier Institute."
For the first time in months, Van smiled.
David's room. Plants dominated it, a chemistry set bubbling away in one corner. Dozens of flowers, grasses, and vines crisscrossed the walls and ceiling, creating a delicate organic latticework. Botanic himself sat in front of his set, carefully extracting an enzyme from a flower bulb. "Okay, now for the incision. Careful... careful..."
The door flew open. "David!"
"YIPE!" His penknife and his flower bulb both flew into the air, revolving end over end. He made a grab for the bulb, leaning back... back...
"Gotcha!"
His chair lost it's grip on the floor.
WHUMP!
He raised the bulb into the air.
"I got it." He said, wearily. Kitty giggled. His penknife stuck itself into the desktop neatly. "It's time for dinner, you klutz."
"Right. Dinner."
He sighed.
"Hey, why is there an extra place set?" Asked Scott as they each took their seats. "Mutants, I want you to welcome our newest student. His name is Van Lee." Xavier sat at the head of the table. The door to the dining hall opened, and the dark-haired boy entered. Kurt sputtered and nearly dropped his fork, tossing it back and forth in an effort to get it under control. He swiftly abandoned it and made a run for the far door. The utensil clattered to the floor. Not looking up, Logan grabbed the elf's tail. "Relax." He ordered. "No vhay! He's psycho!"
"Please, calm down, Kurt, he means no harm." Xavier said. "Ja, you haven't seen him! He's..."
"Sit down." Logan ordered. Kurt groaned and resumed his seat. "Now, I expect you all to forgive him for his past actions, and try and accept him as best you can. Van, sit down." The boy nodded and sat between Kurt, who stiffened, his tail twitching like a nervous cat's, and Kitty. He calmly and wordlessly began to serve himself. Conversations sprang up along the table, and the evening proceeded as normal. Scott watched Van from across the table, his sunglasses masking his wandering eyes. They didn't know anything about this kid. Who was he? Where was he from? Did he have a family? "Hey, Evan, pass the bread." David said from across the table.
"I thought you were a vegetarian."
Scott laughed with the rest of them. David held his head in his hands and muttered. "So, Van," Kitty elbowed him. "Where are you from?"
The boy thought for a moment. "Nevada." "Really?" "Mmm-hmm." "And how old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"No, wait. You know vhat you need?" Kurt was beginning to warm up to the guy. "What?" "A mutant name! Ve've all got Them!"
"A mutant name?" "Ja!" "Yeah!" Kitty chimed in.
"Like what?" Van was puzzled.
"Well, I'm Evan, right?"
Van nodded.
"But they call me Spike, too."
Van's expression began to show understanding as he remembered where the name had come from. He hadn't told anyone, but a long scratch had been torn across his side by one of Evan's little javelins. "So it's related to your mutant power..."
Van thought for a moment.
"All right. Zero."
From the Journal of Charles Xavier: Although he seems to be working well with the other students, something is wrong with our newest student, Van. Although I will not probe his mind without his consent, he seems to be hiding something. He has done nothing so far to make himself untrustworthy, so I will believe him. However, he does seem to have the aura of a guilty conscience. I will have to do further investigation into the matter. As all else goes, things are normal, although Logan's behavior is also a bit odd, however, that does not merit an investigation.
Kitty Pryde's Diary: (AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mmm. Kitty's Diary.) We just totally got a new student! He's not really all that nice, though, because when he got here, he tricked Evan into completely trashing the front hall. But I guess that's just life here. We get all kinds of people, and I think all he really needs is to settle in. At least he's a little cute. Now, I've kind of been talking about this a bit much for the past few days, but Mr. Logan. Yeah. I didn't get to talk to-
"HEY!"
Kitty was no longer alone in the kitchen. She slammed the laptop shut. Kurt laughed and disappeared. She grumbled and stormed out, trying to find somewhere more private.
JessieHeart: You're sick! You made it Logan/Kitty, and you're reading her diary! *Smacks LX*
LX: What? OUCH! I have every right! I'm the author, you hellspawn!
JessieHeart: *Smacks him again* No you don't! LX: Ow!
The dark-haired boy sat before professor Xavier, the crippled man in no way losing any of his presence as a result of his condition. He commanded every inch of his office, causing the boy to withdraw even more, his face hardening into an even greater mask of indifference.
"Well, I suppose you should begin by telling me your name."
The boy was silent for a moment, then replied.
"Van."
"Very well then, Van. Why have you come here?"
"Because I had nowhere else to go."
"What do you mean by that?"
"I would rather not say in such company."
He shifted his eyes in Logan's direction. The man sat on a couch, scowling, his arms folded. He had already had a confrontation with the boy earlier:
"HELP! Somebody, help me!"
Nightcrawler tore across the Academy grounds as fast as his legs would carry him. Dashing up the stairs to the mansion, he reached for the front door. It opened for him, and he crashed into Evan. Kurt crashed back down the stairs. "Hey, what's the rush!?" Kurt flipped back to his feet and hopped nervously from foot to foot.
"Killer goth! Back zhere! Bad mojo! Now let me through!" "Where?" Replied Evan, "I don't see any..."
"Zhat's the point!"
Kurt bamfed out of his current location, and reappeared behind Evan with a puff of smoke.
"You can go ahead and velcome him! I'm outta' here!" Kurt dashed up the stairs and out of sight. Scott scratched his head.
"Crazy elf. HEY!"
He was shoved against the doorframe by an invisible force.
"Out of my way." An equally invisible voice ordered. Evan looked down at the Oriental rug that dominated to foyer. Two indentations in the shag disappeared and reappeared across it. They looked somewhat like feet. Then the space above them, in some indescribable way, twisted and rippled as the dark-haired boy returned to view. He looked about the room.
"So, this is it. The Xavier institute."
Evan turned towards the newcomer.
"Who are you?" One hand clenched to a fist, spikes sprouting along the forearm.
"The new kid."
"Get out!" The dark-haired boy shrugged. "You're no fun." In the blink of an eye, the boy disappeared. A flurry of spikes flew through the space he had occupied a moment before. They stuck into the far wall, quivering. He sprouted more across both arms, looking for the boy.
"Come on! Show your face!"
The invisible voice sighed.
"You really have a lot of aggression. Do you take any medication?" A punch knocked Evan backwards, his nose spurting blood.
"Now, could you tell me where Xavier is?"
"You're gonna' pay for that!" Spikes bristled from across Evan's body. Then, they launched, covering the entire foyer. There was a moment of silence. Logan chose this moment to walk into view, standing at the top of the stairs. He surveyed the scene.
"Kid, you've got to learn some control." He said, shaking his head. He began to descend the stairs, absently knocking spikes out of his way. Halfway down, He felt... something... sniffed the air. He scowled, then spun around and snatched the dark-haired boy from thin air, slamming him against the wall. One fist went up on his chin, two claws framing his face.
"All right, kid. You've got some explaining to do."
Logan reflected on this, as he stood outside Xavier's office. Kitty passed.
"Hi, Mr. Logan."
He stiffened. For some reason unknown to him, blood rushed to his face, and all he could manage was a stuttering, slightly less gruff than usual 'hello'.
"So after the death of your mother, you used your powers to travel here."
"Yes."
"That is a tragic story, however, not an uncommon one."
Xavier's chair whirred as it moved out from behind his desk.
"Van Lee, I accept your application. Welcome to the Charles Xavier Institute."
For the first time in months, Van smiled.
David's room. Plants dominated it, a chemistry set bubbling away in one corner. Dozens of flowers, grasses, and vines crisscrossed the walls and ceiling, creating a delicate organic latticework. Botanic himself sat in front of his set, carefully extracting an enzyme from a flower bulb. "Okay, now for the incision. Careful... careful..."
The door flew open. "David!"
"YIPE!" His penknife and his flower bulb both flew into the air, revolving end over end. He made a grab for the bulb, leaning back... back...
"Gotcha!"
His chair lost it's grip on the floor.
WHUMP!
He raised the bulb into the air.
"I got it." He said, wearily. Kitty giggled. His penknife stuck itself into the desktop neatly. "It's time for dinner, you klutz."
"Right. Dinner."
He sighed.
"Hey, why is there an extra place set?" Asked Scott as they each took their seats. "Mutants, I want you to welcome our newest student. His name is Van Lee." Xavier sat at the head of the table. The door to the dining hall opened, and the dark-haired boy entered. Kurt sputtered and nearly dropped his fork, tossing it back and forth in an effort to get it under control. He swiftly abandoned it and made a run for the far door. The utensil clattered to the floor. Not looking up, Logan grabbed the elf's tail. "Relax." He ordered. "No vhay! He's psycho!"
"Please, calm down, Kurt, he means no harm." Xavier said. "Ja, you haven't seen him! He's..."
"Sit down." Logan ordered. Kurt groaned and resumed his seat. "Now, I expect you all to forgive him for his past actions, and try and accept him as best you can. Van, sit down." The boy nodded and sat between Kurt, who stiffened, his tail twitching like a nervous cat's, and Kitty. He calmly and wordlessly began to serve himself. Conversations sprang up along the table, and the evening proceeded as normal. Scott watched Van from across the table, his sunglasses masking his wandering eyes. They didn't know anything about this kid. Who was he? Where was he from? Did he have a family? "Hey, Evan, pass the bread." David said from across the table.
"I thought you were a vegetarian."
Scott laughed with the rest of them. David held his head in his hands and muttered. "So, Van," Kitty elbowed him. "Where are you from?"
The boy thought for a moment. "Nevada." "Really?" "Mmm-hmm." "And how old are you?"
"Fifteen."
"No, wait. You know vhat you need?" Kurt was beginning to warm up to the guy. "What?" "A mutant name! Ve've all got Them!"
"A mutant name?" "Ja!" "Yeah!" Kitty chimed in.
"Like what?" Van was puzzled.
"Well, I'm Evan, right?"
Van nodded.
"But they call me Spike, too."
Van's expression began to show understanding as he remembered where the name had come from. He hadn't told anyone, but a long scratch had been torn across his side by one of Evan's little javelins. "So it's related to your mutant power..."
Van thought for a moment.
"All right. Zero."
From the Journal of Charles Xavier: Although he seems to be working well with the other students, something is wrong with our newest student, Van. Although I will not probe his mind without his consent, he seems to be hiding something. He has done nothing so far to make himself untrustworthy, so I will believe him. However, he does seem to have the aura of a guilty conscience. I will have to do further investigation into the matter. As all else goes, things are normal, although Logan's behavior is also a bit odd, however, that does not merit an investigation.
Kitty Pryde's Diary: (AUTHOR'S NOTE: Mmm. Kitty's Diary.) We just totally got a new student! He's not really all that nice, though, because when he got here, he tricked Evan into completely trashing the front hall. But I guess that's just life here. We get all kinds of people, and I think all he really needs is to settle in. At least he's a little cute. Now, I've kind of been talking about this a bit much for the past few days, but Mr. Logan. Yeah. I didn't get to talk to-
"HEY!"
Kitty was no longer alone in the kitchen. She slammed the laptop shut. Kurt laughed and disappeared. She grumbled and stormed out, trying to find somewhere more private.
JessieHeart: You're sick! You made it Logan/Kitty, and you're reading her diary! *Smacks LX*
LX: What? OUCH! I have every right! I'm the author, you hellspawn!
JessieHeart: *Smacks him again* No you don't! LX: Ow!