The first thing I became aware of when I opened my eyes was something blue hovering above me. It was fuzzy, so I couldn't make it out. Slowly my vision focused and my memories came back.
"Kurt?" I croaked out to the blue figure on the ceiling. He smiled.
"Ja, Cryees, it's me. Vhat, did you expect Logan?"
"No, I don't think Badger would come in my room if you paid him. Besides, what are you doing here?" I asked. He seemed to be thinking for a minute, then replied,
"It could be zee fact zat it's 10:00 in the morning and you're still asleep, or it could be zat I just like annoying you."
Groaning, then realizing the meaning of his words, I shot up straight up in bed.
"10:00!? And no one woke me up!? Please tell me there's no school today. Did I miss breakfast? Well, that's a stupid question, of course I missed breakfast, what kind of person eats after 10:00, unless they're eating lunch."
Before I could babble further however, Kurt interrupted.
"Calm down, it's a Saturday, don't vorry. Besides, you aren't even enrolled at Bayville High yet. You can get somezing to eat when you get up." I relaxed. Then tensed.
"If it's a Saturday, then why didn't you let me SLEEP IN LONGER AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY ROOM?!"
He grinned sheepishly.
"I zought you vanted to have some fun?" he asked weakly. I started to growl.
"Kurt, I'm giving you five seconds to get out of my room. One. Two."
"Vat are you going to do?"
"Three. Four."
"Creeystal?"
"FIVE!" I yelled. Immediately I started to shoot water blasts at the ceiling where he was. Quickly he teleported out of the way down onto the floor and started running for the door. I created a wall of water straight in front of him so he ran into it. Falling down, he lost his bearings for a second. I stood over him and smirked. A massive water ball was forming in my hand. He panicked and bamfed into the hallway. Throwing open the door, I proceeded to chase him throughout the mansion riding a tidal wave, putting up water walls and shooting blasts at him.
"FUZZBALL! COME BACK YOU COWARD AND FIGHT LIKE A.... LIKE A... WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT LIKE BUT YOU BETTER COME OUT!" At this point I was livid and almost out of energy, so I collapsed onto the couch in the rec room. Done with my rampage and unable to go back to sleep, I decided to get back up and go to the kitchen. Along the way, I cleaned up all the water spills that I had made, swearing to myself that I would get Kurt back.
Trudging into the kitchen wearily, I sighed and opened the fridge searching for food. Spying a plate of scrambled eggs in the back that didn't yet have mold on it, I yanked it out and stuck it in the microwave. When it was done, I pulled it out and set it down on the table. As I began to eat, I looked out the window to see what everybody actually did on the weekends. Kurt and Evan were playing Frisbee. Scott and Jean were standing off to the side having a serious (not) conversation. Rogue was sitting on a bench looking as secluded as ever. Kitty was sprawled out on her stomach on the grass typing on her laptop.
"You people actually get up this early on the weekends? And you say I'm weird," I muttered to myself.
"Talkin' to yer' self is weird, Tidepool. Don't ya' know that?" came Logan's voice from the doorway. I jumped. Turning to him, I said,
"Do you always loom? Or is it just for me? Because if it is, I feel honored, Badger."
He snarled at me and came closer. His gaze shifted to what I had been looking at.
"Why don't ya' go out an' join em'?" he asked curiously. I smirked.
"You really wanna hear all my reasons? I'm pissed at Kurt, it's a long story which you don't want to hear. Jean's too 'touchy-feely everything'll be all right' kinda person. Scott's too leaderish and high-strung. Evan is obsessed with skating, of which I know nothing and says 'man' too much. Kitty can't say a whole sentence without the word like. Rogue has way too much attitude. Did I miss anyone?" He smirked and replied,
"No, I think ya' got em' all. But ya' don't want ta' sit 'round here doing nothin', and I take it Chuck says ya' can't go ta' the Danger Room yet."
"Bingo, give that badger a dog biscuit."
"Tell ya' what. Ya' stop with the sarcasm an' I'll spare ya' a long and painful session in the Danger Room when yer' allowed in there." Pretending to think about this, I stroked my chin in mock thought.
"Hmmmmm. How about this. There's this thing; it's the opposite of yes. Do you know what it is?" I asked. He snarled and started coming closer to me. I could tell that he was serious.
"Ya' know what? I don't wanna wait till the Danger Room. I think I'm gonna knock yer' teeth out right now."
I gulped and sprang up from my seat. Trying desperate measures, I glanced at nothing over his shoulder and yelled out,
"Hey Professor X!" His expression changed to one of fear and he whipped around. When he saw that no one was there, he turned on me again. But by that time, I was long gone up to the bathroom connected to my bedroom.
~*~
Closing my door and locking it(like locks are going to keep mutants out), I collapsed on my bed again. Then I had a sudden craving for water. Getting up, I loped over to the bathroom and opened the door. Looking in, I gasped. The whole place was made of marble. Every single thing. There was a button in the wall that I didn't know the purpose of. I supposed it was for if you had an emergency. But who has emergencies in the bathroom?
Trotting to the sink, I spied a glass used for gargling when brushing your teeth. Filling it up multiple times, I downed about a gallon of water in one minute. Weird, I thought. Why am I so thirsty? Shrugging and turning back to my room, I looked for the dresser. Seeing it on the other side of the room, I went over and glanced through the clothing. Amazingly, the clothes were just the kind I would wear. Long and baggy.
"Maybe Rogue finally showed these people what Hot Topic is," I mused. "Or maybe they just know. Dum, dum, duuuuuuuuum, dramatic reverb."
"Or maybe they read your mind," said a voice from my doorway. Temporarily losing control because I was shocked, I started dripping. Cursing, I turned to see who was there while sucking the water back in. I also wanted to know how they opened the door when I had locked it. Chuck. Crap.
"Ummmm. Hey Professor X. How's it hanging? This isn't about Badg--- Logan, is it? Listen I can explain, well maybe I can't explain, but----"
"Calm down, Crystal, I don't know anything about any incident with Logan, but maybe I should find out by the way you're acting," he said with a smile on his face. I tensed up and said hurriedly,
"No, that's okay, really Professor. By the way, how did you open the door if I had it locked?"
His smile grew wider.
"I have a key to every room in the mansion, Crys. I must be prepared." I groaned and thought, Great, that means no privacy. "I just came by to see how you're doing, and how you like the Institute." Thinking, Well I was gonna take a shower till somebody came by, I instead said,
"It's great. Just great. Couldn't ask for anything better."
"That's excellent, Crys. I'm glad you're adapting so quickly. I'll leave to you to your shower then."
My cheeks burned and I started to growl as he wheeled out. Darn telepaths. Can't trust a one of them. Then I headed for the most expensive bathroom I had ever seen in my life.
~*~
After my shower, I just sort of moped around the Institute, not knowing what to do. I now sported a gray tee that read, 'I've always got a lot of bright ideas. Unfortunately for me, most of them dull within the hour.' Long, baggy grunge shorts were on my legs. All of the other kids knew one another, so I practically had no one. I mean, sure, I saw them on TV, but that doesn't mean I know them any better than their names, appearances and powers. To give it straight to you, I was lonely.
Deciding to spend some time working on my 'gift', as Chuck called it, I headed out to the garden. No one was there currently, as everyone was involved in a flag football game, except for Rogue who simply watched. Sitting down next to the flower bed Indian-style, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths in and out. I was supposed to wait for another one of me and Chuck's sessions, but I wasn't going to do anything big yet. Putting my hands on my knees, I carefully encased myself in water. Opening my eyes, the world looked clearer, as though I had put on huge glasses. This still amazed me.
Taking more deep breaths through the water like a fish with gills, I lifted a hand and pointed it up in the air. I tried to shoot some out to make a pattern, or at least something other than water in the air. Water rushed out of my finger as soon as I pushed so I lessened the amount of push I gave it. Slowly and cautiously, I began to make a design in midair. It was a still life picture of me chasing Kurt, then I changed it to Logan advancing on me with his claws out, and finally a picture of everyone at the Institute. It looked kind of weird drawn in water, but I was weird so it all worked out. Sighing, I drew the water back in but before I could stand up I heard a gasp behind me. Whipping around, I found that the others had abandoned their football game and came over to watch me. Even Rogue had a stunned expression on her face. I stood up and waited for an explanation. None came. Sighing again, I turned to go in.
"Vait!" I didn't even have to turn around to ask who it was.
"What do you want Kurt?" No answer came immediately. It took a couple of minutes. Just as I was going to go back inside, he said,
"I don't know if I speak for everyvun vhen I say, zat vas incredible, but I know I definitely speak for myself."
Surprised, I turned around to see everyone agreeing with him by the look on their faces.
"You mean, you don't think that was, I don't know, stupid?" Everyone quickly shook their heads. I couldn't believe this. Every time in my other universe when I did something out of the ordinary, people would shun me for it. Why would they accept me? Kurt spoke up again.
"Here at the Institute, vee don't really zink anyzing is stupid or strange, just different. Look at me for example. Vee accept people for who zey are, not vat they look like or the clothes zey wear. Vee accept everyvun." Speechless, I nodded. He smiled. "C'mon, let's go inside. It's past lunch. How could I have missed it? Now I vill starve! Starve do you hear me! Vee must go in now or I vill parish! I need nourishment! Come, grab hold, I vill get us all there before vee collapse on our feet!" He came up, grabbed my arm, and started dragging me toward the others.
"Kurt, let go," I whined. "Kurt, let go!" I said more forcefully. "KURT!" I yelled, a wall of water raising up behind me. Suddenly, I couldn't control it. It drenched Kurt and wouldn't let him get air. I couldn't stop it and felt panicky, which only made the situation worse. The water now tossed him around like a rag doll while the others watched, unable to do anything. He couldn't concentrate enough to teleport out. I looked on in horror as the energy was sucked out of him. Not knowing what else to do, I ran off into the woods. Everyone snapped out of it and went to help Kurt who was lying on the ground, motionless. By the time they realized I was gone, it was too late to stop me from fleeing deep into the forest, just like before.
~*~
I was scared. I had unintentionally hurt someone with these stupid powers that just popped out one day. What was going to happen? Were they going to send me back to my own universe and let me fend for myself? No, Chuck wouldn't do that. But then what would they do? I was certain they'd at least get Kurt to the medical wing first, then set off looking for me. But who would they send?
Anyone who would come after me might get hurt just like Kurt did. I didn't want to hurt more people. Would they send Logan, the team member with the super nose after me? He could probably withstand a couple of tsunamis, but what about the water I took from the air? It would make it harder for him to breathe. What then? Would he collapse?
"Way too many questions," I muttered.
Let me help you answer them Crystal. My head shot up.
"Who's there?"
I'm in your mind. I finally figured out who it was.
"Professor X?"
Or Chuck, as you so affectionately dubbed me.
"Yeah, about that," I started.
Don't worry, it's in your mind and therefore you have every right to call me that. Just don't say that in front of the other students.
"Speaking of other students, I suppose you want me to come back?"
That would be nice. Why did you run in the first place?
"Can't you read my mind? Or do you not want to so you don't feel like you're invading my privacy? Go right ahead, but I don't see what you're going to find that Scott and the others didn't already tell you. Just don't go any deeper than what you need to know."
If you insist, Crystal. But no one told me anything and I did not probe their minds. I believe they were in shock. Or maybe they wanted you to tell me. There was silence for a while.
"They didn't....tell you anything?"
I believe that's what I said.
"Well, technically, you didn't really say it, you know with the telepathic thing and all." He sent a mental picture of him giving me a stern look. I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, do you know what happened now?"
Yes, I do. It seems they went against my directions. Now I was confused.
"Huh?"
I told them that they should not provoke strong emotions within you, as you might hurt someone.
"So it's my fault, then."
I didn't say that. Actually, it's more their fault than yours. They knew the consequences and still went along with it. Kurt will be fine so there is no lasting harm done. Now, why don't you come back and we'll talk some more.
"I don't want to."
If you don't come back of your own free will, I'm afraid I'll have to force you. Magneto could try to kidnap you since you have no protection. It is far too dangerous to be out there by yourself.
"I can take care of myself! Besides, force me to come back? How are you going to do that? Send Badger out to scare me back? Just to tell you, I'm not afraid of him." I heard a sort of mental chuckle.
No, I'll simply enter your mind and tell your legs to move toward the mansion. Have you forgotten that I can control other people?
I gulped.
"I haven't forgotten, but, ummmm, I have a very strong mind! Yeah, that's it. Are you sure you could enter and, um, use it?" In response, my legs turned from where they were heading deeper into the woods back to the direction of the mansion. Not stopping, they proceeded to march. "Hey! I can walk on my own."
I'm afraid not Crys. When I entered your mind, I found that you would have run further into the woods had I not taken control of your lower half. I will maintain control of your legs until you are in my office, seated in a chair, and ready to talk.
"Great," I said to the open air. "I've got a very smart telepath controlling my legs and he's not letting go for a while. Could my life get any weirder?"
I think your life is already very weird, Crys. Of course, that's just a smart telepaths' opinion.
I groaned, for my mentor had just discovered sarcasm.
~*~
Along the way to Chuck's office, I tried many strategies to free myself or stop myself from moving. First, of course, I simply tried to stop my legs from moving. There was no response. It was like I knew that they were my legs, but I couldn't do anything to stop them. Next, I tried to hold onto something so I'd have to stop in order to not hurt myself. That didn't work either. My legs just kept moving, like the Energizer bunny or something.
You might as well give up Crys. I'm not letting go, as I said before, until you are seated in my office and ready to talk.
Finally accepting my fate, I stopped trying to not walk and let Chuck control my legs. As soon as I got there, he put me in a chair and locked the door. Logan was in the room too. I supposed he was there so I wouldn't try escape. Sighing, I said to him,
"Can't you understand 'alone time?' I don't want to talk to anybody right now." He shook his head solemnly.
"I'm sorry Crys, but we need to talk first. Then you can have 'alone time', as you call it. What exactly happened?"
"You went through my memories, don't you know?"
"I'm afraid that some of them were,a bit fuzzy, because of your emotional state."
"Emotional state? Please don't say you're going to send me to a counselor now." He shook his head again.
"So, you want to know what happened?"
"That I do, Crys. That I do."
"Okay." I took some deep breaths. "I was drawing designs in the air with water. I know I was supposed to wait for our sessions, but it was small and I didn't think it would lead to anything. When I was done, I got up and found that everyone was watching me. They all said that my 'water-art', which I think was crappy, was really good. Then Kurt said we should go inside for lunch. He came up and grabbed my arm then started to walk over to the others so he could teleport us in. I kept trying to get him to let go, but he wouldn't. Finally I got so mad that my powers went out of control and I knocked him unconscious with a tsunami. I didn't know what else to do, so I ran and ended up in the woods. That's when you started to talk to me." Chuck seemed to take in this information for a while.
"I will not hold you responsible for this incident, and we will both have a talk with Kurt when he regains consciousness. After that, you must try and control your emotions. Everyone will be careful with you so you will not go out of control again. But I am very disappointed in you for the use of your powers before you were ready. However, might I see some of this 'water-art?'"
"Let me see if I heard you right. This is what started the whole thing, and now you want me to do it again? Maybe telepaths truly are just crazy people who hear voices."
He chuckled.
"But if you insist," I said. Slowly, I encased my body in water once again, careful not to get the chair wet. Lifting a hand, I pointed it to the ceiling. Pushing just a little bit, some water came out and formed a life-size replica of Logan, standing right next to the real one in the same position. Every time Logan moved, the water moved. I could manipulate it to make funny faces and basically whatever I wanted. A twinkle settled in Chuck's eyes as he watched Logan and water-Logan snarl at me.
"Interesting, very interesting indeed."
"Kurt?" I croaked out to the blue figure on the ceiling. He smiled.
"Ja, Cryees, it's me. Vhat, did you expect Logan?"
"No, I don't think Badger would come in my room if you paid him. Besides, what are you doing here?" I asked. He seemed to be thinking for a minute, then replied,
"It could be zee fact zat it's 10:00 in the morning and you're still asleep, or it could be zat I just like annoying you."
Groaning, then realizing the meaning of his words, I shot up straight up in bed.
"10:00!? And no one woke me up!? Please tell me there's no school today. Did I miss breakfast? Well, that's a stupid question, of course I missed breakfast, what kind of person eats after 10:00, unless they're eating lunch."
Before I could babble further however, Kurt interrupted.
"Calm down, it's a Saturday, don't vorry. Besides, you aren't even enrolled at Bayville High yet. You can get somezing to eat when you get up." I relaxed. Then tensed.
"If it's a Saturday, then why didn't you let me SLEEP IN LONGER AND WHY ARE YOU IN MY ROOM?!"
He grinned sheepishly.
"I zought you vanted to have some fun?" he asked weakly. I started to growl.
"Kurt, I'm giving you five seconds to get out of my room. One. Two."
"Vat are you going to do?"
"Three. Four."
"Creeystal?"
"FIVE!" I yelled. Immediately I started to shoot water blasts at the ceiling where he was. Quickly he teleported out of the way down onto the floor and started running for the door. I created a wall of water straight in front of him so he ran into it. Falling down, he lost his bearings for a second. I stood over him and smirked. A massive water ball was forming in my hand. He panicked and bamfed into the hallway. Throwing open the door, I proceeded to chase him throughout the mansion riding a tidal wave, putting up water walls and shooting blasts at him.
"FUZZBALL! COME BACK YOU COWARD AND FIGHT LIKE A.... LIKE A... WELL I DON'T KNOW WHAT LIKE BUT YOU BETTER COME OUT!" At this point I was livid and almost out of energy, so I collapsed onto the couch in the rec room. Done with my rampage and unable to go back to sleep, I decided to get back up and go to the kitchen. Along the way, I cleaned up all the water spills that I had made, swearing to myself that I would get Kurt back.
Trudging into the kitchen wearily, I sighed and opened the fridge searching for food. Spying a plate of scrambled eggs in the back that didn't yet have mold on it, I yanked it out and stuck it in the microwave. When it was done, I pulled it out and set it down on the table. As I began to eat, I looked out the window to see what everybody actually did on the weekends. Kurt and Evan were playing Frisbee. Scott and Jean were standing off to the side having a serious (not) conversation. Rogue was sitting on a bench looking as secluded as ever. Kitty was sprawled out on her stomach on the grass typing on her laptop.
"You people actually get up this early on the weekends? And you say I'm weird," I muttered to myself.
"Talkin' to yer' self is weird, Tidepool. Don't ya' know that?" came Logan's voice from the doorway. I jumped. Turning to him, I said,
"Do you always loom? Or is it just for me? Because if it is, I feel honored, Badger."
He snarled at me and came closer. His gaze shifted to what I had been looking at.
"Why don't ya' go out an' join em'?" he asked curiously. I smirked.
"You really wanna hear all my reasons? I'm pissed at Kurt, it's a long story which you don't want to hear. Jean's too 'touchy-feely everything'll be all right' kinda person. Scott's too leaderish and high-strung. Evan is obsessed with skating, of which I know nothing and says 'man' too much. Kitty can't say a whole sentence without the word like. Rogue has way too much attitude. Did I miss anyone?" He smirked and replied,
"No, I think ya' got em' all. But ya' don't want ta' sit 'round here doing nothin', and I take it Chuck says ya' can't go ta' the Danger Room yet."
"Bingo, give that badger a dog biscuit."
"Tell ya' what. Ya' stop with the sarcasm an' I'll spare ya' a long and painful session in the Danger Room when yer' allowed in there." Pretending to think about this, I stroked my chin in mock thought.
"Hmmmmm. How about this. There's this thing; it's the opposite of yes. Do you know what it is?" I asked. He snarled and started coming closer to me. I could tell that he was serious.
"Ya' know what? I don't wanna wait till the Danger Room. I think I'm gonna knock yer' teeth out right now."
I gulped and sprang up from my seat. Trying desperate measures, I glanced at nothing over his shoulder and yelled out,
"Hey Professor X!" His expression changed to one of fear and he whipped around. When he saw that no one was there, he turned on me again. But by that time, I was long gone up to the bathroom connected to my bedroom.
~*~
Closing my door and locking it(like locks are going to keep mutants out), I collapsed on my bed again. Then I had a sudden craving for water. Getting up, I loped over to the bathroom and opened the door. Looking in, I gasped. The whole place was made of marble. Every single thing. There was a button in the wall that I didn't know the purpose of. I supposed it was for if you had an emergency. But who has emergencies in the bathroom?
Trotting to the sink, I spied a glass used for gargling when brushing your teeth. Filling it up multiple times, I downed about a gallon of water in one minute. Weird, I thought. Why am I so thirsty? Shrugging and turning back to my room, I looked for the dresser. Seeing it on the other side of the room, I went over and glanced through the clothing. Amazingly, the clothes were just the kind I would wear. Long and baggy.
"Maybe Rogue finally showed these people what Hot Topic is," I mused. "Or maybe they just know. Dum, dum, duuuuuuuuum, dramatic reverb."
"Or maybe they read your mind," said a voice from my doorway. Temporarily losing control because I was shocked, I started dripping. Cursing, I turned to see who was there while sucking the water back in. I also wanted to know how they opened the door when I had locked it. Chuck. Crap.
"Ummmm. Hey Professor X. How's it hanging? This isn't about Badg--- Logan, is it? Listen I can explain, well maybe I can't explain, but----"
"Calm down, Crystal, I don't know anything about any incident with Logan, but maybe I should find out by the way you're acting," he said with a smile on his face. I tensed up and said hurriedly,
"No, that's okay, really Professor. By the way, how did you open the door if I had it locked?"
His smile grew wider.
"I have a key to every room in the mansion, Crys. I must be prepared." I groaned and thought, Great, that means no privacy. "I just came by to see how you're doing, and how you like the Institute." Thinking, Well I was gonna take a shower till somebody came by, I instead said,
"It's great. Just great. Couldn't ask for anything better."
"That's excellent, Crys. I'm glad you're adapting so quickly. I'll leave to you to your shower then."
My cheeks burned and I started to growl as he wheeled out. Darn telepaths. Can't trust a one of them. Then I headed for the most expensive bathroom I had ever seen in my life.
~*~
After my shower, I just sort of moped around the Institute, not knowing what to do. I now sported a gray tee that read, 'I've always got a lot of bright ideas. Unfortunately for me, most of them dull within the hour.' Long, baggy grunge shorts were on my legs. All of the other kids knew one another, so I practically had no one. I mean, sure, I saw them on TV, but that doesn't mean I know them any better than their names, appearances and powers. To give it straight to you, I was lonely.
Deciding to spend some time working on my 'gift', as Chuck called it, I headed out to the garden. No one was there currently, as everyone was involved in a flag football game, except for Rogue who simply watched. Sitting down next to the flower bed Indian-style, I closed my eyes and took deep breaths in and out. I was supposed to wait for another one of me and Chuck's sessions, but I wasn't going to do anything big yet. Putting my hands on my knees, I carefully encased myself in water. Opening my eyes, the world looked clearer, as though I had put on huge glasses. This still amazed me.
Taking more deep breaths through the water like a fish with gills, I lifted a hand and pointed it up in the air. I tried to shoot some out to make a pattern, or at least something other than water in the air. Water rushed out of my finger as soon as I pushed so I lessened the amount of push I gave it. Slowly and cautiously, I began to make a design in midair. It was a still life picture of me chasing Kurt, then I changed it to Logan advancing on me with his claws out, and finally a picture of everyone at the Institute. It looked kind of weird drawn in water, but I was weird so it all worked out. Sighing, I drew the water back in but before I could stand up I heard a gasp behind me. Whipping around, I found that the others had abandoned their football game and came over to watch me. Even Rogue had a stunned expression on her face. I stood up and waited for an explanation. None came. Sighing again, I turned to go in.
"Vait!" I didn't even have to turn around to ask who it was.
"What do you want Kurt?" No answer came immediately. It took a couple of minutes. Just as I was going to go back inside, he said,
"I don't know if I speak for everyvun vhen I say, zat vas incredible, but I know I definitely speak for myself."
Surprised, I turned around to see everyone agreeing with him by the look on their faces.
"You mean, you don't think that was, I don't know, stupid?" Everyone quickly shook their heads. I couldn't believe this. Every time in my other universe when I did something out of the ordinary, people would shun me for it. Why would they accept me? Kurt spoke up again.
"Here at the Institute, vee don't really zink anyzing is stupid or strange, just different. Look at me for example. Vee accept people for who zey are, not vat they look like or the clothes zey wear. Vee accept everyvun." Speechless, I nodded. He smiled. "C'mon, let's go inside. It's past lunch. How could I have missed it? Now I vill starve! Starve do you hear me! Vee must go in now or I vill parish! I need nourishment! Come, grab hold, I vill get us all there before vee collapse on our feet!" He came up, grabbed my arm, and started dragging me toward the others.
"Kurt, let go," I whined. "Kurt, let go!" I said more forcefully. "KURT!" I yelled, a wall of water raising up behind me. Suddenly, I couldn't control it. It drenched Kurt and wouldn't let him get air. I couldn't stop it and felt panicky, which only made the situation worse. The water now tossed him around like a rag doll while the others watched, unable to do anything. He couldn't concentrate enough to teleport out. I looked on in horror as the energy was sucked out of him. Not knowing what else to do, I ran off into the woods. Everyone snapped out of it and went to help Kurt who was lying on the ground, motionless. By the time they realized I was gone, it was too late to stop me from fleeing deep into the forest, just like before.
~*~
I was scared. I had unintentionally hurt someone with these stupid powers that just popped out one day. What was going to happen? Were they going to send me back to my own universe and let me fend for myself? No, Chuck wouldn't do that. But then what would they do? I was certain they'd at least get Kurt to the medical wing first, then set off looking for me. But who would they send?
Anyone who would come after me might get hurt just like Kurt did. I didn't want to hurt more people. Would they send Logan, the team member with the super nose after me? He could probably withstand a couple of tsunamis, but what about the water I took from the air? It would make it harder for him to breathe. What then? Would he collapse?
"Way too many questions," I muttered.
Let me help you answer them Crystal. My head shot up.
"Who's there?"
I'm in your mind. I finally figured out who it was.
"Professor X?"
Or Chuck, as you so affectionately dubbed me.
"Yeah, about that," I started.
Don't worry, it's in your mind and therefore you have every right to call me that. Just don't say that in front of the other students.
"Speaking of other students, I suppose you want me to come back?"
That would be nice. Why did you run in the first place?
"Can't you read my mind? Or do you not want to so you don't feel like you're invading my privacy? Go right ahead, but I don't see what you're going to find that Scott and the others didn't already tell you. Just don't go any deeper than what you need to know."
If you insist, Crystal. But no one told me anything and I did not probe their minds. I believe they were in shock. Or maybe they wanted you to tell me. There was silence for a while.
"They didn't....tell you anything?"
I believe that's what I said.
"Well, technically, you didn't really say it, you know with the telepathic thing and all." He sent a mental picture of him giving me a stern look. I rolled my eyes. "Anyway, do you know what happened now?"
Yes, I do. It seems they went against my directions. Now I was confused.
"Huh?"
I told them that they should not provoke strong emotions within you, as you might hurt someone.
"So it's my fault, then."
I didn't say that. Actually, it's more their fault than yours. They knew the consequences and still went along with it. Kurt will be fine so there is no lasting harm done. Now, why don't you come back and we'll talk some more.
"I don't want to."
If you don't come back of your own free will, I'm afraid I'll have to force you. Magneto could try to kidnap you since you have no protection. It is far too dangerous to be out there by yourself.
"I can take care of myself! Besides, force me to come back? How are you going to do that? Send Badger out to scare me back? Just to tell you, I'm not afraid of him." I heard a sort of mental chuckle.
No, I'll simply enter your mind and tell your legs to move toward the mansion. Have you forgotten that I can control other people?
I gulped.
"I haven't forgotten, but, ummmm, I have a very strong mind! Yeah, that's it. Are you sure you could enter and, um, use it?" In response, my legs turned from where they were heading deeper into the woods back to the direction of the mansion. Not stopping, they proceeded to march. "Hey! I can walk on my own."
I'm afraid not Crys. When I entered your mind, I found that you would have run further into the woods had I not taken control of your lower half. I will maintain control of your legs until you are in my office, seated in a chair, and ready to talk.
"Great," I said to the open air. "I've got a very smart telepath controlling my legs and he's not letting go for a while. Could my life get any weirder?"
I think your life is already very weird, Crys. Of course, that's just a smart telepaths' opinion.
I groaned, for my mentor had just discovered sarcasm.
~*~
Along the way to Chuck's office, I tried many strategies to free myself or stop myself from moving. First, of course, I simply tried to stop my legs from moving. There was no response. It was like I knew that they were my legs, but I couldn't do anything to stop them. Next, I tried to hold onto something so I'd have to stop in order to not hurt myself. That didn't work either. My legs just kept moving, like the Energizer bunny or something.
You might as well give up Crys. I'm not letting go, as I said before, until you are seated in my office and ready to talk.
Finally accepting my fate, I stopped trying to not walk and let Chuck control my legs. As soon as I got there, he put me in a chair and locked the door. Logan was in the room too. I supposed he was there so I wouldn't try escape. Sighing, I said to him,
"Can't you understand 'alone time?' I don't want to talk to anybody right now." He shook his head solemnly.
"I'm sorry Crys, but we need to talk first. Then you can have 'alone time', as you call it. What exactly happened?"
"You went through my memories, don't you know?"
"I'm afraid that some of them were,a bit fuzzy, because of your emotional state."
"Emotional state? Please don't say you're going to send me to a counselor now." He shook his head again.
"So, you want to know what happened?"
"That I do, Crys. That I do."
"Okay." I took some deep breaths. "I was drawing designs in the air with water. I know I was supposed to wait for our sessions, but it was small and I didn't think it would lead to anything. When I was done, I got up and found that everyone was watching me. They all said that my 'water-art', which I think was crappy, was really good. Then Kurt said we should go inside for lunch. He came up and grabbed my arm then started to walk over to the others so he could teleport us in. I kept trying to get him to let go, but he wouldn't. Finally I got so mad that my powers went out of control and I knocked him unconscious with a tsunami. I didn't know what else to do, so I ran and ended up in the woods. That's when you started to talk to me." Chuck seemed to take in this information for a while.
"I will not hold you responsible for this incident, and we will both have a talk with Kurt when he regains consciousness. After that, you must try and control your emotions. Everyone will be careful with you so you will not go out of control again. But I am very disappointed in you for the use of your powers before you were ready. However, might I see some of this 'water-art?'"
"Let me see if I heard you right. This is what started the whole thing, and now you want me to do it again? Maybe telepaths truly are just crazy people who hear voices."
He chuckled.
"But if you insist," I said. Slowly, I encased my body in water once again, careful not to get the chair wet. Lifting a hand, I pointed it to the ceiling. Pushing just a little bit, some water came out and formed a life-size replica of Logan, standing right next to the real one in the same position. Every time Logan moved, the water moved. I could manipulate it to make funny faces and basically whatever I wanted. A twinkle settled in Chuck's eyes as he watched Logan and water-Logan snarl at me.
"Interesting, very interesting indeed."
