Dustkan, now Dustin, sighed as he followed the man in the wheelchair into
the house. He was glad to get out of the rain and into the warmth of the
lobby. He heard his luggage being brought in behind him, but didn't bother
to turn around. Instead he stood patiently and waited as the man spoke to
him.
"I am Professor Xavier, welcome to the Institute for Gifted Youngsters." The man said. "I hope you will be able to find your way around here with few problems."
"My other senses are far beyond even an animal's. We have adapted to overcome our disability Professor. I will have no problems."
"That's good to hear." Xavier said. "Now, it's late and I'm sure you have had a busy day. Introductions will have to wait until tomorrow, until then I will have someone show you to your room."
"Thank you."
_Scott, please come to the lobby._ Xavier requested.
_On my way._ He heard Scott reply.
"Before you meet any of the students you should decide how to explain your powers to them. Maybe even choose only one to use as your 'mutant' power." Xavier suggested to the thirteen year old in front of him.
"And what do you suggest Professor? I have many abilities." Dustin questioned.
"I'm afraid that's your choice, not mine."
Before Dustin could reply he heard someone come down the stairs. He turned his senses toward the new person. He heard heavy steps and decided the other person was probably tall and muscular. The smell of cologne told him it was a male and probably at least a teenager.
"You wanted me Professor?" The newcomer asked.
"Yes, Scott I'd like you to meet a new student, Dustin Tal. Dustin, this is Scott Summers." Xavier introduced them. "Scott, I'd like you to show Dustin to one of the empty rooms and take his luggage as well."
"Sure thing Professor." Scott said and walked down the rest of the stairs and to Dustin's luggage. After a moment of silence Scott spoke up. "Professor, did you okay a pet?"
"That--."
Xavier quickly cut Dustin off. "Yes, this is a special case."
Scott shrugged and picked up the bags. As he did his eyes kept drifting over to Dustin. The young boy had vibrant purple hair that was darker than usual due to being soaked. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses that hid his eyes. His black cloak was dripping water that explained why the boy was slightly shivering.
Scott quickly looked away as the boy turned his head towards him. He lifted the animal carrier as well as the suitcase and walked back toward the stairs. He heard the Professor and Dustin exchange polite good nights before the boy followed him up the stairs. Silence followed them up the stairs and down the hall as Scott got the feeling Dustin wasn't going to be the one to strike up a conversation. The older boy decided to change that.
"So, Dustin, where are you from?" Scott asked.
Dustin sighed. "Far away, that is all I can tell you."
"Okaaay...how old are you?"
"Thirteen. Look, if you do not mind I would prefer to save the interrogation until tomorrow. I have had a long trip and I wish nothing more than sleep." Dustin said, very politely and with more eloquence than most adults had.
"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to interrogate you." Scott apologized quickly.
"I understand your curiosity."
Scott laughed a little at that. "You sure you're thirteen? You sound much, much older."
"Afraid that is my upbringing showing through." Dustin said sheepishly. "My family believes highly in starting education at a very young age."
"I see. "
Dustin was relieved when Scott didn't ask anymore questions. He didn't want to seem rude to his new housemate, but as he told the older boy he was really tired and just wanted some peace and quiet for a while not to mention a change of clothes and a warm bed.
"Alright, this will be your room. If you need anything I'll be across the hall and there are others on both sides of you." Scott said as he stopped and opened the door.
He carried Dustin's things inside and carefully set the pet carrier on the floor beside the suitcase. Scott turned to leave, but stopped, his curiosity got the better of him. He had a question he just had to have answered.
"What's with the glasses? Do you have optic blasts like I do?" Scott asked.
"No. My whole family is cursed, by whom I cannot tell you." Dustin started to explain and then paused, wondering if he really should go on. _Oh well, might as well tell him._ He thought. "We are all blind."
"Blind?" Scott repeated. "But, you followed me up the stairs without a problem and you didn't run into anything."
"We have developed super senses to compensate." Dustin explained. "For instance, I can tell you are tall and muscular by the weight in your footsteps...I would assume you are not overweight as Professor Xavier does not seem like the kind of man that would allow his students to become overweight. Before you spoke I knew you were male by the smell of your cologne. I can also tell you are older than me, probably around 18 or so."
"Wow, I'm 18 exactly. You might as well not be blind at all with senses like that." Scott said in amazement. For a moment he saw pain in the younger boys expression, but it was quickly gone.
"I am not the kind of person to allow a disability to keep me down." Dustin replied. "My parents and Durah taught me better than that."
Scott frowned. "Durah?"
"Oh, um...that is what we call our...teachers where I am from." Dustin explained quickly. "Now, if you would be so kind I really would like to change into some warm clothes and get some sleep."
"Oh, right, sorry." Scott said sheepishly. "Well, I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, good night."
"Good night."
Dustin listened as Scott left. As soon as the door closed his carefully schooled expression fell into one of sadness. True to his word Dustin did not allow his blindness to keep him down, but that didn't mean it didn't make him sad. Scott didn't seem to understand that there was more to seeing than just knowing where things are so as not to bump into them. Dustin would never see the red of a beautiful rose, or the pure whiteness of snow. He would never see a smile on anyone's face or what someone truly looked like. And he could never look his love in the eyes and say "I love you".
"Are you going to let me out of here now?" A voice spoke from behind Dustin.
Dustin turned around and kneeled where he heard Scott put the pet carrier. He pulled on the latch and opened the door before reaching in and withdrawing a small silver furred cat. Well, it looked like a silver cat, but Dustin knew the truth as did Xavier whom had been informed of the significance of the cat.
"Sorry Okai." He apologized as he stroked the soft fur of the animal. "Hey, at least you did not get soaked to the bone."
"You should change before you catch cold." The cat scolded.
Dustin rolled his eyes, though his sunglasses hid the action, and put the cat on the floor. He then turned to his suitcase and felt around the different bags, feeling the inscriptions of what was within. He finally found the bag with his nightclothes in it and pulled it out. He quickly changed while briefly wondering exactly what his nightclothes looked like. When he was done he found the bed, somehow knowing where it was in the room, and threw the covers back.
"Going to join me Okai, or find someplace else to sleep?" Dustin asked.
"You know very well that I will sleep up in that bed with you." Okai replied.
The young boy smiled to himself as he slid under the soft sheets and felt Okai jump on the bed with him. The silver cat snuggled up against his side and began purring. The soft sound and vibration always soothed Dustin and helped him to fall asleep after hard days. He pulled his sunglasses off and put them on the nightstand beside the bed.
"Dusty, the light." Okai reminded the boy.
"Oh, right."
He reached up and clicked the bedside lamp off. He then settled into the bed and threw one arm over the soft silver cat beside him. Instantly the soft vibrations of her purring calmed his mind to a slow rumble. He sighed softly and allowed the sound of his cat's purrs to sing him into peaceful slumber.
"I am Professor Xavier, welcome to the Institute for Gifted Youngsters." The man said. "I hope you will be able to find your way around here with few problems."
"My other senses are far beyond even an animal's. We have adapted to overcome our disability Professor. I will have no problems."
"That's good to hear." Xavier said. "Now, it's late and I'm sure you have had a busy day. Introductions will have to wait until tomorrow, until then I will have someone show you to your room."
"Thank you."
_Scott, please come to the lobby._ Xavier requested.
_On my way._ He heard Scott reply.
"Before you meet any of the students you should decide how to explain your powers to them. Maybe even choose only one to use as your 'mutant' power." Xavier suggested to the thirteen year old in front of him.
"And what do you suggest Professor? I have many abilities." Dustin questioned.
"I'm afraid that's your choice, not mine."
Before Dustin could reply he heard someone come down the stairs. He turned his senses toward the new person. He heard heavy steps and decided the other person was probably tall and muscular. The smell of cologne told him it was a male and probably at least a teenager.
"You wanted me Professor?" The newcomer asked.
"Yes, Scott I'd like you to meet a new student, Dustin Tal. Dustin, this is Scott Summers." Xavier introduced them. "Scott, I'd like you to show Dustin to one of the empty rooms and take his luggage as well."
"Sure thing Professor." Scott said and walked down the rest of the stairs and to Dustin's luggage. After a moment of silence Scott spoke up. "Professor, did you okay a pet?"
"That--."
Xavier quickly cut Dustin off. "Yes, this is a special case."
Scott shrugged and picked up the bags. As he did his eyes kept drifting over to Dustin. The young boy had vibrant purple hair that was darker than usual due to being soaked. He wore a pair of dark sunglasses that hid his eyes. His black cloak was dripping water that explained why the boy was slightly shivering.
Scott quickly looked away as the boy turned his head towards him. He lifted the animal carrier as well as the suitcase and walked back toward the stairs. He heard the Professor and Dustin exchange polite good nights before the boy followed him up the stairs. Silence followed them up the stairs and down the hall as Scott got the feeling Dustin wasn't going to be the one to strike up a conversation. The older boy decided to change that.
"So, Dustin, where are you from?" Scott asked.
Dustin sighed. "Far away, that is all I can tell you."
"Okaaay...how old are you?"
"Thirteen. Look, if you do not mind I would prefer to save the interrogation until tomorrow. I have had a long trip and I wish nothing more than sleep." Dustin said, very politely and with more eloquence than most adults had.
"Oh, sorry I didn't mean to interrogate you." Scott apologized quickly.
"I understand your curiosity."
Scott laughed a little at that. "You sure you're thirteen? You sound much, much older."
"Afraid that is my upbringing showing through." Dustin said sheepishly. "My family believes highly in starting education at a very young age."
"I see. "
Dustin was relieved when Scott didn't ask anymore questions. He didn't want to seem rude to his new housemate, but as he told the older boy he was really tired and just wanted some peace and quiet for a while not to mention a change of clothes and a warm bed.
"Alright, this will be your room. If you need anything I'll be across the hall and there are others on both sides of you." Scott said as he stopped and opened the door.
He carried Dustin's things inside and carefully set the pet carrier on the floor beside the suitcase. Scott turned to leave, but stopped, his curiosity got the better of him. He had a question he just had to have answered.
"What's with the glasses? Do you have optic blasts like I do?" Scott asked.
"No. My whole family is cursed, by whom I cannot tell you." Dustin started to explain and then paused, wondering if he really should go on. _Oh well, might as well tell him._ He thought. "We are all blind."
"Blind?" Scott repeated. "But, you followed me up the stairs without a problem and you didn't run into anything."
"We have developed super senses to compensate." Dustin explained. "For instance, I can tell you are tall and muscular by the weight in your footsteps...I would assume you are not overweight as Professor Xavier does not seem like the kind of man that would allow his students to become overweight. Before you spoke I knew you were male by the smell of your cologne. I can also tell you are older than me, probably around 18 or so."
"Wow, I'm 18 exactly. You might as well not be blind at all with senses like that." Scott said in amazement. For a moment he saw pain in the younger boys expression, but it was quickly gone.
"I am not the kind of person to allow a disability to keep me down." Dustin replied. "My parents and Durah taught me better than that."
Scott frowned. "Durah?"
"Oh, um...that is what we call our...teachers where I am from." Dustin explained quickly. "Now, if you would be so kind I really would like to change into some warm clothes and get some sleep."
"Oh, right, sorry." Scott said sheepishly. "Well, I'll see you in the morning."
"Yes, good night."
"Good night."
Dustin listened as Scott left. As soon as the door closed his carefully schooled expression fell into one of sadness. True to his word Dustin did not allow his blindness to keep him down, but that didn't mean it didn't make him sad. Scott didn't seem to understand that there was more to seeing than just knowing where things are so as not to bump into them. Dustin would never see the red of a beautiful rose, or the pure whiteness of snow. He would never see a smile on anyone's face or what someone truly looked like. And he could never look his love in the eyes and say "I love you".
"Are you going to let me out of here now?" A voice spoke from behind Dustin.
Dustin turned around and kneeled where he heard Scott put the pet carrier. He pulled on the latch and opened the door before reaching in and withdrawing a small silver furred cat. Well, it looked like a silver cat, but Dustin knew the truth as did Xavier whom had been informed of the significance of the cat.
"Sorry Okai." He apologized as he stroked the soft fur of the animal. "Hey, at least you did not get soaked to the bone."
"You should change before you catch cold." The cat scolded.
Dustin rolled his eyes, though his sunglasses hid the action, and put the cat on the floor. He then turned to his suitcase and felt around the different bags, feeling the inscriptions of what was within. He finally found the bag with his nightclothes in it and pulled it out. He quickly changed while briefly wondering exactly what his nightclothes looked like. When he was done he found the bed, somehow knowing where it was in the room, and threw the covers back.
"Going to join me Okai, or find someplace else to sleep?" Dustin asked.
"You know very well that I will sleep up in that bed with you." Okai replied.
The young boy smiled to himself as he slid under the soft sheets and felt Okai jump on the bed with him. The silver cat snuggled up against his side and began purring. The soft sound and vibration always soothed Dustin and helped him to fall asleep after hard days. He pulled his sunglasses off and put them on the nightstand beside the bed.
"Dusty, the light." Okai reminded the boy.
"Oh, right."
He reached up and clicked the bedside lamp off. He then settled into the bed and threw one arm over the soft silver cat beside him. Instantly the soft vibrations of her purring calmed his mind to a slow rumble. He sighed softly and allowed the sound of his cat's purrs to sing him into peaceful slumber.