Cipher's Elegy

By Cypher

Chapter One: Arrival

It was a beautiful day at the Xavier Institute for the Gifted. The sun was out, the grass was green, and there was just the slightest breeze that helped keep the grounds cool and pleasant. Some mutants, such as Jean Grey, opted to read in the shade of one of the many trees on the property. Others, such as Bobby Drake, Kitty Pryde, and others had started a free-for-all football game. And some mutants, like Rouge and Ororo, had decided to just relax in a bathing suit, getting the last bit of their summer tan before summer vanished completely.

The instructors of the Institute, namely Hank McCoy, was pseudo-coaching the football game, while also trying not to cave in to the urge to play with them. He understood what the kids were going through: the school year was going to begin in just a few days, and they were getting in the last bit of summer recreation before they were bogged down with school work.

The other instructor, and some would argue baby-sitter, was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching everyone with his perpetual scowl. The Professor had instructed him, Logan, to help Scott Summers in becoming a stronger leader, as well as watching over the mansion while he was away. The last thing they wanted was a repeat of the last time Scott was placed in charge: him being stranded miles away while the others threw a party. Fortunately, no one seemed to have a party on their mind. However, in this particular instance, having Scott nearby was a severe annoyance.

"Why can't it be one of your rooms?"

Mainly because a certain blue-furred elf-eared little mutant had been neurotic since the Professor had left. Logan growled none too gently.

Scott glanced at the feral mutant and moved a little farther away, just out of arm's reach. "Kurt, it's not like it was an easy choice. Besides, most of the new mutants have to share a room."

"But why do I have to give up my privacy? Why not Spyke? He was the last guy to join the X-Men." Kurt's holographic blue eyes skimmed the field behind him, where Spyke had just tackled Rahne, only to yelp as she transformed into her canine form and slipped out of his grasp. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind a roommate."

"The Professor made his decision mainly, I think, due to your ethnicity."

Kurt's head snapped back and his tail swished back and forth. "My ethnicity?"

Scott shrugged and put his hands in his pockets. "All I understood was that the Professor thought the new mutant would like someone who could speak another language. Since you're the only one fluent in German and English..."

"And what if the new mutant doesn't like me, huh? What if we hate each other from the start?"

Scott sighed and looked up to the sky. "Your duty is to not hate him. You're one of the older students and have to set an example. More students are going to be coming in, and we have to make them feel welcome."

Kurt crossed his arms and tapped his foot against the ground. "Then give up your room. I rather like my privacy. And in case you've forgotten," he deactivated his holo-imager momentarily, "most people are afraid of my original form. I doubt he'll want to sleep with a mutant who looks like a demon, especially if he's religious."

"Actually, he's not." Professor Xavier rolled his wheelchair between Scott and Kurt and steepled his hands together. "He's more shy than anything, and Kurt, I didn't think you would mind this much."

"Well, I--that is--it's just--"

Xavier held up his hand. "It's alright, you're welcome to your opinion. However," he glanced back at the steps of the institute, as the new mutant stepped outside, "he will still be staying with you, and I would like you to make him feel welcome. I think you'll find he's more pleasant than you think."

Kurt sighed as his body slumped. "Ja, Professor."

Meanwhile, Hank McCoy was looking over the new student that had just arrived. He's going to be turning more than a few heads, both here and at the high school. Indeed, this mutant, Douglas Ramsey, I believe the Professor said, was somewhat lanky, but had enough muscles to show he worked out at least a little bit, giving him a handsome physique that even, he noted, Jean Grey was eyeing. He was fairly tall, and his head was adorned with short blond hair, which he'd left in a slightly chaotic state, having bits of it sticking out, giving him a rugged look.

Hank felt himself being looked over, and locked eyes with Douglas. He had deep blue eyes, darker than he had seen in any student before. It complimented his hair, not to mention his fair skin tone, quite nicely. Guess I should introduce myself. Avoiding Bobby as he jumped up to catch the ball, Hank worked his way over and stood before the new student. He wasn't surprised when Douglas took a step back. "Hello. Welcome to the Xavier Institute."

Douglas blinked. "Uh..."

Hank extended his hand, such as it was. "I'm Hank McCoy, one of the instructors here."

Douglas glanced from Hank's hand to Hank's face. Swallowing, he shook it. "N-nice to meet you."

"I assure you, I don't bite."

Douglas blinked again, then cracked a small smile. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be reacting like this. It's just, well," he eyed Hank's hairy body, "I didn't know there were mutants with such...extreme physical alterations."

"You'll find there are all sorts of mutants here."

"Mr. McCoy, look out!"

Hank looked up in time to see Kitty phase right through him and crash into Douglas. He closed his eyes. Great first impression.

Douglas groaned and pushed himself up onto his elbows.

"Eh heh, like, sorry about that." Kitty sat up and looked over Douglas. "Oh! You're the new guy."

Douglas shook his head and rotated his arm. "Damn, that smarted." He looked up to finally see who had crashed into him, only to stare at the girl on top of him.

"Hey Kitty! What's the hold up?"

Kitty stood and smiled at Douglas. "Again, sorry. I'll meet with you later, kay?" She turned and tossed the ball to Spyke, jogging back to the field.

Douglas laid there for a few minutes, just staring after her.

"Are you alright?"

Douglas snapped out of his revere and nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine." He pushed himself off the ground and dusted himself off. "Who...was that?"

"Kitty Pryde, also known as Shadowcat around here." Hank stepped aside as Xavier came forward.

Douglas furrowed his brow a moment. "Oh, you mean like a code name?"

"Yes, exactly." The Professor looked over his shoulder.

Scott grumbled as he pushed on Kurt's back. "Come on, Kurt. Get moving."

Kurt shoved back. "No way. I don't want to meet him."

"You're going to whether you want to or not."

Kurt growled and teleported into a nearby tree.

Scott, having lost his counterweight, slammed into the ground. He sputtered and glared around the yard. When I get my hands on him-

"Scott, have you met our latest addition?" Xavier gave the teenager a warning look.

Scott stood and looked at the grass stains on his shirt. Great. He strode over and nodded at Douglas. "Scott Summers. I'm also called-"

"Cyclops. The Professor told me about you." Douglas bowed his head momentarily. "Nice to meet you."

"Ditto. I was trying to find your roommate, but he seems to have...vanished."

Douglas shrugged. "That's alright. I'm sure me intruding into his life is a problem. Lord knows this is going to be awkward for me." He spotted a man scowling and leaning against the wall. "Who's he?"

"That's Logan."

"Wolverine? The one you warned me to stay away from?" Douglas rubbed his wrist.

Xavier bobbed his head once. "For the first few training sessions, yes. He has a temper, but he does care for the students."

Douglas, intimidated by the glare Logan was giving, turned around and looked over the field, where most of the mutants were playing. His gaze lingered on Kitty a little longer than the others, before he looked at the mansion.

Scott furrowed his brow and crossed his arms. "Is he okay, Professor?"

Xavier folded his hands together and nodded. "It's just a lot to adjust to." He closed his eyes momentarily, briefly attempting to pick up any thoughts or emotions from the new mutant. Odd. He can't be blocking me, but I can't sense him... He opened his eyes. "Well, why don't you show him to his room. Kurt's there, so perhaps you can finally introduce them."

Scott rolled his eyes, not that anyone could see behind his ruby glasses. "I doubt it. Kurt's pretty upset about sharing his room." Nonetheless, he strolled over to Douglas and put an arm around his shoulder. "So, why don't we go see if your room's ready..."

~*()*~

Kurt Wagner, also known as Nightcrawler, was not a happy mutant. Normally he wasn't very happy due to the fact that his appearance made him an outcast among humans and mutants alike. However, even though his demonic appearance upset him, he could always retreat to the solitude of his room, where he could drop all facades and be himself. He could cry, glare, pout, yell, he once even smashed his mirror. No one knew what hells he had been through, what torments still haunted him.

No one, except the Professor. Xavier had helped Kurt escape the prosecutions of his homeland, had given him the inducer and a chance at normal life. Above that, though, he gave Kurt privacy. Despite his seemingly outgoing personality, Kurt was a very private person. The Professor knew that, and had given him a room of his own, one of the largest in the dorms.

Yet now, his large room was slightly smaller as new furniture had been included. Another bed and a dresser, to be precise. They were on the same wall as the door, and faced the balcony window. What was even worse, though, were the bags sitting on top of the bed, waiting to be unpacked. Kurt kept his arms crossed and glared at the luggage, his golden eyes, and thus his holographic eyes, conveying a dislike so intense a pyrokinetic mutant would've caused the bags to spontaneously combust.

The professor KNOWS I don't want to share my room. Why in Gott would he give me a roommate? Forgetting his hologram was active, his tail lashed away from his body and wrapped around the anchor of the chandelier, squeezing it enough to elicit a creak. What I do in this room is nobody's business but my own. Even if he isn't scared by my appearance, he'll laugh at me. How I groom, how I dress, how I do everything! He'll be worse than Kitty. So concentrated on his internal anger, Kurt failed to pick up the voices growing louder from outside his room.

"I'm sure you'll find it's pretty comfortable. Kurt's got the biggest room here, so you should have plenty of space."

"You didn't have to. I wouldn't have minded sharing with someone who...I don't know...liked me?"

A nervous laugh littered the air. "Kurt? He likes everyone. He's just...nervous about meeting you."

Douglas opened the door, though his head was facing the hall. "From the way you described him, he's not nervous about anything." He turned on the light and walked into the room. "Jesus Christ!"

Scott pushed the door open and nearly tripped over Douglas in his haste. "What? What's--" He took in the sight of the teenager hanging from the chandelier. Actually, it looked like two sneakers were resting on the supports for the lights. The only oddity was the teen was standing upside down. He thought he saw a flicker of a blue spade, but shrugged it off. "Oh, that's just Kurt."

Douglas stared at Scott. "I thought you said he could teleport! How is it he's not falling from that thing and cracking his head open?"

Scott opened his mouth, then shut it. He knew beneath the hologram that two didigit feet were securely hanging onto the metal frame, and undoubtedly that agile tail was wrapped around something for support. He also knew that it was Kurt's place to reveal his true form, not his. "He, um,"

Douglas frowned at his hesitation. "What?"

"If he wants to know the truth, let him know the truth."

The heads of Scott and Douglas snapped up to the upside-down teen who, up until that moment, had remained unmoving. Then, without any hesitation, Kurt pulled his watch off and tossed it on his bed. He felt the familiar buzz of the hologram's energy fritz out and crossed his arms again. If I can't convince Herr Professor, maybe he'll insist on another room when he realizes he's staying with a demon. Kurt hated using his appearance for selfish reasons, but he really didn't want anyone else around when he brushed himself for comfort, or when he woke up yelling from nightmares.

As he searched the teen's face, though, Kurt's brow furrowed. The blue eyes had widened slightly and he had stiffened, but no other reaction was forthcoming. No scream, no curse, not even a whispered 'my Gott.' Nothing. Why isn't he scared?

"This...is...so...cool!" Douglas hurried forward and started examining Kurt's body.

Kurt, surprised by the exclamation, forgot his footing and fell to the floor in a heap, letting out a disgruntled 'oomph.'

Douglas stepped back, but continued to circle him. "Didigit podiatric balancing mutation, tridigit metacarpus, though technically it's no longer metacarpus then, is it? And counterbalance appendage that, does it have extra sensitive nerves?" He picked up Kurt's tail and explored the fur with his fingers. "Amazing..."

Kurt pushed himself up and pulled his tail away from the prodding fingers. What the-

Scott, though surprised, was also quite amused at the reaction of the new mutant, and didn't bother trying to hide the smirk from his face. "Looks like you've got a new admirer, Kurt."

"Oh shut up." Kurt lashed his tail and glared over his shoulder at his supposed friend. He wasn't sure what was worse. A person being afraid of him, or being fascinated by him.

Douglas, seeming to catch on that Kurt didn't like being examined like a lab animal, turned a light shade of red and hunched his shoulders. "Sorry. It's just...you look great."

Scott raised an eyebrow. "He looks great?"

Kurt elbowed him. While it was kinda creepy, he had to admit, it was nice not to scare someone off by his looks. "Why...aren't you afraid?"

"What? Of a fuzzy demon sans horns?" Douglas chuckled and shook his head. "I've been reading up on ancient cultures for almost a year. If none of their creatures gave me nightmares, living with one that's human isn't gonna frighten me."

Living with one that's human? He thinks...I'm human? A small grin tugged at the corners of Kurt's mouth. Maybe...it won't be so bad after all.

"Man, if I ever tell Jonah he's gonna flip his lid." Douglas' smile faltered momentarily, and he remained silent, lost in thought.

Kurt and Scott exchanged a curious glance with each other, both wondering who this 'Jonah' was.

"Well...I'll leave you two to get settled, then." Scott backed out of the room and shut the door.

Shaking himself out of his memory, Douglas rubbed his arm and glanced around the room. "Well...I guess the bed with the bags is mine."

"Ja. Hope you don't mind."

Douglas walked over and opened his bag. "I should be saying that to you. I'm guessing you really didn't want me as a roommate."

Kurt laughed and rubbed the back of his head. "Ja, well, maybe I was being a bit paranoid. Perhaps it won't be so bad."

"Nein, perhaps not."

Kurt blinked. Had he just said...nein? He hopped onto his bed and watched Douglas put his clothes away. "You speak German?"

Douglas chuckled and set a book on top of his dresser. "If you speak a bit more, I will. That's my power. I can learn languages almost immediately."

Ahhh. THAT's why the Professor wanted to put you with me. Try and give me a little bit of home. Kurt's tail flicked playfully back and forth. "So what name have they given you?"

"Name?" Douglas frowned and tried to make room for his sweater in the bottom drawer.

"Ja. Code name. I'm Nightcrawler. Scott's Cyclops, the scary man is-"

"Wolverine." Douglas grunted and slammed the drawer closed. "Finally." He dusted his hands off and opened his second bag. "My code name..." He picked up a photo and stared at it.

Curious, Kurt went over and glanced at it. It was a picture taken obviously when Douglas was younger. His hair was a bit longer, and more tame, and his eyes were closed. He was laughing. Behind him was a boy Kurt didn't recognize, but assumed was a brother, or perhaps a close friend. Whoever it was, the red eyes clearly stated it was a mutant. Wonder if the Professor knows about that boy yet.

Douglas set the picture on his dresser, going back to the task at hand. "I was given a code name a while ago by a friend. I think I'll stick with it."

Kurt tilted his head. "So what is it?"

Douglas smiled and dropped a couple books on the bed. "Cipher."

Kurt scratched his head. Cipher...cipher. Ah, as in decipher. Because he can decipher languages. "Well, Cipher, I think this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship."

~*()*~

Kitty Pryde laughed as Evan got tripped by Bobby, or rather, a sheet of ice Bobby had laid down on the ground. The game was finally starting to wind down, and she had decided to take a break. Waving off Ray's attempts to get her back into the game, she sat down in the shade by Jean. Brushing the bangs from her sweaty face, she reached back and undid what was left of her ponytail. What a mess. Gathering her disheveled hair, she used a sports band to tie a new ponytail in place, keeping the hair off her hot, and probably sun kissed neck.

As she was doing this, Jean marked her place in her book and rested her arms on its cover, staring at the mansion. "You know..."

"Hmm?" Kitty stretched out her legs and rested against the tree. "Know what?"

"I can't sense that new kid."

Kitty raised her eyebrow and looked at the entrance to the mansion, where Scott was just emerging, an amused look on his face as he strode over and began talking with Wolverine. "The cute blond?"

It was Jean's turn to raise an eyebrow. "Cute?"

"Like, come on. You had to admit he was cute." And having landed on him, Kitty knew first hand just how cute he was. The short blond hair, the azure eyes, and his body. He wasn't big and full of muscles like Logan, but he wasn't puny-looking like Kurt, either.

"He has arms that could crush or cradle you?" Jean smirked. "You certainly have a high opinion of him."

Kitty blushed. She had forgotten that while Jean wouldn't scan her, she could still pick up broadcast thoughts. Judging by the glance the Professor had given her, he picked it up as well. "Well, he's just...I...he's, like, completely cute. And he feels good, okay?"

"So why don't you introduce yourself?"

"Are you, like, out of your mind? I landed on him. He probably thinks I'm, like, the biggest jerk here. I bet he gets along better with Kurt than me." She ran a hand through her hair and pulled out a few pieces of grass. Gross. I totally need a shower.

"According to Scott's thoughts, he loves Nightcrawler. Thinks he looks cool." Jean drummed her fingers against her book.

"Ewww. I mean, Kurt's kinda cool, but I mean, how could he think it looks cool?" Though he is soft...

"To each their own." Jean turned to face the younger mutant. "Not everyone is frightened by his looks."

"I don't see how they can't be at first. He still creeps me out sometimes." Kitty noticed her nails. It's gonna take a lot of work to get the dirt out this time.

"Yes, I know. Just try not to do that with any other new mutants that arrive, including this one."

Kitty rolled her eyes. "Yeah, yeah, I know." She thought for a moment. "What's his name, anyway?"

"Douglas Ramsey."

"Douglas...wonder if he'd mind if I like, called him Doug."

"Better ask him first." Jean turned back to her book and flipped to the page she was on before.

Kitty nodded and glanced towards the side of the house Kurt's room was on. I wonder if he, like, doesn't hold a grudge. He is pretty cute, and there's this movie I want to see this weekend...

~*()*~

~*()*~

~*()*~

Author's Prattle: Well, here's chapter one. I know, pretty short, but I do what I can. For those of you wondering, no, Cipher is NOT me, though are names are similar. I created my name long after I knew of Cipher for completely different reasons. Besides, I can't speak foreign languages worth squat. Any who, yes, I switched perspectives. The Prologue was the only chapter that was going to be first-person. Sorry if that threw you off-kilter.

Cipher's first day at the institute. For those wondering why he reacted fearful of Beast and not Nightcrawler, Beast was like something at a zoo, whereas Nightcrawler was like a mythical being. Considering Cipher's hobby (which I'll delve into later), Nightcrawler's form is 'cooler' than Beast's, and not nearly as scary. I would like to remind you all that these are my own versions of the Evo characters, so they're not perfect representations of each other.

As for Cipher's little excitement, I made up stuff off the top of my head (hey, I'm a GENETICS major. I don't have to take anatomy, thank heavens). Podiatry is, of course, referring to feet, and metacarpus refers to the five-digit hand (which is why Douglas questions whether it's still a metacarpus). Just a very, VERY tiny vocab lesson.

Disclaimers. I don't own Cipher or any of the Evo characters. They all belong to Marvel and other companies. I'm just using them in a creative exercise to flex my writing muscles.

As always, hope you enjoyed the chapter, and reviews are welcome!