X Mansion

January 7th, 2001:Wednesday
5:35p.m.

            The X-Van came to a stop in front of the institute. The driver side door opened and Logan stepped out. He walked around to the back and opened the rear door. He pulled out Fritz's bag and walked around to the passenger side where Fritz was out of the van waiting for him.

            "Let's go kid." Logan handed him his bag and led the way into the institute. They walked through the foyer and stopped outside of some double doors. The institute was relatively quiet for this time of day. No one was in the rec. room watching T.V. like they usually would be doing. No noise was coming from upstairs or the kitchen either. "The professor's already waiting for you," Logan said before opening the doors. Fritz walked past him into the dimly lit study.

            "Have a seat Fritz," the professor said. Fritz found a comfy chair facing the desk and sat down on his haunches.

            "How was you flight here?" The professor asked.

            "Fine." Fritz was looking around the lavishly decorated study. There were paintings and plants all over the room along with old curtains rustic curtains. It reminded him of home.

            "Good, I'm glad to hear that," the professor shuffled some papers on his desk, no doubt Fritz's U.S. registration forms. "There is another boy who will be joining us soon. So until then, would you like something to drink?"

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X Mansion

January 7th, 2001:Wednesday
6:03p.m.

            Scott held the door open for Axel. "You need help with your bags?"

            "I think I can manage," Axel hauled his bag over the threshold and let it fall to the ground once inside. "Damn. This place is big," he said

            "You haven't seen half of it," Scott closed and locked the door behind them. "This way." He led Axel to the door of the professor's study.

            "So… what's with the glasses?" Axel was just out side the study when he turned to Scott.

            "It's part of my mutation. If I didn't have these glasses on, you would be punched through that wall over there." Scott pointed to a wall behind Axel, then turned the study's doorknob and walked in, followed by Axel.

            Xavier and Fritz were still sitting at the desk, talking about life at home. Logan was in the corner of the room, reading a magazine and drinking a beer. Xavier had a cup of tea in his hand and Fritz was holding one with his tail. He was still sitting on his haunches in the big antique chair, when Axel walked in.

            "Ah, you're here," Xavier set his cup down. "If you don't mind Fritz, I would like to continue our conversation another time?"

            "Sure," Fritz didn't move from the chair, he was watching Axel and Scott carefully. "Humph, wonder what their powers are," he thought. "Okay... they are both wearing sunglasses inside… in a dark room… at night. Must be an American thing."

            "Well, now that you're here, we can move on with introductions." Xavier rolled over to where Axel was standing. "How was your stay at the hospital?" Xavier asked.

            "...Good," Axel said. "And white and sterile and quiet. And annoying," he thought.

            "Good to hear." Xavier turned to face Scott. "Scott, will you gather all of the students in the foyer?"

            "Sure thing professor," Scott left and shut the door quietly behind him.
            Xavier turned back to Axel. "Now, on with introductions. The man in the corner is Logan. He's one of the teachers here," Logan looked up from his magazine, only to nod at Axel. "And the boy in the chair is Fritz, he just arrived from Germany. Fritz, this is Axel," he motioned with his hand. "He also comes from Germany."

            Axel walked over to the chair where Fritz was sitting. "Fine, don't get up. I'll walk over to you. Lazy bum," he thought. Axel extended his hand when he got to the chair. Fritz did the same.

            "Here it comes," Fritz thought. They shook for a split second before Axel jumped back. "Ah--…um, hi. Nice to meet you," Axel said before wiping his hand on his shirt.

            "You too," Fritz said.

            Xavier turned a dial on the wall and the room brightened. "Fritz may look different, but he's still a teenage boy, and he still has feelings."

            "Thanks professor. I think." Fritz got up from the chair and put his cup of tea back on the desk.

            "Erbärmlich," Axel muttered.

            "Eet's okay. Happens all ze time," Fritz said.
            "Well. If you both are ready, the other students are waiting in the foyer." Xavier rolled towards the door and motioned for them to follow.

            Xavier rolled forward into the foyer and stopped in front of the gathered mutants. "Everyone, these are the new students." He pointed to Axel. "This is Axel. He comes from Germany."
            "Hi," Axel said shortly.
            Next, Xavier pointed to Fritz. "And this is Fritz. He also comes from Germany.
            "Hallo." Fritz said waiving a three-fingered hand.
            "Great, like another one." Kitty folded her arms across her chest.
            "Half-pint!" Logan scolded.
            Xavier then pointed to the group of students. "In the chair on the left is Evan Daniels, a.k.a Spyke. To the left of him is Scott Summers, a.k.a Cyclops. On the couch is Jean Gray and Rogue," he pointed to each of them separately so Fritz and Axel wouldn't get them mixed up. "And in the chair on the right is Kitty Pryde, a.k.a Shadowcat." Xavier looked around the room for a moment. "Where is Kurt?" Everyone shrugged their shoulders.

            "No idea," Evan said. Just then there was a 'bamf' and Kurt landed on Kitty's lap. "Ew. Like, get off me you fur ball." Kitty pushed him off onto the ground and got up. She walked over to the couch where Jean and Rogue were sitting and sat in the middle, muttering something about allergies.
            Kurt picked himself up off the ground. "Sorry Keety." He hung his head in embarrassment.
            "You really should watch where you are teleporting Kurt," the professor said.
            "Sorry professor, eet vas an accident," Kurt scanned the people in the room and stopped on Fritz. "Hey professor? I think I'm coming down vith something."

            "Your not sick Kurt, these are the new students," Xavier pointed out. "Axel, comes from Germany, as does Fritz."

            "But I thought you said I vas ze only one who looks like this?" Kurt asked.

            "Well, at the time cerebro couldn't detect Fritz because his powers hadn't manifested yet," Xavier said.

            "Cerebro?" Fritz had a puzzled look on his face.

            "A machine used to locate and track mutants," Xavier explained. "That's how I found you."

            "Really? Can I see it?" Fritz asked excitedly

            "Maybe later," Xavier said. "Now, Axel, we think we have found you a codename."
            "I'm listening," he put his hands in his pocket to act as if he didn't care.
            "We think Chronos fits you best," Xavier said.
            "Right on," Axel said, nonchalant.
            "And Fritz, we've decided on Darkspark for you, " Xavier said.
            "Cool." Fritz repeated the name over and over again in his head so he wouldn't forget it.
            "Now Fritz, Axel--you two will be sharing a room. Kitty will show you where it is." Xavier turned his wheelchair around. "Logan, have their bags been brought up yet?" he asked the burly Canadian.
            "Yup," Logan said before turning towards the kitchen. "It's good to have you two here." He walked into the next room, grabbed a beer from the fridge and walked out into the garage.
            "Kitty, will you please show Fritz and Axel to their room?" Xavier asked.
            "Okay, follow me." She stood up from the couch and walked towards the stairs.
            "You will meet the rest of the teachers later tonight, along with a tour of the school." Xavier rolled back towards the doors of his study. "If you'll excuse me, I have a lot of work to do." With that, he disappeared through the large double doors.
            After being personally welcomed to the Institute by nearly every one of the X-Men, Kitty led the two to the room that they'd be sharing. Their room was one of the last in the hallway. Kitty opened the door for them and then followed them in.
            Their bags were already set at the foot of each bed. Axel walked over to his and started to unpack.

            "So…vhat are your powers?" Fritz asked. He couldn't take his eyes off of Kitty. "God she's so hot," he thought to himself.
            "I can like, phase through solid objects," she said and demonstrated by phasing her hand through the door. "I hope you two enjoy your stay, dinner's at six-thirty." She walked past the door and before shutting it, stuck her head back inside "Oh and Fritz, try not to like, get fur all over the place," she said coldly before shutting the door.
            "Did I do something wrong?" Fritz turned to Axel, who was almost done unpacking his clothes.
            "Looks that way." Axel threw his bag in the closet and flopped down on his bed with a comic book.
            Fritz shrugged off the thought and walked over to his bed where his bag was. He began putting his clothes in the dresser beside his bed. Axel looked over the top of his comic book as Fritz pulled out a pair of pants with a whole cut in the back. Fritz then unpacked his assorted brushes and put them in the top drawer, followed by shirts and underwear. He put the empty bag into to closet and slid the door shut.
            "Vhat are your powers?" Fritz walked over to his bed and sat down crossing his legs underneath him.
            "Uhh... I don't really have a name for it or anything. But sometimes people start going really slow, and sometimes they start going really fast. Xavier said something about changing the speed of my molecules or something. It's pretty confusing." Axel didn't look up from his comic.

            "You don't talk much," Fritz pointed out.
            "Mm." Axel looked up from his comic, an interesting thought suddenly forming in his mind. "Hey Fritz… Can I ask you a few questions?" he asked, quirking a brow.

            Fritz shrugged his shoulders, inviting Axel to ask him whatever he wanted.

            "Uh… Well, do you have to like, brush your entire body? And do you have to use dog shampoo or does it not matter? Speaking of shampoo and showers, does it take you like, three times as long as a normal person to wash yourself? Like an animal?" Axel didn't show any signs of being sarcastic or cruel. He was genuinely curious. But after the last question Fritz shot up from his bed and had Axel pinned to his in a split second. He was kneeling over Axel with both hands gripping his shirt.
            "I'm not an animal," Fritz yelled. "Zhere's a big fucking difference," he started growling, but only tightened his grip on Axel's shirt.
            "Hey man, I'm sorry! You don't have to flip out!" Axel was trying to pry Fritz's grip from his shirt. "They were honest questions!" Axel found the thought quite humorous, and didn't see anything wrong with his inquiries. After all, Fritz had practically asked him to start talking
            Fritz let go and got off the bed. "Yeah. Vhatever," he said and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him.