~*~*~
"Of course," Xavier nodded trying to calm the boy, "I won't split you two up, I was just assuming you might want a shower?"
Nikki just stayed where he was, sniffing a little and gripping onto Luke securely, feeling about ready to bolt again.
'It's okay Nikki, really,' Luke thought nudging Nikki with his head, 'we won't be separated.'
Nikki sighed and let go of Luke.
He held his bloody hands out to Xavier. "I need soap." He said
Xavier nodded, "Yes, you need lots of soap," He smiled kindly, his voice held the tone that people use when talking to a child, "Would you like to come in and wash up?"
Nikki looked at his hands and nodded hesitantly, "Yea... mummy will be mad if 'm dirty." He bit his lip worriedly
'Let's go in and wash up then.' Luke started forward and Xavier moved to the side allowing him to pass.
'Scott, Lance, will you two come in here please?' Xavier sent telepathically to the two men.
Scott and Lance eventually traipsed downstairs, pausing at the sight of the bedraggled blood soaked young boy and the large, feral looking wolf that stood by him.
"Uhmm... you wanted us?" Scott asked the professor.
"Yes," Xavier nodded, "Will you two show Nikki and Luke here, where the bathroom is and their bedrooms?"
"Sure." Scott said, lance hanging back and being silent, as he usually was around Xavier. Scott turned to the two. "So... hi. Are you Luke or Nikki?" He said, asking Nikki. Nikki giggled in a way that showed that he wasn't all sane, and shook his head. "I'm Dominik." He said. "Who're you?"
"I'm Scott and this is Lance." he said, shooting Lance a covert incredulous glance.
Xavier smiled and left the room into the kitchen leaving the others to get acquainted.
Luke sniffed the air and sat down, 'What's with the other guy?' He asked Scott.
Scott jumped, "Whoa!" He stared at the wolf, "Did you just..." he trailed off.
Lance looked at him, concerned, "Are you okay?" He asked.
Nikki laughed at them.
Luke tilted his head to the side, 'I thought you'd be used to telepaths with living with that Xavier guy.'
Scott stared, mouth opening but no words coming out.
Lance spoke for him, "Yea, but, see, the thing is... Xavier's not a wolf."
Nikki snorted, "Luke isn't either."
Lance gave him a look, "Sure looks like a wolf to me kid."
'It's my,' Luke paused bowing his head, 'It's my mutation.'
"You're a talking wolf?" Scott asked, looking interested
'As of now,' Luke raised his head, 'yes.'
"As of now?" Scott asked.
"What's your mutation then?" Lance asked Nikki.
Nikki stepped back and looked very worried. All he could do was stammer, "I-I-I-I..."
Luke stood up and stepped in front of Nikki, 'He doesn't have one,' He glanced over his shoulder at Nikki, 'That I know of.'
"Oh... so why's he here?" Scott asked curiously.
'Cause he's with me.' Luke narrowed his eyes at Scott.
Scott raised his hands placating, "OK, ok... chill." Lance eyed Luke, ready to move if he attacked Scott.
Nikki watched the others' but was distracted with the itching on his skin as the dried blood irritated, "I need to wash." He said, holding his hands up.
The two boys saw the gore and Scott attempted a grin, not sure what to think about the state of those hands, "Uhm... sure... come on, I'll show you where everything is."
Luke snorted and followed behind, this Scott guy gave him a weird vibe.
'So how many others live here?' He asked Lance.
Lance counted them off.
"Lemme see... There's me and Scott, Todd, Xavier and Logan... Ororo... and Kitty... that's about it."
Luke nodded, 'Why such a big place for only seven people?'
Lance and Scott both looked pained.
Scott answered, "We had more⦠we had lots more. But there was an attack on our groups by the FoH... Friends of Humanity. They hate us because of our extra gene... they think we're some kind of threat... they attacked at night...." Scott stopped, unable to go on.
Lance squeezed his shoulder and continued, flat voiced, "It was a massacre. Lota of us were killed, we formed a new single group after the attack, and we're all that's left." He was silent after that. "So," He said, sounding rough voiced. "What's your story?"
Nikki piped up, "Cinderella."
Luke looked over to his younger companion and raised an eyebrow then shook his head getting the picture, 'His parents left 'im when he was young. I didn't meet him until later when we were paired up in the...' He sighed mentally, 'Asylum...'
Lance said nothing, but Scott couldn't leave it, "Asylum?" *Well, that explains space-boy.* He thought to himself, looking at Nikki, who was walking with his head turned up to look at the ceiling. Lance gave him a nudge, but it was too late, it'd been said.
'Yea,' Luke snorted glancing at Nikki, 'I was left there because no one would believe me 'bout my mutation. They said I had lycanthrope.'
Lance blinked, but Scott clicked, "Ohhh... so you can change into a human form then?"
He nodded, 'Yea, but not for another day. Then I can't transform again for a week.'
"Rough." Lance commented, "And why were you locked there Nikki?" he asked the other boy, who shook his head and clammed up, sticking his thumb in his mouth.
'He doesn't like to really talk 'bout it.' Luke looked up at the ceiling.
Lance was going to ask more, but they had reached the rooms. "Ok," Scott said, "This is your rooms, there's an interlinking door. And you've got your own bathrooms. We've got enough going round now." He said darkly. "They're at the end of the hall."
'Thanks.' Luke smiled, making him look a little crazy.
"No problem." Scott smiled.
Lance waved, dragging his boyfriend off from the waist, "See you later then." He called, giving them a wave.
~*~*~
A/N: Please Review!
