Chapter 2: Blue rats and cookies

"Bloody hell, this place is huge." Gwen threw her bag onto her bed and looked out of the window.

"Bit of a boring initiation ceremony though." Mungo came through the door and slumped down into the corner.

"What did you expect? A party?" Gwen rolled her eyes, "what you doing back in here? Why aren't you in your room?"

"It's really tidy but there's blue fur everywhere. That Kurt has one bloody weird cat."

"What happened to the dozens of other students and cool gadgets Betsy was talking about on the way over?" Lauryn said as she went to chuck her bag into the huge wardrobe that stood next to the door.

"She lied. She was just luring me over here. She didn't realise you two would tag along." Mungo grinned. Lauryn chucked her bag at her brother instead.

"We could ask her about that, she's just coming." Gwen nodded towards the door her eyes bright green.

The door swung open to reveal a messy looking Betsy. "Hey guys, sorry I look a bit of a mess I got attacked by ten Jamies on the way up here."

"Messy? You're a vision of lovelyness! But ten of the same person?" Mungo asked. Lauryn snorted, need something to throw at him... or push she looked up at the wardrobe if only I had super strength

"You'll see later" she grinned hearing Lauryn's thoughts, "anyways, I'd better show you the rest of the mansion and then it's shopping time!"

"You can't come in here." Jamie said blocking the doorway to the Lounge. Betsy catching on also joined him in blocking the doorway stuttering an excuse.

"Uh um, it's uh um haunted! Can't go in here."

"What's that bamfing noise?" Lauryn asked trying to peer through the gap in the door.

"Uh, we have rats" Betsy answered pushing Lauryn back, "really big ones, that uh, jump!"

"Jumping rats eh? I could help you with that" Mungo said winking at Betsy making a ball of fire in his hand.

"Uh no, they're Jamie's pets. Anyway, talking of Jamie, this is Jamie." She gestured to the dark haired boy standing next to her.

"Hey" he gave a small wave still blocking the door.

"Well I could at least help you catch them."

Suddenly one of the doors further down the corridor burst open and a huge, blue figure leapt towards them with what appeared to be a cookie in his mouth.

"On the other hand maybe not" Mungo extinguished the flame in his hand

"HANK! I TOLD YOU THEY'RE FOR LATER!" someone shouted at what Mungo thought was one of Jamie's pets.

"Sorry Ororo, I could not help but taste one of your delicious cookies" he called back grinning. "Allow me to introduce myself, Henry McCoy or Hank as most like to call me otherwise known as The Beast."

"Hey Hank, how've you been?" Betsy asked hugging him.

"I'm very well thank you Betsy. Are these the newest recruits?"

"Yep, this is Mungo, Gwen and Lauryn. You'll no doubt see what they can do in tomorrows Danger room session."

"That does not sound good" Gwen whispered to Lauryn who nodded in reply.

"I had better go and prepare for later." He said to Betsy, seeing the confused looks on the others faces he added, "the professor has a conference tonight so some of the adults will not be here. Nice to meet you all." They watched beast walk away down the corridor.

"Mmm blueness" lauryn grinned, "if only he was younger"

"Another one for Nightcrawler then" Betsy said ignoring Lauryns confused look "There's one more room to show you." She led them further down the corridor where beast had come from, "this is the kitchen. Hey Storm."

"Hello Elizabeth, nice to see you back at the institute." She turned to the other three "and hello to you. My name is Ororo Monroe but you can call me Storm, I can manipulate the weather."

The others introduced themselves before Storm caught Betsy trying to steal a cookie. "As I said to Hank, those are for later" she scolded. Betsy grumbled walking out of the room and gestured for the others to follow. "Bye Storm!" she called out. As soon as they were clear of the kitchen Mungo grinned pulling out a cookie from his pocket and presented it to their tour guide. "For you"

"How did you manage that?" Lauryn asked him

"Fingers of flame" he grinned wiggling his fingers in front of her face

"If you carry on showing off you won't have any fingers at all" Gwen growled at her friend

"What you gonna do? X ray them off?"

"Why you..."

"Now now children, no fighting" Lauryn tutted.

"Well that concludes our tour so it's shopping time." Betsy said interrupting their insults, "Let's go and see if we can borrow Scott's car."

"Can you drive?"

"Who said I was driving? I think it's about time Hazard showed me what he can do." She grinned and walked off towards the Garage with a very happy Mungo following her.

Gwen looked at a horrified Lauryn, "we're going to die."