Chapter 23
I led Sean down to the games room, slowing my pace slightly as I saw Papa leaning in the doorway. With a deep breath I walked through the doors.
A bo staff slapped the ground in front of my feet with a resounding crack, stopping me from entering the room.
"Bracelets cherie." Papa said almost robotically, looking down at my wrists. I met his eyes and shook my head.
"Non." I replied firmly. Pushing himself off of the wall, he moved to stand in front of me, blocking my entrance once again.
"Dey all wearin' 'em, 'vryone got t'." he challenged. I looked past him momentarily and licked my lips, we were definitely the center of attention. I glanced at his wrists before my lips curled into a wicked smile.
"'Den where yours?" I asked. "Or did yo' powers randomly dis'pear 'gain?" His eyes flashed a dangerous color and he opened his mouth to say something, I prepared myself for whatever he was about to say. When he closed his mouth abruptly and yanked his shoulder out of my godmothers grasp.
"Kale the bracelets are a safety precaution." She explained to me in her ever-calm voice, as Papa stood aside, clenching his fists in frustration.
"'Don need 'em." I said defiantly. " Not a safety hazard."
"Where are your bracelets child?" she asked, her voice becoming hard and cold. I reached into my pockets and brought them out, trying to control my anger. I held them out in the palm of my hand as heat radiated from my body. Grinning wickedly I concentrated all the heat into the palm of my hand, smiling with satisfaction as the bracelets melted and malfunctioned.
I received a cold glare from Ororo, but I ignored it all the same. Relinquishing my glare only when Professor Xavier came over to us. He looked me in the eye for a moment before calling over his shoulder.
"Another pair of bracelets Jean." He requested in his quiet-mad voice. Jean passed a pair of bracelets through the air. Clamping them on my wrists, without question. I felt the warmth drain from my body, I reached back and grabbed Sean's arm to steady myself. "Take a seat, we'll talk after." The Prof said and resumed his place at the front of the room.
Sean led me to one of the couches and I sat down, rubbing my hands together to keep warm. Luke approached and wrapped his jacket around me. "Merci." I said through chattering teeth. Sean sat next to me and put his arm around me, rubbing my arms to try to get me warmer.
"Welcome." The professor stated and started his spiel about the school. I half-listened, half tried to keep warm. This was ridiculous; I wasn't a threat. I was cold, that's what I was. I paid more attention when he started introducing the faculty. This part was always funny, they always tried to one up each other with their powers.
"Jean Grey." Jean stepped forward with a small smile. One of the kids asked what she could do, one of the younger ones I imagine. She just smiled and took the sucker from the kid's mouth and put it in the trash with her mind. I've decided that she was most likely the strictest female teacher here.
"Scott Summers or Cyclops." Scott took a step forward. And Jean levitated a plate in the air for him to shoot with his eyes. A bunch of the new kids made noises of awe. I chuckled; he was such a show-off.
"Dr. Hank McCoy or Beast" He just waved from his perch on an armoire. The kids just kind of looked at him, I suppose he would be scary looking to someone who didn't know him.
"Ororo Monroe or Storm." Storm stepped forward, her eyes white and produced a lightning crack outside the window. I immediately felt bad for disrespecting her, I didn't mean to make her mad, I was trying to get Papa mad, I made a mental note to apologize profusely later.
"Logan or Wolverine." Logan didn't move, he just stayed in his leaning position on the wall extending his claws briefly and then smiling at the eerie silence.
"Remy LeBeau, or Gambit." Papa gave a charming smile and a dramatic bow then charged a couple cards and tossed them into a floating plate, smiling when they exploded upon impact.
"Lucas Bishop" Bishop waved from his place beside Storm, his hand behind her, most likely on her ass. I shivered as he absorbed a blast from Scott. I saw Ororo tense, and I tensed with her, she wasn't so good with watching her husband get shot willingly.
"Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee." Jubilee sent up a bunch of mini fireworks and I smiled at her, she tried to look so bored, when I could tell she was having way too much fun. She went back to Micheal's arms.
"New the new additions to our staff this year.Rogue." I watched with a trembling sneer on my face. She just smiled shyly and went back to Papa's side. Explaining that her power was deadly. Wah wah wah.
"Piotr Rasputin or Colossus." The freakishly tall man stepped forward and changed to solid metal. That was neat..
"Kitty Pryde or Shadowcat." I watched as the small woman came through the wall. Through the wall, right through it. That was also neat.
"Kurt Wagner or Nightcrawler." I heard the echoing 'bamf' again as he appeared hanging upside down from the rafters. He just waved and tried not to frighten the children.
"And last but certainly not least.Bobby Drake or Iceman." I watched with a smile as Bobby transformed into solid ice and slid around the room on an iceslide that he made. I think he took the cake. Seeing him freeze up was more of a reminder than I needed that I was cold, freezing actually, I hadn't stopped shivering and it was turning into a whole body shake. I could feel a gaze on me and looked over to where everyone was standing and saw Papa look away quickly. Yeah that's right, you did this to me. Jerk face.
The Professor concluded his speech and told everyone to meet up with their group leader to have their first session. I sat still, curled under Luke's jacket as everyone but Sean left. I looked up eventually, to find Hank, Ororo, Jean, Bishop, Scott and the Professor looking down at me.
"Thank you Sean, you may go now." Scott said briefly. Sean looked at me worry, etched in his pretty-boy features and I nodded quickly, my way of assuring him that I'd be fine. As soon as he left my side a new wave of cold came about and I could almost feel my lips turn blue, I shut my eyes and bit my bottom lip, I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me weak, I wouldn't. So I gave all of my energy to pretending I was fine, forgetting about my mind block. Remembering only once I felt a familiar presence in my head.
"Is that what you think we're looking for?" the professor asked after a moment or two. I opened my eyes to look at him, tears welling in the corners as I tasted blood in my mouth. "Satisfaction?" a lump rose in my throat as I saw how much I had offended him by the look in his eyes. I looked up at Ororo to see her gaze of unflappable superiority.
"I-I-I-..s-s-s-sorry 'R-rr-r-r-ro." I mumbled and then bit my tongue, that just didn't sound like a sentence. She simply nodded and left the room; I'd do better later. I would. I looked down at my trembling hands. Bishop followed her after a short glance at me. I felt the bracelets unlock and suddenly felt warm again. I let it soak in for a moment and then looked up at the stern faces of the Professor and Scott. "I know." I said before the lecture started.
"You have no right to talk to anyone like that." Scott said. I just nodded, I knew that too. "I don't know what the hell happened while you were away, but now that you're back the same rules apply Kale. I was sure you knew better than that. For a minute I thought you were practically grown up. Apparently I was wrong. I don't' want you anywhere near your classes if you're going to act like that to your teachers. Do you understand me." I downcast my eyes and nodded, I couldn't argue with that. He walked out of the room, most likely silently congratulating himself on the good speech. I shed the jacket from my shoulders as I realized that it was making he uncomfortable.
"I'd ask you for you're reasoning for this display of defiance, but I'm assuming that you're not too sure of it yourself?" Xavier asked. I looked up at him and shrugged. "You're too old to pout Kale." Damnit.
"Jus'..jus' want'd t' hurt Papa." I said finally, well saying it out loud just made me sound like a horrible person.
"And you thought by not wearing the bracelets, it would somehow hurt your father?" Hank asked, a perplexed look on his furry face.
"Non, de fact dat I don' listen t' Papa no mo', dat would hurt." I explained. Papa always prided himself on the fact that he proved everyone wrong. He raised the almost perfect child. I wasn't too loud or obnoxious, and I listened when I had to. Everyone figured that I would turn out horrible with just Papa raising me, and I suppose I just proved them right. "Didn' mean t' cause a scene Monsieur." I said.
"Actually I believe that's exactly what you planned on doing, embarrassing someone is only fun if it's done in front of a group am I correct?" Xavier said. Why was he always right? "Because I'm a genius."
I had to laugh at that. "Won' happen 'gain." I said after my laughter faded as quickly as it came.
"You're right it won't. I will not tolerate it. I tolerate a lot in this school, but complete disrespect of authority is one thing that I will not permit, no matter who it's from." He said a quick flash of anger appearing in his eyes. I nodded; defying him would be stupid. "Now if you would be so kind as to accompany Hank down to the med lab so he can run a few tests."
I looked up, I did not want to go to the med lab, I had to go apologize to 'Ro. But seeing the look of absolute determination in the professors' eyes left no room for argument. So I stood and walked out of the room behind Hank, walking past Sean who was waiting outside of the room. He started to come after me but Professor stopped him and talked with him about something.
"Why?" I asked in the elevator that took us downstairs. Hank looked at me and smiled his toothy smile.
"Well young lady it seems that the power inhibitor bracelets, while taking away your powers are also taking away the one thing that's keeping you alive." He said. My confusion showed on my face. Hank smiled and laid a hand on my shoulder. " In theory my dear, your mutation is the only thing keeping you alive."
Well I certainly wasn't expecting that.
A/N: Alright you tell me what happens next 'cause I have no fuckin' clue.
I led Sean down to the games room, slowing my pace slightly as I saw Papa leaning in the doorway. With a deep breath I walked through the doors.
A bo staff slapped the ground in front of my feet with a resounding crack, stopping me from entering the room.
"Bracelets cherie." Papa said almost robotically, looking down at my wrists. I met his eyes and shook my head.
"Non." I replied firmly. Pushing himself off of the wall, he moved to stand in front of me, blocking my entrance once again.
"Dey all wearin' 'em, 'vryone got t'." he challenged. I looked past him momentarily and licked my lips, we were definitely the center of attention. I glanced at his wrists before my lips curled into a wicked smile.
"'Den where yours?" I asked. "Or did yo' powers randomly dis'pear 'gain?" His eyes flashed a dangerous color and he opened his mouth to say something, I prepared myself for whatever he was about to say. When he closed his mouth abruptly and yanked his shoulder out of my godmothers grasp.
"Kale the bracelets are a safety precaution." She explained to me in her ever-calm voice, as Papa stood aside, clenching his fists in frustration.
"'Don need 'em." I said defiantly. " Not a safety hazard."
"Where are your bracelets child?" she asked, her voice becoming hard and cold. I reached into my pockets and brought them out, trying to control my anger. I held them out in the palm of my hand as heat radiated from my body. Grinning wickedly I concentrated all the heat into the palm of my hand, smiling with satisfaction as the bracelets melted and malfunctioned.
I received a cold glare from Ororo, but I ignored it all the same. Relinquishing my glare only when Professor Xavier came over to us. He looked me in the eye for a moment before calling over his shoulder.
"Another pair of bracelets Jean." He requested in his quiet-mad voice. Jean passed a pair of bracelets through the air. Clamping them on my wrists, without question. I felt the warmth drain from my body, I reached back and grabbed Sean's arm to steady myself. "Take a seat, we'll talk after." The Prof said and resumed his place at the front of the room.
Sean led me to one of the couches and I sat down, rubbing my hands together to keep warm. Luke approached and wrapped his jacket around me. "Merci." I said through chattering teeth. Sean sat next to me and put his arm around me, rubbing my arms to try to get me warmer.
"Welcome." The professor stated and started his spiel about the school. I half-listened, half tried to keep warm. This was ridiculous; I wasn't a threat. I was cold, that's what I was. I paid more attention when he started introducing the faculty. This part was always funny, they always tried to one up each other with their powers.
"Jean Grey." Jean stepped forward with a small smile. One of the kids asked what she could do, one of the younger ones I imagine. She just smiled and took the sucker from the kid's mouth and put it in the trash with her mind. I've decided that she was most likely the strictest female teacher here.
"Scott Summers or Cyclops." Scott took a step forward. And Jean levitated a plate in the air for him to shoot with his eyes. A bunch of the new kids made noises of awe. I chuckled; he was such a show-off.
"Dr. Hank McCoy or Beast" He just waved from his perch on an armoire. The kids just kind of looked at him, I suppose he would be scary looking to someone who didn't know him.
"Ororo Monroe or Storm." Storm stepped forward, her eyes white and produced a lightning crack outside the window. I immediately felt bad for disrespecting her, I didn't mean to make her mad, I was trying to get Papa mad, I made a mental note to apologize profusely later.
"Logan or Wolverine." Logan didn't move, he just stayed in his leaning position on the wall extending his claws briefly and then smiling at the eerie silence.
"Remy LeBeau, or Gambit." Papa gave a charming smile and a dramatic bow then charged a couple cards and tossed them into a floating plate, smiling when they exploded upon impact.
"Lucas Bishop" Bishop waved from his place beside Storm, his hand behind her, most likely on her ass. I shivered as he absorbed a blast from Scott. I saw Ororo tense, and I tensed with her, she wasn't so good with watching her husband get shot willingly.
"Jubilation Lee, or Jubilee." Jubilee sent up a bunch of mini fireworks and I smiled at her, she tried to look so bored, when I could tell she was having way too much fun. She went back to Micheal's arms.
"New the new additions to our staff this year.Rogue." I watched with a trembling sneer on my face. She just smiled shyly and went back to Papa's side. Explaining that her power was deadly. Wah wah wah.
"Piotr Rasputin or Colossus." The freakishly tall man stepped forward and changed to solid metal. That was neat..
"Kitty Pryde or Shadowcat." I watched as the small woman came through the wall. Through the wall, right through it. That was also neat.
"Kurt Wagner or Nightcrawler." I heard the echoing 'bamf' again as he appeared hanging upside down from the rafters. He just waved and tried not to frighten the children.
"And last but certainly not least.Bobby Drake or Iceman." I watched with a smile as Bobby transformed into solid ice and slid around the room on an iceslide that he made. I think he took the cake. Seeing him freeze up was more of a reminder than I needed that I was cold, freezing actually, I hadn't stopped shivering and it was turning into a whole body shake. I could feel a gaze on me and looked over to where everyone was standing and saw Papa look away quickly. Yeah that's right, you did this to me. Jerk face.
The Professor concluded his speech and told everyone to meet up with their group leader to have their first session. I sat still, curled under Luke's jacket as everyone but Sean left. I looked up eventually, to find Hank, Ororo, Jean, Bishop, Scott and the Professor looking down at me.
"Thank you Sean, you may go now." Scott said briefly. Sean looked at me worry, etched in his pretty-boy features and I nodded quickly, my way of assuring him that I'd be fine. As soon as he left my side a new wave of cold came about and I could almost feel my lips turn blue, I shut my eyes and bit my bottom lip, I would not give them the satisfaction of seeing me weak, I wouldn't. So I gave all of my energy to pretending I was fine, forgetting about my mind block. Remembering only once I felt a familiar presence in my head.
"Is that what you think we're looking for?" the professor asked after a moment or two. I opened my eyes to look at him, tears welling in the corners as I tasted blood in my mouth. "Satisfaction?" a lump rose in my throat as I saw how much I had offended him by the look in his eyes. I looked up at Ororo to see her gaze of unflappable superiority.
"I-I-I-..s-s-s-sorry 'R-rr-r-r-ro." I mumbled and then bit my tongue, that just didn't sound like a sentence. She simply nodded and left the room; I'd do better later. I would. I looked down at my trembling hands. Bishop followed her after a short glance at me. I felt the bracelets unlock and suddenly felt warm again. I let it soak in for a moment and then looked up at the stern faces of the Professor and Scott. "I know." I said before the lecture started.
"You have no right to talk to anyone like that." Scott said. I just nodded, I knew that too. "I don't know what the hell happened while you were away, but now that you're back the same rules apply Kale. I was sure you knew better than that. For a minute I thought you were practically grown up. Apparently I was wrong. I don't' want you anywhere near your classes if you're going to act like that to your teachers. Do you understand me." I downcast my eyes and nodded, I couldn't argue with that. He walked out of the room, most likely silently congratulating himself on the good speech. I shed the jacket from my shoulders as I realized that it was making he uncomfortable.
"I'd ask you for you're reasoning for this display of defiance, but I'm assuming that you're not too sure of it yourself?" Xavier asked. I looked up at him and shrugged. "You're too old to pout Kale." Damnit.
"Jus'..jus' want'd t' hurt Papa." I said finally, well saying it out loud just made me sound like a horrible person.
"And you thought by not wearing the bracelets, it would somehow hurt your father?" Hank asked, a perplexed look on his furry face.
"Non, de fact dat I don' listen t' Papa no mo', dat would hurt." I explained. Papa always prided himself on the fact that he proved everyone wrong. He raised the almost perfect child. I wasn't too loud or obnoxious, and I listened when I had to. Everyone figured that I would turn out horrible with just Papa raising me, and I suppose I just proved them right. "Didn' mean t' cause a scene Monsieur." I said.
"Actually I believe that's exactly what you planned on doing, embarrassing someone is only fun if it's done in front of a group am I correct?" Xavier said. Why was he always right? "Because I'm a genius."
I had to laugh at that. "Won' happen 'gain." I said after my laughter faded as quickly as it came.
"You're right it won't. I will not tolerate it. I tolerate a lot in this school, but complete disrespect of authority is one thing that I will not permit, no matter who it's from." He said a quick flash of anger appearing in his eyes. I nodded; defying him would be stupid. "Now if you would be so kind as to accompany Hank down to the med lab so he can run a few tests."
I looked up, I did not want to go to the med lab, I had to go apologize to 'Ro. But seeing the look of absolute determination in the professors' eyes left no room for argument. So I stood and walked out of the room behind Hank, walking past Sean who was waiting outside of the room. He started to come after me but Professor stopped him and talked with him about something.
"Why?" I asked in the elevator that took us downstairs. Hank looked at me and smiled his toothy smile.
"Well young lady it seems that the power inhibitor bracelets, while taking away your powers are also taking away the one thing that's keeping you alive." He said. My confusion showed on my face. Hank smiled and laid a hand on my shoulder. " In theory my dear, your mutation is the only thing keeping you alive."
Well I certainly wasn't expecting that.
A/N: Alright you tell me what happens next 'cause I have no fuckin' clue.