"Leave me alone!" Came a voice. Kurt, Logan, Ororo, Bobby and Rogue
stopped and looked at each other.
"My guess is, that'll be our girl." Logan said. "Let's go."
()))))))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))((
The metal of the fire escape groaned and squeaked as it continued to break. Taryn clung to the sides of the fire escape for dear life. The fire below her was still raging. Taryn closed her eyes as fearful tears filled her eyes.
"What the.." Came John's voice. Taryn opened her eyes and saw something that looked like ice smothering the flames. "Oh look, it's the goodie brigade." He said, his voice filled with contempt. Taryn looked over and saw a man with wild looking hair, a woman with white hair, a blue skinned man, a blonde teenage boy and a teenage girl with a white streak going through her brown hair.
"What are you doing, John?" The woman with white hair asked. "You know this isn't right." John laughed.
"This is better then all your stupid training and such back at the Institute." He said.
"Let's go." Magneto said. He pointed his hand at the fire escape as he turned, leaving with John and Mystique. Taryn watched them leave, suddenly she heard a loud snap as the fire escape gave out. She screamed as she felt herself falling.
"Kurt!" Came the voice of one of the people. Suddenly she felt arms around her and in a flash she was standing on the ground. Taryn gasped. She saw that the man with the blue skin had grabbed her.
"Oh my god." She said as she stumbled out of the man's arms, her head spinning.
"Are you all right?" The woman with white hair asked, her voice filled with concern. Taryn stepped away from her.
"Leave me alone." She said.
"Hey, kid, we ain't like Magneto and his lackies." The man with the wild hair said, approaching her. Taryn stepped back against.
"I said leave me alone!" She screamed. The girl with the streak through her hair stepped forward.
"OK, ok, relax." She said softly. "We're just here to help you." Taryn stumbled back, feeling dizzy.
"No, go away.." She muttered, right before everything went black.
())))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))
"So, the girl was all right?" Xavier asked. It was the next day and he was sitting with Ororo in his study. Ororo nodded.
"Just scared, and dazed. Wolverine was able to catch her when she fainted, and we brought her back here."
"Good." Xavier said.
"Do you know anything about the girl?" Ororo asked. "What is her ability?"
"Very much like Rogue's. She can't touch people." He said. "Anyone who comes in skin to skin contact with her turns to stone. Up until last night, it had been dormant, coming in from time to time, but very rarely. She kept it hidden from everyone, even her family. Something must have triggered her mutation to flare up."
"No wonder she was scared." Ororo muttered. "Well, that and the fact that Magneto had resorted to extreme measures in attempts to get her to his side."
())))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((()))))))))))))))))))(((()
Taryn opened her eyes to see someone placing a cold compress on her head. She sat up quickly and backed up from them. She blinked and recognized her as the girl with the white streak in her hair from the night before.
"I wouldn't touch me if I were you." Taryn warned. The girl set the compress down.
"Don't worry." The girl said. She lifted up her hands to show off a pair of black leather gloves. "I've got protection." She smiled. Taryn looked at her.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" She said. The girl's smile disappeared.
"Yeah, sorry." She said. Taryn rolled her eyes and got up off the bed she had been lying around. She looked around the room, noting it seemed nicely decorated and had a few other beds against the walls. "So, I'm guessing this is the Institute the human torch was talking about." She said, looking back at the girl. She nodded.
"Yeah."
"So, what? Is this for like the mentally insane? Cause, I've got to be crazy for believing what I saw last night."
"It's not that kind of institute, and you're not crazy." The girl said, she walked over to Taryn. "I'm Rogue." She said, sticking her hand out. Taryn blinked and looked at her.
"Are you guys like the other three from last night?" She asked. Rogue shook her head.
"We're the good guys." She said softly. Taryn seemed to accept this and took her hand.
"I'm Taryn."
"Let's go get something to eat." Rogue smiled. She dragged Taryn out of the room. Taryn sighed and walked with her. She felt somewhat oddly dressed compared to Rogue. Rogue was dressed in light pajama pants and matching shirt. Taryn was dressed in jeans, long sleeve black shirt which would've barred her mid drift is she wasn't wearing a big wool sweater over it. She had wool gloves on, and a fuzzy wool cap on her head.
())))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((()))))))))))))))))))(((()
"So, what happened?" One of the fellow students asked as Bobby sat down for breakfast. He sighed, looking at Piotr.
"She was getting hassled by Magneto, and his newest buddy, John." He grumbled. Piotr blinked.
"Man, I can't believe he's on Magneto's side now." He breathed out. Bobby nodded.
"Anyway, Night Crawler was able to catch her before-"
"Glad to see I'm the juiciest topic here." Came a voice. Bobby turned around to see Rogue and the girl. She had her arms crossed over her chest.
"Uh sorry." Bobby said. Rogue sat down next to him. Taryn sat next to her. Taryn looked at him.
"You're the one who literally iced flame boy's torch, right?" She asked. Bobby smiled.
"Right. I'm Bobby." He said. "This is Piotr." He said, introducing Piotr.
"Everyone calls me Pete." He said, shrugging his muscular shoulders. Taryn looked at him.
"Taryn." She said. "So, Rogue here filled me in on this place a little on our way here. This is just some place for freaks just like me?" She smirked.
"We prefer 'School for the gifted youngsters'." Came a soft voice. Taryn turned to see a middle aged bald man wearing a suit in a wheel chair. He looked at the other three. "Good morning Rogue, Bobby, Piotr."
"Morning Professor." They replied. He smiled at Taryn.
"I'm happy to see you're getting aquainted with some of the students." He said, giving a friendly smile. "If it's all right with you, I would like to talk with you." He said. Taryn looked back at the other three, trying to see if perhaps she had done something wrong. They just smiled at her. Taryn looked back at the man and nodded.
"Yeah, sure." She said. She stood up and left with him. He led her to a nice looking den like room.
"Please, have a seat." He said. Taryn sat down on one of the leather furnished chairs in the room. He wheeled around and sat in front of her. "You are probably wondering why you are here." He said. Taryn was silent. "Well, this is a school I run for gifted children, as I said. I am Professor Charles Xavier." He smiled. "All the students here are like you, having certain powers that they are just growing into."
"Gifted?" Taryn asked. She looked down. "I'm not gifted, I'm cursed." She said softly. Charles looked at her, his eyes boring into her.
"Yes, I can see how one may think that." He said. Taryn looked at him, giving a short bitter laugh.
"I killed someone last night." She said. "How am I gifted?"
"You did not mean to hurt Andy." He said softly, taking one of her gloved hands in his. Taryn looked at him and snatched her hand away.
"What? How did you know?"
"My gift." He said, giving a warm smile. "Many who come here see their abilities as curses. I'll admit I did so as well when I was young. But, if you learned to control your powers, and took precautious, perhaps it will not seem like a curse."
"Precautions." Taryn said. "I thought dressing like a freaking Eskimo and skipping town was a precaution." She said.
"Running away does not solve your problems." He said. "It only gives you the illusion of that." Taryn got up and walked around the room a bit.
"So, you're saying I should go back home?" She asked. "Right. Go to school, pretend to be normal, all the while everyone is waiting to jump me with torches and pitchforks." Charles wheeled himself over to her.
"No." He said. "I know that people who do not understand you can be cruel and hurtful. I am suggesting you do not blame yourself for what you had no control over. If you allow me, and the others here, to help you come to terms with your powers, perhaps you can control it." Taryn blinked.
"You mean, stay here?" She asked. Charles nodded. Taryn shook her head. "No. I..I can't." She said, tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't be around people. She knew that it was a risk.
"You're afraid what happened to Andy will happen again." Charles said. Taryn nodded and sat down again. Charles went over to her. "Say you do run away." He said. "Some day, you will get tired of it. But, you won't be able to get close to people, fearing you'll hurt them."
"Thank you Mr. Obvious." Taryn sighed.
"If you learn to control your powers, and to live with them, you won't have to fear that." He said. Taryn looked at him.
"Commander Metal and his bunch wanted to give me 'guidance' too. How do I know you're not like that?"
"Well, I wouldn't try to cause you harm if you decided to walk out that door." He said. "I just want to make sure you are sure about your decision to do so." Taryn considered this. He was right. She had been talking to him longer then she had with Magneto and his like, and not once had he resorted to threats or such. "I won't force you to stay if you don't want to." He said. Taryn thought about this for a second. She sighed and looked at him.
"Well, I guess having a place to stay for a while won't be too bad." She smiled. Charles gave a soft laugh.
"Good." He said.
"My guess is, that'll be our girl." Logan said. "Let's go."
()))))))))))))))))))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( ((((((((((((((()))))))))))))))((
The metal of the fire escape groaned and squeaked as it continued to break. Taryn clung to the sides of the fire escape for dear life. The fire below her was still raging. Taryn closed her eyes as fearful tears filled her eyes.
"What the.." Came John's voice. Taryn opened her eyes and saw something that looked like ice smothering the flames. "Oh look, it's the goodie brigade." He said, his voice filled with contempt. Taryn looked over and saw a man with wild looking hair, a woman with white hair, a blue skinned man, a blonde teenage boy and a teenage girl with a white streak going through her brown hair.
"What are you doing, John?" The woman with white hair asked. "You know this isn't right." John laughed.
"This is better then all your stupid training and such back at the Institute." He said.
"Let's go." Magneto said. He pointed his hand at the fire escape as he turned, leaving with John and Mystique. Taryn watched them leave, suddenly she heard a loud snap as the fire escape gave out. She screamed as she felt herself falling.
"Kurt!" Came the voice of one of the people. Suddenly she felt arms around her and in a flash she was standing on the ground. Taryn gasped. She saw that the man with the blue skin had grabbed her.
"Oh my god." She said as she stumbled out of the man's arms, her head spinning.
"Are you all right?" The woman with white hair asked, her voice filled with concern. Taryn stepped away from her.
"Leave me alone." She said.
"Hey, kid, we ain't like Magneto and his lackies." The man with the wild hair said, approaching her. Taryn stepped back against.
"I said leave me alone!" She screamed. The girl with the streak through her hair stepped forward.
"OK, ok, relax." She said softly. "We're just here to help you." Taryn stumbled back, feeling dizzy.
"No, go away.." She muttered, right before everything went black.
())))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((((((((((((((((((((())))))
"So, the girl was all right?" Xavier asked. It was the next day and he was sitting with Ororo in his study. Ororo nodded.
"Just scared, and dazed. Wolverine was able to catch her when she fainted, and we brought her back here."
"Good." Xavier said.
"Do you know anything about the girl?" Ororo asked. "What is her ability?"
"Very much like Rogue's. She can't touch people." He said. "Anyone who comes in skin to skin contact with her turns to stone. Up until last night, it had been dormant, coming in from time to time, but very rarely. She kept it hidden from everyone, even her family. Something must have triggered her mutation to flare up."
"No wonder she was scared." Ororo muttered. "Well, that and the fact that Magneto had resorted to extreme measures in attempts to get her to his side."
())))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((()))))))))))))))))))(((()
Taryn opened her eyes to see someone placing a cold compress on her head. She sat up quickly and backed up from them. She blinked and recognized her as the girl with the white streak in her hair from the night before.
"I wouldn't touch me if I were you." Taryn warned. The girl set the compress down.
"Don't worry." The girl said. She lifted up her hands to show off a pair of black leather gloves. "I've got protection." She smiled. Taryn looked at her.
"Is that supposed to be a joke?" She said. The girl's smile disappeared.
"Yeah, sorry." She said. Taryn rolled her eyes and got up off the bed she had been lying around. She looked around the room, noting it seemed nicely decorated and had a few other beds against the walls. "So, I'm guessing this is the Institute the human torch was talking about." She said, looking back at the girl. She nodded.
"Yeah."
"So, what? Is this for like the mentally insane? Cause, I've got to be crazy for believing what I saw last night."
"It's not that kind of institute, and you're not crazy." The girl said, she walked over to Taryn. "I'm Rogue." She said, sticking her hand out. Taryn blinked and looked at her.
"Are you guys like the other three from last night?" She asked. Rogue shook her head.
"We're the good guys." She said softly. Taryn seemed to accept this and took her hand.
"I'm Taryn."
"Let's go get something to eat." Rogue smiled. She dragged Taryn out of the room. Taryn sighed and walked with her. She felt somewhat oddly dressed compared to Rogue. Rogue was dressed in light pajama pants and matching shirt. Taryn was dressed in jeans, long sleeve black shirt which would've barred her mid drift is she wasn't wearing a big wool sweater over it. She had wool gloves on, and a fuzzy wool cap on her head.
())))))))))))))))))))))))((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( (((((((()))))))))))))))))))(((()
"So, what happened?" One of the fellow students asked as Bobby sat down for breakfast. He sighed, looking at Piotr.
"She was getting hassled by Magneto, and his newest buddy, John." He grumbled. Piotr blinked.
"Man, I can't believe he's on Magneto's side now." He breathed out. Bobby nodded.
"Anyway, Night Crawler was able to catch her before-"
"Glad to see I'm the juiciest topic here." Came a voice. Bobby turned around to see Rogue and the girl. She had her arms crossed over her chest.
"Uh sorry." Bobby said. Rogue sat down next to him. Taryn sat next to her. Taryn looked at him.
"You're the one who literally iced flame boy's torch, right?" She asked. Bobby smiled.
"Right. I'm Bobby." He said. "This is Piotr." He said, introducing Piotr.
"Everyone calls me Pete." He said, shrugging his muscular shoulders. Taryn looked at him.
"Taryn." She said. "So, Rogue here filled me in on this place a little on our way here. This is just some place for freaks just like me?" She smirked.
"We prefer 'School for the gifted youngsters'." Came a soft voice. Taryn turned to see a middle aged bald man wearing a suit in a wheel chair. He looked at the other three. "Good morning Rogue, Bobby, Piotr."
"Morning Professor." They replied. He smiled at Taryn.
"I'm happy to see you're getting aquainted with some of the students." He said, giving a friendly smile. "If it's all right with you, I would like to talk with you." He said. Taryn looked back at the other three, trying to see if perhaps she had done something wrong. They just smiled at her. Taryn looked back at the man and nodded.
"Yeah, sure." She said. She stood up and left with him. He led her to a nice looking den like room.
"Please, have a seat." He said. Taryn sat down on one of the leather furnished chairs in the room. He wheeled around and sat in front of her. "You are probably wondering why you are here." He said. Taryn was silent. "Well, this is a school I run for gifted children, as I said. I am Professor Charles Xavier." He smiled. "All the students here are like you, having certain powers that they are just growing into."
"Gifted?" Taryn asked. She looked down. "I'm not gifted, I'm cursed." She said softly. Charles looked at her, his eyes boring into her.
"Yes, I can see how one may think that." He said. Taryn looked at him, giving a short bitter laugh.
"I killed someone last night." She said. "How am I gifted?"
"You did not mean to hurt Andy." He said softly, taking one of her gloved hands in his. Taryn looked at him and snatched her hand away.
"What? How did you know?"
"My gift." He said, giving a warm smile. "Many who come here see their abilities as curses. I'll admit I did so as well when I was young. But, if you learned to control your powers, and took precautious, perhaps it will not seem like a curse."
"Precautions." Taryn said. "I thought dressing like a freaking Eskimo and skipping town was a precaution." She said.
"Running away does not solve your problems." He said. "It only gives you the illusion of that." Taryn got up and walked around the room a bit.
"So, you're saying I should go back home?" She asked. "Right. Go to school, pretend to be normal, all the while everyone is waiting to jump me with torches and pitchforks." Charles wheeled himself over to her.
"No." He said. "I know that people who do not understand you can be cruel and hurtful. I am suggesting you do not blame yourself for what you had no control over. If you allow me, and the others here, to help you come to terms with your powers, perhaps you can control it." Taryn blinked.
"You mean, stay here?" She asked. Charles nodded. Taryn shook her head. "No. I..I can't." She said, tears coming to her eyes. She couldn't be around people. She knew that it was a risk.
"You're afraid what happened to Andy will happen again." Charles said. Taryn nodded and sat down again. Charles went over to her. "Say you do run away." He said. "Some day, you will get tired of it. But, you won't be able to get close to people, fearing you'll hurt them."
"Thank you Mr. Obvious." Taryn sighed.
"If you learn to control your powers, and to live with them, you won't have to fear that." He said. Taryn looked at him.
"Commander Metal and his bunch wanted to give me 'guidance' too. How do I know you're not like that?"
"Well, I wouldn't try to cause you harm if you decided to walk out that door." He said. "I just want to make sure you are sure about your decision to do so." Taryn considered this. He was right. She had been talking to him longer then she had with Magneto and his like, and not once had he resorted to threats or such. "I won't force you to stay if you don't want to." He said. Taryn thought about this for a second. She sighed and looked at him.
"Well, I guess having a place to stay for a while won't be too bad." She smiled. Charles gave a soft laugh.
"Good." He said.