I'd like to think gaul1 and Wanderer3 for reviewing. Wanderer3, thanks for the info. I don't know much about Legion, but I am gonna try to make Jesse more original. He won't be a Mary Sue (or whatever the male equivalent is!) though the power potential is there. I plan to keep him grounded with other things if I ever let him get over turning his family into vegetables (mentally, that is. literally turning them into vegetables wouldn't be much of a power, would it? Be a fun one though!). If anyone can point out some good sites to hunt up X-Men: Evolution info or detailed info on other Marvel characters, I'd appreciate it.
And does it make any sense at all that reading a Legend of Zelda fic gave me the inspiration to get back to work on this chapter?
This chapter was revised on 6/11/05.
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The next day, Jesse awoke with a start. At first he panicked, being in such unfamiliar surroundings but then settled himself by reminding himself that he was at the Xavier School for the Gifted. After settling down, Jesse takes a look at the time. It was 6 in the morning. Opening up his mind, Jesse goes through the mental training exercises Jean had taught him. They were simple breathing control exercises, but they calmed him down and gave him focus.
Jesse finally gets out of bed and gathers up some clothes and heads for the nearest bathroom. Luckily, there was no line just yet, but he decided to be as quick as he could. Jean was walking up to the bathroom with her own stuff just as he was getting out. Blushing because Jean was still in her nightgown, Jesse gives a quick 'good morning' before hurrying to his room to finish getting ready for the day.
Breakfast was a crazy affair. Everyone who had a power that could benefit them to getting some more food or getting something before someone else used it, Kurt being the most prevalent next to Kitty, who moved through peoples' bodies to get what she wanted while Kurt teleported around. Jean used her telekinesis to lift things away from people while Logan used his claws to spear various foods. Jesse also noted with some amusement that whenever Logan reached for something, nothing got in his way because everyone darted their own hands back. Except for Kitty, who would boldly snatch food right off Logan's claws. Apparently Logan had a soft spot for the girl. Jesse guessed it was because she was so different from himself. Or maybe he was a softy at heart and Kitty had wormed her way into it with her attitude.
Jesse asked Scott why the Professor allowed everyone to use their powers like that at breakfast and Scott merely replied that he couldn't stop them, and it provided them with practice in a non-lethal yet hectic situation. Jesse couldn't help but agree with that. Scott said that breakfast helped Jean train her powers better than almost anything else. Jesse kept this in mind for when he got control over his own telekinesis.
"So Jesse, did you have a good nights sleep?" Scott asks once things were somewhat settled down.
"Not too bad," Jesse replies as he pours himself a glass of orange juice, "no dreams, which is probably a plus right now, and the bed was the most comfortable I've ever been in."
"No dreams is a good sign," Jean muses, "the comfortable bed may have helped with that."
"Whatever it was, I'm glad," Jesse replies, "normally I sleep poorly in a strange place, even though I go to sleep a lot faster than I do at home."
"You up for a day of preparation, Specs?" Logan asks. Jesse doesn't even scowl at the nickname. He had learned early on that Logan liked to give everyone a nickname. Kurt was Elf, Kitty was Half-Pint, Scott was Slim, Jean was Red, Evan (who was with the Morlocks) was Porcupine, Professor Xavier was Chuck or Charles, and Mr. McCoy was Hank. Ororo was simply Ororo. Everyone had a nickname. Most everyone simply took it as his way of showing that he cared and was at ease with them. If he called you by your name, except for Ororo whom he apparently respected and cared for almost like a sister, then he was dead serious. Then again, it was possible that he was always serious with Ororo.
"Yeah, I feel like it," Jesse replies, "I just can't do nothing today. Even if you simply show me around better. I just need to do something to keep my mind occupied."
Logan nods in agreement. "If ya want something to do, I can run you through the beginnings of your physical training exercises. It will be tough, but you look like you can take it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," Jesse replies, knowing that from Logan that was a compliment, "I'll do my best. Whether that will be enough, we'll just have to wait and see."
After the other students had left for school, Jesse changes into a gi to practice in. Logan would start his hand-to-hand training first. After putting in the contacts, which he hated doing because he wasn't used to them, he walks out to the practice yard with Logan.
"So Specs, you ready?" Logan asks. Jesse nods. "Good. Then we'll start with a light kata. Just follow my movements as best you can. I'll go slow until you get it right."
Jesse began to protest that he didn't want to hinder Logan's own training, but Logan shuts him up. "Look, my job here is to teach you kids how to defend yourself. And I don't think a few weeks of cutting my exercises short will hurt me, especially if I'm still working out. Besides, if I have to I can just go through one of my specialized courses in the Danger Room."
This shut Jesse up immediately. He had heard of Logan's specialized Danger Room programs from Kurt. Supposedly it took the rest of the team combined to go through one of his scenarios, including the New Mutants. With a nod, Jesse and Logan start off.
Surprisingly, Jesse was able to catch on quickly. Logan suspected that a few of his relatives had had some martial arts training, one of them had fought in Vietnam after all, but he said nothing. He didn't want to bring the boy down. Logan sympathized with the boy. He had lost his family, yet he was willing to work past it and become stronger to make sure it didn't happen again. He had a sense of honor and dedication in him that Logan felt could be cultivated, that could turn Jesse into a man whom Logan could respect and gladly have watch his back. Someone who he could easily call friend.
Later that day, Jesse is talking with the Professor as they discuss his situation and his powers. Since it would take some time to gauge just how long it would take for him to gain control on his own. The Professor had strengthened the mental wards Jean had placed, but they wouldn't work forever. A year at best. Once that year was up, his powers would be able to just slip by any and all barriers placed on his mind by Jean or the Professor, even if they worked together to place them.
"Professor, do you honestly think I can completely control my powers within a year?" Jesse asks sullenly.
"No, Jesse, I do not," Professor Xavier replies, "but you will be able to control them well enough that they are not a danger unless your emotions go unchecked."
Jesse nods in acceptance. Then he brings up the question of his guardianship. His aunt, and her recently deceased husband, had been his legal guardians since he was three. But his aunt was now pretty much a vegetable and his uncle had been dead since the beginning of the year.
"You have nothing to worry about, Jesse," Professor Xavier says soothingly, "at the moment, you are in the custody of the state, and those that are working on your case know where you are. A problem lies in the fact that you aren't even seventeen yet, despite being a senior in high school."
"Yeah, lucky me," Jesse sighs, exasperated, "look, would it be possible for you to gain legal custody of me, at least until I'm 18 and of age? I'll be here until then anyway."
The Professor was obviously surprised at Jesse's request, and it showed. "May I ask why?"
"Things may end up happening where I will need a legal guardian or parental consent to do something or, Heaven forbid, get out of trouble," Jesse explains, "so I figured asking you. I would have possibly asked Logan, but I don't think he would find the gesture amusing and just refuse. You're the better option anyway."
"Logan would surprise you at that," the Professor replies, "but, I am glad that you have brought this matter to a close. You are old enough to have some say in your guardianship, so your word will help the proceedings go quicker."
"At least that's something," Jesse sighs.
"So how was your morning training with Logan?" the Professor asks.
"Surprisingly easy," Jesse replies, "too easy."
The Professor arches an eyebrow. "Logan went easy?"
"No, I don't think he did," Jesse replies, "I think one of my uncle's knew various martial arts. One of them was in Vietnam, after all."
The Professor nods sadly. "Jesse, I want you to understand that you are in a very unique situation. You have parts of several lifetimes worth of hard work and learning stored in your brain now. As time passes you will learn more and more about what you have gained, but I don't want you to try and use them as an easy way out."
"Of course not Professor," Jesse replies, "this is only the beginning. All this will end up doing is easing the physical training. I'll still have to train my body, but I won't have to work as hard to train my mind. The more I worked at something today that these memories were helping me along with, the more it seemed to become a part of who I am. I think I was integrating my uncle's experience into my own, making it my own instead of some kind of mental video recording in the first person perspective."
"I see," the Professor says, "I think I agree with you, but do be careful Jesse. Yours is a very precarious position. Your mind is still fragile from absorbing so much so quickly. If you are not careful, you could overtax yourself. There is no telling what could happen then. You could have a stroke, or slip into a coma."
"Thank you for your concern, Professor," Jesse says sincerely, "so, can we start on some more mental training for me?"
The Professor nods and they begin mental training exercises for Jesse to go through.
Later that day, Jesse was talking to Jean after she got back from school.
"Do the people at the school know that the students here at the Institute are mutants?" he asks.
"They know that some of us are," Jean replies, "and they probably suspect that the rest of us are as well."
"Is there fair treatment of mutants?" Jesse asks. He needed to know what to expect en he got to the school.
"Not always," Jean sighs, "they are particularly careful with me, since they know the nature of my powers."
"What do they do?" Jesse asks, knowing that they would do the same to him since he had powers similar to Jean's.
"Well, during tests and the like, they take me to the gym, since I can't read minds over a long distance very well," Jean replies, "I'd never cheat like that, or at all, but I go along with it since it gives them peace of mind."
"So those of us with mental powers have to sacrifice more than the rest, huh?" Jesse asks sadly.
"Not always," Jean replies, "they finally let me back on the school athletic teams since it takes focus to use my powers to cheat during a game."
A vision fills Jesse's head. A protesting Jean, in a soccer uniform, was demanding to know why the custodian was packing away the trophy's she had won for the school. He blinks. "They took away your trophy's?"
Jean looks quizzically at Jesse. How had he known that?
"I saw it in my head," he explains. He notices her look of understanding. "That did happen? How did I see it?"
"Two ways that I know of," Jean replies, "either you saw my memory."
"Unlikely, since I saw you in the vision as well," Jesse replies.
"Or you were able to see the past somehow," Jean says, "I guess you can see the past some."
"Yay me," Jesse mutters, "I guess I'll be able to see the future as well, huh?"
"Jesse, we don't know what you can and cannot do," Jean says soothingly, "you have dozens, maybe even hundreds, of different psionic powers. They aren't very strong, but they build off of one another and become stronger that way."
"The Professor and I think that I'm able to access my families memories," Jesse says, "I was able to do very well training with Logan today because one of my uncle's was in Vietnam and learned some martial arts."
"At least some of your training will be easy at first," Jean says with a small smile, "the rest of us have to slave away in his training sessions."
"Yeah, well, Logan said he'll up the level just for me," Jesse replies, then grimaces, "said he's gonna push me until he finds my limits, and then push me beyond."
"He does that with all of us," Jean replies, "he just wants us to be able to survive."
"Understandable," Jesse says, "after all, look at the common view of mutants. We're viewed disdainfully, not trusted. Given what some mutants can do, and will do, I don't blame normal humans of their fear."
"Jesse, what do you plan to do once you have gained control over your powers?" Jean asks.
"Get on with my life, most likely," Jesse replies, "my old family is gone, though I was never really close to any of them. I suppose I'll see about making a new family. Until then, I'll just take everything one day at a time. I hope I never have to use my powers to hurt another, but if I have to use them to protect someone, I will not hesitate."
"Do you think you might join the X-Men?" Jean asks.
"If I'm needed, I will help," Jesse promises.
"You know," Jean says as she stands up, "I think you're going to be a welcome addition around here, Jesse. You're a really nice guy."
"Mr. Nice Guy, that's me," Jesse chuckles as he stands up, "well, I have to meet Mr. McCoy and Logan in the Danger Room. Logan said he wanted to give me a practice run."
"Well, at least since its your first time he'll go easy on you," Jean says calmly. Jesse shivers.
"I dunno," Jesse replies, "like I said, I got memories from my uncle floating in my head giving me a slight advantage. He might up the level a bit."
"He still wouldn't put you at a very high level," Jean insists, "its still your first day. He has to put you at a lower level to get a feel for your skill level."
"Well, thanks for the talk Jean," Jesse says, "I'll talk to you later. Maybe you can give me some advice for some of my abilities."
"Sure," Jean says, beginning to focus on her homework as Jesse leaves.
The Danger Room, to Jesse's surprise, did not look all that dangerous. However, a few glances at the diagnostics of what it was capable of changed his mind about that very quickly.
"I'm going through this alone?" Jesse asks timidly.
"This is just the basic practice run," Logan replies, "even if you could use your powers, you wouldn't be allowed to unless they were inherent, like Kurt's agility and reflexes or my healing factor and bones."
"So, just some danger?" Jesse asks as he suits up in one of the basic X-Men uniforms. The outfit had absolutely no frills of any sort, unlike the personalized costumes of the more senior members of the team.
"Yes, that's why its called the Danger Room," Logan sighs, "now, I don't expect you to do as well here as you have so far today, but I do have the controls ready to boost the difficulty. The object is to find your limit and then make your limit harder to reach, to raise it until you have fewer and fewer limits."
"Sound plan," Jesse muses, "well, I guess I'm ready."
Jesse heads down to the Danger Room from the Control Room and gets ready. This was not going to be easy. Logan had upped the level just a bit, just for him.
The simulation started off simple enough, a maze, though it wasn't that complicated, since the Danger Room did have a limited size. Eventually he moved on to dodging moving objects such as metal beams. Logan put him through his paces, sending Jesse through every simulation the Danger Room could offer. It took three hours, but Logan finally felt that he had a good judge of Jesse's abilities. The boy had good balance, though he seemed to have little sense of self-preservation, taking great risks.
Jesse had leapt from platforms and such in dangerous gambits to get through the Danger Room's obstacles faster. He had nearly ended up with serious injuries, but had surprisingly come out without a scratch. Logan had seen potential in the boy. He wasn't violent, but Logan could tell that if push came to shove, Jesse could be fearsome. This was especially true because of his powers. When Jesse got them under control, he would be a terror if he ever lost it. Professor Xavier had called Logan in to talk to him after the other students had gotten in from school. They had discussed the kind of training Jesse would undergo. They had finally decided to focus on control until Jesse was capable of consciously controlling his abilities. Once that was done, they could focus on Jesse's physical training. They would still have Jesse undergo various aspects of physical training, like katas and basic exercises, but not as much as the other students. Logan had suggested allowing Jesse to train in a weapon and Xavier had agreed. Such training would give Jesse more focus, and a way to defend himself until he got his powers under control.
Days passed and Jesse quickly progressed in his basic training. He had mastered a new kata every day, and his training in learning control was progressing smoothly. Professor Xavier had told him that within another week he would be ready to go to Bayville High. Jesse had astounding control, largely due to the fact that he was naturally a withdrawn person. His desire to keep the disaster with his family from ever happening again also pushed him, though Professor Xavier and Logan were slightly worried that he might end up pushing himself too hard when he began making true progress once he started learning how to properly harness his abilities and not just keep them from going out of control.
Finally, Jesse's basic legal papers came through. Jesse's own word had indeed carried weight and Charles Xavier was now Jesse's temporary legal guardian until they could finalize everything with a trip back to Tennessee. His school papers had arrived and were sorted into Bayville, and Jesse had signed up for his classes. He had been keeping up with his studies, and would have classes with Jean and Scott, as well as a few of the other residents of the Xavier Institute. He had signed up for computer classes, as well as a musical class to keep his studies general. That and he liked singing He was taking automotive classes for the practical knowledge, and it gave him another class with Scott, who was taking the class for the same reasons.
During his short time at the Institute, Jesse had made a good friend in Kurt, the two of them becoming fast friends. Jesse did not care about Kurt's appearance, saying that you couldn't help the way you looked any more than you could help being born. Surprisingly, though, Jesse had become friends with the obstinate Rogue. While not close friends, he and Rogue had an understanding, which was more than anyone but Kurt really had with her besides Kitty, though Kitty was friends with everyone. He had also become a friend of Scott's, the only other male in the Institute that was real close to his age. He, Scott, Kurt, and Rogue could often be found in their free periods talking, sharing jokes and stories. When asked how the four of them got along so well by Kitty, Jesse's reply was simple yet profound.
"We all grew up adopted, Kitty," he had said, "while the circumstances for our adoptions were different, we share a common bond and feeling about that. Scott lost his parents and still has a brother. Kurt and myself do have mothers who are alive but were unable to raise us, though I do have a brother and a sister. Rogue is just simply adopted. But we all know what it is like to be raised by someone other than our parents. We share that, and let our common past bring us together. Now, are you hungry? Because I worked up an appetite running through the Danger Room for Logan."
Finally, it was time for Jesse's first day of school at Bayville High. He was nervous, but also excited. He had various classes with the older students at the Institute, and one or two with the younger students. He had one class with Kitty, which was Home Economics. Scott had teased him until Jesse replied that he needed to learn to cook. He had Language Arts IV with Jean, Rogue, and Scott, which was a required course. He had Algebra II with Kitty and Kurt. They were surprised that he was taking the class his senior year, but he had replied that he had felt like a break of math during his junior year. His fourth class was Phys. Ed., which he had with Scott, Jean, and Rogue, and his final class was History, which he only had with Rogue.
First period was Algebra II. Class had gone by smoothly, no mishaps whatsoever. Second period, Home Economics, hadn't gone over as well. Jesse had been paired with Kitty, and neither one of them were good cooks. They had ended up setting the brownies they had been making on fire and burning them to a crisp. Language Arts IV had gone smoothly. History was where he ran into problems.
The class had started out all right. The teacher, Mr. Smithers, was completely anti-mutant, and made no attempt to hide it. If Jesse didn't have the habit of letting slander that was directed at him go by, he probably would have blown up just as bad as he had at the family reunion. As it was, since the remarks were directed at all mutants, Jesse had to sit through class uncomfortably. He had tried to adopt Rogue's impassive features, but he just wasn't able to. Instead, he managed to look bored, which Mr. Smithers zeroed in on right away.
"So, bored already, on your first day here?" he demands sharply.
"No sir," Jesse replies monotonously, "this is my usual facial expression."
Mr. Smithers studied Jesse's face for a moment, as if trying to detect the lie. After a moment, Mr. Smithers returns to the front of the class and returns to the lesson. The rest of the lesson passed by fairly easily, with Mr. Smithers glancing at Jesse repeatedly to determine if he had been telling the truth. At the end of class, Mr. Smithers held Jesse back. Rogue waited for him, since they were riding together with Scott and Jean back to the Institute.
"Mr. Atalas, you had best shape up in my class or I'll be forced to recommend that you transfer to another class," Mr. Smithers warns, "do you understand?"
"Yes sir," Jesse replies, keeping that same bored expression on his face.
"Now, I understand that you are living at the Xavier Institute?" Mr. Smithers asks.
"Yes sir," Jesse replies.
"You understand that everyone there is a freak and a mutant, right?" Mr. Smithers asks, the loathing evident in his voice.
"I've heard rumors," Jesse answers, "but I don't pay attention to rumors. They're a waste of time, breath, and intelligence."
"Well, the rumors are true," Mr. Smithers sneers, "and I must assume that you are a mutant as well, if you are staying there."
"Sir, Professor Xavier was a friend of my family's, and when they passed away a month ago he gained custody of me," Jesse replies, "and besides, you do know what happens when you assume something, right?"
With that, Jesse turned and joined Rogue as they head for where Scott's car was parked.
"How did you get the school board to accept your legal name as Rogue?" Jesse asks.
"Mystique, she was the Principal before Principal Kelly," Rogue answers, "she pulled strings and in this state my legal name is Rogue."
"What's your real name, then?" Jesse asks.
"It's, well," Rogue stammers.
"It's okay, you don't have to tell me Rogue," Jesse says, "it doesn't matter to me if I know your real name or not."
"Thanks," Rogue says.
"So, what do you think of Scott and Jean?" Jesse asks as they spot the couple leaning against Scott's car.
"They make a perfect couple," Rogue says grumpily.
"Is that jealousy I detect in your voice?" Jesse teases, "does someone have a crush on Scott?"
"Ah did," Rogue admits, a blush staining her cheeks, "it went away last year, when Scott and ah went to New York to locate Warren."
"I take it you liked him for the obvious reasons?" Jesse asks, "good looking, nice guy?"
Rogue nods. "And ah'd gotten to know him, ya know? We share a kinda similar background."
"So do we," Jesse says, "I take it Scott had no clue?"
"He's like a brother to me now," Rogue says, "and so are you and Kurt."
"Kurt is your brother," Jesse points out, "its just he's blue and furry and your… not."
Rogue smiles and the pair finish the walk to Scott's car.
"So, what'd you think of your first day?" Scott asks as they get into the car.
"Except for History, it wasn't too bad," Jesse admits, "Mr. Smithers is a bigot, isn't he?"
"Yes he is," Jean says emphatically, "I have him first period and he's just awful to me."
"He was pretty mean to Rogue as well," Jesse says, "he jumped on me the first chance he got."
"That's because you looked bored," Rogue points out.
"I wasn't bored, I was trying to look as impassive as you," Jesse counters, "that was the result."
"Did he ask if you were a mutant?" Jean asks.
"Yes, but I lied a little," Jesse admits, "told him the Professor was a friend of the family who got custody of me when they passed away."
"Wise move," Scott says, "I had him last year and he was downright evil. He's rude to all of the students from the Institute, especially those of us who have openly revealed ourselves to being mutants, and he does nothing to stop other students from harassing us."
"Guess I really had best keep a low profile," Jesse murmurs.
"You're not ashamed of being a mutant, are ya?" Rogue asks.
"No, I'm not," Jesse answers truthfully, "I just don't need to catch any more flack than I will for just being the new guy. I already had to avoid some jocks on that issue."
"They may have been testing you to see if you had any powers," Scott remarks as he pulls the car out onto the road to the Institute.
"Could be," Jesse admits, "not like anything can happen unless I really lose it."
"At least until you learn to control your powers yourself," Jean adds, "the Professor and I will take down the barriers once you develop a fair amount of control, otherwise the barriers will just slow your development."
Jesse sighs. "Well, at least it'll be a while before that happens."
"Have some faith in yourself, Jesse," Scott assures the younger teen, "you just need to practice. Jean didn't think she could ever control her powers, but now her control rival's the Professors"
Jean blushes. "Yeah. If I can get my powers under control, you can do the same Jesse."
"Thanks for the confidence," Jesse smiles, "well, if nothing else I have something to shoot for. Just gotta keep a never-say-die attitude, right?"
"That's the spirit!" Jean cheers.
The four mutants continue their conversation up to the Institute, where they then go off to quickly finish up their homework then get on to training. Today Jean would be helping Logan train Jesse. Jesse had been improving in his focusing and control, and now Professor Xavier and Logan felt that he could perhaps learn to harness one of his more obvious abilities, telekinesis.
"You start by directing your focus at the object you want to levitate," Jean explains, "in this case, this beach ball. Its best to use something soft when learning to harness telekinesis."
"Well, we can give it a try," Jesse says, "what do you want me to do?"
"Just levitate the ball," Jean says, "we'll see how long you can hold it up. Then we'll work on moving it around."
Jesse nods and focuses. He sees the beach ball in his minds eye. The colors, the contours, he could see every aspect of the ball in his mind. Even the seams in the multi-colored ball that held it together. He could see the spigot to blow air into the ball, and let the air out. Focusing harder, he could even see the very molecules that made up the ball, and the bonds that held them together. With a gasp Jesse opens his eyes.
"What is it Jesse?" Jean asks, concern etched in her features.
"I saw…. everything about the ball," Jesse whispers, but loud enough for Jean and Logan to hear him, "I could see everything the ball contained, and even the very molecules that make up the ball. Its unreal."
"I think you honestly do have the Sight," Jean says, "you can See into any object if you concentrate. This could ease your training though, since its instinctual. And it'll make you appear even more powerful."
"Instead of using strength pushing aside something hurtling towards me, like say a rock, I could focus on the very molecules that make it up and shatter the bonds that hold them together," Jesse realizes, "not the molecules themselves, but what holds the molecules in their form!"
"It'll take a lot of practice, but I believe you can do it," Jean says sincerely, "for now, see if you can lift the ball."
Jesse nods and turns his attention to the beach ball once more. A little push and it slowly begins to float off the ground. He levitates the beach ball until it is level with his head, then gives it a push right at Jean's head. Jean stops it instantly with her own telekinesis.
"So you wanna move right on into the next lesson, do you?" Jean asks, a playful smile on her face, "then deal with this!"
Jean uses her telekinesis to push the beach ball back at Jesse, who loses his grip on the ball and ducks to avoid being hit. Jean sends the ball up into the air then brings it down softly onto Jesse's head. Jesse gives off a short grunt as the ball makes contact. He focuses and launches the beach ball back at Jean, who stops it again and sends it right back. This time Jesse is able to divert it with a quick push of telekinesis, sending the beach ball to his right.
"Have you been practicing any?" Jean asks as she brings the beach ball around and sends it at Jesse again, "you shouldn't be able to do this well so quickly."
Jesse pushes the ball up with his telekinesis, the all brushing against his hair as it skims over his head. "I have been practicing some in my room. Using some clothes I'd say I've done pretty well."
"How long have you been practicing?" Jean asks as she brings the ball around for another go.
"About a week now," Jesse replies as this time he grabs the ball mid-air with his telekinesis and pushes it at Logan, catching the unsuspecting X-Man in the face. Jean stifles a giggle as she watches Logan pick up the ball.
"Specs, I advise you to run," Logan says seriously before tossing the beach ball to Jean. Jesse gulps and takes off.
"You're not gonna hurt him, are you Logan?" Jean asks.
"Nah, just spook him a little," Logan smirks, "are you surprised that he started practicing early?"
Jean shakes her head. "Not really. He does want to get his powers under control, so that plays a big factor in his decisions. But I don't think he'll take any risks. He's already seen the damage that could cause. He might, might, have risked it when he was here while everyone else was at school, but I don't think he would have."
"He's too conscious of the danger," Logan agrees, "once he starts getting better, it might slow him down when he sees what he can consciously do."
"Then you'll just have to help him get through that," Jean says.
"Me!" Logan demands.
"Yes, you," Jean answers, "everyone can see how much he looks up to you. It's almost the way Kitty looks up to you. Like a big brother, or maybe an uncle. Don't worry, you won't be alone. After all, Scott and Rogue can help, and so can I. We all have experiences with uncontrollable powers, and the damage we can cause."
Logan nods in acceptance, then runs off after Jesse, a hunter after his prey. Jean privately wondered what Logan would do to Jesse. Jesse wouldn't enjoy it, that was for sure.
That night at dinner, Jesse was a bit surly from having been thrown into the swimming pool a total of eight times. Logan would throw him in, let him crawl out and run off, then drag him back and thrown in again. The other students had wisely avoided him except for Rogue, Scott, and Kurt. The four of them were almost inseparable outside of class and lessons at the Institute. They even stayed up talking late into the evening on weekends, and Scott helped Jesse with physical training exercises with someone closer to Jesse's own build and experience. Of course, Scott was still in better condition than Jesse, but it gave Jesse a chance to actually use the training Logan was giving him on someone who couldn't bounce back immediately and hit you far harder than you had hit them if you didn't do the maneuver exactly right.
Breakfast the next day was a hectic affair as usual. Jesse tried not to use his telekinesis, as he wasn't sure if he trusted it enough to not hurt someone just yet. That changed, however, when Logan grabbed the last apple right as Jesse was reaching for it.
"Hey, that was mine!" Jesse protests.
"Tough luck Specs," Logan says as he slices off a piece of the apple with one of the kitchen knives. He wasn't in the mood for the girls to scold him about his claws being unhygienic today.
Jesse narrows his eyes and focuses. The apple flies out of Logan's hand and into his own. Jesse was surprised at first that it worked, but grinned like an idiot when the others congratulate him about getting it right. Jean and Kitty's complements made him blush and he hurried out of the kitchen, having finished with the rest of his breakfast, to gather his school supplies.
"I can't believe you did that to Mr. Logan!" Kitty exclaims as the two of them head for Scott's car. Jesse, Jean, and Kitty were riding with Scott in the mornings since Rogue was practicing driving the X-Van to school, carrying a lot of the younger students of the Institute to wherever they were heading.
"Well, you should have seen what he did to me last night," Jesse grumbles as he opens the car door for Kitty.
"What'd he do?" Kitty asks, "and what did you do to make him do it?"
"Hey, why does it have to be me who instigated the incident!" Jesse protests.
"Because, Mr. Logan wouldn't do anything without being provoked first," Kitty replies smugly, "well, except against Sabretooth, but no one's really sure who started things between them."
"Fine," Jesse grumbles, "Jean and I were practicing my telekinesis last night and I hit him in the face with a beach ball."
Kitty puts a hand to her mouth and giggles. "And what did he do to you in return?"
"Threw me in the pool," Jesse answers, "then he let me crawl out, run off a bit then he'd hunt me down and do it again. I got dunked eight times!"
"No wonder you're so surly," Kitty notes.
"Me, surly?" Jesse asks with mock hurt, "surely you jest, fair lady!"
"You, Jesse Atalas, are a scamp!" Kitty retorts.
"But a gentlemanly scamp," Jesse replies mock pompously. Kitty shakes her head and smiles. At least he was no longer dwelling on his family. That was a good thing, though he'd need to come to terms with it someday.
"Yes, a gentlemanly scamp," Kitty agrees, "but definitely a scamp."
"oi, it's not 'Pick on Jesse Day', is it?" Jesse asks as Jean and Scott get into the car.
"No silly, that's tomorrow!" Kitty laughs. Jesse just shakes his head as Scott drives the four of them to school.
Jesse's second day at Bayville High turned out to be a lot better than the first. Some of the jocks still hounded him, but he avoided them by staying in large groups. Scott had advised him to stay in a crowd, since the jocks didn't want their reputations ruined by bullying someone out in the open.
History was, once again, a trying time for Jesse, even though Mr. Smithers largely ignored him, choosing instead to focus on Rogue. It was tough, fighting the urge to just jump up and knock some sense into this man, but he managed it. It wouldn't do to get thrown out of school on his second day.
After class, Jesse joined Rogue and Kitty at Scott's car. Jean was staying after school for soccer practice and Logan would be picking her up on his way back from checking out movement from Magneto's Acolytes. Sabretooth had been spotted creating a series of fires. Whether the bestial mutant was working under Magneto's orders or on his own, Logan was planning on stopping him, any way he could. He was personally hoping that his nemesis would choose the hard way. Not many of the X-Men who had seen Sabretooth disagreed. Jean herself had simply said "Try not to cause too much damage this time."
As they arrived at the Institute, they found Professor Xavier waiting for them.
"Jesse, may I speak with you alone?"
"Of course Professor," Jesse replies, "Rogue, I'll meet up with you later to work on the History homework, okay?"
"Sure thing," Rogue answers as she heads up to her room.
Jesse walks beside Professor Xavier, his backpack slung over a single shoulder, the two of them heading for the Professor's office.
"Yes Professor?" Jesse asks as he sits down in one of the comfortable chairs in Xavier's office/study.
"So Jesse, tell me how school has been so far," Charles Xavier asks calmly.
"Well, most of the classes are alright," Jesse begins, "but History is trying. The teacher, while good at what he does, is completely anti-mutant."
"Has he been giving you a hard time for staying here?"
"No, he only questioned me yesterday," Jesse answers, "today he just tried to bait Rogue. Luckily she's too smart to fall for it."
"But you almost weren't," Xavier says. It was a statement, not a question.
"I was more angry with the bigotry than at him," Jesse answers honestly, "I just wanted him to shut up and teach, not go on about how normal people had worked hard throughout history. Ha! What if some of the most prominent figures in history were, in fact, mutants?"
Professor Xavier chuckles. "Indeed. Jesse, I know I don't have to stress how important it is for you to keep your emotions in check. Your powers are so varied that Jean and I could not ward them all. If you became too angry, they could easily erupt the way they did before."
Jesse gulps. "I understand sir. It'll take more than a bigot to get me to lose my cool. But to be on the safe side I think I'll join Jean in her meditative katas."
"That would be a good idea," Professor Xavier says.
"Well sir, I'd better hurry if I'm to join Jean," Jesse says as he stands up.
Jean's meditative kata was one of the most intricate and difficult kata's Jesse had tried so far. He did make mistakes, the kata was far above his skill level despite the intense training Logan had been giving him in such kata's. When he was done, he went to find Rogue so they could work on the History assignment together.
"Ah'll never get this!" Rogue mutters angrily as she glares at the question.
"Which one is it?" Jesse asks.
"Question nine, "List the youngest of the first six Greek gods and goddesses," Rogue replies.
"ah, the easy one," Jesse chuckles.
"You call that easy?" Rogue glares.
"For me, yes, considering that I used to love reading Greek myths," Jesse replies, "the answer was Zeus."
"But wasn't he the king of the Greek gods?" Rogue asks, bewildered.
"He was, but it was foretold to Cronos, his father, that one of his children would topple him and replace him as the ruler of the Heavens, as he did with his father," Jesse explains, "so he swallowed them whole as soon as they were born. His wife, Rhea, hid Zeus when he was born and fooled her brother into devouring a stone."
"Wait, her brother?" Rogue's tone was disbelieving.
Jesse chuckles. "Yeah, there's a LOT of stuff like that in Greek mythology. Hera, Zeus' wife, is his sister and she married him out of shame when he surprised her one day and raped her."
"That's, um, more than ah needed, or wanted, tah know," Rogue says weakly.
Jesse laughs. "Yeah, I think it's a bit much myself. But what can I say, I love mythology, especially Greek mythology."
"Okay, next question," Rogue says, "'which Greek hero was the son of Zeus: Perseus or Heracles?' Huh? Who is Heracles?"
"He's more commonly known by the name he has in Roman mythology," Jesse answers, "its Hercules, and that one is a trick question. Both Perseus and Heracles were sons of Zeus."
"Zeus certainly got around, didn't he?" Rogue comments.
"That he did," Jesse agrees, "several of the other major gods and goddesses were his children. Ares, Hermes, Apollo, Dionysus, Hephaestus, and Artemis were all children of Zeus' by various women. Aphrodite was his adopted daughter."
"Okay, final question: 'Which Greek hero slew the minotaur?'" Rogue asks.
"That would be Theseus," Jesse replies as he finishes up his homework, "well, that's it, isn't it? Wanna go join Scott and Kurt? They should be about done with practicing in the Danger Room with Rahne and Jubilee."
"Sure," Rogue smiles, "lets go."
"So, you two got the Terror Teacher's homework done?" Scot asked when he spotted the two of them.
"Aw, it was easy," Jesse jokes, "Rogue here though was hopeless."
"I was not!" Rogue protests, elbowing Jesse gently in the ribs, "I didn't need your help until question nine, and there were only eleven!"
"I was just teasing, you know," Jesse replies with mock hurt.
"Come on guys, the basketball court is open," Scott says, "care for a game of two on two, no powers?"
"If Rogue is, sure," Jesse says, "I'll be on her team."
Rogue looks at Jesse in surprise. Usually when they played two on two, Kurt would be on her team, since he was her brother. Using no powers, Jesse and Scott would normally win, due to their height. She and Kurt were more agile, especially Kurt, but Jesse and Scott had discovered themselves to be an excellent team.
"What?" Jesse asks, noticing Rogue's surprise, "I just thought it'd be nice to have teams that were more even."
Rogue, after thinking for a moment, nods and smiles faintly. "Sure. Basketball sounds fun."
It was a close game. Scott was a little taller than Jesse and had a longer reach, and Kurt was far more agile than Rogue, and the two of them already knew how to work as a team. Not to mention they were more athletic than Jesse was. But, Rogue knew how Kurt's mind worked, and Jesse was a little quicker than Scott in short distance. In the end, Scott and Kurt won the game 21-19, with Kurt managing a slam dunk from a pass from Scott.
"Great game, Jesse," Scott says, clapping the younger teen on the shoulder, "you two almost had us."
"Well, we did give it our all," Jesse replies, "those three pointers you scored just simply outdid us."
Scott nods and her and Kurt head for their rooms to clean up while Jesse and Rogue, as the losers, put away the equipment.
"That was a good game, Jesse," Rogue says, "too bad we lost."
"Hey, we'll get 'em next time," Jesse says cheerfully, "we just need more practice as a team. Once we get into a proper teamwork groove, we'll cream 'em!"
"Jesse, why did you wanna team up with me?" Rogue asks suddenly.
"Well, to tell the truth, I wanted the match-up to be more even," Jesse answers, "basketball's no fun if the game's one-sided."
"Well, the only time someone ever came close to beating Scott and Kurt until just now was when Evan was here," Rogue admits, "though Mr. McCoy can do just as well as Kurt at times."
"I imagine he can," Jesse agrees before sighing, "well, I'd best hurry and join Jean for some more practice. She says I'm a quick study in telekinesis, and that I may have it mastered by the end of the month."
"That's great!" Rogue says encouragingly, "I still have a bit of algebra to do."
"Okay," Jesse says, "well, I'll catch ya later Rogue."
"It's Marie," Rogue says as Jesse starts to walk off.
"What?" Jesse asks, bewildered.
"My name," Rogue repeats, "its Marie."
-
So, what'd you think? I appreciate the reviews, and I hope all of you who reviewed are still reading. This still will be slowly written, but the sequel is mostly planned. Or, at least, I know what I want to happen. I tend to let my stories write themselves, which is why some of them have not been updated in so long. The sequel will be a crossover and I plan on giving subtle hints throughout the story. First person to guess what it is a crossover with will get some kind of cameo appearance in the sequel. Not sure what kind, we'll have to wait and see what happens.
Please review and tell me what you think.