Sup guys I'm back.

Later that day, my teacher took me to a nearby restaurant to cheer me up. There was just one problem- you guessed it, the assorted forks, and knives. All those months and it still made no sense.

After listening to his explanations one time too many I thought 'to hell with it', and ate everything with a hastily picked fork. Magneto was very amused at my frustration. I'd been becoming less patient the longer I stayed with him.

The waitress started sending me a harsh glare. I'd have normally ignored it, but Magneto detested such things. Ignoring disrespect was letting them disrespect you. Allowing myself to be disrespected by anyone was wrong, given my level of power, but allowing a human to do it would've been unacceptable.

"A man that accepts a slur deserves it. " He'd often say.

So, I sent her the same cool glare I'd send a man before killing them. She jumped and scampered off.

His approving nod made me grin. I continued to eat. His mentorship was bearing fruit. I was becoming more impatient with others, more aggressive, more like himself. One example of his teaching was when he forced me to fight to get back a book that other teens stole. This was despite the book being easy to replace. Beating those boys was a breeze after all my training sessions with Mystique.

One 'problem' he noticed was that I cared for humans and their welfare. I couldn't simply put 7 billion people in the enemy category and be done. It was his hope that by treating humans worse, I'd stop caring about them altogether.

"Good job," he said. I was delighted.

My teacher, though pleased, decided to educate me on the proper way of handling these matters. When the waitress returned, Magneto sent her a glare and the woman fainted, dropping part of our dinner. Some of it was on the floor, but much of it made its way into her hair and onto her clothes. We laughed. me with a giggle, him a chilling cackle.

The staff recooked our dish and added that it was free due to the wait.

That's probably going to come out of her pay.

That didn't sound too funny.

A pang of remorse reverberated in me, but I fought not to show it. Magneto wouldn't approve and I wanted his approval more than I wanted to show how I felt.

So I wracked my head for a subject to get my mind off it.

"What was your dad like?"

What?

Damnit. Did I ask that? What kind of question was that?

Well, I had to go with it. Magneto would dislike indecisiveness more than me asking a stupid question.

There was a beat of silence. Anyone looking at our table would've thought nothing of it, but I read his face's split-second surprised micro-expressions. "Why do you ask?"

I could only answer with the truth, "I never had one."

The silence returned, this time he had fully leashed all emotions in his typical enviable way. The man was contemplative, deciding for himself if he'd want to talk about such a matter.

He answered my question. "He wasn't very physically affectionate, but I knew he cared. He was very strict, which was for the best considering how hard-headed I was. He taught me how to ride a bike and put on a tie."

There was no mistaking it, for a fraction of a second, my teacher's face was full of love and wistfulness. He felt this way for humans?

It was a strange thing, feeling envious of my teacher for things that didn't involve work or training. He'd had a harsh life, but he had the experience of having a father. I didn't. "Sounds like he was a good man."

"He was." He didn't fill the space between the last sentence, no doubt the sudden question made him unbalanced. I decided to do so.

"My mom between breakdowns is extremely knowledgeable about literature and the Bible. Had she not been mentally ill, she'd have been a bible scholar."

"Really?"

"Really and she's amazing at predicting things, like how a country will respond to another, what chess moves I'll make, etc. Even after I've drastically changed my playing style since I've been here." I smirked

I continued "She always knew when I was up to something. Is there some sort of alarm system in her head that says 'Chris is doing something bad?'"

My teacher chuckled "It's universal. My mother was the same."

"Once she won the lottery." I paused. I shouldn't have brought this up. This didn't have a pleasant ending.

Unfortunately, this sentence caught my teacher's attention. "And what happened?"

Orders were orders. I had to answer his question. "All her "friends" started treating her like crap. Sperm donor was mad a woman had provided more money than him etc. Mom's sensitive so she gave it away to a cult. I can't remember which."

"By sensitive you mean weak."

That last word exploded something inside me that I didn't know was there. My hands balled up. The building quivered when I unconsciously tugged on its metal girders.

"Calm yourself boy." His intense scowl shattered my anger, reminding me of my place. "Do you want us to be discovered?"

A familiar presence, domineering and stern, seized control, overtaking my magnetic influence. The building remained standing.

Embarrassed, I said, "Sorry sir. I didn't mean to."

He sighed, likely reminding himself that I was only a teenager, "So much to learn. But you especially need to learn control."

"Yes, sir." I nodded much quicker than needed in apology.

This satisfied him. He could forgive these sorts of meltdowns as long as I quickly apologized. "As I was saying, your mother if you look at it objectively is weak. Not because of her illness but because she relies so much on the opinions of other people. She had a choice and a chance to leave your father."

Hearing the term 'father' made me blanch. My mind, soul, and body all rebelled against it. That was a term for other people, luckier people. Even my teacher could be considered luckier than me in this regard. It was something that would never apply to me. The best thing to do would've been to continue acting as though my mother had me through immaculate conception.

Just as I read him, he read me, though he had a more comprehensive understanding of my feelings. He seemed conflicted, as if he wanted to do something but was unsure if it was right. This look was soon obliterated. He was back to being his confident self. "And give herself and you a better life. Instead, she was weak and failed to use the resources available to her. That must be the worst kind of tragedy, having the resources to lead a better life and not using them."

For a moment this confidence vanished. There was another distinct emotion as if he felt… ashamed of something, did he blame himself for something he could've stopped had he taken action? Yes, I'd later find out.

Hm... I never thought about it that way. Maybe mom is weak...

"I get what you're saying. Still, I love my mom."

He nodded, "Just don't become like her. I noticed you don't like it when I call him your father." the look of conflict returned, he wanted to say something. I was sure of it. But what? What could possibly be hard for Magento to say?

"I don't. As far as I'm concerned, I have no father."

His expression solidified into his typical confidence, though there were some cracks that I could make out if I looked closely. He'd made his mind up. "Are you sure about that? "

"Well yeah um yes. Who else?" He had to fill me in because I was being a bit dense.

He said his next words with such a firm conviction I couldn't help but believe him "I consider you to be my own son."

There was a moment of shock as my brain took a moment to confirm I'd heard what I did. When I did this, I couldn't help the smile that came to my face.

My teacher, my leader, thought so much of me? Yes, he'd acted with more care than he needed to. He'd place two blankets on me when he found me sleeping on a balcony at night. He gave me tea to drink during nightmares and more than once berated (and slapped me) me for jumping from high places.

He'd done these things, but I didn't dare let myself hope he'd feel such a way towards me. Instead, I settled for working hard to earn his praise and keep his approval. Losing these things after having experienced them terrified me and I couldn't figure out why. It was because I finally experienced something I'd wanted all my life, but didn't fully understand- having a parent I could rely on. Having a father.

He was the only adult that had celebrated my birthday. The one adult that told me that the day was special because it was when I was born. The only person that told me and made me believe that I was special and mattered. Even my beloved Mother didn't have that honor. Refusing this chance of solidifying his favoritism into a permanent relationship was out of the question.

"Would you allow me the pleasure of being your father?"

What the? He was asking me if I wanted to do this? Wait, no wonder he looked worried. He thought I might have rejected him!

"Yes sir. I'd love it if you were my parent." The waves of excitement within me were so strong he had to tell me to eat.

After he did this I said, "yes sir," and ate my food.

"Sir or Magneto is fine until you transition to calling me 'Father'."

Father?

It was such a strong term. A very strange thing to call a parent. But I certainly wasn't going to complain. It was a small price to pay for having an actually reliable parent.

As soon as we came home, he said the words 'my son' without hesitation to the others. Toad and Sabertooth both were given money by Mystique after she'd no doubt lost a bet. I had to envy my new parent's confidence.

While I was out, a few days later, I saw the girl from earlier. She was sitting on one of the park's many benches as she sketched.

"Hi, Marie, do you mind if I sit here?"

She looks up from her drawing. "Uh, you're the guy from earlier. Sure, you can uh."

"Chris" I offer.

"Right."

"So, what are you doing drawing in a park while schools' in?" I say after I sit next to her.

"Ah, could ask ya the same question."

I smile "True, you could. But I asked first." I insisted.

"An answer for an answer. Gotta make sure you're not some creep."

"And if lied?"

"I'd know." Looking at her face, I doubted that. Nothing about her gave me any indication that she'd have that ability.

So I decided to challenge her claim"Really?"

"Ah huh."

I gave in, "Well. Since you're curious, I'm a college student. So, I don't have to be in a classroom all day."

"No way."

"I am."

"No freaking way you're in college."

I pulled out my college ID card.

"Well, shit."

I laughed "An eloquent response m- Marie."

I was going to say, my dear. That wouldn't have been creepy at all. Rebellion said

Well, we've only been talking to Magneto and two other people for months. Right, he's Father now. It still feels strange though Logic added.

True. Rebellion said.

Marie's response to my comment was to playfully punch me on the shoulder. Distracted by my voices I didn't dodge.

"And you?" I ask.

"Had to get away from all the idiots in my school.

"A shame intelligence isn't spread around more evenly."

She laughs. "So, what you're 18? 20?"

"15."

"You're younger than me by a year!" How'd you get so smart?"

"I eat all my vegetables."

"Yah think you're funny don't ya?"

"Correction. I am funny."

She shook her head.

I noticed her drawing.

"That's a very nice bird you're drawing." Even though it was early in the drawing process, I could see the form take shape.

"A bird that's posed to be an airplane."

Well, that failed.

We fell into a wonderful peaceful silence. I spent this time studying. Unfortunately, being a normal person, Marie felt the need to break the silence.

"So, where you going?"

"MIT."

"Ain't that kinda far."

"Not really, New York finally imported some Japanese bullet trains. It's supposed to help us reach our state environmental goals this year."

"Must be pretty boring."

"No, it's actually the highlight of my day." Well besides training with a certain 'terrorist'.

"No need to deal with people," I say.

"Huh, guess ah can relate. It's why ah draw to get away."

We work in silence before I hear paper crumble and see a ball fall on the ground.

"Why does algebra have to be so hard?"

She turns to me and I note that she started to bat her eyes and twist her hair.

"I'm not doing your work for you."

"Ugh!"

Nice try Marie. But that's not going to work on me.

"I will help you, however. Let me see..."

An hour quickly passed as I helped her with her work.

"Thanks," she said

"Not a problem," I say back.

"Oh, it's time for art class and all I have to turn in is this shitty drawing. This time tomorrow same place."

I nod "See you then."

Although I was hoping for some alone time, talking to her wasn't that bad.

Then, I remembered that I had somewhere I needed to be

Being late to training was the perfect way to show my parent that I was serious about my role in the Brotherhood.

I rush inside and curse my stupidity for letting time get away from me. I soon arrived at the training room.

"Sorry about making you wait, father," my stomach twinged. Already I was messing up. And I'd only had a father for less than a week. Would he regret what he said?

He was irritated. It seemed even the use of that term didn't help. "100 laps around the gym."

"A hundred?" That was a lot even for him.

"Would you like 200 instead?"

I soon was running so fast my shoes didn't reach the floor.

The next day, I met Marie at the same place.

"Good morning Marie," I say

She waved pulled her sketchbook off the bench and said "Mornin."

I sat down.

She looked at me and noted my sweater.

"You're gonna catch a cold in that"

"Are you kidding me, in Chicago, this is tanning weather."

"I see. I've never been somewhere so cold. Imma southern gal myself."

"Explains the layers."

The girl wore so many layers. She wore a sweater, a green and white plaid trench coat, gloves, and a hat. The only thing I could see was her face.

I wasn't looking so I didn't notice the nervousness he had when I said that.

About half an hour later, we walked into a nearby crepe shop.

"Nice place." She said

"It is. I really like their crepes."

"What's that?"

"So, you take some dough, you fry it on both sides, and put stuff in it. Stuff like meat or cheese or sugar and cinnamon. Really, anything you want."

"That's what you're getting?'

I nod

*I'll have that too."

The waitress took our order and when she thought I wasn't listening she said. "Why she is dating him is beyond me."

Wait, dating? Logic said.

Eh?

I just wanted to get some lunch and guilt decided to make an appearance.

Guilt smiled at this. He didn't talk- at all but he was very influential. I couldn't let my new friend go without eating. So I brought her with me.

"What'd she say?" Marie asks

Right, she doesn't speak French.

I told her.

"You're a nice guy but don't take this the wrong way we just met."

I said "Likewise. I'm not exactly looking for a relationship right now."

"Same ah just need to get used to all the hustle and bustle here."

"You moved?"

"Yeah." she seemed saddened. Was she forced to leave?

"It's been about a year and it still feels strange."

"Same, I haven't been in NYC for long. My father's place is in the tropics and I'll never get used to the humidity." I mentally did a fist pump. I'd casually called him my father in conversation!

"Ah hate humidity too. It messes up my hair."

"Well, you won't have to worry about that here."

Our food arrives.

"Oh, god this is amazing." She said digging into her cinnamon, sugar, and strawberries coated crepe.

I had to agree.

We talked about art and music before I had to leave. I told her about how my mother was an artist and promised to show her some of her work.

In between our meetings, I decided to join the chess club. They said they took all types so I figured I'd be fine. When asked how good I was I said OK. I figured that most would be professional level.

I played one game and right after they said they needed players like me. Apparently, all their best players had graduated. Not being the leader of the club was nice and I enjoyed helping others learn.

Another week later, I lay on my back in the park's grass while staring at the sky. Marie was right next to me.

"So..." she started

"So…" I say back

"We hang out with each other but I don't know anything about you."

"You know my name." I point out.

"Smartass."

I smile at this.

"Really though, who are you? And don't just say your name."

She continues "What do you like doing? Are you some sort of trust-fund kid?"

I began to laugh extremely hard.

"Not at all, not at all."

She looks at me suspiciously. "That trench coat is at least someone's monthly salary."

My look of realization was clear for anyone to see "So, that's why all these people tried to rob me." I was the last person who'd be able to notice these things. If it kept me from being naked, it worked as clothing. Of course, this obviousness didn't apply to computers.

She rolled her eyes at this "Be careful."

"Yes, Mother," I said back.

Wow, I'm really selling this rich kid look.

Really, living with Magneto influenced me in many ways. Things like curbing my habit of talking casually, speaking with confidence (when I could), and wearing clothes that perfectly fit me made me seem like an entirely different person. The only thing that hadn't changed about me was my love of jeans. I wore t-shirts but I was slowly phasing that out to wear more sweaters. Just like my mentor.

No wonder my Mom could barely recognize me. I was an entirely different person.

"You don't have to lie, you know. I get that you... Don't want anyone to treat you any differently. Everyone around me treats me like a freak." She pauses. I didn't press her.

Instead, I said "Well... My father is very powerful and well when people talk to me and they find out who I am, they connect me to him. I'm just his kid."

That was getting pretty annoying. No one, not even Toad saw that I was my own person. As soon as Magneto called me his son, my identity seemed to be subsumed into his. I was his son first, anything else, never.

"It's like... We have no identity of our own, just labels that we didn't pick." I accidentally said something that she'd felt for so long herself.

"Yes! That's exactly what I feel like every day. Why aren't guys like you at my school?"

I shrug. Maybe they're too busy not getting hit during training sessions with fake bullets to go to your school.

"It's so annoying. I used to at least talk to the professor every week but he's so busy."

"Why?"

"Looking for someone? Maybe a lost love?"

She nervously says "Sure." I heard that she was lying but didn't call her on it.

It doesn't really concern me anyway. I thought

Friendship power activate!

Should Chris stay in the Brotherhood?

I still haven't decided yet. I have a poll up asking this question. Also, feel free to PM or review me to tell me why you think he should be on what side.

The first poll of this story is in. Apparently, you all agree Chris has a terrible mother. I think so too.

Have a good day!