Uhm hey… been awhile, hope everyone who was interested is still around.I would like to give some much needed context with me as the writer, I originally started this story because I needed to get away from life. And, after seeing as people actually did enjoy this I've been continuing from that short idea I began with. Ultimately though it's hard for me to find motivation to work, as I've gotten away from what was stressing me so early on. Not to mention the glaring issues in my first dozen chapters with my grammar and sentence structure putting me in a little bit of a slump. It was hard for me to find the drive to go back and rework nearly 50k words worth of writing.
But, you can't be a writer if you aren't willing to fix your work…People like: Cruden, Berix,veritas aniki, K-Rock 1315, and Psionic108 have helped me a ton. I can't thank y'all enough for taking the time to provide the criticism and encouragement I NEED to get better.
I DO NOT want to ditch this. There's too many people that have spent the time to read my story, and I enjoy knowing that I'm providing something interesting to people. Not to mention I've been working on my paragraph structuring and using an application to help with keeping any typos at bay :D. Sorry to have been gone so long, you know how life gets at times and you wanna just leave out extra stress. I understand why some do, sometimes you just need to leave te extra trouble behind .But, I know how it feels to read a story and then suddenly see it's been abandonned. So, I'll do my best in not spreading that feeling to others with this project, I love that so many have been enjoying this just as much as I have. After the acknowledgements, I hope you all enjoy chapter 13 as well!
TheLastPrime: Why thank you! Glad you're enjoying this :D
(guest)Hmm: I'll admit, when I saw this review it made me laugh. Mostly because I knew it was coming eventually. Your review leaves no criticism and hardly provides any form of actual thought besides "This bad". A problem can't be fixed if it isn't brought to light in the first place. But, maybe you do have some form of a point, sadly though I can't bother getting any insight because you're a guest. If you read this, please do provide substance in your next review.
Just-Spidey: Thank you a ton for the compliment and don't worry, I won't leave this. But, even if I was to, I would definitely inform you all of any leave.
(Guest)Duckhair: I know right? People can be so nosy… Though, the only one demanding answers is Logan, and I believe they all at least have a good reason to at least bring up a serious matter such as Peter's Spider activities.
Storm5Ds: Well here's the next chapter :D, and I can't wait for the next either!
(Guest)Spidey-Boy21: You get what you f*cking deserve!! Post the next update (whoever got that reference, you're great ] ) Also, thank you for providing an answer to that question, I've been waiting for the longest XD! Tho, I only plan on doing a specific scene, not a whole chapter. But, anyone curious in the designs of Peter and Laura can visit Neamdle on Deviantart and Insta, their sketches are up there.
nightrange20001: Thank you for your time and patience. To answer your questions though, I'm more of a slowburn person. I don't want them to just develop feelings because I can write that in. I want their progression to feel natural and to at least resemble a growing relationship. So, I am gonna try my best to make it flow which means all I can say is don't expect them to make googly eyes in a chapter or two, but I can say things between them will be increasing soon at the very least.
(Guest)QDtrident: And here is thy update, I'm sorry I didn't uphold my promise. Going thru a little something in home life, but I'm working on it :D
(Guest)Spidey-Man: Fastball update coming thru
Man285: I know, I know… In my mind when I wrote it I expected to be updating in a week, not several months later. Oof.
Peter took a step back in awe, he couldn't think of the words to say in return or a rebuttal. He didn't expect for suspicions to come this soon and with everything in his life he didn't even think to avoid blood being taken by a doctor for study. He slapped his forehead in irritation while his fingers scrunched up against his face with furrowed eyes and gritted teeth. A loud audible sigh left the boys' lips as he just stood there unsure of his next move.
"So, I suppose Logan's suspicions were of truth?" asked the Professor. Parker stood there unresponsive, almost as if he was hoping they wouldn't bother prying open the can of worms if he ignored the situation. A silence that left the short man unsatisfied as he reinforced Xavier's question.
"Listen Bub, it's a simple question. Are you that Spider guy?"
Peter proceeded to just nod in compliance in the rooms dead silence.
"Then you might as well get comfortable, we got other questions" stated Logan, and Peter did so as he grabbed the nearest chair and slumped his head back with a low groan.
"Well, I believe that is our first step to understanding one another Peter" spoke Xavier as he rolled over to their guest while attempting to make eye contact with the stressed out young one. Parker returned the favor as they stared at each other for a moment. "As you already know, I am a telepath. And, tho that may be, I do not like to enter anyone's head without permission first. Their privacy, your privacy, is something that's truly cherished." Xavier clasped his hands together, preparing himself for the next statement. "But, after looking into the blood you've given us. Hank came across a rather preculiar development."
Peter watched as the furry man came over towards the two, providing a clipboard for Peter to look into as he began to enlighten their guest on the findings. "You see, when looking into your rather remarkable DNA make-up, I found that with all the power you posses, you lack an active X-gene."
"An X-gene?" asked the boy in return.
"Precisely, you see... for one to identify as a mutant, your body would have to undergone a change, specifically the activation of your mutant gene. These genes typically don't show signs of activation til the process has already begun."
Peter wasn't exactly an expert in the science of 'mutants', in fact the boy hasn't even heard of one til this very moment. He's been referred to as a mutate, but never has he heard of specifically a mutant til now. "So, the thing that seperates me from a mutant is an active and inactive 'X-gene'?" the boy asked.
"Exactly, and of course whatever powers that manifest will change the structure of their helixes and strands accordingly, but for the most part that is the case."
"So... I figure this school was made for mutants, not people not like me?" Peter asked the doctor.
"Well yes and no" answered Hank before his collegue, Ororo, had taken center stage.
"This school isn't just for mutants. Though it was the prime goal, our institute is welcome to any and all youth in need of help with situations like yours" added in Ororo. "The process of change can be a hefty one, so we take it upon ourselves to reach out a hand to help any and all kids dealing with their gifts."
"We just assumed someone of your age stumbled upon these exordinary set of skills like how many other kids do" Hank gathered a notepad of thoughts he had before continuing. "Mutants unlike mutates as we have stated before were 'born' with their powers. But, these powers don't typically manifest til puberty. However, that doesn't limit the process to just activating with puberty. Sometimes a life threatening or truamatic experience can give a 'jumpstart' to the gene, or randomly later on in life it may just pop up one day at any given time."
"So, technically I may develop mutant powers later on" Peter asked.
"For lack of better terms yes, however; as of right now you are able to bench press a standard school bus without so much as a spark from the gene. Which leads us to the question-"
"How did I get my powers?..." Peter chuckled to himself before giving a sigh. "I know how this is gonna sound, but this is one hundred percent the truth."
"Don't worry, we are all open ears" reassured Hank.
"I was bit by a spider."
...
"You better not be pulling our leg kid" demanded Logan.
"I'm being completely genuine. I was at a science expo and while I was there a random spider bit me. I started feeling wierd and ended up staying at a hospital over night, came the morning I was completely different, and before I knew it I was bouncing from wall to wall."
Hank looked over his notes while scratching the side of his head, flipping the page while utterly confused he stated "Well, depending on the expo, that would explain the unnaturaal amounts of radiation within your blood... However, even if the spider was radioactive you are more likely to have developed cancer rather then super strength. Do you have any clues where the spider may have gone, or specifically where it came from?"
"No, it bit me and before I could swat it the little thing ran."
Hank began to make calculations in his head, thinking over the possibility of someone gaining a spider like physiology from a spider bite seemed highly unlikely, yet so did one gene comletely rewriting the genetic structure. He compared his data with different hypothesis and before he knew it he was practically rambling to himself as ehe began typo away at the keyboard of his personal computer. Though mid thought the man could hear a loud coughing sound beside him, turning his head he could see Logan with crossed arms while waiting for the conversation to get back on track. He laughed a joyful chuckle in return "Oh seems we have gotten a little carried away in our discussion Parker, I suppose we should get back onto more pressing matters at hand." Peter sighed in return, he had hoped that they would've just forgotten about his spider antics, but it was rather unlikely to happen.
"Yes I suppose we should, your history and genetics can be explored with Hank at a later time. We would like for you to enlighten us, on your vigilante activities however" said the Professor.
"Well, as you can see on the television, I put on a pair of colorful tights and help people." Peter answered.
"Certainly, however it's not an everyday occurance that a teenager such as yourself does such a thing. I work with kids and teen, it is my job in life. Not many carry the same drive that you do to put on that mask everynight."
"Well I guess I'm one of a kind" quipped Peter.
"Yes, though we can not leave the discussion at that. The world simply doesn't view it that way. If anyone was to make a connection between the institute and Spider-Man. Well, that would make for a dire situation with the other students and this facility would it not?" Peter sighed as he broke the contact, looking off to the nearest wall as he listened. "If anyone was to trace your 'spider themed' activities, what exactly is stopping them from poking around here. Or, better yet, going public with such information."
Peter sighed as he cupped his palm against his eyelids. The boy hated to admit it, but the professor was definitely right. If anyone was to even think of the connection between Spider-Man and the institute, well that would put everyone here in danger to any of his enemies. Not to mention any media that would be storming these walls as they spoke.
"It would bring unwanted attention to the institute" he stated.
"Precisely. And, though that is a big concern of mine, I must also bring to attention that your safety is most definitely of importance. You're a minor and tho I admire this work you do, at the end of the day you are putting yourself in the way of bullets and killers willingly. More often than I'd ever like any of my students to be on their worst days."
"I understand."
"Which brings me to the question…" Parker was sweating bullets from the atmosphere, so Xavier spoke with a very casual and soft voice, our hero was still sitting before the heads of this school.
"Why Spider-man Peter? why exactly do you put on the costume?" The boy froze, it was almost as if Bobby had just struck him with ice at that very moment. It was a simple question yes, and it had a fairly simple answer in verbal terms. He did this all for his uncle, to right a wrong of his ever since a year ago. But, he couldn't understand he felt like his tongue was sticking to the bottom of his mouth. His vocal cords webbed up at the base of his neck while his mind was doing the very opposite.
"Why can't I say anything?"
A question that Peter himself couldn't seem to find the answer to. He knew why he was swinging in tights, but why weren't the words moving? He was fidgeting in his chair as his hands were searching for anything to relieve the tension that was thickening in the room. "Uhm… Let's just say, I'm doing this because I have to" Peter forced out into the room. The brunette began to squeeze down onto his unsuspecting knees. The sudden amount of shame he began to feel all of a sudden was suffocating, it was almost as if the air within this very room had begun to dog pile him. Surely it wasn't the easiest thing to speak of the past, but mentioning his uncle at this time felt like a battle in and of itself. Not to mention the cruel mistress of guilt accompanied by the thought of Gwen. Peter couldn't decide how to approach the topic.
Xavier placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, shaking him out of the trance he was in. Peter looked up and most of the sudden tension had vanished for the most part. "It's alright" Xavier said with a kind smile all while reassuring the boy. "If you're uncomfortable, if it's too much. You don't have to tell us now."
Peter blinked twice in disbelief as a final breath left his lungs "It's complicated… Let's just say I have to" the boy added on.
And the Professor nodded in return before speaking, "Well I won't push for answers you aren't ready to give." Peter nodded at the response all while too uneasy in his seat. Xavier understood children, he understood most people once it came down to it. He could read the boy's uneasiness like a book, and felt it wasn't exactly his place to force out information that made the boy uncomfortable. So, he couldn't blame the young one for his restlessness in that very seat. He must've felt like he was on trial as he sat before the four of them at this hour.
"Peter, I do apologise to put you under this distress. From the looks of it the reasoning may not be of the utmost importance to us right now. You are free to go." Logan looked at his friend with a questioning glare but didn't speak up as of yet. "Go get some sleep, I'm sure you've had a long night." Peter gave a small joyless chuckle as he nodded and stood up from his seat.
"Then I'll be on my way, good night- er, morning I mean". The boy walked towards the door, freezing at the frame as if waiting for any other words his way. Or, perhaps he was waiting for any other words he wanted to send their way. He clinched the frame with less restraint then the usual, denting the metal with almost a perfect hands print before leaving that room, that silent and tension filled room.
"Really Chuck?" Logan stated in an almost hostile tone.
Charles rolled over to the table, and picked up the pad of notes Hank had made of the boy. He gave it a quick glance while musing thoughts about their newest guest.
The boy really was remarkable, nothing short of a genetic miracle with everything the Hank had debriefed them on. Not everyday do you meet a student much like Parker. Such intellect and drive of someone twice his current age, yet the heart and soul of someone younger than him. All of that without taking into consideration the sheer power he possesses. His cells regenerated at a faster rate than your average human, healing most wounds within a day's time. His muscles and ligaments are tougher than nearly seventy fully grown men, or reaction times that could best even trained fighters like Logan himself. "All of these gifts, and he uses them hours upon hours on end defending people from muggers and powered individuals alike. It was an honorable and selfless usage of such abilities'' Xavier thought to himself. All thoughts he kept in mind as he then handed it over to the blue and furry doctor himself.
"Chuck-"
"I've already made up my mind Logan." Xavier stated.
"I know you wanna respect him with his own, but it's already hassle enough to handle the ones we got running around. Now we got a red and blue cladded rookie just begging to bring trouble" Logan insisted. "And I won't be putting everyone here in danger for the kid to play hero." He waited for his friend to reply, and when nothing else was said he left the room without another word. Xavier and the others left to their own thoughts while he went out for a smoke.
"Though a little on the aggressive side, Logan does have a point Professor" added in the dark-skinned woman beside him. "The boy's antics have been gathering much attention in the morning news, it's almost like there's a story a day about him."
"Ororo is right, Bayville isn't native to such acts of heroism from a masked vigilante no less. It's only a matter of time before the attention is shifted towards questions of who exactly is our arachnid like friend " brought up the Beast. Xavier remained quiet in return, a deafening silence filled the room as the man sat in his spot before moving towards the door in his wheelchair and spoke his reply.
"I suggest you all get some sleep, something tells me we may just have a long day ahead of us."
X Mansion hallways
Peter was walking into the kitchen as of now. His heart still beating out of his chest while he let the words from just a moment ago bounce around in his head. Walking over towards the couch, he flopped on the furniture while groaning to himself. "This is not how I pictured living here would be…" He slapped his forehead and stared towards the ceiling, at least til a familiar face popped up in his view. The girl's raven hair bombarded his face as he swatted it out of view. Her lime eyes looked back down at him with a questioning glare.
"What you groaning for?" Laura asked.
"It's a loooong story" Peter replied, stretching his limbs out as he then leaned onto his thighs.
"The question was rhetorical"
"Oh."
She walked to the front of the coach and examined the boy. He wasn't dirty or anything, but his hair was a mess. The bags under his eyes were a sign as any that he was either stressed out or that he was in need of some sleep. Knowing him, it was probably a combination of the two.
"Oh, Mr. Parker… I expected you to be upstairs getting rest by now." Ororo stated as she came into the room.
"I would, if I could. Not exactly easy to hit the hay when everything else is hitting you, ya know?"
"I suppose that is true. Well, I hope that you can get at least a little shut-eye. It's not too healthy to avoid sleep for so long." Ororo stated in a motherly tone.
"Yeah I understand. Good night."
"Good night, good night to you as well Laura" and then 7 headed off towards her own room, the two kids watched her. And then a thought came to Peter's mind, one that actually managed to get him thinking of something other than the events that just transpired not too long ago.
"Hey, why are you up so early anyway Laura?" She turned towards his direction and was visibly confused at why he would ask that.
"Already told you"
"Well yeah, but I just figured… well, maybe hoped. That you would try to get some sleep more often."
"Yeah, no." Laura simply stated as she began to walk off towards the door, and without another word she left him to the dark silence of the living room.
"So much for a conversation starter" the boy stated as he yawned into the palm of his hand. Twisting around and flopping on his back as he looked up at the ceiling of the living room. He didn't feel like heading upstairs just yet and he was deep in thought as the recent events creeped their way to the front of his mind. So, he tried to find something else to focus on.
"I wonder how's Aunt May doing?..." the boy smiled to himself as he sighed. "In fact, she's either staying up worrying about me, or she's finally got the time to truly enjoy her home. There's no in-between with her." Peter closed his eyes as he raised his shoulders with a deep breath, exhaling as he couldn't help but begin to think about the times he was sneaking into the house while his aunt was sleeping. Or, the time May caught him sneaking out and he couldn't go on patrol that night. Only just to hear about a woman who was mugged while May watched the morning news.
"Now that I think about it, this isn't exactly any better" the boy thought to himself. As if he didn't have enough on his mind, thinking about the stress of being a teenage hero wasn't that great of a substitute.
"Do I wanna try clearing my head" the boy wondered.
Web slinging usually did wonders for him. But, ultimately he decided against it. Professor had a point that he needed to avoid being spotted between the institute and Bayville.
"No nope. That's enough spider duties for one night. No telling what whack jobs would do if they just found a mansion full of super powered people, kids."
And with that Peter figured that he would have to go about things differently. Otherwise him being Spider-Man would be too dangerous for the other students, but he still needed a way to get to town without being spotted.
"For now I'll just suit up once I'm in the town, at least til I can find a better route than sprinting through the yard and trees in my red and blue tights."
It wasn't long before Peter yawned again while his eyelids began to increase in weight. The nightly shifts were starting to get to him, being a hero both in the day and the night wasn't an easy schedule to uphold. On a lucky day he'd get nearly five hours of sleep. But, usually he wouldn't get anything more than three or four hours to rest up before it was already breakfast time.
"Man… I really need to work on my planning" he spoke out loud before letting out one more yawn and getting comfortable on the sofa. Before he knew it everything had gone black, and the land of dreams had taken him for a ride.
Within his dreams
Chirp, chirp, chirp...
The sun's rays were peeking in through the crack between his blinds, shining into the eyes of the young brunette. Peter groaned as he reluctantly woke up at the disturbance and his eyes wandered upwards. As he looked up while rubbing the sleep from his eyelids, Peter had noticed he was within the walls of his bedroom. The prints and cracks left from his first attempts at wall crawling were a dead give away.
The boy arose from his spot and yawned as he stretched out his ligaments. Calmly removing the cloth of his sheets from his waist, and standing up from the bed as he approached the mirror. He studied his reflection as if subconsciously comparing it to now, no bags under his eyes, neat hair, a youthful and naïve vigor within his soul. You could tell from the way he looked at himself.
"Peter, breakfast is almost ready!" shouted a loving and familiar voice from below. Peter turned towards the door and rushed out of the room. Effortlessly flipping onto the wall and then down to the bottom floor while his unsuspecting Aunt remained at the stove. "Spider powers do have their perks'' the boy noted as he walked into the kitchen and sat himself down at the wooden dining table. A quick whiff from the air of a sweet yet salty aroma was just intoxicating. Nothing was better than a simple pick me up from his loving Aunt May. The spongy and smooth texture of the wheat cakes, accompanied by the golden omelet, and perfectly crispy bacon was something he'd die for.
"Seems like you've out done yourself yet again Aunt May, how do you do it?"
"That's a secret for me to know, and for you to find out" she teased.
The boy chuckled with a warm smile, as he watched the plate hit the spot right in front of him between the fork and spoon. The clink of the two objects really was just the perfect icing on this cake.
"So, how'd you sleep Peter?" his aunt asked as she sat her food down as well.
"Oh, it was pretty good I'd say. One moment I was cramming for a social studies final, and then the next I was opening my eyes this morning" he answered as his fork picked up a scoop of the eggs that he devoured. His aunt simply nodded at the comment as she took a bite of her own cooking.
"I swear, if you aren't up reciting formulas, you're up studying. A growing boy such as yourself needs the rest young man."
"A growing boy such as myself, also needs to pass his midterm" he replied.
"If you weren't always out hanging with your friends, you wouldn't need to study so late at night".
Peter gave a hard yet fake cough as he then cleared his throat. "Heh, yeah…You got me there" Peter agreed, lying as he chuckled the most awkward chuckle. It was best May suspected he was always out with Harry and them then roughing up armed men nearly fifty to seventy percent of everyday.
"I'm serious Peter, sometimes I wonder why you're up til eleven, twelve o'clock at night. Does it have anything to do with that 'Gwen' you've been speaking about?"
Peter choked on his food for a short moment, grabbing the base of his throat as he forced the meal down and then looked back up at May. The smile on her face said it all as he stuck both hands up and began to immediately clear the air.
"What do you mean? WAIT, how do you even-"
"I have my ways Peter~" May stated, like a mother teasing her child. "But I guess the real question is, do you ever hang out with her?"
"Uhm, no not really."
"Is she a friend??~"
Peter stared at her slightly embarrassed, messing with his fingers as he looked down towards them and answered his aunt. "Look we're all hanging out in a group, Gwen may be part of that group, but she's no different from anyone else okay?" He realigned his eyes with his aunt, and by then he could see the way May looked at him. The biggest grin on her face as she rested her hands on the base of her chin while listening to him speak.
"Aunt May, I know that look. It is not like that."
"Don't give me that Peter, I've been a teenager too you know? And let me tell you, you'd be surprised how often a girl notices when someone's making googly eyes at them~"
"Yeah, okay this has gotten weird, I'm changing the subject."
May laughed his reply off, calling him a "spoil sport" as she let the moment die down and things were a little more light hearted. She did however reinforce that she believed he "needed more sleep" instead of being out all day. Peter smiled at his caring mother figure as he agreed with her statement. The both of them knew a good night's rest was surpassed by a few things in this world.
"I am serious though, if you can't manage your time better. Then I'll just have to manage it for you-" Peter looked up at his aunt who suddenly became silent. Baffled at the reasoning as he tried to get her attention while she seemingly stared off into the distance.
"Uhm, hello?" Peter cocked his head to the side at his confusion towards his aunt, she looked as if she had seen a ghost "What's up?"
"... Peter, what's that?" the boy stared down towards the spot she had brought attention to. He gasped and suddenly a vignette effect had circled around the two as he tried to cover the spot by clasping at his shirt's collar. All while a familiar yet distant voice began to call for the boy.
Peter…
Peter…
X Mansion
Peter began to be welcomed back into the real world, groaning as he covered his eyes with the back of his hand before looking up to the person that called out to him. The voice was revealed to be originating from the lips of the red-headed psychic herself, Jean Grey. She lightly tapped the boy's shoulder while gently attempting to awake their newest member without startling him. Her efforts proved to be useful as the boy sat himself up and stretched out his limbs all while letting a yawn escape him. "H-huh??"
"Rise and shine Pete" said Scott as he stood beside Jean. "Didn't take you for the heavy sleeper."
"Yeah, we've been trying to wake you up for the past minute or so"
"Oh. Sorry about that, you know how things can be when you're deep in a dream" Peter stated all while rubbing the back of his neck as his eyes examined the newly lit room.
"Was it a good one?" asked Jean in return. Peter froze for a second as he contemplated on what to make of the sight. Things went from a calm and wonderful morning to nearly the opposite in a heartbeat. The air upon his neck grew cold and the boy shivered at the thought of it before turning back to the others as he replied "Yeah, somewhat." The room became silent.
"Hello guys" exclaimed the blue friend of theirs as he hung from the ceiling.
"Hey Kurt, what brings you down here?" asked Peter as the boy vanished in a cloud of smoke and then he suddenly reappeared in front of the fridge as he yanked the door open.
"Food!" Kurt replied.
"Why am I not surprised…" Scott added in as he smiled.
"Because it's Kurt we're talking about" replied Jean, and their blue friend poked his head out of the fridge with a sandwich between his teeth and a drink in hand.
"hnn huh haahh? (what was that?)"
The other three snickered at the boys' situation and Jean just told him that it was nothing before telepathically moving the sandwich to a plate that she had also mentally taken out. Kurt then closed the fridge and headed off to the kitchen table to pour himself a glass of the liquid. "Hey, leave some for me" Scott asked as he proceeded to meet the boy in their dining quarters and Jean followed not too far behind. Peter looked at them as they all began to meet up in the kitchen, and then before long decided to join the rest as they all made small talk about the plans today.
"Like, morning guys!" exclaimed Kitty as she entered the room all flamboyantly with Rogue and Rayne not too far behind. The small group greeted the girls as they all made their way to the table. They exchanged some small talk and made their way about making a quick breakfast, some ate a bowl of cereal and others a glass of juice sufficed for the time being. And, after everyone had gotten their share Rayne took the carton in hand and grabbed the refrigerator door to place it back in its place. But, then she read a note on the white surface and then she spread the word.
"Hey guys, all the classes were canceled for today, no danger room or anything!"
"For real?? Asked Ethan as him and Bobby turned the corner and joined the others.
"Says so here."
"Thank Gawd, I really couldn't take another one of Logan's drills" said the Southern Belle, Rogue. A thought that many would simultaneously agree with.
"Guess we have the day all to ourselves then huh?" asked Ethan "So what do we do?"
"How about a day in the town?" Jean suggested among her peers. An idea that was welcomed by everyone at hand for the most part. Rogue and Bobby weren't the biggest on it, but the idea wasn't a bad one in the slightest. They all have been cooped up in the mansion for the most part since school is still under reconstruction since not too long ago.
"So, how should we spend the day?" Kitty asked as she took a sip of her morning beverage. And, it was a question that was met with conflicting answers of clashing interest. On one hand, Jean didn't mind going shopping and Scott was willing to follow. But, Ethan was more down for something that didn't involve staring at clothes all day, and Bobby held the same thoughts. Kitty wasn't against the idea herself either, but Rayne kind of wanted to do something more active with this free day.
"Hey, why don't we just go to the mall?" brought up Rogue. "Plenty a' options there for us to choose from."
"That's a pretty good idea, yeah me and Bobby will be down" exclaimed Ethan as the two shared a high-five.
"Everyone else in favor of the mall?" asked Scott, and to no surprise the rest of the group raised their hands in compliance. "Hey Jean, would you mind asking the Professor for the okay? He'll most likely want to know where we'll spend our free day in case of an emergency."
"Sure thing" replied the redhead as she closed her eyes for a split second, and within a few seconds she had informed the others of his answer. "As long as we stick together and don't display our powers, he doesn't mind." The whole room filled with teenage cheers and the sound of footsteps as everyone hurried towards their different rooms in search of their day's attire. Within Katherine's we can see that she had chosen a very light weight and simple outfit, a thin pink blouse to go over her tan tank underneath, accompanied by a pair of light blue jeans and sandals for her day.
As the girl proceeded to add the finishing touch of a beautiful necklace, she had glanced outside of her window and noticed a figure within the trees. She leaned over and upon a second inspection she found the figure to be none other than Laura relaxing in a branch. So the girl quickly placed on her jewelry and phased through her window and landed outside before jogging over towards the lonely girl.
Laura's head cocked to her right as Kitty came jogging towards the tree staring directly at the raven haired girl.
"Like, hey Laura!" shouted Kitty as she came to a halt, the girl turned her way as she hopped out of her spot and landed directly next to the trunk as she leaned against it with cross arms. "We're about to go to town. You wanna like, come with?"
"What are you all doing?"
"We're gonna go to the mall-"
"Not interested" Laura interjected.
Kitty's eyes widened in surprise at the answer. Asking her "why" in return as she seemed to almost pout.
Laura gave it a quick second thought, and in the end she wasn't fond of just aimlessly walking around with dozens of people all in her personal space with no clear goal besides 'see if we can find something to do'. It seemed pointless and almost like a waste of time when she could get more enjoyment out of a danger room session. Or, just as much enjoyment sitting in a tree without a care in the world. "Because, what's the point?" she finally replied.
"Well… It seems like you could maybe like, enjoy the chance to get out of the mansion and danger room for the moment?" Laura stared at Kitty with an unimpressed face as she simply pointed up at the branch she was resting in. "Well that can't possibly be fun, can it?" the girl questioned, and her reply came in the form of a shrug from her conversation partner. Kitty sighed in return as she then leaned over and took Laura's hand before trying to "drag her with her". Though, something about the girl having nearly a hundred pounds of metal coating her skeleton made it somewhat hard.
"Well, you said we don't understand you. So, like, how are we supposed to get to know you if you don't let us tryyy…" the girl pleaded in huffs as she struggled to do what she set out to do. Eventually letting go in defeat as she huffed and headed towards the rest. Laura unphased decided to leap back into the tree she was in and continued what she was doing beforehand.
"See ya" the girl said towards Katherine, and the little brunette mumbled something under her breath while walking away. Leaving the raven haired friend of hers to continue with her rest within the mansions' vegetation.
