Author's Note: This is a story that was buried in my files from last summer. While I'm still working on "New Recruits", I thought I would post this to see what people thought…
A/N 2: This is an AU, but it's loosely based off of my RoLo relationship seen in "Sleep Tonight"…it takes place about 16 years later and, unlike "New Recruits", there are no other students at the mansion.
Disclaimer: I'm making no moola from this - Badrani and Kohana are mine, that's it.
Title: What is Normal? part 1/?
Rating: PG-13, but it might move up to R in later chapters...
* * *
Chapter 1: The Test Results are In…
Hank looked over the test results for the fifth time, hoping he missed something. Two sets of data sat in front of his keen eyes as he looked from one to the other. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. It just couldn't be right. But this was the third time he had drawn blood and run these tests in the last month. And it was the third time the same results came back. What were the chances, Hank kept asking himself.
He sighed as he heaved himself up off the squeaky chair. It was time to confirm his friends' suspicions. Why they hadn't tested him at birth, Hank couldn't recall. He was sure they just didn't think it was necessary. And he had most likely agreed with them. It was nearly fourteen years ago now and the details were foggy. None of that really mattered, Hank told himself. The results would have been the same. The only difference was that the expectations for the boy would have been much different over the years. The results were just unexpected and somewhat disappointing, from the scientific aspect anyways. As he reached for the intercom to call them down, Hank hoped his friends wouldn't be nearly as disappointed as he was.
After all, Hank thought for the tenth time that hour, what were the chances that two Alpha mutants would have a baseline human son?
* * *
"Salutations, Ororo, Logan." Hank greeted as his two teammates entered the lab.
"Good morning." Ororo smiled as she gracefully sat in a chair opposite of Henry's desk. Logan nodded in response and leaned against the doorway. He was never comfortable in the lab, no matter how many times he had been in there.
"I've extensively looked over the test analysis and I can assertively say the results are in for both of your children." Hank began as he placed his spectacles on his nose. He glanced down at the sheet in front of him before looking up at Ororo and Logan. Ororo seemed apprehensive while Logan seemed rather neutral, as usual.
"Well?" Logan prompted.
"I suppose I shall come right out and say it." Hank said, taking his glasses off his nose. "Your son does not possess the X-gene."
Ororo and Logan stared at him in silence, their expressions unreadable. Ororo looked behind her to lock eyes with her husband and Logan immediately stepped forward. His hand fell to Ororo's shoulder and she took his hand in her own.
"Are you certain?" Ororo finally asked.
"Yes." Henry replied. "He is a baseline human."
"And what about Kohana?" Logan asked.
"She carries the X-gene." Hank replied simply. "I should think she will be manifesting any day now."
"Anything else?" Logan asked, glancing down at Ororo.
"No, no that's all." Hank replied, folding his large hands on his desk.
"Thank you." Ororo said quietly as she stood. "We should go speak with Badrani."
"Of course." Hank said, standing. "If I can help with anything at all, please do not hesitate to ask."
Logan and Ororo nodded. Logan led Ororo from the room and looked back at Hank.
"Thanks." He said before letting the door swing shut.
* * *
"He will be so disappointed." Ororo said to Logan as they walked from Hank's office.
Logan nodded in agreement but couldn't think of anything to add.
"When should we tell him?"
"I dunno." Logan replied quietly. "Soon."
They continued to walk in silence, each lost in thought. Suddenly, they heard the familiar sounds of a screaming fight from the living room. With an inward groan, Logan ran after Ororo as she sped towards the room.
They came to a stop and they looked at the scene before them. Popcorn and soda was spilled on the carpet between the two teenagers. Badrani, the younger of the two, was holding a piece of paper, pointing at it angrily. Kohana had her hands firmly planted on her hips, rolling her eyes. They were about one foot apart from one another, screaming.
"I already claimed the tv for today!" She yelled.
"It wasn't on the list!" He countered, shaking the paper in her face.
"So what?! I claimed it!"
"It doesn't matter! It wasn't on the list! I was here first!"
Logan cleared his throat and the two children fell quiet immediately, a look of dread on both of their faces.
"What on earth is going on here?" Ororo demanded.
Badrani and Kohana slowly turned around with fear clearly on their faces.
"Mom, Hana's trying to take the tv!" Badrani said.
"I'm not 'taking' it, Mother, I already claimed it!" She countered.
"No you didn't!"
"Yes, I did!"
"No y-"
"Shut up!" Logan said firmly. Both children whipped their heads to look at their father. "Neither of you gets to watch it."
"But-!"
"How com-?!"
"Enough." Ororo said, crossing her arms. "You heard your father. Besides, I believe you have homework to complete for Dr. McCoy, Kohana."
Defeated, Kohana's head dropped. "Yes, Mother."
"And we need to speak with you, Badrani."
Badrani nodded and Kohana stuck her tongue out at him, clearly thinking she got off better than he did. By the look of fear on his face, he agreed. Logan pointed to the door and Kohana quickly left the room.
Badrani was thirteen but would be fourteen in two weeks. He looked like Logan with his wild, black hair and rich blue eyes. His skin tone was a cross between his parents. He looked like he had a rich, dark tan year 'round. He was already three inches taller than Logan but Hank didn't think he would grow much more.
"Come. Let us walk outside." Ororo said, smiling at her son. The fear instantly dissolved from his face. He knew he couldn't be in too much trouble since they were both talking to him instead of just Logan.
"What'd I do?" He asked quickly. Logan chuckled a little and ruffled his son's hair.
"Fer once, nothin' we know of." He said. "Yet."
Badrani smiled at that and let out a deep sigh. "So what's up?"
"Yer mom and me just spoke with Dr. McCoy." Logan began.
"About me?"
"Yes." Ororo replied. "He was running some blood work, as you know."
Badrani nodded his head and looked from Ororo to Logan, confused.
"Well, the results came back this mornin'." Logan said slowly. "You don't have the X-gene, Badrani."
"What?"
"You are not a mutant." Ororo said, placing a hand on his shoulder.
Badrani's face suddenly fell. His mouth hung open in shock and his eyes began to glisten.
"What? Is he sure?" He asked quickly.
"Yes, he is positive."
"But…but you're both…how…why am I normal?" Badrani asked, stepping back slightly.
"It's genetics." Logan said. "We knew it was possible, just not likely."
Badrani shook his head and, without another word, took off towards the treeline.
"Badrani!" Ororo called after him, her hand stretched out.
"Let him go, darlin'." Logan said as he pulled down her hand. "He needs t'think."
"Oh, Logan." Ororo sighed, leaning into him. "What are we going to do?"
Logan leaned back and looked at her, confused. "Whaddya mean? We aren't gonna 'do' anything."
"But, Logan, he cannot stay here." She said, as if it were the obvious answer.
"What?" He asked, surprised. "We're his family, this is his home. Ororo, baby, where else is he gonna go?"
"A school…for normal people." She replied softly, looking away from him. Logan dropped his hands from her arms, clearly angry.
"He's stayin' here." Logan said flatly. "This is where he belongs."
"Logan, you cannot be serious." Ororo said, looking at her husband. "He'll be in danger if he stays here!"
"Danger?" Logan nearly spat. "Danger from what? Us?"
Ororo opened her mouth to speak but no words came out. Logan stared at her in disbelief, already aware of what she thought.
"Yes." She finally said, looking at him straight in the eye.
"Yer crazy." He said after a pause.
"Is it crazy to tell the truth?" She demanded.
"It's not the truth!" He argued, his hands balled into fists.
They stared at each other for a long moment, neither speaking nor moving. Finally, Ororo turned away from Logan and looked at the mansion.
"I refuse to let my son live in danger."
"And I think he's safer here than anywhere else." Logan replied, the anger still clear in his voice.
"I disagree."
"I'd rather him be surrounded by mutants who know how t'use their powers than be around one mutant in a normal high school who has no clue." Logan said, breathing deeply to calm himself.
Ororo turned to look at Logan and he instantly knew she agreed with him on that.
"I suppose you're right." She said, reaching out to touch his arm. "I am just afraid."
Logan pulled her close and felt the anger drain from him as he inhaled her scent. "Me too." He whispered in her ear. "But we'll figure it out."
* * *
Ok, I know it's a short start, but I was hoping for some reviews before posting
any more…please R&R!
~*PAF*~
Jubes