Author's Note: Thanks for all of the reviews! I'm glad that people are enjoying my story so far…
Disclaimer: The X-Men are Marvels, but Kohana and Badrani are mine...
Title: What is Normal? Part 3/?
Rating: Still PG-13...
* * *
Chapter 3: Decisions
Badrani kicked another stone as he made his way to the large clearing ahead. It just wasn't fair that he was normal. He growled from deep within his throat, which was a habit he had picked up from his father a long time ago. Badrani had always assumed it was because he was a mutant like his dad, but now it seemed it was just a simple habit.
He finally walked into the large clearing on the east side of the estate and glanced up at the sky. It was nearly three o'clock on a perfect summer day and all Badrani could feel was hurt. He should've been playing with Uncle Bobby by the pool but things were different now. He was never going to be one of them. He would always be different.
Angry, Badrani let out a yell and threw a large rock into the tree line.
He watched as it disappeared among the leaves and was satisfied when he heard it thud to the ground. Badrani continued to throw stones into the forest until his arm was sore. He gritted his teeth and threw his last stone, slumping to the ground in defeat. He slammed his fist into the dirt and let out a deep sigh.
After some time, Badrani finally looked around at his surroundings.
This isn't how you were raised to act, he berated himself. Stop feeling sorry for yourself!
Furrowing his brow in thought, Badrani came to the conclusion that it didn't matter he was a baseline human. It made him different than his family, but wasn't that the big thing about being a mutant? Being different? Well, then this would just make him different among mutants. So maybe that would make him like a mutant after all. Maybe it wasn't so awful to be normal in the mansion.
On his way back to the mansion, Badrani also decided it was time to learn how to fight. His father had tried to teach him, and, while Badrani knew a few things, he never really paid attention during their sessions. Now, things were different. If he wasn't going to have super-human powers, Badrani decided he would have to be trained to have extraordinary skills. After all, he could still be an X-Man if he knew how to fight and help the team with or without powers. Couldn't he?
As he thought about it, he became less and less optimistic. Uncle Scott would never agree to his training. Neither would Auntie Jean or anyone else, for that matter. They would probably think he would get in the way, or worse, get hurt. Sighing, Badrani shoved his hands into his pockets, trying to think of ways he could win them over. It wouldn't be easy, that was for sure. Hell, he was almost fourteen and he still hadn't seen that Danger Room the adults talked about.
Suddenly he smiled as he remembered a small tidbit of X-Men history that could help him win his argument. Feeling extremely confident, he went to find his parents.
* * *
Logan sat by his daughter's bed in the Medical Lab with a heavy heart. His little girl's skin was now dark green and her nails were a dark, rich yellow. Her hair was still white with that black streak that had been there since she was born and her eyes were still vivid green. But his little Kohana looked so different now. Hank said that her blood was changing and he theorized it would become a chlorophyll-based liquid before the end of the day.
Logan let out a deep sigh and looked over at Hank. He was hunched over a work bench, peering into a microscope and scribbling notes with his right foot.
"When's she gonna wake up?" Logan asked, turning his attention back to his daughter.
"I'm not entirely certain." Hank replied, turning to look at his friend. "It's unusual for sixteen-year-olds to manifest. It may have stressed her body more so than if she had manifested at thirteen."
Logan nodded. "Any idea what's happenin' t'her?"
"I have several theories, actually." Henry replied, walking over to check Kohana's vitals. "However, the only thing I do know for sure is that her physiology is no longer that of a human."
Logan looked at Henry with pure shock and a trace of fear on his face, something Dr. Henry McCoy had only seen on Logan's face a handful of times before over the twenty years they had known each other.
"Oh I assure you, Logan, she will be fine." He quickly added. "Her cellular physiology has simply changed from animal to plant."
"Simply changed?" Logan asked, his neutral expression coming back. "How is that a simple change, Hank?"
"Perhaps my word choice was poor." Hank said, checking Kohana's pulse. "Her cells have formed cell walls. She is also producing chlorophyll, which is why her skin is now green. It appears to be replacing the heme molecules in her blood."
Logan looked at Hank and tried to hide his confusion. He never seemed to understand what Hank was talking about when he started talking about medical things.
"The heme molecule is what gives blood its red color and is responsible for carrying oxygen." Hank explained without missing a beat. "Hence the term hemoglobin."
Logan nodded in understanding. "So she doesn't have blood anymore?"
"Not in the sense we know." Hank stated, listening to her heart. "Her circulatory system seems to be in perfect working order despite the change. Chlorophyll uses oxygen in a different way than hemoglobin, so she may start to inhale carbon dioxide and expel oxygen."
"Like a plant." Logan said quietly.
"Yes, exactly." Henry continued. "Of course, I could be incorrect in my assumption. Once the transformation is complete, we'll know more."
"Complete?" Logan questioned. "Y'mean she's not done manifestin or whatever?"
"No, she seems to be in the middle phase of her manifestation, if my calculations are correct." The blue doctor replied. "I believe the final phase will include a more internal change."
"Internal?"
"Yes, I believe some of her internal organs will transform as well to compliment the change in her bloodstream." Hank said, walking towards his desk. "In the meantime, she will remain unconscious. You should probably go check on Ororo and Badrani, Logan. They're probably waiting for you upstairs."
"They're fine."
"Logan…" Hank trailed off. "If you don't go find your wife, I'll make sure to tell her where you keep your beer stash."
Logan looked at Hank with mock anger and Hank pointed to the door. "I'll call you when she awakens."
Sighing, Logan stood and walked past Hank with a grunt.
* * *
Ororo was sitting by the dock with Badrani when Logan was kicked out of the Med Lab. He walked up behind them but didn't join them immediately. They were in the middle of a heavy conversation by the looks of things.
"Mom, why can't I?" Badrani asked. His shoulders were slumped forward and his feet were dangling over the dock.
"I didn't say you couldn't." Ororo answered simply. "However, I did not say yes, either. I did say that your father and I need to discuss things before I give you an answer."
Badrani nodded his head. "That's not a very good answer."
Ororo smiled, but still did not answer him. "We shall work things out."
"What's goin' on?" Logan said from behind them. Ororo and Badrani both jumped and looked at him. He chuckled as he walked closer.
"You scared me, Dad!" Badrani said, smiling slightly as he wiped his eyes.
"Sorry, didn't mean to."
"Yes, you most certainly did." Ororo said, shaking her head.
Logan winked at her and shrugged his shoulders. "Maybe, maybe not."
"Dad, I want to train like you do." Badrani said as Logan sat down. Logan visibly tensed at his son's words and he glanced to Ororo. He could tell she didn't know what to do.
"That's a big decision." Logan said after a long pause. "Yer mom's right. We'll have to talk with each other and then with the team." Logan assured him. "But for now, we gotta figure out your classes."
"Indeed." Ororo agreed, glad Logan managed to change the subject. "We shall speak with your teachers about what classes you'll need for a high school diploma."
"Why can't I take the ones I'm already in?"
"Because, my son, you will need a normal high school diploma." Ororo replied smoothly. "If you were to continue with the studies normally taught, you would receive a slightly modified diploma."
"Besides, I'm sure Hank'll be thrilled t'teach some regular high school classes fer once." Logan added.
Badrani nodded in agreement. "Yeah, I bet Geometry is easier for him than Mutant Phizzolology or whatever."
Ororo smiled. "It's Physiology."
"Yeah, that's what I said." Badrani said.
As Badrani tossed a stone into the lake, Logan and Ororo exchanged amused looks.
"How's Kohana?" Ororo asked. Badrani looked at his father, knowing his sister was sick. His mom hadn't said anything else when he had found her twenty minutes ago.
"Hank says she'll be fine. He kicked me out." Logan complained. "But he wants to talk to us tonight when he's done with some tests or something."
"I should go see her." Ororo said, standing up.
"Good luck. Hank'll probably throw you out, too."
"Perhaps." She replied, amused. "But I do not have a hidden supply of beer to hang over my head."
"How'd you-?"
"A good wife knows everything about her husband." Ororo replied simply as she walked away.
Logan rolled his eyes and Badrani laughed.
"Mom always knows everything." He said. "How does she do that?"
"Yer mom is a tricky lady." Logan replied. "C'mon. Whaddya say we go into town and get some lunch?"
"Yeah!" Badrani said excitedly. He jumped up and nearly fell in the lake but he didn't seem to notice. "Can we take the bike? Pleeeeeeease?"
Logan sighed and stood up. "I suppose we can." He said dramatically. "Just don't tell yer mom or I'm toast."
"You can trust me, Dad!" Badrani replied.
Logan nodded and followed him towards the house, happy to see his son in a better mood.
* * *
What d'you think?? Please R&R!!
~*PAF*~
Jubes