Disclaimer – last I checked, I didn't own them.
Shouts for: 'The girl', 'risika-dragon' and 'Kosh17' for the great reviews – keep them coming, their our staple diet and you wouldn't want us to starve, would you?
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The mansion was huge compared to Kitty's world of the basement and, upon arrival; she found it completely empty except for herself, the professor and of course, the gorgeous Kurt. She still couldn't stop smiling every time she saw him and the flower was sitting firmly in her hair.
Right now, she felt as if she was walking on air.
"Is it hard to do that?"
Looking at Kurt, she frowned. "Sorry?"
"Floating."
Abruptly, she fell to the floor. "Ow!"
Laughing, Kurt helped her up. "Don't worry; everyone is a little unsure when they arrive here. Oh, and when you meet Logan, don't be scared – he's really a huge teddy bear!" Pausing, he quickly looked left and right. "Usually when I say stuff like that, he's right behind me."
"Say stuff like what, Kurt?"
Kitty watched as Kurt actually jumped so high, he stuck himself to the chandelier suspended on the ceiling, something she had never seen a man do before. Giggling, she looked at the professor.
The man just smiled. "Kurt will show you to your rooms, I hope you settle in quickly."
After Kurt appeared on the stairs in a puff of smoke, he took her to her room which, upon entering, Kitty could only gasp. There was a four poster bed, a carpet so thick her feet sunk into it and heating.
It was actually warm.
The blue mutant shifted uncomfortably for a moment before walking over to the cupboard and opened it, peering inside before pulling out some clothes. "These have been modified for you." He glanced at her baggy jumpers. "But I suggest you just wear whatever makes you comfortable."
"Thanks." Walking over to the cupboard, she looked through it and pulled out a cute pair of trousers and a little t-shirt. "I've always dreamed of clothes like these!" Going into her bathroom, again lined in thick carpet, she started to get changed.
Kurt was sitting on a stool after discretely opening a window to allow a cool draft in, the breeze ruffling his fur. "The professor really does his best to make everyone comfortable – I have a climbing frame in my room."
"Really?"
"Yeah, you want to see it?"
Nodding, she left the bathroom and, grinning, twirled. "What do you think?"
"Definitely cute." On his feet, Kurt handed her a pair of slippers. "You might want to put a jumper on."
"Sure." Following the blue mutant, Kitty felt as if she was in a fairy tale – the princess and the pauper but she played both roles! Entering Kurt's room which was only a few doors away, she had to admit that she was once more impressed.
The climbing frame was on the ceiling.
Kurt was already inside it and, hanging upside down, grinned at her. "You'll love it here – everyone's really nice." Flipping round, he was on the floor again. "Oh, I should show you the danger room!"
"Danger room?"
"Don't worry, its not that scary…"
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After playing in the danger room for a few hours on, what Kurt referred to as his 'playtime' projection – a huge boat filled with pirates locked in a constant battle with a naval ship – she headed to the kitchen with the blue mutant for a well deserved snack.
Kurt was chattering on about how the danger room worked as Kitty ate an apple slowly, jumping as the door opened and a beautiful woman entered with long, snow white hair and smooth coffee coloured fur.
She introduced herself as Ororo and asked Kitty about her home life and if she had any favourite foods or allergies.
Shortly after this, a man entered who was short, covered in thick fur and whose hair seemed to be stuck into two large tufts. He completely ignored everyone as he entered the fridge and pulled out a bottle of beer. Releasing two large adamantium plated claws from his hand, he sliced the top off and drank the contents in one go.
"Logon." Ororo warned.
The man looked at them before his eyes stopped on Kitty. "Hey."
"Don't worry; his bark is worse than his bite." Kurt mock whispered only to be grabbed and have the mans tail pressed against his throat, blades sliding out of it slowly. Teleporting, he landed on the table on the other side of Kitty, reclining against Ororo nonchalantly. "Although his adamantium claws are sharper than his teeth."
Kitty smiled slightly, looking at the man in terror who just grumbled about kids having no respect as he left the room, popping his head back in briefly. "Kurt, extra danger room session tonight."
"Ok Logan!" Waving, Kurt groaned when the door closed. "I'll be lucky if I can walk after this…"
Ororo just smiled. "You do insist upon taunting him."
"But it's so fun!" Kurt laughed before pausing and frowning. "The professors asking me to take you to meet everyone." He paused. "Are you ready for this?"
She nodded, feeling confident because of everyone's reaction so far. "I'd like to meet everyone."
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Jean sat on the stuffed armchair, Scot standing behind her like a protective body guard with Rogue lounging against a stack of books nearby. On the floor, Evan sat with one pawed foot moving his skateboard back and forth across the study's wooden surface.
The professor had contacted them telepathically and asked for them to wait in the study as they had a new student he would like them to meet. The slight warning of 'remember, we are all unique' was playing on their thoughts.
Looking up as the door opened, Rogue sighed as it was only Ororo who smiled back at her before seating herself at one of several desks. "How long are we going to have to wait?"
"The poor girl seems to be stuck in the floor at the moment." The woman replied casually, noting the reactions, mostly surprise. "She has the ability to move through objects, and even others."
Rogue simply shrugged. "Just another freak then." Glancing up again, she noticed the professor enter with Kurt behind; the blue mutant seemed to be coaxing the new student, his voice nothing but an inaudible purr.
At the door, Kitty swallowed and mustered up her courage which had inexplicably failed at the last moment. With a final sigh, she entered the room and cringed at the flinches and stares she received.
She was only hairless, and a little deformed.
Did she really warrant such hostility?
Was she that ugly?
Then Kurt was holding her by the elbow, pulling her further into the room with a laugh and flashing fangs, indicating the others as he told her their names and abilities, each one nodding numbly back until Scot seemed to remember that he was capable of walking.
He offered his hand, which Kitty rather reluctantly took and she felt as if a little bit of her died at his forced smile, his false welcome. Then he was making excuses about homework and left, Evan just waving at her as he passed.
The beautiful red haired mutant offered her hand, she didn't flinch or look away when Kitty took it and after a moments polite conversation, offered to show Kitty around later if she felt up to it.
Rogue just glowered at Kitty before stalking past.
"She's a little upset because of a bad test result – but she's like that all the time, even when she's happy." Kurt grinned.
The professor just smiled and nodded at her. "Well done, the first step is always the hardest and, Katherine, if you ever need to talk, my door is always open."
Taking her elbow again, Kurt led her from the room where his grin faded into a serious expression. "Don't worry too much about that – introductions are always the worst." His blue tail flicked sharply, portraying his agitation. "Once they get used to you, you'll be just like family."
Kitty smiled thinly. "It's a pretty weird family."
"Ah, but that weirdness is what makes us special." Pausing at her door, he gently reached out and stroked her cheek, seeming to marvel at the softness. "Every one of us here is unique, like the professor said, but he forgets to mention that it is our unique traits that make us beautiful, not fur or build or intelligence."
She watched as he withdrew and turned away with a wave, a lump rising in her throat as she threw open her bedroom door and entered her room.
Suddenly, the rich soft carpet, the thick quilts and even the heating seemed like cheap disguises of yet another cage, another basement, another place to be hidden.
The door was knocked lightly before opening and Ororo entered, sitting on the bed next to the young mutant who had curled up on top of it. "I thought you'd be upset."
"Why does everyone have to stare?"
"Because we're curious, child." The woman smiled softly, seeming to radiate warmth and love. "They don't mean to stare, and neither do they intend to flinch from you, but in a few days, they'll simply accept it as normal."
"Kurt didn't take a few days."
"Kurt isn't exactly normal either." The woman smiled, looking out to the window, the heat of the room not seeming to bother her in the slightest. "His blue fur has always attracted attention, nearly always unwanted, and his excitement often gets him into trouble – especially when he starts bouncing on the walls and then simply stays on them." She laughed softly. "Or worse, the ceiling!"
Kitty had to laugh at that. "That is pretty weird." Hugging her knees, she sighed. "But it doesn't change anything; I'm trapped here like I was at home."
"Not necessarily." The woman held out a bulky watch which the girl next to her took reluctantly. "Put it on and press the top left button."
Doing so, Kitty gasped as her bare arms where suddenly coated in a soft peach coloured fur, her hands showing three fingers and not her ungainly five.
"It is a holographic projection, Kitty; it makes you appear just like everyone else." She watched the young mutant touch her false fur. "But that's all it is, a projection; you can still feel your skin so you'll have to be careful."
The girl looked at her reflection, at her swishing tail and sharp fangs, her soft fur and glittering eyes. "It's amazing."
Ororo reached out and turned the watch off, showing Kitty's true face again. "But this is much better, Kitty, it always will be." She smiled. "The watch is just a tool to allow you to leave this house, to go shopping, to attend school or see a movie."
"School?"
"You've been enrolled into Bayville high." The woman informed her, laughing at the sudden nervousness. "Don't worry, you'll be perfectly safe, everyone here looks out for everyone else." Standing up, she walked to the door. "We're family."