NachtGleiskette I think my PM messaging was off. I'm glad you're enjoying the story :)

For the purpose of this story Storm is about 18-20, so not a student but not exactly staff either.

KURT

Kurt went to the infirmary and Wanda went to the Professor's office. She'd wanted to stay with Kurt but Logan insisted that he would be just fine.

Doctor McCoy had of course been called away, but Ororo was there and after a quick examination she determined that he didn't have a concussion. Every adult at the institute had basic first aid training so she fixed up the laceration on his forehead with a bit of skin glue. She also questioned him thoroughly.

"Tell me what happened," she said in her soothing lilt, dabbing at the blood on his face with a warm washcloth.

He shifted uncomfortably on the paper-covered med cot. "It was just a fight." He paused. He didn't really want to confess that Domino and Toad had been beating on him, but he also didn't want Wanda to get in trouble for defending him.

"It wasn't just a fight, was it?" asked Ororo, a knowing look in her eyes.

Kurt shook his head and looked at the floor.

Ororo sighed. "I don't want to pry into your personal affairs, but it isn't okay for any student at this institute to intentionally hurt a classmate." Her tone was gentle as she laid a hand on his arm. "No one likes being a victim, Kurt."

He nodded but didn't say anything. It wasn't just that they had picked on him; it wasn't the first time. It was how he'd frozen up, paralyzed by the sudden resurgence of past abuses. He should have been able to defend himself, or at least teleport away, and now Wanda would be punished because he freaked out.

Ororo let him go when the others brought Domino in, still unconscious. He went straight to the Professor's office and arrived in time to catch Wanda coming out the door, her face slightly flushed from either anger or embarrassment.

"Vonda?"

She pushed past without looking at him.

He let her go. Clearly she didn't want to talk to him.

The door the Xavier's office was still open so Kurt stepped into the doorway.

"Professor? What happened?"

Xavier looked up from several files on his desk, looking with compassion at Kurt. He knew about Kurt and Wanda's friendship, and could always feel the connections between his students. He knew this wasn't going to be easy for Kurt to hear.

"I am afraid that Wanda is going back to Genosha." He saw Kurt's crestfallen expression. "It isn't a punishment, Kurt, and none of this is your fault. I'm afraid that Wanda isn't happy at the institute, and her unhappiness has a negative effect on her powers. All I want is what's best for everyone."

Kurt nodded, though he couldn't help but feel stung. He'd thought Wanda was happy with him, sitting under the oak tree. But the Professor was right; she'd never even wanted to come here.

"I'm sorry Kurt but there is nothing else I can do. I can't risk the lives of my other students, you must understand that."

"She was defending my life. That has to count for something."

The Professor's expression softened. "It does, Kurt, but she lost control of her powers. Furthermore, she wants to go home to Genosha. It's what is best for her."

WANDA

She didn't want to talk to anyone. Talking to Professor Xavier had made her feel both angry and guilty, when she only really wanted to feel angry at Domino for hurting Kurt, and at the world for pitting both humans and mutants against mutants, which wasn't fair.

At least Kurt seemed alright, as she passed him in the hall. Out of everyone at the institute at that moment he was the person she least wanted to talk to, because if anyone should be angry about this is was him, but he wasn't, and that made her especially guilty for reasons she couldn't explain.

Pietro was loitering around the kitchen. He broke into a grin when he saw her.

"I heard what happened with Dom. Pretty badass, Wan."

Wanda pursed her lips. "I think I've been expelled."

"You think?"

"Xavier was nice about so it was sort of difficult to tell. I always thought expellment involved a lot of yelling."

"Gee, Wan, I always thought I was the delinquent in the family. Do you think he'll expel the others?"

"Not unless they have somewhere to go."

"Does dad know?"

She shrugged. "I'm sure Xavier told him. He'll be angry. What are you doing here anyways?"

Pietro's face lit up with impish delight. "Just wait a minute and watch."

Wanda leaned against the wall and waited, and after a few minutes Bobby came out of the kitchen with a plate stacked high with sandwiches, chips, and the little tea cookies Hank kept hidden for himself (but everyone knew where he hid them). But a single moment later all of his snacks were gone, replaced by carrot sticks and kale chips.

"Hey!" he said, glaring at Pietro. "My lunch!"

"I have a high metabolism, and I'm a growing boy. I need to eat." Pietro shrugged, licking mustard off his fingertips. "Anyways, this is healthier. You'll thank me later."

Wanda rolled her eyes. "You are an idiot."

Her father arrived that afternoon. She found out he was there when Xavier called her back to his office, and she found her father looming over the big mahogany desk.

"Wanda," he said with a smile that didn't quite reach his steely eyes. "I heard you've been having some trouble here at the institute."

Shame boiled under her skin. She hated disappointing her father; she should have been a top student instead of a sulking outsider.

She bowed her head. "I'm sorry father."

Magneto sighed. "It's alright, Wanda, I knew that adjusting to a different atmosphere might be difficult, so I've decided to take you and your siblings back home to Genosha with me."

She perked up. "Really?"

This was what she wanted, wasn't it? To go home? But she didn't want it to be because she was in trouble, disgraced. She wanted it to be because her father realized what a mistake it was to send her away.

He extended a hand to her and she took it on impulse. "Are you ready to go home, Wanda?"

She looked up into his aged face framed by thick gray hair, so regal and controlled. That was what she wanted, to look and feel powerful without hurting anyone like she had today. To be so perfectly poised and intimidating that no one would ever dare oppose her.

She nodded. "Yes father, I am."

Plot twist...