Chapter 3

Imogen had slipped into a good routine at Xavier's, and by the time she had been at the school a few months, she had it down to a fine art. Every morning she would 'wake up' with Kitty and then spend the day with the others, be it school or just hanging out. Every Tuesday and Thursday, she would have a private shrink session with the Professor, and then in the evening she would do homework and watch TV. As soon as the others were in bed, she would slip outside and into her night form to meet Toad, who had long given up trying to get rid of her, instead using her as training practice, or so he claimed. Imy, on the other hand, was convinced he liked her sarky company, which was definitely a good thing, because if she didn't take it out on him, she would have to take it out on the other kids.

Imy wandered down to the old oak tree, rubbing her neck. For some reason, when she had changed into her night form upon stepping outside, her headache had not dissipated – in fact, it had gotten worse, and that worried her. Usually, when her head pulled tricks like that, it usually ended in disaster. "Hey." She smiled up at Toad, who neatly leapt down from his branch.

"Hi Psy."

She scowled, "Oh shut up."

He had greeted her that way all week, after hearing Kitty call her it up in the school. It was her friends' mutant name for her, and she loathed it with an intense ferocity. Her name was Imogen. End of. Toad, on the other hand, found it hilarious, especially as he thought her power was night, which made her all the more determined to find out his name. Instead of replying, the green mutant threw a punch at her head, which she easily ducked and tried to use his momentum to flip him, only to find him roll and sweep her feet from beneath her, leaving her flat on her back, with him looking down on her, eyebrow raised. Letting out a low growl, that actually surprised herself, Imy leapt to her feet, only to sway as the world span.

Toad reacted on reflex, grabbing the night-girl's waist before she keeled over. Her eyes were unfocused, but Imy registered with some surprise that Toad was actually looking on her with concern. Huh. Maybe annoying did work. Her head pounded with an intense pain, "Imy?" Toad tried to get a response.

Suddenly, Imogen wrenched herself out of his hold, doubling over, clutching her head, a silent scream forming at her lips. Toad panicked. What should he do? Something was wrong, but if he went up to the Mansion, he would have to admit to spending time with the girl, and, however much he was loath to admit it, even to himself, he would miss her company. That, and wolf boy would probably tear him to ribbons. Imogen fell to her knees, and Toad made up his mind. But just before he could run up to the school, Imogen let out a gasp, and a muttered, "Ow."

Toad turned back to her, but any words of concern fell dead on his lips. Imogen was indeed standing before him, but not as he knew her. Golden eyes blinked dazedly at him as black-clawed fingers raked their way though a mass of brown waves that fell to the small of her back. The fingers froze as they touched something soft, and then Imogen's face split into a huge grin, revealing razor sharp teeth, "Oh my god! That is so cool! I've got wolf ears!"

Toad blinked, before replying weakly as Imogen examined her claws, "You don't seem to be finding this at all odd."

"Huh? Oh, no, this happens quite a bit around me. It's my gift." She grinned again, as if she had just explained everything, "This is so cool! A kid up at the school can do this; I wondered what it would be like. Still got night-vision, not as good though. And-" She closed her eyes, and her mane of hair rapidly receded before Toad's eyes back to its shorter black form. "Yep – it's a switch one!" She reversed the gesture, returning to the wolf form.

Toad gaped, "Three words: Wot the fuck?"

Imogen smiled, before nimbly leaping up into the tree. Toad was forced to follow her, "This is my mutant gift. I don't have one fixed power – I have many. I think my original power is some sort of mental ability and control, and my brain sort of absorbs and learns things from there. It's completely random, though some are based on emotions, I reckon."

"The mutant gene ain't meant to do that! That's not even like Stripe's power. Yours is permanent!"

Imogen shrugged, "What can I say? I'm a freak. Kinda why I don't tell people, they'd just want to dissect me. Even the Professor doesn't know."

Toad was going to comment that he now knew, but changed his mind last minute, "Wot else can you do?"

Imogen frowned, seemingly making a mental list, "Well, the shielding's always been there, I can feel it, and then, when I was about five, I think, my hair turned black and I found out about my night power. No one figured anything out – it only happened in the dark. When I started to have swimming lessons, my water power turned up. I like it, but it gives me a tail – invisible, kinda looks like more solid water, so I can't use it above water. Then when I was about ten, my telekinesis popped up – that's what I have to use during the day. I can't get rid of it without switching to another power, and it gives headaches like you wouldn't believe. And now my wolf power, which, I have to repeat, is so cool. Anyway, those are my base powers, the ones that I can access at will. It's sort of like flicking switches on and off in your mind. There have been others since I've gotten older, but they've been one-time things and wild – more specific to situations, so I can't repeat them on purpose."

"Have you any idea how powerful you are?" Toad asked in wonder.

Imogen shrugged, but then realised what he had meant – it hadn't been a question of him not knowing, it had been a question in awe. "What do you mean?"

"Most mutants have one power, some of 'em have different parts to their power, mind you; take me, I can jump, and then there's me tongue. Thing is, you've got different levels of mutants, and there's no way that someone with multiple strong powers like you would be low level." He frowned, trying to remember some of the things he had heard Magneto talk about, "Have you ever lost control to a point where you know what's going on, but don't seem to want to stop? I mean, most kid mutants lose control, but that's just their power getting out of hand. I heard once that the more powerful mutants can kinda get infected by their power."

Imy shifted, her claws scraping away at some loose bark, "Once. It was why I never went into sixth form. I mean, no one knew I was a mutant – I had it easier than you, I guess, so I should've been able to. Then I got really pissed off one day. It had already been a crappy week, and for some reason, my power was being really funny – I couldn't switch. I didn't mean to lose my temper-"

"Wot happened?" Toad interrupted her babbling.

"I burnt our street down."

"You wot? I've heard of mutant kids burning their houses down, but that's just stupid!"

Imy wouldn't meet his eyes, "My whole body just kinda exploded with heat - with heat and fire. Everything just turned red. I killed twenty four people that day, I read it in a paper – it was put down as a gas explosion." She shrugged, "But that was over two years ago now, and it hasn't happened since. It's just something I'll have to live with." She attempted a weak smile.

Toad's mind was all a muddle. This kid had no idea what she could truly do. If Magneto ever found out, or hell, even Xavier. A flare of anger reared in his gut at that thought – both would try to use her for their own ends. He frowned; when had he started caring about something like that? Imy was looking jittery, like she expected an opinion from him. Toad almost shook his head in wonder. Someone actually cared what he thought of them. He smiled slightly. For some reason, the thought of using her to help Magneto didn't cross his mind. Somehow, in only three months, the kid had managed to turn from a downright pain in the arse, to a comforting annoying presence. An odd need to protect her flared through him – a completely alien feeling. His smile turned into a full grin. Somehow – and he had no idea how – he had just gained a little sister. "So." Imy looked up, "do you think you can beat me looking like that? 'Cause I hate to burst your bubble, but looks don't win you a battle, despite what you might think from me."

Imy grinned, relief showing clearly on her features, and promptly shoved him out of the tree. Toad was shocked to find that she had completely fallen into her new wolf persona; she was faster and more flexible. After only a few minutes, he found himself flat on his back, with a knee on his chest and claws at his throat. "No fair. You've go' a different power."

"Nope. Name. Now."

"No way!"

"You're forgetting the razor sharp claws here…" Toad fixed her with a death glare, but in addition to her new found agility, her strength had increased. He mumbled something. "Sorry? What? Didn't catch that. Oh and I can feel your heart beat, so don't lie."

"Mortimer, okay! Now get off me woman!"

Satisfied, and grinning manically, Imy rolled off him, "And you called my name posh."

"Oh shut up."

"You shut up, Mort."

"Oh, stop there, kid. You know it. Weren't nothing that said you could use it."

Imy didn't reply, she only grinned wickedly. Toad folded his arms, making her roll her eyes, "Now you're sulking. How mature."

He didn't reply. Sighing, but still grinning, she stood, shaking into her telekinetic power as the sun began to rise; as summer approached, they were getting less hours of darkness. "See you later Mort."

As she turned, his voice called behind her, "Bye Chaos."

She whirled around to see him staring innocently down for the tree again, "What did you call me?" He tone was low and dangerous.

"Chaos. It's either that or Psy, take your pick. You call me Mort – only fair I can call you something back." She opened her mouth to argue, but he held up a finger, "Pick your battles, kid."

To Be Continued…

Author Notes: Please review! Come on, you know you want to!