Author's note: Thanks to everyone who reviewed, especially those who gave me specific feedback. Debique, you bastard. You play on my worst fears--probably because we actually know each other. You wouldn't be so mean to a stranger, hahahaha yourself. You owe me a latte. I promise that there will be some action in the next chapter.
Keye freshened up, changed clothes, then quickly checked her email. No news is good news, I guess, she thought. She logged out and headed out into the hall, where she nearly bumped into Logan. She sneezed twice. "Excuse me," she said. The scent of cigar smoke hung over Logan. Keye had a few allergies, including tobacco smoke and some perfumes, but she usually remembered to take a pill to alleviate them. She found it easier than trying to avoid everyone who smoked or wore perfume. However, she'd run out that morning, and the cigar smoke was getting to her.
As they continued toward the dining room, Logan said, "Maybe you should try going without perfume."
"I don't wear perfume," Keye said, getting a little irritated.
Great, a liar, too, thought Logan. But then a thought struck. Why don't I smell the lie? That perfume is plain as day. Don't meet that many people I can't read--what the hell is different about her? Can smell she's hiding something, but can't smell the real obvious lie? Must be losin' it. Xavier trusts her, but I sure as hell don't.
Asshole, thought Keye. I should be able to avoid him most of the time, though. I'd better run to town and get some antihistamine tonight. I just won't sit anywhere near him at dinner.
They entered the dining room, and immediately Rogue piped up, "You're just in time! A minute later and y'all woulda missed out on our Killer Pizza. It came out real good this time." Jubilee high-fived her at that last comment.
"Thought the last one was gonna kill me, kid," Logan grimaced. "How many jalapenos did ya put on this one?" Logan's heightened senses prevented him from enjoying overly hot peppers. He could eat 'em, but they hurt, and tended to make his eyes water until his healing factor kicked in.
"We left the peppers off this time, Wolvie, just for you," Jubes grinned.
"Dr. A, do you like spicy food? Ah'm from down South, and Ah get a little carried away sometimes." Rogue was all hospitality. For all that her mutation must have isolated her, she still had a fine set of southern manners when she needed them. She hadn't picked up on Logan's hostility toward Keye yet.
Keye smiled. "I spent a little time in Louisiana back in college, but I never could get used to more than about medium-hot food, I'm afraid. Your pizza smells good, though."
Logan was already filling a plate at the stove, with a helpful Katie pointing out the good stuff. "Ya almost got enough meat on it this time--looks good."
Keye was introduced to a few more students, and was still standing and chatting with them when Scott and the Professor entered the room. Scott rarely attended the TGIF buffet since Jean's death. His presence tonight came about only after the Professor gently reminded him that it would be rude not to welcome Keye on her first day here as a teacher. Scott, Jean and Keye had been great friends since their teens, but Scott wasn't sure he could handle all the memories without Jean by his side. Keye hurried over and gave him an affectionate hug. "Scott, it's great to see you again. It's been ages!"
"Good to see you, too, Kiki. We've missed you." Scott's smile was genuine, if subdued. He was making the effort, though. "Did you bring that monster dog of yours with you?"
"Newfie isn't allowed in dining rooms anymore, Scott; she's a shameless beggar. She's waiting outside, practicing her best pathetic, starving act."
Scott replied, "Maybe she's out rescuing baby ducks again."
Keye laughed, "You're never going to let me live that down, are you? Her heart was in the right place."
Professor Xavier smiled and told the students the story of how Newfie, who was trained in water rescue, had jumped in the reflecting pool to rescue a baby duck who hadn't kept up with his siblings when they swam behind their mother. Logan snorted in disbelief at the thought of that damned lump of a dog rescuing anything but a steak off a barbecue. Katie wanted to know if the baby duck got "hurted." The professor replied, "The duckling was fine, but I believe Keye got a few injuries trying to return it to its mother."
It was all in all a warm welcome, with the exception of Logan. One of the students asked Keye about her "powers" and Keye attempted to explain some of them. When the boy suggested that Keye ought to Help Logan "get his memory back," Logan growled and told him to mind his own business.
"Had enough people messin' with me," Logan said. He turned to Keye, frowning. "Do me a favor and stay outta my head."
There was an awkward silence, and Keye's expression hardened. "Consider it done," she replied softly.
Scott broke in angrily, "Logan, you don't have to be rude. Keye would never do anything like that without permission. She's got more ethics in her little finger than you'll ever have."'
The professor wondered if he would have to intervene, when Keye spoke up. "It's all right, Scott, I'm used to it." She looked over at Logan. "People are usually very suspicious of gifts like mine, and maybe with good reason." The professor could have sworn he heard a bit of a warning in Keye's voice,
"Bein' suspicious kept me alive more'n once," Logan replied, even as he felt a little twinge at the tone he'd taken with Keye. After all, he had dealt with a lot of suspicion and fear himself--they all had.
Mrs. Stone picked that moment to ask who wanted dessert, and the diners quickly turned their attention to her. The rest of the dinner passed fairly calmly. Logan disappeared after dinner, and Scott retreated to the library. Rogue, Jubilee, Kitty and some of the other girls went to get Katie into her pajamas, and to tackle the big question of what to wear when they went out Saturday night.
Professor Xavier invited Keye into his study for a cup of tea. "I hope Logan's hostility hasn't ruined your first day back," he said as he poured the tea. "He can take a little getting used to. Keye, he really is a good man. But he doesn't trust others easily. I'm hoping you'll be able to work together tolerably well in time."
Keye looked into her teacup. "My not-so-distant ancestors used to read tea leaves. For some reason, reading the future in the bottom of a teacup didn't frighten people nearly as much as healing a simple mental disorder." She looked up at Charles and smiled. "Logan won't be a problem. I doubt if his duties and mine will overlap. Somehow I don't see him going into the music room much. I'll just avoid him."
Xavier felt a twinge of conscience; that was not exactly what he had planned. Plus there was the matter of Logan's attraction to Keye, of which she seemed unaware. "Well, my dear, handle it as you think best. I'm sure he'll come to trust you eventually. We've all had to prove ourselves, as it were, to Logan." He sipped his tea.
"And now, Charles, I can tell you have questions," Keye said quietly. "I'll answer them, if I can. Although you did promise me my musical ability is the reason you hired me. You know I don't use my other gifts very often."
"I did promise that, Keye, and I wouldn't ask if it were not important. I'd hoped that since my questions might be answered without you actually entering someone's mind, you might be willing to share your knowledge with me. I remember that one of your gifts allows you pick up a person's name, even from casual contact. I also seem to recall you once telling me that you could 'spot a second-tier mutant a mile away.' I trust that hasn't changed?"
Keye laughed out loud. "Okay, a mile away might be exaggerating it a little, Charles, but no, it hasn't changed. And since I can't turn those gifts off, ask away."
"Were you able to ascertain Katie's real name?" he asked. "We've made some quiet inquiries, but we don't have much to go on."
"Well, you won't believe this, Charles, but her name is Smith. Kate Smith." Keye shook her head. "Maybe her mother was a music fan."
"Oh, dear. That doesn't make it easy," the professor replied. "I'd hoped for something a little more unusual and perhaps easier to find."
"Actually, it's Katie Belle Smith. That might narrow it down a little."
"That may be more helpful, yes," he mused. "I'll get someone to work on it beginning Monday."
Outside the study door, Logan stood in the shadows, getting angrier by the second. He hadn't meant to eavesdrop, but as he's approached the study to talk to Xavier, he heard them discussing Katie. Probably knows my name, too. Sounds like the nightmare thing--she can't control it, I'll bet. Just happens. He had the urge to just bust in there and make her tell him, but he heard the professor speak again.
"Keye, did you happen to come across Logan's name when you and he were, shall we say, confronting each other?"
Keye sipped her tea again. "Well, Charles, as a matter of fact, I did. But given his attitude so far, I'd rather let him keep that secret.