Disclaimer: I own nothing but my OC Jolan. All other characters are property of Marvel.

Chapter 2: So Tight You Could Cut It With A Knife

Location: NORTH SALEM, NEW YORK Time: 1:30 AM

3rd person point of view

After what seemed like an awkward eternity, the X-Jet landed firmly at the Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. One by one the X-Men began to unstrap from their respective seats and exit from the jet's ramp. Nightcrawler was the last to leave, escorting the girl from her seat.

"Bitte, followen sie me," Kurt spoke as he directed her toward the front of the institute. Both Kurt and the girl noticed his English slipping, but neither mentioned it; after all, the girl understood him just fine. The other X-Men, however, were puzzled: Kurt usually spoke relatively well English, only using German for simple phrases like "please", "thank you", and "your welcome". Before anyone had the chance to bring up Kurt's change in habits, the Professor broadcasted a message into the group's heads:

"Ororo and Nightcrawler, please bring our new guest to my study, we have much to discus. Wolverine and Cyclops, your are released from your duties for tonight."

Head pivoting frantically, the girl looked around in confusion, as the X-men seemed to freeze were they were standing. Ororo noticed the worried look on the girl's face. Part of Storm wanted to find out why the girl could not receive the message, but her motherly instincts took over, telling her to comfort the girl instead.

"Don't worry little one, that was just the professor. He wants to meet with you in his study. Nightcrawler and I will occupancy you so you don't get lost."

"Oooh.." the girl spoke, "is zee professor a telepath?"

"One of die bests in zee vorld," Kurt chimed in with a small smile.

A few minutes later, the group of three found themselves at the entrance to the professor's study.

"Please come in." the professor called through the large oak double doors.

Nightcrawler disappeared in a cloud of smoke and opened the right door from within the study. He gestured for Ororo and the girl to come inside.

"Ladies first," the blue mutant spoke with a slight smirk as he stared directly into the girl's eyes.

"Danke," the girl thanked with a slight nod, stepping past Nightcralwer and into the large, open study. Sitting behind a mahogany colored desk at the far end of the room was a composed, completely bald man in a wheel chair

"Thank you for coming to see me today," the Professor began. You may be wondering why I had my team bring you here…

"Entschuldigung for interruptink professor," the girl spoke, "but I vould first and formerly like to sank you and zyour team. If it vere not for zem, I vould not be here to brink."

It was obvious to the professor that the young girl had only recently learned English, but what intrigued him more was her politeness and good manners. The young girl did not look like one who would care about formalities—especially with her hair full of twigs and leaves and her clothes ripped to shreds. In fact, the professor observed, most in her situation would have lost composure and long time ago. But if he had learned anything from directing the institute for the past 15 years, it was not to judge a book by its cover.

To everyone in the room, the professor's analysis could only be noticed by a slightly longer than normal pause before he politely returned the young girls gesture:

"Don't worry child, it was our pleasure to help out a fellow mutant."

The girl flinched slightly as the word mutant crossed the professor's lips, but she quickly regained her composure and she nodded in respect to his intended-to-be, kind words.

"Now, as I was saying before, I would like to explain why we have brought you here. But before we begin, tell me first child, what is your name?"

A long silence filled the study, as everyone seemed to hold his or her breath. For what seemed like ages everyone had solely referred to her as "the girl", not even bothering to inquire what her actual name was. The young girl herself never offered a name and the professor was unable to use Cerebro to find it before he ordered the rescue mission. So, that left them here: hanging on the next words to fall out of this young woman's mouth.

The girl clearly noticed the tension in the room and brought her voice down so she would not shatter the silence with too great a force. In a clear, almost whisper, the girl spoke:

"Jolanka… Jolanka Abendroth, but you may callen mi Jolan."

"It is a pleasure to meet you Miss Abendroth," the professor continued with his greeting speech, "I am Professor Xavier and I would officially like to welcome you to my school for mutants—or as the public knows us: The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning. At the Institute we provide a safe home for many mutants and encourage them to unlock their full potential.

I have brought you here today due to your unfortunate circumstances; I hope to offer you a safe haven from these troubles with an invitation to join us here at the Institute. So, Miss Abendroth, what do you think of my proposal? Would you be willing to enrol or at least stay with us for a short period of time?

Again, all eyes fell on the girl, eagerly awaiting her answer. "Danke for die generous offer Professor Xafier, but I do not haf anzee money to pay for zie enrolment at such a prestigious school… let alone anzee money at all…."

"That is quite alright my dear," the professor cut in, "You need not worry about paying for your stay here, you would be welcomed as a guest, just like all of my other pupils."

"Vell in dat kase Professor Xafier, I vould be happy to accepten zyour offer." Jolanka said with a huge grin

"Wonderful," the professor replied, "Welcome to mutant mansion Miss Abendroth. Tomorrow you will have a session at 12:00 AM to discussing your current academic levels with miss Ororo. We hope to create a balanced class schedule suited to your skill levels. At 1:00 AM you will also meet with me to discus your abilities and training schedule. For this evening, Mr. Wagner will show you to your dormitory. Breakfast is served at 8:00 am tomorrow morning. After we eat I hope Kurt will be free to give you a tour around the school before your meeting with Ororo?"

This last comment made by Professor Xavier was slightly directed at the fuzzy blue mutant himself, so Kurt acknowledged him with a quick "Of kourse Professor X, It vould be mine pleasure" and a slight bow.

Nodding to Kurt, the professor continued to speak. "Very well then. It was a pleasure meeting you miss Abendroth and I am happy you have chosen to stay with us. Kurt will take you to your dormitory now."

"Danke" – "Danke" both Kurt and Jolanka said at the same time as they left the Professor's study, leaving him with Ororo.

Kurt graciously held out his arm to Jolanka as the two started their moderately long walk to the student dormitories. The girl hooked her arm on Kurt's and let him escort her through the school. A few minutes into their walk they heard a nearby grandfather clock ring out the time.

"God," Nightcrawler yawned, "2 AM das not zee time to be avake Miss Abendroth."

"Bitte callen me Jolan." She said with a yawn of her own.

"As you vish liebchen." He replied with a slight smirk

Jolan raised her eyebrow at Kurt's use of the German pet name. She appeared to be slightly amused, when in fact the girl was trying to conceal a blush that was turning her cheeks a bright shade of magenta. With a light chuckle, Nightcrawler stopped in front of a large oak door. The pair had been walking down a long hallway filled with doors of identical stature for a while now. Jolan realized that this must be were the students slept.

As if reading her thoughts Nightcrawler began to speak: "Ja Engel, zis vill be your room for zyour time stayink vis us. Oh, and do not vorry, I am only one room to zyour left." Then, lowering his voice slightly and resting a two fingered hand on Jolan's shoulder, he continued: "If you effer needen anythink, do not hesitate to ask liebchen."

Jolan thanked Kurt for his kind words and they bid each other goodnight. The girl slipped into her room as the benevolent-yet devil like- mutant disappeared in a thick cloud of sulphur smoke. Jolan then proceeded to collapse on her new bed as a familiar wave of exhaustion took hold. The Girl fell into a dreamless sleep: still fully clothed and covered in debris.