Disclaimer in first chapter.
Chapter Two:
Professor Charles Francis Xavier sat in front of the large bay window overlooking the grounds, his thoughts on the recent rumors of a rising anti-mutant group known as the Friends of Humanity. The recent news of Magneto's escape from federal custody also had him worried, as he wasn't sure about the mental state of his old friend. Xavier was jerked out of his thoughts as he sensed the presence of three unfamiliar mutants standing outside the gates of the school.
He turned his wheelchair away from the window, casting a glance at the bank of security monitors, seeing the three mutants in question getting out of a car and walking up to the gates. As he watched the two females of the group said something between themselves that he couldn't decipher, and then the one with chalk white skin and a black spot over her eye walked towards the camera and console. The girl reached out and her hand went under the camera's line of sight, speaking out a moment later. "Hello? Is anyone around?"
Charles paused for a moment before he pressed the buzzer on the intercom connected to the gates. "Can I help you?"
"Uhm, Asylum?" the girl asked, sounding unsure of herself. He reached over and pressed the button, opening the front gates. He watches the three get back in the car and drive through before closing them once more.
I'Scott, Jean?'/I He calls out to the two members of his staff telepathically.
I'Yes, professor?'/I the two responded back the same way.
I'There are three mutants on their way in, they asked for asylum. Could you please meet them outside?'/I
I"No problem professor.'/I Scott thinks in his head, and he cuts off the mental connection as the two teachers head off to meet the new arrivals.
Tabitha pulled the car to a stop once more at the top of the driveway, the three getting out and turning to look up at the mansion in front of them, still in awe of the sheer size and beauty of the place. They stand there for a few moments before their attention is drawn to the front door that has just open and the people they'd been told were Cyclops and Phoenix emerged, walking down the front steps towards them.
"The professor said you requested asylum." Phoenix says, "Welcome to the institute, I'm Jean Grey, this is my co-worker Scott Summers."
"I'm Domino." Faith introduces herself, then indicates the other two. "This is Meltdown and Gambit."
"Well come on in, the Professor wishes to meet you." Cyclops says, turning and leading the way up the stairs into the mansion, the others following behind.
Two staircases and a hallway later, the group entered Xavier's office and were greeted by Charles who was seated at his desk. Scott and Jean shared a brief look with him, and then left the three new arrivals behind with Xavier.
"Welcome." He greets Domino and the other two warmly. "I understand you wish to stay with us?"
"If it wouldn't be too much trouble, yes." Domino answers for her group.
"How did you come to learn about us?" the professor inquired curiously.
"We were in New York City and got attacked by a few thugs at a diner, a man named Warpath helped us out and said that there was safe haven here." Domino answers with the practiced ease of rehearsal that they'd spent the majority of the trip coming up with a cover story.
"Ah, Mr. Foley." Xavier acknowledges. "I offered him a place here once, but he declined."
"He didn't tell us much about what he knew about you and this place, aside from that you were a mutant and protected others of our kind." Remy replies with a shrug.
"That is correct." Xavier replies. "This estate has been in my family for decades. I turned it into a school in 1987, and mutants come here for security and to control their powers."
"So it's cool if we stay then?" Tabitha asks.
"If you agree to adhere to the rules and attend the classes and training sessions, then you are more than welcome to stay as long as you need to." Xavier tells her, receiving nods of agreement from the three. "In that case, welcome to the Institute. I'll have rooms made up for each of you, but not until later. We'll get you started in classes tomorrow, for now you can just get to know the place. If you'll excuse me, I have a class in fifteen minutes that I need to prepare for."
Domino gives a brief nod, and turns to leave. Tabitha and Gambit follow behind her, closing the door afterwards.
Marie was having a bad day. It had been almost five and a half months since Logan had taken off on his journey of self-re-discovery, and the last remnants of the imprint he'd left behind in her when he'd saved her life were still fighting the tide to stay with her. The last fight she'd had with Bobby over their inability to have a 'normal' relationship had caused small bone claws to burst from between her knuckles and she'd fled from the phys ed. Class. Unsurprisingly, Bobby hadn't followed.
Now she found herself wandering the halls with no specific destination in mind, as long as it was far away from Iceman. So wrapped up her thoughts she didn't even notice the three teenagers coming out of the professor's office and half crashed into the only male in the group. The boy stumbles as she falls into him but he manages to keep both of them on their feet as the two girls with him start chuckling.
"See Dom? I told you all ze filles love Remy." The teen throws a smirk at Domino, who rolls her eyes at him.
"Ah'm so sorry." Marie apologizes as she regains her footing and looks at the group. "Ah wasn't payin' attention."
"It is no problem, ma petit." Gambit replied, obviously flirting. "Might you be so kind as to tell humble Gambit your name?"
"Marie D'Acanto." Rogue tells him, a faint blush still coloring her cheeks.
"Remy LeBeau, the prince of the New Orleans thieves guild." Gambit introduces himself, "My friends here are Tabitha Smith and Faith Lehane, who are also called Meltdown and Domino."
"Pleasure to meet yah all." Marie tells them, "Did you just get here?"
"About fifteen minutes ago, give or take." Domino answers. "We were just gonna about to take a look around."
"Oh, I can show you." Marie offers, receiving nods from the three. "Alright cool, you can call me Rogue by the way." She walked past them and began to give the five cent tour of the mansion.
"So that's the tour." Marie announces about a half hour later, as the group of four re-enter the mansion through the back and walk into the rec room, sitting down on the couches in the middle of the room.
"So have you been here long?" Faith asks, even though she already knows how long it's been.
"A few months, around end of May." Marie replies. "A couple of the teachers here tracked me down in Canada, a few miles out of Laughlin City."
"So you like it here then?" Tabitha asks from her spot next to Gambit on the couch opposite the other two girls.
"Yeah, it's been great." Marie replies with assurance.
"But it's a school." Tabitha points out.
"You didn't come to learn to control your powers?" Marie asks, slightly confused.
"Nah, not really. I have pretty good mastery of what I can do." the blonde replies, forming a mini-sized ball of crackling plasma and rolling it around the palm of her hand. She flicks her wrist a moment later and the plasma ball explodes in the air above them with a small pop. "I came here for protection more than anything else."
"Was someone after you?"
"Not at the moment, but all three of us have spent time in unsanctioned mutant 'prisons'." Faith answers, cutting Tabitha off before she could open her mouth. Marie looks horrified.
"Those places are real?" she asks, her voice slightly shaky. Faith, Tabitha and Remy nod almost as one, grim expressions all around.
"Damn, you all look like someone just killed a puppy." John Allerdyce threw out as he entered the room and caught sight of the group, making his way over. "I heard there was some new blood."
"Faith, Tabitha, Remy, this is John Allerdyce." Marie makes the introductions.
"I usually go by Pyro." John amends as he gives Tabitha an appreciative once-over before turning to face Marie. "Bobby was looking for you after your little spat in gym class."
"I figured he would be, but I've had enough of his shit for today." Marie says icily, leading John to raise his hands in faux-surrender.
"Hey easy there, just passing on the message." John pulled out his zippo and began toying with it as he stood there.
"Hey can I borrow that?" Tabitha asks, standing from her seat and snatching the lighter from John.
"Hey!" John squawks indignantly.
"What?" Tabitha says, turning around to face him. "I need a cigarette, and my lighter died on the way over from NYC."
"Fine." John grouses and falls into step behind the tiny blonde as she continues out the back door.
"Is she like that all the time?" Marie asks after John closes the door behind them,
"Dat's her best behavior." Remy comments from his spot. "Da fille grows on you though, right Dommy?"
"Remy?" Faith says, with faux-sweetness.
"Non?"
"Don't ever call me Dommy again."
Marie just laughed.
To Be Continued…
A/N: Special Thanks to MarcusSLazerus for his review. More soon.