Jasper, 3rd POV
Jack hissed slightly as he dabbed at the tiny cut on his cheek, left there by a sharp stone one of the other teens had thrown.
His eyes continued to flicker between the normal, blue-grey shade, and the acid green iris' with slit pupils. And his claws had vanished, only leaving a dull ache in Jack's fingers.
The small cuts from the stones had already healed shut, though his skin was still stained with dry blood from the wounds. The only traces left were a few ugly bruises (left from larger stones) and the still prominent sting from the rocks.
'I have to learn how to get a grip on these..these things!' Jack thought to himself as he finished cleaning off the last of the blood.
He stared at his hands then, wondering how the claws always came and went without warning. Maybe emotions controlled them? He had, after all, only changed when he was scared and dead-set on protecting himself from impending danger.
Only one way to test it.
Jack thought of something that never failed to make him angry, his father. How the man had promised to always love Jack and his mom, promised he'd always be there, then left them. Left, taking all the money they had.
Jack flinched as the claws returned, making the dull pain in his fingers grow. A glance in the mirror showed blazing green eyes, slit pupils dialated.
Jack then focused on calming himself down. The claws shrank away, leaving normal, human nails in their wake. But his eyes remained the same. After waiting five minutes, they still remained as blazing green orbs, pupils dialated.
Ten minutes, then twenty.
Finally, his eyes returned to normal, and Jack found himself gazing into a completely normal reflection.
Jack shut his eyes, gulping before forcing his breathing to stay calm. Starnge things happened on a daily bases in his life ever since the 'Bots came along.
'Though nothing compares to how freaky THIS is.' Jack added mentaly as he opened his eyes again.
Somewhere else in Jasper, 3rd POV
"Hey Professor Xavier, have you learned anymore about the new mutant?" Scott asked, leaning closer to the laptop cam.
"Nothing yet, but the signal is becoming stronger. As soon as we find out who exactly the mutant is, then all of us will come speak with their parents."
"All of you? Who's going to take care of the newbies?"
"Rogue will be staying behind, along with Beast." The professor replied, folding his hands under his chin. Scott gave a nod of understanding, glancing over to Evan, who exited the bathroom.
"Alright. We'll keep trying until then, keep an eye on Mystique too. Though I'm sure she hasn't found anything yet either." Scott said.
"As long as Mystique doesn't make contact first, then everything should go relatively smooth."
"With all due respect, Professor, when has anything ever gone smoothly?"
Next day, Jack's POV
I walked down the sidewalk, ignoring the people that pushed past me.
My hands were shoved in my pockets, since I was still scared that the claws would return, and more people would try and hurt me and call me a freak or monster.
I stopped when the tug at the back of my mind came, and I turned just in time to see the woman from the day before, the one that Scott and Evan had avoided, reaching and grabbing my shoulder.
"Uh, do you need something, ma'am?" I asked hesitantly, deciding to not ignore the warning that pulled and my mind and try to get away from her quickly.
"You. You were with Summer's and Daniel's yesterday."
Summer's and Daniel's? Scott and Evan's last names, I remembered.
"Yes, I was." I replied shortly, a bit sharply. She raised a brow at my tone, but continued to grip my shoulder.
"Where are they?" She asked, and I felt my eyes narrow.
"Sorry, but I can't tell you that." I replied, venom lacing my voice as I took one hand out of my pocket and gripped her forearm. "So please let go, I have somewhere I need to be."
She frowned at me, and her grip tightend painfully, but I refused to show her I was in pain.
"Where are they?" She asked again.
Anger began to boil in my veins and I glared heatedly at her.
"As if I'd tell you!" I growled, feeling my nails become claws, I sank them into her forearm.
She yowled in pain as I quickly forced my claws to vanish (something I'd practiced the night before until my fingertips began to bleed) and I bolted.
I weaved around people, my heart pounding in my ears as I heard the woman yelling after me.
Great, now someone else knew about my strange new adaptations.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw her running after me. I quickend my pace (since when I could run so fast, I never knew). I had the advantage, knowing Jasper like the back of my hand, and plenty of places to turn and try to lose her.
But my luck had to run out sometime.
I turned onto an ally, only to find I'd made a wrong turn onto a dead-end ally.
I skidded to a stop, staring at the brickwall that seperated the buildings from the dump. I then turned to look behind me and saw the woman approaching.
Her appearence changed, and her skin became blue, her hair longer and red, and she wore strange clothing. She was like me, she was different from other people.
But she was more dangerous than I.
Most definately more dangerous.
"So you're the new mutant. I was expecting someone more compliant." She commented.
I felt fear twist my stomach, and my claws came out (and my eyes most likely changed as well).
"A...Mutant...?" I murmured, more to myself. So that's what I was? That's what was happening to me?
"I see. Summers and Daniels don't know what you are, so no one's explained to you what you are becoming." She said, raising a brow as she slowly walked towards me.
"Stay away." I demanded, cursing myself for my voice being so weak. She laughed, only continuing to come closer.
"Stay away...Stay away...! STAY AWAY!"
I suddenly felt power pulse through me. I screamed in pain as the sound of cracking and shifting came, and it felt as though liquid fire was pulsing through my veins.
My shoes tore as my feet shifted, elongating (A/N: like Kurt as his normal, fuzzy, lovable self). Another scream tore my throat as my shirt as ripped up when large spikes of bone pierced through the skin over the back of my shoulders.
I slowly stood back up from my crouch as my hair lengthend slightly and became untamed, spiking in different directions. My claws as well lengthend considerably.
I stared down at myself in shock and horror.
"Don't you see? You are different, a mutant, just like me. I was sent to find you so that we could help you. My name is Mystique."
I looked up at the woman. Even though her voice had become soft and warm, I could still feel the warning sensation grip my throat.
"'We'?" I murmured questioningly. She smiled (though I could see through the act).
"The brotherhood."
I felt the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.
(A/N: I'll try and get a picture up of Jack in this form)
3rd POV
Jack began to slowly shift his feet, and Mystique grinned triumphantly, thinking the raven haired teen would come forward.
She was shocked when Jack went into a deep fighting stance, hands up and ready to strike with razor sharp claws.
"I don't trust you. I don't know how, but I know you're dangerous. I don't want your help, Mystique." He finally said, spitting out the name that tasted vile on his tongue.
The blue woman stared at him, stunned, but then scowled.
"Very well then. It seems that force is needed to...convince you." She replied, getting into a fighting stance.
Jack let out a strangely feral growl, showing off new, sharp fangs. His pupil's dialated, focusing solely on the threat before him.
Jack was surprised (if only for a moment) when Mystique shifted into a different person. The form of a man, with long, metal claws sprouting from his knuckles and a strange outfit on.
Mystique attacked!
Jack quickly leapt away, landing in a crouch, his newly shaped feet allowing him to land silently (though it felt odd to not be able to touch his heels to the ground).
"Leave me alone!" Jack demanded, voice threatening.
He moved forward with ease, his claws clashing with the metal claw-like items from the forms knuckles.
He leaned forward, pressing close to the deadly figure, but his face held no fear, but rather determination. Jack bore his fangs at Mystique, a growl tearing his throat as they both pushed away in unison.
It went on like this for several minutes, almost like a dance. Claws clashing, feral sounds exchanged, and both dodging dangerous attacks.
Soon, the woman shifted from a male form to a female form. A woman with brown skin and white hair.
Jack was able to avoid a large gust of wind sent his way.
He didn't want to fight, he'd never done so before and it scared him how it felt so...so natural.
Jack glanced at the fence, judging it's heighth quickly before building up strangth in his legs and jumping.
He pushed off one of the walls and launched over the high fence, landing with a light thud on the other side before taking off along the edge of the dump.
He picked up speed as he heard Mystique blast through the fence behind him.
Everything Jack passed by was a blurr, he could only hear the pounding of his heart in his ears, running on high adrenaline.
Jack quickly climbed up a pile of scrap metal placed aside, and when he reached the top, he slammed his foot into a large piece of metal, sending it crashing down on an unsuspecting Mystique.
The woman cried out, changing back into her normal form as she tumbled down the large hill of various things. She was cut by pieces of sharp metal and glass as she did.
Jack forced himself to look away and ran off as his body painfully shifted back to normal. He had to now hide from Mystique and his mom during the school hours for the rest of the day (since he decided after the incedent with Vince and his friends, it wouldn't be wise to go to school).
Elsewhere, 3rd POV
"Scott, Evan. We found the identity of the new mutant, his powers have now almost fully developed."
Scott and Evan looked at eachother, sharing a happy look before turning back to the laptop.
"That's great, Professor. So who is it?" Scott asked, leaning forward slightly.
"Do you remember that friend that you told us about the other day?"
"Yeah, Jack, really awesome guy." Scott replied, brows furrowing.
"Jackson Darby, age sixteen. He is the new mutant."
"WHAT!"
Everyone on the other end jumped when both males screamed this in unison.
"Professor X, you've gotta be kidding! Jack's never done anything strange!" Evan exclaimed as he leaned on the back of the chair Scott sat in.
Professor Xavier grimaced as he laced his hands together.
"Yes. But many times it is those you least suspect." He replied before shifting slightly.
"We will be heading to your location soon, and should be there tomorow afternoon. Will you be able to take us to Jackson's house so we may speak with his parents?"
"Yeah, but his mom's a nurse, it might be hard to go there when she's there." Scott stated, pursing his lips.
"What about his father?"
"He doesn't have one." Evan answered while Scott thought over the new developments for a moment.
"I see. We are on our way."
Next Day, 3rd POV
Jack yawned as he stretched out on the large branch he reclined on.
He considered himself lucky, being able to find a large tree that could support his weight, well out of anyone's view. Deeming it safe, Jack had, hours before, pulled himself up into the tree and dozed in the warm sunlight. Though he still stayed very aware, so that if his new senses warned him of danger, he would be ready to move.
Jack sighed as he looked at his hands, his claws already out (he still was no where near having complete control of them).
Why...why...why?
Why was this happening now of all times?
At least now he knew what he was. A mutant. But Scott and Evan knew about mutants?
"Maybe I should talk to them about this..." Jack mumbled, brow furrowed. But he then shook the thought away.
No, this was his problem. It would also run the risk of losing his new friends.
Jack sighed again as his claws lengthend for a moment, then shrunk back to normal nails.
He stood, gripping onto the branch above him to balance himself. He then took a deep breath, time to see how far his mutant abilities extended.
Jack first pulled off his shoes, tossing them to the ground (in case his bones again shifted, he would rather not try and explain another pair of ruined shoes to his mom). Then, gathering his nerve, Jack jumped.
He landed silently, knees bending to absorb the shock so that he rested in a crouch.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief as he pulled his shoes back on. He then stood, looking around for anyone else, then took off deeper into the cover of tree's, his speed picking up rapidly to unhuman speeds as he did.
Darby Household, 3rd POV
June's eyes lifted from the book she read as a knock sounded at the door.
"Coming!' She quickly called, setting the book aside and standing. She sprinted over to the door and unlocked it, opening it.
"Scott! Evan! How are you both doing? And who are your friends?" June greeted, glancing at the large group of people behind the two familiar teens.
"Hello Ms. Darby. My name is Charles Xavier, I run an institute, you might have heard Scott and Evan talking about it?"
June looked at the one who'd spoken. A man in a wheelchair, who smiled kindly.
"I've not heard them talk about it, but Jack told me briefly what they told him." June replied, smiling.
"Is there something you need?"
"Yes. May we come in?" Professor X replied, gesturing inside the house.
June pursed her lips, thinking for a moment, then nodded, stepping aside to let the group in.
They moved to the living room, taking seats in various places. And after June settled, Professor X spoke.
"As I said before, Ms. Darby, I own an institute, dedicated to aid those with special gifts and abilities. I came because I would like to invite your son, Jackson, to join us at the institute."
June raised a brow.
"But Jack doesn't have any special gifts or talents."
Professor Xavier chuckled.
"They are not exactly normal gifts. Perhaps an explination is in order?"
"If you wouldn't mind." June replied, crossing one leg over the other and resting her hands on her knee. Professor Xavier nodded.
"Very well, but please don't inturupt and keep an open mind."
June merely nodded.
"There are certain people born with a very special gene, the X gene, to be precise. This gene is what creates very special people, mutants."
June's brows rose in shock, but she remained quiet, letting the man continue.
"The institue is a place that protects mutants, and helps them learn control over the special abilities the X gene grants them. Take Kurt over here, for example."
Professor X gestured to a teen, about the same age as Jack. The boy grinned happily, then vanished in a large puff of smoke, only to reappear next to June in another puff of smoke.
June gaped in surprise, leaning away slightly for a moment.
"And we recently found that your son, has the X gene."
June's gaze snapped to Professor Xavier, and she opened her mouth to protest, but Scott and Evan suddenly stepped forward.
"It's true, Mrs. Darby! Really!" Evan exclaimed as he looked from June to Professor Xavier and back.
"Professor Xavier has been helping all of us control our powers as best he can. That's why I wear these, so I won't end up accidently destroying everything." Scott said as he moved to crouch next to June's seat and tapping his sunglasses.
June thought over this for a long moment. Could they be right? It would explain why Jack had recently been avoiding her and the 'bots.
"I...I'm not sure what to think about all this. All of you are...mutants?" June directed the question to the others.
"Ja! Even Profezor X!" Kurt spoke up, earning a slight smile from June. The other teens and two adults next to Professor Xavier nodded in argeement.
"So if Jack really is a mutant, then you can help him control these...powers? And can keep him safe?"
"Yes." Professor Xavier replied, meeting June's gaze evenly.
After a moment of silence, a red headed girl of about eighteen steped forward.
"Professor Xavier has tooken good care of all of us. It's just like a big family at the institute."
June was about to reply, but was cut off by the sound of the door being opened and then shutting.
"Mom! I'm home!"