Darby House, Jack's POV

I sighed with relief as I finally got home.

Going onto the front steps, I pulled out my key and unlocked the door. I then pushhed it open and entered the house, shutting the door behind me.

"Mom! I'm home!" I called out, leaning agaist a wall and pulling off my socks and shoes.

I then quickly walked towards the livingroom, giving my explination as to why I was late from 'school' (I'd been avoiding it for the past couple of days, and already had practiced the lie so I knew it down pat).

"Hey mom, sorry I'm late! Mrs. Henridge asked me to stay behind and help-"

I immedieately stopped in the middle of my sentance as I entered the livingroom, only to find it filled with not only mom, Scott and Evan, but also many strangers as well (most close to my age).

"Oh...Uh...Hi?" I said slowly, glancing between the group and mom.

"Mom? Who are these people?" I asked, raising a brow at her.

She stood and moved over to me, gently grabing my arm and sitting me down where she'd previously been sitting.

"Jack, This is Professor Charles Xavier. He runs the institute Evan and Scott are from."

My brow furrowed as I looked at the man who smiled kindly from his wheelchair. There was no sense of danger gripping at me, so I figured I was safe (though the burly man that stood behind him looked very...violent). So I managed a kind smile and leaned forward, holding out a hand.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, sir. Evan and Scott have told me a bit about the institute, must be hard to keep an eye on so many people." I greeted as he shook the hand I offered. He returned my smile.

"I see. Scott and Evan have told us a lot about you, they said you were a good person, and now I believe them."

I leaned back into the chair as mom sat on the arm of the chair.

"Thanks. But if you don't mind my asking, why are you here? Is Evan and Scott's project overdue?"

"Project?" The brown skinned woman repeated in slight surprise. She looked at Evan and Scott, who shrugged.

"What? We needed a cover story."

"Cover...Story...?"

3rd POV

Everyone saw Jack's face go from calm to confused and aprihensive.

Professor X sighed.

"Perhaps we better start with the reason we came here." He murmured, folding his hands calmly in his lap.

"Jackson-"

"Jack. Please, just Jack." The raven haired teen cut in, and the professor nodded.

"Very well then, Jack. I would like to extend an invitation to you to join the institute."

Jack's brows rose in surprise.

"Why?"

Professor Xavier smiled, chuckling at Jack's evident shock.

"This is a bit difficult to explain. You see, the institute is for those who are gifted with a special gene. The X gene."

"The...The what?"

"The X gene. Certain people are gifted with this, and from it, they gain special abilities. Those with these abilities are mutants."

No one failed to notice a flash of strong emotion flicker across Jack's features. But it vanished just as quickly as it had come.

"Mutants? I thought those were just fiction?" Jack commented, earning a few small laughs from the whole group of teens and adults.

"No, very far from it, actually. The reason Evan and Scott first came here was to find a new mutant signal that came up, not for a project. But please, don't be angry, they didn't tell you to protect you."

Jack pursed his lips and simply listened intently. Professor Xavier was glad to see this, and continued.

"The institute not only protects mutants, but also teaches them how to control their gifts."

"But then why are you inviting me? I'm no mutant." Jack suddenly said, head tilting in confusion.

Everything was silent for a moment as the X-men all watched Jack intently. The raven haired teen squirmed uncomfortably under the attention he was being given.

"Jack. Have you recently been experiencing strange occurences?" Professor X asked, watching the teen shift in his seat.

"...No. Why?"

"You're terrible at lying, bub." Logan suddenly spoke up. His gruff voice startled Jack, making the teen look at Logan.

Jack then looked down at his lap were his hands rested limply, his hair hiding his face.

"Jack?"

The boy twitched slightly when June touched his arm gently.

"If it's true, if you are a mutant, then don't you want to know how to control your powers? They can keep you safe, too-"

"I don't need help." Jack suddenly snapped, standing abruptly.

"So, you have been experiencing strange things recently." Professor X concluded as he watched Jack.

The teen's hair still hid his eyes, and he stood stiffly, hands balled in fists.

"It doesn't matter. I don't trust you, so why should I go to the institute? I'm taking care of myself just fine, I'm learning to control my abilities on my own. I don't need, and don't want your help."

Jack then turned storming off.

"Jack! Jackson Darby! Professor Xavier, I'm so sorry. I don't know what's gotten into him." June said, jumping when she heard the front door slam.

Professor X offered a kind smile.

"It's quite alright. He has a point, he doesn't know if he can trust us." he replied before looking over at Evan and Scott.

"He trusts both of you, maybe you can convince him that the institute is the best choice for him."

Scott and Evan both nodded hesitantly.

"Can do, Professor X. But...Where did Jack go?"

Jack's POV

"Jack? What're you doing up there?"

I shifted from my seat on the thick tree branch, looking down to see Arcee in her alt mode.

"Hey 'Cee..." I murmured quietly in reply.

"What's wrong, Partner?" She asked, her voice soft and concerned.

I sighed, gently jumping down next to her and sitting, back against the tree trunk.

"Arcee...I don't know what to do."

"About what?" She asked, shifting and sitting next to me (we luckily were too far from the road and Jasper for anyone to see us).

"It...It's hard to explain. I've been invited to join an institute in some place called Bayvile. But I don't know if I should go...I'm not sure if I can trust them." I explained, leaning into Arcee's hand as she lightly cupped my shoulders.

"An institute?"

"They say they can help me with some...things I've been going through." I replied, accepting the comfort she offered.

She gave me a look of concern, her hand moving to gently turn my head, making me look at her.

"You haven't said anything was wrong with you, Jack."

I pursed my lips for a moment, thinking over my reply.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Well, can you show me?"

I hesitated for a second. Should I?

This was Arcee my friend, my partner. She wouldn't call me a freak or be scared of me, she was a slaging Cybertronian for goodness sake.

I nodded, standing and taking a few steps back.

"Alright. Just...just don't...don't freak out, okay?"

She gave me a look, raising a brow. With a grimace, I worked myself into a silent fury. I then felt the slight pain in my fingers as my nails hardend and extended into the now familiar charp claws, and I opened my eyes, knowing that now they were acid colored and slit pupiled.

Arcee was watching me shocked, and everything was silent. I finally spoke up.

"The institute helps protect mutants, since not many people would be happy about mutants if they knew. They also teach mutants how to control their abilities. Arcee, I'm a mutant."

I looked down at my feet, waiting for her to do something, anything.

My eyes widend when I was suddenly lifted and hugged close by Arcee.

"Jack, why didn't you say anything? This is why you've been avoiding everyone, isn't it? You were scared to say anything. Jack, I'm so sorry." Arcee murmured as she hugged me closer.

I closed my eyes as I refused to let tears fall, and I wrapped my arms around her neck.

"You don't have to be...But Arcee...What am I going to do? Should I really trust them?"

Arcee gently set me back on the ground as I forced my claws to vanish (though I learned by now that my eyes would remain cat-like for at least twenty minutes more). She sighed.

"Jack, no one can make that decision for you. Do you know how to control your abilities?"

I shook my head.

"Do you want to be able to?"

I nodded.

"Alright. And do these people seem untrustworthy?"

I pondered it for a moment.

"No...The other students looked really happy, actually."

Arcee smiled at me, leaning down slightly so we were almost face-to-face.

"Then it sounds to me like you've already made your decision."

I grinned lightly.

"Yeah, I...I guess I have. But what about mom? And will the 'cons follow me?" I replied. A contemplative look crossed her faceplates.

"Well, I'll stick around to make sure your mom's safe. I'll talk with Ratchet, he can probably make a device to hide your life signal from the 'cons." She finally said.

"What about you?"

She paused for a moment, glancing down at the ground for a second.

"I'll be fine partner. As long as you promise to be safe...And visit whenever you can."

I grinned, nodding.

"Got it."

She then shifted into her alt mode.

"Now come on, hot-shot, let's get you back home."

Hey everyone! I'm so happy that y'all are liking this story! I need some help from you guys. What should Jack's x-men name be? And if you guys want to see something in the story, tell me through a review or pm! Luv u all!