David did not like the fact that his mother was gone. While he seemed to like his father well enough, his confusion over his mother's absence was great. He started howling and crying the moment she left the manor. Several of the students with more sensitive hearing could be seen to wince throughout the day. Charles had to cover his ears just to get near to him to try and calm him down. It was a good thing he didn't have any classes to teach that day.
"Little one, calm down," Charles begged, "Come on."
His son continued to cry; only this time it was into his shirt. Sighing Charles put two of his fingers to his temples. He disliked going into other people's minds without their permission, especially that of someone as young as David. However, he felt that a few soothing waves would do a world of good.
Gently he sent a few waves as well as an image of Moira. It was going fine until a whisper of a happy sensation came back. It wasn't really a thought, not even a real feeling. Yet it still made him start and jolt David. His son didn't start crying again but Charles didn't feel particularly comforted by that.
He couldn't believe that David was projecting, even if only first contacted, at such an early age. It had been unformed and wispy, probably because David didn't really know any words and could only match feelings with images. However, Charles didn't know if this was normal. Charles' own parents weren't around to tell him if he had done the same thing so he had nothing to compare it to.
Charles had been wondering what their little boy would be like ever since he had heard that he would be a father. That was something he considered normal. What color eyes would he have? Would he have Moira's auburn mutation? Or, and Charles had wondered about this quite a bit, would he have another sort of mutation?
He'd had unconfirmed theories about whether or not his child would be like him. He might even have a completely different mutation. It didn't matter to him whether his son was a homo sapien or homo superior. He would still love him. Charles simply knew that it would complicate things somewhat.
So he had warily put his young son back to bed. The boy had gone to sleep soon but Charles couldn't stop thinking about the incident. He'd have to tell Moira about this as soon as she got back. He wheeled out of the room and got to his office, just in time to get a phone call. Feeling more than just a little exhausted he'd picked up the phone.
"Charles Xavier," he said.
"Charles, I'm heading home. I'm about seventeen minutes out."
"Thank goodness," sighed Charles, "David's been inconsolable."
"Right, I'm sure David's the only one."
He could practically hear her grin on the other side of the phone. Charles felt his ears tingle with heat.
"But," she said, "there was an interesting development with Rose."
"Such as?"
"We're going to be having some new students," she said, "Two of them to be precise."
Even though he knew she couldn't see it he raised his eyebrow.
"I am very interested."
Over the next ten minutes she explained. Charles felt bile rising in his throat. He'd never liked Stryker but this was something new. When she'd finished he'd said;
"I'll some rooms ready. Bring them both to my office; we'll have an impromptu orientation."
He sent out a call to some of the members of the staff. After that he didn't have long to wait. As he was fishing out the necessary forms he heard the door to his office open. Charles put on his best smile as his wife, her aunt, Hank, and two girls came in. Both of them had backpacks on and one carried a large duffel bag. From what Moira told him he was able to identify that it was Lorna who was carrying the duffel bag. What surprised him was that Rahne was holding both Lorna and Hank's hands, all but skipping between them.
Charles wheeled out from behind his desk. He proffered his hand to Rose.
"I believe we've met before," he said.
Rose took his hand enthusiastically and shook it. He winced at her grip and his wife nodded at him sympathetically.
"You're a mutant!" Rose said, "It all makes sense; of course you'd take a chance on those theories! You're living proof they're true!"
Still smiling Rose withdrew and gestured to the two girls.
"Lorna Dane and Rahne Sinclair MacTaggert."
"Just MacTaggert!" insisted Rahne.
Rose ruffled her hair and then turned back to Charles.
"Moira told me you've got some sort of school here, and from all the kids that are running around I can tell that's the truth," she said, "There was this one kid that was flying. With wings."
"We have a lot of those," said Charles.
He inclined his head to Rahne.
"I see you're making friends already," he said.
She grinned, showing her crooked teeth. Rahne let go of Lorna's hand and hugged Hank around his waist. She clanked as she moved, possibly from change that she was carrying in her pockets. Hank raised his arms and gave her a nervous pat on the head. He looked at Charles and gave a sheepish smile.
"She's been like this since she saw me," he said.
Although he seemed embarrassed Charles could tell he was secretly pleased. Most kids' first reaction was to run from him; not hug him.
"You're blue and furry," Rahne said, "It makes me feel…"
The girl frowned, looking for a word.
"Un-alone?" she ventured.
Hank looked surprised. Charles could tell, even without reading his mind, that Hank wondered what this normal-looking girl had in common with him. It was a valid question, and one that Charles had a few ideas about. Rahne had obviously met other mutants before so she must feel a special connection to Hank. Charles tapped his chin thoughtfully.
"Can you show us your mutation?" asked Charles.
Generally he found that having a new student show their mutation rather than tell gave a new level of comfort. It allowed them to know that they could do something people considered strange and no one would mind. Besides, in new situations many of the children tended to be a little tongue-tied.
Rahne let go of Hank's waist and looked down at the floor. Rose went over and laid her hand on the girl's shoulder.
"Don't worry," Charles assured her, using the words that he'd used hundreds of times before, "you're among friends."
Rahne stepped forward. She took a deep breath and then closed her eyes. Starting in the middle of her forehead a patch of fur grew. It quickly spread all over her, enveloping her hair. Her nose lengthened into a muzzle and her ears were pushed up. They became pointed and large. A tail started to swish the ground. Her fingers lengthened and grew into claws.
When she opened her eyes again they were yellow. Next to her he saw Hank look at her in silent wonder.
"That's amazing," said Charles, "And you can do that at will?"
The girl's eyes grew big and she gave a shy smile.
"Yes," she said.
He was surprised that she could still talk in that state; he'd have thought that her teeth and muzzle would have gotten in the way. Apparently not.
"You've got a lot of control for someone your age," Charles said, "I'm impressed."
Rahne gave another shy smile. Closing her eyes again the fur began to recede. Soon she was just a little girl again, although one who seemed very proud of herself. She immediately went back to hugging Hank who seemed to have more empathy now. Rose smiled and then turned to Charles.
"I'm guessing from Hank that her mutation is a common one?" she asked.
"In different forms," said Charles, "Many can't change back."
He turned to Lorna.
"And you?"
The girl reached for the black cloth that covered her hair, then hesitated.
"It's alright Lorna," Charles said.
Looking nervous Lorna undid the cloth around her hair. Green locks came spilling out around her shoulders and to her hips. The hair didn't look dyed though; and some kids did dye their hair green for jokes or theater. There was something very natural about Lorna's hair. It was the same color as her eyes, which made him wonder if the two were connected.
She folded up the cloth that had been wrapped around her hair and placed it on a chair.
"Green hair isn't my mutation, just part of it," Lorna said, "But I can't see anything I could demonstrate mine on in this office."
Rahne detached herself from Hank.
"I do!" she piped up, "I emptied my piggy bank into my pockets!"
She dug into the pockets of her jeans and came out with fistfuls of coins. Charles wanted to ask what was going on but was cut off when Rahne threw the handfuls of coins in the air.
"Go on!" she called.
Green light glowed in Lorna's eyes. She stretched out her hand and tilted her chin. The coins stopped and so did his heart. Turning her hand the coins formed a single line and moved to Lorna. They circled her arm, moving like a snake and went behind her head. She let one of them twist between her knuckles briefly. Then, under obvious strain, she guided them so that they fell right back into Rahne's pockets.
The light faded from Lorna's eyes and her hand fell by her side. It was then that she noticed that Hank, Charles, and Moira were staring at her.
"Is that really uncommon or something?" she asked uncomfortably.
Charles breathed out, slowly willing his mind to calm. With great control he forced a smile and said;
"No; we've seen it before."