A couple minutes later the three of them were sitting in the Institute's kitchen, Mark nursing a cup of hot chocolate and Quinn a cup of black coffee. Her eyes were closed, head bowed. Mark took a sip from his mug and looked at Xavier. "So I'm guessing that you're wanting to stay," Xavier said. Mark nodded. "You guessed?" he asked. "I thought you were telepathic." Xavier chuckled quietly. "Yes, but I prefer not to use it unless necessary. I'm guessing that you're wanting to stay because after Cerebro picked up on you I gave you about a week to see what you would do and then I saw that you had joined up with a mutant that I had previously discovered."
"Quinn," Mark confirmed. Xavier nodded. "Yes, Quinn." He gestured at her. "Seeing that you were with her I kept my eye on you two and realized that you were on the move in this general direction. I took the guess that you were on your way here and sure enough I was right." He smiled and looked at Quinn. "Are you alright my dear?" he asked. Quinn didn't move and her eyes didn't open. Mark bit his lip and looked from her to Xavier. "She isn't feeling well. She slept in the cold last night so I think she's gotten a bit sick."
"I'm not sick," Quinn protested, her voice quietly.
"If you weren't sick you would have yelled at me for that statement." Quinn growled, but her voice was raspy. "I'll see if anyone has some spare clothes you could borrow," Xavier said. Quinn automatically shook her head. "I have clothes," she mumbled, sliding off her seat. She teetered a bit as her feet touched the ground and she grabbed the back of Mark's stool to keep from falling. Mark stared at her, his eyes filled with worry, and she shot him a glare. Smiling slightly Mark looked away and Quinn picked up her bag before leaving the room.
Xavier watched her leave and Mark took another sip from his mug. "I'm guessing she's not usually this quiet?" Xavier asked. Mark shook her head. "No way. I've… I've never seen her like this. She must be feeling really bad."
"Hmm. So, Mark, since I only assumed I would like to ask if you will be staying with us?" Mark beamed. "Of course!" he exclaimed. "Since I found out about this place it's been my goal to get here." Xavier smiled. "Well I'm glad, it'll be nice to have you." He glanced out the kitchen doorway to the hall, then back at Mark. "I will ask her when she returns, but I would like to hear your thoughts while she's away: do you think that Quinn will stay?" Mark looked into his cup and ran his thumb over the handle. "Seriously?" he asked.
"Yes." Mark shrugged one shoulder and sighed. "I don't think so. She doesn't trust people and I don't think she'll feel comfortable being here." He glanced up at Xavier slightly. "Sorry Professor." Xavier waved the apology away. "There's nothing to be sorry about I was merely asking. Oh, Quinn, hello dear." Quinn kept her still cover head down as she sat back on her stool. "You can take off your coverings if you wish, no one will judge you here." Mark knew that if anyone else suggested such a thing she'd throw them into a black hole, literally. Instead she shook her head.
Mark looked her over. She was wearing a baggy green sweater with probably a long sleeve shirt underneath with a T-shirt underneath that. She had on a pair of army pants with probably a pair of jeans underneath. Her trademark black and green combat boots rode halfway up her calves, the black laces tied tightly. "You're not on the run anymore," Mark told her, even though he knew that she'd snap at him. "You can layer down a bit. Be comfortable."
"I am comfortable," Quinn replied, her voice now clear. Mark raised an eyebrow and Quinn glanced at him. "You sound better," Mark pointed out. Quinn looked away and patted her pocket slightly. Mark glanced down briefly and saw the tip of her water bottle poking out the top of it. He groaned quietly. "Thank you for the coffee Mr. Xavier," Quinn said, taking a sip. Xavier smiled. "It's no problem, no problem at all." She took another sip and looked around the kitchen.
"Now, Quinn, I would like to ask you something. You can take a couple days to answer, and I'd like you to stay long enough to get well, but I would like you to consider my offer," Xavier said, folding his hands on his lap. "Would you like to stay here permanently?" Quinn's eyes immediately snapped to him as though she was only now fully realizing who is was. She swallowed and Mark closed his eyes. "I…" Her eyes nervously darted around. "I need to think." Then she rose from the table, and with one last glance at Mark, left the room.