Laughter rang from the door of the Professor's office from the adults inside as if the group had known each other for years. The two doing most of the chatting was Hank and Sasha who were rekindling memories from the Convention that they had met.
"I remember, oh, who was it? Dr. Highmore was presenting a 'hands on' presentation about some organic chemicals, I have no idea what, but one of the spectators sabotaged their ex-wife's materials." Sasha spoke, crossing her legs and leaning forward in the leather sofa.
"Oh no, is that why we had to evacuate the convention center? I was in the middle of lunch with a few of my colleagues when that happened!" Hank shook his head and covered his face. "Do you know what he used?"
"Yeah, coffee."
Hank uncovered his face and gave a hearty laughter causing her to join in as they clapped and enjoyed the good times they shared that week about a year ago. The two of them came into contact after a few of the guests got together and celebrated being away from their jobs for a week down in warm and sunny Miami, Florida. All they had to do at the Chemistry Convention was take a few notes and act like they were paying some attention so they could take back their findings to their jobs and expand on the research already done. Even though Sasha had little background in Chemistry, Alice, a close friend of hers, wanted her to come along so that she would not be going to the big city of Miami by herself. Sasha had ended up flirting with Hank at the guests' party and hit it off in an instant. One thing led to another, causing them to become close at the convention and bond during the convention; however, their bond was partially broken once Sasha had to return back to Canada and Hank to New York. The two had lost contact over time and the both of them were still mentally shocked that had found each other like this. Everybody in the room could feel that the two had gotten closer than just friends, especially Charles; however, the Professor did not want to embarrass his colleague.
"So tell me, Mr. McCoy. I didn't know you were a mutant. Why the sudden plastic surgery?" a smile crept over her lips as if she was attempting to soften a possibly crushing blow to his self esteem.
Hank lowered his head, "if I had gotten this for plastic surgery, I would have demanded my money back. But seriously, this is what I look like, honest. The human appearance was something to allow me to teach doing what I love."
She raised an eyebrow, "Why should they care how you look? You're doing a good job, so you should be allowed to stay?"
"Mutants aren't exactly welcomed here in the states, Sasha. I didn't believe that they were widely accepted in Canada either. Perhaps I am wrong?" Charles intervened.
"Well," Sasha scratched the back of her head in thought. "I have little evolvement outside of the university and the hospital, but I mean…things up there aren't exactly like they are down here."
"I take it you have seen the news?" Ororo added.
"I was sitting in the airport for about two hours before my flight took off. Let's just say, I really don't understand American politics."
Hank shrugged, "might be best. Even Americans don't understand American politics."
"So, Sasha," Charles spoke. "What brings you here to us? We spoke over the phone, but I would love to hear your side." It was not like he did not already know. The moment he had passed into the foyer, he could feel a sudden spike in his abilities, none that Cerebro had ever caused in him before.
The doctor began to rub her temples. "I'm displaying psionic abilities, and I really don't understand why. My research has shown that mutant abilities appear much earlier, around the age of puberty; as you all can see, puberty has come and gone in my life. Although, once I hit puberty, I used to get horrible migraines, until I was about 18, then they all seemed to go away. I deduced that it was hormones that were finally calming down, but then I started to get them again a few years ago. "
Charles wheeled himself closer to the Doctor, feeling his power increase even more the closer he got to her. "May I take a closer look?"
Sasha nodded and relaxed against the leather sofa even though she had little to no idea what he was planning to do to her. The professor closed his eyes and held two fingers as he stimulated his psionic ability of telepathy to probe her unconscious thought. He felt himself leave his own body and attempt to travel inside her head; however, he was met with a wall that he was unable to break. The harder he tried to penetrate, the thicker and taller the wall became. Charles sat back in his wheelchair and opened his eyes to look at Sasha who was just lying back as if she was about to be pampered.
"Interesting…" Charles muttered to himself.
Ororo walked over to the Professor, "Charles what is wrong?"
Sasha had opened her eyes and sat back up, a look of dread on her face as if she was being diagnosed with a fatal disease.
"It is strange, but it seems to me as if her psionic abilities act in a defensive nature for her; however, you all might have noticed your abilities much more robust from just being around her. I believe her aura acts as a constant energy boost to all who are mutants."
"And to non-mutants?" Hank asked.
Charles folded his hands over his chest and positioned himself so that the two other mutants in the room could feel part of the conversation. "I would theorize that to humans she would feel like a constant cup of coffee being given to people."
"Oh darn, if only you worked with me, Sasha. You would have really helped me get through the day from grading papers and waking up super early." Hank poked fun at the new mutant, he knew she was scared, and this might have gotten her mind off of it.
Sasha crossed her arms over her chest and stuck her tongue out at the blue-furred man.
"Do you still want to stay, Sasha? Our doors are open to you if you still wish. I will do my best to get your powers under control since you speak of them bothering your personal health." The Professor asked.
Sasha looked down at her hands, "Of course Charles, I would love to stay. I want to use these powers for something since they exist in me."
The Professor smiled, "let's have you meet the other students then. I promise, you will feel quite welcome here."
The doctor stood up from the sofa and stretched to follow the Professor out the door followed by the other two mutants in the room, Hank collecting the two bags she had brought in. Ororo put her hand on Sasha's shoulder to get her attention as they walked down the hall.
"You do not need to feel afraid. We are all a family here."
Sasha placed her hand on the African woman's and smiled to her, "I like how warm it felt when I first got here. I think I'm going to enjoy myself here."
By the time the adults had entered the foyer, all the members of the Xavier institute who were nearby now waited for why they were summoned. Before Charles even had the ability introduce their newest member, Kitty and Kurt were telling everything they had saw about her to the people who wanted to listen. Even Bobby was agreeing with them even though he had only seen her for a few moments before he had to open the door. Charles raised an eyebrow at the teenagers who obviously could not keep their mouths shut and cleared his throat to get their attention. The three turned their heads to see the Professor staring at them with a disapproving glare causing them to snap back into shape.
"Well now, I guess you have now all heard of our newest member because of a few X-men who wanted to talk instead of holding the news until now. Everybody, meet Sasha Neville, Dr. Sasha Neville." Charles moved aside to allow the tall woman to appear from behind them.
She smiled and waved to everybody as if she was a perfect angel in disguise. Logan was a bit late to the introduction for he was in the middle of working on his bike. Oil covered his hands and a frown was on his face until he hit that unknown smell again. As he walked into the foyer with the other students he saw who was reeking of that unknown smell. It just seemed to roll off of her body and surround and envelop his senses as if it wanted to hypnotize him.
"Who is this?" Logan grunted, sliding the oil covered rag in his pocket before getting closer to take a better look. His eyes started at her feet and trailed up her legs, watching her shift her weight from one leg to another before his eyes made a path from her hips and waist to her face.
"Sasha. Sasha Neville. And you are?" she crossed her arms over her chest and licked her upper lip.
Logan shifted the toothpick in his mouth and stared at her as if he was trying to piece where he had seen that face before. His stomach was doing back flips like it was before, but he was not going to let a little nausea break him.
"Man of little words? How quaint." A chuckle came from her lips before she shifted her weight once more and cocked her head to the side.
His nostrils flared before he spun on his heels to leave and go back to doing his own thing. Charles was not going to let the man throw a mental fit, so he acted quickly to force Logan to make nice.
"Logan and Scott, would you mind helping Sasha with her bags please? We have a wonderful room next to the adults so you don't have to be bothered by the students getting ready in the morning." The Professor looked to her with a large smile on his face.
"Yeah, yeah. I don't need you, one-eye. I got this myself." Logan pushed passed the rest of the students with an obvious chip on his shoulder.
Ororo shook her head, "he has no idea what you came here in, does he?"
"Nope." Sasha took the two bags from Hank and threw them on her shoulder as she sashayed out the door with confidence that she had mentally gotten to him.