I heard Douglas groan, and I had a feeling that the Professor had read his mind.
The Professor turned to me. He started to say something, then stopped. "I'm glad you're back." He managed to get out.
I ran forward and hugged him.
Who's the boy? The Professor asked me telepathically.
A friend. He's a mutant, too. Were-Griffin. I communicated.
The Professor let go of me, and I stood up. He looked at Douglas.
"Hello. I am Professor Charles Xavier, a teacher at this school."
"And leader of the X-men, and the reason most of us are alive today." Storm interjected. "You don't give yourself enough credit."
"Well, that's irrelevant. Douglas, would you join me in my office? I'd like to talk to you. Sam, could you come too?" The Professor looked at me. I need you to come. The boy is very confused, and needs someone he can trust.
I nodded. "Yes, I'll come."
"Wait, Sam, can I talk to you for a moment?" Iceman said quickly.
I nodded, and walked over to him.
"Can we trust him?" He said in a voice so low I could barely hear it.
Taking the hint, I thought-spoke, Yes, we can.
Is he dangerous?
To Magneto. I said. Not to us. You can trust him, Icy.
I hate it when you call me that. He said.
I smiled. "That's exactly why I do."
Douglas's POV:Okay, so here's the scene. Old man in a wheelchair. My best friend who is now a telepath/telekinetic. Me. All in one little room. And now I'm about to get interrogated. Oh, great. At least Sam is here.
That's sweet.
Sam! Stay out of my head!
Sorry. And don't worry. The Professor is very nice. He's not going to interrogate you. He just wants to know how experienced you are with your powers.
Oh. Okay. I sat down in a chair. "So what's the deal?" I asked.
The professor smiled. "You don't need to be afraid, Douglas. I just want to know what your powers are."
"I'm a were-griffin." I said bluntly. "I can have wings and claws."
"I see." The professor shot a glance at Sam. "Well, you'll be safe here. You'll meet many new mutants, so try not to be alarmed. I hear you were a little… surprised when you saw Kurt."
I felt my face get warm. "I thought he was a demon or something!" I protested.
"I know. It's quite alright, many others have made the same mistake." The professor assured me. "Now, Sam, we need to talk. Much has happened since you were gone."
Sam frowned. "You mean… Magneto?"
The professor nodded grimly. "Magneto is getting more powerful, and he already turned one student over to his side."
"Who?" Sam asked, shocked.
"You wouldn't know him, he came after you left." The professor explained. "His name is John, although now I believe he goes by Pyro."
Sam sighed. "So Magneto has a fire-user now."
"Yes." The professor said.
Sam was about to say something more, by the professor cut her off.
"First things first, Sam. You still have your old room, everyone said we should keep it the way you left it," The professor started.
"Or no one felt like cleaning out all of my junk." Sam smiled. "But what about Douglas?"
"He can have Pyro's bunk." The professor said. "Unless you mind sleeping in the student dorm." The professor looked at me.
"Am I a student?" I asked.
"Well, in a way." Sam said. "Not really in the school sense, but we will have to teach you to control your powers." She turned to the professor. "Is Warren still here? He could help with the flying part."
"Warren is still here." The professor said. He was about to say something, then he stopped. "I guess we'll just have to have him deal with his claws himself."
Sam bit her lip.
I was very confused. What was all this about? Sam's blackouts, everyone being all hush-hush about her past, and something about me having claws. I shook my head. "Okay, I'll take the dorm room." I said.
"Good. Ororo will lead you there." The professor waited, and I realized I was supposed to leave.
"Okay, thanks." I stood up, and left.