Chapter 8
At the Institute...
It is about 3 in the morning when Clark, dressed in a slightly ratty t-shirt and boxer shorts, trudges down to the kitchen for a snack. He couldn't sleep. Too many thoughts plaguing him about the hunt for the 2 stones of his heritage and worry about the fact that in about 6 hours he is suppose to be going back to school. Truth is Clark has not really been outside beyond the Institute's walls since he came back from 'Brainwashed-ville'(Kitty's term for what Jor-El did) but if some of the stories he has heard from his friends are true even being associated with mutants can get you a lot of abuse.
Clark sighs as he enters the kitchen. He knows prejudice exists. He is not that naïve but it seems completely irrational what his friends were having to endure. Worse still they suffered while he was protected to some degree by the effort they had made to separate him from his alter ego dubbed by the press 'The Bayville Blur'.
Clark makes his way over to the fridge and pulls out a large carton of milk and some left over pizza. He goes and sits down at the table. He focusses his eyes on the plate with the pizza and a warm red glow encompasses it as he reheats it. He picks up a slice and munches upon it as he muses/broods over things. The last couple of days he had endured much teasing about his flying failure. Mr McCoy was still trying to make sense of the data to try and figure out how precisely it was Clark propelled himself through the air. Of course that day had ended with him and Rogue getting that oh so wondeful sex ed lecture from his mother and Ms Munroe. He inwardly cringes as his perfect memory relives it. Clark hopes he never has to endure that again.
Still it was worth the price for the fact he was allowed to be with Rogue. Not tonight because yesterday his parents pulled him aside and made a point about a good night's sleep before school. Being the good son he agreed which may be another reason he can't sleep because he isn't cuddled up with Rogue.
Clark swallows his slice of pizza and brings the milk carton to his lips and takes a drink.
"You know I'm like sure I've heard Mrs Kent tell you off for that."
Clark turns his head to the right to see Kitty, dressed her pink nightshirt and shorts, leaning against the door frame with a lopsided grin.
"Yep. I've heard her tell you the same but tell you what you keep quiet and I'll share the pizza with you."
Kitty's head rocks slightly side to side as she thinks that over before deciding, "Deal." She moves over to the table and Clark pushes the plate over as she sits opposite him. She picks up a slice and bites into it. She is slightly surprised it is warm and looks at Clark.
"Heat vision," he explains.
Kitty nods in understanding. "Handy," she remarks because that sure saves on waiting on the microwave. "Couldn't sleep huh?" she inquires of Clark between chews.
Clark shakes his head.
"No. Me neither." Kitty chews some more and swallows. "Can I confess something to you?"
"Of course."
"I'm afraid about going back to school. People look at us different now. We don't fit in any more," she expresses her feelings.
"Fitting in is overrated. Trust me on that."
"What do you mean?"
"I have spent my whole life more or less pretending to be something I wasn't. Pretending to be normal just so I could fit in and still I was basically a loner. Chloe and Pete were my only two close friends. It was only when I came here and embraced being different that I found my family in you guys."
Kitty smiles at his words.
"I have no doubt today won't be easy," he continues with the hard truth. "I'm worried too but what we always have to fall back on is each other and it's not like there aren't humans who like us. There's Amanda, Paul and Taryn."
"Hey that's right," Kitty says as that just occurs to her as Clark says it.
"If the Professor was here I'm sure he'd say something along the lines of give people time and they'll accept us for everything we are."
"Hey you actually listen to him," Kitty says sounding surprised, teasing Clark.
Clark shrugs. "I hear everything remember," he says meaning it as a joke but saying it a little too solemnly due to the burden of that.
"That must suck," Kitty remarks sympathetically as she remembers what Clark said about how he hears all the people suffering calling out for help within Bayville if not even further afield by now.
"It's not easy," Clark admits. "I hear a lot of bad things..." He momentarily closes his eyes trying to hide his sadness at the things he hears and can't stop. "But you know what."
"What?"
"For every bad thing I hear 3 good ones," he says putting the positive spin on it.
"Really?"
Clark nods. "I hear every new couple when they find out they're going to be parents. I hear people celebrating birthdays, Christmases, anniversaries, weddings with their loved ones. I hear the hope given to people by ordinary heroes like police, paramedics and firemen. The world can be a bad place at times but hope still far outstrips despair."
"Wow," Kitty murmurs. "That...you know Clark sometimes you can be incredibly inspirational...you know when you aren't being the jerk who redecorates my room."
Clark rolls his eyes. "3 months and you're still on that?" he asks unable to believe she still hasn't gotten over the prank he played. "Besides wasn't the pictures you took of my humiliation a couple of days ago payback enough."
"No," Kitty replies with an evil gleam in her eyes that she still plans to repay Clark for that.
Clark slumps down in his chair. Great. Now he has to watch out for Kitty's revenge prank and she could be incredibly imaginative at thinking them up.
Kitty grins at Clark's reaction and reaches over for the carton of milk. She raises it to her lips...
Bamf!
Kurt appears in his puff of blue smoke, dressed in a white t-shirt and khaki coloured pyjama bottoms, upon the table and grabs the carton from Kitty. "I knew it!" he proclaims. "You drink right from the carton," he complains because seriously ick. Who knows how many germs she is passing on and he is certain Mrs Kent has told her off for that before.
"Kurt!" Kitty yelps in surprise. "I-I was going to finish the whole thing," she says in a weak defence of herself completely caught off-guard by Kurt's sudden appearance.
Kurt shakes the nearly full carton. "Ok then. Drink up," Kurt says as he peers inside the carton. "Only about half a gallon to go," he says in jest.
"I tried to stop her," Clark says, a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips. "I couldn't sleep and found her and I tried to stop her but you know what she's like."
Kurt nods. "Oh no need to tell me Clark. I'm sure you did your best to stop her," he says siding with Clark.
"Hey!" Kitty protests. "You were here before me Clark drinking from the carton!"
"Kitty I'm hurt. Are you accusing me of lying?" Clark asks with a put-on wounded expression.
"Kitty," Kurt tells her off. "Now just because you have no manners it doesn't mean you can put zhe blame on Clark," he says sharing a look with Clark before the two boys snicker unable to hold it in any longer.
Kitty glares at her two so-called friends. "I don't know why I'm like friends with you two," she grumbles.
"Two good looking, vell-mannered, cool dudes like us and you need to ask?" Kurt asks her looking and sounding perplexed.
Clark nods in agreement feeling immensely cheered-up now.
Kitty rolls her eyes as Kurt drops down from the table. He sits down as Clark hands him over a slice of pizza. Kurt bites into it and looks puzzled when it is warm.
"Heat vision," Kitty and Clark explain at the same time.
"Handy," Kurt remarks.
"That's just what I said," Kitty says.
The 3 friends sit in silence eating for awhile before the kitchen door opens and in walks Rogue in her green and orange pyjamas, wearing her gloves, stretching her arms above her head as she does so which exposes her mid-riff as her top rides up a little. She stops and blinks when she spots her 3 friends and pulls her top back into place.
"Couldn't sleep either huh," Kurt assumes at Rogue's appearance.
Rogue shakes her head.
"Come on. Sit," Clark says patting the chair next to him offering it to her.
Rogue does so as Clark smiles at her. She also noticed when she walked in the rather heated gaze he gave her. It was something Rogue was only just starting to figure out. A woman's power over men. Of course Clark is the whole reason she can't sleep or more accurately the lack of him cuddling up next to her in bed. It hasn't happened that often the two of them sharing a bed but her bed does seem bigger and lonelier without him.
Clark hands her the last slice of pizza and she bites into it and like Kitty and Kurt before her a puzzled expression comes to her face at how it is warm.
"Heat vision," Kurt, Kitty and Clark say together to explain.
Rogue rolls her eyes and only the fact her mouth is full spares them one of her sarcastic responses.
Clark's head then twitches slightly. "Kitty. Remember what I said about hearing everything?" he asks her.
"Yeah," she says a little puzzled why he is asking that now.
"Well I hear 4 people outside," he says before spinning round to look out the window. The other 3 teens do as well as 4 shadowy figures pass by the window shrouded by the early morning mist.
Kitty gasps. "Intruders!"
"Did they pick ta wrong house," Rogue mutters extremely displeased sounding.
Clark gets to his feet. "You 3 go ahead. I'll catch up," he says before he vanishes in his usual gust of wind.
"I like hate it when he does that," Kitty complains as she pushes her wind blown hair off her face.
Kurt holds out both his hands. Rogue and Kitty take one each and all 3 vanish in a puff of blue smoke. They appear outside the window. There is no immediate sign of the intruders but they know what direction they were heading in. The 3 teens share a look and then split up looking to box the intruders in.
Kitty runs and phases through a corner of the mansion as a short-cut. "Ah ha!" she yells before gasping as she comes across the 4 intruders dressed in blue jeans and the red and white letterman jackets that indicates they are high-school seniors. It is their faces that made her gasp. It takes her a second to realise it is only Halloween monster masks they are wearing. "Who are you? What are you doing here?" Kitty demands to know, her resolve regathered.
The 4 say nothing and advance on her when Kurt teleports above their heads and leaps down on one wearing a green sea-creature mask. When the other three turn Kitty leaps on the one wearing this blue creature mask with orange hair.
That leaves two. One in a red-devil mask moves to get Kitty off his friend only to find his arm grabbed and then himself thrown through the air by Rogue with far more ease than she should be able to for someone her size throwing quite a large guy.
The guy with the green sea-creature mask gets to his feet and raises his hands in a defensive posture. Kurt takes the obvious opening and kicks the guy in his exposed mid-section knocking the air out of his lungs. The last intruder, in a Frankenstein's monster mask, grabs Kurt's tail to try and help his friend. Unfortunately for the guy Kurt's tale in prehensile and it wraps around the guy's wrist tying them together and Kurt uses his body to pull the guy off his feet and he crashes down face first.
The guy Kitty is on top of trips over that one and falls to the ground just as Rogue neatly sweeps her opponent off his feet again and throws him down on his back.
The guy in the Frankenstein's monster mask scrambles to his feet and tries to run off only to bump into something hard. He falls on his butt, looks up and finds a tall young man dressed all in black with a strange looking silver S on his shirt. "You? I thought you were gone," he says.
Clark leans down and picks the guy up by his jacket. "Well I'm back," he replies in his guise as the Bayville Blur which is where he rushed off to. To get changed. Clark releases one hand and still easily holds the guy up. He then pulls of the mask as Kurt, Kitty and Rogue pull the masks off the guys they defeated.
"Tha Bayville football team," Rogue mutters through annoyed narrowed eyes as she recognises them.
"What are you guys doing here?" Kitty asks.
There is a clang sound as a spray paint can drops to the ground after falling out one of their jacket pockets. Clark, Kitty, Kurt and Rogue all look to the wall where a caricature of the X-Men has been spray painted with phrases like 'Mutie Freaks!' and 'Monsters go home!'
Clark tightens his grip and lifts the guy he is holding up higher. His gaze grows stern and his eyes narrow in anger glowing dimly red. "Let me guess. You were feeling creative and just had to get it out," he says in an angry cold tone. "Although dressing up like monsters seems a little over the top doesn't it?"
The youth in Clark's hands gulp...before he finds some courage. "The only monsters around here are you you mutie freaks!"
Rogue snorts. "That's creative," she says not sounding very impressed because she has heard that many times over the summer.
"Isn't it," Clark says coldly making his annoyance all too clear. "Maybe you should take up poetry because..." Clark peers at the graffiti on the wall once more briefly... "Because...well lets just say I don't think Picasso has to worry any time soon."
"Should ve call zhe police?" Kurt asks.
"No. They would just get out within a few hours," Kitty says with a sigh assuming the police would do anything at all which isn't likely if a mutant calls it in.
Clark has to agree. He knows this is a minor offence at best. He tosses the punk he is holding onto his rear. "Go!" he tells tells in a stern tone. "And consider yourselves lucky. Next time you feel like making fun of my friends I won't be in such a good mood to be this generous," he warns them.
The other 3 teens gather around the one Clark tossed and hesitate to leave. Clark shakes his head before he inhales and blows out a breath which blows the 4 youths head over heels. "I won't say it again. Go!"
All 4 takes to their heels and run but not before they shout out a couple of insults. "You're all freaks! Bayville doesn't want you!"
"Well isn't this a great way ta start tha new school year," Rogue mutters.
"Ja," Kurt agrees glumly. "If ve even get to go," he adds since that was still up for debate even with school only literally hours away.
Kitty's expression saddens. "I think I preferred it when all we had to worry about was the Brotherhood hating us."
"Have faith Kitty. I'm sure it'll work out," Clark tries to cheer her up.
"How do you know that?"
"Because even Jor-El as twisted as it is thinks humanity has potential."
"Those guys are just small-minded jackasses," Rogue adds her two cents in describing the 4 vandals they just dealt with.
Clark sighs and turns his attention to the wall covered in paint. "You guys go back to bed. I'll clean this up."
"Ya sure?" Rogue asks.
"Yeah. It'll only take me a few minutes."
"Hey I zhink zhat's zhe first time I've seen you in zhat since you got back," Kurt suddenly realises in relation to Clark in his costume.
"Because it is," Clark confirms Kurt's speculation. "I was taking it slow trying to catch up on everything I missed...and then there's Colonel Fury. The first time a police report or a news report includes me he'll probably show up back here and I haven't decided what I want to say to him yet."
"Do ya have ta speak ta him?" Rogue wonders.
"If I don't he'll just keep coming back here until he finds me so either I quit being the Bayville Blur or I talk to him and deal with it and while I'm taking time to get back on my feet I don't intend to quit. Now seriously go get some sleep. I'll see you all at breakfast."
Rogue walks up to Clark and brushes a kiss against his chin before Kurt teleports her and Kitty back inside. Clark superspeeds off to the garage and picks up buckets and other cleaning supplies before returning. He soaks the wall and gets to the work. It only takes a few minutes at superspeed until the wall is clean again.
As he cleans Clark thinks on what Kurt said about this being the first time back in his costume. When he started wearing this it was to distance himself from the X-Men but now they are exposed and it is a well known fact the Bayville Blur was their 'ally' maybe he realises he needs to decide on only one costume. There is no longer any reason to have two different ones. That being the case he is going to need help coming up with just one costume. That being the case he needs to talk to the best person he knows to help him decide. That would be the person who helped design his red and blue costume in the first place.
Clark needs to talk to his mother.
Breakfast at the Institute is more or less its usual chaos. Due to the fact it was still uncertain whether they would be allowed to return to school there was an air of tension. The Professor was still on the phone this very morning to members of the school board trying to ensure the students could return. The only person who could return with certainty was Clark because everyone thought he was human but he had already determined that he wouldn't go if his friends couldn't. His place was to stand with them.
"So any word yet on whether we'll be let back into school?" Evan asks.
Jean shakes her head. "Still nothing," she reports.
"Well that officially sucks," Bobby remarks.
"Preaching to the choir Bobby," Ray says in agreement.
"Tell meh about it," Sam also agrees.
"Sheesh what is with people today?" Domino asks, as in what is with people in general, as she sips on her coffee. "It isn't like we saved an entire town from an angry armour wearing psycho rhino or anything."
"Rhino wears a grey suit," Clark feels the need to gently correct Dom.
"Huh?" Dom asks at Clark's offhanded comment.
"Rhino. He wears a grey rhino suit." Clark sees he is getting a blank expression in returns not only from Dom but from everyone in the room. "Remember I helped put him in prison when we first met Spider-Man," Clark reminds them of who Rhino is.
"Oh yeah," half of them say as that sparks a remembrance.
"Wait," Domino says. "You guys know Spider-Man?"
Kitty nods. "Yeah. Nice guy. I mean Clark knows him better than anyone else. He's kind of a loner. We gave him our number if he ever needed help. He rarely calls though and I think what Clark was like trying to get at is that while Juggernaut is a large armour wearing psycho you called him a rhino who is a totally different large psycho in a weird suit."
Domino just stares blankly. 3 months into living here and she still hasn't caught up on everything. "You know this is just a suggestion but a booklet or something explaining how it works around here would be good for newbies."
Hank sitting having his coffee cocks his head to the side for a moment thinking that Domino's suggestion may not be a bad one.
"Maybe we should put a suggestion box on the Professor's door for ideas like that," Kitty says as a solution to how to get that implemented. "You can ask him later. So anyway back on topic I think what you're saying Dom is that hello! We liked saved a whole town. Letting us back into school isn't asking for much!"
"Couldn't have put it better myself," Domino laughs at the way Kitty phrases things.
Rogue snorts. "Tell that to a bunch of closed-minded middle-aged jackasses," she mutters in reference to the school board. There are a lot of jackasses in this town in her opinion.
"Again couldn't have put it better myself," Domino comments.
Scott listens to everything as he reads the paper with a frown. Their return or not to school is the headline in the local Bayville Chronicle.
Evan snorts as he sees the headline. 'Are Monsters among us?'. "Oh man they're still calling us monsters," he complains. "What is with that?"
Ororo standing to the side can't help shake her head. She finds Martha touches her shoulder in support. "Evan whatever that paper says in time they will come to see you are all people just like anyone else," Martha says trying to be reassuring.
"You know if they don't like us that's their problem!" Evan states in an angry frustrated tone caused by months of taking abuse.
Ororo sighs but she can't really blame her nephew for his outburst. She lets it pass as Evan needing to vent.
Scott browses through the horribly bias article when he spots something. "Hey Kurt. I don't think they have managed to I.D you," he remarks.
Kurt takes the paper from Scott and reads it. Somehow they haven't managed to link the image of him that went to school with his fuzzy true self. "Zhey must not recognise me vithout my image inducer."
"I hate to say it Blue but I doubt that's going to last," Tabby expresses her opinion.
Kurt sighs sadly as he nervously imagines that day. "Ja," he has to reluctantly agree. "I mean people know I live here and it is only a matter of time until zhey figure it out..."
"And then they'll appreciate you for who really are," Jonathan says as he sits next to Hank in the corner drinking his coffee.
Kurt smiles weakly. "Zhanks Mr Kent," he says although he doesn't really quite believe that.
Just then the Professor rolls into the kitchen. "Everyone I have good news," he says sounding pleased by what he is about to announce. "The school board has agreed to allow the more senior students to return today...provided no-one uses their powers."
Something about what the Professor said catches Scott's attention. "Just today?" he queries.
"Yes," Charles replies sounding suddenly more solemn. "Because tonight they are voting whether to impose a permanent mutant ban."
Logan mutters something better off not repeated at that.
"Well if there is a vote there is a chance we can win," Hank supposes. "It's better than nothing," he airs his thought.
"How is any of this good news?" Kitty asks unable to see it because considering the negative publicity mutants get surely the vote against them is as good as in the bag.
"Because this is a chance to show that humans and mutants can co-exist," the Professor replies. It's a slim chance but it is all they have got. "Therefore I hope it goes without saying that I expect you to be on your best behaviour," he adds.
"We will be," Scott vows speaking as leader for all them.
"At the meeting tonight they will allow one speaker to put forward our case." Charles turns to look at Jean. "Jean I would like you to speak for us."
Jean's eyes go wide and she even pales a little at the responsibility she suddenly is being placed with. "M-Me? P-Professor..." she starts to stutter a small protest unable to see how she can do this. She feels a hand slide onto her shoulder and a familiar soothing mental presence.
"I know you can do this," Scott assures her with utter confidence in her abilities.
Jean smiles at that. "Thanks Slim."
"Yes Jean you," the Professor confirms. "I want them to hear the voice of a student and speaking of tonight I want all of you to attend the meeting so that the school board, the other parents, can look you in the eye and see the people behind the powers. All we have to do is remind them that we're human too." It will also give Jean confidence and reassurance if all her friends are there to support her.
"No offence Charles but I think it is better if I'm not there," Logan says because he is liable to skin the first person who says something offensive.
"I won't force anyone to go," Charles amends his previous statement. "However I would encourage it."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," Domino chimes up with this mischievous smile which deeply worries Charles.
"Everyone is to be on their best behaviour," Charles says in particular to Domino.
"Be on me best behaviour. Scout's honour guv," Domino promises with a poor impression of a cockney accent which elicits a few sniggers.
Charles sighs and hopes Domino really means that. "Well I'll leave you to finish your breakfast and get ready for school for those that are going," he informs them.
The Professor departs. Moments later Wanda bursts in, her hair still damp from her morning shower, her clothes looking like they have been thrown on in a hurry and missing any of her make-up or jewellery. Her eyes scan the room until they fall on Bobby. "Drake you are dead!" she yells angrily.
"What?" Bobby asks totally lost.
"What?" Wanda repeats incredulous. "You know what!"
"I really don't."
"Oh so my frozen underwear has nothing to do with you?"
"No," Bobby denies any knowledge of what Wanda is on about.
Wanda's eyes narrow and she growls. "Drake let me ask you a question who has freezing powers around here?"
"Uh...just me," Bobby is forced to confirm.
"Someone froze my underwear drawer solid. Now who do I blame for that?"
"It wasn't me!" Bobby insists because for once it wasn't. He isn't that daft to cross Wanda.
"Then who was it? Point him out to me!" Wanda asks of Bobby.
Bobby realises he can't give any explanation that can get him out of this. All he can do is plead, "I swear it wasn't me!"
"Don't buy it," Wanda says dangerously as she advances on him
"Uh...can I get a 10 second head start?" Bobby pleads since he realises she doesn't believe him so therefore all he can do is run for it.
Wanda chews that over. "5 seconds. Final offer," she proposes.
"Done!" Bobby accepts as he leaps off his chair and runs for it exiting the kitchen.
Wanda starts counting. "1...2...3...4...5!" she shouts before she chases after him.
"Gee I didn't think even Bobby would try that on Wanda," Roberto offers his opinion. All of them were terrified of Wanda and therefore not brave nor stupid enough to try and pull a prank on her.
"She gave him 5 seconds. She's mellowing," Hank dryly jokes.
Clark shrugs and picks up his glass of orange juice. He sips it and makes a face. "What's tha matter?" Rogue asks.
"It's just a little warm. I prefer it chilled," he calmly explains how he likes his juice. Clark sucks in a small breath, holds his glass up and gently blows. A thin sheen of ice forms on the outside of the glass.
"Vhat vas zhat?" Kurt asks.
"Hmm?" Clark asks looking a little naïve.
"That," Rogue clarifies. "What you just did."
"Oh that," Clark says pretending he has just cottoned onto what they are on about. "That. I call it freeze breath." Clark looks around the room at all the looks he is getting. "Did I not mention it?" he asks again sounding naïve.
"No," Jean says with a frown.
"Must have slipped my mind," he says with a smirk pulling at his lips. "Turns out I can freeze anything solid with my breath."
"Oh my god! You set Bobby up!" Tabby exclaims as it falls into place what actually just happened.
Clark chuckles in amusement confirming that he really is the one responsible.
"Why would you do that?" Amara asks, not that she is complaining. Bobby so needs to be gotten back at.
Clark turns to Rogue. "Remember when I had amnesia and you lost me for an hour?"
Rogue nods. That was after bringing him back from Smallville and she was looking after him. She found him in a linen closet. She assumed he must have wandered off when she was in the bathroom.
"Take a guess who was to blame."
Rogue's green eyes narrow dangerously. "Bobby," she growls swearing to get back at the resident prankster.
"Wait a second," Jean says bringing a halt to proceedings. "Why didn't we see that power the other day?" she asks referring to the testing of Clark's powers. She looks at Clark and then at Mr McCoy.
Hank grins sheepishly. "Well Clark and I may have come to an arrangement that I keep his freeze breath a secret until he could inflict proper retribution on Robert," he admits.
"What arrangement?" Jamie asks.
"He keeps my power a secret for a few days and I don't tell anyone where his secret Twinkie stash is," Clark explains the terms of the deal. X-ray vision is so handy when you have a Twinkie craving.
"You blackmailed a teacher?" Scott exclaims unable to believe Clark of all people would do that. He would never do that.
"Blackmail is such a strong word. It was more like coercion," Clark defends himself.
All this time Rogue is simply grinning at her boyfriend completely and utterly impressed by his sneakiness. She would have been proud to have pulled that off. God she feels like she just fell in love with him all over again.
From another part of the mansion Bobby's pained screams echo all the way to the kitchen indicating that Wanda caught him. Clark leans back in his chair, folds his arms and grins satisfied about finally getting one over on Bobby.
The Bayville Boarding House...
That same morning Mystique is overseeing the task of getting the Brotherhood ready for school. They were a, part of Mystique can't help laughing at this, more elite group amongst the wider Brotherhood of Mutants that encompassed those that followed Magneto. As they sit around the kitchen table and have their breakfast Mystique can't stop making a face of disgust. Honestly did no-one teach any of them basic manners.
The only one who currently isn't around the table happens to also be her adopted daughter Alicia Baker aka the teleporter codenamed Haze due to the fact that when she teleports she vanishes in a green mist or haze. Mystique can never stop the small smile that comes to her at the thought of her daughter. When they first met Alicia had stolen something from Mystique on Magneto's orders and understandably that had instantly put the girl on Mystique's bad side. However also on Magneto's orders Mystique had trained Alicia to fight and as she spent time with the girl she found herself softening. Alicia was a good pupil. Attentive and eager to listen and learn from what Mystique could offer. When she had to adopt Alicia for originally just legal purposes Mystique ended up taking the role as mother seriously to the point that now as far as Mystique was concerned Alicia was her daughter. Mystique felt all those things a mother should feel. All those things she had had to miss out on with Kurt and Rogue and...and all her other children. To this day though Rogue doesn't know Mystique is the woman who took her out of that orphanage which pains Mystique more than she lets on.
"Morning mother!" Alicia greets her mother with a radiant smile as she enters the kitchen and to Alicia as far as she was concerned Mystique was her mother since her biological parents were just 2 pathetic flat-scans who locked her away out of fear, hatred and ignorance. Alicia had not wasted much thought on them since that day Sabretooth 'dealt' with her biological parents. Good riddance to them as far as Alicia was concerned.
Mystique should be happy that Alicia looks so happy but the problem is that Alicia is suspiciously happy and cheerful and then there is this glow around her daughter some mornings that just ramps up her suspicions further. Call it woman's intuition but Mystique is certain something is going on with her daughter. It is part of why she has been extremely vigilant over the summer in watching over Alicia. So far she hasn't been able to confirm her suspicions but she vowed to remain patient and vigilant. Sooner or later Alicia will let it slip.
"Morning mother," a gangly teen repeats in a mocking impression at what he sees as sucking up.
"I'm choosing to ignore that Toad," Alicia says in reply, through slightly narrowed annoyed eyes, since even the mocking of her fellow Brotherhood members isn't enough to spoil her mood this morning since last night she managed to sneak away and spend some 'quality' time with her boyfriend Remy Lebeau.
Mystique sips on her coffee and observes her charges. Apart from her daughter and Todd Tolansky aka Toad there was a tall dark haired boy; Lance Alvers aka Avalanche. A mountain of a boy with a short blond Mohawk; Fred Dukes aka the Blob. A red haired girl who is muttering in French a few disparaging remarks about the company she is presently stuck with and how they must have been raised in pig sties; Bette Sans Souci aka Plastique. There is a well built but scruffy young man with blond hair; Nathaniel Tyron aka Neutron and a younger girl with brown hair; Valerie Van Haften aka Puzzler. Finally there was Magneto's arrogant and general pain in the neck of a son. The silver haired Pietro Maximoff aka Quicksilver.
Mystique had hoped to add another over the summer. A telekinetic to counter the Grey girl. His name was Justin Gaines aka Stryfe and also potentially useful he had a grudge against Clark Kent who had put Stryfe into the holding facilities of the Belle Reve asylum. However she had not been able to persuade Magneto thus far that she could use the boy better than for whatever and wherever Magneto has the boy at the moment.
Mystique notes the time. "You need to hurry up and get ready for school," she warns them.
"Why do we have to go?" Neutron asks in a confrontational tone.
Mystique glares at him. Before Magneto used his mutant enhancer to gift Neutron powers he had been a petty thief and thug and still retained that attitude. "Let me remind you what you are...what you all are. You are just a collection of orphans and runaways in my care. As far as the general public are concerned you are just normal teenagers and I am the generous patron looking after you out of the goodness of my heart."
Lance snorts derisively in response. Mystique and kindness are not two words he would ever use in the same sentence.
Mystique ignores Avalanche for the moment. "Magneto wished for you to remain an anonymous team behind enemy lines so to speak. Now the war with humanity may have been postponed but it is still coming and Magneto wishes for you to remain hidden within the general populous. That's why you all remain under strict instruction not to use your powers in public and especially not at school and to answer your question Neutron you are going to school to keep up the pretence. If you have a problem with this then your powers, which Magneto so generously gifted you, will be taken away and we'll find someone else, who is willing to do what they are told, to give them to. Now do you have a problem with this?"
Neutron locks glares with Mystique for a moment before lowering his gaze to the table. "No," he mumbles, not happy but not wishing to lose his powers.
"Didn't think so. Anyone else?" Mystique asks.
"No Miss Mystique. We all understand," Puzzler says politely.
Mystique smiles at her. After Alicia Puzzler was her favourite amongst the group because she was predictable. Magneto was once upon a time friends with Puzzler's grandfather which is why he recruited her and gifted her powers. In return Puzzler is very eager to prove herself to Magneto as essentially he is the closest thing she has left to family. Therefore Puzzler tends to be polite and obedient and predictable. In other words she does what Mystique tells her to do which is a vast improvement on the rest of them shy Alicia.
"Do you all understand?" Mystique asks wanting to hear it from all of them. Her gaze wanders over each of them in turn and each and every one utters an unenthusiastic yes especially Plastique who is only in this to one day get revenge of the Canadian government who imprisoned her father. Pietro is not far behind in his lack of enthusiasm and Mystique gives him an especially stern glare. "I want you most of all to behave Maximoff," she sternly tells him.
"Why are you singling me out?" Pietro complains.
Alicia snorts as if that should be obvious.
Mystique explains, "Because you are still sulking about what happened with Wanda." She then snaps in a cold tone, "Get over it!"
Pietro scowls and folds his arms in an immediate huff. That was all Kent's fault. It was still on Pietro's list to make Kent pay for the fact he lost his sister.
Mystique looks to the heavens for strength. She blows out a breath. She knows of the school-board meeting tonight about whether to ban mutants. In fact she had been invited to attend in her role as the legal guardian of the teenagers in front of her. Odd as it may sound she would love to attend just to see Xavier's face when the ban is voted through and his idiotic dream dies but she actually can't. She has an assignment from Magneto to fill her day and night. As for the meeting itself Mystique basically expects it to be a foregone conclusion that they will vote the ban through which is why it is vital the Brotherhood's mutant status remains hidden. That was Magneto's order since he deemed their future role more important than the fact they could guarantee with a few simple acts of vandalism using their powers to get mutants banned and if that is what Magneto wants that is what he gets as per the arrangement she and he have.
Bayville High...
The first day of the new term and the students of Bayville High are gathering outside the school building. The usual gossiping is under way as they talk about their summers, what they got up to and the rest of the normal chatter of teenagers. Amongst it all is a lot of talk about mutants.
It all starts to die away as a red convertible and a black van pull up and the Institute students step out.
Scott puts on a front of being outwardly calm as he steps out of his car and does his level best to ignore the fact he and the rest are being gawked at. "Everyone just stay cool," he says. "Lets just get to class," he decides is the best course of action.
As they head into the school the other students give them a wide-berth...and the whispering begins.
"What are they doing here...?"
"Did they actually let them back...?"
"I can't believe they had the guts to show up..."
As the whispered comments and remarks continue Kitty lowers her head never having felt this exposed in her life. It was one thing during the summer where she could hide away in the mansion but here she and the rest of them...well it felt like they were on show...like at a circus and they were the freaks.
Rogue restrains herself to a frown at the gossip. Her expressions softens slightly when Clark's hand slips into hers and squeezes reassuringly to let her know that he is standing with her no matter what gets said.
Scott and Jean try to set an example as they keep their expressions mostly impassive but they send reassuring thoughts to each other through their telepathic link.
"You freaks going to blow up our school too!"
At that Evan spins round to glare at whoever said that. Scott quickly steps up next to Evan and places a hand on his shoulder. "Let it go Evan," he advises in a firm tone.
Evan makes a visible effort to calm himself. "Right. No powers. I'm cool," he says although his voice doesn't leave that impression.
With that incident defused Scott leads them towards the main entrance. They are just about at the main doors when there is a shout.
"Jean!"
Jean turns to see her friend Taryn Fujioka come half-jogging up to the group. Jean smiles in partial relief that at least there is one person here who doesn't hate them. "Hi Taryn," Jean greets her.
Taryn takes a moment to take in all the staring people through narrowed annoyed eyes before returning the greeting. "Hi Jeannie," she says giving her friend a quick hug for everyone to see. "I'm sorry we didn't see more of each other over the summer," she laments. "My parents have been on the warpath just because I happened to sneak off with you guys to Washington without telling them. God my mom's reaction has just been completely over the top because I happen to have 'abnormal' friends."
Jean smiles lightly. "I hope I didn't get you into trouble," she expresses her desire.
Taryn shakes her head and waves that off. "My parents are just being majorly hypocritical," she criticises them because seriously her mother, especially, of all people should know better. Taryn's Japanese grandparents after all did end up being put into those internment camps during the War simply because they were Japanese. Therefore in Taryn's head her mother should know way better about not going along with bigoted assumptions about a particular group of people. "They'll just have to get over it," Taryn says in relation to her parents. "You're my friend. That ain't changing."
Jean's smile grows. "Thanks."
"You know I really wish I could pull off shades like that."
At that it is Scott's turn to smile as his friend Paul Anderson walks up to him and they shake hands. "Hey Paul," Scott greets him. "Good summer?"
"Not bad," Paul replies. He then glances at the rest of the gawking student body who are unable to believe any normal person would be friends with the mutants. Paul cocks his head at them. "What's up with them?" he asks lightly, pretending he doesn't know.
Scott chuckles lightly. "No idea," he says with a grin. "Well we better get to class," he suggests breaking this moment up.
"Hang on," Kitty interrupts. "Where's Kurt?" she suddenly asks since there is no sign of him.
Clark looks around. He hadn't noticed Kurt leave because he was too focussed on supporting Rogue. He peers over the top of his glasses and his eyes flash electric blue and he spots Kurt already inside. He pushes his glasses back up his nose. "Uh...I think he went ahead and went inside," Clark phrases it as so as not to give it away he knows for certain because someone would ask how he knows.
Spotting what he did Jean knows Clark means that Kurt definitely went ahead and is in the school so she just says, "We should do the same."
Kitty nods but with a frown. If she didn't know better she would say that Kurt just bailed on them.
The group enter the school...ignoring the whispers that continue to follow them.
In the school Kurt is already at his locker having slinked in through a side-door. He stands there in the mostly empty hallway dejectedly staring at the door of his locker wondering if this is how pond-scum feels.
Kurt cannot believe what he just did. He bailed on his friends. He had been at the back of the group and when the pointing and whispering started mental images flashed up in his head of the day the Professor found him only it wasn't ignorant villagers chasing him with torches and pitchforks calling him 'demon' and 'monster' it was the students of the school.
Kurt groans and gently bangs his head off his locker a few times to try and block out just how bad he feels at himself right now.
"Kurt!"
Another groan escapes him. How was he going to explain this to her of all people. Kurt sucks it up and turns to face the chocolate skinned girl with long brown hair that happens to be his girlfriend Amanda Sefton.
Amanda runs up to him, smiling and throws her arms around him in a hug. "I'm so glad you're back!" she exclaims happily. "I worried they weren't going to let you."
A ghost of a smile appears on Kurt's face. "Vell here I am."
Amanda steps back and looks at Kurt and for the first time notices he isn't looking all that happy to see her. Her brow furrows. "Kurt is everything alright?" she asks and then looks around. "And where are the others?" she inquiries since she thought they would be sticking together.
Kurt's expression collapses into morose depression as he slides to the floor with his back against his locker. His head drops into his hands.
"Kurt? What's wrong?" Amanda asks now truly concerned for him.
"Oh Mandi," he laments. "I am a total...a kompletter idiot," he berates himself.
Amanda sits down next to him and blinks. "Huh?" she queries completely lost by what is going on with her boyfriend.
The guilt is eating away at Kurt's gut and he looks up into Amanda's eyes. "I...I bailed on zhe ozhers vhen ve came in," he confesses.
"Kurt," Amanda begins to say but Kurt doesn't let her finish.
"I know!" he cries. "I know it vas a horrible thing to do but I-I just panicked," he explains. His gaze drifts to the floor and he continues in a quiet pained voice. "Amanda all my life I've been terrified about being discovered. You know vhat I look like. You know vhat happened zhe day my teleportation powers kicked in."
"Yes Kurt. I do know," Amanda says in a firm even tone. "Just as I know something else too." She gently takes his wrist with the holowatch on it and lifts it up to demonstrate the point she is about to make. "I know that if anyone who can't see that under this," she says pointing at his holowatch, "can't see that under your blue fur is an adorable, wonderful man then that is a person whose opinion shouldn't matter to you because their opinion doesn't matter full stop."
Kurt grimaces as he realises Amanda is right and while she wasn't the first person today to say something similar to him it is when she says it it really hits home. "Oh Gott. I am such a jackass," he berates himself.
Amanda giggles at that. "No," she corrects. "You're were just sacred. You just need to overcome your fears and since you did to show me your true self I have no doubt you can do it."
Kurt briefly looks to the heavens and thanks God for sending him Amanda. He needed that. "Zhank you," he says in a soft warm tone to Amanda.
Amanda leans her head on his shoulder. "You're welcome."
Kurt sighs. "Just don't expect me to be showing everyvone vhat I look like today ok?" he requests of her because he just isn't up to doing that yet.
"One day at a time but when you are ready I'll be there standing by you," Amanda promises.
"How about zhe day ve tell your parents?"
Amanda hesitates and stutters. "W-well l-lets not rush into that."
Kurt looks at the wide-eyed almost terror on his girlfriend's face. "Amanda you did tell them about us right?"
"O-of course. Well they know I'm dating someone from the Institute," she modifies that.
"You didn't tell them it was the blue fuzzy one though did you?" Kurt assumes.
"Must have slipped my mind," Amanda says innocently.
Kurt starts to smile. "Now who is scared?" he asks her as the only explanation for why Amanda hasn't told her parents.
"I'm going to tell them," Amanda vows. "It was just I was building up to it. You know let it sink in a bit first the fact I'm dating a mutant. They're still mad at me for sneaking off to Washington."
"Uh huh?" Kurt queries sceptically giving her a look.
Amanda huffs and gives in. "Alright. I'm scared of how they will react. Happy?"
"With you? Always," he replies sincerely.
Amanda smiles at that reply. "So we're both scared," she says with a shrug. "Guess that's why we're such a good match."
"Now zhere liebe I concur vith you completely."
Amanda's smile grows at what he just called call her. Liebe. German for Love.
Clark had had to reluctantly leave Rogue to go to his locker. He had tried hard to ignore all the whispering despite the fact he can hear it with crystal clarity. All the things being said about his friends and it was so unjustified. Rogue was right. There are a lot of small-minded jackasses at this school and Clark tried his best to tell himself their opinions didn't matter but it hurt to hear the girl he loved mocked. Not that he is completely immune. He had heard a couple of derogatory 'mutie lover' thrown his way.
Clark tried to remember what his father always said. That the good people always outnumbered the bad. This was simply a period of adjustment for the world. That's all.
"Kent!"
'Oh I so don't need this,' Clark thinks to himself as he turns to find Pietro and the Brotherhood coming his way. They had a few new members he can see. He remembers Kurt mentioning that fact when his friend was catching him up on the summer and Kurt and the others had run into the Brotherhood in the mall one day. Nothing had happened that day. In fact the Brotherhood basically ignored them from how Kurt told the story. "Hello Pietro," Clark says with forced politeness. "How was your summer? I see you have a few new friends."
Pietro stalks up to Clark mentally forcing himself not to use his powers as per his father's instructions. "Spare me the small talk. We still have unfinished business."
"Wanda," Clark assumes as that is the only 'business' he can think of he and Pietro have. "Pietro you had a whole summer to try and talk to your sister yet you didn't as far as I know. Here's a suggestion. Instead of blaming me how about you try talking to her. She's a very smart person and I'm certain if you have something to say she wants to hear she'll listen." Ok Clark may be stretching the truth there. Wanda was still pretty steamed at her brother but the bottom line is that despite that they are still family and Clark would never tell Wanda not to have a relationship with her brother if that is what she desires.
Neutron grabs Clark by his jacket and shoves him into his locker. Neutron had heard all about this guy and was really looking forward to testing his strength against him. "Show some respect!" Neutron says in a threatening manner.
Clark restrains himself for the moment because he has a feeling this is just to make him pay attention.
"Kent I do not need lectures on how to to deal with my family," Pietro says. "Before we commence on the beating though I've got to know something. Why is it in that documentary you're pretending to be a mere human?"
"You actually watched that?" Clark says with some surprise. "I'm amazed you could spare the brain capacity."
Plastique and Puzzler actually giggle together in response to that. Lance, Fred and Toad even snicker slightly behind their hands. Even Alicia's lips twitch in amusement although she is mentally noting this entire incident to report back to her mother. Mystique had been clear about not drawing unnecessary attention to themselves.
Pietro practically snarls. "We'll see if you find it funny when I expose you as the 'Bayville Blur'," he threatens.
"Really? How are you planning to do that? The whole world saw me in Washington at the same moment the Blur was fighting the Juggernaut."
Pietro scoffs. "Please. I know it was someone wearing one of those holowatch things the furball uses."
"Yes but how will you explain how you know that without revealing you're a mutant too and since you've been so quiet over the summer I'm guessing your father ordered you to keep a low profile so again I ask you how will you do that precisely?"
Pietro blinks. How would he do it without revealing how he knows that?
"That's what I thought," Clark says at Pietro's silence as it confirms that as per usual Pietro was acting without thinking things through properly. "Pietro as much as this may surprise you I don't dislike you that much and I'm perfectly willing to go with live and let live. The choice whether that is the situation between us I leave up to you."
"You think you're so smart and special don't you?" Pietro says with a sneering look.
"No. That's what you think about yourself."
Pietro feels like he is going to burst. "You're goin' to pay for stealing my sister and then I'll expose you for what you are to the whole world," he promises.
"Remember what Mystique said," Alicia interjects at the juncture before Pietro steps over the mark and uses his powers especially since there are a few students who have just turned the corner walking by that would see it.
Pietro shoots her a withering glare. Alicia just arches an eyebrow as if daring him to try something. Pietro frowns at the very Mystique-esque look he is getting from Alicia. As much as he wants to he realises he can't go off on Kent without mommy's precious little girl telling on him. "This is not over Kent," he swears because somehow, some way, he will carry out his threat and get his payback on the do-gooder farm boy.
"Have a nice day Pietro," Clark says in a way that shows this conversation is finished as far as he is concerned.
Pietro nods his head at Neutron who releases Clark and the two of them storm off. Clark fixes his jacket and pushes his glasses back up his nose.
"Chaud dirigé crétins!" Plastique mutters with a shake of her head. Roughly she just called Pietro and Neutron hot headed morons.
"Vous êtes une personne très perspicace," Clark says in reply saying she is very preceptive.
Plastique looks at him with warm surprise. "Vous parlez français?" she says asking if he speaks French.
Still speaking in her native tongue Clark replies, "A little bit. My girlfriend speaks it so I decided I should learn at least a few phrases."
"She's a lucky woman," Plastique replies in French.
"I'm the lucky one," he says still in French.
Plastique smiles at that. Yes she may be an angry girl with plans to reek vengeance on the Canadian government for imprisoning her father. That doesn't mean she doesn't appreciate a polite handsome boy who speaks respectfully to her in her native tongue. "I am Bette Sans Souci," she introduces herself.
"Clark Kent," he replies.
"You really speak French?" Lance speaks up when they start swapping names, having been quiet up to this point and allowing Pietro to blow off his hot air.
"Yes Lance because Rogue does," Clark says back speaking English.
"She does?" Toad asks scratching his head puzzled. After all Rogue did live with them for awhile and he never knew that.
Lance assesses Clark. "You could have broken Neutron's grip at any time."
"What makes you say that?"
"Because Freddy is stronger than him and I've seen you beat Fred." Lance turns to his large friend. "No offence but he did."
Fred should be angry. It doesn't take much to anger him but Lance is right. Kent has beaten him although one day Fred determined he would even the score.
"There is no need to start a fight when it isn't necessary. I assumed that you're under orders to keep a low profile and therefore Neutron was it?" Clark asks and Lance nods. "Therefore he was never going to really start something."
"I really don't get you," Lance says in puzzlement. "You have all this power yet you never use it."
"No I do use it for what it is meant for. Not what you or Pietro or probably Magneto too thinks it should be used for. It is not something that can be explained. If you understood you would probably be an X-Man instead of where you are."
"That's not happening," Lance vows. He won't be joining the X-Men because he just cannot believe in Xavier's dream and Kent's right. Lance doesn't get why he won't use all that power he possesses to show humans who is really in charge.
"Lance I won't tell you how to live your life but if you threaten innocent people you will find me there to stop you," Clark states.
"Well then I guess we understand each other," Lance summarises.
"I guess so."
"Come on guys," Lance says signalling that this conversation is over. Pietro is the one with the problem with Kent not him. His problem always was, and still is, with Scott Summers.
Clark lets out a breath as they leave and accidentally creates a breeze. He makes a mental note that he really has to be more careful with his superbreath and practice with it a little more. That incident there wasn't actually as bad as he thought it could have been although there was something in Pietro's tone that just makes Clark worry that the arrogant teen might have been saying more than blowing hot air this time with his threats. Just then the class bell rings and he quickly grabs his books from his locker. On his way to class he thinks he should probably just keep both an eye and an ear on Pietro today.
As the students of Bayville High head to their classes the number one topic of gossip of the day remains the return of the students of the Xavier Institute for the Gifted.
"Can you believe they let them come back?" one girl of a gaggle asks her friends and no explanation is required about who 'them' is.
"I know," one of her friends replies with a disbelieving shake of head.
"I heard the school-board is voting tonight about whether to ban mutants," a second girl adds to the mix.
"Then today might be the last we see of them. Good riddance," the first girl who spoke says.
"Oh I don't know," the 3rd girl who spoke says with a bit of caution. "They were never that bad. I mean I kinda liked that Kitty Pryde girl."
The 2nd girl who spoke snorts. "That's because without her you would have failed Computing."
The 3rd girl had to nod in concession that Kitty had helped her. They were in the same computing class. "True but really she was nice."
"She was also lying about what she was," the 1st girl reminds her two friends. "And look what happened to that Institute they attend. Blown to pieces. How do we know this school and us aren't next?
The 2nd girl says, "Yeah. Where's the Bayville Blur to protect us when you need him?" she asks.
A 4th girl, the quiet one of the group of friends, asks, "Isn't he a mutant too?"
"I guess," the 1st girl says with a contemplative stroke of her chin because what else could he be?
"Maybe not," the 3rd girl replies. "Maybe he's like Spider-Man. I mean Spider-Man's not a mutant right?"
The 4 girls look at each other honestly having no answer.
The 2nd girl asks, in reference to the Bayville Blur, "I wonder where he went?"
"You're only asking that because you were totally crushing on him," the 1st girl says.
"Like you weren't? Who still has a giant poster on her wall?"
The 1st girl's lips curve up into a dreamy smile. "He was a total dreamboat!"
"Oh totally," the 2nd girl says in complete agreement.
"Didn't that Xavier guy says the Blur was like their friend or ally or something?" the 4th girl asks.
That strikes a chord with the girls and shows them they are having two different opinions of people who aren't that different. "Well maybe we can give them a chance," the 1st girl says.
"Yeah," the 2nd girl says nodding in agreement.
"I mean that human family lives there. I guess they can't be that bad," the 3rd girl supposes.
"Yeah that Clark Kent boy is nice. He helped me pick up my books when I dropped them one day when everyone else just walked by," the 4th girl remembers with a slight dreamy smile. Despite being a little dorky Clark Kent was kinda majorly cute. It's too bad he's dating that Rogue girl and is not single. Otherwise she would make a play for him.
As the 4 girls walk along the end of their conversation is overheard by the star quarterback. Duncan Matthews' green eyes narrow in disgust. 'They can't be that bad!' He can't believe he just heard that. He can't believe the school-board actually let those freaks come back to school. Hadn't they caused enough damage and to actually put all the normal people in danger by letting them come back. Duncan just didn't get it. He turns the glare of his anger at his pals standing with him. "I thought you guys were suppose to graffiti that mutie school of theirs and let them know how welcome they were here," he mutters and when he says how welcome they are he means that they're not.
"We tried Dunc!" one of them exclaims. "But we were caught and then the Bayville Blur showed up."
Duncan's brow furrows into a full blown scowl. "I thought that mutie freak was gone!"
"He said he was back," a second of Duncan's pals relays what happened.
"Is he even a mutant?" another asks. "I mean I don't think I ever heard anyone say he is."
"What else could he be?" Duncan almost yells.
His 3 pals shrug.
Duncan refocusses back on the immediate problem; Summers and co. "These muties have gotta go," he declares.
"We hear ya Dunc," the first boy says in agreement.
"But how?" the 3rd of Duncan's friends asks. "I mean you saw the tv footage. They beat giant robots! How can we do what those things couldn't?"
Duncan frowns. He hated to admit it but his pal had a point. "Well we just have to start with small steps," he thinks aloud. "First we have to get them kicked out of the school."
One of his pals has an idea. "You know I heard the muties were only allowed back if they didn't use their powers."
Duncan grins as he understands what this means. "Well then I guess we'll just have to make sure they do use their powers." His grin grows larger as he knows precisely which one of the muties to start with.
Author's Note: Essentially here I'm roughly following the events of the episode Mainstream. Their enemies knowing who Clark is was always going to be an issue and this is the start of me dealing with it and coming up with a solution. My poll for who gets possessed in my version of Spell remains open for anyone who wishes to vote. Thanks to everyone who wrote reviews. Next up; The X-Men's return to school continues as Pietro plots to out Clark as the Bayville Blur and then there's Principal Kelly...