I do not own claim to any of the X-Men or their universe (just my girl Mimik) and I make no money from this. Enjoy!

"Ok so let me get this straight. You want me to show you what I can do without using half of my abilities? How does this make sense?"

Over the intercom Xavier sighs, "We are well aware of your physical training and abilities that come with your feral mutation, what we are interested in are you're transforming abilities. The danger room is going to provide you with several different scenarios and all you need to do is transform to adapt."

Hands on my hips, I'm looking up at the danger room observation room.

"Ok, do you want me to use mimicry as well? Or is that for another test?"

"If that will aid you, then yes."

"Remind me to check out the other students' powers, so I can add 'em to my repertoire."

I glance behind Xavier at all the others they allow up to watch me. Most of them were the X-men or the new ones that were being trained for the team.

Kurt waves at me and I nod to him.

"Alrighty then, let's get this over with, bub."

"Ok, starting first simulation."

I roll my shoulders and crack my neck, waiting for the danger room's holograms to kick in. I don't know why I agreed to this…

Logan and Kurt convinced me that it would be a good idea if the X-men knew what I was capable of, other than the stuff they've already seen. I tried telling 'em that I have yet to find the limit of what I can do, but they still insisted.

Kurt even mentioned that maybe I could do a demonstration for their espionage class sometime, seeing as I'm a trained assassin and all that jazz. I'm sure that'd go over smoothly…

The ground begins to shake as the walls begin pouring water down in. The room quickly begins to fill, telling me that they're going for more than just a pond.

"You could have at least let me wear something that wasn't gunna get ruined in the water, these are new clothes."

That's what I get for letting Kitty pick out my outfit for the day, from all the new stuff Logan took me to buy yesterday at the mall. A hellish place crowded with too many people all trying to talk loud enough to be heard over everyone else. And all those stores…

I can see why he didn't want to go alone; he had the girls in the room next to me come as well, saying that they knew what clothes a girl my age should be wearing better than he did.

I take a large gulp of air as the water rushes up over my head. Opening my eyes, I notice the walls disappear and an undersea environment pop up in its place.

I roll my eyes and shift, developing gills. The weight of my metal skeleton weighs me down and I begin to sink quite quickly.

I take in a big gulp of water, feeling that mild drowning sensation as my lungs adapt to breathing under water. I sink until I hit a dark sandy floor, where I kick off as hard as i can, pushing myself back up and start swimming up whilst shifting.

My legs form together to create a tail like that of the mythical mermaid while my fingers become webbed and gills form beneath my ears.

The powerful tail helps to keep me swimming easily despite my skeleton.

I swim over to where the observation room windows are still visible, just sitting there in the middle of the water.

I get up close to the window, smiling at the students all pointing in awe.

I spot Cyclops right near the window, frowning and crossing his arms. I swim over in front of him and shift my face into a demonic looking creature and he jumps back. I laugh silently and glance over at Xavier and Logan who're frowning disapprovingly.

Lowering my mental shields slightly, I reach out to Xavier's mind. "If you want to see me at my peak you're gunna want to change environments a lot quicker. The sudden system shock will make this a whole lot cooler and more fun."

He responds, sounding a bit surprised, "As you wish."

"Oh and tell Logan to crank it up a bit, simple environments like this aren't really a challenge."

Logan leans down and presses a button on the console and suddenly the water is gone and I'm falling down into what looks like a gorge. I cringe a bit as wings tear from my back, unfurling to catch the wind and then flapping to keep me airborne. I glance over my shoulder and shrug as I see black leathery, bat-like wings behind me while the tail reforms back into legs.

At least he listened about the challenging part. The muscles attaching the wings are now sore from the sudden shock of "breaking" midair like that.

For the next half hour they switched the environments, doing anything from putting me in the middle of a fire, to being shot at by lasers (couldn't dodge seeing as it was against the rules, so I just made my skin prismatic, causing the lasers to refract and make a rainbow of beams ricocheting off the walls), to being on another planet with a different atmosphere. Most changes I made instinctively, just coming up with a new form off the top of my head.

I only used another mutant's power a couple times when it was something I've actually dealt with before, like being stuck in a room that was closing in on me; I just used Kitty's phase walking ability.

I think they were impressed with my range of forms and the speed at which I changed.

Admittedly, I was a bit tired afterwards from all the energy I put into it as well as the fact that I haven't really been keeping up with my training and so my skills were tiresome from being underused.

Xavier told me to go change and then meet him at his office. And so now I'm on my way there after putting on some dry clothes, just a pair of dark jeans and a t-shirt.

The lacy green shirt Kitty made me wear is ruined, but the pants will survive I guess.

I'm still trying to avoid people in the halls, but I guess I'm getting used to dealing with this way of living; with all the people and the required social interactions and being careful not to offend or upset anyone. I guess you could say I'm a pro at adapting, but this is so different from anything that I had to deal with at the facility.

I still kinda miss the feeling of attacking someone full out, but I guess I can understand why these people are trying to avoid violence.

I hate the fact that most of them are afraid of hurting humans when the humans wouldn't hesitate a bit in hurting, or even killing one of us.

Xavier claims that mutants are humans still, but I don't even want to be placed in the same species as people like Wraith or Dr. Cornelius.

I come to Xavier's door and knock. The door opens and I'm greeted by Storm, smiling at me. "Ya wanted to see me?"

"Of course, come on in, Kim."

I walk in past her and frown recalling the last time I was in here. I'm not up for another headache like that EVER.

I spot Jean and Cyclops standing behind Xavier. Cyclops looks like he just found out his toothbrush was used to clean toilets.

I don't like being ganged up on like this, especially with the people who aren't really my fans.

"So…"

Xavier waves a hand at his overstuffed chairs and says, "Please take a seat."

I shake my head and cross my arms, "No thanks. I'll stand."

He frowns a little, and Cyclops snorts in an annoyed manner.

"Are you gunna tell me what you want or are we gunna stand here awkwardly until we choke on the tension?"

Xavier clears his throat and says, "Well we wanted to extend to you an offer. Upon seeing your recent display and with the other information you've given us, we believe you would be a valuable asset to our team."

"Really? You're asking the big bad killer weapon to join your team of 'heroes'?"

I glance at Cyclops who is being pat on the shoulder by Jean.

Storm walks around into my vision, "We know you are more than what we saw back in the facility. You protected us from having to commit those awful crimes ourselves."

I look at Cyclops. "I don't think everyone's convinced I'm not such a bad person. Hell I don't think I'M convinced. Look before you go putting all your eggs in one basket, I need to get this whole trying to be normal thing down. I still wake up expecting to find out this was all a simulation or some other way for my 'owners' to fuck with my head."

Xavier nods, understandingly, "That is why we were hoping you would agree to attend training with the other students, until you believe are ready. I believe you could help the others with their training as well, seeing as your particular set of skills are so unique."

"Well I guess I could… There won't be any kids, right? If anything were to… go wrong, I don't want another child's death on my conscience."

Cyclops grits his teeth and is visibly shaking, I think from trying to restrain himself from saying something.

I smirk a bit at that and Xavier says, "You would be in the group with the older students, all around your age. Mr. Wagner will be in the same group as well as Miss Pryde and Mr. Drake."

I shrug; what have I got to lose?

Then it dawns on me; everything. All these people who have begun to accept me and my awful past, and have given me a safe haven away from the people who made me into a monster... If I were to ever flip out and hurt one of them, even by accident, I would lose all of this.

I rub my knuckles nervously, "I can't promise that I'll ever become like Mr. Goody Two Shoes behind you, but I can promise to try my damndest to follow your rules and prove to you that I'm more than just a killer. I'll try out your little team, but I don't you all to rely on me. I'm not worthy of that much trust just yet."

I turn around and walk out of the office, hoping I just didn't agree to something I'll regret later.

.

Xavier sighs and says, "I would appreciate it if you would stop mentally screaming at me Scott."

"I can't believe you just did that Professor!"

"Because you are being so stubborn in your mindset, I am putting you in charge of the beta team, until you have proven that you can learn to see past your bias."

"What! You want me to be on the same team as- as that- thing?"

"Indeed. You seem to have forgotten why I made this institution, Scott. We accept all those in need of guidance and assistance. We fight for the hope that one day all of us in can live in peace with one another."

"I know that! But does she? She's killed mutants and humans alike! How is that promoting peace?"

Jean steps away from her boyfriend, "Scott, you're being pig-headed. You know as well as I do that she didn't have a choice in what she did. What if I had killed that man to save your life instead of letting her do it for me? Would you be saying the same thing about me?"

"No! Of course not, Jean, that's a completely different situation."

"Is it Scott? Your whole argument against her is based on the fact that she's a killer; but if it wasn't for her both Storm and I would be as well. I think working with her will do you some good; you'll be able to see the side of her that the rest of us have begun to see. She's not all bad, Scott. She's just lost, she doesn't know how to behave in a setting where everyone isn't trying to hurt her or use her."

Cyclops is silent for a moment, staring at Jean in disbelief, and then he throws his hands up in the air and then storms off.

Jean looks at her mentor, "I'm sorry Professor. He won't admit but he blames himself for that whole incident and he just puts it all on Kim. She also frightens him I think."

"I believe so too, Jean. Kim is an example of what some of our enemies would have done to us. It's a hard thing to face something that could be a preview of what may lie ahead for all of us."

.

I knock on Logan's door, hoping he's not off teaching a class or whatever else he does. No answer, not even a noise.

I knock again and the door pops open. He must not have closed it properly when he left.

I glance around the hall and when I don't see anyone watching, I slip into his room, nearly tripping on a bottle just lying on the floor.

Looking around I see similar bottles and cans scattered throughout the room.

For a military man, he's pretty messy.

I pick up the offending bottle and sniff its contents.

Ah, it's alcohol. I remember many of the soldiers smelling like this, the one who I gutted reeked of it when he came into my cage.

Sabertooth enjoyed drinking it too, but it didn't seem to affect the way it did the humans.

I wander about, looking for any sign of a personal touch, something to say this is Logan's room, but other than the bottles and the smell of him, it's bare.

No photos, no collections of any kind. The only thing I see is a couple motorcycle helmets and his clothes.

There seems to be a large dent in one of the walls where he's punched it.

Does he have nothing because he doesn't remember his past? He's had a while after he got out of the facility so that can't possibly be it. Maybe he just never sticks around too long…

I know that I don't plan on making this place my home. I need to leave at a moment's notice. I can't risk harming these people, they saved my life so I owe them that much.

If the guys at the government were to find out where I am… they wouldn't stop at just taking me, they'd take everyone. Wolverine assured me that Fury and his team would make it so I fell off the radar. But I've never trusted the man, seeing as he wanted to use me just like Wraith did.

Spotting a few unopened bottles near his bed I pick one up reading the black label. It is whiskey, and it seems to be one of his more favorite kinds.

I teat off the seal and open it, sniffing the contents. Smells awful...

I glance at the door before taking a small swig. It's disgusting! Strong and bitter,followed by a burning going all the way to my stomach.

I put the cap back on and place it back then I look around again once more before I slip out of his room, quickly heading into my own.

I glance around and start as something flies by my window and I jump a bit. What was that?

I go out onto my balcony and look up, sniffing the air. Something smells like chlorine…

"CANNONBALL!"

Something zooms past my right and splashes down into the now uncovered pool, cracking the ice covering it.

It's November, who would be swimming now?

I hear laughs and shouts from below and I lean over the railing to spot a group of older students all running over to the pool.

I see Tabitha and Jubilee among the group both laughing and pointing to the soaked boy pulling himself out of the water.

He gets to the edge of it and says; "Now yall owe me 20 bucks a pop."

He holds out a shaking hand and everyone grudgingly puts a bill into it.

Tabitha crosses her arms and says, "I didn't think you'd actually take the bet, Sam! I don't have $20."

The boy's teeth start chattering as he says, "That's okay Boom Boom, you'll get it to me later right?"

She huffs and says, "Sure, now let's go inside, I'm freezing my ass off out here."

He nods, and shuffles towards the back door of the mansion.

Jubilee looks up and waves when she spots me, "Hi Kim! You wanna hang?"

Most of the other heads turn and stare. I shrug, "I dunno, what does 'hanging' entail?"

She puts her hands on her hips and says, "Just get your butt down here. We're gunna show you how a normal teenager is supposed to act!"

I glance back at my room and then close the door to my balcony.

I guess this what I have to deal with if I want to fit in here right?

I jump down off the balcony and walk over to Jubilee who giggles happily and says, "Let's show Kim what video games are!"