Chapter 8

The X-Mansion

Ellie sat in Charles Xavier's office nervously biting her thumbnail as the professors all starred at her. Eli was sitting next to her, rocking from side to side out of boredom. He stretched his arms over his head and let out a loud yawn. Charles Xavier wheeled himself into the room.

"Hello Ellie," he said with a smile. "It's so nice to see you again."

"Right," Ellie replied. Eli nudged her in the arm and she rolled her eyes.

"I want to apologize to you, Ellie. Had I known that you also carried the X-gene I would have extended my hand to you as well." Ellie remained quiet.

"I am curious though, about why you did not tell me yourself?" Ellie shrugged.

"C'mon El, I told them you would give them an explanation," Eli whispered. Ellie thought to herself for a moment.

"You want the truth? Fine," she started. "Our parents tossed us out of the house a while back. They were freaked out by our abilities and we had to fend for ourselves. We've been moving from town to town ever since." Eli glanced at Ellie, aware of her lie.

"You poor children," Ororo said sadly with her hand over her heart. Wolverine even looked a bit unhappy.

"Well you both are welcome here," Charles told them. "Ellie, would you care to show us what your power is?" Ellie hesitated at first but stood up from her seat.

She took a deep breath and shot herself into the air, hovering above everyone. Ororo smiled up at her and Logan crossed his arms. Ellie flew across the room at lightening speed and Charles opened his mouth, a bit surprised. Ellie dropped back to the floor and continued to bite her thumbnail.

"Fascinating!" Charles exclaimed. "So not only are you an air elemental, but you are part of the speedster variety as well."

"You mean like Quicksilver?" Logan asked. Charles nodded and Ellie covered her bandaged torso with her arms.

She had almost forgot that someone in the Brotherhood had cleaned her up after the fight. She remembered Pietro being the only one bent down near hear when she woke up, so it must have been him. Ellie blushed as she thought of him seeing her bare stomach.

"So we have a water boy and a fairy now," Logan commented. Eli and Ellie scowled at him.

"Mister Logan, c'mon man!" Eli whined.

"I'm not a fairy," Ellie shot back.

"No, I suppose you aren't now are ya' blondie?" Logan said. "You're more of an imp." Ellie rolled her eyes.

"Actually, that is a very good codename for you Ellie," Charles inserted. "Would you like to join the X-Men?" Ellie looked to Eli.

In all honesty Ellie just wanted to be left alone. Of course that was impossible now that she had so stupidly used her power. The only reason she nodded her head was because Eli was here with her. Ororo smiled.

"Come then, you should meet your new family," she said as she placed a hand on Ellie's shoulder. Ellie looked up at her.

"My codename is Storm. If you ever need someone to just shoot the breeze with you can come to me anytime." Storm winked and Ellie smiled at her.

The small group walked into the main living room where the X-Men team and new recruits were waiting. Ellie looked around at the large group of teenagers. Kitty was the first to approach them.

"Ellie are you okay?" she asked, concerned. "When we saw you come in here we all got together to make sure you were okay." Ellie nodded at her.

"I'm fine," Ellie told her. Kitty was one person that Ellie genuinely liked in Bayville for some odd reason.

"I have a message for you all," Charles announced. "Ellie is going to be joining us here at the institute. She carries the X-gene like the rest of you."

"What?" Rogue asked. "But you told us you didn't have powers at school!" Ellie shrugged.

"I lied," she told her, simply and honestly. Everyone exchanged confused glances.

"What can you do?" Bobby asked as he stepped forward. Ellie tried to ignore the awkward grin that he was giving her.

Ellie flew into the air once again. Many of the students started saying "wow" and "cool" which boosted Ellie's ego a bit. She used her speed to fly through the air, causing a huge gust to blow over everyone below. A few moments later she landed on the ground with her hands on her hips.

"Nothing too special," she said with a smirk. Bobby crossed his arms and smiled at her.

"Uh-oh, do you see that look Bobby has?" Rahne whispered to Kurt. He nodded.

"Uh-oh is right," Kurt replied.

"I will be placing Ellie on the new recruit team for now," Charles informed the group. "You will all know her by the codename Imp." Kurt smiled before teleporting to Ellie's side.

Ellie jumped back a bit when he popped up next to her. She hadn't noticed him yet, but his physical features startled her a bit. She furrowed her brow as she looked at him for a moment.

"Kurt?" she asked. He nodded.

"Wow. You look different."

"Yeah, this is how I was born," Kurt explained. "I look different at school for obvious reasons." Ellie nodded.

"I'm liking the ears though," Ellie told him. Kurt smiled.

"Alright, time for bed everyone. It's late and you have school tomorrow," Logan announced. The students groaned.

"Aw Mister Logan," Ray whined.

"Okay then, if you all are so bent on staying up, then we can run a danger room session." Everyone made an excuse to go to bed now. Logan smiled as he got what he wanted.

"Ellie, you will be rooming with Amara and Tabitha," Charles explained as he pointed them out. Two girls approached Ellie.

"Awesome, a new roomie!" Tabitha said. Ellie looked her up and down.

The two girls headed for their bedroom and Ellie followed. She was unsure about how this was going to play out. Eventually the Professor was going to catch on to her modified power. Ellie ran her fingers through her hair as she walked up the stairs of the mansion. For now she just had to keep her cool and stay under the radar. She followed Amara and Tabitha into their bedroom and got changed before going to sleep.

Bayville High

Pietro was the first person to show up to his first period class today. He sat at his desk, his knees bouncing as he waited for Ellie to arrive. His eyes shifted around at the empty seats surrounding him and he groaned to himself. Pietro was very impatient and waiting this long was making him anxious. His eyes darted to the door as Ellie entered.

She looked around at the empty desks and smiled to herself. Pietro grinned as her blue eyes landed on him. Ellie's nose wrinkled at the sight of him and she scoffed. With a roll of her eyes she took her seat next to him. Pietro examined her face, her black eye and scabbed lip looked worse than when she had received them but the bandages that he had placed on her were still in place.

"How are you feeling today?" he asked as he turned toward her in his seat. Ellie remained facing forward without answering him.

"You know you could thank me at least," Pietro told her, annoyed. "I did save your life after all." Ellie smirked.

"My life was not in danger," she replied, still looking forward. "You just got involved in my business that did not concern you." Pietro narrowed his eyes.

"Boy you're a real piece of work! I could have just let Duncan and his boys pound you into dust yesterday you know." Ellie snapped her head toward him now.

"Then why didn't you?" Pietro leaned back in his seat a bit, unsure of what to say. In hindsight he wasn't really sure why he bandaged her up after helping her.

"I dunno," he replied snottily. "But you owe me now." Ellie raised an eyebrow at him.

"I don't owe you anything."

"Oh but you do. You see, it's an eye for an eye kid, and I want my cut."

"Again, I don't owe you anything. You were the one who stuck your nose in my business. I could have handled Duncan and his goons."

"Right, you could take on three football players at once."

"It doesn't matter if I could fight them. It only matters if I can or can't out run them." Pietro raised his eyebrow at her.

"You couldn't outrun them," he told her. "See, I could outrun them, you could only out-fly them." Ellie straightened up in her seat.

"Shut up."

"What? Are you embarrassed?" Pietro smirked at her.

"I said shut up Pietro," Ellie ordered through clenched teeth. Her arms started to burn under her skin.

"Nope. I know your little secret Ellie." Ellie balled her hands into fists on top of her desk. Pietro was getting to her and she was fighting to control her temper.

"What will make you shut up?"

"Agree to meet me after school to discuss becoming a part of the Brotherhood." Ellie's eyes widened.

"What?"

"You heard me. I want either you or your brother on my team. You do owe me."

"I told you that I don't owe you! And I have detention after school today anyway thanks to you." Pietro rubbed his pointed chin. Both of the teenagers looked to the door as their teacher walked in.

"Oh Mrs. Graines," Pietro called with a smirk on his face. Ellie narrowed her eyes at him.

"Yes, Pietro?" Mrs. Graines asked from the front of the room. Pietro glanced at Ellie before grinning to himself.

"You look like total shit today." Ellie and Mrs. Graines gave him shocked looks.

"Pietro Maximoff! You just earned yourself detention after school!" Pietro shrugged before looking back at Ellie.

"Then I'll see you there," he told her with a wink. Ellie groaned before resting her head on her desk.