Cassie was shuddering and shaking after having to tell all that over, she still remembered the way her hands had been warm from Nico's blood how they had cooled so fast and the blood dried. She was drawing in heaving breathes but the words wouldn't start now that she'd begun.
"The po-police came Nic-o was dead, Robert was gone, a-af-afterwords Marcus got custody of Sasha they sent Cara to jail, and were going to put Dylan in the system. So before t-t-they could I ran away with him and that's why we're here!" Cassie sobbed.
Hank held her tightly she was crying but then again who wouldn't be after reliving that, Hank felt handfuls of fur being pulled roughly through his sweater. But he didn't care he just held Cassie closer, and felt his own eyes burn he remembered Nico. The boy had been five when he'd last seen him and the middle child older than Sasha younger than Dylan, red curly hair and a heavy amount of freckles on his nose, and a love for Spider Man. Nico had once said to Hank he wanted to be a mutant and have Spidey Senses. No wonder she hadn't taken the bus, the police were most likely on the lookout for her and Dylan.
"He'd just turned six, SIX Hank!" Cassie wailed slamming a fist against his chest.
"I know Cassie." He murmured running a hand down her back soothingly.
No wonder Dylan wouldn't speak to anyone, all of these experiences had to be traumatic for a seven year old boy. Hank waited for Cassie to calm down before he spoke again, "Don't worry Cassie, we'll get this all taken care of unfortunately many of the young mutants here come under similar circumstances. So getting them out of sticky situations with the law is part of the job requirements for the adults at Xavier's."
Cassie sniffed, she honestly didn't care if she could go back to NYC without the police on her, she would have given anything to relive that night only this time have Nico come out of it alive. She couldn't do anything about Dylan's mutation, because from what she knew it wouldn't have matter if that night had happened or not. Dylan's mutation was a part of his DNA there was no taking that back, Cassie sigh and closed her sore eyes. She felt hollow inside at the moment, for the moment she let herself be weak as she allowed Hank to hold her and she let herself lean against him.
For now I'll be weak and lean against him, just for now. Cassie told herself.
.
After Cassie had finished crying Hank found her a change of clothes and gave her a tour of the campus himself. Cassie looked around in awe it was huge, it made her think of a college dorm.
"Its so big." Cassie breathed as she looked out at the gardens.
"Yes, its Charles's childhood home." Hank said smiling. Throughout this tour he watched as Xavier's School For Gifted Youngsters weave its spell on Cassie liked it had done to many others.
Cassie looked up at Hank her eyes wide with wonder. "You me he just gave his home up."
Hank nodded as he placed a hand on her back and lead her through the gardens. "Yes, Charles is an amazing man. When he was a teenager he sought out other mutants and then when his parents passed on he gave his home up to become a safe haven for mutants of all kinds and ages. And ever since mutants have been coming here to find a safe place and others of their own kind."
Cassie looked over at a group of mutant children playing with a ball, they were close to Dylan's age. She watched as one boy threw the ball and another boy stretched his arm six feet in the air and caught it, a reminder that these children had more powers in their little fingers than Cassie had in her whole body.
"So are all of the children here under not so good circumstances?" Cassie asked watched as a girl sprouted wings the color of rainbows in every feather and flutter in the air. Every wing beat a blur to Cassie's eyes.
Hank shrugged. "Some not all, for example do you see the girl with the Humming Bird like wings."
Cassie nodded.
"Well her name is Alice she came to us from Missouri, her parents had sent her to us after trying for years to hide her wings from their family and friends. She's been with us for almost two years now and can control her wings at will, and goes to visit her parents frequently."
Hank gestured to another girl amongst the group around the age of ten. "While Sara over there was found by Charles."
"Found?" Cassie asked, looking at the girl with interest. She wondered what little Sara could do.
Hank nodded. "Yes, found Charles has a way of locating mutants all over the world and pays house calls to their houses sometimes. You see many of the children we pay house calls to know about their powers but hide them from their parents. So in those situations Charles will tell the parents that their child has been excepted into a boarding school for the gifted."
"Why? Why not just tell the parents." Cassie asked.
"Because some of these children fear their parents knowing they're different from everyone else, so we bring them here to come to terms with their powers and tell their parents in their own time." Hank said quietly.
Cassie when she saw a sudden whoosh of light to her left, she turned and saw the teenager John throwing a ball of fire at a rock painted with a target.
"John there came to us under more hostile terms, his father was a horrible man he drank his weight and abused John. One night he almost beat John to death… and that same night John came into his powers." Hank said quietly.
Cassie felt her stomach churn as she got the picture.
"How many of them come her under, good circumstances?" Cassie asked quietly.
Hank's face became solemn. "Too few Cassie, far too few."
.
Hank showed her everything the library, the gym, the kitchen, the boys wing, the girls wing, the adults wing, and the many many rooms that had been convert into classrooms. Hank showed her everything and he was clearly excited about showing the school and all its wonders to her, and he was confusing her. Every time Hank wanted Cassie to see something he'd place a large hand on her back, her arm, or his arm around her and pull her closer to him. He was acting like when they'd been together, and it was confusing Cassie. Part of her was still shocked by his appearance still and balked at the idea of being so familiar with the man who'd left her at the altar, while another part of Cassie wanted to lean into his touches she wanted to just lean back against him and cuddle into him blue fur be-damned. The simple fact was even though it had been almost a year and a half she still missed him. It was all confusing Cassie didn't know whether she should run to Hank with arms wide open, or with a closed fist and smack him around some more, or cry crying was an option too. Cassie was good at that at least.
Cassie walked with Hank back towards the medical lab, they'd finished the tour and Cassie was tired. They walked in to see a man already there, he was tall and had a wild look to him.
"There you all furball I've been looking around for you." The man huffed.
Cassie felt Hank stiffen next to her. "Logan."
The man Logan then noticed Cassie standing there. "Good to see you up an about, not bleeding or swinging a window prop at me."
Cassie's cheeks darkened as she remembered the last time she'd seen him, she hadn't exactly been right in the head. "Sorry about that." Cassie mumbled.
Logan shrugged then looked back at Hank. "Can I talk to you for a second." Logan gave Cassie a clear look she didn't notice.
Hank understood quickly enough. "Cassie I'm going to go see what he needs why don't you rest, there are clothes for you in the chest at the foot of your bed I'll return shortly." He said placing a large hand on the small of her back and pushing her towards said chest.
"Fine." Cassie huffed.
Her unpleased tone didn't go by unnoticed by Hank, but he couldn't deal with I now he was needed elsewhere.
.
Cassie watched as the door shut behind Hank and Login and she was left alone in the large room. She walked over to the chest Hank spoke of and looked inside to see a few things inside, none of which belonged to her. Cassie didn't know where the clothes had come from or who had provided them to her all she knew was she owed someone for the jeans she wore and the plain white tee shirt she wore. Cassie sighed and let the lid to the chest fall, Cassie sighed as she flopped onto the bed and lay there. Either she stayed here with Dylan in a strange place she really just didn't think she belonged in, and with Hank here as well. Or she return to NYC without Dylan, Cassie thought of her apartment and cringed, she wasn't sure if she could return to that apartment. Not after what had happened to Nico, Cassie wondered if her parents had at least made sure he was buried in a nice place. She wondered if Marcus was taking care of Sasha, she wondered how she could stay here.
.
Hank stood in the doorway to the dining room he watched as all the young ones made their way to the seats, adults and teens following in. He watched as Dylan ran across the room into Cassie, he saw the huge smile on her face at seeing him and his chest constricted. It had been so long since he'd seen her smile, he felt Beast stirring again. He had missed her more than he cared to tell anyone, but it didn't matter Hank wasn't the man he used to be he wasn't even a man anymore. It was clear by the distance Cassie was trying to place between them; she hadn't forgotten what he'd done. He'd dated and loved her for four years almost, proposed to her promised to give her a life full of love and happiness, then abandoned her alone at the altar in front of her friends and family. His family as well as hers, it was a subject that wasn't brought up when he went home for Easters, he doubted she would just forgive him.
He didn't blame her; Hank had left her alone with a message on her voicemail. He hadn't the courage to tell her face to face, he'd been a weak man back then and he couldn't forgive himself. But no matter how much he tried Hank found himself watching her, he found himself wanting her all over again. But he didn't deserve her, eh didn't deserve a chance with her. Hank sighed and ran a heavy hand through his mane. Then looked at said hand, last time he'd held her hand he'd been human now he had claws and fur, Hank could hurt her not just emotionally now but physically. Also Cassie only saw what had changed about him on the outside, she didn't know about inside yet and if he had it his way he'd make sure she never knew.
Cassie sat down Dylan on her right then John came up. "Hey Kids sit up there."
"Johnny leave him alone he's new." Said a girl with brown and white hair on Cassie's left.
John sneered at Cassie before he walked off. "Thank you. We didn't mean to cause trouble."
The teen shrugged. "Its cool Johnny just isn't friendly to humans."
"I can tell, I'm Cassie by the way this is Dylan." Cassie held her hand out to her.
"Rogue." The girl replied coolly before taking Cassie's hand carefully, Cassie noticed she wore leather gloves. Even though it was warm in the dining room, Rogue was dressed for a walk on a cool night. Gloves, long sleeve jacket, pants and a scarf around her neck, it was odd.
Cassie let it go though she must have had her reasons, Cassie wanted to ask Rogue what she could do but Hank had warned her that many of the students here were not comfortable with talking about their abilities. So she simply turned to face Charles or "The Professor" as every one called him.
"Children calm down now." He said.
Immediately the noisy dinner room fell silent, no shushing no yelling it just fell quiet. His voice was calm he didn't have to raise it, it was clear to Cassie that when the Professor spoke everyone listened.
"Now I have a few announcements for you all, firstly the bathroom on the second floor is malfunctioning. We are working to get it fixed but until then some of the showers may not work so bathing will have to be carried out quickly so that way everyone can get a chance to wash up before bed. Secondly we have a new guest his name is Dylan."
Dylan squirmed when he was suddenly put on the spot, Cassie placed a reassuring hand on him.
"And this is his aunt Cassandra Hall; she'll be staying with us for the time being and helping out around the house." Charles continued.
Cassie blushed when she felt everyone's attention shift from Dylan to her. The Professor spoke for a few moments before he gave leave for them to eat.
Cassie helped Dylan with his plate, roast chicken, peas, and mashed potatoes were on the menu for tonight. Cassie heard snatches of whispers, she was the subject making her ears burn with embarrassment.
"I can tell what his mutation is, but what about her."
"You didn't hear? Apparently she's normal."
"Normal? Then what's she doing here, we don't need someone taking up space."
"Hey quiet down you heard the Professor she's here to help out around the mansion."
"So she's human, and we're mutants she doesn't belong."
Cassie bit her lip and shifted her peas around her plate she really wasn't hungry so she'd only taken a very small amount, and after hearing all that she just didn't want to eat anymore. Dylan was stuffing his face, Cassie didn't doubt it was good. She just felt sick suddenly, she waited a while shifting her foo around some every now and again. No, one said anything her, the animosity towards humans was thick. She did not feel very welcome right now, and Cassie was trying to remember if she had enough money left in her bank account to move out of her apartment. Maybe she could move to a different building but then again Cassie wasn't even sure if she had money after all the bullshit she'd had to do to get here. Finally after what felt like forever some of the students left the table taking their dishes to a cart with a tray for dirty dishes, Dylan was done too. Cassie helped him clean up and took his plate placing it on top of hers before setting it in the tray.
She left the dining room feeling more eyes that she cared to count following her.
"So where is your room at Dylan?" Cassie asked with forced happiness.
Dylan grabbed Cassie's hand and dragged her up the stairs, Cassie laughed at the eagerness he was showing. "Slow down Dylan, its not going to run away from you." Cassie chuckled.
But the seven year old boy wasn't going to be swayed, he didn't stop dragging Cassie along until they'd reach his room. Dylan threw the door open and ran inside, Cassie followed him in smiling. Dylan's room was medium sized with two single beds on opposite sides of the rooms. The right side of the room had posters of space and Buzz from Toy Story, stick on stars dotted the wall and half the ceiling. The left side of the room had a large poster of Spawn as well as action figures on the dresser on the left side of the room, whoever Dylan's roomie was liked the movie Spawn clearly. But it was the Buzz It side that Dylan lifted his arms and danced around in a little circle, he didn't say the words but Cassie could hear them. "Look Aunt Cassie, its Buzz!"
Cassie's heart lurched. "How did they know?" She gasped looking around.
Cassie couldn't believe someone had done this for her nephew, it touched her to think they cared this much. Cassie looked back at the child who was now running around with a Buzz Lightyear toy, she watched him her nephew half his face was covered in scales black as night and one eye wasn't the brown that she'd known since he was born. Cassie realized that this was his life now, there was no turning back. Cassie wondered if Dylan knew this as well, part of her hoped he was still too young to understand.
"I had hoped he still liked Buzz Lightyear, good to know it hasn't changed." Hank said behind her.
Cassie jumped at his sudden appearance in the doorway, "Hank what are you doing here?"
"I wanted to make sure Dylan was settled in and show you to your own room." Hank said stepping further into the room. Dylan ran up to him showing off the Buzz Lightyear toy.
Cassie watched as Hank tousled his black locks gently. "I'm glad you like it Dylan, I'm sorry I couldn't get the Toy Story blanket you got for Christmas last year. Do you mind if I steal your aunt?"
Dylan nodded then went back to playing with his Buzz, Cassie found herself being ushered out of the room a hand at her shoulder.