Chapter 14: Return to Normal

"Jean, Hawks, what can I do for you?" Professor X greeted them as they entered his study. Hawks, encouraged by Jean behind him, slinks over to an empty chair wrapping his wings around like a feathered security blanket as he looks up at the Professor.

"What's wrong son?" Professor asked him.

"I.. I had a nightmare." Hawks said, sinking deeper into his wings.

"Hawks, there's no need to-be frightened, you're around friends here," Professor said, moving his chair closer to Hawks resting his hand the boy's leg. "How about you explain your nightmare to me."

Hawks looks up at him taking a deep breath he begins to recount his dream to them.

As both Professor and Jean listened attentively. Hawks' crimson wings hugged his slender frame tightly as he finished explaining what he could recall from the dream.

Professor unfold his hands and sighs, "would allow me use my telepathy to see the dream myself?" He asked him.

Hawks fidgets nervously, shifting his shoulder and wings, as he went silent.

"It's alright Hawks," Jean said as she placed a hand on his shoulder. He looks up at her as she gave him a resuming smile. "Professor X knows what he is doing."

"Okay, I trust you."

"You're being very brave, now relax and this will be over in a few minutes," Professor X said as he touches Hawks' temples, causing the boy to flinch.

-memeory-

A lady was smiling as she watched someone before her. "Good work finishing your training Hawks, now your ready for some.. certain missions." She said her tone slightly alluring as an older Hawks looked at her smirking. "What you got for me miss birdie?" he asked curiously. The lady hands over a strange file with classified written on it in large bold letters.

-end of memory-

Hawk blinks as he looks back at him. "Head feels funny," he said as held the side of his head. "It's pass," Jean reinsures him. The seven-year old nodded and looked at the Professor X. "What did you see?" he asked him leaning forwards a bit with slightly tilting his head.

Professor X looked at his son. Innocently looking at him, curiosity sparking in his eyes. "I can't say for sure, but I think whatever the quirk was you got hit with is wearing off."

"What do mean what quirk?" He looked from Professor X to Jean. "Hawks, you were hit quirk that aged you back to a child, you been this way for two weeks."

Hawks blinked and scowled. "So, what does that mean?" he asked. "I'm older then is what happened to me?"

"We don't know. My guess someone tried to eliminate you." Hawks stiffen and then looked down. "So, these dreams they what exactly?" he asked looking back up again.

"My guess, your past experiences. They aren't nightmares," Professor X said. "Hawks, we don't know anything more about this quirk, but I can with certainty it will be wearing off very soon, and you will turn back to normal in away."

"I don't get what do mean in a way?"

Professor and Jean looked at each other then at Hawks. What aren't they telling me? he fidgets in place. "We can talk more later, how about the three of us hurry off and get some food," he as Jean got up and offered a hand to him. Hawks accepted as he got off the chair.

. **** **** ****.

"You three made it hurry up!" Kurt waved to them. The food was out and everyone was sitting. "Where do want sit?" she asked Hawks. The boy shifted next to her. "You choose," he said looking up at her.

Jean smiles and leads him over to free spot next to Scott she takes his other side, after helping him sit down. "If you need help ask," Scott said. "Okay," Hawks agreed as everyone began to eat.

Hawks looked up as Jean passed some of the food around with her powers. How does she do that? he thought before he went back to eating his food. As he tried to cut the chicken he was finding it hard trying to cut it with just his left hand, either the knife or folk slipped each time.

"Need help?" Scott asked looking over as the boy struggling with cutting his food. Hawks sigh and nodded. "Yes, please." Scott smiles and leaned over taking the folk and knife and cut up the chicken for Hawks. I wish I didn't to have ask I feel silly. As Scott finished Hawks thanks him and began to eat once more.

"So, Hawks, what do you think this place?" Kurt asked.

"It's cool,"

"Is that that all you have to say? It's cool?" Kurt chuckled. "Come on anything here that interested you?"

"Huh.." Hawks looks around at everyone. This is hard, he looked down at his food. "Well, you all are interesting," he said poking at his food with a folk.

"Interesting.. well Feathers, everyone one of us are." Logan said.

"It's nice of you to say that," Jean smiles at him. Hawks sheepishly smiles back, at her and the others. This what it feels like to be part of something?

After diner Hawks had helped clean up with the others. It's nice being able to help, but I wish I could do more. he thought as he watched Jean close the last cabinet with her powers. "Thanks for help Hawks," she looks over him smiling. "Your welcome." he beamed back.

"Best, you get ready for bed." Jean said looking at the clock. Hawks followed her gaze. "Already?" he whines. Jean chuckled as she placing a hand on his back."Yes, already, you had an eventful day and it is late." Hawk frowns, "why can't I stay up?" he asked as they left the kitchen his shoulders sagged as he walked.

"Hawks? What would it take for you to get ready for bed?" she asked him like looking down at the boy. Hawks shifted his feet then looked up at her with round pleading eyes. "A story?"

"Hmm.. well okay but, you have get get ready for bed first."

Hawks grinning widely, nodding briefly he then runs off. Jean shakes her head but, smiles warmly. I'll get my homework finished afterwards.

***** ***** *****.

Hawks groaned as he held head. The boy's body curled in on itself. He tried to keep quiet as his head began throbbing. "Ngh.. agh!" He jolted wake gripping the side of his head. His was chest heaving as he sat up.

The young man, open eyes and blinked. "What.. the..!" He gasped as body stiffen he looked around the room. His eyes darted quickly around as they adjusted to darkness. "Where am I?" he asked as he got up then paused seeing the sling draped around him holding his right arm against his chest. "And in the world happened to me?" Getting up he groaned holding his aching head as he left the room.

. **** **** ***.

As Hawks made his way through the mansion he noticed the light on ahead of him. He followed it. "Who's wake at this hour?" As he entered the room he saw— "Logan?" the gruff black haired man looked up in shock at first. "Hawks?" he blinked and rubbed his eyes. "Thats you?"

"Of course me Silver Claws, who else looks this good?" Hawks smirked. Logan shook his head. "Yep, your back." he sighed as Hawks winced holding his head. "You okay there Feathers?" Hawks nodded. "Peachy, but how did I get here? And how did this happen?" he points the sling around his arm.

"I'll try l explain take a seat Feathers," Hawks walks over and sits cross from Logan. "What are working on?" he asked looking at the papers the man held his eyebrows raised. "Late night paperwork." Logan set them aside. "Now I know I'm not your father but, try tell me what you can remember, before the jumble mess. Then we can go from there."

Hawks pries his gaze off the papers and towards Logan. "Well, my normal memories are fine." He leans back in the chair. "Like meeting guys, my dad stuff like that but, why do I have memories of me being a child, that are different from my other child like memories? It's like I know something tried to rewire it maybe."

"Hmm.. maybe you should talk with your father, but I can help with filling in a few things. Like you were a pain in the ass to deal with." Hawks raised an bewow as he leaned back smirking. "How so?" he asked with cheeky grin. Logan sighs, "You really want know?" Hawks gives a cocky grin . "What as I like Silver Claws?"

"Very well, you stared out at the age of five. Clingy, flighty and quiet. You cling to either your father or Jean the whole time. You ran and hide a few times, you kicked me which I am still not happy about…" Hawks laughed as Logan glared at him. "Sorry… sorry go on." he laughed.

Logan huffed as he continues on. "What else, we had issue with the Hero Public something-"

"-the Hero Public Safely Commission." Hawks interpreted as Logan nodded. "Yeah, they keen on taking back with them but we didn't let them due fact you had no memories of the at all. After that you aged up, from five to six to seven. But since your trip was eneding we brought you back with us."

"I see, so what about my arm and shoulder?" Hawks asked him. Logna shook his head. "I didn't know hurt yourself until now, well I saw it this evening but I don't know what happened."

"So, then who might know then?" Hawks asked leaning forwards. "Hmm, I'd ask Jean about she was with when I saw the injury she might know what happened." Hawks looked at the time. "She's up still?"

"Last time I saw her she was." Logan grunted.

"That can't be good," Hawks muttered to himself. "Well thanks, Silver Claws," he said getting up. "I'll go talk her." Logan nodded as Hawks left. "Oh, and one more thing." Hawks looked over his shoulder smirking. "Sorry about the kicking you there." Logan sighs, "You're forgiven." Hawks smirks and walks off to locate Jean.