"We're here," were words that barely registered in Peter's mind.
He was way too busy gawking at the sight before him.
Peter Benjamin Parker had just arrived at the Charles Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters, and if anyone had told him prior what it looked like, or how big it was, he'd think you were exaggerating and probably make a quip about saving a princess or fighting dragons, but he was half expecting of doing that shortly when he caught sight of his home for the foreseeable future.
The Charles Xavier Institute was a castle – literally.
Laura said nothing about this.
Sure, it didn't have the high tower and the massive stone brick walls but the four-story Châteauesque castle which displayed nothing but size and wealth at unfathomable fictional levels that his mind couldn't comprehend made the brunette boy feel like his life had just fallen more into a fantasy than it already did.
And that was just the castle.
The entire grounds were covered and protected by a modest wall which obscured most things at ground level and Peter couldn't tell where it ended on the x-axis due to it literally going into the forest that surrounded them.
Now the forest and wildlife of the grounds was a whole other story.
Slightly larger than the mansion itself was a lot – a really, really, really huge lot, of clean-cut grass which had multiple walkways that led into a well-kept, flourishing garden that could only literally be found in a fantasy due to the multiple vibrant colors and plant life which couldn't survive in North America.
"One of the perks of havin' a lady who can control the weather," Logan stated, noticing the boy trying to wrap his head around the multiple cherry blossoms, jacaranda trees, and Japanese maples which added plenty of color to the sea of green which practically glowed in the bright light.
"We can grow whatever we want, and with a breeze like this, you almost forget that our planet is boilin'," Logan remarked, closing his eyes and basking in the soothing refreshing breeze which almost made Peter forget his name was Peter because that was just how otherworldly relaxing it was.
They were out of the limousine now, parked in the roundabout which was just in front of the doors to the prestige and royal mansion he would set foot in.
"I hope for everyone's sake, Parker, you survive your stay," Logan genuinely said to the boy whom he stood beside, knowing not just the plans others had for him but the expectations as well.
Upon hearing what the hoarse voice of Logan said to him, Peter was taken out of his sheer astoundment and snorted, remembering who he was and what he'd been through.
"Pfft, you forget who I am? Whatever this mutant stuff will bring will be a day off compared to what I do on the daily," the boy who was secretly known as Spider-Man cockily declared, not knowing and completely underestimating what he would be going through.
But Logan did, and he would save Parker's words in his vast and empty mind.
"I want to hear you say that in a couple of months from now," he slyly replied to the boy he stood beside before opening the towering doors of the mansion he called home.
Far before the doors were swarmed by students and mentors who were excited to greet the boy who would be joining them, a petite girl with skin as pale of snow, hair as black night, and eyes of emerald gemstone which glistened beautifully in the light – which shined at the thought of the boy, eagerly awaited for his arrival the moment he was sent for.
She stood in the back, her long abyssal strands obscuring her face which gazed down at the ground, silently anticipating for those doors to open.
She could tell the others were glancing at her briefly, talking about things she did not care about.
All of them were hushed however as a limousine approached the manor.
She raised her gaze when the vehicle's door opened which released his aroma.
Then the grand doors of the lavish estate opened up.
And there he was.
Stumbling in through the doors as if he had just entered a new world.
He looked around the grand room that had white marble pillars and beeswax-painted walls which complemented the lavishly finished chestnut oakwood. He stared in wonder at the spotless brown marble ground which reflected another world, and then his blue orbs fell on the first thing he wanted to see when he entered the mansion.
But that was quickly interrupted by the abrupt and suffocating greeting he received from his new social surroundings and peers.
The first to introduce himself was a six-three, young brunette man who had a jawline like no other and a build that commanded authority. He wore a collared short-sleeve shirt which showed off his muscles, a pair of jeans, casual shoes, and a pair of red glasses while he was indoors.
Now the red glasses thing he would instantly poke fun of and maybe one day he would but according to Laura and her simple explanation of him, those glasses reflected the lasers his eye's blasted.
Yea, he fired eye lasers.
And also, she did not like him.
"Scott Summers," Scott greeted first with his deep and resounding commanding voice. He took the brief instant he was allowed to without garnering suspicion to analyze the boy in front of him before giving him a smile when his outstretched hand was reciprocated.
"Firm handshake," Scott took note of his grip and the small bits of calluses on his hands.
"Obviously, he's a fighter" Scott thought.
"My boss made sure I had one before he hired me," Peter replied, remembering the short lesson Jameson gave him before he officially became The Daily Bugles freelance photographer.
"You got a good one too," Peter noted as well, that thought being the only thing on his mind.
"Comes with the job," Scott huffed.
"And what's that?" Peter asked.
"You'll find out soon," Scott finished with a small smile before gesturing towards a red-headed woman who stood at five-six, "Peter, this is my girlfriend and one of the first students here at the Institute along with me," he introduced the girl who had long strawberry red hair which reached her waist.
"Jean Grey," The woman gave a slight bow to the boy in front of her.
What Laura had told him, Jean was one of the most powerful telepaths and telekinetics on the planet along with Professor Xavier.
Laura didn't have much to say about her other than that.
"Forgive us, but we couldn't help but look you up before you arrived, it's always exciting getting a new student," Jean confessed to the boy who looked at her with a raised brow.
"You…did?" Peter was taken off guard by the brutal honesty of the woman who admitted to the odd act most wouldn't even bother to mention.
"Yeah, I hope you don't mind but I noticed you volunteer at a homeless shelter, I think that's great," Jean commended, flattering Peter who blushed lightly at the comment unsure how to react to her honesty and flattery,
The next person to declare himself was Robert Louis "Bobby" Drake. It wasn't anything too special, just a name and a fist bump before he moved on to meet Katherine Anne "Kitty" Pryde.
She was a girl his age, wearing casual clothes and a graphic tee just like Bobby. The older teenager – Bobby, from what Laura had told him reminded her of Johnny and had powers of ice, but where his friend had wavy blonde hair, Bobby's hair was styled upwards and spikey.
Laura didn't like him.
She tolerated Kitty.
She had the ability of intangibility.
Out of all of them, Laura had told him the most about Kitty.
"You're the one who likes Spider-Man, right?" Peter asked, making sure he had the right person.
"Did The Professor tell you that?" Kitty tilted her head, but much to her confusion – and to the others, Peter shook his head as if she was dead wrong.
But if not, then who?
Peter didn't notice this for he was busy rummaging through his bag which was draped over his shoulder.
"You guys probably already know this because of searching me up n'all… but… I uh…I work for The Daily Bugle as a photographer for Spider-Man…" he lost his train of speech as he searched through his bag, "When I heard that there were fans…I wanted to give you guys something…" Peter said much to the interests of the others, and upon finding what he was looking for, they were taken off guard when the boy took out a handful of photos.
Photos of Spider-Man.
"Here," Peter smiled, passing the pristine and unpublished photos – which were definitely not published because they didn't meet Jameson's unreal standards, to the brunette girl who was surprised by the gesture.
"R-really?" Kitty slightly blushed, completely caught off guard by the unexpected gift which brought a smile to her and most in the crowd.
Key word being 'most'.
"Yeah," Peter smiled as he held one more in his hand, "Think of it as a welcoming gift," Peter stated much to the amusement of The Professor.
"I believe it's supposed to be the opposite, Peter," Professor Xavier noted but Peter chuckled.
"Say's who?" Peter charmingly challenged before looking around for another.
"Now where's – what was his name? Kurt? He's also a fan of Spider-Man, right? I got a photo for him too," Peter looked around, recalling the other fan of Spider-Man Laura mentioned.
The girl who had told him about all of them watched from the back, unsurprised by his thoughtful behavior and already expecting what his next interaction would be like when her eyes watched the one who was the most visually different here slowly creep up upon hearing the boy beckon for him.
One who scared most people by mere appearances alone.
But they would soon find out that Peter Parker was far, very far from being even remotely close to most people.
And that would soon be displayed by all when a hunched-over young man slowly approached him.
"Kurt?" Peter hesitantly said, eyeing the figure who wore sweatpants and a thick hoodie that obscured his body but upon making eye contact with the endless shadow where his face would be – and calling his name once more, the hand that had two long fingers and a thumb left the hoodie pocket to take off the hood, unveiling anxious blank yellow eyes which belonged to a face which had blue skin, a sharp pointed jaw and pointed ears.
His navy blue hair was styled upwards as well, and his feet were accurate to Laura's description, pertaining two long toes and a protruding heel.
His X-gene was responsible for his impish appearance and his teleportation powers.
Laura didn't mind him either but that was because she hadn't interacted with him at all.
Instinctively, the brown-haired boy walked towards the blue elf man with confusion and perplexion riddling his face, "Wh-what are you doing all the way back there?" Peter nearly obliviously asked the young man who was surprised by his non-existent reaction.
"I...I did not vant to scahre you…" His soft and thick German accent anxiously admitted.
Peter let out a nervous chuckle, "With what? Your pretty cool pointed tale? You're gonna have to do better than that to scare me," Peter quipped, pointing at the pointed appendage with a smile and causing Kurt to heartedly laugh, easing up significantly in his presence.
"You're…you're not scared of mein appearance?" Kurt Wagner asked in sheer surprise at Peter's reaction, or, well, lack of, unsure of what to do as his eyes gazed at Peter, whose reaction was vastly different than most.
Peter scoffed, "You know where I'm from?" he rhetorically asked with a chuckle, "I'm from New York, you're prettier than half the people I see," Peter joked. Last night he was battling The Hobgoblin who was a literal goblin demon with fire powers.
A blue elf in a hoodie was nothing surprising given the life he lived.
His joke caused those who have ever been in the huge and iconic city to let out a laugh and Kurt to nervously chuckle, not really knowing what he meant but finding his joke funny nonetheless.
He handed him the photo which Kurt graciously took with a growing smile.
He looked at his reflection, remembering Peter's words…
And he chuckled to himself.
"D…Danke, Peter…" Kurt humbly thanked, smiling wildly at the boy before him, "I…I don't hafe anyzing to gife to you," Kurt scratched the back of his head, regretting that he had gotten no welcoming gift for the boy – and even more regretting not even thinking of getting one.
"Good, 'cause I don't want anything," he replied with a huff, and Laura to roll her eyes.
"How about fhriendchip?" Kurt asked with a raised brow, sticking out his hand towards the five-seven boy.
"I'd like that," Peter sincerely said, shaking the three-fingered man with a smile which was reciprocated.
Laura Kinney huffed.
And with introductions with the others out of the way, she left her position.
And for the first time excluding moments where food was given…
Laura Kinney joined the big group, and this did not go unnoticed.
Peter was the first to see her make her way, and with his gaze on her, and her's on him, those who stood in the way of the two found themselves quickly forced out of her path by an unearthly force as the mysterious black-haired girl silently and slowly made her way to stand in front the boy who did the same.
"And of course, you know X, right?" Kitty gestured, turning her body to the side to allow the raven-haired girl to stand in front of the boy she knew.
Orbs of luminescent green and blue looked at each other, as Peter Benjamin Parker couldn't help but give a large smile that softened up Laura Kinney's face.
There was a moment of silence before Peter raised his brow.
"X?" he asked with a raised brow which caused the others to misinterpret his reaction and skeptical tone that he did not know who X was, but Laura knew what he meant.
"X? Really? Was that the best you could come up with?" She could imagine him saying with his eyes and infliction alone.
"No...no, I don't know any person named 'X,'" Peter confidently stated, much to the bafflement of the others and Laura who was trying to guess what he was up to now, "Don't think I want to either, no offense but what kind of a name is 'X' anyways?" he added, he ridiculing her 'name' with a small laugh and mischievous grin.
"That is not my name," She aggressively declared as if he had just committed a cardinal sin.
She did not care and had the others refer to the 'name' she gave them but Peter was not permitted to call her such things with his voice and appearance.
It sounded wrong.
As if a cat was barking.
She did not like it.
She would much prefer him call her whatever stupid nickname he had for her than ever call her that.
"Oh really? Well, What is it?" Peter asked with a raised brow and sly grin.
And it was then that she realized what Peter Parker was trying to do.
"I don't know any person named 'X.'".
She could feel the corner of her lips softening once more, and the resounding beating of her heart which always came with his ceaseless attempts to make her feel like a person.
She crossed her arms and looked away, trying to keep up the walls he so effortlessly destroyed, "You already know what it is."
"Yeah, but do you?" he asked the girl softly who stared at him through the strands of her air, trying her best to keep up her stoic expression.
She failed.
She failed poorly.
She sighed, not in disappointment, stress, or even in frustration.
She sighed because she should have expected him to do such a thing.
Laura recounted the first meeting she had with him.
It had only been three days since she'd known him – no prior research, no stalking out beforehand to make sure he was safe. She had only known Peter Parker for three days – four counting this one.
And her first memory of Peter was him immediately answering the call to help. Her second was her saving him, then him saving her, then the both of them saving people before battling a giant mutated father, and then him saving her again.
And her implying that it wasn't really nice meeting him at first.
Which in the moment was true to a small extent.
But with what would follow…
"My name is… Laura Kinney…My mother gave it to me," The mysterious girl once named 'X' declared softly to both herself, him, and others, answering the question Peter had asked her long ago.
The students at Xavier's – the only ones who still hadn't yet known of her name, widened their eyes, gasped, and had all sorts of surprised reactions upon hearing her name.
Reactions that had gone ignored by the two who had seemingly entered their own little world.
Peter smiled at her before extending his hand.
"Peter Benjamin Parker."
"Benjamin?" Laura reiterated, unaware of his middle name and immediately drawing a connection between him and his fabled relative.
"Yeah…I'm…I'm named after my Uncle Ben…" he said with a slight blush, averting his eyes from her gaze but she would forcibly have it on herself again, and give the parties present ample hours of gossip about the two in the coming moments.
"I think it is fitting," she whole-heartedly said much to his surprise.
His blush grew stronger upon hearing this.
It was one thing to hear it from his aunt, but to hear it from her…
"Thanks…" he scratched the back of his head, flattered by her compliment which left his eyes darting between her and the ground.
"You know…" Peter began to say as he managed to hold a gaze with the girl who touched his heart, "I'm happy to have met you, Laura Kinney," Peter Benjamin Parker declared with a toothy grin and sheer unrestrained layered sincerity which only she could understand.
She took the hand he offered which had slowly fallen to his side before clasping it with the other.
And that was because…
"I am happy to have met you too, Peter Benjamin Parker," Laura Kinney confessed softly – affectionately, as her emerald eyes were locked with his azure ones once more conveying with their twinkling glow that she truly meant what she had said and more.
Ororo Munroe watched the sight with a great big smile, her hope of Peter Benjamin Parker's introduction and welcoming, also being that of Laura Kinney's.
Chapter 18: Welcome to The Charles Xavier Institute, Peter Parker and Laura Kinney.
Laura was seated on the side of Peter's bed, watching on with hidden amusement as the boy sunk his face deep within his pillow that was so soft and comfortable that he audibly displayed his pleasure.
"I went from a broke kid who lived in Queens to a broke kid who lives in a mansion," she deciphered what his muffled voice said through his pillows.
His bags and such were all jumbled up together by the door thanks to the assistance of Jean who used her telekinetic powers to lift his stuff in one effortless trip.
"Wait, can I be broke if I live in a mansion?" Peter asked his silent companion, wondering if she could help him with the quick dilemma that just entered his mind.
Laura thought about his question before answering it with one of her own.
"Do you have money?"
"No," He confidently said, he gave all he had to his Aunt to repay the bills.
"Question answered," Peter Benjamin Parker was still broke.
But he was not empty-handed.
To her surprise, it wasn't just him who wanted to thank her for the money she had given him but his aunt too, who on such short notice baked her batch of wheat cakes as a humble show of thanks.
"Out of all the stuff Aunt May makes, these are my favorite," Peter offered her to take a plastic container labeled with her name which was full of the aforementioned fabled wheat cakes.
She opened it up, the fresh scent hitting her nose as she grabbed the small and plain-looking cake.
Plain looking it may be, it was sweet – tasty, but not overbearing, a good snack or breakfast treat that pleased both her appetite and her taste buds.
"I like them," she admitted with a pleasant infliction, offering her batch to the boy after getting another peice.
"Oh, that's for you," Peter refused, taking out his own container of wheat cakes labeled with his name, "I have my ow-"
"And?" Laura raised a brow, still offering her container his way.
Peter looked at it and he accepted without argument.
Pooling their resources meant more wheatcakes.
Later she helped him unpack his things.
Little by little, the blank room through the efforts of the two, quickly became one that belonged to the brunette boy. His items pertaining to his superhero activities were the first to be unpacked and briskly shoved underneath his bed.
His desktop was put into the corner of his room along with the appliances. His books which varied to a multitude of graphic novels and academic books were put on shelves, even that odd puzzle you had to build which she had first seen when she broke into his room was put on it along with a microscope Peter took great care in placing.
And soon enough, after posters containing his interests were put up, they were done. The once empty and deserted room became Peter's room, located at the very far end of the boy's hall in the mansion.
She commenced the tour around the lavish mansion once he was ready and the first place she brought him in was the girl's hall – more specifically, her room, which was situated next to Pryde's.
"This is your room?" looked around his companion's room who nodded.
"Yes," she confirmed, shutting her door behind them as she allowed him free reign over her domain.
"It's so…empty…" Peter noted, looking at the only sign of occupancy being a duffle bag which was tucked close to her bed.
"Why do you just have a bag there?" Peter asked, pointing at the dark green duffle bag with curiosity,
"It has my stuff," she flatly answered.
"Haven't you been here for like a week? Why do you still have your stuff in your bag?" He asked again, prompting her to react by looking to the side and holding herself with her arms.
"...In case the facility finds me…" she admitted. The Facility's constant pursuit of her had robbed her of the leisure of ever settling down in one place after they had found her the first time…before she could even dwell on those memories which dragged her mind down into sorrow, the plopping of her bag instantly took her attention.
"What are you doing?" she promptly asked, looking at the boy who had just dropped her bag onto her bed.
"I'm helping you get set up, like you did with me," Peter decisively answered much to her reluctance.
"But…"
"But nothing. You can't pull the whole, 'this is a safe place shtick' to convince me to come here while you have your stuff ready to hightail it out of here at first notice of your facility!" He adamantly stated, furious and bittered at her reasonings and the people who caused it, "I'm only really here because of you Snikity-Snikt, so either we get you set up or I go and re-pack my important things too – and I really – really, don't wanna have to go and repack my things," he finished off with a light-hearted confession, looking at the doubtful girl with an honest and sincere expression.
"You forget what I told you last night? And at the zoo? " He asked the girl who looked away, recalling their talks which kept her heart warm.
"No..." she slowly shook her head, remembering what he told her.
"I meant it," Peter declared to her which caused her to shake her head with softened lips.
"I know…I meant what I said too," she stated with the same gentle and determined voice.
Peter smiled.
"So, can I dump all your stuff on your bed now?" he raised a brow which lifted with her mood.
"Wait," she gently shook her head, opening up her bag and bringing out a big book with the utmost care before allowing Peter to empty all of the bag's contents on her bed recklessly.
There were clothes, and some extra stacks of cash worth an eye-boggling amount of seventy thousand dollars which she added to her money bag which contained hundreds of thousands of dollars.
There were also guns too.
A lot of guns.
"Ummm…" Peter was caught off guard by the armaments that were within her bag.
"What are we gonna do with these?" He turned to his companion, unsure how to proceed or even how to get rid of them.
"We're not throwing them away," She staunchly declined the notion before it was even said. She had an M82 Barrett with armor-piercing rounds, multiple rifles, and a multitude of pistols, all of which being expensive armaments she would have to be a fool to discard.
"Okay… but we're not going to be using them either," Peter replied. Guns were lethal, they killed people, and that was like, the exact opposite of what they were going to be doing.
"You can use a gun without killing someone," Laura informed in an attempt to break his naïve and ignorant beliefs. As long as you avoided the head, the heart, and the legs, there was a high possibility of surviving a gunshot wound.
A possibility was still a possibility though…it was a shame her thought process which was swiftly allowing her to see his side was interrupted by him.
"Yeah and you can use a fork to eat pizza yet I still use my hands," Peter retorted which caused the raven-haired Laura to raise a brow.
"How does that relate to this?" Laura asked, left confused by his comparison. Out of all the ones he could have possibly made, the boy beside her chose the most confusing one.
"Um…that I prefer to use my hands?" He tried to make sense of his own comparison which was a sign that it wasn't a good one in the first place.
"You also prefer to be an idiot," she berated his failed and mind-boggling comparison.
"Look, the point is, we don't use guns like we don't use cutlery on pizza," Peter stated, giving up on his previous attempts to defend himself.
"Until it is necessary," Laura added with the same strength that was found in his voice.
"Using guns or cutlery?" Peter asked, suddenly lost as to what they were discussing.
Laura glared at him, unamused by his antics.
They would keep the guns with the settlement that they would only be used when absolutely needed – and non-lethally, Peter made sure to get that point across, recommending the girl to look into rubber bullets.
They were stuffed in her closet along with her bag of money.
She tried offering Peter a stack but…that was a wasted effort.
Why did she even bother?
After that debacle, Laura showed Peter most of what his – their, new home had to offer, with him constantly being surprised and flabbergasted by the size and wealth of everything around him. There were multiple spaces allocated with books and rest areas along with a handful of recreational ones with TVs but Peter was taken back by the actual dedicated grand library full of literature and academic works and the recreational room which stored board games, a pool table, and a seventy-inch 4k. Hooked up to the set were several generations of video game consoles and subscription services which left him amazed as he browsed at the never-ending library that was now at his disposal.
Looks like Peter could say goodbye to those free websites.
Much to his dismay however, Laura refused his offer to take a break and try out what the room had to offer for she did not want to get sidetracked due to there being much more to the mansion she hadn't yet shown him.
But just because she refused now, did not mean she would refuse on a later day.
She then brought him to the workshops which enabled the children to conduct and practice their hobbies.
There were also laundry facilities so the students could enact their responsibilities and get extra blankets and such should anything happen.
After showing him both the formal and informal dining room which the latter was more used for breakfast and lunch, Laura took Peter outside to show that recreational activities did not just end once you step foot outside.
Behind the mansion was an Olympic-sized pool with diving boards which were available at varying heights.
Adding more to his surprise, the pool was also accompanied with a large jacuzzi.
On the never-ending list of what the mansion had, there was also a tennis and basketball court.
Each turn they took – literally, Peter was left dazzled much to Laura's amusement.
Peter felt like a kid in an amusement park, put in a world which was full of wonder and structures which made him feel small, like a dwarf who had just stepped foot inside a giant's home.
He was left dumbfounded and stupefied by simple appliances that had gimmicks and mind-boggling price tags which he actually just couldn't fathom.
They had a microwave which had like, a tray thing which brought the food into the microwave with the press of a button.
How cool was that?
"I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to all this… like, you guys have a two thousand dollar microwave..." Peter stared at his visage which the river before him reflected. On top of everything the mansion had, the vast grounds also contained a Japanese garden whose existence can be credited solely to Munroe, a communications tower, a boathouse, docks, and a lake even larger than the property by the name of 'Breakstone.'
The mansion was completely self-sustaining, generating its own power and water supply – oh, and internet connection too, all thanks to McCoy who was apparently in his lab somewhere.
He knew he was being a bit melodramatic, but he felt out of place. Everything was too grand for him which was odd since he knew The Fantastic Four, he's been in The Baxter Building a plethora of times, but that was him visiting a friend's house, but this…this was his house…
So why did his mind still think about his little room in Queens?
"You will," Laura simply responded, hugging her knees as she sat next to him on the wooden docks, staring at his reflection as well. She knew the feeling of not fitting in the mansion, feeling out of place. It was different from the cell she spent all her life in, different from the little house she made countless memories that gave her comfort in dark times, different from the streets and ramshackled apartments she was forced to sleep in.
This mansion – this castle, she did not belong in it when she first stepped foot.
She was unsure if she belonged in it now.
"I can get used to this though," Peter turned to her, referencing the spot they were in right now, "You know how to pick good spots." They sat on the wooden docks, the rippling echo of waves crashing into one another creating a thoughtful ambiance.
"It is quiet, and no one ever comes down here," Laura said, taking in a deep breath. The seclusion of this spot had made it a preferred one when she wanted complete and utter solitude from those whom she had nothing in common with and initially had no desire to know.
"Can I start?" Peter asked, wanting her permission before he invaded her sacred area.
"I am showing you it for a reason," but permission had been granted since the moment they met.
And just like that, Laura Kinney's spot of solitude had become both hers and Peter Benjamin Parker's.
They sat in silence, looking at each other from the side when the other wasn't looking.
Peter shifted a bit, moving closer to her.
She did the same.
The subconscious worked with outer-dimensional forces to create a force of gravity that brought their hands closer and closer – the faint, phantom, tingling touch of the other did the rest.
"Ahem…" a cough had instantly caused the forces to repulse instead of attract, the two teens instantly whipping their heads to look at the individual who had invaded their spot.
It was Logan.
He stared at the two teens with hesitance and self-beratement as the invasion wasn't lost on him.
His gaze was stuck on where their hands were.
There was an influx of multiple emotions that he hadn't felt before, a feeling like he should've come later, a feeling like he should've come sooner, a feeling like he shouldn't care, while there was another – much louder voice that said he should.
He shook his head, silencing all of them before saying, "It's time, The Professor wants you – the both of you," and just as the man said, The Professor came in from behind the man, hands clasped with a pleasant smile.
"How do you like my Institute, Peter?" The Professor strolled side by side with the boy and girl duo as Logan walked behind them.
"It's a far cry from Queen's, Professor Xavier…" Peter replied, still unsure what to think of all this.
"It is Peter, but that doesn't mean it can't be called home," he encouraged the boy. He knew his grounds and property were too grand for some, and given Peter's humble beginnings, it would take him time, but he would get accustomed to it eventually.
The Professor would make sure Peter would feel at home as best he could.
"You're a mutant now, Peter, that means you belong here, just as you do, Laura," The Professor stated though they were hollow words to the two who hardly had any connection to their heritage. Laura's ties and connections were to the people she cared about. The only reason she arrived was due to Logan, and a huge reason why Peter had joined, was due to her, different from the others who had joined in order to master their power and learn about what being a mutant means.
But nonetheless, The Professor would have them care about their heritage and people.
"I know you know a bit about this Laura, but what do you and Peter know about me and the status of our people?" The Professor asked, causing the two to draw on the limited information they knew.
"Well, I know the greater populace doesn't know about us….oh, and the self-proclaimed 'leader of mutant-kind is a terrorist," Peter answered, voicing out all he knew.
"You seek to have mutants and humans live in harmony, while also defending them from evil-mutants," Laura gave her answer.
"Correct on both parts," The Professor was pleased with the information they had, "I'm going to be frank with the both of you, the way we deal with mutant affairs and defend humanity is through a team of mutants I call, 'The X-Men.' I want the both of you to be a part of that team," he declared his intentions flat out to the two who were surprised.
Laura had some semblance of what was going down in the mansion due to conversations, social cues, and her own ventures, but she did not care because she had no desire to go beyond her relationship with the others.
That relationship being that they occupied the same space, and that's it.
But with her new activities and outlook on things, she was left pondering both those subjects with uncertainty.
"Team? I dunno Professor…teams are not something I'm good at…and I'm already on one…" Peter doubtfully replied. On the first day of joining whatever Daredevils superhero team was called, he already pissed off Powerman – the one guy he didn't know, immediately.
The last thing he wanted was to anger those he would live with for the foreseeable future.
"Teams are a liability," Laura firmly stated with the utmost belief. Outside of her and Peter's little group of superheroes, she had never worked on a team before – never needed to.
"Whether or not the both of you like or are good at being on a team is irrelevant – I am making an exception due to your experience, your skills – due to the fact that people need you two," and with that declaration, the two skeptical teens were reeled in by that sentence.
"Need us? But wh-"
"Because not every mutant has the luxury of their powers being as discreet as claws or super strength, as seen with Kurt," The Professor interrupted Peter, "Many of our people are forced to hide in the shadows, in fear of others, in fear of their power – in fear of themselves. Their powers hurt people – can hurt them, but more importantly, they bring attention which prevents them from even beginning to understand their powers, and that attention, Peter, is not good," The Professor voiced the experience of many of those who lived in the shadows, who were hiding, who were in captivity, and have been treated worse than his mind would like to imagine right now.
"As people who have both, unfortunately, dealt with the misfortunes of life and the loss of innocence, I hope I have no need to explain what this attention brings," Laura and Peter looked to the side, their minds already guessing what was happening – already knowing…
"I hope that alone will rally you to my cause, but if not, here is more. These experiences many mutants face at the hands of others – the hands of humans, which seek to exploit them, makes them more than willing to join the other side," He stated which brought concern to Peter.
"Is that the side of the terrorist?" Peter asked and The Professor nodded.
"His name was Erik Lehnsherr…He was my friend," Professor Xavier said with a mournful frown, "As a child, he lost his parents to the worst of humanity and that key event has shaped his beliefs to the point that he believes Humanity will never coexist with us Mutant's, and the only way we can survive, is with their extermination," He grimly declared much to Peter's horror.
Laura remained unphased, not surprised by such a conclusion.
"Bu…but you're talking about mass genocide here…billions of people…billions of lives…" Peter hesitantly said, trying to make sure that was what the Professor was implying, and with a grim nod, he confirmed it.
"He goes by the name of 'Magneto' now, dead set on fulfilling his dream of saving mutant-kind by killing humanity with his Brotherhood of Mutants which grow by the day. This is why I need both of you, your talents, your powers, and your skills, will even the odds for us – allow us to beat the Brotherhood – whose numbers dwarf my own, and rally others to my cause, while also helping both of you with your current issue as well," The Professor added which surprised the teen duo even more.
"You see, Wilson Fisk is funded by a large trafficking organization that also traffic's superhumans, and that includes Mutants. Throughout this past month, we've been trying to intercept these shipments but Magneto's forces have beaten us at every turn. We believe Mystique – a mutant with the power to shapeshift into any human, has been implanted in the organization, feeding him information and where to strike, but with recent info given to us, we just might have the upper hand," The Professor moved his gaze to Logan who had briefed him on the file Fury had given Peter.
Each and everyone in this group had been briefed by that document in one way or another, and though the teens were aware that Wilson Fisk had allies who allowed and aided him to grab power, the knowledge of mutants being trafficked along with superhumans would have gone over their heads, though Laura did have her suspicions.
"I plan on using my X-Men to take down the horrific trafficking organization, and I think we all know what that would spell for your Kingpin," The Professor said, implying that dismantling his largest funder would take down the gluttonous man whose greed was destroying countless lives.
"Peter, Laura, what do you dream of?" The professor abruptly asked the two, ceasing their stroll and turning around to fully face the two who pondered the lands their minds brought them to.
Dreams…that word was almost foreign to the two who were ridden with nightmares and terrors given to them by unforgiving lives.
A simple mistake and a loved one died, meeting the wrong person spurred memories they were better off without.
But when the two did dream…they dreamed of the sun, of a life they always wanted.
Peter Benjamin Parker dreamed of being surrounded by the ones he loved, telling him they were there for him – that they loved him.
Laura imagined all those times she thought of another life when she was trapped in the cell.
She slightly glanced at Peter.
When she closed her eyes and drifted off into a slumber that did not greet her with memories that haunted her, she pictured her mother…her family…Logan…him…
"Peter, Laura, any dream worth having is a dream worth fighting for, and I will fight for your dream, so long as you fight for mine. Magneto see's the world as it is – take it as it is, not what it could be if just the proper effort is put in, but I do. I dream of a world where mutant and human-kind can co-exist, can love, can help each other using their power to better one another, and I need both of your help to achieve that dream," Professor Xavier passionately poured his heart out to the two who had such vast potential that it was only rivaled by Scott and Jean.
"So, what do you two say? Would you honor me by helping me achieve my dream? " He humbly asked the two promising teens – the two heroes before him, hoping that they would assist him with his dream.
Laura believed it to be naïve.
The only difference in her mind between mutants and humans were the abilities mutants had – everything else was the same. The same potential for cruelty, the same potential for mutual destruction. Conflict between each other has always been constant; someone has more than someone else so they start taking, someone else has a minor difference and they begin to get ostracized, someone starts fighting for their dreams which gets in the way of another, leading to the same outcome as all the other scenarios.
Conflict.
It was nature….
But by accepting that and taking it as it is, believing that things couldn't change would also be believing that she couldn't change…because it was in her nature to kill.
She glanced at Peter again and subconsciously felt her pendant, remembering those who were important to her.
He believed she could change.
That belief in her gave her the confidence to believe in it too.
Just as she could possibly change with their combined effort, maybe the outcome between mutant kind and humanity could too.
Laura Kinney dreamed of a world where she was a person who did not kill, a person who was cared about, who had friends, who had a family, a person who had things she could not begin to describe, much less comprehend.
She dreamed of a world where the things that happened to her never occurred.
To her.
Or anyone else.
She dreamed of seeing those who were lost to her again and keeping those who were here in arms reach.
Her green eyes met his blue ones, and she gave him the slightest nod, and with a grin now on his face, Peter Benjamin Parker turned to the Professor confidently, "Well, I'd say that you had us at 'people need us'" Peter stated much to the Professors joy.
Even if Peter had no interest in his mutant heritage or taking down The Kingpin, their interest still aligned with the fact that people needed his help.
If he could help people…
...He didn't have to finish that sentence.
He was wondering what being a mutant would bring yesterday, he got what he wanted. These mutant powers came with their own set of responsibilities, their own duties, and he promised Uncle Ben that he would do right by him.
He promised he would be better, and if his gut told him anything, this was a step closer to doing that.
The blow to The Kingpin's empire was just a cherry on top.
The Professor was overjoyed upon seeing the staunch determination that was over the two teens' faces, "Just don't expect us to be good team players," Peter said with a devilish grin.
"I'm not worried about that, Logan isn't good at that either," The Professor let out a small laugh upon gesturing to his companion who quickly crossed my arms.
"Not my fault Summers is stupid," Logan replied, causing The Professor to huff and roll his eyes.
"All I ask is that you try, for I already know Spider-Man will be looking out for the others," The Professor eagerly and proudly said with glee.
"Not Spider-Man – at least, not yet, but how about Peter Benjamin Parker and whatever new identity I gotta come up with?" He wasn't ready to expose his secret identity so soon and by the look that was on The Professor's face, he was alright with that.
"Even better, Peter," Professor Xavier was fine with whatever identity Peter would take during his tenure as an X-Man.
Spider-Man being a mutant wasn't something that needed to be known now.
Professor Xavier had said what he needed to be said and received what he wanted to be received.
Peter Parker and Laura Kinney had joined his team – joined his cause, to fight for his dream, their dreams, and the dreams of others.
Spider-Man and Talon had joined the X-Men.
They honored him.
"Now, the both of you, get dressed in more… activewear and meet us in the entrance room," The Professor said much to Peter's confusion but Laura understood what he was telling them to do.
She had been prohibited from even going near the faculties ever since her initial unpermitted excursion below the mansion.
During this excursion, she had discovered multiple rooms.
One of which being tailored for the training and the honing of one's skills.
"What for?" The completely oblivious Peter who had just arrived about three hours ago asked The Professor with utter confusion.
"Peter, I run a team of mutants to travel the world and defend it, you didn't think this was all my mansion had to offer, did it?" The Professor took amusement at the lack of thought that the genius and seasoned crime fighter had taken.
Though his institute was impressive by every standard, what lay underneath it made even his fabled castle pale in comparison.
"I just have one question for you two, How well acquainted are you with danger?" The Professor asked with a grin which prompted the young boy's eyes to lighten up in excitement upon getting what he was hinting.
"Professor, I have every major bad guy wanting to kill me, the odds constantly stacked against me, and more enemies than I do friends, you should be asking me how well I am with safety instead," Peter quipped, wondering if he knew what safety was or if he was just at home in the ever-present danger which was in his life.
Amused with Peter's joke, he turned to Laura.
Before he could even say her name though, he was silenced by a 'snikt.'
Logan was impressed – almost proud at the girl's nonverbal response which said all that needed to be said.
She was no stranger to danger either.
The Professor smiled.
"The two of you better leave me amazed, Peter," The Professor said with a grin, looking forward to the show that the boy would put on.
"Anyone can be amazed Professor," Peter scoffed at the specific choice of wording the man used.
"We'll leave you astonished."
Next: What's up, Danger?
I didn't want to publish this chapter so soon but I wanted to give you guys that authors note on the top.
Anyways, We're in X-mansion now and I can tell you, with how I'm currently writing The X-Men characters, I think I did a half-decent job representing and showing their characteristics and classic X-men Dynamic in the next chapter.
You guys are really gonna like nightcrawler, tahts all i'm gonna say.
I just wanted to show you PRofessor Xavier's goals while also intertwining them with the current plot.
Look guys, I'm cookin, now I want you to know If i'm cookin good.