A/N: Thanks as always Cheshire for the review. And yes! Jason is too much fun to not include in this new AU. If anyone has ideas on who else should make an appearance just let me know in your review. Also thanks to the new favs/followers. Now on to the next!

Logan tossed the piece of computer equipment onto the workbench in the garage with a grunt. The rifle he smoothly unloaded, disassembeled, and slipped the parts back throughout his tools. Last thing he needed was some kid acting stupid.

With that taken care of, Logan turned back to the hard drive. He'd noticed the drone the other day skimming the tree line and had been waiting for it this afternoon. He'd been able to hit it without damaging what he needed which only somewhat tampered the frustation at having to shoot it down in the first place.

It was clearly an AIM piece of tech. The name itself plastered on the side. Not the first time a group like that had taken an interest in Xaviers and not the first drone Logan had taken out of the sky.

He'd had Forge put something together he could use easily enough and taking the drive plugged it into the tablet that would automatically cut through most firewalls. He didn't have to wait long for the upload to be over.

As Logan scrolled through the pictures he knew the drone would have taken a low growl filled the garage.

Kara.

Every picture was of Kara ... some even capturing her inside the mansion.

Logan snapped the drive in half and popped a claw through it a few times for good measure.

He went upstairs and tossed a few things in a duffel. Left a note letting Chuck know he was headed out for a couple days. Then back to the garage and his bike hit the highway in under 30 minutes.

Logan was done grasping at shadows. He wanted answers.

Kara had hoped that she could be alone for a while.

After the exerci- 'game' Kara heard Kurt's voice reminded her again - Everyone seemed ... off. They were still their usual loud, strange, nice selves but - but it felt like it was coming from far away. Raven had mentioned noticing something was different but Kara had brushed it off. But then Kara had noticed one morning that no one looked her in the eyes anymore. That she noticed. It made her feel ... well she just didn't like it.

The panthress huffed. She knew this would happen eventually. It always did. Other mutants were afraid of her ... and that had been fine before. She had just thought it wouldn't happen here as well.

But it was the few whispers that she picked up that were new. Raven called it 'gossip.' She'd noticed it on a morning she'd woken up tired and had simply padded downstairs on all fours to grab breakfast. Walking upright or on all fours had never made much difference to her ... but then she'd heard some other students whispering ... about her ... about her attacking Mako ... dangerous ... beast ... feral ...

"There wasn't any coffee?" Raven's voice the same calm distant tone as her incantations as she did her morning meditations.

"Wasn't hungry." Kara rumbled as she'd slipped back in back on two feet.

Then she'd been in the training facility - or 'gym' as the students called it - doing her best to just focus on her strikes. She liked the wing chun. It was off in a corner and no one else seemed to really use it. The sounds she made striking the wooden posts created a rhythm and she found it calming.

Kara wasn't sure how long she'd been going but with a snarl she threw a final elbow and cracked a post clean in two. Panting with exhaustion, the pantheress had the first small smile on her muzzle in a while, but that stopped when she turned to leave and saw that most of the gym was looking in her direction. Course once she'd turned they all quickly looked away, the whispers like a low thunder in the feline's ears.

Kara had stood her ground, slowly taking in the entire room of older students, before letting out a low growl and stalking out of the gym.

It had felt funny anyway, suddenly finding herself alone and yet somehow she was the still the center of attention even when everyone couldn't look her in the eye. So Kara had decided to take off, exploring the grounds when not in class, and spending most other time in the old dilapidated barn on the edge of the property. She liked the quiet and the rafters were an easy place to lay low. It was only after doing this for a few days that one afternoon her ears perked up in surprise when she realized she wasn't alone.

"Leave." Kara's soft growl brought Mako up short just before the barn's entrance but that was quickly replaced by his usual confident smirk though he stepped in a bit slower than he'd just been walking.

"Kara? I've been looking everywhere for you." Mako kept his tone casual as he held up a small flame in his palm. It was still sunny outside but the barn was filled with shadows. One of which dropped suddenly in front of him getting a small yelp out of the taller mutant.

"I said leave." Mako was the last person Kara wanted to talk to considering he was the reason everyone was treating her funny. She turned to leave the barn entirely and head back to the forest.

"Hey wait -" but Kara bared her teeth in warning when the boy daringly tried to grab her shoulder, the latter quickly putting them both up in a surrendering position.

"Sorry sorry! Keep forgetting you're not a fan." but Kara kept growling, not stopping until she spotted what he was holding. It was so random it actually cut her growls.

"Ugly." Mako blinked.

"I'm sorry- what did you say-" and Kara gestured at the doll in his hand.

"Oh - This is Pabu and he's not ugly, he's cute." Mako defended in a tone Kara read as him trying to be funny as he made the little stuffed animal move for emphasis but the panthress remained unamused, her ear twitching in annoyance. The older boy sighed.

"Well i guess he is kinda ugly, That's why I'm trying to stitch him back together." Mako had been walking through the kitchen when he'd heard a few other students mention seeing 'the cat' stalking towards the barn earlier in the day. He'd forgotten the real reason he'd been slipping outside himself and had headed straight for the barn to investigate.

"Broken. Throw away." Kara scoffed, but the older boy only gripped the doll tighter as he slipped it into his back pocket.

There was a pause before Mako leaned back and sat on an old bale of hay.

"Look about the other today," and Kara noted his change of tone, the smirk no longer there.

"I'm sorry OK? I've been telling all the other kids to lay off. You don't deserve crap like that. The stupid part is that I get it. I GET why you attacked me like that. My parents- " and Kara noted how Mako pulled the doll back out without seeming to realize it as he spoke.

"My parents didn't put us on a plane like Bolin said. The Chinese government was rounding up mutants. Any mutant really. Didn't really matter if they were old or… kids like us... but no one ever heard from them again" and Kara slowly got out of her crouched position, suddenly relaxing a little trying to catch Mako's eye but the older boy couldn't seem to look anywhere but at Pabu. " My parents did everything to get me and my brother out. They were just rushing to push us in a truck with someone they'd paid off when the troops arrived at our house. Bolin was pretty young and already on the truck but - I saw what happened." Kara stepped closer as Mako formed a small flame in his palm before making it disappear.

"I just told him that story about the plane to make him feel better. It wasn't a year ago either - he just keeps saying that to make himself feel better. We've been at Xavier's for over 2 years now." and Mako flopped Pabu over.

"Pabu's the last thing ma and ba ever gave him. Some other kids were making fun of him for still sleeping with a toy… At least a while ago before you showed up and they tore it up pretty good. Been trying to fix him up the best I could but I guess I'm pretty bad at it." and Kara cocked her head.

"And the other kids?" Kara asked.

"They don't bother Bolin anymore." Mako's smirk back in place. He didn't mention him and Bolin now shared a room. Where he could keep a closer eye. Where he could -

"Protect." and Mako watched as the panthress calmly went to sit next to him.

"You, protect Bolin." she said simply, her eyes traveling from Pabu and then back to Mako who nodded. The two just sitting together in silence until Kitty came to tell them it was time to return to the mansion for dinner.

Mako shot Kara another smirk and headed inside, Kara watching him for a moment before getting up herself to head inside. But as she stepped outside the barn she paused, first her ears and then the rest of her turning towards the forest.

"You comin' Kara?" Mako called, Kitty standing next to him on tiptoes trying to figure out what Kara was staring at.

Kara kept her gaze locked on the forest for a few more seconds before turning back and heading towards the mansion.

Kara's growl cleared the path as students quickly stepped aside as the pantheress stalked her way upstairs.

"Problem?" Raven's tone as dry as ever as Kara practically kicked their door in, the older girl softly levitating all her plants and books in place. Raven glanced over the book she was reading to see her roommate almost seeming to be bracing herself before letting out yet another growl as she walked over to 'the pile.'

Or at least that's what Raven called it.

The second morning as roommates, Kara and Raven had come upstairs to grab their books for class when a stack of clothes had been waiting on Kara's neatly made bed.

Clearly confused, Kara had walked over and given the neatly folded collection an exploratory sniff, thinking the clothes were obviously someone elses.

But once Kara picked up a few pieces Raven couldn't help but chuckle at the look on the feral's face.

"Whose are these?" Kara's tone said it all.

"They're yours." and Kara took another quizzical look at the offending garment, cocking her head at the sparkly font.

"No way."

"Yes way…" Raven almost smirked as the little panthress let out a growl.

"Hey, I warned you what would happen if you didn't stop Jean when she mentioned she was going shopping for you." There was no answer, Kara had already started going through the pile.

"Hey, at least now you've got yourself your own Xavier barbie starter kit." Raven's tone full of faux-sympathy as Kara picked up one colorful piece after another.

Jean had of course done her best to cover the basics of what she thought any new girl at Xavier's would want. The fact is was already a cool fall meant that there were plenty of jeans, sweaters, leggings, dresses, and long sleeve tops. Even a coat with matching hat and gloves.

"I - I told her I just needed more of this." Kara's tone a bit distant as she held up a pastel sweater.

"Think I can see that near the bottom." Raven mentioned and quickly tossing aside most of the pile Kara did find a few pair of running shorts and tank tops ... in every color but black, way too tight, and most with designs Kara couldn't even recognize.

Kara had let out a snarl and had simply pushed the entire pile off of her bed where it had sat for almost a week. Kara had only swapped tanks once and that had been after turning the one grey tank inside out to hide the yellow lightning bolts.

Then she'd walked into Ororo's english class this morning. Professor Monroe had pulled Kara aside on her way to her seat near the back of the room and asked her to change.

Kara had looked down at her clothes clearly confused. I mean sure there were some tears ... and there was a bit of blood on it from the rabbit she'd brought down the other day ... but they still covered everything.

Ororo had insisted. Now Kara was growling as she tossed the pile everywhere for anything she thought she could stand.

Ororo however had taken Kara's lack of clean clothes as a sign of help. The feline's ears swiveled towards the door before falling flat as she bowed her head in defeat.

"Heard you needed some fashion help!" Kitty sang out as she practically danced her way into the room Raven's bowed head now quickly matching her roommates. Not that Kitty noticed of course

"I -" Kara tried stopping this before it stopped but Kitty had been quietly approached by Professor Storm to go after Kara and help her find something to wear and the girl was in heaven. She still felt her first try at getting Kara into real clothes was a personal failure.

"Don't have to say a thing! Don't worry, Professor Ororo already told me we only got like 5 minutes so you just go into the bathroom and I'll do all the work." Kitty urged as she pushed a reluctant Kara into the bathroom and quickly shut the door.

Raven just watched from a safe distance, lamanting to herself that she probably had to clean this all up as Kitty quickly sorted through the pile at a rapid rate and grabbed a couple items before tossing them quickly into the bathroom which Kara had sadly discovered had bolted windows.

Kara held up what Kitty had given her and released a low growl of defeat. Considering Storm's was one of the few classes she actually liked, being something she'd never really had the opportunity to do before and knowing she needed to get better. She had looked over at Raven rolling through her thick books, switching between two or three in an hour, as she struggled to get through a few pages.

Kara weighed the pros and cons before haphazardly putting on the outfit Kitty had handed to her.

"You coming out or what?" Kitty called, shooting Raven a nervous smile who simply gave a sarcastic thumbs up.

"This stupid." Kara growled as she finally emerged, ears folded back, tail limp and clearly uncomfortable though from the smile on Kitty's face you'd never know it.

Kitty had gone with a pair of dark blue jeans and a light purple tshirt. Moving quickly before anyone could protest and Kitty knew Kara would, she pulled a light belt around the feline's already slim waist and threw a simple gold necklace over her head. Raven was having trouble keeping herself from laughing outright.

"Now you look perfect! I wish we had some time for your hair ..." Kitty actually reached out a hand as if to fix Kara's typically wile mane but a low growl made her pull up short. Kara felt like she could barely move in these things, she was hot, and the hole she'd cut for her tail itched. Kitty of course never lost that smile.

"Fine fine you big baby ... now c'mon we gotta get to class!" And with that Kitty grabbed Kara's hand and the pair sank through the floor but not before Kara shot Raven a look she recognized too well.

Raven chuckled to herself and went back to reading, her morning free of classes she cared about. She gave the pile a look as an idea formed in her head ... which Raven quickly shook away.

She wasn't like Jean or Kitty. She didn't need to get involved in anyone else's business. Least of all that kind of business.

It was an hour later when Kara finally came back to the room and to Raven's silent dismay with Kitty in tow.

"See that wasn't so bad was it?" The cheerful brunette clapped but the feline wasn't having any of it.

"Finally…" Kara growled out and to Kitty's horror and Raven's amusement, the panthress ripped herself out of the clothes. A tattered pair of jeans, belt and what remained of a shirt now rags on the ground. For once, the usually talkative Kitty was silent.

"Those… those were like really nice jeans…" but Kara just shrugged, silently making her way to the bed and lying there, back to her friends. Silent.

Raven saw Kitty's expression fall and she groaned internally, being an empath she really didn't need this negative energy. Well more of this negative energy. For once the usually passive Raven had to be proactive.

"OK Kitty, I think Kara needs some quiet time."

"But she looks so sad ... I think I'll stay here till she feel better." and Raven actually felt a nerve in her head clench.

"Good idea, I was also about to start my meditation. Want to join?" and to add emphasis, Raven made the room go dark, her eyes glowing. She heard Kitty swallow.

"Actually you know what, I'll- I'll just come check on her tomorrow. See you in class tomorrow Kara!" the brunette called out before phasing out of the room.

It had been almost an hour and Kara still hadn't moved from her position. Raven looked up from her book. Not that she cared or anything...but…

"Want to listen to some Blondie?" and the panthress shook her head, not even looking at the pair of headphones Raven had levitated over.

"S'ok" and the older girl frowned as Kara went from laying in bed to out her window in one movement, barely moving a sheet. The fact the feline was basically in her underwear not seeming to be much a problem. Luckily it was already dark out but ... OK now she had to do something.

Later That Night

"Hey idiots." Raven called as a greeting as she approached Remy and Jason, the pair playing pool as the night winded down.

"Child of Doom, bringer of darkness, oh emo one above all." The two taking turns tossing out replies pretending to hail her as she entered the room. Raven just rolled her eyes at the stupidity of boys.

"You two still owe me right?" Raven didn't really ask as she looked between the two and pulled a piece of paper from her back pocket.

"What's this? Deer blood ... a list of first born ... some human organs you need for a ritual?" Remy wondered aloud as he took the paper.

"Very funny," Raven quipped back as Jason posted over the table to come see what was on the list, "can you get it?"

"Course Remy can get this stuff but ... this really what you want cheri? You got that class canceled and you wanna use yo fava on this?" Remy questioned while Jason seemed equally confused and frankly disappointed.

"Yea Raven I gotta say I'm lil worried about you. There's nothing on here we need to rob a crypt for. Or a gun depot. You sure you're not possessed?" Jason snarked

"Just get it." Raven threatened before turning back and going back to her room.

The Next Morning

Kara had once again angrily kicked the door in and had once again - and surprising no one at this point - shredded her way out of the light blue shirt Kitty had insisted would go so well with her eyes. Not that it mattered to the little panther who unceremoniously collapsed onto her mattress. Wait ...

"Did it get bigger?" and Raven shrugged, glued to her book as always. Swallowing a growl, Kara started to make her way through the pile only to stop in surprise, her ears twitching. Black tanks, shorts and right at the bottom ... Kara turned to look at her roommate who was doing a very good job of pretending she hadn't moved in the slightest all morning. But the panthress knew she had. Her scent was all over this stuff.

"Look don't make a big deal out of it. It's and old shirt and I can't have you making a mess and breaking down the door every day." and Kara smirked before gesturing to the shirt.

"Can I?"

"You do you. But please for the love of god don't get blood on it." and Raven tried her best to keep her face straight as she heard the familiar sound of a tail thumping excitedly. Kara quickly slipped on the band shirt, the sleeves already artfully cut, before carefully looking at the picture printed on it. It was the same as Raven's Green Day vynl.

Raven shared her Green Day.

It hadn't taken Logan long to find the AIM research lab he was looking for. That had been the simple part.

The part that was bothering him had been what he'd found there.

The place had been practically torn apart. He'd walked through the now empty building slowly, taking in everything he could. At this point the place had been scrubbed of bodies and anything worth recovering. But that didn't mean there was nothing.

The explosions had started from the middle of the building, small enough to only cause superficial damage, but enough to trigger a lockdown of the building. The damage was worse the higher Logan climbed, making him assume that was where the real battle had taken place. The research labs had taken the worse of it. Completely burned out judging from the scorch marks covering the walls.

But that had been the one thing that stuck with Logan as he rode back on his bike. The walls.

They had been covered in claw marks. Claw marks he recognized from a pantheress back at Xaviers. Just bigger. Much bigger.

Logan picked up his speed. He'd gone out to find answers and all he was coming back with was more questions.