Chapter 2: Adjusting

Reviews:

Guest: Glad you liked it and I hope you enjoy this chapter!

headreviewer mk2: Here's more! Hope you enjoy!

mateuslacerda359: But which Goth will he end up with? It may seem like Jaune's about to get into a Poly relationship, but no, Jaune's either gonna end up with either Rogue or Wanda in the end.

NinjaFang1331: Glad you like it! Here's the second chapter!

ghust95: You guessed right! The moment I decided to make this story I knew I wanted to add a version of the "House of M" storyline to this story but how we get there and how it ends is still in the works, but before we even get into that, there will be plenty of story Arcs that build up to it.

A/N:

So real quick, here are the future Storylines that are coming up after a few Chapters of Jaune somewhat adjusting to Earth:

The Dark Pheonix Saga:

We'll be introducing both Mister Sinister and the Hellfire Club in the Arc with Sinister working in the background and trying just to get close enough to the X-Men to steal their DNA while Jean and the Hellfire Club will be the main focus point.

Mutant Massacre:

A couple of chapters introduce The whole Marauders team causing more grief within the team as one of their own is lost.

War with Marauders:

The X-Men and the Brotherhood must team up to finally put an end to Sinister and his plans, but Sinister has a trump card that neither group was prepared for...

Captain America, X-23 returns, Colossus, & Doctor Strange Chapters:

A few chapters that deal with the cure for Captain America, the return of X-23 and the reveal of Stryker, Colossus becoming an X-Men, and the appearance of Doctor Strange as he needs the help of the X-Men to defeat agatha harkness from trying to find the Darkhold

Days of Future's Past:

Introducing Nimrod and the X-Men who travel to the past to fix the future and trying to prevent the end of the world.

House of M:

Everyone is living their most perfect lives, the world is runned by Mutants with Humans being the minority, but something doesn't feel right as and Rogue and Logan remember everything... This perfect life is fake and they can't live in a world built on lies.

Anyway! I hope you enjoy the 2nd chapter of this story, because boy oh boy, we're building up to something interesting~!

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After a long while of clearing out Evan's belongings and moving them into the attic, Jaune took a step back and looked around what was now his new room. It felt strangely empty without the posters, clothes, and personal touches that once filled it, making the space seem much larger than it actually was. There was an odd hollowness to it—like he was stepping into someone else's life rather than starting a new chapter of his own.

Turning to Scott with a curious expression, Jaune raised a brow. "If you don't mind me asking... what happened to Evan?" he asked. A small frown tugged at the corner of his lips. "He's not... dead, is he?"

Scott let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Nah, it's nothing like that," he reassured him. "Evan's alive and kicking, but he left the Institute to protect a group of mutants who live in the sewers, they call themselves the Morlocks,"

Jaune's confusion deepened. "Mutants? Living in the sewers?" he repeated, trying to wrap his head around the idea. "Why? Couldn't they live here, like you guys do?"

Scott sighed, running a hand through his hair. "They could, but a lot of them choose not to," he explained. "And honestly? Some of them don't have much of a choice, ever since people found out about mutants, most of them treat us like freaks—kids, teens, adults, it doesn't matter, but the ones who don't have a human-like appearance? They've got it the worst," His voice carried a bitterness that told Jaune just how deep the prejudice ran.

Jaune clenched his fists, his stomach twisting at the thought. "Oum... that's terrible," he muttered. His mind immediately flashed to the Faunus of his world—the discrimination they faced, the hardships they endured. "That sounds a lot like what happens to the Faunus where I come from, a lot of them are treated just as badly,"

Scott gave him a small, understanding nod. "Yeah, I guess that kind of thing isn't just limited to one world," he said. "But it's not all bad, there are good people out there—humans who don't treat us like we're some kind of disease, Kurt's girlfriend, for example—she's human, and she's been incredibly supportive, she doesn't see him as a monster or anything like that, She's just... understanding," His expression brightened slightly.

Jaune found himself smiling at that. "At least there are still people like that," he said, his tone lighter than before.

Scott nodded in agreement, a glimmer of hope in his eyes. "Yeah... And sometimes, that's enough to keep going,"

Jaune nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at his lips. It was comforting to know that even in a world so different from his own, there were still people willing to stand up for those who were treated unfairly.

Before he could dwell on the thought for too long, Rogue stepped into the room, her arms casually crossed over her chest as she leaned against the doorframe. "Scott, Jean's lookin' for ya," she announced.

Scott turned to her with a curious expression. "Yeah? Where is she?"

"Down en the kitchen," Rogue replied, tilting her head slightly.

Scott raised a brow. "I thought you were helping Kurt put the rest of Evan's things away? What were you doing in the kitchen?"

Rogue shrugged. "Ah was, but Kurt figured he'd just teleport everythin' up to the attic," she explained. "So ah figured, why not grab a quick snack? ran into jean while ah was down they-yur, 'n she asked meh where ya were, told her, 'n she asked meh to come git ya,"

Scott chuckled, shaking his head. "Duty calls, I guess," he said before turning back to Jaune. "I'll see you later, Jaune."

"Yeah, see you later," Jaune replied, watching as Scott made his way out of the room.

As he left, Jaune turned to Rogue, who was still watching Scott disappear down the hall. "So... who's Jean?" he asked, curiosity piqued.

Rogue turned back to him with a smirk. "Oh, little miss perfect?" she said with a teasing drawl. "She's scott's girlfriend—another mutant, just lak us,"

Jaune nodded, filing that information away. "She must be pretty great if Scott's with her."

Rogue let out a small chuckle. "Oh, she's somethin' a-right," she said, her tone somewhere between fond and exasperated.

Rogue leaned casually against the doorframe, a playful smirk tugging at her lips as she crossed her arms. "So, ya still want that tour, blondie?" she asked, her Southern drawl giving the words a teasing lilt.

Jaune chuckled, rubbing the back of his head as he returned her smile. "Yeah, I'd like that," he replied. "Gotta figure out where everything is before I start wandering around aimlessly and get lost,"

Rogue let out a light laugh. "Good call, this place is bigger than it looks, 'n trust me, it ain't fun gettin' turned around, especially when ya end up in Mr. McCoy's lab, last time Ah did, Ah nearly lost mah ankles,"

Jaune blinked. "Why?"

"Some new weapon he was testin' out for the danger room," She told him.

Jaune snickered. "I'll make sure to stay clear of his room labs then,"

"Smart move," Rogue said with a grin before motioning for him to follow. "Come on, Ah'll show ya 'round, first stop—where we stuff our faces,"

Jaune laughed as he followed her out of the room, feeling a little more at ease. Maybe being stuck here for a while wouldn't be so bad after all.

As Jaune and Rogue descended the grand staircase, he couldn't help but take in the sheer scale of the mansion's entrance hall. The high ceilings, intricate woodwork, and large windows made the space feel almost regal. It was a far cry from the more utilitarian structures back in Remnant. His gaze wandered toward the outside, where a group of teens clad in sleek black training suits were engaged in some kind of sparring session. However, what truly caught his attention was the figure among them—a large, fur-covered creature moving with surprising agility.

Jaune squinted, watching as the blue-furred figure effortlessly flipped through the air before landing in a crouch, correcting a student's stance with a precise motion. "Uh... who's that?" he asked, pointing out the window.

Rogue followed his finger and smirked when she saw who he was referring to. "That? That's Mr. McCoy," she said casually.

Jaune's eyes widened in shock. "That's him?" He turned to her in disbelief. "No offense, but when you said he was some kind of scientist, I figured he'd be more... I don't know, cyborg-looking or something,"

Rogue chuckled. "Yeah, Ah get that reaction a lot," she admitted. "But don't let the fur fool ya—Mr. McCoy's one of the smartest guys 'round here, he helps out with repairin' our gear, tech, 'n all kinds of other stuff,"

Jaune hummed thoughtfully. "Wonder if he could help me keep up with Crocea Mors' maintenance," he muttered under his breath, making a mental note to ask later.

Rogue resumed walking toward the kitchen, and Jaune quickly fell into step beside her. The enticing aroma of food drifted through the halls as they neared their destination. However, as soon as they stepped inside, they were met with a sight neither of them had been prepared for—Scott and a red-haired girl, who Jaune assumed to be Jean, locked in an enthusiastic make-out session against the counter.

Jaune immediately froze in place, unsure of what to do, but Rogue had no such hesitation.

"Aw, c'mon!" she groaned loudly, throwing up her hands in exasperation. "In the kitchen!? Really!?"

Scott and Jean jerked apart, both looking equally startled, Jean's face flushing while Scott awkwardly adjusted his visor.

"Some of us actually eat in here, ya know?" Rogue added, wrinkling her nose in disgust. "Ain't nobody wanna see y'all swappin' spit where we make sandwiches!"

Jaune pressed his lips together, trying—and failing—not to laugh at Rogue's dramatic outrage.

Scott awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck, clearly flustered as he avoided Rogue's pointed glare. "Uh... sorry, guys," he mumbled, shifting uncomfortably.

Jean, her face turning a shade of red that nearly matched her hair, averted her gaze and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "We, uh... we didn't think anyone would walk in," she admitted, her voice sheepish.

Rogue raised an eyebrow, crossing her arms as she fixed them both with a skeptical stare. "Really?" she drawled. "Y'all seriously thought no one was gonna walk into the kitchen? the kitchen, of all places? where people come to, ya know, eat? 'n that y'all could just have a whole little make-out session without gettin' interrupted?"

Jaune, unable to hold back any longer, snorted. He quickly covered his mouth, but the damage was done.

Scott let out a sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Okay, okay, we get it," he muttered. "Poor judgment on our part,"

"Yeah, no kiddin'," Rogue shot back, rolling her eyes before gesturing toward Jaune. "An' way to give our guest a first impression, by the way, Jaune, meet Jean Grey, team psychic, Scott's girlfriend, 'n apparently a real romantic opportunist,"

Jean groaned, still trying to recover from the embarrassment, but she managed to turn toward Jaune and offer him a small, apologetic smile. "Uh... nice to meet you, Jaune," she said.

Jaune, still amused, gave her a small wave. "Nice to meet you too," he replied. "And, uh... don't worry, I'll just pretend I didn't see anything,"

"Please do," Jean muttered, still looking mortified.

Rogue huffed. "Right... Well, now that we've walked en on that, let's git to another room where there ain't two people makin' out," She turned to the fridge, muttering under her breath, "Ah swear, caint keep their hands off each other now,"

Jaune chuckled, shaking his head as the awkward tension in the room lessened as he and Rogue moved on to another room.

As Rogue continued leading Jaune through the halls of the mansion, he took the opportunity to ask more about Earth. He quickly learned that while there were some similarities between Earth and Remnant—such as cars and some advanced technology—there were also massive differences. For one, Earth had multiple countries, each with its own government, economy, and way of life. They didn't use Dust for energy, instead relying on electricity, fossil fuels, and nuclear power. The currency also varied widely between nations, unlike Remnant's more unified lien system.

But what stood out the most to Jaune was the complete lack of Faunus. Instead, Earth had Mutants and if some of the stories Rogue told him were true, there were even superhumans beyond that, people whose powers weren't linked to mutation at all.

What really threw him, though, were the insane news reports Rogue casually mentioned.

"So, wait," Jaune said, trying to wrap his head around it all. "You're telling me there's some giant green monster that fights the military?"

"Yep," Rogue confirmed with a smirk. "Big, mean, and stronger than anything Ah've ever seen, it was all ovah tv,"

Jaune blinked. "Okay... and there's also some guy just, swinging around a city with webs?"

Rogue nodded. "hey call 'im... Spider-something, real do-gooder from a few things Ah heard, but the papers ain't too fond of 'im,"

Jaune rubbed his temple. "And New York is a city and a state?"

Rogue chuckled at his confusion. "Yeah, ah know, it's weird, the city's called New York City, but it's inside New York State, The professor's school is upstate, far from the city, so ya ain't gonna see spider-man swingin' 'round here,"

Jaune let out a breath, shaking his head. "Alright... and this Fantastic Four? What's their deal?"

"They're a group of super-powered fellahs who save people," Rogue explained. "Real famous too—got their own buildin' 'n everythin', There's some stretchy guy, a fire guy, invisible woman, 'n some big rock dude,"

"That name still sounds weird, but I guess I can't judge, I mean my team's named after a berry,"

Rogue laughed. "Yeah? What, Team Blueberry?"

Jaune chuckled. "Close, we're called Team JNPR, pronounced Juniper, it's a mixture of some of my team's initals,"

Rogue gave him an amused look. "Huh, well, ah guess ah caint talk, Ah'm runnin' 'round with people callin' themselves X-Men, after all,"

Jaune smirked. "Fair point,"

They continued walking, and after a moment of silence, Jaune let out a breath.

"You know, all this sounds pretty crazy," he admitted with a smile.

"Yeah, Ah know," Rogue agreed. "Earth is a pretty weird place... but ah guess your world is too, Ah mean, you've got magical rocks, soulless monsters, people with animal parts—can't imagine livin' en a world lak that,"

Jaune scoffed. "Funny, I was about to say the same thing about Earth," Jaune told her. "Back home, a world like this would be a dream come true... No Grimm, no walls keeping people trapped, no constant fear that one bad day or too much negativity could bring an attack,"

Rogue's smile faded slightly at that. "Huh... never really thought about it that way," she murmured. "Guess every world's got its own kinda problems,"

Jaune nodded. "Yeah, grass is always greener, right?"

Rogue smirked, nudging him with her elbow. "Sure, blondie, just don't expect this place to be all sunshine 'n roses either, we've got plenty of problems of our own,"

Jaune chuckled. "Wouldn't expect anything less,"

As Jaune and Rogue stepped outside, the fresh air greeted them, along with the sight of Hank McCoy overseeing a training session with a group of younger mutants. The "New Mutants," as Rogue had briefly mentioned earlier, were decked out in black and yellow training suits, sparring and honing their abilities under Hank's watchful eye. From blasts of energy to sudden shifts in the terrain, it was clear this wasn't just an ordinary workout—it was controlled chaos with superpowers.

Despite the intensity of the training, Hank's deep, scholarly voice rang out, calm and instructive. "Good form, Roberto, but try to keep your footing steady! And Rahne, excellent reaction time—keep reading your opponent!"

When Hank finally caught sight of Rogue and Jaune, he raised a hand, signaling the group to pause. With a warm smile, he turned toward the two newcomers and began striding over, his movements graceful despite his large, beastly frame. The students followed closely behind, some curious about Jaune, others still buzzing with energy from their training.

"Ah, Rogue," Hank greeted, his deep voice carrying an unmistakable warmth. "A pleasure to see you, as always,"

"Hello, Mr. McCoy," Rogue replied with an easy smile.

Hank then turned his attention to Jaune, his keen eyes observing him with interest before he extended a large, clawed blue hand. "And you must be our guest, a pleasure to meet you, young man, I am Dr. Henry Philip McCoy, though you may call me Hank, Mr. McCoy, or if you prefer, simply Beast,"

Jaune took his hand, surprised by the firm yet gentle grip. Despite Hank's somewhat intimidating, animalistic appearance, his demeanor exuded nothing but warmth and intelligence. "Jaune Arc," he introduced himself with a polite nod. "Nice to meet you too, Mr. McCoy,"

Hank's smile widened. "Ah, a strong handshake! A good sign of character! And I see you're none the worse for wear after that rather, shall we say, sudden arrival of yours," Hank said. "You must be made of steel, young man,"

Jaune chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. "Something like that," he said. "I'm sure the Professor will fill you in on all the details later,"

"Indeed," Hank agreed with a knowing nod. "Though I have no doubt your story is quite the fascinating one,"

Then, stepping aside, he gestured toward the students behind him. "In the meantime, allow me to introduce you to some of our promising young students. They are quite the remarkable bunch."

A short haired brunette teen with an easygoing smirk stepped forward first. "Bobby Drake," he said, offering a handshake. "But you can call me Iceman,"

Jaune took his hand, but immediately regretted it when an icy chill spread through his fingers. His eyes widened slightly as he pulled back and saw a thin layer of frost on his palm.

Bobby laughed. "Whoops! Sorry about that, man... Reflex,"

Jaune shook off the cold with a chuckle. "No worries, just didn't expect a literal icebreaker," Jaune joked.

Next to step forward was a girl with long brown hair and a tanned complexion. She crossed her arms, giving Jaune a confident smile. "I'm Amara Aquilla," she introduced herself, then added with a smirk, "or Magma, if you prefer the cooler name,"

Jaune raised an eyebrow, grinning. "Let me guess... you control lava?"

Amara chuckled. "Bingo, but it's not just lava—I can also turn into molten rock myself," She told him. "Makes for a great party trick," she joked.

Jaune nodded in understanding. "Noted," he replied. "Just remind me not to stand too close if you decide to show off,"

Amara smirked. "Good call,"

Stepping up next was a tall, lanky young man with short, sandy-blond hair, and a fair complexion. "I'm Samuel Guthrie, but you can call me Sam, or Cannonball, if you wanna go by codenames,"

Jaune shook his hand, tilting his head slightly. "Cannonball? Lemme guess—you control water or something?"

Sam let out a hearty laugh. "Nah man, I propel myself forward like a human rocket, and once I get goin', ain't nothin' stopping me! I can smash clean through walls, cars, even Sentinels, without so much as a scratch,"

Jaune blinked. "That sounds both awesome and terrifying,"

Sam grinned. "It has its perks,"

Before Jaune could respond, another student stepped forward—he had fair skin and blonde hair with three orange streaks. "Name's Ray, Ray Carter, but everyone around here calls me Berzerker,"

Jaune offered his hand. "Nice to meet you, Ray,"

Ray grinned as he took Jaune's hand, though there was a slight flicker of energy between them, making Jaune pull back instinctively.

"What was that?" Jaune asked, flexing his fingers as a faint tingling sensation ran up his arm.

Ray chuckled. "That's my power, I generate, absorb, and manipulate electrical energy," He snapped his fingers, and a small spark of blue electricity danced between them before fizzling out. "Comes in handy when the power goes out, or when I wanna give Bobby a shock for freezing my locker shut,"

Jaune tilted his head slightly, recalling a certain hammer-wielding friend of his. "Huh... I actually knew someone back in my world who could do something like that," he said, thinking of Nora and her Semblance, which allowed her to absorb electricity and use it to enhance her strength.

Ray raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "Your world?" he echoed, clearly thrown off by Jaune's choice of words. "What do you mean by-?"

Before he could finish, another student eagerly stepped forward, effectively cutting off the conversation.

"My name's Jubilation Lee, but just call me Jubilee," she introduced herself with a bright smile. "Way easier to say, trust me,"

Jaune chuckled at her enthusiasm. "Got it, Jubilee it is," he said. "So, what's your power?"

Jubilee grinned and held up her hands, wiggling her fingers. "I can generate bursts of colorful energy from my fingertips, I call them fireworks!"

Jaune's brow lifted in interest. "Fireworks?"

"Yup!" Jubilee nodded. "They're not just for show, either, I can use them to blow things up, blind enemies, and all sorts of other fun stuff, great for celebrations, too," She smirked.

Jaune nodded. "Sounds pretty versatile,"

Just as he finished speaking, a younger boy, about Amara's age, stepped forward. He had short brown hair and an easygoing grin. "Name's Jamie Madrox," he introduced himself. "But when we're training, I go by Multiple,"

Jaune tilted his head. "Multiple?" he repeated. "Why do they call you that?"

Before Jamie could answer, Bobby clapped a hand on his back—hard. Instantly, with a series of soft pops, three identical copies of Jamie stumbled forward, all looking just as surprised as the original.

Jaune's eyes widened, and then a grin spread across his face. "Whoa! Clones!" he said, clearly impressed. "That's pretty cool!"

The original Jamie rubbed the back of his head sheepishly as the duplicates steadied themselves. "Yeah, it's kinda my thing," he admitted. "Anytime I get hit with enough force—boom! More of me,"

Jaune folded his arms, grinning as he nodded in approval. "That could be super useful in a fight, I bet you can overwhelm your opponents by outnumbering them,"

Jamie chuckled. "That's the idea! Though, keeping them all in check can be a little tricky sometimes,"

Jaune watched as the duplicates started playfully shoving each other, clearly not in sync and he laughed. "Yeah, I can see that," Jaune said.

Next to step forward was a tall, athletic young man with dark brown, somewhat curly hair and deep brown eyes. His confident posture and easygoing smile radiated energy. "Hey there, man, name's Roberto Da Costa," he introduced, his Brazilian accent adding a smooth cadence to his words. "But like everyone else here, you can call me Sunspot,"

Beside him, a petite girl with fiery red hair tied into two small pigtails stepped up. Her emerald green eyes gleamed with a mix of warmth and quiet curiosity. "And I'm Rahne Sinclair, or Wolfsbane," she said, her Scottish accent immediately catching Jaune's ear.

Jaune smiled at them both, nodding in greeting. "Nice to meet you both," he said, taking in their names. "Sunspot and Wolfsbane, huh? Sounds like you guys should be in a band,"

Roberto grinned. "Heh, not a bad idea, actually, we'd be the hottest act around—literally, in my case," he joked, holding up his hand as golden energy flickered across his fingers.

Rahne chuckled, shaking her head at Roberto's usual confidence. "Aye, and I suppose I'd be the one scaring off the fans when I transform," she said with a playful smirk.

Before Jaune could respond, a sultry voice cut through the conversation.

"Don't forget about me, handsome~!"

The crowd of mutants parted as a blonde girl sauntered forward, her hips swaying slightly with each step. She wore deep red lipstick, and her smirk carried an unmistakable flirtatious edge. With little regard for personal space, she closed the gap between her and Jaune, tilting her head as she eyed him up and down with half-lidded eyes.

"Nice to meetcha, stud, name's Tabitha Smith, but you can call me Boom-Boom," " she purred.

Jaune barely had time to react before she leaned in slightly, resting a hand on her hip.

"Jaune, right? I like that name," she continued, her voice dripping with amusement. "Rolls off the tongue real nice, ya know what I mean?"

Jaune stiffened slightly, caught off guard. Back when he worked as a crossing guard in Mantle, he had been flirted with plenty of times—sometimes playfully, sometimes aggressively. You'd think he'd be used to it by now, but nope. It still threw him off every time.

His brain scrambled for a response, and what came out was—unfortunately—not his finest moment.

"Uh, ha... yeah... the ladies love it?" he said, his face turning a light shade of pink as he immediately cringed internally.

Roberto outright laughed, while Rahne covered her mouth, stifling a giggle. Tabitha, on the other hand, seemed thoroughly amused.

Tabitha's grin widened as she trailed a single finger down the center of Jaune's chest, her touch slow and deliberate.

"Ohoh! I bet they do~!" she purred, her voice dripping with mischief.

Jaune's entire body went rigid, his brain short-circuiting as he struggled to figure out whether to step back, laugh it off, or simply combust on the spot. His face burned hotter than a furnace, and he wasn't sure if it was from embarrassment or sheer panic.

Rogue, standing just a step away, narrowed her eyes at the scene unfolding before her. She knew Tabitha well enough to understand that the girl loved to push people's buttons, teasing them just for the fun of it. And Jaune, being new and clearly easy to fluster, was a prime target.

But that wasn't the only reason irritation flared in her chest.

Rogue clenched her jaw slightly, arms crossing over her chest as she shot Tabitha an unimpressed glare. It wasn't just about Tabitha's antics—it was the fact that Jaune was one of the only people Rogue could touch without fear. He didn't recoil from her, didn't have to be cautious around her like everyone else did. That kind of closeness, that kind of normalcy, was something she never got to experience. And now here was Tabitha, casually invading Jaune's space, brushing her fingers against him without a second thought.

Rogue barely got to feel what it was like to be close to someone without gloves, and seeing someone else take that opportunity so lightly... it frustrated her more than she wanted to admit.

"A-right, Boom-Boom," Rogue drawled, stepping in before things got any worse. She grabbed Jaune's wrist and pulled him slightly back, creating a bit of distance between him and Tabitha. "Quit messin' with Jaune before ya give 'im a heart attack,"

Tabitha pouted playfully, "Aww, c'mon, Rogue, I'm just havin' a little fun! Can ya blame me? He's cute, and that dorky blush is adorable,"

Jaune, still recovering, let out an awkward chuckle. "Uh... thanks? I think?"

Tabitha smirked, winking at him. "Anytime, stud,"

Rogue rolled her eyes, gripping Jaune's wrist just a little tighter before finally letting go.

"Whatever... We still got more of the tour left, so if ya're done, let's git movin'," she said, her tone carrying just the slightest edge.

Tabitha chuckled, clearly enjoying how much she was getting under Rogue's skin. "Fine, fine," she relented, stepping back with a knowing grin. "But I'll be seein' you around, Jaune~,"

Jaune gave an awkward wave before quickly falling in step with Rogue. As they walked away, he let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding.

Rogue glanced at him, noticing how red his ears still were. "You a-right there, Casanova?" she asked, unable to hide a smirk.

Jaune groaned, rubbing his face. "I don't even know what just happened..."

Rogue chuckled. "Welcome to the X-Men, trust meh its only gunna git weirder from here," she said.

As they continued their tour around the mansion grounds, Jaune found himself taking in the sprawling landscape, impressed by the sheer size of the estate. He had never seen so much open land surrounding a single place before. Back in Remnant, even the wealthiest estates weren't quite like this.

However, his admiration was cut short when he noticed Rogue had suddenly stopped walking. Her gaze was locked onto the treetops, her brows furrowed in suspicion.

Jaune followed her line of sight but saw nothing unusual—just the trees swaying slightly in the breeze. At least, that's what he thought until he noticed something odd. The way the branches shook wasn't natural. It wasn't the wind; something—or someone—was up there.

Before he could ask what was going on, Rogue bent down, grabbed a decently sized stick, and gripped it firmly in her hand.

Jaune raised a brow. "Uh… what are you-?"

Without answering, Rogue pulled her arm back and hurled the stick like a spear toward the last tree that had rustled.

A second later, a loud thwack echoed through the air, followed immediately by a startled yelp. Then, to Jaune's shock, and mild disgust, a figure came crashing down, landing first on the top of the estate's wall before tumbling unceremoniously onto the grass in front of them.

The instant the newcomer hit the ground, Jaune gagged, recoiling as an awful stench filled the air. It was like a mix of mildew, sweat, and something even worse—something that made him wonder if this guy had ever heard of soap.

Rogue let out a groan, pinching the bridge of her nose as she recognized the unfortunate soul sprawled on the ground.

"Toad," she said, her voice laced with irritation. "What the hell are you doin' here?"

The teen, who Jaune now realized had some rather... unique features. Greasy brownish-green hair, sickly pale skin, and oddly large, bulbous eyes.

Toad groaned as he pushed himself up, rubbing his head where the stick had hit him. "Man, I wasn't doin' nothin', yo!" he insisted, glancing up at Rogue with an almost guilty look.

Jaune, still reeling from the smell, took a step back, covering his nose. "What is that smell?" he muttered under his breath.

Rogue, completely ignoring Jaune's suffering, crossed her arms and shot Toad an unimpressed glare. "Right, 'n I'm the wicked witch of the west," she deadpanned. "Now, tell meh what ya were really doin' here before Ah knock ya ovah the head!"

Toad chuckled nervously, raising his hands in mock surrender. "C'mon, Rogue, ya wound me! Can't a guy just hang out in some trees without gettin' assaulted?"

Jaune gave him a flat look. "You were spying on us, weren't you?"

Toad snapped his fingers, pointing at Jaune. "Hey, man, spyin' is such a strong word, ya know, I prefer... observin' from a respectable distance,"

Rogue scoffed. "Yeah? well, Ah prefer mah personal space not bein' invaded by some slimy creep," She told him.

Rogue crossed her arms, her glare sharp enough to cut through steel as she loomed over the cringing Toad. She had no patience for his usual antics, and she wasn't about to let him slither his way out of this one.

"Now who sent ya here? Pietro? Magneto?" Her expression darkened as she uttered the last name, her tone dripping with bitterness. "Mystique?"

At the mention of the name, Toad visibly flinched. His eyes darted around, looking for an escape route, but he knew better than to try running. Not with Rogue standing so close, ready to strike.

"A-Alright, look!" he stammered, raising his hands defensively. "Pietro sent me, alright? Said to keep an eye on you goody-goods! That's all I know, I swear!"

Rogue narrowed her eyes, unimpressed. "That right? Pietro ain't got the brains to plan somethin' lak this himself, so that means he's takin' orders from someone," She tilted her head, her Southern drawl growing more intense as her frustration built. "'n lem-me guess… Magneto?"

Toad winced, his silence telling her everything she needed to know.

Rogue took a step closer, her voice dropping to a dangerous whisper. "So what's Magneto up to, Toad? Tell meh now, or we do this the hard way,"

With a slow, deliberate motion, she raised her right hand and tugged off her glove, revealing her bare palm.

Toad's throat went dry, and his pupils shrank in fear as he took an involuntary step back. "Aww, man, c'mon, Rogue! No need to go nuclear!" he pleaded, sweat forming on his brow. "I swear—I don't know anything! Really! Pietro didn't tell me squat! He knows I'll crack under pressure!"

Rogue stared at him for a long, tense moment, searching for any sign of deception. Eventually, she sighed, clearly irritated, and slid her glove back on.

"Fine," she muttered. Then her glare sharpened once more. "Beat it. Now. Before Ah change mah mind,"

Toad didn't need to be told twice. With a frantic nod, he sprang into the air, leaping toward the wall in a single bound. His webbed fingers gripped the stone surface, and in seconds, he had vaulted over it. The sound of his retreating thwaps echoed as he hopped further and further away, disappearing into the distance.

Jaune, still trying to process what had just happened, finally turned to Rogue with a bewildered expression.

"Okay… what the hell was that?" he asked, looking ar Rogue with a confused expression. "Who was that guy, and what was all that about?"

Rogue let out a heavy sigh, crossing her arms as she watched the last traces of Toad's presence disappear beyond the wall. "That was Todd Tolansky, but most folks just call him Toad," she explained, her tone laced with annoyance. "He's part of the brotherhood of mutants, Magneto's personal little troublemakin' squad, they've bin' causin' us problems for a while now,"

Jaune frowned. "Brotherhood of Mutants?" he echoed, trying to wrap his head around the situation.

Rogue nodded. "Yeah, a group of mutants who reckon they don't need to follow anyone's rules but their own," she said, then exhaled sharply. "'n they take orders from one man—Magneto,"

Jaune's brow furrowed. "Magneto?"

"That's what he calls himself," Rogue said, her voice darkening slightly. "He's got the power to control metal, any kind, any shape, at will, but that ain't even the worst part... He's a mutant supremacist, believes mutants are superior to regular people, 'n that we oughta be the ones runnin' the world,"

Jaune absorbed that information, his jaw tightening as an uncomfortable sense of familiarity crept in. The way Rogue described Magneto—it reminded him way too much of the White Fang back home, of their more radical beliefs. His thoughts drifted to Blake's story about Adam Taurus, about how he twisted their movement into something dangerous, something violent.

His grip unconsciously tightened into a fist at his side.

No matter what world he ended up in, there always seemed to be people who thought the only way to make things right was through force.

Rogue, unaware of his inner turmoil, sighed and turned back toward the mansion. "C'mon, let's go,"

Jaune shook his head, pulling himself out of his thoughts. "Go where?"

"To the Professor," Rogue said, glancing back at him. "We gotta let him know about toad spyin' own us, this ain't somethin' we can ignore,"

Jaune exhaled, already sensing that whatever was going on, it was big. And the worst part? He had just arrived in this world, and already, trouble was finding him.

His shoulders sagged slightly as he muttered to himself, "Figures…"

XXX

XXX

XXX

Meanwhile, across town, in the Brotherhood's run-down hideout—a house that looked like it had been abandoned for years—Toad made his less-than-graceful return. He hopped through an open window, landing with a thud on the creaky wooden floor before shaking himself off. The place smelled like stale pizza, old gym socks, and whatever science experiment Blob had left in the sink.

In the living room, Pietro lounged on a worn-out recliner, lazily tossing a baseball up and down at ridiculous speed. Wanda sat on the couch beside him, flipping through channels with a look of pure boredom, occasionally stopping on something before clicking away just as fast.

Hearing Toad's arrival, Pietro perked up, suddenly appearing next to him in a blur of silver and blue. He leaned in with that smug smirk of his, tapping his foot impatiently. "So, what'd you find out?" he asked, voice carrying that usual cocky edge. "Anything on Lance and Blob? The X-Geeks got them locked up somewhere or what?"

Toad scratched the back of his head, looking a little hesitant. "Nah, man, they weren't there, far as I can tell, the X-Men don't know nothin' about what happened to 'em,"

Pietro scowled. "Great," he muttered, crossing his arms.

"But—" Toad interrupted, holding up a finger. "—somethin' crazy happened while I was watchin', like, you ain't gonna believe this, yo,"

Pietro raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Oh yeah? Try me,"

Toad grinned, knowing he had his attention now. "Alright, so get this—I was spyin' on 'em like you told me to, right? Next thing I know, outta nowhere, this blonde dude in freakin' armor comes fallin' outta the sky like some kinda human missile!"

Pietro blinked. "Wait—what?"

"I know, right!?" Toad said, throwing his hands up. "Dude hit the ground like a freaking meteor! Thought he was paste for sure, but when the dust settled? Guy was completely fine! No broken bones, no bruises, nothin'! Just got up like it was a Tuesday,"

Pietro narrowed his eyes, suddenly a lot more interested. "Huh… that is weird." He tapped his chin. "What happened after that?"

"Well, they took him inside, kept him there for a bit, probably askin' him questions," Toad explained, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "Then later, Rogue took him outside and started showin' him around like he was some kinda guest or somethin',"

Pietro's smirk returned, though it was a little more thoughtful this time. "So the X-Men are babysitting some mystery guy who fell from the sky? That's new,"

"Yeah, no clue who he is," Toad admitted, rubbing his chin. "I think his name was John or somethin', sounded French, ya know?"

Pietro paced back and forth, his usual restless energy making it hard for him to stay still. His mind was racing, piecing together the situation as he muttered to himself at super-speed. "Okay, so we still don't know what happened to Lance or Blob, and now the X-Men have some random guy who fell out of the sky just hanging out at their mansion like it's no big deal... This might be something Dad needs to know about,"

Wanda, still lounging on the couch, finally turned away from the TV, her sharp eyes now focused on her brother. "Do you really think the X-Men had something to do with Lance and Blob disappearing?" she asked, her tone skeptical but serious.

Pietro stopped pacing and shook his head. "Nah, kidnapping ain't their style, they're all about playing heroes, remember? But I wanted to make sure, just in case," He crossed his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Still, we should pay 'em a visit, maybe they do know something about Lance and Blob just vanishing on us outta nowhere,"

Wanda studied him for a moment before sighing. "Alright, but we do this the easy way, If we show up looking for a fight, we're gonna lose,"

Pietro scoffed, flashing her a cocky grin. "Maybe, but that's why we've got you, sis! You can take 'em, no problem,"

Wanda rolled her eyes. "Most of them? Sure, but if the Professor decides to step in, I'm screwed," She gave her brother a pointed look. "I don't have Dad's helmet."

Pietro's smirk faltered for a second before he quickly covered it up. "Right… forgot about that," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "I could just zip in there, knock him out before he messes with our heads,"

Wanda raised an eyebrow. "You could, but if you do that, the X-Men definitely won't hold back," She leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "And if we start a fight, we lose any chance of them helping us find Lance or Blob,"

Pietro clicked his tongue in frustration, crossing his arms as he muttered, "I hate when you make sense," He let out a sigh, rolling his shoulders before relenting. "Alright, alright… fine, We'll do this the easy way, for now,"

Wanda smirked, arms still crossed. "Good,"

Pietro nodded back, mirroring her stance. "Good," There was a brief pause before Pietro added, "Now, I'm gonna let Dad know about this 'Rocket Man' before we head over to the home of those X-Geeks,"

With that, he became a blur of white and blue, zipping upstairs so fast that loose papers around the room fluttered in his wake.

As soon as Pietro was gone, Toad, who had been oddly quiet for once, took his chance. With a quick hop, he launched himself onto the couch, landing right next to Wanda with a grin far too wide for her liking. Before she could react, he draped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her in just slightly.

"So," Toad drawled, his voice dripping with misplaced confidence, "now that we're all alone, what do ya say we have ourselves a little quality time, babe?" He waggled his brows at her, his breath carrying the distinct scent of something unholy—like old gym socks and expired fast food.

Wanda froze for a split second before her expression darkened. Her fingers twitched, crackling faintly with reddish energy. "Yeah, no," she deadpanned.

Before Toad could react, an invisible force yanked him off the couch and sent him hurtling through the air. He crashed into the far wall with a THUD, knocking over a couple of loose picture frames before sliding down in a heap. A low groan escaped him as he lay sprawled on the floor, dazed.

Wanda, now completely unbothered, casually grabbed the remote and resumed flipping through channels. Eventually, she landed on a rerun of Charmed and leaned back, watching as if nothing had happened.

Toad, still facedown on the floor, weakly lifted a hand. "So, uh… rain check?"

Wanda didn't even glance his way. "Try it again, and I'll really get creative,"

Toad let out a defeated whimper, deciding it was in his best interest to stay right where he was.