Re-Evolution: Episode 2: In the Blood

Dazzler showed off one of the empty rooms. It was even larger than Morgan's at home, either in Red Oak, or the new house. It was big enough that dividing it between two people wasn't likely to be any great hardship. Hell, it was basically set up as two seperate bedrooms, one on either side of the room, with a shared middle area with table and chairs. It was clear that having people double up wasn't a question of space, but rather some kind of team-building thing.

Morgan took it in. It was--a lot. They were opulent, but kind of cozy, and plenty spacious. But she could only hope that if she joined up she'd get a decent roommate, or the whole thing would turn into the living space equivalent of the get-along shirt.

There was also the looming question of how or if roommates would be decided along gender--or rather, sex-- lines, come to think of it.Morgan tensed  by the doorframe, her jaw tightening as the question she'd been avoiding came to mind.  How would they be decided along gender lines...

‘They'd probably stick me with a guy…’ she thought despondently. ‘Or with a girl who'd hate me once she found out.  Or just with Greg. Is it too much to ask for a fucking room of your own?’

000

Logan handed Kitty a bottle of water, as the two of them finished the latest round of their practice.Kitty took the bottle with a thankful bob of her head, and took a long sip.

"Think I'll be able to beat you someday, sir?" she asked with a playful wink as she finished a long gulp of water.. "If I ever get that timing down, I mean."

"Gettin' better, kiddo," he grunted with approval. "But you still gotta work on your timing. How's that knee looking?"

She brushed her hand over her ripped pants. 

"It's alright. A little torn up, but it's not deep. I'll go down to the infirmary in a bit to get it disinfected."

"You oughta, looks like it bled a lot," he agreed, tipping back a long drink of his own water. "As for if you'll ever beat me..... not on your life, kid." He winked at her playfully.

Kitty pursed her lips 

"You say that now, Logan, but you're like...only getting older. Someday the student's totally going to surpass the master." She stretched out her knee with a little wince. "After I clean this up, of course. Gawd it stings."

"Gettin' older. Eh." He snorted, and waved a hand. "Come on, let's get you to that--"

Logan paused, and frowned, sniffing the air.

Kitty cocked her head , and tilted her head to the side with a puzzled look as she watched him.

"Are you okay, sir?"

He held up his hand to silence her, and then sniffed again. His frown deepened. 

"Somebody's on the compound."

"Well yeah, Mr. Logan." Kitty said, looking at him with confusion. "There's a bunch of people on the compound, it's a school. And there's a tour going on."

She stuck out her tongue, but he wasn’t paying attention to her. His jaw tightened, and so did his knuckles. 

"Somebody who's *not* supposed to be here. I got a good whiff of all those kids. And none of em was wearin' leather an' rubber."

"Leather and rubber? Are you sure it's a person you smell, sir?" Kitty asked carefully. "I mean, like, why would someone be sneaking into school dressed like that? Don't you think you're being a little...I don't know...paranoid?"

"Paranoid?” He grunted. “I'll tell you why someone would smell like leather and rubber-- sneaking suit." 

He sniffed the air again and took a few paces forward, trying to orient on the smell.

 Kitty laughed. 

"Sneaking suit?? What is this? like, Metal Gear Solid??" She put her hands on her hips. "Why would anyone even try sneaking in here, anyway? We've got pretty ironclad defenses, don't we? I know Magneto's been quiet lately, so maybe it's just, you know, gotten you all tense or something?"

He pointed at her aggressively. 

"Sneaking suits have been infiltration gear since the CIA standardized them in the 60s. Hardly been updated either. I *know* that smell. And I *ain't* paranoid, kid. I don't know who's behind it or why they're sneakin around..... but I intend to find out."

A trio of shining metal claws popped from the knuckles of each hand as he tensed them suddenly, making a soft, sharp sound.

"O-okay." Kitty squeaked as the claws slid out. "I'll uhm, hobble may way over to the infirmary! Have fun, sir!"

"If you see the prof-- tell him I'm on a hunt," 

Kitty watched as he sniffed the air one more time, then he off.

"....." 

Kitty ran her hand through her hair with a soft sigh. 

"Some guys do the weirdest things when they're bored..."

000

While Morgan was brooding on the practicalities of sharing a dorm, Dazzler led them into the kitchen and lounge area. There a radio was playing classic rock oldies on low, and a couple of people were washing and drying dishes.

One of their number was a tall, broad shouldered man with chestnut brown hair close cut in a simple style around his ears, his chiseled face covered by a pair of red-tinted sunglasses that he wore despite being inside in the middle of the day.  He wore a brown blazer with a red and black X on the shoulders, and a pair of old acid washed jeans. He was currently scrubbing at a plate while taking to the woman beside him...it seemed he was discussing a lesson plan. 

"I know they aren't fans of physics, but I think we can probably convince them if you show them how it can *specifically* be used to help them control their abilities." he was saying, as he put the dish to the side. "Even Bobby might listen."

"We'll just have to make sure we get them excited about it," the other figure agreed. She was a tall, willowy redhead, wearing a green sweater and hip hugging khaki capris as she dryed dishes.

‘Wow, looks like we found the life of the party,’ Morgan thought despondently. ‘More teachers, I'd bet.’

"You know, I was thinking about that, Jean and--"

"Hellooooooo Scottie, Jean, darling," Dazzler cooed as she drifted into the room and put her arm around each of their shoulders. "Missed me?"

"Oh, ah, hi, Allison," the redhead-- Jean, turned slightly, and smiled. "Come to help us with the dishes?"

"Oh you know I'd be delighted to spend time with the two of you," she cooed. "No matter the task , but alas...I'm leading a tour group. Mind saying hello to our three newest hopefuls?"

'Scottie', the man in the blazer and shades glanced over his shoulder "...well damn, looks like we lost track of time"

Morgan rubbed her arm, feeling a little awkward, and not just due to the obvious flirtation happening. She glanced sidelong at Greg to try and gauge his reaction.

Greg still looked interested, if not outright excited to be there. He gave a little wave. 

"Don't get tour groups very often?" Greg asked.

"Fewer and further between than we'd like." Scott told them, grabbing a towel to dry off his hands. "The institute's not as big as we'd like yet, but we have a few students. We had a few alumni a few years ago in the same class as Jean and I too, but they've graduated and gone off on pursuits of their own...science, charity, development and the like... But we're always looking for new students." 

Dazzler beamed, her arm still around the both of them. 

"Things have been looking up the last few years though! isn't that *exciting?* Charles Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters is the place to be”. 

"It is. Like Scott said, we're looking to expand,” Jean explained with a smile. “And you three are thinking of joining us?"

 "Ororo invited us." Greg nodded.

000

Todd leaned on the doorway for a minute, listening boredly, and then went over and surreptitiously peaked in the fridge while everyone was talking.

He was caught immediately.

"Looking for a soda, kid?" Scott asked, glancing his way through red tinted glasses. 

Todd grinned back at Scott and shrugged. "S'a tour, right, yo? I wanna see how ya'll feed your peeps."

"Well we got a deep freezer and a temperature controlled pantry if you want to find the good stuff." He walked over, and gestured. "We keep the drinks and some snacks in the fridge here, though. Feel free to  grab a drink."

"Hey thanks, yo," Todd grinned and snatched one, looking over. "Either you want somethin’?"

He turned back to where Greg and Morgan had been chatting with Jean and Dazzler.

000

Morgan smiled, nodding along with Greg as he explained how they’d been introduced to the Institute by others at school.

"Piotr too,” she said. “Lots of people uh, thought we might be a good fit, I guess." 

"And so far I'd say you absolutely could be!" Dazzler clapped her hands together excitedly. "Don't they just look like student body material, Jean? I know I'd love to teach them!"

"You're never short on enthusiasm, are you, Allison?" Jean chuckled. "But I happen to agree with you. I think they'd all fit in great here."

"In my line of work, Enthusiasm is what gets you anywhere." She winked, and looked up at Greg "Jean here's one of the professor's favorite former students, you know." 

Morgan raised her eyebrow in curiosity. 

"huh, yeah?" 

From across the room, by the refrigerator Todd called out-- "Either you want somethin’?"

Greg waved a hand, not even looking up at him. 

 "I'm fine. .... thanks." he looked over at Jean. "Former student huh? How long have you guys been here? Like, the school. And you specifically I guess."

"I'll take one!" Morgan held up a hand. 

"The school's been here a while,” Scott walked back over, explaining,”The first students started about 10 years ago, but before that...Professor Xavier was studying the science behind mutation, and doing what he could to help those of us he found. Jean and I , we went to school here about five years ago now. And while I wouldn't say we were the Professor's *favorite students*"

"He'd be lying." Dazzler laughed, waving her hand."because yeah, they were."

Jean laughed. "Oh come on, it wasn't quite like that.... Well... maybe a little."

"Is that why you stayed here to teach?" Greg asked.

"That's right." Scott chuckled. 

Scott continued to talk as Todd looked like he was about to toss the soda to Morgan, but thought better of it, and walked it over instead. 

"Cheers, yo."

Morgan grabbed the soda and raised it to Todd with a half smile. 

"Cheers. You're just in time to hear about Scott and Jean's old school days." 

"Oh boy," Todd murmured with a smirk, cracking his soda.

Scott kept talking.

"Couldn't bring myself to leave the place at the end of my lessons, you know? I got my car here. I got my friends. I got a purpose. I wanted to help give that to a whole new generation of kids like us who needed that kind of helping hand."

"Sounds like you really found a place to belong," Greg said, looking pensive.

"That's exactly in," Jean agreed. "The Institute is our place to belong. And maybe it can be for you too."

Scott nodded, leaning back on the soapy counter. 

"Exactly. A place to belong is exactly the kind of thing people like us need, you know? The world can be really hard for Mutants."

"Yeah. Trust me, I know." Morgan murmured, as she caught up with the conversation.  "They practically broke out the torches and pitchforks back home when people found out.”

“Yeah... unfortunately it got ugly...." Greg nodded and sighed.. "Partly my fault I guess, but.... well, now we're here."

"You did shoot shadows at people while screaming at them, Greg." Morgan muttered, unable to keep a bit of the accusation out of her voice. "And I may have ...lost control a bit too." 

Scott hissed through his teeth, grimacing at the description of the incident.

"Yeah, that...unfortunately will draw some negative attention, especially when people are already looking for a reason to hate us." He gestured towards them. "But one of the main things we teach here is hot to hone and control your abilities...so accidents like that don't happen."

Greg rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. 

"Yeah, I guess I kinda need that,” he admitted. “Its not, uh, like I could really look up a guide online."

"I mean, I seen vids like that shit yo,” Todd piped up between sips of soda.”But mostly they seem pretty much like bullshit fake meditation stuff." 

"Well, meditation IS one strategy to help develop a clear and controlled mind," Jean pointed out with a smile. "But it's certainly not the *only* one, or the best in every circumstance."

Morgan took a long sip of her own drink, almost as thoughtful as her brother.

"I guess I can see the appeal. But I tend to prefer doing something active to solve my problems." 

"There's always working out." Scott suggested with a chuckle. "We have good training fields...and a facility a little further in. And if that isn't your thing, we have a vehicle bay. I used to relax by working on Scarlet."

"Scarlet's his favorite car in the vehicle bay." Dazzler stage-whispered to them. "He's a little very fond of it."

"Vehicle bay?” Greg grinned. “And you work on the cars there? That's pretty cool."

"Looks like you found a car buddy, Scott,” Jean said.

"It's about time." Scott agreed. "Now I really hope you join up. I could show you around the bay sometime."

Morgan glanced at Todd out of the corner of her eye, sipping her soda. He returned her glance with a little shrug and stared off into space.. This was clearly not the conversation for him. Morgan looked up at Scott.

"Careful, keep it up and the smile might get stuck on Greg's face. My bro isn't used to smiling so long,” she teased dryly.

"What? I smile!" he insisted, snorting. "I'm smiling now!... "It just sounds cool..."

"Well, I'm glad you think so!" Jean said. "Hey, Scott, why don't you help me with these last couple dishes and then you *can* show them the bay? As long as Allison doesn't mind."

"Oh not at all~" Alison cooed. "It's not *that* much of a deteor." 

Scott flashed her a thumbs up, his shades glinting under the kitchen lamp.

"Why not. I could show them the good stuff."

"We'd love that!" Greg declared. So much for the rest of them skipping out on it.

"Alright, then, Scott let's finish up before--whoops!" a soapy glass slipped out of Jean’s hand suddenly and smashed on the sink.

"Oh geeze!! Watch out, Ms. Grey!"  Morgan jumped, fumbling her soda at the sudden and sharp sound. Todd carefully caught it before it dropped fully out of her hands.

"Crap, Jean, let me help you with that okay?" Scott winced, moving toward her.

"Whoops," Jean repeated with a little ouch. "Well that's a lesson in being more careful there. It's okay, Scott, it's just a scratch."

Bright red blood welled up out of her palm. The copper smell was suddenly heavy in Morgan's nose.

Morgan's fingers went limp around the bottle, that Todd was offering back to her. She sucked  in short and shallow breaths of that omnipresent copper smell. Even with the scent of soap, soda and Dazzler's strong perfume in the air...all she could smell was the blood. 

Her vision pulsed, blackening at the edges as she tunnel visioned on the flowing red blood on Jean's palm. She felt weak, bone-tired...and she staggered back only for her legs to give, sending her falling in a near faint backwards.

Greg wasn't close enough-- or aware enough of what was happening, until it was too late, to catch her. Todd however fumbled with the soda and dropped *it* on the floor, just in time to catch Morgan as she fell. 

"Whoa!"

Morgan slumped in his arms, taking a few deep breaths despite the way her head spun 

".....guh...saving me again, huh Leapfrog?" she murmured dizzilly, her eyes fluttering and half closed. "...I don't' feel so good."

"Yo... uh..... I don't think she's okay," Todd said, looking up at the others, his eyes wide.