"Self-Insertion"
Part 1
by Osiris Brackhaus
„Don’t you have ANY beer?„, Logan asked rather annoyed as he looked into the fridge.
„This is a school, remember?„ Bobby didn’t sound much less annoyed as he looked up from his ice-cream and stared at the older mutant who seemed to scan the room for hidden compartments.
„Nothing else but hot chocolate?„
„I think there’s still a coke in the drawer to your left.„, Bobby said, wondering once again why the hell this guy had to show up right now. Not only now as in tonight in the kitchen where he was just having his well-earned portion of strawberry-mint ice-cream, but at the Institute in general. This... hairy guy, wearing a undershirt and his denims was just so.... weird. And that Rogue was giving his starry eyes didn’t help one bit. And even if he was muscled an hairy and manly-man, where had he been all these weeks?
By now, Logan had found the soft drink and opened the bottle, but he hesitated before he took the first sip. Holding out the bottle to the younger mutant, he asked: „Would you?„
„Sure,„ Bobby replied, taking the bottle of luke-warm liquid, cooling it down to a bearable temperature by merely blowing on it.
„Thanks.„
Logan sat down at the kitchen table opposite of the boy, looking at him in silence for a moment.
„So it’s you and Rogue?„
„Yeah.„ Why did he have to bring this topic up? It’s not as if it was easy even without him, anyway. „We’re not that close - I mean, not that I wouldn’t like us to be, but....„ His words trailed off into uneasy silence. But? But what? „It’s not easy to be close... if you just can’t be.„
To his surprise, Logan nodded, his dark eyes hinting at something like understanding sympathy.
„I’ve seen you look at Prof. Grey today.„, Bobby went on, thinking that he was going to be able to get to talk a bit with this stranger who so inappropriately occupied such a big portion of Rogue’s heart. But the glaring stare the massively built man gave him was enough of an answer, and so he looked down, saying: „Ok, no problem. I’ll just be over here.„
A moment of uneasy silence spread between the two men, until suddenly, a sound in the hallway in front of the kitchen made both of them look towards the door.
Leaning against the doorframe, a young man was standing, a lopsided grin in his face topped by a mob of unruly bleached blond hair giving him a mischievous, boyish look.
„Mind if I get myself something to drink?„, the newcomer asked, and with a certain kind of familiarity, Bobby noticed that the man at the door was wearing fine, black leather gloves up to his elbows, not so much unlike those Rogue was sporting most of the time.
„Seems a hell of a lot of people can’t sleep in this place tonight.„, Logan grumbled, staring at the blond man in vague hostility.
„Yeah,„ third man replied, apparently completely oblivious of Logan’s antagonism, adding: „I HATE being jet-lagged.„
Bobby exchanged a glance with Logan, wondering if that other student was so unobservant or if he was really courageous.
„You’re the new one, aren’t you?„, the Iceman tried to get the conversation moving before the mood could get any more oppressive.
„I’m not looking like an old one, am I?„, the blond mutant answered, grinning widely. „I am Reuben, Reuben Morningchilde.„
„Bobby Drake,„ the younger student answered, feeling relieved to see that there were at least some people whose mood was neither melancholic nor nihilistic nor morose. This Reuben seemed to be the perfect happy chap. „And this .. fellow here is Logan, also called Wolverine.„ Boy, was it hard not to call Logan ‘hairy’ when he was around, Bobby thought.
„Cool.„ Reuben took a bottle of orange juice out of the fridge, got himself a glass and a jug of water and sat down next to Iceman. Looking at the blue-eyed student, he asked: „So you also got a cool name?„
There was something about the blond man’s green eyes that made Bobby know it wasn’t meant as an insult, and even Logan seemed to smirk as he laughed out loud. „He’s got the coolest name of them all,„ Logan snorted slightly amused, „He’s the Iceman.„
„Really?„ Reuben beamed like a child having just heard Christmas this year would be tomorrow.
„Yeah...„, Booby said hesitantly, suddenly not so sure this thing with the names was really THAT cool as he had always thought. „I can cool things down, and make ice.„
„Very useful,„ Logan added caustically, „perfect for serving refreshments.„
Abruptly, Reuben turned his gaze to Wolverine, coolly and evenly asking: „Who the hell are you to belittle his talents?„
Aghast, both Logan and Bobby stares at the newbie, Logan growling soundlessly, Bobby frantically trying to get this resolved without any chance for escalation. „Please, Reuben, stop it„, the Iceman urged, „He didn’t mean it. It’s really OK.„
„If you say so...„ Reuben didn’t seem convinced, but he stopped glaring at Wolverine after a while. Logan stood up rather abruptly, saying to no-one particular: „I’m out for a walk, if someone comes looking for me.„
As soon as he had left the room, Iceman hissed to Reuben:„ He’s the very last person to piss off here, Reuben, believe me. He’s got a legendary temper and muscle enough to get through with it.„
„Sounds to me as if you despise and admire him at the same time.„ By now, Bobby thought the green eyes of the new student were glinting with a dangerous mixture of good humour and a most dangerous overdose of self-confidence. And this guy definitely was seeing things he wasn’t supposed to, even less to talk of.
„So what’s your ‘cool name’?„, Iceman tried once again to get the conversation on secure grounds.
„Haven’t got one. Yet.„ Reuben smirked and nestled a pack of cigarettes from his crumbled black trousers, as well as a box of matches. „Want one?„
„We’re not supposed to smoke in here - it’s a school, after all... ", Bobby took of, but as he saw Reuben raising a questioning eyebrow he knew that the newbie was pretty undisturbed by ‘supposed nots’. „Please?„
„Sure,„ Reuben said calmly, putting the cigarette back into the box he had just take it from. „Don’t want to get you in trouble.„
The two young mutants sat together in silence for a while, until Iceman found himself being looked at in a most unnerving way. An interested way.
„Emm - So what’s your talent?„, Bobby asked, wondering if this was a very weird and very stupid evening. Last thing he wanted apart from Logan reappearing was being given the looks by another mutant his age and gender.
„We’re not sure yet.„ Reuben answered, leisurely sipping a glass diluted orange-juice, leaning on the table and watching Bobby very intently.
„We?„
„Professor Xavier and I. The reactions of people to my talent is rather varied, and we’re still trying to figuring out what exactly I change within them.„
Looking at the dark gloves that were in stark contrast to the form-hugging white turtleneck Reuben was wearing, Iceman asked: „It’s happening when you touch them, isn’t it? My girlfriend is the same, I mean, she’s also wearing gloves all time...„
„The girl with the white streaks?„
„Rogue, yes.„
„I’ve seen her in class today. Very pretty.„ After another long look, Reuben added with a smile: „You suit each other.„
This kind of conversation is giving me the creeps, Iceman thought, saying: „Stop that, please.„
„What?„, Reuben gave back with an almost audible smile. „Making compliments or looking at you?„
„Both. I’m not gay.„
„Never thought so.„
„You make it sound like a flaw.„
„Sorry. Tried to make it sound like a loss.„
Shaking his head, Bobby turned his focus back to his melting ice-cream, and with a soft blow, froze it down to a decent temperature again.
„When I touch people, they change.„, Reuben said suddenly after a while, sipping on his juice.
„Change to good or bad?„
„Depends on point of view,„ the blond mutant answered with a soft laugh. „No, even if I’d try, I couldn’t do anything worse than embarrass someone. I’m not a killer like your friend Logan.„
„Stop bitching on Logan.„, Iceman said sulkily. „He’s a pain in the ass sometimes, admitted. But he saved Rogue, and he’s a good friend. Even if his manners suck.„
„Ok, ok„ Reuben snickered softly. „No more talk of Logan. So what about you?„
„What what about me?„
„Don’t know." Reuben looked into the bright blue eyes of the Iceman, asking: „Wanna try?„
„You’re weird. Wanna try what?„
„My talent.„ Carefully, Reuben started to peel his left hand out of his glove, holding it towards Bobby. „I’m not supposed to touch anyone. But I’m curious. And I would so love to see your personal reaction.„ The blond man’s grin definitely gained a dangerous and tempting edge, and yet Bobby still wasn't feeling really threatened. This Reuben was a scamp, but sure a friendly one. Probably.
„I don’t think this is a good idea.„
„If you want to, you can freeze me afterwards.„ The blond mutant grinned nefariously, then added in a far gentler note: „Look, you can always leave. My skills never last when I’m no longer in the same room. And some people were absolutely thrilled.„
„I have a very bad feeling about this.„
„Of course.„ Reuben once more grinned fiendishly. „So what. It’s still far better than eating ice-cream for the sake of not getting depressed.„
„Are you an empath?„
„Nope. Just good at guessing. So? Wanna wait forever?„
„Am I gonna regret this?„
Looking at his ungloved, outstretched hand, Reuben thought for a moment, then answered softly: „I honestly do not know. I surely won’t regret it.„
„Why should I trust you?„
„Why shouldn’t you?„
„You’re bad company, Reuben, bad, bad, bad.„
With sudden resolve that sprung more from curiosity than courage, the Iceman grabbed the hand offered to him, waiting for whatever weird change to happen, but initially, all seemed normal.
„What are you doing there?„, Logan’s rumbling voice split the relative silence of the moment, and Bobby immediately jerked his hand out of Reuben’s. „I’m just gone for five minutes and you two start holding hands...„
Then, Wolverine noticed the black glove lying on the table, and the fact that the Iceman had touched the new mutant directly trickled into his consciousness. „What have you done...?„, he growled at Reuben, pacing through the room, stopping his hands only inches from shaking the young man.
„If you want to hit me, you’ll have to touch me„, Reuben said coolly, staring at Logan with so much self-security it bordered to arrogance, and then took off his white pullover in a single, well-practised motion. He rose and set out to say something caustic as suddenly, with unusual resolve, the Iceman stepped between them.
„Logan, cut it.„ Bobby seemed a bit frightened by his own boldness, but stood his ground none the less. „I touched him by my own free will, to see how his talent works, and nothing happened. There’s nothing you should worry about.„
„Err... Bobby?„ Reuben’s voice hesitantly disrupted the ensuing silence. „If nothing has changed - then why are you holding my hand again?„
Both Logan and the Iceman stared down, only to find Bobby’s hand firmly entangled with Reuben’s.
„Bobby?„, Logan asked carefully, „you alright?„
„I - I don’t know....„ The younger mutant was obviously confused, but didn’t let go of the blond man’s hand either. „I’m usually not doing things like that...„
„Then stop it,„ Wolverine barked while glaring at Reuben who apparently couldn’t wipe a snug grin out of his face.
„I can’t end it,„ Reuben said evenly, „But as soon as Bobby’s out of the room, the effect will fade.„
„Then let’s go,„ the muscular man ordered and tried to pull Bobby away from the other mutant, but the boy slipped out of his grasp.
„Logan, it’s very nice you’re concerned, but I’m fine. I’m acting weird and I’m feeling far weirder, but I’m fine. Right now, I want to stay with Reuben, and you’d have to use force to get me out of here.„
Like seeing him for real for the first time, Bobby looked at Reuben, still holding his hand, exclaiming: „You’re really cute. Even though you’re a boy. Oh my god, did I really just say that?„
With a giddy giggle, the Iceman put his forehead against Reuben’s naked shoulder while Logan watched with a mixture of disgust, worry and disbelief in his face.
„Look,„ Bobby said pointing at Reuben, „He’s wearing no shirt and I don’t even mind hugging him.„ Slinging his arms around the blond mutant’s waist, snuggling close to him, he added: „I still remember that I would have rather slapped myself that done exactly this, but now it just feel’s perfect! This is such a mad talent...„
„Bobby, this IS mad,„ Logan tried to argue, but he already could see that his words were useless. „Stop it!„
Instead of reacting at all to Wolverine’s commands, the Iceman looked at Reuben with stars in his eyes, saying: „Would you mind if I kissed you?„
„Actually, yes.„ The newbie looked at Logan, explaining: „As long as he doesn’t kiss me, I’m pretty sure this will end without getting too... indecent. If he does, I couldn’t give any guarantees. I tend to get too caught up in it myself then...„
„I just don’t believe this", Logan exclaimed in exasperation, walking up and down the kitchen table, obviously fighting down the urge to knock out the blond student. „How could you do this to him?„
Reuben glanced at Bobby, clinging at his side with a pout, looking so sweet it was hardly bearable. „How could I NOT do this? And I’m not doing him any harm.„
„I am seriously considering kissing you, Reuben. In front of Wolverine. This is a very, very dangerous talent you have. And a funny one. Feels like I’m drunk on sparkling wine.„ Again, Bobby giggled, pecking a kiss on Reuben’s shoulder. „If ever you tell Rogue, I will freeze you rock solid and break you to shreds. But until then.... boy, do you taste GOOD...„
"This is sick!", Logan exclaimed and lurched forward. Grabbing Reuben at his belt, he yanked the slender man away from the charmed Iceman, taking great care not to touch him skin on skin. "Get lost!", Wolverine snarled as he hurled the blond mutant through the kitchen.
Shaking his head, Reuben tried to catch a straight thought, but knowing how deep his talent affected people, he was far more concerned about Bobby's eyes turning into narrow slits than the growling Wolverine prowling in his direction. "Bobby, no!", the charmer called out from his place at the kitchen counter, but he was too late.
Even Wolverine's heightened senses were hard pressed to react before a thin sheet of extremely slippery ice covered the ground around him, and acting purely on instinct, Logan just jumped ahead. Unfortunately, the table he jumped on had not been built for being used as a landing platform for a man of his bulk, and shattered into pieces upon impact. Of course, Wolverine's balances wasn't endangered one heartbeat, and before even the table gave way to his weight, he lurched on, this time heading for the general direction of the door. However enraged he might be, these were just kids, and he didn't want to hurt anyone of them seriously. Well, at least not Bobby. This Reuben though.... That boy definitely needed to be taught some lessons.
Unluckily, among all this sudden commotion, Logan had slightly misjudged the extension of the ice Bobby had created to keep him away from Reuben. He just had enough time to realise that there was no time to change his course sufficiently, then his feet touched ground and went into different directions each, his whole body following, sliding across the ice-slickened floor. Straight at Reuben's feet.
'Go away!', Wolverine thought furiously, but he could see that he boy was too untrained to have anything remotely like reflexes. The blond mutant only had time enough to see Logan being propelled at him by his own momentum, then Wolverine left the ice-covered area mere some feet before Reuben. The sudden reappearance of friction turned Logan over, and he slammed into the young charmer like a giant bowling ball.
Wolverine could almost see the boy struggle and fight for
his balance, but Logan's momentum had been too much for him to cancel. So
both men ended up in a heap on the floor, and Wolverine had to fight down
the urge to use his claws to keep this incredible person from touching him.
But he didn't. That boy deserved a thrashing, but not a ripped gut.
With a certain sense of fatality, Logan felt the slender hands of Reuben connect
with his back, a part of his ungloved left touching the bare skin of his left
shoulder.
"Oh my god," he heard Reuben exclaim breathlessly, trying to scramble away as soon as he could.
"Reuben, are you alright?", Bobby's voice sounded from across the kitchen counter, worried and unusually tense. "Reuben?"
Staring at Logan who still sat on the floor and stared back just as well, the blond charmer called "I'm fine, Bobby, perfect! No need to worry!"
"Has he hurt you?"
"No, nothing. Bobby?"
"Yes?"
Still locking eyes with the motionless Wolverine on the floor, Reuben desperately tried to sound convincing: "Bobby, help me to get out of the kitchen, will you?"
"Sure, I'll - "
"Can you keep Wolverine occupied for a second? He mustn't follow me...."
"Sure."
Slowly, Reuben rose, hoping that Logan's momentary bedazzlement
would last long enough to get out of the room. He even managed to get to the
end of the kitchen counter and flash a brief smile to the Iceman, who was
guarding the path between the blond mutant and the door with a ferocity that
made Reuben genuinely pray for a quick end to all this.
But he hadn't even made another step as suddenly, with a speed that bordered
to improbable, Logan's body hurled out from behind the counter, grabbing Reuben
around his waist and pulled him back into cover before Bobby could even think
of acting.
"Oh please, Lord", Reuben whispered as he was wedged in between the counter and Wolverine's massive bulk. "Not again."
"This is NOT funny", Logan growled next to the blond mutant's ear, and then added in a louder voice: "Don't move, Iceman, or you'll get your precious back in pieces!"
"Bobby, I'm ok!", Reuben called out, hoping he still had enough impact to keep the boy from doing something really stupid. "Just give me a second to sort this out!"
"You sure?" The Iceman sounded icy, but apparently didn't move to the rescue right away.
"Yeah -" the charmer said, trying for a steady voice as he felt Wolverine's bearded face at his throat, sniffing gently, touching the young man's skin with the tip of his tongue. "I'm perfect. Just gimme a sec!"
Logan was lying right along him, wedging the slender mutant
in between him and the counter, holding Reuben's wrists pinned firmly to the
ground. Though he knew the situation was far more dangerous than either Bobby
nor Logan could possibly think, Reuben felt an unwelcome wave of warm arousal
flood his body. He LOVED being desired. And the more dangerous the one desiring
him was, the better.
Bad, bad habit, Reuben thought to himself, when suddenly Wolverine turned
him around to lie on his back, with the older mutant crouching on top of him.
"Logan," Reuben urged him persuasively. "Remember what I told you? You MUSTN'T KISS ME!"
"You really think I would let you have all the fun yourself?", Logan growled in a low voice that made Reuben shiver for various reasons. "And don't you tell me what I'm supposed to or not."
Saying so, Wolverine bent down with a snarl on his lips, obviously trying to kiss the young man underneath him.
"Logan," Reuben said while at the same time trying to make it as hard as possible for the older mutant to kiss him. "You're not fancying boys at all. Remember?"
"You need to be taught a lesson."
"But not his way. Logan, you hate men. Think of - anyone. Scott, for example."
Suddenly, a deep growl rose from the deepest lungs of Wolverine, and Reuben immediately knew his guess had been close to a diametrical miss. Oh Lord, he thought as Logan's free hand grabbed his chin, effectively immobilising the young man's head, why can't I just be a normal human?
Inhaling deeply, Wolverine let his lips hover above his helpless 'victim's' face for a heartbeat before he deftly pressed his lips onto Reuben's, kissing him with a craving both men hadn't expected.
"Reuben?", Bobby asked from across the counter, unable to see what was happening there, worried and rapidly losing patience. "Are you alright? What's he doing to you?"
Trying to wind his head out of Wolverine's vice-like grip, Reuben struggled, hoping he could stop this already completely havocing situation from getting worse. But slowly, his resistance subsided, bit by bit giving in to the overwhelming temptation Logan's untempered desire presented.
"Reuben?", the Iceman called one last time, then decided he had waited far too long already and stepped around the counter. "What the f..."
The sudden sound made Wolverine let go of Reuben, who gasped for breath as Logan's mouth stopped covering what had felt like most of his face.
"Can't you fucking bastard just once keep your paws from what is not yours?", Bobby exclaimed with vengeance in his voice. "Now you even have to steal my BOY?"
Wolverine only grinned, showing his middle blade to the Iceman. "Not my fault they're all interested in me. Don't take your inferiority complex out on me, boy. I'm busy."
"You fucking -"
"STOP!" To his great relive and surprise, both other mutants halted at Reuben's yelled command. "Stop it."
Leaning up on his elbows at least as much as Logan let him, the blond charmer tried to look at Bobby. The iceman was standing pretty much behind him, cold mists falling down from his hands, his face a twisted mask of confusion and emotional pain. "Shh, Bobby, shhh.", Reuben said softly, his heart aching as he saw how much the boy was suffering. This had been supposed to stay sweet, harmless fun, and now... I HATE these moments.
"Bobby, this is my fault," Reuben started to explain with as much calm in his voice as his thundering blood allowed him. Having a panting Wolverine sit on you lap didn't exactly help thinking straight. "Remember my talent? When we fell, I accidentally touched him. He didn't want to."
Slowly, Bobby's stance seemed to relax, and Reuben took in a deep breath. "It's only my fault."
"I don't want to lose you...", the Iceman whispered, desolate in his helplessness and confusion. "Please..."
"I know. Come here, Bobby." Reuben motioned the young mutant to come over, but Wolverine growled at him as soon as he made one step. "Shut it, Logan", the charmer snapped, and once again, the massive guy obeyed to everybody's surprise, including his own. "There's enough of me for both of you."
When he motioned the Iceman to step closer again, Logan didn't try to stop him, and even let Reuben move a little as he tried to sit up straight. "Give me you hand, Iceman", the blond mutant asked tenderly, holding the other student's hand for a while before he looked straight into his blue eyes. "Please don't hate me..", he whispered.
"Why should I?", Bobby asked with slight confusion. "You know I love you."
"Later on, when this is over."
"Oh."
Looking from Bobby to Logan and back again, Reuben knew he had to do something quickly or Logan wouldn't wait any longer, with audience or not. "You still can leave. You're not really bound."
Bobby looked at Reuben, a sadness in his striking eyes that made Reuben wish once more this had turned out far differently from what is was right now. Than the Iceman whispered softly: "I just want to be close to you. Please don't send me away..."
With a deep, defeated sigh, Reuben said gently: "Then kiss me. And stay."
Logan growled softly as Bobby closed his eyes and leaned forward to kiss the blond man, but went silent immediately as one of Reuben's hands grabbed his shirt started to tug it out of his denims.
Amazed, Logan watched as the two students kissed each other, fascinated by the tenderness and playful love that the gesture conveyed. The kiss seemed to last far too long in Wolverine's eyes, but when the boys separated again, they both seemed hardly out of breath. But their eyes were sparkling with a fire that Wolverine until then had only though possible in graphic novels.
"Thank you," Bobby whispered, grinning at Reuben. "That was...."
"Don't speak", the charmer said and put his index finger gently across the Iceman's lips. "Later. Now, one last thing."
The blond man took both Bobby's and one of Logan's hands and put them against his uncovered chest. "We're gonna share, don't forget." And then, he kissed each hand on the palm, put the hands together and kissed the seam between them, much like sealing a bond. "One of us should close the door now, or we're gonna have some visitors soon enough."
No-one of the three moved for a while, only eyes were darting insecurely from one to another.
"Hey", Reuben ordered somewhat amused. "One of you close the door!"
Still no-one moved.
"Alright, we'll all go together then."
--------
They all more or less knew what they were expecting as they opened the door from the kitchen to the hallway again. Yet seeing Professor Xavier and Jean Grey standing there, silent, waiting, and obviously doing so for a long time already, made all of the three of them take in a deep breath.
"If one word gets out...", Wolverine snarled in a low voice to Reuben, who was wearing a knotted kitchen towel now instead of his black trousers.
"Then what?", the blond charmer asked in his trademark snotty voice. "You gonna beat me black and blue or you gonna fuck me through the floor? Been there already."
Logan's lower eyelid twitched nervously, but he didn't say a word. Instead, he turned his blazing gaze towards the professor, who only nodded a wordless dismissal. Without looking back into the kitchen or at the boys next to him, he paced off into the dark hallway.
"Bobby?", Reuben asked shyly as the young mutant also made attempts to leave without a word. "One last thing, please?"
Bobby stopped, yet didn't turn around to face the other student.
"Bobby, you're very sweet, and I'm utterly sorry." With a deep sigh, Reuben added: "I just wanted to be close to you. Please don't leave me."
Silently, Bobby nodded, then turned to look at the blond charmer. "Not a SINGLE word to Rogue!"
"I swear," Reuben replied with a sincere nod. Then
his face lit up with this terrible, lopsided grin again, and he added: "Though
all I could tell her would make her desperately seek a way the two of you
could ... err ... be close.
You are an artist."
His eyes growing wide in exasperation, Bobby blushed deep crimson and fled into the hallway, taking the opposite direction Wolverine had taken earlier.
"We have to talk." The Professor's voice was even, as if completely unruffled by the indecent events that had just taken place in his institute's kitchen.
"I am sorry." Reuben sounded miserable, his nonplussed air vanished without a trace, and it didn't need a telepath to know the boy was feeling terrible for what he had done.
"Your craving for affection will get you into trouble each time again if you let your talent join the fray." Still, the Professor sounded not too displeased. "But you have tried to take responsibility for what you have done. We will have to take great care with Bobby, for he isn't as grown up as you'd love him to be. Though your... accident will have sped that up, I fear. And as for Logan... I think you have already gotten your share. Jean will look at your wounds later on."
Reuben nodded demurely, only to ask: "So you're not gonna send me away?"
"Why should I? You've only harmed yourself. And also, this ... calamity has had it's advantages."
"Such as?" The blond charmer sounded far from being convinced, and looked back into the kitchen in a mixture of reminiscence and regret. "Have you seen what Bobby did?", he asked before anyone could answer his first question, pointing at the icen flowers that covered most open surfaces in the kitchen, tiny crystals floating in the air like so many minute stars. "He really has the heart of an artist."
Nodding in silent understanding, the Professor turned his wheelchair away from the kitchen, heading slowly for his office. Slow enough for Reuben to catch up with him, then he said: "The emotional volume you three have created in there couldn't have been blocked comfortably by neither Jean nor me, and as we were forced to listen anyway, we thought of putting it to a good use."
"So you peeped.", the blond student said before he could think better of it.
"I'd say we gained some valuable insights on the workings of your talent, young Mister Morningchilde."
"Cool." Reuben seemed genuinely impressed. "Did they like it?"
Aghast, Jean was stunned wordless, while the Professor smiled. "You will have to find out on your own. Preferably without creating another such incident. But there was one thing both Logan and Bobby were convinced of." Professor Xavier stopped his wheelchair and turned it around to face his latest student with a smile. "You're a naughty boy, bad company to be around and a scamp."
Reuben grinned as if it was kind of a praise.
"And they like you, little scamp", the Professor added with an amiable smile. "But if I were you, I'd stay away from Logan for a while."
With a grin that almost called for trouble, Reuben tried to sound innocent as he answered: "Thanks for keeping me, Professor. I think living at your institute will be just great."
If you enjoyed this story, please send feedback to: Osiris Brackhaus
go to PART 2