Legend: Thoughts = <>
Stray thoughts = ()
Flashback **
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Ok, guys, All the disclaimers apply, that means all thanks goes to Marvel for the X-Men, I'm just making the story. And I do read all the other stories, and they're great, keep up the good work. They inspire me!
Chapter 49: Judgement
"I'm thinking firestarter."
"You're not pyrokinetic." I sighed.
"Or, Vibratto."
"How about Homework dude or the lone tuttiee." I said, gaining a venomous stare from Arthur Renfield, a new kid at the institute. His powers were sort of a leeching power, taking someone's energy and using it to power himself with enhanced strength, speed, agility, reflexes and a few other things.
Arthur sighed and nodded, " I know Mr. Rawlings." he said.
I felt so bad. All I wanted to do was help him and here I was being a big stinky head. Well, shame on me, I should be helping any way I can and if this helps, then it helps, " I say Drac, cause it's relevant towards your powers, you know..."
"Leeching?" he asked.
"Sorta." I chuckled, " You do know that you can't be an X-Man for a long time, right?"
"I know, but I'll be ready." he smiled.
Pane (That's what I thought.), " So, ummm, the Civil War." I smiled.
"Coolest war ever, even I know that." he said, enthused.
Scott stood at the door with Jean. They watched with smiles as I tutored Blake. Jean had heard my thoughts and looked confused. Scott noticed.
"What is it, Jean?" Scott asked, worried.
"We should talk." Jean said.
As I showed Arthur around the school, for the second time, I figured I should introduce him to some of the students. I mean, if I were a new student, I'd...wanna be alone, but I was weird. Not weird, just different. So was this kid. Arthur reminded me of...well, me. He was a kid after my own personality. Heart. A normal person would have said heart. I should say heart. What would the kid say? I mean...something about him was refreshing. I know what you're thinking, but no, more like a son. I never really pictured myself having kids, not really. I had always just assumed that I'd know when I was ready. Was I ready? I mean, there was bias against single parents, but everyone was one nowadays. I had grown up with one and I was just fine. I loved it, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
"Mr...Pane." Arthur said, breaking me from my daze.
"Uh, yeah." I said.
"I see you're still in your dazes." Julian joked, " He always gets like this around me."
Arthur blushed and looked between us.
"He's kidding." I said quickly, " Julian, this is Arthur."
"Blake." Arthur said from nowhere.
"Huh?" Julian asked.
"Blake is short for Arthur." Arthur said, " Pane's the only person who really cals me Arthur."
"Sor-ry." I said, then added, " Blake."
"You're calling him Mr., too? He's just, what, two years older than you, kid." Julian said.
"You just called him kid." I said.
"I meant it in the best way." Julian said to Blake, " Anyway, I came to ask you if you're alright."
"Yeah, why wouldn't I be?" I asked.
"Well, you haven't been hanging with Jubes and the gang and you haven't been swooning over me as much since the mission."
I looked to Blake, then back, " Yeah, my head's been hurting and no way am I swooning." I smirked, " Besides," I chuckled, " I wasn't aware that you were noticing."
"God, get a room." Blake sighed.
"Right." Julian smiled.
"Funny, Julian, I have to go to the...basement for...testing, can you introduce him and get our newest student some friends?" I asked.
"Sure, he seems cool." Julian said, " A little blow-dried..."
"Thanks." Blake said sarcastically.
"Sorry." Julian shrugged, " Calls 'em like I sees 'em."
"So, I'll see you guys later." I smiled, turning and leaving.
"So, Jean, you believe the strain to be too consuming?" Professor Xavier asked, " I am particularly worried about the corruption of his mind. You said you saw a dark Pane in the Astral Plane? A sign that all is not well. What about the Phoenix?"
"The Phoenix is strong, but I'm stronger." Jean confessed, " I heard Pane's thoughts."
"And..." Scott said, particularly interested.
"I sensed unhappiness." Jean said, " I think it was a bad idea, bringing him here so young."
"I fear you may be right." Professor Xavier said.
"I disagree." Ororo spoke, " I do agree that we should have protected him more and by the Goddess, we should not have exposed him to some of the things we did, but he is tough."
"I agree with O-Roro." Hank said, " He has been capable for a long time now."
"I think we need tah back off the kid." Logan growled, " He's just a kid."
"That's not how Apocalypse sees it and since he's trying to take control of the city." Scott interrupted, " I'm worried as much as you are, Logan, about keeping Pane safe, hell, if I could him in a box and watch him forever, that'd be great, but he's not a kid anymore."
"I agree with Scott." Jean said.
"Me too, suga." Rogue added.
"Well, ain't this nice." Logan growled, " This is what got him killed in the first place and I ain't gonna watch it again, bub."
"I know." Scott said, " I know, but it's different. He knows we're a team."
"That clone knew we were a team too." Logan said.
"Logan." Professor warned.
"But it didn't stop us from letting Sinister get his paws all over him and us." Logan lashed, " Lucky for us that he wasn't the original or we wouldn't be having this conversation."
"That is enough, Logan!" Professor said, barely showing the angry that almost rose to the surface, " You are treading on dangerous territory."
"What do you hope to accomplish, Professor?" Ororo asked.
"I hope..."
"To probe his mind? Unleash the beast?! This is crazy!" Logan shouted.
"I hope to find the true source of Pane's unhappiness and eliminate it." Professor said.
"He's approaching." Jean said quickly.
"Yup and he's here." I smiled, walking in to see most of the X-Men assembled, " Please don't tell me this is an intervention because Gossip Girl is my life."
"No," Professor chuckled, althought I could tell he was angry about something. I couldn't dig too deep, that would be digging into someone's mind and I am not that type of guy...today, " We want to probe your mind for any clues as to what Apocalypse is planning."
"Weird. Sure, but I don't know what I can really help you with." I said.
"Just lay on the table." Professor said, gesturing towards the table.
I nodded and climbed on the table. I could feel the tension...literally. Logan's emotions were off the chart.
"I ain't gonna watch this." Logan said, storming away, Rogue at his tail.
"What's his deal?" I asked.
"Mind things." Bobby said.
I nodded and laid down.
"Just calm yourself." Professor said.
"I know how it goes, Pro." I said, relaxing. My senses blurred, then lashed out! Something bad was happening! I fought as hard as I could but suddenly I felt...weird.
"Pane?" Professor asked.
"Sorry, he's not here." The Hollow said, taking control of my body, " He probably won't wanna talk to any of you anyways, after this."
"The Hollow?" Ororo asked.
"You bet, Weather Witch." I smirked, " Feels good to be controlling this body again."
"Something tells me this is gonna get bad." Jean said to herself.
"Oh sugar, you have no idea." I chuckled, " You're messing with things older than you can concieve of. I'm practically ancient. Mostly evil. And a whole lot of fun."
"Evil, so, you're evil?" Scott asked.
"Nope. I'm just used for it." I said, stretching, " Uh oh. Somebody's mad. I guess that's why Logan left...oh, how cute, he opposed you. I guess we both know how that goes. Your way or...well, you'll wipe their minds."
"You penetrated my mental defenses." Professor said, astonished.
"Don't sound so surprised." I smirked, " Now, you brought me here, what do you want?" I asked.
"Some cataclysmic event led to Pane's unhappiness." Professor said, " What was it?"
"Awww, that's an easy one." I sighed, " Ask why Pane and I can't be seperated."
"Why can you not be seperated?" Ororo asked.
"Easier." I said," Because without each other, neither of us works. We were made for each other. To do the thing we're supposed to do." I said, casting a seductive glare at Scott.
"What?" Scott asked.
"You're welcome." I said.
"For what?" Scott asked.
"All those freaky things you like, I pushed for 'em." I smirked, " You know how I levitate you and I wrap my..."
"Okay." Scott shouted, getting strange stares from everyone else, " Thanks."
"God, he's slept with more than half the people in this room...except for the girls and the ones he's not related to." I said, " We, I mean."
"Back to the matter at hand," Professor asked, " That one event, what was it?"
"No brainer." I laughed, " You mean with all that power you can't pinpoint the moment he regrets?"
"What is it?!" Piotr shouted.
I quickly arched my neck and looked at him, " Our biggest mistake was coming here." I said, causing everyone to get a somber look, " To die for everyone, to become everyone's savior. Even though he is growing fonder of you, Pro, he hates you. You did this. You're doing this. These kids, they're kids. Being here kills them. Being here killed mom." I stopped, a faint emotion straying through my mind, " God, hehe, he's getting to me. You have no idea what anyone feels because you've been too focused on your dream and it's sad, he's your own grandson. We see you, who you really are. Vulcan was right! You're just using these students for your own means. He put all his regrets behind him, even though he's scared to death and we know the truth, the reason we can't be part of the team...You can't protect us."
The team looked somber, barely noticing that The Hollow was staring through them, all of them, reading their minds. Their guilt displayed where he could read it. He sucked it in, savoring the feelings and feeding off them.
"Don't you just love reunions?" I smirked.
"Put him back." Jean said, holding her head, " It's all...too..."
I pouted out my lips, " What's wrong, Jeannie? Can't handle it? The Phoenix too much for you?"
"Shut up!" Jean said, her eyes glowing with fire and her hand shot up, causing me to slide across the desk and falling to the floor!
I chuckled as I rose from the floor, " I've been waiting to kick your sorry asses, but Pane doesn't want it. See, he's all nice and whatnot. You're lucky." I laughed, " Just remember, I'm your worst nightmare. More power than you can imagine...on a molecular level. The future's not that dim to us, either. I can't wait to see you deal with what's coming next."
"Down." Professor said, struggling to cage the beast he called The Hollow. It was hard, especially with The Hollow's laughter. Finally it was done and my body fell to the floor!
I stood, shakily and tossed Professor Xavier an angrily look, " You son of a bitch!" I shouted, telekinetically throwing him against the wall, " You...you, unleashed him to get information on me?!"
"We're sorry, we had to." Scott said, " You would never tell us..."
"You're right." I said, near tears, " I can't believe it, you...invaded my mind."
"Why didn't you tell us how you felt." Ororo asked.
"It wasn't your business." I growled, " So, you what have liked hearing that I think you can't protect me? Or that I...regret this place? He didn't say why I stayed. Why I...Graduation is coming, then I'm leaving. For good." I said, leaving the room. As I got out of the room, I whirled around to see Scott trailing me and I punched him, " How dare you!"
"I'm sorry." he said, getting up and checking his nose, " I just...I needed to hear what he said, the truth you won't tell me. You resent us."
"I'm eighteen, I resent the world." I spat.
"But you resent us, him, in particular," Scott said, " You think you were too young. You think we're exploiting these kids."
I was silent.
"You can't leave. We needed to see what we could do to make it better for you." Scott said, " We didn't know you'd remember."
"That makes it better?" I asked.
"No. But stay. Help us." Scott said, " Help me."
"You've already judged me. You've judged that I hate you and the world." I said angrily.
"Maybe, but I love you." Scott said, " I love you."
"You have my promise that I will never do anything like that again." Professor Xavier said, wheeling up to us.
The Hollow <You're damn right, wheels.>
Professor < You do not have to be nefarious.>
The Hollow<Oh no, things are gonna get interesting.>
Professor <What are you saying?>
Pane <We're saying that you had better buckle your seat belt, Chuck, cause you may not be here when the ride's over.>
Professor Xavier looked at me as if he had seen a ghost.
"All's forgiven." I said, winking at him, " Come on, Scott. I need some rest." I said, smiling to myself as we walked away.
Well, if you liked it please tell me so I can start work on the next one. I really need feedback, especially if you like it. If you don't, I need advice and suggestions, please.