She was sitting in a car. A nice yellow one, rather small, but homey. It sped through open countryside and lush hills, never stopping, nor slowing. She stared out the window, and as always, was drawn to, mesmerized by the flowing scenery, speeding dizzily past her. The driver, she couldn't tell who, leaned over and seemed to be trying to tell her something, if only she could hear it. Turning back to the window, she was horrified to see a vast... furnace... burning. Everything had disappeared.
She woke. For a moment she still held fragments of the dream, held emotions of raw sadness, loss, so tangible, yet receding. As the fear and shock passed, she sighed. For the past few months she had been having these random recurring dreams. Always, she was moving, going somewhere. And always, the world turned into the burning hell.
Rubbing her head gingerly, she crawled over the side of her bed, and noticed him. Perched silently on his bed, watching her. She paused a moment, then said archly, "Watching me again, weren't you?"
The boy smiled briefly, without humour, and softly said, "Good night, Chloe."
"Sweet dreams,"
Life at the Charles' Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was anything but ordinary. While it followed set classes and timetables, there was something... different. Maybe it was the students. Maybe it was the teachers. Or maybe it was the gifts they possessed.
Out in the school field, Toshio listened to the droning of the teacher, half dozing, half dreaming. He was thinking of classes, food and ... boys. Boys? He shook his head bemusedly. Why should he be thinking of boys?
"Toshio! Are you listening to me?" the teacher's voice interrupted. Ororo sounded genuinely concerned, not at all like the typical teacher. Shaken from his pleasant day- dreaming, Toshio smiled vaguely at her. She was a nice teacher.
Ororo shook her head, not exasperated, yet faintly knowing, and continued with her class.
"As you know, the weather is very important in our lives. It affects everything, affecting our everyday lives intensely. The weather may even affect some of your talents. For me, weather is my talent. I control it." With that, she rose effortlessly into the still autumn air, white hair billowing softly around her. Raising her hand, she cupped it, and formed a minute vortex of fierce battling winds. Turning to the open field, she hurled the small ball, and a tornado erupted, tearing grass and trees from their very roots. As fast as it had come, it subsided, as Ororo turned to the awestruck class.
"Cool!" some shouted, while Toshio gasped, the whipping tornado still fresh in his mind. This lady knew her stuff, alright.
"Okay, class. I think I sufficiently demonstrated the potential power and scope of your talents. Just think, after learning and training, your talents can develop to my caliber! You new students must know that your gifts, while others may scorn them, calling them mutations, are exactly that --- gifts. We must use them wisely... ... That's it for today's class. Our next class will be held in the dungeons, don't forget!"
The kids, still awed by the demonstration, trudged reluctantly back to the Academy, while some lingered, eager to ask Ororo questions. Toshio smiled. This was getting cooler by the minute.
One thing about the School --- there was never a dull day. At lunch, you never knew when an ice ball might come pelting, or when your friend might suddenly disappear as students used, and delighted, in their new-found talents. Toshio liked it this way. There was enough mayhem to distract him, and the students here were different. They felt a kinship, a knot of knowingness, shared it between them. They were never intentionally mean or rude to you.
Classes were even better. Many were geared to the sensory, experience-type learning, meaning students spent much more time outside the classroom, and learning more on their talents. As their abilities flourished and grew, the classes became more tailored for every pupil. Toshio couldn't wait for this, for private tutelage to develop his skill. It made him, made the students, feel special. Each was uniquely gifted.
Besides this, new students could come in any time of the year, and with each new addition, the students felt more fulfilled, as if one of their siblings had found home. With the growing numbers, the students felt more identity, more sure and comfortable with their place in society.
In class one day, a new student arrived at Toshio's class. He was an older boy named Spike, and Toshio found the name most appropriate. Spike had, surprise surprise, spiky hair. It was blonde, almost white, and led to a boyish face, with chiseled features. He was rather slim, with an innate grace as he moved, much like a cat, a panther, rather. And when he stared at you, his piercing green eyes never leave your face. Toshio was mesmerized by his presence. However, he was too shy to approach.
During the lesson, Spike was called up to demonstrate a few principles, and as he brushed past Toshio's table, he knocked Toshio's open water bottle off the table. Without thinking, Toshio grasped his talent instinctively. The water bottle was propelled into the far wall, bursting upon impact.
The class was stunned for a moment, and a few laughed. Toshio was horrified at what he had done, but more so with the fact that he had publicly humiliated himself in front of Spike. "Dammit!" he cursed, depressed, and saw Spike look at him, surprised. This made him blush.
Spike smiled, and murmured, "You're cute, boy. Sorry about the water bottle." He smirked then, and Toshio put his chin on the table, arms trying to hide his burning face. An indescribable feeling was coursing through him. It contained a strange mix of embarrassment and also ... happiness? Toshio was confused, but happily so, as he watched Spike demonstrate in front of the class.
Yep, things were getting better by the minute.
Hehe, that's the first chapter. How was it? Lousy ending, and kinda lengthy, I know... =P and I still don't know what to do with the first part, it just popped in my head (bad bad bad)... well if you got any comments, criticism (maybe you don't like Ororo =D) (or maybe you want her to... oh nvm) and feedback please send them to toshioboy@yahoo.com ... thanks! =) The content of this story is still in the making! Oh yeah, all characters, ideas, concepts of the X-men except Toshio and Spike are copyrights of Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox. I am merely writing fiction based on my large (sometimes weird) imagination... so pls don't sue me! Lol! And thanks to blue_sun who inspired me to write about the x men... LOL seth rocks!