Chapter Text
“Professor, you have a visitor, it’s a lawyer.” Hank stepped into Charles’ study. Charles hated to admit that Hank’s permanent switch to his beast form still caught him off guard.
“Thank you Hank, send them in.” Charles gestured.
A tall, rail-thin woman came in. Her hair was long and silky, pitch black. Her face was angular and somewhat vaguely reptilian-like. Most striking were her long dark red nails.
“Evangeline.” Charles smiled. “It’s been a while.”
“It certainly has Charles.”
“What brings you here on this lovely fall day.” Charles uttered in a singsong way.
“I’m afraid it’s just business.” Evangeline sighed.
Charles stretched to see out the doorway past Evangeline. There was a girl swaying in the foyer, a Walkman in her hands and her ears were covered by headphones. Most striking was her emerald green hair. It was in a messy half-up style. She looked exhausted. She wore a grimy band t-shirt that was definitely too big, and a hunter green plaid shirt on top of it. Her cuffed jeans were stained and ripped, and her black high tops were worn to the point of falling apart.
“You’ve brought me someone?” Charles asked. Evangeline nodded.
“I wouldn’t drop something like this on you if I had other options.” Evangeline continued.
“Her name is Lorna Dane, she’s a mutant. She’s been in and out of psych wards for the past two years, and just got out today. It was court ordered in place of prison.”
“What trouble did she get into?” Charles asked.
“A gnarly scuffle between her and some anti-mutant protesters. Lots of injuries. Possibly casualties.” Evangeline continued. She placed a thick Manila folder on his desk. “I kept her out of mutant detention for now, but I know they have an interest in getting her.”
Charles thumbed through her file. It was making him anxious.
“Her parents died in the 1981 incident?” Charles asked. A group of anti-mutant extremists brought down a plane of innocent people.
“Lorna’s father had been the pilot. She was traveling along with her mother from the DC freedom march. She was the only survivor.” Evangeline said softly.
“I didn’t know there were any survivors?”
“They kept it hush because she was a minor and a mutant.” Evangeline said.
“Since then, she’s been living in shelters or in mutant safe houses.” Evangeline said. “She is incredibly powerful. She just needs structure and to finish high school. That’s part of her plea deal, I convinced the judge to let me bring her here after her psych evaluation.” Evangeline was anxious, she couldn’t read Charles’s face.
“Anyone who needs my help is welcome here.” Charles said. He was still anxious.
“Thank you so much Charles!” Evangeline was relieved. “Lorna, please come in.”
Lorna sighed and took off her headphones. The lawyer lady cut off her favorite song. Edge of Seventeen. It was on the last mixtape her dad had gifted her, supposed to be for their trip. She had listened to it so many times the music was starting to warp.
“Lorna, this is Professor Charles Xavier,” Evangeline introduced them.
“Hello Lorna,” Charles said warmly. Lorna only managed a small smile.
“Welcome to your new home.” Evangeline said.
“How are you, love?” Charles asked.
“Besides mentally ill? Peachy.” Lorna snarked.
Charles snorted.
“So what can you do?” Charles sat forward. Lorna smiled coyly. She dug her hand slowly into her back pocket. Charles watched her hands glimmer green around the object, just as that happened something whizzed past his ear and hit and books behind him. He flipped his head around to see a pocket knife blade deep into an old genetics textbook.
“Wow? Impressive.” Charles was a bit shocked.
“That’s not it,” Lorna smirked. The green energy field returned to her hands and the lights in the room began to flicker and hiss. Charles could hear the electrical components of his wheelchair crackling. “That’s enough dear.” Charles said into her mind. The buzzing stopped and the knife flew back into her hand.
“Sorry…”
“No, it’s okay dear.” Charles assured her. “We’ll work to hone that ability. So electric telekinesis then?”
“Not quite. Have a lot of cavities as a kid?” She said.
“Only a few? Why?”
Lorna made a slight tug at the small piece of metal inside Charles’ mouth. Her fingertips buzzed green.
“Also you would not believe how many girls here are hiding belly button rings.” Lorna chuckled.
Charles was hit with a realization and made him shake internally. She had almost the same abilities as Erik. Erik, who was now god knows where with Wanda. He left a vague note and disappeared with her.
“So, where’s my new digs?” She asked, breaking Charles’ thought. He quickly scanned her mind. He saw only glimpses of a happy family and something tragic. Nothing to fear. For now at least. Lorna turned to the hall and saw a beautiful bunch of red hair on a beautiful girl.
Jean turned the corner to come talk to Charles when he shouted to her.
“This is Jean Grey, she’s about your age, Jean, this is Lorna Dane, our new student.”
“Oh, hi.” Jean said shyly. They only shared glances for a second. Lorna felt awkward and her heart skipped a beat.
“Would you be so kind as to show her the grounds and find her a room.” Charles asked.
“Of course, Professor.” Jean grabbed Lorna’s hand.
“Thank you Evangeline, and thank you Mr. Xavier.” Lorna waved to them.
“I should get going too.” Evangeline gathered herself. “Talk later?” She asked Charles.
“Yes, of course. Any time.”
Evangeline redid her red lipstick and left shortly. Hank finally came back in.
“You look worried,” Hank mentioned.
“I am worried.” Charles sighed. “I need you to get me as much information on the 1981 incident and our new student as you can.” Charles needed to quell his fears.
She couldn’t possibly be Erik’s. Could she?