Chapter Text
“Yes Mr. Pryde. Of course, I understand and thank you for your trust,” Xavier said and ended the phone call. He sighed, leaned back and massaged his temples with this fingers.
“Another call?” Ororo asked while walking in, a small amount of papers in her hands.
“Yes, Kitty’s parents this time,” Charles replied, taking a brief look at the documents Ororo handed him before putting them down on this desk.
“Did they not already call once?”
“They did indeed. They were actually even the first to call, though many others have followed their example since. I can’t say I blame them. To know that your own child has been fighting someone like Apocalypse is bound to make a parent feel uncomfortable, to say the least.”
“Still wondering why so many parents are calling now while also having remained silent after we mutants got outed. The pictures of that time weren’t exactly easy to look at either.”
“That is a good question Ororo. Maybe because the public outing of mutants going horrible was something they could at least imagine in their darkest dreams. Someone like Apocalypse on the other hand was probably unimaginable.”
“Well, I know that feeling. Sure, I’ve heard the name before but actually facing him? Completely different issue. Anyway, do you think the constant calls might become a problem?”
“I am afraid we will have to consider this possibility. Parents who loose trust in us are parents bound to remove their child from this Institute, sooner or later. I’d rather not see this Institute becoming a school in name only, with only one teenager left among adults of various ages.”
“That’d be hardly a school anymore.”
“Agreed. Maybe these worried parents need proof that they can still trust us.”
“How would that look like?”
“Maybe we should invite them to visit us.”
Ororo tensed up. She understood where Charles was coming from and could see the chances in this but she was immediately fully aware how bad this could go, also.
“Don’t worry Ororo. I am fully aware of the problems of this idea. It could backfire tremendously.”
“There are gonna be other problems too for I am pretty sure there are aspects about their lives, our students have kept to themselves.”
“You mean Kitty and Lance?”
Ororo wondered if she was the only one somehow waiting for the inevitable explosions, should Kitty’s parents ever find out and said: “For example but I have also never heard Roberto or Amara talking about their families and I am sure that would have come up a few times afterwards.”
“Yes, that might cause some surprise. Still, the more I think about it, the more I, well, I wouldn’t exactly say that I like it but the more I see it as something necessary.”
“Are you sure about this?”
“Would you mind gathering the instructors for me?”
“Of course Professor,” Storm replied, leaving the office. She had a hunch the Professor was going to present them this idea and she could already imagine Logan’s face. She briefly stopped in her tracks when realization hit her. She was by no means fan of this idea but maybe she could use that to get her nephew back to the Institute. At least for a short while. If she could convince her sister to not only not end the call after five seconds but actually listen and even come to the Institute.
All of sudden, the Professor’s idea did not sound so bad anymore but she was pretty sure the others would not be too thrilled about it still.
“Well, Chuck, Ororo said you wanted to see us?” Logan asked the moment all instructors had gathered in Xavier’s office. Briefly, Charles considered the idea of making Remy also an instructor but pushed it to the back of his mind. Something for another time. Instead he leaned slightly forward, pressing the tips of his fingers against each other. The student’s files were open on his laptop in front of him.
“Yes. I will not waste much time. We all noticed the Institute getting calls from parents, asking about their children. At first I hoped I might be able to sway all parents by words alone but I no longer believe this will be enough. So, I decided to give all these worried parents something more. A chance to see for their own eyes what the Institute looks like.”
Charles leaned back and let stunned silence answer his words. He wasn’t surprised. Finally, Hank cleared his throat and said: “This could probably silence the worries of all these parents. If and that is a big if, the day goes well.”
“No way in hell this visit is going to be that smooth,” Logan said dryly before looking at Charles.
“Well, Logan, I hope we can avoid the biggest catastrophes,” the Professor answered the unspoken question, trying his best to give his voice confidence.
“Well, Professor, how do we do that?” Scott asked and Jean, sitting next to him holding hands, said: “Maybe we should start with the biggest source of potential problems: The students themselves.”
Charles nodded slowly. “An accurate assessment I am afraid.”
Logan sighed deeply and replied: “Alright and how do we prevent half-pint’s parents going ballistic over finding out about her and Lance?”
For a moment, the room went silent before Hank spoke up.
“Uh, when did Kitty Pryde take the universally agreed top spot in this regard?”
The other looked among themselves, even Charles raised an eyebrow as it dawned on all of them, that they had apparently agreed on Kitty being the prime contender for causing problems because of her relationship with Lance. Without ever actually discussing it.
“Maybe we should leave that to Kitty herself? I mean, if she knows that her parents are coming, she will do something, right?” Jean finally asked.
“Well, I hope so. Lets just hope her parents don’t end up grabbing her on the spot because of that. Lance has been coming a long way.”
Scott pressed his lips together. He and Lance had almost gotten into another fight not too long ago but he said: “Any other student whose family might be a problem?”
“Roberto,” Storm answered immediately, voice unusually frosty. That brought her surprised looks from Scott, Jean and Hank while Logan was fighting a smile and Charles turned his eyes towards the ceiling.
“Uh, I have a feeling we are missing something here,” Jean finally said and Logan chuckled, earning him a glare of Storm.
“Well, Red, let’s just say Roberto’s mother is a fine example regarding certain depictions about lonely widows, if you know what I mean.”
“That is one way to put it,” Storm muttered under her breath.
“Don’t worry Darling, I don’t think she is going to try anything again. That said, what about Gumbo?”
“Gambit?” the Professor replied, slightly surprised at the Cajun being brought up. “Well, I do actually not plan to invite his father. I am pretty sure Gambit’s family already knows more then the public anyway.”
“No doubt about that but I would not bet on Jean-Luc LeBeau not taking up that chance.”
“Quite possible. I will however, not have him thrown out. Especially not at a day filled with parents we are trying to win over.”
Logan grumbled something but signaled his, albeit unwilling, agreement. The Professor nodded slightly and looked around.
“Any other students we should mention now?”
Scott said: “What about the new recruits? I mean, I now about Alex but what about the others?”
“Angel and Colossus are old enough to make their own decisions. That said, Colossus did tell me he will most likely introduce his younger sister to us sooner or later. Her name is Ilyana.”
“Has she powers?”
“Apparently some sort of teleportation. I was considering bringing her in already but Peter made it clear that his parents would never consent to this. Especially not after Magneto.”
Logan growled but said nothing. Instead, Storm spoke up: “What about Amara?”
The Professor nodded, replying while bringing her file up: “Ah, yes, of course. Her father.”
Jean frowned as if she was trying to remember a memory and said: “Her father? I think Amara mentioned him once. Something about a businessman, usually tied to his work.”
“Well, that is not wrong. Her father owns quite a bit of land but he is also the leader of a small political party in Brazil.”
“Her father is a politician?”
“Yes, which makes his potential arrival a problem of its own but that is something we will face if he should agree.”
“What about Bobby? His parent’s weren’t exactly thrilled when he became a mutant, I have heard,” Beast spoke up and Logan snorted.
“That’s putting it mildly but you’re right. I don’t think they would actually show up though but that reminds me of something. Charles, will you extent this invitation towards the families of Rahne and Jubilee too?”
“I do indeed plan to do so, Logan. Hopefully, they’ll both show up but enough of that. Any other student we should discuss now?”
“Not that I’d know, Chuck.”
“Me neither, Charles.”
“Anyone else? No? Good. Then its time to inform the students.”
“Does anyone have any idea why we are all here?” Bobby said loudly but several people just shrugged or made their own lack of knowledge known otherwise.
Rogue hadn’t said anything but watched the crowd. She stood on the outskirts of it, leaning against the wall of the living room.
“That kinda coming together happening often, Chere?” Gambit asked, leaning against the wall on the right side, shuffling his cards.
“Not really,” Rogue replied and Kitty, phasing on Rogue’s left side through the wall, added: “The most we had so far was Apocalypse but that can’t be it. Right?” The last word had an audible worried undertone. Rogue couldn’t blame her.
“We’re about to find out,” Rogue breathed as the Professor wheeled into the room. He took one look across the crowd and nodded before leaning back.
“Good, we are all here. Let me get straight to business: As you all know, over the last several days, the Institute received more then one call from worried parents, questioning whether or not their children can still be considered safe if living at the Institute includes facing threats like Apocalypse. So, to allow your parents to see proof that your safety is still secured, I will invite them all over for a day, so that they can see for themselves.”
Gambit whistled and Rogue groaned while several students started talking at once.
“I can already see this going wrong in so many ways,” Rogue said but Gambits reply got buried in the squeaking sound of a dying parrot, coming right out of Kitty’s mouth. Goth and Cajun immediately focused on Shadowcat, eyebrows high. Kitty’s face was pale, her eyes wide and shock written all over it. Rogue blinked, shared a brief eye contact with Gambit, before addressing her friend.
“Uh, Kitty,” Rogue asked carefully, just for her friend’s head to snap around.
“Sorry, gotta go,” Kitty hurried out and phased out of the room.
“Mon Dieu, Cherie, your friend looked like she just met a living nightmare.”
Rogue sighed, turned towards him and replied quietly: “In a way, Sugah, you’re right about that. Her parents have no idea about her and Avalanche.”
“That’s much of a problem?”
“From what I know, he used and manipulated Kitty to get test answers and nearly buried them alive by bringing down a house on her and her parents afterwards.”
Remy whistled and took a moment before he said: “And he still managed to score?”
“Well, he did put in a lot of work.”
“Must have been a quite a number.”
“That it was,” Rogue breathed, carefully choosing her words to not make Kitty’s crush known. As far as Rogue knew, she was the only one Kitty ever told about that and Gambit didn’t need to know. She could already imagine him using that to make some stupid remark about him and herself.
“Professor, what about training exercises that day?” Roberto asked loudly, immediately catching Rogue’s attention. She hadn’t bothered too much listening in so far, as she did not believe Mystique or Irene to actually come visit but this, this was worth knowing!
“For the time your parents are visiting, all sessions will be held outside of the Danger Room.”
“Uh, Professor?” Cannonball raised his voice, “will you invite all our families or just our parents?”
“Well, the plan is to invite the parents, especially those having called the Institute but I suppose it stands to reason that they might not always show up alone. I will adjust the invitations, thank you for the reminder Sam.”
“Shall I ask Tante Mattie to make sure Jean-Luc gets a chaperon for his visit?” Gambit whispered into her ear and Rogue snorted and pressed her lips together, trying her best to dampen her grin to a smile. The idea of Jean-Luc showing up with a chaperon was almost funny enough to actually outweigh the horror of this man showing up at all.
“You think the Professor is going to invite Jean-Luc?”
“I think if the Professor is smart, he is not going to do it and if he is even smarter, he will prepare for it regardless.”
Rogue smiled, leaned her head back and thought about it, still smiling.
“Well, the Professor is very smart.”
In this moment, the Professor spoke: “If no one has any other question, this would be all.”
The Professor, Storm, Logan and Beast left behind a room filled soon enough with talks about one topic only: Which parents would come?
Kitty Pryde had no doubt that her parents would come. She was certain of it and that meant one thing: She needed to tell her boyfriend about Xavier’s plan as soon as possible and face-to-face as well.
She found Lance in front of the Boarding House, working on his jeep.
“Lance!” She said loudly, causing her boyfriend to bump his head on the bonnet. Normally, Kitty would have said something, maybe even smiled apologetically or suppress a sudden urge of snickering before handing out a make-up-kiss or two but in her state of mind, it slipped right past her.
“Kitty? What’s up?” Lance said while rubbing his head, flinching.
“TheProfessorisgoingtoinviteourparentsandIjustnowmyparentsaregoingtotakethatinvitation,” Kitty hurried out, leaving Lance speechless but someone was capable of understanding her.
“Oh boy. That is going to be a show,” Pietro said, coming out of nowhere. Lance just blinked in confusion.
“What is going to be a show?” Lance asked confused and Pietro grinned as he replied: “The Professor officially opens his school for the families for his students for a visit and your girlfriend is utterly convinced her parents are going to take that chance.”
It took another second for Lance to process that and his answer to that was simple.
“Shit.”
Three days later, the Professor’s telepathic message echoed through everyone present at the Institute.
I now have received answers from all families by now. The following families have accepted the invitation and will visit us at the end of next month: Grey, da Costa, Aquila, Guthrie, Pryde, Sinclair and Daniels
“Sinclair, uh?” Logan said after Charles had sent the message. He was in the office alongside the Professor and the rest of the Instructors.
“Then I guess Jubilee’s parents are not even allowing this visit?”
“No, I am afraid not and I cannot say whether this is a good sign or a bad one,” the Professor replied but choose to ignore the questioning looks he received. He had never discussed the glimpses of the future in greater details for he did not know what way was the best to reach or to avoid them.
“Is Evan showing up then?” Hank asked, trying to change the subject and Ororo sighed.
“I gave him a message when my sister accepted. He said he would be there. I hope this is going to work out.”
They were in France. Of course they were in France. Magneto should have known. Bennet came from France, after all and who would search for her in France? Once he had figured out that, finding them was less difficult.
They lived in a big house with a large garden in the outskirts of Paris. Bennet had always claimed to be the last of a long line of secret survivors of France nobility and he most certainly liked to live like one to a degree.
It was a two-level main house with two one-level expansions, all with beige walls and dark-brown ceilings. It was surrounded by high iron fence and Magneto stopped himself for a second before opening the door without his powers. He had his usual disguise, wearing a trench coat and a hat. He could deny, however, being slightly nervous. He rang the bell and waited until Bennet himself opened the door. Still the same tall and athletic man with half-long black hair and a well-trimmed beard around lips and chin, his dark eyes widened for a moment before he could even bring out a word. Magneto couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from curling upwards, even more so when the mutant known as Exodus took a step forward and pulled him into a hug like he was an old friend long missed.
Which was not too far from the truth and Magento was not above hugging back.
“It is good to see you again, my friend,” Exodus said quietly after a moment and took a step back and made a move with his hand to invite the older man into the house, its interior matching its expensive-looking outsides.
“They news of my death had been greatly exaggerated, though the truth was not so much more pleasant either,” Magneto said while stepping in and Bennet closed the door behind him.
“I can imagine. I assume you want to see her?”
“I do indeed.”
“She is out in the garden in the back,” Bennet said while taking Magneto’s coat and hat.
“I should warn you, she developed a new favorite color after your disappearance.”
Magneto raised an eyebrow but a young feminine voice interrupted the men.
“Bennet, do we have a- oh my god.”
The last words were barely more then a whisper and Magneto turned around. There, right next to a doorway, stood a slender, female teenager. She had long green curls and every piece of her clothing as well as all of her make-up was black.
“I can see what you meant,” Magneto whispered, remembering the much more colorful wardrobe she used to wear but before he could say anything, she suddenly flew towards him, crashed almost into him, rattling every piece of metal in the house in the process and folded her arms across his back. She stumbled for words he could not understand but got the meaning regardless. One hand on the back of her head and one on her back, he lowered his head and said: “I am sorry I took so long and I am sorry I caused you so much pain.”
“H-How?”
“That is a bit of a longer story.”
“Well,” Bennet chimed in, “how about you stay for dinner then? I have a few questions myself as well.”
“Yes, I can make this much time. Besides, I did not come her for a mere visit alone, Lorna.”
“Uh?” Lorna said, raising her head, looking confused. Besides them, Exodus straightened up.
“What is the goal?”
Magneto turned his head, offering Exodus half a smile and said only one word.
“Genosha.”