We Are The X-Men

Speed and Spyke

WARNING: Police brutality and racism, trauma and self-loathing, claustrophobia, intrusive thoughts and descriptions of child abuse.

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A/N: This is a Reader-Insert fanfic, so I'll be using a few abbreviations. Here's a key:

Y/N = Your Name

Y/F/N = Your Full Name

F/C = Your favorite color

Avatar = Your X-man codename

Other Notes: Reader is she/her and I pretty much write out Kurt's accent, replacing w's with v's and th's with z's. If it turns out it's too hard for people to read that way, I'll change it.

Also! There's some Kiswahili in this chapter! Here's a guide:

Dada = Sister

Baba = Dad

Mpwa = Nephew

Enjoy! :)

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You rest your head against the cool passenger-side window, the rumble of the road vibrating in your head. Trees blur by and become more scarce as you approach the city. New York City. A few months ago you wouldn't have ever thought you'd visit it in your lifetime. It might as well have been Candyland. A few days ago you might have been excited that you get to go. But, with circumstances as they are, you can't even manage a small smile. Because the reason you're going to New York City now is because the X-men just want to get rid of you.

It started after Blob kidnapped you and Jean. Everyone was worried about you two, but that was supposed to be normal. Then everyone started treating Jean normally again, but you were still treated like glass. Finally, the Professor insisted you take a few days off of school even though you'd be missing yours and Rogue's presentation. Even after your arms healed up, Kurt and Kitty followed you around like you would immediately trip and break them. You could hear the whispers behind your back, feel the emotions change when you entered a room. Even Logan let you out of training!

You don't have to be a telepath to know what they're thinking.

'Y/N is too weak.'

'We have to take care of Y/N.'

'She's not cut out to be an X-man.'

'She's a burden.'

So much of a burden that the Professor called you into his office the other day and told you that Ororo wants you to accompany her to meet her family. What a lie. Why would she invite you to a personal family gettogether? It's obvious that the Professor just wants you out of the mansion for a while.

A dark pit forms in your stomach. 'What if he sends me back to the Home for good?'

That feeling must be pretty strong because Ororo speaks up as she makes a turn. "Are you alright, Y/N?"

You shrug. "I'm fine."

"Are you sure?" An awkward silence follows as you hope she just drops the subject.

She doesn't. "I know this has been a difficult week for you. It would help to talk about it, about how you've been feeling... Perhaps you have been having nightmares?"

"No."

Every night.

"Or, maybe you have trouble breathing sometimes? Panic attacks?"

You don't respond. After a minute, Ororo sighs. "Alright. Just know that you can talk to me whenever you need to."

"Okay."