Mutant Minds | Stray Kids x X-Men

5: A Day in the Courtyard

The Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters was usually a place of intense training and learning, but today, it had a more relaxed atmosphere. The sun was shining brightly, casting warm rays over the school's sprawling grounds. Students and staff alike were spread out across the courtyards and common areas, enjoying a rare moment of peace. Laughter echoed off the stone walls, and the air was filled with the sounds of casual conversations, some in English, some in Korean, and some in languages spoken by students from all over the world.

In the Courtyard:

Felix was sitting under a large oak tree, his light-manipulating powers at play as he created tiny, dancing orbs of light that hovered in the air around him. Nearby, Jeongin was chatting with a couple of squirrels, who seemed completely at ease in his presence. They were joined by Chan, who was leaning back against the tree trunk, soaking in the warmth of the sun while keeping a watchful eye on his friends.

Across the courtyard, Minho and Seungmin were engaged in a mock debate about who could outwit the other in a strategy game they'd been playing the night before. Minho's intangibility gave him an edge in sneaking past opponents, but Seungmin's sound manipulation meant he could hear him coming a mile away.

"Come on, admit it," Minho said with a sly grin, "you didn't hear me at all last night when I phased through the wall and took that pawn."

"Please, Minho," Seungmin replied, rolling his eyes. "I let you have that one. You were whining too much about losing."

"Like hell you did," Minho shot back, but there was no malice in his voice, just the friendly banter of two brothers.

Not far from them, Hyunjin was showing off his telekinesis by levitating small stones and sticks, much to the amusement of a few younger students who watched with wide eyes. "Think you can lift something heavier?" one of them asked, a girl with shimmering green skin.

Hyunjin grinned, focusing his energy on a large rock nearby. "Watch this," he said, and with a flick of his wrist, the rock slowly began to rise off the ground.

Nearby:

Changbin, however, was not in the same relaxed mood as his friends. He was sitting on a bench a little ways off, his face serious as he watched the others. He had just finished a one-on-one training session with Logan, and his muscles ached from the intense workout. Logan was relentless, always pushing him harder, never cutting him any slack.

The truth was, Logan was tough on Changbin, harsher than any of the other mentors were with their students. While Professor Xavier was kind and gentle with the telepaths and Storm was nurturing with those who controlled the weather, Logan's mentoring style was, in a word, brutal. He never hesitated to remind Changbin of the dangers of their powers, how one mistake could be fatal. But it wasn't just the physical training; Logan's words cut deep too.

"You think you're special just because you're progressing faster than the others?" Logan had said during their session, his tone gruff. "Don't get cocky, kid. You're still a long way from having full control. And until you do, you're just a walking time bomb."

Changbin clenched his fists, feeling the familiar prickle of his claws threatening to unsheathe. He was making progress, he knew that much. Faster than any of the others, even the older students. But Logan never seemed satisfied.

"Fucking asshole," Changbin muttered under his breath, frustrated. He knew Logan was trying to help him, but it didn't make the harsh words any easier to swallow.

As if sensing his mood, Chan glanced over from where he sat with Felix and Jeongin. He pushed himself up and walked over to Changbin, plopping down on the bench beside him. "You okay, Bin?" he asked, his voice soft but filled with concern.