Mutant Minds | Stray Kids x X-Men

28: This Is The Real Deal, Boys

Two months had passed since Changbin's last grueling session in the Danger Room, and now, for the first time, he was about to experience what it meant to be an X-Man in the real world. The team had been briefed on the mission—an intelligence retrieval operation that required their unique blend of powers. It was high stakes, no do-overs, and for Changbin, it was a huge step up from simulations.

As they boarded the jet, Changbin felt a mix of nerves and excitement. It was sleek, high-tech, and just as intimidating as he'd imagined. He'd never been in a jet before, let alone one that was designed for mutant superheroes.

"Strap in, kid," Logan said, nodding toward a seat. "This thing can get a little rough."

Changbin followed Logan's lead, securing his harness and trying to focus on the mission ahead. But as the jet took off, climbing rapidly into the sky, a wave of nausea hit him out of nowhere. His stomach churned, and he clenched his fists, trying to keep it together.

"Ugh," he groaned, leaning back in his seat, trying to will the queasiness away. "What the hell...?"

Kitty, seated across from him, raised an eyebrow. "You okay, Changbin?"

"Just... feel sick," he muttered, swallowing hard. "Is this normal?"

Logan smirked from his seat, his arms crossed over his chest. "It's a Wolverine thing, kid. Jet's always made me queasy too. You'll get used to it."

"Great," Changbin grumbled, glancing out the window to distract himself. The view didn't help much; the ground far below only made his head spin more. "Just what I needed..."

Bobby chuckled from the seat beside him. "Guess you two are more alike than we thought. Lucky us."

"Real lucky," Changbin replied, trying to take deep breaths. "How long till we land?"

"Not too much longer," Storm called from the cockpit, her voice steady as she piloted the jet through the clouds. "Just hang in there, Changbin."

Kitty, noticing Changbin's discomfort, decided to strike up a conversation to take his mind off it. "So, Changbin, what's it like in Korea? I've never been."

Changbin blinked, trying to focus on Kitty's question rather than his stomach. "Korea? Uh, it's... it's great. Really different from here. The food's amazing, lots of spicy stuff. The cities are super busy, but there are also beautiful mountains and beaches. People are nice, but it's really competitive, you know? School, work, everything. You gotta be on top of your game all the time."

Kitty nodded, intrigued. "Sounds intense. I'd love to visit someday. Did you miss it when you first came here?"

"Yeah," Changbin admitted, his voice softening. "A lot. It's home, you know? But... I've made a new home here too. With you guys."

Kitty smiled at that. "We're glad you're here, Changbin. You're part of the team now."

"Thanks, Kitty," he said, managing a weak smile despite his queasiness.

The jet began its descent, and Changbin breathed a sigh of relief. The nausea started to fade as they got closer to the ground. As the jet landed smoothly, he unbuckled his harness, eager to be on solid ground again.

As they stepped off the jet, Logan clapped Changbin on the shoulder. "First time's always the worst. You did good, kid."

Changbin nodded, feeling the fresh air clear his head. "Thanks, Logan. I'll survive."

The team gathered at the landing site, going over last-minute details before heading into the mission. This was it—Changbin's first real test in the field. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he knew one thing for sure: he wasn't going to let his team down.