𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 || 𝐗-𝐌𝐄𝐍 ||

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟒

˗ˏˋ꒰🃏꒱

Milo blinked, trying to clear the haze in her mind. The bright lights overhead made it difficult to focus, and the pain in her side throbbed with each shallow breath she took. She turned her head quickly, startled by the voice, and found herself face-to-face with a younger man wearing glasses, his short light brown hair slightly disheveled.

"Woah, slow down," the younger man said, his voice gentle but firm as he placed a steadying hand on her shoulder.

Milo narrowed her eyes, her confusion evident. "Who are you? Where am I?" she asked, her voice tense with a mix of pain and distrust.

The younger man gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "I'm Hank McCoy, and you're at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters," he explained calmly.

Milo's brow furrowed as she swung her legs off the table, standing up quickly. Hank instinctively took a step back, watching her with caution.

"You didn't need stitches, but you really should take it easy," Hank began, his tone gentle but concerned.

Milo cut him off, her expression hardened. "Listen, kid, I don't need to be patched up," she said, her voice sharp.

Without hesitation, she lifted her shirt slightly to reveal the spot where Logan had stabbed her. The cut that had once been there was now completely healed, leaving no trace of injury. "See?" she said, letting her shirt drop back down as she stared at Hank.

Hank blinked, clearly surprised but not unfamiliar with rapid healing. "Impressive," he admitted, adjusting his glasses. "Still, your body may be fine, but there's more to healing than just the physical." He looked at her with a knowing expression, sensing that her wounds went deeper than skin.

Milo scoffed slightly, dismissing his concern. "I'll be fine," she muttered, turning her back to him as she moved toward the door, her thoughts already drifting to Logan.

The doors to the lab slid open, and Milo found herself staring down a long, unfamiliar hallway. Her eyes darted from side to side, disoriented.

"Um... how do I leave?" she called back, glancing over her shoulder.

Hank chuckled softly and stepped out into the hallway with her. "Here, let me show you," he said, leading her toward the elevator at the far end. As they reached it, he pressed the button and the doors opened with a soft chime.

"Tell Charles I'll be up in a few seconds," Hank instructed, giving her a reassuring smile as he gestured toward the open elevator. Milo nodded silently, stepping inside. She caught one last glance of Hank before the doors slid shut in front of her.

Milo stepped out of the elevator, glancing around at the vibrant scene before her. The hall was bustling with teenagers running past, laughter and chatter filling the air. She was caught off guard by the liveliness compared to the sterile lab she had just left.

"Ah, you're awake," a calm voice called out. Milo turned to see a man in a wheelchair wheeling over to her. His gaze was sharp but kind, and he seemed to radiate an aura of wisdom and authority.

Milo narrowed her eyes slightly, taking in his presence. "Who are you?" she asked, her tone cautious but curious.

"I am Charles Xavier," he introduced himself with a gentle smile. "Welcome to my school. We've been expecting you, Milo."

Milo's brow furrowed. "How do you know my name?"

Charles tapped his temple lightly. "I have certain... abilities, much like yourself."

Milo nodded, her mind still processing everything, then remembered Hank's message. "Hank told me to tell you he'd be up in a few seconds," she said.

Charles smiled warmly. "Thank you, Milo." He then gestured down the hall. "How about you come and meet the others? They've been looking forward to seeing you."

Milo hesitated for a moment, considering her options. She wasn't entirely sure if she wanted to meet anyone, but something about this place—about Charles—seemed different. She gave a small nod. "Alright."

She followed Charles down the hall, trailing behind as he led her into one of the rooms where a small group of people stood talking.

The group of mutants looked to be around Hank's age, each of them radiating a different kind of energy. Charles cleared his throat, catching everyone's attention.

"Everyone, this is Milo," Charles introduced, gesturing toward her. "Milo, meet Raven,  Scott, Kurt, Ororo, and Peter."

Milo gave them a polite nod as each of them acknowledged her in their own way. Raven smiled warmly, gave a casual wave Scott, with his ruby-quartz visor, gave a brief nod. Kurt, with his blue skin and gentle smile, offered a shy wave, while Ororo stood confidently beside him. Peter, towering over the others, grinned, his arms crossed over his chest.

As Charles scanned the room, he frowned slightly. "Where are Asher, Andi, and Marlow?" he asked.

"They're all up in Asher's room," Scott replied.

Charles nodded. "Alright. You can meet them later," he said, turning back to Milo.

Milo nodded in return, feeling a bit more comfortable. The group seemed welcoming enough, though she still felt like the outsider. It would take time to get used to all of this—new faces, new names, and a new reality. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of powers the others had and if they would ask her about hers. For now, though, she was just trying to get a sense of who everyone was.

"So, what's your story?" Raven asked with a raised eyebrow, cutting through the silence.

Milo glanced at Raven, her eyes narrowing as she considered the question. "Why do you want to know?" she asked cautiously.

Raven shrugged, her expression unreadable. "Just curious, I guess."

Milo crossed her arms, clearly not buying it. "Curious about me, or about something else?"

Raven smirked, the tension between them thick in the air. "Does it matter? You're here now, aren't you?"

Milo raised an eyebrow, the guarded look in her eyes intensifying. "You don't trust me, do you?"

Raven's smirk faded slightly, but her voice remained sharp. "Trust is earned, not given."

Milo's jaw clenched, sensing the unspoken challenge. "Guess we're both stuck, then."

Charles decided to show Milo around the X-Mansion, smoothly navigating the halls in his wheelchair as Milo followed a few steps behind. The mansion was grand, but it didn't feel overwhelming; it felt like a place of purpose, filled with lives intertwining in ways that were both complicated and simple.

As they walked away, Raven stood back, her eyes following Milo with a small, almost involuntary smile playing on her lips. She had only just met Milo, but something about her — the way she carried herself, the edge in her voice — had already caught Raven's attention. And despite the tension between them earlier, Raven realized something unexpected.

She was already falling for her.

˗ˏˋ꒰🃏꒱