Playing With Fire (EDITING)

Troublemaking 101

My jaw dropped open and I made the most intelligent sound known to mankind: "Huh?"

He smiled slightly. "I believe you possess a form of telepathic abilities and I'd like to know whether I was imagining things or if I am right in my assumptions."

I closed my mouth but couldn't find it in me to answer him. As far as I knew, I'd never had any sort of telepathic abilities. Then again, if I didn't know, then I wouldn't have bothered trying so I might have had them all along and never known it.

He continued while I stood mutely before him. "The day we met, I took an attempt at delving into your thoughts which were naturally well-guarded from years of a suspicious upbringing I happened to glimpse. I did not mean to intrude on your privacy, I only intended to see if there were any malicious or destructive plans Director Fury had sent you with. My first attempt worked to some degree of success, however slowed by your natural barriers, but the second time I tried, I sensed that you were aware of my intrusion into your thoughts and you blocked me successfully in a quick minute. Granted, had I been really trying, you would have been no match; but what you had done so strongly for not being aware of this power is remarkable. I'd like to personally train you in this area if you wish."

I still couldn't speak. I was a telepath? Since when? How? As far as I knew, birds weren't telepathic and the only scientific alterations to my genetics were that of bird DNA. I opened my mouth to respond but no sound came out. Swallowing quickly, I tried again, this time with words pouring forth. "I had no idea I could do that. I didn't even know it was you until later. I just though my brain was tired or something and was shutting down so I woke it up by willing the fuzziness away but I guess that was you, wasn't it?"

He nodded, listening carefully.

"And you want to train me?"

He nodded again. "If you'd like, we can begin now and you can tell me if you'd like to continue?"

I nodded and sank into the chair in front of his desk. "Before we start, can I ask a few questions?"

He rolled his chair forward slightly to rest his elbows on the desk and steepled his fingers in front of his face. "You may."

"How was I not aware of this until now?"

"Some powers do not manifest themselves until a sudden and usually life altering change occurs. The manifestation of powers is usually accompanied by headaches, severe allergic reactions to things the person may have never been allergic to before, migraines, hearing problems, and sometimes even temporary paralysis."

"What about vertigo or Ménière's disease?"

"Possibly. The side effects differ from person to person."

I swore in French and leaned back. "Well, that makes more sense now. How long do these side effects usually last?"

"There is no definite time span or average. It could range from adolescence to adulthood, childhood to adulthood, or be off and on for a person's whole life."

"Oh, well, that explains everything," I said, running hand through my long, damp hair.

He chuckled and set his hands flat on the desk and leaned forward a little. "Would you accept my offer to teach you?"

I nodded. "Yeah, why not? If I've got it, might as well use it, right?"

For the next hour and a half, Professor Xavier attempted to infiltrate my memories and I would attempt to block him out. In the beginning, I knew he was going easy on me because I could push him away and set up barriers around my mind; towards the end, he began testing my limits and skirting my mental walls to get to the hidden snippets behind. He left alone all my personal memories and anything that included my family including Clint. The only scenes he fought to see were the mud fight, the prank, the battle on the Helicarrier, and the haywire Quinjet disaster.