「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(198) Mutant High

Lynn's POV

The weather had grew clear and warmer by the time I painstakingly persuaded Charles to allow me to tag along on the tour he was intending to give Logan.

Inevitably, I was meant to be sent back to bed after that near heart attack incident again but upon much pleading and begging, keen on exploring the expanded academy myself, Charles and Jean finally granted me permission to roam around the premises, on the condition I swapped into my motorised chair to prevent possible overexertion and that I would comply to immediate rest the moment I was met with any other ailment.

Seizing the opportunity despite knowing it could possibly only be a short one, I gladly conceded and once Scott was done assisting me with the transfer, Charles took my hand as he began to escort us around the mansion.

"Anonymity is a mutant's first defence against the world's hostility," Charles informed as we rolled into the courtyard.

Although the kids were involved in a heated argument grumbling about another abusing his powers during their basketball match, it was that pure sense of innocence radiating from them that further livened the area. The sheer ability to be worry-free apart from the number of goals they have netted or if their team was trailing was a naivety adults, cast under the shadows of reality, could only dream of in distant musings.

"To the public, we're merely a school for gifted youngsters," Charles elaborated as we passed through the gardens.

Watching the children sprint energetically along the pavements and the ones whose powers abled them to do the same freely atop water without being judged for even the smallest fraction of a second was simply a pleasing sight comforting to the soul. Utterly absorbed by their jovial and untroubled laughters, I jumped a little even when it was just Charles leaning over to peck my temple.

Charles chuckled briefly at my startled reaction and I could only giggle at my own oblivion as I bashfully reciprocated the favour to his cheek. Slowly pulling away, I again adjusted his crooked tie and noticed Charles gazing speechlessly at me with a knowing smile as he meticulously combed away the fringes overhanging from my face.

He could see it in my eyes, how truly at ease my heart sat in the essentially reminiscent environment, how rightly my body settled itself into familiar terrain and how genuinely relaxed my mind was coming home to a place where faith grew larger than fears, where hope rang louder than terror and where love triumphed over all others.

"I love you," I blurted quietly.

"I know," Charles teased, playfully flicking my nose when a clamorous clash distracted us.

Instinctively facing towards the serrated noise, our alarm rapidly vanished as we found the source to originate from Jean and Scott casually engaging in their daily training.

Dressed smartly in their sleek full-black uniforms, Jean held her palm over an orderly stack of jade green plates and they each started propelling through the air at high speeds towards Scott stationed on the opposite end of the modest rectangular grass field. Skillfully blasting his signature bright red optic beams with the aid of his latest battle visor, Scott readily shot down all the incoming flying saucers with remarkable accuracy.

Jean smiled wholly in delight at their wondrous coordination and Scott flashed Logan a haughty smirk for his perfect demonstration but his rival was clearly unfazed by his achievements, scoffing as he regardlessly strutted away.

"Jean is one of our first students. Scott, a close friend's brother. And Storm, let's just say..." Charles proudly introduced, albeit unable to sieve out the precise words he would like to summarize our peculiar recruitment of the white-haired Egyptian, as we headed back indoors.