š If you enjoy my work, consider supporting me on Patreon! I'm offering advanced chapters there as a thank-you to readers.
--------------------
Check out advanced chapters on : patreon.com/Veni_V
---------------
Clark's demonstration of his powers, which set him apart from the crowd of other super-powered individuals, was truly impressive.
Meanwhile, after leaving Clark, Rogue felt a profound sense of confusion. She was unsure if she should be happy or sad. A part of her was happy that Clark, like her, possessed powers, and seeing the fear in the eyes of those around him made her feel a strange sense of kinship. She knew it was a wrong feeling, but she couldn't suppress it.
However, the reality of the situation soon hit her hard. Clark wasn't like her; he was in complete control of his dangerous abilities. He effortlessly turned the fear he had initially inspired into admiration. It was at that moment that she realized the vast difference between them. Clark might one day become a great hero like the X-Men, but she was destined to live a lonely life, unable to even have skin contact with another person.
"Hey, what's wrong? You seem a little down." Bobby, who had caught up to her, snapped his fingers, and a rose made of crystal-clear ice appeared in his hand. "Hopefully this will cheer you up."
John, who had also arrived, could only shake his head in silent frustration. His ability was to manipulate fire, so he couldn't conjure a fiery rose without burning himself. He blamed himself for being a step too late and quietly slipped away. He might have been a bit full of himself, but he wouldn't get in the way of his friend's good intentions.
Rogue accepted the ice rose from Bobby, but her expression remained grim.
"Bobby, is it okay if I call you that?" she asked.
"Of course, it's an honor," he replied. Bobby's real name was Robert Louis Drake, but he was more than happy for Rogue to use his nickname.
"Thank you," Rogue said before voicing her concerns. "Do you think I really belong here? My power is so dangerous. What if I hurt someone by accident? Is it truly the right choice for me to stay?"
Bobby was taken aback, unable to believe that Rogue was struggling with such a fundamental questionāone that wasn't an issue for the other students at the academy.
"You're worrying too much," Bobby said with a warm smile that began to melt away Rogue's anxiety. "How many people here have safe abilities?"
This question made Rogue think. She recalled the various mutants she had seen: some could teleport, and others, like Bobby, could manipulate elements. She realized that, in the outside world, none of their abilities were truly "safe."
"I can make an ice rose for you, but I can also create ice cubes below minus 50 degrees Celsius that can cause frostbite," Bobby explained. "John can manipulate fire; he could make a flame the size of a lighter torch the entire sky in an instant.
Kitty can phase through solid objects, but if she wanted to, she could seal someone into the ground, where they would be crushed to death. How many of us here could be considered safe?"
Bobby leaned in closer, and although Rogue was startled, she didn't pull away.
"The reason we're here is to learn to control our powers so we don't harm others and to protect our fellow mutants. So, no one here will ever be afraid of you. You can stay here forever, study with us, and live together. We can be a family."
Bobby hadn't come up with these words himself; they were the very ones Professor Charles used when counseling children who had been abandoned by their families. He simply repeated them to Rogue. The words had such a powerful effect that tears began to stream down Rogue's face.
She remembered the reason she had left home. She had a loving boyfriend and a happy family, but after a simple kiss, her uncontrollable power had nearly killed the man she loved most.
The incident was followed by the fearful and rejecting looks from her boyfriend and parents. They hadn't told her to leave, but the silent rejection was unbearable, so Rogue fled. She eventually met Clark and Logan, who led her to the academy.
"Can I really?" Rogue asked, still filled with doubt. It was understandable for a child who had been rejected by their parents to find it difficult to trust others.
Just then, a pleasant bell rang, signaling the start of a new class.
"Ms. Ororo's class is about to start. Come on, let's go. Maybe you'll find the answers you're looking for in class."
In the basement, as the bell echoed through the halls, Clark's demonstration came to an end.
"I have to go teach a class now," Storm said before leaving. While she found Kryptonians fascinating, her own power to control storms meant she wasn't overly envious.
Dr. Hank McCoy, however, was incredibly intrigued by Clark. As a scientist, he couldn't help but be curious about the physiology of a Kryptonian, a being whose strength grew exponentially under the sun.
"Clark, would you be willing to let us examine you? I'm truly fascinated by the physical makeup of a Kryptonian," Beast asked.
Clark's face showed his discomfort. He was grateful to Beast and the X-Men for saving him, Rogue, and Logan, which was why he had been honest about being a Kryptonian. However, he was hesitant to reveal the full extent of his identity and physical information.
"Hank," Professor Charles Xavier said gently. While he might not have matched Hank's scientific brilliance, his unparalleled skill as a telepath allowed him to sense Clark's unease.
Hank immediately realized his mistake. For mutants, their genes were deeply personal. The children at the academy trusted the staff, but Clark was not a mutant and had only just met them. His request was highly intrusive.