Noah stepped onto the bus, handing the bus driver money for the ride. Noah sat down near the back of the bus. It was a bright day, so to help him with his condition, he wore a hat and sunglasses. Noah thought back to when he first woke up after he healed Charles.
Noah woke up in an unfamiliar room. It was large, and usually, he would have enjoyed finally being in a room that was to his personal taste if he knew where he was. Noah sat up in bed, and not long after, someone entered the room. Noah looked to the source of the door opening with a guarded expression. Being in the submarine for so long in enemy territory made him become more cautious of everything.
Noah relaxed, seeing that it was Darwin. "You're awake!" Darwin said as he quickly went over to him. Seeing Darwin made Noah recall all that happened before he passed out, including him trying to heal Charles. "How is Charles?" Noah asks with a worried expression crossing his face. Darwin smiled, "Thanks to you, he is fine." Darwin replied.
Noah smiled, feeling a weight lift off him as he knew that he was able to do something of use besides just watching everything go down during the fight. Darwin had a conflicted look on his face before he said, "You saved my life, and I couldn't stop them from taking you, and for that I'm sorry."
Noah shook his head, replying, "It's not your fault. Shaw never even told me why he took me, and he did nothing to hurt me. He only wanted me to watch and be open-minded about his side."
Darwin looked at him with an awkward smile. "He took you because you are powerful, Noah. Your abilities- they- you have the potential to do things that even strong mutants envy. Even Erik wanted you to be on his side. But because of your kindness, you seem to ignore all sides and do what you think is right. Which is why I'm alive, and I thank you so much for saving me. I am in your debt. If you need me or a favor from me, I will be there!"
Noah was speechless for a minute before replying, "What I did was not to get you to owe me. I saw-see you as a friend and would do anything in my power to help a friend." Noah put a hand on Darwin's shoulder.
"Still, if you need anything, just call, and I will be there." Darwin said. Darwin talked with Noah for a bit before leaving the room, but before he left, he announced, "Charles also wants to speak to you. He's in the study." Noah nodded as a response and then waited for Darwin to leave. Noah stood up from the bed, seeing that he was in pajamas. Noah frowned, not liking the idea of someone changing his clothes while he was passed out.
Noah also realized that whoever changed him was most likely male, considering Angel and Raven went with Erik. Noah didn't know if that made him more or less comfortable about the situation. Noah went to the dresser and pulled out a pair of black pants and a long-sleeved light blue shirt. Noah then grabbed a pair of underpants and went into the bathroom for a quick shower and to brush his teeth before getting dressed in the clothes he had picked out.
Noah walked out of his room and realized he had no idea where the study where Charles waited was. So, Noah did what any sensible person would do, and that's to walk through the place until he found someone who could point him in the right direction.
Noah walked down the large hallway, opening every door along the way. All or most were bedrooms. Noah didn't close the doors because it was a clear indication that he had been there and would not get lost and go into circles. Noah then got to some stairs. The stairs went up and down, and Noah figured that the study had to be downstairs.
Noah traveled down the stairs, and that's when he saw a blue-furred, large human with glasses. Noah had seen him on the island but did not know who he was, so when he bumped into the large, blue bigfoot, he panicked. "Oh, um, I-I, you don't happen to know where I can find Charles, do you?" Hank looked at Noah with surprise at how he was acting, but then Hank realized that Noah had left after he had turned into who he was.
Hank smiled clearly, amused by the situation.
Although Hank did not like what had happened to him, there were clear advantages to it, like the young but powerful mutant named Noah fearing him. "Charles is in the study down the hall to the right, Chronos." Noah's eyes widened; he recognized that voice, but also very few knew his mutant name. "Hank?" Noah questioned. Hank lost his smile, realizing that his fun was over now that Noah knew who he was. "What gave it away?" Hank asked. "Your voice and you called me Chronos." Hank nodded, accepting the outcome. "Impressive deduction." Hank said before walking away.
Noah took a breath out, trying to relax his nerves before walking in the direction that Hank directed him to. Once Noah reached the end of the hallway, he saw double doors. Noah opened one of the doors, walking in to see Charles in a chair at a desk writing down some notes. "I'm glad to see that you are awake, Noah." Charles said, putting away his papers, his full focus on Noah. Charles, out of respect for Noah's choice, did not read his mind, so everything they would discuss would be out loud.
"Where am I?" Noah asked. "You're in my childhood home. A place that, if you want, you can also consider as your own home as well." Charles replied.
Noah nodded as he replied, "I have a bit of PTSD, so I would like to clarify that this would be my choice, correct. No one will be forcing me to stay here."
"Of course. Our intentions when we first took you away from your town were good, but I understand why you would think that it was an intention that you had no choice in. I also want to apologize. When we took you in, it was our responsibility to keep you safe, and Shaw took you away, which means that I failed you. I also want to thank you for healing me even though I failed you."
Noah was getting deja vu. "As I told Darwin, there's no reason to apologize or thank me. I see you as a friend and a mentor, and I healed you for those reasons, but also, you saved me the first day we met. You saved me from Harry. I would say we are equal."
Charles smiled as he replied, "You've grown so much in such a short amount of time."
Noah laughed before replying, "Mentally and physically." Noah then wiped the amusement from his face, becoming serious. "Thank you for inviting me to stay at your home, but I would like to go back to my own home."
Charles frowned before replying. "You would be safer here, Noah. Your home isn't a safe place for you."
Noah nodded in agreement. "That doesn't change the fact that until I go back home and figure things out back there, I will never be able to continue forward."
Charles shook his head. "You can go back home, Noah, but you do not need to go back to the past to go forward. If anyone can continue forward without any consequences, it would be you."
"Maybe, but still, I want to go back home." Noah acknowledged.
Charles released the frown on his face, accepting Noah's response, "I can take you back home."
Noah shook his head. "I would prefer to take the bus."
Charles then reached into the dresser, pulling out a wad of cash. "Then at least take this. It will help you get home, and there is plenty more to help you if you decide to come back."
Noah wanted to refuse but decided against it, taking the money and saying his thanks. Noah turned around, walking to the door, and as he did, he said, "I'm sure we will see each other again, Charles."
"I'm also sure of that, and before you leave, I want to tell you one thing you need to know about your father." Charles said.
Noah turned his head and his body to face Charles. He was clearly curious. "Yeah?"
"Your father is a mutant." Charles released the bombshell.
Noah's eyes widened in shock. "What- but, impossible."
"Think about it, Noah, how your father could always tell who a mutant was just by looking at them or a picture of them. His mutant ability is to see who is a mutant by looking at them, and your father knows you are a mutant, so I warn you to be careful."
Noah was stunned 'My father already knows I'm a mutant…' Noah shook his head, trying to clear it before saying, "Thanks for the warning, Charles." Noah then really walked out.
Before Noah could leave the mansion, Darwin tried to stop him, pleading that this place was better for them than anywhere else. Noah agreed with Darwin and said that in the future, he would return and that if he met any mutants along the way, he would direct them here.
Noah said goodbye to Havok and Banshee before he left as well. Noah still didn't like Banshee, but he had to admit the guy was growing on him a bit.
Back on the bus, Noah was getting close to his stop, which was inside his town, Middleburg. He still had a couple of hours, but his anticipation grew. The bus arrived at another bus stop, and some people got off, but two got on.
One of them was just a plain woman who took a seat near the front, but it was the person behind her who caught Noah's attention. She had platinum blond hair and beautiful blue eyes. She had a white long-sleeved jacket and black tight pants on. She had a commanding aura around her that demanded that all look at her. Noah decided he stared for too long as he moved his eyes from her to his window.
And he stays that way until he hears the sound of her heels getting closer and closer. Noah, feeling her presence, turned his head to see her waiting for him to give her his attention. "Is it all right if I sit here?" she asked with a nod, Noah feeling a knot in his throat nodded his head in response. She then took her seat next to him and gave him a polite smile before saying, "My name is Emma Frost, what is your name?" Noah frowned slightly that the name seemed familiar, but he could not quite remember where he had heard it. "My name is Noah Malak." Noah replied.
Two chapters in one day, I expect Power Stones.
This chapter has been Grammarly checked!