Chapter 2
Mr.Lehnsherr was not scary. Kitty Pryde was ten years old, double digits and basically a teenager. She was not intimidated by her new teacher. But as she told him that Jeanie was at Mr.X's office, and would be back later, the look he made almost had her shaken.
Almost.
"Did Mr.Xavier tell you why he decided to pull Jean out during class time instead of at the end of the day?" He had narrowed his eyes the way her daddy did when he was mad, but Kitty would not be intimidated.
"No he didn't. But Mr.X knows what he's doing." She raised her chin definitely, her momma had taught her not to let anyone make her feel small. Not even adults.
Her teacher sighed and took a deep breath. "Thank you for letting me know Kitty. Take your seat."
Kitty walked to her seat head held high. Mr.Lehnsherr was not gonna scare her. Even if her heart was beating super duper fast now.
Her and momma had been working on her standing up for herself. Being brave and not letting people be rude to her just because she's smaller than the other kids. She felt sweaty, talking back to a teacher. But she was totally fine. For sure.
As she went to sit in her chair, definitely not shaken, she fell straight through, phasing through the floor.
Maybe she was a little intimidated by Mr.Lehnsherr after all.
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Erik Lehnsherr was having a rough first day. He wanted to know what Xavier was doing, taking Jean out for interrogation during class. He knew she needed a safety check, but interrupting her class time, making another student tell him, and making it so every child realized she had been pulled aside- it made him angry.
Then he lost a child through the floor.
"Kitty!" He lunged towards her seat as she dropped down through the floor. Children gasping and shouting around him.
Fuck.
"Do not move, everyone stay in your seat." Erik rushed next door to knock on Mrs.Munroe's door, "kid fell through the floor, watch my class" he rushed down the hallway as Ororo called out after him.
He ran down the stairs, and followed the shouting.
Kitty Pryde had phased through the floor, falling right into the office of Mr.Xavier.
Standing in Xavier's office, Jean Grey had her arms outstretched, inhibitor bracelet on the floor, and Kitty Pryde, suspended in the air.
Fuck.
Jean brought her hands down gently, and Kitty was gingerly placed on the purple carpet of Xavier's office.
Erik let out a sigh of relief as Kitty ran to Jean, embracing her. Jean let her arms fall limply to her sides as the smaller girls embraced her.
"Alright ladies, let's go back to cl-" Erik was cut off by the scared voice of the schools receptionist.
"Someone call the police!" She pointed at Jeans inhibitor on the floor. She froze in place.
Fuck.
Charles Xavier rolled into the room, fingers against his temple.
"Ms.Moira wants to call the police due to Jean's bruises. She's happy Kitty is here to help Jean through this tough time. " Something about his voice told Erik that this was not Xavier talking his way out of trouble. This was something else entirely.
Erik watched in horror as Moira's face transformed from scared, so pitying, as she looked at Jean and Kitty hugging. She turned to Charles, "oh Mr.X, have you called the police?"
No one moved in the room. Erik, stared mouth agape at Mr.Xavier.
"I have contacted child protective services, I see Kitty has dropped by. Ms.Pryde I'm surprised, you've been doing so well with your control! It's lucky Mr.Lehnsherr caught you or you could have been hurt!" Kitty looked between Mr.X and Mr.Lehnsherr.
She wiped her eyes dry from her tears, "thank you for saving me Mr.Lehnsherr, I'm sorry I lost control" She said in a small voice.
Erik watched as Xavier relaxed his shoulders.
What the fuck.
"Moira, would you take Ms.Kitty and please grab Ms.Greys backpack from Mr.Lehnsherr's classroom, the three of us need to have a small chat." He smiled in the way Erik often found annoying, the dazzling smile that he would use to win over school boards and parents.
"That we do." Erik narrowed his eyes at Charles.
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Charles Xavier had felt fear in his life. He had been anxious before. But exposing himself to Erik Lehnsherr, a man who hates his guts and has tried on multiple occasions to get him fired? That scared him.
He waited until Moira left his office, and dropped his head into his hands.
"Mr.Lehnsherr, I'm sure you have questions." Charles's voice wavered as he spoke. He could make him forget, but he hoped it wouldn't come to that.
Erik had his fists clenched, his face red as he spoke, "we have two more hours left in the school day. I am going to take Ms.Grey, and I am going to finish our day. When she is goes home we will have this discussion." The low baritone of his voice sounded dangerous, but Charles would not be swayed.
"Ms.Grey is under my care," he glanced over to Jean, who was staring at the floor, arms wrapped around herself "she's not going back to class until tomorrow."
I don't want to go back to class, the other kids are gonna know I'm a freak.
"You are not a freak Jean. You are a mutant and you are allowed to be proud of your gifts." He knew all too well how she felt.
"That's rich coming from you." Erik didn't yell, he would never yell with a child in the room, but Charles could see the memories in his mind of all the times Charles had opposed him regarding mutants in the school system.
"Erik Lehnsherr, go back to your class and Jean will be with you tomorrow." Charles glared up at him.
"Please don't make me go back to my dad Mr.Lehmsherr, Mr.X is gonna help me, please please don't make me go back." Jean cried real genuine tears and Charles wheeled over to her, letting her hug him. "Please Mr.Lehnsherr, I'll be good, I'll put the bracelet back, I'll never talk in class, just don't make me go home. Don't make me go back. I'm sorry. Please." She sobbed into Charles tweed jacket, begging and pleading. Charles glared at Erik.
"She's not in a state to go to class, and you need to fill out your incident report about Kitty." Erik had his eyes locked on Jean's crying form. The anger left his expression immediately, realization dawning on him.
It wasn't other kids who did it.
Charles heard Erik clearly in his mind. He knew Jean would as well.
Charles shook his head. Erik left his office without another word.