Albion's treasure

The car stops in the parking lot, a young woman with long red hair gets out, followed by the driver in sunglasses. A teenage boy sits in the back and looks nervously in the direction of the school, his bag beside him as he fiddles with his newly acquired watch. They notice it.

_ What are you waiting for, ask the driver.
_ I'm not sure zat's a good idea, say the boy. I'm not uzed to crowded places.
_ Yeah, I get that, reply the man. But you can't stay inside the Institute for the rest of your life. You even got that "image inducer" to safely go in public.
_ What if someone chooses to pick on the new kid and ze device gets damaged ?
_ Kurt, intervene the woman, the Professor wouldn't have registered you here if he wasn't confident you would be alright. And if something goes wrong we'll just go back to the Institute.

Kurt nods, getting out of the car with stiffs movements. He's introduction to his first classemates ever was awkward. For a reason he didn't understand they were pointing out his accent, something he wasn't aware of, but he'd rather see them smirk when he talk than what they would surely do if they saw how he truly look. After that, the morning was long and not really exciting. None of his classmates actually pick on him but since the only other of the Institute's students, Jean and Scott, are older than him, he's alone in the middle of strangers.

When it's finally time for the lunch break he goes to his locker to get ready for the afternoon classes. When he is ready to go to the cafeteria, he realizes that the other students in the hallway are not all heading in the same direction, quite the contrary, and he does not recognize anyone from his class in the crowd. Without landmarks and not knowing in which direction to go, Kurt begins to to feel overwhelmed in the middle of all these strangers and rushes in a random direction. While turning at a corner, he hits someone and ends up butt on the ground.

_ Watch where you're going, twerp !

Looking up, he sees a stereotypical jock: tall, blond, muscular, square-jawed and wearing a letterman jacket. And behind the pissed blond stand his teammates, with similar build and clothes. This situation was exactly the kind he was afraid of, and it had to happened his very first day at school.

_ I-I'm sorry, he says nervously, I vas searching ze cafeteria.
_ Huh, reply the jock with a mean smirk, care to repeat what you said ? I didn't understand your gibberish.
_ I said I vas-

The jock laught at him, followed by his friends. Kurt look down, somehow ashamed that he would attraction that kind of attention even though he's looking normal right now.

_ Leave him alone, intervene a male voice.

The group looks toward the voice's owner, which is a late-teen boy with short red hair and green eyes. He's standing, alongside a girl with a dark skin, long dark brown hair and wearing silver/gold jewelry. She's holding her books against her chest, looking angrily at the jock while the boy gives him an annoyed look with his arms crossed.

_ What ? Get a crush for the new kid already, Lloyd ?
_ What ? Picking on the new kid already, Matthews, mimics the red-haired boy. He gets there in the same car that your girlfriend, so I advise you to get out before you have to deal with her.

The said Matthews give him a surprised look before glaring at Kurt, which was afraid to get a punch in his face but, ultimately, one of the other jocks put a hand on the blond's shoulder. Kurt looks at them leaving, not understanding why or what exactly just happened, then reach his hand toward his backpack but end up touching the girl's. They both retract instinctively before exchanging an embarrassed look.

_ Sorry, say the girl before grabbing his bag, I just wanted to give it back to you.
_ Thanks. My name is Kurt.
_ Amanda, she replies. And that guy over there is-
_ Arthur.

The boy cut her and reaches a hand to Kurt. The latter catches him and straightens up before recovering his bag.

_ I'm sorry that you had to face the Jock for your first day, add the red-head.
_ I've been through worze.
_ You were looking for the cafeteria, right ? We're heading there too, want to join us ?
_ Ja, thank you, he says as they start to move. And thanks for your help with zat guy.
_ Don't thank me, I just did the right thing.

He said that with another annoyed look on his face, not addressed to Kurt but it still make him feel uneasy. Amanda notices that and nudges her friend.

_ Don't mind him. What annoys him is that no one else tried to help you, she explains.
_ Can you blame me ? This moron spends his time picking on others and you're no better than him when you pretend not seeing anything.
_ You didn't act right away, point out Amanda.
_ I was giving him a chance to not be a jerk, he choose to ignore it, end of the story. The others who just stood by and watched can't tell the same, he adds while glancing back at other students.
_ They just don't want to get in trouble, and I'm sure Kurt will just avoid him too from now on.
_ Ja. Zat's my firzt time at school and I juzt want to enjoy it, he says sheepishly.
_ See ? And don't worry about starting school only now, Kurt. Arthur also started at High School.
_ Really ?

The latter just shrugs his shoulder as they enter the cafeteria.

_ There you go. It's not a restaurant but it's clean and no one had a real complaint about the food... Except for some pranks.
_ What kind of prank, ask hesitantly Kurt.
_ Let's just say that Amanda isn't a big fan of pizza, answer Arthur with a smirk.
_ Please stop, just thinking about it makes me nauseous.
_ And if you're not in the mood to eat inside, he resumes by pointing a double door nearby, there are also tables outside. Your friends usually eat there.
_ My friends ?
_ The ones who drive you here this morning. We saw you when Scott was parking his car.

"Oh" is all Kurt says as he chooses his dishes. It's only when a grabs a dessert that he put the pieces together.

_ Wait, zat mean Jean is dating zat guy ?!
_ Ah ! See that shocked look on his face, Sefton ? That's a natural reaction from an impartial third party. You can't keep telling me my opinion is biased.
_ You have a past with that kind of guy, and you know it, reply Amanda.
_ It doesn't mean I'm not right when I say she shouldn't date him.
_ Popular students dating other popular students isn't something new.
_ Except our Miss Popular is too nice to be a cliché like him, argues Arthur. I don't understand how that relationship can work.
_ That's not our business, simply replies the girl.

They take their now-filled plate before heading outside. Kurt quickly finds his new roommates and go to them.

_ Finally, say Scott. I was wondering if you'd get lost.
_ Kinda, reply Kurt. I didn't know vere ze cafeteria vas but zey showed me ze way.

Amanda wave her hand and smile at them. Arthur just raise his hand before heading to another table, the girl following him.

_ Making friends already, ask Jean with a smirk.
_ I'm... not sure yet. But he helped me with...

Kurt stops himself, not wanting to risk to strains already his relationship with Jean by telling her that her boyfriend tried to bully him, forgetting something important about her.

_ Oh, Kurt, she says with a sigh, I'm sorry about Duncan.
_ Who ?
_ The "jock" you're thinking about.
_ What did he do this time, ask Scott while eating his lunch.
_ Did you juzt read my mind, he asks defensively.
_ No, she replies calmly. I don't pry into people's minds without a good reason but you're thinking too hard. For a telepath, it's like you are yelling, I don't have other choices but to hear you.
_ Oh... Sorry ?
_ Don't be, intervene Scott. Whatever you think about him, he surely deserves it.
_ Scott !
_ Hey, it's not because you're dating him that I'll overlook him being an asshole.
_ Duncan is not-
_ Care to remind me how we met Arthur ?
_ How you met him, replies the girl.
_ You know what I mean.

Jean is about to reply but no words seems to reach her mouth, which she closes before looking away.

_ Sooo... You know him, asks Kurt.
_ Well, starts Scotts, Jean is the one who usually deals with him.
_ "Deal with him" ? Vat does zat mean ?
_ He get transferred here last year during his Junior cycle, she explain. And because of my grades, the Principal asked me to accompany him during his first week. Duncan... get the wrong idea.

Kurt may not be a telepath himself but it wasn't hard to read between the lines.

_ He picked on Arthur too ?
_ He tried, answers Scott. He made the mistake to asked Jean if she could help him with his studies and for that idiot it could only mean he was hitting on her. Then Duncan made the mistake to take him by the collar in front of everyone and it backfired.
_ Backfired, repeat a confused Kurt, how so ?
_ By being the mature one, reply Jean. Duncan is not that troublesome when you keep your cool, she adds, glancing at Scott.

It's Scott's turn to not argue back, silently eating the rest of his lunch. Kurt give a skeptical look at Jean's comment but nod before eating his own food. He can't help but glance at the two students who helped him, Amanda smiling at him as she catches him looking at them. The young mutant looks away, blushing slightly as it is the first time a girl looks at him with that kind of face. It is his first day at school, and he don't want to rush thing but he would like to be friend with those two.

***************

Two weeks flew by, during which Kurt was happy to discover he has some classes in common with Amanda and Arthur, though he was surprised about the older boy being at his level in History and French. As the three of them are in the school's library, helping Kurt to understand certain expressions in his homework, his curiosity is triggered again as Arthur patiently and clearly explains to him an exercise. He then catches sight of Kitty picking some books out of the shelves. She sees him, he waves his hand at her with a smile, she frowns slightly then go away with the books. Kurt lies his head on the desk and groan.

_ What's on your mind, Kurt, ask Amanda. Girl trouble ?
_ No, he quickly replies with a blush. I mean, yes ! I mean, no...

He let out a long sigh before lying his head on the desk again with a slight "bump".

_ I think she doesn't like me.
_ Who ?
_ Kitty.
_ The transferred student ?
_ Yeah. I tried to be friendly and funny since she joined us at ze Institute, but somehow I alvays manage to upzet her.
_ What Institute, Arthur asks, looking up from a book called "Le Petit Prince".
_ Uuhhh....

Kurt doesn't answer. While he obviously knows the Professor's Institute exists to help mutants like him to blend in the masses, he actually never wonders what other people actually know about it. Thankfully someone come to his help.

_ The Xavier Institute, or the Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, is an educational program aimed at offering personalized support to teenagers and young adults of various origins, explains Jean.
_ I've never heard of it, reply the red-haired boy.
_ Well, Scott and I joined the Institute when it was still a project. It officially opened its doors recently with Kurt.
_ Have you never saw them coming to or leaving school with a bald man in a wheelchair or a dark-skinned, white-haired woman?
_ I probably saw them, but since I'm not a nosy person, I also probably didn't pay attention.
_ And you never wonder why they always came to school in the same car ?
_ Yeah, he says, rolling his eyes, because two or three students couldn't come to school in the same car just because they're friends or neighbors.
_ You should pay more attention to what happens around you, reply Amanda. You might miss important things.
_ It's not my business if Kurt and Miss Grey are in some kind of special program, though I guess I shouldn't be surprised considering your grades, he says, looking at Miss Popular. Is that where these justified absences come from?
_ Yes, simply say Jean. What bring you to talk about the Institute ?
_ Kurt moping because he thinks the new girl doesn't like him, says Arthur.
_ I vasn't moping, he mumbles.
_ You were sighing with sad kitten eyes.
_ I. Vas. Not.
_ No need to take it badly, reply Arthur, it was as cute as your accent.

Kurt blush at the comment, taking one of the books on the desk to hide his face with.

_ I'm not cute, he whines.
_ Let's ask a third person, says Arthur as he turns to Amanda. Sefton, your opinion on the matter?
_ I think you're the only one to notice his sad kitten's eyes, she replies teasingly. But I do find his accent cute.
_ T-thanks, he says, blushing even harder behind his book.
_ Oh, so when it's a girl who said you're cute, you accept the compliment, the red-haired boy says sarcastically. Ty-pi-cal.
_ You're alvays teazing me.
_ Or maybe it's you who can take a sincere compliment, answer Arthur with a smile before resuming his reading. Anyway, if I am right to assume Miss Pryde get transferred here become she joined your "Institute", then the issue is probably more her having difficulty fitting in.
_ I know she has a hard time fitting in, reply Kurt. Zat's exactly vy I've been trying to eaze ze tenzion by being friendly and funny ! I'm not harazing her to be my friend !
_ We're all processing things differently, explains the other boy behind his book. For example, I need to understand what is happening or had happened to process it. She could very well open up to you after she manages to "fit in" on her own.
_ He's right, intervene Jean. I'm sure Kitty knows what you're trying to do. Just give her some time.
_ Besides, you're never going to have a girlfriend if you're that overbearing, add the male redhead.

Kurt now has his chin resting on the desk from stooping behind his book to hide his embarrassment. And he may look normal thanks to the Professor's device, yet he's not able to touch others because of his fur, preventing the young mutant from being more than friends with anyone. And he is well aware of it, that's why he doesn't think about this kind of thing. Not at all. Never.

_ I'm not interezted in zat sort of thing right now.
_ Sure... Your brain is working so hard right now that I could almost hear your thoughts.

That last comment from Arthur reminds Kurt something another redhead said to him not long ago, which causes Jean to chuckle as the school's bell ring.

_ Alright, I think that's enough teasing, says the telepath. And we have to go home earlier today so it's time to say goodbye.
_ Me too, reply Arthur. We have someone sick at home and grown-ups being in the minority, there are a lot of chores to take care of.
_ You have a large family, ask Kurt.
_ You have no idea, he replies, packing his things. Have a good day, dear Gifted Youngsters.

They part away after leaving the library, Amanda and Arthur go to their lockers before leaving school on foot.

_ Sooo..?
_ So what, Sefton ?
_ What do you think of Kurt ?
_ He's my friend..? Weren't you with us those last two weeks ?
_ You know what I mean, sigh Amanda.
_ Well, he is cute, funny, clever...
_ And..?
_ And that's all. It's not because he has many qualities and that I like when he blushes that I'll try to seduce him.
_ Too bad, you're probably the only boy at our school to use that word. Seriously though, you want me to believe you're teasing him that much and yet the only thing you like is his face when he blushes?
_ Again, even though it makes him blush and I think he's cute like that, it was sincere compliments.
_ But you find him attractive, I saw how you look at him.
_ Attraction and love are two different things. And, again, I like seeing him blush, and also his accent, not the disgust in his eyes if I was dumb enough to fall for him and blowing my cover.
_ Arthur, we've already talked about this, she says while nudging him. There's nothing wrong with you or what you might feel.
_ I know that I am not the problem but that doesn't make things easier. And even if I was in love and he wouldn't react that badly, which we can't be sure, things between us would get awkward. I won't risk our friendship just because he was too cute for me at some point.
_ Sometimes I'm afraid you'll end your life alone, she sighs again.
_ And I would be the only one to blame, he reply, slightly annoyed by the subject. so stop beating around the bush.
_ I... don't know what you're talking about.
_ Amanda, you know me well enough to know that I wouldn't make a move, no matter how I feel about a guy, and that I wouldn't antagonize the one he ends up with. So don't act like you would be risking our friendship if you and Kurt start dating.

The girl blushed, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear in an attempt to stay calm. She hadn't expected him to turn the tables to change the subject, although that shouldn't surprise her.

_ So stop hiding behind my love life and take your chance, because the guy doesn't know it yet but he could be quite the charmer.

She stops, the two teenagers have reached the place where their paths separate. She stares at the back of her friend as he continues on his way, frowning before heading back home. "I would," she thought, "if I could be sure that he wouldn't give me a chance just because you refused to give you two a chance."

***************

The next day, Arthur waves to Amanda as he walks past her and her friends as he goes to his locker to prepare for his first class. A little further he sees the group from the Institute and sketches a smirk when he sees the youngest leaving the others with a smile, including Kurt. Curious about this sudden turnaround and unable to resist the urge to approach the German student, he suddenly turns to the trio to approach them but accidentally bumps into someone. He ends up on the floor, next to a goth girl who herself had just taken things from her locker, things that are now scattered between them.

_ I'm so sorry, he hastens to apologize before picking up one of his books.
_ It's fine, she replied with a tired sigh, before gathering her things. This week can't get worse anyway.
_ I don't remember meeting you before, he comments while picking up another book. Another transferred student ?
_ Because that's common here, she asks, rolling her eyes.
_ Lately ? Yes, he replies, handing her the books. My name is Arthur.
_ You can call me Rogue, she says as she looked hesitantly at the books before taking them. Thanks.
_ Don't want to give your name to a stranger, he asks with a small smile.
_ I don't have a good experience when it comes to getting closer to others.
_ That's fair, I'm not very social. But not to the point of sending the others off so if you need anything, I'm here.

He leaves, heading toward the Institute's trio, unaware of the glare Rogue gives him as he goes to them.

_ I think I'm good on my own, she mumbles before heading in the opposite direction.

He catch his fellow red-haired student's attention, who waved at him in return. The two others look at him too, Kurt greeting him with a bright smile and walking to him while Scott just... act like his usual Mysterious-Brunette-Who-Always-Wear-Sunglasses self.

_ Hi guys. May I know how you manage to get Miss Pryde to get along with Kurt overnight ?
_ Oh, uh, you know, says Scott. Things happened.
_ That's not really explicit... Almost like you're hiding something, Summers.

The said brunette feels uneasy about the subject and, clearly, Arthur reading him like an open book doesn't help him to sound natural. Thankfully for him, Kurt doesn't have that much difficulty to act naturally.

_ What can I say, he says as he passes a hand through his hair, she couldn't rezizt my charm.
_ Such confidence from someone who was moping over her not later than yesterday, Arthur replied with a smirk.
_ I told you, I vasn't "moping".
_ Of course, he says before turning to Jean.
_ Let's just say he showed her his vulnerable side.
_ Really ? The I-Am-Though-But-I-Do-Have-A-Heart kind or the I-Made-An-Oopsie-But-It-Turned-Out-Just-Fine kind ?

Jean can't help laughing at the boy's insight and the way he turned Kurt's proud expression into an embarrassed one. That's one of the reasons she was happy going to high school, being able to have this kind of trivial conversation unrelated to superpowers or dangerous missions.

_ Mr. Lloyd, says the Principal's voice through the corridor's speakers, be in my office in ten minutes.
_ Me, he says in a surprised tone.
_ What did you do, ask Kurt.
_ I have no idea. Except for Duncan's related incidents, the Principal never interacted with me since my first day... I hope it has nothing to do with the fact I don't have any extracurricular activities. Having good grades is hard enough without being forced into optional things, he grunts lowly.

Not eager to make their strict Principal wait, he quickly waves a goodbye to the others before heading to the office. Along the way, he meets another student who recently gets transferred to Bayville High, around the same time as Kitty Pryde. He doesn't know his name as that boy played the rebellious-loner card since his arrival, keeping other students at bay. Not that Arthur minds that, he doesn't know him so he won't judge him... As long he doesn't take the rebellious part too far. For now, they just acknowledge each other existence when they cross paths, nothing more, and he's fine with it.

Once facing the office's door, he hesitates a second before knocking. A stern "Come in" is heard from the overside and, as he obeys, ends up facing the Principal of Bayville High.

_ Mr Lloyd, says the intimidating woman. I'm glad that some of our students know how to be punctual.
_ Ms Darkhölme... How can I-
_ You were talking about him ?!

It's only by hearing her voice that Arthur notices the girl sitting in one of the chairs in front of Principal Darkhölme. The one he bumped in earlier. She looks at him with a frown as the Principal clears their throat to refocus their attention.

_ I take it you've already met. Good. It will save me time. This young lady joined our school today and I would like you to accompany her during her first days.
_ Me ?
_ Is that a problem ?
_ No but... Are you sure about asking me rather than someone like Jean ? I'm not the most social student here.
_ Just like her, you have been transferred to my school, start to explain the woman. And not only were you able to catch up in your first month, but you've since maintained high grades even though you're still behind Miss Grey. I believe this makes you more than capable of helping our young friend through her own transition, she concludes with a piercing glare.

Arthur can't help himself but feel a bit proud of himself as he heard what seems to be a compliment from their Principal. He quickly shrugs off the feeling though, as pride is not something he learned to affectionate and rationalizes that Ms. Darkhölme arguments are purely logical.

_ Besides, I've heard that you quickly bonded with another of our transferred students, Mr. Wagner. I admit it's a different case but it seems you're the only one, with Ms. Sefton, he's close with aside this Institute's students.
_ Well, I'm willing to help when I can... But she doesn't seem that thrilled about it. She's still glaring.

Ms. Darkhölme turns toward Rogue, who just looks away, clearly unpleased by the situation.

_ Let's make it clear. I don't ask you to become friends, only that Mr. Lloyd make sure that you acclimatize to your new establishment and don't let yourself be influenced by the wrong people, she says, insisting on her last words.

Rogue frowns even more but eventually resigned herself, nodding before grabbing and leaving the office. Arthur look at them in silence, part of him feeling he had just missed something but, again, shrug it off, reminding himself he has no right to pry into other's business.

_ We have finish here, Mr. Lloyd, says the Principal. Now go to your class.
_ Yes, Mrs Darkhölme.

***************

A few hours later, in an abandoned warehouse far away from the school where the X-Men and the Brotherhood are taking shape, something is happening. Tremors have been occurring there for several hours, initially weak and low frequency, and now shaking the crates and containers abandoned on site. The phenomenon reaches its climax when everything in the building is violently thrown backward as if an explosion had just occurred in the center of the warehouse. But this is not the case. The strange kinetic wave is only accompanied by a flash of light, intense and brief, before giving way to a kneeling figure, hands against the ground. But this is not the case.

The strange woman raises her head, her dirty face switching between different expressions as her blue eyes frantically examine every detail of her surroundings. She wears a tight-fitting white outfit, except for her black sleeves, long gloves, and her thigh-high boots, a black belt around her waist whose buckle takes the form of a completely rusty circle. Her hair, black and wavy, escape from a strange worn helmet, partially rusted and emitting sparks intermittently. With a quick, impulsive gesture, she removes the strange metal helmet as she gets up.

_ We did it, she whispers in a surprised, almost disbelieving tone. Shadow, we did it! We-

As she sits up looking behind her, she sees nothing more than she has already observed from the warehouse. Dark thoughts begin to race through her mind as she seems to be desperately searching for something in the shadows.

_ That's not funny, she said as her throat tightened. Give me a sign or... or write something!

But no one answers her. When she realizes she is alone among the dust and debris, she unconsciously drops the helmet which falls to the floor. She opens her mouth, probably to call again the person she seems to be looking for, but changes her mind. Her eyes which seem on the verge of tears change as she's trying to stifle her emotions with cold determination. She looks down at the rusty, crackling object before turning to the wide-open warehouse door. Stepping outside, she makes a hand motion towards the helmet, not even giving it a last look as it seems to explode from the inside, leaving nothing behind that can't mingle with the dust and dirt covering the floor. As she puts one foot in the doorway, contemplating what she can see of the city, a single tear digs a furrow in the dirt covering her face which she tries to keep impassive.

_ We did it, she repeat with a broken voice before stepping away.