The Iron Gates of Xaviers

The iron gates groan as they swing shut behind Jasper Payne, the sound swallowed by the vast green lawn stretching toward the Victorian mansion ahead. He tightens his grip on the backpack strap, feeling the worn fabric dig into his shoulder. A girl with shimmering blue skin floats past him, her feet a full foot above the ground, laughing ...

The iron gates groan as they swing shut behind Jasper Payne, the sound swallowed by the vast green lawn stretching toward the Victorian mansion ahead. He tightens his grip on the backpack strap, feeling the worn fabric dig into his shoulder. A girl with shimmering blue skin floats past him, her feet a full foot above the ground, laughing at something a boy with crystalline hands has just said. Jasper’s stomach tightens. Professor Xavier waits at the top of the stone steps, his wheelchair gleaming in the morning light. There’s a calmness in the old man’s eyes that cuts through Jasper’s nerves like a warm knife through butter. “Welcome, Jasper,” Xavier says, and though his lips move, the words seem to resonate directly inside Jasper’s skull. Not intrusive. Gentle. Like a hand on his shoulder. “I know this is overwhelming. But you are not alone here.” Jasper opens his mouth to respond, but a thunderous crash erupts from somewhere deep within the mansion. The ground trembles beneath his sneakers. A few students nearby barely flinch, one of them rolling her eyes. “Danger Room,” Xavier explains with a faint, knowing smile. “Logan is running a simulation. He tends to get… enthusiastic.” Before Jasper can ask what that means, a young woman with short brown hair phases through the solid oak front door, appearing beside them as if she’d stepped through a curtain of water. She grins, dusting off her jacket. “New kid?” Kitty Pryde asks, tilting her head. Her eyes are warm, curious. “Don’t worry. First day’s always the worst. Want me to show you around before Logan blows something up again?” Another crash shakes the walls. Jasper swallows, his heart hammering, but something in Kitty’s easy smile makes him nod.

Kitty doesn't wait for an answer. She turns and walks backward through the front door, her body flickering as she passes through the solid wood like smoke through a screen. Jasper blinks, his brain struggling to process what he just saw. "Coming?" Her voice muffles slightly as her head disappears last, leaving only that mischievous grin ...

Kitty doesn't wait for an answer. She turns and walks backward through the front door, her body flickering as she passes through the solid wood like smoke through a screen. Jasper blinks, his brain struggling to process what he just saw. "Coming?" Her voice muffles slightly as her head disappears last, leaving only that mischievous grin hanging in the air for a split second before it too vanishes. Jasper looks at Professor Xavier, who nods encouragingly. "Go on. I'll find you later for your orientation." He steps through the doorway, half-expecting to smack his face against oak, but the threshold swallows him into a grand foyer with a sweeping staircase and portraits lining the walls. Kitty stands a few feet away, hands in her jacket pockets, watching him with amusement. "You get used to it," she says. "The phasing thing, I mean. First time I did it, I fell through three floors and ended up in the boiler room." A distant explosion rumbles from somewhere below, followed by a gruff voice shouting something unintelligible. Kitty winces. "That's Logan. He's probably already wrecked another training bot. Come on, I'll show you the dining hall first. It's safe there. Usually." She starts walking down a corridor lined with doors, each one slightly ajar, revealing glimpses of students practicing their abilities. A girl levitates a stack of books while reading one simultaneously. Two boys argue in hushed tones, one of them flickering between visible and invisible mid-sentence. Jasper follows Kitty, his hands shoved deep into his pockets, feeling the strange hum of his own power coiled somewhere beneath his skin. Waiting.

The corridor opens into a wide, sunlit hall lined with long wooden tables. The smell of fresh bread and something sweet—maple, maybe—drifts through the air, mingling with the low murmur of conversation. A handful of students sit scattered across the benches, some nursing mugs of coffee, others hunched over textbooks with floating pens tak...

The corridor opens into a wide, sunlit hall lined with long wooden tables. The smell of fresh bread and something sweet—maple, maybe—drifts through the air, mingling with the low murmur of conversation. A handful of students sit scattered across the benches, some nursing mugs of coffee, others hunched over textbooks with floating pens taking notes beside them. Kitty gestures toward the serving station at the far end, where a kitchen staff member in a stained apron ladles soup into bowls. "Breakfast is technically over, but they keep stuff warm for stragglers. And new arrivals." She flashes a grin over her shoulder. "You look like you could use some food." Jasper's stomach growls in response, betraying him. He hadn't realized how hungry he was until now. The anxiety of the morning had buried everything else. As they approach the tables, a girl with auburn hair looks up from her book. Her eyes—warm, intelligent—scan Jasper with quiet curiosity before she offers a small smile. "New student?" "Jasper," he says, his voice coming out rougher than he intended. He clears his throat. "First day." "Jean Grey." She sets her book aside. "If you need anything—directions, schedules, a warning about which teachers to avoid—I'm your source." Her gaze flicks to Kitty. "Though it looks like you've already found the best guide." Kitty shrugs, feigning modesty. "I try." A loud crash echoes from somewhere deeper in the mansion, followed by a string of curses that sound distinctly like Logan's voice. Several students at the tables don't even flinch, clearly accustomed to the noise. Jean sighs. "Danger Room's acting up again. He's been in there since six." Kitty slides onto the bench across from Jean and pats the space beside her, looking up at Jasper. "Sit. Eat. You're going to need your strength."