-General P.O.V-

"Logan if you could excuse us please?"

Xavier requested.

"Sure thing Chuck."

Wolverine gave a grunt in confirmation, eyes falling on Locke, who fearlessly held his gaze steadily. Logan's chest rumbled in a growl before turning and leaving the room.

Once the door was closed, the Professor chuckled.

"He likes you. That's a first. He never takes well to new people."

"That was him liking me? I thought I was about to be skinned and eaten alive."

Locke sweatdropped.

"Don't worry Mr. Mastif, he's properly trained."

Xavier said in an even tone.

Locke laughed at the joke, only to find Xavier deadly serious.

'He was kidding right?'

Locke thought to himself.

"Tell me something Mr. Mastif."

The Professor pushed his Wheelchair closer to the bed, eyes sharply boring into Locke's

"Do you know what you are?"

"I'm not sure...how to answer that."

Locke admitted, finding the whole interaction strange.

"You register to cerebro as a mutant, and yet, now that I see you with my own eyes, my mind tells me I'm wrong. Or rather less-right. You're not simply a mutated human, you're something more. Your consciousness seems to waver between readable and unreadable. What are you really?"

Xavier had his brows furrowed in interest, as if trying to figure out a difficult puzzle.

"Confused."

Locke stated, brows furrowed.

"Am I a mutant or not? Let's start with that."

The Professor blinked.

"You are. Or perhaps you're not."

"Explain."

Locke had enough of the crypticness. He was surprised Xavier had not brought up his Killing of Magneto, and seemed more focused on his possible Mutation.

Locke didn't like that. Not one bit. This Man was a borderline invasive Telepath. If his interest led to him reading his mind and finding out a Locke's true origin, who knows what would happen.

More importantly, the Crypticness was annoying. He now wished the discussion was about killing Magneto.

Xavier blinked, realizing Locke's frustation. He didn't need to read minds to understand he was the reason.

"Ah, I apologize Mr. Mastiff, I got carried away by my train of thought. Please take no offence. My name is Charles Xavier."

The Professors offered his hand with an apologetic look.

Locke stared at the palm for a few seconds.

'He seems genuine.'

He concluded, stretching out his own hand, and shaking the Professor's.

"No problem sir. And call me Locke. Thank you for sending your X-Men to bail me out."

"Don't mention it."

Xavier said.

"Actually, I was hoping you would consider living here."

Locke was surprised by the offer.

"The others think fondly of you."

Xavier added in a soft tone,

"In the Mansion, you would be accepted. No more running- it can be home. Your home."

'Home?'

The word felt foreign to Locke. In his last world, he never settled down in one place, long enough to call it home. Leave alone this marvel world.

The reality was he had nowhere else to go. It only made sense that he should accept.

His lips parted to say yes, only for a look of suspicion to cross his face.

"You're not...influencing my mind to agree, are you?"

Xavier shook his head.

"No. And that's precisely why I want you to stay. Locke, you're not aware, but besides reading your surface thoughts, my power simply fails when I use it on you...I believe you have the potential to be an Omega level Mutant."

-0-

The door opened and out came the Professor, wheelchair pushed by Locke who had changed from a patient's gown, into a blue shirt and black shorts. The clothes were left behind by Cyclops for when Locke was medically cleared. Thankfully they had the same build.(Locke was a bit slimmer)

Leaning on the wall, the Wolverine gave him a glance but stayed silent.

"Logan, we'll be heading to Hank's Lab now. Mr. Mastif is curious to find out what his Mutant ability is."

Xavier informed him.

"Please drop the formality Professor. Call me Locke. Mr. Mastif is my Step-Dad."

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Locke reminded Xavier, moving to the back as Logan took position behind the Professor. Locke didn't know the mansion, it only made sense to let a resident lead the way.

The three proceeded through the hall, Locke in deep thought from his talk with the Professor.

Particularly regarding Vision's fate. Turns out Shield had secured the Android and were attempting to reverse Wanda's control hex. In the meantime, Vision was being kept in a specialized containment cell, that negated his phasing.

'I gotta find time and go see him.'

Locke decided, as they turned a corner, passing by a group of kids running through the mansion.

""Professor! Professor!""

The kids blocked their way, huddling around Xavier.

"Hello children, off to your next class?"

Xavier humored them, while Logan's glower seemed to increase.

Locke noticed the physical mutations on a few of them. One boy, who was in a stare off contest with Logan, had whiskers on his face, black colored ears and a long striped tail. His skin was also covered with a light gray fur.

'A cat mutation?"

Locke guessed, throwing a wry glance at Logan.

'Natural enemy then huh?'

His attention was pulled away by a girl, who looked the oldest of the group. She had Dragonfly wings tatoos across her hands and yellow eyes.

She was also staring at him.

"Professor? Who's he?"

And now she was pointing his way too.

Locke was suddenly conscious of the curious young eyes locked on him, causing him to stiffen. He'd never been good with Kids. His Guru once told him he gave off a depressing energy field. His aura had even made one of the monastery kids cry.

"Children, this is Locke. He'll be living here with us."

Xavier told them.

"Is he a mutant too?"

Another kid asked.

Xavier turned and stared at Locke critically.

"That's what we're going to find out."

As if on cue, there was a 'Bamf' sound and with a ripple of dark purple smoke, a man appeared on the hallway.

Locke blinked at his blue features. With completely white eyes, long tipped ears and a slim tail that headed in a sharp tip, the new arrival would have been mistaken for a Demon.

"Zo, thiz iz vere you kidz vere? You're late for my lezzon."

He said in a heavy German accent.

-0-

After Nightcrawler led the kids away, they continued on to Hank's lab.

"I'm curious, Locke. What did you think of Kurt?"

Xavier broke the silence.

"Nice guy."

Locke shrugged, answering honestly.

"Besides the fact he looks like the Devil?"

Logan questioned, prompting Locke to stop. The Wolverine did so as well, bringing the Wheelchair to a halt.

"Trust me, I know the real Devil."

Locke muttered, eyes on the floor. No matter his appearance, Kurt had nothing on Wanda. Locke saw her kill her own team in cold blood. If he hadn't risked his life to save those villagers, she would have sacrificed them without a second thought.

She was the Real Devil. heartless and cold, her ambitions fiery and devastating.

"Mmh."

Logan snorted,

"You look haunted Kid."

Locke turned his gaze up.

"Maybe I am. But I made sure to send the Devil back to hell. A little trauma is something I can live with."

A look of approval glimmered in Logan's deep eyes. He jerked his head in a nod,

"Good. Not the worst trade."

Then without another word, he pushed the Wheelchair forward.

Locke followed after a brief pause spent looking through a window to his left.

The Mansion's yard was neatly spread out in his eyes, only ending where the woods begun. A soft breeze blew through the trees, sending leaves drifting along the air.

'It's peaceful here.'

Locke breathed in slowly.

'Maybe staying isn't such a bad idea.'

-0-

'This place is like a maze.'

Locke thought after passing a few more hallways and rooms. They also came across more residents; mostly kids in their teens(the Professor informed him most mutations awakened during adolescence) There weren't a lot of adults- turns out the chances of mutants surviving to see 20 was lower than for normal people. The world wasn't kind to anyone different, and the X-men had many enemies(even in the shadows of anonymity)

Which made the X-Men even more impressive in Locke's eyes. They were fighting against the world and holding their own.

'At the end of it all, it always comes down to Power. Power gurantees the option to live how you want. Especially in this world.'

Locke concluded, which made him curious about something,

"Professor, what did you mean by Omega level?"

He asked, thinking back to their talk.

The Professor began his explanation- as they descended the staircase to a section below the Mansion- almost as if giving a lecture,

"There are four classes of mutants, based by strength or potency of their mutant Ability. The weakest class is Epsilon- mutants whose powers are deemed weak or a hindrance, such as a mutation that can make your body glow but not much else. A big percent of Mutant population are Epsilon level. Next we have Beta class, mutants whose powers have some practical application (as opposed to the lower Epsilon level), but are generally minimally useful. Above them we have the Alpha Class, Mutants whose powers have applicable uses and the ones who possess them have the ability to control those powers within reasonable limits. Most of the X-Men are within this range. As for Omega level, well...you will find out soon enough. After all, we've finally arrived."

Xavier finished saying, the three of them stopping before a steel door. Loud explosions, impacts and voices could be faintly heard on the other side.

Locke noticed a camera above the door, filming. With a hiss, the entrance opened by swinging inwards.

Logan pushed the professor forward, Locke following closely behind, eyes gazing around.

"Welcome to the Danger Room, Locke."

Xavier said, sweeping a hand out at the wide chamber bigger than the mansion itself.

The chamber was oval in shape and separated into two sections. They stood on the first section, at the beginning of a metal walkway that went around the whole room, overlooking the section below.

Through the glass walls of the walkway, Locke saw a shimmering blue forcefield in the middle of the second section.

"Danger Room? I thought you said we were going to Hank's Lab?"

Locke questioned.

"Charles, I wasn't expecting you in the middle of a battle Simulation. The team is knee deep in Sentinels..."

Beast said, appearing from the staircase connecting both sections- the direction of the Danger Room's Operations Console.

Upon spotting Locke, the blue furred Mutant frowned, stopping on the last step.

"Doctor's orders have you resting in your room Mr. Mastiff, what do you think you're doing up?"

Locke scratched his head, throwing a glance at Xavier.

"Huh...you were overruled?"

Beast threw a glance at Xavier who simply kept a small smile on his face.

"Spare us a minute if you can Hank."

"Fine. But once we're done, it's back to bed with you."

With a sigh, Beast turned to their front and started walking deeper through the Walkway.

They followed along after him, Locke's eyes stuck on the blue forcefield below them.

He couldn't see anything through the shimmering energy field, but he could hear battle sounds and voices emanating forth from it.

'I'm guessing that's the Danger room. I would be lying if I said I didn't want to check it out.'

Almost halfway around the chamber, Beast stopped before a door and entered a passcode on the security pad beside it.

The entrance rose up, revealing a room with all sorts of scientific appliances and equipment.

"Welcome to my Lab."

Beast said and they all filed in, standing at the Lab entrance.

Meanwhile, Beast showed Locke a seat opposite his on the long table sitting in the middle of the Lab.

"I'm assuming you're here to find out what your Mutant Ability is, correct, Locke?"

He went straight to the point.

Locke gave a firm nod, fingers curling into fists above the table.

"The Professor says it will answer most of my questions."

"Incorrect."

Xavier cut in.

A surge of anger bloomed within Locke.

"What do you mean? That's exactly what you told me!"

A growl escaped his lips, eyes staring into Xavier's unflinching gaze.

"Back off Kid."

Logan said in a low tone.

The underlying 'or else' was like a bucket of cold water that instantly put out Locke's anger, making him realize he had left his seat and was looming over the professor.

'Shit, why am I so mad. I never lose my temper that quick...'

Locke mentally questioned while backing away to lean on the table, taking calming breaths with closed eyes till he had cooled off.

"Locke, my boy."

The Professor spoke, prompting himto look up at Xavier,

"We're not here to find out whether you're a Mutant or not. It may sound complicated..."

The Professor paused, turning to Beast.

"Hank, will you inform our guest what you found when you carried out a dna test on his blood?"

Beast sighed, pulling out a folder that he handed to Locke with his name on it. The latter received it with a confused frown, flipping it open.

At the same time, Beast began explaining,

"Normal mutants have a single X-gene in the chromosomes of their DNA, which grants them their unique abilities. You have the X-gene as well, but it's different and unlike anything I've ever seen before. For starters, it's not a single gene; instead, you possess two X-genes, each bonded together in a unique way. This dual structure forms a mutated version of the regular X-gene. You are the first mutant in history to exhibit a double mutation, which could potentially give you powers and abilities far beyond what any mutant has previously known. The strangest part, the gene is semi-dormant. In simpler terms, you're halfway to activating it."