X-Men 4, chapter 1

Mike's POV

"Let me go!" I screamed. The men that were holding me down didn't budge. They just held on, if possible, tighter and shoved me onto a table. I kicked and lashed out as wildly as I could. Then the source of all my pain and heartbreak over the years came out. Three 6 inch metal spikes came out of each hand and caused the men holding me down to step back slightly.

"What the hell?" one of them asked another. This was strange to them. Sure a lot of the people that came through Camp Thurgood were weird, but this was insane.

"Stay back" I yelled as automatic metal cuffs held me in place.

"Or you'll do what?" another of the guards teased.

"I'll... I'll hurt ya" I threatened menacingly.

"I'd like to see you try" another guard said, beginning to laugh. All the others joined in until the door opened. I put my spikes back in. The man was clothed in a long white coat and he seemed oddly familiar.

"Well, well, well... what do we have here?" the doctor asked.

"Who are you?" I asked, still thrashing about.

"My name is William. I am the doctor here at Camp Thurgood, and I will be completing some compulsory tests on you"

Out of instinct or fear, my spikes clicked out of my hand. "What's this?" William asked, inspecting the spikes carefully. He then had a realisation. "You're not Michael Pritchard the mutant under the guidance of Professor Charles Xavier are you?" he questioned. "

"I might be... what's it to ya?" I spat. I hated being cooped up like this.

"Well you either are or you aren't" William replied. "Because if you are, I don't have to do these tests. Charles is an old friend of mine you see." He said looking directly at me. Where had I seen this guy before?

"I ran away from there" I muttered looking down.

"Why?" William questioned. "I have just read your mind and know that you didn't want to leave. You left a girl behind didn't you?" he questioned, knowing he was right.

"Maybe" I mumbled, still looking down. He was right. I had left a girl there. Her name was Erin... and she was everything to me. After all that I had been through in my childhood, she was the one that made it all ok again.

"I will organize for you to go back straight away" William concluded, sensing that I wanted to.

He gave me some drug, and the next thing I knew, I was walking through the front doors of the New York School for the Gifted. And by gifted, I mean all the kids and teachers at the school had powers.

"Mikey! Oh my god! Are you ok? I was so worried" Erin, my girlfriend, said, rushing over and hugging me tightly round the neck, her long brown hair tickling my bare arms.

"It's ok sweetie. I'm back now" I said hugging her back and breathing in her scent. She always smelled like berries.

"Let's go let the Professor know you're ok" she said tugging my hand and leading me down a hallway.

"Ah Michael... " The Professor said as we walked in. His wheel chair buzzed as he turned around to face us. "Good to have you back"

"Thanks... I think," I muttered.

"I hope you choose to stay this time" he said smiling.

"Of course he will Professor" Erin said beaming at me and kissing my cheek. She had some of the coolest powers. She could teleport whenever and wherever she wanted, and she could read minds. My powers were basically my spikes, and the fact that I could heal really quickly.

"I'll let you 2 go back to your room then" the Professor concluded turning away from us. "Goodnight"

"Goodnight" we both said as we left the room.

"So are you really back to stay?" Erin asked, looking at me with her beautiful ice blue eyes.

"Course I am" I grinned, bringing her closer to me.

"Good" she said as she opened the door to our room. "Because I really missed you" she grinned pulling me close and kissing me deep. I kissed back and sighed contentedly as we broke apart.
"Me too baby" I replied, stroking her hair.

We stood in silence for a few seconds, enjoying each others company before she broke away.

"I'm gonna get ready for bed" she said, heading towards the bathroom.

I nodded. "Ok... I love you" she smiled at that.

"Love you too"

I smiled and headed over to the window seat. The nights were so beautiful here, I don't know why I ever left. I daydreamed for a while before Erin came back.

"It's beautiful isn't it?" she said, crawling into my lap and snuggling into my chest.

"It sure is" I replied.

"Stop daydreaming" she giggled a few minutes later. "You forget I can read minds" she said looking up at me.

"I blame you're mother" I retaliated, grinning.

"So do I!" she giggled again. "It's all her fault!" she concluded, fake pouting. "It's not my fault however that you chose to have a mind reading girlfriend now is it?" she asked poking me a bit.

"No it's not" I replied. As instincts my spikes came out and accidentally cut Erin's face.

"Shit! What the hell Mikey!" she exclaimed sitting up.

"I'm sorry," I muttered as I got up and ran out the door. Why did that happen? I just hurt the girl I love. "Damn these things to hell!" I yelled and I whipped around. Erin was standing in front of me, in her bright pink pyjama bottoms and a white tank top, her blue eyes filled with worry.

"What happened sweetie?" she asked looking me dead in the eye. "Why did that happen with your spikes?" she asked, confused.

"I don't know baby" I said hugging her close. "I guess I'm still a little bit worked up from earlier. " I said kissing her. "I'm gonna go for a bit of a walk ok? I'll be back soon"

"Alright" she replied. "Don't be too long."

"I wont" I called out as she headed back to our room. I just needed a bit of time to clear my head.

As I walked around the grounds, a few people greeted me, but none really stopped to chat. I don't know why I ever ran away. This place was the safest place I could be right now. Away from everything that was a direct danger to me.

I walked back to our room and was greeted by a rather horny Erin.

"You finished doing your 'stuff'?" she asked using her fingers to quote it and kissing me passionately.

"Yes... why?" I asked raising an eyebrow at her.

"Wanna do some other 'stuff'" she giggled quirking her head towards the bed. I kissed her long and hard. "I'll take that as a yes then" she smiled, beginning to undo my shirt and lead me to the bed. You can guess what happened next. Mutant sex is amazing, much better than with humans.

As we lay in bed afterwards, Erin began to fall asleep on my chest. I stroked her hair and began thinking about a long lost friend.

"Who's Tre?" she asked, opening one eye. I looked at her weirdly for a second. "Don't deny it... I can tell anything your thinking baby" she giggled.

I smiled. "He's a mutant too. I used to be friends with him but we lost contact." I said sadly.

"What kind of powers?" She asked.

"He can teleport and change into any animal he wants... and I think that's all" I replied looking down at her.

"Why isn't he here then?" she questioned.

"Tre's kind of a super mutant" I replied. "He's had his powers since he was born"

"Nice" she whistled. "That means he like literally one in a million. "The professor is the only other person I know of that's had his powers for that long. "Why didn't you keep in touch?"

"He moves around too much. The Professor has even tried to get a hold of him a few times."

"You should try and get in contact with him." she yawned. I nodded. "Well I'm going to sleep. Night"

"Night" I murmured back.

The next morning

Erin's POV

I woke up the next morning and looked over at Mike. I was so glad that he had come back. I had missed him so much.

I tried gently shaking him awake. "Mikey... wake up sweetie" Nothing happened and I started to panic. "Mikey!" I tried again. This time shaking him harder. Still nothing happened. He just moaned out things like 'Please stop' and 'No! Don't do it!' Shit! I thought, becoming really scared. I did the only thing I could.

"LOGAN!" I screamed. He was kind of like my mentor here.

"What? What?!" he groaned running into the room.

"Mikey wont wake up!" I said, tears beginning to well in my eyes.

Logan slapped him, hard. "Dammit Mike! Wakeup!" he yelled. Mike still didn't wakeup. "This used to happen to me," he mumbled. "He must have a repressed memory or something" he said to me. "Have you tried reading his mind?" He asked me.

I nodded "Yes... but he won't let me." I replied. All of a sudden Mike started to come to. His eyes were open, but he didn't seem to respond to anything Logan or I were saying.

"Come on baby... please" I said kissing him repeatedly. Then, all of a sudden I was able to read his mind. It wasn't what I wanted to see. I passed out and came to a minute or so later.

"What the heck?" Logan asked, utterly confused at what had just happened.

"He just let me read his mind... and it wasn't pleasant" I replied stroking Mike's cheek. "Poor baby" I whispered, kissing his temple.

Suddenly he started moving around and making noises.

"Erni?" he asked huskily. That was the nickname he had given me.

"I'm here Mikey" I replied, grabbing his hand.

"What happened?" he asked, confused at what had happened, sitting up.

"Well" I began. "You wouldn't wake up this morning, like you were conscious, but you weren't responding to anything me or Logan were saying. Then I read your mind and the things I saw were horrible. Logan thinks they may have caused you to be non responsive and stuff." I concluded. His eyes went wide with shock. "Do you remember anything from when you were out?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No... can you tell me?" he asked, his usually blue eyes, a stormy grey sort of colour.

I nodded. "Are you sure?" he nodded again. "Ok" I replied. "But not with Logan here... sorry" I said apologetically.

"No problem" Logan replied. "I'll leave you 2 to it"

"Do you really wanna know what I saw?" I asked, looking him dead in the eye. I didn't want to have to repeat it unless he wanted me to.

"Please tell me baby... I'll be ok," he said grabbing my hand and kissing it.

"Ok...here it goes" I replied, taking a deep breath. " When you let me read your mind before, I saw all the way back into your child hood... I saw what your whole family did to you Mikey... I saw the beatings, the verbal abuse. The way they locked you up and didn't give you any food or water for days on end... then I saw what happened after your parents gave you up for adoption... you lived with a man that was nice to you for a while... but then that all changed... he began doing experiments on you for his own sick pleasure... I think that's where you got the ability to heal so fast... he abused you, and people were calling you a freak and such... you lived on the streets for ages until you met me... I brought you here and everything was ok until you ran away... it's a bit dodgy after that... and now you're here" I finished and looked at him.

His eyes were wide and he was pale in shock. "You ok?" I asked, lifting his chin so he could look in my eyes. He nodded. "Come on... let's get ready for class" I said heading towards the dresser.

Later in class...

We sat at the back of the classroom and were lost in our own thoughts. I was stroking Mike's hair, as he was still a little on edge. Storm asked him a question and because he was startled his spikes went straight through the desk.

"Shit Mikey! Its ok sweetie... she just asked you a question" I whispered in his ear and kissed his temple. He nodded and his spikes went back in. "Sorry Storm... he kind of had some bad news this morning" I said, hoping she'd understand. Storm nodded and went back to the front of the classroom. The class ended and we walked out hand in hand.

"I just remembered something," he said as we came back to our room.

"What's that?" I questioned, throwing my books on the desk.

"When the guy did those tests on me... Tre and I were still friends... babe, I think he did one that makes me and Tre able to connect telepathically with each other!"

"Oh! That's awesome baby! Why don't you try now?" I said. I was really happy for him.

"Ok... " He concentrated and his eyes went pure white.

Somewhere in Germany...

Tre's POV

Here I was... just sitting in church all by myself... when I heard this voice.

"Tre... " it called.

"Holy shit! What the fuck man?!" I exclaimed looking around frantically. I saw no one and started to freak. "Maybe I'm going mad," I muttered before the voice spoke again.

"Tre you ass... your not going mad... its me Mike... hang on... what the fuck are you doing in a church??" the voice, now known as Mike continued.

"I'm not in a church" I said in my mind, realising that's where I could hear the voice. I kind of had some telepathy powers ya see.

"Tre this telepathy thing is like a homing device to you... I know you're in a church dude... stop trying to deny it." Mike said to me, trying not to laugh.

"Ok fine... I'm in a church... but I can't tell you why alright?" I replied.

"Yeah whatever dude... listen, can I send people from where I am to go and get you... the professor wants you to join us... " He said.

"Well... where is where you are and who is this professor?" I questioned. I kind of liked it here in Germany. The chicks were hot.

"I'm in New York... and the Professor is Charles Xavier. He's in charge of the New York school for the Gifted... everyone here is a mutant like you and me."

"Ok they can come and get me now I guess... I'm in St Peter's church ok?" I said. What did I have to loose? Better than being in danger from the humans here.

"Ok man... see you soon" he replied. I heard a kind of a beeping sound like a phone when it's hung up, and then silence.

Minutes later I found myself crashing face first into the ground.

"Fuck! Where am I?" I murmured, looking around.

"Well if you're Tre you're in the right spot" a girl with long brown hair and blue eyes greeted me. She was beautiful.

"Dude... get off the floor." Mike laughed, and pulled me up.

"That chick is hot!" I whispered to him as he yanked me off the floor.

"Thanks" he laughed. "Tre, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend Erin" he grinned as he watched my face drop.

"Hi" I muttered shaking her hand. Dammit! She was taken!

"Why don't you show Tre around and take him to meet the Professor babe. I gotta go talk to Logan" he said walking over and kissing Erin.

"Ok sweetie... see you soon" she cooed. Oh my god! They were so in love it was sickening!

"Excuse me while I gag" I joked, as they continued to kiss and rub their noses together.

"You'll get over it" Mike concluded, grinning, as he left the room.

"Come on then... we haven't got all day" Erin said, smiling and dragging me out the door.








Logan's room...

Mike's POV

I knocked on the door to Logan's room. I hope he is in a good mood. He's as scary as hell when he's crabby.

"Who is it?" I heard called from inside of the room. He sounded like he was in an ok mood.

"It's Mike" I called back. Logan was the closest thing I had to a father. He and Erin were the only family I had.

"Come in kid" he always called me that. Maybe because I reminded him of what he was like as a kid, I don't know. "What can I do ya for?" he asked as I came in and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room.

"Nothing really... I was just looking for some advice."

"Advice? What for?" he questioned.

"I'm scared" I replied. To tell you the truth I was scared shitless. Since the accident with Erin the other night, I was majorly freaking out. What if I hurt her badly next time?

"Your scared your gonna hurt Erin aren't ya? I nodded. "I hate to tell you... but that fear will probably always be there kid. These things may be a gift... but they're also a curse" he said, as he took his spikes out and cut the apple in front of him in one stroke. "Even I can't control them completely" This left me with my mouth wide. "Its true... just the other day I woke up and all the sheets were cut up. Unfortunately they're kinda connected to your emotions. As soon as you go awol, the spikes kinda follow. Just don't worry too much. You'll take classes to help you control it...and then the chances of something happen will decrease"

I nodded. "Thanks, that kind of helped."

"Glad to be of service kid. See you at class later ok?"

"Ok. Bye Logan" the class we had later was for a special kind of mutants... the ones that were a bigger danger than others. Because of my spikes, I was classified as one of them.

I started walking down the hallway and ran into Erin and Tre.

"Come with us baby? We're going to see the Professor" she asked beaming at me.
"Ok. Why not" I replied, grinning back. We walked hand in hand down the hall to the Professor's office.

"Hello... " The Professor said as we entered, and before we could say anything.

"Howdy!" Tre replied, being his usual hyper self.

"Nice to have you here Tre. I take it you have had the grand tour?" he questioned Tre, with an amused look on his face.

"Yep... nice place you got here" he replied. We all laughed.

"Since you are already friendly with Erin and Mike... you can share there room if you like. They already share the same bed" he said looking at me and winking. I gulped. "Don't worry Michael... I don't mind, seeing as you and Erin are two of our older students... but don't try and hide it any longer ok?"

Erin and I breathed a sigh of relief and nodded. "Ok Professor, thank you" we said as we walked out of the room.

"Why did you try and hide it? "Tre asked. "It is so freakin obvious you two are head over heels for each other... I don't think there's any point," He laughed.

"Well it can be out in the open now... I've got class... I'll see you guys later ok?" I said as I went over and kissed Erin. This class was going to be interesting.


In Logan's Dangerous mutant class...

"Ooooh! A newbie!" this kid called John said, as I walked in behind Logan and a few other kids. He was clicking at a cigarette lighter and creating small fire balls.

"That's Pyro..."Logan stated. "He's an ass and doesn't know when to shut up." He finished giving John/Pyro a dirty look. Pyro gulped and the fireball he was playing with disappeared.

"Now if you all get seated... we can get this class underway." Logan stated, going to the front of the class and sitting on the desk. I got my books out and began listening to what he had to say.

"Now as funny as it may seem... you lot will actually be the driving force behind saving us all from an attack from the humans. " we all laughed. "It's true" he continued. "Pyro, as much as I hate to say it you're the one that can give us a good 5 minutes to get away from the humans with those damn fire balls you create." Pyro got up and bowed.

"Sit down Jack ass!" a girl stated from behind me. I turned around to see who it was and was met by a huge pair of brown eyes. As much as I loved Erin, I had to admit, this girl was pretty.

"What's your name?" I asked trying to make it look like I was paying attention.

"Marie... but everyone calls me Rogue. What's yours?"

"Mike" I replied, copying down some notes from the board. "What's your power?"

"Logan probably told you all about me... I'm the one that can put people in a coma in about three seconds flat... and I'm the one that can borrow peoples powers." She said, I knew she was smiling.

"Well... nice to meet you" I said, sticking my hand over my shoulder for her to shake. She giggled and shook it.

"When can we do practical?" Pyro whined.

"You'll do practical when I say so" Logan stated. His spikes coming out as he pointed at Pyro. Pyro jumped about a foot in the air. We all laughed. "You know... for a person whose power is fire... you're a wuss Pyro" we all laughed again. All of a sudden a target came up on the board. "Hit that and I'll think about doing practical next lesson alright"

"Yes sir!" Pyro said as he got up. He created a fireball and threw it. Logan took a step back as the fireball hit the target and burned a hole in the board.

"Ok. That's all for today... see you guys next time." He said as we all clapped Pyro.

I packed up and left class. I ran into Erin trying to explain to Tre why teleporting and mind reading were better powers to have than metamorphosis and teleporting, and telepathy a little bit.

"Well you might be all super mutant... but I've had my telepathy for longer than you... so ner" she said poking her tongue out at Tre.

"Doesn't mean your cooler" he responded turning to me. "Whose cooler Mikey? Super mutant me... or your relatively normal powered, hot girlfriend?"

"I pick her" I grinned as he pretended to look hurt.

"You'd choose her over your best friend?!?!?" he said looking flustered.

"She'd kung fu my ass if I didn't pick her!!" I protested.

"Damn straight I would" she smiled as we walked back to our room.

"Well ok then... " Tre said, trailing off with a stupid grin on his face.

In their room...

Erin's POV

"So... " I drawled. "What was your super dangerous mutant class like?" I questioned. He did have that class didn't he?

"It was actually pretty good... " He started. "There's only a few of us... and if you don't mind being in a coma Tre, I may have found you a chick that's not taken."

"Sweet" was all that Tre could say. God knows what he was thinking about.

"And there's this one guy that I reckon we should stay away from... he burnt a hole in the board and kind of fits into the same category as Logan when he's crabby." He said crinkling his face up.

"Is his name Pyro?" I asked.

He nodded and raised an eyebrow. "Yeah... how'd you know?"

"There's only one kid in this place that can burn stuff and am as crabby as Logan on a bad hair day around here... and that just so happens to be Pyro. "I giggled.

"Right... " He drawled, keeping his eyebrow raised. "I have to go for some test today" he said, looking off into space.

"They must wanna put all the details of your powers on the database or something... seeing as you have telepathy with Tre," I laughed.

He nodded. "Yeah maybe... "

Little did he know what this test would hold for his future...