Chapter 4: Ch 4: Control
Charles watched Jean's radiant smile, a wave of doubt washing over him. He couldn't help but question the truth of her father's words. He knew that some mutants' powers could spiral out of control, especially when their emotions were volatile. He remembered the car crash, the raw, chaotic energy he had sensed in John Grey's mind.
Charles sighed, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon him. He had initially believed the accident had been caused by an unexpected surge of power, a burst of energy he had detected through Cerebro. But now, it seems that the truth was far more tragic an out-of-control child, a victim of her own powerful mutation. Such incidents, though rare, were not unheard of.
A pang of sympathy shot through him, a deep ache for the young woman before him. He couldn't help but remember how her father had chosen to distance himself from her, unable to cope with the burden of her powers.
"Jean," he said, his voice gentle, a soft smile playing on his lips.
"Do you know what happened?" He knew, deep down, that her powers had gone haywire, but he didn't want to instill fear in her. He wanted her to embrace her gift, not fear it.
"It's my fault," Jean said, her eyes clouding over. Her earlier joy at making a friend had vanished, replaced by a heavy sense of guilt.
"I didn't control my powers."
Charles continued to observe Jean, a gentle smile still gracing his lips. 'There isn't even a single wisp of energy,' he thought, his brow furrowing in confusion. He couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing, that the energy he had witnessed in the memories of Jean's father was nowhere to be found.
As Charles pondered, Jean lifted her head, her eyes welling up with tears. She looked at him, her fist clenched tightly.
"Are my parents okay?" she asked, her voice trembling with hope.
Charles hesitated, a sigh escaping his lips. Jean's question hung heavy in the air. Her eyes, brimming with tears, spoke volumes.
Charles didn't answer as he closed his eyes releasing a sigh.
"It's my fault," Jean whispered, tears streaming down her face.
"It's all my fault. If only I could have controlled my powers." She slumped forward, hugging her knees to her chest, her sobs echoing through the room.
Charles frowned, perplexed. He didn't sense any uncontrolled psychic energy emanating from Jean, even in her grief. 'She just needs guidance, someone to teach her how to use her powers,' he thought. His instincts told him that the accident hadn't been caused by a sudden, uncontrolled outburst but rather by a young, inexperienced mutant struggling to understand her abilities.
"Your father... he survived," Charles said, choosing to soften the truth. He didn't want to lie to her outright, but he also didn't want to shatter her hope entirely. He sensed that Jean was fragile, still reeling from the tragedy, and he didn't want to risk another psychic outburst.
"Really? Can we go see him?" Jean asked, her voice muffled by tears. She reached for a tissue, her eyes filled with a desperate longing to see her father.
"He needs time to rest," Charles said, offering a reassuring smile. "But I've spoken to your father about a place where you can find others like you and learn to control your powers."
Jean paused, wiping her tears, her gaze searching his. "Doesn't he want to see me?" she asked, a hint of desperation in her voice.
"Can you tell him I'm sorry?" she whispered, her voice choked with emotion.
"I was just a child, but I can control my powers now. Tell him that." She sobbed, tears streaming down her face, her small body racked with grief.
Charles sighed, placing a hand on her head, gently caressing her hair.
"Your father just needs time, child," he said softly, though his words were a lie. He had seen the fear and rejection in John Grey's mind, a fear that transcended his love for his daughter.
"Wahhhh," Jean sobbed, her cries slowly subsiding until her eyes finally closed in exhaustion. She lay there, her breathing soft and shallow.
Charles watched her, his heart heavy. 'Another one,' he thought, a familiar sadness settling over him. It was a tragic truth about mutants, often abandoned by their families when their powers became too much to handle.
He placed his index and middle fingers on his temple, his eyes closing. He needed to be certain, to ensure that Jean wouldn't pose a threat to the other children at his school. Though he couldn't sense any psychic energy emanating from her, the incident had shaken him.
With that thought in mind, he sought to enter her mind, to offer her a glimpse of peace, to understand the depths of her pain and to figure out how strong she really is but before he could penetrate her mental defenses, a brilliant golden psion energy erupted, encasing her in a protective shield, effectively blocking his telepathic access.
Charles's eyes snapped open, his gaze fixed on Jean. He felt a wave of concern wash over him. Though he couldn't penetrate her mind, the sheer strength of the golden energy confirmed that she was a powerful psychic. he believed, the source of the psion energy was Jean herself.
A mix of emotions flickered across Charles's face. He struggled with the decision of whether to allow her into his school. Was it the right choice? He remembered the tears he had seen in her eyes, the deep pain that seemed to consume her. He closed his eyes, seeking clarity.
'It's not about the strength of the power,' Charles reminded himself, 'but the control.' He felt a sense of resolve settling over him. He would teach her, guide her, help her to understand and master her gift.
•-----•-----•-----•-----•
Ragnar, about to take a bite of his toast, froze as the Chat Group System popped up in his mind.
[Mission one: Prevent Charles Xavier in changing Jean Grey's memory]
[Mission Complete]
[Do you want to redeem the Reward?]
[Yes/No]
A smile spread across Ragnar's lips. He was about to answer 'Yes' when a thought occurred to him. 'Will Soul Connection make a huge noise?' he asked the system silently.
[No, but you will fall asleep]
A sigh of relief escaped Ragnar's lips. He glanced at the system, then back at the toast in his hand, a decision forming in his mind.
Nom Nom
Ragnar continued to savor his toast, completely ignoring the system as it vanished from his thoughts.
Sicilia watched her son with a worried frown. She had noticed his momentary daze, and a sense of unease washed over her. As she placed a plate of fried eggs on the table, she nudged her husband with her foot.
Elliot, distracted by his newspaper, looked up, his brow furrowed in question.
Sicilia shook her head subtly, gesturing towards Ragnar. Then she turned back to the stove, resuming her cooking.
Elliot sighed, lowering his newspaper. He focused on his son, a hint of concern in his voice.
"How do you feel, bud? Anything interesting happen today?" He knew there was a chance Ragnar might hide his powers, but he wouldn't pry.
Ragnar looked at his father, chewing his food thoughtfully before swallowing.
"Look at this!" He exclaimed, his voice filled with excitement. He didn't even consider hiding his powers, knowing his parents, an Asgardian and a mutant, would understand.
Ragnar opened his right hand, his lips licking in anticipation. A pure golden psionic energy erupted, swirling into a sphere. He was about to shape it further when the energy began to dissipate, vanishing completely.
Elliot and Sicilia exchanged a surprised glance. Ragnar hadn't attempted to hide his powers; in fact, he seemed to have a natural control over his psionic energy, just like his mother.
"What happened?! Where's my psionic energy?!" Ragnar cried out in his mind, panic rising within him.
[You have forgotten you gave all your Psion energy to Jean Grey]
[Now you will start at the bottom]
Ragnar froze, his heart sinking. He let out a heavy sigh, picked up a fork, and stabbed the fried egg, shoving it in his mouth. He attempted to bury his disappointment in his appetite, but then he started to choke.
Sicilia sighed, grabbing a pitcher of juice. She poured some into a glass and handed it to Ragnar, who gulped it down quickly. She rubbed his back soothingly.
"Ah," Ragnar said, a sigh of relief escaping his lips as he held his stomach. His mother sat beside him, gently taking his hand.
"You know you can't just show your powers to anyone, honey," Sicilia said, her voice soft but firm. She looked into Ragnar's eyes, wanting him to understand the seriousness of the situation.
"Great power comes—"
"Great responsibility!" Ragnar finished, rolling his eyes. He didn't believe in those clichés. In this world, without power, you couldn't survive.
"Hahaha," Sicilia chuckled, covering her mouth with her hand. Elliot raised a brow, a smile playing on his lips.
"No," Sicilia corrected, her smile softening.
"Great power comes with a great deal of control."
Ragnar tilted his head, listening intently.
"If you can't control your power, you will hurt people," Sicilia continued, her voice laced with concern.
"You could hurt me, your father, anyone. And people hate those who can't control their powers. Do you understand?" She placed her hand on his head, her touch warm and reassuring.
"As for responsibility," Sicilia said, her smile returning, "we'll talk about that when you're older." She took his plate, standing up and walking towards the sink.
"Now wash up," she instructed. "I'm going to teach you something today."
Ragnar remained silent, processing his mother's words. 'Looks like my parents are just like me,' he thought, a glimmer of hope sparking in his chest. Then, he remembered something crucial.
"What about school?!" he asked, his voice laced with anticipation. After all, who wants to go back to school?
"No," Elliot said, folding his newspaper and placing it on the table. "You're taking a day off."
"Let's go!" Ragnar shouted, throwing his arms up in the air, then dashing toward the stairs.
Elliot chuckled. "Looks like convincing him to skip school won't be a problem."
Sicilia simply shook her head, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
Ragnar's excitement was contagious. Despite the loss of his psionic energy and the unsettling reminder of his powers, he was ready for whatever this new day held. He couldn't wait to learn, to explore his potential, to discover what secrets his parents were ready to share. The world was full of mysteries, and he was ready to unravel them, one step at a time.
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