Chapter Text
The sizzling Australian sun relentlessly bore down on Sydney airport, sizzling and heating up the concrete floor. Scott and Jean stepped out of the airport, looking around for a taxi or a Uber they could ride.
The Professor had assigned Jean and Scott to carry out ‘Logan’s last request’, whatever that meant while he and Hank rebuilt the school and made sure that the other students had somewhere to go for the time being while they also helped Rogue and Kurt as well as Colossus, or Piotr as he had introduced himself in a heavy Russian accent, adjust to the environment of the school.
Scott took off his jacket, showing how sweat soaked his shirt was while Jean snickered and commented “welcome to Australia, mate”. Jean flicked her head around, scanning the road and finding what seemed to be an available taxi on the side of a road in a pickup bay. Scott quickly flagged it down, and the pair quickly began running towards it.
“How was the flight, Jean?”
“Not bad. At least I got some sleep.”
Jean grunted while pushing her suitcase, causing Scott to lend a hand.
“Thanks, Summers. Wish I could use telekinesis, it feels so weird actually lifting something this heavy with my hands.”
Suddenly, Scott’s hand reached out and put his hand on her’s, causing Jean to freeze up and blush. Scott had a similar reaction, it didn't take a psychic to know the obvious attraction and love he held for Jean.
“W-well I think the taxi might leave if we don't go now.”
“Y-yeah.”
Scott let go of Jeans luggage and grabbed his own bag, Jean doing the same. Both stayed silent or made small talk on the taxi ride on the way to their hotel, too embarrassed to do or say anything.
…
“This the place?”
“Seems like it.”
Jean and Scott stood outside an ordinary suburban house that looked very cozy and comfy, something that they honestly didn’t expect.
“This is…”
“Different… than what I expected.”
The pair were shocked that someone directly related to Logan, even a distant relative, would be living in such comfort and modernity. Jean could see the images of Scott’s preconceptions of what Logan’s kid could be living in, ranging from a park bench to a cave to a juvenile detention center.
Scott shrugged and walked up the steps to the front door, and pressed the doorbell. Scott could hear a brisk Australian accent shout out a “one second, mate” and some stomping down some steps.
The door opened and a blond haired woman with messy hair and a tired look in her eyes simply asked Scott,
“Legal fees? I though I already paid them all.”
“Ma’am, we’re not here for legal fees. We’re from the Xavier Institute in America, we deal with gifted students. We would like to ask a few questions on behalf of our headmaster, Doctor Charles Xavier. Did you know a man named Logan, or James Howlett?”
The woman’s face darkened at that name, causing her to give a brisk motion for the group to enter her homereply.
“I met him in Japan after he began to recover from some injuries from a battle in Laos. I was a young Australian Army nurse then, he was a soldier for I think America? And a handsome one at that too, I’ll give you that. One thing led to another, and suddenly after I finished my stint in Japan I came back pregnant with a boy with his eyes. I never spoke to anyone about this, especially not him.”
“Can we meet this young man? I think that’s who we were sent here for.”
“Oh. Well I reckon Jimmy’s not much of a gifted student but no harm in a talk, I suppose.”
Jimmy’s mother stepped to the side of the doorway, allowing Scott and Jean to enter.
“JIMMY! We have guests here to see you. Be polite, will ya?”
A shout of “fucking hell, alright mum” could be heard from another room followed by a door slamming.
“Sorry about that, he gets agitated sometimes. Would you like a cup of coffee or tea?”
“No thanks, Ma’am. We don’t think we’ll be here for too long.”
Jean and Scott sat down at a dining table in the next room over, patiently waiting for Jimmy to enter the room.
Suddenly, a blond haired young man walked into the room. He was much taller than Logan, six foot compared to Logan's five-ten. He also had blond hair and brown eyes, obviously a mix of traits from his father and mother. He was also quite fit and muscular, Scott noted to himself in slight jealousy, picked up by Jean.
“Who the fuck are yous meant to be?”
“Jimmy? Um, I'm Scott Summers and this is Jean Grey, we're from the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. We would like to discuss with you-”
“Not interested, mate.”
“You haven't even heard us out yet.”
Jimmy’s eyes narrowed and he stared dead straight at Scott.
“Listen here you meterosexual gimp, I heard you and mum talking about my dad. I ain't fucking stupid, mate. I've lived seventeen years without the cunt around and I sure as fuck can do seventy more. Now leave, before I make yous.”
This time Jean spoke up, her tone reflecting an unnerving calm.
“Logan didn’t die for you to do fuckall and sit around. And don’t you dare talk about your father in that tone, he might have been an asshole, I can say that, but at least he died for something worth it.”
“And what was that?”
“Jimmy, why don’t we play a little game.”
Jean’s voice suddenly became eerieely sweet and condescending, causing Jimmy to react emotionally.
“Well why don’t we eh, ranga?”
“I want you to focus all your effort and energy on your palms, like you’re pushing out something. If you’ve tried for a while and nothing’s happened, me and Scott will forget anything ever happened and you can go back to touching yourself. If not, you have to come with us. And don’t you dare try anything, I’ll drag you to the USA in a bodybag if I have to. Am I clear?”
“Clear as day, ma’am.”
Jimmy snickered. Scott could’ve swore that he turned up the Australian accent up to a eleven to mess around.
“Then get to it.”
“Alright, well I dunno what you’re getting up to but-WOOOOOAAHHH WHAT THE FUCK! THAT HURTS!”
Jimmy howled in pain as he felt sharp and long claws protrude from his fists, blood spraying everywhere on the table and the carpet, staining it with a deep red color. Scott noticed Jean watching intensely, perhaps a little too intensely.
“OH MY GOD IT… hurts? Why don’t I feel pain?”
“Your father had a healing factor, obviously you inherited it. Now take a look at your hands. Do you still think it’s worth sticking around, letting yourself go to waste? You’re different, Jimmy. You might not be different in the ways society would like you to be, but nonetheless different. That’s what we’re here to do, Jimmy, we’re here to help you.”
“Can I go say bye to mum, first?”
“Sure, Jimmy.”
Jimmy walked over to the sitting room, where his mum was watching television but not focusing.
“Mum?”
“Yes, Jimmy?”
“I’m going. I’m going to make something of myself, mum. You don’t have to protect me anymore, mum. I can protect myself now. I’m going to find out about dad, see what man he truly was. I’m leaving now, mum. I’m leaving.”
Jimmy began to tear up, causing his mum to also tear up and hug him, a gesture that Jimmy returned.
“You take care of my boy, yeah? He’s all I have left.”
“We will, ma’am. Jimmy, pack your bag.”
Jean replied.
It only took Jimmy 10 minutes to clear out whatever he felt like he ever needed to pack, despite his mum’s insistence to take more and Jimmy’s retorts that the school was a boarding school.
After more heartfelt goodbyes. Jimmy headed outside for the car that Scott had called earlier and put his luggage in the back. The car took off, leaving Jimmy’s old life and pushing him into a new one.