Like many involved with America’s education system, Bobby wasn’t exactly a fan of school. Sure he enjoyed obtaining new knowledge and broadening his mind, but when it came to the constant examinations, bullying, and the multitude of pressure that school puts on young minds, Bobby wasn’t too keen. Fortunately this had changed significantly when he first arrived at the Xavier Institute of Higher Learning, a safe sanctuary for mutants where equality was encouraged and the students found themselves educated in fun and engaging manner. That is, except for history.
“Mr Drake, I don’t believe that it is currently naptime.”
Bobby Drake shot up in his seat, snapping open his eyes, as Professor Xavier’s voice rang through his mind. Evidently he had fallen asleep again. Bobby was about to blurt out some sort of apology when he noticed the empty room around them. Turning, he gazed around at the abandoned desks, his face displaying clear signs of confusion. It would seem that other than him, the only person in this room was Xavier, who moved about at the front of the room, packing away his things.
“What’s going on?” Bobby asked, turning to the Professor. He turned as Bobby spoke, rotating his wheelchair to face the young mutants. “Looks almost apocalyptic in here.”
At the word
apocalyptic, The Professor froze for a second. Finally he moved his hand, massaging himself between his eyes, thinking.
“Everyone else would be out having lunch.” The man spoke, his English accent evident. “I thought that waking you near the end of your lunch break would be a suitable punishment, don’t you think?”
Bobby smirked at the remark, although before he could reply, Charles Xavier grunted in pain, clutching his head.
“Professor?” Bobby stammered, rising to his feet. “Professor, what’s wrong?”
Instantly the Professor seemed to relax. Breathing deeply, he rose back up in his chair, rubbing his temple. He did this for a few seconds while Bobby proceeded to ramble on about whether he was ok. As if finally remembering Bobby’s presence, Xavier turned and stared him straight in the eye.
“It’s Magneto.”
“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Mr Drake?”
Bobby dropped his spoon in shock at the sound of the old, British Professor, resulting in the chunk of ice cream he had been about to eat to spill across the table top. Recovering fairly quickly, Bobby scrambled to clean it up, attempting to scoop it up with the spoon, although he only succeeded in causing even more of a mess. Giving an apologetic smile to the obviously bemused Professor, he decided to give up, sitting back in his seat.
“Sorry Professor, I couldn’t sleep.” He sighed, his eyes scanning his arms for a watch. Remembering that he had left it up in his room, he looked back up. “What time is it anyway?”
Still smiling, Charles Xavier wheeled forward, moving his wheelchair up to the kitchen table. He was currently wearing a pair of silk pyjamas, which made Bobby worry that he had somehow awoken the man from his slumber. A wink from Xavier however told Bobby that the Professor knew what he was thinking.
“Don’t worry, much like yourself, I have been up late pondering too.” His reply calm and collective. “As for the time, I believe it is some time after 1am.”
Bobby gave the man a nod in return. A silence spread across the two of them for a few seconds, giving the teenager time to reach for his spoon once more and attempt to chisel off another chunk of ice-cream from the tub.
“I know what you’re thinking, Bobby.” Xavier broke the silence. “What happened today with the Brotherhood wasn’t your fault.”
Stopping in his tracks, Bobby once more let go of his spoon, leaving it suspended upwards in the ice-cream tub.
“I let them escape. What use am I against a guy who can fucking control metal? All I can do is freeze things and that doesn’t even do anything with fucking John being there! I’m useless! I’m a joke!”
His fists slammed down into the table, ice erupting from the points of contact. By now Bobby had risen from his seat, his voice raising in volume as he did so. Tears began to stream down his face.
That was when he felt a comforting hand on his arm. Steadying his breathing, Bobby turned to find Charles sat in his wheelchair next to him, gazing up with a reassuring look on his face.
“Robert Louis Drake. Everybody likes you, Bobby. They always have. You’re a fun guy. Honestly, you’re what holds us all together.” Xavier took a moment to pause, moving back around the table once more. “Out of all my students, former and current, you have always had the most untapped potential. All you can do is freeze things? Dear boy, you have the potential to do so much more, you have no idea! Bobby, you need to stop looking into the past and begin looking into the future. With the world we live in now, we have no room for untapped potential.”
Bobby stood in silence as the Professor turned to leave.
“What should I do?”
Xavier stopped in the doorway, his eyes still ahead of him.
“Something amazing, Bobby. Nothing less.”
“Oh, is that all?”
Bobby withdrew back into his seat calmly, his mind racing through all that had happened. He looked again to where the Professor had left. Smiling he thought back to when he had first arrived at the Institute. Everything had been so new and scary. He had been so alone that first night, until he had found himself in a similar position to where he was now. Taking advice from the Professor while feasting on ice-cream. While so much had changed since then, it was nice to know that some things had remained the same.
“Amazing, huh?” Bobby murmured to himself, pulling his spoon free from the tub. “I can do amazing.”
Salem Center. It had been over a week since the X-men’s confrontation with Magneto and his so-called Brotherhood of Mutants, as well as a week since Bobby’s
inspirational speech from the professor. By now, Bobby had calmed down, having taken the week to relax. Hence why he was currently in Salem Center, on a date. Well, he was meant to be on a date. Sadly the guy had stood Bobby up. He couldn’t blame him. It happened a lot whenever people discovered his mutant abilities. During their first date, he had been forced to ice up against a mugger. Despite saving his life, it would seem that it had also been their last date.
In a glum manner, Bobby strolled the streets, typing into his phone.
“You two getting married yet?” The text from Angelica read.
Bobby’s reply came in the form of a frowning emoji.
“What happened?” This one was followed by a series of frowning emojis too.
“Didn’t turn up.”
“Are you ok?”
“I’ll be fine. Getting ice cream. Be back soon, x.”
Sliding the phone into his pocket, Bobby turned a corner, moving through a short side street. The sound of a bottle rattling made him stop briefly. Shaking his head disapprovingly at his cowardliness, he continued. He was half way down the street when the whistling started. Ominous whistling. Now that certainly was a cause of panic for Bobby. Bobby froze in his tracks, looking behind him towards the source of the sound.
A group of hooded men turned the corner, entering the street. They seemed a rowdy bunch, with the man leading them, whom Bobby assumed was their leader, being the one who was whistling. Bobby backed away as they approached, the men seemingly emitting a series of cheers and “woops” at the sight of him. The young mutant knew exactly who they were.
Purifiers. Reverend William Stryker’s strikeforce against mutant population, the Purifiers are a group of religious extremist who literally believe killing mutants is God’s wish. The thought made Bobby sick.
Turning, he attempted to run, only to find his path blocked by even more Purifiers approaching. Panicking, Bobby watched as they closed in, with several of the group reloading what appeared to be a selection of high-tech weaponry. Bobby gulped. He was doomed.
That was when a though crossed his mind. Bobby knew exactly what to do. What was it? It was something Xavier had said to him the other night.
Something amazing, Bobby. Nothing less.Clenching his fists, Bobby stepped forward. Breathing deeply, he concentrated, focussing on all the moisture in the air around him. Bobby was an X-man. He had mutant abilities before he even began to shave. He had gone toe to toe against some of the world’s most powerful mutants. He was always told that he was a man of untapped potential. But now? Don’t you dare ever call him that again!
Slamming his hands down on the ground, the temperature dropped immediately. Ice shot out of the ground all around them as frozen shapes rose from the ground. The shapes surrounded Bobby, blocking him from the first shots from the Purifier’s as they fired in confusion. The frozen shapes seemed to shift in shape and size, growing snowy legs and arms. Bobby smiled to himself as the ice golems formed around him.
“Amazing.” He said to no one in particular.
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