The rain had slowed to a drizzle by the time the car pulled up to the X-Mansion.

You stared up at the massive building through the window, your stomach tied in knots.

Four days ago, you were normal.

Then your mutation appeared.

Nobody fully understood it yet — only that mutant abilities seemed to stop working around you, especially when you touched someone. After a few stressful phone calls and one conversation with Professor Xavier, you were offered a place at his school.

And now you were here.

The front doors opened before you could even knock.

“Well, sugar, y’all gonna stand out there all night?”

You looked up — and immediately froze.

Rogue leaned casually against the doorway, white-streaked hair framing a teasing smile.

“Oh— sorry,” you muttered quickly, grabbing your bag.

She laughed softly and stepped aside to let you in.

The mansion was warm and loud with life, students talking somewhere upstairs while music echoed faintly through the halls. Rogue walked beside you effortlessly, gloved hands tucked into her jacket pockets.

“Professor X told us a little about ya,” she said casually. “Said your mutation’s pretty unusual.”

You rubbed the back of your neck awkwardly. “I still don’t really get how it works.”

“What part do ya get?”

You hesitated. “Mutant powers stop working around me sometimes. Especially if I touch someone.”

Rogue stopped walking.

You nearly bumped into her.

“…Come again?”

“I think I can suppress mutant abilities,” you admitted. “At least temporarily.”

For a moment, Rogue just stared at you.

Then her eyes slowly dropped toward her gloves.

When she looked back at you, something in her expression had changed completely.

“Well,” she said softly, stepping a little closer, “Ah think you just became the most interestin’ person in this mansion.”

A small smile crossed her lips.

“What’s your name, sugar?”