「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(323) Leeched

Charles' POV

"Charles!" Hank hissed impatiently.

Jolting my head around from the fascinating machine, I noticed him and Dr. Rao standing by a white rectangular aperture. Bordered by a thick, illuminated perimeter of light, the glossy door was guarded by a numbered panel that similarly required authorised access passes for admission.

She gazed at me with an odd expression, quietly amused by my smitten behaviour, while Hank furiously gestured for me, contrastingly frustrated.

"I'm sorry," I quickly sputtered and expeditiously grabbed my rims, thrusting up to the awaiting pair.

"Pay attention, Xavier," Hank emphasised teasingly, deliberately mocking Lynn's typical tone.

Don't you do a Lynn on me, babe, I retorted, flashing him a smug smirk, as Dr. Rao took a step forward.

With widened eyes, Hank cheekily accelerated his arm towards me, almost like he was ready to strangle my neck exactly as he once did with Erik. Fortunately, the door before us glided open in a timely fashion and his playful retaliation attempt was rapidly precluded as he frantically retracted his furry limb.

Pretending to dust his sleeves, Hank briefly adjusted his jacket and readily wore his serious face as he nonchalantly entered after Dr. Rao who discreetly paced in, pausing shortly after.

Biting my lips—the only way that could perhaps curb my laughter—I complied to follow but was mildly shocked, glancing up to the scene, as the sliding door swished locked behind me.

The room was equipped with a single bed, a study desk, and even a television but it was not quite the suite I expected. Clothed in bleached, soundproofing, materials, the pale walls were terribly dull and lifeless.

Overall, the theme was unwelcoming, with the only splashes of colour arising from the furniture and mountain of toys that littered the ground.

"Jimmy," Dr. Rao greeted in a kind tone.

Decked in plain pyjamas exceedingly matching his mundane abode, the boy, curiously also bald, turned his back on the video game he had been hooked on since forever, his brilliant green eyes merely staring up at her with remarkably little emotion.

"There's someone I would like you to meet," Dr. Rao revealed, cordially gesturing to us, and the boy shifted in his cross-legged posture on the floor, seemingly piqued by his not-so-typical visitors.

"Hey there, buddy," Hank delivered with an amiable smile, slowly strutting up to him.

"Hi," Jimmy responded but in an aloof tone, albeit eyeing my chair interestedly, as I gradually inched in alongside Hank.

"My name is Hank McCoy," Hank declared proudly, motioning to extended his hand forward.

"And I'm Charles-" I politely acquainted but inevitably interrupted myself, stumbling upon unprecedented encounters.

Barely within a two-meter radius of the young mutant, the background ringing in my mind was leeched until I was engulfed by complete silence.

Although the echo of voices in my head had been withering with many employees leaving the building for their accommodation in the adjacent quarters, it was never to the extent of a null and the emptiness was basically reminiscent to every time I administered the serum.

Appreciably disoriented, I gazed up at Hank, appalled that I could still be appalled.

Staring dumbfounded, I witnessed his striking blue fur progressively disappearing from his fingers, eventually receding entirely under his formal outerwear to reveal a naked human hand.