「 The Professor & I 」VOLUME II

(159) Jason Stryker

"Just a look and I promise I'll let you go back," I coaxed and she agonizingly shut her eyes, grabbing her wheels so tightly that her knuckles flashed white.

"Fine," she huffed and all of us but her had a brief smile on our faces.

Slowly, Scott stepped out of her path and Lynn lethargically rolled herself to the control center of the Danger Room with the rest of us on her tail.

"He's name is Jason Stryker. Son of William Stryker," Scott introduced as we watched the reclusive boy mumbling to his action figure and despite the astonishing news, Lynn's reaction was practically non-existent, starkly contrasting most of ours when we were first accustomed to the revelation.

"What's his mutation?" She enquired monotonously but it was relieving to learn that she still seemed mildly interested.

"According to his parents, he can create some illusions but he hasn't managed to show us anything. He just sat there the entire time playing with that thing when the Professor spoke with him," Scott elaborated in frustration for Jason's blatant though unintentional disrespectfulness that resulted from his autistic nature.

"I'll go," Lynn volunteered cheerlessly but her initiative clearly induced the opposite sentiments in us as she wheeled herself out of the booth.

Later than expected, the heavy doors glided open and the loud swishing accompanying its motion startled the young boy sitting on the floor in the middle of the large empty chamber, causing him to flinch and hug his toy turtle dearly in fear. 

"Don't be afraid, Jason. I'm Lynn," Lynn greeted, in a moderately friendly accent, as she cautiously approached the boy.

"It's freezing today. You must be cold," she casually remarked and from the mannerism he actually gave her a look, I knew he was starting to be moved.

"Scott and Peter aren't attentive, I know. And usually, the Professor does better but do forgive his oversight. He's been tired," Lynn pleaded as she conscientiously draped one of our academy's hoodie around Jason, meticulously helping him to get his small arms through the sleeves.

Upon hearing her perceptive and compassionate words, Scott placed a firm grip on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile, as did the rest of the X-Men. Even though Lynn spoke nonchalantly, the fact that she still deeply cared and was well aware of her surroundings undeniably warmed our hearts, albeit mine with a pang.

"I understand that you have a very special talent, Jason," Lynn conveyed cordially as she gently caressed Jason's head, though having difficulties mustering any smile for him, a feat she had not achieved since coming home.

"Will you care to show me yours if I showed you mine?" Lynn bargained politely.

Several moments of quietness between them later, presumably as Lynn conversed through her mind, Jason willingly offered his little figurine to her and she easily levitated it around him with her telekinesis. He stared in awe at her demonstration, suddenly excited and he energetically bounced off the polished tiles to stand up. As Lynn progressively hovered the novelty to greater heights around the spacious area, Jason enthusiastically chased it and eventually, Lynn kindly replaced the toy into his hands, earning a wide grin from the eccentric boy who had not opened up to anyone besides her.

"It's your turn now," Lynn urged empathetically as she wheeled herself up to the boy, wrapping an arm around him and stroked his back in an emboldening fashion.

Jason peered at Lynn awhile, doubtfulness and insecurities filling his gaze, but Lynn provided him with an encouraging nod and probably even more supportive advice in his mind that led to the ultimate faltering of his uneasy state. Lynn took his hands, guiding the boy in front of her chair, and he smiled graciously before his facial expression turned odd with heterochromia appearing in his eyes.

The look on his face was strange, and even slightly devious, as the computers indicated a temporary manipulation of brainwaves detected by our systems within the extensive arena.

A smile rapidly twitched onto Lynn's lips as the telepathic signals from the radars escalated, and she even laughed, so candidly and heartily, when it was truly just her and him in the exact same positions as they were.

It was terribly painful to observe Lynn genuinely joyful and honestly elated, realising that her amusement purely arose from something intangible and her exhilaration fuelled by something treacherous. Her happiness now could only be derived, sustained and was completely dependent upon the gifted child before her, feeding off his powers like a parasite constantly devouring its host.

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Hi guys, we're back to Charles for now. I hope you enjoyed the brief introduction of Jason into my story 😏

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