6 Chapter 6

"Mr...Ginnungagap, was it?" Xavier says, giving me a neutral look "I'm afraid you've caught us quite off-guard. While we could hardly have missed your handywork around the world, I must admit none of us expected you to simply show up at our door like this" That's putting it lightly if the expression on the other X-Men are anything to go by. Summers is standing so stiffly it looks like his spine is about to break in half, and Wolverine is already half into a pounce, ready to jump at me at a seconds notice. Not that it'd do him any good, but he's used to punching over his weight class. Only Storm seems to regard me with something other than suspicion.

"Yeah, well, like I said, Ellie needed a ride and I figured I'd drop her off on my way."

Summers eyes narrow behind their glasses "On your way to where, exactly?"

"I haven't actually decided on anything yet, I've already done the two big things I wanted to, I was just going to move around and see if I can get some ideas of what to do next."

A silent conversation seems to pass between the X-Men. Finally Xavier speaks "Are you sure that's wise? You've made yourself quite a high-profile figure with your actions over the past few days, and powers like yours are bound to attract attention from all manner of unsavory figures who wishes to exploit them."

I manage to keep myself from rolling my eyes "Right, it's not like I can change the way people see me or anything or otherwise mask my existance. You know, exactly like I did before I undid M-Day?" In Xaviers defence, he's actually got a point, I can hide myself easily enough from standard detection, but someone like Dr Doom probably has more obscure means of tracking me that I haven't thought of. I'll try an all-purpose veil and see if that works.

"Professor" Storm cuts in "Perhaps we should move this discussion inside? We seem to be attracting a bit of an audience" She nods towards the lawn, where the group of students have only grown since we walked through the gates, staring curiously at us.

Xavier nods "An excellent idea, Storm. Mr Ginnungagap, if you do not have any pressing concerns, perhaps you'd be amicable to join us? While you're certainly not obligated to answer, we have a few questions we'd love to have answered."

What the hell. I have all the time in the world anyway, I can take a few minutes to listen to Xaviers pitch. "Why not? The world's not going anywhere. Lead on."

Xavier smiles as Summers turns his chair around, leading the rest of us into the mansion. Wolverine gives me a suspicious glare before turning and following the others, followed closely by Emma who's still clinging to Ellie like she's not quite sure the girl is real or not. Giving the kids on the lawn a wave, I head after them.

...

The X-Men's meeting room is located in the underground parts of the base, far away from prying eyes and ears, and is mostly empty aside from a long metal table, a dozen chairs, and a few computer screens built into the wall. As we walk inside, I push my powers outwards, scanning the room and the areas just beyond, just to make sure there aren't any unpleasant surprises hidden anywhere, but aside from a few recording devices that I quickly disable, there doesn't seem to be anything out of the ordinary. Xavier takes his place at the head of the table while the rest of us spread out among the seats, but just as we're sitting down, the doors open again, and a hulking figure covered in blue fur steps through.

"Ah, Hank! Good of you to join us" Xavier greets him "Mr Ginnungagap, this is Hank McCoy, one of the leading experts on mutation in the world, as well as one of my original five students."

I nod at him "I've heard about him." Hank McCoy, the mutant who gave self-loathing a face. I get that it's not fun to have feet twice the size of your head, but when you turn into a cat monster because of your attempts at fixing it, you probably need to re-examine your life. He doesn't seem to be much happier to see me either, and gives me the same distrustful look that Wolverine gave me as he sits down.

With everyone gathered, Xavier looks around the room before turning his eyes to me "I would like to begin with extending my heartfelt thanks for what you have done for us, and for all mutantkind. The tragic events of M-Day crippled our species, and almost resulted in our extinction, and to my own shame, we could find no way of reversing it, or even repair the damage it had done. You've managed something that none of the top minds of the world could seem to solve."

"It really wasn't much of an accomplishment" I say awkwardly "It's not like it was the result of hard work, it was just something my powers allowed me to do, same as the Scarlet Witch's powers allowed her to cause in the first place. It's an ability I was gifted with, nothing more." I notice the group showing varying amounts of discomfort at the mention of Wanda.

"Nevertheless" Xavier contiues "You have used your abilities for the betterment of mutants, and the world. As you may already know, we have a mixed experience with superhumans who possess the kind of powers you do-"

"Because they're usually out of their goddamn minds." Wolverine interupts, only to grunt as Storm elbows him in the side. Xavier just keeps going like he didn't hear him.

"-but it gladdens me to see such potential not go to waste. That you have also brought our Genoshan brothers and sisters back is... well, I simply do not know how to express my astonishment at this feat. However, it's because of what you've done, that I feel the need to warn you..."

Here we go.

"Certain...associates of mine have expressed great worry at the alleged threat you pose to the world, though it's far more likely they fear the threat you pose to a status quo that benefits them. While I do not know the full extent of your powers, I am concerned that even without my assistance, they might be able to pose a threat to you regardless with the resources they already have at their disposal."

O...kay? I think he's trying to warn me about the Illuminati moving against me, even if Xavier himself doesn't want to. That very likely means dealing with the Infinity Stones, which might actually pose a danger to me if used together. Alright, fine, if that's the way Stark wants to play it, I'll just have to get proactive about things, even if I wasn't planning to. I think it's high time the Stones are given to some more deserving owners anyway.

But first thing's first.

"Thank's for the heads up, Professor. I appreciate your trust in me. You know what, just as a thank you, let me fix that for you." I give a small wave with my hand, and Xavier gasps in surprise as his injured spine suddenly begins to knit back together, long-disused and atrophied nerves and synapses suddenly sparking back to life again. The X-Men jump out of their seats, Summers, Storm and Beast rushing over to check on the professor, but Wolverine leans over the table, his claws beginning to pop out of his hands.

"Bub, you just made the biggest mistake of your miserable-"

"LOGAN, NO!" Xavier stops him, his hands running over his suddenly mobile legs, Beast kneeling next to him as he checks the regenerated muscle on his calves. "It's fine, I'm fine. Better than fine. If I'm not mistaken, Mr Ginnungagap just made this chair unnecessary for me. It...was a surprise, but far from an unwelcome one."

Wolverine reluctantly backs down, while Summers just stares at me "You can do that? You can just fix crippling injuries by waving a hand around?"

What? "I brought 16 million people back to life, and this surprises you? Hell, I can fix pretty much anything wrong with anyone. I mean, you want me to fix your powers so you don't have to walk around with sunglasses everywhere? I can do that too. Here, check it out." I wave my hand again, and Summers makes an odd noise as his hands move up towards his eyes. Emma Frost manages to tear herself away from Ellie long enough to check on her sort-of boyfriend, helping him remove his sunglasses. Summers looks around the room, taking in the novel view of the world untinted by the ruby lenses.

"I can...see! My powers... did you just remove them, or..?"

I shake my head "No, there was some minor brain damage that was causing your control problem, you'll have to focus to activate your eyebeams now. I'd suggest keeping the glasses around until you've gotten used to it."

Beast had finished giving Xavier his quick examination and stood back up "Don't try to stand just yet, Charles. Your injury might be healed, but your brain won't have realized it yet, I want to run a few tests before you try anything strenuous. That goes for you too, Scott." Finally, he turns to me "And you! You didn't think to ask before doing something like this? Altering someone's body without permission is a violation of the highest order!"

"Hank, really, it's more than alright-"

Okay, screw this "You know, I was going to offer to do something about your appearance if you wanted it, but if you're going to be a dick about it, you can stay blue and furry. Professor, I wasn't planning on doing this, but while I'm here, are there any of your students who have mutations they'd like altered or fixed in some way? I figure if I've done this much already, I can do a few more."

Xavier smiles, still rubbing at his legs "I can think of a few..."

....

With the sudden influx of both reawakened mutants as well as a few new ones, there's no lack of volunteers who want to have a few genes moved around, though after the third kid who begs me to just make him not a mutant at all anymore, I end up asking Xavier to only send me the ones who want more controllable powers or a less disfiguring appearance, and not the ones who don't want to be "freaks". Meeting Santo Vacarro, AKA Rockslide, is a bit of a shock though, since he's the first mutant I've met with a genuinely alien body instead of just a mildly exotic appearance. His massive rock-laddened body can barely fit through the door of the medical room I've taken over for my work.

"So, you're the Magic Man who turned everyone's powers back on, eh? I have to say, you're not what I expected. From the way people talk about you, I'd think you either walk on water or had devil horns and ate babies for breakfast."

I focus on the rock formation that's supposed to be the kid's face "That's me, opinion is still a bit divided on me apparently. I'm guessing you want this" I indicate his rocky form "fixed?"

He grunts "Yeh, but I'm not sure you can heal me. Doctor McCoy says it's not even really my body anymore, it's just a bunch of rocks my mind is shaping into a new one. I'm basically just a walking quarry."

I look him over, getting a sense of him with my powers "Well, what I do isn't technically healing, I change reality so the damage never happened in the first place, that's why I can change malfunctioning mutations at all. For example, I could just give you your human body back, but then your mutation would be gone. Instead, I can change it so whichever body you're not currently using is stored in a pocket dimension, allowing you to switch between the two at will."

"Are you kidding?! That'd be awesome! You're not just fucking with me, right?"

"No, if I wanted to do that, I'd give you your human body back, but let you have the same awful physical senses as your rock form." It's hard to tell, but I'm pretty sure Santo shudders at that idea "Now, don't worry, I've never done this before, but I'm reasonably certain I can make sure your skin will be the right side out."

"Wait, what-" that's as far as he gets before his gravelly voice cuts out, and is replaced by a smooth, human one. In front of me stands a tall, hispanic teenager with shaggy, dark hair, his oversized X-Men uniform now hanging off him like a tarp. Realizing what just happened, Santo brings his hands up to his face, touching it in silent shock.

"Hmm, should have told you to bring a change of clothes. Oh well, easily fixed" With a wave, the uniform shrinks, fitting itself to a more human physique. "You'll have to start getting your suits tailored to grow with you, or you're going to have a Hulk situation on your hands."

...

"And you said you weren't going to be a genie"

Ellie shows up about an hour or so in and harries me into taking a snack break. Using my powers isn't...physically tiring exactly, but it does feel draining after a while, so I end up agreeing and sit down with her on the couch which is kept in here for some reason. She just seems to be amused that it took me less than a day to start using my powers to fix problems again.

"This doesn't count! I'm not taking requests here, I'm doing this out of... I dont know, I'm not on trial here!" I grumble before taking a drink from my soda. Ellie just smiles but doesn't say anything further about it. "What's the reaction like upstairs?"

She thinks for a moment "Kind of mixed, I guess? Most of the students are happy, but a few of the students are angry that you didn't remove their mutations, and that made all the other kids mad at THEM. Also, that Quentin kid keeps talking about how you're watering down the mutant race with your meddling and how you're a tool of the establishment or something. I stopped listening after a while."

Ugh, Quentin Quire. I'm not sure if being an insufferable little brat is part of his mutation too but it wouldn't surprise me. Well, if he tries any of his usual crap against me, he'll have a nasty surprise, that's for sure.

The door slides open, interupting the conversation, and in steps a muscular woman dressed in a green and yellow uniform, with a green jacket worn over it, alongside a pair of gloves covering most of her forearms. Her long red hair has a very notable white striple running along her face.

"If y'all ain't too busy, I was hoping ya could help me next?"