The X-men

"School for the Gifted… that's the school that has been sending us letters since last year, isn't it?"

"Yes, it is, Mr. Griffon."

"Then exactly what are you doing here?"

"Well, you see, Mr. Griffon, our school was created for the purpose of providing a safe space for people like us to escape our foes, or in your case, learn how to use and control our abilities."

"That's why the letters were so persistent."

"Naturally. Can you tell us when you first began to manifest your abilities?" Scott asked.

"Can he ask that? I feel like that should be personal information, right?"

"Naturally, sir. It is necessary for us to categorize you. Even though you don't attend the school, it doesn't mean that us Mutants shouldn't look out for each other."

Hearing Xavier's words, something broke inside Richard. He had nothing against mutants, but the fact that he was a mutant meant that he now had to start worrying about the various Mutant hunters in existence, the mutant race-ending disasters in the future, Wanda, Trask, etc. Mutants came with even more baggage than all the other races combined.

"I'm a mutant?" Richard asked.

"Naturally, that is why we are here."

"Damn… that adds more to my problems. Now, can I ask you guys a few questions?" Richard asked, ignoring the confused looks on their faces.

They knew that some people would react badly to being told that they were mutants, but they didn't expect this from Richard. Richard didn't react as though he hated being a mutant; instead, he acted as though he was worried about what came with it, at least that is what Jean was picking up from his mind.

He had somehow forgotten to test himself to check if he was a mutant or an Inhuman. He had traveled through dimensions, created a dimension in-between dimensions, built a Queen for an entire realm, nearly mastered molecular manipulation, but somehow, he had forgotten to test if he was a mutant or not. Richard didn't blame himself; after all, it hadn't come to mind since he was 5, and after that, he had since removed it from his mind.

"Please stop," Richard said, looking at Jean. His Occlumency may not have worked, but it did give him conscious control of his mind, meaning that he knew when he had visitors and when he wasn't in control anymore.

"Sorry!" Jean replied instinctively, starting to look away.

"Now, for you, how many students do you have at the moment in the school?" Richard asked, since the number of students in the school would determine how far the mutant arc had gone.

"Not too many. We are at most 50 or less. Not everyone wants to agree that they are a mutant."

"Oh, thank God. So, you were saying," Richard said, a smile forming on his face.

If the mutants at the school were still this few, then surely not many things threatening the entire mutant race had happened, right?

"So, what are you guys here for?" Richard asked.

"I feel like you know things I don't. Would you like to share?" Xavier said, with a clear frown on his face.

"Huh?" Richard asked, clearly not realizing what he had done.

"Kid, if you don't want to end up in a grave, it would be in your best interest to tell us what this means," Logan said, angry.

"Was it that obvious?" Richard thought to himself. He had reacted like this simply because he knew that being a mutant was one of the worst deals in the entire Marvel Universe… well, it is better than being a Kree, but…

"To better explain things, being a mutant comes with a lot of dangerous baggage—some threatening the entire mutant race, some also threatening the mutant race… there is no in-between."

"Well, I can't lie. The boy isn't lying," Scott said, as Logan nodded and Xavier put his head down.

Even they couldn't help but agree with his words. From Stryker, who wants the entire mutant race gone, to Magneto, who wants the entire human race gone, but since mutants are also humans, it means he wants mutants gone as well. Basically, they had nothing good going on apart from each other.

"Then your reaction is justified… It is clear that you don't want to come to the school. We shall take our leave. You know where to find us if you ever need our help," Xavier said, turning to leave.

"You know, kid, mutants are hated worldwide, so be careful," Logan said, leaving with Xavier and the rest following immediately.

Watching them leave, Richard became conflicted. Was it a smart idea to reject their invitation to the school? After all, he would be better equipped to survive any mutant extinction event if he were with the X-Men. Main characters may be trouble magnets, but they are also survivors.

"Nah, if they can survive the Sentinels, then I can definitely survive it," Richard thought to himself, turning to look at the sky where a small part of it could be seen moving weirdly.