Chapter 2

I'm losin' my damn fool mind, that's what I'm doin', Mason thought as he walked beside, and slightly behind, the man known as Logan. He thought the guy was nice enough, but he still didn't trust him completely. He wasn't the type that people trusted quickly. In his views, trust was something to be earned, not given.

Jean had given him a navy blue sweatshirt, which he accepted because he had no clue where his shirt went. She had also given him a new pair of sweatpants, and he had to where the damn things because his pants were packed with blood. Jean seemed like a nice lady, but that still didn't explain why he didn't ask where the front door was as soon he was out of the lab. The lab... God, was he glad to be out of that place.

He was getting more confused by the minute. When he walked out of the lab, it looked like he was in a military bunker. But when they stepped out of the elevator that Logan had led him to... "What the hell is this place?" he asked without thinking.

Logan smirked at the boy, remembering the first time he had been here. "It's a school, kid. Fer mutants," The boy just arched an eyebrow at him. "Relax, kid. Yer safe here." At least Chuck's not in his head like he was mine, Logan thought with amusement.

"Name's Mason. Use it." Mason was suddenly very aware of how much he hated being called kid.

Logan grunted and grinned inwardly as they walked. If truths were told, he was beginning to like the kid-even if he did try to stab Jean. The kid had guts. Not many people stood up to him like that. Logan liked that. He knew that Mason wasn't the type to take shit off anyone, and he definitely liked that. Too many people at the mansion walked on eggshells around him, not that he hated that. In fact, it amused him a lot. However, it was nice to have someone talk to him without them being nervous that he was about to rip off their head and piss and their throat.

He watched Mason move out of the corner of his eyes. The kid moved with very light and quiet steps. His head was held high and there was no fear in his eyes. Logan could tell that he was more confused and curious than scared-at the moment, anyway.

The kid's tags were an anomaly to Logan. Where his said Wolverine, the kid's said Cougar. And had a serial number under the name, just like his. The tags were piquing his curiosity something fearsome, but he held his questions. He would get the answers he wanted when the kid was more relaxed.

<'Logan?> The Professor's voice echoed in his head, making him stop in his tracks and growl. He hated people in his head. Mason stopped as well.

<'Yeah?> he sent back in an impatient tone.

<'Are you on your way to my office with our visitor? Jean told me what happened, '> Xavier replied with a calm voice. He was quite used to Logan's temperament.

<'We're ten feet from your damn door, so get outta my head.'>

<'Then I will expect you soon, '> he replied once more, sounding amused, and finally leaving Logan's mind. The amusement that he heard in Xavier's voice led him to believe that the man sometimes just used telepathy to annoy him.

Mason watched all this with stoic features. Then watched as Logan motioned him to walk again. "What was that about?" he asked in a gravelly voice. It sounded quite odd coming from someone so young. His sensitive hearing picked up Logan's mutter. "Damn telepaths." Mason just nodded, not replying. They better stay the hell out of my head, he thought with a scowl of his own.

Mason kept walking several feet until Logan stopped in front of a large brown door. A wave of nervousness swept over Mason and he didn't know why. Then Logan looked at him, giving a twitch of a smile. Feeling the nervousness in his stomach subside a little, he felt better. Strange.

"Chuck ain't gonna bite ya, k- Mason." Logan just barely caught himself from calling the boy "kid". And the little son of a bitch is smirking at me, he then thought, a growl resonating from his chest.

"Please come in." They both heard the voice from the other side of the door.

Mason looked at Logan with a small glint in his eye. "First day here and it feels like I'm bein' sent to the principal's office."

"Ya'are... In a way," Logan commented, amused. He had to let a full-fledged grin spread across his face when he opened the door because of the mutter Mason gave.

"Let him try and pull out a paddle."

Mason walked into the office and his first thought was simple. For a principal, the fucker sure seems rich. The office was very plush with a large leather couch and a very big oak desk, at which the man known as Chuck sat behind. There was also a table with a chessboard set up on it near the corner.

Mason looked at the bald man that was sitting behind the desk. Once again, he wondered why he was bothering to see this man. Why doesn't he just leave? Then a thought came unbidden. And go where?

Truth was that he couldn't remember anything but the fight in the forest. Well, he could remember his name. That was all. Nothing else. I don't even remember where the hell I came from.

"Hello, young man. My name is Charles Xavier and I'm very sure that you have a lot of questions. I'll try to answer what I can. Please, have a seat," Charles Xavior said, waving to the two chairs in front of the rather large desk.

Xavier was a little perplexed. Normally, he could sense another person with his mind, easily in fact. However, as far as his telepathic abilities were concerned, this young man didn't even exist. There wasn't a trace of anything. The only reason he knew the young man was there was for the fact that he saw him with his own two eyes.

Mason took a seat, as did Logan, but he sat off to the far corner. Xavier began to speak again. "Would you mind telling me your name?"

He stared at the man for a hard second before he spoke. He was trying to get a read on the man. This 'Charles Xavior' was obviously the one in charge. All of his senses told him the man held no ill intent towards him, but he had question he wanted an answer to before the Professor gave him a *quiz*.

"Where am I?" His voice was gruff. Mason really intended to sound more polite, but, because of his confusion, the Animal Within was starting to stir. Not enough to get out of hand, but just enough to put him on edge, not to mention on guard.

Xavier looked over at Logan, who was obviously smirking and remembering his first visit with him. "You are at my School. It is called Charles Xavior's School for the Gifted. However, the children affectionately call it Mutant High." Charles gave off an affectionate look at the mention of the children.

Mason didn't miss it. His senses already told him that this man was good in his heart and cared about his students. He gave a little, short nod at the answer. Then arched an eyebrow, as if telling him to go on.

Xavior gave a sigh. And I thought Logan had the tough act down, he thought humorously. "It is also a place that takes in children that have no where to go because of their mutant abilities." He paused, clearing his throat. "Now, if you do not mind, would you please tell me your name?"

The green-eyed boy thought it over for less than two seconds before he came to a decision. "Mason Creed." After he got out his name, Mason watched with a very high level of apprehension and curiosity as Xavior's brow creased and his lips formed a frown, but it was gone within a second.

Out of the corner of his eye, he also saw Logan go deathly still. His face masked in not one emotion, but his eyes were hard. As if he were thinking about something (or someone) that he didn't like very much-or down right hated.

Mason was at a loss. Had he done something to them and not remembered it? He knew that it was entirely possible. Hell, for all he knew, he could have killed one of Chuck's students and not even remember it. Now that got to him. Both of the men in the room could be potential enemies wanting revenge. Chuck's silence and Logan's sudden stillness made the Animal Within want to stretch its claws.

Mason's knuckles started to itch, his claws wanting to pop out by instinct alone. The muscles in his body were tensing because of the tension in the room. "Problem, Chuck?" he asked with a carefully controlled voice and a level stare.

"Nothing, it could just be a coincidence," he stated, looking at the tense boy in front of him. He looked, for the entire world, like he was ready to spring into a fight at any moment. "At any rate, I know you do not know us very well, but I would like to ask you a rather large favor."

Coincidence? What the hell is he talking about? Mason thought as he gave Xavier a blank look.

Xavier took the silence as permission to ask. He didn't even know if it would work since he could not even sense him when he entered the compound, let alone his office. "I would like to enter your mind to make sure of something," Charles saw the glint of violence form in Mason's green eyes and rushed ahead. "I assure you, I mean you no harm whatsoever. I think you know that."

Mason's nose twitched slightly. He couldn't smell or hear any ill intent, and his instincts didn't prickle at the question. Even though he couldn't remember anything about himself, he somehow knew that he could trust those instincts.

He glanced at Logan, but there was no help there. It was as if Logan was awaiting Chuck's findings. Mason would never know why he did what he did next, but he did it. The boy gave his nod of consent. Losin' my damn fool mind, his thoughts repeated for the second time that day.

Xavier gave a sigh of relief as he wheeled his electric wheelchair around his desk and towards Mason. Mason flinched back instinctively when Xavier tried to reach out and touch his head. However, he also conceded quickly and let the bald man do as he pleased.

The Professor was more than pleased that he could delve into the boy's memories, what there was of them. All the boy could remember was the forest outside the school. He was running from a mutant. One that looked a lot like Victor Creed, but his fur was a deep shade of black. There was a fight, the boy got in an amazing amount of hits, but in the end, he lost. The rest was his memory the blackness of sleep (or near death) cascading over him from loss of blood. That and the nightmares; nightmares that were very similar to Logan's.

He also found the boy was terribly afraid of what he called "The Animal Within". Like Logan, he almost considered it a sentient being that dwelled within him. Mason also thought-on a subconscious level-that he shouldn't be around people because of his mutation. Hmm. The Professor sat back with a half relieved and half-sad sigh. Relieved because Mason, as far as the boy knew, had nothing to do with Victor Creed. Sad, because of the way the boy thought of himself.

Logan's body relaxed as he saw the relieved look in Chuck's eyes. He was pretty sure the boy didn't have any agenda against the X-Men. His instincts would have told him otherwise. However, it was nice to get confirmation from a telepath. Logan really did like the kid. Although, he couldn't even tell you why. Maybe it was just because Mason reminded him of himself, a little. That was a scary thought.

Mason could feel the tension in the room go down to almost nonexistent, but his didn't. This is the part where he kicks me out. You don't put a wolf in a flock of sheep, he thought bitterly. The thought confused him. Why the hell should I care? I don't even know these people. "So?" he asked with impassive facial features, like whatever the Professor said next wouldn't bother him one bit.

Xavier stared at Logan for a moment. Logan's eyes lost focus as if he were having a conversation with someone telepathic, then he nodded. The professor gave Logan a brief smile then turned his attention towards the boy again. Professor Xavier was not a stupid man. He knew that Mason had the potential to be a very dangerous individual. However, he also knew the boy needed help.

Mason awaited the worst.

"I have a proposition for you, Mason," the Professor stated, wheeling back to the other side of his desk. Mason gave him a look that told him to go on. "I want you to stay at the school. We could help you in many ways."

Mason looked shocked for all but a second. "I'm not a charity case," he growled out, preparing to stand and leave.

"Mason," the Professor started, before the boy could turn to leave. "It would not be charity. If you would like, I'm sure there are many things we could come up with for a young man such as yourself to do to help out."

Pausing, Mason looked at the Professor, seeming almost interested. The fact was that it was all an act. He really wanted to stay, but his pride would not let him be a charity case. "Like what?" This was asked neutrally.

"Anything from helping Logan with his self-defense class," Logan just grunted his assent to this. "Or helping out in the kitchen. The choice is yours. However, you will be required to attend at least four classes a day." The professor cut his class schedule in half because he knew that the boy very much disliked being around people, and until he got the animal under control...

"Why are you doing this?" Mason asked, curiosity marring his gruff voice.

"It is what we do, and we will also try to help you control what you call 'The Animal Within, '" the Professor responded in a kind voice. He did not miss the flash of hope that was in the boy's eyes, but it died quickly. He hides his emotions far too much for one so young.

Mason stood stalk still for close to a thirty seconds, thinking. Could they help? Maybe. Maybe not. But I guess I ain't gonna find out unless I give'em a shot. With those thoughts, he made up his mind. "Alright, I'll stay. But if I don't like it, I'm gone." The words were tough, but his voice was a tad softer than usual. That was the only way the young man really knew how to show he was grateful.