HAVE A GIF

Sigh because I have WAAAY too many gifs of xmen Apocalypse omg

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"Is it open?" River looked up as Jubilee knocked.

"Yep!" River gathered up the papers she had been scribbling on. She was sitting on her bed, leaning on the wall, with one of her clipboards (gifted from Jean on the last Christmas) trying to write a chapter or story. Jubilee came in with her jacket in her hand. "How was archery?" Jubilee flopped onto her bed.

"Super fun. You should've come! Jean did some new tricks," she said, pulling off her shoes. Jubilee and River had a rule of taking shoes off in their rooms. It was an Asian thing. Jubilee threw her jacket onto her desk, shattering pins and accessories.

"You better pick those up later," River said, putting her clipboard next to her. "And I'll go with you guys next time. I went to go see Raven, then I helped Hank, and then I was trying to write." She counted off her fingers.

"No Alex?" Jubilee pouted. She looked at River sideways.

"Shush," River said and felt herself blush.

"Ooo, so you are meeting him?" Jubilee sat up with a grin.

"No!" She paused. "I mean, yes but you cannot make a big deal about it, got it?" Jubilee bounced up and down on the bed.

"Yay! Wait did he ask?"

"Yeah. He told Hank who told me."

"YAY!"

"Jubi, you're going to disrupt the whole school," River laughed. Jubilee made a face and laid back down again.

"As if! Well, tell him I said hi. If he even remembers me," she said.

"Will do."

River waited anxiously the whole day for after dinner. She spent the rest of the day bored in classes and getting teased by Jean and Jubilee. After their last class, the three walked down to the kitchen. The little kids normally got to go first, and they got their food from the teachers. The older kids got to get food from the kitchen.

River looked over and saw Scott standing against the wall, looking at all the other kids with his hands in his jacket pockets.

"Be right back," she said to the other two girls. She walked over, and he straightened up when he saw her. Is he trying to impress me? She smiled at the thought. "Hey Scott. Are you going to eat or..."

"I actually survive off of air, so I'm good," he said with a smirk.

"That's nice, come on," she waved for him to follow her. "Older kids get to raid the kitchen during dinner."

"Sounds fun."

"Hey guys!" River waved. Jubilee and Jean looked up. Jubilee waved also, and Jean nodded. They were in the kitchen, where some of the other older kids were. After getting food, most of the children went to their rooms, to a parlour, or outside. "Scott Summers, this is my cousin Jubilation Lee."

"Call me Jubilee." Jubilee stuck out a hand. "Nice to meet you. You're Alex's brother?" He nodded.

"The one and only."

"And you met Jean earlier," said River. He nodded again, and Jean smiled.
"You know, we met before River introduced me to you," Jean remarked. They got food out from the fridge. River handed Scott some fruit to put on the table. Jubilee took out some cups.

"I knew your voice sounded familiar!" Scott said. "You're the girl who read my mind!" She nodded.

"When did this happen?" River asked interested.

"When I first came here. Alex was helping me step down, but I missed one and almost knocked her down."

"And all my books," Jean added.

"Anyways, she went into my mind and told me to watch it," he continued.

"You were being very rude," she said. Jubilee raised an eyebrow.

"How come you didn't tell me this, Jean?" River said as she pulled out some pasta.

"Hey! She was in my head so," said Scott defensively.

"There's not much in there," she muttered. Jubilee laughed.

"Ooo, you got Jean to be sassy," Jubilee said.

"How very," said River. "What do you guys want to eat?"

A few minutes later, they all had their food and walked upstairs to one of the parlours right by a window. There was a small brown couch, some cushioned chairs, and a small glass coffee table. River and Jubilee sat on the couch, Jean sat in one of the chairs, and Scott sat on the floor by the table.

"So Scott," Jubilee said after a few minutes of silence. He looked up. "How's it feel to be a mutant?"

"Well, that's one way to start a conversation," Jean murmured. River laughed a bit and began to eat. Scott made a so-so gesture.

"It's a big change from my old school. I was super popular," he said sarcastically.

"Oh really?" River said.

"Nah. I was kind of that one kid that got into trouble all the time."

"That's Jubi for you," River nodded to the Asian next to her. She scoffed.

"No! Not true!" Jubilee said. Jean nodded, meaning she agreed with River. "You guys suck."

"We're kidding," River laughed. She turned back to Scott. "You won't get into much trouble here. I mean, there's not much to get in trouble around here."

"How're you liking the school?" Jean asked.

"I mean, it's school," Scott said. "The only difference is all the little kids and like my brother is here. Also we all have 'gifts.'" He made a air quotes.

"You'll get used to your mutation," Jubilee said. Jean shook her head slightly. "Ok um most of us get used to it. Like 95%. Also the little kids aren't that bad. They normally don't bother us." He nodded and watched some of the a girl light her hand on fire then chase a little boy, both of them laughing.

"Hey River," Jean said. "You're more quiet than usual. What's up?"

"Uh..." River thought of an answer. "Thinking. About...family." Jean nodded, getting it. River was thinking about Raven.

"You all have family?" Scott asked curiously. Jubilee and Jean nodded.

"This isn't an orphanage, Scott," Jubilee said with a laugh. "Mostly all of the kids here have parents that sent them here, either knowing their child is a mutant or thinking that they are sending their kid to a boarding school. My parents think I'm at a special boarding school, which is mostly true. I'm from California, but I only go home on occasions."

"I'm from New York," Jean said. "My parents know about my...thing. I don't think they want me back."

"Not true," River said quickly. Jean smiled slightly, then went back to eating.

"Um...what about you, River?" Scott said, trying to break the awkwardness.

"Parents kicked me out when they found out I could breathe underwater," she said. "I've been living in this mansion since I was four, so since 1970. That's how I know your brother." He nodded.

"And why she gets special treatment," Jubilee smirked.

"That is not true, and you know it!"

"So the professor is basically your adopted dad?" Scott asked. River nodded.

"Yeah. Hank's like an older brother and so was Alex before he got drafted. Raven was kinda like a mom, but not really."

"More like the rebellious sister," Jubilee remarked.

"That's true," River laughed. They sat in a comfortable silence.

"Hey, who's that kid?" Scott nodded to the side, and they all looked over. There was a dark blue boy their age who had markings all over his body, and a long tail.

"Is he the new kid Raven brought in?" River said. Jubilee nodded.

"Should we call him over?" asked Scott.

"Hey!" River waved and the kid looked up. He pointed at himself. "Yeah! You! C'mon over here!" He came over timidly. "What's your name?"

"Nightcrawler. But my real name is Kurt. Kurt Wagner," he said shyly.

"Wicked," said Scott.

"Hi Kurt," River smiled. "I'm River. This is Jubilee, Scott, and Jean. Wanna sit with us?" He nodded. "Welcome to the crew." She laughed.

Kurt was very interesting. He was from Berlin and hesitantly told them stories of Circus Munich. The four mutants tried to be as nice as possible as it was evident that he was shy and had bad experiences with other people. Before they knew it, it was 7:40. River looked at the clock and got up.

"Ok well, nice talking to you lovely people," she said. Jubilee scoffed. "But I have to book it for a meeting with someone, so I will see you all later."

"Who're you meeting?" Scott asked. Jubilee winked at River.

"Someone. Ok see you guys!" River waved and took her dishes downstairs. Whew, that was close. She didn't want Scott to think she was still into his brother. Not that she was. She shook her head. Stop thinking about it, River! She looked up at the kitchen clock when she finished cleaning her plate. I have 15 minutes left. She decided to go visit Charles again.

River walked over to his office and put her ear to the door to make sure he wasn't talking to anyone.

"Can I come in?" she asked. The door opened, and she saw Charles smile at her. He waved her in, and she closed it gently. "Hi! How are you? You look stressed."

"I am, to be honest," he said in the British accent she had grown to love. She sat down in front of his desk. "Raven and all. Erik too."

"Oh. Is he um ok?" she asked awkwardly. She had only met Erik once in '75 after they had reopened the school. He had seemed cold and uncaring, but she knew it was mostly because of his highly traumatic past.

"I...believe so," Charles replied. River could tell he was lying.

"Raven was always a handful," River laughed, trying to lighten the mood. He chuckled.

"Yes, she was." There was a pause.

"She staying the night?" she asked. He nodded. "Yay!" He smiled at the young mutant.

"You've always looked at the brighter side," said Charles. River looked up at the clock. "You're going to meet Alex?"

"Are you reading my mind..."

"Yes."

"Overprotective dad much?" River teased. "And yes. He told Hank who told me."

"Well it is almost eight. I'll see you tomorrow after I get back from a meeting." She nodded.

"Great! I get to show you a new trick!" He waved as she got up. River blew him a kiss and then went out as Charles stared out the window, looking worried. She closed the door gently and tiptoed to the door which lead to outside. Most of the students were relaxing or going to sleep. River wondered what her friends were doing. Scott and Kurt seemed to fit in with the group. Scott seemed a bit into Jean though. The thought made her frown, even though she loved Jean like a sister. Kurt was just getting adjusted from Berlin, so he was very sweet.

River reached the pond and grinned as she saw Alex sitting by a tree, waiting. She hid behind a nearby bush and flicked her hand to the side, splashing him with a bit of water.

"River! Come on!" He stood up, laughing. She jumped out and ran over. Alex pulled her into a wet hug.

"Hey! Alex!"

"You did this to yourself, Riv!" He released her. "How are you, lil sis?" She grinned at the nickname. The two had a sort of brother-sister relationship, and it had turned into affectionate nicknames.

"I'm great, big bro. Wanna walk? How're you? I missed you a load." They started walking around the garden.

"I'm good. Much better than in the war. And I missed you too." She grinned again.

"You need a haircut," River commented. "Starting to look like Charles' hair." She reached up to flick his long blonde hair, but he brushed her hand away. She smirked. "Protective, much?"

"Wow, Riv, thanks," he said sarcastically. "And I like it long, so no." She laughed.

"How's the job? Where did you go again?"

"New York City, and it's ok. I got fired 'cuz I 'accidentally' punched my coworker." River tried not to laugh. River, stop laughing! Why'd you bring it up?! She mentally slapped herself.

"Oh...uh...sorry to hear."

"It's ok," said Alex with a smile. "He was annoying anyways - ranting about how terrible mutants are. I was looking for new jobs when my parents called me up about Scott. By the way, how is my little  brother doing in his new home?"

"Doing well for a new kid," River answered. "He's a senior, right? So like seventeen?"

"Yep, like you. And a bit of a smartass, to be honest. Always got in trouble and got Mom and Dad mad."

"Like you?"

"I guess so." Alex laughed. River looked down to hide her slight flush because they were talking about Scott. "Is he cute?" She looked up.

"Uh um I mean..." He laughed again.

"He's a good guy. Probably better than all the other guys here. Are there guys here your age even?" Alex looked around, and River slapped him. "Ow!"

"Are you setting up me with your little brother, Alex?"

"Perhaps."

"Oh my god..."

"Hey! You two would be cute!" River covered her ears.

"Stop talking please." Alex laughed and side hugged her affectionately.

"He's actually been asking about you," he said. He's been asking about me?  River thought with a smile.

"Really? Anything interesting?"

"Family, level of coolness, how we know each other, etc," he counted off his fingers.

"I hope you didn't make me sound lame," replied River. He shook his head with another laugh.

"You know, he doesn't think this, but he's going to do something awesome with his life," Alex said a bit dreamily. River looked up. His brown eyes had a faraway look as if he looked up to his brother instead of vice versa. River smiled. That was a part of Alex no one usually saw: the sweet, non-rebellious adult who wanted to stay a kid and who actually liked to be nice.

"He doesn't seem to be the successful type," remarked River. She liked to be honest with him because he never judged her opinions. He shrugged.

"One day. He'll change the world or something. Then I'll say, 'TOLD YA SO!'" he said into her face. She jumped a little, and he grinned. He had always been a prankster too.

"Very mature, Summers," River laughed. After about ten more minutes of catching up and even more inside jokes, River looked around at the kids slowly dispersing back into the mansion.

"I think you have to go now, Riv," Alex said.

"Yeah. Well not technically..."

"River c'mon. Don't be a mini me; Scott is already that. I'll talk to you tomorrow, ok?" He smiled, and she grinned too.

"I'm so happy you're back, Alex." River hugged Alex tight. He hugged her back.

"Me too. See you tomorrow! Well, once I take Charles to his meeting. It's very hush hush." He winked at her.

"See you!" River waved as she ran back into the house, a huge grin on her face.

~

YAY! CHAPTER THREE DOWN

I hope no one is crying because uh Alex...😭😭😭