Marvelous Meditations

All eyes turned to Nathan.

The tension in the air was thick now, laced with something just short of hostility. The students stood in a loose half-circle around him, their postures rigid, eyes burning with unspoken challenges. But Nathan? He didn't care.

He met their stares with a calm, unreadable expression, then turned to Kitty and said evenly, "I am a regular human being with no superpowers, and the only weapon I used was the Floater."

There was a pause, then he added, almost lazily, "My ability to take one of your friend's punches? That's thanks to a cybernetic device that enhances my strength and wraps my skin in an insulating layer of telekinetic energy." He gave a small shrug. "Not a weapon. Not a superpower."

Kitty's mouth fell open slightly before she scoffed, shaking her head in disbelief. "Oh, come on. That's just—"

"Bullshit?" Nathan cut in smoothly. "Bullshit? Sophistry? A manipulation of facts?" His voice was level, but there was a dangerous edge beneath the surface. "Yeah, kid, that's exactly what bad guys do."

The weight of his words made her flinch slightly.

He let his gaze drift over the group, then back to Kitty. "If you ever feel obliged to use force against someone to stop them from what they're doing, then taking their word for granted is the last thing you want to do. That's your first lesson."

Kitty frowned, crossing her arms, but said nothing. She didn't like the way he framed it, but she couldn't argue.

Nathan let the silence hang for a second before shifting his attention to Rogue. His expression twisted slightly, as if he were suppressing a sigh, and he muttered, "As for you…" He shook his head. "I honestly don't even know what to say."

Rogue furrowed her brow. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Nathan's face hardened. "Rules? How to win and lose?" His voice carried a sharp, almost exasperated bite. "Kid, there's no such thing out there. No neat little system to tell you when the fight's over."

His gaze swept over all of them, and his voice dropped to something lower, colder. "You either get the job done and come back with all your teammates alive... or you failed. There is no in-between."

Rogue looked like she was about to snap back, but before she could get a word out, a thin layer of crystalline ice suddenly formed around Nathan's boots, locking him in place. The air turned frigid, a cold mist swirling at his ankles as the ice continued to spread.

Behind him, Bobby stood with a triumphant smirk, arms crossed. He had been waiting for the perfect moment—biding his time while the others were busy arguing with Nathan. Now, he had him right where he wanted.

"See?" Bobby said, his voice tinged with satisfaction. "Told you it wasn't over."

Nathan didn't even glance back at him.

Bobby took a step closer, his smirk widening. "Now, this is how it's gonna go. Unless you wanna turn into a fancy new ice sculpture, you're gonna let go of Jean, and we'll continue this little exercise of yours."

For a moment, there was silence. Then, to everyone's surprise, a faint smirk flickered across Nathan's lips.

"So you chose action," he mused. "Not bad."

Then he sighed.

The ice around his feet exploded into glittering shards, shattering like fragile glass as a telekinetic force erupted outward. The cold mist dissipated instantly, replaced by a barely visible ripple of energy that pulsed around Nathan's frame like an unseen armor.

His expression darkened as he turned his head slightly, his gaze locking onto Bobby like a predator sizing up prey.

"Except you acted recklessly," Nathan said, his voice cutting through the air like a blade. "You attacked without knowing what I was capable of."

Bobby's smirk faded.

Nathan tilted his head slightly. "Congratulations, kid. You just cost your teammate her life."

A muscle in Bobby's jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

Nathan, however, had already dismissed him. He lowered Jean gently to the ground, kneeling beside her as he pulled a small vial from his pocket. Uncorking it, he held it under her nose.

The reaction was immediate—Jean's body tensed, and she jolted awake with a sharp gasp, eyes wide and disoriented.

Nathan stood up smoothly, his voice calm but firm. "Get yourselves together. Check on your friend and line up in five minutes."

And with that, he turned and strode away, heading toward Xavier without a backward glance.

Rogue and the others wasted no time rushing to Jean's side, their faces etched with concern as they helped her sit up. "You okay, Jean?" Kitty asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Jean let out a low groan, pressing her fingers to her temple. Her head was still swimming, her mind replaying fragments of what she had just experienced—fire, pain, the overwhelming sense of helplessness that came with being trapped in Nathan's memories.

"What… what happened?" she murmured.

Bobby scoffed, crossing his arms as he threw a glance in Nathan's direction. "You blacked out for some reason, and—" he jerked his thumb toward Nathan, his tone dripping with irritation, "—Captain Hard-Ass over there decided that meant he won."

Still seething, Bobby muttered a few choice insults under his breath about Nathan's methods, throwing in words like "cheater," "control freak," and "complete dickhead." But Jean barely heard him.

Her attention was fixed on Nathan, her eyes locked onto his back as he stood speaking to Xavier. The mental images refused to leave her—the sensation of being inside his body, the suffocating heat of the flames eating away at his flesh, the unbearable agony that had seemed to stretch on forever.

And yet… he had endured it. He had lived through it. A chill ran down her spine.

Fear.

But not just fear—sympathy.

The moment the thought crossed her mind, Nathan turned as if sensing her gaze, his piercing eyes meeting hers. There was no warmth in them, no acknowledgment of what had just transpired between them, only cold, detached indifference.

The sheer lack of emotion in his expression snapped her out of her daze, and she quickly turned back to Bobby, who was still ranting.

"Right? What an asshole, huh?" Bobby said, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

Jean forced a bitter smile. "Yeah… sure."

A heavy silence settled between them before she let out a small sigh. "So what happens now?"

Kitty ran a hand through her hair, exhaling. "He told us to line up. Guess he's got something to say."

Rogue scoffed, folding her arms. "As if he didn't say enough already."

Kurt, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. He shook his head. "It's not like he was wrong… We should just do as he says."

Jean nodded, slowly pushing herself to her feet. The others exchanged uncertain glances, but one by one, they followed her lead, forming up as Nathan had instructed.

Nathan wrapped up his conversation with Xavier and strode toward the young mutants, his sharp gaze scanning over them with the same calculated intensity he had shown in combat. He came to a stop in front of Kurt, fixing him with an unreadable expression.

"I guess I'll start with you," Nathan said flatly. "You're too predictable."

Kurt blinked, taken aback. "Pardon?"

Nathan sighed as if the flaw should have been obvious. "Your teleportation. It's too predictable. Anyone with half an ear can hear you coming from across the room."

Kurt's tail twitched slightly as he frowned. "Zhat's not exactly something I can change."

"No," Nathan conceded, "but you can work around it. Time your teleports better. Mask them with other loud noises—gunfire, explosions, even shouting. Make sure the sound isn't the first thing they notice. And that's not your only problem."

He crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "You always go for the back. Every damn time. That only works if your enemy doesn't expect it. Against someone fast enough, you might as well be announcing your attack with a bullhorn. Mix things up. Change your angles. Feint. Keep your opponent guessing."

Kurt rubbed the back of his neck, nodding slowly. "Try to be more subtle… Got it."

Nathan gave him a curt nod and then shifted his attention to Kitty, eyeing her for a moment before speaking.

"You've got the same problem," he said, causing her to arch a brow. "Diving underground and pulling someone down with you is a neat trick, but it gets old fast. If an enemy knows you can do it, they'll start watching their footing, keeping their distance, or worse—anticipating your move and countering it."

Kitty pursed her lips. "So, what? You want me to just… what, phase-punch people?"

Nathan exhaled sharply, as if he was talking to a particularly slow student. "No. You need to start learning martial arts. Specifically, Baguazhang."

Kitty stared at him blankly. "Bag... Bagwa—what now?"

Nathan rolled his eyes. "It's one of those 'bullshit' Chinese martial arts. Perfect for you."

Before Kitty could respond, Bobby let out a snort, giving her an amused glance. "I always knew you had a knack for bullshit."

Kitty shot him a withering glare before turning back to Nathan, crossing her arms. "So, let me get this straight. You want me to learn a 'bullshit martial art'?"

Nathan didn't so much as blink at Kitty's skepticism. Instead, his voice remained level, matter-of-fact.

"Baguazhang is all about circular movement, redirection, and attacking from unexpected angles," he explained. "I call it bullshit because if I tried pulling those moves on someone worth their salt, I'd be on my ass before I ever reached their blind spot."*

He paused, giving her a pointed look. "You, on the other hand, can phase through attacks. You don't have to worry about getting hit mid-movement. You can weave through a fight like smoke, strike from angles no one expects, and be gone before they can react. That makes it a perfect fit for you."

Kitty opened her mouth to respond, but Nathan had already moved on, giving her a dismissive wave. "That's all for you."

Then, his gaze settled on Rogue.

"You rely too much on brute strength," he stated. "Learn Krav Maga and Sambo."

Rogue raised an eyebrow. "That's it? No long-winded lecture?"

Nathan shrugged. "Not much else to say. You hit hard, but that doesn't mean much if someone faster, smarter, or more technical knows how to use your strength against you. Krav Maga will teach you how to end fights fast. Sambo will give you the takedowns and joint locks you're missing. Do both, and you'll be a nightmare in close quarters."

Rogue looked like she wanted to argue, but before she could, Nathan had already shifted his attention. His eyes locked onto Bobby with a cold, assessing stare.

"As for you…" Nathan exhaled, shaking his head slightly. "You're either too much of a showoff… or just an idiot."

Kitty let out a half-snort, half-chuckle at that, and Bobby's expression immediately twisted in frustration. "Oh, screw you. And why's that exactly?"

Nathan folded his arms across his chest. "The way you used your power. When you tried to freeze me, you didn't just ice the ground beneath my feet—you froze a straight line leading up to me. Like a damn laser pointer showing exactly where the attack was coming from."

Bobby opened his mouth to argue, but Nathan cut him off. "That tells me one of two things. Either you wanted to show off, make some big dramatic entrance with your attack, or…" He narrowed his gaze. "You haven't even realized you could just freeze the ground beneath me directly."

Silence fell over the group. Bobby's jaw tightened, and he reached up to scratch his head, suddenly looking unsure.

Nathan smirked. "Yeah. That's what I thought."

Nathan turned his gaze to Jean, his expression unreadable. "I'm sorry to say this, but I have nothing for you."

Jean blinked, caught off guard. "What?" She took a step forward, frustration creeping into her voice. "Why not?"

Nathan let out a slow breath, as if choosing his words carefully. "You have power. More than anyone here." His tone remained neutral, but there was something heavy beneath it. "But you don't have the will to wield it."

Jean stiffened. "That's not true—"

"Isn't it?" Nathan cut in, his voice quiet but firm. "I don't need to train you in running obstacle courses or throwing punches. You should be spending that time with Xavier instead, sharpening your mind." He met her gaze evenly. "Until you do, none of this will matter."

For a moment, Jean said nothing. She wanted to argue, to push back against his words, but something in his tone—something in the way he looked at her—made her hesitate. Finally, she exhaled through her nose and gave a small nod, though she didn't look particularly happy about it.

Nathan scanned the group one last time, then turned away. "That's all for today."

The young mutants exchanged glances as he continued, "I'll be here every Friday at eight in the morning. Whether you show up or not is up to you."

He didn't bother waiting for a response. Without another word, he turned on his heel and walked away, his coat shifting with the movement.

The students immediately started whispering among themselves. Some looked irritated, others thoughtful. Bobby muttered something under his breath, and Kitty rolled her eyes, while Jean remained silent, still lost in thought.

Nathan paid them no mind as he approached Xavier, speaking in a low, even tone. "I have business to take care of, so I'll be taking my leave. My people will be here tomorrow to install the new security system, just as we discussed."

Xavier inclined his head slightly. "I will be expecting them." Then he turned to Ororo, offering her a warm smile. "Would you be so kind as to show Nathan the way out, dear?"

Storm nodded, her expression as calm and composed as ever. She gestured toward the exit. "This way."

Nathan didn't say anything, just fell into step beside her, his mind already shifting to whatever came next.

As they exited the Danger Room, Nathan walked in silence, his thoughts already shifting to his next task. But Ororo's voice pulled him back.

"That was most unkind," she said, her tone calm but pointed.

Nathan glanced at her, arching an eyebrow. "Making them face reality? That the world isn't all rainbows and sunshine?"

Ororo's frown deepened. "They are mutants, Nr. Cross. They know that better than most." She shook her head. "I wasn't talking about your lessons. I meant how you dismissed them—the way you told them their names didn't matter to you, only their powers and what they could do."

Her expression was edged with disapproval as she added, "Here, we teach them they are more than just their abilities. That they have worth beyond what they can or cannot do."

Nathan let out a dry chuckle, shaking his head. "Then it's a good thing I'm not here to teach them morals or life philosophy." He turned his gaze forward, his voice flat. "I'm here to teach them how to survive people like me."

Ororo gave a small huff, clearly unconvinced. "Oh? And what's next?" She folded her arms. "Should I ask Professor McCoy to make you an X-Men suit?"

Nathan shot her a look, lips curling into a smirk. "Oh, you won't catch me dead in one of those tights." He paused just long enough for effect, then added dryly, "My ass is hardly latex material."

Ororo paused mid-step, turning to Nathan with a hard expression—one she was struggling to maintain. But despite herself, a chuckle slipped out as she shook her head. "I'll have to take your word for it."

She turned back around and continued down the hall, her pace steady.

Nathan followed with a faint smirk, his hands slipping into his coat pockets. "Since you brought up the suits... should I add you to my list of petty grudges, or do I have Xavier solely to blame for strong-arming me into babysitting duty?"

Ororo stopped again, facing him fully this time. "Wait—what? You didn't ask to teach the kids?"

Nathan gave her a flat look. "Do I look like someone who enjoys babysitting?"

Ororo sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "No… no, you don't." She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "Xavier didn't discuss this with us. And if I had to guess… this was something he decided on the spot."

Nathan smirked, leaning slightly in her direction. "Oh? Sounds like someone's in trouble. Good."

Ororo's frown deepened as she started walking again. "I will have a word with Charles… of that, you can rest assured."

Nathan simply chuckled under his breath as he followed her out.

...

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