The silence in Xavier's study was suffocating.
Aurora shifted uneasily under Logan's gaze, his eyes narrowing as if he could smell every secret she carried. Miles clenched his fists, ready to swing into action if things went sideways.
"Logan," Xavier's voice broke through the tension, calm but firm, "these two are frightened. Can't you feel it?"
Logan didn't look away. "Frightened doesn't mean harmless."
Nightcrawler remained close to the doorway, his yellow eyes flicking between Aurora and Miles. His tail lashed nervously, the tip twitching like a whip.
Aurora finally spoke, her voice trembling but steady. "My name is Aurora. This is Miles. We were fighting… something. A robot. And then a portal dragged us here. We don't know why. We don't even know where here is."
Miles muttered, "Feels like a school. A weird one."
Xavier wheeled forward, his hands folded in thought. "This is a place of learning. A sanctuary for those born with gifts. You may have found yourselves here by accident… or perhaps by design."
Aurora's eyes widened. "You mean someone sent us?"
Before Xavier could answer, Logan took a step closer, the weight of his presence pressing down on both of them. "You move like fighters. But you don't smell like soldiers. So what are you?"
Aurora's throat tightened. She wanted to lie, to say she was normal, but she could feel Miles' glance at her side. Not here. Not now.
"I can… copy," she admitted softly. "Powers. Skills. If I see it, if I'm near it, I can use it. I don't want to hurt anyone—I don't even like fighting. But it just… happens."
Miles crossed his arms. "She saved me back home. And if she wanted to be dangerous, trust me, she could've been."
Logan's scowl deepened, but Xavier raised a hand, silencing him. "You carry a gift that is as dangerous as it is rare," the professor said, his voice patient. "But gifts are not curses unless we allow them to be. You came here not to destroy, but to survive. That alone speaks volumes."
Nightcrawler stepped forward cautiously. "Still… zhey do not belong to zis time. Not to zis world. Ve must be careful."
Aurora's heart sank. Again, the doubt. Again, the suspicion.
But Xavier's expression softened, a quiet authority in his words. "Then we give them the choice. To prove who they are. To prove that they can be more than their powers."
Logan snorted. "You want to test them? Fine. But I'm watching. Closely."
Aurora swallowed, her eyes darting to Miles. For once, he didn't crack a joke or roll his eyes. Instead, he gave her the smallest nod.
"Guess we're students now," he muttered.
Aurora looked back at Xavier, her chest tightening. Maybe—just maybe—this world wasn't a punishment. Maybe it was a chance.