With the changes in his life, Billy now had to wake up early every morning and get ready for school. It also meant the already infrequent training sessions he shared with Steve and Natasha were becoming harder to fit into his schedule. Neither of them liked the idea of him growing dependent on his powers, and both were determined to make sure he could still handle himself in a fight without them.
As a result, Natasha and Steve refused to let him coast. On the days he was scheduled to train or work out with either of them, Billy had to drag himself out of bed an extra hour earlier than usual. It wasn't exactly his favorite arrangement, but arguing with either of them had proven to be a losing battle.
The first week of school eventually came and went, and before long it was finally Billy's favorite time of the week—the weekend. Just when he had started getting comfortable with a life free from homework, quizzes, and classrooms, Tony had decided to take issue with his admittedly lackadaisical attitude toward academics. Even so, Billy had already gotten a taste of life without school and found himself missing it more than he cared to admit.
Still, there was one day he looked forward to more than any other throughout the week. Friday had finally arrived, which meant he would once again be accompanying Bruce on his visit to Xavier's Academy. Through Bruce, he had even received an official invitation from the professor himself, who had made it clear that both he and the teaching staff were eager to learn more about Billy's unusual collection of abilities.
Much like before, Hank was there to welcome them when they arrived. While he and Bruce headed off to compare notes and discuss their latest scientific findings, Billy went his own way. Storm had already agreed to act as his guide for the day, and he wasted little time setting off to find her.
Following Hank's directions, Billy eventually found himself standing outside one of the classrooms. Through the open doorway, he could see Storm at the front of the room in the middle of a lesson, effortlessly holding the attention of every student present.
"Hi there." Billy gave her a small wave from the doorway, hesitant to step inside. The last thing he wanted was to interrupt her class or draw unnecessary attention to himself.
"Billy, good to see you again." Storm returned the gesture with a warm smile before motioning for him to come in. "Don't be shy."
As soon as he stepped into the classroom, dozens of eyes shifted toward him.
"This is Billy," Storm announced to the class. "For those of you who witnessed his abilities during his last visit, you already know he's multi-powered."
That immediately earned a variety of reactions from around the room. A few students looked amused, while others exchanged curious glances. Some of the more confident mutants—particularly the Omega-level students who took considerable pride in their own power—studied him with undisguised interest, each silently sizing him up and forming their own opinions.
"It's him."
"Yeah, that's him."
Quiet whispers spread through the room as several students recognized him from his previous visit. Billy could practically feel the attention pressing in from all directions. Letting out a nervous chuckle, he rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly wishing Storm hadn't made such an impressive introduction.
Trying to ignore the stares, he swept his gaze across the classroom and paused when he spotted a familiar face sitting among the students. A grin immediately spread across his face.
"Oh, what's good, Mase?"
Billy casually greeted him with a nickname, gesturing toward him as though they were old friends catching up after a long break. The reaction he received was far less enthusiastic. Mason responded with nothing more than a glare before pointedly looking away, acting as though he hadn't heard a word.
Unfortunately for him, several students had already noticed the exchange. Realizing more eyes were now turning toward him, Mason quickly averted his gaze and stared elsewhere, pretending Billy hadn't been talking to him in the first place.
"The cold shoulder, huh?" Billy muttered, shrugging it off without much concern. He turned his attention back to Storm, only for another student to speak up before the lesson could continue.
"Multi-powered? That's not exactly impressive around here. Hell, half the senior staff are walking power sets. What exactly can he do?"
"Yeah, show us something."
The second challenge was quickly followed by a few murmurs of agreement from around the classroom. Judging by the expressions on many of the students' faces, the majority seemed to support the idea. They looked at him with varying degrees of curiosity, skepticism, and outright challenge, as if waiting for him to prove Storm's introduction wasn't all hype.
Billy felt a smirk threatening to form but restrained it. Apparently, they wanted a demonstration. Unfortunately for them, he wasn't a circus act. Instead of answering immediately, he glanced over at Storm, silently asking, What's their deal?
Storm merely gave him some space, making no effort to intervene. With a small gesture, she let him know the choice was entirely his whether he wanted to entertain their request or not.
Looking directly at the student who had first spoken and pointedly ignoring everyone else, Billy finally answered.
"My powers aren't for show," he said casually. "But if what you're really wantin' is a good ass-whoopin', I'd be more than happy to satisfy that desire."
A few students snorted while others looked amused.
"Isn't that a little cocky?" the student shot back.
Billy simply winked in response before turning away as though the conversation had already ended.
Around the classroom, the whispers immediately resumed.
"Lightning was what he used against Mason."
"Yeah, and in the Danger Room he looked like he had super strength too."
"He was flying, wasn't he?"
Students who had witnessed his previous visit began comparing notes, sharing the abilities they had personally seen him use. Each new comment only fueled the curiosity spreading throughout the room as theories and assumptions started bouncing from one desk to another.
"Settle down, class."
Storm's voice wasn't loud, but it carried enough authority to immediately restore order. The conversations died down, and the students reluctantly turned their attention back toward her.
"Since he doesn't seem inclined to give a demonstration," she continued, seamlessly folding the topic into her lesson, "I can at least tell you that, much like myself, Billy possesses the ability to manipulate and wield lightning."
That announcement immediately renewed the class's interest, though this time most of the students remained quiet enough to hear what she had to say next.
"Okay, Sparky."
The student from earlier let out a short laugh, clearly intending the nickname as a jab. From his seat, Mason merely shook his head. Having already learned that particular lesson the hard way, he knew better than to underestimate Billy based on appearances alone.
Billy, meanwhile, barely reacted. Compared to some of the nicknames Tony had come up with, "Sparky" wasn't even worth acknowledging. The man had practically turned assigning embarrassing nicknames into an art form.
"That's enough, Quinn."
Storm's voice immediately cut through the budding banter, putting an end to it before it could escalate any further. As the classroom settled down, Billy found himself wondering what exactly he was supposed to do now. The idea of taking an empty seat and quietly watching Storm teach crossed his mind. So did the temptation to wander around the school again and explore. Unfortunately, he had a feeling that if he started roaming the halls unsupervised for a second time, his curiosity might start getting mistaken for mischief.
Not that the accusation would be entirely unfounded. Billy could be pretty mischievous when the mood struck him. Still, he thought it was probably in his best interest to stay on his best behavior. He had built a somewhat good relationship with Professor Xavier and the X-Men so far, and he wasn't interested in jeopardizing that over a moment of boredom. Even so, he made a mental note of Quinn. Something told him the opportunity to properly school the kid would present itself eventually.
"Seems you're already getting along with the other students."
The familiar voice drew everyone's attention toward the doorway. Professor Xavier rolled into the classroom in his wheelchair, a faint smile on his face. There was no telling how long he had been standing outside or just how much of the exchange he had overheard.
The moment the Professor entered, the atmosphere in the room noticeably shifted. Students who had been whispering moments earlier quickly composed themselves. Xavier guided his wheelchair toward Billy before briefly turning his attention to Quinn. While the student's attitude was understandable to a degree—pride and competition were hardly uncommon among young mutants—it still wasn't the sort of first impression he wished his students to make.
Promoting harmony among mutants had always been one of Xavier's core ideals. The students sitting in this classroom weren't merely classmates. One day they could become colleagues, teammates, perhaps even comrades fighting side by side. Trust, respect, and understanding were foundations he constantly worked to cultivate, and those lessons were every bit as important as the ones taught from a textbook.
Had Billy been the kind of kid who was overly self-conscious or easily pushed around, the reception he had received might have left him feeling subtly rejected by the student body. For a school that prided itself on accepting gifted children regardless of who they were, some of the students had done a rather poor job of making him feel welcome.
From what he had seen so far, this generation of students seemed to place a great deal of value on power. Those who possessed impressive abilities carried themselves with the confidence of future elites, as though they were already next in line to become X-Men. To be fair, some of them genuinely were exceptional. Many were among the academy's best and were actively training for that very future.
"Miss Munroe will be your tour guide for today."
Billy's attention shifted back to Professor Xavier. Almost instinctively, he glanced toward Storm, who answered with a small nod of confirmation.
"I'll be joining the two of you later," the Professor continued. "Until then, I hope you have a pleasant experience here at our school."
With that, he turned his wheelchair around and began making his way toward the exit.
Storm then redirected her attention to the classroom. Looking over the sea of students seated before her, she announced, "That will be all for today. Class dismissed."
Despite the dismissal, not a single student immediately rose from their seat. Instead, they watched as Storm motioned for Billy to follow her. Curiosity lingered in many of their expressions as the two of them left the classroom and stepped out into the hallways.
"Sorry about that," Storm said after they had walked a short distance. "They can be rather impulsive and insensitive at times."
Billy shrugged, unconcerned.
"It's no big deal. Honestly, it felt more like a test of acknowledgement before welcoming into the community."
His answer earned him a brief look from Storm. She studied him for a moment, as though gaining a clearer understanding of how his mind worked. The response didn't match the impression she had initially formed during their first meeting. If anything, it added another layer to her understanding of the young man walking beside her.
Billy eventually noticed the look lingering a little longer than expected.
"Is there something on my face?" he asked, uncertain why she was staring at him that way.
"You should fit right in." Storm voiced the thought with a mild smile. The simple compliment caught Billy completely off guard. For a brief moment, his heart skipped a beat, and an unfamiliar nervousness washed over him. He wasn't entirely sure why her approval felt so rewarding, but he found himself oddly pleased by it.
"So, Billy," she continued as they walked, "tell me about your powers."
The question finally arrived. It was one he suspected everyone at the school wanted answered, including the Professor himself. The fact that she was genuinely interested only made him more eager to talk.
"Well, for starters, I'm not a mutant."
Storm nodded as though this wasn't new information to her.
"From what I recall seeing the other day, your transformation enables you to manipulate lightning, fly, move at incredible speeds, and possess enhanced strength." She glanced toward him. "What else can you do?"
Billy rubbed the back of his neck.
"There are a couple of other things, but I don't really count those as abilities."
Though curious, Storm chose not to press the matter. She wondered what powers he was referring to and why he didn't consider them abilities, but there was no need to interrogate him. It wasn't as though he could casually list things like the wisdom of Solomon, the stamina of Atlas, or the courage of Achilles as powers in the conventional sense.
Their conversation continued as they exited the building and made their way across the campus toward another structure situated on the opposite side of the grounds.
Stepping out onto the lawn, Billy found himself paying closer attention to the school than he had during his previous visit. There was something surprisingly peaceful about the place. Compared to Avengers Tower, which often at times seemed filled with activity, technology, and larger-than-life personalities, Xavier's Academy felt grounded. Relaxed. Almost serene.
Students crossed the lawn in every direction. Some walked normally while chatting with friends. Others floated casually a few feet above the ground as though gravity was merely a suggestion. In designated training areas, several students openly practiced their powers without attracting the slightest bit of attention.
Billy watched one student generate harmless spheres of fire between their fingers while another casually levitated a stack of books as they walked. What should have looked bizarre instead appeared completely ordinary. Nobody stared. Nobody whispered. Nobody treated it as unusual.
More than anything else, Billy noticed how comfortable everyone seemed being themselves.
No one was hiding.
No one was pretending.
Students openly used their powers, expressed themselves, and existed without fear of being judged for what made them different.
For someone who had spent most of his life around people who constantly wore masks—both literal and figurative—that felt strangely foreign.
During his first visit, he hadn't really taken the time to appreciate any of this. He had mostly wandered around following his curiosity wherever it led. Then there had been the whole incident with Mason, which had somewhat overshadowed the experience.
"This isn't simply a school, Billy."
Storm's voice carried a quiet certainty as she spoke, having noticed the way his gaze lingered on the students and grounds around them.
"It's a home."
Billy glanced at her as they continued walking.
"Many of our students arrive frightened of what they are. Others arrive angry. Some have never met another mutant before." Storm pushed open the doors of the next building before continuing. "Our purpose is to help them become comfortable with themselves."
Billy nodded thoughtfully as he followed her inside.
'Sounds way healthier than most superhero teams I've met.'
The thought remained firmly in his head. He had learned that voicing certain opinions about superheroes around fellow actual superheroes often led to awkward conversations.
As they moved through the building, Storm introduced him to various parts of the academy. There were science laboratories filled with advanced equipment, language classrooms, history courses, and all the other things one would expect from a prestigious school.
"Mutants still need an education," she told him as they walked. "Powers alone rarely solve life's problems."
Billy immediately thought of Tony.
'That's true. Even with all my powers, I'm still broke.' The self-deprecating thought earned an inward chuckle from him as he continued following Storm through the academy.
Eventually, they arrived at the part of the tour he had been looking forward to the most.
The Danger Room.
Unlike the rest of the academy, this was a place he was already familiar with, yet that familiarity did little to diminish the excitement he felt.
Storm approached the massive entrance and activated the controls. The doors slid open, revealing what initially appeared to be nothing more than a vast, empty chamber. For a moment, the room looked almost disappointingly ordinary.
Then they stepped inside.
A few seconds later, the holographic systems activated.
The transformation was immediate and breathtaking.
The empty chamber vanished beneath layers of projected reality. Towering mountains rose from the floor. Ancient ruins emerged from nowhere. War-torn battlefields stretched into the distance while strange alien landscapes materialized around them. The environment shifted and evolved seamlessly, capable of recreating practically any scenario imaginable.
Even though Billy had witnessed the Danger Room's capabilities before, he still found himself impressed.
Most advanced technology he encountered was designed to make life easier, faster, or more convenient. This, however, was something entirely different.
Every aspect of the room existed for a single purpose.
Combat training.
The realization made it feel less like a simulation chamber and more like a playground designed specifically for superheroes.
"The Danger Room adapts to each student's abilities," Storm explained as Billy continued taking in the ever-shifting environment around him. "It allows us to simulate real-world threats under controlled conditions."
Billy glanced at her.
"Controlled?" he repeated skeptically. "That sounds like something people confidently say right before things stop being controlled and get completely out of hand."
The response caught Storm off guard. For a brief moment she simply stared at him before a soft laugh escaped her lips. It wasn't often students answered descriptions of advanced training facilities with that level of suspicion, especially when the suspicion wasn't entirely unreasonable.
Leaving the Danger Room behind, the two continued their tour and eventually arrived at the medical wing.
"As you know, accidents happen," Storm explained as they walked through the facility. "Students sometimes push themselves beyond their limits, and injuries can occur during training."
She gestured toward several treatment rooms before continuing.
"Mutations can also develop unexpectedly. Some students temporarily lose control of their powers, while others discover entirely new abilities. In situations like those, they can become a danger not only to themselves but to those around them."
Listening to her explanation, Billy found himself reaching an important realization.
Xavier's wasn't merely training future superheroes as he had initially thought. But was helping teenagers survive being mutants.
The distinction felt significant.
The tour continued afterward, taking them through the academy's recreation areas. Basketball courts occupied one section of the grounds while game rooms, common lounges, and outdoor athletic fields filled others. The more they walked, the more Billy realized just how enormous the campus actually was.
'The school grounds are way bigger than I thought.'
From the outside, the academy looked impressive enough. From the inside, it felt like an entire self-contained community.
Storm seemed to notice his observations.
"Students need a life outside of training," she explained. "Friendships matter. Normal experiences matter."
Billy had to suppress a smile at that.
Normal.
Coming from a school full of mutants capable of controlling weather, reading minds, teleporting across space, or shooting lasers from their eyes, the word felt hilariously subjective.
Still, he understood what she meant.