The cafeteria buzzed with chatter as students gathered in groups, laughing and eating. In one corner, Ethan, Bobby, John, Kitty, and Anna sat together, discussing the latest topic that had everyone talking Ethan's growing popularity.
"I swear, man, it's like every girl in the school has a crush on you," Bobby said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I mean, I get it good looks, super strength, genius-level intelligence but come on, leave some attention for the rest of us."
John smirked. "Yeah, it's getting ridiculous. Even Hank the smartest guy here is impressed by your intelligence. You made Beast speechless. Do you know how rare that is?"
Ethan chuckled while sipping his drink. "Hey, I just answer the questions right. Can't help it if I'm good at everything."
Kitty rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah, we get it, Mr. Perfect."
Just then, Kurt Wagner and Angelina Jones joined them, carrying trays of food. "Vhat are ve talking about?" Kurt asked in his thick German accent as he set his tray down next to Kitty.
"Ethan's growing fan club," John replied with a grin.
As if on cue, a few girls passing by glanced at Ethan and offered shy smiles. "Hi, Ethan," one of them said softly.
Ethan returned the smile. "Hey."
The girls giggled before walking away, whispering among themselves.
John whistled. "Damn, even the seniors are into you now?"
Bobby crossed his arms. "Man, I wish I had that kind of luck."
Ethan just shook his head with a small smile, but while everyone laughed and teased him, he didn't miss the way Anna suddenly grew quiet. She kept eating, but there was a slight pout on her lips as she focused a little too hard on her food. Ethan smirked. So she does get jealous.
But she wasn't the only one. Kitty and Angelina were also sneaking glances at him. Unlike Anna, though, they weren't trying to hide it. Kitty, in particular, seemed overly hyped about everything Ethan did, laughing a little too hard at his jokes and nudging him playfully at every opportunity.
Bobby and John, of course, noticed.
"Oh, come on," Bobby finally blurted out. "First Ethan gets all the girls outside our group, and now our girls are looking at him too?!"
John groaned dramatically. "There is no justice in the world."
The girls said in unison, "Shut up!"
After some playful jokes, Bobby leaned forward and shifted the conversation. "Hey, you ever think about how all the teachers here have cool names? Ororo is Storm, Scott is Cyclops, Hank is Beast… We should pick some for ourselves."
"That's actually a good idea," Kitty said, perking up.
"I call Iceman," Bobby declared confidently.
John grinned. "Obviously, I'm Pyro."
Angelina flipped her red hair over her shoulder. "I've always liked Firestar."
Kurt smiled. "I already have a name Nightcrawler."
Kitty grinned. "Ooh, I want Shadowcat! That sounds so cool!"
Anna thought for a moment before nodding. "I'll go with Rogue."
Everyone turned to Ethan. "What about you, superstar?" John asked. "Got a cool name in mind?"
Ethan leaned back in his chair, considering. He had plenty of potential names some based on his abilities, others on his experiences. But there was one word that always stood out.
"Immortal," he said finally.
There was a brief silence. Bobby raised an eyebrow. "Immortal? That's kinda… dramatic, don't you think?"
John tilted his head. "I mean, it sounds badass, but why that?"
Ethan smirked. "It's still a work in progress."
Anna, however, looked at him thoughtfully. Unlike the others, she seemed to understand. "You don't die, do you?" she asked quietly.
Ethan turned to her, meeting her gaze. There was no teasing in her tone just curiosity and something else he couldn't quite place. "Not easily," he admitted.
The table fell silent for a moment, the weight of that realization settling in. Then Bobby cleared his throat. "Well, damn. Guess Immortal fits after all."
John grinned. "Alright then here's to our new cool names!"
They all clinked their drinks together, laughter breaking the tension.
After lunch, Ethan and his friends went their separate ways to attend afternoon classes. Hours passed quickly, and by the time they finished, the sun had begun its descent, casting an orange hue across the sky. Ethan couldn't help but smile. This place… this life… he was starting to like it.
He waved goodbye to his friends. "Catch you guys later."
"Don't go breaking too many hearts, Immortal," John teased with a smirk.
Kitty giggled. "At this rate, half the girls in school will be fighting over you."
Angelina rolled her eyes but grinned. "You really seem to be enjoying all the attention."
Ethan chuckled. "What can I say? Good looks, brains, and skills hard to compete with that."
Bobby groaned. "And humility. Don't forget humility."
Everyone laughed, but Anna remained quiet. Ethan noticed her glancing at him and then looking away quickly. She had been doing that more often lately.
Ethan smirked. "You alright, Rogue?"
Anna huffed and crossed her arms. "I'm fine."
John leaned closer and stage-whispered, "She's just jealous that all the girls are after you."
Anna's cheeks reddened. "Shut up, John."
Ethan chuckled and shook his head. "Alright, I really gotta go. You guys have fun."
Kitty gave him a thumbs-up. "Good luck with Storm!"
As the group split up, Ethan made his way toward Storm's office. He had an important appointment with her today was his solo training session.
At Xavier's School, students who turned eighteen were granted access to the Danger Room, a state-of-the-art training facility designed to push mutants to their limits. Training, however, was always done under supervision, and Ororo Munroe better known as Storm was one of the primary instructors responsible for guiding students in developing their abilities.
Most sessions were held in groups, emphasizing teamwork and coordination. But Ethan wasn't interested in group exercises. He needed to push himself further; he needed real danger. That was the only way he could grow stronger.
Which was why, a few days ago, he had approached Storm and requested one-on-one training. At first, she had been hesitant.
"The Danger Room is designed to be challenging, but it's still meant to be used under strict supervision. You're asking for something that could be too dangerous"
"That's exactly why I need it," Ethan argued. "You know how my power works,I adapt when I face danger. If I only train at the same level as everyone else, I won't grow fast enough."
Storm tapped a finger against her desk, considering his words. "Ethan, I understand your desire to get stronger, but reckless training could get you seriously hurt."
Ethan shook his head. "That's the thing,I can't be seriously hurt. My ability lets me survive and evolve. The more dangerous the situation, the stronger I become."
Storm sighed again but didn't dismiss him immediately. That was a good sign.
Ethan pressed on. "I need this, Storm. You're one of the best fighters in this school, and your control over the elements is incredible. If I want to reach my full potential, I need to face opponents like you and take on advanced simulations alone."
She narrowed her eyes. "So, you're suggesting I personally fight you?"
He grinned. "Why not? You'd be testing my limits and getting a workout."
Storm let out a small chuckle. "You really are persistent."
"Call it determination," Ethan said with a shrug.
She studied him for a moment longer before finally sighing. "Fine. I'll allow solo training but only under my supervision. No reckless stunts, and if I say stop, you stop."
Ethan's grin widened. "Deal."
Storm shook her head but smiled slightly. "You better not make me regret this."
Now, as he stepped into her office, she was already expecting him. "Right on time," she said, closing the file she had been reading.
"Wouldn't miss it," Ethan replied with a smirk.
She gestured toward the hallway. "Let's head to the Danger Room."
Ethan followed Storm through the long, high-tech corridors of the X-Mansion's lower levels. The underground facility housed some of the most advanced mutant training equipment in existence, including the famous Danger Room a combat simulation chamber designed to push mutants to their limits.
As they approached the reinforced steel doors, Ethan felt a surge of excitement building inside him. He had been waiting for this moment to truly test himself against one of the most powerful X-Men.
Storm stopped in front of a control panel, pressing a few buttons. The doors hissed open, revealing the massive, futuristic chamber beyond.
The Danger Room was a marvel of technology. A wide, circular training area stretched out in the center, surrounded by walls lined with high-tech emitters capable of generating realistic simulations and battle scenarios. The ceiling towered high above, filled with mechanical arms, energy projectors, and training drones waiting to be activated.
Ethan whistled. "No matter how many times I see it, I gotta admit this place looks badass."
Storm smirked. "It's designed to be. The Danger Room isn't just for training,it's for survival."
She walked over to a nearby locker, pulling out a fresh set of training clothes. Ethan did the same, grabbing his own gear.
After a few minutes, both of them stepped onto the training platform in fitted gym wear. Storm's outfit was a sleek black athletic set, designed for mobility but leaving little to the imagination. Her toned muscles and commanding presence were on full display. Ethan, meanwhile, wore a white T-shirt and black training pants, the outfit comfortable yet flexible enough for combat.
The atmosphere inside the Danger Room was tense as Ethan and Storm squared off, ready to engage.
Storm crossed her arms. "You sure you're ready for this?"
Ethan grinned. "I've been waiting for this."
Storm took a steady breath, her sharp eyes locked onto him. She wasn't a master of hand-to-hand combat, but she had learned enough over the years to hold her own and she was about to prove it.
"Let's see what you've got," she said, raising her fists.
Ethan smirked and rolled his shoulders. "Ladies first."
Without hesitation, Storm launched forward, delivering a swift kick aimed at his ribs. Ethan blocked it with ease, but she immediately followed with a palm strike to his chest, which barely made him flinch. She didn't stop. Storm ducked low, spinning into a leg sweep.
Ethan hopped over it effortlessly, landing smoothly. "Not bad," he admitted. "But you're gonna have to do better."
Storm smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I plan to."
She suddenly surged forward, grabbing his arm and twisting her body to throw him over her shoulder. But Ethan saw it coming. He used her momentum against her, twisting midair and landing right behind her. Before she could react, Ethan moved like lightning, snaking his arms around her and locking her in place. Their bodies were pressed together, faces only inches apart.
Storm let out an annoyed sigh. "Alright, let go."
Ethan chuckled, holding her a second longer just to tease before finally releasing her. She stepped back, adjusting her stance.
"Enough warm-up. Let's move on to powers."
Storm raised her hands, and instantly, the air around them shifted. The wind howled as dark clouds swirled overhead, electricity crackling in the atmosphere.
"You wanted a challenge?" she said, her voice steady. "Let's see if you can handle a storm."
Ethan smirked. "Bring it on."
Without hesitation, Storm lifted her arms, and the room erupted into chaos. A violent gust of wind slammed into Ethan like a battering ram, hurling him backward. He hit the ground hard, skidding across the metallic floor before flipping back to his feet.
Before he could fully regain his footing, BOOM! A lightning bolt tore through the air, striking him square in the chest. CRACK! His body seized, muscles locking for a brief second before the blast threw him into the far wall. The air smelled of ozone as smoke curled from his scorched shirt, revealing his toned chest beneath.
Storm didn't stop. She raised both hands, her eyes glowing white as multiple tornadoes erupted around them. The roaring winds howled, twisting and spiraling with violent force. She thrust her hands forward, and the tornadoes surged toward Ethan, jagged bolts of lightning dancing within them.
Ethan gritted his teeth, bracing himself, BOOM! He was swept up into the violent storm, tossed around like a ragdoll. The winds sliced into his skin, leaving deep scratches that healed almost instantly. His already tattered clothes shredded further, exposing more of his body.
The storm raged on, slamming him into the ground repeatedly before finally flinging him across the room like a broken doll. He hit the floor hard, sliding to a stop. His breath came heavy, his body covered in bruises and burns, but each wound healed rapidly.
Still, he didn't fight back. He didn't even dodge. He simply absorbed everything she threw at him. Storm hurled storm after storm, but Ethan took it all.
Storm narrowed her eyes, crossing her arms. "Are you going to fight, or just enjoy getting beat up?"
Ethan smirked. "I'm just letting you have your fun."
But deep inside, he felt something shifting. With every strike that hit him, his body was adapting, growing stronger. He could feel it, his resistance to her powers increasing, his body adjusting to every impact.
Storm watched him carefully. She noticed his stance, the way he absorbed each hit without flinching. Most people would have been down for the count after taking that much punishment. But Ethan… he looked stronger.
His muscles flexed, his breathing steadied, and his blue eyes burned with excitement. Then, with a teasing smirk, she said, "If I didn't know about your powers, I'd think you were a masochist."
Ethan snapped out of his thoughts, blinking at her words. Then he let out a low chuckle and shook his head. "Alright. My turn."
The teasing was over. Ethan's eyes flashed with determination, and in an instant he moved. BLUR! One moment he was standing still; the next, he was right in front of her with blinding speed.
Storm's eyes widened. "What...?"
Before she could react, Ethan delivered a solid punch to her stomach not enough to seriously injure her, but enough to make her feel it.
"Ugh!" Storm gasped, her eyes widening further. She tried to float backward, summoning the wind to lift herself into the air, but Ethan had already adapted to her fighting style. He anticipated it.
As she rose, he leaped, closing the distance instantly. Before she could escape, he grabbed her wrist and flipped her over. Storm let out a small gasp as she hit the ground, Ethan pinning her beneath him.
The position was eerily similar to earlier, except this time Storm was the one trapped. Ethan hovered over her, grinning, his face only inches from hers. Storm lay beneath him, her silver hair fanned out, her chest rising and falling.
Then, to his surprise she smiled.