Professor Xavier sat in his office, hands clasped together in deep thought. Across from him, Scott, Betsy, Jean, Hank, and Ororo listened intently as he voiced his conclusions.
"Ethan Carter's abilities are… unique," Xavier began. "His adaptation is unlike anything we've ever seen. I believe he was experimented on." He paused for a moment before continuing. "Someone or some organization must have discovered his abilities and tried to unlock their full potential. But something must have gone wrong. Either they lost control of him, or he escaped."
Jean frowned. "You think they blew up the lab to cover their tracks?"
"Or to make sure Ethan didn't leave alive," Betsy added.
Ororo crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. "If that's true, then he was hunted for his power and will be in the future."
"Which means we must ensure he isn't led down the wrong path," Xavier said. "Left unchecked, power like his can be dangerous."
Ororo nodded. "I know this better than anyone." She remembered her time with Apocalypse, how she once believed strength ruled above all. But now, she saw Ethan as someone who needed guidance, not control.
"I will train him myself," Ororo declared.
Scott arched an eyebrow. "You're taking on a student?"
She smirked. "Let's just say he's more willing to listen when his teacher is… easy on the eyes."
Jean rolled her eyes, while Hank chuckled. Xavier nodded. "Then it's settled. We'll help him grow, but we'll also watch him carefully."
---
Weeks passed. Two months after Ethan, Rogue, and Logan had joined the X-Men, Ethan had become a familiar face around the mansion. Though he excelled in academics and social interactions, his real progress happened in the Danger Room.
From the observation platform, Ororo stood with her arms crossed as Ethan examined the towering metal figure before him.
"The Sentinel program was designed to hunt and eliminate mutants," she explained. "This model is an older version, but still deadly."
Ethan smirked, cracking his knuckles. "Let's see how it holds up."
The Sentinel's glowing red eyes locked onto Ethan before it launched a massive metal fist. Instead of dodging, Ethan let the strike connect. His body absorbed the impact, though he was hurled across the room, slamming into the far wall.
Storm narrowed her eyes. He's doing it again? letting himself get hit so he can grow stronger.
Ethan stood, his body already adapting. Muscles hardened, bones grew denser, movements sharpened. With a burst of speed, he leapt onto the machine's arm, sprinted up its metallic frame, and smashed its head with a blow like a battering ram. Sparks burst as the robot collapsed, systems shutting down.
"Too easy," he muttered.
Storm smirked. "Then let's add more."
Ethan quickly outgrew single combat. Each day, he raised the stakes, first two Sentinels, then three. By the end of the week, he faced five at once. The Danger Room adapted with him: some Sentinels carried energy cannons, others bore reinforced armor. But no matter what, Ethan adjusted. His strength, speed, and reflexes sharpened with every clash.
A month later, he stood alone in the training room, surrounded by fifteen towering Sentinels. The alarm blared: Simulation Level: Hard. Beginning combat.
The Sentinels charged. Ethan moved like a blur, weaving between their attacks. One fired an energy blast he took it head-on, absorbed the damage, then countered with a punch that sent the machine crashing into another.
The battle raged for thirty minutes. Ethan fought relentlessly, his speed, strength, and endurance evolving with every strike. When the final Sentinel fell, he stood victorious, panting slightly but unharmed.
Storm clapped from the sidelines. "Impressive. But you still lack range."
Ethan frowned. She was right. His body adapted only when pushed to extremes, but he had no special abilities beyond that. He needed something more, a way to create situations where he could evolve powers to survive. But it would have to be planned carefully.
"I'll figure it out," he muttered.
---
One afternoon, Storm stood with Logan and Scott as Ethan faced eighteen Sentinels.
"Kid's relentless," Logan said, watching Ethan dodge an energy blast, rip off a Sentinel's arm, and wield it like a club.
"Reminds me of someone," Scott smirked. "I wonder who."
Storm remained silent, eyes steady. She'd seen powerful mutants before, but Ethan was different. His body learned from damage; his mind stayed calm under pressure. Still, one flaw stood out, no long-range skills.
"He's strong," she finally said. "But brute strength alone won't always win."
In the arena, Ethan felled his last opponent, landing in a crouch as metal debris clattered around him. He straightened. "Alright," he called to Storm. "Twenty next?"
Storm chuckled. "That's enough for today. Even you need rest."
Ethan smirked. "Do seventeen."
Scott shook his head. "If I didn't know better, I'd say he's trying to break the Danger Room."
Logan grunted.
As the simulation ended, Ethan walked off the field, aware of how far he'd come.
---
Three months later, Ethan no longer felt like an outsider in this world, not a spectator inside a movie he'd watched a thousand times. Everyone he once saw as fictional now felt real. They were his friends.
Storm, his mentor, pushed him to master every aspect of his gift. Hank, endlessly curious, tested the limits of his adaptation. Jean is kind yet cautious, always seemed to watch him, trying to see what hid behind that confident smirk.
Then there were those who made him feel he truly belonged: Bobby, always joking; Kitty, bubbling with energy, dragging him into mischief; Angelica, fierce and competitive, always trying to one-up him in training; Kurt, kind and full of warmth, teaching Ethan to enjoy life's simple joys; and John fiery, sharp, treating Ethan as rival and brother all at once.
But Anna… Anna was different.
It began simply casual talks, shared meals, training together. Unlike the others, Anna didn't view him as a mystery or just another fighter. She saw Ethan. Maybe because he was the only one she could touch.
One afternoon, they sat beneath an oak outside the mansion. Anna leaned against the trunk, watching Ethan balance a basketball on one finger. Hesitantly, she slipped off her gloves, brushing her fingers against his arm.
He turned. "Testing my immunity again?"
She nodded. "Still amazes me I can touch you without hurting you."
Ethan smiled. "Guess that makes me special."
She smirked. "Don't let it go to your head, sugar."
"You ever get tired of people staring at you?" she asked as a few girls nearby stole glances at him.
Ethan smirked. "I could say the same about you. People stare at you all the time."
Anna's smile faltered briefly. "Yeah, but not for the same reasons."
Ethan didn't need to ask. He'd seen the wary looks, the fear of brushing against her and falling into a coma. Rumors spread after one accident, and despite his and others' explanations, people still feared her. Her mutation had become a curse, isolating her. But not from him.
"I don't care about that," Ethan said softly. "I don't have to worry about you draining me. And even if you could, I'd probably just adapt."
Anna looked at him, green eyes searching. "You make it sound so easy."
He shrugged. "Maybe it is. Maybe people just complicate things."
After a heartbeat, Anna pressed her palm to his cheek. Nothing, no absorption, no rush of memories or powers. Just warmth. Her breath hitched. "Ah still can't believe this."
Ethan smirked. "Believe it."
She didn't pull away. Her thumb traced his cheek, testing if the moment was real. Ethan felt something stir, a warmth beyond attraction. Without thinking, he covered her hand with his own, fingers intertwining. Their eyes locked, questioning until words were useless.
Slowly, they leaned in. Their lips met soft, hesitant, as if neither dared to believe. Then the hesitation melted. Anna sank into the kiss, clutching his shirt, drawing him close. Ethan matched her rhythm, responding with equal hunger adapting even here.
Guess I should thank that bastard for this power, Ethan thought before surrendering to the moment.
When they finally broke apart, foreheads resting together, they panted softly. Anna's cheeks flushed, green eyes searching his.
"That was somethin'," she murmured.
Ethan chuckled, brushing her lips with his thumb. "Yeah. Definitely."
A pause, then they leaned in again, urgency replacing caution.
Nearby, students froze mid-chat. Kitty's eyes widened. "No way…"
Bobby nearly choked on his drink. "Wait... they're actually...?"
Angelica crossed her arms, smirking. "About time."
Kurt grinned, tail flicking. "Zhis is wunderbar!"
Even Storm, watching from afar, raised an eyebrow. She'd expected closeness, but this was new.
Anna and Ethan noticed none of it. The kiss deepened, passion overtaking restraint. Anna clung to him, while Ethan's hand slid to her waist, anchoring her closer.
As their friends drifted off, Storm lingered a moment, smiling faintly. Ethan had adapted to so much since arriving. It seemed love was just another challenge he'd mastered.