"There is no greater prison then one of the mind"

--Unknown

Rico did not remember much of the one that took him to this place. He remembered the warehouse. A hole in its ceiling and a bright form with a human outline floating in from the hole in the roof. She spoke in a humans voice and appeared almost as a angel in his eyes. A woman, a angel with a name he did not know. She along with Devon took him away from that place.

The dragon did not remember how exactly they got to the school. Maybe he was entranced by the angel of light. Or maybe it was because of his "thousand yard stare." His blank detached from the world eyes that seemed to stare on forever. It was not unusual in those whose eyes have seen to much and suffered mental and emotional trauma.

He had been medically screened and went through the usual routines of those taken to the school for records sake and in finding ways to help. It created quite the file on him and explained a lot of mysterious things about him. He was a walking cure for one thing when it came to diseases because of his healing mutation. And that he had dozens of genetic bases unknown to science. Rico did not remember any of it though. While his body could heal. The mind was not so easy to recover. His memories were fragmented and from the things he suffered on the mysterious animal research facility on Plum Island even more became suppressed memories.

In his first week at the school the dragon in his human form was quiet and detached. In the second week he actually spoke to students and staff that talked to him. In his third week he seemed happy with smiles as if nothing had ever happened to him. But this was primarily because he did not remember much of it. Only the good things. He even remembered his name.

His mind had buried all the trauma and anything associated with it. If situations occurred that could act as triggers that would cause a bad memory he was quick to flee from it. He lived in a prison of the mind. Only the good in life existed. None of the bad. And in truth who really had the right to upset that peace of mind?

Rico was outside on the basketball court in gym shorts and sneakers with no shirt on playing alone. He did a few running lay ups and a few three point line shots honing his skills. After a good hour of that he walked over to a bottle and poured the water onto his face and his thick unkempt beard enjoying the shock of the cold on his overheated body as it ran down his chest. Shaking his face and causing water to escape his beard in drops all over the outside court the dragon shifting mutant in human form rested both his hands on top of his head so he could breath a bit easier in his panting from the physical exertion of his workout.

During this time to allow his heart to slow down Rico smiled as he looked over the bright and vibrant colors of the gardens plants and flowers. Rico could not help but think this was a great day for flying and made a mental note to do that later. 'I wonder how Devon is doing?' He thought to himself quietly. Rico also wondered about the X-man that took him here. From what he had heard of the group around the mansion they were heroes. The dragon mutant figured the X-man was just busy out saving the world.

Devon sighed from the back of his Uber. He’d texted Rico twice and called him once but to no avail. He wasn’t sure if the guy he’d re-met just a few weeks ago recalled that Devon was coming to check. This was also supposed to be an informal start to Devon’s psychological advisory for Rico. He had a lot to work through.

At least Rico had recalled his name. Referring to him as a Norse villainous dragon wasn’t the way to go, though Devon still enjoyed referring to him as Falkor. That was not likely to change. There was also the key component of Rico’s mutation not actually being that of a dragon but of a wyvern. Differences existed, not that it would matter to most. Devon cared little about the exterior anyway; it was a matter of the mind and how Rico was doing, could be doing.

Denial, partial amnesia, or motivated forgetting weren’t the way to deal with this. This was really being imprisoned and then desperately confused, eating people… Juliette had helped immediately; the X-Men had helped take further care. Devon knew there’d been concerns of him in the past but working with Cafas, Ghost, Juliette, the Sanctuary Block Party, and now showing he wasn’t about calling for assistance with things out of his league…

They were allies in all of this and that was important.

“Thank you,” Devon said getting out of the car and approaching the rather imposing iron gate. He rated the driver highly and wave adieu. At the gate he hit the intercom button.

“Hello,” came a masculine voice.

“Hi, my name is Devon Hadden. I have an appointment to meet with Rico and Juliette if still available,” he explained.

“Of course, Mr. Hadden, please come in. We will alert Ms. Lawson.” There was a beep and the sound of unlatching before the gate swung open and in Devon went.

He walked slowly down the paved road, jumping onto a sidewalk of smooth cobblestone eventually. The landscaping was immaculate. Tall hedges ran along the street at first, gradually lowering so you could see the grassy hills, small pond, and numerous trees beyond. It was a beautiful – and clearly expensive – piece of property.

The wyvern mutant had eaten people. Actually eaten people. Juliette had come as soon as Devon called her to tell her that.

He’d been confused. Too confused to remember his name, even. What exactly had happened to him was still unclear, but they had at least gotten him out.

She’d chosen to approach cautiously at the time, sticking entirely to light form. It seemed to have been a good choice, though, since her form had distracted him in a way. There were able to get him settled down at the mansion, since it had more resources available than the Sanctuary. As much as Devon wanted to help, it made more sense to keep Rico in a place where he could be monitored by a team of superpowered mutants.

At first, she’d been a bit wary about bringing him to a mansion full of kids, given his recent history, but after seeing him come out of his delusions and rejoin the world of the partially sane, she’d been feeling a little better. He’d been kept under close watch for the first little while, but now he was free to roam around as he pleased, provided that he stayed in view of either an X or a security camera at all times.

At that moment, Juliette was standing by a window, watching him toss around a basket ball. She’d gotten a bit lost in thought, letting her thumb rest in the middle of her bottom lip. She was partially focused on watching the world go on outside, but a lot of her attention was being eaten up by all the things she had come out of sleepless nights with Sam.

Her attention was snapped away by the sound of her name being called over the intercom. She was being paged to the front desk for some reason.

She made her way down to the front desk, still blinking the remnants of thoughts from her glazed eyes. As the front desk appeared in her line of sight, she spotted Devon and smiled. She’d nearly forgotten about the meeting they’d set up.

“Devon. It’s good to see you. We always go too long without doing things,” she greeted easily, glad to see the psychology major again. “Rico’s outside.”

As dangerous as he was Rico found out he was not the first to come through the doors of this place. In the past there was a student who could cause all the mitochondria in the bodies of other people to fire off energy all at once causing spontaneous combustion. He also heard stories about a former student that constantly emitted deadly levels of radiation and had to have a special suit built for them. It was comforting to know was not the most dangerous thing to ever come here.

Seeing some students coming onto the court Rico took the ball and did a bounce pass to one of them. "Think fast." He said with a grin and turned to walk off back to the room he was assigned here at the mansion. He had a natural ability to disappear when you looked away. Kind of like a wayward child. He entered the mansion through the closest side wing door. When Rico got into the room he paused in thought. He had the nagging feeling he was forgetting something. 'Oh well.' Rico thought. 'If I cant remember it, it cant be all that important.' Only after coming out the quick shower did he notice the blinking light of the phone on the room desk.

Looking over the text Rico felt a bit stupid. "Ah crap." He mumbled and sent a text back saying he was coming. Rico would  proceeded to get dressed as fast as he could. Putting on some clean jeans Rico found that he was lacking in clean shirts. A sign he would need to do the laundry later as well. Grabbing shirt to shirt he smelled each until a green one smelled well, clean enough. By his standards anyway. That was not really saying much.

Rico always enjoyed seeing Devon. The man had a natural energy about him that you just could not help yourself but to like him. Approaching the two Rico waved. "Hey! Sorry about that. I think I need to tie a string to my finger next time. Kind of hard to forget things when your finger starts turning purple right?"

Coming to a stop now he nodded to Juliette. "Morning. Ready to save the world?" Rico smiled at the little joke. But it was probably something she was use to hearing a lot. The X-men were heroes and have probably saved the world more then once and in ways Rico and others will probably never know. Turning back to Devon Rico pulled the phone out his pocket. "While its nice that I have a phone I don't really need this thing. Its not like I have any family or friends to call me. And I'm pretty sure I am not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Well, no friends outside this place besides you. You can just come by anytime you feel. I like surprises." Putting the phone back in his pocket Rico shrugged his shoulders. "Well the good kind anyway."

Juliette was a light. It wasn’t just her mutant power, but the projection she gave off. She was hopeful and warm, a voice in the darkness. That’s why Devon had called her. He trusted her to help Rico and to guide him with the X-Men’s resources. He knew Sanctuary wasn’t the right place; Rico was too unbalanced still and needed to learn a very important amount of control.

Devon knew soon he’d have those resources. Things were already in motion. They’d help one another. Plum Island had recovered from its tragedy in time to be sold off and now it would have new use. The X-Men, however, had the experience here. And again, it had a light in Juliette.

>> “Devon. It’s good to see you. We always go too long without doing things,” she greeted easily, glad to see the psychology major again. “Rico’s outside.”

“Hey, you too,” Devon smiled. He moved for a hug – that’s what he’d do to most of his close female friends – but this felt different somehow. Instead as he drew close he kept walking, going for the door outside. “We really should plan something more often. It’s becoming all business,” he chuckled.

Devon’s eyes scanned the courts and the sitting area outside the foyer lobby. No Rico was to be found sadly. They asked a couple students, but apparently he’d gone inside. It was then his phone buzzed.

“Rico will be out in a moment,” Devon sighed, “Guess he remembered after all!”

Back in they went and Devon couldn’t help feel a strange, awkward silence sat between he and Firefly. Was it Rico? Was it an X-Men vs. Sanctuary thing? Maybe it really was too much business now. Strange. Luckily Rico arrived and rescued them from that.

>> "Well, no friends outside this place besides you. You can just come by anytime you feel. I like surprises." Putting the phone back in his pocket Rico shrugged his shoulders. "Well the good kind anyway."

“No friends or family you remember now,” Devon clarified, “But some are out there.” He’d apparently attacked his immediate family, but that was an accident and Rico had to acknowledge that. There was a future out there for him. “It’ll take time, Rico, but you’ll get there. You being here, willing to work with the X-Men and myself shows how much you’re trying.”

“And what’s more, we are working on it together. We want to help you. Control will come with practice,” he nodded. His eyes shifted from Rico to Juliette, “Where should we talk? Wherever’s comfortable inside or out is fine with me.”

“We really should,” Juliette agreed with Devon. They had started to become friends, once upon a time, and then it seemed to be that they only ever saw each other for business reasons, or for things like Rico’s case. It was too bad, really. She had liked spending time with him.

He’d almost looked like he was going to hug her, but then didn’t. Instead, he walked close by. Juliette didn’t argue. How could she, really? What was the norm in their situation? Normally, she would have hugged a friend that she hadn’t seen for some time, but their situation felt strangely different. There was an awkward divide between the two of them that neither commented on.

Though, perhaps Juliette was just projecting, she realized. She’d been feeling strange all day, trying to think through things with Sam, and then things had become weird with Devon. Was that because things really were weird between them, or because she just felt weird in general? Perhaps she was putting out a bad air all around?


>>"Morning. Ready to save the world?"

Juliette looked up, and suddenly Rico was there. She figured that she must’ve gotten lost in her thoughts again. She gave him a distracted smile and a short chuckle, unsure of how to respond to that. He seemed to have been putting a lot of weight on the fact that she was part of the X team, which probably led to the little joke. Saving the world though? That was a tall order. Definitely not one that she would ever be able to fill.

She nodded along with what Devon told Rico, as he began to talk about how he was friendless at the mansion. Words didn’t seem to be coming easily to her, and what did sounded strange, like they weren’t really coming from her. “And remember, you’ve only been here for a short time. I’m sure you’ll meet more people. You’ll fill up that contact page in no time,” she tacked onto Devon’s statements finally. She added a half smile to the end of it, trying to make it seem a little less… strange? She felt as though she should have been saying ‘go get ‘em sport’ as well, or something.

She was just off with everything that day.

“Yeah, I booked a classroom for the next hour and a half,” she informed them, “this way.” Juliette led them down the hallway to a ground floor classroom with big windows, a chalkboard and rows of desks.

Nothing about the room would give away the fact that that particular classroom was the one that she taught health class in, except for the posters at the back of the wall. A few of them gave quirky reminders to get checked for STDs, and even more went into detail about the intricate parts of human organs. Specifically the reproductive ones. It was an odd choice of classroom, but it was the one that she used the most often, and it was hardly ever used at that time, so it made sense for her to book it.

She hadn’t imagined herself as a health teacher, but things had sort of ended up that way. The mansion kids needed to learn that stuff, after all. They were a bunch of hormonal teens living in close quarters. So, health classes, a few nursing shifts a week, X-men stuff, and helping out with an odd job here and there consumed her days. It was good, busy, and not at all what she would have expected of herself.

After entering the room, she took up her favourite position of leaning against the desk at the front, and waited for Rico and Tempest to join her.

“No friends or family you remember now, but some are out there”

"That a fact?" Rico said. He tried to hide sarcasm in his voice but Rico was irritated that Tempest thought he knew anything about his past. Rico did not talk about it. His mom and dad were long dead. His adoptive ones anyway. He watched with his own eyes as there bodies were given to fire to prevent the sickness that killed them from spreading.

Rico did suppose his biological mom and dad were still out there somewhere. But he did not really know anything about them. And honestly, he liked it that way. The mystery of just who his flesh and blood kin were left a lot to the imagination. Maybe they were scientists or even politicians. Maybe famous writers or artists. Of course they could also be some of the worst scum on earth. But Rico liked to think of the cup as half full on that.

There was a faint memory of a woman and a child. But Rico had given up trying to access that memory. It was faded and seemed like it was from another life. Like trying to remember things from when you were very young. It was funny how things worked like that. You forget the things you want to remember and remember the things you want to forget.

“And remember, you’ve only been here for a short time. I’m sure you’ll meet more people. You’ll fill up that contact page in no time,”

At that statement from Juliette Rico could only nod his head at first for a moment before speaking. "Well time is the one thing I have plenty of and time heals all things as they say. Doc Prof says because of my healing mutation I might end up aging very slowly, if at all." At that thought he added. "A bit of a mixed blessing if that turns out to be true. Still trying to wrap my head around that." Watching friends being ravaged by time did not sound very appealing to him.

When the X beckoned the two of them to follow Rico did just that. For some reason he was suddenly filled with dread at what was to come. Rico did not understand why he had to talk about anything in the past. That was exactly were it belonged. Behind him. Sometimes it was just best to let sleeping dogs lay as they say. Or dragons in his case.

It was his first time in this classroom. He was a student of sorts. Just not the kind that sat with other younger students. Still being nervous Rico did what he always did. Joked. Looking at the posters on the wall he looked over his shoulders. "What the sam hell is a condom?" At that he looked at the poster and pretended to read it more. "Oh!" He exclaimed in fake surprise. "Where's the fun in that?" Giving out some laughter he continued.

"I know I aint got no learning. But if you ask me we all got to do our part for the propagation of the species. I am a more passive aggressive guy. Let nature take its course and defeat the human race in the bedroom." A funny thought that. A lot more humorous then the other things people heard about mutants wanting to defeat humanity in all out war. But they were the radical ones and thankfully in the minority population wise.

Taking a seat he spoke to Juliette first. "So are you going to teach me a Sex Ed class dragon edition today?" Turning to Devon he added. "Or is this the part were you pull out a dragon doll and ask me where they touched me?"

Rico gave some more obvious nervous laughter and rubbed the back of his neck. "Ok, so what is it you want to talk about?"

Juliette seemed to agree with him; business was taking them away from their friendship. Some hang time was in order as soon as it could happen. They’d likely have to schedule that too.

All that aside, for now they were here for Rico. Juliette encouraged him; he’d meet more people. That was true. It was hard to press encouragement onto someone that seemed fatalistic or defeatist. It was probably hard to be optimistic in the face of loss of life: family, friends, random strangers… People became islands when separated from humanity, from society. That or they became monsters.

Rico didn’t seem as sure, the words as much a clue as his tone. Tempest merely gave a nod.

They went down the hall and found a large, empty classroom. It was a Health or at least biology classroom. There was plenty of information for teenagers to absorb here. Considering Juliette’s profession Devon assumed she used this classroom often. She confirmed that by taking position at the teacher’s desk. Devon, however, went to lean near a window. He always enjoyed a view outside.

Rico, on the other hand, went right for the jokes. First it was the posters, then it was the use of condoms, then it was removing the human race through propagation… Rico slid into a seat and first mocked Juliette and then himself. He finally relented.

>> "Ok, so what is it you want to talk about?"

“I understand if you’re nervous, Rico, but that wasn’t funny,” Devon started with an even clear tone. “It was rude, inconsiderate, and disrespectful. We are here to help you, after all. I encourage you apologize to Ms. Lawson then we can focus on the topics for today.”

One of them being Rico’s mental state, which clearly wasn’t all too well if his attitude was any clue.

Juliette folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at Rico. Sure, she had brought them into the classroom that saw the most jokes and poor behaviour because of its specific decor, but she'd really expected more from him. He was what, 20? 21? Just a few years younger than herself, and yet he was making crass, disrespectful jokes.

Sure, he'd been through a lot, and was probably struggling to cope, but that behaviour really wasn't acceptable coming from students, then it definitely wasn't acceptable coming from him.

Juliette opened her mouth to tell him off, but Devon beat her to it. The man had a way with words. She really had nothing more to add to what he'd just told Rico.

So, she stayed still, arms folded, leaning against the desk at the front, watching Rico carefully.

“I understand if you’re nervous, Rico, but that wasn’t funny,”

At that Rico crossed his arms and looked away. He found this whole situation pretty funny. Him being stuck at a school full of kids. Being treated like a kid. Not being allowed to go anywhere outside a camera or X's view. In a way he kind of felt like a bird in a cage. A gilded cage. But still a cage none the less. Flying in circles around the mansion just was not doing it for him. He wanted to go out more. At least he was not alone anymore. There was another like him prowling around and communicating constantly in mind speak with him as of late.

What Rico found especially funny was that everyone here seemed to think any progress he made was all because of them. That just was not the case. Sure, providing a environment free of stress and worry helped. But it was his fellow dragon from Europe out there that was teaching him by mind of there kinds long history, culture, traditions, and language. More importantly control over cellular mutation for shifting.

Rico however did not really like his secret teachers viewpoints on some things. But still he listened and learned and a bit of his teachers arrogance was rubbing off onto him. At times like this he wished others looked on him with fear. At least then he would not have to answer any stupid or extremely personal questions.

“It was rude, inconsiderate, and disrespectful. We are here to help you, after all. I encourage you apologize to Ms. Lawson then we can focus on the topics for today.”

He shook his head and sighed. After a brief moment Rico turned his head and looked right into Ms Lawson's eyes. Seeing them narrow his eyes narrowed in return mutating and changing to that of a reptiles. Predatory and haunting. It was a subconscious instinctual thing at the open challenge. Like staring into a wolfs eyes. Thankfully his secret teacher was still linked to him.

'Calm yourself and humor the meat.' A voice said in his mind. 'Just don't speak of me or of our kinds ways.'

Rico finally relented and his eyes returned to normal. Sucking up his pride the features of his face softened and he spoke in a submissive soft voice. "I am sorry to have offended you both. There is no excuse. You took great risk in bringing me here and my actions bring shame on me. Ask what you will of me, I am a open book."

Was he sorry? Not really. But if saying it got them off his case so this meeting could start and be over with. He would have told them anything they wanted to hear. There was some things he really wanted to do. But asking permission for a extended trip would have to wait until the end of this meeting. Rico made a mental note of keeping on his best behavior so the chances of getting a yes for his trip.

Juliette looked pissed. She had a right to be considering what she was doing for Rico, what she had done for Rico…

Rico on the other hand looked insulted and defensive, at least that’s what his body language suggested. The frustrated sigh and the glare back at Juliette spoke of challenge, but Rico seemed to relent. Devon watched him closely. The kid had a whole other physiology and mind set to overcome after being treated like a penned monster. That sort of treatment put something else on you and it wasn’t good. It encouraged lashing out, fighting for your survival, or succumbing to what they made of you.

>> "I am sorry to have offended you both. There is no excuse. You took great risk in bringing me here and my actions bring shame on me. Ask what you will of me, I am a open book."

“Good, thank you,” Devon replied and smiled softly. “That at least sounded genuine. I appreciate you trying. Now what were you thinking about before you apologized? That seems like a good place to start.” He gave a slow nod, “You seem frustrated and I’ll remind you, we’re on your side trying to help here.”

Narrowing her eyes at the man, Juliette nodded at his apology. It was... exceptionally accommodating. There was something about the way that he was looking at her that made her more than a little uncomfortable. She knew that he'd been through things and seen things, but she was getting strange vibes from him.

She knew that she had to cut him some slack, but it was beginning to be more and more difficult to do. 

As nonchalantly as she could, she stepped a little bit away from the man and glanced at the clock. There was still a little more time left in their meeting, but for the most part, her role was finished. Get Rico settled, get him face to face with Devon, and then let them handle the rest. She trusted Devon enough to know that he wouldn't need someone to supervise him if she left the room. Plus, if worst came to worst, they could always have someone check the security cameras.

"Thank you for apologizing," she said to Rico and then turned to Devon. "Do you think you have things handled from here, or do you want me to stay?"

Devon noted Juliette’s discomfort. She’d picked up on it too. Rico was still dealing, still reeling, but this bothered Devon. Juliette was a friend and had gone out of her way to help Rico. Now he was putting her ill at ease in her own class room.

“We’re good,” he nodded back at her question. “Thank you very much for setting us up and getting things settled for us. Always appreciated.”

His blue eyes slid back to Rico, head tilting and brow lifting slightly in encouraged suggestion.

Now what were you thinking about before you apologized?

That was a fair question. "I was not really thinking as so much just reacting. I don't like it when people stare into my eyes. I feel the need to, I don't know, maybe fight?" Rico went quiet before adding. "I was also thinking about how I wish I could go flying out more further from the mansion. I feel like a bird in a gilded cage. Unable to move or fly freely."

Since he had to be watched all the time it would  be kind of hard to do that with Rico flying out of sight. But a saddle from the school stables could probably be modified so that way someone could be there to keep a eye out.

Rico did not know what to say. He was quiet for what seemed like the longest time before answering. "I was thinking how you do not understand. How you would probably think and compare me to humans when I am not. I am not like you. Or like her. In biology. Or brain chemistry. The more you compare and try to..... humanize me. The more you would be confused."

Rico went even more quiet and rubbed his temples. "I have not been sleeping well lately. I have bad dreams. Like fragmented memories. I remember everything about my life before I came to this country. But I am struggling to understand why all the time I spent in this country is lost to me. Its like a portion of my life never happened. As if it was erased."

Opening up more Rico rested his elbows on his knees and collapsed his face into his palms in seemingly defeat. "So many memories. I remember a bug. Roach.... I think. I worked for him. I owed him my life. A friendly soul. But something else. Not so friendly. Hidden. I remember Ragnarök......" At that word he went quiet as more fragments returned. "I remember a META storage facility. A creature green in color with blood red eyes a member of Ragnarök. A test. So many secrets. I remember Plum island. Friendly faces with false promises..... I remember this school. A artist. Who looked on me with both hope...... and fear."

At that Rico went quiet. "I cant remember any more. I don't want to....." Rico made up his mind on that. "Its to painful to remember." If what he said was true it was good they got him when they did. One less enemy to fight.

"Anytime," Juliette nodded at Devon's response and began to walk out of the room. He'd okay her request to leave, and she was going to take it. She had things to organize in the infirmary, and a lesson to plan for the next day. Besides, she had no idea how long the conversation would go on for. 

She stepped out of the room, already tuning out the conversation that was going on. She had enough on her mind that it took her no time at all. From what was still registering with her, she didn't detect any change in volume coming from the room, so she figured that nothing was amiss. 

With the same distracted mindset that she had before their interaction, Juliette disappeared into one of the many rooms of the mansion.