(this is the continuation and conclusion of
Uncertainty )
"Come in"
The voice came from inside the Infirmary, half smothered by the closed door. Enzo opened it with a bit of a rush; with Alexander gone, he felt a bit too alien on the mansion again, and another human being was definitely welcome, specially one whose role on Enzo's life might be immense. Not that Enzo counted on this new person to actually stay in his life; more like the information he will reveal - if the boy is a mutant or not - will probably have a huge impact.
"Excuse me" the boy spoke as he entered. He registered the old man sitting on his desk right on the opposite side, like one would expect in any other clinic. Enzo closed the door a lot more politely than he had originally opened it, trying to make up for the rush. However, the man had noticed it and, with a pleasant chuckle, he pleasantly welcomed Enzo "
Hello my dear boy! I thought we had some sort of invasion at hand, you were in such a hurry to enter! You were one of the people who were conversing outside the office, no? And I'm not sure I've ever seen your face around!" he finished with a broad smile.
The natural tone and overflow of questions pleased Enzo a big deal. He smiled confidently, taking a few steps in the desk's direction, he's eyes glancing at the available machinery with curiosity. "Hello DocProf, my name's Enzo Cox and I'm new around here. I was talking to Alexander Garcia just now"
The man observed him with attention, his ears absorbing each word. Was he paying attention to potential illnesses, perhaps? Enzo scratched his leg and head - both of which sort of itched - while the doctor answered his words: "
Ahh, I see. I think I know that Garcia boy you spoke of, a nice little fellow.." The doctor got up in a kind of polite way, inviting Enzo to sit "
Please come in, boy! I take it you did not come here just to exchange pleasantries? What is afflicting you, hmm?"
Enzo walked towards the chair DocProf pointed out to him, allowing his body to sort of fall into it. He immediately regretted this, thought, because the chair was really not that comfortable, and it hurt him a bit on his back. He did not really complain, even though his expression gave him away. The elder man simply smiled, allowing the boy to shroud his pain with unnecessary pride.
Now if Enzo had only met the Doctor when he had come to the mansion, he probably would've found it hard to tell him about the reason that had brought him there. This would've happened not because the boy had some sort of terrible prejudice against mutants, nor because he was some sort of shy guy. No, Enzo was usually loud and jolly. The problem would simply be the fact that he had been confused for four days now, and he was entering a reality that was completely new to him save from some news articles and Internet discussions. This would've most likely created some sort of weird silence between him and the doctor, who would've probably tried approaching the question with his warm gentle persona, eventually getting to the point.
However, since he had met Alexander - whom he easily befriended - Enzo felt like he just wanted to know the truth. In fact, he was eager for it, and secretly - like many would in his situation - he hoped not only that he was a mutant, but also that his mutation was some big deal that he could still keep a secret. So, as soon as he recovered from his little seating incident, Enzo quickly revealed the purpose to his visit to the Institute "I am here to find out if I am a mutant" he said.
"
Oh?" the Doctor's attention picked a bit, colored with some amusement, although it would've been obvious to any perceptive individual that this would not be the first time someone asked that question inside the Infirmary. "
That is a great question, is it not, Enzo? European, I take it?" he added, getting up and walking in the direction of one of the Infirmaries shelves.
Enzo followed him attentively, accepting that moment of trivia "Yes. My mom's Italian and my dad's American. We live here, in New York."
"
Ahhh" DocProf added. He had apparently found what he had been looking for, and he returned with two small objects which he placed on the desk, before stopping right by Enzo, observing the boy "
And what gave you the impression you might be a mutant, mr Enzo? I do think you have been very itchy the whole time you spent on my Infirmary. Is that ink I see on your hair?"
Enzo shuddered. The man was perceptive indeed, the red on his hair was just barely visible, but from that advantage point one with as much experience as DocProf might've guessed something was not right. "I...I'm not sure" Enzo simply added, even as the doctor bent over to check his head.
"
Hmm, I see nothing on the scalp." the doctor said "
Did you cut your hair after it turned red?"
"Yes" Enzo replied.
"
Was it very long ago? Did the color reduce intensity?"
"It was four nights ago, sir. And I'm not sure.."
"
I see there's a lot of uncertainty surrounding you, mr Enzo." the doctor concluded his examination, smiling. Then, he quickly pointed at the two objects on the desk, resuming his speech "
I intended to check you out with a blood examination, nothing quite serious, just a little pinch on your thumb and after a few minutes that other object would tell us whether you have an active X gene or not. However" the man gestured so Enzo got up "
I do believe that if you show me your itchy left leg, we might find out the answer to your questions."
Enzo frowned enquiringly. The, he understood "You think my power is associated with the itching sensation?"
"
I believe your nerve system currently perceives active areas as some sort of itch. However, like many new sensations, I am sure you will soon discover it might not be quite like an itch. It was the same with my power." So the man had a power too? Enzo smirked with a boyish grace, and, understanding this expression, the doctor - all the time conducting Enzo towards an hospital bed - answered his unvoiced question "
My gift is healing, but I generally don't need any medical tools other than my hands."
Another one with amazing powers, Enzo figured.
"
Now, be a good lad, and show me that leg of yours"
Enzo began unbuttoning his pants with an ease that not everyone shared when having to expose themselves on their underwear to a doctor; he had never really had that kind of problem. His trouble was more the handling of the pants buttons, because he was very nervous; he was about to discover the truth! The doctor chuckled at this, but did not speak another word.
The pants went down on the left side, over his thigh. And there, amidst Enzo's smooth pale leg, there was an unmistakable night blue area of skin. It was not flat like most paint; it had a natural look, and touching it, one could easily understand it didn't have the rough quality of paint. It was a bit warmer than the rest of his skin, but it felt just the same.
"
And here you are, mr Enzo. Mutant indeed. You can put your pants back on, although I'm sure you'll want to inspect yourself longer."
Enzo's words didn't come out even though his mouth was fully open in amazement. There it was! Evidence at last! He touched it again and again, not even sure of what it meant other except for the fact that he did not belong to the category of homo sapiens. Yet, he did not quite get it either...
"What can I do?" he asked, looking at the doctor as if he was some sort of fountain of knowledge. He smiled, as he had expected as much.
"
Well, that is a very relevant questions, my boy, but one I cannot answer with certainty. You see" the man started walking towards his desk, so Enzo started dressing himself again, in order to follow him "
There are many possibilities around your mutation. You could be a beginner of a shapeshifter, a colorshifter at that - the ability to change your color, I mean. Or perhaps you have some sort of chameleonic power? It is hard to tell at this point."
Enzo's enthusiasm wavered. Was it helpless then? How could he even try to understand what he can do - hell, start practicing it - if he didn't know what it was? Where were the answers to
all his questions?
"
Now now, my boy; I understand your concern, and there's more I can do for you. We don't have anyone with the right abilities on the Institute, but if you allow me to collect a blood sample, I can send it to a lab belonging to someone I know, a fellow mutant. There, he can determine what you can do based on his exams and the description I'll send him. Everything will come into place!"
So it was not helpless! Enzo's happiness came back with it's full force. He scratched his leg, imagining the blue skin under it. He smiled at the doctor, and quickly gave him permission to collect his blood. In a few minutes, they were sitting again, the doctor noting Enzo's cellphone and asking him if he did not want to stay at the Institute. But Enzo couldn't; he had to be at his parent's. Besides, he did not want to do so, not yet. Not even knowing his only mutant friend - at least, the only he knew - was living there. They shook hands, exchanged a few more words, and then Enzo was leaving the Infirmary.
He glanced at his cell. It was only fair that Alex knew he had discovered the truth. He wrote it down "I'm a mutant too =) They will tell me what power I have soon" and sent it on it's way. Then, with quick steps, he left the Institute, ignoring everyone around him. He decided he would walk home.
After someone opened the gates for him, Enzo stopped and looked at the Institute one last time. He smiled at the strangeness surrounding all of it. Then, he crossed the gates, not once turning back.
