They were going to The Mansion for a tour of the school and its facilities.

Well, Kevin and Lee were going to The Mansion to tour the school and its facilities. Tarin was just kind of tagging along for the ride.

The idea of the Mansion still gave Tarin pretty much instant misgivings. The idea of a group of adults having access to a large number of young people in a residential setting was just something that was stamped into his head as a bad thing. The fact that the X-Men openly recruited from that group of kids was also a giant red flag.

Lee knew a lot of these people though. They were her friends as she told it. Heck, Tarin had even said things to convince Lee that the Mansion was the kind of place she should consider for Kevin. A school where mutant kids could live and grow in a community of people who would understand, a chance for kids of that age to have a normal childhood. It really did seem too good to be true, and that was the problem.

The world was kind of forcing Lee’s hand here though and with what had happened with Kevin at his current school, the Mansion was looking better and better.

Still, Tarin couldn’t help the apprehension as the three of them rode the cab. Lee had graciously taken the middle seat and Tarin had his arm stretched across the back of the seat as the rode. Kevin was on the other side of her practically vibrating with excitement, but acting as cool as humanly possible.

They weren’t far now, and Tarin watched out the window as they passed the Met Cloisters. At the sight he had to smile, ”Oh hey, look.” he said in spite of his nerves. He and Lee had talked about this place before.

They weren’t going to cloisters though, nope. The target of this cab was further north. A gravel drive beckoned.

Lee had planned on them making this trip up to the mansion after Kevin was finished school for the year. But after what had happened at school the other day, and the fact that Kevin now had a few extra days out of school before the end of the year.

But she could think about, and finish dealing with, all of that some other time. At that moment, Lee was in a cab, sitting between Kevin and Tarin, as they were driven toward the mansion. And though he was trying to act like it was no big deal, Lee could swear that Kevin was vibrating with more excited and nervous energy than Lee felt when she knew she’d be up for five days straight.

Kevin wasn’t the only one with nervous energy that day, though. Tarin’s casual arm across the back of the seat behind her aside, Lee could feel the tension in him as they made their way closer to the mansion.

”Oh hey, look.”

Lee turned to look at what Tarin was indicating. What he was indicating wasn’t something that stood out to Lee as something she knew, despite the fact that she’d driven past here many times. But there also weren’t a whole lot of places that Tarin had talked about with her that they hadn’t already been to.

”Is that…” Lee started, as her mind grasped for the name of the place Tarin had mentioned being his favourite place on the other side. ”Those cloisters or whatever you called them? I didn’t realize they were so close to the mansion.” That would certainly make it easier for them to get to so he could show her what it was like. And explain the differences between what he was used to and this world.

But when Lee said it was close to the mansion, she hadn’t been kidding, and just a couple minutes later they were pulling into the long driveway that led up to the mansion.

The cab had barely even come to a stop before Kevin was opening the door and rushing it. ” Don't disappear,” Lee warned as she grabbed her purse and paid the fare before much more slowly climbing out of the cab herself. She could still see some scaffolding around a corner from the recent rebuilding, but the front doors looked finished and welcoming

”And this, guys, would be Xavier's Sister School for Gifted Youngsters, otherwise called the mansion.”

”It is…” Tarin confirmed when Lee asked if those were the Cloisters he’d mentioned.

”It’s not on the other side…” he said in response to the second part of Lee’s statement. ”There isn’t a mansion either though…” . It was one of the biggest differences between the two sides and it was interesting to Tarin that when he’d visited here he hadn’t really even noticed the Mansion in spite of its close proximity.

The Mansion looked like the kind of place that rich parents sent their kids to boarding school. In a sense, that’s what it was, but Tarin knew that this was a different kind of place entirely and as Kevin shot out the door of the cab, he took his time a bit more opening the door and climbing out to look over the top of the cab at the incredibly large house.

What would it have been like if he could have come to New York and found a place like this? Did they take anyone? Tarin wondered, there had been a lot of mutant kids on the streets when he’d been Kevin’s age…but things were different now.

Lee spoke, and as the cab drove off, tires crunching in the gravel, Tarin couldn’t help but smile over at her just a little bit in the shadow of the large building, ”I knew you’d be a great tour guide.”

It had been a late night, the baby had needed food badly about every two-three hours and Shin slept pretty lightly. He had helped a few of those times, with a bottle. Kealey needs sleep, too. He had been happy to do it. Always. It did not magically give him a perfect night’s rest, but attitude was everything.

He was not fully coherent of how his hair sat on his head. He was doing his best. Shin had snagged an energy drink. Heaven help us.

Today, if he checked his calendar, it was the day Lee was bringing Tarin and Kevin to the mansion for a tour. If he checked his calendar. Shin ate a turkey and cream cheese bagel.

—

Shin finished the bagel. Shin did some grading. He smoothed his hair down and combed it with a wetted comb. He had looked in the mirror. He had looked pretty bad. He would have been embarrassed if he’d had to do anything today. Even more so, if he checked the calendar.

—

His phone pinged. An alarm. Ah right, that was today. He absolutely had not forgotten. He had set aside time to get ready, do stuff he needed to in the morning, and be there on time for everything. And everything.

Shin arrived at the front door right on time. He stepped outside just as they were arriving. Security had tipped him off.

He waved at everyone.

So that was the other Tarin, huh? Somehow, Shin thought he would have been shorter.

As Lee was getting out of the cab, she saw Shin walking outside to meet them. Good. Because despite Tarin’s confidence in her, Lee wasn’t sure how great of a tour guide she would be after all this time. And the rebuilding. But she did give Tarin a smile before looking around for her son.

Only to see him peeking around a corner of the building. ”Kevin, come here!” Lee called over. ”There’s someone here to meet you.”

Then Lee turned to smile at Shin. Who looked even more tired than the other day she had met him. ”Long night?” she asked as she stepped closer to the younger man. ”Tarin, this is Shin, an old friend who’s been here for years. Shin, this is Tarin. And this,” Lee paused as Kevin finally came back and she wrapped her arm around his shoulders. ”And this is my son Kevin. Kevin, this is Shin. He’s going to be showing us around a bit today.”

Almost immediately, Kevin shrugged out from under Lee’s arm, stepping closer to Shin away from Lee so he was out of arms reach. ”Does that mean you’re an X-Men?’’ Kevin asked excitedly.

As if on cue, or by appointment, there was a man coming down the steps of The Mansion to greet them. The man was Asian and small’ish, and looked very tired. Kind of like Lee before she had energy in the morning. The man also carried himself confidently.

Lee made introductions and the man, Shin, waved. Tarin nodded as Lee made the introductions and stepped for ward to shake Shin’s hand, noting that Shin had rather interesting eyes. ”Nice to meet you.” That accomplished, he stepped back and watched as Lee attempted to wrangle Kevin in such a way that she could make introductions.

Said wrangling lasted for about 15 seconds and once he’d been introduced Kevin shrugged off his Mom’s arm and started asking questions about their tour guide. If Tarin remembered correctly from what Lee had told him, Shin was in fact an X-Man.

Lee called her son over to introduce him, then asked if it had been a long night. Shin only smiled the smile of one caught red handed.

She made the introductions. He exchanged greetings, with a hey howdy hey.

”Hey, nice to meet you.” He shook Tarin’s hand. Nodded. The man vanished into the background. Definitely different than the original, and if they were to hit it off, he would need to stop comparisons. They didn’t help.

Lee pulled forward her son. Who immediately rushed forward to ask a question.

Shin looked to Lee. ”Heh. I remember when you were pregnant with Kevin, and Kealey and I took care of you for a bit, Lee. Where does the time go? He smiled down at Kevin. Except not that far down. They were not dealing with a child. ”Now, you’re all grown up.” He said. ”I am an X-man, to answer your question. But not everyone here is. It is not a requirement. We don’t even accept applications for the youth.”

Partially true. The X-kids existed once. But most of them were now old enough to vote.

He turned, and slapped the mansion’s front door. ”This baby holds a lot of students. Are you all ready to see the school?”

When they were ready, he led them into the interior. Picture, if you will, an old mansion with a chandelier, two sweeping staircases on either side of the entrance-facing wall, with hallways adjacent, and lots of nice wood tones. That was how he would have described it, but different people might describe it 100 different ways. To him, it looked professionally cozy. He started leading them in the general direction of the classrooms.

He told them to voice any questions they had.

Lee rolled her eyes slightly when Shin brought up how they had ‘babysat’ her when she was pregnant with Kevin. ”Because I really needed to be babysat,” Lee replied. ”But it was nice to see you two then.”

But then Shin was talking to Kevin, confirming that he was indeed an X-Man. And, Lee was glad to hear, Shin mentioned that they didn’t even take applications from youths. That was very good to hear. From her point of view at least. She was sure that Kevin wouldn’t be quite as happy about it.

”You don’t?” Kevin asked Shin sounding a little disappointed. ”How old do you need to be to apply?”

Lee softly sighed as she listened to Kevin. Unfortunately, she was only going to be able to have a say in that until he turned 18.

”Yeah I’m ready!” Kevin exclaimed practically bouncing.

”Let’s go then,” Lee agreed.

Shin was an old friend, Tarin decided as the other man reminisced about a time the he and someone named Kealey had apparently spent time with Lee while she was pregnant with Kevin. Lee had feelings about that still and as she rolled her eyes he had to smile a bit.

The interior of The Mansion was, in a word, impressive. It had that old money charm that so many places in New York possessed even if, according to the papers and the news, it had been rebuilt several times.

Shin was saying all the right things. Pointing out that you folks weren’t allowed to join up, much to Kevin’s chagrin. The eagerness of youth who hadn’t actually had to live in exciting times and the lure of heroism.

Tarin knew that Lee didn’t want to encourage any heroism in her son, and Tarin knew for a fact that he didn’t think it was a good idea.

They were told to ask any questions they had, but Tarin just followed. This wasn’t really his show, he was just here to see the place.

Kevin, for his part seemed excited about everything and was taking every single thing in as they made their way…somewhere.

”To become an X-Man or X-Trainee,” Shin recited by rote. ”You must be at least 17 years old… to be a full X-Man, and 15 years old in order to be an X-Trainee. Also,”

Shin took a breath, and held up one finger, closing his eyes to state: ”You must be swift as the coursing river, with all the force of a great typhoon. With all the strength of a raging fire. Mysterious as the dark side of the moon.”

He did not crack a smile. Not even a little one.

He also did not even mention the x kids. 5-14, no thank you. How old was Kevin, now? What? 13? 14? Not old enough for x man status for at least a few years more. But time was racing toward them…

——

Kevin was ready, so they went.

—

And here were classrooms. He told them what grades were taught, what teachers they had on staff, mentioned he himself taught Japanese languages and math.

Next was the gyms. They had a ball court outside. Some stuff was still being built, but most of the rooms were good. He fielded questions about school.

”We also do powers training courses for adults,” He added, not looking to Tarin.

Lee shot a bit of a glare at Shin when he mentioned that kids could become trainees at 15. Though, unlike with Sam, she hadn’t technically asked Shin not to encourage joining the team. But really, 17 to be a full X-Man? Sure, many mutants have been on their own for a few years at that point, but really, they weren’t even adults.

Yeah, maybe her thoughts about age had changed in the last couple decades.

And Lee could just see how excited Kevin got when Shin pointed out that he was able to sign up as a trainee at 15. Lee sighed as they made their way into the mansion. At least she had a couple years still.

Then Lee heard Shin quoting a song and she shook her head. ”And just when are you expecting the Huns to attack, Shin?” Lee asked with a raised eyebrow. At least that would be one mansion attack that wouldn’t be that dangerous or destructive.

But into the mansion they went and at least Shin was starting with the classrooms. That was good. It was also just about the least familiar part of the mansion for Lee. ”And how are classes chosen?” Lee asked. ”When parents are involved, is their approval for class selections needed? And for the young mutants who are on their own, is there oversight to make sure that they’re making appropriate decisions?”

”Mum!” Kevin exclaimed, turning to look at Lee.

”It’s a valid question, Kev,” she pointed out. ”Especially since you’re going to be in the minority here having family involved and supportive of you.”

Oh man. Maybe Shin didn’t know Lee as well as he thought if he was bringing up the fact that kids could start training with the X-Men at 15. They were getting a bit head of themselves either way though. Kevin hadn’t shown any signs of even being a mutant yet. There was no guarantee he would. Tarin kept those thoughts to himself though, taking in the classroom facilities and the sports facilities.

All indications were that the Mansion was exactly what it sold itself as. Still. How did a 15 year old decide they wanted to be part of a paramilitary organization?

Huns? Clearly this was a reference that Tarin was missing and he gave Lee a quizzical look, hop KC she’d remember to clue him in at some point.

And then Lee was in her element, asking questions about classes and class choices and how involved parents were allowed to be in the class selection process.

Tarin really liked where her minds was here. Kids like Kevin would have someone looking out for him, making sure that he wasn’t making choices he would regret later. Who was there for the other kids though? Who was making sure that they weren’t coerced or bullied into making decisions they didn’t really want to make simply so they had a place to stay…

Kevin protested the question…because of course he did…and Tarin had to shake his head a little.

Oh, they had adult training facilities too? That was cool for people who needed that kind of thing.

He had tried to be honest, and not fudge the numbers or omit. He’d omitted a lot! But Lee still was not happy. Her kid sure was excited, though.

Oh well. He had tried.

>>> ”And just when are you expecting the Huns to attack, Shin?”

He shrugged. ”You never expect an invasion. You anticipate and prepare, but expect? You always expect an invasion.”

Oh dear. He had spoken himself into a circle. He frowned sheepishly.

Sure was winning wasn’t he?

—

Lee had loads of questions, and he had loads of answers. Really good, educated answers.

Classes chosen? He answered.

Parent approval? He answered.

Oversight? He answered that too.

They were all really good, highly detailed answers.

Kevin objected to one question. He reassured Kevin, staff would have his best interests at heart. Although he kind of felt a wince coming on, from the ‘family supports you, directly involved in your life’ comment. Like, harsh. Likely right, but harsh.

”We have a guidance counselor. She’s very talented. I’m sure she helps all the kids with what is best.” sure, some even found careers after school. Ones that weren’t paramilitary group.

He looked to Tarin.

”I know it is a lot different from your side of the universe. Been there, done that. I am glad we don’t have the government oversight of that side. Had to bust my way out of a cell… but anyways… none of that, here.”

He got quiet. Really not a good topic in front of the kid. But he wanted to engage with Tarin, too. He was awfully quiet.

Lee saw Tarin’s confused, quizzical expression when she replied to the quote Shin had made. ”Well, if the Huns ever do invade the mansion, make sure you give me a call because that’s one I think I’d actually like to see,” Lee said to Shin before turning to Tarin. ”He was quoting a song from a kids movie,” she explained. She could always introduce him to the movie at some point if he wanted. Not that she would bring it up here, in front of both Kevin and Shin.

And they had an actual guidance counsellor at the school? That was good. Another voice of reason that wasn’t ‘mum’.

But Lee didn’t need to search her out that day, there was lots of time for that and today was about other things than getting Kevin’s classes chosen.

Then Shin turned to speak to Tarin. About how he had been captured and broke out on the other side of the rift. It was only then that Lee realized just how silent Tarin had been. Between the tour and her understanding some of his expressions as questions or statements, it hadn’t really been obvious to her. But now that she was thinking about it, Lee realized how strange it was; really, the only time Tarin was this quiet with the exception of when they’d actually been watching something had been when Robert was over. Well, and Rachel, but in that case they both tended to be quiet because Rachel did most of the talking.

”Well, there’s not anymore,” Kevin decided to point out. ”Did you know that both my mum and dad broke out of mutant camps that they got locked in?”

Was that a hint of pride Lee heard in her son’s voice as he said that they had broken out? ”I’m pretty sure,” Lee told her son gently, though her eyes were looking over at Shin. She was pretty sure he would be good with the suddenness of the subject given how he’d so easily brought up his much more recent encounter with a cell, but you never really knew. ”He was with your dad.”

Turning more fully to Shin, Lee decided she’d explain where that had come from a little more. ”Kevin’s teacher decided to assign an end of school project about WWII concentration camps. So I told him some other relevant information that the teacher was probably not going to share.”

Ah. A kids’ movie. That made sense and explained why he didn’t know what they were talking about. Even if they’d had the movie on the other side of the rift, chances were he hadn’t seen it.

Shin had an answer for every question that Lee asked and Tarin couldn’t tell if they were simply practiced or if the other guy was completely sincere. If Tarin had to guess though he’d have said sincere. Guileless was a word that came to mind with Shin and The Mansion was slowly winning Tarin over on a lot of major points.

Shin was talking to him now and Tarin frowned as the other man mentioned that he had ended up in a SUPER cell on Tarin’s side of the rift.

”And you got out?” Tarin said, unable to be anything but impressed.

”It sounds like I came over at the right time though…it sounds like it hasn’t always been sunshine and rainbows over here either…” he said with a quick glance in Lee’s direction.

More to that point, it sounded like Shin had been in the Romanian camps with Kevin’s Father. Damn. Sunshine and rainbows indeed.