I'll Be Home: Return to the Mansion

[x-wolfcub.livejournal.com]

"John"comes to the mansion, while Kurt and Julian remain committed that he's Nick without his memory.



The whole situation had Julian confused and a bit turned around in the grand scheme of things. Essentially, Nicholas Gleason, the boy who had saved his life a half-a-year ago was back from the dead, but didn't remember anything. Was it possible this was simply a clone? The man who called himself John was gawking at the high ceiling in the foyer- a reaction he recalled having himself when he'd first arrived. "I know, kind of huge, isn't it?" Their message on the journals had told the rest of the mansion to steer clear of them while he and Kurt showed the young man around, but Julian was sure they were being watched by several someones at this moment.

Big didn't even describe the reaction of the boy to the mansion. After spending the last few months in a shelter, this was like a castle. He kind of was afraid to touch anything. "I really think I would have remembered a place like this." He was doing his best to keep his jaw from dropping.


"It seems you went through a great trauma", Kurt pointed out gently. "Enough to make you forget even your own name."


The boy tried to smile. "I've been trying me best to remember, but giant mansions and blue fathers are still coming up as a big blank." His eyes continued to wonder. "Now homeless shelters and having to buy new identifications on the sly... that seems to click a lot more right now."


"Well," Julian put a hand on Nick's shoulder, "let's take the tour and maybe something else will click." He motioned forward, "You lived here, or rather, we believe that you lived here, for the better part of a year, getting a better handle on your wolf-state."


"Perhaps we should start with your old room", Kurt suggested. "Things there might give your memory a jolt."


The boy shrugged for a second. "Sure, bus as long as you two don't get your hopes too high." He smirked a bit. "I don't want to be a disappointment or anything."


"Whatever you do or do not remember", Kurt told him firmly, "you will never be a disappointment to me. This way."

Julian followed the others up the stairs, down the familiar hallways that led to his old suite- part of him missed those comforting walls, things had been simpler then, and that was only a year ago. "Things have changed around a little bit, Fred and I moved out, but your room is still pretty much how it was when...well, just take a look."


"John" was still a bit hesitant to step into the room, and kept himself as close as he could to the door, just in case he had to make a quick exit. But one object piqued his interest. Turning, he held up a comb with several purple hairs sticking over the edges. Raising an eyebrow he turned to the younger of his two companions. "Did I, or whoever this Nick was, go through some kind of a punk rock phase?"


A smile crossed his face as Julian suppressed a hearty laugh. "Actually, those look like they probably belong to Catseye...your girlfriend."


"I did mention her", Kurt said, hiding a smile of his own. "She had purple hair quite naturally. And on occasion purple fur, when she was being a housecat. Or a mountain lion."


The boy's head naturally shook from side to side once again as he turned to the side. "Are you sure that I wouldn't remember something crazy like that?" His hand brisked around the room. "Any of this?"

"Nick," Julian said, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder. "Are you sure none of this is ringing any bells in that crazy head of yours?"


His head continued to shake. "I really wish I did." He pooched out his lip, as he gave another emphatic shake to the side. "Sorry to disappoint the two of you."


"At the time, it was actually not so crazy in comparison to some things", Kurt said dryly, then looked to Julian. "Perhaps we should visit with the Professor."

The younger mutant nodded, "That's the only other thing I can think that might help."


Nick shrugged his shoulders. "I'll do whatever you two think will help out."