Homecoming (open)

[The Juggernaut, Bitch]

"Whoa there sparky." Cain said as he moved in front of Colossus and stood in front of Scott. "What do you mean Xavier ain't here?" He glared at Scott and stuck his finger in his chest. "I didn't run all this way for nothing."

He turned his head to look at Catwoman. "And who is this chick?"

[Cyclops]

"I've yet to find that out", he said as his eyes slid over to the woman who simply slinked around the room.

His eyes quickly shot back to the two muscle men standing before him. He hadn't really rehearsed how he would break the news, But perhaps being straightforward was the best thing to do. It pained Scott to even think about it, and he lowered his head slightly, closing his sunglass shielded eyes. He recalled how Xavier had died. He hadn't been a man to get involved in war, and really he didn't want the Untouchables to even exist, but he was a good man and would support his students, friends, and collegues. He had even told Scott once "I support you, not this war, not this team..."
That was the night that Charles Xavier was assasinated. That was the night that Scott lost control, his anger taking over. He took a deep breath and looked back up.

"Charles is dead" , he said very bluntly.

[The Juggernaut, Bitch]

Slowly Cain lowered his finger from Cyclop's chest. The rage he felt was tempered by the sense of loss that was welling up inside of him. In the past he had hated his step-brother with a passion. Yet in the past few years he had attempted to right so many wrongs between him and Charles.

Now he would never get to tell his brother he was sorry.

He moved in closer to Scott and spoke low so that only he and Colossus could hear. He didn't want that woman that Cyclops didn't even know hearing this. "How....and...when...?"

[Cyclops]

Scott shook his head as he hung it limply, he didn't even care that only a moment ago Juggernaut was threatening him with index finger pressed against his chest. He cleared his throat and rubbed his temples. It was painful to relive the memories.

"..It was only a few months ago, and Charles was only there for the time being..to help us locate some missing soldiers. He wasn't going to stay long. But that night, out of nowhere..our camp was attacked. They were skilled superhuman assassins. Killed Charles first, and....."

Scott clenched his fists tightly and felt like he was going to implode.

"..and Jean...others too..."

He peered back up, a profound sadness in his eyes.

[colossus]

"This-this is most difficult to accept." Piotr's voice was filled with emotion as the large man blinked back the tears that seemed to blur his vision slightly. The Professor, one of the kindest and most generous men that he'd ever known, was gone? The news was hard to digest, and he found himself swallowing the lump in his throat a number of times before he could speak again. "And Jean?" he murmured, feeling a great sadness for the loss of a friend and a mentor. But, he also felt a great deal of grief for his friend. Scott loved Jean as no other could.

Instead of giving his condolences, something he suspected Scott could not handle at the moment, Piotr merely offered Scott a nod that he hoped portrayed his feelings. After all, he was not one to discuss them, particularly at such a vulnerable moment.

"This is most disconcerting to learn of their losses." Yet, he was still focused on the fact that Scott had said that others had been lost. Immediately he mentally scanned his thoughts of the last time he had heard from any of his comrades, only to come to the realization that any of the could be gone and he would not know it. His heart clenched in his chest. "What others, Cyclops?" Hands shaking, he took a step forward. He had to know.

[Cyclops]

Cyclops suddenly straightened his back. He didn't want to seem weak in front of his men. He was glad that neither of them tried to comfort him. He didn't need that now. Now he just needed to get back to work.

He took a sharp breath as Colossus stepped forward. He had broken his concentration. He took another sharp breath as he scanned the room.

"Mr. Fantastic...", he uttered..but the names of any others escaped him at the moment. "I don't know" , he said with a shake of his head.

He took a few step backwards and peered around again. "We need to get to work" , he whispered.

[The Juggernaut, Bitch]

Helmed head hung low, Cain stood there taking it all in. He now new some of the anguish that Scott felt at losing Jean. This was all happening too fast...

He laid a hand on Scott's shoulder and spoke in a hushed tone. "I'm sorry buddy. For the short time I knew Jean she was a good girl. As for Reed, I wonder why Ben didn't mention it. Must be tearing Sue up."

With his hand still on Cyclops, Cain turned to face Colossus. "Scott's right. We need to get to work. But first things first."

"Funerals...."

[Shadowcat]

At this point in time, light, cheerful whistling echoed throughout the Institute, despite the melancholy mood reflected by the others. Kitty Pryde walked excitedly into the building, hoping to see her friends. The bag she held over her shoulder continued to make her sway in the unbalanced weight. Once she approached the room the others were in, she grinned wide and announced a loud, "Hey guys, what's up?"

Kitty's excited, joyful face immediately fell when she realized how blatantly she intruded. After a soft, awkward moment of contemplative silence, she muttered a 'sorry' before walking over to a couch to place her bag down. "Could I guess what we're talking about here?" She pursed her lips, purposely saying we're in hopes that the men wouldn't censor their thoughts due to Kitty's age. Shadowcat placed her hands on her hips as she quietly walked towards the others, her steps leaking curiosity.

[colossus]

It was hard to accept that people that he knew, friends even, had met their fate during a war that had cost Colossus a great deal of his own innocence. The Russian did not enjoy thinking about funerals, or anything of that magnitude. For all he knew, Xavier could have been long dead and buried, something that caused his chest to tighten just a bit.

"Dah, funerals," he muttered in reply as he found himself lifting a hand to brush it over his unruly hair. "Unless that business has already been taken care of?" He glanced over at Cyclops, almost hoping that he could avoid the pomp and circumstance that came along with funerals. In fact, he would much rather prefer to give his condolences and remember his mentor in a much quieter setting.

But, before he could do much more than think about it, a familiar figure appeared and caused him to widen his eyes slightly in surprise. The young and smiling Kitty Pryde hadn't changed at all since the last time that he had seen her, and he couldn't figure out if that was a good thing or a bad thing. Instead, he merely offered her a curt nod of his head and crossed his arms over his chest.

"Katya," he murmured, in welcome.

[Shadowcat]

A wave of pink lightly glossed over Kitty's cheeks when Piotr greeted her. It was a familiar feeling. She nodded back to him. "Hey..." Was all she could muster. It barely came out as a whisper. It's been awhile, she wanted to say-- but the sound of his voice warned her away from conversation. Had he and the other two been speaking about the war? Kitty Pryde was sure of it. When she thought about the series of battles and some of those lost, it sent unsettling shivers down her spine. Sure, Shadowcat was always ready and athirst for a fight, a war seemed so... permanent. Though the horrible war obviously ended, the memories, the horrors and nightmares experienced will always be there. In the mind. In existence. Reality.

Immediately, the young woman halted her eager questions and racing thoughts. She found herself fiddling with her fingers before her in idle, yet anxious feeling. She awaited someone to break the thick, saddening air that surrounded the group.

However, Shadowcat's proud hazel eyes never left those of Peter's. It may have set the situation to be even more awkward, but she couldn't help it. It had been so long.

[catwoman]

"You guys seem to have a lot going on right now so I'll be going." Catwoman said not liking the fact that so many people had shown up and she didn't want to know what that huge guy in red would do to her if they just found out she had robbed them blind. "I'll see you boy's later." she said making her way to the door with Isis laying a cross her shoulders hoping they wouldn't noticed the black pouch on her left hip it held the things she had taken.

[colossus]

Piotr felt mildly uncomfortably under the scrutiny of Kitty’s gaze, but did his best to avoid shifting his gaze away from her. Shame crept into his chest as he found himself meeting her gaze evenly, wondering what it was about her that made him feel as though he had to protect her from everything, even the pain of such sad news. Colossus briefly glanced over at Cyclops and frowned. He was not sure exactly how much the man preferred to share with the younger X-Man, but he was almost certain that the leader of the X-Men would choose to be upfront and forthcoming with the girl. Still, it was not his place.

But, before he could speak his mind on the matter, a figure slipped past the group of them and headed toward the main door. Something in the back of his mind insisted that it was the owner of the disembodied voice that Scott had spoken of earlier, and he was immediately suspicious. Piotr stared at the woman’s retreating back before glancing quickly over at Cyclops and then back to her.

“Who are you and why were you here?” he blurted out before he could do much more than look toward Scott for guidance. But, he stood his ground as he glanced back over at Kitty and quickly nodded his head in her direction. Without words he wanted to say to her to stay back if things were to get violent, and he could only hope that she would. For once. “There is no need to rush off?” It was more of a question than a statement, as Colossus was confused about the woman’s identity and her reason behind being in the Mansion when, apparently, no one else was there.

[catwoman]

Catwoman stopped in her tracks and spun around on her heel to face the others "The name's Catwoman." she said and bowed a bit "We where just looking for a place to crash for a while and found this dump." She said as she scratched the head of the black cat that was laying a cross her shoulders. The school it's self had been attack but most of it was still standing "Thought this place was abandon." she said with a shrug.

[Shadowcat]

Kitty Pryde raised both her eyebrows in curiosity. "Catwoman." She repeated, almost tasting the name on her lips. She stretched out the name and repeated it again, until her eyes shot wide. "Ah-ha, clever," She began, waving a finger and smiling wryly. "The ears, I get it." Kitty remarked coolly, giving reference to the woman's unique leather outfit, along with the pair of ears on the top.

"We were just looking for a place to crash for a while and found this dump."

Kitty rubbed the back of her neck in slight annoyance. "Wait, by we, you mean there are more of you?" Her face slightly twisted in confusion and distaste. "So, that means that there are more cats? Or are there others dressed up like other animals?" When Kitty finished with her attempted insult, she bit her lip. She had just made a fool out of herself. On the other hand, it ground on Kitty's nerves to hear how supposedly the Institute was a dump. It felt like she was spitting on Charles Xavier, cursing every ounce of effort that man put in to make a life for those who were gifted. She didn't know that the great man had been murdered.

Kitty lightly grabbed a rebellious strand of her brown hair, attempting to put it up in her hair-tie that held the rest of her hair up. Stay calm, Katherine, relax. Kitty sighed and pursed her lips. She found herself clenching her fists. Her, and all the others knew that this was nothing to get worked up about. After all, Charles wouldn't want Kitty to go and do something completely foolish.

[Cyclops]

Scott looked down to see the precocious young Kitty Pryde enter the room.

"Kitty?" , he said in surprise "What are you doing here? I thought the students were sent home?"

Scott raised an eyebrow as the woman dressed in leather began to beat a hasty retreat. It wasn't long until he spotted the sack that clung to her hip.

"The school" , he began slowly as he continued to peer at the bag. It was obvious that she was sort of cat burglar. In an instant he released a concentrated beam of red and frayed the top of the sack just enough for it to fall to the ground. The contents spilled out of the ripped sack and Scott stepped forward. "..has seen better days, that can be said."

He looked back at Juggernaut, Colossus and Kitty as he swept forward and stood between Catwoman and the goods she had attempted to steal. He wasn't really in the mood to have a thief creeping around the haven of the now departed Xavier.

"But we're back in commission" , he finished with a forced smile and wink. He hoped to make his teammates feel more at ease.