The m, excitement buzzed through the Xavier Institute. The students were all abuzz, running through the halls, pag towels, suns, and swimsuits. Even the older mutants, who typically held a more reserved demeanor, seemed eager for the day off. As we boarded the buses, the atmosphere was filled with chatter and ughter—something the school hadn't experienced in a long time.

  Celeste Water Park had outdoself. Reserved exclusively for us, the sprawling park greeted us with massive slides, ools, and zy rivers stretg as far as the eye could see. Brightly colored attras loomed against the backdrop of a perfect blue sky. It was the kind of pce you could lose yourself ily what we all needed.

  As we arrived, I took a moment to breathe it all in. Jean, standing beside me in her elega casual summer dress, squeezed my hand. "Good call, Aron. This is perfect."

  The students wasted no time. Jubilee and Pixie raced to the t slides, peting to see who could scream the loudest. Bobby and Colossus started building a massive ice sculpture in one of the spsh pools, much to the delight of the younger kids. Even Logan, who grumbled about the idea of a "vacation," couldn't hide the hint of a smirk as he grabbed a lounge chair he zy river.

  The main pool quickly became the heart of the a. Jean had sed her summer dress for a sleek red swimsuit, while Kitty's pyful energy lit up the area as she performed impromptu flips off the diving board.

  "Alright, Aron," Jean said, hands on her hips. "Show us what you've got."

  "Prepare to be amazed," I replied, climbing the diving board with a fidehat was mostly bluff. My attempt at a backflip ended in an awkward spsh that had Kitty in stitches.

  "Not your fi moment," Kitty teased, floating on a pool noodle.

  "Give me a break," I shot back. "Not all of us phase through belly flops."

  Nearby, Logan was watg the chaos unfold from a lounge chair. He snorted as Scott attempted an ambitious dive, only to nd with a spectacur belly flop. "Not bad, Summers," Logan called, grinning. "You're a natural at flopping."

  Soon, the group dispersed to tackle the park's attras in small clusters.

  Jubilee and Kitty tur into a battleground, riding the waves like surfers. Kitty, hesitant at first, ended up ughing harder than anyone when Jubilee slipped and got dunked.

  Kurt teleported to the top, leaving Warren huffing as he climbed the stairs. The two emerged from the slide's winding tunnels with triumphant spshes, their grins wide enough to match the cheers of onlookers.

  Hank floated serenely, reading and sipping from a ut drink. Every so often, a sneaky student would spsh him, prompting a pyful roar that sent them squealing with delight.

  As fue, she was sitting far away from everyone and was the only o to wear a swimsuit because of her power. She looked lonely, watg everyone else having fun. I think I should try my power on her. Maybe try to help her live a fun moment. I walked over to her.

  "Yo," I slumped down beside her.

  "Hey, Aron," she replied.

  "Do you want to go in there and enjoy?" I asked with a warm smile.

  "Who doesn't? But we both know it ain't gonna happen," she sighed.

  "What if I turn you intur human for a day?" I said, snapping my fingers.

  "What are ya talking about?" Rogue said, raising her eyebrows.

  "Think of it as turning off your power for a day, so, you wanna give it a go?" I smiled.

  "Are you serious?" she said, standing up.

  "Sure am," I said as I touched her forehead and absorbed her power. It was faster than before, way faster. Within a few seds, I was done. Phew! I wasn't that sure that it would work on her, but seems like, my power to absorb power nullified her mutation. Niow, without that dangerous power of hers, she should be able to enjoy the day without any worries.

  Rogue froze up for a moment there. She wasn't expeg me to still standing after toug her. And she was even more shocked to see that she didn't absorb me.

  "Whoa!" she excimed, her eyes wide. "Ya didn't die!"

  "You were expeg me to die?" I chuckled. "I mean, I did tell you, didn't I?"

  "But...how?"

  "Let's just say, I am very special," I said, patting her baow, go on, join them without any worries.

  "I..." Rogue froze up, uo express her feelings. It's uandable, sidering how long she had to stay away from others because of her power. But now that I've removed it, it should be fine.

  "It's okay, you don't o say anything. Go, have fun," I smiled warmly.

  She nodded silently and was about to go into the pool.

  "Wait a sec!" I called her. Let's make sure, just in case. "Why don't you go and touch Logan? You know, just to be sure and it will increase your fidence."

  "You want to use him as a guinea pig? Is this really a good idea?" Rogue said, raising her eyebrows.

  "Just trust me. It'll be fine. He's Wolverine, nothing is gonna happen to him," I said reassuringly.

  "If you say so," She turned around aoward Logan. I didn't go with her, as I wao see what she was going to do by herself.

  Rogue stopped in front of Logan, lookiant. But she did what I asked her to and pced her hand on his shoulder. To everyone's surprise, she didn't absorb his power a out a sigh of relief. She looked happy for the first time since I've seen her.

  "Did you do something?" Scott asked, looking at me with a suspicious look.

  "Maybe," I smirked.

  Oher side, Logan almost jumped up from his lounge chair when Rogue touched him. He was ready to sh out if things went wrong. But when he saw Rogue's happy face, he rexed.

  "Wow! Kiddo, your power?" Logan asked with wide eyes.

  "Don't worry," I yelled. "Her power won't hurt anyone. So, everyone, have fun. And Kitty, Jubilee... Don't hold ba her now."

  Rogue went into the pool with a wide smile on her face. I saw her swimming happily, spshing Kitty and Jubilee while ughing loudly.

  "It worked?" Storm said as she came o me with a fused look. All this time she was following the new mutants, to keep things safe.

  "Of course, it did," I said.

  "You are really a blessing, Aron," Storm said with a smile as she saw Rogue smile and spsh. "I don't remember the st time I saw her real smile."

  "It's not a big deal," I said modestly. "By the way, you look great."

  Storm was wearing a white two-piece swimsuit. The design made her look like an angel floating down to Earth. A sight to behold.

  "Eyes up here, mister," She giggled.

  "Sorry, I couldn't help it," I said, scratg my neck.

  "Well, at least you are ho," she ughed.

  "You know, we go and join them," I said, pointing at the pool. "I'll look after those newbies."

  "Are you sure?" she asked. "I'm still responsible for them."

  "Don't worry, I got them. You trust me," I smiled. "I'll e a you if anything happens."

  "Okay then," Storm said ao join the fun with everyone else.

  With Stone, I turo the new mutants, who were enjoying the day in their own little ways.

  By noon, hunger pulled everyoo the piic area. The spread was incredible—grilled burgers, hot dogs, and veggie skewers alongside heaping trays of fries and sad. Even Logan looked impressed as he piled his pte.

  "This ain't half bad," he admitted, biting into a burger.

  "Transtion: you're wele," I said, earning a chuckle from Jean.

  The versation turned lighthearted as Kitty poked fun at my earlier dive. "Aron, I think you made waves in the wrong dire."

  "Hey, I'm just warming up," I replied. Jean smirked, her green eyes sparkling. "Sure, keep telling yourself that."

  Nearby, Jubilee and Rogue were reting their ool antics, earning ughs from the table. Even Scott seemed rexed. Pixie oher hand was flying around, distributing juice s to everyo the back.

  Jean sat beside me, leaning on my shoulder on the edge of the pool. I could see hoy she was, surrounded by her friends, family, and kids she loved to teach. This moment was everything she wanted, and I couldn't be happier to provide it for her.

  "Thanks," She whispered.

  "For what?" I asked.

  "For this," she said, motioning to the group. "You didn't have to do all this, but you did."

  "It's not a big deal, really," I said modestly. "They needed a break, and so do we. So, it's a win-win."

  "But..."

  "You don't o thank me, Jean," I said, squeezing her hand. "I did it because I wao. So, let's enjoy..."

  Kitty pulled Jean's head from behind and pushed her head between mine and Jean's. "What are you two doing without me? Huh? Aron?" She smirked, her breath smelled like hot dogs.

  "Nothing," I said, ughing. "Just talking about how beautiful you look in that swimsuit."

  "Oh!" Jean excimed, rolling her eyes. "You didn't even praise me that way."

  "Wait...are you jealous?" I smirked.

  "Maybe," she giggled. "Should I be?"

  "Not at all,"

  "Good answer," Jean ughed.

  "Hey, you two, don't pretend like I do here," Kitty said, interrupting us.

  "She's jealous," Jean teased.

  "Yup, she is."

  "Wha- No, I'm not," Kitty excimed, shaking her head.

  "Right," we both said.

  "Tsk. Fine," Kitty pulled bad then pushed us both forward into the pool.

  "Hey," Jean yelled as she spshed Kitty with water.

  -----

  AN: I know some mutants are missing, they are on a mission.

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