Marvel: Familia System

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In the garden of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Sokka sat comfortably against the trunk of a large oak tree. The sun cast dappled shadows on the grass around him, and a light breeze stirred the leaves overhead. He wasn't much for meditation, but moments like this, quiet and peaceful, had a way of making him feel grounded. After all, compared to Hell's Kitchen, this place was practically paradise.

His thoughts drifted back to his time in Hell's Kitchen. The streets there were gritty, filled with scum. Nero had assigned him there originally, a decision Sokka hadn't questioned—he rarely did. But things had changed when Nero summoned Toph and handed Sokka a new ability—Telekinesis. A powerful gift that had transformed the way he approached his missions. With Toph by his side, they had been sent to join the X-Men, and he couldn't help but admit that this new environment was a significant upgrade. The change of scenery and mission had been more than welcome.

Sokka glanced to his side, where Toph sat cross-legged in the grass, seemingly at ease despite the constant hum of the school in the background. She had taken to the X-Men like a fish to water, adapting quickly, as she always did. The two of them had quickly become a force to be reckoned with, their abilities complementing each other perfectly. Telekinesis had come naturally to Sokka, surprisingly so. He had found ways to incorporate it into his combat style, blending it with his training, and it was a deadly combination.

He let out a contented sigh, closing his eyes for a moment, allowing the calm to wash over him. Even with the constant training, missions, and the sometimes overwhelming number of mutants at the school, it was nice to have moments like these. Moments where he could just sit back and breathe.

As Sokka closed his eyes, Toph's teasing voice broke the tranquility. "Hah, your headache is coming."

Sokka stiffened at her words, opening one eye to glance at her. "Not funny, Toph," he muttered, already feeling a slight tension creeping into his temples. She always knew when he was on his way, and she took every opportunity to remind Sokka of it.

Due to their age, they were part of the younger group at Xavier's School, which meant they were somewhat protected, kept out of the most dangerous situations. But that didn't mean they were off the hook when it came to training. Far from it. Sokka and Toph had proven themselves more than capable, and Sokka's telekinesis had made him a valuable asset. But with that value came expectations—especially from one particular mutant who had taken it upon himself to be Sokka's mentor.

"Cub, here you are."

The gravelly voice of Logan cut through the air, and Sokka couldn't help but tense up. He opened his eyes fully and found Logan standing over him, arms crossed, a familiar frown etched on his face. The man looked every bit the Alpha Wolf he was rumored to be, with his unyielding posture and intense gaze. Sokka had heard the whispers around the school, the comparisons made between him and Logan—a young wolf being trained by the old alpha. Maybe it was Sokka's hair, styled in the Wolf-Tail Tribal Style, or maybe it was his tenacity. Either way, Logan had taken a particular interest in him, and it wasn't something Sokka could just shrug off.

"Lying around again, huh?" Logan's voice carried a mixture of annoyance and amusement. He wasn't angry, not really. It was more like he was always pushing Sokka to be better, to do more. And Sokka respected that, even if it did mean less time lounging in the garden.

"Just taking a breather," Sokka said, sitting up and rubbing the back of his neck. "Gotta enjoy the peace while it lasts, right?"

Logan grunted, clearly unimpressed. "You want peace, Cub? You earn it. Now get up, we've got work to do."

Toph snickered from her spot in the grass, completely unfazed by Logan's presence. "Told you," she said, not even bothering to open her eyes.

Sokka shot her a look but knew better than to argue. With a resigned sigh, he pushed himself to his feet, brushing off the grass that clung to his pants. "Alright, alright. What's on the agenda today, Logan? More of that 'can fight from a distance doesn't mean I can't knock you out' training?"

Logan's lips twitched in what might have been a smirk. "Something like that. You've been working on control with your telekinesis, but now we're going to test your endurance. See how long you can keep it up under pressure."

Sokka raised an eyebrow. "Under pressure? You mean you're going to be throwing stuff at me while I try not to get hit?"

Logan gave a short nod. "Exactly. You've got the power, Cub. Now let's see if you've got the focus to back it up when things get messy."

Sokka couldn't help but feel a mix of dread and excitement. Training with Logan was never easy, but it was always worth it. The man had a way of pushing him beyond his limits, and despite the gruff exterior, Sokka knew Logan was looking out for him. It was his way of showing he cared, even if it meant a few bruises along the way.

Toph, with a grin teased. "Sounds like fun. Mind if I tag along?"

Sokka smirked, stretching his arms lazily as he glanced at Toph. "Hah, jokes on you. This time, yours is coming."

Toph chuckled, leaning back on her palms, completely unfazed. "You think you can trick me?" Her tone was casual, almost bored. She could feel the vibrations of half the school with her powers, and there was no headache coming her way. She was sure of it.

But suddenly, she felt the wind shift, a subtle disturbance that wasn't part of the usual background noise of the garden. A hand touched her shoulder, and she jerked so hard from the unexpected presence next to her that she nearly lashed out instinctively. Her body tensed, her muscles coiled, ready to react.

But just before she could do anything, she recognized the familiar lightness of the footsteps landing beside her. She let out a deep sigh. "I hate twinkle toes."

Storm's voice was calm as she addressed the young Earth Bender. "I was looking for you, Toph. Time for training."

Toph grumbled under her breath, pushing herself off the ground. "Yeah, yeah. Could've just sent a message, you know. No need to sneak up on people."

Sokka couldn't resist a chuckle, thoroughly enjoying Toph's minor discomfort. It wasn't often that someone could catch her off guard, and when they did, he made sure to relish the moment. "Careful, Toph. Seems like even the weather's against you today."

She shot him a glare, but there was no real heat behind it. "Keep talking, and I'll make sure your next headache comes early."

Storm looked between the two of them with a small smile playing on her lips. "You two done bickering? Or should I come back in another hour?"

Sokka shook his head, still grinning. "Nah, we're good. Don't want to keep the wind goddess waiting."

Toph snorted but followed Storm, her feet scuffing the grass as she walked away. Sokka watched them go, feeling a slight pang of envy as he watched how naturally Toph seemed to mesh with the X-Men. She fit right in, while he was still finding his footing—literally and figuratively.

But before he could dwell too much on it, Logan's gruff voice cut through his thoughts again. "You ready, Cub?"

Sokka turned back to Logan, his earlier frustration replaced with determination. "Yeah. Let's get this over with."

Logan nodded, a gleam of approval in his eyes. "Good. You'll need that attitude if you're gonna make it through today."

Then Sokka's eyes lit up with mischief, a spark of creativity flashing across his mind. He had always been the innovative one, turning the simplest resources into something unique. It was that same inventive spark that had caught the attention of his sword master, Piandao, who saw potential in Sokka's unconventional thinking and decided to teach him the way of the sword. Whether it was in the kitchen, on the battlefield, or now with his newfound telekinesis, Sokka's mind was always churning with possibilities.

He watched Storm, her presence almost ethereal as she guided Toph away with the ease of a breeze moving through the garden. An idea started forming in Sokka's head—something inspired by the way Storm seemed to float effortlessly, almost like she was one with the wind itself; he had seen Aang do the same countless times as well.

Closing his eyes, Sokka focused on his telekinesis, visualizing himself lifting off the ground. He had practiced moving objects, stopping projectiles, even enhancing his strikes with it, but this was different. This time, he wasn't just trying to manipulate his surroundings—he was trying to manipulate himself.

At first, there was nothing, just the usual hum of energy within him. But then, he felt it—a slight shift, like a tug at his core. Slowly, cautiously, he let the energy expand, imagining it lifting him up, carrying him like the wind carried a leaf. And before he knew it, his feet were no longer touching the ground.

Sokka's eyes snapped open in surprise, the world tilting slightly as he realized he was floating a few feet above the garden floor. He wobbled, arms flailing slightly as he struggled to maintain his balance. The sensation was strange, exhilarating, and terrifying all at once. He couldn't help the grin that spread across his face.

Logan, who had been watching Sokka with his usual intensity, raised an eyebrow. "What the hell are you doing, Cub?"

Sokka had two dominant thoughts as he floated above the garden floor. The first was a rush of excitement: This must be how Aang always felt. The freedom, the weightlessness—it all made sense now. The second thought was more mischievous: I can catch Toph unaware all the time now. Well, at least until she masters Haki. A grin spread across his face as he looked down at Logan, who was staring up at him with a mixture of curiosity and irritation.

Sokka knew he was supposed to be training, but the opportunity was just too good to pass up. He feigned panic, flailing his arms in exaggerated fashion. "Whoa! Logan, I—I can't control it!" His voice carried the perfect amount of alarm as he twisted in mid-air, spinning slightly to sell the act.

Logan's expression darkened. "Cub, stop messing around and get down here before you hurt yourself."

Sokka's grin only widened as he pretended to wobble even more, his body twisting awkwardly in the air. "I'm trying, but—" He flailed again, this time intentionally drifting higher. "It's like the wind's got a mind of its own!" He threw in a bit of extra spin, now floating well above Logan's reach.

"Don't make me come up there," Logan growled, though his tone held a begrudging hint of amusement. It was clear he knew what Sokka was up to, but that didn't stop the older mutant from playing along.

Sokka let out a loud, exaggerated yelp, his arms pinwheeling. "Too late! I'm a goner!" He began to drift towards the trees, his feet just grazing the leaves. From the corner of his eye, he could see Logan's jaw clenching, clearly trying to decide whether to drag him down or let him continue this ridiculous stunt.

Before Sokka could savor his newfound flight any longer, a sudden heaviness gripped his body, and he felt himself slowly descending toward the ground. His initial excitement gave way to mild frustration as he realized what—or rather, who—was responsible. Clicking his tongue in annoyance, Sokka cast a sideways glance at the newcomer standing just a few feet away.

Jean Grey.

Of course she's here too.

She was watching him with a calm, knowing expression, her presence as composed as ever. He had to admit, she made telekinesis look effortless. Her ability to control it with such precision was something he respected, even if it did mean she could bring him down from the sky without so much as breaking a sweat.

Sokka landed softly on the grass, crossing his arms with a hint of defiance. "You couldn't let me have that one, huh?" he said, trying to sound playful but unable to hide the slight edge of disappointment in his voice.

Jean smiled faintly. "You're doing well, Sokka. But let's save the acrobatics for when you've got more control."

Logan, who had been watching the entire scene unfold with his usual gruff amusement, stepped forward with his arms crossed. "Told you, Cub. You're not ready to be showing off just yet."

Sokka sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as he glanced between Logan and Jean. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. More control, less goofing off."

Jean chuckled softly, shaking her head. "It's not about that, Sokka. You're progressing fast, but pushing your limits too soon can backfire. We don't want you overextending yourself."

Sokka rolled his eyes, though he couldn't completely hide the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Right, right. Safety first and all that."

Sokka knew there was more to Logan's insistence on these training sessions than just sharpening his skills. The old man had a soft spot for Jean Grey, and Sokka had picked up on it early. Telekinesis training had become the perfect excuse for Logan to be around her, despite the century-long age gap between them. The gruff exterior didn't fool Sokka—not when Logan's gaze would linger on Jean a little too long, or when his tone softened ever so slightly whenever she was near.

Sokka shook his head, brushing off the thought with a smirk. There was no need to voice his observations about Logan's subtle affection for Jean. He had more pressing things on his mind now—like the possibility of mastering this newfound ability to fly. The exhilaration of floating above the ground, even for a few brief moments, had sparked a new eagerness in him. There was something about that freedom, the weightlessness, that made him feel more alive than he had in a while. And sure, being able to mess with Toph in new ways was an added bonus.

"Alright, Logan," Sokka said, cracking his knuckles as he refocused on the task at hand. "Let's get serious. I want to see just how far I can push this."

Jean, who had been watching with that calm, almost serene expression, took a step back, giving them space. "I'll be around if you need anything, Sokka. Just remember—balance and control. Don't rush it."

Sokka nodded, giving her a small wave of acknowledgment. He appreciated the advice, even if he was itching to push the limits a bit. That was just his nature—always testing boundaries, seeing how far he could go. And with Logan and Jean both there, he knew he had a safety net if things went sideways.

Logan's eyes narrowed slightly as he sized Sokka up, no doubt planning the next set of challenges. "Alright, Cub. Let's see what you've got. But remember—this ain't a game. You push too hard, you're gonna feel it."

Sokka rolled his shoulders, feeling the tension ease out of them as he prepared himself mentally. "Don't worry, Logan. I've got this."

With that, they got to work. Sokka focused on his telekinesis, pushing himself to maintain his hold on multiple objects while dodging Logan's relentless attacks. It wasn't long before he was sweating, muscles burning, but he kept going, driven by the desire to improve, to master this ability.

He smiled to himself as he deflected another of Logan's attacks, his thoughts drifting momentarily back to Toph. She'd probably scoff at him if she knew how excited he was about the possibility of flying. She'd tell him to focus on the ground, where the real battles happened. But Sokka knew better—sometimes, to win, you had to take to the skies.

And maybe, just maybe, he'd get the hang of it sooner than anyone expected.

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