"Sam, go away."

Blaine moved to slam his door closed again, but his friend didnt budge. Ever since hed been brought in by Wolverine last year, Sam hadnt left him alone. He wanted to be friends, he said, but Blaine couldnt do that. He couldnt do anything with people unless he wanted to kill them or put them in comas. Like that Sebastian boy at Dalton. Even now Blaine couldnt get up the courage to call and ask how he was.

"But youve got to meet this boy," Sam insisted. He snagged Blaines gloved hand and started trying to yank him through the half-open door. "The professor just had him brought in and I think youre going to love him."

Blaine gave in and stumbled through the doorway at Sams insistent pulls. It would be faster to go with him and get this over with. He stood back once Sam had him in the hallway, straightened his jacket, cuffs, gloves, anything that covered his skin and protected everyone else. "If this is like that time you told me there was a chocolate fountain in the kitchen just to get me to make you a grilled cheese–"

"Its not, I swear. I am hungry though, so maybe you two can make me something later, but seriously," Sam stopped and turned to him. He made to reach for Blaines face to hold him still, but thought better of it. Theyd tried Sams ice powers once before, and while theyd worked momentarily, it had ended with Sam in the hospital wing. "Theres a new mutant and he can, like– our powers dont work around him, Blaine. You might be able to, like, touch someone."

As Sam started dragging him down hall after hall, Blaine tried to think over what hed just heard. It couldnt be true. If there was someone like that hed only suck the power right out of him. Just like he did with everyone else. They finally stopped outside Professor Xaviers office. The door was cracked and Storm was just visible inside.

"Youll be safe here. They wont do any more experiments on you and your father can visit or you can visit him as much as you like."

Professor Xavier said something, something Blaine couldnt make out and then, much louder, he said, "Perhaps we should let Sam and Blaine introduce our newest student to the academy. They seem quite eager to meet you, Kurt."

The door opened. Storm shook her head and waved both of them in. Professor Xavier was behind his desk, facing the window. A boy their age was sitting across from him. He was pale with a hat pulled down over what Blaine suspected was a bald head.

"Kurt Hummel, Id like you to meet Blaine Anderson and Sam Evans. They are like you. Boys, show him around the classrooms and then to his new room, please. Hell be sharing with you, Blaine."

"But Professor–"

"Now, now, I think, and I may not be right about this, but I think you two will find you have a lot in common, if you give it time."

Blaine glowered at him, then caught sight of Kurt watching him. He tried to look friendly, but what was the point? He was a danger to everyone here, and rooming with someone – someone who didnt know anything about his horrible abilities – would endanger them both. The sooner Kurt didnt like him and understood, the better.

Storm and Professor Xavier left them in the hall outside the office. Sam immediately started rambling on about the school, classes, the other students, and then themselves.

"Im on the team. Im Iceman," Sam was saying as they entered the hallway for Blaines, and now Kurts, room. "Blaines, well, he hasnt joined, but they want him to."

"Im no use to the X-Men," Blaine snapped. "What good is– never mind. This is our room." He opened the door and waved Kurt in. There was a new cot moved into the empty side and a second desk. Blaine looked over his own bed and desk and the dresser in the corner. All pretty clean and organized. If he was stuck with Kurt he hoped the other boy was at least neat.

"See? I can turn things to– its not working." Sam was in the doorway, a glass of water in his hand. "Thats so– oh, right! I forgot. It doesnt work around you, thats so weird."

"It was stranger for the man with the blue fur. He turned to skin. Ive never seen anyone so amazed," Kurt said. It was the first time Blaine had heard his voice and it made him pause. High, as clear and bold as the full moon in the night sky. It was beautiful.

"Im going to get something to eat," Sam decided. "Practice my ice away from you. Bye guys!"

Sam shut the door on his way out. Blaine settled down at his desk and frowned. Great. He would run off and leave them alone, like being around this boy was going to do anything for his abilities. Nothing but a cure would help him and that would never happen. Hed spend the rest of his life hidden away, not touching or interacting or loving anyone.

"So your names Blaine, right?"

Blaine looked up and stared at him. Kurt was smiling uncertainly, maybe hopefully. That was the worst part of it, really. Crushing someones kindness to protect them. It wasnt fair to anyone.

"Yeah, that about covers it." Blaine flipped a book open and pretended to be interested in its pages. But he couldnt. Kurt had pulled his chair over to Blaines desk to talk. "Do you need something?"

"I just… I have so many questions," Kurt said quietly. "Ive never met another mutant before. One my age, I mean. And theyre, like, all here. Where are you from?"

Blaine turned to him. He meant to be mean, even cruel, to brush Kurt off and save him from his own nightmare. But Kurt was beaming shyly and it stopped him short.

"Blaine?"

"Huh? Oh, um, Im from Ohio. Westerville."

"No way, Im from Lima," Kurt squeaked and bit his bottom lip. It was cutest thing Blaine had ever seen. "I lived with my dad. My powers started showing up after my mom died. Scared my dad to death at first. One of his mechanics could feel my powers. He had some sort of latent powers, made him good with machinery except when I was around. Almost lost his whole arm because of it. But what about you? I know Sam can do stuff with ice, but you never–"

"It doesnt matter. My powers are worthless," Blaine said quickly. "All they do is hurt people."

"Well then maybe I can help," Kurt said eagerly. Something tight wrenched in Blaines chest at how hopeful he was. Nothing could help his powers. Why didnt anyone understand that? "Here, see if you can do whatever you do."

Kurt moved closer, so close Blaine could see the green and blue and gray flecks in his eyes. He took a deep breath and tried to move away. "No, its– theres nothing you can do."

"Sure there is," Kurt insisted. "My power negates other mutants powers, so yours wont work if Im close enough. Professor Xavier hopes Ill be able to rein my powers in somehow, make it so that only happens if someone touches me. Control the range or something so itll only happen if I touch them. Like this."

Before Blaine could stop him Kurts fingertips brushed his cheek. He flinched, waiting for Kurt to make the same wretched, gasping noise the others always made, but there was only silence.

"See? Its all right," Kurt said. He stroked Blaines cheek again and Blaine melted into the touch. "They told me, warned me I guess, about your abilities. Professor Xavier thought ours would balance out."

Blaine couldnt speak. He gasped hoarsely as Kurts hand cupped his jaw and held him closer.

"Hey, dont cry. Its–"

"Nobodys been able to touch me in years. Not even my parents, you know? They were scared of me. Kept me locked up in my room until the X-Men found me." Blaine wiped his eyes and stared at Kurt. "C- can I have a hug?"

Kurt laughed a little and rubbed his cheek again. "Yeah. Of all the things you could– here."

Kurt awkwardly pulled him into an embrace and Blaine sighed and let go. But Kurt gave a startled yelp and toppled over backwards. Blaine looked at him and more tears started falling, but they werent happy now.

"I should have know," he muttered. "I cant have a normal life. Ill never have one because if I let myself go, then I cant control it and it hurts everyone I touch."

"Thats not– Im sure once I figure out more control you can let go and if I keep my control then well be fine," Kurt said. "Just give me a chance, please. Nobody else can do this, right?"

Kurt took Blaines hand, peeled his glove off and squeezed. "Please, I want to help. Maybe, with me, together, somehow, we can give you a normal life."

Blaine looked at their joined hands, felt the warmth of Kurts skin and the pulse beating under it. "This is a horrible idea. Youll get hurt. Ill hurt you. I hurt everyone."

"Im sure Ill hurt you, too," Kurt said. "Thats what people do, isnt it? We hurt each other, especially when we dont mean to."

"That doesnt mean we should," Blaine told him. "It may never work. I might lose control and youll die if I do. Once it goes off, I cant stop it."

"Well, you work on that and Ill work on growing my hair back again," Kurt said. He took his hat off and winced as he ran his hand over his scalp. "I look like my dad. Its horrible."

Blaine hiccupped as he tried to laugh and went to open a drawer in his dresser. "Ive got a bunch of hats you can use. I wear them to cover my skin up more, just in case."

Kurt beamed and started looking through them. "These are lovely, Blaine. Oh, look at this one! And this one!"

"Everything all right in here, boys?"

Storm was back. Checking in to make sure Blaine hadnt killed Kurt probably. Blaine frowned, but Kurt pulled a new hat on and took Blaines bare hand.

"Yeah, were great!"

Storm smiled at the sight and nodded. "Dinners in ten minutes. Wash up and be on time, okay? I dont want any more midnight grilled cheese parties."

"But that was Sams fault!"

"Ten minutes."

She left and Kurt swung their joined hands between their sides. "Come on. You can tell me whats good and whats awful on the menu."

He tugged Blaine out of their room and down the hall, talking brightly and loudly. The rest of the students stared as they passed. This boy was touching the untouchable, and Blaine, for once, was glad someone dared to.