Summary: Begins right before the events of X-3, and contiues through and after X-3. Not a self-insertion, however. A plant-manipulating mutant is forced to flee her home, and seeks refuge at the Institute. Meeting Berxerker and other mutants, she learns how to function in their society, as well as accept herself.

Warning: Nothing yet, can't see it.

Disclaimer: Don't own any original X-Men or movies, duh. Own original plot and OCs, however.

Had this in my head, have writers-block on everything else, and this was born. I made up hotocultist, by the way. And as for Berzerker, his powers are modeled after the comics, his hair after Evolution, and his eyes I combined both. I like him, so stuck him in there. Hope you guys enjoy - just something for me to work on when I'm stuck on something, so don't expect regular updates.

Please review. Comments, ideas, suggestions, and helpful criticism welcome.

---

“Have you ever heard of Xavier’s Academy for Gifted Youngsters?” Deitra asked her mother, coming into the kitchen with the television remote in her hand. Sarah glanced up at her child carelessly, turning another page of the newspaper.

“Vaguely, yes. Why the sudden interest?” she replied, eyeing the girl over her glasses. “I thought you didn’t want anything to do with anyone lately.”

“No,” the twenty year-old retorted, shrugging uncomfortably. Taking college courses online, the young woman was a hotocultist, and her power was reflected in her brown hair with natural-green shading, and her naturally dark-green nails. Her skin was barely tanned, and her eyes were an orange color – something she had decided was a reflection of the sun’s importance to a plant, or something to that effect. To add to the irony, her name was taken from Demeter, the Greek goddess of the earth.

“So, why the question?” her mother repeated, returning to her paper.

“Why did you never mention it to me?” she prodded, a little irritated. Deitra had discovered her powers at the age of twelve, her hair and nails suddenly changing drastically, and her response had been to escape school and hide away in her house. She had begun to venture outside recently, but with the anti-mutant propaganda running rampant, she thought it best not to.

“I didn’t think it was important.”

Deitra closed her eyes in an effort to remain calm, and clenched her hands tightly for a moment before turning and walking out of the room. Barely 5’3”, her hair reached mid-back with several angled pieces in the front, and her figure was anything but imposing to her amused mother.

---

Living in Herkimer, New York, Deitra Burton had been channel-hopping when she had come across a news report mentioning the school, and was intrigued by the idea of mutants living together in what seemed to be a communal society. The offering of the cure by Worthington Labs caught her attention as well, but wasn’t so sure she’d trust other people with her genetics.

“Anyway, you guys would be lonely if I left, right?” she asked her cactus, which sat in the open window. Able to manipulate any and all plant life – something she had worked on since her discovery – she was able to keep something like a cactus alive in snow if she wanted to, but thought the idea was cruel. Grinning at the plant, seeming to hear something in her head, she returned to her laptop and the online course, skimming over the lecture casually, not really caring at the moment.

Her father had been unable to deal with the changes occurring in his daughter, and a divorce followed soon after her thirteenth birthday, along with his moving away and remarrying. Deitra was blissfully unaware that her power had caused her to become one of the most powerful mutants currently in North America, and was happy hiding away in her upstairs room and chatting online, pretending to be a normal young woman over the internet.

Frowning at the cactus in a sudden mood swing, her eyes widened when it began to brown and wilt, and she hurriedly placed a hand on it, making cooing noises.

“Oh, I’m sorry – it’s all right, I’m fine,” she assured it, sounding like a mother reassuring a small child, and she sighed in relief when it became green once more and grew even more. “That’s a good baby,” she smiled gently, truly loving each plant she came into contact with. In her mind, feeling the plants, they each had personalities like human beings, and this cactus was particularly emotionally-needy.

Something out the window caught the corner of her eye, and her eyes narrowed when she saw several people dressed in white with a red hand on the back of their shirts strode down the street, looking as if they were following someone.

“Not the Church,” she muttered, having heard of the Church of Humanity, but preferring to avoid anyone who spoke of them. The group had several websites dedicated to mutant hatred, and some of their sentiments made her blood run cold. Watching them cautiously, Deitra blinked in surprise when they accosted an older man in his front yard, someone she knew for a fact wasn’t a mutant at all. Having met him several times, she had liked his frankness, and had even used her power to aid in his gardening efforts.

Unable to hear properly, she frowned and moved her cactus to her desk, scrambling down the vines that obligingly supported her. Feet on the ground, she used her power to sense the plants in the old man’s yard, and she grew angry at their fright. What surprised her further was that the Church seemed to be suspecting the man of ‘mutantry’ because of his exceptionally-beautiful garden in early winter, when everything else was dead or asleep.

Growing ashamed that she might be the cause of the man’s trouble, and even angrier, Deitra stalked toward the scene, not seeing anyone else coming to help the poor man. As one of the people raised their hand, a crowbar in his hand, she narrowed her eyes, several feet away from the yard.

“What the hell?” the man yelped, as a vine shot up and encased his arm, squeezing until he lost all feeling.

“You’re using your powers on us!” the leader accused the man, who stammered apologies through his fright.

“N-no, I’ve never…I have no idea…”

“I’m the mutant!” Deitra announced loudly, catching their attention. One look assured the men that the female in front of them was the mutant, and they began to stalk towards her. Staying her ground, Deitra caused cactus needles to lodge themselves in their legs, and the grass to become like thorns.

“You bitch!” another person, a woman, shrieked. Deitra noticed the man had escaped inside his house, and grinned slightly.

“I’m a mutant,” she told the group calmly, gesturing to them with her hand. “Like to see some confirmation of that?” she asked, as vines streaked toward the Church members in force, wrapping around the people and tossing them across the street. She frowned, not liking using plants as a weapon, but knew that if necessary, vines were much more pliable than any other shrubbery around, and less likely to be hurt by her actions.

“This will be your last night in this town,” the leader promised her, and she only waved as they rushed from the cul-de-sac in surprise.

“Deitra!” her mother shrieked, and the young woman turned around only to be slapped full in the face by her enraged parent. “What are you thinking?” the woman demanded. “You’ve put us both in danger with that little display! Don’t you have any consideration for me at all?”

“I’ll leave,” Deitra said calmly, privately amazed she wasn’t just as frightened as her mother – and as the neighbors surely were as well.

“Leave?” her mother repeated loudly, her voice rising once again. “Leave where? Where do you think someone like you could possibly go?”

“To Xavier’s,” the mutant replied promptly, the idea popping into her head as soon as she said it. “I’ll go there.”

“You think they’ll just take you in, like a stray dog?” her mother spat, in over her head. “You’re such an arrogant brat! To think you’re my daughter!”

“I’ll never understand it either,” Deitra agreed evenly. Her temper was nonexistent, and now that she had the dangerous Church after her and been ousted as mutant, she felt calmer than she ever had for some reason. “I’ll pack my things and leave as soon as possible. I’ll make sure they know I’ve gone.”

She strode towards the house, leaving her mother in shock in the driveway. The overwhelmed woman noticed, through the haze of anger, that small flowers appeared in her daughter’s footsteps.

---

“How do I do that?” Deitra wondered, shoving some clothing into a travel suitcase. Her promise had sounded good before, but now she was stuck as to how exactly she could assure her mother’s safety. Frowning in concentration, she shoved several last-minutes items into the already-bulging suitcase and grunted as she closed it, wanting to travel relatively light. Her laptop was already in its travel-friendly, light and small, carrying case, and she slipped on her black trenchcoat on with a sigh. Swinging the laptop case over one shoulder so the strap crossed over her breasts, and glancing at the suitcase, she shook her head regretfully.

“Too much,” she muttered, opening it and beginning to toss things out. Reminding herself she could always buy new clothing somehow, she emptied most of the contents onto her bed, leaving only essential items and some personal effects she refused to leave behind.

“Much better,” she told herself, grateful the suitcase also had a long strap and carried it opposite the laptop, leaving her hands free. Using her window once again as an escape route, Deitra landed softly on the ground outside and looked around, suddenly feeling anxious. An overwhelming urge to retreat back into her house came over her, but she shook it off with effort.

“I can’t go back,” she said out-loud, and somehow saying the words aloud helped. Squaring her shoulders, she began her long walk, heading first to where the Church of Humanity’s headquarters were known to be.

---

“Well, I guess that’s easy enough,” she shrugged, viewing her work with some satisfaction. Using daisies, she had spelled out ‘I’M GONE’ on their lawn, and vines crawled into the building, breaking windows and doors wherever she had found them. She knew it left no doubt who the culprit was, and grinned in satisfaction as she turned back around. Thanking her luck that she had taken the GPS system from her mother’s car, she began to figure out what route she could take the Institute.

“And what if they don’t want me?” she asked herself out-loud, making her way through backyards and alleys with a bit of trouble. She frowned and pushed the idea way, but the thought persisted to bother her.

“I’ll figure it out,” she announced, and paused to catch her breath. She was in good shape, but travel like this was hardly usual for her. “There has got to be an easier way…” she grumbled, and took a moment to try to figure something out. Glancing to her pocket, she smacked herself on the forehead when she realized she could take a bus to the town near the Institute, and save herself quite a bit of walking.

“You dunce,” Deitra chastised herself, and straightened her back with a sigh. “Well, time to head back the way I came to the bus stop,” she groaned, turning around.

---

“Whew, just made it,” Deitra sighed, leaning back in the seat of the Greyhound bus in relief. She had just barely reached the bus stop in time, and was satisfied that she could relax a little during the trip. She anticipated the trip would take about day, considering stops and traffic, and took another sigh of relief, her bags in the seat next to her. Closing her eyes, she ran her fingers through her hair restlessly, nervousness suddenly gnawing at her.

“Hey, you lost or something?” a young man asked, looking down at her curiously. She glanced up, half in surprise and half fearful it was a Church member, and narrowed her eyes when she saw his appearance.

“Mutant – has to be,” she thought, seeing his dark-blue eyes with white irises and strange hairstyle, as well as blue earring in his left ear, and shrugged.

“Not really.”

“You know, just ‘cause I look different, doesn’t mean I’m a freak,” he said suddenly, and she blinked in surprise.

“Um, I didn’t say anything.”

“Whatever,” he muttered, and Deitra sighed.

“I’m Deitra,” she offered, holding out her hand as a peace offering. He looked at her warily for a moment before taking it reluctantly.

“Ray Crisp.”

“Nice to meet you,” she smiled, scooting over and moving her bags onto the floor. “You can sit down, if you want.”

“Sure, why not?” he shrugged, taking the seat next to her. “You running away?” he asked abruptly, and Deitra could only look at him. “Hey, it’s all right, I won’t tell,” he grinned. “I’m not, exactly. Hey,” he began, lowering his voice significantly and leaning in close so his lips barely brushed her ear. “You a mutant?” he asked, and she jerked back, now scared she had gotten into trouble.

Ray sat back immediately, looking a little embarrassed. Deitra, for her part, could only stare at him nervously.

“He knows…he must be with them after all.”

“I’m one too,” he confided. “It’s your eyes – they give you away.”

Deitra remained silent, not convinced he wasn’t with the Church. Ray had only thought he was offering something in common, and huffed in irritation.

“Fine, whatever,” he said, moving to get up. Panicked, Deitra grabbed his arm and pulled him back down.

“No, wait!” she hissed, and the young man finally seemed to realize she was scared.

“Hey, you are running, aren’t you?” he prodded, and she nodded.

“The Church,” she whispered, and it was his turn to be surprised.

“Holy shit,” he breathed. “I don’t envy you there. Where’re ya going?”

“To Xavier’s Institute,” she admitted. “I was hoping they could take me in. With all the anti-mutant feeling…it’s the only safe place.”

“I hear ya,” he nodded. “I’m heading there too, actually.”

“Why?” she asked curiously, and he shrugged, folding his arms behind his head.

“Honestly? Not sure,” Ray told her. “But where I live is crap, and I thought maybe something might be there for me. What’s your power?” he asked, once more whispering.

“Plants,” she said briefly. “Hard to explain.”

“Electricity – I can show you later,” the 6’3” mutant winked, and Deitra laughed despite herself.

---

The sun wasn’t long from setting by the time the bus reached their stop, and the two young adults got off with yawning and stomachs growling. Deitra had found out that Ray Crisp was her age and had moved quite a bit during his years, which caused her to guess that he didn’t have family, or was estranged from them.

“So, which way now?” he asked, and she dug the GPS system out of her pocket, and was met with laughter.

“What?” she asked curiously, and he shrugged.

“Just funny.”

“Whatever,” she sighed, and returned to the computer. “I think we go…that way. It should be pretty visible, considering how large it is,” she informed him, and he nodded.

“Good point. I’d fly, but –”

“What? You can fly?” Deitra asked enviously, and he nodded sheepishly.

“Yeah – lemme take the bag,” he added, reaching out for her suitcase. Deitra eyed him, and he stared back calmly. “What?” he demanded. “I’m trying to be a gentleman! And I’ve got nothing to carry,” he added with a grin, and she nodded.

“All right, thanks,” she said, handing him her suitcase gratefully. “I guess we should get going.”

“I hope they have something to eat,” Ray grumbled, and as they began to stroll through the town Deitra turned her thoughts to his powers.

“So…electricity…what can you do?” she prodded. “Besides flying.”

“Well, I’m basically a human superconductor,” he told her, with a slight wince. “If I get wet, I pass out – it’s happened a few times.”

“Like, with rain?”

“It has to be a lot,” he added, sounding a bit offended before continuing. “I can absorb all forms of electro-magnetic energy, and can rechannel the energy into concussive blasts. I also use it to recharge batteries,” he laughed. “And it’s a great way to disrupt computerized systems.”

“Stay away!” she ordered jokingly, pocketing the GPS system protectively.

“Hey, no biggie,” Ray grinned, and shoved his hands into his jacket pockets with a shrug. “I got nicknamed Berzerker. You?”

“Me?” she asked in surprised, pointing at herself. “I don’t have a nickname.”

“Well, what about your power?” he prodded, and she gestured to a small, unobtrusive shrubbery nearby.

“See that?” she asked, and he nodded.

“Yeah. So what?”

“Watch,” Deitra said in self-satisfaction, concentrating on the plant. Ray’s eyes widened when the bush came back to life within seconds, even showing off small blue flowers.

“Nice. Can you do that with any plant?” he asked, and she nodded.

“Just about. And some more stuff, that’s more…well, it’s less subtle,” she added quietly, and he nodded sympathetically.

“I hear ya there.”

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Herkimer is in the middle of NY, and Westchester County is south of there, so I just guessed at how long a stupid bus trip would take. Sue me. (No, please don't!) Please review!