I Want to Talk to You

Donnie had expected a small dinner gathering with a select few, like Professor X and Jean. As key figures among the mutants, they could get to know each other better and facilitate future interactions.

However, he hadn't anticipated a full-school celebration.

Professor X had opened up the school's main hall, inviting students from all grades. Dozens of tables were pushed together, laden with famous dishes from continents around the world, featuring rare and exotic culinary creations.

The air was filled with tantalizing aromas and vibrant colors, making mouths water.

Children and teenagers, young and old, ran around laughing and shouting. Some mischievous ones even produced alcohol from who-knows-where and were drinking heavily, but they were quickly apprehended by the mentors.

They were underage and would face severe punishment. Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters had strict rules in certain aspects.

Donnie felt out of place. It was certainly lively, with kids running around, yelling, and cake smeared everywhere. It was amusing, but Donnie felt awkward.

As he sat down, a group of unruly boys surrounded him, staring intently without a word. Their gazes felt like they were observing a rare specimen.

Donnie finally couldn't stand it and snapped, "If you have something to ask, just ask! What's with all the staring? Are you asking for a beating?" He was getting creeped out by the silent, staring teenagers.

Finally, one disheveled boy, impatient and having had a bit to drink, jumped up and asked, "Are you The Mechanic?"

As if I'm not! Are you?

Donnie gave him a disdainful look and asked who he was.

The disheveled boy introduced himself as John Eldridge, nicknamed Pyro.

"They say you've killed a lot of people," John said. He was young and impulsive, much like his fire-controlling abilities. He was very curious about people like Donnie.

"People? That depends on your definition of 'people.' I just killed someone a while ago who happened to be named John too. Was he your brother?" Donnie said playfully, spearing a small fish with his fork and sniffing it. It smelled delicious.

Instead of being scared, Pyro's eyes lit up. He was wild and restless, unable to be a well-behaved child in a peaceful school. He envied Donnie's life.

Another teenager suddenly spoke, "What are you going to do next? Will you keep hunting vampires?" This calm teenager introduced himself as Bobby Drake.

Donnie looked at him with surprise. News of his vampire slaughters had circulated widely in the underworld, while the public incidents were suppressed by organizations like S.H.I.E.L.D. and The Council. How did this teenager know?

"I'm skilled in hacking. I infiltrated some systems and found many people discussing you, waiting to see your next move," Bobby explained. That was also when he learned that vampires truly existed in the world, not just in movies and TV shows.

The other onlookers were astonished. They peppered Bobby with questions: "Do vampires really exist?"

"Could they be a type of mutant? Like Angel mutants or Demon mutants, are there also Vampire mutants?" someone speculated, his vast knowledge allowing him to understand some of the mutant factions.

Donnie smiled and shook his head. He picked up another plate and, to the stunned amazement of the teenagers, began eating with his hands, completely disregarding table manners and making himself right at home. He was incredibly uninhibited.

Many people looked over, then smiled and turned away. Professor Charles and others watched him from afar, amused, happy to see Donnie mingling with the youngsters.

Donnie wiped his mouth and warned the teenagers, "Vampires are despicable beasts. They prey on innocent humans and are a major parasite on humanity. If you ever encounter one, kill it immediately without hesitation."

"One bite from that thing and you're basically done for," Donnie advised. He wanted to instill a sense of realism and self-preservation in these sheltered youths.

"What will you do then? Will you continue hunting vampires as some people speculate? Many bad guys are saying a major war is coming, and they even guess you might lead the entire mutant community in a global war against the vampire race," Bobby pressed Donnie. Having lived at the school for years, he rarely ventured into the outside world and sought information through Donnie.

"I don't know if it will lead to a war between us mutants and vampires. I don't have that kind of influence yet, and neither Professor X nor Magneto would fully listen to me. But at least one thing is clear: my war with the vampires has begun," Donnie said, circling around. He had never seen so many good things to eat, let alone heard of them. This time, he was going to eat his fill, with a crowd of teenagers trailing him.

What Donnie considered ordinary words created a huge ripple effect among the sheltered youths, greatly enhancing his image.

One person, starting a war! And the person saying it spoke with an air of inevitability! As if fighting a war himself was the most natural thing in the world!

The chuunibyou teenagers were getting excited. They were young, inexperienced, and had never met anyone as wild as Donnie. What's more, they found his wildness completely justified!

One person, starting a war! One person, an entire army!

These chuunibyou teenagers were instantly immersed in fantasies of desolate battlefields, where they themselves, alone, charged into enemy hordes, scattering them. Pyro John was the most fervent, banging loudly on tables and, in his excitement, pulling out a long-cherished flask of alcohol from his pocket and gulping it down.

Pyro John swore he had never met anyone like this. The image of the young man before him grew infinitely grand, as if he had punched open a new world for him.

Ororo walked over, slapped John's hand down, snatched the alcohol from him, and chided Donnie, "You shouldn't have told them these things, and you shouldn't have let them drink. They're too young and shouldn't be exposed to things they can't handle."

This was the consistent philosophy of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. They carefully nurtured these young members of their kind.

Donnie shrugged, offering an apologetic smile, though he inwardly disagreed. The world was cruel, and there wasn't much time or space for these youngsters to grow slowly. Flowers in a greenhouse might be beautiful, but they ultimately couldn't withstand hardship.

Donnie led a group of unruly boys on a food raid, causing many students to grumble in dissatisfaction. However, soon more students joined in, devouring the abundant food.

That night, everyone had a great time. That night, many people got to know and accept Donnie, the unfamiliar face.

By the time the gathering dispersed, it was well past midnight.

Donnie returned to the room arranged for him, patting his overstuffed stomach. While others drifted off to sleep, content, he stayed awake. Donnie was waiting for something, confident that someone would come looking for him.

Soon, soft footsteps echoed in the hallway, followed by a knock on the door.

"Mr. Donnie, are you asleep? It's John. I wanted to talk to you," Pyro John whispered, careful not to be discovered.