Jonathan Moore's Story

Ryan was just about done cleaning up. He'd noticed Johnathan walk in earlier and almost look upset that there were people in the art room. Ryan supposed he really just wanted to be alone. Ryan knew the feeling. That's why HE'd come down here. Professor Fuyumi had been nice the other day, but he woke up this morning feeling as if he couldn't smile, couldn't speak. It didn't matter that Vincent was ok and coming home safe. That was great, it was everything Ryan could have hoped for. It was mostly just that Ryan had failed to protect him, failed to keep him safe. He should have stayed there, with them, made sure they were ok. Still, there was nothing Ryan could have done about it. There were very powerful mutants in the room when they'd made off with Vincent. Ryan would have been just as helpless as them. It was pointless to worry over it, but Ryan couldn't help but worry. He'd let everyone down. The only person he hadn't let down was Adria. She was the only one. He'd managed to save her, but everyone else at the mansion, himself included, got hurt by his failures. It was a horrid feeling. The feeling of being responsible for so many being hurt by your inaction. There was nothing he could do to fix it, only hope for forgiveness. It was a wretched feeling.

He'd started to pack up, but just as soon as he'd started packing, he heard a voice that made him jump. It came from behind him. How on earth could anyone sneak past his hearing? Forget hearing, he hadn't even smelled him. Whipping around and growling and baring his teeth at what might have been a threat, Ryan was greeted with the smiling face of Ace Vasquez, a shadow user like Miss Cara. Dropping his act, Ryan put his hand on his neck. "Sorry," he said, emotionless.

She was standing over him, pointing at the man at the helm, and asked "What is his purpose Ryan? What does the person wish to accomplish by reaching the little oasis of light?" "Umm..." Ryan started, "I don't know. Maybe just rest. It's been a long time. He's probably just tired. Tired of struggling. Tired of hurting. I don't know." Ryan said. He resumed packing up his things and began to leave. Any other day he would have loved to discuss it with her, he just felt like being alone now.

He'd put his paints away and was washing his brushes, when he noticed Johnathan, Memory's brother try to get a look at his painting. Ryan had smelled him come in earlier, and didn't think much of it. In fact, Ryan didn't know what to think. He guessed he didn't mind him looking, or being in the art room, he just hoped Johnathan wouldn't make fun of him for it. It wasn't very good. It was the first time he'd painted in a while. The first time he'd tried it after grinding his scales extra hard, but they'd only be back the next morning. Then something broke Ryan's self-berating inner monologue. In the painfully silent room, Ryan heard Johnathan ask, three simple words. Three words that everyone lied in response to all the time. Three words that deadened the entire room, "Are you alright?" He asked Ryan his voice ringing in the small, enclosed space. Ryan was silent for a long while. He didn't know how to answer. He wanted to shout and scream and cry his eyes out. He wanted to punch something, he wanted to paint angst-ridden pictures, and he wanted to hurt everyone who'd ever wrong him all at once. It was the worst feeling he'd ever experienced. He felt like he was going to throw up. Finally, Ryan managed to respond, hardly above a whisper, his voice ragged from crying, "No. No I'm not alright Johnathan. I'm really not alright. It's why I came here. I came to paint, even though I'm not very good." Ryan sighed a little and smiled half-heartedly. "What about you? Isn't that why you came down here?" Ryan asked. He continued, not waiting for a response, "You must not be alright either." Ryan observed. "By the way, are you and Memory ok? I saw your... spat yesterday. I'm sorry. I shouldn't pry, I just know you two are really close, like family should be. It kind of hurt to see you guys fighting. Bah, listen to me." Ryan chuckled. "I'll leave you alone, that's why you came down here, isn't it. I'll get out of your hair." At that Ryan walked over to his painting and picked it up, aiming to leave and let Johnathan be alone for a while

Jonathan stayed silent for a second watching Ryan's retreating form as he moved away from both Jonathan and the shadow-walker in silence with a pang of regret in his heart for making Ryan admit to how he felt. Jonathan knew that this was one question that everyone found it easy to lie about, like the very question meant absolutely nothing. However, Ryan had told him the truth. Not something he was expecting and it was a pleasant surprise for the young Texan. After a moment, Jonathan finally answered the boy. He didn't particularly seem interested in the answer at all but Ryan had been honest with him so it was only fair to return the favour.

"I suppose... I suppose we are, as siblings. Together... Memory and I... we're fine. But I worry what she will be feeling alone."

Jonathan's gaze fell distant and the world seemed to separate from him almost, like an invisible bubble had formed around his still body as his face contorted in pain at the thought of Memory's hysterical sobs the night before. Practically tossing those thoughts to the back of his mind, Jonathan straightened his body and let his eyes refocus.

"We'll be fine. Minor disagreement is all." Swallowing the lump in his throat forcibly, Jonathan took a step forwards then suddenly something occurred to him in what Ryan had just said to him and his movements faltered. For a second, he wasn't sure if Ryan had been getting at what he thought he was, unintentionally no doubt, or not. Slowly, the words repeated over and over and over.

"...I just know you two are really close, like family should be. It kind of hurt to see you guys fighting. Bah, listen to me."

"...like family should be...hurt to see you guys fighting... listen to me..."

"...family...hurt...fighting...listen to me..."

"...listen to me..."

'Best not test that theory just yet, eh, Jonathan?' Jonathan thought to himself as the answer stared him straight in the face. Jonathan was good at reading into things like this, sometimes scary good as his friends would say, but even he made mistakes on occasion. If his theory proved to be wrong, then he could just be upsetting Ryan further and this was one thing he didn't want. Not just because he didn't want to hurt him after such a devastating blow as Vincent's kidnapping. No, that was not the only reason, nor the most important. Jonathan didn't want to test it and guess incorrectly because Ryan was his friend, and family. If there was one thing that Jonathan could not do it was hurt his family, be they biological or adopted in a sense.

As the black scaled boy lifted the painting he had been working on, and that Jonathan had failed to catch a glimpse of not minutes ago, the picturesque, yet turbulent, image was revealed to Jonathan's awaiting eyes. His lips stretched into a silent "wow" before they straightened slightly and the corners curled up into a smile, his teeth fully visible.

"You have real talent, y'know."

Fear that further compliments may embarrass him or only further push Ryan away from his own work, as many artists tend to do, Jonathan left it at this with a half smile and began towards the cupboard to retrieve his in-class sketch book. His long fingers on the murder weapons for hands, holstered within the gloves, sheathed within the leather, gripped the cupboard door...

...then he stopped.

Jonathan Moore stared down at the deadly weapons that were attached precariously to the end of his wrists, the same ones that had put a man into a coma the day before that would surely claim his life within the next few hours. For so many years, these hands had successfully kept people from him, pushed them away so not another friend or loved one could die. He had been terrified every day of his life since discovering this power, this nightmare touch, that he would destroy the lives of those around him. But now, after seeing that soldier's life ended so quickly and the other... his mother could be dying too...

Jonathan was not going to live every day of his life in fear.

Not any more.

Turning quickly, Jonathan called to Ryan a little louder than he was expecting, startling even himself.

"Hey! Ryan?"

Clearing the distance between them in three steps, Jonathan lowered his voice back to the normal volume for his husky Texan twang.

"I'm gonna go get some fresh air, walk the grounds. You wanna come?"

Ryan didn't hear Johnathan move when he went to pick up his painting. He must have been just standing there, but why? Ryan shrugged it off, but sure enough, when he turned back around, Johnathan had stayed exactly where he was. Just standing there, silent. Something was on his mind. Whatever it was, it was keeping him from answering. After a moment, Jonathan finally answered. "I suppose... I suppose we are, as siblings. Together... Memory and I... we're fine. But I worry what she will be feeling alone."

Obviously he was lying. His face contorted in pain, and he seemed to want to forget something. Ryan tried to comfort him, "I don't know what it is, but you're family. Actually related by blood. I'm sure you'll get over it. What's in the past stays there. You can move on from it and forgive each other. That's what family does. I'm jealous of you actually. To have someone who will love you, stand by you, and just be physically there with you no matter what. I'm sure you guys will be ok." Hopefully, whatever argument or disagreement they'd had could be forgotten. A family forgives each other. Ryan didn't know what it was they were fighting about, but he was sad for them though. It really did pain him to see such sadness between siblings, between real family.

Jonathan straightened his body and his eyes refocused, he must have finally put whatever was bugging him out of his mind. He looked at Ryan and spoke again. "We'll be fine. Minor disagreement is all." "That's good." Ryan said, "I'm glad to hear that." He actually smiled a little. Jonathan took a step forwards, then his movements faltered, he stopped. Something must have occurred to him. He obviously had something to tell him, so Ryan stood there, holding his painting. Ryan had been fidgeting, not sure if Johnathan was actually going to ask him something. He turned the painting over in his hands once or twice. Johnathan's eyes grew wide. He must have caught a glimpse. "You have real talent, y'know." He said. Ryan just waved it off. "My hands are so static, it's hard to paint with claws. Thanks for the compliment though. I ground my them extra hard to paint today, my claws that is. I love painting, but it seems my X-gene doesn't." He chuckled. Something must have triggered in Johnathan's mind, because he turned quickly, and called to Ryan, "Hey! Ryan?" He cleared the distance between them in three steps, then said, "I'm gonna go get some fresh air, walk the grounds. You wanna come?" Ryan nodded slowly, slipping his painting into the backpack he'd brought down with him, "Yeah," he said, barely over a mumble, "Yeah, I'd really like that." he finished, speaking up so Johnathan could hear him, slinging the back pack over his shoulder.

Ryan followed Johnathan up and out of the basement, onto the grounds. It was a beautiful day out, a shining sun a few poofy white clouds, a very slight breeze, just enough to push your hair around a little bit.

The second that Jonathan stepped outside he gave a weak smile into the gentle breeze that blew past him, cooling him to perfection, and jumped down the seven or eight stairs to the ground, landing... well he could have done better but the main thing was he stayed on his feet. Straightening his arms behind his body slightly Jonathan inhaled deeply and let the cool morning air chill him within then let his body relax, the pain of yesterday's training session and the mansion invasion finally taking its toll on his body bringing a quiet wince that was almost undetectable to the human ear, even his own. Something he had perfected was masking his pain, though even he couldn't hide all pains.

Turning slowly, Jonathan attempted another smile. It still seemed a tiny bit forced to even him and he could feel that the smile didn't completely reach his eyes, but it was better than he had been managing all morning. If the image in the mirror earlier was anything to go by he looked like crap. A cut above his right eyebrow (as minor as it was), a bruise on his right cheek to the side that was so small that you would have to look quite close to even notice the damn thing and tired eyes with dark circles beneath them.

'Just another day in the life of the X-men...'

Crossing his arms with slightly pain that was successfully masked behind his smile Jonathan looked Ryan up and down quickly with his eyes and pursed his lips considering. The question that he been playing on his lips for so long, since first seeing the black scaled wonder in fact. he had been wanting to ask for so long the way that his body functioned as it did. Was he warm blooded? Cold blooded? Reptilian? What abilities and augmented human skills did he receive such as strength and such?

Ok... so more than one question but still.

Deciding to save it for another time, he released his arms and turned to the Xavier estate. Jonathan had fallen in love with this place upon arrival, before they were even moving in. Just when they were considering it he adored the building and grounds. Many times he had come out late at night and painted the building or the estate or sketched the scenery from the roof. Twilight was the most tranquil time at the mansion in his opinion and nothing could stop him embracing the bitter cold outside for another rush of that clean, pure air.

"You know... I had been intending to borrow some of the art supplies to come and do another painting of this building for tonight but... I dunno. When I paint, it's like I go to another world where it's just colours and shapes and light and forms. No responsibilities... no pain... just utter bliss." He shook his head and turned back to Ryan slowly.
"I doubt I'd be able to now. I have to be in that mood or there's nothing." Shaking his head again, the now mop of hair atop his head flipping about in the wind before lifting gracefully with the breeze and lowering again.

"Prob'ly for the best to be honest. With how Me- everyone is right now, I doubt I'd get up there unnoticed. Besides, Professor X no doubt already knows." Shrugging, Jonathan closed his eyes and lifted his hands, each pointing in a different direction.

"Right or left, my good sir?"

The second that Jonathan stepped outside he gave a weak smile into the gentle breeze that blew past him, and jumped down the seven or eight stairs to the ground. He straightened his arms behind his body and breathed deeply. Now that Ryan thought about it, Johnathan had had an even bigger day that he had. He'd been in the training room too. Ryan thought... just for a moment, that he heard Johnathan wince. But it couldn't have been, must have been the breeze rustling the grass or the leaves in the trees, or something.

Turning slowly, Jonathan smiled again. Ryan knew that smile. It was the one he gave himself when he looked in the mirror this morning before prepping himself for painting. It was a forced smile, for the most part. The kind that looked happy except in the eyes. There's were you could see something was still bothering him. Still, Ryan let it slide. There were probably things Johnathan was thinking about, things he was keeping to himself. Everyone one was today. No one wanted to show their family how much they hurt inside. Not even here, at the school. Ryan took a brief moment to study his face. He'd been hurt yesterday. There was a cut above his right eyebrow, and a tiny bruise on his right cheek. Ryan almost didn't notice it. Then there were dark circles beneath half-smiling eyes. Everyone had those too. It had been a rough day. Not just for Ryan, everyone had felt the pain.

Crossing his arms with what looked like a real smile Jonathan looked Ryan up and down quickly with his eyes and pursed his lips. There appeared to be a question on his mind, like earlier. He disregarded it, or perhaps he'd stored it for a better time, regardless, he put what was bugging him out of his mind and looked around the campus. He released his arms, letting them down by his sides, and turned to the Xavier estate. Ryan looked with him. At their home. It had always looked good to Ryan. Even after an invasion and a full scale assault with sentinels and everything the school was beautiful. It was one of the reasons Ryan had come here. The place was perfect.

"You know..." Johnathan said, breaking their reflective silence, "I had been intending to borrow some of the art supplies to come and do another painting of this building for tonight but... I dunno. When I paint, it's like I go to another world where it's just colours and shapes and light and forms. No responsibilities... no pain... just utter bliss." He shook his head and turned back to Ryan slowly who nodded in agreement. Painting was a form of release. It was a way to forget everything and turn your pain into beauty. That was, if you were better than Ryan was. Even though Johnathan had complimented him on the painting he was still holding, Ryan never felt it was good enough. His hands always felt clumsy and poorly directed. Johnathan spoke up again, "I doubt I'd be able to now. I have to be in that mood or there's nothing." Shaking his head again, the now mop of hair atop his head flipping about in the wind before lifting gracefully with the breeze and lowering again. Ryan nodded again, "There's a specific place you have to be at, not where you're sitting or anything, but in your soul. You can't force it, you have to let it come to you."

"Prob'ly for the best to be honest. With how Me- everyone is right now, I doubt I'd get up there unnoticed. Besides, Professor X no doubt already knows." Ryan caught the slip up, even without his excellent hearing he would have caught the vocal inflections that lead to Memory's name. Ryan shrugged it off. If Johnathan wanted to keep secrets about Memory, he certainly could. They were their business. Ryan hoped, one day he might share in that business, but it most likely wasn't to be. That one day he'd be able to do things for them. Not just especially Memory, but Johnathan too. They were good people, they'd been nice to him. Still, there was no way they'd ever be closer than friends. Ryan knew what he was, he wasn't someone you bring home to mom, Ryan gently touched the horn stubs that he ground everyday on his forehead. He played it off like he was scratching his head. As if to further emphasize that point, his tail slunk out of his pants and wagged ever so slightly. He couldn't help it, the wind felt amazing. Ryan felt himself actually smile. It felt so good outside. The breeze was cool but the sun was warm. It was a good day, a new day. Looking back to Johnathan and snapping himself out his reverie, Ryan saw him shrug, then close his eyes and lift his hands into the air, each pointing in a different direction.

"Right or left, my good sir?" he asked. "Umm... Right." Ryan suggested, and headed off that direction, tail wagging in time with his step and golden eyes shining in the sunlight.

Jonathan decided to hang back by just a second or two so as to get his head around what he had... felt? sensed? He had no clue. It felt like he had sensed a hope, the same warm feeling that he felt in his stomach every time he uses it still present, but there was no eye contact with Ryan. There was nothing, just... a feeling. And it wasn't just the sensing of this feeling that was bothering Jonathan though, it was the content within the feeling. He had felt not only hope, but a desperate hope. Like life-would-not-be-complete-without-this hope. He couldn't quite pin down the exact specifics but there were scraps of information like unity, family and love. Watching Ryan walk to the right of the estate, his tail bobbing carefree almost calming Jonathan. Almost. Sighing at his lack of info, he decided to catch up with Ryan and try to subtly discover all he could.

He walked in silence for a few moments, his mind going through so many ideas for him to start a conversation with that he couldn't quite decide on which would be the best one. In the end, he settled for a fairly basic, but always practical, topic on powers.

"So, besides the claws, rock hard scales and tail - which might I add is awesome-" Jonathan looked over his shoulder at his backside then spun in a circle staring at it before stumbling for dramatic and comic emphasis (not that it were any good).
"I wish I had a tail..." Returning to the previous topic with a drawn out sigh, Jonathan continued where he left off.
"What else can you do?"

Taking a quick glance up the path, Jonathan shifted his stance slightly into more of a running one and gazed at Ryan challengingly.
"I'm assuming that your powers follow some sort of pattern, like e animal style patterns, so let's see if I'm right and if you're faster too."

Ace

Ace smiled at Ryan’s response and nodded. Ryan moved to wash his brushes and she took a closer look at his painting.

'He really is good'

looking up as Jonathan entered the room Ace marveled at how dead he looked. 'i guess not everyone handled yesterday like i did' Jonathan crossed the room quietly with grace and passed Ryan but seemed to falter a bit asking him if he was alright. Which Ryan responded with "No. No I'm not alright Johnathan. I'm really not alright. It's why I came here. I came to paint, even though I'm not very good." Ryan sighed a little and smiled half-heartedly. "What about you? Isn't that why you came down here?" Ryan asked.
"hhmm sounds like he has been crying, I'll have to fix that later wonder how i can get him out of this mood' she thought as she disappeared from the room via shadow and into the lounge.

She sank back into one of the sofas. Leaning forwards and propping her elbows on her knees, her head resting in her hands. She began to twiddle with her sun glasses until she finally took them off and leaned back. Looking up into the ceiling she rested her hand on her forehead and spaced out. ‘hhmm now how to help him ‘suddenly Ace snorted realizing that for the first time she actually cared about the well-being of someone else’s besides the two who and already captured her heart before.’haha I guess these kids finally made an impression on me . . . hmmm oh’ Ace suddenly sat up coming up with a great idea ‘yes that could work ill teach him. . .. I wonder how it will end’. Leaning back once again into the sofa Ace spaced out once again then closed her eyes. To others it looked like she fell asleep but her mind was still working on a plan. . . . .

Ryan walked slowly, enjoying the breeze and the sun. Talking with Johnathan was nice, it felt really good. Ryan had gotten a ways away from Johnathan when he finally noticed he was walking by himself, Johnathan's footsteps had stopped. Ryan turned around and faced him from a distance of about twenty feet. Johnathan spoke, "So, besides the claws, rock hard scales and tail - which might I add is awesome-" Jonathan looked over his shoulder at his backside then spun in a circle staring at it before stumbling, most probably on purpose. Ryan couldn't help but chuckle. "I wish I had a tail..." There Ryan had to interject, "No you don't, trust me. I'm always knocking stuff over when I'm inside, plus, you can leave some pretty big bruises on people if you hit them with it." Returning to the previous topic with a drawn out sigh, Jonathan continued where he left off. "What else can you do?" Taking a quick glance up the path, Jonathan shifted his stance slightly into more of a running one and gazed at Ryan challengingly. "I'm assuming that your powers follow some sort of pattern, like animal style patterns, so let's see if I'm right and if you're faster too."

At that, Johnathan took off down the pathway. He was running at a pretty good clip, for someone so humanoid. "Well, you'd be right." Ryan called out, slipping the backpack off of his shoulders and placing it gently on the ground. Ryan knelt down, taking his stance on all fours, stretching and getting ready. He had to give Johnathan a head start, after all, he was only running on two legs. After a few seconds, Ryan took off, still on all fours. Ryan could never see why people didn't run this way, it was so much faster. Then again, most people weren't built like Ryan was. Catching up after about 3 seconds, Ryan had covered roughly fifty or sixty feet and was keeping up with Johnathan without too much difficulty, he was still going pretty fast. Ryan was pretty impressed, He must work out... "I'm faster, stronger, and my reactions are better than most humans. I'm covered is scales, as you know, and there are horns on my forehead. My senses are better than most people too. I can smell and hear pretty well." Ryan finished explaining, still running on all fours. "This is just a little slow for my tastes though. I'm not built for endurance, I do short bursts repeatedly with short breaks in between. Meet up with me at that tree over there." Ryan said, motioning to a tree in the distance with the point of his tail.

Finally, not wanting to hold back anymore, Ryan blasted ahead and tore down the path, blazing another seventy feet or so to the tree in roughly 3 seconds. He jumped when he was about 5 feet away and launched himself into the leafy canopy, it was only an eight foot jump, plus he'd had a good running start. Ryan clambered around for a moment, getting used to the feel of this particular tree and then hung from one of the lowest branches by his tail. "OK, this is why you'd want a tail. If you're strong like I am you can do this kind of thing with it. For climbing. Climbing is fun, plus I can grab stuff with it. However, that's all I get out of it. When it was growing, that I'd get used to it being a particular size and when it was as much as an inch longer it'd throw off my balance and my coordination and I'd hit stuff with it."

Ryan was bloody fast.

Jonathan figured he would be quick, a lot faster than him, but not that fast! Jonathan could easily sprint 100 meters in around eleven seconds, a record that he was damn proud of and hoped that maybe his new friend could only run a little faster than him but the scaled boy - who was in fact eight years younger than the cursed twenty-four year old and did count as just a boy - had abolished him. Then again, he had four legs to use while Jonathan had only two. And he had a tail.

J still wished he had a tail...

Upon reaching Ryan's current location, at this point hanging upside down from said tail in a tree, Jonathan curled forwards and pressed his hands to his knees drawing in as much air as his lungs could manage. He wasn't usually like this. Out of breath? Maybe. But not utterly breathless and exhausted. The day before must have taken a greater toll than he expected. He opened his mouth to speak but his voice and breath failed him. Lifting one hand he signalled for the boy to give him a minute longer.

When he had recovered enough, Jonathan faced the horned teen and considered the tree for a moment. Glancing from branch to branch, calculating each one and whether they would hold his weight, he took a short run at the trunk. One booted foot hit and pushed up, the other following and doing the same. He managed one more unsteady step up the tree truck then reached as high as he could, his long fingers gripping the nearest branch hard. Calling on whatever strength he had left Jonathan pulled himself up, walking up the tree as much as possible for extra support, and scrambled onto the branch.

He stared down at the floor with a grin, a real grin. Not a fake one like he had been using all day, and for most days, but a true beaming grin, the beam of which bright enough to blind like the sun. Then again, his ex did always say he had a smile that could light up a room when he chose to show it. Sidestepping that painful thought of his ex, Tanya, he returned his hazel eyes to Ryan's own almost cat eyes.

"Still got it! I used to free run as a kid, but I haven't don e it in years. Guess you never really forget it, huh?"

He bit his lip as an idea came to him, the temptation to follow it through almost becoming too much for him. If he just focussed for a moment he could recall the hope he felt earlier from Ryan and figure out exactly what it meant, even though he had a theory for some of it, and if maybe he could help. However, he managed to refrain. His number one rule at all times was never enter a mind without permission unless completely necessary or unintentional (which he had to add after feeling the hope without trying just moments ago).

Suddenly realising that he was still staring into Ryan's eyes while biting his lip, Jonathan's own eyes grew wide and he looked away, the almost unnoticeable pink blush showing faintly through his sun kissed skin at the top of his cheeks.
'Oh god, please say he didn't get the wrong idea...'

Shaking his head, he pushed himself up slightly into the tree, taking it branch by branch by branch so quickly that his mind could barely keep up, out of embarrassment.He had almost decided not to ever stop when he heard the gut-wrenching sound of the branch cracking. The one below him also snapped and dropped through the air to the ground and he dangled above Ryan and the grass floor so far below with fear in his heart and coursing through his body, clinging on to a branch that had half broken away form the tree. It broke away further and his body drooped further.

"Oh, this would happen to me today!"

These were his last words before the branch completely came away and his flailing body flew through the air. Within seconds his back struck the ground and the wind was knocked form him. his vision blurred form the force of the... could you really call it a landing? Crash landing maybe... Regardless, he was in a lot of pain.

"Well... I guess I don't... still got it."

>>>>>>>><Meanwhile, Memory's bedroom><<<<<<<<

A gentle knock at the door made Memory pull her head form the pillow that now had more tears than stuffing in it after her late night tear session gripping her mother's photograph and this mornings continued cryathon. Only a second later Cara's thick Russian accent, slightly muffled by the door, asked through politely with some concern.

“Memory? Are you ok?”

Her gentle gasp was barely audible to herself, let alone any several feet away separated from the noise by a wooden door. Puling herself up quickly, with panic and terror rising, she practically slapped away the tears that had almost stained her face and leapt to her feet. Standing in the middle of the room like an idiot she looked around quickly for some way to hide that she had been crying.

"Y-yeah, uh..." Clearing her throat, Memory finished the sentence as it had started off wavering like she had been crying. Well she had been crying but Cara didn't need to know.
"Just a sec!"

She looked at the water bottle on her bed side table, considering applying a little water here and there plus through her hair to make it seem as if she had come out of a shower not long ago, that would certainly hide it. However, it was was a poor excuse. Abandoning that idea, she decided to go for the most basic and boring of them all, but safest, and charged to he little desk and three mirrored display set up. Quickly pulling her make-up out and placing the photo down gently, Memory wiped her face wipe a cloth and started going through her usual morning routine, though skipping the outfit choice preferring to stay in the same thin fabric "dress" as yesterday that worked excellently as sleeping attire. Right now, she couldn't care less.

When the evidence of crying was somewhat covered from Cara unless she looked really hard, by which point Memory would be adding something else to her face and covering the eyes with either make-up or her hands or her hair. Taking a deep inhalation, she shouted Cara in.

"Door's open!"

'Better to face things head on.'

Ace

tired of just sitting on the sofa she got up and walked around the mansion. before she knew it she found herself in Caras room or at least the room she was supposed to be in while recuporating. just then the nurse rushed in "what were did she go?"turning towards Ace "you dont know where she could have gone?" Ace in the little time she knew Cara guessed she was having a smoke, but of courae guessing frlm the nurses reaction from Cara simply not being here it would proably best not to tell her, her assumption

"nope i do not unfortunatley"she said with little to no emotion and was about to leave when the nurse grabbed her arm. "are you sure then maybe you could help me look for her you can do that right?" Ace was getting annoyed by the nurses question. "I'm more than capable enough to find her are you being as your just a Human" she emphasized. the nurse was shocked at what she said and Ace didn't care. the nurse was baffled by her reply and just stared at her with her mouth open. "close your woman before a fly comes in" Ace sneered and left via shadow.

so once again Ace walked about popping up everywhere and startling a few students when she would suddenly appear halfway from a shadow so it gave her the look being severed in half. Ace was getting irritated fast and really wanted to find Cara so the nurse wouldn't throw a fit when she turned up empty handed.

she suddenly found herself by the gates or rather in front of them spotting a young girl standing by the intercom watching Ryan and Jonathan. "oi who are you don't you know its rude to just stand there watching my students" Ace called out to the girl who seemed to jump when Ace called her out.

Annabelle was leaning on the gate, waiting for someone to let her in but she found the boys in the tree rather fascinating. Then she heard someone shout at her, she bowed her head, some of her hair falling over and concealing her face a little. 'Sorry, I'm meant to meeting with a Professor, Professor Charles Xavier?' She telepathically projected this into the woman's mind.

She looked up slightly to see how this woman would react. "My name is Annabelle Greyson," She told her, "Abd it's rude to stare not watch." She corrected her, back home she would have been smacked for that but she risked it.

Upon reaching Ryan's location, at this point still hanging upside down from said tail in a tree, Jonathan curled forwards and pressed his hands to his knees drawing in as much air as his lungs could manage. "You ok?" Ryan asked. "Yesterday was rough, not just here." Ryan said pointing at his heart. "You had training and still fought our enemies yesterday. You should take it easy. Not everyone recovers as fast as I do. Ahh, I forgot, I heal quickly too, like Mr. Logan. Instead of animal patterns, I think I follow more of a monster like theme. Clawed, horned, scaled, hard to hurt. Like some really bad science fiction movie monster." Lifting one hand he signaled for the Ryan to give him a minute longer.

When he had recovered enough, Jonathan faced the horned teen and considered the tree for a moment. Glancing from branch to branch, calculating each one and whether they would hold his weight, he took a short run at the trunk. One booted foot hit and pushed up, the other following and doing the same. He managed one more unsteady step up the tree truck then reached as high as he could, his long fingers gripping the nearest branch hard. Calling on whatever strength he had left Jonathan pulled himself up, walking up the tree as much as possible for extra support, and scrambled onto the branch.

He stared down at the floor with a grin, a real grin. Not a fake one like he had been using all day, and for most days, but a true beaming grin, the beam of which bright enough to blind like the sun. Ryan smiled. It was good to see him looking so happy. Yesterday had been a very rough day indeed. Ryan looked down to see Johnathan's hazel eyes staring into his own, still beaming from the success.

"Still got it! I used to free run as a kid, but I haven't don e it in years. Guess you never really forget it, huh?"

He bit his lip and seemed to zone out after a while, still staring into Ryan's eyes. Ryan turned away. It was kind of embarrassing, for someone to give you a look like that. Hopefully he was just zoning out about something else. It appeared Johnathan had come to a similar realization. Jonathan's eyes grew wide and he looked away at the same time as Ryan, the almost unnoticeable pink blush showing faintly through his sun kissed skin at the top of his cheeks. When Ryan felt that it wasn't awkward anymore he looked back at Johnathan and smiled a goofy smile chuckling slightly at the situation that had just past.

Shaking his head, Johnathan pushed himself up slightly into the tree, taking it branch by branch by branch. Ryan's head perked up. He'd smelled something, something like car exhaust and he'd heard it coming up the path to the mansion. His heart almost stopped. Was it Vincent and the others? Were they back already? No, Ryan smelled a woman's perfume, it was someone new. More importantly it wasn't Vincent. However, he heard an ominous cracking and returned his attention to Johnathan, who was hanging above him. He was clinging on to a branch that had half broken away from the tree. It broke away further and his body drooped dangerously.

"Oh, this would happen to me today!" Johnathan said, Ryan was too far away from him to help.

The branch broke completely and his flailing body flew through the air. "Johnathan!" Ryan called out to him, jumping towards the ground, however, he was too late, he didn't notice it quickly enough to react in time. Within seconds Johnathan struck the ground. Ryan landing shortly behind him. "I'm sorry, I thought I smelled something and I wasn't paying attention. Let's not do that again. Or maybe, we should have found a bigger tree..." Ryan trailed off, lost in thought. Who was that new person? Disregarding it the thought, Ryan returned his attention to Johnathan, who was cringing in pain.

"Well... I guess I don't... still got it." He said and Ryan chuckled half-heartedly. "Sorry, would you like me to carry you? I can take you to the nurse." He asked. He genuinely hoped Johnathan would be ok. He had no idea how he was going to explain that to Memory. "Umm, sorry Memory, I accidentally wasn't paying attention to your brother and he hurt himself bad. Wanna date?" Even in his head it sounded stupid.

"Sorry, would you like me to carry you? I can take you to the nurse."

Jonathan turned his head to Ryan with a bemused expression at the question, the all too familiar warm feeling his chest fluttering once more. Raising an eyebrow he tried to speak, the Texan voice failing for a second. Clearing his throat, he tried again, this time with more success.

"Dude, I'm a 24 year old guy standing at 6'6" weighing 184lbs and you, a 16 year old boy, expect to be able to carry me?"

His hazel eyes travelled up and down Ryan's body slowly, the focus still not completely returned, taking in every possible detail that he could. He honestly didn't look physically capable of holding the Texas native above the ground fro more than than ten seconds, not even in the slightest. Then again, they were in the school for the gifted. A school specifically designed for mutants with incredible abilities. For all Jonathan knew this kid could easily lift an eighteen wheeler while painting his own self-portrait without a mirror or photograph.

Well... probably not that, but the point still stands.

"Besides," Jonathan just managed to croak this out before clearing his throat once more and catching his breath. "it didn't kill me. I'll be fine." Smiling gently, he looked away.

"It's not as bad as flying into a Sentinel or anything. Now help me up would ya!" He called joking, beginning his ascent to a standing position.

>>>>>>>>>>>>><Memory's bedroom with Cara><<<<<<<<<<<<<

“Is everything all right?"

Memory's hand shook ever so slightly as she attempt to lie to yet another person, something that she was becoming increasingly good at. What's worse was that she also didn't even feel bad about it much any more. She could easily lie to a friend, acquaintance, lover and it wouldn't even leave a mark on her conscience. The only one she felt bad about lying to was Jonathan and this scared her. The utter disregard for everyone else's feelings really did terrify her, but now was not the time to linger on this thought. She lowered the eye liner pencil down from her face and help it in her right hand while looking for something else with her left, though what she wasn't even sure herself.

"Yeah... of course." She answered rather vaguely.

"I thought I heard crying is all.”

The pencil snapped in her hand.

Thankfully she had closes the lid of the small box in which she kept her eye shadow, the object her other hand had apparently been looking for, with a thud at the same time. Hopefully, it had been louder than the sound of the small pencil breaking in two. Subtly throwing the remains of her old dear friend to the ground beneath her table, Memory swallowed to wet her throat for speaking.

"Really? Interesting."

Memory was trying to keep her answers sort without sounding too rude, but it didn't quite seem to work. The crying must have affected her brain or something along those lines because it was becoming increasingly harder to maintain the charade.

'Focus Memory. You have to stay focussed or you'll never get through this.'

“A lot happened yesterday and if you need someone to talk to, I’m here. I know I don’t exactly have the greatest reputation here but I have always been a good listener.”

With her eyes glue to the mirrors, Memory watched as Cara stepped to only a few feet from her chair and searched the room with her eyes, scanning for anything out of the ordinary. He eyes fell on the bed and lingered there. Memory followed her gaze and cursed silently. In the rush she had forgotten the bed, or rather the pillow, and it could have just blown her entire lie. The smokescreen M had used to defend her emotions and worries and troubles was clearing fast and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

'Guess I've just gotta tell her straight then...'

Memory turned the chair around, the swivel chair she had bought a while back finally coming in handy, and smiled apologetically at Cara. The smile was faked, at least to a degree, but should have been convincing enough. She could only hope.

"I appreciate the offer Miss Black, and I know that I can always come to you for some womanly advice or just a shoulder to cry on, but... this is really a family matter. I feel it should only be discussed with my brother. Thank you again though. I really do appreciate your concern."

Memory smiled once more before turning back to her mirror and make-up.

By nature, Memory held very little trust in anyone besides her family or close friend that she had known for years and years and years. To gain her trust quickly it took a lot. Since arriving she had never really felt any more or less trust towards Cara than anyone else, until she heard of her past. When this story came to light her opinion changed. The little trust that had been gained was gone, back to the normal "I couldn't care less" amount.

'I still can't believe I was foiled by a wet pillow...'

Jonathan turned his head to Ryan with a bemused expression at the question, looking Ryan up and down for a moment. Jonathan raised an eyebrow and tried to speak, however, his voice appeared to fail him for a moment, must have been the shock from the fall. Clearing his throat, he tried again, this time with a bit more success.

"Dude, I'm a 24 year old guy standing at 6'6" weighing 184 lbs and you, a 16 year old boy, expect to be able to carry me?"

His hazel eyes travelled up and down Ryan's body slowly, the focus still not completely returned, taking in every possible detail that he could. Ryan could tell he doubted his strength, Ryan would too, had their situations been reversed. However, Ryan was himself after all, and he knew better. Before he could answer that, if he wanted, Ryan could carry him piggy back and still scale Xavier Mansion's tallest spire, or remind him that he carried Adria from the danger room in the same manner while running full speed, Jonathan spoke.

"Besides," Jonathan just managed to croak this out before clearing his throat once more and catching his breath. "it didn't kill me. I'll be fine." Smiling gently, he looked away. Ryan could detect a small hint of manly pride in the statement. It was perfectly understandable, after all, Ryan was eight years younger than him.

"It's not as bad as flying into a Sentinel or anything. Now help me up would ya!" He called joking, beginning his ascent to a standing position. Ryan chuckled, walking around behind him and grabbing him under the armpits before lifting him gently and controlling his strength so the ascent wasn't too fast. "You saw that huh?" Ryan asked, chuckling at Jonathan's jibe at his tactics from yesterday's battle, "That's not something to joke about, I could have died! My bones are pretty sturdy, so it scared the crap out of me to feel them crackle. Luckily, I recover pretty quickly, not so fast as Mr. Logan, but fast enough." he explained, still chuckling. "So, if you're feeling up to walking some more, where are we headed next? I have to go grab my pack, but I don't want to stop! This is so fun! I haven't done something like this in a long time..." Ryan trailed off, remembering the last time he'd walked like this with his father, feeling his grip tighten.

Ryan remembered the day before his doctor's appointment. He and his father had went to the beach. They were walking in the sand, talking and just having a good day. It was a warm summer day, the sea breeze blowing gently. Not unlike this day that Ryan was spending with Jonathan, except of course, Jonathan was not Ryan's father. It had been so long, so long since he'd remembered that, Ryan didn't even think his father, or both his parents for that matter, still even cared about him. His breath sped up for a moment. What if they hated him? What if they'd forgotten him? Ryan was scared, scared that they didn't love him anymore, isn't that why they sent him here. Why did this thought come to him now? Was it because of Vincent? "No," Ryan thought. "They aren't my family anymore, everyone here is my family now. Dr. Xavier, Professor Fuyumi, Thantos, Jonathan and Memory, Vincent, Logan, and Jean. They're my family now. They're what matters." Ryan looked up and realized he'd been spacing out, still holding onto Jonathan, he loosened his grip, it was probably painfully tight by now. "Sorry!" Ryan exclaimed, backing away from Jonathan, who was now on his feet. "I didn't mean to space out. Yesterday was really rough, losing Vincent and all. I'm not myself... Sorry." Ryan apologized, hanging his head. "Great, I've made a friend and now he probably thinks I'm weird."

Kyle and Hideki

Kyle happened to be looming about the mansion in a blah sort of mood. There were many people about the mansion pretending not to be bothered and others that didn’t even attempt to pretend. Kyle usually went about the mansion stalking the cute guys and laughing at how he made them feel uncomfortable when he flirted with them playfully. However today was much different. He was in a mood of solitude and desired to be mostly an observer of others. He walked past the Art room. There were a few people there including Jonathan, Ace and Ryan. Jonathan caught his eye. Kyle leaned against the door of the art room quietly so that no one would notice him. Ryan and Jonathan were talking a little.

Kyle whispered to himself, “I didn’t Know Jonathan and Ryan painted.” Kyle’s parents were painters and photographers back in France. They taught him to excel in their crafts as well. He always appreciated a good painting or interesting photo, but he chose to be the center piece of the art by becoming a model. Kyle wanted to say something to the boys but as they approached the door he ducked back against the wall and swiftly flew around the corner. “Where was Memory? She’s almost always with Jonathan. She was taking things rather difficultly yesterday.” Kyle said to himself.

Kyle thought back to earlier that morning. He had asked the Professor if he could be allowed to tag along with Logan, Scott and Philip when they went to rendezvous with Vincent. He had promised himself that he’d help find Vincent in any way that he could. However the professor wouldn’t allow it. “You must take it easy and rest Kyle. Scott, Logan, and Philip can handle this. Besides, there are others here at the mansion that need you more. Hideki could use a good distraction right now.” Kyle remembered the professor’s words and he smiled. He decided to visit Hideki.

Hideki sat in the library slightly depressed. He decided to create a sword of light. Magneto had been coaching him lately with the use of his power and creating light energy objects that were actually tangible. It took so much concentration to do so Hideki decided to stop and try something simpler. He placed his hands together and created a ball of light. That ball of multicolored light swirled and moved about serenely. From the ball flew a butterfly of light that fluttered around creating sparkles where it flew. Hideki felt much better when looking at the delicate creature of light. It was carefree and he felt carefree for a moment. He just wished that he’d feel better after the butterfly was no more too.

Kyle walked into the library, searching from aisle to aisle for Hideki. There he found him, seated at the back of the library at a small table near a window. The sunlight fell peacefully onto Hideki and the surrounding area. The butterfly Hideki created gracefully flittered over to Kyle, once Hideki realized that Kyle was watching him. The butterfly landed on the tip of Kyle’s nose and batted it’s wings a couple of times before flittering off toward the light from the window and fading away into the golden sunshine. “That was pretty nice I see you’ve found your distraction.” Kyle said with a smirk.

The two students stalked for a while and then decided to head downstairs to the common area and watch television. Once they reached the common area the say Stinger. She was seated on the couch, legs crossed, and flipping through channels. She was obviously very bored. Kyle was at first a bit hesitant to sit next to her. She was just yesterday their enemy. She seemed to know Cara, and Kyle thought perhaps if Cara knew about Stinger, she could have possibly known about the attack on the mansion. As Hideki sat down seemingly without a care Kyle stood deep in thought. “Kyle you alright?” Hideki asked.

“Oh, I’m fine. I must have been spacing out.” Kyle replied with a quick smile. Kyle sat down and Stinger began to talk. “So you boys know of any good malls around here? I’m dying to do some spending therapy. Cara’s off getting all medicated, I don’t do manual labor so helping to fix the joint is out of the question and TV has failed me miserably today.” Stinger spoke to the students like she was unaware of the previous day’s circumstances. They were shocked at her whimsical disposition.

Hideki brightened up when he heard the word mall. “Do I ever!” He replied. Kyle rolled his eyes as Stinger and Hideki chattered on about their future shopping expeditions.

Fuyumi Abe

Fuyumi had helped out with a few things around the mansion. There were several things that needed to be taken in and out of rooms that were too large to fit through doors, so Fuyumi phased them through the walls for the professor. She decided to take a break and sit outside for a while. The sky was pretty sunny and the breeze was pleasant and soft. She wondered if Vincent had suffered any while captured. She truly hoped that things would remain peaceful for a while. She then heard a familiar voice approach her, “Fuyumi! Is everyone ok?!”

The voice belonged to Mutt Ant the mutant enthusiast. Fuyumi smiled as the man approached her. “Mutt! It’s been a while! Yes everyone is fine for the most part. Nothing too major on the physical injury side of things but emotionally we’ve been hit pretty hard. Vincent, Professor Xavier and Magneto’s son, was kidnapped by Weapon-X yesterday. They are the ones who attacked the Mansion. The good news is that the professor was able to locate Vincent and he seems okay. Scott, Logan and Philip are headed to go pick him up. I hope you aren’t too bothered by the state the mansion’s in.” Fuyumi replied calmly. Mutt could be a little strange at times but his heart was always the one to speak volumes for his genuine spirit.

Vincent and Cain

Miles away from the destroyed Weapon-X facility, Vincent, Cain, Sabertooth, David, and Agent Six walked seemingly aimlessly along a hot sun. They were on a road that seemingly rarely had traffic. They had walked a long way. Vincent and Cain lead the group walking side by side. Agent Six trailed just a few paces behind them. David and Victor followed up the rear. Victor looked up at the sun and cringed, “You mind telling me why we were allowed to take one of the many vacant Weapon-X vehicles and just drive back to the mansion Hmm?” Victor’s voice clearly showcased his annoyance. He peered at the back of Cain’s head with one eye squinted.

Cain turned around and replied with a calm that only showcased a subliminal hint of his serious anger. “I refuse to use anything that was created to hunt, hurt and kill our kind. We’re better off without Weapon-X’s trinkets.” When they were still at the Weapon-X facility, Victor and David wanted to simply steal a Weapon-X car but Cain wouldn’t let them. Victor knew he couldn’t challenge Cain and decided to take down to the superior mutant.

Vincent added, “Well in Victor’s defense, it would be better for us to hitch a ride or something. It’s pretty hot out here an I’m not quite sure how close the nearest town is. Here’s my plan, I’ll scan the area for a motorist and when they drive by, you all ask for a ride I will get them to stop for us by using my empathic powers. Is that alright?”

David quickly agreed. “That’s a magnificent plan of action. Let’s get to it.”

About five minutes later they caught the attention of a family in a mobile home. They were to travel to upstate New York. Vincent using his empathic abilities had the family decide to help the group. The father of the three member family was a short and simple little Caucasian man with round glasses. His wife was also petit and blonde. She seemed pretty gentle and a Texan. Both parents looked to be in their 30’s. Their son was about six years old and had very light brown hair. He was excited about having the group on board. It gave him something more interesting to look at.

The mother spoke first once the group of mutants got settled in the tiny mobile home. “So where y’all comin’ from?” The woman smiled like a pageant queen, She was very pretty. “We’re traveling from Virginia to our new home in upstate New York. My Husband’s originally from Virginia and I’m from Texas. Y’all seem like a motley bunch!”

Cain replied first. “We actually just escaped a government facility that was created to, in genocidal manner, wipe out all mutants from existence. We are now trying to make it back to the only safe haven known to mutants the Charles Xavier and Erik Lehnsherr School for Gifted Students.” There was a silence in the RV. Vincent put palm to face and sighed.

The father of the family slowed down the car slightly. He needed to process what he was hearing. “Y-you are mutants?” The man asked nervously.

The son jumped in joy at the thought of them being mutants who were like the comic book characters he was a fan of. “Wow you’re mutants!! That’s awesome!” He dashed from his mother’s lap and jumped toward David who was seated across from her. He hugged onto David and he realized that David had no discernible smell. Something like that didn’t always stick out until you were close to David, and you realized that you usually smell something on others whether good or bad but with David there was and absence of aroma. The boy looked up at David’s face and asked, “You don’t smell like anything Mr. usually somebody smells like something how come you don’t?” The boy asked innocently and curiously.

David smiled and returned the boy’s hug. “You are such a bright boy! That’s right I don’t have a discernible scent. Your parents must be smart too.” David said as he glanced up at the boy’s parents as if to say, ‘Pull something dumb and we will kill you.’

The father pulled over the RV and turned around pleading with the group. “Please don’t harm us. We don’t want trouble.”

Vincent quickly intervened, “Neither do we. We simply want to return home. Would you and your family help us? We’ve gone through a long and tough couple of days. We mean you no harm.” Vincent using him empathic ability calmed the family to a relaxed state. They weren’t nearly as agitated as before.

Cain added, “You assume we are dangerous and want to cause trouble because we have powers. But your fear is horribly misplaced. Humans wield a power far more deadly than any mutant power, prejudice and hatred. Those are weapons that continue to live and to destroy others throughout time, yet humans are so blind to it’s everyday use in persecuting mutant kind.” Cain was very serious and passionate. Vincent could feel his heart and his emotions, both men were one. Vincent understood Cain’s pain because it was his own, however the two chose to handle it differently.

The mother replied nervously, “Well… I never looked at it that way. I’m so sorry for making y’all feel uncomfortable in my mobile home. We learned us a valuable lesson today didn’t we honey! Mutants ain’t all bad like the news portrays them to be. We’ll take you where you wanna go no problem. And when we move into our nice big house upstate, y’all are more than welcome to home over for dinner!” The lady was simple but sweet. Her husband nodded in agreement. Vincent was very glad that the conflict was resolved.

A bit afterwards Vincent received a telepathic communication from Charles. “Vincent, Scott, Logan and Philip are in the BlackBird and nearing your location. They will pick you up.” Charles’ communication was filled with the sound of joy. He was very happy to communicate with his son.

Vincent replied telepathically, “Good to hear your voice dad. I have a view unlikely companions with me… we’ve hitched a ride in an RV. We’ll ask the family to drop us here then.”

Charles replied, “Alright son. I’ll communicate that with Scott. Everyone misses you more than you know.” With that the transmission ended.

The little boy asked, “Um mister, what are you up to?” He noticed Vincent holding his hand up to his head.

Vincent smiled gently, “I’m communicating with my Father telepathically. I’m a telepath, I can communicate with people in their minds as well as move thing with my mind.” Vincent turned to the father and notified him that they could be dropped off at their current location.

The little boy jumped up and down. “Wow sooo cool!!”

Vincent replied, “Yes, it can be but it takes a lot of studying and training to understand my gift. I have to study hard so that I can be wise about using my power. I should never be irresponsible or I could get into trouble. So remember you have to train your mind and study hard too. Promise?” Vincent smiled face to face with the boy.

“Promise!” The little boy replied with a wide smile.

Victor huffed, “Now I want a kid… It’s really time to go.” David chuckled upon hearing Victor’s complaining.

The family dropped the group off and Vincent was sure to get the family’s information so that once day they could meet again. The family drove off and the Blackbrid came into view overhead. The jet lowered down to the ground and opened its door. Philip ran outside of the Blackbird and jumped into Vincent’s arms. “Vincent I’m so sorry… I- I let you down. Are you alright?”

Vincent hugged Philip tightly and closed his eyes. He was so glad to be in the arms of the one he loved so dearly. Cain watched and immediately felt a pang in his heart. He felt an overwhelming love when Philip drew near. He was experiencing Vincent’s emotions. He knew who Vincent knew, he felt how Vincent felt about others. He loved Philip like Vincent loved Philip. It was truly and odd phenomenon. Cain tried to keep himself from blushing and to steady his breathing. Vincent replied, “It’s alright Philip… It’s alright… I find no fault with you or anyone else. It couldn’t have been helped. We must get back.” Vincent was calming.

Philip replied, “Alright love.” Philip looked up and noticed the others. He was shocked to see Sabertooth, David North, Vincent’s very captors. “Wha-what are they doing here?!” Philip shouted.

Just then Logan and Scott stepped out of the black bird to examine the situation. Logan immediately extended his claws. “GET HIM OUTTA HERE!!” He said in a rage and motioned toward Sabertooth.

Victor grinned. “Aww Logan… you’re not happy to see me? What a shame! I’ll be sticking around the X-men for a while. Who knows I might even pick up teaching like you did and turn all soft.” Victor taunted with a huge smile.

Logan replied angrily, “Shut-Up YOU EGG SUCKIN’ PIECE OF GUTTER TRASH!! As long as he’s here I’m gonna be somewhere else!!”

Vincent interjected, “Logan please…”

Cain jumped in before Vincent could add anymore. “Why must we fight our brothers? We should work together not be at each other’s throats.” Cain spoke calmly.

Logan shot Cain a quick angry look, “Who the HELL are you?!”

“My brother, or to put it more accurately, he’s another me.” Vincent replied.

Scott, having heard enough said, “Alright, does the professor know about you wanting to bring them back to the mansion? They are a danger to everyone. Did weapon-x screw with your head or something?”

Cain got in Scott’s face, “They sure tried to screw with his head and everything else but he fought back, together! That how it should be for all mutants fighting together not against one another in distrust. Charles knows about them. If they pull something, I will kill them on the spot.” Cain placed a hand on Agent Six’s shoulder indicating that she wasn’t included in those that he threatened.

Logan cringed, “Just great… another magneto…”

Charles Xavier

Charles returned to his office after leaving Cerebro. The was a knock on the door. Charles sensed the situation and smiled. A new student was here. He was overjoyed that although the mansion had been attacked and things were not their safest at the mansion, others weren’t afraid to come to seek safety at the X-men mansion. Charles was relieved, “Perhaps I haven’t failed after all.” He said to himself. Charles walked to the door and opened it.

“Hello Annabelle, I’m Charles Xavier. Welcome to the Xavier and Lehnsherr School for Gifted students.”

Charles ushered Annabelle into his office and offered her a seat. “I hope you’ll excuse the state of the mansion, we had an emergency situation yesterday and it took quite a toll on the place. So what brings you to our school?”

Ryan walked calmly and quietly through the halls of the Mansion. After he'd squeezed Jonathan, he'd kind of... well... run away. He said he was sorry and he really meant it. He hated that about himself. How he couldn't do much of anything without hurting someone or inconveniencing someone. Even his stupid tail was a nuisance. Just as he was about to go up to his room, he caught a glance of something happening on the TV in one of the bigger rest rooms. It was the X-men. They were fighting again in the city not too far from the Mansion. Ryan didn't recognize the behemoth they were facing, but he did recognize that the mutant they were fighting was beyond them and they weren't just fighting to suppress him, they were fighting for their very lives. Just then, more mutants burst from the ground and began to attack the X-Men who fought back. Ryan shook off his discomfort with Jonathan. He could apologize properly later, now he was needed.

Ryan ran outside and sat in the grass. He'd been practicing this for a little while, but he'd never really had to use it before because he'd never ground his scales down so hard before. Ryan could use his healing factor to regenerate his scales. However, he had to focus very hard. The scales were obviously a part of his body, but they had no nerve endings. That's why it didn't hurt when he ground his scales off in the morning. Ryan concentrated as hard as he could. He thought of the scales as a part of him that was missing, like a layer of skin. As soon as he had accepted that fact, as hard as it was, and made it a reality in his mind, Ryan noticed an itching sensation on his whole body, however he couldn't open his eyes and look or else he'd lose focus. He sat there, with his eyes closed and thought. If he did this, he'd have to accept who he was. He wasn't even close to looking like a human. The thought scared him. What would the others think? What would they say? What would they do? He'd spent his whole life trying to run from this. From the image of his parents telling him to leave, tears in their eyes, and telling a six-year-old Ryan he wasn't welcome in their house anymore. Worse yet, what would his new family say? Doctor Xavier, Thantos, Memory and Jonathan, Logan, Scott, Jean, Fuyumi, his other friends at the Academy, what would they think? Ryan thought long and hard. Was he sure this was what he wanted? There was no turning back after this. The whole world would be watching the place he was going to. Was he confident enough in himself to show who he really was to everyone in the world? Could he really do this? All of that was irrelevant, he was needed. Ryan's own pride, his own reservations would have to step aside. His family was in danger and he wasn't going to let an incident like Vincent's happen again.

While Ryan was lost deep in thought, his scales were growing at an accelerated rate, covering his body in a matter of minutes with thick, hard protection. Spikes jutted from his body, out from the sides of his forearms, from his spine, and from the end of his tail. The spikes were an extension of his scales, rock-like and sturdy. Without his knowing, since his horns were also an extension of his scales, they had grown as well, and now stood at their full length of 14 inches. The horns themselves were sturdy, buttressed, and black as midnight. They swept back around the sides and top of his head, protecting it from attacks. Ryan's fists became heavy and powerful, he felt strength fill his whole body as he finally stood and faced the city.

Ryan knew what he looked like, he looked like a monster. However, if a monster was what was needed, Ryan would be it. Ryan crouched low to the ground, after a second of hesitation, Ryan blasted forward towards the city in the distance. It wasn't that far, about a ten minute drive by car. Ryan would have to do his best to pace himself and get there fast. Making the distance in about 20 minutes, and surprisingly without tiring himself as much as he tought he would, Ryan surveyed the battle field and was shocked at what he found. A white haired girl was engaging Logan and there were massive stone... men? Ryan shook off his doubts, it must be someone's power. Ryan looked over to where he could smell Doctor Xavier was. Ryan could see the Professor and... what was that smell, that shape... it smelled like, it was! Vincent! Ryan was so glad he was safe, however, now was not the time for reunions, there was work to be done. "Professor, Vincent, it's me, Ryan." Ryan thought as hard as he could, directing his thoughts toward his teachers "I'm here to help. I realize you might not recognize me like this but... if this is what is needed, this is what I will be. I can be a monster for my family if a monster is what they need. You're all my family, so it's you I must protect. I will not let what happened to Vincent ever happen to anyone again!"

With that he roared, making his presence known. The roar was long and loud and filled with Ryan's primal might and urge to protect his family. With that, he leaped off the ground, again, a bit faster than he anticipated and jumped onto the nearest stone man. What was different, Ryan felt so... powerful. It wasn't at all like he used to be. Was it because he had accepted who he was? Or was it because he was a terrible monster. Regardless, he raised his fists and smashed the thing's face in, pummeling the rock until the giant no longer had a head. However, when he jumped off to attack another, the giant was still moving. Ryan dodged it's fists and tackled the behemoth, smashing its chest in and ripping its arms off. Finally, the thing had stopped moving and that weird rock in the center of its chest had stopped glowing. Good. Ryan roared again, the force of his bellow shook the dust from his body. Ryan was here, and he wasn't going to let anything happen to his family again.

Jonathan watched Ryan's retreating form with confusion and disappointment, the vice-like grip that the boy had managed to pull off on Jonathan's arm beginning to sting with pain, no doubt from bruising. The conversation had become suddenly awkward and Ryan had seemed to just flip out, his mind overrun with thoughts and feelings that required him to be anywhere but with Jonathan. It hurt just a little, but thankfully not as much as his arms. Ryan's scaled skin had pressed hard into the toned muscles, the much needed areas of Jonathan's body almost yielding beneath his new friend's unbreakable hold.

Within seconds Ryan was gone, and Jonathan was left alone with his turbulent thoughts tormenting him, his twisted demons slowly but surely getting their hooks in his soul and dragging it deep down into the depths of Jonathan's own fears just as he would do to all of his victims. And he did not like what he found there. With the persuasion of the devil on the twenty-four year old Texan's shoulder, his mind returned reluctantly to the soldier from the day before who now lay on the cold, hard and lonely slab in the medical room, the light of his soul slowly extinguishing as Jonathan's power infected his mind and corrupted it turning the only thing keeping him alive against himself. Soon he would be dead. Soon there would be no more pain or fear. Until then however, Jonathan was left with no choice but to accept the repercussions of his actions, even if they were to save his sister's life. No human life is more important than another, and it was unfair for him to take one life for another. Although, given the same circumstances he would choose the same course of action to save the sister he loved.

With a pained sigh, Jonathan turned towards the building in search of his victim for no reason other than to apologise, for all the good it would do, and just be there with him when the time of his passing came. An object to the corner of his eye caught Jonathan's attention however. The rather impressive, yet almost discarded, piece of art from his black scaled friend bringing a small smile, in the form of his lip curling ever so slightly up at the corner, to his face. Lifting Ryan's belongings up, he began to carry them inside, ready to drop them off at Jonathan's room until Ryan felt like returning.

While Jonathan suffered this torment alone, Memory had company. The rather imposing Russian teacher, whom Memory liked but did not fully trust (as was the case with most people she met), stood leaning against the wall watching Memory like a guard, the almost intimidating gaze unnerving the typically courageous Memory.
“Well then if you don’t wish to share then at least let me take your mind off things? We can go get some lunch or something if you want? I promise I won’t come on to you.”

Memory's mouth dropped open at Cara's words and pushed the chair around quickly, almost stopping it too late. For a moment, Memory was left stunned by this reveal, and annoyed that she hadn't picked up on it sooner. She was usually a lot better at this. Slowly, a real smile broke though Memory's near impenetrable emotional barrier.

"Oh. My. God."

Turning quickly and finishing her eye-shadow, Memory practically leap from her seat and began towards her closet, the same one that she had to fight with to actually close sometimes. There was a sudden surge of determination that pulsed through Memory's body, flowing through her veins with every heart beat. She felt almost brand new.

"Sure, let me just get dressed and we can go." She said quickly turning to Cara still standing figure. Her eyes slid down to the bare feet and Memory rolled her eyes.
"Oh honey, shoes."

Memory opened the wardrobe doors and the determination, the motivation, the drive, that she had just receive faded away practically right before her eyes. Within a second, the twinkle of life that had entered her eyes and energy that had filled up her body life disappeared. Her eyes went dull and her shoulders drooped. Staring at the clothes that she had hidden her true self behind so many times and feeling the make-up on her skin that had masked the real Memory deep beneath. She shook her head gently and grabbed a quick few garments, not bothering to make it in the least fashionable, and a pair of black converse. Memory turned to Cara and pointed to the closet.

"If you don't want to go all the way back to your room to get something there should be a good few pairs in there that you could use. My last count was at twenty-three but I think I got rid of a few since then. If it doesn't close then just leave it, I usually do. I'm gonna go get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs."

Memory rushed from the room, out of the door and searched for somewhere, anywhere, that she could not only change but just be alone for a few minutes. Just herself. No one else. Finally, the bathroom down the hall from her bedroom became Memory's salvation, her safe haven, and she embraced this sanctuary with open arms. Dressing quickly into the mish-mash of clothes that looked totally different from her usual style but worked enough for just one day she steeled herself for facing the world.



"Memory!"

M turned at her brother's call, first noticing the painting and then his tired and utterly exhausted appearance, the dark circles and drained look making him appear far older than he was, something which already happened when he was at his best. As his own eyes surveyed her outfit, Memory shifted uncomfortably while he stepped close to her and lowered his voice so only she could hear what he had to say.

"M... are you ok? You're... You're not, well... you."

Memory frowned, but nodded and faked a smile. Ah, her infamous fake smile that always showed up at least once per day to someone. Unfortunately for her, Jonathan had known her long enough to see right through her barrier like glass, his words shattering it within seconds.

"No you're not. You only ever dress like I do when you're upset." He whispered with a small smile, pointing subtly at her clothes, to which she merely rolled her eyes and looked away. Suddenly her heart stopped and it felt like someone had just gripped her windpipe with a chilly hand and held it tight to suffocate her. She lifted her hand and pressed it against Jonathan's face when he started to speak, then turned it around towards the television in the corner of the room. The chaos on the streets shocked them both into silence and it wasn't until the news team's footage suddenly cut off that the wonder twins looked to each other in stunned silence. Finally, it was Jonathan that ended the silence.

"I want to go there, more than you know, but we can't M. Our powers-" Jonathan rephrased at a look form his sister, one to remind him that one of his powers could help. He just didn't know how to use it. "The powers we can use well in a crisis are useless in this situation. The X-men can handle it, and as much as it pains me to say this... we have to stay out of this one."

After a moment, Memory nodded her agreement and walked away quietly. Jonathan neither tried to stop her nor followed her. She needed time to herself, away from him, sometimes.



After putting Ryan's belongings into Jonathan's room until the black scaled teen returned, J sat in the lower levels with the victim soldier with his cold hand in Jonathan's own gloved ones. The still body of the slowly dying man lay weak before him and Jonathan could do nothing to help him. His eyes stung as tears began to form and a solitary drop escaped his eyelids, the tear making its slow decent onto the edge of Jonathan's jaw and dropping to the hard ground below. It had such a short lifespan, form his eye to the floor. It was the same for all things on this earth. While it may seem like they have lived for so long and will continue to for years to come, in the end that life is minuscule compared to the lifespan of earth, the sun, the universe. The lives everyone lives everyday are so insignificant compared to the vast expanse of space. And yet, every life is important. Every life contributes. And every life should be defended, not destroyed so heartlessly as Jonathan had to this man's own. One more tear dropped and Jonathan hung his head.

"I'm sorry... I am so sorry... I have the power to kill at my fingertips and I chose to be so careless. There's no excuse. If I could take your place, I would in a heart beat... I don't know if you can hear me, I don't even know if you really want to hear me but... I am truly sorry..."

Slowly Jonathan's thoughts travelled to Kyle, and his kind words the day before. He had spoken of how his situation was so similar to Jonathan's once, but how he had overcome it. His words, laced with his French accent, had calmed Jonathan to his very core the previous day, made him feel like he could do almost anything.

'If only he were here now... I could use some words like that again...'

Agent Six

she had been walking for quite a while but thanks to the one observer spirit she had placed at the X-Mansion she simply followed the voice of her observer spirit until she arrived at the gates of the mansion. she simply looked ahead at nothing and put her hands out to grab the gate bars as if she could tear them open. shaking her head she stepped back, taking out the piece of glass from her pocket to look inside the mansion.

Agent Six for the most part was exploring the mansion really just looking to see what she would find. then she came upon a war room the mutant known as Quicksilver the son of Magneto seemed to be watching things. Agent Six made sure not to be noticed by him but stayed awhile watching to see what he would do. after maybe 15 minutes of watching him Agent six decided to look elsewhere as she would get nothing out of watching him and jumped to another relfective surface.

suddenly she was falling or at least her point of view was falling. as she slid down something soft she looked about to realize her observer spirit had actually managed to connect with a tear as small as it was 'strange' as she finally fell of the skin she made a quick look around to see a man on a bed and a younger looking man standing by him. Agent Six immediately recognized the two as the soldier and mutant from the other day. then it went black as the tear had finally reached the floor splattering. but it was enough for her to jump to a window still looking inside the room, which by the looks of it was a medical room.

Agent Six then jumped to a faucet inside the room going inside towards the water pipes that turned the water on. the water began streaming down fast and with her in it. even if the mutant was to turn off the water it wouldn't stop it not by a long shot. soon the water began to splash onto the floor and Agent Six followed by standing up, or rather having her observer spirit take on a more humanoid appearance. making sure she got the mutants attention she pointed outside the window at herself to let him know she was outside waiting the only thing she said was "open".

Jonathan closed his eyes to hold in the tears that threatened to overflow. It was taking every ounce of strength he had left to just not breakdown, to stay the level headed leader that he had always been for his sister, and his friends from years ago. Before he had been discovered as a mutant, and before he had almost completely distanced himself from everyone to keep them safe, he had been the one they all came to for emotional support. He had been the rock that gave them all stability. Now it seemed that he needed a rock himself.

A sudden gush of water shot from the faucet behind him making Jonathan jump and leap to his feet in shock, his wide eyes turning straight to the water. As the water began to flow forwards, slowly taking over the floor, panic spread through Jonathan's mind like a venom. He opened his mouth to question aloud the freak happening before him but no words were uttered as his lips moved to speak them. In fact, not one area of his body seemed to work right at this time. He couldn't even bring himself to move his legs. Or his arms. It was as if a smokescreen had been released in his mind blocking every possible thought of escaping or attempting to save himself in any way.

From the water a figure began to take form, the human-like shape rising up and turning its gaze on Jonathan's wide eyed face. He watched it intently while the body became more and more defined, taking on female features, and grew into a perfect replica of a human. Finally, Jonathan's words worked for him while he backed up and pressed his body against the wall of the medical room.

"What in the hell?"

Jonathan glanced to the door and back to the girl before returning them to the door once more. Not only did he pray that the medic did not enter at such a strange, and no doubt dangerous, time but he was also attempting to form some kind of plan of escape in his mind. Physically the figure looked quite weak yet something told him that combat would prove impossible to win, particularly as it was no more than a semi-transparent being. Pressing his back further against the wall, wishing that he could sink into it, he watched the figure lift it's arm, the hand aimed at the window, and heard her say just one word.

[b]"Open."[/i]

Taking a deep breath, Jonathan risked glancing away from the figure to the window, an action he feared would be perilous. However, upon glancing through the thick glass there was no danger but he gasped at the sight. A girl, similar to the being before him, stood at the gates to the mansion holding something in her hand that glimmered in the light. The Texan turned his head back to the entity, then to the window in confusion.

"So, what's your power?"

He murmured to himself, though the question ought best be aloud for her, or the entity, to answer. He narrowed his eyes, squinting to see her better at such distance, and inched his way closer to the window separating them.

"What's your secret?"

Jonathan once again looked to the entity but it did not seem to have moved in any particular way to suggest a threat. He sighed and debated with himself about whether or not it would be safer just to leave her out there and take his chances with that... thing or to allow her entry past the gates and try to figure out just what she was planning. for one idiotic second he had actually intended to send a mental to call the professor but Jonathan knew nothing of this girl. For all he knew she could be telepathic also and would see this as a threat. Finally deciding to take his chances and only call the professor if completely needed, he turned for the door out of the infirmary on his way to at the very least see what she wanted, but not necessarily let her in. Slipping his gloves off, he looked back to the entity with his jaw set in a determined mind, then left the room, his silent footsteps making it seem as if he were gliding along the floor.

On the other side of the mansion, Memory had found some composure, her mind and body ready for the day and a new emotional barrier erected along with defences on her memories. Just as a precaution. A new smile had been constructed, one that seemed somewhat more convincing than her previous one did, ad she was working on keeping good posture. Every now and then she'd catch her shoulders begin to droop, however, thankfully, always stayed on top of it. Lifting her head higher, she flicked her hair back and sauntered confidently into the room, the slap of her converse sounding alien to her due to the near obsession with wearing heels that had taken over her mind. She floated by Cara's sitting form gracefully giving a playful tut at the rising smoke.

"Smoking will kill you y'know."

She looked over her shoulder with a smile and a sudden realisation came to her. While Memory was, for the most part, strong willed, fun loving and courageous, when something did get to her such as the events of the past day it really hit her hard. Mood swings, seclusion, bad hair days. She had spent ten minute just trying to make it look half decent. She grabbed the compact mirror from her small bag that had been picked up on the way back from the bathroom and subtly checked her hair as best she could under while pretending to be wiping something from her eye. Satisfied with the satisfactory appearance she moved to return it to its rightful home in her bag. However, something caught her eye. It was her eyes. The usual spark of life that her brother would comment on, the little twinkle and shine they always gave off, seemed non-existent, replaced by a hollow look. Closing her eyes and compact with a snap, she placed it in her bag and decided to just avoid eye contact where possible.

"So, we gonna get going?"

At last Jonathan reached the mansion gates, hands in his pockets like the weapons they were ready to be used if completely necessary. He stopped, and stood with his body slightly turned to the side just in case he would need to run. With both her height and the fact that a large gate stood in the way of them, Jonathan hoped that he could make it to the mansion in time to be safe. Then again, she did create something from thin air, well water really, to inform him of his orders.

Standing his ground with, Jonathan looked into her unnerving red eyes, his mind ready to invade her own if he could. This way was more humane than simply killing her outright, though still fairly barbaric in nature. Invading one's mind and using their own thoughts and memories against them, filling their minds with terror and pain. Then again, he could always just use the hope aspect of his powers but it wasn't always as effective. If there was one thing that everyone had, no matter who they were or how deep it had been buried, it was was fear. And Jonathan only needed a quick flash to take hold of it, unless of course he had already managed to discover her fears. Now he just had to find it.

"Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?"

[OCC: I've left Memory's part where it is T so that you can, if you want to, just skip all the way to wherever they are going because I think their storyline is a little behind the Juggernaut fight, I don't know though, and it might be easier just to do that. I don't mind either way, it's just if you want to. :D]

Agent Six


during his whole freak out moment Agent Six simply waited and watched not moving or doing anything really. she did notice how he took off his gloves before he left. after he left Agent Six let go of her observer spirit and began to follow the young man, she had expected him to maybe go else where to alert someone of her arrival but he didnt. instead he walked outside to meet her and when he finally got withing hearing distance he asked for her name.

"no name, only number" her voice rather low betraying not an ounce of emotion raising her hands to show the number six. looking from the mansions window was rather difficult as she couldnt quite see the man before her. and once more she spoke the same word from before "open" and simply waited for the man to listen and to do as she said. if he didnt Agent Six would just leave as she had no paticular reason for being there in the first place.


[OCC: Vivi if Jonathan does let her in you can just say she followsd him inside or what not:)]