The mansion on Greymalkin Lane, Manhattan, stood imposingly on the hill on the outskirts of town. Even way out there the buildings were rarely less than two stories. As it was, the countryside that surrounded the Hellfire Club's chosen domain was covered with agents of said establishment. On the rooftop of one of the taller buildings, stood a young man of maybe 18. He was holding a pair of binoculars to his eyes, peering at the heavily guarded mansion. "Greymalkin lane." He muttered. "I didn't know they had a Greymalkin Lane in New York… Kinda odd, innit?" He adjusted the sights of the binoculars and sat back with a small sigh. "And damn, this place is huuuuge. And I thought Bayville was a big city." He chuckled to himself. The comm clip in his ear crackled. "It's probably the same street, John, just the other end." John cocked his head to one side. "Pfa. All the way out here in Manhattan? Bull crap." The voice that came back sounded irritated. "Shut up, John." John shrugged. "Well, as to the mansion, it's so well guarded I doubt even Kurt could get in in the dead of night with a black suit on and a cloaking field." A german accent crackled over the comm now. "You doubt zhe fuzzy man? Besides, vhere could ve get a cloaking field? Zhat's ridiculous." John chuckled. "Ya never know, Kurt." He walked to the roof entrance and looked inside, checking to make sure it was clear. He jogged all the way downstairs. They still had a lot of work ahead of them.

X-MEN: EVOLUTION

HELLFIRE

(A/N: Here we are, at the start of another story. Hope y'all are as excited as I am!)

Kurt yawned widely, stretching his tridactyl hands over his head and curling his tail into a tight ball. Kitty was asleep next to him, her head lightly on his chest. They had been staying in an old mansion that nobody had been using, in the middle of the city. It was a bit run-down, but between Forge, Logan, John, and the others, it had become habitable. Kitty blinked to awakeness and smiled blearily up at her blue fuzzy boyfriend. "Hey handsome." Kurt gave her a fanged grin. "How vhas your sleep?" She stretched backwards, pressing her chest closer to him. Kurt's cheeks turned a deeper shade of blue. "Nnnnot bad… I'm exhausted though…" Kurt coughed a bit. "Vhell um… I need to take a shower, so if you vould…?" Kitty kissed his cheek. "See ya downstairs for breakfast, mkay fuzzy?"

John heaved the timber aside and leaned back against the wall with a heavy sigh. He had been clearing out the basement for the past three days. He wiped his forehead with his arm, then wiped his grey skin on his shirt. He cast a critical glance around the room with one iridescent eye, like an abalone shell. He was almost done clearing out the basement, just a few more timbers to clear. The tread of light feet made their way downstairs, and John, with his enhanced senses, was able to tell that it was his girlfriend, Laura. She came into his sight and smiled at him. "Hey there shellhead. How're ya holdin' up?" John gave her a wry smile. "Not too bad, how 'bout you, Laur?" She crossed the room to him and put her arms around his neck, leaning up and kissing him lightly on the lips. He returned her kiss, putting his arms around her waist. She pulled back a bit. "How's your head?" She asked, putting a hand lightly on the curved metal plate that covered one side of his head, where he had been wounded by a sentinel prototype. John was prone to severe seisures and migraines, partially because of a medical condition he had been born with, partially due to the gaping hole in his head. Currently though, he felt peachy-keen. "I'm fine." He said, putting his forehead to hers. She closed her eyes. "Things are going really smoothly. Logan and Scott are almost done with planning the attack and everything. I have a good feeling about this… but also…" She bit her lip and looked sideways. John frowned, knowing Laura's body language fairly well. "What's up?" She looked down and shook her head. "It's nothing." John put his hand under her chin and lifted her head up so she was looking him in the eye. "I know you better than that. Laur, what's up?" She smiled apologetically. "I have the horrible feeling that one of us won't be coming back."

Rahne leapt over a dumptser as she made her way towards the 'mansion'. Gambit ran next to her. "Hey, cherrie, how you been doin' eh? It's been mighty wild lately an' I know the otha' new mutants are tryin' t' adjust to de change." Rahne smiled a bit. "T'has been going well, Gambit. John's almost finish'd clearing out th' basement." Gambit nodded. "Hey, you seen Rogue anywhere? I need to find de lass." Rahne blinked. "I think she's in th' kitch'n." Gambit saluted her. "Thanks, Rahne." He ran ahead of her. Gambit was going to move to San Francisco to help defend Magneto's institute. He probably wanted to find Rogue to apologize. The wolf in her grinned. 'red-eyes goes off to find his mate.' Rahne agreed, for once, with her wolf-half. Gambit and Rogue were meant for each other. She bounded into the house and up to her room for a well- needed nap.

There was a loud snap as the last timber broke and fell into the incinerator. Laura smiled as John wiped his forehead. He'd taken off his shirt to finish clearing the timbers. Laura had to admit. He was… well hot. Most of the X-Boys were, with the ceaseless training. Laura smiled, walking over to him and putting her hands on his back. He was warm, sweaty. John looked over his shoulder. "Hiya." He turned to face her and kissed her lightly. She giggled, putting her hands on his chest. "Whoa there big guy, take a shower first." John chuckled. "I'm not THAT sweaty am I?" She wiped a finger down his chest and delighted as he shivered. She flicked the sweat off her finger at him and raised an eyebrow. He sighed. "Fine, I'll go take a shower." He winked… well she assumed he had winked… and walked past her. She smiled softly as he passed, then dissappeared up the stairs. After a while she went after him and plopped down onto the couch, flicking on the TV and turning it to the news. She sighed. It was going to be a long couple of days. But she knew that the end payout would be worth it. CNN came on. The newscaster was mid-sentence. "-and there seems to be no end in sight for the Brotherhood's rampage across the country cannot be stopped." Laura frowned. "SCOTT?!"

(It's back! And better than ever! Enjoy and review!)