For the two youngsters, it was a long day. The teenager boy, Scott Summers had gone to visit his brother on the hospital, accompanied by his friend Rogue. After the Asteroid M incident a few days back, Scott brother Alex was sent to an hospital in New York to recover from a few more serious injuries, and due to be release in three days, the two brothers wanted to spend the rest of the week with each other before Alex was sent back to Hawaii.

Rogue on the other hand was accompanying her friend with the claims she just wanted to use the opportunity to buy a few things in the city, claiming it was nearly impossible to find them in Bayville. In reality though, she just really wanted to spend some time with Scott, despite knowing deep down that no matter what, even if her powers weren't such a barrier he would have only eyes for Jean Gray.

After a long walk to the parking lot, Summers regretted parking it so far away. Being already night with streets poorly lit by broken streetlamps, he was starting to get worried that something would happen. Trying to calm himself he started to talk. "I can't believe Alex's parents are taking things this so calmly. Being a mutant, hospitalized and away from home all this time..."

"Remember, the Professor can be quite persuasive when he wants to be", reminded Rogue. After all, the whole mansion residents were gathered by Charles Xavier himself. "Do you think Alex will eventually come to live at the mansion with you?"

"I don't think so. He has a loving family and even though they seem quite understanding, they're both worried sick. For now they'll want him back home. Maybe later he'll decide he wants to come with us, or he'll have trouble controlling his powers and have no choice." he answered, sighing. He didn't want his brother to share his fate, losing control of his powers and hurting those he loves. Rogue nodded, knowing far too well what he meant.

Suddenly, they noticed a figure wearing a black and red jacket in a nearby bus shelter. Everything from his ragged jeans to the deep shadows cast by his hood set the pair on edge. The man, taking notice of then, started to walk in their direction, hands in the pockets of his jacket. Both teens had their muscles tensed, prepared to fight, until the man spoke.

"Excuse me", he said in a deceptively young voice, if deep tone with a rasped sound indicating he haven't drank any water in a whole day, "but do you have the time?"

"Uh, yeah, sure. It's about, oh, nine o'clock." said Scott, still slightly suspicious about the darkness under the hood.

"I see." He said, a contemplative look under his hood. "Maybe I should go then", he sighed before turning around. Pausing for an instant, he gave a smile to both of them before saying "thanks" and walking away.

Both teens sighed in relief, and scratched the back of his head while chuckling a bit embarrassed. "Oh, don't mention it. Though you ought to be more careful. Dressed like that, I thought you were going to take my watch instead of the time."

The stranger snorted, not turning around just enough to see both of them with the corner of his eye. "If I were this late with a cute girlfriend I'd be suspicious too. Even more with all the crimes lately."

"We aren't dating" they said, almost at the same time, though it hurt Rogue a little to say it.

"Hmm... I see. I suppose", he tried, but he started to run inhumanly fast towards Scott and Rogue, grabbing both by their waists not giving them chance to truly react.

Just in time for him to jump through a car that was about to overrun all three of them. Catching a glance inside, the three airborne group saw the vehicle occupants with automatic rifles.

"I know an alley nearby, hang on!" the strange shouted, ignoring the protests of his two 'guests'. They soon noticed that by 'nearby', he meant several blocks away while outrunning a speeding car and dodging

5.56mm caliber rounds from the assault rifles, until he leap towards a building and started running. From the corner of his eyes, Scott could see the wall cracking with extreme force at his steps, red and black... things aiding on his climb making it a smooth ride.

"All clear", he announced, dropping his guests like luggage on the ground, "and where did they get the weapons anyway, is there some deal I missed? Buy ten rifles, get one free? Ammo, twenty-five percent off?"

Rogue and Scott, just starting to recover from the shock of the event were surprised by his casual attitude towards being hunted with military-grade weaponry. Rogue was the first to recover enough to speak and voice her frustrations.

"What was that! Who were they? Why they were targeting us like that?" Rogue snapped. She may be used to psychos and killers, but this was so unexpected, and even worse, she had a sneaking suspicion she and Scott weren't the ones being hunted.

"They're just thugs", shrugged the strange, "even small-timers like them are packing heavy artillery those days. Someone must have collected all the gear left from the military a few years ago."

Rogue certainly wasn't satisfied by the answer, but before she could respond it was Scott turn to demand answers.

"How did you do that? I mean, who are you? Do you even know about what you-"

"Look", interrupted the hooded stranger, "it's best if you forget about what you saw. You don't want to get involved with me. There is a parking lot nearby, and you can use the stairs to get back to the ground. The police should be on their way, unless the sound of assault rifles isn't worth a call."

He stepped towards the roof border, facing the street and looking at the direction his pursuers had gone. "Sorry for getting you involved in this mess, but I need to do some clean up."

"Wait! Can't you at least give us your name?" Rogue asked. Sure he saved them from certain death but she wasn't comfortable with the way he treated them both like luggage and simply going away as if it's nobody business, and she was torn between thanking him or hitting the bastard. Still, she could at least know his name.

"I'm sorry, but I don't think that will be necessary. I doubt we will see each other again, if I hadn't been there you would have been able to continue on peacefully. I suggest you do so now." With a last smirk, he dropped from the roof into the night.

"No, wait!" Scott cried, running to the edge of the building, only to discover he was already out of sight with a small section of pavement cracked, presumably where he had landed. Scratching the back of his head, Scott sighed, admitting defeat. "You know, the Professor isn't going to like someone using their powers that openly, never mind that guy's problem with what seem to be the best-armed thugs in the city."

"No really? The Professor seems like he'd be totally ok with that", answered Rogue with a roll of her eyes. "Well, let's go back. It's late enough already, we don't want to get in any more trouble with the Professor."

Fortunately, the parking lot the mysterious figure mentioned was near Scott's car, and they soon hit the road. Scott spent the whole trip home wondering about this guy's nature, while Rogue wondered about his motives and his name, reasoning it would be easier to find him if they knew his name.

"You think he will join us?" Rogue asked with a tired voice when they finally got back to the mansion.

"I hope so, I'd hate to seen him with Magneto or the Brotherhood, but I can't shake the feeling that he will be quite bothersome in the future."

With that they climbed the stairs to report to Professor Charles Xavier, trying to think of a way to explain why they had come home so much later than expected.