This is my first story so it probably won't be good. Still appreciate you reading it though. And sorry for bad grammar, I write like I talk. Will have some cussing probably.

Italics-thoughts

A man was sitting in the chair. He was a friendly looking, brown eyed, white haired, middle aged man. But, unknown to many, he ran an illegal organization. He was the lead scientist of Operation ZATHURA, or Project ZATHURA. It had been working on creating a new weapon, before the only success escaped. "Get him back." He said to the four standing in front of him. "You know what will happen if you fail."

"Yes sir" all of them replied.

Todd ducked behind the wall. He knew Duncan was waiting for him. Why do I do this? Why do I pretend to be so fuckn weak and stupid? He, contrary to everyone's beliefs, wasn't stupid. Actually, he was in the end of sophomore year (and taking online college courses for nearly every subject at the local library), and he was only fourteen. Well, he was almost fourteen. There were only a few weeks until his birthday. He didn't really care though. Why the hell should he? There wasn't anyone who remembered. Besides, why should he celebrate another year of life when it was just one year closer to them finding him?

He walked toward the way into the city. Maybe he could get there early and actually scrounge up some decent food. Despite what everyone believed, he didn't like eating frickn bugs and only did so because he was starving. Though they weren't bad, he didn't enjoy the feeling of the insides squishing on his tongue. It would be so much easier, not to mention faster, if I just- NO! Don't think about that. I can't believe it's been… How many fuckn years has it been? I can't tell because of that slow aging injection. Stop! Quit thinking about that! He yelled at himself.

It had been years since he had broken out. He remembered that the main bastard of a scientist had had brown hair. And Ava had- NO! Don't think about her. It doesn't matter, she's dead. Poor Ava. She was only six, she didn't deserve- he forced himself to stop thinking about her. Ava had only been one of the casualties. He would never forget their screams of agony.

He was finally in the city. Looking around, he saw a few possible victims that would be easy to pick-pocket. Clearing his mind so he wouldn't mess up, he brushed past one mumbling a quick apology, then took out the recently swiped wallet. Sweet, a twenty. This should be enough for today, but I want to try to have some for tomorrow too, even though Lance, Pietro, Mystique, and Wanda would no doubt steal some. Freddy was the only one who didn't. The Blob wasn't as dumb as anyone thought either, but he had dyslexia (no offense to anyone, just a random idea). He was like an older brother of sorts to Todd. Another unknown fact was that Todd was Lance's brother, well, by blood at least, but not even Lance knew that.

Todd's real name was Daniel Simms (srry if this is anyone's name. Just a random name I picked) but everyone had called him Danny, bastard, Shadow (in the street fights), D-man, Acrobat (a name he earned in the ghettos of New York and Brooklyn), or Z. The only people who called him Z, he remembered as he sat down in Kayla's Café (again, another random name), were the people in the ZATHURA project.

Lance's real name was Chris Simms, but, unlike Danny, his older sister Hayley, and their youngest sister, Mary, Chris had left with their real father because their fuckn mother was an abusive, alcoholic, drugee, sex addict. Oh yeah, it's the anniversary of Mary and 'mom's' death today. Todd thought as he ordered a water and a salad. He had never gotten into junk food. Looking out the window, he saw the X-Geeks walk past. Lucky bitches. Bet they never starved, to the point of death. He had. It had been horrible, and the worst part, is that he still was close to that.

Todd hated the X-Geeks. It wasn't their ideas about humans and mutants living together-no he supported that. He hated the fact that they had tested him. That they tested him, even after suvivin the streets, and they didn't test any other X-Geeks. Maybe he would've told them about his other… abilities. Looking again, he saw Boom Boom walk past. Tabby was the one who patched him up after Duncan, Mystique, Magneto, Lance, Pietro, or Wanda beat him good. She looked over and saw him. Tabby walked into the Café and sat down across from him.(Tabby talking-[ Todd talking-{ )

["Hey Toddy, I was beginning to miss you."]

{"Hey Tabby. Miss ya too. How's life with the X-Geeks?"}

["Probably better than life with the hood. Oh, sorry the brotherhood"]

{"Hard to be worse than that Tabby. It'd be better if you came back."}

["I'm not goin back Todd. You know that. I don't see why you don't come to the mansion. At least they don't beat the students.] The waitress came by, gave me my salad and water, and took Tabby's order.

{You kidding? A) They tested me. I don't trust people that test me. B) I won't be able to leave if I needed too. C) They don't like me. D) They wouldn't expect me to actually be fuckn good at anything so they'd put me on the worst of the worst E) I don't trust them, or really anyone, and F) You know I try not to get attached. That makes leaving harder.}

[Wow. Thought this through, have we Todd? Well, now, the only testing they do is to see what team you'd be on and what classes you'd be in. They might like you if you let them know you. The X-Geeks would also protect you from the nameless entity that you won't tell anyone who or what it is!"] The waitress came by and gave Tabby her coffee and French Toast.

{"Look Tabby, you know I don't want to remember. You really don't want to get involved."}

["What are you going to do when they come for you Todd? Do you expect us-no, me-to fight something that I have no idea what it can do? The X-Geeks could find out and they'd not only know what their up against but they also have that 'All for one and one for all' policy."]

{"Tabby, of course I don't expect you to fight them. When they come, I'll leave. Just like always. And as for joining the X-Geeks-"}

["Don't answer now. Just think about it. Oh, and let Storm check out your injuries and if she says their too bad, then you stay there. No arguments."] Tabby finished and got up. She stopped at the door, turned around, looked at Todd, and said ["You can't run forever. Don't you get tired of it? Running won't work forever anyway. Sooner or later, you're enemies will find you."] and with that, she left.

{"Yeah Tabby, I do get tired of it. I've been tired of it. But I ain't got nowhere to go. I ain't got nowhere I'm wanted. They're everywhere. But this place is different. Maybe, I'll actually try to stay this time.} Todd whispered, more to himself. Unknown to him though, hundreds of miles away, the team were planning to bring him in.

So that's the first chap. Review if u wanna. Flames will make awesome cookies and hot dogs.