Heyooo Everyone, Here is another chapter for all of you amazing people. Thank you so much for your support and reviews. I read them all, and I promise to do better with my writing schedule to give you guys more. I appreciate everything you guys write, so please keep em coming. They really give me inspiration and motivation to keep on going with this when it gets tough sometimes. As for my latest reviewers who read this story for 3 days in a row till 1 at night, Thank you so much, that review really made my day. You guys are too sweet. :)

Take care everyone, and a happy new year.

Also I might have more edits for this chapter later, I'm pretty sure I missed a bunch of mistakes, but I'll do my best to fix em.

./...

Bruce on instinct grips on to the pocket knife attached to his belt. It's not fast enough however, as a powerful swing thrusts to his side sending him flying off the roof.

The sudden force shocks Bruce's mind as he falls down to the alleyway below. Before he can even think of landing, he crashes luckily on an open dumpster that was filled recently with large bags of trash. It cushions his fall to a manageable degree, as Bruce finally recovers from the shock to grasp what occurred.

Which unfortunately sends waves of blinding pain to his side, causing him to cough to alleviate some pressure. "Oh...GOD….feels like I got hit by a truck."

Bruce slowly starts climbing out of the dumpster, suddenly stopping when a blurred form drops in front of him. Crashing to the hard concrete below, cracking edges of it. The blurred figure reveals himself to be the feral mutant that he had been chasing after. The mutant stands with a deep feral grin stretched across his face as he stares at Bruce.

"He jumped forty-feet down, landed on solid-concrete...and just stands up like it was nothing." Processing the event, Bruce painfully stumbles on to his feet.

Hyper-Alert of any possible move from the mutant, Bruce starts running an assessment of his own condition, "My right side hurts a lot, and it hurts to breathe. But I can move...barely which means nothing is punchered or broken. That's good, most likely a lot of bruises. Good..I still have options."

Bruce then shifts his assessment to the imposing figure,"6ft5…6ft6, heavy build. Maybe 250..300 pounds. Athletic...but there is something else. Claws..."

Almost as an affirmation, the mutant shifts his knuckles with his claws growing another half inch, as he speaks with an amused rough tone, "You ain't a random school kid. Climbing four stories that quick..." Slowly a menacing grin emerges on his face. "...but it wasn't a mutation. Nah...thats training."

Bruce's eyes widen as he sees a brief glint of white fang out from the mutant's lips, "Fangs...Claws...it can't be?"

Sniffing through the air, continues his pondering thoughts out loud, while staring intently at Bruce, "Fifteen...no...sixteen years old. You're tall for your age kid and you look tough. Yea...you been training, for years I think...skills and a body like that don't come easy."

Focusing back on the mutant, Bruce decides to employ a different strategy, "I need to get as much as I can out of him."

"Who are you...why would you be after that kid?"

Almost as if a complete realization occurred to him, as the mutant grin grows even wider. "You're a mutant. You knew that kid I was tailing. So another pup under Logan huh?"

"Dammit..he already figured it out"

The mutant continues," See kid, I can't have anyone but Logan knowing that I'm here yet. So...I'm gonna have to make you quiet."

Realizing an attack to be approaching, Bruce leaps back to create some distance, but it's futile as the mutant leaps forward like a blur and grabs hold of Bruce's neck. Lifting him entirely with just one arm. Bruce quickly moves his right hand into his back pocket, while trying to use his left to remove the grip.

"Nothin personal kid.."

With those final words, the mutant tightens his grip, causing Bruce to gasp for air as he tries to pry the man's fingers, but proves to be futile against his inhuman strength. The mutants unsheathes his claws for the final strike, as a blue light emanates from Bruce's right hand as it moves into sight.

../Flash-Back/…

.../Xavier Mansion - 1 month ago/..

"Can you see it Alfred?"

As Bruce adjust his phone's camera towards the desk where numerous little gadgets and pieces of circuitry lie.

Alfred's voice comes through the phone, "I do sir...but what am I looking at exactly?"

Bruce stations the phone on a stand overlooking the desk, as he pulls up a black glove attached to a wrist strap. It has a few wires sticking out, multiple electrical components attached to it. With the knuckle side of the glove showing a metal edge.

"I think I finally got it to work."

"Looks to me like some sort of glove attachment?"

"Yea, it's a stun glove."

"Alfred looks surprised, as he speaks through the phone, "Pardon me sir, but is making dangerous weapons part of the Institute's curriculum?"

Bruce turns to the camera with an annoyed look, "Very funny Alfred. I didn't call you this late to joke around."

Alfred simply chuckles, "I apologize sir, I have missed your presence in the mansion, and in particular I have missed my witty remarks towards your grand inventions. But in all seriousness, Master Bruce arming yourself at the institute seems like a very dangerous idea. Especially if Mr. Logan or Mr. Xavier get wind of it, not to mention the already difficult relations you have with some of the students."

Taking heed to those words, Bruce nods with a serious look as he starts connecting one of wires on the glove with the gauntlet. "I know...but honestly I doubt if Logan doesn't already know about what I'm working on. And if the word does get out and they do have a problem, then Xavier can do what he wishes. Either way, it's far too risky to not arm myself with what's been going around here. It seems like Xavier isn't the only one with mutants running around."

"Yes you told me about this brotherhood that has been forming in school with young mutants, following a much different path then Mr. Xavier's students."

Putting on the glove on his right hand, he locks the gauntlet in place and says, "Not to mention, this Mystique who can shapeshift and definitely had a high level of combat training. Also if worst comes to worse, and any of these students could lose control...and all I have my hands and feet, and a power that I can't even control." Gripping his glove tightly, Bruce tries to release some tension that unwittingly builds in him. Taking a few breaths, he finally calms himself and continues to scan the glove not noticing the look of worry sewn across Alfred's face.

After a moment, Alfred collects himself and says, "I understand, and so these gadgets…if you don't mind me saying sir. Are your way to even playing field I assume?"

Moving his arm around, all the while testing the dexterity of his fingers in this complex glove, Bruce nods, "Yea, the grappling hook wasn't bad Against that monster of a mutant 'Fred' yesterday, I can see its applications. But it's not really a weapon. At the end, I really couldn't do anything but watch, as Rogue handled it."

"Yes, you said Miss rogue was able to dispatch the mutant correct. "

"Yea…nearly taking me with him."

Alfred nods in understanding, and focuses on the glove, "I suppose this glove is the more suitable weapon another such scenario."

A blue spark erupts from the back of the glove causing the circuits to smoke. Bruce quickly picks up a small screwdriver and starts to adjust some of the components while continuing on the conversation, "Yea, using a resonant circuit, and a diode-capacitor voltage multiplier I was able to make close-range weapon that creates a high voltage discharge in short bursts."

Alfred becomes concerned by both the statement, and the faulty wiring being broadcasted to him, "That sounds dangerous sir, could even be lethal."

After tweaking the last piece, Bruce checks the glove again while calmly nodding, "It can be, but I have already worked out the charge level that is non-lethal. But I can increase or decrease the voltage output for a stronger charge against certain threats. That mutant Fred for example, I'm sure he could probably take the highest voltage on this glove without much problem...well maybe he'll get a bruise."

"I see...but pardon my question, why a glove and not just a stun gun?

Bruce brushes off the statement while, strapping the glove, "Stun-guns are too clunky in my opinion, and usually have one shot to incapacitate. If the electrode missiles or fails the taser becomes useless. Which could easily be possible based on who I am fighting against. Some mutants here already have high reflexes. A slow projectile like the dart would be too easy to dodge. Not to mention, the reloading time. But with this, I can be far more versatile."

"Is it powered by normal batteries, or cartridges?"

"Modified batteries, but depending on the charge they can short out. So I made some spares in case. Materials haven't been too much of a problem, Xavier has some high tech with him. Probably brought in by Logan's connections. You should have seen the danger room he keeps in his basement. So much for peaceful harmony of humans and mutants, it looks like he's training them for war...hehe." A small chuckle escaped Bruce, as he looks out the window at the institute grounds.

Alfred however doesn't share his humor, as he looks on at Bruce with understanding eyes, " I'm sure he has his reasons. We all keep secrets Master Bruce…you know that better than anyone."

The smirk on Bruce's lips vanish as he puts the blinds on the window. The room gets dark, with the only light in the room barely coming from the phone. Suddenly the room gets illuminated by sparks of electrical arcs that flow around Bruce's glove. Bruce stares at the gloves, and nods in agreeance.

"Yea…I do."

…/Flashback Ends/…

"What the hell?"exclaims the mutant, as Bruce slams his sparking fist into him. The sparks erupt all around them, as both shout in pain with the mutant flying back from the impact and crashing into the wall behind him. A huge crack is heard, as a human sized crater get created multiple bricks falling apart. The mutant slides down from the vertical crater to the ground, unmoving, with smoke emanating from his body.

The situation is better for Bruce as he is clenching his teeth in pain, with smoke rising from his body as well. With his right hand still giving of small electrical currents. "Da...Damn it...GOD...its like my whole body's on fire. I should have thought bout that first, of course the current passed through me too. He was holding me...lack of oxygen must have made me stupid. Good thing, I had made some resistant fabric to soak some of that u" Bruce starts breathing out more calmly, as the pain slowly starts to subside. Feeling back his motor control, Bruce slowly starts to get up, as he looks on to the mutant still unmoving.

"Yea...he definitely took the worst of it. " Bruce looks at his glove, with a small knob, showing the voltage range. His lips pursed worryingly, "1,000 volts damn with a 1 amp current… I didn't have time to set it up… that would kill someone instantly...Is he?" Bruce turns back to the mutant with worry, as if his thoughts answered, the mutant slowly starts to rise.

"Guess not."

Finally able to see the mutant's face more clearly, there are some severe burns on his skin. Before Bruce can even become worries, those burns quickly start closing up and within seconds its like they were never there to begin with. Bruce's steps back in surprise, "He heals like...Logan...Shit!"

Pullet out of his worrying thought, the mutant growls with rage within his eyes, "You know what kid...I was waiting for my first hunt to be for Logan."

Bruce thought it couldn't be possible for the mutant to look more feral, but he was being proved wrong on every step. The mutants coat fell off, with his claws extending even further, at least a full inch of his fingertips. His fangs protruding out past his lips, and his eyes glowing yellow almost like a lion.

The mutant speaks with a dark and deep growling tone, "But I'm gonna make an exception."

As he leaps on all fours towards Bruce. Unlike before however, Bruce has seen his speed, so reacts much faster as he rolls quickly out of the way. The mutant crashes into the dumpster behind him. It quickly warps and gets crushed by the sheer power behind the feral mutant.

Bruce doesn't wait to see it however, as he dashes though the alley rushing out into the streets with a thought in his mind.

"I can't beat him."

"You think you can get way from kid?" The mutant roars from the alley.

"Ok think...he's fast like logan, maybe even stronger. He could smell me like him, and he heals. Great. The only thing he doesn't have are the metal claws erupting his knuckles...please don't have metal claws erupting from your knuckles."

Sprinting as his life was depending on it, Bruce quickly started scanning the street. It was late afternoon, some cars driving back and forth on the road but no traffic just yet. There were also come people walking on the street, a couple, some students without a care or focus on what was happening around them. Just a simple afternoon for them, and for a moment a powerful streak of worry came across Bruce's mind. "Will he attack them...No I don't think so. He's after me, I need to lead him out of these populated streets, somewhere where I can get an advantage. Cmon think...think….THINK." Bruce does a quick turn behind him, as he grits his teeth in frustration. The mutant is crawling across the side of the building with incredible speed and agility. "Get away from that...How do I even…?"

Bruce turn back in frustration and panic. He can't stay ahead of a beast like that, he's only human after all. "Only human…" Losing himself in that statement, Bruce starts to slow down. "...is that all I am?" Until his sprint turns to walk,then he finally stops. Bruce simply stares forward, his mind quieting down from the hundred thoughts initially rushing through.

The mutant notices the abrupt stop, and takes his advantage. Leaping from the vertical wall 30 feet up straight at Bruce with powerful ferocity. Within a millisecond of his claws reaching him, Bruce sways to his right letting the momentum guide his leg to a spinning roundhouse kick straight into the mutants face. The hit was strong enough for him to hear the crack of bone. The mutant crashes to middle of the road, as the car 20 feet away snaps on the breaks as hard as he can. It seems to be too late as the car slams into the mutant causing his body to flail over the car with immense speed. The car finally skids to a halt, as the driver steps out in fear and worry.

That driver talks about that moment in a bar to his friend a few days later...as he stumbled towards the broken man laying on the concrete. How he thought he just killed someone, and how that fear did not dissipate but instead compounded to the point of terror. The man he crashed into...the man whose body looked broken beyond belief, snapped back into place and simply stood up within seconds. "But the most terrifying part was...that man...animal...thing….he...he looked at me with rage, but turned away. Looking at someone in the sidewalk. A kid from what I could tell...tall but definitely a kid. And the kid just stared at the man until he turned and ran. That monster rushed after him, until I lost them at the turn of the street."

His friend would furrowed his brow at the story, "Why was that the most terrifying part?"

The driver would look back at his friend, with a glass of whiskey in his hand, "Cause the kid was smiling...like he wasn't scared...like he wanted to take the monster on…"

.../….

Bruce started running with renewed intensity. "I won't die here, I'll become more that I am. Now observe...there is always a way." Bruce quickly darts around, seeing his surroundings and notices a large building a few blocks away. Almost like a massive warehouse. Seeing the possibility of an advantage, he rushes towards that direction. He quickly darts into the oncoming traffic of the main road. Dashing and dodging cars with both speed and precision. Until reaching the alleyways that going straight toward the warehouse. Taking another look back, he sees the mutant still on hot on his tail and gaining.

Taking a deep breath breath, Bruce pushes himself even more as he leaps past the fence blocking his path. Then rushes up the adjacent wall landing right to the side of the warehouse. Quickly scanning the area, he sees that it's a massive distribution facility with three buildings. One looks like office building, 2 stories with an entrance doorway about two hundred feet away, and the other the warehouse itself with a huge entrance that seems to be the shipping area, with trucks being loaded up in and out. Finally on the corner of the facility there is the third building, it looks like the storage area.

A quick glance at the entrance of the building shows it to be locked, and also isolated. Almost nooone, within a hundred feet of the building. Bruce then turns to the trucks being loaded up, and sees there seems to be massive barrels being loaded up into it, clearly holding some liquid. Realizing an opportunity Bruce rushes to the storage building, quickly climbing up the side of the building to the roof. Bruce finds an entrance from the roof of the building and steps quickly downstairs. Inside as suspected, there are racks of barrels situated in clean rows for delivery.

Bruce sneaks closer to one of the barrels, shining his phone light to the markings and tags on it. "Ethanol...this could work." Bruce quickly pulls out his knife, plunging it to the side of the barrell then ripping it out. The clear liquid quickly starts gushing out, leaking all over the floor. He continues to do the same to five other barrels other barrels across the rows, dousing himself with the last one.

"Alright, he won't be able to follow my scent now. As long as I'm here, that's an advantage." Bruce sees most of the floor slowly getting covered with the liquid, he turns to his glove deep in thought, "Using any charge here would be too risky, any spark could blow this whole place up…Damn, this is the only thing I have that can even do any damage to him."

Frustrated Bruce looks around and sees hundreds of crates lying near the entrance of the building. He rushes over and looks around the crates. After a bit of searching, on one of the crates Bruce finally sees it. A metal Crowbar laying there just incase for any defective crates. Picking it up and feel its weight, Bruce looks back the glove. "This could work..."

Before he can begin, he hears a heavy thud on top of the building. Bruce quickly ducks down, and just stares up as footsteps begin to be heard. The footsteps go to near the entrance of the doorway at the rooftop. But instead of a door opening a powerful crashing noise is head. As the mutant rips through the roof, and drops down creating a massive splash. The mutant growls in rage, as he yells out, "You can't ever hide from me kid."

Bruce stays quiet hiding behind the crate, about two hundred feet from him. He takes out his knife, and slowly cuts along piece of his jacket out. Carefully watching the mutant for any moves.

The mutant hasn't moved however, as he sniffs the air around. He does this for a few moments, until he grunts in an annoyed expression. He then turns to the liquid on the floor that he landed on. He dips his fingers in the liquid, and takes a deep whiff of it. "Smart kid...SMART. I can't smell ya...you blend right in with...sniff...grain alcohol."

Bruce remains quiet, as he takes out the output wire out of the stinger of his glover. Cutting the wire skin, he wrapped it on the base of the crowbar. He then wraps the first part of his jacket around his glove hand, and then grips on the crowbar while finishing the wrapping around them both. "Alright, now I can send a current through the crowbar like a baton, while the wraps keep me insulated. And best of all, there won't be any spark coming through. "How much voltage can take him out, especially with his healing. I go to the max and that's ten thousand volts and a five amp current. That would kill anyone normal almost instantly...would it do the same to him...or would it even be enough?"

He is ripped out of his thoughts as he hears a deep chuckle from the darkness of the room. "Hehehe...you know something kid, you just reminded me of something from back in the day. I haven't thought about it in...Damn so long. Hmph...it doesn't really matter in hiding it now anyways, since you know me so well. And yer not getting out of this alive, I'll share it with ya. Least I could do."

Bruce listens in complete silence, not making any movement. Inside his mind, however its a much different story. "What the hell is he playing at, some kind of scare tactic...or does he already know where I am and just playing with his prey...No...I have no evidence currently to assume. I'll just have to wait for opportunity."

Slow and deliberate footsteps go across the first row, with screeching of metal being ripped into by the mutant. He calmly walks as he looks around, his eyes reflecting catlike in the dark. Grinning at the situation, he begins, "See healin' such a good trick both Logan and I have had since long we could remember. Or at least as much as he can with his wrecked brain. Healin keeps us fightin, there were days where me and long would just rip into each other, never stoppin..never quittin, hehe...only Claws and Blood. Those were the days before he started running with that bald weakling, posionin his mind with stupid talk of peace with human and mutant. Such a fuckin waste."

He gets to the end of the row and stops, looking at his right hand with the claws sticking out, "Logan and I just ain't mutants...we are predators, you ever seen a Lion be at peace with his prey. That shit is unnatural...But he's a stubborn one so ill have to beat that lesson into him. Back to what I was sayin, see healin has been real good to us, even made us age slower. Both of us are over a hundred years old, and we've seen some shit. And this moment right here, you and me in the darkness, your scent blended in...it reminds me of one of those old moments. See back in the day, Logan and I were in a little shithole of war in Vietnam, and our squad was sent to go after a...mutant. Kinda like us."

Bruce remains quiet, "Logan and him are brothers...what? IS he lying...is he trying mind games...it wouldn't be the most outlandish of claims tho. Logan is older than everyone at the institute, his past he keeps to himself but his skill and understanding shows nonetheless. And this mutant is so much like him, healing, claws, predatory instincts. The only difference is that this mutant seems to be more of feline predator. Would that be any reason to disqualify him...what am i even talking about here. Who cares...he wants to kill me. That's what I need to focus on not his past."

Continuing his story, "Yea that mutant was a tricky one, had a good eye for things. He knew who we were before even learned that he existed. Some sort of tactical mind that thought of hundreds of strategies in a second. Would have been impressive on our squad, but it is how it is. Anyways, he figured out about Logan's and mine healing, and our senses. He set up a trap in big ass restaurant. See we were trackin his scent, but turns out he had made a trail on purpose to make the restaurant a big death machine. I mean mounted browning m2's, fifty guys with carbines, hell someone even had a flamethrower. He was ready to rip us into pieces, and cause he was so smart he had heavy chemicals burned in the kitchen so we couldn't get much scent of the amount of gunpowder and guys he was packin."

Bruce notices the footsteps stopped for some reason. Worried if he was spotted, Bruce stays still for a moment until he slowly peers from the side of the barrels. The mutant is just standing right in the middle of the room, around the racks of barrels with a smirk on his face as he is looking up almost reminiscing. The mutant's chuckles, as he says almost to himself now as if absorbed into his own story, "Logan was always wanted to wait it out, sayin it coulda been a trap. Hahahaha...like I don't fuckin know that. Why would it matter, we can't die. Nothing could touch us, so I told him to man up and rushed right in through the first door. It was a bad idea...your body getting ripped with 1,000s of bullets, don't matter how could you heal that shit hurts. Logan and I were handlin it course, we tough sons of bitches. But the bullets never stopped, and for a good three minutes, I lost all feeling of my hands and feet, probably completely ripped apart. This guy has set up a kill box, with no way for us out. He knew I would walks right in like I owned the place, and he took advantage of that. Each of his guys were in smaller squads, and had drills to switch shooting when one squad gotta reload. He didn't wanna give a chance to heal, he wanted us mushed to little bits cause he thought we couldn't heal from that." The mutants stops smirking as he stares at the barrels, "Not gonna lie...in that moment...it felt like that. First time in my life, since I was a cub...I felt like I could die."

There is a sudden silence in the building, worriedly Bruce quietly leans his head to get a better view. At first, it's simply darkness until a giant barrel flies near him, crashing into the crates with ethanol gushing out from it. It doesn't stop there as more barrels starts getting thrown across the building, until there are gallons of ethanol spreading out.

Bruce doesn't move an inch, as his mind fires on all cylinders, "...What the hell is he doin?"

Bruce hears another barrel crash somewhere in the north side of the building. "He can't smell me, so he is just mindlessly attacking to root me out?"

Staying still, Bruce readies himself for combat, "Wasn't expecting that...but if that's the case I can wait for my moment to strike. Max voltage shot should be enough to at least put him down for a bit. Then i can escape." Bruce looks at pocket, remembering the cell phone. Maybe give call...but to who. I don't have Logan's number, and the others probably wont even pick up. It doesn't matter, I'll figure it out. Just have to take him down, he's fast but if i can catch him off guard. I can do this.

Bruce stands still, waiting quietly as the sound of heavy footfalls comes closer. Before long, the enemy is right on top of him, no less than 10 feet away. The footsteps stop and voice echoes through the room, sending a chill down Bruce's spine.

"Until Logan...finally released his beast. Now that was a sight, in a hail of bullets he ran in front of me...gave me a chance for a breather. Logan almost got the first guy too, but that's when the flamethrower went at him and he slowed down. But that was enough time for me to think of something. Those flamethrower canisters got some really nasty stuff, thick liquids that stick to ya when it burns, even water got problems dousin it. You see where my head's goin dontcha kid. See one thing they never expect is how far I'm willin to go to win...Dyin is just a word for a guy like me... The name's Sabertooth and it's been fun kid."

Bruce hears a flick of a lighter, as his eyes widen in realization. He rushes past the barrel towards the window, noticing the lighter falling a foot off the ground with Sabertooth just standing still with a smirk on his face.

"Gotcha." With inhuman speed, Sabertooth swipes down at the lighter grabbing it right before it touches the flammable ground, as he quickly turns towards Bruce finally out of the shadows.

"Shit...It was a trap". Bruce quickly dashes towards the crates, trying to get to the back window, with Sabertooth's hot on his heels.

I won't make it, I need to end this in one move or I am dead. Hearing the heavy footsteps getting closer and closer, Bruce takes a deep breath and clenches his fist as the static electricity jolts out of his glove into the crowbar. The footsteps give way to a loud growl as Bruce turns and swings at his pursuer's direction. The crowbar hits the mutants side with great force, however the mutant came far too close allowing his claws to slash Bruce's right arm, ripping through the wraps and hitting the glove.

The lightning discharges out from the glove as soon as it makes contact. A painful howl rings out as Sabertooth flies backwards crashing through multiple barrels until being halted by the wall at the other end of the building. Bruce stares at the debris in case Sabertooth rises up again. Until he is broken from his trance by the crackling glove. The sparks discharging from the broken capacitor, and some landing on the ground.

Oh no. He isn't even able to finish his thought as flames quickly erupt from the wet floor. Starting to reach out to the trail of debris, Bruce rushes towards the window but halts right before climbing through.

"Can he survive this? Can heal through it?" Bruce turns back at the debris, and the flames. This whole warehouse can blow at anytime. Can he survive that? Why am I even thinking about this, he was going to kill me.

Bruce shakes himself out of his thoughts, and starts climbing through the window. His steady gaze facing forward, Bruce feel his teeth starting to grind and his fists started to clench. The feeling bubbles up like a volcano, as he yells out in frustration. He quickly rushes back to the debris dashing past the growing flames. Digging through the crushed barrels, the unconscious body of Sabertooth comes unearthed. A huge burned scar embedded on his ribs partially healing.

Pulling apart the remaining debris, Bruce grabs onto the unconscious body and lifts him up over his shoulder. Bruce looks around for a decent exit, but finds both the window and the entrance door covered in flames.

"Shit. Why did I turn around? Dammit, okay think. Think." Bruce takes a deep breath, and looks at the wall right behind him. Partially burned, but still stable. Bruce turns Sabertooth to his right shoulder, facing forward and rushes right at the wall in a full sprint. Bracing himself, Bruce and sabertooth crash into the wall, breaking past the wooden support beams and fall to the ground outside.

Multiple shouts echo around them, as many workers rush over and grab them in a desperate attempt to bring them to safety. Bruce tries to warn them, but it's futile as they all get blown back by the explosion.

Briefly waking to the sounds of shouting & sirens, Bruce looks around In a haze noticing multiple injured men being carried out on the nearby flames here's a man rushing towards him saying," Kid can you hear me, you okay?". really comprehending those words Bruce is more focused tours looking for the mutant has he noticed this large familiar figure of sabertooth being placed into an ambulance. Bruce tries to speak, but his vision starts to darken as he falls ancient consciousness hearing the screams of men.

../Flashback/...

.../Gotham City - 6 months ago/…

Lightning strikes through storming night brightening silhouettes around the tall skyscrapers. Those skyscrapers could never be mistaken, dark and danger like spears thrusted into the sky with gargoyles perched on each side at the top watching over the dreadful city of Gotham. From a distance from those buildings, a massive graveyard can be seen. Going on for miles with a gate in the front with words engraved, Gotham Cemetery.

A car is parked in front of the gate, a Black Bentley Continental with the front lights illuminating the dark streets where no-one can be seen for miles. The driver side door opens, with a man in suit stepping out with an umbrella. He pulls it up, and closes the door behind him. Then walks over towards the passenger side on at the back, and opens the door. With the interior lit up, a young teen steps out in a black hoodie and jeans. The man in suit makes sure not a single drop of rain hits the young man.

A gentle voice comes out from the man, "Would you like me to accompany you, Master Bruce. The storm is quite strong?"

A young voice solemnly replies, "It's fine.." As his feature light up from another lightning strike. It's none other than Bruce Wayne, quite young perhaps fourteen years old. He looks at the cemetery, and then looks back at man-in-suit, "...it's something I need to do alone, Alfred.".

Alfred replies with a nod of understanding, as he hands Bruce another umbrella, "I understand sir, I will wait here then. Please let me know if you need anything at all."

Bruce grabs onto the umbrella and nods, as he walks into the cemetery under the pouring rain. In the storm and darkness, Bruce soon disappears from sight, as Alfred stays at the gate with sadness and worry etched across his face.

Walking past grave after grave until he gets to a large reserve of unmarked land beautifully preserved and outline of a small building starts to appear, Bruce simply stares forward with a blank gaze. His footsteps finally slowed down in front of a large stone crypt with the words engraved "Wayne Family". Staring at the crypt for a few minutes, he begins walking past the crypt to another part of the cemetery.

Moving past the beautiful reserve, Bruce eventually reach a far-less maintained area of the cemetery. Hundreds of unmarked graves littered around, with simple words written on small stone slabs for the lucky ones. It seems like however, Bruce has a destination in mind as he walks past a few of them and finally stopping at one grave further away from the rest. A small plaque on it simple reads, "Joe Chill".

It almost seems like hours as Bruce stares at the grave in complete silence, with roaring thunder and heavy raindrops echo all around him. His gaze completely focused on the grave, however his body seems to be shaking. On closer look one could notice blood seeping through his hand because of how hard his nails are digging into his palm. Suddenly a flash of lightning shoots through the sky above him, almost as if it was a trigger Bruce's gaze turns murderous. With a roar he lashes out at the Stone Plaque and crushes it with a single punch, the umbrella thrown way aside.

Slowly blood seeps through the cracks of the broken stone, as Bruce pulls out his fist. The skin ripped and torn, with small pieces of stone plunged in his knuckles. Paying no mind to to that, he screams out in rage, "IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE ME...I WAS GOING TO KILL YOU." As he continues to punch the grave, tears slipping out as he continues to unleash his rage."You take everything from me...and then just die...Its not fair. I...I wanted to look you in the eyes...I wanted you to feel every second of pain that I have lived with the past 6 years...You...Cant...You can't just die... You HEAR ME"

The punches begin to slow down, as Bruce rage's lessens as he remains on the grave, kneeling on his both knees. Simply staring at the broken grave. After a few minutes, Bruce slowly stands back on his feet, his eyes dried but replaced instead with a menacing glare, as he slowly starts to chuckle. The chuckles turn to a full blown laughter, as he say, "Hahahah...I get it….I get it now. You thought you could fool me. Clever Chill ...very clever. You knew I was coming for you...that's...that's why you did all this. You always have stayed one step ahead, always hearing and knowing when I was close because of you connections all around this disgusting city."

His Laugh silences to a menacing smirk, " You're not dead.. No...This is a trick, your trying to hide...covering your tracks...it won't work. I will find you...you hear me. There isn't a place in this world, where I won't be able to find you. You hear me CHILL...THIS ISN'T OVER. "

"Oh I know kid….", A deep voice with a heavy accent speaks from behind Bruce.

Almost like a shock going through his system, Bruce jolts up standing still, his eyes widening in recognition to that voice. He couldnt never forget that voice. Slowly turning around, twenty feet away from him stands the man that has haunted him for six years. Joe Chill.

A heavy built man around six feet tall,with a thick stubble. Looking in his early 40's with a long brown coat, a hat, and a cigarette in his mouth. The man stands there nonchalantly in the pouring rain. To Bruce however, all he notices are the eyes, the same eyes he had that night at the alley.

Within a second of seeing this man, Bruce rushes at him with strong right hook with full intention to cracking the man's head. All the pent up rage that had been building for years, Bruce finally had the chance of letting it out. To give this monster what he deserves. To finally end the pain and misery he had been in for years. To feel the cracking of Joe's head, with blood and fear pouring out of his face.

Instead, all Bruce saw was the dark clouds, a flash of lighting, and a feeling of weightlessness. As pain rushes through his back, as he descends down to the ground with great force. Roaring in pain, Bruce moves his body to focus and will the pain away. He wasn't ready for that. His focus quickly reigns back, as he looks up and sees Chill standing over him taking a huge wiff of smoke. In rage, Bruce quickly gets up while going for a leq sweep at Chill. However, it's very efficiently dodged as Chill jumps back 5 feet. Bruce stares at the man with wide eyes.

"How..."

Chill interrupts him with a smirk, "Is that all kid...I thought you were gonna do more, for the fact of what I did." Bruce looks at Chill with murderous eyes, but quickly takes a deep breath. As he gets in his fighting stance, and dashes forward with a quick jab straight for Chill's face. Smiling at the incoming punch, he calmly parries it almost like a blur, and retaliates with a swift straight squared to Bruce's jaw.

The staggering punch causes Bruce to stumbles back in pain, tasting blood in his mouth. Bruce shakes it off, and attacks again with two quick jabs, which get dodged with simple head movements by Chill. Non-relenting he then goes for a spinning back kick right after, how ever he notices Chill is gone. Until he suddenly hears "Boo" from right behind him. Bruce tries to dash away, but his arm is quick grabbed as Chill with inhuman strength swings him to a tombstone almost fifty feet away, with no way to orient himself, Bruce crashes through it with incredible force.

Bruce reels back in pain, blood pouring from the back of his head, as he slowly climbs back onto his feet. Muttering in pain, "How...How is this possible..he just a common thug. How does he know how to fight ...Was all that training for nothing? And that strength...he isn't human"

Quickly pulled off from his thoughts, he hears Joe stepping closer. Bruce gets back into his stance with great pain, as Chill begins to say. "I know what you're thinking kid...when did I learn how to fight. Well, I learned a few tricks back in the day, but it was nothing crazy. See you are shit out of luck cause if you had met me back then, you could easily taken me out..no question."

Joe chuckles at Bruce's rageful eyes, as he continues, "Lady luck sure is a funny one, cause something amazing happened to me all those years ago. That night...in that alley...You remember kid."

Bruce lunges at him with impeccable rage, going for a tackle. It proves futile however as Chill leap over him with incredible agility, grabs on to his shoulder and slams' Bruce down to the ground. Pinning Bruce with his elbow, Joe stares at Bruce.

Pinned under such incredible force on his neck, Bruce struggle to breathe. He tries to remove the elbow, but is not able to move an inch. Before going for a punch, Bruce stops struggle as he stares wide-eyed at Chill. Chili's eyes are glowing bright yellow.

A distant shout is heard just at the time, "Master Bruce….Master Bruce, Where are you?"

Chill looks over to the direction of the voice, as he chuckles, "Is that your old butler...you want me to take care of him too."

As soon as those words are muttered, black smoke starts to erupt from Bruce. He grabs on to Chill's elbow, as he slowly speaks with quiet rage, "You touch him...and your dead."

Looking down at Bruce and seeing the effects of his words, Chill visibly looks surprised as he smiles, "I knew it, there is that power. I figured, it happened to you too kid."

Those words make Bruce pause, as he replies in confusion, "What."

Chill chuckles as he removes his arm from Bruce and leaps back, while Bruce quickly gets back up in his fighting stance. However Chill instead exclaims, "C'mon...you didn't think you were the only one. Why do ya think I hid, after that night things changed...for you and me."

Bruce stays quiet, staring at Chill in confusion, "Out of nowhere, I was stronger, faster...hell even smarter. Suddenly I had these plans Brucie...Plans that required me to bite the bullet so to speak."

Rushing for another punch, Chill quickly dashes forward as he parries Bruce's punch and throws him to the other end. Fall on the ground, Bruce shouts in frustration, "Bullshit..you're just a coward…hiding like a rat"

"I was Brucie...WAS is the words here. Greatness doesn't come quick or easy kid." Chuckling Chill walks over to he broken plaque with his name, "It takes hard work; blood and tears gotta be spilled. I needed time to figure out what happened to me. And it didn't help with all the cops and you chasin me around town."

Beaten and battered, Bruce struggles to get up as the black smoke around him starts to spread, cracking and crushing the tombstones around him. Hearing Alfred getting closer and closer, Bruce tries to rein in his power but it proves futile. Worriedly he tries to concentrate, "No stay away Alfred..I can't control it...and Chill he's different"

Chill chuckles towards Bruce, as if hearing his thoughts, "You can't even control your power, and you were planning on comin after me. Talk bout stupid."

Bruce turns to Chill in rage, but instead starts to take deep breaths, "I can do this...It's my power...I can control it." After a few seconds, the smoke starts to retract back into Bruce, until it's totally gone. Still hurt and in pain, Bruce turns to Chill, "This is between you and me...Leave my butler out of this."

Putting his arms up, Chill just smiles as he says casually,"Relax kid, I don't want your butler. Hell I ain't even after you. I just wanted to see if you were like me. And also to tell you this…" As his smile drops, with blurring speed, he lunges at the Bruce grabbing him by the neck and smashes him to the ground. Crushed by the force Bruce shouts in pain, as Chill moves closer so they are face to face, and whispers venomously, "Stay the Fuck away from me kid. Cause I'm done hiding. Things are gonna be different now. This city...no...this world will hear about me soon enough. See my problem before was...I didn't have enough ambition. Its not the case no more, not with the way I am now. So think of this as a courtesy call kid. Cause we got history, you and I. So stay away or next time I'll make sure you and your Butler get a nice spot right next to your dear old parents at the old wayne crypt."

Bruce shakes in fury as he tries to remove Chills arm with no avail. Still he remains quiet, until suddenly Chill removes his arm and rushes past Bruce like a blur disappearing in the darkness. He quickly turns with a swinging fist, but Chill is long gone. Coughing heavily Bruce tries to get up but loses his balance and falls back down, as Alfred comes into view past few graves.

Seeing Bruce fall down, Alfred rushes over with fear in his eyes. Getting closer he finally sees the injuries Bruce has on him, he quickly kneels down to help Bruce up while asking with worry, "Master Bruce what..?

As his hands slowly come to reach him, Bruce quickly slaps them away in fear, as he starts looking around frantically. Alfred grabs on to him, as he shouts, "Bruce...BRUCE it's me son, its Alfred."

Hearing those words, Bruce slowly is able to focus back as he looks at Alfred, "Alfred…"

Alfred nods with a smile, "Yes sir...are you alright, can you walk…"

Bruce starts look around while nodding, as he weakly gets up with Alfred's help. Seeing the panic in Bruce, something very rare, Alfred questions with renewed worry, "What happened Master Bruce?"

Slowly turning to Alfred, he whispers, "He's Alive."

Alfred look at him confused and concerned, "Who sir?"

Bruce point at the broken tombstone with a one piece clearly showing the name 'Chill'.

Alfred eyes widen at the realization, "My god."

../Flashback ends/…

../Xavier Institute /…

Waking up to a coughing fit, Bruce grabs his chest in pain looking around in fear as a hand gently landed on his shoulder. Ready to counter, Bruce turns for a punch but stops instantly as he sees Rogue with wide eyes staring at him.

Though she was about to punched, she had her hand up but realizing that Bruce recognized her Rogue looks at him with a smile, "Bruce, yah' alright, you need some water."

Bruce tries to reply, but instead goes back to coughing as Rogue quickly picks up a glass by the cupboard, and slowly helps Bruce drink it. She rubs his back gently, while saying, "It's alright Bruce, you're alright. You're at the mansion, yah been out for a few hours, but yah gonna be fine. Just a few burns and some smoke that ya breathed in."

The cool water hitting his throat brings much needed relief to his burning throat, as he almost finishes the whole glass. Still coughing a little, Bruce hands back the glass and says hoarsely, "Thanks."

Rogue gently smiles, "Of Course, lemme call the professor. He has been wantin to talk to ya."

Remembering suddenly what had occurred before, Bruce nods back with focused eyes. Rogue takes the glass, and walks out of the room. Bruce leans back with thinking about what happened. "A few hours...Rogue didn't mention anything, so the students might be fine. And if that's the case, I just need to war Xavier and Logan. Sabertooth...Logan's brother?"

A few moments later Xavier and Ororo enter the room, with Rogue behind with refilled glass of water. She passes the other two, and gives Bruce the glass with a smile. Bruce accepts it with a small smile, as Ororo also walks over to Bruce placing her hand gently on his shoulder, and with a gentle tone asks. "How are you feeling, Bruce."

Bruce could only stare at her, and think about how he hadn't seen Ororo since leaving the institute after the incident with Pietro. During that dark time, he hadn't given much thought about what Ororo reaction might have been. But ever since he got back, secretly he had been trying to avoid her as much as he could. Reactions like fear, anger or even hate he could handle, but with Ororo there was a reaction that could hit much deeper. Something he only felt from his parents and Alfred, Disappointment.

Instead it was concern etched in her eyes, no judgement nor fear. Looking for an answer expectantly, she notices Bruce long stare. Almost as if understanding his thoughts, she says with a comforting smile, "It's ok Bruce, I'm just glad you're here safe and sound." Again, he could tell there was no deception within those words, and so the only thing Bruce could do was look down.

Noticing Bruce's discomfort, Xavier decides to change the subject, "We were called when the E.M.T picked you up by the explosion. Would you care to explain why you were near such a thing?" Xavier leans forward with a lifted brow, and a small smirk. Confused for a moment until Bruce realized what he was doing. As a notable disapproving tone comes from Ororo,"Yes, I would really like to hear this."

Bruce closes his eyes in frustration as he speaks , "There was a mutant, a strong one. He was tracking Evans after school and I intercepted him…"

"Sabertooth…' Interrupted Xavier with a surprised and worried look, "..You engaged with him." Ororo also looked at Bruce with more worry. Rogue however speaker up, "Wait Sabertooth, Yah talkin bout that mutant attacked the mansion ah few hours back?"

"WHAT...He came here?", Exclaimed Bruce with worry, Rogue nods, "Ah wasn't there, but the mutant apparently attacked the mansion in midday. He sounded stupid if yah ask me, Ah what he expect. Scott, Jean, Logan and Miss Ororo made him run with his tail behind his legs."

Xavier continues, "His real name is Victor Creed, and he came after Logan. However after he was pushed back, he rushed through the forest and disappeared. Logan currently is looking for him, but we are safe for the moment."

The worry in Bruce's eyes doesn't let up however, "No we are not."

Ororo asks inquisitively, "What do you mean Bruce?"

"I was able to gather more info about him than just his relation with Logan. His instincts are of an Apex Predator, and he's got years of experience to add on to that. He wouldn't engage with all you because he thought he would win. He wanted to see your capabilities, and your defenses. Apex Predators don't fight, they hunt until the opportune moment and then go for the kill." Bruce then turned to the group, with serious eyes.

"He attacked the mansion for recon, because with his healing he could survive anything you throw at him. Xavier, you need to put all your students in code red, and not let anyone leave."

Rogue responds with concern, "Sabertooth is after Logan, who is not even in the mansion. Why would he attack us again, when his target is not even here."

Xavier replies in realization, "To use us as bait."

Bruce nods. Xavier says, "Ororo let the other students know, and I will send a message to Logan. No-one is allowed to go out of the mansion until Sabertooth is dealt with. Keep resting Bruce, we will deal with this quickly."

Xavier rolls out, as Ororo puts both of her hands on Bruce's shoulders, making him fully face her. Confused Bruce simply stares at Ororo, and is surprised to find her teary-eyed as she speaks with gently, "Evan's my nephew, and sometimes too reckless for his own good. If it wasn't for you, who knows what Victor might had done to him. You saved protected my family Bruce, Thank you." As she envelopes him in a hug, Bruce simply goes rigid with wide eyes.

Rogue notices Bruce's eye land upon her, with nervousness. She can't help but smile at the adorable sight in front of her, the cool, calm and collected Bruce Wayne can't handle a hug. Bruce sees the smile, and with a slight sigh, awkwardly puts on hand on Ororo's back reciprocating the hug. He feels the embrace get a little tighter. After a few seconds, she leaves the embrace with a gentle smile, and says, "Rest now Bruce, We will make sure everyone here is safe. I'll bring you food later. I'm sure you are alright with watching over him, am I right Rogue. After all you have been by his side for the past two hours. "As she turns to Rogue, who looks down with an intense blush.

"Yah had to say it huh…." Rogue nods fervently, and stumbles out words with nervousness, "Absolutely Miss, Ah'll watch over him. It's no problem at all." Desperately keeping her eyes away from Bruce, she stares at Ororo who slowly gets up from the bed.

Luckily Bruce doesn't pay too much notice, slowly moving himself to a more inclined position, while his deeply in thought about Sabertooth. "He must have healed up soon after the explosion, but he didnt come after me? He had my sent, he could have chased me down, or was it that he was tracking me, and I led him here when the Xavier came to collect me. Damn it...was it me who showed Creed our location."

Ororo notices Bruce being deep in thought, thus decides to step away with a small touch to Rogue's shoulder with a smile. Rogue looks at Ororo, still with a slight blush and sees her nod. Soon a hint of a smile comes forth on Rogue's face as well. Ororo then leaves the room with one last look at Bruce.

Once Ororo leave, Rogue turns to Bruce who is still in deep thought, and says, "Ah gotta finish up mah homework, Ah'll be back soon...or if yah don't mind I could bring it here and finish it" The last few words brought out a bit nervous in Rogue, as she gently at her gloves a bit.

Bruce turns to her and nods, "Sure." Rogue eyes widen with elation, as she smiles ear to ear and says with a bit of excitement, "Great, Ah'll be right back." As Rogue's steps out, Bruce simple watches her as he thinks, "If you are here, I'll be able to better protect you if Sabertooth attacks."

Within a few moments, there is a knock on the door. Surprised at that, "She couldn't have come that quickly." Bruce simply says, "It's open."

The door creaks open, and in steps Evan, looking a bit nervous with his hands in his pockets, "H..Hey man."

"Great...Now I have to deal with him." , Bruce simply stares at him, waiting for the inevitable trash-talking he has been hearing since he's got here. "I would jump out that window to get done with this, but that probably would be counter-productive to my injuries. It doesn't really matter anyway, it just words."

Seeing Bruce's silence as a cue to continue, Evan says, "Thanks for savin me today.."

Bruce's eyes focus very quickly, "Did I hear him right. Did he just thank me?"

"...and I'm sorry about shouting at you too, I was pretty mad cause you pushed me...But turns out it wasn't you. That guy was after me and if you weren't there, who knows what else he might have done, I...I could have died."

Bruce simply stared, "Huh...didn't expect that. He still looks nervous though. "It's fine."

Evans nods, still looking down. "There's something else isn't it.", Asks Bruce realizing, there was more eating at Evans.

Blurting out in frustration and anger, "I put all the people here in danger cause of me." Bruce furrows his brow in curiosity, "How so?"

"Sabertooth was tracking me, and I...I was recording for my stupid documentary and He saw the mansion. He found our home because of me." Slowly realizing what he meant, Bruce nods slightly and then says, "Sooner or later, he would have found this place. It was only a matter of time, I rather know he is coming, then not know it at all."

Evan looks at Bruce with surprise, was Bruce comforting him. Yea it wasn't a gentle sounding like Auntie Ororo, but still he was. Evan smiles slightly at Bruce's response, and then says with confident eyes, "I have to make it right tho."

Bruce looks at him again with renewed curiosity, "And how do you propose to do that?"

"By taking him down, and catching him. "

Scoffing at Evan, Bruce responds, "You have no chance against him, you have no real combat training , and you are just figuring out your powers. He would rip you apart in an instant."

Evan nods at Bruce's statement, "I know, I saw how tough he was… so I was thinking about taking Kitty and Rogue along."

Bruce eyes turn deadly serious in an instant, as speaks in almost a dark whisper, "Did you just say you are planning to take those two out there...where a killer is lurking…?"

Quickly realizing how it sounds, and the murderous look Bruce was giving him, Evans quickly explained, "No...No...I mean yea...Look...I am thinking we use ...us as bait."

Bruce narrows his eyes, "Explain".

Evans continues almost enthusiastically, " So this Sabertooth guy has like senses like Mr. Logan right. So that means, if Mr. Logan hasn't found him yet is cause This guy knows Mr. Logan is on his tail. So hes gonna stay hidden till he finds an advantage, like attacking the mansion again or going after one of us. I heard Mr. Logan and Professor talking about Sabertooth waiting it out. "

"He's not wrong, he's much more insightful than I previously thought. Noted." Thinking, Bruce nods, "You have a point, so how does that lead to your previous statement."

"Well I was thinking Sabertooth is like a rival to Mr. Logan. And I sorta know what that's like with...uh." Evans closes his eyes for a moment, then opens them staring at Bruce who looks away. "Yea Pietro." Evans Nods, and continues, "Yea so I know that Pietro and I always can out think each other, cause we know each other that well. So we always expect a plan, and so we are always prepared. I think it's the same with those two. So I think Sabertooth doesn't expect us to do something, maybe the Professor, maybe Mr. Logan, but not us. So I think we use ourselves as bait, after leaving a trail for Mr. Logan to follow. So we get together to a nearby forest not too far from the mansion, and let Sabertooth come to us. All we have to do is hold him off, till Mr. Logan catches up and boom he gives him the claws."

Bruce thinks for a moment, "It's not the worst plan ever, but the variables involved…" "Why not ask Scott or Jean for this plan."

"Well Scott wouldn't do it, because he would wanna listen to the Professor, and the Professor won't want us to do anything risky, and Jean...well I don't talk to her so much but I think she would go along with him. But the main thing is, Sabertooth fought them already so he would have their scent. He might be able to tell its a trap. But we are just unknown students, that kinda look weak haha."

Bruce raises an eyebrow, "But why tell me then, I did encounter him."

"Yea I know, but I rather have someone on our side for backup you know, just in case Mr. Logan takes longer than I thought."

Thinking on it for a moment, Bruce shakes his head, "Regardless of me there, its too much of a risk, he is a trained killer with power to match. None of you have any combat experience worth a damn. It's far too dangerous."

Evans replies back with intensity usually not seen in him, "So is Sabertooth being out there. Sooner or later, he might get one of us, this way we have an advantage. This way we can expect him. I rather be the bait, then have someone else get hurt or killed because of my mistake."

Silence enters the room after those words. Bruce stares at Evan while rapidly processing the situation, "I really have been underestimating him, he's been thinking about this for awhile. He feels guilty for what happened, so probably has been racking his brains to figure out a plan. But to create such a risky trap, especially with the other two. Either way, it doesn't look like he will back off, with those tenacious words, even if I convince him to not take Rogue or Kitty. He will find a way to go by himself, and be the bait. Brave and foolish...but, the longer we wait. The better of a plan Sabertooth can make against us. And this enemy is far too dangerous to have roaming around. And if we were attacked, having multiple students can definitely slow Sabertooth down. And he has a point about the rivalry, Sabertooth has history with Logan then it's not far off to assume that he understands how Logan thinks and acts. It also confirms why Logan hasn't found him in the past few hours. But putting Kitty..and Rogue in danger like that...so many things could go wrong...Damn it."

Bruce sighed in annoyance as he says , "Even if I were to agree with you , How would we possibly convince Rogue or Kitty about this plan. It's not only dangerous, but most likely get them all in deep trouble with Logan and the Professor."

Evans smiles as his eyes light up, he pulls out his camera from his pocket. "Those two girls were fighting about the theater play that's happening soon, Maybe I can convince them to use this as an audition thing."

Bruce looks away in frustration. "Lying to them ...But it would keep them less worried.,,Wait why do I even care? I have lied plenty of times, hell this whole situation of me staying here is built upon a lie." However, thinking back to the earlier moments with Rogue," Dammit."

Closing his eyes in frustration, Bruce finally say, "Alright let's do it, but let me speak with Rogue about it. You talk to Kitty."

Evans nods, however he asks a bit concerned, "You sure you don't want me to talk to them both. No offense, but you don't come across that friendly."

Opening his eyes with a cold stare, Bruce says, "I'm sure." Quickly getting worried, Evans nods, "Yes man, sure. You got it." Evan heads out of the room, "We can meet at the front in about 30 mins."

After Evans leaves, Bruce lays back at the wall thinking, "Why am I not dead? After the explosion, if Sabertooth wasn't found alongside me means he got up earlier. So why wasn't I killed? As a matter of fact, why the hell did I even save him." The door opens again, with Rogue bringing along a few books, and a plate of sandwiches. She puts the books at the desk, and smiles, with a plate of food. "Thought yah might be hungry, I hope you like em."

Looking at the food, Bruce's stomach inadvertently grumbles, as he nods slightly with a thanks. She brings the plate over, and hands it to him. Then she sits on a chair next to the desk, "Well Yah go on and eat, Ah'll just work on some assignments. Let me know if yah need anything."

Bruce looks at Rogue with some thought, "Might as well bring it up now." "There is something…"

Rogue turns to Bruce expectantly, signaling him to continue, "Well Evans came just a bit earlier to talk."

"Oh what about."

"Sabertooth?"

"Right, we all been talkin bout him all day."

"And how to possibly catch him." Adds Bruce quickly. Rogue double backs with wide eyes, "He said what now?"

Bruce looks away for a moment, "Logan has been having difficulty following any trails, because Sabertooth expects him and so is leading him on in a good chase. So Evans has a plan to bring Sabertooth out in the open, so Logan can deal with him."

Her eyes almost catching on to where this thought is leading, "Oh Ah'm not gonna like the sound of whats next."

"So the plan is for some of us to go out there as bait to lure out Sabertooth. We hold him off, till Logan tracks our scent and catches up. With a higher number of us, we can have a much easier chance of taking him down without too many problems."

Breathing out in annoyance, she says, "And Ah was right. Bruce this sounds crazy, Evans sounds crazy. We all could get hurt real bad."

Bruce turns back to Rogue, with resolute eyes, "No...I wouldn't let that happen."

A very quick surprise from Rogue, she looks at him with a smile, "...thank you Bruce...Ah know you wouldn't."

Realizing quickly what he just said, Bruce responds back with a bit of a stutter, "Y..you're right...it's a bad idea. We will figure something else out."

Reeling back in thought, "Since when do I stutter...what the hell was that."

Rogue ponders for a bit as well, until she nods, "Lets do it."

Coming back to the conversation, Bruce replies with a surprise, "What? I thought you said it was a bad idea."

Rogue smirks, "Ah did...And Ah still think it is. But its what we gotta do make sure everyone's safe. We're the X-Men right."

Bruce pauses at that, "X-Men...Am I?" But nods anyways.

../1 hour later/…

Evans, Kitty and Rogue are driving towards the forest. All three of them wearing an earpiece, from which Bruce's voice comes over, "So I'm about 2 miles behind you, I can catch up really fast. If Sabertooth tries anything too reckless."

Kitty grips Evans in worry, as she says, "Like...why did I even agree to this. I really should have just told the professor, right after u talked to me Spike. Like we can't fight Sabertooth, Mr. Logan has tried to for years and he hasn't come on top apparently."

Evans replies, "Look I'm sorry Kitty...but you did say yes to this...Ow" Evans respond to a sharp pinch to his shoulder by Kitty who looks very angry right now. Rogue decides to speak up, "Would both of ya quit it, we're doin to this to make sure we all are safe alright. And beside Bruce is gonna be right behind us, and then Logan will catch up to."

Bruce responds, "She's right. I promise you Kitty, I won't let anything happen to you."

Kitty becomes quiet with those words, a bit in thought as she lightly says, "Ok."

"By tha way, what's the plan once we stop, are we gonna just wait for sabertooth to just show up…", Rogue asks with a bit of concern.

Evan's chuckles nervously, "Haha...about that…"

../Forest Clearing/…

"Absolutely not...this is your plan?", Crossing her arms, Rogue looks at Evan's with annoyance.

Yea...like no way I'm doing that." Agreeing, Kitty nods as well.

Evan places the stereo on the ground, as he sets up the song, "Ladies...please, you think Sabertooth won't know something's up if we just sit here. We gotta act like we came here for something else."

Not looking convinces, Rogue replies, "So yah want us to dance, while a psychopath mutant is stalkin us…?"

Pointing the camera towards them, "Well you guys also wanted to the competition right, well this is your chance to see who gets in."

"She can have it, ah'm good?", says Rogue while lookin away thinking, "This is so stupid...A'hm not just gonna dance cause he says it"

At this point, Bruce's voice comes through, "Rogue, it's the best way to trick Sabertooth. I wouldn't ask if I couldn't think of anything else at the moment."

"Dammit...Bruce…" Rogue sighs as she turns to Kitty and just nods in defeat. Kitty realizing the situation as well, just huffs in annoyance and says, "Fine. But it better be like shot well." As she begins to dance to the rhythm of the music with Evan recording. Rogue follows soon after with a bit of embarrassment, "Ah really hope Bruce ain't lookin. It's fine, he's gotta keep an eye for Sabertooth anyways."

Propped up on a tree about a hundred feet away, Bruce watches them for a moment, but turns towards the nearby locations for any movement or shifts. He begins to speak quietly to mic, "I have visual on all of you. So here is the plan, the moment Sabertooth shows, I'll engage with him and try to keep him here. All of you back away at that point and get to Logan."

Rogue replies with a shortness of breath, still moving, "What do you mean we gonna back away, Ah ain't lettin you fight him alone."

Evans nods in agreement while still recording, "Yea man, we are the X-men. We don't abandon each other, and don't forget this was plan. You can't just ditch us."

Even Kitty adds, "Yea like, we're in this together now."

Replying with annoyance, Bruce states quickly, "Listen to me. None of you have any real combat experience, and this guy is more skilled and stronger than all of you. I'm the only one here tha….Evan's turn around...he coming from the bushes behind you."

Evan's turns to a crushing noise of his stereo as Sabertooth roars at the students. Then rushes and grabs Evan's with a smirk, "You're Mine.". Lifting him up, Evan replies back, "Been expecting you." As his namesake, Evans protrudes bone like spikes out of his body, some piercing Sabertooth gripping hands. "You gotta be sharp if you mess with the Spike."

In rage, Sabertooth throws Evans at Rogue, as they both fly back a few feet, knocking Evans out cold with Rogue underneath him.

Kitty looks at them in surprise, as she hears Sabertooth running towards her with a snarl. "Then I'll take you." As he leaps at her, but phases right through; falling flat on his face on the other side.

Almost chuckling in response, "R..Right, I'm so sure." Kitty turns to the other Evans and Rogue with worry, noticing Rogue slowly getting up as she looks at Kitty with wide eyes. Realizing too late, Kitty turn in surprise with Sabertooth right behind her ready to strike.

Kitty closes her eyes in fear, as she is grabbed from the side as a painful grunt can be heard. She opens her eyes, to see Bruce holding her tight. She also sees a deep red scar on Bruce's ribs as he tenses with pain barely noticing Sabertooth right behind them readying another strike.

"NOO...", Shouts Rogue as she tries to get to them, but notices that Sabertooth doesn't attack. Instead he stares at them for a second, with almost a contemplating expression.

Before Rogue can do anything further, another shout his heard from the bushes, "Picking on kids, Creed. Big Mistake." Logan rushes forth from the forest and tackles Sabertooth. The contemplation disappeared from Sabertooth's face but instead replaced with a smirk. He replies with a condescending tone, "Yea...Why?"

Logan lifts Sabertooth with effort, and throws him shouting, "Cause it really ticks me off."

Sabertooth flies for about twenty feet but lands gracefully, as he prepares for the next blow. He is suddenly hit by immense pain, as he screams and falls. With Rogue behind him, how had grasped his arm. The effect of her powers quickly manifest, as her hair grows longer, fur erupts from her body, and her teeth and claws elongate almost feral like.

Looking at her transformation, she visibly flinches. But quickly rushes over to Bruce who has let go of Kitty and now is just gripping his side. With deep worry and fear in her eyes, she grabs hold of Bruce and starts examining his side. Claw marks with blood oozing through them, Rogue words heighten and become louder with worry, "Bruce...oh no...Logan he needs HELP."

Almost on que, Logan rushes to them and look at Bruce. "Damn we're gonna need to take him to the med bay. I don't think its too deep but can never be too sure. Evans, help Rogue pick up Bruce and take him to my bike. I'll take Creed over here."

Evans nod, as they help support Bruce who slowly gets up with a lot of pain. Rogue takes his right side, and says in a soothing voice, "Don't worry, yah're gonna be fine." As they begin to walk, Logan shouts, "And don't think any of you are off the hook. Y'all could have been killed...we will deal with the punishment later."

They nod as they continue to walk. Logan looks down at the unconscious Sabertooth with dark eyes.

.../ Black-Bird - X-Jet (2 hours later)/….

The darkness slowly turns into light, as the silence becomes with a slight hum of an engine. Looking around with limited mobility, he notices that he is locken in a metal chamber in the back of what he can only assume is a jet. He was trapped, he lost to some kids. Sabetooth can only shake his head as he mutters, "Damn…"

"Damn"s right, Creed, you ain't gonna be droppin by for a long while, bub" Saberooth turns to the familiar voice, as expected it was Logan walking in.

Creed smirks, "You know you can't get rid of me forever, Logan, I'm gonna always find you."

Logan looks at Creed with seriousness, but nods while sitting down in a seat next to him, "Maybe, but not for a while. Until one of us find a way to end the other for good."

"Yea...only then." Nodding, Creed looks down in deep thought. "What was the name of that kid that I hit."

With only a mention of those words, claws erupt from Logan's knuckles, as he growls "Bub...I fucking swear, you come near them again and I'm gonna…"

"He saved me."

Logan pauses with genuine surprise, "What...What did you just say?"

Replying without missing a beat, "I was after that kid, I was gonna kill him. But he led me to a factory, dulled my senses, and put up a fight I never expected. He actually took me down...full of surprises that one…"

Logan remain quiet, waiting for Creed to continue.

After a few moments, he does , "...I remember the factory caught on fire while we were inside, and I was out cold. ….woke up later...outside next to the kid and a bunch of guys askin me if I was alright. Didn't know what the hell was goin on, so I grabbed one and asked bout what happened."

Creed turns to Logan with a smirk, "You wanna know what he said? That kid had me on his shoulders, broke through the wall and got us out before the factory exploded."

A few moments of silence followed, as quick sounds of retracting blades came from Logan's knuckles. He leans back with focused eyes, "He saved your life."

Taking a moment to absorb that statement, Creed genuinely chuckles, "Wouldn't know, maybe I could have survived it, maybe not...but never thought I would hear those words. Saved me. Never thought that would happen you know. Not with me...I've done too much...to have that. But…"

"He did it."

Creed smile dies down, as he nods, "He did. That kid...he's different."

This time Logan nods with understanding, "Yea he is. You didn't take him out then either did ya. I saw you had him on the ground, could have taken another shot at him before I could get to ya."

Creed looks away from Logan, as he mutters, "Just...didn't feel right."

Logan stares at Creed for a few more moments and then leaves heading back to the front without a word.

A few minutes later, the door behind Creed opens as a cold wind blows in. The metal contraption unlatch, as Creed moves free. He cracks his neck, while looking at the icy land that they are on top off. Creed then turns to see, Logan stepping back in. Staring at Logan for a moment, Creed speaks with an almost calm tone, "I'll come back."

"I know."

Sabertooth nods, as he starts walking towards the open hatch.

"His name's Bruce."

Sabertooth turns back to Logan, who looks at Creed with his mask off and calm eyes. "He's parents were shot when he was a kid...in front of him.

Pausing for a moment, Creed slowly nods, "Thats why..."

Finishing Creed's thought, Logan says, "He's like us."

"Yea." Nodding Creed looks at Logan one last time, and jumps onto the Ice-like surface creating small cracks. As the ship above him starts to ascend further.

Sabertooth turns to the ship for a moment, as he mutters, "Bruce…" As The X-Jet flies from his sight, Sabertooth starts walking into the Icy Wasteland.

../...

Hope you guys liked it. The whole situation inst fully resolved, we will get to the aftermath next time. Its pretty late here, and I'm pretty tired so I wont write much here today. But yea feel free to message me, follow on twitter, or even check out my stream. If you guys ever wanna hang. Take care :)