Pietro was sitting on a park bench. He was going to buy gloves, but then a thought popped into his head.

What if the gloved didn't work? What if he couldn't even put the gloves on? What if he touched them and they got so worn the fabric faded and there'd be holes in the gloves. Then they wouldn't help him at all.

Pietro sighed and looked down.

"Why so glum, chum?"

He looked up. It was Pietro's friend Sean Cassidy. Sean was also a mutant, but he wasn't an X-Men or a Brotherhood Boy.

Sean sat next to Pietro.

"What's wrong, Pete."

"I have a new power."

"What's so bad about that?"

"I can manipulate time."

"That sounds like a cool power," said Sean.

"It's not as great as it seems," said Pietro. "It only works when I touch things and people. And I can't control it. I ruined a book and destroyed my house's door."

"Ah, I see the problem."

"And if I were to touch you now, you'd either get younger or maybe older."

"I'm sorry, Pietro."

"Don't be. You didn't give me this power."

"What are you going to do?"

"Dunno."

"Why don't you ask the Professor for help?"

"You crazy? The Brotherhood doesn't ask the X-Men for help. I don't need help from geeks like them. They others would chew me out if I did anyway."

"But you can't live like this."

"I know."

Sean checked his watch.

"I gotta go. Hope things work out."

"Thanks, man. Later."


Pietro returned home and found Lance still sobbing over his beloved jeep.

The speedster sighed. "Pathetic. Stand back, Lance."

He touched the jeep and it was brand new.

"My jeep! My baby! You're all better now!" cried Lance, happy.

Pietro ran up to his room. On his bed was a pair of black gloves.

Hesitatingly, he took the gloves. Nothing happened to them. Pietro got them on.

He saw a note on his night stand. Pietro read it.

Dear Pietro,

I once had the same problem as you. These gloves helped me. I know they will help you.

It won't be easy with your new power, but you will get control.

Everything will work out.

There was no name on the note.

'Who sent me the gloves?' thought Pietro. 'How did they know about my power?'


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