AN: Another chapter yay! This is where the actual story starts.

Disclaimer: I only own Andrew and Liz; all other characters belong to Marvel.

Not Every Story Has a Happy Ending

Chapter 3 Enter Raven

1983, New York City, New York

It was dark. The sun had set many hours ago, and the dark seedy underbelly of the city was beginning to emerge. The moist and almost sickening stench of dirt and grime that seemed to fill the city, even in the daylight hours, became even more pungent. It made the 'city that never sleeps' even more unbearable. With the terrible population, and almost unyielding criminal activity, it was a wonder why people lived there at all. The moans of desperate people begging to leave and find somewhere else to begin a new echoed against the high rise buildings and disappearing into the night not ever being hears. One such person was Andrew Darkholme.

Those five years ago, Andrew had talked over his future with Colonel William Stryker. The raven haired teen decided that death was not a very well thought out punishment for his crimes. Being Christian, he decided that the best way was to atone for his sines against God an his parents. In order to do this, Andrew joined up with Stryker's elite team of mutants known as Team X. Upon joining, he assumed a new alias, the Destructor. The only people to still call him by hid real name were his team mates Irene, who was also known as Destiny, and James, aka the Wolverine. They were as close to friends as he was ever going to get.

Yes, a lot had changed over the last five years of the young man's life. The twenty-two year old sat alone at the bar in a nightclub located in downtown New York. This was where their mission was supposedly to take place. Andrew couldn't help but find this fact to be very unlikely. He was sure Victor, aka Sabertooth, just wanted to check out some woman and maybe get some action at the same time.

The club was packed. However, it was not so full that he patrons were not able to move. The music was loud, pounding, and pulsing throughout the entire establishment. The people dancing to the unnecessary rhythm were sweating, and gyrating across the so called 'dance floor.' All it was, was a small tiled area in the middle of the club where the music was the loudest. The smell of sweat seemed to fill the club, and mix with permeating scent of alcohol. It was an almost unbearable stench, even to human senses. It was nearing eleven o'clock and the club staff were preparing 'the stage' for the exotic dancers and strippers that were soon to some on and make fools of themselves in their underwear and nudity.

"Andrew!" A feminine voice called loudly almost directly in his rather sensitive ears. He did not possess enhanced sense like some of his colleagues, but he definitely had above average senses. He cringed at the volume of the voice and turned to face it's source. Irene.

Irene was a rather pretty woman and petite. She was in her late thirties and her chocolate brown hair hung down past her narrow shoulders. Her roots showed a bit of gray, but that just added to her charm. Her blue eyes were a it too large for her face, and her lips were fairly thin. If she pulled them back into a tight line, you might not be able to tell if she had any lips at all. She was not very tall, but she held an air of confidence about her that made her seem at least a foot taller. She was also incredibly intelligent, and almost always had her nose stuck in a book. What Andrew liked most about Irene, were her soft blue eyes, and gentile smile. Also, if you confided in her, she told no one. It was something that set her apart from the other members of Team X. He always took what she had to say in great confidence. She was wise beyond her years.

Irene smiled and sat down n the vacant bar stool beside him. "Where are you? You seem so far away," She remarked resting her arms on the counter top. "I've been calling to you for five minutes. What's on your mind hun?" She asked as she crossed her legs.

Andrew took a sip of the drink that he had been nursing for the last tn minutes. He wasn't much of a drinker, but he did enjoy drinking himself into a depression every once in a while. "Nothing," He replied blandly as he placed the nearly empty glass back down onto the counter.

Irene rolled her eyes. That was always the answer he gave her. "You know Andrew, you can get some enjoyment out of life," She said before turning and ordering a drink for herself. "You're young, you should be having fun. Besides, all of your self loathing cannot be healthy," She finished taking her drink from the bartender.

Andrew scowled downing the rest of his drink in one gulp. "I don't think God would appreciate me accepting advice from a deist," He spat instantly regretting his words. He was not raise to be spiteful in any way.

Irene just shrugged the words off knowing that he truly did not mean them. "Andrew, let me be frank with you. I think if you just try to ease up, try and forget, try and live your life to the best you can, you will make your peace with the lord," She said with a soft smile. "We all make mistakes Andy."

He sighed, "If I do this, will you be happy?" He asked with no trace of emotion on his face.

Irene was silent for a few moments as she took a sip from her drink. "The question is, will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow, and still look away before you can count backwards from ten?" She remarked raising an eyebrow at the younger man.

He shook his head in confusion. "Why must you speak in riddles. What does that even mean?"

She rolled her eyes again. "If you look in the mirror and count backwards from ten, and if you look away, it means that you can't even stand being in your own presence for that ten seconds," She explained taking another swig of her drink, polishing it off.

He sighed, "You know I will...I.."

She cut him off, "Just do this for me. For one night, loosen up and have some fun. I promise you, you won't regret it," She remarked. She smirked and tapped her finger against her temple. "I know, I've seen it."

Andrew couldn't help but chuckle. Irene tended to rely on her own foresight more than she should. The future was not set in stone. "Fine, but only once, and if you're wrong, you leave me alone from now on."

"Cross my heart and hope to die," She agreed placing one hand over her heart, and raising the other.

He shook his head rising from his seat, "Let's just finish our mission," He concluded stretching his somewhat cramped muscles. "Whatever it is."

Irene watched his back as he disappeared into the crowded nightclub. She smiled grabbing another drink before following his path through the seating bodies littering the room. She followed until she caught up with him. Andrew had found a new spot to occupy in the club. He was seated in one of the booths with one of their other team mates James. Irene rolled her eyes, Andrew was not going to listen to her advice at all. She sighed giving up her mission and sat down next to the gruff man they called Wolverine.

James nodded in her direction. "I can't find Victor anywhere," He remarked shaking his head. "Why are we even here anyway?" He asked drinking the beer from the pitcher that was set out of the table.

"We are here to find a mutant," Irene explained pulling her cigarette tin from the tight pockets of her jeans. She opened it and plucked a cigarette out and placing it between her lips. She shoved the tin back into her pocket with minimal effort. "Stryker is interested in her," She replied pulling her lighter out from her other pocket and lighting the end.

"Why does Stryker want this one?" Andrew groaned nearly slamming his head back into the wall with the force of the impact.

"She is a very talented shape-shifter," Was her reply. "She could be very useful to us. However, the problem is that she could be anyone in this room," She concluded taking a drag from her cigarette.

"So, do you have any idea who this shape-shifter is masquerading as now? You know, maybe to give us a hint?" Andrew asked running a hand through his unruly black hair.

"She could be anyone," Irene stated wrapping her arms around herself and rubbing her arms. It was quite a bit colder at this end of the club, "However, from my visions, her favorite form is that of a woman in her late twenties, or early thirties," She began taking another drag from the cigarette that dangled from her lips. "In this form, she had long red hair, and green eyes. But there is no guarantee that she is using that form tonight," She explained stealing Jame's drink, and taking a swig. The feral man glared at her. I haven't been able to see much past that," She concluded ashing her cigarette into the ashtray that sat in the center of the table.

"Well, at least it's something to go off of," James remarked glaring at Irene as he pulled his drink away from her. He wrapped his opposite arm around it guarding it from any thieves thinking of stealing the golden liquid. "It would be a lot easier if I knew her scent."

"Yeah well, I don't have the ability to see smells," She stated bitterly shifting her eyes over the crowds in an attempt to find the shifter that their small group was searching for.

Andrew stifled a laugh, "I don't think it's possible to 'see smells' Irene," He commented an amused smile creeping up onto his face.

"Shut up Andrew," She snapped at her younger team mate taking another drag for her nearly gone cigarette.

"Hey James," Jame's communicator beeped, with Victor's rugged voice emanating from the small metal object.

James looked around making sure that none of the club goers were paying attention to their small group. Irene looked at him intently stomping her cigarette out in the ashtray. "What is it?" He asked turning towards the covered window to his right.

"I think I found her," He replied. "I am going in."

James shot a worried glance at Irene. The clairvoyant shook her head briskly. "Victor do not approach. Wait for backup. Disengage!" He called into the communicator in hopes of stopping his comrades plan.

"Too late brother," was his short reply.

It was then they heard it. A loud metallic bang echoed throughout the club, as the back door was thrown open. The three friends looked at each other before leaping from their seats, and running towards that back door. It took a little bit of time to shove through the mass of people, but that just seemed to intensify the urgency of the moment.

When they reached the door, they noticed that it opened up into an alleyway. Dumpsters, and garbage cans filled the area making it a prime living area for the vermin of New York. Amongst the garbage and dumpsters, Victor stood opposite of a red haired woman. They assumed that this woman was the shape-shifter. Victor snarled at her, and lunged, tackling the small red head onto a pile of filled up garbage bags. She cried out in shock. He had not anticipated his attack. She thrashed around underneath him, kicking, and scratching at him in an attempt to get away from her feral assailant. Victor grabbed her wrists and easily pinned the small woman down. She cried out in fear and pain at this action. However, she continued to mercilessly kick her legs hoping that she would kick hard enough that he would loosen his grip so that she could escape his clutches.

"Get off me!" She cried. "Get off!" Che cried again when he did not cease his violent action. "Get off!" She called one last time her voice cracking and tears welling up in her artificially green eyes.

Andrew growled unable to stand the girl's unnecessary torture. It had only been seconds, but it felt as though it had been several minutes. His other comrades stood absolutely still. They were shocked by Victor's sudden aggressive behavior. Not that it was unusual for him, is that they had not seen her do anything in order to provoke the feral man. Andrew stormed forwards and grabbed the back of Victor's shirt in a vice like grip and pulled the feral man off of the frightened shifter. With a grunt, he threw the larger man into the wall of the alleyway several feet from where they had originally stood. With just that seemingly simple heave, the feral man went sailing into the brick wall of the alleyway. The force of his weight impacting with the wall caused the brick to crack in certain places leaving a small cloud of dust hanging in the moist air. The impact did not seem to affect Victor at all. He recovered quickly, and landed in a predatory crouch snarling at the younger man. Andrew's eyes narrowed and he glared at his comrade in malice. His eyes were on fire with the rage that was currently burning within his veins.

"Leave her alone, she's done nothing to you Creed," The twenty-two year old snarled through his tightly clenched teeth.

Victor growled lowering his crouch so that his torso was nearly touching the ground. "She's the one who attacked me," He snarled back.

"Victor, I am warning you. Stand down," Andrew stated firmly his iris' vanishing and his eyes turning completely white.

"I don't take orders from you kid," He spat back. "You don't scare me," He growled barring his pointed teeth.

Andrew's right hand began to spark dangerously. Electricity jumped between his outstretched fingers. His now snow white eyes narrowed at his older comrade. "I should," He stated coldly. A cold wind violently whipped down the alleyway, nearly knocking Irene and James over by the sheer force of it.

Victor roared and charged at the younger man. However, the feral man never reached him. The older man had barely taken two steps when Andrew's hand lurched forward and a blueish green bolt of electricity hit the feral man square in the chest. The bolt crackled through the air, and sent Victor flying backwards to the mouth of the alleyway. He crumpled to the ground, his body convulsing from the sudden surge of electricity traveling through him. However, this did not last very long. Almost as soon as it had begun, Victor was back up in his predatory crouch. The wind picked up and Andrew raised his hand again ready to launch another attack at a moments notice. Irene jumped in between the two quarreling team mates.

"Stop this now!" She demanded glaring between the two men. She look at Andrew, a scolding look on her thin features. "You're scaring her," She said quietly nodding to the red head located behind him.

With that said, his white eyes returned to their natural green hue. The harsh cold wind assaulting them returned to it's original form as a gentle breeze. He took a deep calming breath to ensure his control of his destructive abilities. He sighed and them turned to the girl behind him that he had saved from Victor's rage.

She was shaking. Whether it was from fear, or the cold wind that had been assaulting them was uncertain. She had her arms wrapped securely around herself, and were eyes were wide in what appeared to be shocked. Her red hair flowed gently in the small breeze that was present in the air. She looked at him with fear in those large, but noticeably artificial green eyes. He was surprised that she had not tried to escape back into the club while he and Victor had been quarreling. Victor growled again, but James quickly interceded not wanting to witness yet another aloha male fight for dominance between the two comrades.

Andrew looked down at the ground ashamed of his previous actions, and his lapse in self control. He would never admit it, but sometimes he relished in his powers, and the destruction he wielded. He thrived on it. Although, he would not allow that side to take full control of him. He could not afford to lose control of his powers again. Not after the accidental deaths of his parents five years earlier. However, Victor always managed to get under his skin and agitate his somewhat limited self control. He quickly pushed this feeling aside and turned back to the red haired shape-shifter. He took another deep breath to assure himself that he was totally in control, and held his hand out for her to shake. She stumbled back away from him almost tripping over the bag of garbage behind her. She was staring at his hand her eyes scanning over his fingers searching for signs of the electricity she had seen earlier.

Andrew frowned at her obvious display of fear. He shoved this negative feeling deep into the pit of his stomach. He did this quite often. "It's alright. I won't hurt you," He assured her refusing to drop his hand. He was determined to prove himself to this girl after his shameful display of anger. "My name is Andrew. What's yours?" He continued flashing a warm smile in her direction.

The girl looked between his hand and his face a few times before slowly reaching out and grasping the man's appendage. "Raven," She said after taking a shaky breath. She cleared her throat. "My name is Raven," She stated again, more firm this time.

Andrew's smile broadened and he gently released her hand. This was definitely the shape-shifter that their team had been searching for, since Stryker had sent them on this man-hunt. "Well Raven, is this your true form?" He asked curiously.

"No," She replied shaking her head. She was a bit leery of this small group. However, she could tell that they were fellow mutants, and that helped her feel a bit more secure.

Irene smiled warmly at the red haired woman. "Would you mind showing us?" She asked hopefully, curious as to the younger girl's true appearance. She had seen the shifter take on many forms in her visions, but never her true form.

She nodded stiffly biting her bottom lip nervously. The four team mates watched as the red head disappear as her body shifted to that of a much younger woman. Her skin was very white, and her eyes were bright yellow. Her hair went down past her shoulders and was a blueish colour. Although she appeared to be no older than fifteen, Irene knew from her visions that she was eighteen. She was definitely an interesting sigh to behold in her true form.

Andrew wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Well Raven, I think we have a thing or two to discuss," He said nodding to his team mates. Within seconds they were walking out of the dark alleyway, and into the evening streets of New York.

AN: I know that the chapters for this story aren't very long, I just don't want to keep filling it with lots of filler like I have a habit of doing to my other stories. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this, and I hope to hear from you soon.