I hope you all having good holiday with your families. Thank so much for reading these last chapters and hope you all enjoy this one as well.

Chapter 7: Can you help… me?

It only been a few minutes since they left the school. Jean scanned the area. Since leaving the school, something felt off like an invisible pair of eyes on her and Hawks. "Hawks, are always wanting to do things alone?" she asked him.

"I've always been alone."

Jean sighs, "I guess it sorta strange for us. We're always doing something together and helping each other out. That us, the X-Men that's what we do, if some needs help we are there."

Hawks hugs his doll tightly in his right arm. Is that why they are nice to me?

SNAP*

The two stopped walking and look around. What was that? He clung to Jean's leg. "Hawks, do you know this town at all?" she asked him, keeping her calm demeanor. The boy shook his head. "I.. I don't.. just my home town, its not clean like this place, It's an island."

Who would let kid live in a place like that? Jean shook her head. "Well, then how about we learn together?" Hawks just looked at his doll but nodded as she reaches down taking his hand again.

They moved into more of a crowded area, in hopes to blend into the groups of people. "Keep close to me," she told him, not taking her eyes off her surrounds fully. Is it a hero or villain? She looked at Hawks who was holding her with his left hand in his right arm held his doll.

Acting like they were sightseeing, Jean would take random turns here and there. In hopes to shake their stalkers. "Th-there's a group behind us," Hawks said, causing Jean to look at him. "Are sure?" the boy nodded. "But, I don't know if they're bad people or not." Why are they following us, what do they want?

"We can't go straight back to our hotel, but we need to shake them." she hummed, trying to think.

"A trip rope?"

"Huh?"

Hawks let go of her hand with a point to a rope nearby. "If they fall they can't follow us," He looked over to Jean. "Good idea Hawks," He smiled and looked down at his doll shyly. "Go grab it, we'll set up where it won't hurt others." Nodding, he ran over to grab the rope he saw.

Hawks watched in awe as she used her powers to set up the trap. She's so talented. "Hawks tie this end here," he nodded and hurried over. Jean watched the boy. He's smarter than most kids his age. "Okay, that good. Now we need to bait them here." she walks over, taking his hand. "Once it goes off, I'll use my powers to help us get away."

-line break-

Once Jean was sure their stalkers were following them. The two kept up the act like nothing was wrong. Jean quietly instructs Hawks to hold on to her tightly as they soon stepped over the trip rope they laid out.

Slowly, as the leader drew closer to them. Jean slips the rope upwards. Loud *THUDS* rang out. Jean levitated and flies both her and Hawks away.

The boy tried to move his wings as they went. "You don't have to do that, I have us both," she told him. Hawks stops and looks over at her. I want to fly. Soon they touched back down.

Jean sighs in reif before looking over at Hawks. "What?" she asked, realizing the boy was looking up at her. "N-nothing." he looked away. "You sure?" Hawks nodded and gripped her hand. "Alright, how about we head to the hotel, before it gets even later?" They began walking in the hotel's direction, both at ease, knowing they weren't being followed anymore.

-line break-

Hawks stood next to Jean as she opened the door to the room he shared with Professor X and Logan. "Like I promised, I'll leave you be," she said, opening the door. Hawks walks into it. "Girls' room is next door. If need me I'll be in there." Hawks nodded "okay," he said as she turns to close the door behind her.

Jean walked down the hall once, making sure no one followed them before heading to the girl's room next door to Hawks'. I wonder what the kid doing? She closed the door and sat down, flipping through a book she brought with her.

Hawks stood still, flapping his small red wings. A few loose feathers floated about as he did. After a bit he walks over to one of bed and scrambles up, setting his doll down as he stood up. "C-careful…" tried to balance on the edge, but falls back into the bed, making bounce. "Safe landing." he said before trying again.

Next door Jean could hear the boy moving about and talking to himself. Laughing to herself, it reminded her of her teammates and some new recruits who did the same thing as the boy. He would fit in well with us.

Hawks had scrambled off the bed as he looked around the room. He wants to try again, longer this time. "Do they have timer?" he tried opening bags and drawers. He hadn't found one yet. "Darn." he closed the last bag.

"Everything okay over there?" Jean's muffled voice came from next door. Hawks nodded, moving over the items tossed on the ground. "uh.. huh."

"Alright."

Hawks scrambled back up onto the bed again, trying to balance. "What are you and where you from?" he asked, finding his balance once more. "I'm a mutant we're from Bayville New York in the USA."

"What's a mutant?" he asked, though he didn't understand what she had just said. "Well, we're people like you, we have powers, but we don't call them quirks."

Hawks teetered on the edge, spreading his wings. "Oh, okay." He leaped, trying his best to fly.

THID*

"Hawks?" Jean quickly got up. "Are you okay?" she asked him. Hawks laid in daze tangled up in the mess he made with towels and clothes.

'Hawks?' she tried telepathically. "I..am okay." he replied, finding his voice. I failed.

"Are you sure, I don't want you hurting ourself. What are doing anyway?"

"Practicing flying.." He tried to get free. "You might be too late on don't hurt myself."

"Need help?" Jean asked, making her way towards the door. I should have just stayed in the same room with him.

He looked down. I don't want to bother her.

-line break-

Hawks looked up as Jean walked into the room. Jean tried not to laugh too much as Hawks gave her an innocent yet slightly embarrassed look. The poor boy was wrapped up in clothes and towels.

"Don't worry," she laughs and walks over. "This won't take too long." Hawks felt his body lift along with towels as Jean used her powers from before to tangle him. It mere minutes before he was free. A pile of clothes and towels on one side and Hawks on the bed.

"Thanks," he said, picking up his doll from the bed. "Uh.. how do you know about flying?" he asked. The bed creaks as she sat down. Hawks looked over at her. "Well, my powers have ability like flying called levitate. I lift whatever I want people, objects up in the air with my mind cool right."

Hawks nodded as he sat down. "Is that what you did when we ran away from those people?" Jean nodded. "Yes, I use my powers to fly us away to a safe location."

Hawks hugged his doll but looked at her. "I just want to try out my quirk and maybe be useful someday."

"Hawks, you child, I'm sure one day you'll be useful." Jean smiles at him. "Is this your first time trying out your quirk?" Has to be, he has aged back.

"uh, huh?"

"I see, well we don't want you straining them. Do remember what we told you, reason you are like this? And why we came here, because you wanted to be alone."

Hawks looks down. "I just.. want to get better like everyone else.." he half sobbed. Why can't I?

Jean reaches over and hugs him. "You will Hawks, it take time, but you'll be fine hero." "Really..?" He looks up and smiles. "Yes, you will." Hawks smiles and rubs his eyes.

"C-can you help me?"

"Do you want my help?"

"Yes, please."