Chapter 1: What Now

-Flagstaff, AZ-

Walking. Walking. He had been walking for a seemingly endless amount of time and he hadn't seen anything but dirt, shrubs and small desert animals. His only goals now were to not be located and to find a safe place to lay low. Soon.

Repetitive thoughts were interrupted by an approaching vehicle, the bright light beams from it lit up the dusky night. He brought his free hand up to shield his sensitive eyes as the lights momentarily blinded him.

The man snuggled the infant in his arm closer to his chest. "Don't worry kid, I'll keep you safe." He softly whispered to the newborn wrapped in bloody torn up hospital bed sheets.

He was suddenly thankful he had taken one of the larger man's jackets from the lockers; it provided enough room for him to hide his son within it.

The small pick up stopped right beside him, the faint sound of an old country song became louder as the tinted window rolled down promptly, smoke swirling out.

"Hey man you need a ride? It's only gonna get colder and you sure as hell don't look warm." The odd man in the small truck asked.

The approach of the truck had kicked up dirt around them, making it difficult to see the man offering help but he took notice of the dark bushy eyebrows above oval shaped eyes and a rather wide nose. His overall appearance friendly.

"Uh...sure" He hesitated but he didn't have much of a choice.

There isn't a whole lot of people in this world that can hurt me, but I'm not sure, the crazy fucks that are hunting me down don't mess around. The man contemplated momentarily before deciding to accept the ride.

Walking around the truck he opened the rusty old door and sat in the passengers seat. The man driving nodded before proceeding down the desolate dirt road.

The smoke flooded the cabin, making the passenger's eyes water and nose sting. I ain't dealing with this shit, he grumbled.

"Hey, do you mind?" The dad asked, not for himself really but his baby, he probably couldn't stand all the smoke either.

The dad slowly showed the driver his son. There was no trust between them yet but the dad wanted to make sure the guy knew they weren't alone.

The driver looked a bit wide-eyed before promptly flicking the smoke out the slightly cracked open window.

"Shit. Sorry 'bout that, didn't know." He apologized. "Oh and by the way my names Dom." He added swiftly.

The other man grunted in reply while closing his leather jacket as much as he could around his son again. The father wasn't cold but didn't know if his child was, he couldn't risk it.

"Mind if I ask where you're going?" Dom questioned.

"Listen I don't know where I'm going, I just need to find some kinda refuge for my kid" The man was hesitant about giving Dom more information.

" Alright, well look stranger.. I ain't the one to typically do this but seeing the situation you're in.. Well, I got a spare room at my place." Dom eyeballed him before continuing. "I'll give you a couple days for you to be on your merry way but uh...but no funny business" the last words were mumbled but he got the meaning behind them.

"Funny business? Well good thing I ain't got no sense of humor." The dad replied, effortlessly.

Dom chuckled slightly as they approached a tiny wooden house with a vast dirt paved driveway. The metal fence around the property looked ready to cave in at any moment.

"I didn't ask you earlier but do you got a name stranger?" Dom inquired while cutting off the engine.

"Yeah, just call me Thomas." He answered, ensuring that no important information slipped out that could lead him to getting caught.

"Alright Thomas and what about your kiddo there?" He paused "well look I'm probably prying too much as it is, let's just get inside so you two can get some rest" Dom rambled as he made his way to the red door in front of his home.

The father glanced down at his newborn.. name? Thomas thought about it momentarily. Guess that's up to me, shit. He sighed.

Slowly entering the dingy old house, the heel of their boots clunking against the hard wood floor. It was a tiny home, from what Thomas could see.

The living room led directly to the kitchen, both were bare of any pictures or decor. The only furniture other than a standard couch and the dining table was a tv sitting on a small metal table.

A dark hall to the left appeared to lead to possible bedrooms.

"Make yourself at home, Thomas." Dom said while looking back at Thomas while pulling his boots off by the couch.

"Umm not trying to be rude but it doesn't look like you got stuff for that baby there.." Dom questioned, unsure.

Thomas glanced at the infant and shrugged.

"What does he need?" It couldn't possibly be that much, Thomas assumed.

"Well I'm no expert but formula, bottles, diapers, wipes, toys, car seat, strolle-" Dom rambled on before the other man cut him off.

"Hey, look I don't even know what half of that shit is. How could he need so much crap?" Thomas muttered as he sat on the dark red couch that felt like wool against his hand.

Just as he pulled his son out and was about to lay him on the couch beside him, the infant began to cry.

"What's he doing?" Thomas looked at Dom for answers, who shook his head and put his hands up.

"I don't know he's your kid, but I'm guessing he's hungry." Dom noticed the infant opening his mouth and searching, most likely for milk.

"Hungry? What am I supposed to give him?" I felt bad for the kid; I don't know jack shit about what he needs, Thomas grew frustrated with himself.

"When they are that small, they can only drink milk." Dom said while scratching his head.

"I got a neighbor a couple of minutes from here; they have a little girl who is maybe a couple of months older than your son, maybe they have some stuff to spare." Dom suggested.

"I ain't giving my son some girly shit" Thomas felt his agitation continue to build up, his powers fighting to be released.

The baby continued to cry and began squirming while tears were starting to stream out of his closed eyes.

"We don't have another choice, look I'll be back. Just give me like five to ten minutes." Dom pulled his boots on and walked to the front door, dismissing any further argument.

"Alright." I nearly growled at him but he was right. I took a deep breath. Can't let my powers fuck this up, I just escaped. I decided to pace around with my- my son. I need to give him a name. Can't keep calling him kid, doesn't feel right. Thomas continued brooding while pacing back and forth with the small bundle.

"Hey shh, come on now. Your milk is coming. Whatever that means. Anyways you want a name?" It felt strange to talk to such a little thing... does he even know what I'm saying? Thomas nearly laughed at his own thoughts.

To his surprise the baby stopped squirming and two tiny green colored eyes opened for the first time. They seemed to be observing Thomas intently.

"Uhh I guess I'll take that as a yes." Thomas became bewildered, did this little person understand him?

-15 Minutes later-

"I don't like this." Thomas stated, his face contorted into a dark grimace.

Both grown men were looking down at a now satisfied and clothed baby who laid sprawled out on the twin sized bed.

"Look we can go to the store in town tomorrow but it's not gonna matter, no one else will notice or even care." Dom whispered as he tried to stifle a laugh behind his hand.

"I'll notice. He is a boy and no boy of mine will be wearing pink crap that says 'daddy's little princess'. " Thomas felt his left eye twitch.

Dom broke out into laughter.

Thomas sensed his eyes glow black as the house began to shake. The lamp in the tiny bedroom flickered.

"Woah what the fuck was that?!" Dom looked startled before a smile broke out on to his face while he observed Thomas.

"You're a mutant!!" He exclaimed.

The infant on the bed continued sleeping, undisturbed.

"I am." Thomas didn't know what else to say, but Dom appeared happy about it.

"Sorry, it's just my wife was a mutant.." Dom became saddened as a wave of grief seemed to wash over him. "She passed away a few years ago.." Dom sat on the bed, suddenly feeling weak.

Thomas observed him cautiously.

"I'm sorry I don't talk about this very often anymore. I just thought I'd gotten past this already but I guess you never get over losing someone." Dom's eyes watered, making his

hazel eyes shimmer in the dimly lit room.

"Sorry to hear.." Thomas began to say but Dom shook his head.

"No don't, it's alright. I'm tired of hearing that." Dom got back up. "She didn't die for people to be sorry about it." He started to leave the small room but stopped at the door.

"Look I don't know you, I don't know why I already told you this much but I wouldn't be lying if I said that it feels like I know you." Dom shook his head, trying to fight off further emotions.

"I also trust you, don't know why but I do. So don't kill me in my sleep." He started to close the door before poking his head in.

"Or destroy my house, please." Dom said with a sigh.

-3 Days Later-

The crisp morning air greeted Thomas as he stepped out of the small house that had been him and his sons home for a few days now.

Pulling out some smokes, as Dom called them, Thomas lit the end of it up slowly before taking a long drag. It had been a long night with his now named son.

"Mornin." Dom called as he stepped out in the same manner the other man had done. Thomas nodded in greeting as Dom pulled out his own smokes "mind if I join ya?" He questioned attentively.

"This is yer place" came the easy reply as Dom sat down on the withered rocking chair beside Thomas.

Dom smirked "you're not wrong but it looks like you got a lot on your mind" he remarked.

Nodding, Thomas had already thought over this conversation and from close observation of Dom, he knew what to say.

"I can't stay here forever Dom, I need a place for me and my son to stay for a good while, where we're gonna be safe." Thomas began while looking off to the nearby mountains, watching the warm rays of yellow sun shine start to wash over them lazily.

"I understand and I actually wanted to tell you something... well you see I have an old friend and they have a connection with a school .." Dom hesitated.

"A school? What do I look like bein' at a school" Thomas countered while taking another long drag.

"Look I know it sounds kind of stupid but its not just any school. It's a school for mutants." Dom put the cigarette to his lips momentarily before letting a puff of smoke escape and held it away before continuing.

"It's called the Charles Xavier school for Gifted Youngsters." Dom finished while taking another drag and tossing it on the floor, promptly stomping it under his booted feet.

"They'd be able to help me?" Thomas asked, his dark eyebrows knitting up together.

"There's not a lot they can't do." Dom seemed so sure and Thomas couldn't stay there much longer, he was putting Dom's life at risk by doing so.

Thomas looked back towards the mountains as he felt the winds change. I don't have a lot of options here; he took a few more drags while continuing to contemplate his options.

"Alright."

-To be Continued-