Chapter 1: Birds of a Feather, Flock Together
Thunder rolled, lightning crashed and rain fell as the night of October 30th—also known as Devil's Night—came upon its most haunting hour.
On this night, in a house on a crowded street, somewhere in the state of New England, North America, a family resided. But all was not quiet and peaceful on this night, no, something horrible—unspeakable even—was occurring.
Inside the house's addict, a group of delinquents had the family of three held down, the father forced against a stained glass window that overlooked the town at gunpoint. The mother is being held down and gang raped by three of the other goons. And the kid… was hiding in the closet, horrified by what he was hearing outside as he clutched a small fledgling crow close to his chest.
The boy was unbelievably pale, even having what some would call grey skin, he also had black hair, and naturally black lips, his eyes were also an odd color: navy blue.
The delinquents either laughed insanely or moaned in twisted pleasure as they abused the woman, who was in pain and wanted this ordeal to end.
This continued for over an hour before the gang, satisfied with the completely defiled woman under them, before they kicked her down the stairs, causing her to land on her neck with a sickening crack and then the leader turned to the husband who tried to attack him, before shooting him six times and sending him crashing out the window.
"Damn, that was awesome." One of the deranged teens chuckled. A second one then took notice of the door to the closet being open before he opened it and found the boy inside.
"Hey boss, looks like we got a witness." He said, dragging the kid out as his pet hid. "Should I shoot him?" He questioned.
"Hey, if you do shoot the kid, let's have some fun with her." The first guy chimed in, mistaking the boy for a girl due to his longer hair.
"Actually, it's a boy. Sorry, man." The one holding the boy corrected.
"Bummer. Ah fuck it, just shoot him." The leader sighed before shrugging.
"Thought you'd never ask." The guy said as he held the kid over the broken window, about to shoot him, when the crow fledgling attacked him and pecked his eyes out, causing him to drop the boy as the bird flew away.
As the others tended to their screaming friend, the boy groaned from his spot on the street below. He could feel his life slowly leaving him.
It was then that the paramedics and police arrived, they took the boy up and didn't notice the fledgling flying into the ambulance, keeping a watchful eye on his friend.
(Later)
The doctors were able to save the boy but he remained unresponsive all night. It wasn't until eleven fifty-nine on Halloween Night that things started to change.
As a nurse was changing the boy's IV, she heard a tapping noise. Turning to the window, she was surprised to see a fledgling crow standing there. She went to the window and opened it to shoo it away, but it flew past her and to the boy's bed.
Nesting itself onto the boy's chest, it nuzzled its head against his cheek… and then something miraculous happened!
With a start, the boy's eyes snapped open as he inhaled sharply. His eyes darted around the room before noticing his crow on his chest, the avian looking at him with a comforting gaze that calmed him.
"Edgar…" The boy said as he smiled at the bird as he stroked his head. Glad to at least have someone still with him.
They say that crows help bring the souls of the dead to the afterlife, but sometimes when a death is horrible enough, they sometimes bring them back. To make things right, or give them a second chance, as a Grim Reaper.
(Timeskip)
Years later, the same boy stood on a building's roof, on a gargoyle that stretched above the street as his black long coat flapped in the wind. He was older, 17 or so at best. Long Raven hair, more pronounced lip lines colored black, two circle patches painted on his eyes, and his clothes were either grey or black.
In addition to his long coat, there was a black long sleeve compression fabric shirt, black pants, a grey compressed bulletproof vest, grey gloves, and black boots. Lastly he had a silver locket around his neck and an ax guitar strapped to his back.
With his eyes closed, he concentrated as a wavy grey image appeared in his sight. A show from his pet crow who was on a window seal two floors down. The show was of a couple in bed, and the man was trying to get the crow to come to him.
The boy dropped down and swung into the window, and stepped inside the room where the two were. And he recognized the man immediately, it was the same albino son of a bitch that raped his mother.
With a crazed look in his eye, he rubbed his face against the single lightbulb in the room like a curious bird, creeping out the two who were looking at him.
"Here, funboy." He said.
"Who the fuck are you?" The man questioned. The boy didn't say anything, opting to instead drag his guitar pick across his ax's strings, rushing at the two and scared the man. "Gah! You nearly gave me a fucking heart attack!" He snapped.
"Shhh. It's okay." The woman said as the boy put his guitar on a coat rack.
"I think it's time you took your bird and left." The man said as he got a revolver from somewhere on the nightstand beside him, and pulled the hammer back, pointing it at the boy. He was paid no mind as the third person in the room, who pulled up a chair to sit in front of him as he put his palm on the barrel.
"Take your shot, funboy, ya got me dead bang." The pale faced lad taunted.
"You are seriously fucked up. Like seriously, you need professional help." The blonde man said as he shot a hole clean through the boy's hand.
The raven haired boy yelled slightly in pain as his aggressor hooped and hollered, only for his expression to go 'that didn't really hurt at all' and then to excitement as he turned around.
"Whoa!" He exclaimed as he held up his hand where the hole was—only for it to seal up seconds later without so much as a scratch! "Yeah! That's how it's done!" He exclaimed.
"Jesus Fucking Christ…" The man gasped in shock.
"Jesus Christ." The boy nodded. "Stop me if you've heard this one: Jesus Christ walks into a hotel—." He began before the guy shot him in the gut. "Ow… He hands the innkeeper three nails and he asks—." He continued before he was shot again.
"Don't you ever fuckin' die?!" The blondie snapped as he cocked the hammer of his gun again.
"Can you set me up for the night?" The boy finished before knocking the man down, causing him to shoot himself in the leg. The woman quietly ran out of the room and shut the door. "Oh I'm sorry, did that hurt?" He asked.
"Yes that fucking hurt! Look what you've done to my sheets you—you—oh shit." The blonde goon gasped as he finally recognized the boy in front of him as Edgar landed on said figure's shoulder.
"Finally remember, funboy?" The pale bird lover jeered.
"You—you're supposed to be dead!" Funboy snapped.
"Grim Reapers can't die, shit for brains." The boy stated as he twirled the man's gun. "Now, I'm going to ask you a question. Don't answer me…" He continued as he shot the guy in his left testicle, causing him to yell. "I put a bullet in the other one, got it?" He questioned.
The delinquent (at heart) was going to answer anyway, but he was cut off by his other testicle getting shot. This made his screams grow in volume.
"Where is the guy called T-Bird?" The boy questioned. Funboy let out a small gasp, and then Edgar translated it into his ear as the man passed on. "... Not here. Shame, I was hoping to finally wrap up the last loose end tonight." He sighed before he started dragging the now dead man to the bathroom.
(Elsewhere)
-Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters-
In a mansion-like building in another part of New England, a bald man in a wheelchair was at work, looking for something. He was sitting in front of a large computer of sorts, which he was connected to with a mental interface.
A few seconds later, an image of the boy appeared along with general information about him, and newspaper articles of five other murders that occurred in the same area where he was, all having one thing in common: The image of a crow being drawn in blood or fire at the crime scene, and all the victims being suspects in the murder of a couple in which the wife was raped and murdered, the husband was killed, and the son barely made it out alive.
"New mutant found. Name: Eric Draven. Age: Seventeen. Residence: Devil's Kitchen, New England. Suspected powers: Psychopompe." The machine said.
"Oh my. That's quite a gift he has." The man mused. 'Jean, Scott, I have a mission for you both.' He told them telepathically. A few minutes after this message was sent, two teenagers walked in.
One was a boy with brown hair and brown eyes that were obstructed by a pair of ruby red sunglasses. The second was a beautiful young woman with red hair, green eyes, and a very sexy figure. (With a pair of DD-cup breasts for those of you who are curious).
"What's up, Professor?" The girl asked.
"What's the mission?" The shaded teen asked.
"Cerebro has just picked up a new mutant signature. One that belongs to a boy who's powers make him a Psychopomp." The man explained.
"Whoa, hold on, did you say psychopath?" The boy questioned.
"Psychopomp, Scott. They're like the go-betweens for deities of the dead, they bring the souls of the dead to the underworld. Ya know, like a grim reaper." The girl explained.
"Oh, my bad." Scott said sheepishly before composing himself. "Are we going after him?" He asked.
"Yes, if I'm reading these most recent reports right he's already used his powers to kill at least five of a seven man group responsible for his parents death." The man explained. "So we must find him before he can kill the last two." He added.
"If he hasn't already, you mean." Scott states.
"Correct. That's why we need to move fast." Xavier nodded.
(Elsewhere)
Meanwhile back with the mystery boy, Eric, he was busy letting Edgar peck at a piece of baguette bread while he ate a Subway philly cheese steak sandwich on Italian loaf bread with Sriracha mayo.
The two were sitting on the same gargoyle as before, while a flaming crow burned on the roof.
'Man, Subway makes good sandwiches.' He thought as he enjoyed his meal. As he ate, he looked at his pet and second eyes before sighing. "Well, Edgar, that sure was a clusterfuck. T-Bird isn't even here." He complained as he took another bite of his sandwich and a swig of the first freshly opened bottle of a six pack Reed's Ginger Beer.
The bird next to him looked at him before clicking his beak, and nodding.
"Well, at least we scared Annie's mom into getting herself clean." He shrugged. As he ate, an aircraft flew over him and the ones inside spotted his flaming crow symbol.
"He really doesn't skimp out on the theatrics, does he?" Scott asked as they landed a couple blocks away.
"No he doesn't." Jean nodded. They then made their way to where they spotted the symbol. "Wait here." She told him before she flew up to where the Psychopomp boy was.
Edgar was quick to alert Eric to this, and it allowed him to back up and reload the revolver he stole from Funboy. Though any attempt to intimidate Jean soon fell by the waist side when the redhead saw the sandwich in his free hand and the loaf of bread in the bird's beak.
"... You don't look very intimidating right now." She commented.
"Whatever. What do you want?" Eric questioned, his gun still pointed at her.
"How about you put your gun down first? I just want to talk." Jean told him as she floated onto the roof surface gently and had her hands up, trying not to provoke him.
"Oh really? What about?" Eric asked as he lowered the gun, seeing that she meant no harm.
"My name is Jean Grey, I'm here representing the Xavier Institute for Gifted Youngsters. You see, Professor Xavier wants to talk to you." The telepath explained.
"Just to talk? Hmph. Not interested." The pale boy scoffed. "I've got murderers to hunt." He added darkly.
However as he walked away, Jean used her telekinesis to pick him up and make him start walking.
"That's the other reason why I'm here, I'm afraid I can't allow you to keep abusing your powers like this." She told him.
"I'm a Grim Reaper, honey, so you don't have that authority." Eric spat back as he shot at Jean and made her drop him, allowing the boy to drop into the streets below.
Jean was shocked at what had happened and was even more shocked when Eric walked away from his impact point like nothing had happened. Jean was quick to contact Scott telepathically.
'Scott, he's heading your way. He's armed, agitated and is not afraid to fight us. Be careful.' She said mentally as Edgar flew over her and gave Eric a bird's eye view.
'What is she doing?' Eric thought, not realizing Jean was a telepath. His vision then changed to Scott who Edgar gave him a view of, allowing him to holster his gun and pull out a hidden push dagger and a karambit knife as he vaulted of the walls of two buildings before he swung right into Scott—his push dagger scraping against the teen's visor.
"Whoa!" The shaded teen yelped as he jumped back to get some breathing room.
"Don't get in my way!" Eric growled as he held his daggers at the ready.
"Whoa! Easy, man. We're not here to hurt you. We just wanna help you." Scott told him, hands up placatingly.
"Help me?" The pale teen scoffed. "I'm doing just fine on my own." He retorted.
"Sounds pretty lonely if you ask me." Scott states.
"You don't even know the meaning of that word." Eric spat. "Who are you people, anyway? Some kind of government agency that's come here to arrest me? For killing the people who killed my parents?" He growled.
"No. We're from an Institute where people like us can be normal." Scott replied, this got a snort out of the boy.
"Normal? This coming from a guy who looks like Geordi LeForge face fucked Calvin Klein." The boy laughed. He got a response in the form of a laser blast at his feet, which he dodged thanks to Edgar seeing it coming. "... Okay, maybe not." He amended after a beat passed.
"Ya know, when someone's trying to be nice to you, it's rude to insult them." Scott states before sighing. "Listen, we just want you to hear us out and give us a chance. That's all. We're not trying to force this on you." He added. Eric was silent for a moment before he sighed.
"Alright, fine. Just let me call my two uncles." He conceded, figuring he'll at least be courteous.
"Actually… Our professor's already talking to them." The teen explained as Jean arrived again.
"... You couldn't have said that sooner?" The boy questioned.
"Well, you did attack us." Jean states.
"Trust me, if I wanted you dead, you'd be six feet under and pushing up daisies already." He told her.
"Let's just go. I'm sure the Professor is waiting on us right now." Scott sighed.
(Later)
The two teenagers were now with Charles Xavier in the house of Eric and his two uncles, the first being an older Egyptian gentleman named Osiris and the second being a black man of a similar age named Saint.
"I cannot thank you enough for being so willing to listen to our offer, sirs." Charles said respectfully.
"What are your intentions for young Eric, even? Do you intend to take him from us and lock him away in your Institute like some sort of asylum?" Saint questioned, his voice having a heavy Russian accent.
"You're being too paranoid, Saint. I'm sure that isn't their intention in the slightest, calm down." Osiris told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. He then turned back to Charles. "Apologies. He's just looking out for Eric after his parents' passing." He said.
"Why don't you ever call it what it is? They were murdered." The boy snapped.
"The method in which they died does not change what it is Eric, in time you will come to understand that." His uncle replied wisely. This did little to quell the boy's agitation. "Please Professor, continue." He prompted.
"Of course." The man nodded. "My institute is similar to that of a boarding school. Eric would be living there, and you'd be welcome to visit if you wish." He explained.
"What would he do there?" Saint questioned.
"Simply put, learn how to control and responsibly use his powerful gifts." The telepath explained. "If he so desires, that is." The man added. Eric let out a grunt as he looked away, but remained silent.
"It will take him some time to come to a decision." Osiris said, glancing at his nephew. "Perhaps we can reconvene at a later date?" He asked.
"Please, take all the time you need." Xavier nodded. "Scott, Jean, I think it's about time we left." He told his two students.
As the three left, Saint went to Eric's side and hugged him. "I'm sorry for the agitation, Eric." He told his nephew.
"Forget about it." The boy sighed as he got up and started walking upstairs, his crow following him. "I'm going to bed." He said as he left the two down stairs.
(Elsewhere)
After the three got back to the Institute, Ororo Munroe greeted them. "Charles, how did the business go in Devil's Kitchen?" She questioned.
"Young Eric is… troubled. No doubt due to his past. We can't rush this since it could drive him away. We need to be patient." The bald telepath explained.
"Gotta say, the guy seemed really ticked when we tried to stop him from doing anything crazy." Scott noted.
"And he also seemed really attached to that crow he had with him… I think he called it… Edgar?" Jean added.
"Yes. He does have a strong bond with him." Charles hummed. "I wonder, could that have something to do with his powers?" He wondered aloud.
"Not surprising, crows are considered to be Psychopompes in some cultures." Ororo nodded. "I just hope we'll be able to reach him." She sighed.
"Here's hoping." Scott sighed in agreement.
(A few weeks later)
After a very large amount of serious thinking and debating, Eric decided—very begrudgingly—to move into the Institute. It should also be noted that he was permitted to bring Edgar with him, which made things easier.
As he was brought to the Institute by his uncles, due to the close proximity of Devil's Kitchen to Bayville, he hugged the two men goodbye and entered the building. Getting settled in one of the many rooms.
As he was doing so, setting Edgar's cage on a dresser and let him out. The bird let him see Xavier rolling up behind him.
"You might as well say something, I know you're there." The boy stated, not bothering to face the man as his avian friend hopped along the wooden appliance.
"Would you like a tour of the Institute?" The man offered.
"Sure. I don't feel like getting lost." Eric shrugged as he turned around, before the man handed him an electric watch. More specifically a black Citizen Ana-Digi Temp watch. "What's this?" He asked.
"A gift, to help you fit in better. It's a watch with a built-in image inducer." The man said kindly. "Go ahead and try it on." He continued.
"You didn't have to do that, Professor. I usually just shrug it off as really good makeup." The Psychopomp told him.
"Yes, but I thought it would be nice to have options available." The man replied, getting a shrug in return.
"Fair enough." He mused as he put that watch on. Seconds later, his skin became a normal tanned tone and his mouth, with exception to his lips, became normal as well. His eye spots were also hidden. "Huh, not bad." The boy nodded.
"Come, let's give you a tour." The telepath said as Edgar started flying out of the room ahead of them.
(Later that week)
After getting settled in, Eric started going to the local high school Bayville high with Scott and Jean. Needless to say, he wasn't a fan of the place. The jocks were all mind numbingly difficult to talk to, the Cheerleaders were way too prissy for his liking, the other students avoided him because of the 'bad vibes' he gave off, the teachers were annoying as hell, and worst of all, the Principal—Raven Darkholme—seemed to have it out for him.
'What an inconvenient school.' Eric thought in annoyance as he leaned against a locker and looked at his mother's locket, which had a family photo in it. "Mom… Dad…" He sighed sadly before he closed the trinket and put it under his shirt.
It was then that Todd Tolansky, aka Toad, came hopping his way. The two got along relatively well, though Eric was not a fan of the boy's hygiene—or lack thereof—to put it mildly.
"Hey, Eric. What's crackin'?" The amphibian-like boy asked as he approached.
"Nuts or skulls, take your pick." The Psychopomp replied as he opened a bag of Honey roasted trail mix and popped a handful into his mouth.
"Hehe, yeah… Say, you heard the news? I hear there's a new guy in town starting up a 'tenet relocation' bracket here in town." The amphibious lad stated.
At the words 'tenet relocation, the raven haired boy bristled. "... Did you catch the guy's name?" He questioned as calmly as possible.
"I think was… T-Bird? Somethin' like that." Toad shrugged, this made Eric growl as he put his snack away.
"That son of a bitch…" He growled angrily. "Thanks Toad. I won't forget this." He added as he walked away.
'Why do I feel like I just signed someone's death warrant?' The lanky boy thought as a shiver ran up his spine.
(Later)
That night, Eric found T-Bird in the middle of a warehouse, alone and counting money from a few weeks worth of morphine sales… but his demeanor was very skittish and squirrelly.
The boy shushed Edgar and pointed at the table the man leaned on, prompting the bird to fly into the building and land right on the table, startling the scared sleazebag.
"Kaa Kaa!" Edgar squawked, opening his wings.
"What the hell?!" T-Bird yelped before Eric appeared behind him.
"Hello, T-Bird." He growled. This made the man turn around and the color almost immediately left his face as soon as he saw Eric's face.
"Who—Who are you?!" He gasped.
"They call me, the Crow." The Psychopomp responded as he reared his arm back and punched him hard enough to send him flying and knock him out. Around twenty minutes later, T-Bird woke up to find himself being duct taped into his car.
"Wh-what are you doing?!" The man questioned nervously. Eric didn't reply as he filled the car with explosives and kept wrapping him with duct tape.
After a minute he spoke. "You and your friends broke into a house on devils night twelve years ago, you raped a woman and killed her husband before killing her, and then attempted to kill their only son, after you contemplated raping him as well." He stated as he looked at the man in the eyes, pulling off another piece of tape. "Remember?" He questioned. T-Bird frowned before his eyes widened.
"Y-you… I thought I knew you. I knew I knew you." He uttered. "But you're not you. You can't be you. We threw you through that window. You couldn't have come back from that." He continued.
Eric didn't say a word as he wrapped the last piece of duct tape around the man's head, forcing his eyes open so he would have to watch himself die, before taking a grenade and showing it to the doomed goon.
"There ain't no coming back, this can't be right, there ain't no coming back!" T-Bird yelled as the inevitability of his situation hit him.
"Say goodbye." Crow said darkly before pulling the pin and trigger before dropping it in his lap and seeing the car's transmission to drive. As the car drove along, Eric waved goodbye as he took out a bottle of lighter fluid and started making something on the ground with it.
"Avast the devil says, and see how bad goodness is…" T-Bird bawled as the car exploded and the fire ignited the fluid, creating a crow on the ground as Edgar landed on Eric's shoulder.
"We did it, Edgar. Vengeance is finally mine." The boy sighed in fulfilled relief as a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders.
"Not bad." A new voice spoke, causing Eric to tense. Turning, he saw a man standing there in red and purple armor with a helmet that had a purple M on it and a purple cape.
"Hey buddy, the opera's six blocks down, you need a map or something?" The boy questioned as he discreetly grabbed his push dagger.
"I saw what you did to that man. You got revenge on the ones who wronged you so drastically, and made your presence felt." The man noted. "I applaud you." He added.
"Thanks, but I don't remember asking your opinion." The Psychopomp said, feeling that the guy had no intention of letting him leave. "So buzz off!" He yelled as he threw his knife at the man. Right as it was about to hit its target, it stopped mid-air, shocking the boy.
"Now now, no need for violence." He said in a scolding tone.
"Who… are you?" Eric asked with wide eyes.
"I am Magneto, young Crow. The master of Magnetism." The man replied as he floated the boy's knife back to him. "I will let you go unbothered by the authorities on one condition. Are you willing to hear it?" He asked.
"... Alright. What's the condition?" Eric sighed, really not wanting to be bothered by the cops right now.
"A time will come when I shall need a favor from you, and when that time comes, I will expect it to be done." Magneto responded. "Understand?"
"Crystal." The boy nodded.
"Excellent. Until then." Magneto nodded before taking his leave, leaving Eric to go back to Bayville high.
He had a football game to catch.
Dragon Emperor0: As you guys can see, this is an X-men Evolution based on one of the best Halloween superhero movies of all time: The Crow. Played by Brandon Lee, May he Rest In Peace.
ThermalsniperN7: I'm now considering watching it on Netflix when Halloween comes, if I can. It seems like a kickass movie.
Dragon Emperor0: It is. Also for those of you wondering, yes, Eric's uncle's are gay. Just because we aren't personally gay or personally think it's right (religious beliefs), doesn't mean we're opposed to providing representation. So don't go giving us flak here.
ThermalsniperN7: Yeah. I've got a gay brother, so I'm of the opinion that they're okay. Anyway, I think you might recognize just who said uncles are based on.
Dragon Emperor0: Also we'll be taking a more novel look at this high school setting and examining the tropes of high school through mutant lenses. Also, Wanda will be appearing much sooner in this story as the second in a love triangle between her, Eric and Rogue.
ThermalsniperN7: A gothic love triangle. This is gonna be interesting. See you next time!