"So, you go to school and no one knows the difference?" Brody questioned.

"Yup, the image inducer works wonders. I'm sure the professor would get you one if you wanted." Kurt replied. "Well, if you plan on staying here."

"I have no where else to go and certainly no place like this."

As they said this they entered the kitchen. Before either could say anything there were screams from inside as the inhabitants got an unexpected look at a black demon. Brody's eyes widened and he backed out of the room, ears flat, tail limp, and his great wings folded snuggly to his side. He turned to run, but Kurt grabbed his tail and held him in place.

*Oh no, he didn't just grab the tail.* Psycho snarled. *I think this guy has a death wish.*

*Calm down, there's not exactly anything else he could have grabbed.* Normal replied.

"Don't worry Brody, I got that reaction the first time everyone saw me. You just scared them." Kurt explained soothingly.

"I scare everyone." Brody murmured.

Kurt smiled sadly. "I know, but don't worry, once they get past the initial shock they won't be scared anymore."

Brody allowed Kurt to pull him back into the kitchen where two girls were sitting. One of them had brown hair with white bangs and green eyes and was dressed in dark clothing. The other had brown hair and brown eyes and looked really young, or at least a little younger than himself. The brown haired girl looked a little wary but tried to smile a little. The other girl put on the best welcoming smile she could.

"Sorry for the scare ladies. This is Brody, he might be staying here with us." Kurt introduced politely. "Brody, this is Kitty and Rogue."

"Nice to meet you." Brody said softly, but politely. "Sorry to scare you."

"Sorry we screamed. You just surprised us." Kitty said. "Unfortunately until you've met everyone you'll get the same reaction."

"But if we could get used to fuzz ball over here we can get used to you too." Rogue added.

*Get used to you? Makes you sound like some kind of animal they have to tolerate* Psycho grumbled. *Do you want us to be treated like an animal?*

*Grrrrrr.* Animal snarled.

*Not that being an animal is a bad thing, but we're not an animal. We're human, despite the animal personality.*

Kurt grabbed Brody's arm and pulled the smaller mutant over to the refrigerator, which he opened to reveal shelves of food. Brody's eyes widened and he quite literally started drooling. It all looked so good and the best food he had ever had was the occasional chicken leg. He watched as Kurt began pulling out containers of food most of which he had never seen before.

"What's that?" Brody questioned as Kurt opened one of the containers.

Kurt turned to face the younger mutants with wide, unbelieving eyes. "That's macaroni and cheese. Haven't you had it before?"

"No, is it good?"

Kurt gaped at the other mutant. "Where have you been living that you haven't had macaroni and cheese?"

*Don't tell him the truth.* Psycho warned. *They might send us back.*

*Lying bad.* Child scolded.

*Capture worse.* Psycho retorted.

"Uh, I've had a very. sheltered life." Brody said softly.

*Try living in a hellhole where I was poked and prodded and forced to fight for my life against other mutants.* Psycho quipped.

"Well, we'll take care of that." Kurt said with a smile.

Kurt went about heating up the left over food and Brody watched him with wide eyes. As he did he crouched down on all fours in an instinctive move to make himself as small as possible. In his mind he knew he didn't need to do so, but emotionally he felt more secure sticking with old habits. It made him feel as if he had some kind of control in this situation.

"How old are you Brody?" Kitty questioned, turning in her seat to look at the black furred mutant.

"Sixteen."

"Do your parents know you're gone?"

Brody shifted his eyes to the ground and hung his head a little lower. "I.I don't know my parents."

An uncomfortable silence followed. The microwave was making the only sound as it diligently did its duty oblivious to everything else. Kitty and Rogue shared knowing glances and wisely neither asked anything more about his parents. It was obviously a tough subject. Kurt kept looking back at Brody, watching how the mutant crouch low and folded his wings around himself as if making a protective cape. Everything about Brody screamed he'd been abused and that thought made rage boil inside Kurt like never before. From what he could see Brody was a very polite and sweet natured kid when he wasn't feeling threatened. How anyone could hurt him was beyond.no it wasn't beyond him seeing how humans treated mutants like scum.

"Would you like something to drink?" Kurt questioned, breaking the silence.

"Sure."

"What would you like? We've got milk, soda, orange juice, apple juice, and water of course." Kurt rambled off the list.

Brody listened carefully and couldn't help but be intrigued by one of the things on the list. He had never heard of it before in the hellhole. He'd barely gotten water let alone anything else to drink.

"What's soda?"

Kurt, Rogue, and Kitty looked at the black furred mutant like he had grown an extra head. They couldn't believe there was a teenager alive that didn't know what soda was.

"You've never, like, had soda before?" Kitty questioned.

"Like I said, I lived a sheltered life."

*The more you use that line the more curious they're going to get and the more curious they get the more questions they're going to ask.* Psycho snapped.

*It doesn't matter. Nothing matters.* A new voice spoke.

*Oh great, another personality. Why do I keep getting more and more personalities? I thought it was bad enough with Animal popped up.* Normal grumbled.

Psycho would have smirked if he could have. *Let me guess, you're Cynic?*

*Guess again. You'll never guess, you're all hopeless.*

*Skeptic.* Normal said. *Not like I need another one with Psycho running around.*

*How many personalites can fit into one mind.* Skeptic mused.

*Stay tuned to find out I guess.* Normal grumbled.

"Brody? Do you want to try soda?" Kurt questioned.

Brody snapped out of the mental conversation he'd been having with himself. He found it so annoying when new personalities popped up. If he didn't know any better he'd say that was part of his mutation. The ability to create new mental personalities that could personify an emotion or attitude.

"Sure." Brody said. He liked trying new things. Especially since everything was new to him.

Just as Kurt pulled the bottle of soda from the microwave dinged done. Brody's heart leapt into his throat and before anyone could react he threw a bolt of electricity at the microwave. Everyone had just enough time to take cover before the appliance exploded sending pieces of partially fried macaroni flying around the room. There wasn't a surface around the room that didn't have a least a shred of cheesy pasta stuck to it.

"What was that all about?" Kitty demanded.

Brody looked around in shame. He'd created a mess of the kitchen. These nice people had given him a place to stay, to be safe, and this is how he repaid them. He practically destroyed the place. He started to back away toward the window behind him. Suddenly he felt like he didn't belong there. He didn't need to be there giving these nice people nothing but trouble.

"Brody?" Kurt questioned, seeing his new friend backing toward the window. "What are you doing?"

*Go now while the going's good. Go before they make you pay for something.* Psycho snapped.

*No. Safe here. Safe.* Child whimpered.

*No, Psycho is right. We'll only cause trouble here.* Normal said.

Before the other three could react Brody threw himself out of the window and with a powerful leap of his legs he was airborne, impressive wings spread to catch every bit of air they could. In seconds he was soaring among the clouds looking down on a world that seemed so peaceful from above. There was so much serenity and peace that he could almost believe it was the same down below. He could almost forget, but not fully. He would never fully forget what happened in.in that place.that hellhole.

I"Stay away from me!" Brody roared.

He watched with wide glowing eyes as two guards in full rubber suits charged him. They swung batons at his head, but he easily dodged them and smacked both men away with a swipe of his paws. The small little mutant gave the best roar he could for a six-year-old, trying to give the men something to fear.

"Get the guns in here!" One of the guards shouted. "Dr. Mascaw wants him for testing right now." The guard looked at the boy, malice showing on his face. "And we wouldn't want to keep the doctor waiting, now would we?"

The sounds of rubber soled boots slapping against the concrete floor heralded the coming of more guards. The black furred mutant bared his fangs at the newcomers, but his eyes grew even wider at the sight of the high powered water guns the guards were armed with. Everyone knew water and his electric powers did not go well together.

"Now, are you going to come willingly?"

*What do I do? There's nothing I can do.*

*Let me handle this.* A sinister voice spoke up. *You don't need to worry about them now that I'm here.*

*You'll get us out of here?*

*Oh yeah, and if I don't, let's just say their numbers will be drastically reduced.*/I

Brody shuddered at the memory. That was the day Psycho had been born. That was the first and last day Psycho ever got control too. It had been a massacre. Even with the water making his electrical abilities go on the fritz his claws and teeth still worked just fine and Psycho had literally ripped a few of the guards to pieces. There had been so much blood, so much blood everywhere. Normal had never let Psycho take control ever again.

"Hold him still!"

"Watch his legs they're powerful!"

Brody's sensitive ears easily picked up on what sounded like a fight. No, not a fight. He could hear numerous aggressors, teasing and taunting, and then one voice pleading for mercy. Just the sounds of it made Brody's fur stand on end.

*Can I fry them? Please? I never get to have any fun.* Psycho whined.

*No!* Child and Normal both yelled back, while Animal gave a distinct growl of annoyance.

*You guys are too boring. One of these days I'm gonna get free and then everyone is gonna be sorry.*

Normal ignored his devious counterpart and looked down to see if he could find the trouble. And find it he did. There were four or five guys shoving a smaller, younger looking guy around. Brody circled the area, watching to see if he should help. He watched as the boy was shoved roughly to the ground and then pinned down by a foot on his chest while the other guys made a show of going through the backpack that had been on the kid's back.

Suddenly the kid's tongue whipped out and grabbed the ankle of the foot of his chest and yanked. The guy that had been holding him down fell onto his back while the other guys only seemed to get more furious.

"You really are a freak Tolensky and you know what we do to freaks?" One of the guys, a blonde from what Brody could see, snarled.

The kid by then had gotten to his feet and backed himself against the wall. "Ugh, beat me up because you're a dumb jock that has to keep the reputation as a tough guy by beating up guys half your size when that really doesn't make you any tougher lookin' cause you have to beat up on guys weaker than yourself. Bravo for you, yo. You're just the greatest Duncan."

"I'm tired of you running that mouth! Let's see how well you talk with my foot in your mouth!"

Two of the big guys made a quick dash at Tolensky and pinned him against the wall. The kid kicked his legs and struggled to get free, but they held him firmly. The two guys stepped on his feet, effectively holding them down to keep him from using them as weapons. With the kid helpless a blonde boy, the one called Duncan, stepped up and gave a powerful punch to Tolensky's ribs.

*Are you just going to watch? If you're not going to do something about it at least let me.* Psycho snapped.

*The Psycho wants to play hero?* Skeptic said.

*The Psycho just wants to fry someone.* Normal corrected. *And the answer is no. But I will do something about it.*

Brody pinned his wings to his sides and dove toward the ground. As he did he took count of the assailants. There were six of them. That wouldn't be any kind of challenge at all. Unless one of them just happened to be armed with a water gun, which he seriously doubted.

*Can we at least zap one?* Psycho begged.

*Maybe, if it'll shut ya up.* Normal retorted.

Soundlessly Brody swooped down and snatched up two of the kids standing back a little ways. They hardly had time to scream before they were dropped in a trash bin. Brody turned around and landed where the other two had been. He knew from Tolensky's position the kid could see him, well, his bright green eyes anyway. The rest of his body blended in with the shadows to disappear almost completely.

A smirk formed on Tolensky's face. "Uh guys, you might want to look behind you, yo."

"Like I'm going to fall for that." At this point Brody let out a soft growl. ".one."

Duncan and his cronies looked behind them and saw the glowing green eyes. There was silence for a few short seconds before all four began to laugh. From what they could tell whoever was standing in the shadows was only about 5'4'' and couldn't possibly be a threat to them.

"Ha! That's pathetic Tolensky. The only creep stupid enough to try and help you is a little wuss just like you." Duncan laughed. "Rick, take care of that clown."

Rick, a big 5'9' guy, had no qualms about beating up someone quite a bit smaller than himself. With a crack of his knuckles he walked toward the shadowy figure, thinking he was gonna have some fun with the punk. He swung a fist at where he thought the kid was and was quite surprised when a furry hand clenched like a vice around his own. He barely had time to even squeal in fear before he was swung around and slammed against the brick wall.

Brody turned back to the other three guys. "Here's your chance to leave."

"Owen, get him!"

While Owen was a jock and did hang out with Duncan he was not stupid. He knew when he was over his head. Looking at the boy he held against the wall and then toward the glowing, angry green eyes he made his choice.

"Nuh uh Duncan, you take him. This little toad isn't worth it." And with that Owen left.

Duncan turned his eyes to Josh, the boy that still held Tolensky's other arm. "Well?"

"Owen's right man, you want to take on that guy you can. Somethin' ain't right about him." Josh said, letting go of his captive. He walked away calmly leaving Duncan to face the green eyed kid himself.

Duncan growled, hating to admit when he was beaten. And he was beaten.

"This isn't over with Tolensky." With that the big jock followed his buddies.

*Well, I've done my good deed for the day.* Normal thought.

*Does that mean I get to do a bad one?* Psycho asked hopefully.

*Never again.* Normal snapped.

"Hey, uh, thanks fo' the save, yo." Tolensky said cautiously, watching the green eyes.

"You're welcome." Brody replied.

"Why don't ya come out here where I can see ya?"

Brody sighed. "You wouldn't like what you see."

"Are ya a mutant, yo?"

"And what if I am?" Brody asked defensively.

"That's coo' so am I. Name's Todd, but everyone calls me Toad."

Todd stepped forward slowly, afraid of scaring the smaller mutant into action. He was curious about his savior, even if he was embarrassed he had to be saved. He watched as the other mutant backed away a little.

"My name's Brody, but trust me. You don't want anything to do with me." Brody said, keeping his distance. "I'm a freak even among mutants."

"Well, ya can't be any worse than what I've already seen." Todd assured him.

*Go on, let him see us. Might as well. It might be fun to see how much he freaks out.* Skeptic commented.

Slowly Brody walked out of the shadows. He wrapped his tail around his waist and folded his wings around himself like a cloak. His eyes were locked on the ground, too ashamed to see Todd's reaction to him. At least there hadn't been any screaming or cursing yet. Since he wasn't watching the other mutant he was taken completely by surprise as a cool hand grabbed his. His head snapped up and he watched as Todd examined the furry hand that closely resembled a paw.

"Cool yo, you're like some kinda living gargoyle or somethin'." Todd said, looking down into bright, surprised eyes. "What? Did ya think I was gonna freak or somethin'?"

"That is generally the reaction I receive." Brody admitted.

"I know the feelin' yo. I may not be as physically mutated as you, but I get the same kinda treatment." Todd replied, releasing Brody's.

Brody cocked his head and smiled just slightly at the taller mutant. Todd was the first person to not freak out at least a little bit at his appearance. Well, except for Kurt and that was understandable.

"Well, I better get home before my friends come lookin' for me." Todd said, then scowled. "'It's gonna be a long hop back."

*Don't do it Normal. I know what you're thinking.* Skeptic said.

*Course you know what I'm thinkin' you're me.* Normal retorted. *And the least I could do is give the kid a ride home.*

*You make us sound like some kind of bus or something.* Psycho grumbled. *No free rides.*

*Psycho and Skeptic mean.* Child scolded.

Brody shook his head slightly as the argument continued on in his head. Despite what Psycho and Skeptic thought, Normal was too nice to let Todd walk home, which sounded far away. Besides, those goons could have just been waiting for him to leave so they could grab Todd again.

"No need to walk.er.hop. I'll give ya a ride." Brody offered.

"Ride?"

Brody grinned just slightly. "Hope you're not afraid of heights."

With that he snatched up the other mutant and unfolded his wings. Before Todd could even think of protesting Brody was scaling the building to the roof. With the extra weight the black furred mutant wasn't sure he could get off the ground. It was only when he was on the roof and running across it to the edge did Todd finally speak up.

"You don't have to do this y'know. I'm...ahhhhhhhhhh!!!!"

Psycho snickered. *Heh, that's a sound I could get used to.*