Finally! I finally got this story up! Howdy everybody, and welcome to one of my new stories, The Silver Lining. This is an X-Men Evolution/Elektra movie verse crossover. It shows my OC Tyler Malone joining the X-Men after abandoning his life as an assassin like his mentor Elektra. And yes, Colin Madrox plays a very important role, for those who read this after reading the story. X-Men and Elektra are both owned by Marvel Comics, so I shall not be sued.

Main characters: Tyler "Silverdash" Malone, Jaime "Multiple" Madrox, Scott "Cyclops" Summers, Jean Grey, Wanda "Scarlet Witch" Maximoff, Pietro "Quicksilver" Maximoff, and maybe more.

Pairings: Scott/Jean (duh), Tyler/Wanda, and maybe Jaime/Rahne with one-sided Jaime/Rogue for now.

One very important thing: This story is dedicated to Slickboy444 for getting me into the X-Men Evolution craze in the first place. And while this story may seem dark, this is nothing compared to some of his stories.

And one more quick note: I know it seems impractical for Colin to begin doing drugs at the age of seven, but in my hometown, kids who start are 'round the same age. So don't start on that.

Thanks to everybody who reads this, and I'll try to have the next chapter up ASAP. Later!

Silverdash

Prologe

10-year-old Colin Madrox carefully placed his spare house key in the lock, praying that his parents were asleep early. His luck was with him as no one was in the living room and two sets of snores came from upstairs. He snuck into his bedroom and closed the door. He was about to take off his weed-smelling shirt when a small voice came from his bad.

"You were out smoking again, weren't you?"

Colin whirled around, and by the lights of his alarm clock and stereo, saw his 4-year-old little brother Jaime sitting on the bed.

"Yeah." Colin admitted reluctantly. He never could lie to his little brother. "What are you doing up?"

"Waiting for you." Jaime said. "Your friends scare me, Col. I don't like them."

Colin hung his head. He was a crack head, a druggie, spending his allowance on marijuana and other drugs, then hanging around with his drug buddies, smoking weed. Yet he loved his parents and little brother. He tried to balance his family with his hobby, but he found himself drifting further from his family.

It all ended tonight, though. Colin was halfway through his third joint when he realized what he was doing. Not only was he breaking the law, he was hurting his family as well. And he hated hurting little Jaime. He had thrown the joint away and began to walk off when Big Harry stopped him.

Big Harry was the leader of their little group, and he couldn't stand deserters. Colin shoved past him and, still under the influence of marijuana, made his way home.

"You don't have to worry about them anymore, Jaime." Sighed Colin as he took his shirt off. "I'm through with them. I've wasted the last three years of my life with them, and only now have I seen how much I hurt you. And God knows I don't want to hurt you."

"Really?" Jaime asked.

"Really." Colin said, smiling at him. "Now I need to take a shower."

"Wait!" Jaime called as Colin headed into his bathroom. "Can I sleep with you? I don't wanna be alone right now."

Colin smiled. "Sure thing, short stuff. Just wait a minute."

"A few minutes later, Colin climbed into bed and lay down next to Jaime. "Goodnight, Col." Jaime said sleepily.

"Goodnight, short stuff." Colin replied.

If the two boys knew what was to come, they would have cherished that night.

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The next morning, the two boys had gotten up to find a note from their parents, both lawyers, had early meetings and had left a note for Colin, saying to take care of Jaime.

"What else is new?" he muttered before smiling at Jaime. "Cereal? Or scrambled eggs?"

"Cereal!" Jaime cheered.

Colin smiled. As he crossed the sink with bowls and milk, he looked out the window and froze. Outside was Big Harry, and he was holding a rifle.

"Jaime, get on the floor!" Colin barked. Jaime complied immediately, though he was immensely confused.

Colin, however, wasn't that lucky. As soon as Jaime had dived, the window shattered and a hole appeared in Colin's shirt, followed by pain. Jaime screamed and Big Harry yelled, "That's what you get for leaving! You won't tell no coppers about our ring!" before he ran.

Jaime rushed to his brother, who was bleeding on the floor. "Colin! Colin, please be okay!"

Colin struggled to breathe. ""It's okay, Jaime. I think it went in and out."

"Colin, please stay with me!" Jaime cried, but to Colin, he seemed so far away. "Colin, please don't leave me! Colin!"

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Eight years later, two boys on opposite sides of the country woke up screaming.