Okay, admittedly, the movie was a little scary, but not this scary.

Zatanna was curled up in the corner of the couch, covering her face with a large cushion. Megan was whimpering behind the couch, biting at her nails. Artemis was sitting beside me, jumping every now and then, but other than that, not really showing much fear.

I sighed, "You guys want me to turn it off?"

"No!" Zatanna protested, "It's almost over anyway!"

Megan sobbed, "That poor little girl… why did she have to catch herself on fire?"

"I can think of worse ways to die." I mumbled. "I mean, fire, it's over fairly quick. Humans burn quite well."

"What about Martians?" Megan asked weakly.

"Don't know, how about you get me some matches and kerosene and we find out?" I asked.

"No thanks." She whispered.

I nodded, grunting. "Well then, you want to leave? I'll call you back when the movie's over."

She was silent for a moment, then spoke, "No, I wanna know how it ends."

"With a happily ever after, like all movies." I mumbled.

"You don't believe in happily ever after?" Zatanna asked.

"Never seen one, so I don't believe in them." I brushed away.

Artemis spoke up, "Shh! This is getting good!"

"Can someone toss the popcorn back here?" Megan asked.

I grunted, grabbing the popcorn and handing it over the back of the couch to her.

"Thank you." She whispered.

I rolled my eyes, "Whatever."

Soon as the movie ended, I smiled, "Wow! She killed the main character? That's awesome!"

"She killed that little boy?" Artemis mumbled, "That's just insane."

"She is insane." Zatanna noted.

Megan crawled out from behind the couch, "I'm never watching R rated movies again."

"The only movies I own are rated R." I smirked. "See you babies later, I'm going home."

"I thought we were having a slumber party!" Megan whined.

"Hell Hound does not do slumber parties." I said, "Besides, I'm a creature of habit."

"Meaning?" Zatanna piped up.

"Meaning, screw you guys, I'm going home." I said, walking out the door.

I drove home, walking into my bed room, and then cast a long glance at my closet, sighing. I walked into my closet, grabbing the chest at the back, and dragging it into the middle of the closet floor, taking my keys out of my pocket, and opening it carefully.

I smiled at the contents, pulling out one envelope of photos, and looking through them. Lovette's last birthday party. She had just turned four. She was smiling into the camera, lips and chin stained with orange icing, and fingers coated in ice cream that had once been cold, but was now warm and sticky.

I chuckled, flipping through them, before I came to one with me and Lovette together. Logan was taking the picture, and Lovette couldn't have been happier, anyone caught in the background was smiling, even Emma Frost grinned for the adorable little copper top. I wasn't even smirking.

I was just sitting there, glaring at the camera, looking like I'd rather die then grin, just for a few seconds, just to show Lovette that I cared, even just a little. I looked at the next one, me and Lovette sitting down at the table with birthday cake in front of us. Lovette was digging into hers, but I was glaring at mine with disdain, like it was a sick maniac that had just eaten a live puppy.

I looked through the rest from her birthday, but no others had me in them. I took a deep breath, knowing why I wasn't in any more pictures.

Because as soon as Lovette had turned around to open her first present, I had slipped out the back door, and run up to my room to hide out there for several hours. When Lovette had asked me, in tears later, why I had left her birthday party, I just shrugged her off, and said, "Didn't feel like staying."

It was only now that I realized how that sounded. That she wasn't worth staying for.

I sighed, putting that envelope back in the chest, and pulled out one picture, not in an envelope like the others, just laying there by itself.

I smiled carefully, holding it up to the light. A picture of the Dark Avengers, all standing out front of the base together, in costume. Lovette wasn't in the picture, she hadn't been part of the team and had refused to be in the picture because of that, I'm pretty sure Lovette was the one who took it, actually.

Back then, I hadn't be able to see the obvious. How Daken, standing three feet away from me, stood in a posture like he owned me. I hadn't seen it back then, but he had marked me, and quite obviously too. If only I hadn't been so blind.

The costume I had worn back then, was just black spandex from neckline to ankle, long black spandex sleeves, with dark orange combat boots, and dark orange gloves that nearly came up to my elbows. No mask. My blue eyes showed quite clearly in the picture, glaring at the camera lens.

I hadn't really noticed back then that although our costumes were nothing alike in shape and design, the colors were the same. Everyone else on the team had known it too, you could tell by the way they stood.

They knew, Daken had marked me, claimed me as his property, every aspect of their posture. They stood like I was off limits, no one was to approach me, I was taken. I shook my head at that, I am owned by no man.

Now that I think about it, not only was my costume a replica of his, but my civies too. Moonstone had gotten me clothes since all I had was a pair of leather pants, combat boots, and a leather muscle t-shirt. The clothes had been a requirement, even I knew a person needed more than one set of clothes to be clean.

Skinny jeans, converse, button up shirts, fashion vests, fashion ties, a fedora, really? How had I not picked up on things like this? The clothes had Daken written all over them. I'm beginning to question whether Moonstone was really the one who bought the clothes. I could picture Daken doing something like that, then making Moonstone lie that she had gotten them for me.

The memories kept coming, until I couldn't suppress them anymore.

I frowned, fidgeting with the clip on tie as I glared into the mirror. Denim skinny jeans, a black button up shirt with sleeves that stopped at the elbows, white converse, and this stupid red tie that I can't get to stay straight to save my life.

Lovette giggled form the bed, "You look silly."

I glared at her, "Shut up, or I'll make you wear black."

She shut up, but couldn't keep her giggles suppressed.

I grunted, finally snapping it on properly. I nodded in satisfaction, turning to Lovette, "I still look silly?"

She frowned, thoughtful, "Nope." She finally concluded. "But I like your costume better."

"You should get one." I suggested.

"A costume?" She asked.

"Yeah, why not?"

"I can be a super hero too!" She sounded like she was being told that she could rule the whole universe.

"When you're twenty." I offered.

"Yay- hey wait a minute, you're only twelve!" She protested.

"I'm a government trained killing machine." I countered. "If you've killed a couple hundred people I'll reconsider the age limit."

"Hmm… how about I just kill ants?" She asked.

"Kill one million ants and we'll see where we should go from there." I said, sitting down next to her on my bed.

The door opened, and Moonstone walked in, then nodded, satisfied. "They fit you good."

I shrugged, "Yeah I guess. Why do I have to wear a tie?"

She paused for a moment, "Just part of the outfit. For looks, you know."

"Not really, but whatever. American customs and all that." I mumbled, staring down at my white converse. Why one Earth would you make shoes white? They'll just get covered in dirt and become filthy.

Lovette jumped down from the bed, "I gotta go kill ants now! Bye Moonstone!"

Moonstone nodded, smiling as Lovette ran out of the room. She gave me a fake smile, masking an odd look, before leaving.

I shook my head at the memory, I'm surprised the sicko didn't make me get a mohawk.

Now I know why it was three weeks before Venom, who generally couldn't keep his mouth shut, finally talked to me.

I frowned at the television, trying to figure out why the three stooges were considered funny.

Venom laughed, shaking his head in amusement, "You ever watch these clowns before kid?"

I was surprised, he had never spoken to me before. "No."

"Legends of their time, funniest people that were alive." He said.

"They are not even poking each others eyes." I said.

"Observant." Said Daken, appearing out of seemingly no where.

Venom jumped, but I showed no sign of shock. Daken continued, "Anything else you see?"

"When they grab the nose, they do not grab on tight, the grip is very loose." I answered.

"Good." Daken approved.

Venom raised an eyebrow, at least I think he did. "Are you giving her a pop quiz about the three stooges? Seriously?"

Daken shrugged, not bothering to answer, "Mio, training right before lunch today. You don't eat until you give me a fatal wound."

He left, and Venom shook his head, "Now that's just cruel."

He handed me a candy bar, "Don't tell him I gave it to you."

I took it carefully, raising an eyebrow at him, "Why?"

"In case you get hungry." He smirked, "Great way to give him the finger, huh?"

"The finger?"

"… Forget I said anything."

I sighed, putting the picture away, and felt my hands brush against something else. I looked in, seeing a rose that had been dead for a long time, on top of a shoe box. Might was well. A trip down memory lane always had to be thorough.

I took it out, opening it up. A handful of pictures, of my with a brown haired, green eyed boy. A sprinkle of freckles danced across the bridge of his nose, as his carefree, boyish smile spread across his lips.

A picnic at the park, in the middle of August, on a hot sunny day.

I smiled back at the picture, suddenly reliving all those moments with him. He made me feel like I was perfect, flawless.

His lips, always so soft, pressed against mine with his incredibly soft hands would cup my cheek.

He would always smile as soon as the kiss ended, and always say something about how much he liked me, and how great a kisser I was, how he wanted to make me feel special. He always did make me feel special.

I went to the next picture, me and Jake, laying next to each other in the grass, I was sleeping, curled up next to him with my head on his chest. Lovette took to many pictures really, where did she even get all that film?

Me and Jake at a concert.

Me and Jake walking together at the park.

Me and Jake sitting on the edge of the fountain of youth at the mall.

Jake pushing me into the fountain or youth.

Me pulling Jake into the fountain of youth with me.

Me and Jake splashing each other while old people glared at us.

Me and Jake kissing each other while mall security turned the fountain off.

Mall security kicking us out of the mall, soaking wet.

"What happened between you too?" Asked a sudden voice.

I turned, to see Conner standing there. I didn't bother asking how he got into my apartment, he wouldn't give me a real answer.

I sighed, looking back at the pictures filled with sweet memories. "You fall for someone who acts like a dad, then you realize, you hate your dad."

"I know that's not it." Conner urged gently, kneeling next to me, and rubbing my shoulder gently with his hand.

I shrugged, "A lot of people still hate mutants Conner. I guess I should have made sure he wasn't one before I fell for him."

"He… hated mutants?"

"It's not that uncommon." I said. "He didn't just hate them, he was terrified of them. The minute he found out, he demanded to know what I could do. I told him, popped my claws, and then he ran away screaming something about me being a monster."

Conner pulled me into a gentle hug, "I'd never do that."

"Relationships suck." I spat. "Someone always gets hurt."

"I'd never hurt you." He mumbled. Poor kid, he was so bent on getting what he wanted.

"On purpose." I mended.

"Never." He swore.

"Conner, if my dad were to ever find out that you and me were… together, he would literally tear you into pieces." I explained. "He doesn't like it when I have friends, I don't know what he'd do if he found out I had a boyfriend."

"Did he kill Jake?"

"He never knew about Jake." I said.

"Then he doesn't have to know about me." Conner concluded.

"But I-" I stopped myself, starring into his eyes. Bluest ones I had ever seen, gave mine quite the run for their money.

"Doesn't matter." Conner mumbled, getting closer to my face. "I'm a living weapon, he can't take me."

Normally I would berate him, saying he would be no match for Daken, but I just didn't care. Screw the whole can't be with him, I love him to much to put him in danger thing. I was tired of pushing my feelings for him to the bottom of my heart.

I grabbed his shoulders, pushing my lips up to meet his in a much needed and awaited kiss.

I could practically here him mentally shouting, YES! FINALLY! The woman has finally let me win! MAJOR VICTORY! THANK YOU GOD FOR FINALLY LETTING THIS HAPPEN! THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIIIIIIIIFE!

He wrapped one arm around my waist, the other tangled into my hair.

I sighed into the kiss, grabbing his shoulders tighter.

We finally pulled apart, gasping for breath slightly.

He smiled down at me, "Well, it's about time."

"Oh shut up." I snapped.

"Fine." Conner said, standing up, "I've got to head back to mount justice anyway."

I bit my lip, "You don't have to."

He raised an eyebrow, "What?"

"You could crash here for the night… if you wanted." I mumbled.

He smiled, "A kiss and a sleep over? This really is a big win for me."

"Keep talking like that and you'll be sleeping on the couch."

"Yes Ma'am." He said, pulling me into another kiss.

Curse that alien.