Life as "Normal" (10 years prior to X-Men)
Things were different after that day. Matthew and Thomas stopped going to their martial arts classes. They had asked if they could work there, but the trainers said they only took adult employees. The brothers had called a number of places, but so far no answer.
Now they had to go back to school. Matthew found it a bit strange that one day he had nearly beaten a man to death, and a couple days later he was back in a high school. A boy had tried to pick a fight with him already, but something about Matthew made the kid back down. Yes, something was different.
Then it came time for chemistry class, and Matthew's heart lighten a bit. Chemistry was difficult for him, but he none the less enjoyed the class. Or rather he enjoyed the company of a certain classmate, Lily, the girl he been partnered with for a lab a while back. The two of them had formed a study group. He helped her with history and she helped him with chemistry. Sometimes Thomas joined them, but not often.
The class was long, and Matthew struggled to pay attention. Lily was a couple rows to his left. Too far away to talk to each other. Finally the class was over. Matthew timed it just right as he always did to walk alongside Lily as she left.
"Hey, how was your weekend?"
"Good, how about yours?"
Matthew lied, "Okay. Hey! That's not our textbook."
"Oh yeah, this is an organic chemistry book. I find this class to be a bit boring. I want something with higher challenge. I am very interested in plant chemistry. Besides I get all the studying I need in our group. Speaking of which are we going the meet after school?"
"No, I can't today. I have a job interview."
"Matthew Fitzpatrick working a job! Who would have thought? What brought about this change?"
"My mother lost her job. Her new one doesn't pay enough, so Thomas and I are going to find jobs to help out."
"Oh, so you won't have time to study anymore. I mean between a job and martial arts…"
"I quit the martial arts."
"Oh, you really are serious about this. Where will you work?"
"A convenience store. The manager said he has a night shift available."
"Alright then, Mr. Responsible, I be waiting to hear when our next study session will be."
"Okay."
The Flower in the Alley
Matthew and Thomas did land that job at the convenience store. They began working night shifts. Sometimes they were even together. They earned the respect of the nighttime manager when Thomas was able to forcefully remove a troublesome drunk. They were as much bouncers as checkout clerks. The money they earned was little but it helped.
They had been working for about a month when one night the manager entrusted them to handle the last shift together. It was closing time and the night manager stopped by to close.
"Hey boys, how was it tonight?"
"Quiet," answered Thomas.
"Good. Matthew, go lock the doors. Thomas, check the store. I'll take care of the till."
Thomas did his patrol of the store while Matthew locked the doors. By the time they were done the manager had secured the money in the safe room. "Alright boys, punch out and enjoy the night."
"Thank you, sir."
Matthew and Thomas punched their time cards and took off their aprons. They said good night to the manager as they left.
This part of Detroit was a bit dangerous at this time of night, but the brothers certainly weren't scared. They could usually hear the sounds of police sirens or even sometimes the sound of a fight or a gun shot. Tonight was no different. Matthew listened as he walked. It sounded like a fight was nearby. Then he heard a girl's scream. He stopped. That voice sounded familiar.
Thomas had also stopped. He seemed indecisive. "Metalloy, I am not sure we should be following the sounds of a fight."
"I thought you were always up for a fight."
"I am, but if we start playing hero, we will attract unwanted attention."
"I just want to see what's going on."
"Alright."
Matthew walked toward where he heard the scream. It seemed to come from an alley at the next block.
"Help!" Came the girl's scream.
"Get her!"
"I got her…ugg."
Matthew had just rounded the corner of the alley to see a young girl hit a boy in the mouth. She was surrounded by a gang of boys. Another one of them jumped on her. The weeds in the alley seemed to grow. Matthew was puzzling about this when the girl spoke again. "Get off me, you jerk."
Lily! The voice was clear, and he knew it was her. Matthew had thought about threatening the group or finding a subtle rescue for the girl, but now that he knew it was Lily he decided the time for subtleties was past.
Matthew walked full stride into the alley. He grabbed the guy on top of Lily, and threw him into the alley wall. He picked Lily up, and moved her to the other wall.
"Stay here."
"Matthew?"
The gang stood silently for a bit. They were surprised at the appearance of a rescuer. But they regained composure quickly.
"Where you come off from, boy? Why are you messing in our business?"
"You and your friends are going to turn around and leave. You will never bother this girl again."
"Or else what? You think you can take us all?"
"I can, and I will."
"Franky, show this wimp what we're made of."
Franky had a goofy smile like he was going to enjoy what he was going to do next. He walked toward Matthew. Let's see if you're still smiling after this.
Franky charged forward looking to grapple with Matthew, but Matthew simply hit him with a right uppercut to the jaw and a left to the face. Franky stumbled to the ground, but used the opportunity to attack low. But Matthew saw it coming, and delivered a knee to the face. Franky fell backwards and then backcrawled away from Matthew.
The gang leader looked angry. "No one embarrasses me and my gang. Boys, take him down; beat him to an inch of his life."
Two gang members stepped forward, but Matthew felt the air move beside him. Thomas had come right around him and suddenly attacked one of the advancing gang members. As soon as the other turned towards Thomas, Matthew attacked him. It didn't take long for the other gang members to come to the help of their outmatched friends.
This fight was different than others. Matthew had always held back in school fights, because he didn't want to hurt anyone too badly. The man who had attacked Nichol he wanted to cause pain. With these boys Matthew didn't necessarily hate, but he wanted to make sure when he was done that they wouldn't be fighting for a long time. Matthew also felt no reason to hold back on his mutant abilities. He decided now was a good time to use them.
One gang member threw a punch at Matthew. Of course he saw it coming through his sixth sense. He moved his head to the side and pinned the boy' arm between his arms and then pulled his arms so as to bend the boy's arm until he heard the pop of a broken bone.
Then another boy came to tackle him. Although he saw this coming too, he couldn't get out of the way, so he let the boy tackle him. The boy was on top of him and began to punch him in the face. The boy's hand only encountered metal. Matthew then from the underposition began to box the boy in the face, with metal coated knuckles. The boy was bleeding from the nose in no time. Matthew pushed him back and got his legs free. He then gave the boy a double foot kick into the alley wall.
Thomas had already taken down a couple of gang members, and Matthew could see that he too was using his mutant abilities.
"Look out!" came Lily's voice. But no warning was needed. Matthew saw the knife coming from behind him as it moved toward his ribs. He evaded it. The boy with the switchblade was now in knife-fighting position. Matthew evaded a couple more swipes of the blade before he closed the gap between him and the knife man. He grabbed the boys' knife hand and yanked hard on it while putting a foot on the boy's collar bone. The boy screamed as his shoulder dislocated. He dropped the knife and quickly retreated back.
Suddenly a clicking noise was heard, and everything became quiet. The gang leader had produced a revolver and was pointing it with the hammer already pulled at Matthew. "Time to died, hero."
Matthew saw the bullet coming at him, and he knew what to do. The leader pulled the trigger and the bullet hit Matthew right in the chest…and ricocheted of the metal.
The gang leader paused confused. He then pulled back the hammer and fired again. But he got the same effect. Suddenly he turned and fired two shots at Thomas who had just come to join his brother. The bullets ricocheted off Thomas too. He then took aim at Thomas' head. Just before he pulled the trigger Thomas moved his head out of the way. When he took his shot at Matthew's head, Matthew simply moved his hand in the way before the bullet ever left the barrel.
The gang leader was completely frighten now. Matthew and Thomas both took a couple steps toward him. He frantically tried to fire the now empty gun, and then he dropped it and ran out of the alley at full speed. The rest of the gang followed while they nursed their injuries.
Matthew took a deep breath. Thomas picked up the gun with a full metal hand as to avoid fingerprints. Lily was leaning frighten on the alley wall.
"How did you do that?"
"I'll tell you how, but first let's get out of here before the cops come."
The three of them walk out of the alley. Thomas had dismantled the gun into two pieces and left them in the alley. As soon as they were two blocks away Matthew broke silence.
"Thomas, Thank you for helping me out back there."
"Hey, you always have my back in fights. It's nice to return the favor."
"Thank you to the both of you. I won't have gotten away from them," said Lily
"What were you doing out here at night alone?" Thomas asked Lily.
"It's dangerous, Lily," added Matthew.
"I thought I would come by the store and give you a bit of company."
"Don't do that. If you want I'll come to you."
"That's not a good idea either."
"Why not?"
"You didn't tell me how you survived those gunshots."
"Oh, ah, well the thing is…"
"We're mutants," supplied Thomas.
"Mutants?"
"Yep, mutants. Tell her Metalloy."
"Metalloy?"
"It's a code name between the two of us. Yes, we are mutants. We can produce metal in our bodies and use it to fight or armor ourselves."
Lily stopped walking.
"What, does this bother you?" Thomas said in a sharp tone.
"No, it's just that I've never met other mutants before."
It took a second for her words to sink in. "Other mutants?"
"Yes, I too am a mutant."
"I don't believe it," said Thomas. "What can you do?"
"I can make plants grow."
"Yeah right! You made that up!"
"Alloy, look!"
Matthew had noticed the plants in the alley, but hadn't given them much thought. But now the sidewalk square they were on had plants all around it, and they were growing right before their eyes. One plant was coming up through a crack. It continued to get bigger until it broke the cement.
"I guess this explains your interest in plant chemistry."
"Yeah."
Thomas looked a bit flustered. "I guess I own you an apology. I thought you were just making it up just to have something in common with Matthew. I'm sorry, Lily."
"Treasure that, Lily. You wouldn't hear too many apologies from him."
"We should leave here, Metalloy."
"You two go. I can walk home from here."
"Let us walk you home."
"No, it's not far really."
"Matthew's right, we didn't just pull you out of that mess just so you could get jumped again."
"Okay."
They walked together down the streets. They talked all about their struggles with their mutant abilities. Matthew spoke of how careful he needed to be in fights. Lily told him about how it felt as though a part of her was being ignored and hidden. Thomas chimed in a few times, but mostly stayed quiet.
They left the business area and found themselves in a neighborhood. The houses were old, pressed close together, but still in descend shape. Matthew noticed a slight nervousness in Lily as they walked further into the neighborhood. What? Doesn't she want us to see where she lives?
Suddenly she spoke in a hurried voice. "That's my home, three houses down. Thanks for what you did and for walking me home. Have a nice night boys." And then just as quickly as she had rattled those words off she turned and ran to the house.
Matthew stood and watched her run to the door, slip a small key into the lock, and disappear inside. I guess it's only fair. It's not like I'm telling her about my home. He turned to Thomas, who shrugged his shoulders, turned, and started walking back home. Matthew turned and followed him. "Thanks again, Alloy."
"Don't mention it, Metalloy."
They didn't speak for the rest of the walk. But Matthew was too busy thinking about Lily to wonder what his brother was thinking. She is kind of cute, and now that I know she is a mutant we really do have something in common.
Thomas had enjoyed backing up Matthew in a fight. It really did feel like he was paying Matthew back for all the times he had dragged Matthew into a fight. But Thomas felt a little uneasy about the way Matthew and Lily talked. He could see that Matthew was beginning to really like this girl. I guess I shouldn't be upset just because I don't date. Thomas did have to admire the way Matthew fought for her. Thomas enjoyed fighting much more than his brother, but he could see that when Matthew had a stake in the fight he would put his all his energy into it. And that makes him a very dangerous man.
In the end Thomas decided that Lily would be good for Matthew. She might give him something to fight for.
The First Kiss
From that night on Matthew and Lily shared a connection. Although they had been friends before, now they shared the common experience of being mutants. Matthew felt energized in a new way now that he could share his mutant secret with another person.
One day the two of them were studying for their history final exam together in an empty classroom. They were lying on the ground side by side looking at their books.
"So, Napoleon returned to France again?"
"That's right, they tried to exile him, but he just returned."
"This is quite interesting, Metalloy." Lily had just recently begun to use his code name. Matthew liked the way it sounded coming from her voice.
"Yeah, I guess, but I'd rather study chemistry right now."
"But we have already taken the chemistry final."
"I know, but I've come to like it." The truth was that Matthew like that Lily liked it. To hear her get excited about chemistry, especially now that Matthew knew of her mutant ability, got him excited as well.
"No, we are studying history now."
"As you wish, your majesty."
"You tease me."
He laughed at her, and then she laughed too. Matthew soaked in her joy. She's so beautiful when she laughs.
Suddenly Matthew had a new desire. As she laughed he moved in and gave her a kiss on the lips. She paused ever so briefly and then returned the kiss. It was a short kiss, but it seemed like forever. When they broke he could see her smile, and he knew at that moment she was more than just a friend. Then they laughed again.
Matthew though he heard a noise outside the room. But he wasn't interested in it. He just wanted to pay attention to the girl in front of him. But then came a knock on the door. Matthew unwillingly got up and walked to the door.
He opened it and found Thomas on the other side. "Sorry to interrupt your study time, but it's a quarter to five and we work a shift at 5:30."
"It's almost five?" said Lily who sounded a bit startled. "I need to get going. Maybe we can get together again soon."
"I'd like that," said Matthew.
Lily left the room. Matthew grabbed his books and followed Thomas down the hall. The silence was awkward.
"Thanks for the reminder, Thomas."
"No problem."
"Look, Lily and I…"
Thomas stopped. "Don't worry about it, Metalloy. Trust me; I can see what's happening. It's okay, really. Maybe it means that you and I don't do as much together, but hey I wouldn't want to stop you from being with her."
"You're really okay with this?"
"Yeah, I am."
"Even if I start dating Lily?"
"Don't kid yourself, Metalloy. You already are dating her."
Matthew paused for a bit. "I kissed her today."
Thomas laughed, "I waited until you were done before knocking on the door."
"I really like her, Alloy."
"Then go after her."
"I think I may."
"Where have you been?"
"Sorry, Daddy, I lost track of time."
"You didn't answer my question."
"I stayed after school to do some studying."
"Ah huh. Go to your room and think about what you've done."
Lily's father was a kind, warm hearted man and a loving father…when he was sober. Three years prior Lily's mother had been killed in a car accident. To make matters worse the driver of the car was the man she was having an affair with. The double blow was more than Lily's father could take. Thus he turned from a kind loving father into a drunken, heartbroken man.
Lily knew her father loved her, but she always felt like she walked on eggshells when he was drunk. Lately she had been spending more and more time with Matthew, and her father was getting suspicious of her late afternoons.
Just a couple weeks ago she would have never taken such risks. But something was changing. She won't allow herself to admit what this change was. But then he kissed me. Now she couldn't lie to herself anymore. And I kissed him back. I am in love with Matthew.
How would she explain this to her father? He might understand when he was sober, but the next time he would get drunk she knew he would get angry. What if he thinks that I'm going to leave him like Mom did? She reasoned through a couple of scenarios as she walked up the stairs to her room, but she could only come up with one conclusion.
For now it is better that he doesn't know.
