Chapter Thirty-One:

Tyron walked for what felt like hours. He didn't know where he was going, he just knew that he couldn't go back to the Tower. He'd have to find some other way to get Baron to join his riot. Tony wasn't going to work. He needed a new plan, and only had a day to figure out what it was going to be.

Tyron ended up stopping at a corner, turning down an alley and jumping up on the fire escape. He needed to stop and think. Walking aimlessly would - ironically - get him nowhere.

Tyron closed his eyes and sighed. Immediately, Steve's words came back at him, "You're a girl!?" Tyron flinched slightly, inhaling and exhaling for a minute. That look of shock and horror seared itself into his mind's eye, and he'd never be able to forget it.

Tyron rubbed his face, trying to focus on other things. Like, for instance, the riot. What was he going to do now? Maybe Tony was right about this thing all along. Maybe he was just being stupid over Pietro.

"Stupid over me?" Tyron heard Pietro laugh, "That is an understatement. Look at yourself, all this because you couldn't get over what I did?"

"S'not that," Tyron grumbled, rubbing at his eyes.

"Then, what would you call it? You tell yourself this is for the greater good, but no good is being done! You are being selfish, Tyron."

"M-M'not bein' selfish! This is a real issue an' m'tryin' to help! I can't-this can't go on! Lars is dead 'cause this system ain't workin'!"

"So you are going to destroy a city?"

"... M'not-"

"And what about the people affected? You know, you had excuses all the other times you were made to fight, and I understand those. That man forced you. But, this time, you do not have an excuse. This is all you. You have a choice now, and you need to choose."

Tyron was silent, then he shook his head. "Ya don' understand. Ya aren't a mutant. Ya don' understand what it's like! One minute, ya human, the next, ya dad tries to shove a knife in ya gut an' ya don' die. They call us monsters, demons, abominations! All 'cause of somethin' we don' understand - we didn't even ask for this shit!" Tyron breathed, closing his eyes. "Ya don' understand, ya aren't a mutant. Enhanced an' mutants aren't the same."

"I do not believe that. I might have volunteered for this power, but I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I just wanted to be able to do sometbing. Our system was broken too and Strucker told my sister and I that we would be great. He promised us." Pietro paused for a minute, "You know, my hair was not always silver."

Tyron froze and blinked, so Pietro continued. "It changed when I changed. So did my sister's. Our hair was brown, but as soon as we touched the cube, it changed us - on the outside, and on the inside. The people who knew us before thought we playing with the power of god, something that should not be trifled with. They casted us away, called us monsters like how they call you. Tell me, then, what the difference is between Enhanced and Mutants?"

Tyron was quiet for several minutes, then he stood, and jumped down from the rusty stairwell. "Where are you going?"

"To get away from Wanda," Tyron said bitterly. His chest swelled in absolute hatred and he began to run again.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Wanda stood on the other side of the brick wall, shocked. She turned to Natasha and Vision. "He knew it was me," she said, almost in a whisper. The only other person who knew that she had been tampering with their mind was Pietro.

Natasha huffed, muttering an obscenity in Russian. "I knew that was a bad idea," she grumbled. "Now, he's going to be even angrier."

"We could always use Steve's suggestion," Vision supplied, watching the two women. "He said to just bring him back to the Tower. If he is inciting a riot, then he could be arrested. It would be better if we 'arrested' him than if the authorities did."

Natasha sighed, "He'd hate us for it..."

"It's the only way," Vision said.

"Vision is right," Wanda agreed, "It would be better than the authorities."

Natasha sighed, "Even if we did, there's no way we could subdue him. He's impenetrable to bullets and needles. If we attack him, we'd have to get close enough to his face to put him down."

Wanda nodded, frowning, but Vision seemed thoughtful. "Well," he spoke up and they both turned to him. "There is one way..."

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Tyron slipped into the corner store, glancing around for a package of bandages. He slipped some up his sleeve discreetly and then asked the owner if he could use the bathroom.

The man gave him a suspicious look - probably dealing with things like that more than he would want to - but nodded his head towards the back anyway.

Tyron locked the door and glanced around. There was a small window near the ceiling. He took off what was left of his jacket and haphazardly hung it over the window.

Tyron removed his shirt and winced at what he saw. He had wrapped up the knife wound Michelle gave him days ago, but it had bled threw and he didn't even notice. He unbandaged it, making faces as he saw the crusted blood and the not-fully-healed open wound. He poked it, dubbing it not that bad and rebandaged it with the new package.

Then, he looked at the other stab wound that he got in the bar. That wasn't shallow at all, and was already mostly healed. Tyron didn't bother to wrap it.

The rest of his body was just cuts and scraps from the boy he fought in the ring. He was glad it was just small cuts, though. If the kid had managed to open or make either of these wider, he would've probably been down and out.

Tyron shook his head, and took of the fairly new bandages - he had must redid them on Monday - and began rewrapping his chest.

With every movement, Tyron heard Steve and Baron and his parents. "Get that shit out of your head! You're not a boy!"

"You're my bitch now."

"Why can't you be normal, huh? Just for a day, damn it!"

"Why didn't you say anything!? Tyron, why didn't you tell us? Why didn't you tell me?!"

Tyron gritted his teeth, making the bandages extra tight.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Tyron hurried out of the store before the owner could suspect he'd stolen anything else. He hurried down the street, making his way to Brooklyn territory. It'd take him a while to get there, but as he walked, he could think of what he was going to tell Baron. Or, better yet, how he was going to get out of a beat down.

He needed someone or something of equal value or Tony Stark to steal - or kidnap - in order to please Baron. Unfortunately, not many of things like that even existed in this world, so he was pretty much out of luck.

Tyron made his way up the block. It was still fairly early, probably around noon. Everyone was heading to work or school, or neither. A few kids that were standing around a post glanced his way. He nodded at them and they nodded back before going back to their conversations.

Tyron decided to take a shortcut under the overpass. It was getting warmer and he needed a minute to think in the shade. Despite it being near November, the sun was still persistently sunny and it was a bit annoying.

Tyron breathed for a minutes, listening to the cars overhead and around him.

Then, someone came from behind him, and a rag was placed over his mouth and nose. Tyron panicked, twisting around and trying to move the hand that was trying to suffocate him. He held his breath as he kicked the intruder in the shin, making them grunt. The rag slipped away and Tyron breathed raggedy.

He glanced around, just looking for anyone else, and immediately someone hit him in the head. Tyron fell to his hands and feet, seeing double and feeling blood on the back of his head.

A foot drove into is stomach and Tyron choked, falling to his side. Hands fell down on him, searching his clothes and pockets. His attackers quickly realized that he had nothing of value on him. Immediately, they all came down, kicking him and spitting on him. A few got down to his level, and landed a good solid blows to his nose, lip, and jaw.

After Tyron felt like the pain would honestly never stop, he heard someone shout. Then, the intrusive hands were yanked away and replaced with gentler, yet more panicked ones. They were talking, but Tyron wasn't listening. He felt sick and yet he was also tired.

Tyron could feel his eye swelling and knew it was a bad sign. He saw his eyes roll back into his head and then everything was dark.

- 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 -

Tyron woke back up to a familiar beeping. He tried to open his eyes, but one of them refused, so he settled on the other.

Tyron could feel bandages all over his face and he winced whenever he accidently shifted it. He looked around, recognizing the stupidly expensive medical equipment anywhere.

Tyron laid back down, a headache forming. "Are you awake, Mister Tyron?" Tyron heard FRIDAY ask.

"... Mmm... Yeah... M'wake..." He murmured, closing his working eye. He felt really drowsy, for some reason, and a second later, he fell back asleep.

Then, he heard the door slide open, and Tony stepped through. "Hey, kid?" Tyron groaned, still tired, but he moved to look at him. Tony smirked, "There we go."

"... Am I back at th' Tower?" He mumbled, but it was loud enough for Tony to hear.

"Yep. You got jumped by some guys. They said they were part of Zion's group, but They were just some goons. They must of recognized you and got the jump on you when you weren't looking."

Tyron didn't say anything. He turned away, and closed his eye. "You should be fine, mostly. Just bruising and stuff, but otherwise-"

"Don' let Steve in 'ere," Tyron said, and Tony looked at him, confused.

"What?"

"Don' let Steve in 'ere," he repeated, a bit louder. "I don' wanna see him."

"Why?" Tyron didn't answer. He just shook his head, which made the back of his head hurt. He realized his forehead was wrapped in bandages. He looked away as carefully as possible, staring at a monitor that had words he didn't understand on it.

Tony came to Tyron bed and sat at the end. He looked at Tyron curiously. "Steve really wants to see you. He wants to apologize."

"No, he don'," Tyron muttered. "Ya guys are makin' 'im 'pologize."

"Why do you think that?" Tony asked, but Tyron didn't answer. Tony sighed, "You're right. We explained who you are to him because back in his day and age, they didn't have 'transgenders'. Well, no, they did, but they were usually regarded badly, probably as bad, if not worse, than black people in the 1940s. So, I admit, if I were in your position, Steve would probably be the last person I'd want to come out to. But, Steve is different than the normal 1940s-seregration-and-homophobia era. He's a lot more open-minded. If you give him a chance, I'm sure he'll understand."

Tyron shook his head, "I can't."

"Why not? I did not waste that great speech for you to decline it!" Tyron rolled his eyes, then he swallowed.

"It's not tha'," Tyron said, his voice hesitant. "I can't do tha'. I jus'... I can't."

"Why not? You know Steve, you've known him for the past six months! Steve isn't going to do anything-"

"Ya don' know tha'!" Tyron snapped, making Tony go silent. Then, he swallowed, looking away.

"What do you think he's going to do?" Tony asked.

"S'nothin'," Tyron muttered.

"It's definitely not nothing. What do you think he's going to do to you?"

"It doesn't matter-"

"It does matter. Tell me."

"No."

"Why not?"

"Ya won't understand."

"I think I will, actually. Just tell me what you think he'll do. This is Steve we're talking about. He won't even hurt a fly, so why are you so against him all of a sudden?"

"I don' want to talk about it," Tyron felt his voice shaking as memories creeped into his mind. His back slamming on the bed. Baron's hungry and yet angry look as he tore his clothes off him. Tyron's screams. His useless screams.

He could feel himself beginning to panic, he tried to calm down, but Tony was still talking. "... Kid, I mean, come on. What's the worse Steve can do. He's Steve. If anything, he'll just stand around awkwardly. Or-" he cut himself off, noticing the heart-rate machine beeping frenzily.

He turned to Tyron who had his eyes shut tight. He could hear Baron in his head, feel his body on him. He whispered in his ears, which sent unpleasant chills down his spine. "You're my bitch now." He said. Then, he chuckled when Tyron started to cry even harder.

"Stop it," he begged, "Please-I-Stop!"

"Tyron? Tyron, calm down, you're having another attack," Tony said, but his voice sounded distant. He wasn't in the room when Baron was here. He wasn't anywhere near him. He couldn't save Tyron, not this time, not ever.

Tyron remembered when Baron finished. He grinned at Tyron's battered body and turned to call the rest of his men in. He felt disgusting afterwards. He was disgusting. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't do this anymore. He was a bad pet. A bad pet. Bad pet bad pet bad pet bad pet...

Tony yanked Tyron to a sitting position and his torso burned in pain. "C'mon, kid, I need you to calm down," Tony said, but Tyron couldn't listen anymore. He felt dazed, as if he were in another world. He couldn't do this anymore. He couldn't do this anymore. No. No. No. No. No. No.

Tony pulled Tyron to him, and he felt his arms wrap around him. Tyron stiffened, he didn't know what to do. This isn't right. What did he want from him? "It's okay," Tony breathed. "It's okay."

Tyron calmed down just a little, and began to breathe slower. Tony didn't let go of him until he was breathing regularly. Then, Tyron pulled away and laid back down. He closed his eye and looked away. "Is it really bad?" Tony asked after a minute. Tyron nodded shakily. "Would you tell Natasha?"

Tyron sniffed, "She already knows." Tony blinked, surprised. "She's the first one I came out to. Then, Bruce figured out."

"Then, tell me," Tony said. "I'm not going to do anything, I swear."

"I can't," Tyron insisted. "S... S'not somethin' m'proud of..."

"How bad is it?"

"Hella." Tony huffed out a laugh.

"And, I won't understand at all?"

"... Ya weren't on m'end."

"Tyron..." Tony sighed, rubbing his face, as if it would make the stress go away. "I want you to feel safe here. I don't want you to feel like you have to wait for the other shoe to drop all the time. If something or someone is making you uncomfortable, then tell me. I want to help, I want you to feel safe."

Tyron swallowed, looking away. "Don' let 'em hear," he finally said.

"FRIDAY, turn off cameras and microphones in infirmary one," He ordered.

"Right away," the AI replied. He saw the small, red blinking camera go dark. Then, he turned to Tony. He didn't think he'd actually do it.

"Now, do you want to tell me?" Tony asked and Tyron looked down.

He breathed for a few seconds. "When... Baron found out that I was... Yeah... He raped me." Tony's eyes went wide and his mouth fell. Tyron looked away, already feeling his chest constrict as he continued. "Then, he let everyone else... 'Have their turn'. An'... An' after tha', he used to rented m'out to people for th' night... Sometimes, entire groups of people an' jus'..." Tyron couldn't speak anymore. He felt sick.

"... Oh, my god," Tony whispered, stunned.

"So..." Tyron cleared his throat. "When Steve reacted how he did. I... I immediately..." Tyron closed his eyes. "I was scared. I didn't know, I still don' know. I... I wanna believe y'all are great people, but... I... I don' think I can anymore... I can't do tha' anymore. I jus' can't. M'so tired."

"Tyron, I..." Tony didn't know what to say. None of his witty, spiteful comebacks flew to his lips. He wasn't expecting that.

"Ya don' have to say anythin'," Tyron promised when he saw Tony gaping like a fish for something to say. "I mean, when m'parents found out, they pretty much hated m'after that. M'dad already was pretty bad, but after I... He jus'..." Tyron shook his head. "M'mom thought she could Jesus the boy outta me. Sometimes, I wish it worked. That way, when she died, at least I would be... At least I would've known tha' she still... Ya know..." Tyron didn't know his he would've said 'loved me' at the end of that sentence.

Tony stared at him, not saying a word and Tyron looked up, he chuckled at his shocked and saddened expression. "What's wit' tha' face?" He asked.

Tony couldn't say anything and Tyron gave a small smile. "S'okay. I understand." Tyron looked down, twisting his fingers in the hospital blanket. "Ya know, 'ey tell ya that after ya explain everythin' to someone, ya would feel a lot better? I don' feel tha'. I jus' feel tired. So much of this shit tha' happens is my fault. My parents wouldn't hate me if I wasn't a boy. My dad would've tried to kill m'if I jus' tried harder to help Chris. If I wasn't a mutant, I never would've met Baron. If I jus' told Baron I was a dumbass girl who has daddy issues an' can't get it through her dumb head that maybe, just maybe, ya doin' this wrong! Maybe Baron would've raped me!" Tyron felt tears blur his eyes and his voice broke at the end of his sentence. He sniffed, rubbing his face.

"I don't even know why m'upset," Tyron shook his head. "This is all m'fault. I deserve this."

"You do not deserve any of this," Tony said immediately. "You said it yourself, you couldn't do anything about being a mutant. And for being trans, well, you can't help what you feel. You didn't deserve all this to happen to you, and you certainly didn't cause your brother's death. Tyron, you need to stop burdening everything."

Tyron didn't say anything, so Tony continued. "Oh, and by the way, Nat told me what they did with Wanda and... Well... Let's just say I did not agree with that. That was crossing the line, Tyron." He inhaled and sighed, "So... To make it up to you... If you need my help for this... Event tomorrow, I'm willing to offer it." Tyron blinked, stunned, then he smirked and chuckled dryly.

"Well, ya jus' in luck then," Tyron laughed. "I decided tha'... Maybe I was wrong. Maybe... We could jus'... Peacefully assemble? An', if ya could fund that, I'd be great."

Tony blinked at him, "What about Baron and everyone else?"

"I'll take care of him, don' worry. 'Sides, m'getting th' feelin' tha' he's been losin' support from his followers."

"What makes you think that?" Tony asked.

"I went to the 'Yard on Monday." Tony's eyes went wide and he started to say something, but Tyron cut him off. "There's a lot less people there. I dunno, maybe he got in a fight an' lost, or people are ditchin' him, but it's already pretty known that Baron treats mutants like shit - a bit better than Zion, but still. Maybe wit' all this happenin', 'ey finally decided enough is enough?"

"You should be going there alone," Tony finally scolded him, and Tyron frowned a bit.

"I didn't want to, but I needed to talk to him. Besides, nothin' happened, so m'good," he rolled his shoulders and rubbed his eyes. "Anyways, s'the offer of ya funding a 'peaceful assembly' still on th' table?"

Tony chuckled, "Course, kid." Tyron grinned, and then Tony rose an eyebrow, remembering something. "Wait, what about that girl from your school? The one that threatened you?"

"M'gonna talk to her too, don' worry," and Tyron would. After spending a lot of mind-numbingly boring hours in a freezer, and walking for hours alone and frustrated, he realized his solution for Michelle.

"So, everything is fine?" Tony asked and Tyron frowned a bit.

"No. Everything isn't fine," Tyron said, but gave Tony a small smile. "But, things are gettin' a little better."