I hope you all having good holiday with your families. Thank so much for reading these last chapters and hope you all enjoy this one as well.

Chapter 7: Can you help… me?

It only been a few minutes since they left the school. Jean scanned the area. Since leaving the school, something felt off like an invisible pair of eyes on her and Hawks.

"Hawks, are always wanting to do things alone?" she asked him.

"I've always been alone."

Jean sighs, "I guess it sorta strange for us. We're always doing something together and helping each other out. That us, the X-Men that's what we do, if some one needs help we are there."

Is that why they are nice to me? Hawks hugs his doll tightly in his right arm.

* SNAP *

The two stopped walking and look around. What was that? He clung to Jean's leg.

"Hawks, do you know this town at all?" she asked him, keeping her calm demeanor.

The boy shook his head. "I- I don't.. just my home town, its not clean like this place it more dirty and broken."

Who would let a kid live in a place like that? Jean shook her head. "Well, then how about we learn together?"

Hawks just looked down at his doll but nodded as she reaches down taking his hand again.

They moved into a more of a crowded area, in hopes to blend into the groups of people. "Keep close to me," she told him, not taking her eyes off her surrounds fully.

Is it a hero or villain? She looked at Hawks who was holding her hand with his left hand in his right arm held his doll.

Acting like they were sightseeing. Jean would take random turns here and there. In hopes to shake their stalkers. "Th-there's a group behind us," Hawks said, causing Jean to look at him.

"Are you sure?"

The boy nodded. "But, I don't know if they're bad people or not." Why are they following us, what do they want?

"We can't go straight back to our hotel, but we need to shake them." she hummed, trying to think.

"A trip rope?"

"Huh?"

Hawks let go of her hand with and pointed to a rope nearby. "If they fall they can't follow us," He looked over to Jean.

"Good idea Hawks," He smiled and looked down at his doll shyly. "Go grab it, we'll set up where it won't hurt others." Nodding, he ran over to grab the rope that he saw.

Hawks watched in awe as she used her powers to set up the trap. She's so talented.

"Hawks tie this end here," he nodded and hurried over. Jean watched the boy. He's smarter than most kids his age. "Okay, that's good. Now we need to bait them here." she walks over, taking his hand. "Once it goes off, I'll use my powers to help us get away."

Once Jean was sure their stalkers were following them. The two kept up the act like nothing was wrong. Jean quietly instructs Hawks to hold on to her tightly as they soon stepped over the trip rope they laid out.

Slowly, as the leader drew closer to them. Jean slips the rope upwards. Loud * THUDS * rang out. Jean then levitated and flies both her and Hawks away.

The boy tried to move his wings as they went. "You don't have to do that, I have us both," she told him.

. **** **** ***.

Hawks stood next to Jean as she opened the door to the room he shared with Professor X and Logan. "Like I promised, I'll leave you be," she said, opening the door. Hawks walks into it.

"Girls' room is next door. If you need me I'll be in there."

Hawks did budge or let go of her hand.

"Hawks-"

"-Keigo."

"Keigo, is something the matter?"

Hawks looks up to warily. "Uh, can you stay?"

"Of course." Jean smiles and walks into the room with Hawks at her side.

Jean walked sits down in a chair flipping through a book she found with her.

Hawks scrambled up onto the bed , flapping his small red wings. A few loose feathers floated about as he did.

Cute. Jean smiles as she sits down finding a magazine the cover of: Hero of the Week had an adult Hawks on front of it posing with random hero. She looks at the kid as he set his doll dow and shakes her head. Can't believe they're the same person.

"C-careful…" Hawks tried to balance on the edge, but falls back onto the bed, making bounce. "Safe landing." he said before trying again.

Jean looked at the boy as he toppled over. Laughing to herself, it reminded her of her teammates would do crazy stunts. He would fit in well with us.

Hawks had scrambled off the bed as he looked around the room. He wanted to try again, longer this time. "Do they have a timer?" he tried opening bags and drawers tossing things about. He hadn't found one yet. "Darn." he closed the last bag.

"Everything okay?" Jean asked.

Hawks nodded, moving over the items tossed on the ground. "uh.. huh."

"Alright. You can ask if you need something."

Hawks scrambled back up onto the bed again, trying to balance. "What are you and where are you from?" he asked, finding his balance once more.

"I'm a mutant we're from Bayville New York in the USA."

"What's a mutant?" he asked, though he didn't understand what she had just said. "Well, we're people like you, we have powers, but we don't call them quirks."

Hawks teetered on the edge of the bed, spreading his wings. "Oh, okay." He leaped, trying his best to fly.

*THID *

"Hawks?" Jean jumped got up. "Are you okay?" she asked him. Hawks laid in a daze tangled up in the mess he made with towels and clothes.

'Keigo?' she tried telepathically.

"I..am okay." he replied, finding his voice. I failed.

"Are you sure, I don't want you hurting yourself. What are you doing anyway?"

"Practicing flying.." He tried to get free. "You might be too late on don't hurt myself."

"Need help?" Jean asked concern, making her way towards him.

He looked down. I don't want to bother her.

Hawks looked up as Jean stands over him. Jean tried not to laugh too much as Hawks gave her an innocent yet slightly embarrassed look. The poor boy was wrapped up in clothes and towels one item hung lopsided off his head.

"Don't worry," she laughs. "I'll get you freed. Raised a hand she lift the his body along with towels and clothes up. Jean used her powers from before to untangle him. It mere minutes before he was free. A pile of clothes and towels on one side and Hawks on the bed.

"Are you okay?" Jean sat down reach to place hand on him, but Hawks shrank away moves to back up. She frown softly. "What's-?"

"I am sorry I made mess, I-"

"You okay. You didn't get hurt. That what matters."

Hawks looks to her blinks and looks down. "Thank you," he said, picking up his doll from the bed. "I'm sorry you had help me."

"Accidents happen, and if you need help you should ask for it." She rest hand on his shoulder gently. "That's why I am here. You don't have apologize we'll just have find better way for you learn."

"Uh.. how do you know about flying?" he asked. Hawks looked over at her.

"Well, my powers have ability like flying called levitate. I lift whatever I want people, objects up in the air with my mind cool right."

Hawks nodded as he sat down. "Is that what you did when we ran away from those people?"

Jean nodded. "Yes, I use my powers to fly us away to a safe location."

Hawks hugged his doll but looked at her. "I just want to try out my quirk and maybe be useful someday."

"Hawks, you're a child, I'm sure one day you'll be useful." Jean smiles at him. "Is this your first time trying out your quirk?" Has to be, he has aged back.

"uh, huh."

"I see, well we don't want you straining them. Do you remember what we told you, the reason you are like this? And why we came here, because you wanted to be alone."

Hawks looks down. "I just.. want to get better like everyone else.." he half sobbed. Why can't I?

Jean reaches over and hugs him. "You will Hawks, it will takes time, but you'll be a fine hero."

"Really..?" He looks up and smiles.

"Yes, really."

Hawks smiles and rubs his eyes. "C-can you help me?"

"Do you want my help?"

"Yes, please."