Chapter 3
Sins of the Father
THE X-MANSION
Beast continued to swing and leap around his lab while Adrian was standing in the middle of the room hooked up to various machines, with suction cups on his forehead, shoulders, chest, arms legs and elsewhere Adrian didn't want to think about it. He was still wearing his white sleeveless shirt, jeans and beat up converse. The red bandana was wrapped around his FOH eagle and he pulled it down more to hide all of it, Beast walked over with a clipboard "Feeling comfy Adrian?"
"Feels like I'm on an episode of Star Trek, how did you guys get all this tech?" Adrian asked looking around Beasts laboratory
Beast hummed as he pressed a button on a machine, "Professor Xaiver's fortune was vast indeed, but many of the devices you see here are part of my own creation."
"So what, one of your mutant powers is super smarts?" Adrian asked him.
Beast snickered "The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. Albert Einstein." Beast said as the machines started to scan Adrian's body, "My mutant power was great speed, and agility, but also in my mind I was a star athlete given my size and dexterity before Professor Xaiver found me and I had my… incident."
"Incident?" Adrian asked him, "A fascinating story for another time, now please we are trying to deduce the source of your unique mutation Adrian, please state your name and age for the record?" Beast saida as a red light appeared on one of the machines indicating it was recording.
Adrian gulped "Um, Adrian Raphael Luca, seventeen years old."
"Subject is…" beast looked at a button, "Six feet, 195 pounds with an athletic build from observation your powers are based on this Shadow Matter, can you produce an example for the machine to analyze?" Beast looked at his hands and closed his eyes concentrating, he tried to think of the knot he would feel in his stomach when he summoned the power when he was attacked by Hyde or when he ran from the X-Men.
He opened his eyes and nothing, sighing Adrian dropped his hands "Hmm, I do not know what it is like to have a power such as yours, perhaps we should contact Jubilee, though it is her birthday?"
"And I didn't get her a gift." Adrian muttered.
Magneto walked in the room "Adrian, Beast, how is the testing going?"
"We are having… a lack of success Magneto, it seems if Adrians is still struggling to summon his more eccentric powers." Beast said.
Adrian looked puzzled "What I've got more?" Adrian asked.
Beast nodded "Indeed, see here." Beast pulled up a screen showing layout of Adrians body scanned by the machines "You're powers are more than just these blasts of shadow matter or ether blades as Magneto described them. Your bone density, muscle strength all of it has been enhanced not unlike my own genetic mutations you could be perhaps twice no ten times stronger than the average man, we will need to as Wolverine would put it 'hit the gym' to find out." Beast said chuckling.
Magneto folded his arms "Physical prowess is important, but not nearly as important as learning to master this, what did you call it Beast?" Magneto asked.
"Shadow Matter, it is unlike anything I have ever seen." Beast said as he brought up recordings of Adrian in the danger room from his awakening and his teleporting.
"Perhaps if we tested this short range teleportation ability?" Beast asked.
"My thoughts exactly, that is why I have brought in an expert." Magneto explained opening the door to the lab and in walked a blue haired and skinned creature with a black leotard with red shoulder pads that went down over his black suit in a V, he had a spear shaped tail with long lean limbs, three digits on each hand, his pointed ears and glowing yellow eyes made Adrian jump "What the hell!' Adrian backed up.
"Guten Morgen, I apologize for startling you, junger mann, I know my appearance can be frightening to some." the creature said to him, more demon then man but he spoke with a thick german accent.
Adrian's tension lessened hearing him speak, "My name is Kurt Wagner, what is yours." he held out his white gloved three fingered hand.
"Um… Adrian."
"Nightcrawler has made the long journey from Germany at my invitation to help you get a hold on your powers, as he is the only other Charles met with teleportation abilities his insight will be most invaluable." Magneto said.
Kurt or Nightcrawler looked from Magneto to Adrian, "Shall we begin, but perhaps in less confined places, a bird cannot spread it's wings in a cage, no?" Kurt asked them.
The rest of the mutants looked to one another, "If you say so?" Magneto said.
Later, Adrian, Magneto, Beast and Kurt were outside the Mansion in the backyard next to the basketball court, "So, what do i do, start doing jumping jacks?" Adrian asked.
Kurt, cocked his head "Hampelmänner? Nine, nine I have never taught another to use their powers, but from my own experience it was something natural to me as breathing the air we breath right now." Night Crawler said, the exterior of the mansion had vast acres of land, a basketball court, pool, tennis court and other recreational things set up. But the four of them were standing in an open field portion of the manor "But I see you are new to these powers, how did you you use your other powers before?"
Adrian looked to Magneto, "Adrian's powers were just his physical attributes, I believe that the heightened stress of the Friends of Humanity finding out he was an agent of mine could have prompted this accelerated mutation?"
Beast scratched his chin "Fascinating, it's a reasonable theory as most powers happen during adolescence though you are seventeen?" Beast said aloud. He blinked as everyone looked at him for the comment "Apologize, I am thinking out loud."
"You all seem to do that a lot around here?" Adrian asked.
"Lass uns gehen." Nightcrawler clapped his six fingers together in a clap "Watch me." Nightcrawler said before he vanished into a poof of blackish blue smoke with a
*BAMF*
And they heard a whistle, Nightcrawler had gotten behind them "How did you… how do I do that?" Adrian asked.
"That is what we are here to find out." Magneto said "Now you try."
Adrian looked at Nightcrawler, who said "Look at where you want to go, and think of yourself there." Nightcrawler gave two long thumbs up, and Beast watched with his notepad as Magneto stood there sternly.
Taking a breath, Adrian focused he looked at Nightcrawler and thought of himself standing there beside him, he concentrated on the patch of grass right next to the mutant, Adrian shut his eyes opening that would help but… nothing.
Sighing, Adrian dropped his arms "Nothing."
"Hmm, perhaps a more serious need to teleport would help?" Magneto held his hand up toward the basketball court and he ripped the metal pole and backboard of the basketball hoop out of the pavement and flung it at Adrian. "WHOA-"
"Mein Gott!" Nightcrawler shouted before Adrian disappeared in a vapor of smoke before the basketball goal could hit him, Adrian reappeared next to Nightcrawler gasping, "Are you crazy!"
Magneto just smiled "It worked didn't it?"
Adrian looked to his left to see Nightcrawler and his eyes widened, "It is hard to argue with results like that, but perhaps the method?" Beast asked.
"Try again?" Magneto said, Adrian looked over at the basketball goal now laying on its side in the grass, focusing on the feeling of terror and the rush of adrenaline Adrian just stayed there "NOOO!" a loud cajun voice shouted.
The four of them looked over their shoulders to see Gambit had walked out of the mansion in black gym shorts, a crop top with his long hair tied in a red bandana with a orange basketball under his arm, "How the hell is Gambit supposed to practice his game, with his mess?" Gambit barked.
Magneto grumbled "Perhaps you should spend this leisure time in the danger room instead, Gambit?"
"Would if I could?" He shot Magneto a glare and the master of magnetism shot one back before he used his magnetic powers to slam the goal post back into the ground on the court, albeit a bit crooked "Dis ain't no better!" Gambit barked.
Magneto didn't answer; he instead walked back into the mansion and left the three other mutants bewildered, "Come, let us practice again but without the life threatening situations, yass?" Nightcrawler asked him.
Four the next hour, Adrian and Nightcrawler tried to get him to teleport again, but without the surge of danger or adrenaline, all Adrian did was look like he was about to have a serious bowel movement. "... I can't do it." Adrian said giving up, he plopped onto the grass "Not unless you guys have another spare set of basketball goals you can throw at me."
"Do not be disheartened Adrian, perhaps we could all use a break?" Beast suggested.
"Vereinbart, mein Freund." Nightcrawler said as he sat down next to Adrian, "So, Adrian you where are you from?"
Adrian looked at him confused, but Nightcrawler, despite his demonic features, just smiled at him, "um, New York, the Bronx."
"You must miss your home, your family?" Nightcrawler asked him, Beast's eyes softened realizing he'd forgotten to even consider that, Nightcrawlers question poked at Adrian and his face slumped he didn't even know if his dad was dead or alive, even if he was what would he think about his own son being here, in the heart of the enemy camp, no he was the enemy now a mutant "... Yes." Adrian said but he wasn't sure if it was true.
Nightcrawler "I wish I could say I understand your pain, mein freund, but pain is something we must all deal with, I feel though you carry a great pain with you?"
Adrians head snapped to him, did Magneto tell Nightcrawler he was actually part of Friends of Humanity, that he was never a spy, "To be surrounded by those who hate and fear you, to know that everyday could be your last, it is a heavy burden to hold." Nightcrawler said not untrue, but the opposite for both Adrians perspective and Nightcrawlers "But you are among freunds here, you may let go of this fear." Nightcrawler stood "Let it…"
*BAMF*
He appeared up on the basketball court fence "Disappear." Adrian wasn't sure if Nightcrawler was right, but was he holding onto some guilt, he didn't ask for any of this, he didn't want any of this, he just wanted to do as Nightcrawler said and-
Adrian felt his whole body shift, the soft grass was gone and he landed on something narrow and hard, eyes open he saw he was at the top of the basketball court fence with Nightcrawler "Wunderbar."
Adrian had done it, without being in danger and… now he was falling! He lost his balance on the frence and tumbled back down onto the grass face first with a heavy thud, "... ow."
"Practice makes perfect."
LATER
After another teleportation power, Adrian had returned to his room beat he didn't realize how strained it made him when he teleported, it was like he'd run half a marathon, he headed to the shower of his room and opened the door. The bathroom was nice, really nice. All of it was white tiled floor with a glass shower wall, a mirror and window overlooking the front of the manor. Adrian stepped in the shower and started to wash thinking about what Nightcrawler had said about his powers being attached to his guilt.
Was it true?
He found himself thinking about his dad, about his 'friends' in FOH, were they his friends if they turned on him so quickly.
And the X-Men had welcomed in with open arms, blinded but welcoming nonetheless.
Getting out of the shower he looked for a spare set of clothes, his white shirt and jeans smelly from the practice, he opened a cabinet to see a big cube shaped TV and groaned "So there is a TV in here." Adrian said as he looked through the dresser attached below and found some old clothes, whoever this Bobby was, his wardrobe needed a serious update. Eventually he did find some old khakis that fit him and a gray sweatshirt but when he looked at himself in the mirror he noticed a large X on the sweatshirt, and smeared "It's just till I get new clothes."
Thinking on it, he could probably go back to his old apartment and grab them, he could find out what happened to his dad. Adrian looked over at his shoes and then teleported to them. "In and out before anyone sees me." Adrian muttered "Oh great now I'm doing it to."
Adrian slipped his sneakers on and headed down to the hallway walking down the stairs, he saw Remy watching TV and looked around, "Um, where's Magneto?" Adrian asked.
"Danger room… again." Gambit grumbled before Adrian rolled his eyes.
He headed out of the mansion and to the nearby garage, there he saw a set of cars and vehicles there was a bright purple and black motorcycle, obviously Gambit's, a nice black Rolls Royce, and at the end a burgundy open air jeep with a note attached, 'Jubilee, do not touch I know every scratch' - L
Adrian tried to think of a mutant he'd met with a L and then smelled the inside of the jeep's seats "Wolverine." he scrunched his nose up and looked for the keys but they weren't in the glovebox, cup holders or hung on a wall mount. "Looks like it's the old fashion way." Adrian pried open the part of the car under the steering wheels and began to hotwire the car like he'd been taught by his dad. The engine roared to life and Adrian got in, before he drove off.
Wolverine poked his head out of the kitchen window, "Why… does EVERYONE STEAL MY JEEP!"
NEW YORK CITY
Adrian drove into the Bronx in the jeep and pulled up outside what looked like an abandoned building, getting out he parked the car, planning to be in and out. Looking up at the top floor Adrian saw a fire escape and sucked in a deep breath, focusing like Nightcrawler had showed him he disappeared in a plum of black and red aether and reappeared on the fire escape, he opened the window and looked inside at his old room. It wasn't much just a bed, dresser with a nightstand, his dad never did want him to get too comfortable as a Soldier in Friends of Humanity. He walked to the closet and opened it, a duffle bag falling out and he picked it up starting to pack his old clothes, underwear, socks, pants, his old Knicks jersey, a Mets baseball cap, anything he could fit in it.
Creak
Someone was outside the door, Dad?
Adrian ran to the door and opened it to see the dark haired and skinned Stephen, the same boy he'd been with when Hyde took him on the tag run through the city. "What the fuck?" Stephen had a raygun in his hand and Adrian moved quickly "What are you doing here!?" Adrian barked grabbing Stephen teleporting into the nearest wall slamming him against it.
"Whoa- Whoa Adrian we thought you were dead?"
"Was that before or after you all chased me through the city, was that before or after Hyde tried to get my dad killed?" Adrain snapped.
Stephen dropped the raygun, "Chill, Chill I'm cool, we're friends right?" Stephen asked the fear in his eyes palpable, "Why are you here?" he didn't let go but he loosened his grip. Stephen gulped "I uh… was hiding, after what happened."
"My dad" Adrian squeezed tighter, "A-alive, he's at the Hospital under guard, cops arrested him after those mutie- I mean X-Men destroyed that bum Sentinel." Stephen was quick to correct himself "Which one?" Adrian growled.
"Monitefiore- but thats all I know, Hyde told none of us were to even go near?" Stephen said and that begged the question "What about Hyde?"
Stephen sneered his face "That skinhead, he took over the FOH, but it should be FOW now, he's been terrorizing the neighborhood if you're not white or christian it's open season." Adrian let go of Stephen and walked back into his room reaching into his duffle bag he pulled out a gray zip up hoodie one he through on, looked back at Stephen "Goodbye Stephen."
"Yo, Adrian." Stephen said getting up, he hadn't gotten the raygun he was looking away "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have… we shouldn't have chased you off. I justed to protect humanity, but after Hyde I'm not sure it's worth saving." Stephen said ashamed Adrian looked back at him and saw he had a scar on his arm where his FOH tattoo had been, probably an attempt to remove it. Adrian didn't say anything her grabbed his duffle bag and teleported out of the room back into the Jeep, Adrian drove down the road to the hospital he pulled into a nearby alley by Montefiore Medical Center, the building was made of solid brown brick with old 19th century architecture. He saw a cop car parked outside and taking another breath he looked to a nearby open window, getting ready he noticed it was on the fourth floor that meant he had to be quick. Adrian teleported grabbing the ledge and pulling himself in. Panting, he got to his feet and saw he was lucky to be in an empty room, Adrian pulled the hood up on his zip up and walked out into the hallway, passing by a few doors Adrian looked down the hallway and came to a desk where a stocky woman sat behind the desk half asleep it was so late. "Um, is there a Commander Luca here?" Adrian asked.
The woman blinked a few times desperately in need of coffee, she looked at her clipboard "Um yeah, room 512 but cops are- hey where'd you go visiting hours are over?" She looked around and didn't see Adrian anymore. He was already on his way up stairs climbing the stairs he poked his head out to see if the coast was clear. Following the room numbers he saw 514 was guarded by a police officer.
He dipped into another unoccupied room and went out to the window, looking back he was in room 510, that meant four windows away. Adrian teleported to his dads window and hung feet dangling before he climbed up glad his dad made him do plenty of pull ups as he was growing up. He slid into the room where he heard the steady beep of a heart monitor, and paced breathing from an assisted breathalyzer. Swallowing his fear, Adrian turned to see a large man laying in bed wearing a hospital gown with handcuffs on the bed railing. The man was mummified in bandages with his face hidden. "Oh god." Adrian said in a whisper.
He moved to the bed quietly eyeing the door, Adrian reached for his dads hand and gasped, his fathers left arm was mangled with his pink, ring and middle finger gone. Either taken in the blast or removed by surgery to save the arm, squeezing it, Adrian pressed his forehead on it "Oh dad I'm so sorry…. This is all my fault, I had just been faster, if I'd-"
"Hnnn." Adrian's dad stifled a groan, his heart rate speeding up, "Dad?" Adrian whispered, only one of his brown eyes was open and he looked to see him.
"... Adrian…" he said in a gasp, his breathalyzer fogging up, Adrian stood up "I'm here, dad, I'm here…."
His father raised his free hand up, and Adrian smiled "They told me…. What happened…." his dad said as Adrian felt his dads fingers brush past Adrians cheek, "Hyde, he betrayed us, he's… Dad?" Adrian felt his dad's mangled hand wrap around his son's neck, and he tried to squeeze "You… mutant… freak…." Adrian's dad growled.
"Papà, no, sono io, sei figlio, Adrian." Adrain said in Italian, trying to reach him with the old language, but his dad didn't let go, Adrian pried his dads hand off and backed away, to the wall a heavy thud.
"Hey who's in there!" the cop outside the door shouted, Adrian looked at his dad, the heart rate monitor skyrocketing as his dad ripped off his breathing mask "MUTANT FREAK!" was the last thing Adrian heard before he teleported out of the hospital room.
LATER
The Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
A Roman Catholic parish church under the authority of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York, located three blocks south of Fordham University at the corner of Belmont Avenue and 627 East 187th Street, Fordham, The Church itself was made of brick with white slabs of stone laid in support to match the italian inspired architecture, Adrian had parked the jeep outside the church and teleported inside, in the dim lights from the stained glass mirrors Adrian sat in one of the long benches looking up at the saints and angels on the alter. "Why…. why did you do this to me?" Adrian asked God.
But no answer came, "Why, god why?" Adrian begged.
Still no answer came.
When the Church's peace didn't work, he started to remember this wasn't his fault, this was Hyde's fault, Hyde, had set the bomb, Hyde had brought the Sentinel, Hyde started the riot.
And Adrian knew…
Exactly.
Where.
He was.
Adrian got up and ran to the door, he teleported through it and ran down the street forgetting the jeep when he came all the way back to a place he once thought was home. The old Hideout for the Friends of Humanity, it was different now. He looked to the entrance to see it was guarded not by men dressed in green camo flak jackets with berets, but two big burly clean shaved bikers with red armbands, one wearing a Confederate hat on his head. Adrian knew this wasn't the only way in, there were at least three other entrances for escapes in case of a raid by the police or the X-Men.
Heading down the alleyway closest to the warehouse, Adrian moved a dumpster that would usually take three men to push, but he was able to do it with just himself. His strange mutant power that made him stronger, faster, was coming in handy. Pushing it clear of a small hole, Adrian climbed inside and made his way through the nextdoor building into the warehouse. The FOH banner was gone and so were most of the members Adrian had known, instead it was full of mainly white men and women, with shaved heads or piercings, wearing leather jackets and hanging where an american flag should have been was a bright red flag with a white circle and a swastika next to it was a red flag with a blue X with white stars in it, a Nazy flag and a Confederate States of America Flag. "They were right all along!" A familiar voice shouted, standing on a stage dressed in a black leather jacket with camo pants with his head shaved and shined spotless was the monster, Hyde. he stood in front of a podium with two cavalry sabers on it with a nazi swastika in a Confedreate seal. "They tried to get rid of them in war and what did the mutants do, they sent the other nations to stop the True Friends of Humanity from saving us from their wrath and now look at us, coddling mutant kind, letting a terrorist like Mangeto run free.'' The crowd roared in agreement, clapping and cheering hands raised in a seig hail salute.
It made Adrian's blood boil, this wasn't what FOH was supposed to be, but… was it always like this. Just rampant hatred for those who were different, those like him now, he felt so stupid he'd ever been part of something like it.
Adrian blended in with the crowd hood up, no one was going to bat an eye at a white kid in a crowd of neo nazi's. "It's time we take back this country, this world for the true children of humanity, get rid of all the mutants, and not just the freaks with powers, the ones with different skin, noses, eyes, all of it KILL'EM ALL I SAY!" Hyde shouted as Adrian got closer to the stage.
He was almost there, just a bit closer and "Hey stop there-" One skinhead grabbed Adrian and on instincit Adrian teleported to the stage, "Fuck-" Hyde snapped out of his speech "HYDE!" Adrian grabbed him and teleported him off the stage and ten feet above the air. Everyone rushed out of the way as Adrian and Hyde slammed on the floor "It's a mutant- it's a mutant!" one person screamed.
"You did this- all of this is your fault you nazi bastard!" Adrian screamed, punching Hyde so hard he heard teeth and bone crack against his fist, he was able to punch Hyde two more times before the mob rushed him.
"Kill the freak!" Adrian heard someone shout before a dozen leather jackboots stomped onto him and kicked and beat him, Adrian looked around and teleported out of the way. "Where'd he go?"
"There!" they saw Adrian had dropped over next to a crate, getting to his feet Adrian was bleeding, ears ringing "Shoot'em shoot'em!" one person raised a gun before Adrian held his hands out dark ether shooting from his hands the shadow matter sent people flying into the air. He held his other hand up to send another but he dropped to his knees exhausted not just from the beating, but all the teleporting he'd done. He was spent.
"Got you now, mutant freak." Adrian looked up to see Hyde, his face bleeding, missing teeth holding a revolver. Adrian looked right down the barrel at the bullet in the chamber before Hyde squeezed the trigger.
BLAM
The bullet flew out of the gun spinning just inches from Adrians face, "God in heaven." Adrian gasped.
"God?" A loud voice asked as the roof of the building was torn off, "God is not in a place like this." Everyone looked up to see their guns, knives, metal bats and weapons floating into the air as out from the night sky descended Magneto, and suddenly Adrian was up on the catwalk. He saw Nightcrawler holding onto him with a smile he had teleported down while everyone was distracted at Magneto's entrance to save him. Just then Adrian heard someone land next to him "Bub if you scratched my jeep I'll… oh brother." Wolverine had dropped down next to Adrian and Nightcrawler, looking down at the crowd of Neo Nazi's.
Wolverine sniffed the air and growled "And here I thought tonight was going to be a boring metalhead." Wolverine said, popping out his adamantium claws and smiling.
"Though it was not my intent to find these scum, I would be remiss if we let them go so easily." Magneto said crushing the weapons "Vereinbart." Nightcrawler teleported to the podium unsheathing the metal swords and then teleporting back "Ah, dull what a shame."
Magneto held up his hand summoning more metal around him "I promised to be better to the United Nations and the memory of Charles Xaiver, so do not kill them… if you can help it." Wolverine smirked as he and Nightcrawler leapt into the mob of Neo Nazi's "No promises." Wolverine yelped before Adrian slipped into unconsciousness.
X-MANSION
Dusk
"That was reckless, irresponsible and downright stupid." Magneto was in his office, it use to be Charles Xaiver's office and their a picture of the man bald headed, wearing a green suit in a metal contraption that looked like something out of star trek. Adrian looked back at Magneto, both Wolverine and Nightcrawler were in the office, Wolverine had a grin on his face "I had fun."
"Likewise." Nightcrawler said holding one of the dulled saber's and it had been hit over so many skinheads that it was crooked and bent, "You were not allowed to leave school grounds, and yet you steal one of your teammates vehicles, and go on a joyride right back into the lion's den." Magneto told him.
Adrian gritted his teeth and clenched his fists, he was still dressed in the zip "Hyde that bastard he-" Adrian cut himself off, he couldn't reveal himself to Wolverine and Nightcrawler, "He was terrorizing the neighborhood, he had to be stopped."
"Then you should have called the police, or at least come to us." Magneto said.
Adrian scoffed "What the hell do you know about it? You all are hiding out here in a freaking palace."
Magneto narrowed his eyes and lifted up left arm covered from the long purple glove that matched the rest of his tunic, slowly he removed it and walked around "I know better than you could ever imagine." Magento said, Adrian backed up expecting Magneto to hit him, but instead he lifted up his left forearm and Adrian looked, carved into his skin were the numbers 24005. The ink was black, sunken into the skin done crudely not with modern tattoo. This was like a blade that had been cut into skin, it had, it was "Is that…."
"Cut into my skin, the day I was ripped from my parents arm." Magneto said pulling the glove back on, Adrian looked stunned and felt like a jackass.
"Magneto I…" "Leave." Mangeto said.
Adrian walked to the door and opened it clutching the back of his neck and walked down the hallway, "Stupid, arrogant, catso idiot." Adrian muttered to himself.
Later, Adrian was up on the roof of the manor, the sun had sunken beneath the ocean and Adrian had never felt more lost, he was rejected by his father, the FOH had turned into Neo Nazi's before the X-Men thrashed them and he'd insulted a holocaust survivor to his face. Adrian looked up at the sky, hoping to wonder if God could even hear him.
*BAMF*
"Are you alright, mein Freund?" Nightcrawler plopped down next to him, the two of them had their feet dangling over the edge of the mansion.
Adrian sighed "Not even close."
"You went on quite an adventure, even Wolverine had trouble tracking you, his jeep, at a church?" Nightcrawler asked him.
Adrian pulled his knee up and leaned on it, "Hmph yeah, I was… looking for answers, the only answer I got was how much of a fool I was." Adrian replied.
Nightcrawler sat up and watched the sky turn to stars, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen-" "But on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal?" Adrian finished the scripture and Nightcrawler smiled "Second Corinthians 4:16-18" Nightcrawler said.
"My dad use to take me to Sunday school every week, he kept a bible on him when he was at war, read it every night." Adrian said as Nightcrawler replied "I was raised in a monastery where when I was alone, the light of the lord was a comfort."
Adrian now felt like a real jerk for how mean he'd been to Nightcrawler earlier, "Must have been hard, seeing those people like that after what their worshiping did to your country."
"Yah, many people forget mein Freund, the first country the Nazi's invaded was their own." Nightcrawler said, "But they are not me, and you are not them, we must be better."
Adrian looked at his hands and summoned the shadow matter, "I just… never thought this would happen to me, no offense."
Nightcrawler just kept smiling, "The Lord works in mysterious ways, no?" He asked.
"Ain't that the truth." Adrian sighed "Perhaps you should stop thinking this as a curse, but a gift?"
"How?" Adrian asked.
Nightcrawler folded his arms "Did the lord not give Samson's great strength to defend his people?" Nightcrawler flexed his lean skinny arms like he was flexing, he was in great shape but more of an acrobats physique "Or David his courage to face Goliath." He held his tail up and swung it around like a slingshot "And the wisdom of Joseph to understand his Träumes." Adrian snickered as Nightcrawler wiggled his six fingers to act as if he were interpreting dreams. "Mein freund, if the lord is comforted, do not try to understand his will, accept that he has plan for you." Nightcrawler put his hand around Adrians and held it up, the shadow matter forming in his hands.
"Without this gift, could you have faced those Nazi Fotzens." Adrian looked at Nightcrawler and didn't know much German but that word didn't sound like a good one.
Adrian felt Nightcrawler let go, "No, I guess not."
"Dein vater was a soldier, a man who wanted to protect his country, nein?" Nightcrawler asked him.
Adrian thought of his dad, how he'd called him a mutant freak and he lowered his arm, "Yes." Adrian said.
"Then do as he would, and protect others who cannot protect themselves." Nightcrawler told him, "And choose a cool code name, something like Nightwalker." the imp said as he held his hands up "No thanks." Adrian said smiling, the blue faced german shrugged "Einen versuch wert." he said in german before he disappeared leaving Adrian alone with his thoughts, "Well, guess this is home now."
