Chapter 25

Pietro's Big Date

Disclaimer: Thought it was time for some zany extra nuttyness.

As Shipwreck spent the next three months in jail, a number of things would happen. Things like Magneto and the Ancient Mutant known as Apocalypse getting into it and for the older Mutant to thoroughly kick Magneto's ass as a lesson in humility since Magneto was the one who started it since he felt threatened by the older Mutant. Last anyone knew, Magneto was still in recovery wherever he's hiding out at while Apocalypse, or En Sabah Nur as he's also known as, continued his world tour in order to continue to familiarize himself with the Modern Age. Reeve Jerwin also continued his attacks around the world and even introduced a themed animal group known as the Ani-Men that he's part of as well and causing some minor Anti-Mutant sentiments to start up much to the annoyance of those like the X-Men due to most thinking the group were actually Mutants thanks to their looks and gadgets.

Scott himself had yet to return to the Mansion due to the fact he was still greatly enjoying life away from it. Even if he was occasionally having to deal with threats from the ocean around Hawaii consisting of large mutated Marine life and other situations. Something a few Scientists were attempting to track down the cause of as well but so far had little luck. Though unfortunately, the whole experience had made Lee decide to go back to her more normal life and while it had hurt Scott, he could understand where she was coming from and became Captain of his own ship, the Ruby Quartz, with Alex and several others once she left. Among Scott's crew being a grey skinned 17 year old Mutant who looks half Man/half Shark by the name of Tommy Sharpe and calls himself Shark Man. Jean's time back in her childhood home continued to have its issues given her headstrong views about certain things.

But talks with Philippa, Greycrow, her parents, and even Craig were helping her in those areas to be better adjusted and get over past issues with the Misfits. Of course Jean still privately thought her little sister could do better than Craig but did admit at least to herself that she found it amusing when Sara managed to get the gruff boy flustered. Something his Sister and her Boyfriend even found amusing as well! And while Stamford, Connecticut wasn't nearly as bad in its negativity towards Mutants like Bayville and other parts of the world, she did still have to deal with that sort of problem from time to time. Her Mutantcy also had its own affects on the Doctor's Office her father runs as well. Something that bothered her a lot and felt that if she left to return to Bayville, it wouldn't be an issue anymore but her father refused to budge on that. Citing his belief that he'd be just fine regardless of whether or not he had their business. As this all went on, the Deacons For Defense would see a return in Louisiana due to the violent actions Mutants in that state tended to face and the revivers of the group felt that it was time for the Deacons to return in the fight for rights.

Even being secretly aided by the Thieves and Assassins Guilds as well for one reason or another while problems sparked up in Bayville again after Guy Spears had been found murdered and the culprit being believed to be Evan Daniels of all people. A fight ring in California would also end up being brought down thanks in part to the X-Men under Storm's Leadership and the Misfits doing it and would see X-23 join the Institute after all was said and done. The Misfits would also start to come around the Mansion more but mainly on the weekends. Though Lance and Betsy weren't all that interested for one reason or another and Betsy would also have issues with not only Kitty but Rogue as well thanks to Mystique having used her face for awhile to be-friend Rogue for her own purposes. Interestingly enough however, Bobby would apologize to Lance after personally asking him to come over to the Mansion thanks to all the time apart and some thinking as well he'd done. Thinking that especially came about after the Battle of Northbrook and as well as when the truth about Larry 'Foresight' Trask had been revealed. Ultimately leading to what some called 'Mutant Ball' to allow for a little stress relief for those at the Mansion and was held at the Pit.

Even including youths from the Eloi like Willow and youths like Kima from the island she lives on and everyone ultimately had a good time despite some jealousy issues here and there. Now in Pietro's head, none of that was as important as the fact he was going on a big date with a girl he'd been speaking with over the Internet for some time that called herself 'The Crystal Moon'. One he was finally getting to see after some careful planning had been done to get it going. "So far all the planning we had to do to get this going has been worth it." Remarked Pietro happily as he and The Crystal Moon went about their date in New York.

"You're telling me, I just hate that we had to do so much planning." The Redhead known as Crystal Amaquelin told him with a frown on her beautiful face.

"Hopefully our next date won't need as much."

"What makes you think there'll be another date?" She asked with a teasing grin.

One he returned. "Because I'm that confident."

His confidence being strong enough to the point he even kissed her much to her liking. Unfortunately, the moment wasn't to last thanks to an unwanted arrival. "CRYSTAL!?"

Crystal couldn't help but groan once she heard the voice and Pietro himself would be annoyed by the whole thing. "What are you doing here, Johnny?" She asked unhappily.

"You know Johnny Storm of the Fantastic 4!?" Pietro asked in surprise.

"Yeah, he's my ex actually."

One whose ego wasn't something she had cared for and that's one of the reasons she had dumped him much to his dislike. "I won't be your ex for long, babe! Especially after I make it clear to this jerk he needs to hit the road! You shouldn't be with a Mutant like him anyway! Especially since his old man's a terrorist!"

Pietro glared at him as Crystal gave her ex a look of disgust. "Considering how open minded the rest of the 4 are, I'm really disgusted you think that way, Johnny."

"Hey, its just Mutants like this one that I have a problem with considering he's probably using you to get an in with your family for his old man!

Getting in his face before the Human Torch could blink, Pietro stared him down before talking. "Funny how you forget I'm with GI JOE and the Misfits now and really don't want much to do with my Father after how he treated me and the others!"

"Hah! That's probably just a front to fool everyone else!"

"Oh yeah!?"

By this point, a crowd was gathering about and even recording the whole thing much to Crystal's dismay. "Yeah!"

"Oh yeah!?"

"Yeah!"

And before he knew it, Johnny Storm found himself with one Hell of a painful ass Wedgie! Something that Ben Grimm and Spider-Man would have a ton of amusement for days over. "YEOW!"

"So, wanna get outta here?" Asked the irate Mutant Speedster to his date as while he wanted to do way more to the jerk, he'd rather put all his attention on Crystal as she deserved.

"Yes, please!"

Thankfully, there would be no other interruptions and Pietro would find out why he hadn't heard about the Human Torch and her. Something she would claim was because of an issue of protection where she's concerned and he'd thankfully buy it, making her feel somewhat guilty but the timing just wasn't right to tell him the truth.

A Few Days Later

"Uhh, you wanted to see me, Sir?" Pietro asked Hawk as he came into the man's office.

"Yeah, you remember how Cooper came here the other day?"

A sense of relief swept through the Speedster as he had worried he was about to finally get yelled at by the man for what had gone down with the Human Torch several days before. "Kinda hard to forget about that, actually."

That woman hadn't necessarily been all that impressed with them but in his view, its her own fault for expecting more! "Well, I've got something of a mission for you, son."

"You do!?" Asked Pietro with a blink of his eyes in surprise.

"I want you to join that team of hers as our inside man."

Pietro waited a beat before realizing that yes, Hawk is being serious. "Think of it this way, you'd be pissing off your old man even more by doing this."

"Yeah, that definitely would make my father very unhappy! I'll definitely do it just for that alone!" Even if it would suck to be away from the others but it wasn't like he couldn't come back to visit after all.

Hawk nodded in approval and the two would discuss what all his mission would entail and a party would later be thrown for Pietro as his send off. Though it would be awhile before his new team would be revealed to the world.

Author's Notes: I thought it would make a wild bit of sense/fun for Pietro to join the X-Factor team since he was part of it in the comics back in the day. I know originally the scene between Pietro and the Human Torch was different but I thought it made sense to make it a little more confrontational in this go round.