The shadowed stranger.
Liu let out a small sigh as he closed his apartment door, looking through the peephole for a moment to ensure he hadn’t been followed before locking the door securely. He quickly shrugged his hoodie off, revealing a pair of white fox ears, twitching and alert for the sound of any unusual movements outside. The adrenaline coursing through his veins was finally starting to wear off,causing him to become acutely aware of the pain he was in. He quickly made his way over to the cabinet and pulled out a rather banged up first aid kit with dwindling supplies inside.
“This’ll hurt like a bitch.” he groaned in annoyance to himself, grabbing the near empty bottle of alcohol and dampening some cotton balls with it, cleaning off the multiple wounds caused by bullet grazes and the area around the one that had shot clean through my arm. Any normal person would have just gone to the hospital to deal with an injury so severe, but Liu wasn't any normal person, he was a mutant, a very obvious one at that. His fox ears and tail made it hard enough to try and assimilate into human society, but to ask for help at a hospital that will probably turn him away anyways and answer questions on how he sustained such injuries, well that was a near impossible task. He grabbed the roll of gauze from the kit, wrapping it around the worst injury on his upper arm before applying bandaids to the much less severe grazes. After he was satisfied he packed up the kit and put it away, making a mental note to stock up on more supplies the next day. Sore and exhausted he slowly made his way over to his bed on the other end of his small studio apartment and flopped down with a low groan.
It felt like he had just gotten to sleep when the sound of the police scanner he had stolen ages ago going off on the kitchen counter. He blinked the sleep from his eyes, blearily looking at the small digital clock on the nightstand. 5 am it read, far too early for any normal person to be awake, but evil never sleeps, neither do vigilantes. Based on the details from the police scanner, it seemed like an easy enough job, an armed robbery about two blocks away.
“Piece of cake.” Liu thought to himself as he forced himself out of bed, letting out a small whine of pain as he did so. He tried to ignore the feeling, focusing instead on the mission ahead. He quickly grabbed his jacket and karambit knives, attaching the sheaths to his belt loops before darting out the door without a second thought.
He made his way through the winding city alleyways, keeping a keen eye out for danger, but not keen enough. From the rooftops right into Liu’s path came a shadowy figure, coat ominously billowing in the wind.
“You're gettin’ somewhere real fast, where's the fire mon ami?” the figure asked in a heavy cajun accent, stepping closer to the fox mutant and into the dim light of the alley. The white haired mutant did not react kindly to the sudden advance, hands immediately flying to his waist to grab his knives before the stranger put his hands up in surrender, letting out a small chuckle.
“You a feisty one, Gambit like that. But I ain't here to fight you. In fact I think you might be just who I'm lookin for.”
“What the fuck are you talking about? Why would you be looking for me?” Liu hissed, not trusting the stranger for a moment.
“Word on the street is there's been a vigilante runnin around causin issues that me and my team gotta clean up. You've been causin all sorts of issues for us and others, property damage, assault, petty thievery, and makin some pretty powerful enemies.” the man known as Gambit says with an amused look on his face as he crosses his arms, listing off Liu’s infractions against the law.
“I don't know what youre talking about, I'm not who you're looking for I assure you.” Liu spat, starting to panic a little bit. Was this someone an enemy he had made at some point in his four years of vigilantism and didn't remember? Or was his intent even more sinister than roughing him up enough that he never showed his face again. Liu quickly turned around, planning another route to the emergency, hoping the stranger would just leave him alone and not follow him. As soon as he turned around,Gambit grabbed the back of Liu’s hood, pulling it off. The large fox ears popped up, though that wasn't even necessary as soon as Liu had turned around, his fluffy white tail was visible.
“Not the man we’re lookin for huh? Witness reports have made mention of a man with white hair and fox features fleeing from the scenes of various crimes.”
Liu whirled around, snarling at Gambit aggressively.
“I was helping people, I saved them! Anyone i hurt had it fucking coming and damn well deserved it.” His voice was low and dangerous, despite continuing to back away from the trench coat wearing stranger.
“What the fuck do you want from me huh?” Liu’s voice was accusatory and laced with venom, hands flexing next to his knives, ready to fight at the drop of a pin.
“Calm down, Gambit ain't here to fight, he here to talk.” he reiterated, trying to calm down Liu.
“You’ve done a lot of good, but you also done a whole lotta damage, it's clear you aint got full control yet. I know a place where you can learn,full of people just like you, where you can do even more good than workin alone.” He continued, offering a small yet sincere smile. He had been in this position before, afraid and alone in the world, doing what he could to survive when he was handed the same offer.
“Why the hell should I trust you? I don't even know you.” Liu remained suspicious, but stopped backing away, now a bit more curious than scared of Gambit. This place seemed far too good to be true, but he had heard rumors. Rumors of a school for mutants run by the renowned Charles Xavier, but why would they extend an offer to him of all people. He wasn't impressive by any means. Sure he had an interesting appearance mutation, but also pyrokinesis, which wasnt that uncommon in the world of mutants. He didn't have the money to afford tuition anyways, he could only imagine how expensive a place like that could be.
“Thanks but no. I'm doing just fine on my own.I can't afford it anyways,besides i'm too old for school.” Liu turned around again ready to walk off back home, the police had probably already arrived at the robbery and there was no reason for him to show up now. He's stopped by a firm hand on his shoulder, not threatening but stern nonetheless.
“I'm afraid I can't let you go, and i aint takin no for an answer either. The professor has put a lot of resources into tryin to find you after all the messes you've made.” Gambit's voice was serious, his grip on Liu’s shoulder tightening. Liu let out a small whine of pain, Gambut having gripped his arm that was the most injured.
“Could you let go, please. It hurts.” his voice strained as he tried to pull his shoulder from Gambit’s tight grip. Gambit’s face twisted in concern as he looked Liu up and down.
“You hurt? What happened?” he asked with a worried tone.
Liu shrugged off one half of his hoodie, revealing the bandages and bloody gauze wrapped around his arm.
“Got shot earlier, i'll be fine, i've had way worse.” he said with a shrug, wincing in pain at the motion.
“You need a doctor, that patch job aint gonna do you much good. If you come with me I can get you the medical help you need. Listen to reason petite.”
Liu knew it was a losing battle to argue with the man, and as much as it hurt his pride to admit, he needed help, medical and otherwise.
“Fine, fine I'll go with you. I need to pack before I go anywhere though.”
Gambit nodded his head in understanding.
“Well, then lead the way. I’ll watch your back while you get ready to go.”