BZZZZRRT!

Tony's alarm buzzed in his ear for the last time. After throwing it across the room and it shattering on the wall, he got up and got dressed for another day of job hunting, and perhaps an alternative to the alarm clock. He checked himself out in the mirror, ripping off various band aids from his face. His last rumble in the alleyway was a few weeks ago, and his face finally finished healing. After a quick trim and cologne splash for the ladies, Tony's phone started to ring. Growling he picked it up.

“If this is a telemarketing call I swear to-”

“ It isn't, its Jeff. Good to hear from you man. ” said a familiar voice.

“ Jeff?! How's it going you old rebel?” Tony chuckled, glad to hear from a old friend.

Jeff told him his story of what happened after he moved out of Tony's place and went on his own, full of anecdotes worthy of any country song. Jeff and his girlfriend Mary were the ones Tony had gone to when he left his parents. They had met at his parent's wild parties they used to throw several times, and he knew them well enough for them to allow him to stay and not blab. They were also the ones who helped Tony develop his abilities and help him learn what it is to be a mutant in today's world. Tony could feel his bad mood lifting as they talked.

“So what you up to today Bud?” Jeff asked.

“ The usual you know, job hunting some more.”

There was a pause.

“ You out often?”

“Yeah every day and night, gotta pay the bills somehow.” Tony chuckled.

There was another pause.

“ You know Tony, I have been readin' the local papers lately. And I read not to long ago bout a guy taking down robbers and causing fights left and right. More or less taking the law into his own hands, causing some of these people to be hospitalized for long periods.... The worst part? He is a mutant Tony.”

“Wow.. He must be a pretty strong guy to do that all by himself. Handsome to.”

Jeff sighed, “ Tony we talked about this man. Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Don't matter what they did you keep beatin down people and your gonna have more problems than unemployment.”

It was Tony's turn to sigh, “ Hey mom look, I see people who need help and I help. If the law wants us to do our jobs and them do theirs then maybe they should be a bit quicker eh? Or hey, hire me.” He chuckled at himself.

“I don't think your type of police work would go over to well to be honest with you bud. But listen. eventually one is gonna get a good look at you and then your covers blown. Ya can't dodge the bullet forever.”

Tony brushed his hair with his hand, " I know mate, I know. But you know me, I can't ignore them once I see them, and lately there has been alot around here."

"Doesn't matter Tony, you have to or else the parties over."

Tony sighed again, mindlessly staring at his coffee stained carpet for what felt like several minutes.
" It's just who I am Jeff." He hung up the phone.

Tony was strolling home after a few rounds at a random bar. He only had a few drinks, place got to crowded before he could really get going. He was afraid, with such a big crowd, someone might piss him off somehow and he would get thrown out...again. Now alone with his thoughts, Tony started to think about his friend Jeff's words. The guy was right, he couldn't keep playing the hero forever. The eyes of the law would eventually land on him, and you can't really excuse yourself out of some of the things he did. True they were lowlifes and scum, criminals even, but assault was assault.

“Right,” he mumbled quietly to himself, “ He's right Tony and don't you complain otherwise. No more hero malarkey. Im just a normal guy in a normal town doing regular things, not a masked vigilante.”

“Thats for sure.” Said a voice from behind a big sign. A semi overweight balding man walked out from behind a gas station sign that Tony was walking past, chuckling to himself. In his hand he had a knife and the other was curled in a fist. He whistled behind him and four others came out of the woodwork. They all had either knifes or some sort of shiv.

“ You keep attacking my friends mutant! And you see what happens? Things get more serious.”

Tony was an experienced enough street brawler to realize how bad the scenario was. Five on one? They all have weapons? True he had weapons of his own, however they weren't sharp and pointy, nor in large numbers.

“ Look, yall just-” Tony started, but was cut off by the balding man.

“No talkin yer way out. What's done as been done. Reap what you sow and all that ya know?” his glare intensified, and Tony felt something a lot like fear creep up his spine.
Suddenly bright lights flashed behind him and a car pulled up next to him. A horn blared and Tony couldn't help but tear his eyes away from his attackers. It was a crappy and old looking Chevy Impala, and his friend Jeff was driving it. The passenger door opened suddenly and with hardly any thought to it at all Tony lunged at it and dove in. The Balding man and his pals charged the car, knifes brandishing. The balding man punched at the door, but Tony slammed it shut and the glass cracked in several places, you could barely see through it. The door slammed on Tony's foot in his rush to close it as Jeff floored it and tried to get away.

They drove in silence for a few minutes before anyone spoke. “ So,” Tony finally said, breaking the silence. “ What brings you to this part of town?”

Jeff chuckled, “ After our phone call I thought id come down here to visit, thought it might cheer you up a bit having a friend around. Though it looks like your making friends just fine.”

Tony nodded, “ Yeah right, those guys were my friends. Har har.” He paused for a few moments, “ Thanks for the timely rescue by the way.”

“Yeah just be grateful I decided to take the scenic route.”

It only took Jeff a few minutes more to reach Tony's apartment. Tony didn't know what to say exactly anymore, so he just sat there. " Jeff was right," he thought to himself, " I was stupid doing ....'hero' crud and we both knew what would come of it. No more."

"Jeff," tony finally broke the silence, " You were right and everything. About everything, i should have listened to you. You were the one who helped me understand what it means to be a mutant in the first place, im...." Tony sighed and rubbed his forehead, " sorry."

"Me to." Jeff responded, handing Tony a envelope. " Don't open it until morning, you will find all you need in it. Consider it a early birthday and Christmas present, for the next 10 years mind you."

Tony nodded, curious and slightly worried about what was inside. " Uh... right." They sat in silence for a few more minutes, and without a word or a backward glance Tony left the car and went home.

That morning Tony woke up and immediately tore the envelope open. Inside was around 650 in cash, a plane ticket to New York city, and a note. It read,

"Tony, i don't want to hear a word about you not wanting the cash and stuff, shut up its yours. Now that thats out of the way, listen carefully. Take that plane to New York city, it leaves today at 12 sharp, so get ready now and get going. You will be safe there, and you are not alone as you may think in many respects.

Good luck."

tony stared at the letter dumstruck. Then, a sudden burst of laughter engulfed him. It was just like Jeff to pull something insane like this. But what the heck? Sometimes you gotta shake things up a bit and start your life over. Tony packed all the clothes he had and some essentials, and left, without even locking the door.