It was a raining, he could tell that much. The water outside showered the windows every time the wind shifted. If he was home he’d have to be calming Bruno down. The dog didn’t mind the rain but the flashing of lighting and the roaring of thunder was what did him in. Sam however was at Cora’s meaning his dog was on his own tonight. Poor guy. Rolling over he shut his eye again trying to get some rest. It was late and he didn’t want to wake Cora.

Wrapping his arm around her his eye opened again. The feeling of panic and dread swept over him. It wasn’t often he felt like this. Something was.... wrong. Was that a face he saw in her window when he was staring at it seconds ago. He replayed the image over and over again, his mind no doubt messing with him. That definitely wasn’t a face.

A few moments passed and he rolled over again. Shifting his lone eye to the ceiling. Something was definitely up. Almost like he was being watched. The window frosted over slightly while he tried to push his thermal sense around them. Nothing. It was just them. So why did he feel like this? Did he have a nightmare again? Another memory? Sam sighed and decided to get up not wanting to wake Cora again so he snuck out quietly avoiding anything that would wake her.

The door shut behind him and he made his way over to the kitchen in the dark not wanting to turn any of the lights on. His eye was adapted to the darkness now and he still liked to rely on his training. It helped keep him sharp.

The coffee tin opened and the aroma of dried beans fill the air and the hair on Sam’s neck started to stand on end like he had a chill down his spine. He kept moving though trying to down play the feeling until he noticed something that was off. Someone was in Cora’s apartment or rather some people. His thermal sense pushed outward and a figure, a dim one appeared on the other side of the counter and another two on the side of a wall. No doubt waiting for him to walk towards the couch. Three. He counted three but if he made it any colder they’d notice Sam noticing.

One scoop, two scoops and three. The water turned on and he poured it into the coffee maker trying to act like nothing was wrong. However something was wrong, three people managed to break into his girlfriends apartment with him in there. Sam often boasted he was the best, well it was suddenly clear he was starting to get rusty. There was a crack of thunder and a flash of lighting. A man dressed in black made himself visible in the briefly illuminated room. ****ing Ninja’s. In New York.

Sam’s hand slid over a knife next to the coffee maker, a pairing knife he bought a few months earlier to stock the kitchen with cooking utensils seeing as Cora had nothing before. He turned and flung it hard into the hallway almost penetrating one of the people garbed in black. They stopped no longer making a break for the bedroom where Cora was sleeping. No one was going in there.

”We want to do this the old way? Or you gonna all come at me at once.” he asked puffing out his chest trying to bait the trained assassins. The temperature in the apartment dropped rapidly and the windows frosted over. It also revealed that there were more in Cora’s apartment than he originally guessed. Next thing that flashed was a sword followed by a loud crash as Sam hefted a coffee tin into some ones jaw the blade just narrowly missing him and lodging itself into Cora’s counter table.

”LET’S GO THEN!!!!!” he shouted hoping to wake Cora. They talked about this before, she thought it was a joke. Sam hoped she remembered the details.

Other than her lack of cooking abilities, one of Cora's largest weak points was her heavy sleeping. Cora was NOT a morning person, which was unfortunately evident in situations like this. The yell forced her body to respond, rolling to the side as the heavy fog of sleep tried to weigh her down. Adrenaline flickered, but her whole body felt like it was ten times heavier as she struggled to comprehend what was happening.

Crashes. Danger. Sam. The last memory got her to roll to the floor and let the little flash of pain force her eyes open.

She saw feet in the doorway. She activated her powers and grabbed the strand linking the two men standing there. She cut, letting them join her sense of confusion and grappling under the bed, grabbing a hiking stick from under there. She tried to remember if the pepper spray her dad gave her was still in the nightstand, then decided that would cause more harm than good. Never pick a self defense weapon that can be used against yourself... her dad had once advised.

Good, her brain was at least thinking even if her legs felt like jello. She swung the stick and collected with someone's shins.

"There better be coffee left after this... she snarled to the second silhouette, who dodged her swing. She felt around for more threads, severing another bond between ninjas. Ninjas? Maybe she wasn't awake yet after all.

Living room. She needed to get toward Sam who was alert and fighting while her own legs seemed to refuse to function. The man seemed to shake the confusion and lunged toward her, so she swung again. He caught the weapon with a hand and she countered with a knee to his stomach.

Oh, her legs worked now. She jumped over the man in the doorway and stumbled into the living room.

A ninja charged with a small dagger trying to quickly end the fight, he was met with the next weapon he had on hand. CLUNK! Sam leveled the new weapon of choice a cast iron skillet! Great for bacon and steaks, a must have in any kitchen. He raised it and blocked the next strike a small throwing knife aimed for his head it clatter to the ground harmlessly as his body started to ice over.

There was a commotion in the hallway, Cora was on the move she stood out a bit more given the confusion. He focused on her thermal signature and moved towards her. ”Keep cutting! I’ll buy some coffee after!” he shouted shooting a beam of ice towards another attacker who was heading towards Cora. Sam questioned the motives for attacking her, if anything they could have just swarmed him. The ninja now encased in ice struggled to free himself from the wall.

Sam cleared the kitchen and wrapped the next attacker heading for Cora in a headlock. They didn’t have time for the numbers to gather towards them or rather her. Sam jerked his torso and dropped the body. {color=48D1CC]”Why are they going for you?”[/color] he asked slightly surprised leaping over the couch to help her up and put himself between them and her.

His ice armor gleamed in the dim light from the windows his facial features more of a scowl than usual. This was personal now. ”You alright?” he asked coating her apartment in ice. It was cold now. Too cold to keep staying there. ”Can you move? We’re taking the stairs.” he said shooting another cold beam towards the door. They were going through it. Lit hallways, that was the key to fighting ninja not to mention it would handle the issue with them being outnumbered.

Sam was asking questions and Cora was trying to process them. She was also trying to wake up, defend herself, and not get stabbed. Why were they targeting her? She let the strands flash for a moment, noting dark colors to the ninjas, and one deep thread leading off into the unknown. "They are here on orders, although I bet you could have already guessed that.... Who did I piss off though? I only remember fighting one person recently and they don't associate with ninja I think..."

Hallway. A knife got close enough to kick adrenaline into her veins, and ice stopped it from reaching her. She liked to brag her self defense skills were adequate, but it was clear a night attack was playing to her weaknesses. If she was alone today, if she was sleeping...

Less wondering, more moving! Survival was not about regrets, it was about being in the moment and making choices to escape and regret later. She swung her hiking stick and struck someone's head, then ducked toward the stairs.

Sam held his tongue, he knew the Ninja were here on orders. Ninja didn’t do anything without orders. At least not in this number and coordination. He tried to be more supportive given the circumstances. ”Who did you fight?” he asked blasting a beam of cold behind him barring the door, a throwing knife poked out a little from the frozen wall.

A few heat signatures charged the iced over door frame. Sam countered with forming some spikes on the wall of ice. Another Ninja down, or at least injured. He didn’t have time to confirm the kill the large fire door closed behind him and he shot it with another beam of ice freezing it place. ”How do you not know if someone is a ninja?!?” he asked quickly breaking away from his ice armor and sending it over the edge of the stairs.

”Cora! Down!” someone a floor lower was throwing something to where his girlfriend was running. Throwing himself over the ledge he caught the throwing star in a shoulder that wasn’t fully enchased in ice yet. Catching himself on the ledge of the stairs half a flight lower he raised a hand blasting the thrower to the wall with a beam of ice.

”Go!” he shouted and pulled himself upwards tapping his ear only to realize he didn't’ have any method for calling back up. ”I never brought Ninja’s home!” he tried to joke.

Cora swung her stick, but this attacker caught it and yanked it from her hand. Instead she reached out and randomly cut threads on the man, leaving him frozen in confusion and then crashed into by his Conrad's.

"Well, there was Private Dancer, and then this guy at my work but he just kept insisting he wanted to buy the gym and I told him to--" she dove when she was instructed to and yelped as someone swung for her hand to stop her from cutting more threads.

"I mean, I've had some robbers try to follow me but ninjas is new. Gotta keep in interesting? And I don't know, do these guys walk around in black during the day?" another deflected attack and cut thread. She tried not to get too crazy with her powers, already lacking energy. She needed coffee. This was a rough way to wake up.

A stomach turned to knots at the mention of Private Dancer, it had been a few weeks since he and Cora had last seen him. She dispatched of him quickly and then made him forget about it which was ideal for Sam. The last thing he wanted was to have anyone he cared about known to Private Dancer. The insane mutant was crazy but not crazy enough to attack the mansion. Anyone out of it made a far easier target.

”He’s still in supermax.” which was better and more appropriate for someone who broke out of Maximum with ease. Sam hoped it was more difficult for him now. ”Did the guy mention he was going to make you an offer you couldn't’ refuse?” Sam rolled his eye hoping it wasn’t the case as he hooked his fist into another Ninja and then threw him over the ledge.

”Robbers?” he asked concerned. Cora was her own person but Sam suddenly wanted to put a tracker on her. She was special to him and he just wanted to keep her safe. ”Not sure, never seen them during the day!”he shouted leaping from one side of the stair well to the other taking out the occasional attacker glad Cora seemed to be handling the situation well.

”So from now on we will have a plan for Ninja’s agreed?” he asked blasting the doors with ice on the way down only to slow and make sure Cora was close enough to him so she wouldn’t get swarmed. A sword flashed and imbedded itself in his ice. It was deep enough to draw blood before Sam could counter. ”I’m keeping the sword.” he said headbutting the attacker thankful his body was coated in ice. Too bad he couldn’t do that to Cora.

”Three more flights!.” he shouted aloud only to be drawn out by a few small explosions. Smoke billowed downward. Classic Ninja move. Blind the target. Unfortunately for them Sam was ready for them. ”****, babe. Gonna have to jump!” he said leaning over to the ledge willing his ice golem to be ready for the jumpers while making sure not to step on the dispatched Ninja scattered along the floor.

There was a lot of information to process, and she was trying to be less of a target than she felt like. Super villain was still locked up, so that left one grumpy rock climber as a suspect. It felt like someone else had to have been connected, but then she tried to imagine the man's face and thread, watching it flash black as the thin line linked to her.

"Huh, angry rock climber it is...

Something about her comment set off the nearest ninja. The sword was lost to Sam, but a kick slammed her hand, and walking stick, into the railing with an awful crack.

She swore in a noise that was a strangled cry if pain. She didn't want to give them the satisfaction of a scream, but every time an attacker decided breaking her hand was the fastest defense, she swore she would buy wrist guards or something to ever feel this horrible pain again.

Jump?! An explosion, there was too much happening at once. She obeyed and launched herself over the railing at the signal. She used her good arm to make the jump smoother then landed into the solid grip of a gollum.

She felt dizzy, wanting to throw up now from the pain. She was surrounded by dark threads. Threads that wanted her dead, threads that were willing to hurt Sam over it. She snarled and cut, despite the broken bones she could feel in her hand. The paused, giving Sam a window to fight. She didn't care what threads she cut, she needed to do something to help them escape.

Although, she was pretty sure her legs were not supporting her at this point... She was holding onto the frozen figure just to remain upright. dead weight.. she thought.

The icemancer wasn’t looking at his girlfriend otherwise he would have seen the black thread. If he had he would have asked her to follow it immediately so they could have sorted this whole thing out. From his previous experience with Ninja unless the person calls off the contract or dies they keep coming. Luckily no one was stupid enough to attack a school full of mutant kids and teachers. He was pretty sure there was a security protocol for that. If not, well he’ll just have to start one.

The smoke continued to engulf one flight after the next and while it obscured his vision the heat signatures that were feint started to swell in number. How did they stay so cool? Ninja training. It always came down to training. Looking back to her he witnessed the attacker kick her hand into the railing. He knew Cora long enough to know when she was in pain.

”Hey!” he shouted getting the attackers attention long enough to close the distance sending a shard of ice into his chest. He stumbled backwards and Sam finished him by pushing him over the railing down three flights where his ice clone side stepped still waiting for them. ”Doc will patch you up.” he shouted as they both leapt over the ledge. Sam only after he was sure Cora was caught by his golem. ‘Protect her!’ he thought giving his golem a command.

The golem stepped onto a downed ninja and opened it’s arms wide and softened slightly turning more to the consistency of snow instead of ice as Cora landed onto it. Sam turned dodging a sword strike at the last second and grabbed his newest attacker smirking under his armor. ”Let’s go for a ride.” the Ninja seemed to get his meaning and tried to break free but Sam and his armor had a good grip on him. Meaning they were taking the fast way down the stairs.

There was a thud and Sam stood upright while the Ninja struggled to move his body limp. Sam reached down and pulled off his mask and held onto it. Sam didn’t bother looking at the man’s face. Ninja code, he was seen and de-masked meaning he was a dead man no matter what now. ”Let’s go!” he said shooting a beam upwards giving them a temporary ceiling while they made their exit.

Kicking open the door he frowned, the lights in the alley way were out. ”****” he sighed loudly. ”Promise we are gonna get through this. Just focus on getting to a lighted area. I’ll be right behind you.” his armor stepped forward and formed several blades. Along it’s body. ‘Protect Cora!’ he said giving it a command then started to cool the alley way down rapidly. Snow started to form around Sam.

”Last chance if any of you want to live. Leave now!” the air grew heavy with cold as several figures stepped into his thermal vision. This was why they had a danger room.

Cora was looking at the threads on her hand, aware one then another vanished. Cut in a way she knew meant killed. She felt regret, not that they were dead but that Sam had to be the one to do it. Her mind swam with the thoughts of blood and the superstitions killing carried. She wanted them to be out of here, away from the danger. Protected. The only safety from the blood and death was to leave.

They needed help. They needed to tell someone they were in danger. Cora didn't have her phone, but she had her powers, and at least she knew one person well enough to reach their thread. She focused on the distant thread that would be linked to Evelyn, and willed just the other half of the thread to show. Be ready... she did not doubt the message would pass through.

If no one showed up to help them, at least she could make sure Doc was awake. Cora felt herself loose hold of the thread and fall into darkness.

Sam hated himself, he wasn’t ready for this. She wasn’t ready for this. He doubted half the team would be ready for this. Ninjas in New York. Had a ring to it though. Sam spat some blood through his ice armor as he pushed himself up. Even with his thermal sense the number of projectiles and swords flashing was a bit overwhelming. He was rusty.

The two ice golems shifted their position closer towards the street as Sam tried to hold off the attacks. His one golem reformed into a dome with legs leaving little room for an attack but he had to keep reforming from all the flying knives and daggers. She was out from the shock most likely, he hoped that was the case. She still shined brighter under his thermal sense so there was that at least. The bladed golem just spun rapidly from the waist up flashing blades of ice to their targets. When one blade was blocked it was quickly followed up with another attack. The ones that got past Sam were quickly dispatched of. He didn’t have time to hold back.

The air continued to drop, ‘colder. Colder!’ Sam kept thinking until the city started to glow around him buildings that were once blind to him started to radiate heat making it easier to see where there was gaps. Those were his targets. Walls and shards of ice erupted upwards with each wave of his hand. He’d have a ton of explaining to do after this but again. Ninja. How else could you handle them?

Feeling his powers in overdrive he started to slow the time around him, he hadn’t had much practice with this particular aspect of his power in a few years it required too much time to set up and too much energy. The walk home would be rough but they’d be alive. The golems started to slow down trying to stay close enough to Sam without Cora being effected by his powers. To anyone seeing this exchange on the street it would look like things were moving in slow motion around the icemancer.

Weapons thrown at him started to slow and he sidestepped and blocked with ease, Sam exhaled and inhaled trying to remain focused. He had to think ‘cold’ but his attention was split, he was still feeling for Cora. He had to get her home, to the mansion. At any cost.

Some attackers charged towards Sam in slow motion. Moving at speeds they couldn’t react to he cut them down quickly ice erupting from each wound he inflicted ultimately causing their demise. His armor started to drop as it was getting too difficult to maintain ‘Winter Wonderland’ the golems and his thermal sense. He felt old, tired. Younger him could have done this no problem. ‘Move!’ he told himself. His legs were getting stiff.

A lone Ninja made his way to the ice golems only to start to slow as Sam approached. He raised a blade aiming towards Cora’s protective bubble and found himself frozen solid as Sam touched him on the back. The former attacker had a look of terror in his eyes as spikes of ice erupted outwards from him. Sam tried to warn them.

------

He didn’t know how long he fought for, it could have been seconds or hours but the effects of his powers was messing with his sense of time. He needed more practice. The slide under his feet broke as quickly as it formed, ‘get her home’ was the only thing he could think of. His good eye was heavy, a few patches of ice covered his wounds preventing him from bleeding out over the city. It seemed his show of power was enough to scare them off or draw too much attention either way the large wooden doors of the mansion was a sight for sore ‘eye’.

Sam touched down gently and stumbled he was dehydrated and exhausted but he held on to her. She was probably freezing. His thermal sense was off. No longer could he maintain the draw of energy it needed. He held her close cradling her. They were home. They were safe. He didn’t think about what he had done nor the repercussions to follow. ”Told ya. I promised.” his legs started to buckle and shake.

Taking a step forward the large doors opened and he smirked. ”Heya half pint.” he lifted as hand out from Cora and gave Evelyn a thumbs up. ”Ya mind grabbing Doc for us...” he took two more steps crossing the threshold of the school. They were safe now. No one was dumb enough to attack the school. Sam turned his body and fell onto his back still holding Cora.

”Just gonna sleep for a bit....” he said through an exhausted wheeze, ”Make sure Doc looks at her first.” he said giving Eve another thumbs up before drifting off to sleep.

There was a large guinea pig in the living room of the mansion this particular morning. 'Large' seemed like a bit of an understatement, given some form of mystic magic seemed to have made this rodent almost the size of a pony. Evelyn was studying the phenomena, armed with her crayons and notebook as she tried to make sense of something that clearly did NOT make sense.

She disliked magic. She disliked the way it changed the rules that her world followed. What was possible sometimes changes and things happened that could not be attributed to mutant powers. Giant animals with surprisingly small appetites was her current interest. The guinea pig munched a carrot as if it still believed it was small enough to be carried. She crossed her legs and sighed, thinking about the other guinea pig this week and found with the powers to walk through walls. That went away, but the giant one did not.

There was a flash of color on Evelyn's hand the echoes noticed. This caught her by surprise even more than the animals she was studying. Cora. Trouble. it was not hard to put that logic together. Cora would only get her attention if help was needed. If they were trying to get to safety. They being her dad and what her mind secretly considered to be a mom figure.

Right, first step was to wake Doc! Evelyn scurried to the office of the patient medic and quickly knocked on the door. After a few times a man appeared, looking drowsy but glancing around for the injured. It was his default move, always ready to help. "Evelyn? What's wrong? Please tell me you are just bored again..."

"Cora and Sam are in trouble. They are coming here." she explained. He didn't ask how she knew. She always knew. That was her power after all. Doc nodded and turned on his light, moving to get space ready to deal with injuries. Evelyn hurried away and returned with a cup of coffee. She was calm, which was why he let her stay around during situations like this. Few other people seemed to take the logical approach when someone they cared about what involved, but the young girl had a somewhat broken, detached way of dealing with people.

Evelyn returned to the living room, and waited until the echoes heard her family coming. Moving to the door she noticed everything. Injuries, exhaustion, and how Sam very evidently overdid it protecting his girlfriend. She felt her jaw clench as he stepped inside and the look of relief crossed his features. They should have got help sooner. Doc was there moments after he passed out and grunted grumpily. "Would have helped if he at least made it to the office..." he sighed.

"We got it! Evelyn reassured him. She gently pulled Cora away from Sam and coaxed her pony-sized guinea pig over. Evelyn could tell her dad was worse and blood always needed help before bones. He would be upset they did things that way, but he always had trouble arguing with logic. Evelyn liked logic. Sam liked to respond with his heart too.

Doc caught the first wound, using his powers before they went anywhere to stop the bleeding. He didn't want to leave a blood trail evidently, and Evelyn got the guinea pig to help get Cora to the doctors office. She didn't question how it managed it, or the fact it seemed even bigger with it's determination to be useful. Mystic magic was weird. She did not like it. Soon Doc had Sam there as well, and both adults were healed but out cold on different beds. Evelyn swung her feet and scribbled on her notepad, then displayed it to Doc.

"It's ninjas, I'm right aren't I? Wound pattern consistent with throwing stars and knives, and a night attack.... You see things when you heal, it was ninjas wasn't it? Come on, tell me I'm right! I love being right!"

Doc was tired, and did not want to encourage her with the news that yes, it was ninjas, and they would have quite a bit of paperwork to do over it when it was morning...

Sam’s eye snapped open quickly and he jumped out of the cot throwing his hands up to defend from a phantom attack. His heart racing he looked around realizing he wasn’t still in a fight with a group of ninjas or protecting Cora. She laid on the cot next to him. Taking a step towards her he spotted Eve and then a giant guinea pig.

”Hey.” Sam said quickly still trying to remember everything. ”How bad is she?” more concerned for Cora than anything else. He’d been banged up before, he was still alive so he’d heal.

”How are you?” asking Eve. Taking another few steps he shook his legs out getting the tightness of recently healed muscles moving again. He felt dehydrated still. ”Been here the whole time?” he asked looking to the giant animal not sure where to begin on that.

Sam woke up and Evelyn waited for the echoes to give the all clear before scurrying over and standing next to him. She was torn between the feeling of relief he was fine and her characteristic stubbornness that stopped her from showing she cared.

Instead of a hug, she gave him a light kick in the newly healed shin. "You shouldn't overuse your powers like that! Both of you! Oh, this is Sir Fluff. Magic is weird." her moment of annoyance quickly vanished as she pet her giant pet on the head.

They didn't get a chance to talk more because Cora woke up and the echoes once again reminded Evelyn to stay out of reach. Cora swung a fist, mentally still fighting ninjas until she registered she was safe, her hand narrowly missing Sam.

"I smell coffee...", she said, relaxing more then trying slowly to sit up. Evelyn made a dramatic sigh then went for the door. "I'll be back..." She wondered if she could carry the whole pot without spilling it... Guess she would find out!

Cora quickly confirmed Sam was okay. Doc let the two talk, returning to his own coffee. "Are we okay here?" Cora felt strange being at the school with kids around after almost being killed by masked men. She didn't want the danger to follow them.

The icemancer was distracted from his train of thoughts when Eve kicked him. He responded in kind by stepping back and lifting his leg icing over his shin. ”Owwww.” he groaned trying not to make eye contact with Eve. He made her worry. He didn’t want to do that. Almost forgetting his promise to her that she’d never be alone like she was again.

”Can handle an army of ninjas but you get the best shot of the day.” he said trying not to make her feel another kick was needed. ”Not like I wanted to. I just wanted her to be safe.” he said lowering his leg and giving it a little shake. ”Sir fluff.” he said nodding his head to the giant rodent making a mental note to keep his cat away from the giant creature.

”It is.” he agreed. ”Thankfully there wasn’t any of that **** involved tonight.” he sighed loudly. His last encounter with magic users was with Gawain and Carrick and he didn’t want a repeat of any of that soon.

Cora stirred and Sam leaned back dodging the strike that was aimed at his head. Appropriate for someone he was dating. He had the same reaction when he came to, ”So do I.” he agreed not wondering where it was. Eve exited and Sam took a few steps and sat on Cora’s cot next to her. Leaning forward he kissed her then grabbed her hand and squeezed it.

”Yeah,” he said nodding his head, ”I’d bet my life on it. For one I’m here. Had to show off a bit to let them know they weren’t getting to you while I’m around. If you take me out of the equation there is Becca, Saph, Serena and Shin all of which could make short work of most. Then if you include Mirror, they’d never touch you. We also have the security system I helped design so it’s not like just anyone can sneak in. Only safer place would be up north in the artic circle. We didn’t have time to go there. Kinda had to make a decision after you passed out.” he said downplaying his own urgency to get to a healer.

”You alright?” he asked ignoring the giant guinea pig that seemed content staring at them while Doc sipped his coffee and pretended to be engaged in a medical journal.