Night seemed to grow longer and longer with every passing moment as a young woman stumbled out of a bar. Had anyone recognized her, they would realize she was not old enough for an alcoholic beverage, yet she had her mutant ways of drinking without anyone knowing. She was unaccompanied, men tended to stay away from the drunk redhead, especially when she would shut them down every time they introduced themselves with a subtle mention of her past lover, Raphael. Although everyone notified her he was gone and she would never see him again, it did not stop the pain of losing him. Pouring alcohol on a wound actually hurts though.

While she walked, she looked down at her empty hand and smirked as a bottle of beer suddenly appeared, she had kept it invisible before she left the bar. What bartender doesn't allow a drunk girl to have a Beer To Go? Graffitti covered the walls of downtown New York and Fade found a new fascination in staring at the gangster art. One of the graffitti victim walls read "X MARKS THE SPOT" and Fade raised her beer to the X.

"To'old friends!" She croaked before taking another sip. Her situation was quite complicated. After she left the mansion to search for Raphael, she picked up drinking again and drank herself into depression. If she returned, she would have to give everything up, and although she knew that going back the the X-Men would be the best idea, it was who she was, she could not look at the Training Room without thinking about her dearest.

An alcohol-induced decision led her to sit down on the sidewalk, the puddles from the dreary day seeped into her pants and her rear was cold, but her blood warm. Purring sounded from behind a dumpster and a small tabby cat came running out to greet Fade, hoping she had some cat nip. "Druggy kitty," Fade laughed. "You should have a home, streets aren't a place for little kitties like me and you. Should we go back?" The way Fade spoke to the cat and gently pet it seemed that it was her past pet, but alcohol had a tendency to make Fade become friends with everyone. The memories of her past life as an X-Man flooded her mind and caused her to slightly sober up. Would she be accepted back? Was it even still there? Was there anyone who was still at the mansion that she was close to? And whatever happened to Amp and Vibe? Deathstar? Tricity? Emerald?

Whatever happened to Fade?

Alec enjoyed many things in his life and driving was one of them. That’s probably why he called his car, a black Audi R8 his baby. For a speed lover like himself, there were, of course, many other cars that could easily beat his current one. Many of them were in his mansion’s garage but after the last ‘discussion’ he had with his dear father he wasn’t sure if he could walk into his own home without having a squad of ACE mutant hunters jumping on his head. But Alec was more than content with ‘his baby’. He didn’t need any faster cars, at least not for now.

The Institute was really good, people were welcoming and his usually relaxed and friendly nature had gotten him many acquaintances but there were times when he needed to be alone and just hover over a drink. Sure, he didn’t have the necessary age to get into a bar and order one legally but who said he was showing his real ID? A smile appeared on his face, his head moved slightly along with the music and his hand relaxed on the steering wheel.

He wasn’t sure what bar he would go to tonight. None that he knew, that was sure, he didn’t need running into anyone he knew. He would have to keep a low profile for the time being. The neon sign of what it looked like a bar appeared not far from him. Alec threw a longer glance, trying to decide whether he should stop or not. When his eyes returned to what only moments ago looked like an empty street, his car lights showed the clear figure of a girl standing on the sidewalk… and the puddle of water she was standing next to.

He tried to stop before his car could go into the puddle and splatter the water onto the girl but unfortunately he had noticed her way too late. When the car stopped, he had already passed her by. Cursing his lack for attention and of course wondering why the heck would anyone take a seat on the sidewalk, especially on a wet sidewalk, he got out of the car and ran to her expecting protesting shouts.

He didn’t need to kneel next to her to feel the strong smell of alcohol; his trained senses had picked that up in a moment. Sighing in disapproval of her ways, he actually kneeled next to her to see if she was alright. The fact that she was drunk didn’t mean that he could wipe off the fact that he had splashed a large quantity of water on her. “Hey, are you okay? I’m really sorry about that, I saw you too late…” he said in an apologetically and worried tone.

The sounds from the engine roaring down the road caused Fade's new feline friend to dart off and she watched the cat run away only to turn just in time to be splashed with a large amount of water. "GAH! DAMNIT!" She cursed before leaping to her feet and attempting to wipe the water from her. The car slowed to a stop and a man got out and rushed to ask if she was alright. Well, a good man for stopping. New York drivers hardly ever stopped to make sure someone was alright, so was he really from around here, or did he just have a naturally good heart?

To lighten the mood, she began laughing, partially because of the alcohol, but the scare from the splash and the sudden cold feeling from the water made her snap back in, well, just a little. "Goodness, can a girl sit on a sidewalk without a tsunami attack?" She laughed, shivering slightly as the cold began to sting her skin. "I'm OK, at least you didn't hit me."

She shook her red hair violently and attempted to ring it out but it dripped from her head. Thank God she wasn't wearing a white shirt. Then again, she could go back to the bar if she was wearing a white shirt and try and win the wet t-shirt contest, but it didn't seem like they were holding that anyways. "What're you doing speeding down the road, hitting potholes like that?" Hesitantly, she brought the beer to her lips and took a small sip before spitting it out, just as she had suspected, it was finely watered down from the wavepool. Oh well, she probably did not need anymore after all, being cold, drunk, and homeless in New York was probably the one situation she would never want to be stuck in again.

Alec had gotten to the conclusion that the girl was okay, she was laughing after all. Sure, the quantity of alcohol in her body was probably guilty but never the less she wasn’t injured… just wet. He was almost amused when the girl asked him why he was speeding down the street like that and he thought of retorting with a why anyone would sit on a wet sidewalk anyway but decided to drop it. He knew the answer all too well.

A slight shiver from her part made him remember why he was standing here. As she was shaking her head, red hair moving from side to side into waves, he carefully analyzed the damage he had done. Well… like he said before … she was wet. Sighing, Alec began to rub his temples trying to find a solution for this situation.

What should she do with her? Now that he knew that she was fine, just splashed with water from head to toe should he go back to his car and leave? Out of question. The girl was cold, his fault entirely, and she didn’t seem like she could just go back home and change. She didn’t even look like she possessed something she could call home.

Another sigh and a disapproving look as the beer she was holding went to her mouth. He felt better when she spitted out, the tsunami, as she called it, probably being the guilty one for not-so-tasty-anymore bear. Anyway, back to what he should do with her. He could take her to the Mansion, he bet that she could get help there for this night. And a fresh change of clothes. Of course, if she was one of the anti-mutants people the mentioning of the mansion would certainly have her running at top speed.

There were risks, yes, but it seemed like the best option. But first things first. “Well, I wasn’t exactly paying attention to the road…” he replied to the latest of her questions with the same apologetically tone as before. “Uhmmm, look, I’m really sorry for this…” Alec gestured to the soaked figure of the young girl “I think you should get some dry clothes or something…” sigh. Here we go. “However, I don’t have any with me. But where I live I think there are new clothes…” deep breath “It’s the Mansion.” he said in one breath, waiting for the reaction. He seriously doubted there was anyone in New York, mutant or human, that wasn’t aware of what the Mansion was.

It honestly did not upset Fade that she was drenched, she had been drenched before, not like she'd never swam in the pool or been rained on, plus, he was a kind man, so his compassion brightened the situation. She had her dry clothes back at the mall, but he was offering something that she would have never thought would be offered for her: a visit to the Mansion. He could just be really rich, he couldn't be from the Mansion. Maybe he's just got a big house. Better ask just to be sure.

"What? Are you rich or something? Do you live in a Mansion all by yourself?" If he wasn't speaking about the Sister School Mansion, then she should not mention it, just in case he really did not know about the Mansion, she did not want to give away that she was once an X-Man.

Alec’s eyebrow quirked in response to her question and he let out a small chuckle. Shaking his head slightly, he wondered what was the reason for the girl’s question. His first thought was that maybe she was looking for someone reach for personal and financial reasons… it wasn’t like he hadn’t met this type of girl. But that was before, when he was well known as rich, when he did live in a mansion by himself and all those girls were rich snobs, looking for a husband. He mentally snorted. Like that was going to happen.

But now, he had a new life. This girl was far from the spoiled princesses he’d met. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for her and for a moment he wondered what kind of tragedy had brought her to this condition. However, he was carefully hiding the fact that he was analyzing this or that he felt sorry for her. Many people didn’t like that, no matter how worse their condition was.

“No reason to talk about my financial status right now.” he said with a bright smile as his thought wandered back to his car that gave away some clues about his financial status anyway. The smile faded away slightly and he took a deep breath before enlightening this girl about what he was. A mutant. “And I’m talking about the Xavier Institute.” he continued waiting for her reaction. Would she be afraid?

Hmm, no need to talk about his financial status, eh? Well, really there was no need to talk about Fade's financial status either. She wasn't completely broke, she had like a total of $200, but those were saved for special occasions, like whenever she returned home. So, rich, yet kind-hearted boy meets poor, but un-pitying girl, classic Prince and Pauperess story, except she highly doubted he'd want to live in a mall and sneak around the city at night just to get a different taste of life, and she didn't want riches, she just wanted to go home. When he mentioned the Mansion, she literally took a step back, opened her mouth slightly and her eyes squinted. "You mean Xavier's Sister School or Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters?"

Well, he had to be talking about the Sister School. Xavier's School was full of Mutants like the famous Wolverine, Rogue, and of course Xavier, he had to be from her home. "You better not be kidding right now. So you've been accepted by Tricity?" She began to laugh when she started thinking about all of her wild adventures at the Mansion. "Would you piss yourself if I was tell you, that I was one of the higher ranking X-Men at that very Mansion? Highly doubt you've heard of me, but I'm Fade. Deathstar, Tricity and I were in charge of recruiting those who were ready and able to fight in battles such as the Whittmore Attack and Fusionist. I've fought more battles beside my fellow X-Men than I've consumed alcohol for the night. Haha, I miss that place. Unfortunately," one bad side-effect of drinking as a female, out comes a story that shouldn't be told. "I fell in love with a fellow X-Man, Raphael, who disappeared right before I did. I've been searching for him for quite a long time, but I've kinda given up, I've just been a little nervous about returning home. Then again, I need that place. But I wouldn't want to drench your car seat with my puddle-wet clothes." Ironic, another X-Man.

Alec couldn’t say that he was shocked by the fact that the girl wasn’t afraid when he said that he was a mutant. But he was surprised when she confessed she was a mutant herself, not a random independent one but one of high rank X-Men. Alec blinked in confusion. Then why the heck an X-Man would allow herself to get to this condition? Because of love? Alec cleared his throat. One more reason not to fall in love.

“I’m talking about the sister school and yeah, I’ve been accepted by Tricity.” Alec paused for a few seconds. Fate had some twisted ways to play with him. Who would have guessed that while trying to get yourself drunk you get to meet one of the X-Men. “And you don’t need to worry about my car.” he added with half of a smile.

Alec sighed as he eyed the girl again. He wasn’t worried about the car but it wasn’t too healthy to leave her with her soaked clothes on. After another few seconds, an idea came to his mind. “But I can’t leave you soaked.” Alec took of his shirt and offered it to her. “You can change in my car. The door is opened.” he continued with a shrug, hoping that the girl won’t be stubborn and would accept his offer. “Then we can go to the Mansion.” a smile brightened his face.

Her mind trailed back to Tricity. Oh how she missed that woman, in her days of pregnancy. It was always amusing to see her hustle around the Mansion, ready to have that baby at any moment. Or to see Daria and Cassiel sneak around the Mansion, playing their little cute games. And everyone hating Deathstar and her rebellous attitude, only lightening up around Tricity and Fade. Ah, the X-Men, who all was there now anyways? It seemed that many would disappear when their lovers left. Only one that stayed after a lost loved one was Tricity, from what Fade could gather. Wow, wasn't love dumb?

A quick glance back at the car and she felt bad for getting her wet self in there. She would have offered to head back to the mall, it wasn't too far. Only around a twenty minute walk. But, low and behold, there stood a partially naked man in front of her. What young woman could say no now? After getting over the shock of how quickly he just stripped, she began to laugh. "Haha, I'm sorry, Chip'n'Dales, I don't have any cash on me," she joked. "But serious, thank you, a lot." With that, she took the shirt and climbed into the car. Off went her shirt, off went...wait. Even though she got a good vibe from the man, she was still a partially naked girl in the car and he was a partially naked guy outside of the car. Suddenly, she disappeared and continued to change invisibly. It was a rather funny sight, nothing to see, then suddenly off came a bra, up came a shirt, on came the shirt, gone went the shirt. Wow. Silly her. She could just give him back the car and sit in the passenger seat invisibly. Too late now. Her pants were drenched too and she always got itchy in wet jeans. Off went the pants.

When she was finished, she turned herself visible, but only from her hips to her head. Her legs and buttocks was invisible. Smooth, she looked like some kind of ghost. She opened the door and stepped out. "Done, thank you again!"

Alec laughed at her chip’n’dales comment. It seemed that hearing about the Xavier’s School had woke her up from the alcohol induced reverie and Alec couldn’t say he wasn’t happy about that. “Hey, no problem.” he replied when she had said thank you. He smiled slightly and tilted his head to the left. He was glad that he actually managed to do good in such a short time from coming to the Mansion and if Fade decided to go back to the mansion for good and forget about her wandering for Raphael, he would feel even better.

As she went into his car to change, he followed until the back of the car and let himself lean against it. He could almost laugh at the glances his half bare body was gaining from the people that were coming to the club or leaving from it. Alec smiled and tapped a tune against the smooth metal of his car. He still had an amused look on his face when Fade had gotten out of the car.

His eyebrow and corner of mouth raised as soon as he saw her. Alec couldn’t say he didn’t expect her powers to have something with invisibility but he surely didn’t expect this. “Looking good.” he teased with a wink while gesturing to her invisible lower half. “However, you should get into the car. We don’t know if people here are fond of mutants.” he added, his glance shifting to the club entrance where people were still starring at them. Hopefully, if anyone saw Fade, they wouldn’t happen to be mutant haters too.

In confusion, Fade's eyes squinted. Mutant haters? In New York? Why yes, there were quite a few and they all seemed to be staring right at her, raising their eyebrows and chugging staring at their drinks as if intoxication caused hallucinations. Mockingly, Fade bowed her head at these people and stepped back into the car. Her unfortunate habit included mocking anyone that gave her a funny look at didn't smile.

"My bad, I forget people don't like seeing the gifted...or not seeing half of one of the gifted..." she corrected herself as she strapped in, looking awkard as ever. Hopefully, no cop would pull them over or it would look like her new friend had cut off her lower body and was taking her torso to his museum of torsos. Not exactly a pretty sight, and turning her legs visible would look more like she was a prostitute... hmmm... how to solve... well of course, she would just turn entirely invisible until after he left. Thoughts raced her mind as she constantly looked down at her missing bottom half and smiled. Quite a humorous sight.

[ooc: Sorry, sorry, sorry. I was under the impression I've posted this a long time ago but it seems that my Internet played tricks on me.]

Fade’s eyes showed something what he could call confusion at hearing the ‘mutant haters’ term but it didn’t seem to last very long. However the girl didn’t step into the car before mocking some of the people who were looking in her direction with curious g;lances. A smile appeared on Alec’s lips at seeing this and slightly shaking his head he walked from the back to the front of his car and jumped into the driver’s seat.

As he started the engine and the black sleek car departed at quite some speed, Alec turned his head at Fade. Of course he felt the urge to smile at the view of the only visible half of her body but he couldn’t blame her for doing this. “The name is Alec, by the way.” he said as he turned his head slightly to see ahead then back to her. “So, you’re planning to get back to your old life as an X-Man?”

It had not occurred to Fade that he did not give her a name. Well, she now had a name to call him: Alec. New friend? She needed plenty of those, and a visit to her old friends. For the past year, she had spent her days alone and without someone to be there as a friend, give her a few words of advice, or even strip off their shirt because Fade's was drenched. Lovely how she'd met one right in front of a bar. As they drove down the road, he asked if she wanted to re-establish herself as an X-Man.

"That's what I plan on doing. I mean, I'm not gonna get any kind of leadershs" she slurred the word, but caught it and attempted to correctly pronounce it. "...leader-shi-P... but I'd at least like to be back in my old uniform and living back at the Mansion. I miss that place," she sighed before she breathed on the window and wrote the letter she was most familiar with: X. Good news: she actually knew how to spell Men, but she was too lazy to write it out. "What about you? You part of the team?"

Alec watched with interest the young woman. She really seemed to miss the place and her old job as an X-Man and he didn’t doubt that she’ll do just fine. If she was once an X-Man and did so many things then a love disappointment surely wasn’t enough to bring her down for the rest of her life. “I’m sure you’ll do just fine.” he said with a convincing smile. “And I’m sure that your old teammates are missing you.”.

His eyes turned to the road once again as he sighed. “As for myself, no I’m not on the team. At least not yet. I plan to become an X-Man… but I’m taking it slow.” His eyes turned back to Fade. “I think I should get used with the Mansion first and see if I’m good enough to become one.”.

He assured her that she would probably be able to get back on the team. Even though he was not an X-Man and could not officially welcome her back into the league, it was comforting that at least someone who lived at the Mansion thought she could make it back in. "Thank you, I miss them quite a lot," she sighed, pushing her lips together awkwardly to make a frown. As he talked about how he wanted to become an X-Man, the frown...faded.

"Well you've got the right mindset. You can't just rush into the X-Men. I'm sure in due time, you'll wear the letter with pride. And hopefully you will never let it down," she nodded her head slightly before retracking her steps. Would her disappearing be considered letting the X's down? Hopefully not, her heart belonged with the X-Men, forever, even if her body was not branding the letter. "It's really a great team to be apart of." OK, so maybe the tipsyish girl was rambling.