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It was madness. That was really the only way to describe the mess that was going on inside of what was left of Xavier’s Sister School. Walls were broken in, doors had been smashed open, furniture was strewn about with impunity. The screams that echoed through the halls and the smell of blood and death in the air were sickening, but it was not something that Akshay Malik was going to shy away from. Not right now, not ever again. He was a part of the line; the line that had to hold back the invaders and keep those hidden inside the recesses of the school safe.

It was his job. And, even as he stared out across the masses and the realization that this was not something he was going to walk away from, Akshay intended to do his job.

A glance and he saw Mirror fighting hard to maintain the staircase. Arrows flew like a rain of barbs from the sky. Though the two of them never saw eye to eye, especially concerning one wolf-like mutant, at this time they were comrades. Differences were put aside for the greater good; the school would be defended at the cost of their own lives if need be.

More fought with them, but Akshay had little time to keep track of them. The hordes flooded in and Akshay had to focus on holding the line.

A particularly brutish looking individual charged; muscles gleaming, veins pulsating, mouth frothing over with foam. He was a mad dog, a mad dog that needed to be put down.

In one hand, Akshay Malik, dressed as The Wordsmith, carried the word “SWORD,” while in the other, he carried “SHIELD”. The man ran forward and Akshay met him face to face. A swipe of one word and then the crash of another, the man screeched and clawed at his own eyes. Shards of words were embedded but quickly disappeared, leaving bleeding wounds. As he was distracted, Akshay kicked, hard, into the man’s stomach and sent him reeling into the ground.

One down…and only dozens to go.

Akshay fought hard. He dodged around arrows and other explosions of powers while he smashed word after word into his attackers. People fell to his feet but not without getting in a few blows of their own. Akshay cried out but he never once stopped fighting. By the time he began to wind down with exhaustion, the young comic fan was covered in burns, cuts, and he was sure that he could see a splinter of bone sticking somewhere out of his arm. His left eye had also stopped working but that was only because he didn’t guard his flank. That goodness that Mirror was there with another notched arrow or it would have been worse. But, despite all his wounds, he fought on.

By the time the last and fatal wound was dealt, his attacker unknown, Akshay fell to his knees. The world shimmered in bright and darkness before he finally fell forward, barely holding himself up on the word “EMERALD” he had propped against the ground. He shook as the cold crept over his body and the muscle shaking began to rip throughout his body.

His world dimmed and he looked up just in time to see a flash of red hair and, what sounded like the muffled voice of someone calling his name. He was drifting but the young Wordsmith had to grin. He did it, they all did it…they held the line…

Akshay was still flabbergasted. This had to be the most direct any woman has ever been with him without him having initiated anything. It really was probably the most flattered he’d been in a LONG time. And, if, you know, this happened just a few months earlier, Akshay probably would have been quick to jump onto the bandwagon! After all, really, who says no to a self-proclaimed goddess? Especially one as pretty as this young woman here?

But Akshay such a scuzbag. Instead, he just blushed and tried to remember that he did the right thing. He told the woman no so he was free of her attentions. Right?

>> "I did not say I would keep you…I am not allowed to marry mortal men. But I would take you to my bed. As a compliment to you, and your chosen."

Blink.

Yeah, he seriously needed to join this religion! Ahem! Akshay mentally shook that thought away as she tried to think of what to say next. His throat had clamped shut and it felt like he had not blinked in a little while but at least he was still retaining his consciousness! He was not going to lose his resolve right now. He cared about Emerald too mu—

EMERALD! That was her name! Mentally he sighed in relief.

A warm smile on his face, one that exuded how flattered he was, Akshay took a steady breath before he replied.

“I…I’m NOT[/b] entirely sure she would be that flattered, but it is a lovely offer nonetheless,”[/color] he beamed. But he held out his hand for her to shake. “But…maybe we can at least be friends? I know a lot about the city, I can show you around if you ever need guide.”

Akshay had fully intended to make his exit after his last statement. After all, what else was there really to say? He really did believe that she was little more than a mutant who got lumped in with something that was not entirely correct: a mutant mistaken for a goddess. Granted she was pretty and she had an elegance about her that, when mixed with her mutation, would make one think that she was a goddess (especially considering where she was born), but Akshay was not swayed to think that she was a living, breathing, goddess.

Still though, he did offer her that respect that she was used to. He was skeptical, but that did not mean that he needed to disrespect her or anything like that. It was obvious that she was used to a certain way of life so who was he to rock that boat?

The man was nice, exuded his kindness, and made ready to leave.

But…before he could even make a gesture of goodbye, the woman stood up. She definitely had the graceful movements down to a T as she stood up and slowly made her way down the steps until she was standing before him. Akshay was a little unsure of what to do right now so he remained silent as the young woman, whose arms continued to sway and move with a gentleness that reminded him of a soft, summer breeze.

He titled his head, suddenly, as she carefully placed one of her hands underneath his chin and turned his head. Akshay…was really not used to being manhandled in such a way but he did not immediately pull himself away from her grasp either. Might have been rude. Besides, maybe she was just curious about him?

>> "You are a kind soul, Akshay Malik…I would have you as a lover."

Jaw.

Floor.

Collide.

Akshay was completed at a loss for a second there as his brain tried to wrap around exactly what this woman was saying to him. Did this goddess…really just proposition him right now? He blinked once…twice…then a picture of a wolf-tailed, redhead popped into his head. God…what was her name…?

“Durhehe, ahem!” he shook his head as he tried to refocus himself and not at all think about the talents of a eight-armed once. A silly and extremely flattered grin came across his face before he finally stopped. “Um…t-thank you? I’m flattered, really! But…I’m…kind of…seeing someone…right now?”

Oh…my god! Why couldn’t he remember her name!? Jewel? Onyx? Diamond?

Akshay never thought that he would be doing this. He was actually quite jittery, excited, and terrified all at the same time! The man had worn costumes out in public before but they were for events and people actually expected him to dress up! This was something completely different! He was joining a league of people that so very few have the guts to join. He was going to throw his life into the path of danger simply because he wanted to make a difference in the world. Akshay Malik…was going to be a vigilante / superhero!

Once he had returned from work, the young man had eaten a quick meal to provide him with enough energy for the night and quickly got ready. His costume that hung in his closet for a few days now was primed and ready and even Akshay himself was ready to embark on this journey. So, after he dressed in silence, the giddy hero wannabe, made it up to the roof of his apartment complex.

Silent footfalls carried him up the dark staircase until finally he had reached the roof access door. Taking a firm hold of the handle, breath shaking, he took on calming breath before he stepped out into the night air.

Behind the door, he left Akshay Malik, and stepped out onto the roof as… The Last Word!

The tights were snug, to say the least, but they still offered him some valuable range of motion. On top of that he wore the red sash not only because is secretly held his belt (really it was a Fanny pac) of utility items (cell phone, mini flash light, etc.) but just because it looked bitchin’ cool! Hey, what’s black, white, and red all over? The Last Word! His new sneakers had a little extra bounce to them and, of course, brand new tread so he would be slipping on his own two feet.

He sighed as he took a deep breath of the night air and grinned in a giddy-like manner. This was it. He was really going to do this. Pulling his mask from his belt, he slipped that on over his face (he needed to protect his identity after all) and put in his white contact lenses. It seemed like a lot of work, and the lenses burned a little, but he was dead set on doing this.

“Alright…criminal element,” he said boldly. “Prepare to hear…The Last Word!!” he bellowed and made for the edge of the roof. He then glanced over, grew dizzy and backed away.

Yeah…tomorrow he would officially start. From the ground…

Akshay sighed as he continued to start on a new body, a new form, and a new costume idea. He really did not think that it was going to be that hard. After all, the man had created superheroes and had costumes made for him all the time! Really, how hard can it be to just think up of a hero concept for one’s self? Maybe if his powers were not so lame (as he always complained about) he could actually think of a decent concept. But, alas, he was quickly coming up empty.

He sighed as he stared down at the page of costume ideas that he had come up with, (okay so maybe he was a little…LIBERAL…with his physique in the drawing but it was just a basic idea!). Ahem.

The problem he was having was that he both loved all the ideas and hated them at the same time. Sadly the man just had too much experience wearing costumes like this. He could not count the amount of times he had to wear capes during promotional days and, while they were awesome, the messed up thing was that they were always either too heavy or too light or got snagged or he tripped on them! It was just a mess. Unfortunately it was such a classic image of the hero that he didn’t know how he was going to get out of NOT creating a costume with a cape.

In the end though, after arguing with himself a lot, he decided. His costume was going to have a cape!!

The five minutes later he blacked out all the costume ideas with capes involved because it was just too much work. Besides, he couldn’t fly like Spectacular Man, nor could he glide or shroud himself in a cloak like the Flying Fox. No, taking out the cape was definitely going to be the best decision.

So, with no cape, that meant…just tights. He was going to need maneuverability, speed, and be able to keep the costume under his regular clothes. Yup, that meant tights.

He sighed as he relaxed back in his chair and looked out over his drawing table. It was littered with drawings, sketches, pencils and pens. He had the basic down…but what should his costume say? What should it actually pronounce? It was then, as his eyes drifted across the newspaper from last Sunday that he paused. Those black and white boxes, the jumble of words that would make up a crossword…

…He had his inspiration.