5 The X-Mansion #5

The X-Mansion loomed in front of Evan, a majestic structure nestled amid the darkness of the night. Its grand appearance was enhanced by the soft glow of lampposts lining the cobblestone path leading up to the massive gates. The mansion's facade showcased intricate architectural details, boasting elegance and grace. The sprawling estate was a sight to behold, with its tall turrets and large windows giving it an air of mystery.

As Evan approached the gates, his eyes took in the well-maintained green lawn that stretched out before the mansion. A magnificent fountain adorned the center, surrounded by a circle of orderly trees that added to the mansion's regal aura. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, creating a soothing ambiance in the quiet night.

Despite the tranquility of the scene, he couldn't help but notice the discreetly positioned cameras that seemed to track his every move. However, he paid them no mind, confident that his presence here was not a secret.

Stepping past the gates, Evan made his way toward the entrance of the mansion. The schoolyard appeared deserted, but just as he neared the entrance, a blur of brown hair darted out of the door, racing toward him. Evan raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the girl's hurried approach, but continued walking, assuming she would simply veer around him.

To Evan's surprise, the girl continued her course straight at him, her eyes focused on some unseen destination. He braced himself, expecting her to change direction at the last moment. However, she crashed into him with an impact that left her sprawled on her rear.

"Whoa there," Evanb said, offering her a hand as she looked up at him, bewildered and flustered. "You alright?"

The girl rubbed her behind with a confused look, her brow furrowing in bewilderment. She quickly took Evan's hands, seemingly searching for answers in his touch, and asked, "You... how did you...?"

Evan tilted his head, trying to decipher her reaction, and then it hit him. He recognized the girl as Kitty Pryde, a mutant with the extraordinary power to phase through any solid object. While he wasn't familiar with the X-Men comics in his past life, he had made it a point to study and understand the mutants in this new reality.

A knowing smile crossed Evan's lips as he replied, "You must be Katherine Pryde... Kitty. You probably assumed you could pass through me, correct?"

Confused at how this stranger knew about her identity and her unique power, Kitty could only nod her head, still grappling with the unusual situation she had encountered. She finally managed to ask, "Yes... nothing like this has ever happened before..."

Evan chuckled softly, trying to put Kitty at ease, and said, "Let's just say that I'm a bit unique and leave it at that for now..."

He didn't bother to elaborate on the intense heat within his body and the intricate biology that had developed from absorbing Extremis. These factors made it extremely complicated for Kitty to phase through him due to his insides having varying degrees of density.

Kitty frowned, still trying to make sense of the encounter, and couldn't help but ask, "Wh-who are you anyway? I haven't seen you here before?"

Evan's smile remained, revealing a sense of mystery about him as he replied, "The name's Evan Shepherd, and I'm the new combat instructor here."

Kitty's confusion deepened as she protested, "But we already have a combat instructor... and Professor X never said anything about a new one..."

Evan chuckled again, enjoying her confusion, and answered, "Well, that's because Mr. Xavier doesn't know he's hiring me yet..."

Kitty's eyes widened at the revelation, and she couldn't help but be intrigued by this enigmatic newcomer. Her inquisitive nature urged her to inquire further, "How did you manage that? Sneak in without him knowing?"

Evan merely shrugged nonchalantly, teasing, "Who said I snuck in? I walked through the front door. In fact, I was on the way to meet Mr. Xavier before you bumped into me..."

Before Kitty could pry any further, the mansion's door behind her creaked open, and a familiar telepathic voice rang out, "Kitty, is everything alright out here?"

Both Evan and Kitty turned to face Professor Xavier, who was now observing them with a smile, though there was a hint of curiosity and caution in his eyes.

Kitty hesitated for a moment, unsure of what to say, but Evan stepped in smoothly, extending a hand toward the professor. "You must be Professor Charles Xavier. I was telling your student here about how you were going to hire me as a combat instructor..."

...

In the bustling Bridge of the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier, the agents stationed there paused their work, their eyes fixed on the entrance as Black Widow strode in. They exchanged curious glances, expecting her to receive the usual scolding from Nick Fury as they did. Black Widow paid no mind to their stares, her focus solely on approaching the imposing figure of Nick Fury.

Fury, seated at the central command station, glanced up at her, his expression unreadable. "Well? How did it go?" he asked, cutting right to the chase.

Black Widow shook her head, her red hair swaying slightly, and replied, "Stark was as uncooperative and obnoxious as always." Pausing for a moment, she continued, "He said he knew nothing about the guy, but I'm 99% sure he does..."

Fury let out a low growl, rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "I didn't expect that smug bastard to share anything either," he muttered under his breath. Turning to one of his subordinates, he issued an order, "Double the team keeping an eye on Stark! I don't want him breathing without me knowing about it!"

Once again focusing on Black Widow, Fury inquired, "So? Is the guy really that good?" He was referring to the mysterious individual, who had come out of nowhere and disappeared as quickly as he appeared.

"He is... what's more, he knew about me, and I knew nothing about him..." Black Widow admitted, her tone tinged with a mix of admiration and frustration.

Fury furrowed his brow, his expression serious. "Are you saying he took you by surprise? I'd expect that excuse from anyone but you, Romanoff..."

Black Widow shook her head, her gaze intense. "He did take me by surprise... I don't know if I'd win if that weren't the case, but the fight would have gone differently, that's for certain." Her experience with Evan had left an impression on her, and she couldn't deny his skill.

Fury grimaced, clearly dissatisfied with the situation. "I suppose it doesn't matter. We found records of the same guy popping up in various incidents..." he trailed off, his gaze hardening as he turned to glare at his subordinates. "But we still have no idea who this motherfucker is. And where the fuck he came from...!"

The employees winced at his harsh words and quickly resumed their work with renewed determination, searching tirelessly for any information that could shed light on the mysterious Evan.

...

In his high-tech workshop, Tony Stark sat before a massive computer screen, his eyes locked onto the two flashing dots that represented the suitcases he had given to Evan.

The map displayed on the screen showed one dot at an oddly named orphanage while the other dot was submerged in the depths of the New York Harbor. Stark's face was a mix of curiosity and frustration as he monitored the situation closely.

He had spared no expense when outfitting the suitcases with tracking and listening devices. But it seemed Evan was no ordinary adversary, as he had somehow managed to jam the signals, rendering Stark's high-end tech partially ineffective.

Despite the advanced capabilities of Stark's equipment, he could only capture fragments of a conversation between Evan and a mysterious woman, discussing the delivery of the woman's final payment. The snippets of dialogue only left Stark wanting to know more.

As Stark continued to analyze the limited information he had gathered, the mysterious woman's voice faded away, and he overheard fragments of a conversation with someone named Cable.

The puzzle pieces of the situation were scattered, and Stark couldn't help but feel the frustration mounting. He had underestimated Evan's resourcefulness and his ability to stay off the grid, leaving Stark with more questions than answers.

Frowning, Stark tapped his fingers on the table as he tried to piece together the fragmented conversation. The dots on the map remained static, providing no further clues to Evan's whereabouts or his motives. The billionaire genius knew he couldn't leave this matter unresolved.

He was determined to figure out who this enigmatic individual was and why he had become such a central figure in the recent incidents. In typical Stark fashion, he muttered to himself, "If that's how you want to play it, then by all means..."

"Let's play..."

...

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