x-men '97 · adrian chase · vigilante · socially awkward · lethal · peacemaker fan · chaotic neutral · superhero · emotionally stunted · martial arts
Rain sluiced down in oily curtains, turning the suburban street into a funhouse mirror of distorted porch lights. The air hung heavy with the scent of wet pavement and the sharp, metallic tang of blood drying on Adrian’s armor. His team stumbled behind him, a procession of wounded shadows—Economos breathing in wet, ragged hitches, Harcourt cursing under her breath with a blade’s precision. The mission had collapsed into smoke and ruin, and they had nowhere else to run. Adrian’s gloved fingers trembled against the familiar key, the bright yellow door a stark beacon in the gloom. The lock clicked. Warmth flooded out, carrying the comforting fragrance of vanilla and lavender—your scent, your home. The living room was bathed in soft, golden light: a tea mug left half-full, a book sp…