The simulated terrain inside the Xavier Institute's Danger Room was a mess of sharp angles and flashing metal. Spinning projectiles zipped through the air, aiming directly at Adrian, who stood his ground with a hardened stance. Quite literally.
"Ten more seconds!" Peter's voice rang out over the intercom. He stood safely behind the observation glass, grinning as he watched his friend brace for another barrage.
Adrian gritted his teeth and let the Hardening quirk spread across his body. The metal clanged against his reinforced skin, bruising his pride more than anything else. "This still freaking hurts, you know!" he shouted back.
"Three... two... one... and... simulation off!"
The world powered down. The spinning blades retracted into the floor and walls, the lights dimming from an aggressive red to a neutral white. Adrian exhaled heavily, his knees giving way as he dropped into a crouch. He was soaked in sweat, bruises beginning to bloom across his arms despite the hardened exterior.
Peter tossed him a towel as he entered the room, offering a hand. "Seven minutes! New record."
"Yay," Adrian muttered. "Pain."
Before Peter could reply, a familiar bamf echoed through the room. A puff of sulfur announced Nightcrawler's arrival. He appeared just beside them, arms folded and an amused look on his face.
"You two have been in here for over three hours. Again."
Peter blinked. Adrian glanced at the clock. Neither had realized how long they'd been at it.
"We've been doing this every almost day," Peter said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Adrian sat on the floor, stretching his arms slowly. "We haven't done anything else. No breaks. No outside air. Just training and tech."
Peter looked slightly embarrassed. "I have to go back to school next week. If we don't take a breather now, we're gonna burn out."
Nightcrawler grinned. "Then you're in luck. A few of us are heading into the city. No missions, no drills. Just fun. You two should come."
Adrian and Peter exchanged a glance.
"Yeah," Adrian said after a moment. "We need this."
Peter nodded. "Let's do it."
New York City was alive, as it always was. The streets pulsed with noise, music, and people from every walk of life. Adrian and Peter, now in casual clothes and surrounded by a handful of young mutants, felt almost normal.
They wandered through a bustling shopping district. Peter insisted on checking out a nearby tech store, where he spent twenty minutes drooling over gadgets Adrian barely understood. Adrian, meanwhile, found himself drawn into a bookstore with a surprisingly good fantasy section.
Eventually, the group made their way to a massive indoor mall. There was a food court that spanned an entire floor, an arcade with flashing neon signs, and shops that sold everything from vintage vinyls to ridiculously overpriced sneakers.
They took turns at the arcade, where Peter managed to dominate an old-school pinball machine while Adrian lost terribly at a dancing game.
"You're supposed to move to the rhythm!" one of the girls shouted.
"I was!" Adrian insisted, out of breath. "The machine's rigged!"
Laughter followed them through the aisles.
They found a photo booth near the second floor. Peter grabbed Adrian by the arm.
"C'mon, one picture. No arguing."
Adrian sighed but relented. The booth snapped four quick pictures: the first with both of them blinking, the second with Peter making a face, the third with Adrian finally cracking a smile, and the fourth with both of them laughing.
The photo strip printed with a mechanical whir, slightly tilted. Peter grabbed it and waved it proudly.
"Memory made," he said.
Lunch was chaos.
They packed into a fast food joint with greasy tables and buzzing fluorescent lights. Trays were filled with burgers, fries, and milkshakes. Adrian nursed a large basket of curly fries while Peter devoured a double-patty monstrosity.
"So, Red Nova," one of the younger mutants teased between bites of chicken tenders. "What's it like having seven powers? Kinda greedy, don't you think?"
Adrian paused mid-chew. "I didn't ask for any of it Adrian said quietly except the 8 quirks I chose he said it so quietly nobody can hear it."
Peter, not missing a beat, chimed in. "He's got One For All — that's a strength booster. Then there's Hardening, Float, Smokescreen, Permeation, Warp Gate, and High Spec and more on the way."
A moment of stunned silence.
"Dude," a mutant girl said. "You're like a walking cheat code."
"He can fly, phase through walls, vanish in smoke, warp like a ninja, tank bullets, and think like a computer," Peter added.
Adrian raised his hands. "Okay, okay! I'm not that strong. I still get my ass kicked regularly."
Peter grinned. "Yeah, but now you get your ass kicked with style."
The table broke into laughter.
They ended the day on a quiet rooftop near the edge of the city. The skyline was painted gold and pink by the setting sun. The hum of distant traffic floated up to meet them.
Adrian and Peter sat side-by-side, each sipping from oversized slushies.
"This… was needed," Peter said quietly.
Adrian nodded. "Yeah."
A long pause stretched between them, comfortable and warm.
"We're kids," Peter said. "We forget that sometimes."
Adrian stared at the sky. "After everything… I forgot what it felt like to just breathe."
Peter looked over, smiling. "Thanks for today."
Adrian clinked his slushie against Peter's. "Anytime."
The sun dipped lower. The city didn't stop, but for a moment, neither of them cared. They had the silence, the sky, and a day that felt like something they almost forgot: freedom.