I became aware of myself in a shower, the air warm and my body soapy. Around me, I noticed Night Crawler, Mystique and Beast, all in similar states. I didn't notice or 'sense', as one might do in a dream, any hostility, so I smiled and continued on.

"You know, I feel kind of outnumbered here, being the only one here not blue." I commented, getting a smile from the guys and a smirk from Mystique. "Hang on, I'll change that." And with a mental command, my form became blue.

Mystique laughed. "Draggo, you cheater." She joked at me jovially.

I just grinned, washing off and floating out the room. However, that peace of mind lasted mere moments as the alarm went off, other mutants; Cyclops, Wolverine and Jean, rushing past, saying that a great green mutant was crashing through the city, wrecking everything in a massive fit of rage.

"That sounds like.." I mentioned, before I spotted the Hulk crash landing into a building in a cloud of dust.

As we ran for the exit, others taking the Blackbird, I noticed Mystique, except she was more lion-like. In my mind, I 'recalled' that when she joined us, she'd changed again, become more of a hunter. She even had a tail and a thick red mane, though I felt it wise not to mention that males often did nothing while the maneless females actually did the hunting. There was also another mutant, I don't think they were canon, going by the name of Feral. They were occupying the form of a gnarled up alligator, and I knew he was a friend of Mystique, an old aquaintance.

"I suppose you'll stay here?" The blue femme predicted, also seeming to not go anywhere.

At this point, I moved on, eyes ahead, but mind on their conversation.

"What else am I going to do?" He replied gruffly.

"We joined this resistance with the promise we would aid them." She protested valiantly. "It's just a shame you can't become human form."

At that, Feral laughed. "The X-Men have softened you. When we met, you only cared about yourself. You also seem to have forgotten I can be human any time I please!" He said, breaking into another gale of harsh laughter. That was strange, given that I was aware he'd been with us as various creatures for months, claiming he couldn't change to a human shape.

Still, on I went, landing in a narrow street. As I turned, the Hulk came barreling through, chased by the X-Men and Iron Man. I used the only method known to stop the Hulk, the only thing that could have paused his rampage.

"Betty Ross!" I yelled, arms up, hoping I didn't get booted across the city.

"Huhn?" He paused, it worked. Slowing, the massive green brute looked at me, panting from exhursion with a confused frown. "Be-tty? Here?" He grunted out.

At that moment, the others caught up, slowly surrounding the heavy giant. This didn't help, and I could see him getting ready for another attack.

Cyclops looked at me, fingers to the side of his goggles, ready to release another blast, but I quickly shook me head.

"Hulk hate puny mutants! Hulk bash!" He roared, raising his great fists.

"Wait!" I came forth. "Hulk, just.. calm. Down." I looked to him, then to the others. "Guys.. Slowly... sit down.."

"You've got to be.." Cyclops grunted, only to have Wolverine elbow him.

The X-Men slowly sank to the floor, Iron Man managing a sort of crouch.

I looked to the Hulk again, who was easing up again. "Hulk, they won't hurt you. Please, you have to calm down."

"Why Hulk calm down?"

"You know why. I'm a friend of Betty. She wants to see you, but she can't while you're angry."

"Friend.. Betty?" Hulk lowered his arms, his mass beginning to shrink.

"That's it, big guy, just calm down." As I witnessed Hulk return to Bruce Banner, I hurried over and supported the dazed and exhausted human.

"Can I please get up now?" Iron Man groused, getting a nod from me, which cued the rest to rise.

"Do you have ANY idea how much trouble you've caused??" Cyclops began, advancing on Bruce, who hung limply on my shoulder.

"Cy, don't. I'll explain when we get back. Just... ease up." I told him, making him ease up. As the rest help Bruce up onto the ship, Cyclops looks to me. "How the hell did you do that?"

"I... I know him. We've met. Let's just go." Getting a nod, my vision fades and the scene shifts to a night scene. I stand on a balcony, leaning on a railing and looking out at a quiet countryside. I become aware of Mystique beside me, the sense of a connection between us forming. She stands beside him, smiling softly.

"I heard you managed to defuse the Hulk, just by talking to him. The rest are very impressed." She said smoothly, leaning close to me.

I smile back, looking to her for a moment. "Yeah... Funny how things work out..."