"You're up early. You usually sleep until noon."

"Who said I slept properly?"

"I know. I slept right next to you, remember?" Scott smiled and handed me a mug full of tea. "You were crying in your sleep. I tried to wake you but you didn't move... I spent the rest of the night watching over you."

"You didn't have to do that, Scott." I sighed, tracing the scratch marks on the chair I was in. "You must be exhausted."

"I'll live." He assured and sat on the floor in front of me. "You figured out who all those scratch marks belong to yet?"

"The scent is faint, but it's my Dad's."

"But you said you didn't recognize the scratch marks?"

"You can disguise marks like those, but you can't hide your scent. He was here once but I can't say exactly when... The marks are old too."

"And I found this in the kitchen while searching for a pot to make the tea." Scott said, pulling out a piece of paper from his jacket and handed it to me. "Thought it might cheer you up."

"It's Dad's handwriting." I smiled and opened it.

Lyla,

If you're reading this, you're finally home where you belong.

I'm sorry I couldn't protect you and that I failed you as a father. All I ever wanted was to keep you safe and at home. I never imagined that by trying to keep you hidden, I was putting you at risk.

I will come find you eventually if I haven't by the time you read this, but I need to remember... I'm trying to remember the man I once was.

There's been this voice in my head and I think it's guiding me to pieces of my past. Hopefully, my last stop will be towards you, my moonlight.

Always remember that whenever you want to hide from the world, this will always be your safe space.

I'll see you soon, I promise.

Love always,
Dad

"Looks like the Professor is working his magic and awakening some memories in Dad." I chuckled and set the letter aside. "I think he's coming to the Mansion soon."

"You want him home?"

"More than anything, Scott. I miss him like crazy."

"I still think your dad is terrifying." He shrugged and I rolled my eyes. "Lyla, do you remember the blood bath from three years ago? His scream still haunts me at night!"

"He's not so bad!" I defended. "He just has a temper and is overprotective. I'm an only child!"

"A temper that killed over half of the people in that lab because you killed the other half!"

"I have his temper."

"I believe it."

。✯ ＼ ｜ ／✯ 。

"You were really tiny as a baby."

"I was a newborn when I wore that, Summers."

"You were a tiny newborn." He corrected and I rolled my eyes, not looking up from the vegetables I was chopping. "When did your fangs come in? Because I don't see any pictures of you with them."

"I genuinely don't remember. All I know is that there was plane, but the details are extremely blurry... Remember that most mutations don't show until puberty and I was in my early teens when they showed." I pointed out and he hummed. "I don't hate it, but I also don't necessarily like them."

"Why not?"

"I think it makes me look funny sometimes, same with my ears... And I used to lisp when they first came in."

"Nah, with the cowl of your suit it makes you look amazing. Makes everyone have the fear of God in them."

"Really comforting, Scott. Thanks." I scoffed and he set the box down with a sigh.

"You know that's not what I meant." He defended and sat on the kitchen counter.

"I know... I'm sorry." I sighed and set the knife down. "I have a question and it's been bothering me for a while."

"Shoot."

"Do you see red or gray under that?" I smirked and pointed at his visor.

"It's ruby quartz, sweetheart. I see red."

"Do you miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"Seeing colors?"

"Sometimes, but I got used to it. If I have to see red for the rest of my life and still be able to see, I'd sacrifice seeing colors." Scott chuckled. "But sometimes I'd give anything to see it again."

"How about instead of seeing them, you feel them?" I offered and he raised an eyebrow. "I think it'll be better to feel than see them."

"And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

"You hungry?"

"Not really. The soup can wait."

"Then we have an entire day to show you."

。✯ ＼ ｜ ／✯ 。

"Okay... so blue is calmness, serenity. Think of it as finally relaxing after a long day in the Danger Room and Raven breathing down our necks to get drills right."

"Lyla, it's freezing." Scott whined as I pulled him closer to the lake.

"Just sit down, you big baby." I scolded and forced him to sit on a rock before joining him. "And aren't you from Alaska? Isn't it colder over there?"

"And I used to wear more layers than the ones I'm wearing right now." He huffed and wrapped the blanket tighter around him. "But I see what you mean... the view is peaceful."

"I remember Dad always saying that this piece of land was heaven on Earth."

"I'm starting to believe it."

"I wish I could come up here more often, y'know? I always loved this place." I hummed and rested my head on his shoulder. "It's just far enough to run from the craziness of being a mutant for a bit and feel-"

"Normal." Scott finished and I nodded. "I love being an X-men and finally understand and be at peace with my mutation, but sometimes it's a bit too much... the migraines are too much."

"My anger just gets too much sometimes too."

"If we ever find the time, we should come up here more often. Hide from the world for a bit."

"We really should."

。✯ ＼ ｜ ／✯ 。

"Okay, so yellow is excitement and happiness... And it's also my favorite color!"

"And how does one feel that exactly?"

"That one is done by focusing on a happy memory. Whatever you feel when you think of that, that's the color yellow." I smiled as we both moved the couch to its original place. "You have one?"

"Y-yeah, I do." Scott mumbled and I heard his heartbeat increase.

"Wanna tell me?"

"Nope. Next color."

"Red."

"Lyla, I already see red. I don't need to know-"

"Yes, you do." I interrupted and walked towards him. "Red is also a color excitement. It's also the color of passion, anger and-"

"Love." He finished and I nodded.

"See? Someone's a quick learner."

"I've had a good teacher." Scott grinned and tackled me back to the mattress. "So... how does one exactly feel the color red, Ravager?"

"Someone's bold today."

"Let's just say I'm feeling a lot of yellow today."

"Funny."

"You still haven't answered my question." He said and leaned down slightly. "How do I feel red when I see it?"

"You tell me." I taunted and ran my fingers through his scalp. "Pop quiz... Show me how does one feel the color red."

"You really wanna know?"

"Giving the fact that I'm quizzing you right now, I'd say yes."

Scott removed his visor and I immediately placed a hand over his eyes.

"Really?" He laughed. "I'm not gonna open them, sweetheart."

"I know... It's just rare that I get to see your full face." I whispered as he kept leaning down. "Scott..."

"Yeah?"

"Don't be a tease."

"You sure you're ready for that?"

"If you keep stalling, you fail."

He laughed softly before closing the gap, his lips finally meeting mine.

My hand slowly left his eyes, fingers tangling in his hair as Scott's hands held my face.

"That..." He breathed out before kissing me again. "That's how I see red."

"I think you pass." I smiled and helped him put on the visor again.

"Nah, I think I could use a bit of extra credit in the form of a date when we get back to New York."

"Oh really?"

"We have to leave tomorrow. The Professor already called." Scott said and I rolled my eyes, sitting up.

"Can't we stay a bit longer?" I begged and he frowned. "I don't want to go back yet."

"Wish we could, Lyla... Next time we get a break, I'll bring you back here."

"We won't get a break, Scott... You had to beg Charles for days."

"Two weeks. Raven was much harder to convince than he was." He admitted and I groaned, falling back onto the mattress. "And I'd go through it again, Lyla."

"Scott, that'll never happen again. This happened because you're annoying." I smirked and Scott raised an eyebrow. "But thank you for annoying them into allowing us come here... It really means a lot to me."

"You seemed really depressed this past month and I overheard you talking to Storm about this place. Took a bit of convincing and a lot of kissing up, but the Professor finally showed me this place... After some even more convincing and a game of chess which I miserably lost, and here we are."

"You're an amazing human being, y'know that?"

"Almost as amazing as you." Scott smiled and laid next to me, placing one of my hands on his chest. "But can we talk about what just happened?"

"Floor's all yours."

"I don't want it to be a one time thing, Lyla."

"Neither do I." I admitted and turned to face him. "But Scott-"

"If you're about to start talking that you're an animal who doesn't deserve anything good, I don't wanna hear it."

"I'm scared." I whispered and he turned to me. "Which is funny because I'm not supposed to be scared of anything."

"Do you trust me?"

"Yes."

"Then you have nothing to be scared of, I promise."