Chapter Text
Life never really has changed in his life, Hank could easily admit.
He didn’t hate his life nor would he really change everything about it, but seemingly it remained the same. It didn’t seem like it was going anywhere although he basically had it all. His intelligence took him farther than making a serum that he was previously going to use to stop his mutation but it only made his genes enhance it. Hank’s intellect got him quite far in life, even with his mutation.
Hank hadn't always been blue. Once upon a time, he could easily blend in with people. Before he had tried to remove the appearance of his hand-like feet, Hank couldn't be thought of anything else besides a regular man. He never accepted himself because of the mutation he was born with and he made it worse when he injected himself with that serum. It only made him accept his mutation less.
Time had passed and Hank had learned to get over his self-conscious emotions towards his hand-like feet and his blue beast form. When he looked back on the past he couldn't help but feel so foolish. He had tried to suppress his own mutation and he couldn't take it any longer. Hank decided to accept himself and no longer use the second serum he had created.
There was one person he could thank for helping him out with the situation of accepting himself. Charles Xavier had been a great friend of his for years now. He had been only a teenager, already graduated from Harvard and was working for the CIA, when he had met the professor. The memory was so vivid and burned into Hank's brain. After being recruited by Charles, Hank had strived to work on a cure for his hand-like feet. Injecting the serum he had invented created his blue beast form.
He was grateful for Charles. It had been a few months since he had last dropped by to visit the Xavier mansion. He knew Charles was living a great life. After defeating Shaw, Erik and he had begun a happy life together in the mansion. Later on they would have their own children who would be as powerful as the both of them. The mansion would become a school for mutants. Life would be perfect. They would live fine lives.
Hank was living a fine life too. He worked as the Secretary of Mutant Affairs. He lived in his own two-story house which was nice and stylish, in his opinion. Hank had adopted a white Persian cat he named Ophelia, after his favorite character of Shakespeare's Hamlet. Hank had been delighted to have another living thing with him rather than his little bonsai tree that sat in the kitchen on the counter right near the window.
It was a rainy day today and Hank had watched the news before heading off to work earlier. Although the newscaster said there was a less chance of rain, Hank assumed that was not the case when he exited his home to see the light gray skies. He took his raincoat and an umbrella just in case the newscaster was incorrect about their weather calculations.
As he had hypothesized, the gray skies meant today would be a day of pouring raindrops.
Hank wasn't the type to socialize after work, so he was always heading home after work. He wasn't the party type unlike some of his colleagues who would prefer to go get a drink someplace dark and reeking of whiskey all night while his preference was staying home with his cat while reading a book.
Today would be a day like any other, Hank knew by heart. He would head inside and make sure all doors and windows were locked so no water could dampen anywhere in his home. He would probably make a nice cup of tea, continue with his newest book on physics and have Ophelia sitting on his lap as she snoozed as the rain pitter-pattered outside of the house.
As he was driving, Hank considered why he still felt lonely when he had Ophelia. She had been quite obedient since he had gotten her as a kitten. Ophelia wasn't much of a trouble maker at all and for that Hank was thankful. It helped out with his daily routine to have a well-trained companion to come home to.
Hank never questioned his calculations since he knew he was undoubtedly correct all the time. At this moment he couldn't help but think he was imagining it. His glasses were on so he could see perfectly fine. Hank parked on the side of the road. He was still near the city so it'd be a while since his house was in a nice forested area which gave him peace.
Hank's eyes landed on what was in the alleyway. There was a long alleyway, he could tell, between an antique shop and a smoke shop. There were visible large trash bins and scraps of trash lying all over the ground of the alleyway, but it hadn't been trash and bins that had caught his eyes.
There was someone huddled near the left side of the alleyway. Hank didn't think he would be able to stop the person since he happened to be a little farther and there was at least a metal trash bin in front of him. Hank kept his eyes on the person. He tried looking more at the person without having to actually exit his car and stand in front of the person.
Hank couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman since the person had their knees up to their chest. The person had his or her arms around their legs while their head was in their legs with the hood covering their head. The jacket the person was wearing was either a black or dark blue and it covered anything he or she was wearing underneath. Hank spotted two straps on each of the person's chest which meant it was a backpack.
He was aware that there were many homeless people in the world, there were many in New York. Hank was also aware that people who held up signs for money could just be people who didn't want to work. It was obvious this situation wasn't like this. There was no money sign. Besides, he felt like this person didn't want to be bothered.
Hank wondered why this person wasn't at a shelter for the homeless. He knew there were many. With his connections he could probably help this person for a spot in one of those shelters. Hank believed in helping people. If it meant he could help this person then he would gladly do so.
Years after accepting his own difference from the world made him appreciate things more. He was a successful man and he had intelligence that people could rely on.
He opened his door and grabbed his umbrella. He didn't want this person to get any wetter than they already were. Hank opened up the umbrella and closed his door, locking it and keeping his keys in his pocket. He made his way over to the alleyway while trying not to slip (he wouldn't want to idiotic by running on slippery ground.)
Once he was standing in front of the hooded person, Hank felt a bit nervous. He knew the person would probably be confused as to why there was some blue, furry guy staring down at him in this weather. Hank cleared his throat and allowed the words to come out of his mouth.
“Hello.” Hank greeted him or she while he kept his eyes glued to the hooded person. No response. “I...uh, noticed you’re getting pretty wet...I was hoping maybe I could help you out.”
Still, he gained no response.
Hank believed everything took their time to open up to complete strangers. Maybe this person didn't trust random people who just came up to him or her?
This time, Hank inputted his concern. “Please, I would hate for you to get sick. It's pouring and you're better off not outside getting dampened.”
“Don't worry about it.” He was proud to have finally received a reply.
Hank's question on whether this person was a female or male had been answered. It was a homeless male. From hearing the male's voice, Hank estimated this male couldn't be near his late twenties. The youngest he'd guess was perhaps twenty. He would hope someone younger wouldn't be in this situation.
He was interested in how this man didn't want any help at all. If Hank was making assumptions, he would assume perhaps the man wanted to be all alone in the rain.
Hank couldn't have that though.
“You really shouldn't be out here,” Hank tried as he thought of a way to convince the man. “It's going to keep raining and you're going to be freezing.”
Hank's eyes met the pretty blue ones the man owned. He had never looked upon such pretty eyes before. The most he had ever been fascinated were Ophelia's eyes (cats had intriguing eyes, Hank came to realize.) Hank stopped looking at this man's eyes and began examining everything else.
The man was indeed an attractive one. Hank could see blonde hair from underneath the hood. Hank has always thought blue eyes and blonde hair was always attractive. Those eyes kept him captivated. He had no free time to just stare into this male's eyes since there were more concerning things at the moment to think about.
Hank extended his free hand to the man to help him up. “I can help you, sir.” He felt unhelpful due to the amount of responses he gained from the younger man. “There are some shelters. I bet we can find you a spot.”
The young man's expression contorted to anger. “Leave me alone! I don't need anyone's help.” He looked away from Hank.
This was a different situation Hank was stuck in. He couldn't just "leave him alone." Hank wasn't going to let this young man stay any longer in the rain. Hank would think others would have accepted his help (everything he knew always did), but there was a first for everything. Unfortunately there was a first for someone who didn't want to be helped.
Hank refused to leave this young man all alone in the rain.
“Please,” Hank began as he got closer and moved his hand away. He sighed, refusing to be defeated. “I can't let you soak in the rain.”
The young man rose from the ground and crossed his arms. “I said I am fine. I don't need anyone's help.”
He's quite the stubborn type, Hank said as he noticed the young man was about an inch or two shorter than him.
He didn't care how stubborn the young man in front of him was. Hank knew no one wanted to stay outside in the rain. There was something more to this young man than he was leading on. Hank was curious about it. He wasn't going to pry, but he wasn't going to let him stay in this cold weather.
No one should be stuck in this weather.
“Look…” Hank was trying to figure out a way to get this young man out of this weather. An idea popped into his head. “Come with me.”
The young man observed him with narrowed eyes suspiciously. “What do you mean?”
“...I'm inviting you to come home with me.” Hank thought about how bad or good this idea was. Ophelia and he would be fine. It's not like this man was a serial killer or anything.
This new idea didn't influence the young man. He still looked guarded and hesitant. He took a step forward and had his body turned a bit. Hank decided to study the man's body language as he waited for a response.
He looked well-guarded, but it was different in a way of how he guarded himself. Just by how he crossed his arms or wrapped his arms around himself, Hank could tell he was trying to protect himself in a way. This discovery made Hank question what kind of a person this man was.
Was he afraid of Hank? Did he think that Hank was some creature that was going to kill him? Those thoughts made Hank feel like he had in the beginning when gaining his beast form. He didn't want to judge and he was already beginning to do it when he knew absolutely nothing about this attractive male in front of him.
Don't judge him , Hank told himself as he clutched to the umbrella even tighter, you could be wrong about him .
“What?”
Hank didn't think about the likelihood of the young man becoming confused. He just didn't want this man to stand the rain any longer.
“You refuse to go into a shelter. Plus, it's just my cat, Ophelia and I.” Hank put on a friendly smile as he explained to the blonde haired man. He sighed, “and...I really don't want you staying out here during a pour like this.”
Although the young man had continued refusing, Hank saw something in his eyes. It looked as if he was hesitant to refuse once more. As if something was telling him to keep refusing and another part trying to convince him to accept the help being offered.
To Hank, it was hope.
He didn't know anything about the attractive blonde in front of him. He knew absolutely nothing. Even though this blonde was a stranger, Hank couldn't find it in him to leave him here. He was tempted to drag the man with him if he refused again.
You're starting to sound like a creep , Hank told himself as he realized if anyone heard that they should be afraid of him.
“I...I-” Hank was feeling another protest would be heard. He couldn't have more of it.
Hank kept his smile on his face. “At least stay one night? Get out of this weather. I'm not asking forever, but just...I don't know. You can leave when the rain is gone or not.” He attempted.
He was begging now. Hank was swearing to himself that he was going to euthanize himself if he ever said those thoughts aloud.
Hank knew he could feel victorious when the younger man sighed in defeat and crossed his arms and looked at the man with a look that said okay-so-now-what.
“I'm Hank McCoy.” Hank introduced himself to the male. It seemed strange to him that such a time had passed and he hadn't introduced himself yet.
He hoped it didn't make him look like some blue, furry freak with no manners. Hank was relieved his instincts had kicked in and he held out his hand.