The youngest member (X-Men Evolution)

Speed and Spyke

Scott was walking down the hallways of the Institute, his ears focused on listening as he chased the youngest mutant in the house. It was currently almost ten pm. Marigolds bedtime, and just like every night Scott was in charge of making sure she was tucked into her bed she was giving Scott a hard time. She was by far the best hider out of all the students, considering she could turn invisible. Scott was happy that Marigold was starting to feel more comfortable in the house, and secretly enjoyed this little game she had created of running away from him to avoid being forced to go to be earlier than the rest of the students. (though he would never admit that to the girl, it would only encourage her) But as the clock ticked closer to ten he decided that enough was enough for one night.

"I guess Marigold isn't up here, better check downstairs." He said out loud turning a corner in the hallway, but instead of going downstairs he leaned against the wall and listened. As he suspected he heard a door open, and a few seconds later he looked to the carpeted floor to see child sized footprints walking towards him. "Yes! I'm in the clear." Marigold whispered to herself, sounding awfully proud. When the invisible girl turned the corner she shrieked in surprise when Scott jumped out and grabbed her. She turned visible as Scott picked her up and threw her over his shoulder.

"Got ya!" He said with a grin as he wrapped one arm around her side and took the other arm, holding her legs down as she tried to kick out of his grip. "Hey! You tricked me." She said pouting, even though Scott couldn't since she was face down, her chin resting against Scott's shoulder blade as she tried to wiggle out of the mans grip."Yea, well you were hiding from me trying to stay up past your bedtime so let's call it even." Scott said finally setting the girl down on her own two feet.

"Now let's go." He said putting a steady hand on her shoulder and guiding her through the hallways towards her bedroom. "Your way easier to hide from than Logan and Ororo. I had to at least try. Besides, I don't go to school like the rest of you yet. Why do I need a bedtime?" Marigold asked as she and Scott entered her bedroom. She was already in her pj's because hours earlier she had joined Jean and Kitty in a girls night filled with movies, painting nails, and talking about boys. (she hadn't participated in much of the boy gossip, but it was the first time she had ever had her nails painted. She had found it to be a lot of fun.) 

"You will be starting school next week, so you need to get used to going to bed at a certain time. Look, I know that it sucks that you have to go to bed while everyone else gets to stay up. But your still a growing girl. Remember what Ororo always says?" Scott asked as he tucked the girl into her bed. "To enjoy being a kid while I'm still a kid...but it doesn't mean I have to enjoy going to bed so early." Marigold said, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Scott smirked and pulled the girls new glasses off her face and placed them on the stool next to her bed.

"Ororo would have my head if she heard I let you stay up late on my watch." He said sitting on the side of the bed much like Ororo did every other night. The storm witch had left a few days ago to see her nephew's basketball game and to see if he had developed any mutations. No one would know if he possessed the X-gene until it presented itself, but apparently Ororo had her suspicions that he was in fact a mutant like her self. While she was gone the other residents of the institute were taking turns making sure Marigold was in bed each night. Scott would be lying if he said the girl hadn't buried herself deep in each X-men's heart. Even Logan would spoil her at times, everyone was over protective of the young charge and saw her as a younger sibling.

"Now, want me to read to you tonight?" Scott asked picking up the book Marigold was currently reading from the stool next to her bed. Marigold was exceptionally smart. Along with her training she had apparently received a good education from the place she was staying, it didn't make up for all the torture and bad stuff the facility did. But it was good to know she was at the same educated level as the kids she would be going to school with. "If you don't mind. You don't have too."