Cerebra's Files
Wither
Real Name: Kevin FordAffiliation: "Hellions" squad (Xavier's student body)
Previous Affiliations: "New Mutants" (Xavier's student body)
Relatives: Father (unnamed, deceased), Mother (unnamed)
Powers & History: Kevin's skin causes organic material to decay on contact, dubbed a “Death Touch.” In his early teens, Kevin discovered that small things were decaying around him, first grass and flowers, then the clothing on his back. His father tried to comfort him, but was inadvertedly killed by Kevin's powers. Distressed, Kevin ran away, until he came upon a junkyard. His powers killed the guard dog, and he was almost killed by workers until he was saved by Dani Moonstar and brought to Charles Xavier’s school. He was given special synthetic clothing and metallic furniture, but still felt like an outsider until he was befriended by Sofia Mantega, Laurie Collins and David Alleyne. Kevin accompanied them on a trip to New York where they were attacked by Donald Pierce and the Reavers. Kevin was affected by Laurie’s pheromones, and was about to use his touch on her until she was stabbed by Pierce. Kevin lashed out and began rotting the flesh off of Pierce, until Dani used her powers to stop him. Fearing the enjoyment he got from attacking Pierce, as well as lacking trust in Dani, Kevin decided to leave the school.
A few months later, when trying to assemble her squad in the new school structure, Dani hunted Kevin down and found him working in a junkyard, where he rarely touched organic material. She convinced him to return to the school, but soon after arriving he was found by the FBI, who were still investigating his father's death. Dani wanted him to trust the justice system, but Emma Frost and her Hellions disagreed. Though Kevin went with the agents, Sofia (Wind Dancer) and the Hellions went to bust him out. Fortunately, the New Mutants arrived to stop them before the FBI detected them, and Kevin went to trial, where he was acquitted and remanded to the Institute. However, Dani's willingness to let him go to court and the Hellions' attempted rescue prompted Kevin to request a transfer to the Hellions squad, which was granted.
Kevin settled in, but his feelings for Laurie intensified, bringing him into conflict with her on-and-off boyfriend, Elixir. As his new faculty advisor, Emma Frost suggested that he see a therapist to deal with the mental anguish his powers have caused him. Interestingly, at the same time he witnessed Elixir and Wolfsbane, a faculty member, kissing. He then confronted Josh and threatened to tell about his relationship with Rahne if he didn't break up with Laurie.
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