The morning light spilled gently through the wide windows of the X-Mansion kitchen, casting a golden glow over the familiar space which was filled with an awkward air. The scent of fresh coffee mingled with the tension and chatter of students filtering in for breakfast, but the atmosphere carried an unusual… well it was awkward.
At the side near the coffee machine sat Gojo, casually slouched at the long table, his loose black t-shirt and comfortable baggy trousers giving him a relaxed air. Beside him was Rogue who smiling in a way that hadn't been seen in far too long and she had a certain glow about her.
Across from them, Logan sat with arms folded, glaring daggers at Gojo who avoided looking at that general direction. His brows were furrowed, and the muscle in his jaw twitched in a way that said he was one breath away from dragging the boy outside. The rest of the kitchen's occupants weren't helping either.
Jean Grey, sitting at the far end, had a blush staining her cheeks as she kept darting glances at Rogue and by extension, Gojo. She didn't need to read minds to know what had transpired last night; Rogue's mind was an open book, and frankly, she suspected the whole of Massachusetts heard them.
Storm cleared her throat, shifting uncomfortably. "Uh, Rogue… can I have a word with you?"
Rogue blinked, then glanced at Gojo, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Yeah, no problem, 'Ro." She stood, tugging down her shirt, and followed Storm out, knowing full well what was coming.
Meanwhile, Jubilee and Kitty lurked nearby, pretending to fiddle with their breakfast, but clearly waiting for their moment to pounce on Rogue for every juicy detail once Storm was done.
Logan didn't look away. His voice came out low, gravelly. "Meet me outside, bub."
Gojo sighed, stood, and followed without complaint, though part of him was tempted to eavesdrop on Storm and Rogue using either his enhanced senses or telepathy. In the end, he decided against it. Let 'em talk, he thought.
As they stepped out into the morning air, across the wide track field, Gojo's thoughts drifted while look at his palm.
He'd been noticing it, ever since he fought Graviton. The subtle shift in his powers, tge finer control, the denser shield, the easier flow of energy, like something had clicked deep inside after that clash with Magneto. It felt much more… comfortable and less energy consuming.
A voice snapped him from his musings.
"Hm?"
"I asked you, did you both use protection?" Logan asked, arms still crossed, his tone as blunt as a hammer.
Gojo blinked, then grinned, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly. "Okay… I imagined this going a dozen ways. Definitely didn't expect that question."
Logan frowned slightly. "What were you expecting?"
"I dunno. Threats? You charging at me with claws out?"
Logan sighed, his face softening just enough to be unnerving. "Wouldn't help. And we both know I wouldn't be touchin' you unless you let me." The calm in his voice was somehow scarier than any growl or snarl.
Gojo studied him, surprised at how controlled Logan was. Logan nodded toward the mansion, toward a window where Storm and Rogue could be seen speaking.
"She's been smilin' a lot. That don't happen often. She… she'd given up, y'know? Thought she'd be alone forever. Thought she'd never find someone who could be with her without fear."
Gojo's little grin faded away. His expression turned serious. "I'll be there for her. Always."
Logan raised a brow. "You love her?"
Gojo thought for a beat, then smiled softly. "We're getting there."
"Good." Logan's voice dropped to a growl again but there was approval beneath it. "If you'd told me you loved her already, I'd have hounded Beast to figure out a way for me to skewer you and survive the attempt."
Gojo chuckled. "Nah, I'm not that reckless. I'll protect her. No matter what."
Logan stepped up beside him, standing shoulder to shoulder. His voice softened, but the steel remained. "Will you?"
Gojo's gaze never wavered. "No harm will come to her. Not while I'm breathing."
Logan studied him, then nodded once, satisfied. He turned and strode back toward the mansion, leaving Gojo alone in the field. Gojo sighed, looking up at the window just as Rogue sensed his gaze and glanced out. She smiled and waved. Gojo returned it, warmth in his eyes.
The devastation of Havelstadt was quiet now, save for the murmur of SHIELD agents who just arrived at the site after not hearing from the agents in the field who were supposed to keep watch. Combing the ruined landscape.
The dead were being carried out one by one some with broken necks, others split clean in two. The stench of blood on earth lingered.
At the epicenter of the crater, Nick Fury stood with his arms folded, surveying the scene with his one good eye. Beside him, Coulson kept a hand in his pocket, scanning the aftermath.
"Looks like someone came back for somethin' sir," Coulson muttered, frowning.
A voice interrupted them. "Sir?" They turned to see Agent Simmons, her British accent clipped as always. "We found nothing on the bodies. No identifiers, no residues, no fingerprints of their killer sir, nothing. And, sir, the… uh… other half of one of the agents? Gone. We can't locate it anywhere."
Fury's jaw tightened. "So whoever did this took it as a souvenir."
Before Coulson could reply, a young male agent with tousled hair and a Scottish accent jogged up, tablet in hand. "Director! Coulson!"
Coulson raised a brow. "Agent Fitz, what is it?"
Fitz stopped, catching his breath. "Residual energy readings. At the center of the crater uh well, they are there. Whatever was here from the previous scans sir… it's gone now. Just gone." He turned the tablet to show them a blank field where data should've been. "No trace. Like it was never there at all which is impossible but that's what my scanners are saying."
Fury growled. "Get as many agents down here as possible. I want this site secured, I want repairs started, and I want it yesterday."
Coulson glanced at him. "Are you gonna ask for help?"
Fury's gaze darkened, his voice low. "I'm waiting for the boy."
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