The plane rocked violently as Magneto got right up in Professor X's face, unleashing a furious tirade. Though his expression remained cold, everyone—whether watching the video or present in the moment—could feel the seething rage and bitter disappointment radiating from this mutant leader.
There was no denying it: though both Charles and Erik were leaders of mutantkind, at this particular moment, in this particular scene, it was Erik Lehnsherr who carried the weight and presence of a true leader.
He had originally gone out to rescue the mutant president, only to be framed as a murderer and thrown into prison. That time behind bars marked a low point for Erik.
But he never gave up. Even while imprisoned, he never stopped thinking about the future of their kind.
In contrast, Charles—also going through a personal low—had all but given up. Beaten down by setback after setback, he simply gave in to despair and let himself go.
Granted, we know from the future that Charles would eventually pull himself together. But Logan's time-traveling intervention fast-tracked that process—still, at this particular moment, Charles was mired in his grief and depression.
It's not entirely fair to say that Charles was lesser than Erik. Their life experiences were simply worlds apart. Erik grew up in suffering, having endured more pain in his youth than most experience in a lifetime.
And remarkably, those hardships didn't break him—they honed him. Each trial became a whetstone that sharpened his resolve, forging the iron-willed man he later became.
Charles, by comparison, had a childhood that—while not exactly idyllic—was far more sheltered. He never truly experienced hardship, especially nothing comparable to what Erik had endured.
His early years were smooth sailing, full of promise and pride. Before Erik's betrayal, Charles had never even stumbled.
Which is why, when he finally did fall, it hit him harder than he could handle. He'd never developed the mental resilience that only hardship can build.
Sure, his telepathy gave him insight into the darkness of humanity—but knowing it wasn't the same as living it.
Their vastly different life paths shaped their personalities, their philosophies, and ultimately, their conflict.
Perhaps after living through real suffering, Charles would emerge stronger—this was the idea behind "what doesn't kill you makes you stronger."
But for now, at this point in time, he still came across as immature beside the already hardened Erik.
Faced with Erik's rage, Charles looked away and avoided confrontation—because deep down, he realized he had no rebuttal. Erik's vision simply eclipsed his.
No matter how extreme or cold Erik's methods might be, no one could deny his unwavering commitment to the future of mutantkind.
And Charles? He looked more like a heartbroken man nursing a grudge than a leader. His resentment toward Erik seemed more personal than principled.
Public duty versus personal vendetta—it was clear who stood taller.
After Erik's anger cooled, the plane finally settled into calm. Charles slipped into the cockpit, putting some physical—and emotional—distance between them.
Outside the video, the two men exchanged a glance. Erik took a deep breath and said, "We've already seen this footage once before, Charles. And yet, you still haven't woken up. That's what's really disappointing."
Charles inhaled deeply, hand covering his mouth, brows furrowed. He had no words.
Then Logan spoke up, uncharacteristically serious. "Erik, I actually think you're a good leader. Your strength is the shield mutants need. But if I had to choose… I'd still follow Charles. Want to know why?"
Erik raised an eyebrow. "Because I'm a cold-blooded killer and Charles is the good guy?"
Logan nodded, then shook his head, not answering directly. Instead, he said, "I meant what I said—your hardline approach might be more effective sometimes. You make tough calls, even cruel ones, when necessary. You're the kind of person who'll sacrifice anything—even yourself—for the mission."
He let out a small laugh. "People call me tough because I've got metal in my bones, but honestly? You're the real iron man. On that front, Charles doesn't compare. But there's one thing he's got that you don't—heart."
"He treats people around him like real friends, like family. And that's something you can't do, Erik. You can say 'brothers and sisters' all you want—but when the time comes, you'd kill them without hesitation if it served the greater good."
"Me? I've spent my whole life like a beast, or a weapon in someone else's hand. I've had enough of that kind of life. So no matter what, Erik—we're not on the same side. I'll never follow you."
Logan wasn't known for long speeches, but this time, he let it all out. These were his honest feelings. Erik might be a capable—even great—leader, but he'd never be a good companion.
During the last round of the "question game," Logan had teamed up with Erik due to their shared player status. Erik had tried hard to recruit him, and Logan couldn't pretend it didn't get to him.
He'd even thought about whether he should take that path—Erik's path of relentless force.
But when the time came for revenge against Stryker, he hesitated. He couldn't bring himself to kill the man who had ruined his life.
That moment of hesitation told him everything. Beneath his tough, violent exterior, Logan still had a soft heart.
Before that, he was sure he'd tear Stryker limb from limb. But after rescuing his lover Kayla with the help of future intel, he realized something—his heart wasn't made of adamantium.
His bones might be the hardest metal in the world, but they hadn't changed the part of him that craved peace and tenderness in the midst of chaos.
That was when he finally understood why he never got along with Erik—they were never meant to walk the same path.
Erik looked at him long and hard. His eyes sharpened, his voice steady as his lips curled into a faint smile. "Very well. Good luck… But let me give you a piece of advice, Logan—if you're dead set on opposing me, then you'd better rip all that metal out of your body."
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