The atmosphere inside Xavier's mansion had changed.
Senator Kelly's horrific mutation and subsequent death had sent shockwaves through the team. While Xavier and some of the X-Men viewed it as a tragedy, others saw it as a warning—a glimpse into the future if humanity continued meddling with forces beyond their control.
And then there was Wanda Maximoff.
To her, Kelly's fate was simply another example of power correcting weakness. That was all Senator Kelly ever was—a weak human who foolishly believed his opinions carried weight among those who actually held real power. In the end, he was nothing more than a pawn, used and discarded like so many before him. What a fool.
Lounging on the leather couch in the common room, legs crossed, wine glass in hand, she listened as Natasha, Talia, and Gwen tore into the absurdity of the senator's downfall.
"So let me get this straight," Natasha said, leaning against the bar with an amused smirk. "The man who wanted to lock up mutants and 'protect' humanity from us ended up turning into sentient soup?"
"More like spoiled milk," Talia snickered.
"Or expired jello," Gwen added, barely suppressing laughter.
Wanda tilted her head, considering. "I prefer 'failed science experiment,' but go on."
Talia shook her head. "This is honestly the funniest thing that's ever happened. Did you see the look on his face? Dude really thought he was about to get some mutant superpowers."
"And instead," Natasha smirked, "he got a one-way ticket to the municipal water supply."
Jean, sitting across from them, groaned loudly, rubbing her temples. "You are all horrible people."
Wanda grinned, twirling her wine glass. "Oh, darling. I don't make the rules. I just enjoy the karma."
Jean's face turned red, and she quickly looked away.
From the side, Storm chuckled, sipping her tea with an air of casual amusement. "It is impressive how quickly fate corrects its own mistakes."
Wanda turned to her, red eyes gleaming with interest. "Ah, and here I thought you were the most morally upright of the group."
Storm raised a delicate brow. "I never said I approved, Wanda. I simply said I find it… interesting."
Wanda leaned in slightly, voice dropping to a silky whisper. "Well, darling. I find you interesting."
Storm did not look away. Instead, her lips curled slightly into a knowing smirk. "So I've noticed."
Jean, watching the interaction, immediately looked like she wanted to explode.
Gwen leaned over to Natasha, grinning. "Is it just me, or is Wanda actually seducing half the mansion?"
Natasha smirked. "Standard Maximoff behavior."
Talia sipped her drink. "At this rate, Xavier himself might be next."
The entire table burst into laughter.
The lighthearted banter didn't last long.
Minutes later, alarms blared through the mansion, and Xavier's voice echoed telepathically into everyone's heads.
"Rogue is missing."
The room fell silent.
Jean immediately stood up, her expression shifting to panic. "What? When?!"
"She was last seen in the east wing," Xavier said as the team hurried toward the war room, urgency taking over. "She left with Crystal Frost."
Storm frowned. "That doesn't make sense. Why would Crystal take her?"
Gwen crossed her arms. "I knew that woman was too sketchy. Nobody just pops up out of nowhere and immediately latches onto one person like that."
Talia exhaled. "Are we absolutely sure Rogue left with her? Maybe she just wandered off."
Xavier's voice was grim. "We have security footage."
Everyone turned toward the holographic display as the screen flickered—revealing Crystal Frost leading Rogue out of the mansion, late at night.
Jean's breath hitched.
Storm's expression darkened.
Natasha tapped the screen. "Yep. That's a kidnapping."
"She didn't even put up a fight," Talia murmured. "She just… went with her."
Xavier's face was tense. "This was planned."
"No shit," Gwen muttered.
Jean clenched her fists. "We have to get her back."
"Oh, don't worry," Wanda said, stretching lazily, completely unbothered. "We will."
Wandas eyes glowed red.
As she pondered whether her senses were wrong about Crystal and Rogue, Wanda couldn't shake the feeling that they were a perfect match. No matter what Crystal was up to, Wanda was certain things would work out between them. Her women's intuition confirmed it, and if there was one thing Wanda knew for sure—it was that her instincts about women were never wrong.
Meanwhile, aboard Magneto's ship, Mystique—still disguised as Crystal Frost—stood beside Rogue, doing her best to look calm.
Inside? She was anything but.
Rogue looked up at her, confused but trusting. "Where are we going?"
Mystique hesitated. "To someone who can help you."
Rogue frowned. "Help me how?"
Mystique couldn't answer.
Because the truth was, she wasn't taking Rogue to be helped.
She was taking her to be used.
Magneto had plans—plans that involved draining Rogue's life force, forcing her to power his machine, turning her into a tool for his war.
And for the first time in her life, Mystique wanted to disobey an order.
Because if Rogue died because of this? If she suffered? If she became another casualty of the Brotherhood's war?
Mystique would never forgive herself.
I can't let that happen.
Even if it meant betraying Magneto, even if it meant losing everything she'd built—
She was going to protect Rogue.
No matter the cost.
Back at Xavier's School, the war room was in full chaos.
"Rogue is gone," Xavier said, his tone heavy. "And if she's with the Brotherhood, then we must assume she is in grave danger."
Jean clenched her fists. "The we find her, we get her back, and we end this."
Wanda leaned against the table, smirking. "You know, Jean, I think this is the first time you've sounded like a proper leader."
Jean's face turned red again—but this time, she didn't argue.
Talia cracked her knuckles. "Well, then. Let's go steal back our girl."
Storm stepped forward, her eyes flashing like lightning. "Let's make them regret ever taking her."
Natasha smirked. "Finally. Something fun."
Wanda, watching all her lovely little pieces fall into place, chuckled.
"Oh, this is going to be beautiful."
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