That evening, the air shimmered slightly as the energy around the house shifted — Ethan and Diana had returned.
Jean and Anna sat slumped on the living room couch, visibly exhausted, each nursing a glass of chilled water. They looked up in tandem as Ethan entered, his expression relaxed and casual, as if he hadn't just shaken the world a day ago.
Behind him, Diana wore a satisfied smile, her posture radiating the grace of a female warrior at ease. At the far end of the room, Didi lounged in an oversized bean bag, gleefully flipping through a fashion magazine while observing Jean and Anna with playful amusement.
"Oh, look who decided to finally show up," Jean muttered before arching an eyebrow at Ethan as she set her glass down with a soft clink.
"We've been drowning in mess and clean-up," Anna added while stretching her arms. "Do you have any idea how many people wanted to meet you today?"
Didi chuckled. "You both looked so cute in crisis mode. Very productive."
Ethan raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll admit I owe you both big time."
Jean crossed her arms. "Damn right you do. We need a few proper dates and actual nights off after this chaos."
Anna nodded. "Agreed. We held things together while you… had your little adventure."
Diana looked genuinely apologetic. "I must say sorry. I spent nearly two weeks with Ethan in that room while you two were handling the aftermath. I didn't mean to steal him away."
Jean frowned. "Two weeks? It was just a day here—"
Anna blinked in realization. "Oh. Time manipulation. You mastered it and used such a powerful ability for this? You absolute cheater."
Ethan scratched his head sheepishly. "Yeah… about that."
Anna narrowed her eyes. "That's not fair. I want at least a month of alone time with you, Ethan."
Jean raised a hand. "Three months. Non-negotiable. My workload this past week was enough to justify a whole honeymoon."
Ethan sighed dramatically. "You're both going to wear me out. I doubt your bodies can keep up."
Anna leaned back smugly. "You know I have no problems with that."
Jean grinned — a mischievous, confident expression. "You'll find out about my physical stamina soon enough."
Ethan tilted his head. "Wait. That night after I returned from the DC Universe… Jean, what happened to your body? You felt stronger. Not just telepathically — physically too."
Jean's eyes sparkled with a secret. She only smiled. "It's a surprise for later."
But Ethan felt it. The Phoenix Force within her… it was no longer dormant. He could sense its rhythm clearly now, the same way his own fragment resonated inside him. Her aura had deepened, matured — more balanced, more controlled. If this trajectory continued, she could completely merge with the Phoenix and ascend into the White Phoenix — a force beyond comprehension. He didn't mention it aloud. He would wait, let her reveal it on her own terms.
Anna broke the moment with a light nudge to Ethan's arm. "By the way, Susan dropped by this morning."
Ethan perked up. "Really? What did she say?"
"We caught up. She mentioned Johnny and Ben wanted to meet you too. Fantastic Four's on standby if we need help."
"Good to know," Ethan said, thoughtful. "I should reach out to her, see if I can help with that project she's working on."
Jean joined in. "Also, I met with Emma earlier. The Immune+ Protocol is in its final stage. We're ready to release it to the public in a week."
Ethan's eyes lit up, his admiration unmistakable. He stepped closer and pulled Jean into a firm hug, kissing her gently on the lips. "You're amazing, Jean. All your hard work — I see it. I'm so proud of you and I promise we'll go on that date. Just you and me."
Jean smiled against his shoulder. "I'll hold you to that."
Anna, feigning an exaggerated pout, raised a hand. "Hey, I still want a proper date too."
Ethan turned and kissed her forehead. "Of course. You already got the DC Universe experience with me and you'll get more. For now, it's Jean's turn."
Jean's cheeks warmed at his words, and a soft, rare blush colored her skin.
Diana tilted her head with amusement. "Should I also get a formal date night slot?"
Jean rolled her eyes but laughed. "Get in line, Diana."
Didi didn't know what to say. This guy was a magnet for women, and she was starting to feel like the third—no, fourth—wheel caught between them all. After all, every woman living in this house seemed to be his woman.
Didi sighed internally. Seriously, was this man dipped in pheromones? Every woman in this house had basically claimed a piece of him—and here she was.
Ethan glanced at the clock. "Before anything else, I need to meet with the others tomorrow. We have to officially address the Hydra incident and clear the air."
Jean nodded. "We'll be with you."
Anna grinned. "Always."
Didi stretched and yawned dramatically. "Good. Because I'm tired of being the only one relaxed around here."
They all laughed.
Outside, the stars began to shimmer in the sky, the quiet calm after a day of madness.
----------
The next day arrived with a quiet buzz of anticipation. The world was still reacting to Ethan's actions, but he didn't seem fazed. While headlines spun endless stories, he focused on reconnecting and clarifying things with those who mattered.
That morning, Ethan met with several key business allies—Emma Frost among them—at the Aeon Biotech headquarters. He reassured them that he was perfectly fine, brushing off concerns with calm composure and a light-hearted smile.
Emma, sitting across from him in a sharp white suit, studied him over the rim of her glass. "You don't look like someone who fought a criminal who threatened the world."
Ethan smirked. "Guess I've gotten better at multitasking."
Emma raised a brow, amused and intrigued, but didn't press further. Others followed her lead, accepting Ethan's assurance—though they all knew there was more under the surface.
--------------
Later that afternoon, Ethan made his way to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.
The campus hadn't changed much—at least not on the surface. But as he walked through the halls, he could feel the difference. Eyes followed him. Conversations paused. Whispers floated through the air like static.
"That's him, right? Ethan Carter…"
"Is that really him?"
"He's even more handsome in person…"
"I heard he fought Sinister single-handedly."
"He's dating both Jean and Anna? No way…"
A few students even blushed as they passed him, casting wide-eyed stares and stifling giggles. Some of the younger girls seemed completely starstruck.
Ethan just chuckled to himself. 'Celebrity status in a school full of mutants. This is a good experience.'
---
Professor Xavier's office remained just as he remembered it. Calm. Regal. And hiding a thousand silent burdens beneath its polished exterior.
Ethan knocked gently before stepping in.
"Ethan," Charles greeted with a warm but subdued smile. "It's good to see you."
"Likewise, Professor." Ethan stepped forward and offered a respectful nod. "Thanks for making time."
Standing to the side was Storm—Ororo Munroe—sorting through a thick folder of reports. She glanced up, her lips curving into a genuine smile.
"Well, if it isn't my best student turned as a menace," she teased.
Ethan grinned. "Still better than being the favorite student who always played by the rules."
"Oh, please." She chuckled, waving a hand. "You broke more rules than Logan did some days."
Speaking of which—
"So, how's it going with Logan?" Ethan leaned against the edge of the desk, shooting her a knowing look.
Storm paused, then rolled her eyes. "You would ask that."
Charles raised a brow with mild amusement.
Ethan raised both hands in mock surrender. "Come on. It's been what, three years? Still going strong?"
Storm's smile softened, and she nodded. "Yeah. Surprisingly. He's... calmer these days. Less gruff. More like a real partner."
Ethan laughed. "I'll drink to that. Never thought anyone could mellow him out."
"Trust me," she muttered with a knowing grin, "he's still Logan."
"Well, you deserve someone solid," Ethan said sincerely. "Logan's a lucky guy."
Once the pleasantries were over, the conversation turned more serious.
Charles folded his hands. "Jean and Anna didn't offer much detail about what happened. But the mention of Sinister stirred... many memories."
Ethan's gaze dropped for a moment before he met Charles' eyes again. "Sinister is already gone. It was just a cover up."
A heavy silence filled the room.
Storm exhaled slowly. "Can you tell us more about this?"
Ethan nodded. "That's why I wanted to speak with you directly."
He walked across the room, pacing slowly. "It wasn't just Sinister. Hydra was backing him before. Funding him. Feeding him test subjects, tech, resources."
He began to explain everything he had done to them.
Sure, he could have kept it a secret—but what was the point? He was strong enough to handle most threats on Earth, and with his ability to adapt, there was little he truly feared. Lying to them served no purpose.
Storm's hand froze on the document she was holding. She looked up before her eyes narrowing. "You… killed them?"
Ethan didn't flinch. "Every single one. Hydra is officially history."
Charles's face remained unreadable, but there was a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
Storm, however, stepped forward. "You crossed the line again, Ethan."
"No," Ethan replied coldly, his voice suddenly sharp. "They crossed the line. I erased it."
"I believe in justice," Charles responded calmly. "Not vengeance."
He turned, his expression darkening. "I never go looking for trouble, Professor. But if someone dares to touch what's mine… family, friends... Death will be a mercy."
Charles and Storm began to speak about the value of life—even for criminals. They reminded Ethan that he didn't have the right to decide who lived and who died.
"You can't just kill everyone," Charles said calmly. "If you do, there won't be anyone left to live on this Earth. People can change—for the better. They just need a chance… and someone to believe in them."
Ethan had reached his limit. He'd heard this speech one too many times—about mercy, second chances, and redemption. But what about the victims? What about those who never got a second chance?
He chuckled darkly. "Maybe I should've left them alive like you said. Tortured them. Let them feel what their victims felt. Let them beg for death and deny it to them."
The horrifying suggestion sent a visible chill down Storm's spine. Her eyes widened, mouth parting in shock.
Even Charles's normally composed face cracked with unease, his fingers tightening slightly on the arms of his chair.
Ethan grinned, catching their unease. "Relax. I'm kidding."
But the silence that followed made it clear—they weren't reassured.
Eventually, the tension softened. Charles cleared his throat and shifted topics.
"Scott and Madelyne went on a vacation with their son," he said. "It's been good for them."
"About time," Ethan said. "Scott needs to smile more. Maybe even crack a joke one day."
Storm added, "Hank is out at a scientific council meeting. Logan's handling Danger Room training."
"Still making kids puke with those drills?"
"You know it," Storm said, half-laughing.
After a few more exchanges, Ethan excused himself and walked out, his presence still stirring whispers and side glances as he passed through the halls.
Back in Charles's office, Storm leaned against the desk.
"He's… not the same kid we trained," she murmured.
Charles nodded. "No, he isn't. But perhaps we should be grateful."
Storm looked at him, confused. "Grateful?"
Charles turned toward the window, his voice distant. "That he didn't become like Erik. Because if he did... I'm not sure anyone could stop him."
Silence followed. Heavy, tense, and filled with unspoken fears.
But the name settled between them like a thunderclap. Erik Lehnsherr. Magneto. A man who once walked both their paths, and now…?
"Last I heard," Storm said, "he's working with the UN. Trying to build an island for mutants."
"Yes," Charles replied.
They both fell silent, watching the late afternoon light stream across the school grounds.
---------------
Later that night, under the glowing neon signs of Harlem, Ethan strolled beside Didi, a half-full cone of mint chocolate chip in his hand. The streets were alive with the usual city buzz—cars honking, late-night diners chatting, soft jazz drifting from a nearby open window.
But Ethan had muted most of that with a gentle telepathic push, convincing every passerby to ignore them. As for surveillance cameras, he had layered a subtle magic-like field, distorting their presence.
Didi, meanwhile, was on a mission. A mission to sample every single flavor the ice cream stand had to offer. She was already on her fifth—something shockingly and aggressively sweet.
"This one tastes like chocolate mixed with sin," Didi muttered, taking another bite of a suspiciously dark scoop.
"You know," Ethan said while leaning against the brick wall behind them as he watched her demolish another scoop, "you will catch a cold or at least a serious case of brain freeze at this rate."
Didi shot him a sideways look, her tongue flicking out to catch a drip from the cone. "I am literally death walking in flesh. Cold doesn't affect me."
Ethan chuckled. "Fair. I keep forgetting. You look like a normal teenager with a beautiful personality and with a sweet tooth than the embodiment of cosmic finality."
She narrowed her eyes at him, a slow smirk curving on her lips. "Are you flirting with me again?"
He gave a half-shrug, eyes playful. "It's not flirting if it's the truth. Besides, if I really liked someone—even if she was death—I wouldn't hesitate to court her."
She let out a low, amused laugh and took a step closer, licking the edge of her ice cream slowly. "You really are courting death, huh?"
Their eyes met—hers were dark and endless, like twin abysses that swallowed light—and for a moment, time slowed. Ethan parted his lips, ready to say something, maybe even foolishly romantic—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shattered the silence, followed by screams and the crashing of debris. The night air turned sharp and chaotic.
Ethan's expression shifted instantly from warmth to irritation. "Of course. Can't even enjoy ice cream without someone trying to wreck the city."
Didi's eyes narrowed. "My universe is less violent than this one."
"Highly doubt that," Ethan muttered. 'Between cosmic gods and multiversal threats across both the DC and Marvel universes, this place might not have the cleanest track record—but let's be honest, the MCU has the destruction dial turned way down compared to the DC Universe.'
They both turned toward the source of the chaos. Down the block, a grotesque, mutated creature 11 feet tall was tearing through the street, sending cars flying with each swing of its hulking arms. Its skin was an unnatural green-grey, textured like scales and concrete, and pulsing with fury. Muscles bulged like they could barely be contained by the bones underneath, and its eyes burned with blind rage.
People ran in all directions. Sirens blared. The police arrived and formed a perimeter, already knowing their weapons were useless.
Didi lazily tossed the remainder of her ice cream into a trash bin. "Want me to erase him from existence?"
"No," Ethan said, sighing as he rolled his shoulders. "We don't do that unless absolutely necessary. Plus… I did want to stretch my legs a bit tonight."
She arched a brow, floating just a few inches off the ground now, radiating a faint cold mist. "Suit yourself, hero."