Anna sat alone on a cold metal bench at Salem Center Station, the nearest subway stop to Xavier's School. The station bustled with the usual evening crowd commuters rushing home, students with backpacks slung over their shoulders, and the occasional street performer strumming a guitar near the turnstiles. The faint hum of an approaching train echoed through the tunnel, and the overhead lights flickered slightly, casting long shadows across the platform. She hugged her bag tightly to her chest, her mind clouded with doubt and pain. The events from earlier replayed in a relentless loop Ethan's cutting words, the way he had looked at her as though she were nothing, how even Angelica had agreed that leaving was the best choice. "Why am i even hesitating?" she thought bitterly, staring down at the tracks.
The subway car screeched into the station, brakes grinding against metal as it slowed. The doors slid open, and people shuffled in and out. Anna drew a slow, shaky breath before rising from the bench, her legs heavy, and began to walk toward the nearest door. This is it, she told herself. But just as she was about to step forward, a sudden gust of wind rushed past, and a familiar voice spoke.
"You sure you know where we're goin'? 'Cause I still gotta buy a ticket for that."
Her breath hitched. Her head snapped to the side, wide eyes locking on Ethan, standing only a few feet away. He wore his usual casual clothes, hands tucked into the pockets of his dark jeans. His leather jacket hung slightly open, revealing a plain white T-shirt underneath. His hair was tousled, as if he'd been running his fingers through it, and that same easy smile played on his lips.
Her whole body froze. No… this isn't right. He-he told me…
Her voice trembled. "W-Why… why are you here?"
Ethan's smile softened, then faded as he stepped closer, his gaze turning serious. "Because you're here."
She clenched her fists, fighting not to cry. "You told me Ah was disposable that everyone hated me. Now you're sayin'..."
"That wasn't me."
Anna's breath caught as Ethan took another cautious step forward. "We barely started dating, I know, and we haven't known each other long. There's so much we don't know about each other, but I swear on my immortality, I'd never do anything to hurt you."
Anna's lip trembled as he continued, "I joke around, I flirt, but I don't lie about things that matter." He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. "I didn't see you after classes. Then someone told me you'd left. When I read the letter, I knew right away someone's trying to manipulate you."
Her heart pounded. "Manipulate…?"
"Yeah," Ethan said, stepping closer with care. "That wasn't me, Anna. Whatever he said, whatever he did, forget it. It wasn't real. I like you. You're the first girl I've ever felt this way about. I want to date you, spend time with you, get to know you better."
Tears blurred Anna's vision as she clutched the strap of her bag. "How can I know you're not an imposter too?" she whispered, her voice cracking. "How can I trust you?"
Ethan closed the distance between them, his eyes fixed on hers. Slowly, he raised a hand and gently cupped her cheek, wiping away the lone tear that had slipped free. "Because I'm the only one who can touch you without getting hurt," he said softly. "Think about it. That other guy, did he let you touch him? Or did he push you away?"
Anna's breath caught as the memory returned. The other Ethan, or whoever he was had recoiled when she'd reached for him. He had even kicked her back, his touch cold and distant. But this Ethan's hand was warm, his presence comforting. The real Ethan had always touched her without fear.
A strange calm washed over her, even as tears spilled over. She bit her lip, torn between relief and the dread of believing again.
Ethan smiled faintly. "Look, if you don't wanna go back, that's fine. I'll go wherever you want. But just remember that there are people who care about you, people who are worried."
That was all it took. A choked sob escaped her as she threw herself into his arms. Ethan smiled gently and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
After hours, she finally felt safe. But then Ethan suddenly stiffened, his head snapping up as though he'd heard something. Something was coming. And it was fast. He pulled back, pressing a quick kiss to Anna's forehead before spinning around. Before she could ask what was wrong, a massive figure lunged from the shadows of the station, claws bared, eyes gleaming with hunger. Sabretooth.
Anna gasped and stepped back in fear. Ethan's lips curled into a smirk. "Oh, this just got interesting."
Sabretooth's grin widened, a feral, predatory expression sending a shiver down Anna's spine. His muscles coiled like springs as he leapt toward them, claws extended, ready to strike. But before he could reach them, Ethan took a single step forward and vanished.
Anna's breath caught in her throat as Ethan reappeared behind Sabretooth, his movements so fast they seemed to defy the laws of physics. Sabretooth's eyes widened in shock, his grin faltering as he realized what had happened. The world seemed to slow as he turned, his actions sluggish compared to Ethan's blinding speed.
Ethan's right hand shot out like a blade, slicing through the air with precision. Sabretooth barely had time to register the motion before his head separated from his body. The moment felt surreal, his head tumbling upward, his body collapsing to the floor. Ethan's left fist clenched, and with a force that seemed to warp the air itself, he punched the severed head. The impact sent it flying like a cannonball before it exploded in a gruesome burst of blood and bone.
Anna's hands flew to her mouth, her stomach churning as she turned away, fighting the urge to vomit. The subway station erupted into chaos. Passengers screamed, their voices merging into a deafening cacophony as they scrambled for the exits. The pounding of footsteps echoed like thunder, blending with the distant wail of an approaching train. People fled in terror. The once-busy subway had become a scene of carnage, Sabretooth's massive body lying motionless on the tiles, his head a shattered mess.
Ethan stood amidst the destruction, his expression cold and unreadable. His eyes, once warm and inviting, now gleamed with a dangerous intensity. He had been training relentlessly for three months, honing his powers, pushing himself to the limit. And this was proof of the strength he had gained.
Anna was the first girl he had ever truly cared for, not some distant crush from an anime or movie, but someone real, someone who stirred feelings he hadn't thought possible. And someone had dared to make Anna cry using his face. That was unforgivable. He had already taken many lives; a few more wouldn't change anything.
A slow clapping cut through the chaos. Ethan turned to see Magneto stepping into the light. Erik Lensherr, the master of magnetism, looked as composed as ever, his crimson helmet gleaming beneath the fluorescent lamps. Behind him, a figure covered in porcupine-like spikes grinned menacingly, his smile tinged with faint amusement.
"Impressive," Magneto said smoothly. "I seem to have an opening on my team… if you're interested."
Ethan barely had time to answer before FWIP! His hand shot out, snatching a porcupine spine that had been hurled at him. He turned his head slightly, eyes locking on the spiked mutant, who now appeared far less confident.
Magneto raised his hands, and the metal around them railings, pipes, even the coins in people's pockets began to tremble and rise, ready to be weaponized. But Ethan was faster. He vanished again, reappearing directly in front of Magneto.
Erik's eyes widened in surprise. "What..."
BOOM! Ethan's fist connected with Magneto's face. The blow sent Erik flying. Even with his magnetic field active, the sheer force of the strike broke through. His helmet cracked before flying off as he slammed against the subway wall with a sickening thud. He slumped, unconscious, blood trickling from his nose and mouth. Had Ethan not held back, Erik's head would have been gone.
But Ethan wasn't finished. He vanished once more, reappearing beside Anna just in time to intercept another projectile from the porcupine mutant. Anna's breath hitched.
The spiked assailant, now sweating, panicked and raised both hands, launching a barrage of quills. Dozens. Hundreds. A deadly storm aimed straight at Ethan.
Yet Ethan didn't flinch. He didn't move, didn't dodge. Instead, his arms blurred as he caught each spine with inhuman speed and precision. Step by deliberate step, he advanced toward the mutant, his expression calm and unreadable.
The mutant faltered, fear replacing bravado, and turned to flee, but Ethan was already there, blocking his escape.
"Have a taste of your own medicine," Ethan said, his voice low and dangerous. He pressed the captured spines into the mutant's body, all at once. The man screamed, blood pouring from a dozen wounds as he crumpled to the ground.
Anna closed her eyes, unable to bear the sight, and turned away. She stood alone amid the wreckage, the only one who hadn't fled or fallen. Her legs felt as though they might give out at any moment.
Ethan exhaled slowly and stepped toward her. He placed a hand on her shoulder, then without warning pulled her into a tight embrace. Anna trembled in his arms.
"You okay?" he murmured.
She didn't answer, but she didn't pull away either.
Then...
"What the fuck happened here?!"
Ethan looked up. A familiar figure stood at the entrance to the subway. Logan. His sharp gaze swept over the devastation Magneto unconscious, Sabretooth's headless corpse, the spiked mutant bleeding out. He turned back to Ethan, stunned by the blankness in his eyes.
Ethan exhaled. "Good. You're here."
Without another word, he scooped Anna into a bridal carry.
"Wait, what..." Logan began, but...
"Get her luggage," Ethan said before vanishing, leaving Logan alone in the carnage.
"What the actual fuck?" Logan muttered.
Before he could make sense of it, Professor X's voice echoed in his mind. Logan… what just happened?
Logan ran a hand through his hair. "Wish I knew, Chuck. Wish I knew."