...
Hawk's question left Charles stunned all over again.
At first, Hawk found Charles's shock a little amusing. But after seeing that same look so many times, he was starting to get bored.
This wasn't the older Charles Xavier, who seemed reassuring because of his age and gentle manner. This was the younger Charles, and Hawk was already tired of seeing him look so surprised all the time.
"I'm caught between life and death," Hawk clarified with a faint smile. "That doesn't mean I'm dead, Professor."
In the past few days, Hawk had lost track of how many drinks he'd had with the resurrected Mephisto. Waiting around for a Celestial to show up was incredibly boring, and Hawk was never good at sitting still.
Luckily, Mephisto was there. Hawk spent most of his time with him, drinking in the small tavern in Hell.
Even then, Hawk's mind was split in three directions. Part of him enjoyed the bourbon, another part listened to what was happening around him, and the rest kept track of the Celestial behind Ikaris.
Hawk had been monitoring that presence ever since completing his journey through life and death.
But the Celestial who rebuilt Ikaris and sent him to fight seemed to have run away as soon as Ikaris died. Its presence wasn't getting stronger or coming closer. Instead, it was slowly fading away.
The bastard was running.
Hawk wondered if the Celestial was faking its retreat, maybe planning to attack again. That's why he didn't wake up right away. He stayed put, acting vulnerable and hoping his enemy would fall into his trap.
But in the end, Hawk realized he had overestimated the Celestial.
There was no clever plan or secret move. The Celestial had pushed Ikaris as far as possible, watched Hawk defeat him, and then ran away before it could end up like the others Hawk had already killed.
Running away wouldn't help.
Hawk had already memorized its presence.
'Run as far as you want and hide as best you can. When I find you, I'll rip your head off.'
The fleeing Celestial was now on Hawk's permanent list. Once he decided that, the meadow faded away, and Hawk brought Charles into Mephisto's tavern.
"So which is it?" Hawk asked as he took his seat. "Do you want me to spare the people who sent you here, or do you want me to spare everyone else living on this planet?"
He smiled at Charles from across the table.
"You get one, Professor. You can't have your cake and eat it too."
Charles frowned and went back to the same argument he'd made many times before.
"Killing people won't solve the problem."
"You're right." Hawk gave the matter a fair nod before continuing. "But every problem starts with the person causing it. Remove that person, and the problem disappears with them."
Hawk kept smiling, but the cold certainty in his voice made Charles shiver.
"You and your family will eventually leave this universe," Charles said with a bitter smile. "When that happens, humanity will blame the mutants for everything you've done. The divide between them will only become worse."
That was what Charles really worried about.
Respect fades over time. Fear lasts longer, but only if the source of fear is still around to enforce it.
If Hawk stayed in this universe, the government in Washington would never dare go after mutants again. Regular people might still be resentful, but the government would know better.
Hawk couldn't stay forever.
But once Hawk left and the threat was gone, some ambitious politicians would eventually start using mutants as scapegoats again. They'd use that fear to gain power, and the whole cycle would start over.
Only a decision made willingly by humanity could provide lasting stability. That was why Charles wanted the government to pass a Mutant Peace Act of its own accord.
The law might end up just being a piece of paper, but even that would be a step forward.
"I'll leave you a warranty," Hawk replied.
Charles blinked. "What?"
"Meph!"
Hawk called toward the bar, and Mephisto appeared beside their table dressed like he had stepped out of a Beatles-era photograph.
"Allow me to introduce Mephisto," Hawk said, smiling at Charles's renewed confusion. "He's the ruler of Hell in this universe—or at least the Hell connected to your Earth."
Hawk gestured toward him.
"He's my warranty."
"I don't understand," Charles admitted.
"My family will leave. My good friend Mephisto won't."
Hawk leaned back in his chair, looking relaxed.
"After I'm gone, if anyone in Washington starts stirring up hatred between humans and mutants again, one of Hell's demons will collect their soul."
The deal was simple. Someone could start the day by speaking out against mutants, but by nightfall, their soul would be in Hell.
"What do you think?" Hawk interlaced his fingers beneath his chin and watched Charles. "Like I said, I may not be able to solve every problem, but I can always remove the person causing it."
Hawk's smile grew wider.
"Anyone who tries to turn humanity and mutantkind against each other will have their soul harvested by a demon. Mephisto has agreed to provide the necessary support."
"Yes," Mephisto confirmed, sipping his bourbon with impeccable elegance. "My dear friend will receive unlimited technical support."
Hawk looked back at Charles.
"Well, Professor? Any other concerns?"
Charles went quiet. Hawk had already thought of the problem Charles wanted to discuss.
Still, Charles couldn't accept Hawk's solution.
"Life shouldn't be treated so—"
"When the Devil comes to collect, nobody gets to reschedule," Hawk interrupted. "And in this universe, Mephisto is the Devil."
Hawk's voice stayed calm.
"Anyone who tries to provoke another conflict between mutants and humans will be marked. Hell's demons will collect them immediately. Everyone else will be left alone."
Hawk's look made it clear the discussion was over.
"It's time for you to leave, Professor X."
Charles said nothing more.
He looked at Hawk and realized this was final—nothing anyone said or did would change Hawk's mind.
After a long silence, Charles turned and left the tavern without another word.
Hawk watched Charles leave, then lifted his glass and finished his bourbon in one gulp.
Once Charles had disappeared, Mephisto turned away from the door.
"He's too soft-hearted."
"No." Hawk shook his head with a faint laugh. "He's just a good man."
Mephisto waited for Hawk to say more.
"At first, I thought his loyalties were crooked," Hawk continued. "They aren't. Charles has always stood on the side of order."
Being lawful good and being loyal to order aren't the same thing.
Charles had spent his entire life inside the federal system. Whenever possible, he tried to preserve stability and pursue change through the institutions he knew.
That was why he so often appeared to defend humanity against mutantkind. He wasn't necessarily choosing humans. He was choosing the established order.
"I thought you were going to kill him," Mephisto remarked.
"It would have been easy, but there was no reason to do it."
After thinking back on everything that led him here, Hawk felt more certain than ever. Killing Charles would have taken no effort at all.
But letting Charles live would be much more useful.
Hawk set down his empty glass and looked at Mephisto.
"It's time for me to go home."
He had finished everything he needed to do here. This universe was never his home, so there was no reason to stay.
Mephisto's hand paused halfway through pouring another drink. After a moment, he finished filling Hawk's glass and raised his own.
"Congratulations," Mephisto said with genuine warmth. "Have a safe journey."
Even with Mephisto's sincere words, Hawk could tell he was relieved.
"You're glad I'm leaving, aren't you?"
"Of course." Mephisto didn't bother denying it. "Once you're gone, I'll be the strongest being in this universe."
Hawk laughed out loud.
"Old Meph, if you'd been this honest back home, we might've become real friends a long time ago."
"It's not too late, is it?"
Mephisto touched his glass to Hawk's.
"My door will always be open to you. No matter when you return, there'll be a good bottle waiting."
Hawk smiled.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
They looked at each other for a moment, then finished their drinks together. Hawk stood up and took a deep breath.
"Goodbye, Mephisto—Lord of Hell."
"Safe travels, Hawk Phoenix—Sovereign of the Phoenix Galaxy."
A clear cry from the Phoenix echoed across the world.
Far above Earth, a magnificent Phoenix made of gold and crimson fire appeared out of nowhere. Its wings stretched so wide they blocked out the sky, and the flames made the air itself seem to burn.
In the backyard of 521A Palm Street, Jean felt something stir inside her.
She looked up at the huge Phoenix and, without thinking, raised both hands—threads of Phoenix power formed above her palms, shining brighter every second.
'This is… Dad's Phoenix power.'
Jean's eyes lit up. She quickly looked down at Hawk, who was still sitting under the parasol tree.
Phoenix fire ignited beneath him.
In an instant, the flames covered his whole body, wrapping him in a blazing gold and crimson cocoon.
Jean heard movement behind her and turned to see Wanda walking out from the living room.
"Mom, Dad—"
"Yes," Wanda answered calmly.
She watched the Phoenix flames burn around Hawk.
"The Phoenix never dies. It only rises again."
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