3rd POV:
''A battle between reality warpers is a battle of creativity and wills. That said your two first abilities should be cloning and enhanced processing speed.
And then you should pick up a book and learn about science. Actually make this three abilities. Learn to split you consciousness among your puppets,'' Bell told Wanda in a different dimension on another Earth.
''So you control this clone puppets like a sort of hive mind, except without its weakness? Why just not make a independent clone?,'' Wanda asked. She was still a little pissed about the revelations, but she was coming around.
''Because you do NOT want a fully functioning clone with its own consciousness and your powers to wander around and make choices YOU never would have. That just screams trouble,'' Bell talked to her as if this stuff should be self explanatory.
''So if my strength comes from my creativity, then why should I learn science?,'' Wanda asked. Sure she received some education from HYDRA, but it wasn't extensive. And she never had problems with getting by with what she had.
''You don't need to strictly. I'm just recommending it, because I'm of the belief that it would help you somehow. Even now I have a training clone puppet somewhere training like mad in all sorts of things and studying up on all sort of things,'' Bell explained to her.
Well, maybe he was a little vindictive. He didn't want to be the only reality warper that struggled with his powers, because he thought he had to learn science.
In his defense...
...
The truth is he had no defense.
He should have just taken ROBs word that he was limited by imagination and not sciece. Guess he was still thinking like a human trying to look for logic in the illogical.
By now he kind of reached a bottleneck on existing powers like energy and physical manipulations, etc., so he now trained in the mythical manipulation. Or as he called it, conceptual attacks.
''Right. For now I think I will just have myself train in telekinesis and telepathy. You suggested for me not to advertise that I'm a reality warper after all. So how do I do this? This clone puppet creating thingy?,'' Wanda informed him of her decision. Bell nodded. Fair enough.
''Close your eyes and will it really strongly. It is that simple,'' Bell instructed her. It was simple, even by other abilities standards.
A few minutes later there was a second Wanda on the ground, dead to the world. She struggled a bit to split her consciousness, but eventually succeeded.
''This is just so weird,'' Wanda commented, making the same movement with both bodies as she inspected 'herself'.
''Yeah, it is certainly an out of body experience. Now as for enhanced processing speed,...,'' Bell grabbed her attention.
Once she learned both abilities he would leave he to her own devices. Much as he wanted to teach her more, he really feared he would hinder her if he stifled her own creativity. Though he did tell her to always come to him if she wanted pointers or felt unsure.
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Rogue grabbed the massive boulder and spun it around before throwing it a few hundred meters away.
She was in the desert. Well, more like a simulation of the desert in the training room. A few days have passed since Bell revealed the truth. She was still angry with him. Then again, her anger would have probably been much greater were she not in love with him. It was her inability to touch that brought them together after all.
That said, she was still angry. Even if a small part of herself admitted that by now she was irrational about her anger. She moved past the processing stage by now. She also kind of missed sleeping with him in the same bed.
Emotions were annoying sometimes.
With a yell she slammed both her fists into the ground, causing a massive crack as the earth shifted and parted into uneven parts, forming into a crater.
She huffed, patting her hair a little to remove the dust. The training room worked by manipulating the senses and brain into a scenario. It was good for training abilities, but for physical training it was shit. That she still needed to do outside. But right know she was blowing some steam.
While she didn't have the memories, she was still relatively familiar with the abilities so she had an idea what to look for. She flew up reaching high speeds and stopped in the air eventually. Then she shot back into the earth. She repeated the action a few times.
''Enough,'' a voice in the intercom firmly told her, before deactivating the simulation. Rogue found herself suddenly on the ground standing and no longer flying. She looked at the control box through the glass and saw Laura. Laura came outside and stood before her.
''What are you doing?,'' Laura demanded.
''Training. Can't you see?,'' Rogue said, crossing her arms.
''You are being foolish. So he didn't make it so that you can touch someone immediately. So What? Is that the extent of your relationship? Was your love that shallow?,'' Laura asked bitingly. It was getting annoying for her, seeing this drag on.
No.
Rogue looked down ashamed.
Laura moved forward and grabbed her mouth with her hand, holding her in place by the cheeks, skin touching skin.
''See? We are alone and I can touch you. Don't be ungrateful, when he keeps his word. Wanda already talks with him again. She and I decided we will meet with Gwen again in a few days. You will be there,'' Laura told her before wandering off.
Personally she didn't agree with Bells reasoning of not advertising his powers to the world. But Laura understood that this was the nature off the world. Those who had, could dictate what was and will be.
So long as he didn't go out of his way to deliberately harm innocents she didn't mind him using his powers like that. As far as she was concerned, they lucked out. It could always get worse.
Rogue watched Laura walk out of the training room. She put her gloved hand to her face and rubbed it. Thanks to her new additional powers, she wasn't hurt, not that Laura was trying to harm her anyway, she knew. But it was weird suddenly being able to touch so many people so suddenly.
She sighed letting her hand drop.
Yeah, she was being kind of a bitch by dragging this on.
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The second encounter between the five of them was much more calm as they were eating chicken noddle soup in Bells living room in Queens.
''You know, in retrospect I was kind of foolish for getting angry with you in the first place. You are tormenting Stark with your Zero persona. All his faults and fears thrown right back into his face,'' Wanda mused with amusement.
''Sorry about ghosting you, Sugar,'' Rogue apologized. Bell waved her off. He just wanted the drama to end and move past it.
''Well, it seems this time, we won't get angered by new revelations and we can finally move to getting to know each other. That said, Bell I think we all would like to talk about this Phoenix inhabiting Jean,'' Gwen spoke something they all had on their minds, even if it was put to the back of their mind after that entire ordeal.
''Yes. What is the Phoenix? Or the Dark Phoenix?,'' Wanda asked.
''Well, you already know it is a cosmic entity. It is a life form in the force of creation and destruction for the sake of birthing something newer and pure.
In simpler terms. It is pure condensed energy life force.
It grants the host several abilities. Too many to name. The best way to describe the ability range is that it may not be strictly a reality warping entity, but it is damn near one, making it still one in the 1%. If you can think of an ability, it most likely has it or has an ability that can mimic it.
Alas, for all its strength it lacks control. Even at its weakest it can destroy galaxies, so it can't get to enjoy the experiences of the living and the joy that comes with it. Meaning it needs a vessel to contain it and through which it can experience life. In this case Jean Grey. Arguable its perfect host. Thanks to Jeans own abilities granted by the X-Gene allowing her to host the Phoenix indefinitely.
It came to her and went dormant, deciding to wake up again when Jean reaches maturity so that they may become one.
Alas Xavier shackled it in Jeans mind while it was distracted. The only reason it hasn't broken out yet, is because it doesn't want to harm Jean. But it is trying to remove the barriers and failing, thus getting angrier by the day. And Jeans own mental trauma suppressed by Xavier does not make things better since her trauma makes her unstable and unable to control her abilities properly. Which makes her susceptible to mental manipulation.
That is what the Dark Phoenix is. A compromised Jean fueled by the Phoenix' anger, hellbent on destroying those that harmed it and her, uncaring of what else they destroy,'' Bell finished his rather long explanation.
The girls listened attentively. Rogue frowned when she heard again what Xavier has done.
''How do you even know all this?,'' Gwen asked.
''The way I know most things. I snoop and make conclusions. Granted some of the stuff is speculation, but I still think it is the most plausible thing that could happen if we don't remove the mental blocks,'' Bell explained. But his his meta-world knowledge of the Phoenix helped as well.
''Sugar, did Professor Xavier really do what you said he did? Maybe he just didn't know?,'' Rogue tried arguing. The professor gave all of them a home. Not everyone was lucky to have loving parents, that accepted them in spite of their powers.
''And his ignorance is supposed to be an excuse?
I looked into his mind already. He made no checkup on the mental barriers. He consulted no one on blocking Jeans personal trauma and went even further by making her parents 'hate' her for being different so that she wouldn't seek them out and find out she is missing a memory her parents were there for.
He attacked the Phoenix of all things, without even investigating what it was and assumed it was Jeans pure power. Well, he was right in that seeing as her and the Phoenix will be one entity one day, but still.
Even his 'help' to Jean when she goes to him to try and drown out the voices is half assed. Yes, his method works for him, but he knows damn well what he did to her, so she needs different help,'' Bell ranted, hiding his emotions well under a calm facade.
''I never saw you that agitated,'' Gwen pointed out, noticing his anger. Bell huffed.
''I don't hate telepaths. They can do a lot of wonderful things, but too often they read the memories wantonly of everyone, allies and innocents included and make mind sweeping changes to the brains consciousness.
By all means do it to your enemy. I can't fault you for that. I did it too a few times. But Xavier does it to everyone. He had no right to violate Jeans mind like that by blocking her memory,'' Bell explained. It was a delicate path he walked.
Chat for example would have just gotten her knowledge removed from her brain and nothing more. He wouldn't have touched her memories, which is a good thing then that she found out from Emma by being told Peter was Spider-Man instead of seeing it herself. Now that would have been a different matter. Unless she wanted to go to the media and tell the truth. Suddenly it was another matter entirely, because now she was their enemy.
Alas, things never got that far. He was now protecting Chats brain telepathically from other telepaths.
Nothing beats good old nepotism to advance and have security in the world.
''Ok. So how do we help,'' Laura got down to business.
''You don't. I already made great progress with Jean. You noticed she is more assertive? I'm waiting for her to want to visit her parents to have 'closure'. Who knows maybe her parents don't 'hate' her anymore,'' Bell leadingly shrugged.
''You did something,'' Laura pointed out.
''Yes, I removed the mental manipulations from Jeans parents imposed on them by Xavier,'' Bell confirmed.
''So, in other words, this will blow up in everyones faces spectacularly and in your usual self your are going to enjoy every second,'' Gwen drawled. Bell nodded.
Rogue looked down in sadness playing with her soup. So Xavier was that kind of man.
''You know what I just noticed? We have a fully trained reality warper, a reality warper in training, even if I only want to focus on telepathy and telekinesis for now and with Jean being interested in you, we will most likely have a cosmic entity in our group as well. That makes three 1% members. We are probably the most powerful faction on earth, even if we won't advertise it,'' Wanda joked.
''I'm gonna stop you right there. Don't get a big head, just because we have three power houses in our group, the situation can always change so be mindful.
Also bold of you to assume Jean being a member of my harem is a foregone conclusion,'' Bell said. The girls all raised an eyebrow at him.
''Wait! If you are Nexus then that means you are Ghost Spider,'' Rogue said pointing at Gwen. Wanda raised an eyebrow at her. Was that not obvious?
''You noticing that now?,'' Laura asked, having already been told this by Gwen when she stayed instead of leaving.
''What did you do to make Kitty fall in love with you?,'' Rogue moved past Lauras question.
''I actually don't know. I met her the first time as Zero and never saw her as Nexus,'' Bell frowned, still being perplexed by Kittys fanaticism.
''You can always check by looking in her head,'' Wanda told him, at his deadpan she offered,'' Or I can check, if you don't want to.''
He deadpanned even further.
''Or we can not do that,'' Wanda finally said on that matter.
''So I guess that makes six girls eventually,'' Gwen mused.
''We will have to see if they would even accept being in a harem and then see if affection can blossom to love,'' Bell cautioned.
''So how many girls do you want to have?,'' Rogue asked. Bell shrugged. He was gonna let things take their course.
''Since he can clone himself, I doubt there is a limit realistically,'' Wanda said.
''I'm not gonna pick every woman off the street,'' Bell defended affronted.
''Ah. So you like high quality woman,'' Gwen teased. Bells mouth twitched in amusement.
''Humble yourself, wenches,'' Bell joked back. The girls chuckled at the exchange.
The ate for a bit in comfortable silence.
''So you said you will fake your death as Zero. When will that be? And must you really do that?,'' Rogue asked.
''Yes I must. My first and primary purpose as Zero was always to stop the Dark Phoenix. Once that is done I will move on to other things,'' Bell told them. He was getting bored of Zero anyway. It was time to do something different.
''Would you have really left us all?,'' Wanda asked frowning. Bell knew what was left unsaid. 'And deny them the opportunity of falling in love?'
''Life marches on. Opportunities come and go and time keeps on ticking. As do people. They come and go as well. Zero would have 'died' but the memories would remain and besides the X-Men should encounter loss of allies as early as possible least they freeze up on the battlefield,'' Bell told them. Xavier and the other professors have been kind of bullheaded in not allowing to 'tarnish' the kids innocence and making them encounter darker aspects of life. To his and Logans consternation.
''It still sucks, I think,'' Rogue complained.
''That is life. Bell has his way of doing things. You may not always agree with them, but know that in the end most people will benefit in one way or another,'' Gwen told Rogue.
Awww.
She was going to make Bell blush with all that praise and putting him on the pedestal.
Do it more.
Conversation halted as they heard the key turn to the door of the house. Melina came in.
''Oh my, this are many new faces. Bell what did you do?,'' Melina asked seeing three new girls with him at the table in the living room.
''Mother. I have established a harem. They will shower you with grandchildren,'' Bell told her dully and blankly. Melina sighed in relief as Wanda and Rogue blushed furiously.
''Nevermind then. For a second I thought you actually did something insane again. Don't tease the girls too much else Gwen will get jealous,'' Melina huffed with amusement and put her jacket up on the wall hanger.
''I'm going to leave you kids alone. Please try not to make too much noise I had a particularly long day. Have fun, you all,'' Melina told them and walked up the stairs. Wanda and Rogue gaped as they watched her go to the second floor and then turned their sighs to Bell. He calmly ate his soup, relishing their reactions.
''My recommendation? Get used to this. Quickly,'' Gwen told them leaning her head a little towards them. Laura nodded, not that she needed to be told that. But it was nice of Gwen to try and watch out for them.
''But... But you told her the truth, Sugar,'' Rogue stuttered.
''Exactly. And that is the point. People only see what they want to see,'' Bell lectured her. She frowned not really understanding what point he was trying to make.
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''I feel obligated to inform you that Zero is waiting for you on the couch in the living room,'' Jarvis informed Tony and Pepper, while they were standing over Morgans crib. The two snapped their head at each other. Peppers face expressed worry.
''Calm yourself. I'm certain he is not here to cause trouble. Jarvis activate sentry mode and watch over Morgan while we go to meet him,'' Tony with forced calmness ordered.
''Should I inform the rest of the Avengers as well and have them come to the living room,'' Jarvis asked. The two adult Starks, in the end, decided to remain in the Avengers Tower in NYC and not announce their daughters birth. Thus she would keep her anonymity for as long as possible and be surrounded by several heroes and all other kinds of defenses. The events in Malibu, when their villa was shot with missiles, showed them that they were nowhere safer than here.
Tony thought for a bit until he affirmed Jarvis offer.
When the Avengers came into the living room Zero was sitting on the couch sipping his tea through a portal.
''Zero, long time no see,'' Tony opened friendly and stepped forward.
''I heard there was a new addition to the world a few weeks ago. One of Stark blood,'' Zero drawled.
''Well, yeah. Is that why you came for?,'' Tony asked Zero. Right Steve mentioned Peppers pregnancy to Zero, he almost forgot that, since he had no contact with Zero in so long.
Zero put his cup of tea through the portal somewhere and stood up.
''Well, that and this,'' Zero replied, putting both hands through a portal and bringing out two presents.
''Now where is my illustrious step-mother. Ah! There she is. Come now, step forward, I don't bite. I came here to offer my congratulations for tying the knot. (*Zero chuckles knowingly*). Oh, what am I saying. I would be a poor step-son to have you walk all the way over here, far removed from your ... friends. Here,'' Zero told her putting his hand through a portal and shoving the wrapped gift in front of her face all the way from the couch.
Pepper took it slowly. Hesitated for a moment and then unwrapped it only to find a cake with the words 'Congratulations! I wish you a happy marriage!' written on it.
''I thank you. That was kind of you,'' Pepper thanked him, walking a few meter to lay the cake on the table in the kitchen.
''Is it poisoned?,'' Natasha asked, ready at any moment to turn invisible and attack.
Zero shrugged uncaringly.
''Don't eat it then,'' Zero said dismissively. He already gave his reasons for not killing Tony. If she forgot then it was not his problem.
''And what about the other gift,'' Tony asked, mentioning to it.
''It is a teddy bear. I want to see her,'' Zero told them.
...
Zero looked down inside the crib. He slowly moved his hand over her tiny body and let it hang over her belly for a bit, watching to see if Morgan would become uncomfortable. When he saw nothing, he gently tickled her belly a little causing her to giggle. The girl was wide awake wiggling her little twigs of limbs vigorously.
He moved his hand to her face and gently stroked her cheek with the back of his index finger. He went out of his way to wear the softest gloves today, not any of the rough kind.
''She is angelic, isn't she?,'' Tony proudly said, looking at Morgan with love and affection.
''Like a bundle of innocence,'' Zero said.
''You could eat her right up, with how adorable she is,'' Tony said.
''She feels like a puffy dumpling, soft to the touch and bouncy,'' Zero absentmindedly said.
The Avengers were looking from Tony to Zero a few times, both getting lost in their own little world.
Zero suddenly shook his head and stepped away from the crib. He handed Tony the gift with the teddy bear.
''Right, anyway...,'' Zero began only to get immediately interrupted by Clint.
''You two are gonna pretend you didn't just have a father and son moment?,'' Clint asked.
''We were not having a moment (*He turns to Clint while saying that and then turns back to Tony*) We were not having a moment. Anyway. Do the security sweep over the teddy bear, because you are paranoid like that. And make sure to never tell her she has a brother. Ciao,'' Zero told him.
''Wait, we would like to do a paternity test. We would like to remove absolutely all doubts,'' Pepper requested. Tony cast her a look, as Zero turned around to stare at her.
''Smart. I'm guessing you had a lot of people claim to be Starks children. Let us do one,'' Zero said. He actually always wanted to keep the answer ambiguous, on whether he was Starks child or not. But if they ask. How could he possibly abstain.
He will manipulate his bloods DNA and boom.
The more he thought about it the more he realized, that he disliked Stark a lot. And here he was sorry for him in the beginning. He disliked him mostly, because he is an idiot. And a leech who uses his genius for nothing. At least not to make the middle or lower classes life easier. He has an arc reactor and can supply clean energy, plummeting the energy bill down immediately and giving a huge boon in the fight against climate change.
Defender of the status quo.
Zero mentally scoffed.
Fool.
Tonys loss was his gain later.
His secretaries, when he was Supreme Imperator, did not deserve the terrorizing pranks. Tony on the other hand does.
...
Zero rolled up his sleeve for Bruce, who stopped when he saw the sheer amount of scars on his arm.
''What happened to you?,'' Bruce asked.
''Don't ask,'' Zero said bruskly, motioning Bruce to take his blood with the needle.
''Did you get them while killing the rest of the Wunderkind subjects?,'' Natasha asked.
Bruce was taking blood from Zero and motioned that he was done. Zero did not answer the question and left via portal without saying anything.
''Thank you, wall crawler. You scared him off. I already know he is my son, why did we need to test him?,'' Tonys jaw clenched. He was hoping to talk with him a little more to try and reconciliate more.
''Tony, I understand, but you can't tell me that it wouldn't be nice to remove that nagging feeling of doubt,'' Pepper told him. Tony said nothing. Steve looked at him worryingly. This could either be good or bad depending on the results.
''Will it take much longer?,'' Steve asked Bruce.
''Just, wait a second. It is state of the art equipment, but even then it still takes some time,'' Bruce told him. They already had Tonys blood in the system.
A few minutes later they had the results. Bruce looked at it and then turned his head to the others. His face grave, as he showed them the DNA paternity test results.
It was a 97% match.
The others looked at Tony to see how he would handle it.
''Don't look at me like that. This changes nothing. I told you, I already knew he was my son,'' Tony walked off, followed by Pepper.
When she caught up to him she saw him put the teddy bear in Morgans crib and then just stare ahead. She came to him and embraced him in comfort. He couldn't deny, it hit one differently when it was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that someone was ones child and you didn't know about it. He turned around and hugged her back.
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Jean and Zero went go carting at her request and they had a great time. When they came back they went back to bank that they usually frequented.
''Thank you, Zero,'' Jean thanked him smiling at him brightly, unburdened by most things.
''You are welcome. That said I still want to talk a little about you. How are you? Truly. You still hear the voices?,'' Zero asked. Jean released a breath and starred of in the distance for a bit.
''The voices are still there, but it is getting easier and easier to manage,'' Jean answered him.
''You mean, easier to tolerate. Hmm,'' Zero contemplatively rubbed his chin.
''Sorry, I lied to you. But, it must suck to invest so much time in me and see no fruits,'' Jean told him.
''I got you to abandon your attitude of trying to please everyone, so it is not a complete loss. That said, it perplexes me. By now you have a clear sense of self and your mind seems calmer than ever and yet something still eludes us, that you can't block out the voices,'' Zero assured her.
''Maybe, we need to go even further beyond? Tell me, is there anything you always wanted to do? It does not matter what or if you think it is silly, just tell me what. Maybe if we can find a sense of satisfying some of that longing, we can achieve better results. Sorry if that sounds dumb for you,'' Zero theorized. Jean quickly shook her head.
''Don't say that. Sure I still can't block out the voices, but you have helped me so much,'' Jean opened her mouth, but then closed it and looked contemplative. Certainly more than professor Xavier who gave her halfassed advice. At least she can tolerate the voices now thanks to Zero.
Still.
Something she always wanted to do. No matter what.
She looked at the hands in her lap and played absentmindedly a little with her fingers.
Zero watched her and gave her all the time in the world. Could things finally be proceeding?
More than ten minutes passed as Jean thought things over. She finally moved her head slowly up and looked at Zero.
''I...
...
I want to visit my parents,'' Jean told him,'' I want closure. Maybe they changed their minds about me.''
Zero looked at her and then firmly nodded.
---
DING DONG.
They were waiting outside in a suburbia, standing outside Jeans former home. Zero didn't call, he said he will come one day unannounced and that they should prepare for seeing their daughter.
The door opened.
A gruff man answered, looking at them for less then a second suspiciously and then immediately surprised and elated upon seeing Zero and a girl who looked so much like his wife when she was younger.
He jumped and fiercely embraced her, tightly hugging her. He rubbed her her back as she slowly hugged her father back. Did they no longer hate her?
''Marge! Marge, look who came!,'' her father broke of the hug and dragged her inside to the living room. Zero let himself in into their home and closed the door behind him.
''William, what is it no...,'' Marge huffed calming her heart. For a second she thought something bad happened with how loud her husband screamed. The moment she looked at her husband and saw Zero and a younger version of herself she jumped from the armchair.
''Oh, my Jean. My daughter,'' Marge whispered after attacking her with a hug, William turned this into a three way hug where Jean was sandwiched between them,''You are finally home.''
She cried into Jeans shoulder, who way shell shocked at how her parents greeted her.
Zero leaned against the wall, watching this oddly reminiscing scene. It reminded him of the boys who returned from war, though with much less gore and heartbreak. He lowered his head a little, calming his anger.
''Jean, come take a seat. You too. Tea, coffee, juice? Anything?,'' Marge quickly mentioned to the couch. Though it was more accurate to say she dragged Jean to the couch. Zero remained leaning against the wall not wanting to disturb more than necessary, even if he felt he needed to be here. William who was immensely grateful thought Zero was shy and gently grabbed him by the back guiding him to the couch. Ready to not press the issue, should he encounter the slightest resistance.
''Tea for me please,'' Zero said taking a seat near Jean. Jean looked at him and then made her own request.
''I would like some tea as well,'' Jean told her. Better to prepare one type of drink then two. Seemed less troublesome.
A few minutes later, Zero openly displayed his ability to them again by drinking his cup of tea.
''Jean, why do you look so shocked?,'' her mother tried to broach the subject.
''It is just... I thought you hated me?,'' Jean asked,'' For being different.''
''Jean, we could never hate you. Never hated you in fact,'' Marge assured her,''What parent could hate his own child?''
Lots of parents hated their own children and did horrible things to them, Zero thought but didn't mention that. He had some tact.
''But... But, that is why you sent me away. You hated me, so you sent me away. I know that,'' Jean choked up a little.
''NO!,'' her father firmly replied with a slightly raised voice.
''Jean, we never wanted to send you way and we never hated you. But for the longest time it was as if we were in a fog and only recently did that fog lift. It is hard to explain, sorry,'' Marge explained.
''We don't care that you possess this X-Gene or whatever that bald head was talking about. As far as I am concerned you are healthy and strong and no offense, but have you seen what is outside? Normal people are made out of glass. The fact that you can defend yourself brings us great relief,'' William explained.
''But... but... Wait. You were talking about a fog that lifted? (*Jeans parents nodded*) Do you know what telepathy is? (*Her parents shook their heads*) It is the ability to look into someones mind. With your permission I would like to take a look at your memories,'' Jean made the request. Her parents immediately nodded.
They already knew what telepathy was thanks to Zero. Alas, he requested to keep that a secret. They felt a little apprehensive about letting a telepath inside their minds again after finding out what the other telepath did, but this one asked nicely and he would do nothing besides isolate the knowledge and memory from the world outside. They would still retain the memory. Seeing their daughter now in front of them, they knew they made a wise investment.
Jean focused her mind, using her ability thanks to Wandas tutelage making her more at ease with telepathy.
Flashback:
...
...
...
''We are not letting our daughter go to a school we know nothing about,'' William firmly replied to Xavier.
''I understand your apprehension. But my 'School for Gifted Youngsters' does not plan on harming her. We would like to help her in fact, by helping her to learn use her ability,'' Xavier replied.
''Be that as it may. I'm sure they are better ways for her to learn her ability then to go to a school 200 kilometers away. We will not be sending her there. Surely there must be another way,'' William denied him again.
''Maybe we could move? To New York I mean, if there are no alternatives than that school. But it is the middle of October. This will take time since she can't just abandon an entire grade and moving will also take time and then there is the financial situation to consider. Maybe she could come next grade? By then we should have resolved everything, right William?,'' Marge asked her husband.
''I'm afraid that can't wait. The matter is urgent. Your daughter is incredible powerful and she could harm someone or herself. She has to begin learning to control her ability immediately. She will not lose a grade I can assure you that. As the director of this school I can enroll someone immediately,'' Xavier argued.
''No, she is our daughter and it is our duty to love and watch out for her. We will not let her out of our sight. We will come to New York and then she can enroll to your school, if you would still have her. But she is not losing a grade and she is not leaving our sight,'' William responded. Xavier looked burdened.
''I see. Unfortunately with the matter being of such gravitas i can't accept a denial,'' Xavier said before putting his signature fingers on his temple.
...
...
...
Flashback End:
Jean gasped as if drenched in cold water.
''He... He... He manipulated your mind. He made me think you hated me,'' Jean heaved.
''Not only made you think we hated you, but also made us feel hatred towards you. I still sometimes catch glimpses of the fake memories and feelings,'' Marge explained.
Jean began trembling and leaned against Zero to seek comfort. He embraced her with both arms, hugging her sideways on the couch. He rubbed circles on her back as she choked at the betrayal. Soon she descended into weeping. Their parents were heartbroken seeing their daughter like this, but they knew they needed to restore her memories if they wanted to heal and help her. There was no other way, Zero explained to them.
It was a combination of three factors that allowed Xavier to put mental barriers on Jeans mind despite her being the more powerful telepath and that was before one added the Phoenix. First the Phoenix being dormant. Second Jean being at an age where children are easily moldable and fail to grasp the severity of a lot of actions. And third Xaviers own experience with telepathy.
Imagine a captain that cruises his ship. His crew mates refuse to tell him that there is a giant hole in the side of the ship. You can't stir it, it sinks and you certainly can't patch it if enough time passes.
That was how the mental barrier on Jeans trauma functioned. That was why the voices got inside her head. Because there was a hole in her telepathic defenses that she didn't notice, because she learned to think it normal from a young age.
Zero knew that, but Jean was the captain and there were no crew mates. He needed to guide her to the hole and have her repair it. Not because he wouldn't or couldn't do it, but because this way she will most likely brush across the Phoenix. Even if they don't establish full contact now, it would still be a massive win, because the feeling will be seeping from Jean to the Phoenix. Giving her what it wanted and calming it down a little. From there, the connection will slowly open until they can communicate verbally.
And once that is done his job is done and he can fuck off.
''He came to us and told us that he picked you up with some Celeble thingy whatever after you awakened your powers when Emilia died in front of you,'' William explained.
''He said that you experienced Emilias death through her eyes,'' Marge added.
Jean abruptly stopped choking and disentangled from Zeros hug, then looked at them completely befuddled.
''Emilia who?,'' Jean asked uncertainly.
So it was exactly as Zero told them, Jeans parents thought.
What a reprehensible ... creature.
''Emilia. Your best friend. She died from a car crash, when she ran after a ball in the streets,'' Marge went into as much detail as possible. Zero told them they needed to force the memory on her.
Jean moved her head a little twitching right and left.
''I'm sorry. I... Who is Emilia?,'' Jean asked.
''You really don't remember her? One moment, I'm certain I have a few pictures here somewhere,'' Marge quickly went through a drawer and picked up a book with photos.
''Here! This is you two together,'' Marge told her handing her a picture after a bit of searching.
Jean took the picture and starred at it for the longest time. She didn't recognize that person near her nor does she remember experiencing a car crash for her awakening through the eyes of this supposed friend of hers.
A droplet of blood landed on the picture, but it didn't register in her mind due to tunnel vision. Was this truly supposed to be a person that used to be her best friend?
Her parents wanted to jump to her help when they saw her nose bleed, but Zero motioned them to stay there with a hand gesture. They reluctantly sat back down.
Jean was trying to remember, but when she failed, she turned her own telepathy on herself. Even if she forgot about Emilia, surely there had to be SOMETHING. No matter how infinitesimal. She was scanning her brain, deeper then she ever dared to explore. On a level that left her feeling naked, exposed even if only to herself. Something changed. There was a primal fear in her, desperate to be extinguished. Something was wrong, but what?
Jeans eyelids began twitching.
Jeans eyes began rolling back into her head slightly as she started wobbling on the couch, struggling to stand upright due to dizziness.
The more she tried to remember the girl the more her head pounded and yet for some reason she could not tear herself away.
She gasped as she threw her head back.
Flashback:
She heard a girl call out to hear while she was running after a ball.
Suddenly there was a short loud honk as she felt something heavy slam into her. Her arms burned as it broke, same with her leg which bent weirdly. Her chest felt as if caved in and pierced, she felt as if she was drowning. She received several beating as the world spinned and felt a burn on half of her body as she slid across something. Half her face felt wet and sticky as she laid on the ground with her face. She could hear someone scream in absolute anguish, but strangely she couldn't get herself to care. She was... so, so tired. The pain was suddenly gone replace by an aching weakness. Surely it was fine if she closed her eyes for a small nap. Her parents always made such a fuss about her naps. Silly parents. She read somewhere that napping was very healthy. They should nap more, instead of chastise her. Her world dimmed.
...
''Get out of our house you damn freak,'' her father threw her roughly out and slammed the door after him without casting her another look. She began crying, why did her parents treat her so roughly so suddenly? It hurts, she scraped her knee. At least the nice bald man offered her candy and a place of residence. He promised her, that where they were going there were many people like them. People with gifts. No one would hate her there.
...
''Jean, you know. We never talked about the awakening of your powers. It must have been harsh for you, what you went through. Would you like to feel better?,'' Xavier asked. Jean shook her head. She didn't want to feel better. Emilia was gone. Dead. As she later on learned. She didn't want to disrespect Emilia by feeling good when she couldn't feel nothing.
''I understand it must be hard for you. But I assure you, no one should get through what you went through. There is no shame in moving past a traumatic event,'' Xavier tried again. Jean stubbornly shook her head.
''I see. I'm sorry Jean, but I can't allow someone to go through such suffering without doing anything. You deserve better than this,'' Xavier said before putting his signature fingers on his temple. What was he trying to do?
...
''Jean, your powers have only been increasing. Are you feeling uncomfortable? Any different?,'' Xavier asked.
''No,'' Jean replied.
''Have you been training? You should have more control over your ability by now,'' Xavier said.
''Sorry,'' Jean shrugged.
''Hmm. Say, would you mind if I look into your mind? Maybe I can find something that you missed?,'' Xavier told her. Jean shrugged again and Xavier dived into her brain. He came back shortly afterward and looked shaken up.
''Jean, I'm sorry but this is just... too much power for a single mortal to handle,'' Xavier looked frantic making Jean frown. but before she could say anything he did his signature pose with his hand on his temple.
...
Strange.
That should have been the end of the memories. She turned around.
All she could see where flames. As far and wide as the eye could see.
Pure.
Radiant.
All-consuming.
Life-giving.
Were they... taking the shape of a form?
Flashback End:
Jeans eyes snapped back into focus and she leaned forward. The photo in her hand trembling due to her shaking hands, smeared bloody by her nose bleed. Some of the blood was starting to wash off as water droplets were hitting the picture.
''Emilia,'' Jean said with a sob, this time fondness and familiarity in her tone.
There was a telekinetic pulse as several objects started floating up in the air. including objects outside in the surrounding neighborhood. Cars. Lawnmowers. Dog houses. Swings attached to trees.
Jean received a slap behind her head. She looked at Zero with a scowl.
''I get you are angry, but it is Xavier that wronged you. Don't destroy property from people who did you nothing wrong. Those people live paycheck to paycheck. They can't afford sudden expenses of such magnitude,'' Zero told her rationally.
''I DON'T CARE! He... he... I trusted him. And he betrayed me. I...,'' Jean screamed jumping up from the couch, but she still listened and let things down slowly. Zero stood up too,just in case things escalate. By all rights she should not turn into the Dark Phoenix, but caution is the better part of valor and all that.
''I...I feel violated. I feel.. raped. Zero. I feel ...,'' Jean agitatingly waved her arm and then stopped just as suddenly. She hugged herself and took a step back, just wanting the world to swallow her whole. Her parents wanted to immediately rush over to their daughter, but stopped when she called out for Zero.
Right.
Zero never understood this, having neither raped nor was he raped in turn, but he nonetheless observed this behavior often during the war. The only thing he can claim to not have done in the war.
What an achievement. Right?
War mad monsters of most people. There was some fucked up shit going on in there.
The victims always felt dirty on a level going beyond the physical. Zero supposed for Jean it was much worse. In spite of all the shit and grief the world might give one, ones mind was ones only sanctuary and reprieve. To have that violated was ... wrong.
There was a reason he was so particular with telepathy when it came to innocents or allies. His enemies, he will go brrrr with, with his telepathy, but otherwise he was threading a very delicate walk. Worst part was that it was a slippery slope. He did not always feel as if he succeeded in sticking to his morals either, which is probably the worst part.
Xavier did not consider Jean an enemy and his misguided good intentions were no excuse. He had no ground on which to justify himself. This was the reason he considered him a mind rapist.
Zero stepped forward not allowing Jean to leave. He hugged her tightly as she started weeping sacking against him and losing the strength in her legs.
''Why,'' she wailed.
''I don't know,'' Zero replied. He knew or could make guesses, but that was not what she needed to her. Victims always asked that question. Why them? For what purpose?
Rape was about power. It was always about power. Never the carnal pleasure. The power to do 'good' (not to be mistaken with doing good) counted among them. Congratulations you did 'good'. Now pat yourself on the back.
The victims didn't need a justification for having done such abominable evil to them. What they needed to hear was that they were victims. And that the piece of shit, that did harm to them, was in fact a piece of shit.
Jean weeped harder.
''What do you want to do, Jean?,'' Zero asked her. He doubted she wanted to return to the mansion, probably ever.
''Just take me away, Zero. I don't care where, just far away from anything that could remind off all of this,'' Jean weakly requested. Zero looked at her parents.
''You don't want to sleep here? You reconciled with them after all,'' Zero pointed out.
''... Just don't leave me. Hold me,'' Jean muttered. Right. At this stage he was wholly unequipped to handle the situation and it made him feel uncomfortable. Like he was taking advantage of her. Still looking at her parents, they nodded firmly.
Right. Better send a message about the situation to the girls.
---
Zero woke up as Jean was stroking his helmet very softly. Quickly feeling for the time he found out it was 23 minutes past midnight. He grabbed her hand in his firmly, disconnecting her skin from his helmet, but not distancing her hand much further.
The two remained still for a bit. Both knew clearly that they were awake.
''Make love to me, Zero,'' Jean requested.
Right.
No.
This was also something he observed. Rape victims sometimes sought to remove their 'taint' by supplanting the bad memories with new good ones. It is also a cry out for affirmation that despite their taint, they are still worth something.
That said, he did not expect someone who had her mind violated to react in the same way a physical victim reacted.
''No. You are clearly in a vulnerable state and I will NOT take advantage of you. I know you are hurting from the betrayal and what was done to you, but please try to let a few day of mourning pass, before you make life altering decisions,'' Zero firmly rejected. Accepting would only harm her psyche more.
She looked at him disappointed, but then put her head on his shoulder. She was stroking his chest.
''I love you,'' Jean told him.
''We will return to this subject when we established your emotional well being,'' Zero told her.
''When?,'' Jean asked.
''In a few days, maybe more,'' Zero replied.
''I love you. I really do. I'm not just saying that, because I'm vulnerable. You are the only one who stuck with me. You went trough so much trouble to help me. I love you and I want to give myself to you,'' Jean explained.
''We will return to this subject when we established your emotional well being,'' Zero repeated verbatim.
Jean slumped into him, disappointed. Stupid white knight dressing as a dark knight. All chivalric and valorous. They spent months together, talking, always doing some sort of activity. Her confession did not come out of the blue.
That was fine.
She could wait until his valiant efforts to protect her chastity will lower. Once that is done she will confess again and she will have what is hers.
Her perfect mate.
Oh, how her heart beat for him.
And afterwards?
She had someone to take care off.