Collide

Forty

She gasped, arching up, the lights above her too bright as she sucked in a deep breath, clawing at her chest. She had to save Rogue, her family. She needed to know if they were ok. She felt someone grab at her hands, as the lights dimmed, shushing and soothing her.

'Its ok, I got you Astrid, I got you..'.. Bruce, that was Bruce. She turned her head to the side, following his voice and seeing him there. She fought back the tears, and held his hands tight, pulling herself to sit.

'Rogue..'.. She rasped out, taking a few deep breaths. She noticed Tony was there, and he walked over with a bottle of water, opening it for her.

'She's fine, they're all fine, headed back to the school..'.. Bruce assures her, but she could read him well... 'They can't find Wade, hes gone after Eric..'

She took the water from Tony, gulping it down, to half a bottle and passing it back... 'I know where hes going, hes got the pendant on I made him, blocking him from Charles..'.. She shook her head, pulling the wires off her... 'I'm not sorry, so don't even wait for an apology..'

Bruce swung her legs down, his hands either side of her on the bed as he leaned in... 'I'm angry yes, but I get why you did it Asti, I know you..'.. He kissed her lightly... 'Whats the plan?..'

'Eric can control and manipulate all forms of magnetism, summon force fields and shoot electromagnetic pulses that can disable electronic devices, so, no one is going with me. I'm doing this alone..'.. She hops off the bed, heading to the door and he grabs her arm.

'Don't make me do it..'... He tells her, and she sighed in defeat, knowing he would.

'Only you then, I can't risk anyone else. Tony..'.. She nods to him... 'Friday, access control tower, sentinel program, intiate seraph protocol. All files on Eric Lensherr, and his associates. Begin facial recognition, notify all local authorities, and the agencies. Release the cherubs..'.. She smiled at Tony... 'You got access to my system now, but most of it will be locked down. Think you can run it from here?..'

'Whats the cherubs?..'.. Tony was really impressed as Friday projected everything onto the screens.

'Think of them as drones, watching over everything they are sent to track, but should they come into contact with hostiles, they go from cherubs, to hell hounds, taking down their targets..'... She chuckled... 'Your team can follow the associates if that's ok, Eric's lot are dangerous, but none more than him. Be safe..'.. She held onto Bruce, and teleported them away.

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He suited up, checking his weapons. He knew this day was coming, and thankful for Astrid, she had spelled his weapons, and his suit, so Eric couldn't take control of them. His pendant was tucked underneath, thankful that the professor and his band of merry fucking munchkins couldn't find him.

He hated this had happened, he didn't care about anyone, not really, but he did have a soft spot for Astrid. After his fuck up with Francis fuckface, she had healed his scarred body, giving him his identity back. She was always there, even though he wouldn't admit he needed her.

Honestly, if anyone ever came close to family, aside from Vanessa, it was Astrid. God that woman was fucking infuriating, psychotic and down right terrifying, but he did love her, she was his best friend, and no one, fucks with his family.