Until We Get It Right

Cascading Down, I'm Hurting Now

Every room was a new horror for Hera. She lived through death after death, and every time it happened, the scene melted into a new one. She'd been in that room long enough that the deaths had begun to repeat. They didn't hurt to watch any less the second time.

The room had started out empty and barren, but as soon as the door shut, she was greeted with a gut-wrenching scene. One by one, the deaths of those Temporus had listed were happening before her. She watched them die in every way imaginable and quickly realized that he was going to force her to live through any death that had happened or could happen. This was his retribution for her failing to save Logan. Or maybe he was just doing it for fun. Either way, Hera was suffering.

Temporus decided that she'd been in there long enough when he checked the camera and saw her sitting to the side, watching the deaths rapidly progress in front of her.

The room went dark, and Hera nearly sobbed in relief as the familiar sight of a dying Charles Xavier vanished from in front of her. She looked over as the door cracked open to reveal Temporus himself, looking as smug as ever.

"If you're going to put me through more of that, just kill me now. I'd rather be dead than live through another second of that." Hera said, her voice quiet and deadly sharp.

"That won't be necessary, dear. I believe you've done your time in this room. No, you'll be placed in a new spot on a little timeline that's failed. Their Logan died just like yours, but there's still plenty of other X-Men for you to let die. You get to watch the entire universe crumble around you as time comes to an inevitable stop. And just before it's all over, we can pluck you out and put you somewhere new."

"You're sick. You're sick, and twisted, and I hope this whole place burns to the fucking ground."

"Yes, well, what a shame you won't be seeing that happen. Good luck, we'll see you in a thousand years or so." Temporus said, reveling in the sight of the shocked expression on her face as one of the agents practically shoved her through a portal.

With a small gasp, she landed hard on her hands and ass. She looked around to see that she was on a sidewalk in a city block. She grit her teeth, trying her best not to start cursing and screaming. She had no idea where or when she was, where to go, and if anyone she knew was even alive still. She stood and dusted herself off, looking around for clues as to her location. Her eyes landed on a newspaper machine, and she rushed over. The New York Times, and the year was 2019. Good, that was a start at least.

If she was in New York, maybe...

She sat in a cab, her head down as the radio played softly.

"Can I offer you an ear to listen? You look stressed." The driver asked.

"Oh, uh, that's very sweet, but I don't even know where I'd start. It's a very long story and I don't even know if I've processed it yet." She admitted.

"Well, as my friend says, we just have to take life one clusterfuck at a time."

"My friend used to say that, too."

"He and Mr. Pool would probably get along, then."

Hera perked up. "Mr....Pool?"

"Ah, yes. Deadpool. Have you heard of him?"

"Do... do you mean Wade Wilson?"

"Yes! He's actually at the mansion now, you'll see him when we arrive. Heads up, I don't know if you heard, but he's in a bad spot right now. Vanessa dying really messed him up."

Hera's heart clenched and her mouth went dry. Vanessa. Which awful death had it been? Stabbed? Shot? Poisoned? The scenes ran through her head and she had to hold back tears.

"How do you know DP?"

"He was my best friend. At least, he was where I'm from."

"Ah. Part of the long story, I presume. Well, we're here, so maybe you can be best friends with this DP, also." He said, rolling to a stop.

Hera looked up and smiled fondly at the mansion. "I, uh, I don't have any money right now, but if you give me a second, I can run in and-" she said as she got out and shut the door, talking to him through the rolled down front window.

"No, no, any friend of Pool is a friend of mine. I will accept a crisp high five and nothing more."

She smiled and nodded. "Thank you. What was your name, by the way?" She asked, high fiving her with her single gloved hand. The other was still missing, and she still looked an absolute mess from the fight that felt like a hundred years ago and five minutes ago all at once.

"Dopinder! Here, take my card. If you need a ride again, call me!" He said, handing her a business card.

"Thanks, Dopinder. I'm sure I'll see you soon." She said, waving bye.

She approached the door and knocked, her body tense and nerves shot. The door was opened by a young girl who looked like she was no older than nineteen.

"Can I help you?" She asked, obviously guarded as she tried to assess the woman for potential danger. She looked roughed up, but with no physical injury to be seen.

"I'm here to see Charles Xavier. And, uh, maybe Wade Wilson? I don't know, I'm not really sure how to approach this."

"What do you need to see the Professor for?"

"I'm hoping he can help me. Or at least, find someone who can. Honestly, I'm lost, I'm tired, and I didn't know where else to go." Hera admitted. She felt a familiar sensation, and realized that someone was reading her mind. Charles.

The girl nodded after a moment, then opened the door wider. "Professor said come on in. He's waiting in his study. I'll take you to him. I'm Ellie, by the way."

"Hera."

Ellie led Hera to the study and knocked on the door.

"Come in." A familiar voice called.

Tears burned Hera's eyes. It was really him. Not the Charles she knew, but Charles nonetheless. Ellie let the woman in, then shut the door so Hera and Charles could have some privacy.

"Hello, Hera. I'm Charles, as you know. I apologize for not meeting you at the door. I try to avoid going to the main area too often when Mr. Wilson is here."

Hera laughed breathily. "Guess some things are consistent in any universe. Listen, I'll be up front, I'd like to do this as painlessly as possible. And any way that requires me touching you ends painfully for both of us. Is there any way you could-"

"Have a seat on the sofa. I'll come to you."

"Thank you." She sighed in relief. She took a seat and watched him roll to her in his chair.

"Are you ready?" He asked.

"Only if you are. I'm sure you know you're about to see some terrible things. But I don't think you know just how awful."

"We'll do it together." He assured her.

She nodded and closed her eyes as he pressed his fingers to her temple. Their foreheads touched as they leaned in amd grit their teeth against the pain. Tears streamed down both of their faces as memories flooded through their minds like a film reel. Hera was openly sobbing by the time he had finished, and Charles had leaned in to hold her in a crushing hug.

"You've been through more than you deserve, Little Dove. More than anyone deserves." He said, using the term of comfort and endearment from his memories of her.

She wasn't quite home as she cried in his arms, but she was safe. And that was a start.