At Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, Lalia Azali hides more than most. She's not just a surgeon-she's this universe's Scarlet Witch, a title whispered with fear and awe, tied to a power she never wanted and a fate she can't outrun.
Logan sees t...
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-Lalia
I woke up with a start, sunlight streaming through the curtains, casting a warm glow over my room. I soon realized Simon wasn't beside me. It didn't affect me much. This is the hundredth time he hasn't slept in the same bed as me, so there's no point on wallowing on it. My head was still buzzing from last night.
Logan.
The thought of him brought a smile to my face. It was the most at peace I'd felt in a long time. The way he carried me back to my room, so gentle and considerate. I appreciated him for that, for putting his feelings aside and not pushing anything on me. He understood that I needed space, and he gave it to me without question.
But as I lay there, staring at the ceiling, guilt began to creep in. I thought back to my argument with Simon. I sighed, running a hand through my hair. He always had a knack for getting under my skin, making me question everything. I hated that he had that power over me. And yet, here I was, tangled up in my own emotions, unsure of how I felt about him or anything else for that matter.
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. Today was important. We had a meeting with the professor, and he had some leads on where Magneto might be hiding. It's important that we all do our part, and that we come back with something useful. I couldn't let my personal life get in the way of that.
I got out of bed and started getting ready, my mind still drifting back to Logan. I couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. He deserved better than my mixed signals and complicated feelings. But for now, I had to focus. I had a job to do, and I couldn't let anyone down. As I made my way to the meeting room, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease. My heart was a mess, and my mind wasn't far behind.
I pushed open the door to the meeting room, feeling a dozen pairs of eyes snap to me. Ororo, Scott, Simon, Logan, Jean, and the professor were all seated, their gazes fixed on me. "You're five minutes late, Lalia," the Professor said, his tone calm but firm.
"Sorry, Professor," I stammered, feeling a flush creep up my neck. "I, uh, overslept."
He gave a small nod, then continued. "We've received some leads on Magneto's whereabouts. Civilians have reported sightings in a few specific locations. He's been spotted near an old warehouse on the outskirts of town, a remote cabin in the woods, and an abandoned factory near the docks."
Scott leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "How reliable is this information? And what are we supposed to do with it?"
Ororo nodded in agreement. "What if it's a trap? We need to be cautious."
The Professor raised a hand to calm them. "I understand your concerns. That's why I've assigned each of you a task. I need you to do thorough research on each of these locations. Look into their origins, any recent unusual activity, and anything else that might help us."
