𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐎𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐢𝐝𝐞 || 𝐗-𝐌𝐄𝐍 ||

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟔

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Milo walked into Hank's lab in the basement of the X-Mansion, spotting Raven and Hank intently focused on small screens. "You know, it wasn't so long ago we were throwing parties like this," Hank said, glancing at Raven.

"Now we're the only ones left," Raven muttered, her tone carrying a mix of nostalgia and sadness as she stared at the screens.

"Yeah. Last of the first class," Hank replied, his voice heavy with the weight of their shared history.

Milo, noticing their serious expressions, raised an eyebrow. "Are you guys spying on Jean?" she asked, breaking the tension. Both Raven and Hank turned around, surprised by her sudden presence.

Raven's face softened, and she smiled at Milo. "Hey, love."

Milo smiled at Raven, her heart doing that familiar flip. She was head over heels for her, and everyone at the mansion knew it. Whether it was the way she looked at Raven or how her mood instantly lifted when she was around, it was obvious. And Milo didn't mind—she never hid how much she cared for Raven.

"You two are adorable," Hank teased, glancing between them with a smirk.

Milo rolled her eyes playfully. "Yeah, yeah. Don't make it weird, Hank."

Raven chuckled softly, reaching out to gently squeeze Milo's hand. "He's just jealous."

Hank laughed off Raven's comment, but deep down, there was a flicker of truth in it. He had liked Milo since the first day they met, but she and Raven were a thing now, and he wasn't the kind of guy to interfere. He glanced back at the screens, trying to shake off the feeling.

"I've been thinking. Maybe it's time for us to... move on," Raven said, her voice cutting through the silence as both Milo and Hank turned to her.

"What do you mean?" Milo began, confusion flickering in her eyes. "Move on where?" Hank asked, glancing between the two women.

Raven sighed, looking frustrated but calm. "I don't know. It's just... Charles. Things aren't the same with him anymore."

"Whatever's happening between you two, it'll pass," Hank reassured, but Raven shook her head firmly.

"No, it won't. I love him, but he's changed. Everything's changed." She paused, her eyes distant. "We're not who we used to be."

Milo chimed in, trying to remind Raven of the bigger picture. "We changed the world so we could live in it."

Raven met Milo's gaze, her expression softening slightly. "Yeah... but maybe that's what we need to do now—actually go live in it."

"Yeah, but this is our life. This is what we wanted," Milo said, her voice gentle but steady as she looked at Raven, hoping to break through the walls she was building.

Raven's eyes flickered with frustration as she met Milo's gaze. "Not like this," she muttered.

Milo reached out, gently taking Raven's hand. "Raven..."

Raven shook her head, pulling her hand slightly but not letting go completely. "It's not our life, Milo. It's his. What do you think the 'X' in X-Men stands for?"

A few minutes passed in tense silence, the weight of their conversation still hanging in the air. Suddenly, one of the screens in Hank's lab started beeping. The sound broke the moment, and the three of them turned their attention toward it.

"It's Jean," Raven said, her eyes narrowing as she studied the screen.

Hank and Milo glanced at each other before all three rushed out of the lab, moving quickly toward the main area where the front doors were.

Once the three arrived at the front doors, they swung open with a sudden gust of wind, the force nearly knocking them back.

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Later that night, Charles lay on one of the chairs in Hank's lab, looking pale but composed. "Is he gonna be all right?" Raven asked, standing close by, her arms crossed. Milo stood beside her, her eyes flicking between Raven and Charles.

"I'm going to be fine," Charles assured them, his voice calm but tired.

Hank, walking over to the monitors, shook his head. "No, he's not fine," he said bluntly, glancing back at Charles.

"I'm going to be fine," Charles repeated, his tone more insistent this time.

Raven, ignoring the reassurance, leaned in slightly. "What did you see?" she asked, her voice low with concern.

Charles hesitated, his gaze drifting as if still processing what he had witnessed. "She's all desire. All rage, all pain. And it's all coming out at once. Something's happening to her, Raven. She's changing."

Milo, standing close to Raven, frowned and asked, "Into what?"

Charles looked up at Milo, his expression unreadable. "I don't know," he admitted softly.

Footsteps echoed down the hall, and Scott and Marlow entered the room, their expressions tense. "Jean's gone. She left," Scott announced, drawing everyone's attention.

"Gone where?" Milo asked, her brows furrowed in concern.

"I don't know," Scott replied, glancing toward Charles. "Charles, you can track her with your mind."

Charles let out a weary sigh. "Not anymore. She's grown too powerful, even for me."

Scott's worry deepened as he exchanged a look with Charles. Then Marlow spoke up, breaking the silence. "She said she was going to see her father. That doesn't make any sense, right?" she asked, confusion lacing her voice.

Charles rubbed his hand over his face, visibly worn but determined. "Prepare the jet. We're going to bring her home," he said, removing a device from his wrist.

Raven immediately stepped forward, concern flashing in her eyes. "We? Charles, you're in no condition," she warned, her tone soft but firm.

Charles met her gaze, a deep sadness settling in his voice. "I have to stop this. She's going to find... she's going to find nothing good there." His words hung heavy in the air, filling the group with a sense of urgency and dread.

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