𝓂𝓎 𝒹𝑒𝒶𝓇 𝓈𝓅𝒾𝒹𝑒𝓎 - 𝓅. 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓀𝑒𝓇

chapter 18

The next morning, Alec found himself in front of the x-men mansion. The sprawling estate was peaceful, a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous night. The halls of the mansion were filled with students, but Alec moved through them without a word, his focus set on Charles's office.

He was welcomed in without question, as Charles had always done. When Alec entered the Professor's study, he was greeted by the familiar sight of Charles Xavier behind his desk, his gaze gentle yet piercing, as though he already knew what Alec needed.

- Alec. - Charles greeted with a nod, his voice gentle but laced with relief - It's good to see you here... alive.

- Yeah, you too, Charles. - Alec replied, his tone half-joking. But there was something harder behind his eyes, a flicker of something that hadn't been there before. He hesitated, then continued - Did you tell Logan I was kidnapped?

Xavier's brow furrowed slightly, a shadow of concern crossing his features.

- No. - he replied, exhaling softly as though letting go of a burden - You know that Logan's healing factor it's not what it used to be. Slower, now. If I'd told him you'd been taken by hydra, he would've tried to go after them himself. And we both know that stubbornness of his would have driven him straight into a fight he isn't equipped to handle anymore.

Alec's smirk softened, giving way to something more vulnerable.

- Yeah... he'd probably be halfway to hydra's base before you could stop him. - he paused, looking away as though lost in thought - Sometimes I forget that even he has limits.

Charles nodded thoughtfully, sensing that Alec was holding something back.

- You've been through a lot, haven't you? - he said, voice gentle, inviting Alec to share more - I don't need to know the details if you don't wish to share, but I know the weight of carrying it alone.

Alec's gaze flickered back to Xavier, guarded as ever but with an edge of something that looked almost... haunted. He shrugged, keeping his tone casual, though a trace of bitterness lingered beneath the words.

- Let's just say hydra got a little too interested in what I can do. They tried to push me, to get to something they thought they could use. - he paused, his smirk returning, almost mocking himself - So I did them a favor and 'deactivated' my power. Figured it was better than letting them turn me into a puppet.

Xavier's calm exterior didn't waver, but Alec could see the flicker of shock in the professor's eyes.

- You... deactivated it? - Charles asked, the words slow, as if weighing the implications.

Alec shrugged, his tone sharp and nonchalant.

- What can I say? I've got a knack for self-preservation. Not that I left hydra with much after that, either. - his sarcasm barely concealed the anger simmering underneath, a quiet rage that Alec kept tightly controlled.

Xavier observed him quietly, sensing the strange nonchalance, the sharp wit Alec used to keep anyone from getting too close to what he was really feeling.

- And how did you do that? - the professor looked confused. Being a mutant is on your genes, how could someone turn it off like that?

Alec's lips twisted into a smirk, though his eyes held little humor.

- Funny thing about genes, - he replied, crossing his arm - they're predictable, but not invincible. Ever heard of gene silencing? I found a way to suppress my powers, kind of like muting a song instead of stopping it. It's still there, but no one can hear it. Including me.

Xavier's gaze grew more intense, clearly intrigued but cautious.