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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-Logan
I made my way through the mansion's corridors, searching for the rest of the team. My thoughts drifted back to the ball Lia had somehow tricked me into attending. I never liked dances. Hell, I hated them. All that prancing around, making small talk, it wasn't my scene. Never has been, never will be.
But then there's Lia. She has this way of getting under my skin, making me do things I wouldn't normally do. And if going to some fancy ball makes her happy, then I'd grit my teeth and bear it. I'd rather be anywhere else, but the thought of her dancing with some other guy made my blood boil. No, I'd rather be there, keeping an eye on things, making sure she's safe.
I approached the common room, turning to the final corner, I spotted Scott and Simon through the slightly ajar door. Leaning against the doorframe, I knocked gently on the side to get their attention. Both heads turned towards me, their conversation halting abruptly.
"Logan, when'd you get back? I thought the professor said you were taking some time off," Scott asked, his voice tinged with exhaustion and the weight of his grief still evident.
"Yeah, I was, but had some loose ends to tie up," I replied, stepping fully into the room.
Simon smirked, leaning back in his chair. "Let me guess, Lia dragged you to the ball?"
I chuckled, settling into the armchair. "Yeah, how'd you know?"
Simon laughed heartily. "Dude, she lives for it. She made me go with her every year. But it was worth it because at the end of the night, she'd take me to this balcony and we would—"
Huh?
Scott cleared his throat dramatically, cutting Simon off. The tension in the room thickened, and I raised an eyebrow, feeling a pang of jealousy at Simon's insinuation.
"Alright, we can change the subject," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
The last thing I needed was to get riled up over something that didn't mean anything. It really gets under my skin thinking about Lia and Simon's history. I get that she loves me now, but they had something for a good while. He's got that insider knowledge about her likes and habits that I can't help but be envious of.
I turned my attention to Scott, who was nursing a beer like it was the only thing keeping him tethered to this world. "How are you holding up, Scott?" I asked, trying to keep my tone gentle but firm. I knew better than anyone that pushing too hard could backfire, but sometimes, you just had to ask.
Scott took a long, deliberate chug of his beer, the liquid disappearing down his throat in a way that spoke volumes. When he finally set the bottle down, he looked at me with a hollow smile. "Never been better," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Simon snorted, shaking his head. "What he means by 'better' is that he's been drowning himself in booze all day," he said, his tone a strange mix of humor and sorrow.
