𝑭𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒏 𝑨𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝑫𝒐𝒏❜𝒕 𝑷𝒓𝒂𝒚 |An Avenger/X-Men Crossover|ON HOLD

II - Intruders

In front of me stood two males (one blue) and one redheaded female. They were skinny and ridiculously non-threatening, yet the guard didn't even have time to lift his gun before the blue intruder disappeared and suddenly reappeared behind him in a cloud of blue smoke and knocked him out. Interesting, but way too dangerous right now. He was probably also a mutant - what my handlers called me when... they started growing.

The group turned towards me. I tried to hold a defensive stance despite the horrid pain, but it was too much and I ended up sitting back down. I kept my guard up though. I didn't want to blackout in the presence of these strangers. The other male raised his hand as if to take off his odd-looking glasses, but the redhead stopped him.

"No Scott, wait. Let me talk to her."

He rolled his eyes. "Really, you wanna release another psycho in the facility? I think Weapon X is doing pretty good on his own." They had something to do with Weapon X being loose? I wasn't too sure what to think...

She ignored him and stepped closer to my cage, hands raised to show me she wasn't armed. I didn't relax.

"Hey, listen, I know you're confused right now, but we're the good guys. I can offer you to come with us, and we won't hurt you if you don't hurt us."

Did she just read my mind? Seeing her smirk at that, I guessed she probably did. I thought of the pain, mine and my victims. Did I deserve a second chance? Was I capable of changing? She made an odd face.

Most importantly, where were all these self-reflective thoughts coming from all of a sudden? I didn't even know what a 'second chance' was supposed to be. And why would I change?

"I'm a bad guy," is all I replied. My voice was dry from not talking for a long time. I probably had a slight Russian accent, because I hadn't spoken English in so long.

Why did I even reply? This girl wasn't my handler.

"But you don't have to be. You can change if you want to. This, "she said while gesturing to the numerous machines plugged into me." doesn't have to be your life. And you definitely don't need a handler," she smiled kindly. I was taken aback, she was showing me more kindness than I'd ever been shown my entire life. She was being highly suspicious... The woman frowned.

It wasn't your choice to be with them. This is your chance to choose, to start over. We won't ever hurt you, I promise. I heard her voice echo in my head, but her lips didn't move.

I stared at her, horrified. I hardly even remembered what she said. Reading minds was a useful ability for a mutant, but entering them, communicating telepathically with another being was beyond powerful. She could make me think things she wanted me to think, manipulate me, break my consciousness into pieces. I wouldn't stand a chance against her, even with my... particular skill set.

I didn't want to end up like my father.

"Not everyone is your enemy. Some people can be your friends, we can be your friends." said the redhead. What's a friend? I wondered.

"You want to be friends with her? Do you have a death wish, Jean? We don't have time for this, the plan was to get the others and get the hell out of here!" the male, Scott, cried out.

"Well the plan didn't go very well, did it? Besides, the Professor sent me a hidden message! He told me we had to get another mutant - a girl fitting her description - so she could help us and so we could help her. This is her, I know it." the woman - Jean - explained hurriedly. So they were all mutants too. Who was this 'Professor'? Maybe he was their handler. What did he want with me?

The Professor isn't our handler. He's... well he's our professor. He teaches us how to use our abilities, and helps us accept and understand ourselves. He's also our friend. He's a telepath, like me. Oh goody, one more reason to trust him. But he's been captured by bad people, and we need to free our other friends to get him back. He just wants to help you. Or use me. I can be quite useful.