Unsteady grounds
It all started off as a quiet morning at X-Mansion, there hasn’t been much action lately, save for the addition of a new member a few weeks ago. Scott didn’t know how to feel how Wolverine. Professor X seemed to want them to give the man a chance though, so that’s what Scott tried to do, but Logan kept rubbing him the wrong way. He knew the guy had been through a lot, Charles said as much, but other than his freaky metal claws and regenerative factor, Scott didn’t know much more than that about him personally. It just seemed that no matter what he did, Logan would always just be rude or snarky and not take anything seriously, almost like he didn’t care about any of them or this place; Scott sometimes felt like Logan was using Charles’ kindness and he didn’t like that. He usually tried to avoid the gruff old man, preferring to avoid more confrontations that led to bitterness and words they can’t take back. Today though, wasn’t a day he could avoid him; the Professor had called him, Jean, Ororo and Logan for a mission prep meeting.
***
The tension in the war room was thick as smoke, and Logan could almost smell the disdain rolling off Summers from across the table.
“Charles, with all due respect,” Scott said tightly, arms crossed, “This is a sensitive op. Are you sure Wolverine is the best option for this? I don’t want to traumatise the kids we’ll save more with him going on a rampage.” His visor turned in Logan’s direction side eyeing the man slumped on a chair. “We need stability, not claws.”
Logan didn’t even flinch. Just leaned further back in his chair, arms draped over the backrest like he owned the place, one brow cocked high. “You wanna say that again, slim?” His voice was low and gravelly, not quite menacing, but challenging.
Jean stepped in quickly, placing a hand on Scott’s arm. “Enough. We’ve been through this.”
“Have we?” Scott muttered, not taking his eyes off Logan.
Charles cleared his throat, cutting the growing tension with practiced calm. “This mission is about locating and protecting a group of young mutants taken in the outskirts of Northern Manitoba. Remote terrain, no reliable coms, and unknow hostile forces who know how to handle mutant abilities. You’ll need every strength you can bring to bear. Including Logan.”
Storm nodded, calm as ever. “This mission is more important than pride, Scott.”
Scott gave a short, sharp nod, jaw tight. “Fine. Let’s just get it done.”
Logan rose slowly from his seat, cracking his neck with a lazy, deliberate motion. “Go ahead then fearless leader, don’t worry I’ll follow like a good little soldier” The words were sarcastic, but there was no real bite to them. Yet.
***
The Blackbird sliced through clouds like a blade. Storm piloted, while Jean and Beast quietly reviewed satellite scans. Logan sat near the back, silent, hands gripping the arm seats, eyes locked on the horizon ahead like he was trying hard to stay calm; the man was clearly not a fan of flying.
Scott stood near the cockpit, glancing back every so often. His mind was on the kids. Six young mutants, last seen fleeing from a facility that had its fingerprints on too many ghost operations. But it kept drifting back to Logan.
“Is this guy going to stay in control?” Scott finally muttered under his breath to Jean.
She gave him a look. “He’s rough. Not unstable.”
“You say that,” he replied, lowering his voice, “but I’ve heard the rumors about the Wolverine, Jean. He’s got more blood on his hands than—”
“Than what?” Logan’s voice cut in like a blade.
Scott hadn’t noticed him getting up, he had forgotten Logan’s sharp senses.
“Than a good little soldier like you?”
Jean stood between them again with a sigh.
Before things could go further, the jet’s dashboard beeped.
“We’re close,” Storm announced. “Thermal signatures, east of the lake bed. Movement. Definitely not just the kids.”
Logan stepped up beside Scott. “Looks like we’re gonna have to settle this later, slim, we’re both in this.”
Scott didn’t answer, already moving to gear up. Jean gave Logan a faint nod of reassurance, and Logan only shrugged, strapping on his belt and flexing his hands.
As the Blackbird descended silently, the team disembarked into dense forest. The trees were too quiet, the air cold and sharp. Logan’s nose twitched. Something was wrong.
“I smell metal. Cold tech. Lotta it,” he murmured.
“Confirmed,” Beast added, scanning the perimeter. “This place is saturated with electromagnetic anomalies. Not natural.”
Their thoughts were interrupted by Logan, gesturing for them to stop. “We’re not alone.”
A man walked up to them, his frame lean but solid, dressed in dark armor that shimmered under the light. His pupils were gold, luminous, the white of his eyes a deep red.
Scott stepped up hand coming up ready to blast at the first sign of hostility.
“Hello X-Men, I’ve been waiting for you. Welcome to my land.”
The man smiled as he faced the team with an unsettling calm.
Scott stepped forward, visor humming quietly with power restrained. “You have one chance to stand down. Where are the children?”
The man tilted his head, almost like he was amused. “Ah, you must be the leader. Cyclops, yes?” His voice was smooth, educated. “I’m called Asphodel. Fitting, don’t you think? A glimpse of the underworld. I find the metaphors poetic.”
“Cute,” Logan growled from the side, claws gleaming. “You got five seconds to start talking before I sent you straight to your underworld.”
Asphodel chuckled.
“I’ve always been… fascinated by your kind,” Asphodel continued, slowly circling. “Mutants. You’re walking mysteries. Every one of you a new puzzle. What I want—what I need—is to understand how far you can be pushed. How far until the breaking point.” He said with a sickening kind smile.
Scott raised a hand. “Jean, Hank—go. Find the kids. Bring them out of here.”
Jean hesitated, sensing the shift in the air. But she nodded. “Be careful.”
Hank followed her, as they rounded the villain who payed them no attention, too interested by the specimens in front of him.
That left the three of them: Storm standing tall beside Scott, lightning already dancing along her arms, and Logan crouched low and ready to spring.
“Let’s test your theory, then,” Scott said. He nodded sharply to his companions and stepped back, ready to strike.
They moved as one.Logan dashed in, fast and low, more beast than man, claws cutting the air. Asphodel sidestepped each one, fluidly avoiding every strike, twisting like he saw the attacks coming before they were launched.
Storm’s bolts rained down from above as she flew up, crackling light and cutting wind. Scott unleashed sharp, precise blasts from his visor, trying to catch the as he dodged his teammates’ assault.
None of it connected.