The rest of the m retty uful. After breakfast, I went to the re where the rest were watg movies. Jubilee was at the helm of the remote and was having a marathon of cheesy a films and edic movies. Kitty sat cross-legged beside me, tossing pop into the air and catg it with an infrequent fir.

  Jeao the garden to do her chores.

  Around noon, a notification chimed from multiple phones and devices around the mansion, grabbing everyone's attention.

  "Breaking news from S.H.I.E.L.D," Scott said as he took the remote from Jubilee and flipped the el from the movie to a live press ference.

  Nick Fury was standing at a podium with the S.H.I.E.L.D. logo on it.

  "Ladies alemen" began Fury, his voice firm but not imposing. "The world is ging. We face threats that no oion, no one anization, handle aloo meet these challenges, S.H.I.E.L.D. is proud to annouhe formation of a eam: The Avengers Initiative."

  Everyone began to whisper. Avengers now? Then, this reality is different from what I thought. Tsk. Although I have information on the heroes and vilins, I have no way of knowing which events are going to pop up . Then if we sider the alternate versions of heroes and vilins... Who is the vilin or hero? Fuck!

  On the s, Fury kept talking. "This team will have some of the world's most amazing people. Together, they will protect Earth from both known and unknown dangers. I'm happy to introduce the founding members: Captain America, Iron Man, Bck Widow, Hawkeye, and Bruce Banner, also known as the Hulk."

  'No Thor. Just as I thought, alternate reality...' My thoughts were rag as the camera dispyed the team standing behind Fury. Steve Rogers looked like a hero with a star on his suit, standing tall o Tony Stark, who was already smiling at the cameras. Natasha Romanoff and t Barton stood beside the group, as usual looking serious, whereas Bruce Banner seemed a bit uneasy.

  Fury shifted his weight at the podium, giving the rumbles in the press room time to subside before he spoke again. "As the world tio ge, so must we. Though the Avengers Initiative shall be a foundational element of global defense, S.H.I.E.L.D. realizes the efforts that all other extraordinary individuals have put into keeping the world safe from harm and w behind the ses. That's why I am also pleased to announce a strategic alliah the X-Men."

  A pinkish portal opened beside Fury as Charles and Blink walked up beside Fury.

  "You have got to be kidding me," Logan grumbled, his cws instinctively twitg.

  As the close-up shot of Professor Charles Xavier focused as he stood o Fury with Blink, murmurs, and incredulous whispers escaped from the room.

  Fury tinued, his voice measured and authoritative. "The X-Men have proven their itment to defending this earth, time and time again, at great personal cost. It is my honor to hereby annouhat the Avengers Initiative and the X-Men will e together, unifying under one bao unite against threats that not only threaten nations but humanity itself."

  The s ged to reporters hurrying to ask questions. Among them stood one very loud voice that could cut through the din. "Director Fury, does this mean mutants are now officially part of global defense initiatives? How does the public respond to this?"

  Fury raised a hand to silehe crowd. "This partnership isn't about politics; it's about survival. The Avengers and the X-Men share a on goal: proteg the Earth. Together, they represent the best of what we achieve whe aside differences and fight for the greater good."

  Blink moved forward now, repced by quiet determination rather than her usual insouce. "The X-Men have always sought t about an uanding - in peace - between mutants and humans. This alliah the Avengers is a step closer to a safer future for all, regardless of our in."

  The camera turoward Charles and nodded gravely. "In a world with ever-rising problems, unity is still reatest strength. The X-Men prepare to stand side by side with the Aveo protect this p."

  Ba the mansion, Logan scoffed, crossing his arms. "Unity, yeah? Sounds like another excuse for S.H.I.E.L.D. to stick their noses in our business. Now, they are gonna gobble us up like a hungry snake."

  "Logan, they're to work with us, not against us," Storm said, her tone calm but firm. "This could be a ce to show the world we're not just 'danger'—we're heroes too."

  Jubilee leaned forward in her chair, eyes wide with excitement. "Do you think they'll call us in for missions? Like, 'Jubilee, we need your fireworks to dazzle the enemy!' Or like, 'Bst them to oblivion, Jubilee, our explosive queen'."

  Kitty smirked. "Yeah, or 'Kitty, phase through this imperable vault and steal the pns!' Sounds like fun."

  Scott, however, looked skeptical. "Fury's not telling us everything. He never does. We o tread carefully."

  I didn't say anything, just staring at the s and thinking about how the events were ging.

  The news ference ed up with a few more words from Fury and the team before the press started asking questions about the new alliance.

  ..

  The rest of the afternoo chattering full of excitement, , and heavy debate amongst the team. It appeared that everybody had an opinion about the Avengers Initiative and X-Men's sudden union with S.H.I.E.L.D.

  By diime, the mansion was filled with tension and curiosity. Jean agreed with Logan's view on Shield.

  Logan, of course, tio mumble about the interventionist gover and how they were so much better off on their own.

  Storm, ever the diplomat, remihem all that this could be a step toward the acceptaants had been fighting for all along. "It's not about S.H.I.E.L.D. trolling us, Logan. It's about ging perceptions. This is a ce for us..."

  "Yeah, tell that to the people who still call us freaks," Logaed, stabbing a pieeat on his pte. "S.H.I.E.L.D. doesn't want allies. They want tools. Just wait and see. You will know soon enough."

  As the evening calmed down, the chatter died down and everyoheir ways. I was about to go to Kitty's room to spend some time with her, but a new message from Psylocke caught my attention.

  [Hey, Aron, wanna train? I could really use a sparring partner.]

  I thought about it for a moment before replying.

  > Sure, when do you want to start?

  [Now. If you are free... I'm iraining room.]

  > I'm on my way.

  I went to the training room where Psylocke had requested me to meet her for a session. Psylocke was already there, stretg in her usual no-nonseire—a fitted tank top and athletits that gave her freedom of movement. Her violet hair was tied ba a sleek ponytail, and her sharp eyes locked onto me as I entered.

  "You're te," she remarked, though her tone held more amusement than irritation. She rolled her shoulders and stepped onto the mat, her bare feet making no sound.

  "By a minute," I tered with a faint smile, tossing my jacket onto a benearby. I joined her o, feeling the firm give of the surface beh my feet.

  "No powers," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Just skill. Agreed?"

  "Agreed."

  She nodded and assumed a stance, her body low and banced. I mirrored her, watg her movements closely. We circled each other for a moment, testing the waters, each looking for an opening.

  She moved first—a feint with her left hand, followed by a swift roundhouse kick. I barely sidestepped, the air from her strike brushing past me. I retaliated with a jab, but she blocked it easily, her forearm meeting mih a solid thwack. Her movements were precise and fluid, her body a on hoo perfe.

  "Not bad," she said, a smirk tugging at her lips. "But you're holding back."

  "You sure about that?" I replied, stepping in closer with a quibination—a jab, a hook, and a low kick aimed at her thigh. She deflected the punches but had to pivot sharply to avoid the kick, her footing momentarily shifting.

  "Better," she said, now more serious.

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