I blinked, still processing her words. "Uh… wow. That's, um… ued," I managed, scratg the bay neck. "So, the Phoenix has… opinions on our personal life now?"

  Jean bit her lip, clearly embarrassed. "Believe me, I didn't ask her. She just… suggested it. Said something about 'strengthening the id' or whatever." She rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her amusement. "Holy, she sounded like a meddling grandmother."

  I ughed, shaking my head. "Just what I need, a itity pying matchmaker." I met her gaze, trying to sound as serious as possible. "Are we supposed to, like… put this oo-do list, or—?"

  She smacked my shoulder lightly, cheeks pink. "Stop it! It's not a demand, more like a… suggestion." She sighed, looking away. "I just thought you should know. No pressure or anything."

  "Yeah, no pressure at all," I said, grinning. "Just that the literal embodiment of ic fire thinks we should start a family. Totally normal stuff."

  She couldn't hold back a ugh, finally letting the tension break. "This is our life now, huh? Crazy missions, dodgih, and Phoenix giving us... advice."

  "Hey, it's all part of the package deal," I said, shrugging. " you imagine? A little us, running around, throwing ice beams, or ic fire tantrums? We'd have to put baby-proof locks on every part of the gaxy. Who knows, they might just save the world by the time they're in preschool."

  She ughed, a genuine, carefree sound that made everything feel normal. "You're impossible."

  "And you still love me anyway." I shrugged.

  She sighed, resting her head on my shoulder again, her firag light circles on my chest. "I do… more than I care to admit. Maybe the Phoenix isn't s."

  We y there in fortable silence, letting the m light fill the room. She nuzzled on my neck.

  "Maybe one day... when we're ready," she whispered, kissing my cheek.

  "Yeah, one day..." I murmured. kissing her head.

  Eventually, reality s way ba, and I sighed. "Alright, I should probably get going. And you." I flipped her over a on top of her, pinning her down and kissing her deeply. "Should take a nice long bath a something. It's already noon."

  "Mmmm, I'm kinda hungry," She ed her arms around my neck. "But I don't wan go of you yet."

  I kissed her nose, smiling. "I don't want to go too. But gotta help out a new friend. So, how about we tihis, maybe at a ter date? You know, another date without getting attacked or any interruption?"

  "That would be nice," She said. "How about Saturday night? I'll make dinner."

  "Oooh, that sounds amazing. I'm in. Definitely. But you cook?" I asked with a smirk.

  "Tsk. You gotta hurt where it hurts." She gave me a small pout.

  "How about we cook together? You wearing an apron i and me guiding you?" I said, giving her a sly look.

  "Only apron?" Jean asked with a smirk, raising an eyebrow.

  "Well, if you insist..." I said.

  She ughed, kissing me softly. "Hahaha! You are impossible."

  "I try my best," I said, chug. "Alright. I'm off to work." I kissed her o time befetting up.

  As I left Jean's room, I could still feel the warmth of her touch lingering on my skin, a small smile tugging at my lips as I repyed the m's events. But now, it was time to get back to business. I had someoo find, and the Professor had promised to help. The clock read a little past noon, which meant the Professor should be rested and ready.

  When I reached Cerebro's trol room, Hank was already there, adjusting the mae's settings. Emma stood nearby, her arms folded, looking unimpressed by the tech-heavy surroundings.

  "Good, you're here," Professor X said as I entered. He looked more awake now, though there was still a hint of fatigue in his eyes. "Hank and I have made some adjustments to Cerebro. Time to find our new friend." He settled into Cerebro's tral sole, his fingers lightly toug the trols. The door closed and the rge circur room hummed to life as Cerebro activated, the faint blue light casting a calm but eerie glow across the metallic surfaces.

  Professor pced the helmet on his head, closing his eyes.

  "Let's begin."

  I stood by Emma, who watched with an unreadable expression. This was my first time seeing Cerebro in a, and I couldn't deny feeling a rush of arofessor's sciousness expanded, reag beyond the fines of the room, far beyond the school. The view around us ged. It was as if we were standing on top of a mountain and looking down at the endless world around us.

  There were white little human shapes all over the pce.

  "These are humans," The Professor said, pointing at the tless little shapes. Then the white shapes disappeared and red shapes appeared. "And these are mutants."

  "That many?" I couldn't help asking.

  "Yes," The Professor said. "We are not as alone as one might think. Well, let's see where our animal talker friend is hiding."

  The view tio ge as he sed all over the world. It was as if he was reading a book and flipping through pages. It was a mesmerizing sight to behold, and it alsht to light how powerful the Professor really was with the Cerebro. If he wao, he could do a lot of things to the human rad even wipe them out. Well, he almost did in the movies. Gotta keep a for trouble iure.

  Seds stretched into mihen, after what felt like ay, Professor's eyelids fluttered, a out a sharp breath.

  "I found her," he said, his voice low and grave. "She's oskirts of Tokyo… heavily guarded."

  The view ged and was now focused on a young girl, sitting in a dark room, all alone. Her face was devoid of aion, and she just sat there, motionless and silent.

  Hank cursed under his breath.

  I had to agree. This was not something I had expected. The girl didn't look older thay and her eyes had already lost their light. Her arms were riddled with scars. Her muscles looked like that of a seasoned fighter. What the hell did those people do to her?

  "They... they turned her into a on," Emma said, her voice ced with barely tained anger. "Aionless, killing mae."

  "Her mind is clouded... Drugs and brainwashed... I ot get into her head. Some kind of tech is blog me," Professor X said as he shut down the Cerebro and took off the helmet. He turo Emma. "There isn't much time. We o rescue her before her mis permaly damaged."

  Emma nodded, lookiermined. "I'll go."

  "No," Professor said, shaking his head. "Not alohey must have teology to suppress mutants." He looked toward me.

  "You knew?" I asked.

  "Jean told me," He said.

  I opened my palm, summoning a tiny bit of Phoenix Fmes. "No teology suppress Phoenix Force. I'll go."

  "There are hundreds of assassins in there. And si's Tokyo we are talking about," Hank said. "The Yakuza is very powerful there. Getting caught would be bad for us all. You saw there are many mutants in there, right?"

  "Yoing to need some extra help and I know just the right person," The Professor said with a smile. "Hank, call Director Fury and ask for Miss. Natasha Romanoff."

  "Natasha Romanoff?" Emma asked, looking at the Professor.

  "Yes," The Professor nodded. "If there is anyone who infiltrate a Yakuza hideout without raising an arm, it's her. If there is any teology that blocks mutants, then she should be able to disable them from inside and create a distra long enough for you to rescue Chat. It's going to be a fast operation. No side trag, no distra, no useless killing." He looked sternly at Emma. "Are you fih that?"

  She shrugged. "As long as she's safe... It's fine by me."

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