"Charles, what are we going to do next? Can you still go back to the CIA?"
Hank looked up from the couch, brows furrowed. Unlike the others, he'd worked for the CIA. That lab, that badge—it all meant something to him. He hadn't revealed his mutation when he first joined. Back then, he was just another brilliant mind in a white coat.
Charles hesitated, then sighed."I'm sorry, Hank. But I don't think there's a way back for any of us."
He didn't need to explain further. The CIA had always been divided about backing a mutant initiative. Now that their secret base was in ruins, no one in Langley was going to approve a rebuild. That bridge was burned—along with any formal ties they had.
"So... that's it?"Darwin looked around, confusion written across his face."What do we do now?"
The others—Kraken, Angel, Siren—shared that same lost look. They'd waited three days for answers, only to be told they were on their own.
Charles and Eric exchanged a long look.
They both understood. They'd recruited these kids. Gave them hope. Gave them a cause. And now the government had ditched them, like they were just an experiment gone wrong.
"Raven, could you hold down the fort for a minute?"Charles's voice was low, but firm.
Raven caught the signal and nodded. She turned back to the others, stepping into the role Charles had carved for her.
Charles, meanwhile, led Eric upstairs to his study.
Once the door shut, Charles cut to the chase."I'm going to send them home."
Eric frowned. "No. Absolutely not."
Charles raised a brow.
"I stayed because of you, Charles—not the CIA. And they did too. Shaw has a team. We need one of our own."
"They're just kids, Eric."
"Kids who survived a full-scale attack from Shaw. That's more than most trained agents could've done."
Charles opened his mouth to counter, then closed it again. Eric was right. He hated it, but he was right.
Ordinary people couldn't stop someone like Shaw. Only mutants could.
After a long pause, Charles nodded.
"Alright. But if we do this, we do it right. We train them. Seriously."
Eric grinned. "Even me?"
Charles didn't smile. "Especially you."
Back in the main hall, the group turned when Charles reappeared. Eric stood beside him.
"Everyone—listen up," Charles called out."The CIA is out. They're not coming back. But Eric and I—we still believe in what we started here."
"You've all seen what Shaw is capable of. The world needs someone who can stop him. We're going to be that someone. A real team."
"We'll train. We'll grow stronger. Together."
"But this is your choice. Anyone who wants to leave, I'll personally make sure you get home safely. No shame in it."
He let the silence settle.
Then, one by one, hands started to rise.
"I'm not going back to prison," said Riptide, arms crossed.
"I've got nowhere else to go," Hank added with a small shrug.
"Think I can go back to driving a cab after all this?" Darwin laughed dryly.
Kraken chimed in. "I didn't have many friends before this. Kinda like it here."
Raven stepped forward. "This is my home. Always has been."
Then she turned toward the one person who hadn't spoken yet.
"Rorschach. What about you?"
All eyes shifted to him.
Eric stepped forward. "You're gifted, Rorschach. Losing you would be a huge blow. I hope you'll stay."
Rorschach didn't even blink."Eric, when did I ever say I was leaving?"
A breath of relief passed through the room.
But then—a quiet voice cut through the warmth.
"I'm sorry."
Everyone turned to Angel.
"I don't know what Shaw's real intentions were. But he didn't hurt us. The people who mocked us, who kept us locked up like animals—those were the ones from the CIA."
"I just… I don't think I belong here."
Raven moved to stop her, but Angel shook her head."I'm sorry, Raven. This isn't my fight."
Charles nodded, quietly."Thank you for the time you gave us. I'll make sure you get home safely."
Eric, however, wasn't so kind.
"Hey, girl." His voice dropped cold. "Just know—if I see you on the battlefield? I won't go easy on you."
"Eric!" Charles snapped.
Eric smirked."What? You still think they're fragile little children who can't handle the truth? It's time we stop lying to them—and to ourselves."
Charles didn't reply. But somewhere in his heart, he knew—Eric wasn't entirely wrong.
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