#Emma frost one shot

[awkward-walking-potato]

Can I ask for Kurt, Emma, and Scott with a reader that’s a little off-putting? They’re mostly harmless but them not making a sound still gives people a start.

Kurt Wagner (Nightcrawler)

Kurt has a deep understanding of feeling like an outsider due to his own appearance and abilities. He appreciates the silent, almost ghostly way you move, seeing it as a unique expression of who you are rather than something unsettling. He finds your ability to be stealthy fascinating and sometimes even challenges you to see if you can sneak up on him—though with his teleportation skills, it becomes a fun game of cat and mouse.

Kurt notices that your silence often leads others to feel uneasy, but he never lets it bother him. Instead, he shows affection through small, thoughtful gestures—leaving you little notes in places only you could find, or teleporting into your space to surprise you with a snack or a joke, making sure you feel included and cared for.

Kurt finds peace in the quiet of the night and enjoys spending that time with you, knowing you’re more comfortable when things are still. Whether it’s sitting together in silence or engaging in deep conversations about your experiences, he appreciates the calm you bring to those moments and is always there to listen without judgment.

He encourages you to embrace your mutation, reminding you that just as he has learned to love his appearance and abilities, you can find pride in what makes you different. He’s patient and kind, never pushing you too far but always there to help you see the beauty in your uniqueness.

Emma Frost

Emma isn’t easily rattled by much, including your unsettling presence. She’s more intrigued than anything, appreciating the power and control you have over your ability to move undetected. She respects strength, and in her eyes, your ability to make people uncomfortable is just another form of power, one that she finds admirable.

Emma sees your potential and takes it upon herself to help you refine your abilities, offering to train you in using your mutation more strategically. She’ll guide you in turning what others see as “creepy” into a sophisticated skill set, perfect for espionage or other high-stakes situations.

While Emma appreciates your ability to unsettle others, she also understands the importance of social dynamics. She’ll offer tips on how to use your silence to your advantage without alienating people, teaching you how to blend your natural stealth with a more polished social presence.

Emma doesn’t coddle you or try to make you more approachable; instead, she respects you as you are. She values your authenticity and never asks you to change, only to hone your skills. In her eyes, you’re already powerful—she just wants to help you refine that power into something truly formidable.

Scott Summers (Cyclops)

Scott’s military-like discipline means he’s rarely caught off guard, even by someone as silent as you. While others might jump when you appear out of nowhere, Scott barely flinches. He’s more likely to acknowledge you with a calm nod, appreciating that you’re simply doing what comes naturally.

Scott immediately sees the tactical advantage in your ability to move without being noticed. He’s constantly thinking about how your mutation could be utilized on missions, often pairing you with teams where your skills would be most effective. He’s pragmatic, recognizing that what others find unsettling is actually a powerful tool.

Scott isn’t one for excessive words, so he appreciates that you don’t need to fill the silence with chatter. There’s a mutual understanding between you two, a quiet camaraderie where actions speak louder than words. He respects your space and doesn’t push you to be more outgoing than you’re comfortable with.

Scott can be very protective of his team, and that includes you. While he respects your independence and ability to take care of yourself, he’s always watching out for you in his own quiet way. If anyone on the team ever made you feel uncomfortable because of your mutation, he’d step in with a firm hand to ensure you’re treated with the respect you deserve.

Scott might encourage you to push your boundaries, not to change who you are, but to explore how your abilities can evolve. Whether it’s training exercises that challenge your stealth in new ways or missions that test your limits, Scott believes in your potential and wants to see you grow into the best version of yourself.

[elusiveweekend]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: X-Men (Comicverse), X-Men - All Media Types Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Emma Frost/Scott Summers Characters: Emma Frost, Scott Summers Additional Tags: Imaginary Friends, Angst, Teenagers, Hurt No Comfort, Implied/Referenced Sexual Harassment Summary: Heaving a sigh, Emma bites her lower lip, wondering whether it’s the meds or she’s actually going insane. Seeing a cute boy with red glasses who doesn’t really exist.

[excelsiorfics]

That Which We Are

Date: April 1, 2018 Author: GrayJay Rating: Not Rated Word Count/Status: 3,482, complete Dynamic: N/A Characters: Scott Summers, Christopher Summers, Charles Xavier, Jean Grey, Logan (X-Men), Ororo Munroe, Emma Frost, Hank McCoy, Moira MacTaggert, Nathaniel Essex, Alex Summers Tags: Medical Trauma, Needles, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Closeted Character, Trans Male Character, Canon Compliant, Character Study

Summary:

The day he loses his glasses and brings down half the orphanage is the day he becomes Scott for good.

(Or: The universe where Scott isn't born Scott.)

[johanneswinstonwileyatmse]

X-Men Regenesis is probably one of those comics who have really really stayed with me. To the point it inspired my writing.

[naoa-ao3]

God How She Feared

Her love was so totally different from Jean's. Her love was hard and firm and she had a certainty to herself that was purely her own. Jean had been warm and kind and gentle. Emma was only rarely some of these things. She was so utterly different. She was gorgeous like an ice sculpture while Jean had been something akin to fire. They were so different. Emma burned cold and cruelly where Jean had burned hot and searing and Emma was intentional and forceful when she burned over old scars, determined to make them hers now. She hated seeing the marks of another woman, but who could blame her? What woman can say she likes seeing the mark of another on the man she loves? But Emma could not and so she burned away the marks of the lover again and again but they never truly went away and it frustrated her to no end. Scott was hers and yet she could never remove the mark of Jean. Sure she could add her own and the flesh of Scott's soul and heart became painted with the loves of two women. Each mark distinct. There was no confusing the two.

And Scott welcomed the ice just as he had welcomed the fire. He craved it as they had both craved him. And at night when he lay next to Emma he was careful to keep his thoughts on her and she was careful to keep her mark fresh so his thoughts would not stray. He was hers and she would keep him. And if she had her way Jean's marks would be buried. She had long since given up trying to make them go away but she could bury them. Hide them deep. Keep them there until only she knew them and the name Jean was just a sad echo that stirred his heart.

She would bury them with love and force. She would bury them in the bedroom where she would do things Jean never dreamed of. Make Scott forget the world and know only her. That was her power over him. Him whom she truly did love. Him who she wanted to keep by her side and him who she so desperately feared would leave her.

God how he made her heart ache, his power, his determination, his heart, his everything. She wanted to give him everything and to be his everything and to make him everything. She was strong, she knew that. Stronger than Jean had been. She could mold Scott into a stronger man and yet, he still loved Jean. That was her endless torment. That she could not erase his love. And she knew it was selfish but she was beyond caring. She waned him to be hers and to love her completely, as she did him. That was the real pain of it. She loved him so totally and completely and a portion of his heart remained with Jean. Not buried with her but alive and beating. Alive and in him and it drove her mad.

And Scott, he loved them both. Never knowing or thinking that love made women jealous and spiteful and the most beautiful emotion a soul could possess could turn a person bitter. And love did just that. Love turned a person bitter. Perhaps love was the mother of all evil. Love had made him sin repeatedly. Love had made him leave Madelyn. Love had made him confused and made him cheat on Jean. Love had made a fool of him but he was a man and a woman was a far different creature. And he could never truly know. So it had been between Jean and Emma. They had loathed each other. Each seeing the other as a threat and an obstacle. In the end Emma had been wrong. In the end it didn't matter. Emma had him now. A bitter prize to love. A bitter prize to keep.

Two women so utterly different had loved the same man and he had loved them both and he was fool to think that was enough.

And so Emma feared. Feared he wold leave her and feared that he would always love Jean more. Secretly she feared and he never knew. Maybe he did. She didn't know. God, how she feared.

God how she feared he would leave her. She feared she wasn't enough. And how tragic and unfair it was that she should be less than a dead woman. That a dead woman should claim the heart of the man she loved. The dead couldn't love the living and how foolish she thought it was that they should think they could. How awful it was to fear the dead.

[peachesofteal]

Light On - single mom/neighbors fic Simon Riley/female reader 🎄 @glitterypirateduck’s December challenge: O Christmas Tree

"What about this one?"

You're standing next to a giant tree, one that's probably double your height. "It's a little big but-"

"I don't know if that will fit in your flat, sweetheart." You huff, hands on your hips, and Emmaline wiggles where she's snuggled against him, tucked up on his chest inside his arms. You've got her in some sort of snow suit, like a baby marshmallow, capped with a red knit hat that ties under chin to keep the ear flaps down, and even though she clearly hates it, and looks a little ridiculous, he knows the whole thing is keeping her warm in tonight's frigid weather.

"Okay. What about this one?" The one you're pointing to now is smaller, but sparse, a little prickly looking. He shakes his head. "You don't like any of them!" You protest, and Emma grunts, babbling some sort of nonsense.

"'m just doing what the boss here is telling me to do." She looks up at him, eyes bright with a little bit of snot beneath her nose, and he wipes it away with his thumb. "There you go, baby girl. I gotcha."

"She's not the boss." You step close with a shiver, close enough that he can see the fog of your breath, peek of your neck beneath your scarf, and he reaches out to pad his fingertips across your chilled cheek.

"Cold?" You shrug.

"A little." You dip forward to give Emma a quick kiss on the cheek, and at the same time, he ducks down, pressing his lips to the crown of your head. He's never going to get used to this. Never. Even now, in this moment, he can't believe he's walking a tree lot with you, debating which one to choose. Him. Simon Ghost Riley, picking out a Yule tree with you and the baby. His family.

There's a bang in the street. A car backfiring, probably, but it's enough that it startles someone else on the lot, and they shout, the combination like a shot of adrenaline to his heart, focus and intensity taking over, his movements shifting to autopilot. His hand covers Emma's head, curling forward at the same as he tugs you into his body with a firm arm around your back, essentially immobilizing you, keeping you close in case- "Simon." You say his name softly, gently, fingers holding onto his forearm. The touch grounds him, reminds him to breathe, and he relaxes slightly. "It's alright. We're okay, we're at the Christmas tree place. You're okay. You're with us." With you. With you and Emmaline. At home. He closes his eyes, repeating it in his mind, twice, three times, for good measure, before he trusts enough to uncover the baby's head and let go of you completely. You smile when he does, bright, beautiful, sweet, still working you touch against his arm, not stepping away.

"I'm sorry." He tries to explain, but you shake it off.

"Don't be. It's okay." You loop your arm through his, sticking close to his side. "Want to keep looking?" You ask, nonchalant, and he's overcome with emotion so strong it could bring him to his knees.

"Yeah, but I... I want..." he stumbles over it, words failing, and you wait, patiently, turning into him so you can look up at his face.

"What is it?" Holiday lights glow behind you, twinkling colors mixed with frosted whites, strung together across trees and posts and big red and green signs, 'O Christmas Tree' playing over the speakers that line the perimeter. He's never been one for holidays, never really cared about any of it, all the excitement lost on him, most of the celebrated days spent alone. But now... with you, with the baby, he feels the magic. He thinks he can even see it, in you, in Emmaline, and he's filled to the brim with the wonder, the anticipation for it all, to experience it all for the first time like this, with his angels.

"I want to kiss you." He says the same words he gave you a week ago, outside on the balcony, and you give you him the same smile, warm and welcoming, lips curling upwards with happiness.

"Please." You beam, and he obliges, your lips parting for his, getting lost in the taste of your mouth, decadent honey dripping across his tongue. You make him dizzy, make him stupid, make him so weak for you, and all he wants is more. He wants it all, wants everything you'd give him, and he has to hold himself back, cognizant of Emma in his arms, pulling away regretfully after five seconds that could last five hours, or days. Years. You clear your throat. "Well, okay, uh- should we?" You motion to another row of trees, and he nods with a laugh.

"We should."

Later, after the tree has been decorated, dinner has been made and cleaned up, fire started in the fireplace, Emmaline has had her bath, and you've changed into your pajamas, he sits on your couch with you curled into his side, both you and the baby asleep. It's late, and the lights are out, and he thinks he probably should have woken you to get you both up into bed, but he can't bring himself to shatter the moment, the silence, the fire, and the sounds of your breathing, face barely illuminated by the glow of the lights. He stays right there, listening to the crackle of the logs, staring at the tree, watching the two of you breathe, heart so full he thinks it could explode. This is it, he thinks. This is the magic.

[urdreamydoodles]

X-Men x Reader (Part.2)

They accidentally hurt you (Part.2)

You're accidentally hurt during a moment of loss of control by your powerful partners

Characters: Pietro Maximoff, Wanda Maximoff, Charles Xavier, Hank McCoy, Emma Frost, Ororo Munroe, Mystique, Magik, Colossus & Sunspot

Pietro Maximoff (Quicksilver)

Being in a relationship with Pietro Maximoff was like living life at lightning speed—quite literally. His world was always in motion, and being with him meant constantly adapting to the rapid pace of his thoughts and actions. But beneath his fast-talking, sometimes brash exterior, you found someone who was deeply caring, even if his way of showing it was a little unconventional. He adored you, always racing back to you after a mission or zipping out to grab your favorite food when you were feeling down. But sometimes, Pietro’s powers got the best of him.

Today had been one of those days. It started out fine—Pietro had taken you on a whirlwind day trip to Paris, as he often did, running across the Atlantic in the blink of an eye. You had laughed as he effortlessly carried you through the streets, dodging between pedestrians, never once bumping into anyone. The two of you had spent hours exploring the city, grabbing pastries from the corner café, and watching the sunset by the Seine.

But on the way back to the mansion, something went wrong.

Pietro, in his typical rush, had underestimated just how tired he was. He carried you back across the ocean, but this time, his focus slipped for just a second. That second was all it took.

One moment you were in his arms, the wind whipping through your hair, and the next you were falling. The blur of the world slowed into a terrifying clarity as your body hit the ground. The impact knocked the breath out of you, and pain flared through your side. For a moment, everything went black.

When you opened your eyes, Pietro was there, his face pale with fear. He was kneeling beside you, his hands hovering over you but not touching, as if afraid his very presence would break you further.

“Y/N!” His voice cracked, his usual confidence and swagger gone, replaced by sheer panic. “Oh god, I—I didn’t mean to—I wasn’t thinking—”

You groaned, trying to push yourself up, but the pain in your ribs made you gasp. Pietro’s hands immediately shot forward, but then he froze, torn between wanting to help and being terrified of making things worse.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ve never… I didn’t think this would happen. I’m so stupid! I—”

“Pietro,” you gasped, forcing a weak smile. “It was an accident.”

He shook his head furiously, his silver hair falling into his eyes. “No. No, it wasn’t. I wasn’t careful. I was too fast. I always do this—”

“Hey, stop.” You reached out, grabbing his wrist to ground him. “I’m okay. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me.”

His eyes, wide and filled with guilt, locked onto yours. For once, Pietro didn’t have a quick comeback, didn’t have a joke or a grin to deflect. He looked devastated, as if the very thought of hurting you had broken something inside him.

“I’ll never forgive myself for this,” he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “You… you’re everything to me, and I… I hurt you.”

You gently pulled his hand toward you, resting it over your heart. “Pietro, I trust you. Always. This was an accident, and it could have happened to anyone.”

Pietro’s face crumpled, and he leaned down, pressing a feather-light kiss to your forehead. His lips trembled against your skin, and you felt his breath hitch.

“I’ll be more careful,” he promised, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’ll never let this happen again.”

Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch)

Being with Wanda was like stepping into a world where magic and reality blurred together. You were always mesmerized by the way her crimson energy glowed at her fingertips, the way she could bend the world to her will, her power immense but her heart so fragile. You’d been through a lot together, and you’d come to understand the weight of her power, the burden she carried with each spell cast, each alteration of reality. But despite her best efforts, sometimes things spiraled out of control.

Today, it had started as a simple, quiet day in your shared apartment. Wanda had been in a particularly good mood, her laughter filling the room as she practiced her magic casually. She’d been making small changes to the space—coloring the walls with a wave of her hand, rearranging furniture with a flick of her wrist, changing a painting on the wall just for fun. You’d always admired how natural her magic was to her, as if it were an extension of her being.

"Look at this!" Wanda giggled, twirling around as she summoned a cluster of glowing red orbs that danced in the air between you. You smiled, watching her joy with an affectionate gaze. She was so radiant when she let her guard down, when she allowed herself to play without worry.

You reached out, trying to touch one of the floating orbs, but suddenly, her expression shifted. Something flickered in her eyes—panic, uncertainty—and the magic faltered.

Before you could react, the energy exploded outward in a burst of chaotic force. You were thrown back, your body slamming into the wall with a sickening thud. The wind was knocked out of you, and pain seared through your back and head as you crumpled to the floor, dazed and disoriented.

“Y/N!” Wanda’s voice was filled with horror as she rushed toward you, her crimson energy quickly dissipating as she knelt by your side, her hands hovering over you. “Oh my God, I—are you okay? I didn’t mean to—I lost control—”

You winced, trying to catch your breath as you pushed yourself up, but every movement sent sharp pain radiating through your body. Wanda’s hands trembled as she touched your arm lightly, afraid to cause any more harm.

“I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice breaking. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I—my magic—”

“It’s okay,” you croaked, even though you were still catching your breath, your body aching from the impact. You managed a weak smile, reaching up to touch her hand. “I know you didn’t mean to.”

But Wanda’s face was pale, her green eyes wide with guilt and fear. “No, it’s not okay. I can’t control it sometimes, and this is exactly what I was afraid of. I hurt you. I could have—” Her voice cracked, and she pressed her gloved hands to her face, her shoulders shaking.

“Wanda…” you breathed, slowly pulling yourself into a sitting position despite the pain. You cupped her cheek gently, brushing away a tear that had escaped her lashes. “You didn’t lose control. It was an accident. I’m fine.”

She shook her head, her chest tight with emotion as she looked at you, her guilt weighing heavily on her. “I could have done worse. What if next time it’s worse? I can’t live with myself if—”

You silenced her with a soft kiss on her forehead, your touch gentle but grounding. “You won’t. I trust you. We’ll work through this. You have more control than you think, Wanda. I’ve seen you do amazing things, and I know you can handle this.”

Her tears slowed as she gazed at you, her heart swelling with love and guilt, her hands carefully cradling your face. “I love you,” she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ll always be so careful. I promise, I’ll never hurt you again.”

“I love you too,” you whispered back, leaning into her touch, knowing that together, you could face anything—even the occasional chaos of her powers.

Charles Xavier (Professor X)

Your relationship with Charles Xavier was built on a deep, unspoken understanding. His mind was a marvel—brilliant, compassionate, but weighed down by the burden of leading the X-Men and carrying the future of mutantkind on his shoulders. You loved him for his wisdom, his kindness, and his unwavering dedication to his ideals. But with his incredible psychic abilities came risks, especially in moments when his concentration slipped, when the weight of his mental strain became too much.

The day had started like any other. You had been sitting across from Charles in his study, watching him as he went through a pile of documents. His brow furrowed in concentration as he read over reports from Cerebro, the faint hum of the machine in the background. You could tell he was tired, the mental strain from constant use of his powers weighing on him. He rarely admitted it, but you could always sense when he needed rest.

"Charles," you said softly, setting your book aside. "You’ve been working too hard. You need a break."

He glanced up from his papers, offering you a small, tired smile. "You worry too much about me," he said, though the affection in his voice was clear. "But I appreciate it."

Before you could reply, something shifted. Charles’s expression grew distant, his eyes glazing over as his mind seemed to drift away. You had seen this before—when Cerebro pulled him into a deep telepathic connection, when his mind traveled across the globe in search of new mutants.

But this time, something went wrong.

A sudden, sharp pain lanced through your head, so intense it felt like your skull was being split apart. You gasped, clutching your head as the psychic intrusion overwhelmed your senses. Images flashed before your eyes—disjointed, chaotic thoughts that weren’t your own. You tried to scream, but no sound came out, your body wracked with the intense pressure of Charles’s mind accidentally invading yours.

And then, just as quickly as it had begun, it stopped.

You collapsed into the chair, gasping for air as the pain ebbed away, leaving behind a dull, throbbing ache. Charles was immediately by your side, his wheelchair rolling quickly to you, his face filled with horror and guilt.

“Y/N,” he whispered, his voice shaking. “I—I didn’t mean to—are you alright?”

You blinked, trying to clear the lingering fog from your mind as you looked up at him. His hands were trembling slightly, something you had never seen before. The great Charles Xavier, always calm and composed, was visibly shaken.

“It was an accident,” you managed to say, though your head still pounded from the psychic overload. “I’m okay.”

Charles shook his head, his guilt written plainly across his features. “No. I wasn’t careful. I—my mind slipped, and I hurt you. I should have been more aware. I…” He swallowed hard, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m so sorry.”

You reached out, placing a hand over his, trying to convey your forgiveness through your touch. “Charles, it’s okay. I know you would never hurt me on purpose. I’m fine. Really.”

He looked at you with such sorrow in his eyes, the weight of centuries of knowledge and responsibility pressing down on him. “I could have done much worse. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I would never… I would never want to harm you.”

“I know,” you whispered, squeezing his hand gently. “You’ve been carrying so much. It’s no wonder your mind slipped. But I’m not afraid of you, Charles. I never will be.”

He closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to steady himself. “You are far too forgiving, my love. I don’t deserve it.”

“You deserve everything,” you said softly, leaning forward to kiss him gently on the lips, reassuring him with your touch. “You don’t have to carry all of this alone. Let me help you.”

He gazed at you with such deep gratitude, his hand brushing your cheek softly. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“You’ll never have to find out,” you whispered, knowing that, no matter what, you would always be by his side.

Hank McCoy (Beast)

You’ve always admired Hank’s intelligence and his unparalleled kindness. For someone so physically imposing, he was remarkably gentle, both in mind and heart. Being with him had been a gift, his endless curiosity and deep compassion bringing a unique sense of warmth into your life. You loved watching him in the lab, his mind constantly at work as he balanced his brilliant scientific endeavors with his more primal, physical side.

Today was no different, except for one thing. He’d been stressed recently, working long hours in his lab to perfect a new serum, one that could enhance mutant abilities without adverse side effects. He was meticulous, often pushing himself too hard, and you could see the toll it was taking on him.

“Love, you’ve been at this for hours,” you said, leaning against the doorframe of the lab, watching as he adjusted some delicate equipment. His large, fur-covered hands moved with surprising precision. “You should take a break.”

Hank glanced up, his glasses slipping down his nose as he offered you a weary smile. “I’m almost finished,” he said, his deep voice rumbling with both affection and fatigue. “Just a few more calculations, and then I’ll join you for dinner.”

You sighed, knowing how hard it was to pull him away when he was so focused. Still, you couldn’t help but worry. “Don’t push yourself too hard,” you said softly, stepping closer. “I don’t want you to burn out.”

He looked up from his work, his blue eyes softening as he reached for your hand, pulling you close. “You always know how to take care of me,” he murmured, brushing a gentle kiss against your forehead. “I promise, just a little longer.”

You smiled, resting your head against his broad chest, comforted by the steady thrum of his heart. But as you pulled away to give him space, something unexpected happened.

A sudden crash echoed through the lab. One of Hank’s devices, an experimental generator, sputtered and sparked. Hank reacted instantly, his instincts taking over as he lunged forward to stop the malfunction. But in his haste, he misjudged his own strength.

Before you could react, his powerful arm swung out, hitting you square in the side. The force of the blow sent you flying into a nearby table, your body crashing against the hard surface. Pain shot through you, sharp and unforgiving, and you crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

“Y/N!” Hank’s voice was filled with horror as he rushed to your side, his hands shaking as he carefully lifted you into his arms. “Oh God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to—I didn’t see you—are you alright?”

You winced, trying to catch your breath, the pain in your ribs making it hard to move. “I’m… okay,” you managed, though your voice was weak, your body trembling from the impact. “It was an accident.”

Hank’s face was a mixture of guilt and fear as he cradled you against his chest, his large hands carefully checking you for injuries. “I’m so sorry, my love. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I—sometimes I forget how strong I am.”

You could see the anguish in his eyes, the way his self-loathing threatened to consume him. He had always been so careful with you, so aware of his strength and size. To have hurt you, even by accident, was his worst nightmare.

“I know you didn’t mean to,” you said softly, reaching up to touch his cheek, your fingers brushing through his thick fur. “I’ll be okay, Hank. It’s not your fault.”

But he shook his head, his eyes filled with regret. “I should have been more careful. I—” His voice broke, and he pulled you closer, his arms trembling as he held you. “I would never forgive myself if something happened to you because of me.”

You pressed a soft kiss to his lips, trying to soothe his guilt with your touch. “I trust you,” you whispered, your voice filled with love and reassurance. “I’ll always trust you.”

Hank held you close, his heart aching with both love and guilt, knowing that he would do everything in his power to make sure this never happened again.

Emma Frost

Being with Emma Frost was never simple. She was a woman of many layers, her sharp intellect and cold exterior often hiding the vulnerability and passion that lay beneath. But you knew her better than anyone. You’d seen the cracks in her icy façade, the warmth she reserved only for you. Emma was fiercely protective, but she also had her moments of weakness, and today, that weakness had shown itself in the worst way.

You were in the Danger Room, watching her train. Emma was skilled, both in her telepathy and her diamond form, and she took pride in her ability to protect herself and those she cared about. You had always admired her strength, but you also knew how much pressure she put on herself to be perfect.

“Darling, you don’t have to push yourself so hard,” you called out, leaning against the control panel as she finished a particularly brutal round of training simulations. “You’re already incredible.”

Emma smirked, her blue eyes glinting with amusement as she sauntered over to you, her body shimmering as she shifted out of her diamond form. “Flattery will get you everywhere,” she purred, though there was a hint of tension in her voice.

You raised an eyebrow, sensing something was off. “Are you okay?”

Emma hesitated for a moment, her confident demeanor faltering ever so slightly. “I’ve just been under a lot of stress,” she admitted, her voice quieter than usual. “There’s… a lot on my mind.”

You stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her arm. “You don’t have to do this alone, you know. I’m here.”

For a moment, Emma softened, her gaze meeting yours with a vulnerability she rarely showed. But then, something shifted. Her telepathy flared without warning, a sharp, unintentional burst of psychic energy hitting you like a tidal wave. Your mind was flooded with overwhelming thoughts and emotions—fear, pain, anger—all tangled together in a chaotic storm.

You cried out, clutching your head as the psychic intrusion tore through your mind, leaving you gasping for air. The pressure was unbearable, your thoughts splintering as Emma’s powers overwhelmed your senses.

And then, as quickly as it had started, it stopped.

Emma’s eyes widened in horror as she realized what she had done, her hands shaking as she reached for you. “Y/N,” she whispered, her voice trembling. “I… I didn’t mean to. I’m so sorry.”

You staggered, still reeling from the psychic onslaught, but you managed to steady yourself, your heart racing as you tried to catch your breath. “It’s okay,” you said, though your voice was weak, your body trembling from the aftershock. “It was an accident.”

Emma’s usually composed expression crumbled, her icy exterior shattering as guilt washed over her. “I hurt you,” she said, her voice filled with self-loathing. “I swore I’d never let that happen.”

You reached out, gently touching her cheek, your fingers tracing the sharp lines of her face. “It wasn’t your fault,” you whispered, your voice filled with understanding. “You were overwhelmed. I get it.”

But Emma shook her head, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “I should have been stronger. I should have controlled it. I—” Her voice broke, and she turned away, her shoulders tense with guilt.

You stepped forward, wrapping your arms around her from behind, resting your head against her shoulder. “Emma, you don’t have to be perfect. I love you for who you are, flaws and all. I’m not afraid of you.”

She closed her eyes, leaning into your embrace as the tension slowly melted away. “I don’t deserve you,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

You smiled softly, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. “You deserve everything.”

Ororo Munroe (Storm)

Ororo was breathtaking in every sense. From the calm in her voice to the ferocity of her powers, she was like the perfect storm—gentle and violent, all at once. You had fallen in love with her grace, her wisdom, and the way she treated you like the calm at the eye of her whirlwind. But even the most controlled storm can lose its way, and today, you found yourself caught in the middle of one.

It was a bright, peaceful afternoon at Xavier’s mansion. Ororo had been training in the backyard, working on perfecting her connection with the elements as she often did. You sat nearby, enjoying the warmth of the sun on your skin, the rhythmic sound of the wind responding to her commands soothing your nerves.

“Be careful, love,” you called out with a teasing smile. “You know how you get when you push yourself too hard.”

Ororo’s golden eyes met yours, her lips curving into a soft smile. “I’ve got everything under control, darling,” she reassured you, her voice like a summer breeze, carrying with it the sweet scent of rain.

You relaxed into the moment, watching as she raised her arms to the sky, commanding the clouds to shift, the wind to change direction. You were used to this—Ororo playing with the elements like a conductor leading an orchestra. But today, something felt off. The air grew heavier, the skies darker, and a sense of tension filled the space around you.

Suddenly, without warning, a crack of thunder split the sky. You barely had time to react before a sudden gust of wind, stronger than any you’d ever felt, slammed into you, knocking you off your feet. You hit the ground hard, pain radiating through your body as the wind continued to rage, swirling around you with an almost tangible fury.

“Y/N!” Ororo’s voice broke through the chaos, panic evident in her tone.

She was by your side in an instant, the storm vanishing as quickly as it had come. You groaned, trying to push yourself up, but the pain in your ribs made it difficult to breathe. Ororo’s hands were gentle but frantic as she helped you sit up, her face pale with fear.

“I didn’t mean to—oh, Goddess, I’m so sorry,” she whispered, her voice trembling as she touched your cheek, her fingers soft against your skin. “I lost control for just a moment. I never wanted to hurt you.”

You winced but managed a small smile, reaching up to place your hand over hers. “It’s okay, Ororo,” you said, though your voice was weak. “It was an accident. I’ll be fine.”

But Ororo shook her head, her eyes filled with guilt and self-reproach. “I should have been more careful. I never should have put you at risk like that.” She pulled you closer, her arms wrapping around you protectively as though she could shield you from the storm that had already passed.

“I trust you,” you whispered, resting your head against her chest, feeling the steady beat of her heart. “I know you’d never hurt me on purpose.”

Ororo held you tightly, her breath shaky as she pressed a kiss to the top of your head. “I’ll never let it happen again,” she promised, her voice firm despite the tears in her eyes.

In that moment, surrounded by the remnants of her storm, you knew that she meant every word.

Raven Darkholme (Mystique)

Loving Raven had always been a risk. Her world was filled with danger, deception, and ever-changing faces. But you had fallen for her, despite it all, because beneath her tough exterior was someone you loved with all your heart. Still, there were moments when her powers—her ability to shift and change—created unintended consequences.

Today had been one of those days. You and Raven were in the middle of a mission, something quick and straightforward. But things had gone wrong. In the heat of the battle, you had gotten too close, and without realizing it, Raven had shifted into a form with a sharper edge—literally. Her arm, now covered in razor-like scales, brushed against your side as she fought off an enemy, and you felt a searing pain slice through your skin.

You gasped, stumbling back as you clutched your side. Blood seeped through your fingers, and Raven’s eyes immediately snapped to you. Her form shifted back into her usual self, and for the first time in a long time, you saw fear in her eyes.

"Y/N!" she called out, her voice shaking with an emotion she rarely showed—panic. She was at your side in an instant, her hands already on your wound, trying to stop the bleeding. "I didn’t see you… I didn’t realize…" Her voice was frantic, and the guilt that clouded her expression was unlike anything you’d seen before.

"It’s okay," you said, wincing as the pain shot through you. Your vision blurred slightly, but you forced yourself to smile up at her. "It was an accident."

But Raven wasn’t hearing it. "I’m supposed to protect you," she muttered, her voice thick with frustration and anger—though not at you, at herself. "I’m supposed to be in control, and I hurt you."

You placed your hand over hers, despite the pain. "Raven, it was a mistake. I know you’d never hurt me intentionally."

Her jaw clenched, and you could see the internal battle she was fighting. Raven prided herself on being in control, on never letting her emotions—or her powers—slip. But this time, she had, and it was eating her up inside.

"I won’t let this happen again," she whispered, her voice hard with determination as she pressed her forehead against yours. "I won’t lose control like that again."

You smiled softly, despite the pain radiating from your wound. "I know you won’t," you whispered back, your hand gently squeezing hers. "I trust you, Raven. I always will."

Raven’s eyes softened at your words, and she carefully lifted you into her arms, her movements gentle despite her strength. As she carried you to safety, you could feel the tension in her body, the way she held you as if you were the most precious thing in the world.

The wound would heal, but the love between you and Raven only deepened. She became even more protective of you after that day, never letting her guard down again when you were near. But through it all, the bond between you remained unbreakable.

Illyana Rasputin (Magik)

You knew Illyana had a complicated relationship with her powers, especially with the dark side of Limbo that constantly pulled at her. Despite this, you loved her fiercely, and she loved you with a passion that could light up even the darkest realms. She was careful around you, more than anyone else, but today, things had slipped out of her control.

You had been helping her train, something simple, nothing too intense. But the energies of Limbo were unpredictable, and without warning, a surge of dark magic shot out from her sword, the edge of it grazing your arm. The moment it hit, a burning sensation spread up your skin, and you let out a gasp, staggering backward as the pain ripped through you.

Illyana’s eyes flared with panic, and within seconds, she was at your side, her sword vanishing into thin air. "Y/N!" she cried, her voice breaking as she grabbed your shoulders, her hands trembling. "I didn’t mean to! I— I lost control for a second!"

You winced, feeling the magic burn deeper into your flesh, but you forced a smile through the pain. "I know," you whispered, your hand coming up to rest on hers. "I know, Illyana. It’s okay."

But it wasn’t okay to her. Her eyes were wide with fear, with guilt. "No… no, it’s not. I should’ve been more careful. I shouldn’t have let this happen." Her fingers traced the burn on your arm, her magic already working to heal it, but the regret in her expression remained.

You could see the darkness lurking just behind her eyes, the worry that she might hurt you again. "Illyana, listen to me." You gently cupped her face, forcing her to meet your gaze. "I trust you. I know you didn’t mean to. This doesn’t change how I feel about you."

Her breath hitched, and for a moment, you saw the vulnerable side of her that she rarely let anyone else see. She kissed your forehead softly, her lips lingering there as if trying to absorb your pain. "I love you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I never want to hurt you."

You smiled, your heart swelling with warmth. "You won’t. I know you, Illyana. You’re stronger than the darkness."

She nodded slowly, her arms wrapping around you tightly. From that moment on, she became even more protective, determined to never let her powers slip around you again. And through it all, your love for her only grew stronger.

Piotr Rasputin (Colossus)

The weight of Piotr's presence always made you feel safe, but today, that same strength was what had hurt you. You and Piotr had decided to engage in some light sparring in the Danger Room, a regular part of your routine since you liked to train together. Piotr, in his towering, metal form, was always so careful with you, knowing the tremendous strength he carried. But today, something went wrong.

The match had been going smoothly until you tried to land a playful punch on his side, which he quickly blocked. But his reflexes, powerful and fast, caught you off guard. He turned, his metal fist too swift and forceful, and connected with your shoulder before either of you could stop it. The impact was immediate, sending a shock of pain through your body and knocking you to the ground.

You gasped in shock, clutching your shoulder as you struggled to catch your breath. "Y/N!" Piotr's voice was laced with panic as he immediately knelt beside you, his large metallic hands trembling as he reached for you. "I didn’t mean to… I’m so sorry. Are you hurt badly?" His deep, accented voice was almost a whisper as his guilt consumed him.

The pain was sharp, but you forced yourself to give him a reassuring smile, though it was more of a grimace. "I’m okay," you managed to say, though the pain in your shoulder said otherwise. You knew Piotr would never intentionally hurt you, but the guilt that filled his eyes was almost unbearable.

"I should never have agreed to spar with you," Piotr muttered, his voice full of self-reproach. His hands hovered over your body, unsure of where to touch, afraid of causing you further harm. "I’m too dangerous. I hurt you. I could’ve—"

"Piotr, stop," you interrupted softly, reaching up with your good arm to rest your hand against his cool, metal cheek. "It was an accident. You’d never hurt me on purpose."

He closed his eyes at your touch, but the pain in his expression didn’t lessen. "You are too precious to me," he whispered, his accent thick with emotion. "I cannot forgive myself for this."

Despite the pain, you leaned into his embrace as he carefully lifted you in his arms. His metal skin was cool against your body, but you could still feel the warmth of his love beneath it. "I know you love me, Piotr," you said, resting your head against his broad chest. "That’s why I know you’d never hurt me intentionally."

Piotr carried you to the med bay, never once letting you go. Even though the pain in your shoulder would take time to heal, the bond between you and Piotr only grew stronger. He became even more protective of you, but the love and devotion he showed was something that would never waver.

Roberto Da Costa (Sunspot)

Roberto’s energy had always been one of the things that attracted you to him. His fire, his passion, his vibrancy—he was like the sun, impossible to resist. But today, that same energy had gone out of control. You and Roberto were training together, as usual, but he had been pushing himself harder than normal, his powers flaring hotter and wilder than you had ever seen before.

You had been standing too close when it happened—a massive surge of solar energy burst from Roberto’s body, and before you could react, the heat slammed into you, knocking you to the ground. The burning pain spread through your chest and arms, and you cried out in shock, clutching at your skin as it stung from the impact.

"Y/N!" Roberto’s voice was filled with panic as he rushed over to you, his hands still glowing with the residual energy from the blast. "Oh god, are you okay? I—" He knelt beside you, his usually confident demeanor shattered as he took in the sight of you, wincing from the pain.

You tried to smile, though it was more of a grimace, as you lay on the ground, the heat from the blast still radiating through your skin. "I’m okay," you said weakly, though you weren’t entirely sure that was true. The burn was painful, but the look of guilt on Roberto’s face was worse.

"I didn’t mean to," Roberto said, his voice shaking with emotion. "I lost control for a second, I swear. I would never… I’d never hurt you on purpose." His hands hovered over you, glowing with warmth but not daring to touch you, as if afraid he’d burn you again.

"I know, Roberto," you said, your voice soft but filled with reassurance. "I know you didn’t mean to."

He shook his head, his dark eyes filled with regret. "I should’ve been more careful. I could’ve hurt you so much worse." He clenched his fists, frustrated with himself. "I can’t believe I let this happen."

You reached up with your uninjured hand, gently placing it on his arm. "You didn’t let anything happen," you said firmly, your voice steady despite the pain. "It was an accident. I know you’d never hurt me on purpose."

Roberto’s shoulders slumped as he exhaled shakily. "I love you so much, Y/N," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don’t know what I’d do if I really hurt you."

You smiled softly, despite the burn, and pulled him closer to you. "I love you too," you whispered back. "And you didn’t hurt me on purpose. That’s all that matters."

Roberto carefully helped you up, his arms gentle but protective as he guided you to the med bay. The pain would fade in time, but the love between you and Roberto only grew stronger. He was more careful with his powers around you from that day on, but the bond between you remained unbreakable.

[heckcareoxytwit]

The battle rages on as the X-Men fighting the three Nimrods at different places - Sentinel City, New York and Washington DC. Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Cyclops, Colossus, Rogue, Gambit and Monet are fighting the main Nimrod in Sentinel City. Emma Frost and Synch are battling a Nimrod duplicate in New York. Whereas Polaris and Magneto are facing the Nimrod duplicate in Washington DC. Magik and Eden Fesi try to join into the fray but they get shot by Nimrod (I don't know which one though).

While they are fighting Nimrod, Cyclops and Nightcrawler are wandering around the burning Sentinel City. Nightcrawler confirms to Cyclops that he has destroyed the thrusters and Nimrod/Omega Sentinel won't be able to repair them before the orbit decays. Nightcrawler asks how they're going to kill something that exists in multiple places and Cyclops says they'll have to do it all at once. "Under that armor, it's just… electricity." Then, Kwannon telepathically chimes in saying Colossus got punched out into space and he's almost out of sight. Cyclops tells Nightcrawler to go and he teleports away to save Colossus. Cyclops then goes off to challenge Nimrod. In the control room, Omega Sentinel tries to regain control of the station when Rogue busts through the floor asking if Karima has lost every last shred of her humanity. Omega Sentinel says Xavier cut a deal that the X-Men would get to live on their little island but they're too dense and prideful so she'll have to kill them including Xavier who she'll kill last. Kwannon sneaks up behind and nails Omega Sentinel with a psychic knife, leaving the cyborg mumbling and crying in despair. Rogue is about to stomp her head in but Kwannon stops her, telling her that she fried the Sentinel mind and that Karima's human brain was drowning in regret and pain.

Rogue and Kwannon charge at Nimrod but the robot knocks them out with a blast. He punches the just arriving Colossus away and is about to stomp a knocked out Manifold and Magik but Nightcrawler gets to them first and Cyclops blasts Nimrod away from them. Just as Nimrod could kill more X-Men, the killer robot gets zapped by the timely arrival of Storm. With Storm's lightning zapping the main Nimrod, the Nimrod duplicates are affected too, giving the chance for the other mutants at New York and Washington DC to fight back. The main Nimrod is left to face Storm and Cyclops in Sentinel City when Monet and Omega Sentinel fly in. Omega Sentinel (now with regained humanity) begs at Nimrod to stand down but the killer robot refuses to listen. Cyclops and Storm work together to take down the main Nimrod by cracking the armor and frying the circuits. As the other Nimrod duplicates, they are also defeated by Synch, Polaris and Magneto at different places. As Storm watches as the main Nimrod melting away, Monet arrives with Omega Sentinel and Cyclops says Kwannon is showing him what's going on inside her brain. He tells Omega Sentinel to earn this second chance and she, crying, replies weakly, "Call me Karima." Once the battle is over, the X-Men leave the Sentinel City with Eden Fesi before it explodes.

Fall of the House of X #5, 2024

[monsieuroverlord]

Letterless preview pages for Marvel Voices: Pride a.k.a. X-Men: The Wedding Special have been posted.

Main Wedding Story by Kieron Gillen, art by Rachael Stott

Betsy Braddock/Rachel Summers story by Tini Howard, art by Phillip Sevy

Wolverine + crew story by Tate Brombal, art by Emilio Pilliu

Rogue/Gambit story by Wyatt Kennedy, art by Jenn St. Onge

Emma Frost Pre-marriage counseling story by Yoon Ha Lee, art by Stephen Byrne

source here

Personal thoughts:

I gotta say, I'm still feeling incredibly ambivalent about this book.

I mean, a Mystique/Destiny wedding is great! Ya love to see it and its long overdue, but I think this would've been better served as a one-shot alongside the main pride story this rather, rather than in place of it.

Most of these stories sound really fun, like for example: a Rogue/Gambit side story involving a wedding band mishap! That sounds hilarious!

But, for a Pride-centric issue, its really lacking in the Pride department. No one outside of the x-books this year, and even the x-couples are lacking!

I mean, to name a few: Northstar and Kyle, Rictor and Shatterstar, Iceman and whoever he's dating right now (lol), Cerebella and Escapade, Akihiro and Aurora (he's still bi, straight-passing relationship or not), the list goes on!

I don't know, I'm just frustrated. The stories themselves seem fine, its just the branding/packaging that's rubbing me the wrong way, if that makes sense.

Except the Wolverine story. We literally have a confirmed/canon queer member of the snikt fam (who, at bare minimum, has had a flirtation with Mystique as well), and he's still ded :(

Like, if they wanted a Wolverine-centric story, why not have Gabby finally explore her sapphic feelings for that girl on the bus? Let her have a little heart-to-heart with Akihiro, drag Logan to a Pride parade (then, he accidently gets roped into a side quest involving a group of short trans-mascs, ending with Logan buying them a round of beers). My point is, there are ways to add your money-maker character into stories while still respecting your target audience.

I don't know. My feelings are complicated.

[hwashua-luv]

Frosted Shadows

Dinner began, and the hall was filled with students chatting at Hogwarts. The enchanted candles overhead flickered, their warm light bathing the room across the long house tables. Y/N, a 16-year-old Prefect of Gryffindor, from her seat, gazed through the crowd; her eyes suddenly narrowed as they fell upon the Slytherin table. Seonghwa, Prefect of Slytherin, talked seriously with some of his house co-members; his demeanor commands easy attention. Y/N's lips curled into a scowl. "Half the school worships the ground he walks on, and it disgusts me," she muttered to her friend Emma, who sat beside her. Emma shot her a sympathetic look.

"Seonghwa's not so bad, Y/N. You've just never really talked to him."

Y/N rolled her eyes. "Oh, come on, Emma. You don't honestly think that arrogant, manipulative Slytherin Prefect is anything but trouble, do you?" Across the hall, Seonghwa's sharp gaze flicked over to the Gryffindor table, catching Y/N's disdainful expression. A small smirk played on his lips. With calculation, he did not linger his gaze on anything for very long, but those with intense opinions of him were ones that he made sure to note.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

Later that evening, Y/N was patrolling up and down the corridors with Emma, keeping a lookout for any miscreants. The castle's silence at night was both soothing and unnerving.

"Are you sure we're not being a bit too cautious?" Emma whispered as she looked around. 

Y/N shook her head. "You can never be too careful, especially with the kind of troublemakers lurking around here."

As they turned a corner near the dungeons, Y/N's heart leaped into her throat. There, leaning against the wall casually, was Seonghwa. His pale face lighted by the light of the torch gave him something ethereal about him.

"Seonghwa," Y/N had spoken curtly, its echoes resonating in the empty corridor. "What are you doing here? You know you are not allowed to be out this late."

Seonghwa straightened, his smirk twisting further upwards. "And what if I am? I could say the same to you, Gryffindor."

Emma stepped back, feeling the tension. "Let's not make a scene," she whispered, tugging at Y/N's sleeve.

"I'm not making a scene," Y/N retorted, "but someone needs to remind you of the rules."

Seonghwa raised an eyebrow. "Rules are meant to be bent, don't you think? Especially when they're as rigid as Hogwarts's."

Y/N stepped forward, her eyes thinning. "Not everyone thinks breaking rules is charming, Seonghwa."

Seonghwa's eyes softened just a little, but he never lost his smirk. "You are so dedicated to your morals, Y/N. It's. almost admirable."

Y/N blinked, off guard by the compliment. "Don't think flattery will get you anywhere. Just go back to your common room before I'm forced to escort you myself."

Seonghwa chuckled, rich and warm. "Alright, alright. I'll take my leave. But do try to lighten up a bit. It's just a little late-night stroll."

As he walked away, Y/N watched him go with an increased heart rate than was necessary. Emma glanced at her friend, eyebrows raised.

"Did Seonghwa just compliment you?"Y/N sighed, rubbing her temples. "I think he was mocking me. And it's not worth reading into."

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿ Days turned into weeks, and Y/N began to encounter Seonghwa on almost a regular basis. Whether it was through their respective patrols or even just passing in the halls of Hogwarts, their paths seemed to be crossed often.

One rainy evening, Y/N got caught in a downpour while she was on duty. She herself was soaked in robes and was shivering, despite the warmth of the castle. She had taken shelter in an alcove near the dungeons when Seonghwa came walking towards her, carrying a large umbrella.

"Stuck in the rain, Gryffindor?" he asked, sounding genuinely concerned.

Y/N looked up, surprised. "I'm fine. I don't need your help."

Seonghwa stepped closer, proffering the umbrella. "I insist. No need for you to catch a cold on my account."

Numbly, Y/N took the umbrella, their fingers brushing for a brief moment. The contact sent an unexpected shiver through her.

"Thank you," she muttered, more out of politeness than gratitude.

Seonghwa's eyes softened. "It's not about gratitude, Y/N. It's just. good manners."

Under the umbrella, walking side by side, Y/N found her eyes sliding to the side as it happened—Seonghwa was quiet, and there was a different kind of warmth in his presence that she hadn't noticed before.

As weeks went by, the hostility between Y/N and Seonghwa started to blur out, very slowly twisting into a cautious friendship. Still, they argued, but now, on top of these wrangles lay a playful undertone. The smirks of Seonghwa no longer taunted, but teased; his smugness became a challenge for equal play, and the comeback of Y/N gentled, now followed by reluctant smiles.

One evening, as they sat together in the library working on their prefect duties, the tension between them was more relaxed than ever. The only breaks in the complete silence were made by page rustling and whispering.

Turning his eyes from his notes, Seonghwa spoke, "You know, for a Gryffindor, you are not as insufferable as one would have thought."

Y/N chuckled and shook her head. "And you are definitely not as unbearable as I imagined."Seonghwa's eyes locked with hers, shining with unsaid words. "Maybe we're not so different after all."

Y/N's heart thumped as she hesitated to respond. "Maybe."

As they did so, their fingers occasionally brushed across the same book, the proximity of which said more to just how much things had changed than words could. The more time they spent together, the more Y/N found herself reevaluating her initial assessment of Seonghwa. For all his arrogance, he was quick-witted and tenderly kind in soft ways that increasingly captured her interest.

The final confrontation came unexpectedly, during the Gryffindor-Slytherin Quidditch match. Seonghwa, as usual, was in the center of attention; his skill on the pitch was undeniable. Y/N watched from the stands, feeling frustrated yet in awe.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

After making a really cool goal, Seonghwa looked up into the Gryffindor stands, immediately locking eyes with Y/N. Their gazes held for the slightest moment as he gave her a real smile.Y/N felt that he was smiling directly at her, and her dislike dissipated; he was much more handsome up close. As the game drew to a close and Slytherin won, Seonghwa strode into the stands, still decked out in his Quidditch gear.

"Enjoy the match?" He sounded playful but sincere.

Y/N nodded, her smile unfading. "You were brilliant out there."

Seonghwa's smile grew wider. "Coming from you, that means a lot."

As they stood there, amidst the celebration of Slytherin's victory, the distance that once defined their relationship suddenly seemed to close. The rivalry that once felt so sharp now felt like a memory.

"Maybe we should stop being enemies," Seonghwa suggested, his voice softer than usual.

Y/N's heart skipped a beat. "Maybe."

It was then, in that one fleeting moment amidst the echoes of cheering and the warmth of shared understanding, that Y/N and Seonghwa began to see each other in an entirely new light. The frost of their animosity slowly melted away, revealing the beginnings of something altogether different: a tentative, blossoming connection neither of them had really expected but both were now quite willing to explore.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿ With the sun setting on another day at Hogwarts, most uneventful, Y/N walked with Seonghwa, their footsteps even as they headed toward a softly worn smile for both of them at the beginning of their shared journey.

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿

Word count: 1209

Author's note: This is my first time publishing my work so please let me know if I have spelling or grammar mistakes. The same book has been posted on Wattpad and Quotev(hwashua-luv). Each oneshot will be posted on Instagram (hwashua._.luv1708). Requests are also open <3

All rights reserved. © 2024 hwashua-luv

All works written by me do not copy, translate or repost my works without my given consent.

[mcrdvcks]

Sweet Dreams - Chapter 9

Chapter Summary: Alexandria is cleared to go back to classes after her near-death encounter, and a new student joins the school.

Word Count: 7.6k+

Pairing: Logan (X-Men) x Original Female Character (platonic relationship)

Notes: i can't wait for y'all to read this chapter, especially because this is where a lot of the future plots will stem from

Series Masterlist - Chapter 8 → Chapter 10

AO3 Link For Chapter

Two months after the HYDRA kidnapping, Alexandria was finally cleared to go back to classes. She suspected that Logan had convinced Kitty, Jean, and Scott to all keep an eye on her while he couldn’t.

As Kitty said, it was like she had a guardian angel and bodyguard wrapped in one.

On the third day of her being back during classes, Professor Xavier announced they had a new student, Matthew Roman.

She didn’t pay much attention to the announcement, until she had settled into her seat in algebra, Ms. Frost still getting together papers before class started in a few minutes, when a voice spoke up from her right.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

Alexandria looked through the notes Scott handed her, who was sitting on her left before the words soaked in and she turned her head to the right.

Matthew sat in the seat; his head propped up on his fist with a grin on his face. Alexandria turned to face Scott who paid no mind to her or the new kid.

“Who are you talking to?” she asked.

Matthew leaned back in his chair, twirling a pencil between his fingers, a grin still plastered on his face. “Who do you think?”

Alexandria arched an eyebrow at him, clearly unamused. “Are you talking to me?”

Matthew’s grin widened. “Of course. Who else would I be talking to?”

She narrowed her eyes at him and looked back at Scott’s notebook. “Scott could you explain- ” Alexandria looked over at Scott to find him gone, probably off to get some more water since he was complaining about spilling it at the end of breakfast.

“I could always explain it.” Matthew spoke again.

She looked back over at him, a glare on her face, but his grin was still there. She hoped he’d get the hint as she stood up from her desk and over to Ms. Frost’s desk.

Sure, she was a harsh teacher, but Alexandria’s pretty sure she’s softened up to her slightly. Especially after the whole almost dying thing she went through.

“Could you explain how you got this answer?” she asked, turning Scott’s notebook around and pointing to the problem.

Emma looked at the problem in the notebook. “Okay, Alexandria, this is a basic quadratic equation. The solution involves factoring or using the quadratic formula. The steps are as follows…”

Matthew's voice cut in, his tone nonchalant. “Hey, if you’re interested, I could explain it to you in a way that’s way more fun.”

Alexandria, still standing by Ms. Frost’s desk, glanced over her shoulder at Matthew. “And why would I want that?”

Matthew’s grin didn’t waver. “Because I’m way cooler than Ms. Frost. And besides, who doesn’t want a bit of flair with their algebra?”

Alexandria arched an eyebrow. “Flair?”

“Yeah,” Matthew said, leaning back in his chair. “Let’s just say my way is less boring.”

Emma glanced up from the notebook, her eyes narrowing slightly at Matthew’s interruption. “Matthew, this isn’t the time for theatrics. Alexandria is trying to catch up on her work.”

Matthew waved off Emma’s comment with a casual flick of his hand. “I’m just offering some alternative methods. No harm in that, right?”

Alexandria sighed and turned back to Ms. Frost. “Forget it. I’ll figure it out myself.”

Emma shook her head slightly, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Alright, Alexandria. If you need any more help, let me know.”

As Alexandria walked back to her desk, she shot a glance at Matthew, who had taken out a notebook and was scribbling something down. She tried to ignore him but couldn’t help but feel a bit annoyed by his persistent presence.

Matthew watched her with a mischievous glint in his eye. “So, what’s your deal? You usually this grumpy?”

Alexandria’s glare was icy. “I’m not grumpy. I just don’t like people who think they’re funny.”

Matthew’s smile widened. “Fair enough. But you know, I think we could get along just fine if you’d give me a chance.”

She scoffed and shook her head, focusing on her work. “I doubt it.”

Matthew didn’t seem fazed. Instead, he leaned back in his chair and continued to watch her with an amused expression. The rest of the class proceeded in a somewhat awkward silence, punctuated only by the occasional remark from Matthew, who seemed intent on breaking through Alexandria’s reserve.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of the class, Alexandria quickly packed up her things and made a beeline for the door. She wanted to avoid any more unnecessary interaction with the new student. However, Matthew was right behind her, his footsteps echoing as he walked alongside her.

“So, where you headed?” Matthew asked, trying to sound casual.

Alexandria kept her eyes ahead, not bothering to look at him. “None of your business.”

Matthew chuckled. “Alright, alright. I get it. You’re not a fan of small talk.” Alexandria stayed quiet.

As they reached the hallway, Matthew made a show of dramatically looking around. “Well, since you’re not interested in chatting, I guess I’ll just have to explore this place on my own.”

“Fine by me,” Alexandria replied, quickening her pace. She could hear Matthew’s laughter fading behind her, but she didn’t turn around.

She entered Ororo’s classroom for English, Jean and Scott already in their seats at the table next to her. Alexandria sat down as did another person next to her.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” She grumbled, seeing Matthew sitting next to her. Curse this classroom for having a table that seats two.

Jean and Scott shared a glance at Alexandria who glared at Matthew. “I wasn’t lying, you know. You are quite pretty.” he said.

She raised an eyebrow, “why would I care about that? And why do you keep following me?”

Matthew raised two hands, “hey, we share the same class. It’s not my fault.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes and took out her notebook, determined to focus on the lesson and ignore the persistent new student beside her. Matthew seemed unfazed by her cold demeanor, his grin widening as he settled into his seat.

“Hey,” he said casually, leaning slightly towards her. “What’s your name? You seem to know everybody around here, except for me.”

“Alexandria,” she replied curtly, not bothering to offer any additional information.

Matthew’s eyes lit up with a playful glint. “Nice to meet you, Alexandria. So, what’s the deal with this place? I hear it’s full of interesting people.”

Alexandria didn’t respond. She kept her attention fixed on the front of the classroom where Ororo was setting up for the English lesson. Despite her best efforts to ignore him, she could feel Matthew’s gaze occasionally drifting towards her.

Jean, who was seated next to Scott across the table, observed the interaction with mild amusement. She leaned towards Scott and whispered, “Looks like Matthew’s trying to make a new friend.”

Scott nodded, watching as Matthew continued his attempts to engage Alexandria. “He’s persistent, I’ll give him that.”

Ororo finally began the lesson, drawing Alexandria’s attention away from the distraction beside her. As she listened to the discussion, she could feel Matthew’s occasional glances, though she chose to ignore them.

When the class ended, Alexandria packed up her things with quick, efficient movements. She was determined not to give Matthew the satisfaction of seeing her ruffled. Just as she was about to leave, she felt a hand on her arm.

“Wait up,” Matthew said, his tone light and friendly. “I was thinking of grabbing a snack. Want to join?”

“No, thank you,” Alexandria said firmly, shaking off his hand. “I’ve got other plans.” She saw Kitty waving a hand at the lunch line, Jean and Scott behind her.

“Oof. Rough for me then. Catch you later.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, though she was glad he had finally left her side.

During lunch, as she joined Kitty, Jean, and Scott at their usual table, the conversation inevitably shifted to the new student.

“Did you see how persistent he was?” Kitty asked, her voice laced with amusement. “Matthew’s not giving up anytime soon.”

Jean laughed softly. “He’s definitely got a lot of energy. But I guess that’s his way of making friends.”

Scott nodded, his expression thoughtful. “He’s a bit much, but maybe he’s just trying to find his place here.”

Alexandria took a bite of her sandwich, trying to ignore the conversation. “As long as he doesn’t keep bothering me, he can do whatever he wants.”

Kitty glanced at Alexandria with a sympathetic smile. “Give him a chance. It’s not easy being the new kid.”

“I’m not here to make any more friends,” Alexandria replied bluntly.

Scott held his hand to his chest, “you hear that? We’re her friends.”

Jean laughed softly, nudging Kitty. “Looks like Scott’s taken it personally.”

Kitty grinned. “I’m sure he’s just glad Alexandria’s starting to open up. It’s been a tough road for her.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, but a faint smile tugged at her lips. “I’m just trying to get through my day without more complications.”

Scott leaned in, pretending to be offended. “Complications? We’re just here to help. No ulterior motives.”

Jean shook her head, smiling at Alexandria. “Scott’s right. We’re your friends. And we’ll be here whether you like it or not.”

As lunch continued, the conversation drifted to other topics. Alexandria was grateful for the change, focusing on her food and the comfortable company of her friends.

Meanwhile, Matthew had taken a seat at a different table, but he kept glancing over at Alexandria. He was still intrigued by her cold demeanor and was determined to break through her defenses.

After lunch, her and Scott made their way to US history. They sat in their usual seats towards the front half of the class when she noticed Matthew sitting down in the seat next to her.

“That’s Jubilee’s seat.” She said, looking through the textbook. Logan had ended up teaching her what she missed through his own life experiences. Which ended up with her calling him ‘old’ repeatedly.

Jubilee sat down in front of Alexandria, turning around to face her, “it’s a-okay with me.” She winked at Alexandria before facing forwards.

She turned to face Scott, who was once again on her left and he just smiled. “Do you need help catching up?”

Alexandria shook her head, “no, Logan caught me up.”

Scott raised an eyebrow, “surprising.”

She shrugged in response as Matthew leaned closer to her, “well, then. Maybe I could use some catching up.”

Alexandria turned to face Matthew, “you’ll find out in a minute.”

Matthew let out a dramatic sigh, leaning back in his chair with an exaggerated air of defeat. “Fine. Leave me to perish by landmines.”

Alexandria, trying to suppress a smile, returned her attention to the history textbook in front of her. “I’m sure you’ll manage,” she said, her tone as deadpan as ever.

Matthew chuckled softly, seemingly undeterred. “You know, with an attitude like that, you’re really making me question whether I’ve chosen the right seat.”

Jubilee, sitting in front of Alexandria, turned around with a grin. “Don’t worry, Matt. Alexandria’s just a bit grumpy when it comes to new people.”

Matthew raised an eyebrow, looking at Alexandria. “Grumpy, huh? You know, I’m pretty good at dealing with grumpy people. Got a lot of practice back home.”

Alexandria shot him a sideways glance. “Good for you. But I’m not interested in having a chat.”

Matthew’s grin only widened. “You say that now. But give it time. I’ve got a feeling we’ll be getting along just fine.”

She wasn’t sure how this new classmate of hers could keep a grin on his face at all times and not be deterred by her clear disinterest in him.

It was almost impressive, but mostly annoying.

Logan glanced at Alexandria and then at Matthew, noting the persistent grin on the latter’s face. With a curt nod, he began discussing the complexities of early American history, his tone clearly signaling that he expected the students to pay attention. Alexandria hoped that Matthew might finally take the hint and focus on the lesson.

Yet, Matthew leaned closer, his voice barely audible over the lesson. “So, how did you end up here? I mean, besides the whole mutant thing.”

Alexandria didn’t look up from her textbook, keeping her tone clipped. “Why does it matter?”

Matthew shrugged, still grinning. “Just curious. You seem to have a lot of history. Thought I’d ask.”

Jubilee, sitting in front of Alexandria, glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “Matt, you’re really laying it on thick, aren’t you?”

Matthew’s grin didn’t falter. “Guilty as charged. But hey, I’ve got a reputation to uphold.”

Logan’s gaze flicked to Matthew, a hint of irritation in his eyes. “Matthew, you’re here to learn, not to disrupt the class.”

Matthew straightened up, his playful expression fading slightly. “Right, sorry. Just trying to make the class a bit more interesting.”

Logan gave him a hard look before returning to the lesson. “Stick to the material, or you’ll find yourself on the wrong side of my desk.”

As the class continued, Alexandria found herself trying to focus on Logan’s lecture. Despite her best efforts, she could feel Matthew’s occasional glances. His presence was a persistent distraction, but she refused to let him get under her skin.

When the bell rang, signaling the end of the period, Alexandria was quick to pack up her things. She shot a quick look at Matthew, who was still absorbed in his notes. With a hasty goodbye to Scott and Jubilee, she headed out the door, hoping to escape Matthew’s relentless pursuit.

Matthew caught up with her in the hallway. “Hey, don’t run off so fast. I was thinking of checking out the Danger Room later. Interested?”

Alexandria turned to face him, her expression a mixture of frustration and curiosity. “I’ve got other plans.”

Matthew’s eyes lit up with mischief. “Oh, come on. It’s not every day you get to see the Danger Room. And besides, it might be fun to have some company.”

Alexandria sighed, her patience wearing thin. “I don’t do ‘fun’ with strangers.”

Matthew raised his hands in mock surrender. “Fair enough. I’ll stop bugging you. For now.”

She nodded curtly and turned towards the common room. As she walked, she could hear Matthew’s footsteps behind her, but she chose to ignore them.

As she walked past the kitchen, she noticed Logan walking into the room. She followed as he glanced over at her, pulling out a bottle of beer and a juice box.

She wanted to tell him she’s not a child, and therefore doesn’t want a juice box, but it was apple juice, so she took it.

“You sure you didn’t want to go to the Danger Room? You could’ve kicked his ass.” Logan said, opening the bottle.

Alexandria shrugged and took a sip of her juice, “thought you didn’t want me doing anything strenuous.”

Logan snorted. “I’m surprised you listened to me.”

“I can listen sometimes.” She responded. “I’ve been going to bed at 11 like you asked.”

Logan took a swig from his beer and then gave Alexandria a sideways glance. “For 2 days. I doubt it’ll last a week.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, leaning against the counter. “Wanna bet?”

Logan took another swig of his beer, smirking as he set it down on the counter. “You’re on. I’ll give you a week before you slip back into your old habits. No way you’ll keep up the bedtime routine for long.”

Alexandria raised an eyebrow. “And what’s the wager?”

Logan thought for a moment, then grinned. “If you can keep it up for a full week, I’ll teach you how to ride.”

Her eyes lit up. They had been for a few more motorcycle rides in the past month, but when she asked if he could teach her, he said ‘in your dreams.’ Logan’s offer now was a rare chance she wasn’t about to pass up.

“You really mean it?” Alexandria asked, her voice betraying her excitement despite her effort to sound nonchalant.

Logan’s smirk widened. “You think I’m gonna back down now? You want to learn, you gotta follow the rules.”

Alexandria took another sip of her apple juice, trying to keep her expression neutral. “I’ll keep the bedtime routine for a week. You can count on it.”

Logan chuckled, clearly amused. “Alright, but don’t think it’ll be easy. And don’t forget what happens if you don’t keep it up for a week.”

She raised an eyebrow, “okay. Then what’s my punishment?”

Logan took another swig from his beer, setting it down on the counter with a clunk. He crossed his arms and gave Alexandria a thoughtful look. “If you don’t keep up the bedtime routine for a week, you’ll have to help me grade papers for a week.”

She groaned, when she was on bedrest and out of the medbay she was bored out of her mind and went to Logan’s office for company. He ended up tasking her with grading papers. She did help, for an hour, then said it was torture and went back to her room.

“Yeah, I remember how much you enjoyed grading those papers,” Logan said, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He leaned back against the counter, smirking at her. “But hey, if you want to learn to ride, you’ll have to earn it.”

Alexandria crossed her arms, giving him a challenging look with a hint of a smile. “Fine. I’ll keep the bedtime routine. But don’t think I’m gonna make it easy for you.”

Logan chuckled, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t expect anything less. And remember, if you slip up, you’re stuck with me and a mountain of papers.”

“I’ll manage,” Alexandria said, taking a final sip of her juice before heading out of the kitchen. “See you later.”

As Alexandria walked down the hallway, she could hear Matthew’s footsteps echoing behind her. She sighed, bracing herself for another round of unwanted conversation.

He stepped beside her, following her to the common area. She kept quiet, and so did he, which was surprising. Once she spotted Kitty, Jean, and Jubilee she turned to face Matthew and looked almost slightly horrified.

“What is wrong with your face?” she asked.

“You mean my smile?”

Alexandria narrowed her eyes, “yes.”

Matthew's smile didn't waver as he tilted his head slightly. "Oh, you mean this?" He gestured to his beaming grin. "Just my usual face. It’s a lot of work keeping it this way, you know?"

Alexandria studied him for a moment, a mix of curiosity and irritation in her eyes. “It’s… unnerving. Stop it.”

“Why would I? Seems to work for you, gorgeous.”

“What does that mean?” She gritted out.

Matthew's grin widened, seemingly unfazed by Alexandria's glare. "It means I'm just being me," he said, his voice casual and light.

Alexandria’s eyes narrowed further, her patience wearing thin. “Well then, maybe you should try being less… whatever you are.”

Matthew's grin didn't falter at Alexandria’s comment. He tilted his head, clearly amused by her irritation. “You know, you’re not the first person to find my smile unnerving. I’m just trying to be friendly.”

“Friendly isn’t the issue. It’s the way you’re constantly… smiling,” Alexandria replied, trying to keep her tone steady despite her frustration.

Matthew chuckled. “I guess you could say it’s my default setting. Besides, if you think I’m unnerving now, you should’ve seen me before I perfected this smile.”

“I’m sure you had other… charms,” Alexandria said, her sarcasm thinly veiled.

“Yeah, but this smile? It’s hard to beat,” Matthew said, still smiling. “Plus, I’ve always had a thing for Ukrainians.”

“I’m Russian, idiot.” Alexandria fired back.

His smile somehow grew wider, unnerving her even further. “Oh, even better.”

Alexandria's irritation was palpable as she glared at Matthew. “I’m glad you think so,” she said tersely, trying to keep her voice steady. “Maybe you should take a break from that grin.”

Matthew chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. “I’d love to, but it’s kind of my thing. Plus, it’s not every day I get to talk to someone who’s so… passionate about their dislike for smiles.”

“I’m not ‘passionate’ about anything,” Alexandria snapped. “I just find it… disconcerting.”

“Disconcerting,” Matthew repeated, nodding as if considering the term. “That’s a new one. But hey, if that’s how you feel, then I guess I’m doing something right.”

They had reached the common area, and Alexandria’s friends were scattered around, chatting and lounging. Kitty, Jean, and Jubilee looked up as Alexandria approached, their expressions ranging from curiosity to amusement. Alexandria barely registered them, her focus solely on Matthew and his persistent grin.

Jubilee leaned over to Kitty, whispering something that made both of them stifle laughs. Jean caught Alexandria’s eye and gave a sympathetic smile, clearly understanding her struggle with Matthew’s unending cheerfulness.

“Do you ever stop smiling?” Alexandria demanded, crossing her arms.

Matthew shook his head. “Not really. It’s like a reflex. But enough about me. How’s your day been so far?”

She glared at him, clearly fed up. “It’s been fine, thanks for asking. And since you’re so interested, how about you go find someone else to bother?”

Matthew’s grin softened into a more genuine, if still amused, smile. “Alright, alright. I’ll give you some space. But just so you know, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be around.”

As he walked away, Alexandria felt a mix of relief and frustration. She turned to her friends, who were now watching her with varying degrees of curiosity and sympathy.

“Is it just me, or does he never stop?” Kitty asked, tilting her head.

“It’s not just you,” Alexandria replied, rubbing her temples. “He’s relentless.”

Jean nodded. “Matthew can be like that. But don’t let him get to you too much. He’s actually a good guy once you get to know him.”

“I’ll take your word for it,” Alexandria said, though her tone suggested she had doubts. “For now, I’m just glad he’s giving me a break.”

Jubilee grinned. “You know, it’s kind of impressive how you manage to keep him at arm’s length. I don’t think many people can handle his… enthusiasm.”

Alexandria sighed. “I’m not sure I’m handling it. I’m just trying to get through the day without losing my patience.”

Kitty put a reassuring hand on Alexandria’s shoulder. “You’re doing fine. Just remember, he’s not trying to make things harder for you. He genuinely likes being friendly.”

“Great,” Alexandria said dryly. “I’ll try to remember that when I see him next.”

---

It was Friday now, which meant she only had to last 5 more days to learn how to ride a motorcycle. She was determined to win the bet, mostly because she did not want to help Logan grade papers. Kogda rak na gore svistnet. When pigs fly.

She had tried to listen to her friend’s advice, to be nicer to Matthew, but his constant smiles and niceness were almost too sweet. She wondered if cotton candy would even melt in his mouth.

She spotted Kitty, Jean, and Scott gathered on the couch, chatting and laughing. Alexandria made her way over to them, her mood slightly improved by their familiar faces.

“Hey, Alexandria,” Jean greeted with a smile. “How’s it going?”

“Fine,” Alexandria replied, plopping down on the couch beside Scott. “Just trying to keep my promise to Logan.”

Scott raised an eyebrow. “Still keeping up with that bedtime routine?”

“For now,” Alexandria said, leaning back and letting out a small sigh. “I’m determined not to help him grade papers.”

Kitty grinned. “I think Logan’s going to be surprised if you actually make it through the week.”

“Me too,” Alexandria admitted. “But I’m not backing down.”

Jean’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You know, you don’t have to be so hard on yourself. It’s okay to have a little fun.”

“I will have fun when Logan teaches me how to ride his motorcycle.” She responded.

"Which we can all agree is completely out of the ordinary for Logan. He hates anyone touching it. He once got mad at me for looking at it," Scott said, shaking his head in disbelief.

Alexandria smirked slightly. "Maybe he's getting soft in his old age."

"Or maybe he just likes you more than he likes the rest of us," Kitty suggested with a playful nudge.

"Hard to believe," Alexandria muttered, but the small smile on her lips hinted that she didn’t entirely disagree. The idea of Logan having a soft spot for her was something she still wasn’t used to, but it was becoming more apparent with each passing day.

"You’ve definitely got a way with him," Jean added. "It’s nice to see."

Alexandria glanced at Jean, trying to read the sincerity in her voice. She wasn’t sure if Jean was just being polite or if she genuinely believed that Logan was warming up to her. Either way, it was a strange concept—someone like Logan caring about someone like her.

"Don’t make it weird," Alexandria said, leaning back into the couch, though she couldn’t help but feel a tiny bit of warmth at their words.

"We’re not making it weird, you are," Kitty teased, earning a light jab from Alexandria.

"Touché," Alexandria replied, her tone lightening. It was moments like these, surrounded by friends who didn’t judge her, that made her slowly start to see the X-Mansion as more of a home. Even if she would never admit it out loud.

"So, what’s the plan for tonight?" Scott asked, shifting the conversation away from Logan and onto safer topics.

"Just trying to survive another day without losing my mind," Alexandria said, half-joking. "And maybe, just maybe, get some peace and quiet."

"Good luck with that," Kitty said with a grin. "This place is never quiet."

"No kidding," Alexandria agreed, her thoughts briefly drifting to Matthew and his incessant smiling. Peace and quiet seemed like a luxury she could only dream of lately.

"Well, if you ever need an escape, you know where to find us," Jean offered.

"Thanks," Alexandria said, and she meant it. Despite her usual reluctance to rely on others, it was nice knowing that her friends were there for her, no matter what.

---

Matthew wasn’t one to back down from a challenge. Sure, his older sister told him that he shouldn’t see anybody as a ‘challenge’ but it was more than that.

Dad said it was love at first sight when he met mom, and mom said that she disliked him at the beginning.

He just knew when he saw her. There wasn’t any explanation, yes, she was pretty, but it was the way she held herself, the way she interacted with others.

His first two days at the school were orientation and a tour, so he would see students milling about their days, going to classes, reading, doing homework, and talking to friends.

Matthew had seen Scott get upset when there weren’t any cookies left at the lunch line, and without talking Alexandria had placed the one she had on his tray. She, without speaking, handed Jean a rubber band for her hair when she was writing.

Talking to her was different, difficult. Jubilee, who had been the one to give him a tour, said that Alexandria was rescued from HYDRA 8 months ago, and around 2 months ago had been recaptured and rescued, but almost died from a slit throat.

So, he understands she’s probably not open to strangers.

But fuck, she was driving him crazy. The small smiles she’d give to everyone but him, the chuckles and laughs she’d quietly do around others, the sweet smell of strawberries every time she walked by him.

Friday night, he called his sister, who was only 3 years older than him and in her first year of college.

“Hey, Matt!” Jenna’s voice came through the phone, cheerful and full of energy as always. “What’s up? How’s the new school?”

Matthew let out a sigh, flopping onto his bed. “It’s… complicated.”

Jenna chuckled on the other end. “Complicated? That doesn’t sound like you. What’s going on?”

He hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. “There’s this girl…”

“Ooh, a girl!” Jenna teased. “Tell me everything.”

“It’s not like that,” Matthew protested, though he knew his sister wouldn’t believe him. “She’s just… different. I’ve never met anyone like her.”

Jenna’s tone softened. “Different how?”

“She’s been through a lot,” Matthew explained, his voice serious. “She’s not like the other girls here. She’s distant, guarded, and it’s like she has this wall around her that no one can get through.”

“Sounds like she’s been hurt before,” Jenna said thoughtfully. “You said she’s been through a lot. What happened?”

Matthew hesitated again, unsure of how much he should reveal. “She was rescued from HYDRA about eight months ago. She was kidnapped again two months ago and nearly died. I guess that kind of trauma doesn’t just go away.”

There was a long pause on the other end of the line before Jenna spoke again. “Wow, Matt. That’s… intense. No wonder she’s distant.”

“Yeah,” Matthew agreed. “But the thing is, I really like her. There’s something about her that I can’t get out of my head. I know she’s not interested in me, and she probably finds me annoying, but I can’t help it. I want to get to know her, to help her somehow.”

Jenna was silent for a moment, then she sighed. “Matt, it sounds like you’ve got it bad. But you have to be careful. She’s been through a lot, and she might not be ready for someone to get close to her. You can’t push her.”

“I know,” Matthew said, frustration evident in his voice. “But it’s hard. I’ve tried being friendly, but it just seems to make things worse. She doesn’t want anything to do with me.”

“Then maybe you need to back off a bit,” Jenna suggested gently. “Give her some space. If she wants to get to know you, she’ll come around. But you can’t force it.”

Matthew sighed, knowing she was right. “I just… I don’t want to give up on her.”

“Then don’t,” Jenna said firmly. “But be patient. She needs to know that you’re there for her, but she also needs to feel safe. If you really like her, you’ll find a way to show her that without overwhelming her.”

“Yeah,” Matthew said softly. “Thanks, Jenna. You always know what to say.”

“That’s what sisters are for,” Jenna replied with a smile in her voice. “And hey, if it works out, you’ll have one heck of a love story to tell.”

Matthew couldn’t help but laugh at that. “I’ll keep you posted.”

“Please do,” Jenna said. “And remember, take it one step at a time. She’ll come around when she’s ready.”

After hanging up, Matthew felt a little better, though the frustration of his situation still lingered. He knew Jenna was right—he needed to be patient, to give Alexandria the space she needed. But that didn’t make it any easier.

The next morning, Matthew decided to follow his sister’s advice. He would still be around, still make his presence known, but he would try to tone down the enthusiasm that seemed to annoy Alexandria so much. Maybe, just maybe, she would start to see him in a different light.

---

The weekend passed without much incident. Alexandria stuck to her bedtime routine, much to Logan’s surprise, and the two of them continued their banter about the bet. She was determined to make it through the week, and the thought of finally learning to ride a motorcycle kept her motivated.

Matthew, on the other hand, kept his distance. He still smiled when he saw Alexandria, but he didn’t push for conversation. He gave her space, just as Jenna had advised, and hoped that she would notice the change.

Tuesday rolled around, and the school was abuzz with the usual activity. Alexandria found herself in the common area again, surrounded by her friends. They were chatting about classes, upcoming events, and the usual gossip, but her mind kept drifting back to Matthew. She hadn’t seen much of him over the weekend, and his absence was oddly noticeable.

“Earth to Alexandria,” Kitty’s voice broke through her thoughts, and she blinked, realizing that everyone was looking at her.

“What?” Alexandria asked, slightly defensive.

“You okay?” Jean asked, her tone concerned. “You seem a little distracted.”

Alexandria shrugged, trying to play it off. “Just thinking.”

“About Matthew?” Jubilee asked, a knowing grin on her face.

Alexandria rolled her eyes. “No.”

“Uh-huh, sure,” Kitty said, her grin matching Jubilee’s. “You’re totally not thinking about him.”

“I’m not,” Alexandria insisted, though her friends’ teasing smiles made her wonder if they saw through her denial.

“Whatever you say,” Scott chimed in, giving her a playful nudge. “But just so you know, he’s been asking about you.”

That caught Alexandria’s attention. “He has?”

Scott nodded. “Yeah, he mentioned something about wanting to make sure he wasn’t bothering you. Seemed like he was trying to give you some space.”

Alexandria frowned, a mix of confusion and curiosity in her expression. “Why?”

“Maybe because he likes you?” Kitty suggested, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness.

Alexandria scoffed, though the idea made her heart beat a little faster. “He doesn’t even know me.”

“Maybe not,” Jean said, her voice thoughtful. “But he’s trying to. And from what I’ve seen, he’s not a bad guy.”

“I didn’t say he was,” Alexandria replied, her tone defensive. “I just don’t get why he’s so… persistent.”

“Because he likes you,” Jubilee repeated, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. “And let’s be real, who wouldn’t?”

Alexandria rolled her eyes again, but this time there was a slight smile tugging at her lips. “You’re all ridiculous.”

“Maybe,” Kitty said with a shrug. “But we’re not wrong.”

After the group separated, Alexandria headed to Hank’s classroom. She knew that Matthew had chemistry at a later time than she did, so she waited outside the room until class was over.

Five minutes later, students trickled out, Matthew being the last one out. His eyes widened as he saw Alexandria standing against the wall.

“You’re avoiding me,” she stated.

He snorted, “no.”

“Yeah.”

Matthew started to walk off, Alexandria following. It did strike her that the roles were reversed now but she paid no mind to that. “You said I was annoying, so I backed off.”

“But… that doesn’t mean I want you to stop.”

Matthew paused mid-step, turning slightly to look at Alexandria, his brow furrowed in confusion. "Wait, what?"

Alexandria huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "I said, that doesn’t mean I want you to stop."

Matthew glanced sideways at Alexandria, a mix of surprise and curiosity on his face. "So, you actually want me to keep bothering you?"

Alexandria gave him a pointed look. "Not exactly. I just... don’t want you to think I don’t want to talk to you. You’ve been giving me space, and I guess I miss the, I don’t know, annoyance?"

Matthew chuckled softly, clearly pleased by her confession. "Annoyance, huh? Well, I can do that."

"Good," Alexandria said with a slight smirk, trying to ignore the way her heart was racing.

Matthew’s eyes twinkled with amusement. “You’re really something, you know that?”

“Yeah, well, you’re not exactly the easiest person to ignore either,” Alexandria replied, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness.

Matthew smirked, clearly pleased by her response. “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You shouldn’t. Just don’t get used to it.”

“Fair enough,” Matthew said, catching up to her as they walked down the hallway together. “So, if I’m not supposed to stop bothering you, what exactly am I supposed to do?”

“I don’t know,” Alexandria admitted, her shoulders lifting in a shrug. “Maybe just be… less annoying while still being persistent.”

Matthew laughed, a genuine, amused sound that made Alexandria’s heart skip a beat. “I think I can manage that. I mean, if you’re saying you miss me, I guess I’m doing something right.”

“Don’t get a big head,” Alexandria warned, though her tone was more teasing than serious.

They reached the entrance to the common area, and Matthew hesitated for a moment, looking at Alexandria with a thoughtful expression. “You know, if you ever want to talk or hang out or whatever, just let me know. I’m around.”

Alexandria met his gaze, her expression softening slightly. “Thanks. I’ll keep that in mind.”

Matthew nodded, then waved as he headed off toward the stairs. “See you around, Alexandria.”

She watched him go, feeling a mix of emotions she wasn’t entirely sure how to process. Part of her wanted to keep up her usual defensive wall, but another part of her was intrigued by the genuine effort Matthew was putting into breaking through it. Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Alexandria headed to her room.

She needed to finish some homework, take a shower, and go to bed. Today was the last day of the bet, and she wasn’t about to lose now.

---

Wednesday arrived, and by the time history class came up Alexandria stood in front of Logan’s desk, with a smile on her face.

“Looks like you owe me a lesson.” She said, holding her textbook against her chest.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” He grumbled, though he was impressed that she stuck to it. Every night he’d pass by her door at 11 and she would be asleep. “Now, stop carrying around that textbook, sweetheart. Your ribs aren’t fully healed yet.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, “fine. But only until you tell me when your gonna hold up your end.”

Logan leaned back in his chair, “Saturday, 9 in the morning.”

She pouted, “Saturday? That’s three days!”

Logan raised an eyebrow at Alexandria’s pout. “You think three days is a lot? Wait ‘til you see how long it takes to get you on a bike. It’s not just about showing you how to ride; it’s about making sure you’re ready.”

Alexandria crossed her arms tighter around her textbook, her pout deepening. “You’re so dramatic.”

“Yeah, well, you’re not exactly the easiest student,” Logan shot back, his lips twitching into a smirk. “You’ve got a lot to learn, and I want to make sure you’re up to it.”

“Fine, fine,” Alexandria said, rolling her eyes but her annoyance fading into a smile. “I’ll wait.”

Logan gave her a reassuring nod, then waved her off as the bell rang, signaling the start of class. "Now, get to your seat before you make me look bad in front of the students."

She shot him a playful glare before heading to her desk. And of course, Matthew was sitting at the desk to her right.

“Look at you, gorgeous. You’re smiling.” He said, wearing a smile of her own.

Alexandria sat down, “no, I’m not.”

Matthew tsked, “well, now it’s gone. Probably shouldn’t have said anything to see it longer.”

Alexandria shot him a sideways glance, trying to suppress the smile that had nearly escaped. “Don’t flatter yourself, Roman. I was just—”

“Just what?” Matthew leaned in a bit closer, his grin widening. “It looked like you were about to have a good day.”

Alexandria rolled her eyes, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “Yeah, well, you’re not exactly helping.”

Matthew raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I’ll behave. For now.”

“Good,” Alexandria said, trying to sound more serious than she felt. “Keep it up, and I might start thinking you’re actually tolerable.”

Matthew’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “High praise coming from you. I’ll take it.”

The class began, and the two of them fell into the rhythm of the lesson. Alexandria found herself more aware of Matthew’s presence than usual, though she tried to focus on Logan’s lecture. She could feel his eyes on her occasionally, and it made her both irritated and intrigued.

---

Saturday came along and Alexandria made it outside to the front where Logan stood smoking a cigar and leaning against the motorcycle. She was 5 minutes early as she walked down the steps and stood in front of him, a small grin on her face.

Logan took a long drag from his cigar, watching as Alexandria approached with a slight grin on her face. She was early, which didn’t surprise him. When she wanted something, she was all in—stubborn, determined, just like him.

“Look who’s eager,” Logan remarked, exhaling smoke as he flicked the ash off the cigar. “Could’ve sworn you’d show up late just to mess with me.”

Alexandria stopped in front of him, crossing her arms as she looked over the motorcycle with a mix of excitement and nerves. “You’re the one who said nine. I’m just making sure you don’t back out.”

Logan grunted, pushing off the bike and straightening up. “Ain’t in the habit of backing outta deals, kid. You know that.”

She rolled her eyes at the ‘kid’ remark but didn’t argue. Logan had a way of making things sound final, and she wasn’t about to challenge him on something she wanted so badly.

“So, where do we start?” Alexandria asked, a hint of anticipation in her voice.

Logan studied her for a moment, then nodded toward the bike. “First, you’re gonna learn the basics. Get on and feel it out. It ain’t like ridin’ with me—you gotta control this thing yourself.”

Alexandria took a deep breath and stepped closer to the bike. She’d been on it before, but always behind Logan, never in control. There was a thrill to that, sure, but this... this was different. This was hers.

Logan watched as she swung her leg over the bike, settling onto the seat. He could see the tension in her shoulders, the way she gripped the handlebars a little too tightly. “Relax,” he said, his tone softer than usual. “You’re not gonna go anywhere yet.”

“Easy for you to say,” Alexandria muttered, though she loosened her grip slightly, trying to heed his advice.

Logan stepped up beside her, his hand resting on the handlebar next to hers. “You gotta trust the bike. Feel it. It’s an extension of you—if you’re too tense, you’re gonna fight it instead of workin’ with it.”

Alexandria glanced at him, then nodded, taking another deep breath. She tried to focus on the weight of the bike, the feel of the engine beneath her. Logan was right; she needed to relax.

“Good,” Logan said, noticing the change in her posture. “Now, lemme show you the basics.”

He walked her through the controls, explaining the clutch, throttle, brakes, and gears. Alexandria listened intently, absorbing every word. Logan wasn’t the type to give long-winded explanations, and she appreciated that. He kept things straightforward, simple—just what she needed.

“Alright,” Logan said after a while, stepping back to give her some space. “Now, give it a shot. Start her up.”

Alexandria’s heart pounded in her chest as she reached for the ignition. She’d seen Logan do it a dozen times, but now, it was her turn. She twisted the key, and the engine roared to life beneath her. The vibration of the bike sent a thrill through her, and for a moment, she couldn’t help but smile.

“Not bad,” Logan said, his eyes narrowing in approval. “Now, let’s see if you can keep it steady.”

He guided her through the process of easing the clutch and giving it a little gas, and before she knew it, the bike was moving—slowly, but moving. Alexandria’s grin widened as she felt the wind against her face, the freedom of it all.

Logan jogged alongside her, his hand hovering near the handlebar in case she needed help. “Easy now. Don’t get ahead of yourself.”

“I got it,” Alexandria called back, her voice full of excitement.

“Yeah, you do,” Logan replied, a rare smile tugging at his lips.

They spent the next hour going over the basics, with Logan giving pointers and corrections as needed. Alexandria was a quick learner, though Logan expected nothing less. She had the focus and determination to master this, just like she did with everything else.

After a while, Logan had her stop and get off the bike. He could see the pride in her eyes, the satisfaction of having conquered something new.

“You did good,” Logan said, nodding at the bike. “But this ain’t over yet. We’ll keep practicing until you’re ready to hit the road.”

Alexandria looked at him, her eyes shining with gratitude. “Thanks, Logan. I mean it.”

He grunted, looking away as he took another drag from his cigar. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t go gettin’ all mushy on me now. We got more work to do.”

She laughed, a sound that was still rare but becoming more common these days. It was a laugh that meant she was starting to find her place, to feel like she belonged.

“Alright,” Alexandria said, standing next to the bike. “So, when’s the next lesson?”

Logan gave her a sideways glance, a smirk playing on his lips. “How’s tomorrow sound?”

“Perfect,” she replied without hesitation.

“Good,” Logan said, putting out his cigar. “Now go on, get outta here. You’ve earned a break.”

Alexandria nodded, giving the bike one last look before heading back toward the mansion. As she walked away, Logan watched her, a mix of pride and something else he couldn’t quite place. She was a tough kid, no doubt about it, but there was more to her than that. There was a fire in her, a determination that reminded him a little too much of himself.

you can probably guess where this is going... i can't help it i'm a sucker for a good love story

[rpking99]

Krakoa Getaway

Closed with @stripclub-elysium

Continued from here

'Make more Mutants...' which is basically saying 'Fuck as much as you want' and Phillip is all here for it. Walking around the island he was looking for 2 Mutants in particular... Lady Deadpool and Gwenpool.

But what makes those 2 more desirable then Mutants like Emma Frost, Rogue (SouthernBell) and Wanda?

Is it him having a thing for blondes? Is the fact that their similar powers weapons and shared ending part of their Name gives the illusion of a possible Incest Threesome with 'Mother and daughter'?

Is it...

"Is it the fact that the Mun thinks it would be funny to have both 4th wall destroying Mutants in one RP?" Wanda asked, she and Gwen suddenly... Sitting either side of Phillip on the beach "Which, on that point... I'm the only one of us who breaks the fourth wall. Gwen knows about it and can manipulate the comic medium in weird fucking ways. Also... We don't share the same last name. I'm Wanda WILSON, she's Gwen POOLE. Because she's lazy spin off of a spin off."

"Says a lazy genderbent spin off created for a series filled with spin offs of a rip off of a DC character." Gwen shot back with a roll of her eyes

[ldlingsomewhere]

emma frost punisher au?

emma frost punisher au diverges from 616 canon after genosha. in 616, emma returns to the mansion and snaps cassandra nova's neck, who comes back to life and is shot by professor x, presumably killing her. emma then rejoins the x-men as a teacher once again, this time for the xavier institute. in my au, emma doesn't come back to the x-men. she takes the phrase "perfect faberge killing machine" literally- she becomes the punisher.

one of the things i really love about this au is that for emma as the punisher, it really is about the children in a way that it isnt necessarily for frank castle (this is not the place to discuss my punisher opinions but i do have them).

this panel from new x-men #116 is really interesting to me because contrary to jean's argument, emma isn't trying to be magneto when she becomes the punisher. she isn't looking for this widespread social political change. she's not a spearhead for change like magneto or professor x. she's emma frost and she's a diamond. she is by definition her own best friend and she doesn't need anyone else. she's the punisher. there's a very individualist philosophy at the core of emma frost as the punisher that doesn't stop with rejecting magneto or the professor's ideologies. when emma leaves mutant society to become the punisher, what that means is that she will never be a teacher again as long as people are threatening genocidal violence on mutants, because her students will be attacked and she will survive having failed to keep them alive.

because of her diamond form, emma isn't as worried about like. staying alive and out of bodily harm as frank castle as the punisher is- she's practically invulnerable. she's also not as proficent with weapons, and relies on her brute strength in diamond form to compensate. because she's in diamond form so much, she uses her telepathy less. punisher emma using her body as a weapon in a very violent way is really interesting to me because it's a very clear contrast to everything about emma frost and the way she positions herself.

like she says in classic x-men #34, her body is her weapon, and her mind is what she wins her battles with. an emma frost in diamond form being the punisher is using her body and mind in very different ways to the classic emma frost

another thing i love about punisher emma is that she doesn't need body armor because she is the body armor in diamond form, so she just wears her typical emma frost outfits. she also still wears white, so she's just constantly covered in blood. they start calling her the red queen eventually.

[excelsiorfics]

Preview unavailable at this time, please refresh the page.

Date: July 6, 2022 Author: JamieGaylePiff Rating: Teen Word Count/Status: 1,364, complete Dynamic: Jessica Vale & Sarah Vale, Jessica Vale & Melody Guthrie, Jessica Vale & Noriko Ashida Characters: Jessica Vale, Melody Guthrie, Sarah Vale, Noriko Ashida, Emma Frost, Megan Gwynn Tags: (Past) Major Character Death, (Past) Child Death, Alternate Universe - Twins, Canon Compliant, Krakoa Era (X-Men)

Summary: There is a bus, burning. There is an egg, hatching. There is a girl, watching.

[thisisatesttai]

Exceptional X-Men #1 is out and it's very good

Exceptional X-Men #1, by Eve Ewing, Carmen Carnero, Nolan Woodard, and Joe Sabino

So, I knew Exceptional X-Men was going to rock just based on the fact that it's a Kitty Pryde book set in Chicago. I love Kitty Pryde and I love it when Marvel does stuff outside New York, plus Chicago's one of my favorite cities. Also, I can't think of a single comic that isn't improved by having Emma Frost around to do whatever the hell she wants, so, yeah, already sold.

It ended up being better than I expected, though! It felt really personal and focused on Kitty, which was great. I love Ewing's characterization for her; she's different from her New Mutants or Excalibur era, but still feel like the same character, just now with the weight of her years of experience since then. I think the low stakes of this issue -- it's basically about her cancelling a date -- made for a unique break from what you expect from the genre.

(Also, glad to have it in writing that Kitty is bi, that's been "kinda/sorta" canon for basically the entirety of her existence.)

I really liked the rest of the cast this book introduces. I think Priti is brand new to this book, which is cool. The mutant Kitty meets, Trista, feels unique, her power is cool, and you get a nice sense of who she is from this first issue. I look forward to seeing more of her!

I also really love the art in this. I've never seen Carnero's work before, but I really like her style. I love how Kitty is drawn -- not a direct translation of Alan Davis's design, necessarily, but, again, clearly the same character. Also, she managed to do something which I'm VERY envious, which is capture the look of Chicago from every exterior and interior shot. There's something about the openness of the frames that is exactly how I picture Chicago.

There's not a lot of Emma Frost in this issue, but I assume she'll be around to recruit Kitty to a new, midwestern X-Men team soon, and based on what she says in this issue, that's a call Kitty's going to reject. I...doubt Emma takes that well XD

Also...

Kitty Pryde plays guitar?? This is distressing for me, personally.

[period-dramallama]

How much worse would "Becoming Elizabeth" be if the two-headed monster known as Fraham had written it?

This ask kept me awake for hours.

The key difference would be that we would go in with zero expectations, so we wouldn't be disappointed, for the most part.

I think Fraham would accidentally make the good decision to not give Tommy S too much screentime. They'd give us Gaston from Beauty and the Beast with a side order of child abuse. That's it. Whereas Becoming Elizabeth spent aaaaaaaages trying to flesh out Tommy S and his insecurities and his terrible judgement and his relationship with his brother.

....and nobody asked for that.

Having said that, Fraham would squander 110% of the benefits of this accidentally wise decision.

What does the show look like? AU below cut. You have been warned.

-Upon the death of Henry VIII, Elizabeth receives a Mysterious Box. The label tells her she must open this box on her 18th birthday. What's inside the box? Watch the show and find out.

-Someone calls Jane 'cute'.

-Jane calls Elizabeth 'a mean girl'. References! Look how contemporary we are!

-Anne Stanhope has a pointless scene of her trying on Katherine's jewels, while topless. Why is she topless? No-one knows.

-For her 16th birthday party, Elizabeth does full Anne Boleyn cosplay. Katherine does the necklace thing but doesn't tell her to change. So.... it's still pretty obviously AB cosplay.

-Elizabeth Hates Sewing and wants to be a Leader so Robert Dudley gives her secret sword-fighting lessons. Shippers are torn between thinking this is cheesy and stupid, and the need to have Content.

-While hunting, Elizabeth accidentally shoots a peasant. Robert helps her bury the body in the woods. It's a Serious Moment for Elizabeth's Journey. So naturally it's never referred to ever again.

-The scene where Katherine discovers the truth about Tommy S and Elizabeth is... more graphic.

-Katherine has a graphic C-section.... and survives. Syke! She dies offscreen of a post-partum infection anyway.

-Mary Seymour dies as an infant... because Tommy S got drunk and dropped her down the stairs.

-John Dudley is a full-on Trump expy. He's racist to Pedro for no other reason than to signal he's No Good Very Bad.

-Alternatively, John Dudley is a Male Feminist who Leans In and Respects Wamen and tells Robert that his girlbossery comes from following his mother's example unlike his father Edmund Dudley who was a Useless Loser Who Got Beheaded. This clumsily foreshadows that John will one day be the Useless Loser Who Gets Beheaded.

-either way, we still don't get Jane Dudley.

-Mary chokes on a communion wafer and is saved by Pedro, because he's a Civilised Spaniard who knows something the Backward English don't know. (Basically the Heimlich Manoeuvre.)

-John Dudley tells Mary "we've had enough of your popish paraphernalia!" This line is so clunky and difficult to say that it becomes a meme.

-In their confrontation in the woods, Mary and Elizabeth get so angry they start to duel. It's surprisingly well-choregraphed. "Romola Fencing Champion" trends on Twitter. (Alicia is also pretty good).

-The duel descends into the two women rolling around in the mud and fighting. This sparks Discourse. Was it kinky accidentally, or on purpose?

-In their director's commentary of the scene Emma Frost calls the fight "their Anakin and Obi-Wan moment". She says this over a shot of Mary trying to crush Elizabeth's windpipe with her thighs.

-Edward's disease uses up presumably a large chunk of the special effects budget. He bleeds from the nose, eyes, mouth, and ears. Oliver Zetterstrom in an interview says this was his favourite bit to film because of course it was.

-John Dudley is so desperate for Edward to survive that he chooses black magic. Pentagrams, chanting, candles, sacrifices, the works. A black cockerel is sacrificed and John Dudley is sprayed with blood. Some members of the audience are kind of into it.

-Despite England being too backward for the Heimlich manoeuvre, Henry Grey performs mouth to mouth and CPR on Edward.

-No sign of Frances Grey, it goes without saying.

-Edward is dying and Elizabeth has just turned 18. Time to open the Mysterious Box! Inside are two canopic jars and a letter. The letter is from Henry VIII. He tells her that Anthony Denny is tasked with sending her the Mysterious Box. Henry says he has had a prophetic dream revealing that Elizabeth has been Chosen. He apologises for dismissing her because she was a girl and her mother was a Wicked Slut. She must wait for Edward and Mary to die as it has been foretold, then she will be Queen and preside over a Golden Age. After his death, the canopic jars will be filled and given to her as proof of his faith in her.

And what's inside the canopic jars? Why, the heart and stomach of a king! And of a king of England, too!

The End.