On the day the Avengers met the X-Men for formal negotiations, Captain America traveled toward the Xavier Institute at the head of an entire U.S. Army infantry division. Soldiers marched fully armed; tanks and attack helicopters escorted the convoy with thunderous force.
It looked less like a diplomatic mission and more like a military deployment.
"We don't need all of this," Captain America muttered inside the presidential Cadillac, frowning as he looked out the window.
To him, this show of power was unnecessary. All they needed to do was clarify that the government had not ordered the earlier assault—how difficult could that be?
General Ross, seated beside him, offered a dry reminder:
"Don't be careless, Captain. Today you're not having a casual conversation with Scott Summers. You're here as the representative of the entire United States—negotiating with a species."
Ross then gestured toward the long motorcade behind them.
"And even if you think this is a simple matter, the diplomats don't. Without this level of military protection, you couldn't pay them enough to step foot in a place where Magneto is waiting."
"Right… Magneto…" Steve murmured, staring ahead.
"I still believe Scott only lost his head for a moment. Soon we'll stand side by side again, fighting to end the divide between humans and mutants."
Ross shrugged. "For all our sakes, I hope so."
---
When the ruins of the school finally came into view, its charred stone walls and shattered windows still bore the scars of the attack. Smoke no longer rose, but the memory hung heavy in the air.
At the gate, rows of mutants—students and trainees—stood waiting for Captain America's arrival. But the expressions on their faces were not welcoming.
Captain America stepped out of the vehicle and raised a hand, signaling the soldiers to remain behind.
Only Ross and a small diplomatic team followed him into the courtyard.
The first person to approach him was the one he least wanted to see.
Magneto.
"Welcome, Captain," Magneto said with a polite smile, extending his hand.
Steve did not take it.
"I was told this meeting was with the X-Men."
Magneto withdrew his hand without offense.
"Of course. And I am one of them now."
At those words, the young mutants erupted with excitement. The man who had single-handedly stopped an entire Helicarrier and dismantled a robot army now stood openly at their side.
His authority among them eclipsed even that of Cyclops.
Cyclops hurried forward, attempting to salvage his own leadership.
"Captain, thank you for coming personally. We needed this discussion."
But at the moment Magneto stepped back, the students' expressions turned cold. Their eyes hardened—directed not only at Captain America, but also at Cyclops himself.
Cyclops felt humiliation rising in his throat. Never since becoming field leader had his authority been so undermined.
Someone in the crowd muttered:
"What we need is not negotiations—it's an apology."
More students nodded.
Captain America frowned.
"Scott, the State Department has issued a preliminary statement, but let me swear to you personally—this Helicarrier attack was not carried out under my orders."
"I believe you," Cyclops answered immediately, grateful to align himself once again with the Captain he admired.
But the students behind him disagreed.
"You've only been President for a short time," one said loudly. "This could have been planned by the government long before you took office."
"Quiet!" Cyclops snapped, whirling around.
Magneto stepped forward, placing himself protectively in front of the students.
"Scott, don't be authoritarian. This is a negotiation that concerns every mutant's future. Their voices deserve to be heard."
"You're calling me authoritarian!?" Cyclops' temper flared—but Captain America seized his arm, stopping him before he said something worse.
Steve addressed the gathered mutants.
"This attack happened during my presidency, and I swear—if it were an official military operation, I would know."
But such reassurance, spoken without evidence, satisfied no one.
A different student challenged him:
"What if Congress hid it from you?"
Steve sighed.
Time to use the contingency plan he and Tony had prepared.
"You may return the Helicarrier wreckage to us," he said, "and send one of your own scientists to examine the onboard systems alongside Tony Stark. The flight logs will clearly show who controlled it."
The courtyard fell silent.
Magneto and many of the senior mutants exchanged glances—admitting that the proposition did sound reasonable.
But this was exactly the moment Marcus had prepared for.
Just as the others began to nod, Kitty Pryde—warned in advance—stepped forward.
"Oh? Return it to you so you can destroy the evidence?"
Steve blinked. He hadn't expected such a hostile twist.
"No, no, no," he said hurriedly. "Your scientist would serve as witness. Nothing would be altered."
"Right… a scientist…" Kitty tilted her head and smiled thinly.
"Tell me, everyone—when you think of a mutant scientist, who comes to mind?"
Confused looks spread among the students.
After a moment, one figure stepped forward.
Thick hands.
Blue fur.
Glasses perched on a simian face.
Hank McCoy—Beast.
The most respected scientist among the X-Men.
_____
T/N:
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