When Lorna announced her decision to join the X-Men, the reactions across the group were anything but uniform. Some Mutants, worn down by constant fear and uncertainty, immediately agreed to follow her lead, seeing it as a chance at stability. Others, however, hesitated, their attachment to this place—and the fragile independence it represented—making them reluctant to leave everything behind.
"Thunderbird, what about you? Are you willing to join the X-Men?" Liam asked as he stood beside him at a nearby bar, his tone steady but expectant.
Thunderbird didn't answer right away. His brow furrowed slightly as he stared into his drink, the weight of the decision clearly pressing on him. "If I leave… what happens to everyone here?" he finally said, his voice low.
He had spent a long time with these people, building trust and camaraderie through shared hardship. Walking away from them now, leaving them to fend for themselves, wasn't something he could easily accept.
"I see…" Liam murmured, realizing the problem wasn't as simple as it seemed.
With no immediate solution, he reached out to Ororo and explained the situation in detail. There was no doubt about Thunderbird's value—if he joined the X-Men, their strength would increase significantly. But the issue of those unwilling to leave couldn't be ignored.
After a brief discussion, Professor Xavier proposed a compromise.
Thunderbird and his group could officially join the X-Men, but they wouldn't be required to relocate to Xavier's School. Instead, they would remain here, operating as a secondary branch under the X-Men's banner. The X-Men would provide support when needed—whether that meant rescue operations or resources—while Thunderbird's group would answer the call when the X-Men required assistance.
It was a balanced arrangement, one that preserved both autonomy and connection.
"I agree," Thunderbird said without hesitation after hearing the proposal.
It was a practical decision. Being under the X-Men's name meant protection, recognition, and access to support they never had before. Life would undoubtedly become easier.
"Welcome aboard," Liam said, raising his glass with a small smile.
At this point, he truly saw the X-Men as his home, and strengthening it only aligned with his own goals.
When the rest of the group heard the news, the mood shifted instantly. Relief spread through the Mutants who had been anxious about their future, and even those who had hesitated before now found comfort in the arrangement. With the X-Men backing them, they no longer had to live in constant fear.
Later, with some time to himself, Liam leaned back and pulled up his system interface.
[Host: Liam Hayes][Super Ability: Vector Manipulation, Spatial Movement, Freeze Control, Fire Control, Energy Absorption, Electromagnetic Force][Super Ability Level: Lv.3 (Level 3 Mutant)][Experience: 1000/500]
A faint smile tugged at his lips as he looked at the numbers. He only needed five more sign-ins to break through to Level 4. The path forward was already clear in his mind.
And more importantly, his next target was already within reach.
"Hey, spacing out again?" Lorna's voice cut in as she slid onto the seat beside him.
"Huh? Yeah… just thinking," Liam replied, snapping back to reality.
"Then come out with me," she said casually, her tone leaving little room for refusal.
"Sure," he agreed without much thought. He didn't have anything pressing to do anyway.
Not far away, Clarice watched the two of them leave together, her expression dimming slightly. Mei stepped up beside her and gave her shoulder a gentle pat, offering silent comfort.
Meanwhile, Liam and Lorna made their way into the city, the bustling streets a stark contrast to the quiet isolation of the steel mill. People moved in every direction, neon lights flickered overhead, and the hum of urban life filled the air.
Without hesitation, Lorna looped her arm through his as they walked. Liam stiffened for a second, clearly not used to the sudden closeness, but he didn't pull away.
As they strolled down the street, Lorna tilted her head toward him, curiosity returning to her eyes. "Weiss, I still don't know what your ability actually is. It looked ridiculously strong."
The memory of that night was still vivid in her mind—how he had moved through the detention center like an unstoppable force, untouchable and absolute.
"It's fine if you don't want to say," she added quickly, though her gaze made it clear she hoped he would.
"Heh, it's not a secret," Liam said with a light chuckle, shaking his head. "Like you saw, I can reflect things. Bullets, electricity—anything that comes at me."
He paused briefly before continuing. "And I've got some control over freezing things, plus spatial movement."
Those were the abilities he had already shown. Even if he kept quiet, she would have figured out most of it eventually.
"A Mutant with multiple abilities…" Lorna repeated softly, her eyes widening just a little.
Even though she had seen it firsthand, hearing him confirm it still felt unreal. Mutants with a single strong ability were already rare enough, but someone like him—stacking multiple powerful abilities together—was something else entirely.
She looked at him for a moment longer, her expression shifting into something more thoughtful, more intense.
"What?" Liam asked, feeling slightly uneasy under her gaze.
"I like you," she said suddenly, her lips curving into a bright, confident smile. "Do you want to be my boyfriend?"
"…What?" Liam blinked, caught completely off guard by the blunt confession.
He had liked her character before, sure—but this was reality, not a show. And they had only just met.
"As far as I know, Clarice isn't your girlfriend," Lorna added, stepping closer and meeting his eyes directly.
"She's… not," Liam admitted, a hint of helplessness in his voice.
"Then why not say yes?" she pressed, closing the distance even more.
Liam hesitated, the situation giving him a genuine headache. He didn't dislike her—in fact, he had a good impression of her—but this was moving way too fast.
He took relationships seriously. Agreeing to something like this without really knowing her didn't sit right with him.
"I—"
Boom!!!
A sudden explosion cut him off mid-sentence, the shockwave rippling through the street as the ground trembled slightly beneath their feet.
"What was that?" Liam's attention snapped toward the source instantly, the awkward tension dissolving in an instant.
Lorna clicked her tongue softly, a trace of annoyance flashing across her face at the interruption, but she quickly regained her composure.
"Let's go check it out," she said, already turning toward the sound.
"Yeah," Liam nodded, following her without hesitation.
They moved quickly, weaving through the crowd until they reached the source of the explosion—a bar now surrounded by chaos.
People were pouring out of the entrance in panic, faces pale and voices raised as they fled in every direction.
....
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