"I'll walk you up to here."
It was late at night when Noah Vale stopped outside the front gate of the villa he'd bought for Rogue. The movie had ended not long ago, and the quiet of the upscale neighborhood felt almost too still after the glow of the theater.
Rogue lingered beside him, lips pressed together as she stole a glance at his profile. She hesitated, then spoke, testing the waters.
"Mr. Vale… do you want to come up for a bit?"
Even as she said it, regret crept in. She should've picked a horror movie instead of a romance. At least then she'd have a better excuse to keep him around.
Noah smiled faintly and shook his head. "Not tonight. You should head in. I've got things to take care of."
He turned to leave.
Rogue's heart clenched. Before she could overthink it, she reached out and grabbed his hand. When he looked back in mild surprise, she pulled him in and kissed him.
Noah didn't resist.
The moment their skin touched, her power kicked in.
It wasn't just a passive effect—it was hunger. A deep, relentless pull that drew energy from him in waves. Strength, vitality, something more fundamental… all of it poured into her.
At first, she tried to hold back.
She failed.
What started as a kiss turned into something deeper, more desperate. She clung to him, taking more and more, like a pump that couldn't shut off.
They stayed like that in front of the villa gate, locked together in silence.
Three minutes later, Noah finally pushed her away.
Rogue's breath was unsteady, her eyes half-lidded.
That felt… incredible.
Noah, on the other hand, exhaled slowly.
That hurt.
Her ability wasn't just draining—it was invasive, like something stripping him apart piece by piece. Every second of contact felt like being carved away from the inside.
He checked the damage.
Two hundred thousand years of lifespan—gone.
About ten percent of his physical condition—drained.
At that rate, another half hour and she'd completely empty him out.
Rogue leaned into him again, resting her head against his chest, her arms wrapping around him like she didn't want to let go.
"Stay tonight… please?"
It wasn't subtle.
Noah gently ran a hand through her hair. "First, drop the 'Mr. Vale.' Just call me Noah."
She looked up slightly.
"But no," he continued calmly. "Give it a month. You need better control over your ability."
"Why?" she asked, frowning.
"Because right now," he said evenly, "we've got about thirty minutes before something goes seriously wrong. Do you really think that's enough time for me?"
The meaning hit her instantly.
Her face flushed bright red.
"…I'm going inside," she muttered, turning and rushing through the door without looking back.
Noah watched the villa door close, then shrugged lightly.
If he'd actually stayed tonight, there was a real chance he wouldn't walk out alive.
Pain aside, there were more practical concerns. Even if he forced himself through it, once his strength dropped and hers kept rising, the balance would flip.
And if things got out of control…
He grimaced.
Dying like that—and then seeing headlines the next morning—
Founder of Internal Energy System Dies in Bedroom Incident.
No. Absolutely not.
"Yeah, that's not happening."
A flicker of irritation crossed his face.
"Come out," Noah said coldly, glancing to the side. "Or I'll drag you out myself."
Not far away, Nick Fury—who had been about to approach—froze mid-step.
He saw the faint violet energy forming in Noah's hand.
That was enough.
Without a word, Fury turned around and left. Fast.
Noah snorted softly and headed toward another villa in the same complex. The door unlocked as a key-shaped construct formed from his energy, sliding cleanly into the lock.
Inside, the lights were already on.
"Back already?" Camilla's voice drifted lazily from the couch. "How was your date with the mutant girl?"
"Nothing special. Movie, dinner," Noah replied, tossing his coat aside before settling into the sofa.
Camilla tilted her head, studying him. "And what about the director's daughter? What's your plan there?"
Her tone turned teasing.
"What happens when the two of them run into each other?"
Noah didn't hesitate. "I'll tell them the truth. I like both of them."
Camilla raised an eyebrow.
"Rogue might be disappointed," Noah went on, "but she'll deal with it. As for Gwen… maybe I'll start with her father. George Stacy's a reasonable guy."
He leaned back, completely at ease.
"I'm not letting either of them go."
Camilla stared at him like she'd just discovered a new low.
"Did you even consider how they'd feel?" she asked.
"I did," Noah said. "And this is me being considerate."
He shrugged.
"Love is possessive. The idea that someone loves you and is perfectly fine with you being with other people? That exists, maybe—but it's rare."
Camilla crossed her arms. "And yet I don't seem to mind."
Noah looked at her, genuinely confused.
"You?" he said. "You've always been my pet. Since when did you start thinking of yourself as one of my girlfriends?"
That landed harder than anything else.
Camilla's expression snapped.
In an instant, she lunged, fangs bared, aiming straight for his neck.
Her teeth—sharp enough to pierce steel—pressed into his skin.
And stopped.
They sank in slightly, just enough to dent the surface… then couldn't go any further.
Noah didn't even flinch.
At most, it tickled.
From his perspective, Camilla wasn't a threat anymore. She was closer to an annoyed cat than anything dangerous.
Meanwhile, at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, the atmosphere was anything but calm.
Scott Summers stood with a group of faculty, tension written all over his face.
"Professor Xavier and Jean are both off-grid," he said. "Something's wrong. I knew this mission was a mistake."
"Let's not jump to conclusions," Ororo replied, though her expression was tight. "We should contact Noah Vale first. He might know what happened."
Before she could say more—
A piercing scream echoed through the entire school.
Both of them froze.
Then they moved.
"What was that?"
They rushed into the hallway—
—and ran straight into a squad of armed soldiers carrying tranquilizer rifles.
Scott didn't hesitate.
Twin beams of optic energy blasted from his visor, cutting through the front line before they could react.
"Scott—!" Ororo started, but he cut her off.
"We don't have time. There are students here. We move now."
He charged forward.
With Ororo backing him up, they tore through the intruders. Lightning and optic blasts carved a path through the school's corridors, dropping every soldier in their way.
But then—
Something stepped into their path.
Over two meters tall, its body covered in silver-gray metallic scales. Its head was partially sunken inward, marked by a diamond-shaped indentation.
It stood motionless, blocking the hallway like an immovable wall.