"Forget it, let's just go," Liam said after a brief glance toward the bar. From where they stood, there was no clear view inside, and whatever was happening didn't feel worth getting involved in.
"Alright," Lorna agreed without hesitation, clearly not interested either.
The two of them turned to leave, blending back into the flow of the street. But just as they were about to walk away, Liam's eyes caught something—a man and a woman rushing out of the bar, moving quickly and purposefully as they disappeared into the crowd.
"…Those two?" he murmured, slowing his steps as his gaze followed their retreating figures.
Something about them felt familiar. Not their faces exactly, but the way they moved, the urgency, the presence—it triggered a faint recognition in the back of his mind.
Then it clicked.
The Strucker twins.
Lauren and Andrew.
Both were Mutants, and both possessed abilities tied to molecular manipulation. Lauren could condense molecules, most commonly manipulating water into solid constructs. Andrew, on the other hand, could destabilize molecules, unleashing destructive force capable of tearing matter apart.
Individually, they were already dangerous. Together, they were something else entirely.
When their powers synchronized, the energy they could release rivaled that of a Level 4 Mutant.
And Level 4 Mutants weren't just rare—they were the absolute top tier.
As far as Liam knew, only a handful existed: Professor Xavier, Magneto, Wanda, Apocalypse… and the two he had just seen.
Above them, only one stood at Level 5—Jean Grey, the Phoenix.
That alone made their value undeniable.
Maybe I can pull them into the X-Men.
The thought surfaced naturally, but it wasn't his main focus. Recruitment was secondary. What truly mattered was the sign-in.
Molecular manipulation.
At its core, everything in existence was built from atoms arranged into molecules. Change that arrangement, and you change reality itself. If one could fully control molecules, then theoretically, anything could be altered—matter, energy, even biological structures.
Creation from nothing. Reshaping life. Extending existence.
The potential was absurd.
Of course, Liam knew he didn't fully understand the limits yet. This wasn't something he could master through instinct alone. If he really wanted to use that ability to its fullest, he'd need knowledge—real knowledge.
Maybe I should actually study some physics.
Otherwise, having the power without understanding it would just be wasted potential.
Even so, he didn't chase after them.
There was no need.
If his memory was right, the Strucker twins wouldn't stay hidden for long. Sooner or later, they'd come to him.
With that in mind, Liam and Lorna returned to the underground stronghold.
Lorna didn't bring up her earlier confession again, but her behavior made things obvious enough. She stayed close to Liam, her attitude toward him noticeably warmer, almost openly affectionate.
It didn't take long for everyone else to notice.
Among them, Clarice watched quietly, her expression dimming whenever she saw the two together. She didn't say anything, but the discomfort was clear.
Marcos had it worse.
Watching Lorna laugh and talk with Liam, something twisted inside him, like something important had been taken without warning. The frustration sat heavy in his chest, but there was nothing he could do about it.
And no one paid him any attention.
The next morning, Liam woke up early, already focused on his goal for the day.
Thunderbird.
His ability was exactly what Liam needed right now.
Enhanced senses—vision, hearing, smell—combined with increased strength and durability. It was a full-body evolution, the kind of power that filled in the one gap Liam currently had.
His abilities were strong, but they didn't directly enhance his physical body.
And in his view, the body was the foundation of everything.
"Hey, Lorna, where's Thunderbird?" Liam asked after searching around and not finding him.
"He's in that room, on a call," she replied, pointing toward a nearby door as she sat casually on the couch.
"Thanks," Liam said before heading over.
As he approached, voices filtered through the door.
The call sounded chaotic, with urgency bleeding through the static.
"John Proudstar, leader of the underground Mutant group—my family needs your help!" The voice on the other end was tense, almost desperate.
"Oh? Maybe," Thunderbird replied flatly, clearly unimpressed.
"Do you remember the Mutant incident at the bar yesterday? They were my children."
That caught a bit of his attention, but not enough.
"Is that so? If that's all, then sorry—I'm not getting involved," Thunderbird said, already losing interest.
They didn't know each other. There was no reason to take on unnecessary trouble.
"Wait—!" The man on the phone rushed to stop him, panic creeping into his voice.
"Give me a reason to help you," Thunderbird said, his tone patient but firm.
Silence followed.
The other side clearly didn't have an answer.
Just as Thunderbird was about to hang up, the door opened.
"Hold on. Don't hang up yet," Liam said as he stepped inside.
Thunderbird glanced at him, slightly surprised, but paused.
"Can I talk to him?" Liam asked with a small smile.
"Sure," Thunderbird replied without hesitation, handing over the phone.
Liam brought it to his ear, his expression calm.
"Hello, Mr. Strucker."
"…Who is this?" The man's voice sharpened immediately, wary but alert.
"X-Men," Liam said lightly, a faint chuckle in his tone.
For most people, that name might not mean much. But Reed Strucker wasn't most people.
He was an inspector, someone who dealt with Mutants regularly.
He knew exactly what that name carried.
"…You're with the X-Men?" Reed asked, his tone shifting instantly.
He had considered reaching out to them after discovering his children were Mutants, but he had no way to contact them. Distance and time had worked against him, forcing him to seek help elsewhere.
And now, unexpectedly, the X-Men had come to him instead.
....
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