Sam did not smile back.
He didn't come here to talk about old myths.
He came here to fix a very dangerous mistake.
"I am glad you know what I am,"
Sam said, his voice calm but completely serious.
"Because that means you know I understand energy better than anyone else. Professor, you need to remove the mental blocks you put inside Jean's head. Right now."
Charles's smile slowly faded. He looked at Jean, and then he looked back at Sam.
He let out a heavy sigh, acting like a father who knew what was best for his child.
"I cannot do that, Sam,"
Charles said softly, shaking his head.
"I placed those walls there to protect her. The power sleeping inside Jean is not just telepathy. It is too wild, too destructive. If I remove the blocks, the fire will consume her, and it will destroy everyone around her."
"You cannot it in a cage,"
Sam argued, feeling a flash of irritation.
"You are not protecting her. You are just building a massive bomb. The fire is growing hotter every day. If you don't let it out naturally, it will explode. Remove the walls, Charles. I can help her guide the energy with Qi."
"No,"
Charles refused firmly. He leaned forward in his wheelchair.
"I have spent my entire life studying the mutant mind. I know the limits of the human brain. Your cultivation might be strong, but you do not understand. My way is the only safe way to keep her safe."
Jean stepped forward.
She looked at the man who had been like a father to her for years.
"Professor, please!"
Jean begged, her green eyes filled with tears.
"I don't want to live in fear of my own mind anymore. Sam taught me how to be like water. I can learn to control it! Please, let him help me."
Charles looked at her with pity, but his mind was completely made up.
"I am sorry, Jean,"
Charles said, crossing his hands.
"You do not understand the true danger. One day, you will thank me for keeping it locked away."
Sam narrowed his eyes. He was deeply irritated.
Charles Xavier was a good man, but his pride was his biggest weakness.
He believed in his own methods too much.
He thought he was the only one smart enough to save the world.
Sam knew arguing with him was a waste of time.
Sam turned his back on the Professor and looked at Jean.
"He won't open the door from the outside,"
Sam told her quietly.
"So, we have to break the walls from the inside. But doing that is incredibly dangerous. If I just force my way into your mind, the Phoenix fire might wake up and burn your brain."
Jean grabbed his hands. She was scared of the fire, but she completely trusted him.
"What do we do?"
Jean asked.
"There is only one way to enter your mental world safely,"
Sam explained, looking deep into her eyes.
"Our souls and bodies must be perfectly connected. We have to share our energy so completely that your mind accepts my Qi as its own."
Jean understood exactly what he meant. Her face turned pink, but she didn't look away.
"Dual Cultivation,"
Jean whispered.
Sam nodded.
"Yes. It is the only way I can protect you from the inside while we tear down Charles's walls."
Jean took a deep breath.
She thought about Natasha and Ororo.
She thought about the warm, safe feeling of Sam's hand on her head.
She loved him. She already knew that, sooner or later, she was going to be his woman and join his array of Dao Companions.
Why wait until the bomb inside her exploded? This was for her survival, her freedom, and her future with him.
Jean squeezed his hands tightly.
"I agree,"
Jean said firmly, her voice full of courage.
"Let's go home. I am ready."
Sam and Jean turned away from the Professor.
They walked out of the office, closing the heavy wooden doors behind them.
Ororo was waiting for them in the hallway. She had heard everything.
"I do not agree with Charles,"
Ororo said softly, shaking her head.
"He is letting his pride blind him. But... I cannot leave with you right now."
Jean looked at her, understanding completely.
"You have classes to teach."
"Yes,"
Ororo nodded.
"I have my duty to the students as a professor. I must stay and finish my work."
Ororo reached into her pocket and pulled out her car keys.
She tossed them to Sam, who caught them easily.
"Take my car,"
Ororo smiled at him, her blue eyes filled with warm trust.
"I don't mind my boyfriend using my property. Take good care of her today, Sam."
"I always do,"
Sam promised. He gave Ororo a gentle kiss on the forehead before he and Jean walked away.
As they walked down the front steps of the large school, Jean's heart was beating very fast.
She was skipping school for the rest of the day, but she didn't care about classes right now.
Her mind was full of a swirling mix of emotions.
She felt scared because of the dangerous walls and the cosmic fire inside her head.
But at the same time, she felt incredibly excited. She looked up at Sam walking beside her.
The sunlight hit his face perfectly.
He looked so calm, so confident, and so incredibly handsome.
A warm blush covered her cheeks.
Today was the day. She was going to make love with him and truly become his woman.
Up on the second floor, a pair of eyes was watching them from a window.
It was Anna Marie. She saw Sam holding the car keys. She knew they were leaving the school.
Anna quickly made a choice. She wanted to learn how to control her energy.
She wanted to be able to hold someone's hand without hurting them.
She turned around, grabbed her jacket, and decided to skip school, too.
Sam and Jean had just reached the car when they heard fast footsteps running across the grass.
"Wait! Wait for me!"
Anna ran up to them, breathing heavily. She looked at Jean, and then she looked up at Sam.
"I want to go with you,"
Anna said, her voice full of hope.
"I want to start learning cultivation today. Please, can I come?"
Jean was surprised. She didn't expect Anna to run away from school.
Jean looked at Sam, silently asking what they should do.
Sam just smiled and gave a gentle shrug.
He had plenty of room in his quiet mansion, and Anna needed help just as much as Jean did.
"Hop in,"
Sam said, unlocking the car doors.
Anna's face lit up with pure joy. She quickly opened the back door and jumped inside.
Jean got into the front passenger seat next to Sam.
She looked out the window at the school one last time as Sam started the engine.
She was leaving her old, scared life behind.
With Sam by her side, she was finally ready to step onto a new path.
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