The first rays of morning light pierced through the clouds, the quiet night receding like a tide as the clamor of life awakened the bustling steel forest of a city...
Mottled and fragmented sunlight streamed through the thin white curtains, spilling onto the disheveled sheets. A cascade of fiery red hair spread across the pillow, stark against pale skin, which was particularly bright and eye-catching..
The chaotic state of the room bore witness to last night's fierce battle.
A glance at the high heels discarded on the carpet, the black coat draped over the arm of the sofa, the red body-hugging dress by the bedside, and the intimate garments in the bathroom painted a clear picture... this had been a war waged across the entire apartment, with every corner serving as a battlefield.
"Mmm..."
An arm draped over his chest was carefully lifted away as Sean sat up, unabashedly striding into the bathroom. The cold water flowed down the contours of his muscles.
He had spent a wonderful night with the passionate and wild Phoenix. Compared to the other women he had been intimate with, Jean was undoubtedly the one who could satisfy him the most.
No matter how relentlessly he took her, she could endure it all. And with every deep connection, the young man could feel two equally powerful forces colliding and communicating in secret.
An instinctive understanding told Sean that the insurmountable 50% threshold he had yet to breach must be tied to the Phoenix Force, the primal embodiment of life and emotion.
This also explained the inexplicable pull between him and Jean, like two magnets irresistibly drawn together. The Phoenix was intoxicated by the destructive power within his body, while the young man was mesmerized by the dazzling, beautiful flame that was the Phoenix.
In a way, the two were strikingly similar. Both harbored darkness within, brimming with violent, destructive power. The only difference was that one embraced it, while the other resisted.
Had Sean not broken through the Professor's mental barriers, Jean might have ended up like the original timeline... completely consumed by her dark persona, becoming the true Omega-level mutant, Dark Phoenix...
Rubbing his temples, Sean considered the Mutant Registration Act...
Its full effects would take time to manifest. Humanity would not easily accept an outsider species, even if they were born from themselves. Everything required time to fade and reshape.
But this small issue was one he trusted the ambitious Vice President Underwood to tackle with all his might. Resolving mutant-human tensions would naturally boost his reputation. Come election season, a well-timed wave of propaganda could send his approval ratings soaring, making the presidency a tangible goal.
The cunning, publicity-savvy Vice President lacked strong backing. Despite being a Democratic congressman from South Carolina and the House Majority Whip, he was still insignificant in the face of capital conglomerates.
Underwood, being seemingly destined for greatness, was in reality a little more than a glorified plumber... He kept the Democratic majority functioning, running errands for the President, with little chance to rise on his own.
Sean had seen this and chosen him as his pawn. Though Umbrella was still a rising star, lacking deep-rooted influence, the young man's strategic alliances had propelled its rapid ascent, weaving a complex web of interests.
With the human enhancement serum, Umbrella had nearly supplanted the former Stark Industries, especially after removing Hammer Industries as an obstacle.
Backed by General Ross, Umbrella Corp. was unstoppable.
On the corporate front, this two-year-old research institution had elevated Oscorp to the top of the biomedical industry, partnered with Stark on new energy, and formed a strategic alliance with the established Koch Industries.
Quietly, Sean had already ascended to the pinnacle of the nation's power pyramid. A shrewd politician like Underwood would never refuse his invitation, and mutant rights were the perfect battleground.
Sometimes, political correctness didn't come from the majority... sometimes, it came from the minority.
Mutants faced harsher discrimination than African Americans ever had. Former anti-mutant crusader Senator Kelly had seen an opportunity, and so had Underwood... only he chose a gentler approach, championing mutant rights as a means to harvest votes.
Exhaling deeply, Sean stepped out, the water evaporated from his skin. With the Professor and the mutant academy dealt with, the next targets were Magneto and the Brotherhood...
In his mind, he outlined the future. North America was his stronghold.
Magneto, who was soon bound for Africa, would bring a surprise to Wakanda.
The nearly forgotten Victor Von Doom would return to his homeland, Latveria.
Piece by piece, the world would fall into his hands. The words of a Roman dictator came to mind... 'Veni, Vidi, Vici...'
"What are you thinking about?" A warm, fragrant body pressed against his back, full breasts molding to him as pale arms encircled his neck.
Jean's voice was soft, her fire-red hair damp against her bare skin as she clung to him, teasing his chest with playful scratches.
"I'm envisioning the future," Sean murmured. Turning, he whispered into her ear, his hot breath sending shivers down her spine. She trembled, pressing closer.
"What will the future be like?" Jean leaned against his shoulder, her voice low.
"A new era. One for superhumans, evolved beings, the next step in humanity. Mutants will have their place... but who will truly rule this world?"
Jean studied him. Every time they joined, she felt the paradox within him... cold yet burning, calm yet frenzied, order and chaos intertwined.
As his 'lover', she understood him completely. This seemingly gentle young man was two sides of a coin... sometimes a charming and humble aristocrat, other times a ruthless and calculating machine.
He didn't believe in solving everything with violence, yet he wouldn't hesitate to crush those in his way.
"Us?"
"Us."
The first was Jean's hesitant question. The second was Sean's unwavering declaration.
His hand slid from her shoulder to her hip, pulling her flush against him, their bodies fitting together as if made for each other.
Jean's heart raced. This was why she couldn't resist him... he effortlessly stoked the restless desires within her, stripping away the poised Jean Grey, leaving only the untamed Dark Phoenix.
"The world is on the brink of upheaval. Hidden currents are stirring. You are evolution's chosen, the pioneers..." Sean's voice was hypnotic, ensnaring even a telepath like Jean, "The war between ordinary humans and the new breed is inevitable. Superhumans (mutants) will reduce humanity to the lower class. The curtain of peace is lifting. Society's hierarchy, the world's order... it will all change. And who will lead it?"
"...Us." The same answer, the same certainty.
Sean's eyes darkened, a sharp golden light that radiated dominance flickering within.
Jean didn't flinch. Instead, she held him tighter. Her red hair swung like the wings of a phoenix ready to take flight...