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With his corporate stuff sorted out, Aidan was running out of daylight. Good thing Yinsen had already gotten his hands on that suppressant tech—perfect timing for the Xavier visit.
The whole mutant mess had gotten this bad partly because their two big shots—Magneto and Professor X—just didn't have enough juice to keep everyone in line. Even with both of them trying to protect mutant interests, the experiments kept happening. And now with Magneto locked up? Yeah, that made things a hell of a lot worse.
Next afternoon, Baymax Corp dropped their announcement: they'd bought the suppressant rights from Worthington, and oh by the way, release those mutant guinea pigs. Right now. What they didn't say? Anything about forcing anyone to take the damn thing.
The reaction was... interesting. Rioting mutants just... stopped. The whole powder keg situation cooled off real quick. Some mutants were cautiously optimistic, others went into wait-and-see mode, and the hardliners? Well, turns out nobody wanted to listen to their "burn it all down" speeches anymore.
Both sides of the mutant council let out this collective sigh of relief and started scrambling to get meetings with Baymax. But after that one announcement? Radio silence. Baymax acted like nothing happened, turned down every meeting request, business as usual.
When Aidan heard about the acquisition going through, he called Logan. Time to pay the X-Men a visit.
The Xavier School sat on this ridiculous estate in Westchester—about ten kilometers from the city. Looked like some Gothic castle, but inside it was all high-tech training rooms and god knows what else. Probably had a jet hidden underground or something.
Aidan's car pulled up to the gate, and damn—they'd rolled out the welcome wagon. Logan was there, obviously, but so was Professor X in his wheelchair, some blue furry guy in a suit (had to be Beast), and a few others. Either they really wanted to impress him, or they were really nervous.
"We've been waiting for you," Xavier said as Aidan walked up. The old man's eyes were doing that thing—like he was trying to see inside Aidan's head. Which, knowing his reputation, he probably was.
"Professor. Dr. McCoy." Aidan shook Beast's hand, normal enough. But when he got to Xavier, instead of the polite handshake, he just... reached out and touched the guy's bald head. Like petting a cat.
Xavier went completely rigid.
"What the hell—" Storm started, and lightning was already crackling between her fingers.
Aidan stepped back smooth as anything, dodging the bolt that left a nice scorch mark on the driveway. "Relax. Just wanted the Professor to remember what it feels like when someone can't read your thoughts." He grinned. "How's that, Prof? Nice to have some privacy for once?"
Storm was gearing up for round two, but Xavier held up a hand. After a moment, the old man actually looked... relieved? "I... yes. I apologize for the earlier intrusion."
"Professor!" Storm sounded somewhere between confused and pissed.
"You know what?" Aidan looked at Storm, taking in the barely controlled fury. "You might wanna consider that suppressant yourself."
That got him some death glares, but whatever. He started walking toward the building.
They walked him past this playground where kids were doing impossible things—floating, shooting fire, turning invisible. Your typical Tuesday at mutant school, apparently.
"Good kids," Xavier said, doing his wise mentor voice. "But their abilities make them outcasts. We give them a place to learn control."
"Yeah, they're outcasts. That's not changing." Aidan's matter-of-fact tone made Storm and Beast exchange looks. Xavier just sighed—kid had zero filter.
Xavier's study was all warm wood and afternoon sunlight. Very "wise professor" aesthetic.
"Sit, please." Xavier gestured to a chair. Some young girl brought tea, kept sneaking looks at Aidan like she couldn't figure out why someone her age was here talking business with the adults. "I'm grateful for Baymax's intervention. Buying the suppressant, freeing those mutants... How do you plan to handle distribution?"
"Still gonna be available." Aidan nodded thanks to the tea girl. "Voluntary treatment centers. You want it gone, it's gone. Nobody's forcing anything."
"Why even offer it?" Storm jumped in, anger leaking through. "Being a mutant isn't some disease that needs—"
"For you, maybe not." Aidan's tone stayed level. "What about the guy whose power is making everyone around him sick? Or the girl who can't touch anyone without killing them? Not everyone got your sweet lightning powers, Storm. Why d'you think every mutant's experience is the same as yours?"
Storm opened her mouth, then... nothing.
"Take Beast here." Aidan nodded toward Hank, whose blue fur and fangs made him look more animal than human. "Your mutation turned you into this. You like how you look?"
Hank was quiet for a long moment. "...No. When I first changed, I wanted nothing more than to reverse it. The Professor helped me accept what I'd become, but..." He shrugged. "No. I don't like it."
"So why assume everyone else should just deal with it?"
Storm didn't have an answer for that.
"Alright," Xavier stepped in, taking control back. "Your point's taken. But I'm more interested in your solution to the bigger problem."
"The bigger problem is that you're unstable." Aidan didn't sugarcoat it. "Humans see mutants as walking disasters waiting to happen. Soon as they figure out how to neutralize you, they will. It's not personal—it's survival instinct."
"Harsh, but... probably accurate," Xavier admitted.
"So you need separation. The suppressant helps some, but plenty of mutants won't take it. Those people need to be somewhere they're not gonna accidentally level a city block."
The X-Men looked at each other. Waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"What kind of separation?" Xavier asked carefully.
"Baymax builds you a city. Mutant city. Live there, work with us on rescue ops around the world, let us slowly change how humans see you."
"That's just a fancy prison," Jean said, speaking up for the first time.
"Nah." Aidan waved that off. "Think of it more like... a home base. You wanna be heroes? Great. We'll give you the platform. Help people, save lives, show the world you're not all walking apocalypses. Plus..."
PLZ THROW POWERSTONES.