It was nearly midnight by the time the party came to an end. The celebration had lasted two full hours, and now, with a satisfied smile tugging at his lips, Mark finally returned to his room.
The party had turned out to be far more entertaining than he had expected.
Every student in attendance was a mutant, each one possessing strange and distinctive powers. The evening had unfolded less like a school function and more like a magical festival. One by one, students took turns demonstrating their abilities in dramatic and often dazzling ways.
When it came to the dancing, Wanda had taken the lead almost the entire time.
Mark, after all, had never once attended a single class in music, art, or dance over the past three years.
But what had satisfied him most that evening, without question, was the food.
The party was a yearly tradition, and this time, Professor X had spared no expense. He had ordered far better ingredients than usual, turning what might have been a casual gathering into a proper feast. Even compared to the academy's regular meals, which weren't bad to begin with, this night had been exceptional.
Mark stretched and let out a quiet sigh.
"Now that I'm fed and rested, I should go convince... no, talk to Professor X," he muttered with a slight smirk.
He was planning to head into the city to earn Justice Points, and before doing so, it seemed only right to inform the academy's headmaster. If he could win the professor's support, the whole process would go much more smoothly. It might also help him avoid unnecessary trouble later on.
Fortunately, he had already prepared what he wanted to say.
Even if he couldn't rely on the exact events of the timeline he remembered, he still retained useful knowledge, especially when it came to the personalities and tendencies of key figures. That gave him a clear advantage.
He wasn't a genius by any means, but with enough information, he could still outmaneuver others and succeed through careful planning.
And even if he failed, it wouldn't be a disaster. With his current value to the academy, even if he went into the city alone to fight crime and rack up Justice Points, Professor X might disapprove, but he wouldn't come down on him too harshly.
What the professor feared most was not disobedience.
It was the possibility that Mark, if pushed, might one day fall under Magneto's influence and join the Brotherhood.
Mark made his way into the headmaster's office, greeting Professor X with a casual wave and a bright smile.
"Good evening, Professor."
Professor X looked up from his desk and returned the smile warmly.
"Did you enjoy the food tonight?" he asked kindly.
He wasn't just making polite conversation. He had specifically instructed the kitchen to prepare ten times the usual amount of food, knowing full well how much Mark could eat.
"Absolutely. It was amazing," Mark replied, giving him an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
He meant it. And in truth, he felt a certain gratitude toward Professor X.
He didn't come from this world. He had no deep allegiance to mutants or humans, and he certainly wasn't native to the Marvel universe.
The people who mattered most to him were the ones who had treated him like family: Olek, Iryna, Wanda, and Pietro.
Professor X had helped Olek and Iryna find stable work. He had offered Wanda and Pietro a safe place to learn and grow. And he had given Mark three uninterrupted years to train and develop in peace.
Mark hadn't forgotten any of that.
Now that he finally had the strength to make a difference, he felt the time had come to give something back.
On the surface, this trip into the city was just a way to earn more Justice Points and unlock new protagonist templates. But it would also allow him to help people, and in doing so, support the cause of mutant acceptance.
He believed it was fine to pursue personal growth, as long as you didn't forget those who supported you and always acted with integrity.
"You didn't come here just to talk about the food, did you?" the professor asked after a few moments of small talk.
He knew Mark too well by now. In three years, Mark had never once visited without a purpose.
"You're right," Mark replied.
"Professor, after all this time, I've finally gained full control over my powers."
The professor's face lit up at the news.
"That's wonderful. Congratulations."
Even without accessing his Great Ape transformation, Mark's power level had been impressive. He had proved that three years ago during the crisis.
Back then, the problem had been control. He could only maintain his powers for about an hour before collapsing, and without them, he was barely stronger than a normal teenager.
But now, with full command over his abilities, the academy had gained another top-tier mutant. The implications were enormous, and the professor could hardly contain his joy.
"So," Mark continued, "there's something I'd like to discuss with you."
Professor X nodded, giving him his full attention.
But instead of launching into his proposal, Mark began with a question.
"As far as I know, we've been working with SHIELD for a few years now. And while the government seems to have softened toward mutants, the general public still shows a lot of fear and even hatred. Why is that?"
"That's a reasonable question," the professor said, folding his hands.
"Fear of the unknown is a deeply rooted human instinct. Just as people are afraid of the dark, or of wild animals they don't understand, they fear mutants because we are different. They assume all of us are dangerous and unpredictable."
He paused before continuing.
"But that fear doesn't come from evil. It comes from ignorance. And ignorance can be overcome. We must never let fear push us toward hatred or revenge. That is the path Magneto walks. Our path is one of patience, compassion, and eventual understanding. One day, I believe humans and mutants will live side by side, as equals."
His voice was calm and resolute. But beneath his words, it was clear he was choosing them carefully. He was trying to gauge Mark's mindset, afraid that Mark might be tempted to adopt Magneto's more aggressive ideology.
But so far, Mark had given him no reason to worry.
"I agree," Mark said thoughtfully. "Most people don't realize that many mutant powers are harmless, or at least no more dangerous than a kitchen knife or a handgun. But because they don't understand, they panic."
He paused, then added, "But what if we could change that? What if we gave people a reason to see us differently, to admire us?"
Professor X tilted his head slightly but said nothing.
"What I'm suggesting is this," Mark said, his voice calm but firm. "What if mutants started acting like superheroes? Using our gifts to help others, to protect lives, to serve as examples. If people saw mutants saving them from danger, maybe they'd start to respect us, even trust us."
The professor listened intently, eyes narrowing slightly as Mark continued.
"And with the right media coverage," Mark added, "we could...."
He trailed off.
He wasn't inventing this idea on the spot. In a past timeline, Professor X had already taken the X-Men in that direction, turning them into global heroes. It had worked, at first. The public embraced them, admired them. For the first time, there was hope of reconciliation.
But the professor had overreached. He sent his students into increasingly dangerous missions, far beyond their limits. Eventually, it all collapsed. Jean Grey lost control. Apocalypse awakened. Everything fell apart.
That wasn't the future Mark wanted to see repeat.
What he envisioned was something more practical. Something closer to a professional, global network. A better version of Vought International. Not for exploitation, but for empowerment. A way for enhanced individuals, mutants and inhumansto work together to protect the world while also earning public trust.
Of course, he couldn't say all that. Not yet.
For now, he would keep his vision simple. Strategic. One step at a time.
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