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Rogue dragged Jay out to the garden before he could escape. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows between the roses, and she'd picked the most secluded bench she could find.
"Sugar, Ah'm gonna be direct with you."
Jay sat down, keeping space between them. He already knew where this was going.
"Ah like you," she said, the words rushing out. "You're smart, you're handsome, and your powers help people. Our abilities work together—you could touch me, Ah could finally touch someone without hurtin' them."
Silence.
"Say somethin'."
"Is this your mind talking or your heart?" Jay asked quietly. "Because what you're describing sounds...…. parasocial. Toxically dependent. Doomed from the start."
"It ain't like that!"
Jay reached out slowly and took her gloved hand, his thumb brushing her cheek. "What do you feel when I do this?"
"Warmth."
"Warmth is constant no matter who touches you. When the enhancement procedure succeeds and if I can permanently remove your powers, anyone could give you that. What happens then?"
She blinked rapidly, fighting the sting in her eyes. "Ah'll still feel the same."
"Will you?" Jay tilted his head, watching her with that unnerving clarity that cut through excuses. "Warmth can come from anybody, Marie. What you're chasing isn't me—it's the idea of not being alone. Safety. Comfort. And you deserve those things, but…" His lips quirked in rueful realization. "Tell me—did this suddenly come to you after seeing me and Domino on TV?"
Her whole body went rigid, shoulders locking like stone.
Jay sighed, withdrawing his hand. "I'm sorry. Even if Domino and I aren't official, we're… something. And it wouldn't be right to cheat. Not on her, not on myself, and not on you."
Rogue swallowed, eyes glistening. "You make it sound so simple."
"It never is." Jay stood, brushing imaginary dust from his jacket. His voice softened, just enough to leave the words lingering. "But chin up. Someone'll come along, someone who can handle you the way you deserve. Some thief'll come and steal your heart clean away."
The time between the Xavier meeting and the procedure blurred together in Jay's memory. Training sessions and meetings with Bobby and the inner circle turned into strategy discussions over pizza.
"You know we can still find other ways, kid," Bobby had said during one late-night session. "From the stories you told me, power-ups were dimes a dozen in the multiverse."
"Different rules doesn't always apply here," Jay replied, studying tactical maps spread across the table. "And we need every advantage we can get."
Dates with Domino were easy—shooting pool at dive bars, her luck making every impossible bank shot. She'd lean against him during movies, her head on his shoulder, both pretending they weren't getting attached. They'd walk through Central Park at midnight, her hand finding his, talking about everything except what they were becoming.
The baseball game with Ben and Johnny was supposed to be relaxing. It wasn't. Johnny kept hitting on the beer vendor until she threatened to dump nachos on him. Ben argued with the umpire so loudly his voice carried three sections over. "That was clearly a strike, ya bum! I've seen better eyes on a potato!"
Jay spent most of the seventh inning stressed.
And now it was time.
"You sure you don't want backup?" Bobby asked, pulling up in his modified truck.
Jay threw his bag over his shoulder. "I need you here. Get the emergency protocols ready in case anything happens."
"You know we can still find other ways!"
"Just keep checking everything, old man." Jay hugged Bobby, feeling the warmth and care radiating from his friend's skin.
Domino's sleek black car pulled into the driveway. Jay waved goodbye to Bobby and slid into the passenger seat.
"Ready to go super?" she asked, but there was tension in her voice she couldn't quite hide.
"That's the plan."
The drive was comfortable, filled with easy silence and the occasional comment about traffic.
"Second thoughts?" he asked.
"About you getting enhanced by Reed Richards? That's the job, baby don't forget that's the priority."
"It'll be fine."
"Famous last words."
By the time they reached the Baxter Building, evening was approaching. The sun cast long shadows between the Manhattan skyscrapers, and Jay felt a familiar knot of anticipation in his stomach.
Reed had transformed his laboratory into something between a medical facility and a rocket lab. Cables snaked across the floor, connecting massive devices that hummed with barely contained energy. The air tasted of ozone.
"Jay!" Johnny called out as they entered. "On time as always. Fair warning—Ben's stressed and may take it out by hugging you too hard."
"Johnny, please," Sue said, rolling her eyes but smiling. "Try to contain the commentary for five minutes."
Rogue stood by the windows in a clean white blouse, hands clasped behind her back. She looked up when they entered, her green eyes meeting Jay's briefly before looking away.
"Ah asked her to come," Hank told Jay, approaching with his usual measured gait. "We need someone to test your abilities on if this works successfully."
"And if it doesn't?"
"She can absorb enough life force to stabilize you until Reed figures out Plan B," Beast explained, adjusting his glasses with one massive blue paw.
Reed emerged from behind a bank of computers, looking like he hadn't slept in days. Coffee stains decorated Reed's lab coat.
"Today is indeed a momentous day," Beast said, his cultured voice carrying both excitement and apprehension. "The theoretical implications alone are quite extraordinary."
"Are you absolutely certain about this?" Reed asked, his expression grave. "Once we begin the process, there's no stopping it. The cosmic radiation exposure has to be completed in one session, or the cellular damage becomes irreversible."
"I'm sure."
Reed nodded solemnly. "Then we'll need you to remove your shirt and most of your clothing. The radiation conducting serums require direct skin contact, and any fabric could interfere with the process."
Jay stripped to his briefs, revealing the results of months of intensive training. Lean muscle defined his chest and shoulders, while his abs showed functional strength. The transformation was subtle but unmistakable.
"Damn, matchstick," Ben rumbled appreciatively. "Been hiding those under loose shirts this whole time?"
Rogue's face flushed pink, her eyes immediately finding something fascinating about the floor tiles. Domino stared openly, raising an eyebrow.
"You've been holding out on me," she said with mock accusation. "I mean, we're just casually hanging out, but now mama's hungry…. damn."
"Wait, what?" Rogue looked up, surprised by the admission.
"Nothing serious," Domino clarified with a warning edge to her voice. "We're taking it slow. Very slow. But don't get any ideas, Cowgirl."
Jay settled onto the angled medical table, trying to ignore the attention. "Can we focus on the potentially lethal science experiment, please?"
"Quite right," Beast said, moving to check the monitoring equipment. "Your genetic structure presents a unique challenge, my dear fellow. It appears to be in constant flux—every time we attempt to analyze your DNA, it seems to evaporate almost immediately upon extraction from your body."
"Which is why we're taking this approach," Reed continued, his hands dancing over control panels. "Instead of trying to change you from the inside out, we're triggering the transformation from outside in. Controlled cosmic radiation exposure while you're immersed in a specially formulated solution containing a conductive blend of Mutant Growth Hormone and a rudimentary super-soldier serum I've developed."
"The treatment will be extremely painful," Reed added apologetically. "Your body will essentially be rewriting itself at the cellular level. We'll need to sedate you completely for the procedure to proceed safely."
Jay looked around at the gathered faces—some hopeful, some worried, all focused on him. "If things go sideways, everyone remember—I asked for this."
"No going sideways allowed," Johnny said firmly. "Sue would kill me if I let her favorite test consultant get fried."
"I'm not her favorite anything," Jay protested.
"Oh, you definitely are," Sue laughed. "Reed talks about your genetic structure more than he talks about me these days."
"That's not—" Reed began.
"It's okay, honey. Science is sexy."
Domino stepped forward and kissed Jay deeply, cutting off his nervous laughter. When they separated, both were breathing hard. "For luck," she said simply.
"Thanks." Jay smiled and turned back to Reed. "Let's do this."
The next hour blurred with preparation. IV lines were inserted with clinical precision, and monitoring equipment was attached to track every vital sign imaginable. Jay was carefully positioned within the radiation chamber, a transparent cylindrical device that looked like something out of science fiction.
The sedative began to take effect as evening fell over Manhattan, the city lights starting to twinkle beyond the laboratory windows. Through the observation glass, Jay could see everyone gathered—Domino with her arms crossed, Rogue standing slightly apart, the Fantastic Four and Hank clustered around Reed's control station.
"Beginning final countdown," Reed announced, his voice carrying through the intercom system. "All systems are green across the board. Initiating cosmic ray sequence in thirty seconds."
Beast's voice joined Reed's over the speakers. "Radiation levels are within acceptable parameters. Biological monitoring systems are active and functioning normally."
Jay's vision began to blur as the sedative took hold. The last thing he saw clearly was Domino pressing her palm against the observation window, her lips moving in what might have been a prayer or a curse.
"Ten seconds," Reed called out. "Five... four... three... two..."
The laboratory suddenly blazed with brilliant, otherworldly light as the cosmic ray projector activated. Energy crackled through the air, and Jay's unconscious form was bathed in forces that had created some of the world's greatest heroes.
That's when the explosions started.
The sound hit them first—rolling thunder that seemed to shake the building. Then came the screams from the street far below, followed by the distinctive whoosh of something massive moving through the air at impossible speeds.
Through the windows, they could see fires erupting across Manhattan. Something huge moved between the skyscrapers, its form blotting out streetlights and casting enormous shadows across the city.
The building shook again, more violently this time.
"Reed!" Sue shouted over the growing chaos. "Should we abort?"
Reed's hands flew over his controls, sweat beading on his forehead as alarms began blaring throughout the lab. Jay's unconscious form continued to be bathed in cosmic energy, the enhancement process reaching its critical phase.
"Yes, we need to help the people!" Reed called back, his voice tight with decision. "Hank, Domino, Rogue—take care of Jay and don't start anything before things are stable!"
Another explosion rocked the building, closer this time. Whatever was attacking Manhattan was heading directly for them, and Jay was trapped in the middle of the most dangerous enhancement procedure ever attempted, completely helpless.
[A/N]: I write across multiple fandoms. Support my writing and get early access to 45+ chapters, exclusive content, and bonus material at my P@treon - Max_Striker.