The next day, Liam showed up to class like usual, his pace unhurried and his expression relaxed.
Most days at the academy followed a loose structure. Teachers would occasionally lecture about ability control or theory, but just as often, classes were left open. When instructors like Storm or others didn't show up, the students were free to move around and train on their own.
Today was one of those days.
Liam didn't mind. In fact, it worked perfectly for him.
His goal was simple—sign in with Rogue or Kitty. Either one would be valuable, and he was genuinely curious about what ability he might gain next.
But after scanning the classroom, he realized something was off.
They weren't there.
He frowned slightly, then turned to Clarice, who was sitting nearby.
"Where are they?"
Clarice hesitated for a moment before answering, her voice soft. "John took Rogue with him. Kitty went too."
Liam's expression sharpened just a little.
"What is he trying to pull now?" he muttered under his breath.
"Where did they go?" he asked.
"The grove near the training field," Clarice replied, pointing in that direction.
Without another word, Liam stood up and walked out of the classroom.
Clarice blinked, then quickly followed behind him.
…
It didn't take long for them to reach the grove.
As expected, all three were already there.
John stood in front of Rogue, his expression unusually intense, his voice carrying a strange mix of urgency and stubbornness.
"Mary, just listen to me. I like you. Don't stick with that Liam guy. He's nothing but someone who relies on cheap tricks."
Rogue's expression hardened instantly, irritation flashing in her eyes.
"John, shut up. You started that fight, and you got what you deserved. And for the record, I don't like you."
Kitty, standing off to the side, sighed and shook her head.
"You should take that back," she said calmly. "Liam doesn't need cheap tricks. He only needs one finger to beat you."
That only made things worse.
John's face darkened, anger bubbling up as his pride took another hit.
"That guy just awakened his ability," he snapped. "If he hadn't caught me off guard, there's no way I'd have been hurt."
He had completely convinced himself of that version of events.
"Really?"
A voice cut in from behind.
Liam stepped into the clearing, a faint smirk on his face as he shook his head slightly.
Honestly, he didn't quite understand it.
Why were people so drawn to Rogue? Both John and Bobby had shown interest, practically competing over her.
Did they not understand her ability?
Skin contact meant energy absorption. At worst, it could drain someone completely. Not everyone had the kind of resilience someone like Wolverine possessed.
So what was the point?
Sure, Rogue was attractive. From his perspective, she definitely had her charm. But what good was it if you couldn't even touch her?
If anything, someone like Clarice made far more sense.
"Weiss!"
Rogue and Kitty both looked relieved when they saw him, their earlier tension easing slightly.
John, on the other hand, glared.
"If you've got the guts, fight me again," he said coldly. "If you lose, stay away from Mary. What do you say?"
Liam folded his arms, amused.
"Sure. And if you lose?"
John hesitated for a fraction of a second before forcing himself to speak.
"If I lose, I'll—"
"If you lose," Liam cut in smoothly, "you call me boss from now on. Every time you see me."
John's jaw clenched, his pride clearly resisting.
"…Fine. If I lose, I'll accept you as my boss."
"Good."
Liam turned without another word.
"Come on."
This time, he wasn't about to fight privately again. Getting punished once was enough.
They needed a teacher present.
…
By the time they headed toward Storm's office, word had already started spreading.
"Hey, did you hear? John's going to fight Liam again!"
"What? He still dares to challenge him?"
"I'm telling you, he's going to get wrecked. Didn't you see what happened to Bobby?"
"Let's go watch before we miss it!"
Students who had been bored out of their minds suddenly found something far more interesting.
Within minutes, a small crowd had gathered and began following them.
…
Inside Storm's office, the atmosphere was noticeably tense.
"You want to fight again?" Storm asked, pressing a hand to her temple as if already feeling a headache coming on.
"It's just a friendly spar," Liam said with an easy smile.
Storm studied him for a moment, then let out a quiet breath.
"…Wait here."
She stepped aside and contacted Professor X.
After a brief explanation, the answer came quickly.
Approval.
"Alright," Storm said as she returned. "The professor has agreed. Come with me."
She led them to one of the academy's training rooms, designed specifically for controlled combat practice.
By the time they arrived, a number of students had already gathered, filling the edges of the room with quiet anticipation.
Storm didn't bother sending them away.
"Fine. You'll fight here," she said firmly. "But keep it under control. Especially you, Liam."
Her gaze lingered on him.
After observing his previous fights, she knew exactly how overwhelming his ability was. John's fire wouldn't pose any real threat to him.
"Don't worry," Liam replied, nodding slightly.
Across from him, John's expression was far from pleasant. Storm's tone alone made it clear she had little confidence in him, and that only made his mood worse.
"Come on, Weiss!"
Rogue, Kitty, and Clarice stood off to the side, cheering him on without hesitation.
Around them, the rest of the students watched closely, eager to see how this would play out.
Storm raised a hand slightly.
"Begin."
The moment she gave the signal, John moved.
He pulled a lighter from his pocket, flipping it open with practiced ease as he spun it between his fingers. The small flame flickered to life, dancing at the tip.
Then, under his control, it surged.
The tiny spark expanded instantly, swelling into blazing fireballs that roared forward, heat distorting the air as they rushed straight toward Liam.