"So… it was Chris Bradley."
Leon paused, eyes narrowing slightly as the name clicked into place.
Chris Bradley—an old war buddy of Logan.
Back in the day, he'd been part of William Stryker's black-ops unit, alongside Sabretooth, Ghost, Blob… and Wolverine himself.
The kind of team that handled missions no one else could—and no one else should.
But just like Logan, Bradley had eventually walked away.
No one knew why.
After that, he vanished… only to resurface years later, hiding in some rundown amusement park, using his powers for cheap tricks and small-time scams.
A pathetic ending for someone who once stood among monsters.
And if Leon remembered correctly…
Sabretooth would find him.
And kill him.
"…So this mission is to recruit him?" Leon muttered under his breath.
It didn't make much sense.
Bradley's ability—electricity manipulation—sounded impressive on paper, but in reality?
Barely enough to keep a light bulb glowing without a power source.
At best, he could charge dead equipment.
Not exactly combat material.
"Leon. Is something wrong?"
Erik's voice pulled him out of his thoughts.
Leon glanced up, then shook his head.
"No. Just thinking."
Erik studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"Good. Get ready. We leave in thirty minutes."
With that, he turned and walked out of Charles Xavier's office.
Leon stood up as well. "I'll head back too."
"Leon."
Charles' voice stopped him just as he reached the door.
Leon turned slightly.
After a brief pause, Charles spoke with a faint smile.
"After everything we discussed… aren't you at least curious? About the enemy we're facing?"
Leon met his gaze.
Behind those calm eyes, Charles was observing—probing.
As a telepath, very few people were truly opaque to him.
Even without actively reading minds, he could always sense something.
Emotions. Intentions. Fragments of thought.
But Leon?
Nothing.
A complete void.
It was… unsettling.
"…When the time comes, I'll know," Leon replied casually.
Then he walked out.
Charles watched the door close, letting out a quiet sigh.
"For someone so young… he's far too composed."
With Sebastian Shaw becoming more active—and protected by his own telepath—Charles was running out of options.
Cerebro was useless.
The CIA was slow.
And time was slipping away.
"…Perhaps I can rely on him."
—
Back at the apartment—
"Hey, Leon!"
A few mutants lounging around the common area looked up, some playing cards, others just killing time.
"Leon, what did Erik want?" asked Mystique, tossing a card onto the table and glancing at him.
Leon leaned against the wall casually.
"Just a mission. We're picking someone up."
"Oh? A new mutant?" someone perked up.
"Seriously? Another teammate?"
Excitement spread almost instantly.
Among mutants, that sense of belonging ran deep. Finding one of their own always felt… different.
Like discovering you weren't alone in the world.
"Who is it?" another asked eagerly.
Leon shrugged. "You'll see soon enough."
A tattooed girl scoffed lightly, arms crossed.
"Why did you get picked?"
There was a hint of jealousy in her tone.
"You Joined just 3 days ago."
Leon smirked faintly.
"Maybe Erik just needed someone to drive."
A few chuckles broke out, easing the tension.
Without saying more, Leon turned and headed to his room.
—
A while later…
Leon stepped out, ready to leave.
As he passed by Mystique, he slowed.
Leaning slightly closer, his voice dropped just enough for only her to hear—
"…Wait for me when I get back."
Mystique froze.
A faint blush crept across her face as she turned to look at him.
"What is he planning…?" she wondered.
Leon simply smiled and walked away.
—
Rendezvous point.
"Erik."
"Leon."
No unnecessary words.
They got into the car and drove off.
For a while, silence filled the space between them.
Then—
"Leon," Erik spoke, eyes still on the road, "can I ask you something?"
"Go ahead."
A brief pause.
"…Do you think humans and mutants can truly coexist?"
Straight to the point.
Leon leaned back slightly, thinking.
"Charles believes they can."
"And you?"
Leon exhaled softly.
"…I don't know."
Erik glanced at him.
Leon continued, voice calm but grounded—
"Humans already struggle to accept differences among themselves. Race, culture, beliefs…"
He looked out the window.
"…If they can't even fully accept their own kind, accepting mutants won't be easy."
A short silence followed.
"People always find something to divide themselves over," Leon added quietly.
Erik didn't respond immediately.
"…Why do you ask?" Leon finally said.
Erik's lips curved faintly.
"Just making conversation."
Leon didn't buy it.
But he didn't push either.
—
Springfield, Ohio.
A brightly lit amusement park buzzed with life—laughter, music, flashing lights.
At a small booth tucked between rides—
Chris Bradley lounged lazily in his chair, looking half-asleep.
"Hey, how does this work?"
A young couple approached.
The girl pointed excitedly at a glowing light bulb sitting on the counter.
Bradley cracked one eye open.
"Simple," he said lazily. "Turn off the light, you win a prize. One dollar—two tries."
The girl paid immediately.
Click.
She flipped the switch.
The light stayed on.
"…Okay, that's weird."
She unplugged the power cord.
Still glowing.
Now her expression shifted from excitement to unease.
"Try taking it out," her boyfriend suggested.
He twisted the bulb loose—
And yet…
It still glowed in his hand.
"…What the hell?"
"Freak," the guy muttered under his breath, grabbing the girl's hand as they quickly backed away.
Bradley smirked faintly, not even bothering to sit up.
From within the crowd—
A pair of eyes locked onto him.
"Looks like our little lightning boy's been keeping busy," said Sabretooth, a feral grin spreading across his face.
Beside him, Agent Zero remained silent.
Without waiting, Sabretooth stepped forward—
Each stride slow.
Deliberate.
Predatory.
And this time.
There would be no escape.
To be continued...
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