Chapitre 78: Worldwide Influence

A.N.: Hello there.

First of all, you guys have no idea how happy I was reading everyone's comments about my return. It really touched my heart.

I should've returned earlier, but a fun fact... I was kinda waiting for the new phase of the MCU to drop to have more source material and let's say that I was incredibly disappointed!

They fucked up, man... Now like Miles once said "Imma gonna do my own thing"

Thanks too to the people supporting me in the P.a.t.r.e.o.n, it really gives a boost of motivation.

Ah yes, just remembering that I will try to post weekly, but with smaller chapters. It will go like that unless some unforeseen circumstances happen.

If anyone wants to support me or read chapters ahead... patreon . com / Evans 269 (without the spaces)

I also noticed that many people liked my other fic(Potential Man), good to know that was not a fluke. Maybe I should post the others.

Now, enjoy~

...

Helena P.O.V.

'...as much Eidolon's efforts in treating kids in hospitals are proving themselves 100% effective, his actions divide opinions 50/50 in the public.' The reporter continues her nonsense on the TV.

Hector's decision to step up and heal children unsurprisingly received a lot of positive responses, until not. At some point "thank yous" become "why". "Why don't you save the adults too?", "Why don't you heal the other diseases?", "Why didn't you do it at that hospital?", "Why...", "Why...", "Why...".

My eyes don't leave the TV when the image changes and shows a mother(probably) crying.

'...I'm not trying to take away the miracle that he created...' The woman says between sobs, ready to take away the miracle that he created '...but if I could I would like to ask him... How does he choose... How does he choose who is saved... and... and why my little girl... Why he didn't choose my little girl?!' She ends in tears, showing the Picture of the little girl in question

"..." The mood is heavy, I'm afraid of looking, but I need to see... I need to see what kind of face Hector is making right now. Wait... Why I am hesitating? Am I afraid of seeing him hurt?

I side glances, seeing Hector sitting in his customary chair, Shego in his lap acting like some sort of comfort girlfriend, and Hector...

"..." He is calm, and no, I don't he has that calm anger. I know him better now... He is calm-calm. Calm aloof.

He observes the happenings on the TV with a calm, but unblinking expression, reaches for his drink, and acts like what is happening has nothing to do with him.

"..." Should I ask? Fuck it, he always answers what I ask "So... You look surprisingly calm about this whole ordeal..." I comment. As expected, he turns to me and goes to answer. Even without me saying the question, he knows what I am asking.

"I can't change it now, I was prepared for this and... I'm surprisingly used to this." He answers with a casual shrug.

I asked for an answer and gave me three.

I can understand the first two, but when he gets used to the whole world hating on him?

"During my first travel, I kinda become the enemy of the world..." He chuckles with a fond smile even if it doesn't go well with what he is talking about. Wait a minute, is he reading my mind? No. But damn him and his capability to read people "In the beginning was hard. So hard, that I surprised myself with how much I was caring."

He continues "I thought that I was above that. 'Words can't hit me' type of thing, but there's a certain power in the negativity of so many people, you know? I even second-guessed myself if I was doing the right thing, it was a constant pendulum-like process where I was swayed by people's opinions and my own. The process ended up strengthening my Will."

"..."

"Now I'm used to it. I will not close my eyes or ignore it as many would advise. I take their views and internally confront them with my own, and in the end, I conclude that their opinions can't shake my resolve. I'm not wrong. And no... That's not me being self-centered or arrogant. I am really not wrong on this." His unblinking eyes continue to stare hardly at the screen

"Absolutely! You're saving people! They are conveniently forgetting or ignoring that if you did nothing, more people would die. Bunch of ungrateful entitled son of bitches." Shego comes in his defense, caressing his hair like a mother spoiling her child.

Even though she is weird, I can't argue against her argument but it's not like I can't understand the feelings of the people that Hector didn't save either.

"Feelings are irrational..." Hector exteriorizes my thoughts "They made peace that reality is cruel, that their loved ones will die and this is simply the way of the world... Suddenly a new light shines in the Horizon, a way out... And they are not happy anymore with that peace. It's understandable that they are angry. I can accept their irrational hate. I'm prepared for that too." He continues very maturely, his face still full of steeled resolve

"..." Damn, this guy... Is he really a 16-year-old? "You're kinda cool, Hector." I decided to say, a little playful smile on my face

He turns to me, and finally, his calm smile returns to substitute his stony expression. I am glad I said that then.

"Thanks, I try." He comments cheekily. In a little more light-hearted way he continues "And again, I was prepared to all this... And I'm not only talking about the mental strain that this whole situation would bring... Huhu~" He chuckles while hugging Shego to return her affections.

"What do you mean?" I knew it. This guy never makes a move before thinking many steps ahead.

"Well..." He trails off, likely to tease me "As much all of this was born from my purest intentions to help people, you can't blame me for using the opportunity to proceed with my agenda."

He then points to the TV, which is still showing people complaining about Eidolon not going there or there.

"For example, a good chunk of these people are paid actors..." He says with amusement in his eyes

"...for real?"

"Yep." He says popping the 'p'

"So you're gonna unmask the motherfuckas?" Shego asks, finding the whole situation more fun now

"Why now? Heh~ Let them talk more, let more of them appear, let more people say bad things about me... When the truth comes out the guilt of the masses by badmouthing a good guy like Eidolon will be unbearable, I bet." He chuckles again "So unbearable, that next time they will give him the benefit of the doubt even though all the media is against him... Even though maybe he really did something bad..."

"..." Okay... Is this guy good or bad?

"Your potential is wasted in being a hero. Become an evil mastermind instead..." Shego jokes... I think?

"Cortana already has all the files and receipts of the people behind this smearing campaign, just let them give us more material. Not only that, as I'm acting as Eidolon, I make sure to act like my healing powers are limited in some way, even creating another persona to take more the blunt of this whole 'Jesus spectacle'."

"The Panacea thing?" Shego asks

Like in cue, the TV shows what we are talking about.

After a certain point, Eidolon started appearing in the hospitals with a helper in tow. A smaller figure is covered from head to toe in white robes, even the face is covered by the hood, and some red crosses are highlighted through it.

In some videos was possible to see Eidolon instructing the smaller figure on how to heal people.

"It was a duplicate with different proportions." Hector says. I was in doubt if was a new companion or not. "People would guess that someone with such a heavily medical thematic persona is a better healer than Eidolon, and he is teaching her the ropes so that she can take from here."

Yes, exactly. This is exactly what people are saying.

"People are so hung up on the 'no one is perfect' teaching, that their mind can't come up with the idea that Eidolon is good at everything. I even acted like is strenuous for me to heal people." Hector explains while sipping from his drink

"So, this Panacea person that doesn't even exist will eventually become the target of messianic adoration and devilish criticism." Isabela, who just entered the room comments, at the same time that she brings some snacks to us.

"Exactly. Slowly people will go back to picture Eidolon as the guy who punches villains and saves people from buildings on fire. It's association, a normal human brain's way of perceiving the world and learning." He says while thanking Isabella with a smile

After eating some snacks he continues "There's a bunch of other long-term benefits like people starting mistrusting media and government, inspiring people and etc. Ah! I even gave the first step in a certain project..."

....

Far away, in a dangerous part of London.

A homeless man hyperventilates even though the night is cold, it doesn't need to be a doctor to guess that he is sick.

"Oh my~ You appear to be suffering, my good sir." Suddenly the homeless feels like the night gets a tad darker.

Looking up he understands that the night didn't grow darker, but a huge man blocked the light from the lamp post.

It's a ridiculously tall and lanky man, over two meters in height, wearing all black and a top hat, carrying a cane in his glove-covered hand. The more striking feature is the black crow-like mask on his face. People can recognize the style, it's a plague doctor mask.

The homeless man whimpers in fright, mustering all his strength to crawl away backward.

"Oh, a little rude but not understandable. My appearance does not make a good first impression, right? Haha~" The tall plague doctor laughs good-naturedly even though he looks really scary "Fret not, my good man. I'm a gentleman on a mission, the fact that you started on bad terms will not deter me."

Finishing speaking, the plague doctor's hand reaches for the homeless man making him burst into a cloud of gore... before the homeless man is reassembled again.

Completely fine. The process was so fast and painless that it made the homeless man think that he was imagining things. He checks his body with his hand, his heatly hands that now move without problems... He is healthy now.

"For so long I have hidden myself because of this unsightly appearance and equally unsightly power... But seeing some youngsters so eager to change the world made these old bonés incapable of staying still... I will do the little that I can." The plague doctor says equally to himself and to the homeless man "Have a good night, sir." He tips his hat to the still-shocked patient before walking away in the darkness, seemingly merging with it.

He never waited for the "thank you".

....

"You created another persona?" I ask in a little surprise, he always goes a step beyond.

"A plague doctor, really?" Shego asks in disbelief

Hector laughs "It needs to look scary and have a villain-like power... I want people to start accepting that a person's character is more important than their appearance or their potential to harm."

"So you created the Plague Doctor, to act like he was inspired by Eidolon's actions. At the same time that reinforces that a positive attitude can bring rewards to the normal people, and also shows that is not that scary to come out of hiding to the metas." Isabella analyzes. Like Shego, I sometimes forget she is smart.

"Right again, Isabella. The first step is always the most scary, so why shouldn't I take it too?"

"Pfft. Not only you're inspiring but you're faking the inspired people. That's so scummy." Shego laughs.

Hector laughs with her "It's to give them the courage. Someone needs to take the risks... I can only imagine how hard was for the first black person to participate in 'white places' till it became normal. I want a world where you can see a person with 5 meters and another that is pink from head to toe in the street and not even bat an eye because is normal. If I can inspire some metas to use their abilities to help a little in their local communities, maybe floating to save a cat from a tree, swimming to help some fisherman, AND making the people accept it like normal... I will use any underhanded tactic that I can!" He finishes with that same resolve again. "And of course, Eidolon will be there to help, to mediate, to make it work!"

"..." This guy... "You're cool, Hector." I say again, the timing making a good joke.

He laughs loudly this time "Thanks, I try."

....

Saeko P.O.V.

Keeping my breath steady, I hit the hot metal in a good rhythm, ignoring the heat and concentrating on the task at hand.

Who would've thought that I would take blacksmithing as a hobby? But here we are... May I should've seen this coming, liking swords is related to like swordsmanship, and blacksmithing is simply a step away from that.

The weirdness must come from my still lingering "normal sensibilities" as Hector calls it. Before I would not have imagined holding a 20 kg hammer in one and hand and hitting a piece of hot metal hundreds of times in a minute.

And again... here we are.

That grandfather of Hiyori-san in the World of Pirates was a blacksmith, so Hector made him teach me a little.

Talking about Hector... Mid-swing I glance at my side only to see he watching me like someone would watch a movie. Lying on his side, not even blinking. He notices my eyes and he smiles at me.

"..." I love that man.

Even though he is strange... He arrived, saw me working on the forge, and said "Wrong! You should cover your breasts with bandages!" and made me change my forging outfit. "I don't make the rules..." He said

And that's why I'm here with my bosom wrapped in bandages, a high ponytail, wooden antique sandals, and loose pants.

Well, the heat doesn't bother me, and being on the receiving end of his appreciative gaze is pleasant enough.

Finally, I go quenching the future blade in my hand.

*Fsssssssh*

"Looks good... No cracks, the for mis good too." Hector suddenly appears at my side and gives his Opinion "Maybe you have a hidden talent on this..."

"And to think I almost choose cooking as a hobby." My joke makes him smiles

"I bet your cooking would be equally good."

"Hmpf, you're simply patronizing me."

"It's a boyfriend's job, and it doesn't mean I'm lying. You know that I'm an honest man." The quirk of his lips makes me laugh.

"Honest in some things, not so much in others..." I roll my eyes

"I'm honest about you." And he aggressively grabs me by my waist, pulling me closer and initiating a deep kiss.

We are too strong to care about safety protocols here, and... too "hungry" for care anyway.

As expected, and as welcomed, his hands travel through my back, not caring about the sweat, unwrapping the bandages... Ah, now I understand. Ufufu~

But he doesn't take it off completely, he lets the bandages loose around me, showing a little but not everything... Hector likes this style, he sometimes never takes my clothes completely, maybe is a fetish.

We continue this make-out section, not caring about the surroundings, mostly me because I know Hector can take care of it. His hands slowly travel lower, grabbing my butt and pulling me even closer, closer enough that I can feel the shape of his body clearly, and I bet he can feel mine now.

I can also feel a certain part of his showing itself to "play"~ Fufu.

He suddenly stops the kiss, I would be at a loss if not for the loving way he looks at me. He passes his hand through the side of my face, admiring me with a warm smile.

"You know, Saeko? Are you feeling lonely here?" He suddenly asks while fixing some strands of hair

"Lonely?"

"Yeah, in my quest to be a good boyfriend, I was pondering... I am afraid if I am letting you here alone, and only coming here to have intimacy... I hope that I'm not giving you the wrong impression." His face gets a little unsure, maybe even sad.

"No! Obviously not, we talk every day and when you come here we always do a lot of other things... Intimacy is just a bonus." Then I grab him strongly "A bonus that I enjoy very much~"

"Heh~ I enjoy it a lot too." He smiles while feeling my butt "I just want you to know, that if you want to live with us, you can. And you can visit at any time, ANYTIME, call me to hang out or ask Isabela to teleport you. It will not be a problem, okay? Don't think that you're being a burden or anything." He assures me with a hug

"I will remember it." I nod

"Good, it's just that I remembered..." He pauses his words while still caressing my face "...when my parents died I was alone."

I hug him tighter, to him know that I'm here.

"That night I discovered how lonely an empty house is... There are no lights except the ones that you turned on yourself. You only notice how silent a house is when that background noise that you're used to disappears... The steps, the doors opening, faucets, TV..."

"..." I know what he is talking about. I can't deny that I felt the same sometimes, in this huge traditional home.

After a long pause where we just enjoy each other company, he speaks again.

"Do you believe that in the beginning, I didn't like very much a certain aspect of my power... Exactly the part where I can bring people to me, bring you all." He chuckles in a self-deprecating way "How foolish I was... I can't even imagine my life without you all anymore." He smiles lovingly at me and pulls me in a big comforting hug.

"..." I should be enjoying the hug, but I can only think about one thing...

I can only imagine Hector all alone.

Images flashes in my mind. Him, sitting in his usual chair in the living room... But the lights are down.

He sits all alone in the dark, there's no Shego on his lap, or Cathulhu, or Isabella, or Helena.

The lights are down because he is alone and he doesn't need lights to see in the dark, I can imagine him acting that way.

He sits all alone, in his Eidolon body suit, because he is more Eidolon than Hector at this point. No one can relate with him and he needs no one.

He stays there, looking at the empty space with a stony expression, because there's no reason to laugh. He stays in silence because there's no one to talk to.

All alone in an empty, silent, and dark house.

My chest tightens at the image, and I hug him tighter in response

"I'm so glad that I'm here with you, Hector." I say, trying to convey all my love through these words and hug.

"I'm the one that is thankful, Saeko." He hugs me back

....

Third Person P.OV., X-men Mansion

Jean reads a book on the Garden of the mansion, surrounded by some friends. The choice of place to hang out was owed to the fact that today is an important day.

Some time ago, Eidolon asked Professor Xavier to arrange a meeting with Magneto, so that the three spearheads of the Meta question can discuss. The first face-to-face meeting between them...

And the day is today.

"Bunch of bastards..." Kitty huffs while scrolling through her phone "Isn't like obvious?? Eidolon is saving people! Not everyone that dies is his fault!!!" She exclaims in indignation

"Yeah, he is not their slave." Rogue agrees

"I would not be surprised, and I would not even blame him if he stopped." Jubilee sighs "He doesn't deserve this..."

Jean sighs too "He is simply too good... He set the bar too high, so people are expecting too much of him."

Illyana opens her mouth to give her piece "He should have done nothing then, if this is the retribution."

"But that would not be Eidolon! Eidolon doesn't give up!" Kitty says with resolution, pumping her fist in the air

Rogue smiles at her friend's antics "I'm not gonna lie, a part of me would like to see him simply stop, you know? 'You guys don't like me? Okay then' and then disappearing."

"Saaaaaaame! I would feel so vindictive!" Jubilee exclaims "Am I a bad person?"

"I think that is a very normal reaction..." Jean laughs. She can't deny that she thought the same sometimes. "But I don't think we need to worry, he must have a plan... He is a smart guy, so he should've known how this would go and did all the same." She comments

"Makes sense." Jubilee agrees "What do you think, Rogue? You're the one that had Eidolon inside you here. Hehe." She teases the gothic mutant with a smug smile

"Shut up..." Rogue pouts embarassedly before coughing and burying any embarrassment and starts talking "And to answer your question... I can tell he is the cautious type that thinks a lot. So yeah, Jean should be right and he knew that people would act this way, and has a plan."

"But what type of plan involves you being hated by half of the world?" Kitty wonders

"The type that puts him on the forefront of any criticism that our race can receive..." Jean guesses "Ororo and Dr. Hank commented about this, right? Eidolon went public so that he could change people's views... So whatever hates they have for the metas, that are previously without direction, now found an outlet on Eidolon."

"I'm not understanding... "Jubilee frowns "But he was already doing that by being a hero, healing kids just exacerbated it."

"He should have stuck with being a hero and punching people." Illyana says again

"Oh!" Kitty realizes "The metas that can do a lot for the humanity!"

"It's what I think too." Jean nods

"?" Jubilees still hadn't cached up

"He is taking the criticism for all the metas that could make the world better but does nothing." Kitty explains in a loud voice

"Oooh~" Jubille finally understands "But we do nothing because they don't let us!"

"People are irrational..." Jean sighs again

"So they hate us if we appear and hate us if we don't appear... Sounds legit." Rogue huffs and rolls her eyes

"Sounds entitled." Illyana corrects.

"No one said that is not complicated." Jean laughs mirthless

"Argh, the more I think about it, the more it sounds hopeless!" Kitty falls back on her seat

"That's why Eidolon is cool." Illyana makes a rare show of admiration for someone "I would not put that much effort in other people, especially the ones that hate me."

They all nod in different levels of agreement.

The casual talk continues a little more before they finally hear a thunderous sound in the sky, of something breaking the sound barrier.

He can teleport, but this way he can warn that he arrived... Eidolon lands on the Garden in a superhero landing.

Then he straightens himself, at his full 6'4", white hair slicked back in a man bun, a half mask covering the lower half of his face, and a mantle billowing in the wind.

After that, he raises his arm while holding his mantle, and from there, like a portal, two women and a dog get out.

Shego looks around, half interested and half not giving a fuck while Cassandra stops Rover from running around.

"Oh, hello girls..." Eidolon greets with his deep voice the incoming residents of the X-mansion "How are yo- eh?"

To his surprise when they approach Kitty goes a step further and hugs his torso, her head only reaching his chest.

"..." Everyone looks at her strangely, Shego in particular gives her a pointed look.

"There, there~ These people don't know what they say, Eidolon. You're a good guy." Kitty comforts him with little taps on his back.

Eidolon can't help but find it funny and cute how she is practically buried in his mantle, even the now-alive mantle is hugging her back a little.

"Thank you, but I'm good, I was prepared for the hate." Eidolon says warmly, giving Kitty some taps back on her shoulder "Haters are everywhere, no good comes from listening to them, but is nice to have one positive reaction. Thank you again."

"Anytime. You did nothing wrong." She reinforces, not letting him go.

But he does not care too much, one of his talents is rolling with the absurd situation, so with Kitty still latched on him he greets the other girls, and the other people from the X-mansion are approaching.

"Oh my god, it's Lady Jade!" Kitty exclaims, still attached to Eidolon "I am a fan!"

"Really? First time meeting one..." Shego smiles strangely '...that is glued in my man'.

"Lady Jade doesn't make public appearances like I do, mostly helping to deal with criminals from the underworld." Eidolon explains.

Shego mostly acts like a hero with Helena, you will not find her in the street and have the opportunity to ask for an autograph.

"Hi, Shadow! What's with the dog?" Kitty finally notices Rover "He looks cool!" Her eyes shine, finally releasing Eidolon from the hug.

"Does he bite?" Jean raises a hand at Rover, like hesitating to touch him

"No, but releases concentrated blasts of energy." Eidolon says with mirth

"..." They don't know if he is joking or not... No, he is obviously not joking.

"Nah, I'm kidding. Of course, he bites too." He says dismissively "But only enemies."

Some give nervous laughs to the menacing dog, but Cassandra reassures them with a "Good boy" and some pats.

Professor Xavier finally rolls at them "Hello, Eidolon. I hope we have a fruitful discussion today." He greets amicable

"I guess Magneto still hasn't appeared." Eidolon comments with amusement

"I told you we should have waited a little more." Lady Jade huffs

"Heh~ It's just a power play. I wait, he waits, everyone waits and the meetings don't happen." The hero says diplomatically with a shrug "Let's concede on that, let the guy arrive in fanfare. I bet he enjoys arriving flying in a saucer, and hovering slowly while looking down on us." He says to laughs "I even practised some catchphrases to the moment."

As was scripted, they heard a sound coming from above. Looking up they see the man himself arriving with two of his people, Sabertooth and an unknown guy with a punchable face.

The international terrorist is garbed in his full glory of red and purple, a helmet obscuring his features, but is possible to see his eyes looking down on them while he hovers to the ground slowly.

"Told you..." Eidolon whispers at them, making them laugh a little, Taking away the pressure of the man arrival "Time to my catchphrase..."

Stepping forward Eidolon says in a strong voice that reverberates all over the place.

"Our long waiting meeting has come at last..." Minus one of his list of references to make, from Darth Vader nonetheless 'One day I will have the chance to say: I'm surrounded by fear and dead men'.

"Nice execution, impactful... 9/10." Kitty whispers to him while he discreetly gives her a thumbs up.

.....

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Chapitre 79: Clash of Ideals

"A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shades they shall never sit."

- Greek Proverb

........

"Eidolon, it's a pleasure to finally meet you." A surprisingly aged voice, coming from a muscular build, resonates from Magneto's helmet.

'Hm, no dick-measuring contest? Maybe this could go well...' Eidolon thinks, surprised by the amicably in Magneto's tone "Likewise."

'Or maybe not...' The hero sighs internally while giving a side glance to Sabretooth while the trio from the Brotherhood lands. The feral meta is practically growling at Wolverine.

"Well, why don't we all enter to move this talk to a more comfortable setting?" The even diplomatic Xavier says

"I wouldn't mind if we stayed in the garden..." Eidolon gesticulates "Not that I wanted it to happen, but statically meeting like these ends up with some... damage to the surroundings." He says, at the same time a warning and a threat.

"...what do you think, Erik?" The Professor turns to his old friend

"Fresh air would be welcomed, but we can be eavesdropped."

"Don't worry, I'm taking care of it... No one unwanted will hear or see us." Eidolon assures them

"Well, then let's go... I just know the perfect spot." Xavier smiles lightly

...

Now they are in a nice place, in a circular space with stone tables and chairs, surrounded by a wall of grass and flowers, under the shade of some trees and close enough to the lake, allowing a refreshing breeze to hit them.

The three groups sit facing each other, on Xavier's side, beyond him, Ororo, Logan, and Dr. McCoy, and also the main group of the X-men like Cyclops, Jean, Kitty, Nightcrawler, Iceman, Jubilee, Rogue, Spyke, etc. The others like Mercury and Dust, who are a little younger and part of the X-men secondary team, are in the mansion with the children.

After they all sit, Eidolon decides to take back some initiative from Magneto's late arrival show.

He glances at the other subordinate of Magneto, Fabian Cortez, a meta trump that has the power to augment other people's abilities. An interesting ability that would make Eidolon eager to copy... If he was really there.

"I prefer you blue." Eidolon comments lightly while eyeing the male meta.

"..." Cortez looks blankly at him for some time before smiling almost sheepishly, a cute-like smile that doesn't match the man's features, but those features change in a ripple immediately after... Revealing Mystique.

The reveal, and the fact Eidolon saw right through it, raises some eyebrows from both groups.

"Oh, you like blue? And what about green?" Mystique smiles sultrily before changing again, this time to Shego.

"Girl, do you want me to melt your face?" Lady Jade starts threatening immediately.

But Eidolon stops her with a raise of his hand, Shego calms down instantly and simply leans on his back, while he remains unbothered.

"As much I am a defender of the acceptance of our powers and free use of them, I also believe that we should use them responsibly. Like my late mother would say... 'Your rights end where the other starts'." Eidolon lectures lightly, almost amicably. Then the air shifts and his tone of voice becomes serious "Said that... If you shapeshift in one of mine again... I will destroy your metagene." He glares, his eyes glowing red.

His whole demeanor changed the place's mood, turning it heavy and putting pressure even on the ones that he did not address directly.

And to add salt to the injury, with his glare, Mystique starts to change... Her Lady Jade appearance disappears in another ripple, but not to reveal her usual blue skin, red hair, and yellow eyes. No, it revealed pale skin, black hair, and blue eyes... Her normal-normal self.

"...!" She looks at her hand with wide eyes, and people around do the same, she tries flexing her powers again, attempting to change back but it proves futile.

"I hope this will not happen again." Eidolon says and with that the pressure evaporates and Mystique ripples back to her blue self.

"..." After checking herself, she looked at him in outrage and even a little fear.

To all those metas that love being above the rules of the normal world with their powers, what can be scarier than losing the said powers?

Eidolon metaphorically put his big dick on the table in this dick-measurement contest, and no one can even get close. To normal humans, metas are scary, but Eidolon can put fear even in the metas, like he is at the top of the food chain.

The predator of them all.

After all his goody-two-shoes deeds and acts that he has been doing lately, he needs to remember them that he has this side too.

Shego finds it a little hot, even leaning on him more.

*Pah* "Well, a rocky start... But I hope this will not affect the rest of the talk." The hero suddenly goes back to an amicable way of talking like nothing happened, clapping once to wake everyone of their instinctive fear.

"*Ahem* We should go on... This is a rare opportunity to have a civilized talk between us." Xavier tries to clear the air

"Indeed." Magneto agrees "I'm very curious to know about what Eidolon to talk with me."

'And you threw the ball at me, acting like you're giving me permission to speak like this wouldn't be the natural progression of the talk... Power plays are so annoying.' Hector sighs in his mind while keeping a calm face 'But better than punching each other in the face, I guess...'

"I'm not even sure from where to start, there's so many things we can talk about..." The hero starts, acting more casual, like this is a bar talk "Each of our three groups has different takes on how to tackle the Meta issue, morality would divide us in Good, Evil and Neutral... But let's forget these labels for now." He gives each of the leaders a look.

"..."

"... In the end, we want the betterment of the lives of the metas, and as such let's talk today about this without seeing each other as enemies, but as people from the same side with different views." Eidolon continues "I have many proposals, that I would gladly hear your insights, and I would like to hear your own and ideals and equally talk about them. But my first proposal is... I would really appreciate it if you two groups stopped once and for all to fight. And to be fair, seeing that the Brotherhood is the principal instigator of the majority of the fights between them and the X-men. I would like to ask Magneto to cease any attempts that can be considered... radical."

"..."

It takes some seconds for his words to sink in. Then a tense silence ensues, to put it in context, the conflict between the X-men and the Brotherhood is almost a weekly occurrence on a minor scale. They obviously don't hate each other to the point of killing the other (with some exceptions), but asking for peace it's a sudden and big leap, a huge step to ask out of the blue.

Xavier talks first "That would be the most desirable situation."

Scott scoffs "If they stop committing crimes, maybe..."

"Then never." In a rare moment of agreeing with Scott, Logan huffs too. He is still glaring at Sabretooth. "They simply can't help themselves." He continues sarcastically

"Like you are any different, midget!" Sabretooth snarls "Tryng acting like a human, don't make you one. You're a monster like me!"

"Why don't ya go scratch a tree, pal? Or I can scratch ya." Logan is not one to back off.

The two brothers step forward while facing each other, increasing the tension of the situation.

*Crack* Like thunder Eidolon claps his hands again to bring order again.

"Let's try keeping things the closest to civil as possible." The hero says

"Things stopped being civil when he brought this rabid animal here." Logan does not stop

"Are you describing yourself?" Sabretooth growls, it appears that the two must feel each other blood every time they meet.

Eidolon audibly sighs, loudly enough to be heard "You should've kept this one at home..." He talks like a disappointed parent

"I can't come here without any protection, and we agreed to be two or three people, I am in my right." Magneto answers calmly

"Please... Sabretooth is simply a tool for powerplay." Eidolon rolls his eyes "You let him act disrespectful so that you don't need to do it yourself, and then you can lightly admonish him, without taking any blame. Making him play the bad guy, dragging Logan on this..." He exposes the ploy.

It's not like he is that different. Shego is here for exactly the same reason, she can talk without filter and her words can't be attributed to him, even if he thinks the same.

"Oh, so that's how is it..." Kitty slowly says in the realization

Even the act of exposing such a common ploy is also a kind of power play.

"C'mon, we are all busy people, let's stop being childish..." Eidolon takes control of the meeting again "Like I was saying Magneto, a good step to bring peace is if you people stop committing meaningless crimes."

"I have no sway over how my people act, I only protect them from the lesser." The Old Meta answers

"Protects them from the laws, you mean. If you're gonna get people under your wing, maybe you should provide to them properly so that they don't need to commit robberies and other felonies." Eidolon argues

"Is that why I am here? To be admonished like a parent in their kid's school?" Magneto harrumph "My people are not part of this particular school, I remember you all."

Xavier decided to talk "It's not like that, Erik. But you can't deny that you're being lax in your supervision of the younger ones of the Brotherhood... They don't go to school, or work... Do you really want them to be nothing more than criminals?" The man appears to know how to deal with his friend

"Obviously not, but is not their fault that they can't fit in this society." Magneto argues

"If they behave a little better..." Xavier tries to say

"Like your students that hid their gifts to fit in? Is that what you want? From them to 'play normal'? To be accepted by the people that hate them? They are not wrong in using their gifts! Society can't accommodate them, so obviously they need to do what they can." Magneto speaks with more fervor

Eidolon finally interjects "A crime is a crime, and I gave you a proposal, Magneto. If you try to change their demeanor, I would be glad to help you with what I can... I'm not here to preach to you from a morally high position. I asked for this meeting so that we can talk about our views, understand, and even help each other."

"I am also available to help as much as I could, Erik. But the youngsters in their formative years should have more options..." The Professor says

Then Eidolon speaks "Also... I hope this doesn't sound like a threat but... I'm a hero." He says gravely "If they commit crimes, it will not be only against the X-men that they will need to fight... I hope they're ready for that."

"..."

The little game of Cops&Robbers changed with the arrival of Eidolon. Any criminal act committed by the Brotherhood will not end without consequences like a cartoon that needs to maintain the status quo to the next episode.

Magneto finally speaks, distaste evident in his voice "You all really act like are the paragons of virtue and morality... I've taken the broken and rejected under my wing. Only I know how to deal with them, I accept their good and bad... I choose to stand by the side of my people, YOUR PEOPLE, over the side of the majority even if is a thorny path!"

This time is Lady Jade that scoffs, even laughing a little.

"Please Old Man, you take the broken to indoctrinate... let's be real here." Shego chuckles in amusement, mockery evident in her voice "You just let them run wild, because you really can't bother yourself to care. You're the enabler of spoiled and evil children, as bad as the one that you hate so much~"

She appears that be ready to say more, but Eidolon stops her with a look. See? Powerplay.

"As much as she spoke rudely, Lady Jade is not wrong." Eidolon comments "The people under you really have the track record as evil as the people that hurt the metas. It sounds a little hypocritical to demand something that we don't give, right?" He tries to sound reasonable

"What do my people do, if not in self-defense? Maybe not directly, but all of them have their own good reasons to act like they do..." Magneto defends himself

"Seriously?" Eidolon's voice sounds with genuine disbelief, then he points to Sabretooth "Isn't this the guy that kills innocent people every year at Logan's birthday?"

"..."

The man in question appears to have no remorse "Heh~, it's just a family tradition. To keep ourselves sharps, right little brother?" He comments with a big smirk

"I'm gonna show ya the tradition, startin' a new one with ya funeral." Logan growls, eyes full of anger.

The two are ready to throw hands again.

Eidolon audibly sighs in disappointment again, like a tired parent.

"Metas with healing factors are really fearless, huh?" He comments iddle "But immortality can be really painful, you know that?" A threat using veiled words

Not only that, he released a little of his will to intimidate the two, especially Sabretooth.

"..." After some hesitation, and a signal from Magneto and Xavier, the two finally disengage.

"It goes the same for you too, Sabretooth. You kill an innocent person again, and I will come for you." The hero says flatly "And this extends even for you Magneto. Be careful with whatever plot you have in the future... You can find me on the opposite side."

"Is that a threat?" Magneto narrows his eyes.

"Just stating a fact... A friendly advice even." Eidolon keeps his composure "I will not tell you not to do it, but keep in mind that if your plan hurts people... I will act. I hope that you will be prepared for the clash of ideals then."

"..."

The two stare at each other intensely. What plan can Magneto have that would not bring some collateral damage at least? Maybe they're destined to be enemies, is what the two are thinking.

"So you would stay in my way, even if plan to fight for our people?" magneto asks.

"If your plan is reasonable and does not hurt anyone, I would even help you." Eidolon answers "I'm the neutral party, not too radical and not too passive, it may look like I'm targeting you but the truth is that I can't let you tarnish the meta reputation even more."

"So you're worried about your image more than the future of our people..." Magneto accuses

"You talk like your plans would magically make the world a better place to the metas." Eidolon rolls his eyes "And unfortunately my image is still closely tied to the metas in general, we're slowly progressing and being accepted by the world. The problem is that one bad thing you do can put us many steps back... And that's why I can't allow it." He says with finality, that is non-negotiable.

"Hah, do you really believe that? That the world will accept us if you play the hero and save cats from trees?" Magnetos can't help but laugh

"One thousand and ninety-six." Eidolon suddenly says "Do you know what this number means?"

"..." It's obviously a rhetorical question, so Magneto doesn't want to give him the pleasure of asking, knowing he will eventually say it himself.

"It's the number of people that I personally saved from imminent death today... 1096." He explains "3568 is the number of people that I saved from injuries, and the numbers go high when if I consider other types of help. And this because today I only act during the morning..."

"..."

"That means that today I influenced almost ten thousand people. And it's tranquil day." Eidolon says passionately "I will not naively believe that all of them suddenly become good people and are allies of the meta, but the seed was planted. I'm trying to change people's minds in the most honest and reliable way... They can see my actions more than they can hear from the media second-handedly. People believe what they see... And that's why I can't allow you to show the unsightly side of the metas."

"Unsightly side?" Magneto laughs mirthlessly "They deserve to see my unsightly side, it was them that created it!" He almost shouts

Eidolon maintained his gaze calm to Magneto's outburst

"I know..." He surprisingly agrees "We are humans, we all have our unsightly sides... But they would not see it that way. Our enemies would use that to promote their anti-meta agenda."

"Then you suggest that we play their game? Act like good little boys seeking brownie points like Charles?" Magneto shows his disgust at the idea

"Magneto... We are winning this game, can't you see?" Eidolon suddenly says, almost in amusement "We will eventually win. It's just a matter of time. Isn't you that said that we're the next step of Evolution?"

"..."

"Okay, as the one that called this meeting... Let me lay out my plan and my vision as an example." The Hero prepares to start, taking everyone's attention back to him "First... We are great, we are powerful and we are incredible..."

"..." The sudden shift of the talk causes everyone to blink strangely

"I'm saying this because even though I don't agree with the whole Homo Superior understanding, we can't deny our advantages as a group. Even though I listed all the problems and disadvantages in that interview... As a whole group... We are great."

He continues with some hand movements "We are immune to most common diseases, we are strong enough to take the world, we can save nature... We can terraform Mars and live there. Seriously, me, Ms. Ororo, and Robert there can terraform Mars, we can start right now."

"..."

"Where do I want to get with this..." He leans forward "It's that we can't act like total victims."

"We ARE victims of their oppression-" Magneto starts

But Eidolon raises a hand to stop him "Let me finish, I understand that we're outnumbered and the average Meta can't beat dozen of people that want to lynch them, but you also need to understand that we have our privileges. Especially we reunited right here!" He opens his arms to gesture to everyone

"..."

"And to be truthful... they're not wrong in fear us." Eidolon sighs "The major part of their fear and hate comes from ignorance(that I'm working on it) and misdirection by the media... But! C'mon... We are dangerous. Even unknowingly. Can't we blame them if they want to stay away from us? From someone that can privy on their deepest and dark thoughts? Invade their homes easily? Kill them? What if a meta kid suddenly awakens their power, sneezes and evaporates his whole classroom? We can't be mad if they want to stay away from us..." He sighs sadly "The ones that want to kill us on the other hand are a whole different story, but you understand what I mean."

Eidolon reclines back in his seat "The key to the Meta question is that different from any other oppressed group in the past... we have a clear advantage over everyone else. So we shouldn't demand anything... we should earn with our own hands."

After pausing to allow everyone to digest his words Eidolon continues

"And that's what I'm doing... First, earning their respect and trust. Showing that we are just like them with an extra something. This aligns a little more with the Professor's views... But I also envision something that allies with your views Magneto." Eidolons tares at him

"...and what would be?" Magneto can't help but ask

"We take over slowly." Eidolon says while staring into his eyes

"..."

"Take over?" This time is the Professor who can't help but ask

"It's the best way of saying it..." Eidolon shrugs lightly "But is more like ingraining ourselves in the world for real. Having a foothold there..."

He turns a little to address everyone.

"We agree that probably everyone in the future will be a meta, right? Or at least something similar to this... Humanity is changing and is a huge change! (people with powers and all that) And I want to soften the blow, smooth the transition, prevent the chaos, bloodbath, and suffering, that the process will cause."

"I think I get this..." Dr. McCoy makes a pensive expression "As the metapopulation increases it will become harder to hide or even control the other metas. So Eidolon is not only making normal people get used to the metas, but also 'teaching' the metas how to behave properly."

"Bingo, my good doctor." Eidolon points at him "And there's more! Remember that I said that we're kinda great? Imagine a Society where people get used to our existence enough so that we can appear and even use our powers publicly. We have really smart, powerful, and incredible people on our side... When we show the benefits of having us, they will want us, value us... I can give many examples, but I will use you Magneto." Eidolon points at the red-armored meta "You are basically the greatest defense against an alien invasion."

"..."

"Your existence alone would be enough to keep Earth safe from the many technologic superior races out there." Eidolon says "We can excel in many fields of study and make them dependent on us for many years... That's what I was talking about 'taking over'. During those years we will become an irreplaceable part of Society and it's done! They can't get rid of us, they will not even want to do that anymore."

"Do you think that they would just watch us do that? Seeing us happily coming forward? They will try to stop us! War is inevitable!" Magneto eyes harden

"True..." Eidolon concedes "Many we will try to stop us, direct or indirectly, and it will be our job to stop them while keeping the moral high ground. One of the objectives for asking for this meeting is that we could ally against our mutual enemies, our TRUE enemies. Not the average normal person, but the extremists and radicals."

"Cooperate?"

"Fighting against ourselves is a waste of time and energy and exactly what our enemies want. Even with our differences, we can find common ground in dealing with them."

Seeing Magneto silence, Eidolon presses more.

"We are winning, Magneto. I have a huge influence in the world, I tested and it proved that people can accept us."

"That's not accurate, a lot of them hate you for nothing more than the fact that you are what you are. Despite everything you have done." The leader of the Brotherhood argues back

"There will be always people like that... Too hateful, or too prideful to change their views. But I'm talking about the younger population." Eidolon once again leans forward "Magneto... I will outlive all of those haters."

"..."

"I save thousands of thousands of young people daily. I allow them to see by themselves the good that metas can do, and they will grow up believing what they lived rather than whatever hate speech they hear. They will pass their experiences forward... An entire generation will grow up knowing Eidolon. Being saved by the Eidolon. Do you understand how powerful this is?"

"..."

"And meanwhile those old bastards that fear that we will overthrow the status quo will all die. I will repeat... We.are.winning! If we don't kill ourselves or become the enemies of the world we will prevail in the end!"

That passionate speech touched a lot of them... The weight of his actions can finally be perceived. A man who touched the lives of an entire generation.

He saves one person, and he will not only change that person's perspective about the metas. He will also change the parent's perspectives, the friends, the lovers, and even the ones who simply witnessed the act.

Kids prayed for god, but Eidolon saved them. Hector has the example of All Might to know how this goes... But he is laying a more sturdy foundation.

Magneto stays in silence for some time before sighing and finally speaking again.

"And what about our people that are suffering right now? How long would this plan of yours would take? Decades? Our people are dying right now while you try to slowly please the normals..." He accuses

"That's why I'm a hero! To be an immediate responder to all problems... Including the metas suffering. We can soften the problem till everything is solved for real."

" 'Soften'? In the end, it appears that you value the normal people's lives more than ours." Magnetos accuses with a little heat in his voice "We, together, can solve this issue without the need to dance like clowns to normal people. We can stop our people's suffering now!"

Eidolon answers in kind "If we do your way, the problems will never end! We do it wrongly, and people will think we're wrong forever!"

"Wrong? The only ones wrong are the losers! They will slowly disappear anyway, right?" Magneto almost shouts

Eidolon also raises his voice "Humanity is the roots of the meta-kind! We can't simply slave, or exterminate them!"

"They don't remember this relation when they slave and exterminate us!

Now the two stood up to come face to face.

"Exactly! And that's why we will show them that we're better than that, by not doing the same when we're in a superior position! We should seek equality!"

"They deserve to know how it is... To be the ones helpless! This will teach them empathy!" Magneto practically shouts

"Wrong! It's only your hatred talking! This will prove that they're right about us all along! Do you want to give them the satisfaction? Do you know what this will make us? We will make us no different than the Nazis that you hate so much!"

Gasps echo through the place, many eyes widening at Eidolon's words

"How dare yo-" Magneto shouts in outrage, rage evident in his body language

"Am I wrong? Can you guarantee 100% if the positions are reversed, that we not will be the ones oppressing the metas?"

"I would never-"

"Silence! You're just proving that you would do the same! If violence is how you answer, then it would be your first choice... Imagine another life..." Eidolon disengages from his shouting contest to address everyone

He walks around to look at each of their faces "You don't have powers, you didn't live the struggles of the meta life, you didn't suffer the prejudice... You have never met a meta in your entire normal life. Can any of you here guarantee that you wouldn't be afraid of us?" He looks at everyone "Huh?!"

"..." Not even the X-men can say yes to that.

"That doesn't mean that you would be a bad person, just that you don't know better." Eidolon says in a placating way before turning again to Magneto "But if we do what you plan... Then we will show them that we are no better than the people who oppress us. That power went over our heads and that they're right to fear us, that they're right in getting away from us, that they're right in trying to kill us..."

Eidolon finishes his speech slowly, each word being spat.

The black-clad hero appears to deflate a little before speaking again in a more subsided voice.

"Magneto... Erik... I know that you hate them and you have all the reason in the world to do what you do." He says softly "But if you don't do it... It will pass the strongest message possible. Don't you see that you're letting the evil that they did to you corrupt you?"

"You don't understand..." Erik speaks through gritted teeth

"..."

"These people understand no other language besides violence. Your efforts will go wasted when they turn on you! You're building a sand castle that will be destroyed at the first wave of trouble!"

"I will try everything that I can..."

"And you will end up like me." Magneto points at himself

"..."

A mental image of Eidolon getting fed up with humanity and suddenly becoming Magneto passes through everyone's mind... And it's terrifying.

Eidolon on his part narrows his eyes at the accusation.

"I will not say that is impossible, but like I said I will try everything I can before jumping to the last measures..." He says slowly "And you think you're so great Magneto? That you're some sort of martyr for making yourself the villain for the good of meta-kind..."

"..."

"You are not... You're weak." The hero says with disgust

The tension reaches the highest level possible.

"You choose the easy way." Eidolon accuses.

The whole place appears to tremble a little, the prelude of a battle.

"It was chosen for me..." Magneto doesn't back down. His eyes shine with power.

"You can still choose differently. You don't need to answer their hate with hate..."

"And why I would do it?"

The two face each other, their mantle and cape moving with the wind, At any moment things can go south, and Xavier is almost steppi- rolling in to mediate the situation.

Eidolon raises a hand, everyone is expecting an attack, some even flinch, but the hero simply points his finger at Magneto's chest.

"Die with it." He says simply

"..."

"Do you want to make a sacrifice for our people... Then take your hate, bury it deeply inside you, and die with it." His sudden calm tone de-escalates the situation

Eidolon even turns to look at everyone "In truth, I will ask everyone here the same... Whatever prejudice, whatever hate, or violence that you felt... Whatever resentment lays deep inside you, never exteriorize it"

"..."

"This is the best thing we can do..." Eidolon turns to face Magneto again "Do you think I don't have negative thoughts or emotions? Believe in me, I'm not a good person, so you think that I never thought exactly the same as you? Imagine how is to me that see the worst of humanity daily? Murderers, pedophiles, slavers, abusers... People so evil that makes these dark thoughts churn inside me." Eidolon confesses

"..."

"But I will not exteriorize them because I know there are good people too. Especially the children." Eidolon closes his eyes for a moment, like he is remembering something "I know how is to feels to be blinded by hate, Erik."

"..."

"I would look down a city from the top of a building and all I see would be the filth humans being evil... Unknown to me, under my own feet... In an apartment below, a father would be lovingly spinning his daughter around after arriving home from work. We see what we are searching for... We see what we wish to see, Erik. I discovered that there's good in humanity too..."

"..."

"They deserve this chance... They deserver the best of us!" Eidolon exclaims with determination "They don't deserve our hate."

It's almost like his heroic spirit pressed down in the whole place.

"Especially the kids... Let's fight for them if for nothing else. Let's not taint the innocent kids with our hate... In the spinning wheel that is the world, we are finally on top, Erik. And we are in a position to finally break the cycle of hate"

Some can't help but have their heart skipped a bit, swayed by Eidolon's charisma. His words ring true in their mind and they can't help but agree, even if unconsciously.

Mystique on the side can't help but have the words of her lover reappearing in her mind 'He is our best chance...' Destiny once told her after trying to see Eidolon's future.

"I'm not asking to let go of your hate, I'm asking you something much more cruel... Much more than die from our case." Eidolon extends his hand at Magneto "But that is what is necessary to be done, Erik. Let's all suffer in silence. It's our responsibility. It will be our sacrifice. So that our kids never suffer what you suffered..."

"..."

Erik looks at Eidolon's hand in silence. There's no more tension in the air, and no one believes that a fight will happen. But the moment appears to stretch forever, waiting for Magneto's decision... If he takes Eidolon's hand...

But he never makes the choice... because Eidolon himself retracts his hand shortly after.

"There's no need to decide now... My plan is long and I know that what I'm asking is not easy." Eidolon says much more relaxed and takes his sit back "First, we need to trust each other more..."

"...and I have a proposal on how we can start."

......

A.N.: Hello There.

I liked writing this chapter, even though dialogues are the bane of my existence.

Anyway, don't be sad that the chapters are shorter than before. It's the same length, through is split in two and being published weekly instead of every two weeks.

By the way, if you want to read ahead, go check my p.a.t.r.e.o.n... Linke below, but without the spaces.

patreon . com / Evans 269

Thank you anyway for reading and a special thanks to all my patrons.

Stay good y'all.

Bye Bye

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