Bab 23: A Christmas Homecoming!
Snow fell gently over the expansive grounds of Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, blanketing the manicured lawns and winding driveways in a pristine, powdery white.
The magnificent mansion, adorned with lights and festive decorations, bustled with warmth and life as families reunited and laughter echoed through the hallways.
It was a rare day when the X-Men set aside their vigilant duties, allowing for a sense of peace and celebration to reign.
It was a Christmas tradition for the X-Men, allowing the family members of the children to visit them, granted their family was supportive of their mutant abilities.
Allowing the children to meet and celebrate was an integral part of their childhood, and the X-Men certainly wouldn't take that away.
In the midst of the cheerful atmosphere, Logan stood leaning against a stone pillar near the main entrance, a steaming cup of coffee cradled in his hand. His eyes, sharp and restless as always, scanned the crowds.
Parents and siblings wandered the grounds, embracing young mutants, their smiles genuine, though tinged with a hint of cautious uncertainty. The Canadian mutant watched the scene with a sense of appreciation.
His gaze shifted to a familiar figure sitting alone on a bench beneath a massive oak tree, its branches lightly dusted with snow. Katya Novikova. She was only 8 years old, her dark hair pulled back in a neat braid, sat quietly, her eyes fixed on the distant horizon.
She was bundled in a thick woolen coat, her hands tucked into her pockets, but the cold didn't seem to bother her.
Logan frowned. Despite the lively holiday spirit around her, she looked almost haunted, as if she were a million miles away. He knew that look well, the look of someone who had seen too much, too young.
He tossed his empty cup into a nearby bin and approached her, his boots crunching softly against the snow.
"Hey, kid," he said gruffly, coming to stand beside her, "You alright?"
Katya glanced up, her eyes meeting his for a fleeting moment before she looked away again. "I'm fine, Mr. Logan."
Logan sighed, rubbing the back of his neck,"You know, everyone else talks about their families. Friends, brothers, sisters. But you…you never say a word about your brother. We've been wonderin' if there's somethin' we should know."
Katya stiffened slightly, her gaze dropping to her lap. For a moment, Logan thought she might finally open up, but she only shook her head, "There's nothing to talk about."
He frowned. "C'mon, Katya. We just wanna help."
"I know." Her voice was barely above a whisper. "But I can't."
Logan's brow furrowed in confusion, but before he could press further, a subtle shift in the atmosphere caught his attention. A sleek, black car was making its way up the long driveway, its tires crunching over the snow.
The car looked of high quality, and judging from its license plate, the car belonged to someone in rather high authority. This made the various X-Men waiting around a bit worried, those in influence definitely weren't their biggest fans.
The murmurs of conversation around them stilled as people turned to watch the car approach. Logan's senses went on high alert as he caught a familiar scent mingling with the crisp winter air, one he hadn't expected to smell here, of all places, the scent of DANGER!
That scent of danger, potential enemies was being emitted from the car, and Logan tensed up. The other X-Men all recognized Logan's movements and remained on guard.
Storm and Jean stood together whilst Cyclops stood around the children, and the others' eyes remained on the car as it approached. Still, they didn't give any sign to the parents or families of the potential danger, not wanting to overwhelm them or cause panic.
At the center of the group was Professor X, just waiting patiently.
The car rolled to a stop near the entrance, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze. Then, the driver's side door swung open, and a tall figure stepped out.
Clad in a dark coat that contrasted sharply against the snow, Maxim Novikov straightened, his presence commanding attention as he looked around curiously for his target.
There was a heartbeat of stunned silence before Katya was on her feet, her composure breaking in an instant. "Maxim!" she cried, her voice ringing out clear and bright to the shock of everyone in the environment.
She bolted across the snow-covered ground, her small figure weaving through the crowd with a speed and grace that was almost inhuman.
Maxim's smile widened as he opened his arms, bracing himself just in time to catch her as she launched herself at him. He staggered back a step but held firm, wrapping his arms around his sister and lifting her off the ground in a tight embrace.
"Katya," he murmured, his voice low and filled with emotion. "I've missed you, princess"
"Dumb brother," Katya said with a smile on her face, "You're supposed to fall when I hug you. Do it better next time." She said as she tightly clung to him.
Maxim just chuckled and hugged her, "I will next time princess."
Katya buried her face in his chest, clinging to him as if afraid he might disappear, "You're here," she whispered, her voice thick with tears as she began to cry, the emotion of her brother arriving finally kicking in, "You're really here."
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head, his own eyes shining, "I promised, didn't I? I told you I'd come back."
Around them, the gathered mutants and their families watched the reunion with a mix of surprise and curiosity. Maxim's presence was unexpected, almost surreal, yet there was an unmistakable air of belonging in the way he held Katya, his focus solely on her.
Logan stood a few paces away, his hands resting on his hips as he observed the scene. Out of all the things he expected today, Katya's brother arriving was certainly not on the list, especially like that.
Just from watching the man, he could tell how strong he was. Even while hugging his sister, Maxim's stance remained on guard, always ready for combat, his eyes analyzed the environment the second he exited the car.
And most importantly, Logan could sense 'IT'. The primal, raw power emitting from the man, a power that could be overwhelming, but as he watched the man hugging Katerina tightly and indulging in her antics, Logan relaxed a bit.
Eventually, Professor Xavier made the first move, his wheelchair gliding smoothly across the snow-covered ground toward Maxim and Katerina.
The older man's face was calm, his eyes sharp as he gazed towards Maxim interacting with his little sister. Behind him, Storm and Jean followed closely with Cyclops and Nightcrawler remaining near the children and their parents as they continued to interact.
"Welcome, Mr. Novikov I presume?" Xavier said, his voice carrying easily over the distance. "It's an honor to finally meet you in person."
Maxim turned his head slightly, his arms still wrapped protectively around Katya. For a moment, he said nothing, his eyes studying the professor with a level of scrutiny that would have made most people uncomfortable.
Just like how he would never trust Nick Fury, he definitely would never trust Professor X. A man who constantly abused his telepathic powers to invade on the privacy of anyone he wanted to, Maxim would never fully trust this man.
"Professor Xavier," Maxim replied, just nodding to remain diplomatic, "I've heard a lot about you."
"I hope all was good," Xavier responded, his tone neutral,"Your sister was very protective of you, we didn't learn much, so I'm sorry if I get anything wrong. We didn't quite expect you to be here Mr. Novikov."
Maxim's eyes softened as he glanced down at Katya, who was still clinging to him, her small hands gripping his coat tightly, "It's Christmas," he said simply. "I couldn't let my sister spend it alone."
Maxim smiled gently after he spoke, brushing a stray lock of hair from Katya's face, "Thank you all for taking care of this little princess, I know she can be a doozy."
As Maxim finished speaking, he felt a light tap on his back, feeling Katya punching him on the back with an angry expression, "Stupid brother, who's a doozy?" Her voice sounded a bit angry, yet cute leading Maxim and the X-Men to laugh lightly.
Jean stepped forward, her expression warm but cautious as she stood next to Maxim, running a hand through Katerina's hair, "Katerina is a remarkable girl, Mr. Novikov. She's strong, kind, and very brave. We're all very fond of her."
Maxim's gaze flickered to Jean, gratitude mingling with something deeper in his eyes. "Thank you," he said quietly, thankful that Katya had indeed made a good connection with Jean.
Although he didn't have any plans for Jean at the moment, it would never hurt to be on her side, especially when she had the Phoenix currently buried in her.
Katya shifted then, her small voice breaking the ongoing discussion, "Maxim, can we go inside? I want to show you my room…and my drawings…and—"
Maxim chuckled, the sound low and warm,"Of course, princess. Lead the way."
She slipped out of his arms, grabbing his hand and pulling him toward the mansion, her excitement bubbling over. Maxim allowed himself to be led, but he paused for a moment, turning back to the X-Men.
"Thank you," he said again, his voice sincere, "For everything."
Jean smiled, her beautiful eyes twinkling, "Merry Christmas, Mr. Novikov. I hope you and Katya enjoy your time together."
Maxim nodded, then let Katya drag him away, her laughter echoing through the snow-filled air. As they disappeared into the warmth of the mansion, the X-Men watched them go, a sense of quiet respect and understanding settling over the group.
"Think we'll ever see him again after today?" Xavier murmured, his gaze lingering on the closed door.
Logan shrugged, his eyes thoughtful. "He seems to have genuine love for his sister, I presume he'll be back when possible."
"Lets hope everything work out okay." Professor Xavier back, his wheelchair moving as he went back towards his previous spot, looking at the wonderful scenes of children and family interacting with the Christmas spirit in the air.
Bab 24: Norway!
As time had moved on, the mansion had slowly grown quieter and quieter as the night descended upon everyone. The festive cheer was still lingering in the air, as the glow of Christmas lights illuminated the environment.
Most of the families had retired to their homes as the night had came upon them, and the younger mutants went back to their rooms in the mansion, nestled in their beds as they dreamed of the holidays.
Meanwhile, as all of this happened, Maxim stood in the dimly lit hallway outside of his sister's bedroom, his back leaned against the wall as he folded his arms and glanced at the door. He could hear Katya's soft, steady breathing from inside.
She had fallen asleep clutching one of the sketchbooks she had been proudly showing him earlier, filled with everything from the X-Men and Iron Man, to beautiful landscapes and even a few family portraits.
Maxim smiled and chuckled to himself as he thought about how Katya's eyes had shone so brilliantly with pride and excitement while showing him her artwork.
She had eagerly told him about her new friends, classes, favorite teachers, and even pranks she pulled using her telepathic powers. For a couple hours, it was as if nothing else mattered, as they were just siblings enjoying each-other's company.
But now, reality was seeping back in. He knew he couldn't stay. He still had goals, missions that he needed to complete.
With a quiet sigh, he pushed off the wall and headed downstairs, his steps silent on the polished wood floors.
The mansion was almost eerily peaceful at this hour, with only the faint hum of the heating system and the occasional creak of the old building breaking the silence.
Maxim moved with purpose, his mind already shifting gears as he planned his next steps.
The X-Men were waiting for him downstairs, their postures relaxed but watchful. Professor Xavier sat in his wheelchair near the grand staircase, his hands folded in his lap.
Storm and Jean stood off to the side, with Cyclops, Logan and Nightcrawler further back.
"Heading out already, Mr. Novikov?" Xavier's voice carried an undercurrent of curiosity and perhaps a touch of concern.
Maxim nodded, his expression calm. "I have a lot to do. Places to be." He glanced toward the stairs, his thoughts still lingering on Katya, "But I wanted to thank you all again. For everything you've done for her."
Jean stepped forward, her expression warm, "You don't need to thank us, Maxim. Katya is a special girl, and she's become a part of our family here. We'll always look out for her."
"She's been a bright spot for a lot of people here," Storm added, her voice soothing. "She's strong, but she's also still a child. We'll make sure she grows up happy and safe."
Maxim's gaze softened as he looked at the women, "I appreciate that more than I can say." He paused, then added, "She deserves a childhood. A normal one. And I know that's hard to come by for mutants."
Professor Xavier inclined his head slightly. "We do our best to provide that, despite the challenges. Katya has adapted remarkably well, and she's flourishing. But…" His gaze sharpened, the subtle probing of his telepathy brushing lightly against Maxim's mental defenses, which immediately flared in response.
Maxim's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of warning in them. The lights in the environment immediately dimmed, a blanket of darkness wrapping around everyone as Maxim's form shifted.
"But you're curious about me, aren't you, Professor? Your actions are quite disrespectful, I wonder what you'd do to my sister if she didn't have her own mental defenses." Maxim said.
Xavier held up a hand, a placating gesture, "Merely concerned, Mr. Novikov. You have a unique presence, and your sister's abilities are… extraordinary. Her telepathic power can be cataclysmic in the wrong hands. It's natural for us to be cautious."
"Cautious," Maxim echoed, his tone neutral. He glanced at Jean, who was watching him with quiet intensity, her empathy radiating in gentle waves, "I understand that. But my business is my own. I'll protect Katya in my own way."
"Of course," Jean said softly. "But if you ever need help, you can always reach out. For her sake, if not your own."
Maxim gave a slow nod. "I'll remember that."
With that, he turned and moved toward the door, his movements sure and unhurried. The X-Men watched him go, a mixture of emotions playing across their faces.
He paused at the threshold, his hand resting on the doorframe as he turned back one last time. "Thank you," he said again, his voice quiet but sincere, "For everything you've done for her. Take care of her."
"We will," Jean promised, her gaze steady, "And take care of yourself, Mr. Novikov. She cares for you a-lot, make sure to visit more in the future."
Maxim nodded, then stepped outside into the crisp, cold night. The air was sharp and clear, the snow crunching softly underfoot as he made his way toward his car. He was almost to the vehicle when a small voice called out behind him.
"Maxim!"
He turned just in time to see Katya running toward him, her small figure bundled in a thick coat, her face flushed with cold and excitement.
He smiled, kneeling down as she reached him, her breath puffing out in little clouds as he held her in his arms.
"Princess, you're supposed to be asleep," he teased gently, brushing a lock of hair from her face as he looked at her tired expression, chuckling at how adorable she looked.
"I couldn't let you leave without saying goodbye," she protested, her eyes bright and a little wet,
Maxim's heart clenched, and he pulled her into a tight hug, feeling her small arms wrap around his neck. "I wouldn't dream of it," he murmured, pressing a kiss to her forehead, "I love you, Katya. More than anything."
She clung to him, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "I love you too, Maxim. Don't be gone too long, okay?"
He closed his eyes, holding her close. "I'll be back, I promise. And next time, I'll bring someone very special with me."
Katya pulled back, her eyes wide and curious. "Who?"
He smiled, a mysterious light in his eyes. "Your sister-in-law."
Her mouth dropped open in shock, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Sister-in-law? You're getting married?"
"Not yet," he said, chuckling. "But I'll find her. Soon."
"Where?" she asked eagerly, bouncing on her toes as she looked towards him. Maxim's smile widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes. "Norway."
"Norway?" she repeated, her voice filled with wonder. "Wow…"
He chuckled again, brushing his fingers through her hair. "I'll tell you all about it next time, okay? Be good, princess."
She nodded solemnly, though her excitement was barely contained. "I will. I promise."
He kissed her forehead again, then gently released her, standing up. "Go inside, it's cold out here."
She hesitated, then threw her arms around him one last time before stepping back, her eyes bright and filled with love. "Bye, Maxim. I'll miss you."
"I'll miss you too, Katya," he said softly, his heart aching as he watched her turn and run back toward the mansion, her small figure disappearing into the warm glow of the foyer.
He stood there for a moment longer, his breath misting in the cold air, then turned and got into his car, the engine purring to life as he pulled away from the mansion, his thoughts already turning to the next part of his journey.
As the mansion disappeared in the rearview mirror, his gaze hardened, his mind focused. There was a lot to do, and not much time. But he had made a promise, and he intended to keep it.
Norway. Hela, that was his long term goal. As the Goddess of Death, she was one of the most powerful persons in the MCU, and could become a worthy ally.
The only problem was she was just a bit too battle crazy, but Maxim was sure with his knowledge, he'd be able to convince her to join him. But before that, he still had many things he needed to do.
Finish the Battle of New York, get the Mind and Space Stone, destroy the Red Room and recruit the Black Widows, take over Madripoor.
There was so many things he was planning, but all of this was not only to protect himself, but also to protect Katya, to create a world she can live in danger free.
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