Chương 35: Lines in the Road #35
Amid the stillness of the late-night hour, Evan's Porsche glided through the quiet streets of the New York suburbs. The dim glow of streetlights illuminated the empty roads, casting elongated shadows from the surrounding buildings. The rhythmic hum of the engine served as the backdrop to his thoughts, each passing moment bringing him closer to a meeting that held significance.
Earlier, in Xavier's office at the X-mansion, a conversation had transpired that had clarified his position. Evan's commitment to his principles was unwavering, and he had conveyed as much to Xavier. The discussion had been candid, with Evan stating unequivocally that he would not compromise his methods. Xavier, ever the diplomat, had listened attentively, recognizing the depth of conviction in Evan's words.
Evan's stance was clear: he was prepared to invest his time, expertise, and energy in transforming the X-men into a conduit for bridging the gap between humans and mutants. Yet, he was not willing to entertain games or unnecessary complications.
If Xavier deemed Evan's approach incompatible with the X-men's ideals, all it would take was a single word, a signal, and Evan would withdraw without hesitation. The prospect of helping the X-men was appealing, but he was not beholden to it.
As the miles rolled beneath his tires, Evan's thoughts reflected the intricate web of his intentions. He recognized the ever expanding potential for catastrophic events in a world increasingly intertwined with mutant powers. The X-men, with their relentless pursuit of justice and equality, were an avenue through which he hoped to prevent such disasters.
Yet, Evan was pragmatic. The X-men weren't the sole path to achieving his goals. The night held more than darkness; it held opportunities and avenues beyond the mansion's walls. If the X-men chose not to embrace his assistance, if his methods and strategies did not align with their vision, he was prepared to seek other avenues.
Evan's mind was consumed by a whirlwind of contemplation as he maneuvered through the quiet streets. The gentle hum of his Porsche's engine was a steady undercurrent, a familiar backdrop to his thoughts. In this realm of introspection, the boundary between inner musings and external reality seemed to blur.
As the night unfolded, a peculiar sight materialized ahead. The traffic light that had previously transitioned to green abruptly shifted to red as he approached the intersection. An involuntary furrow etched across Evan's brow, a subtle annoyance at the ill-timed change.
Yet, he maintained his course, the streets devoid of any traffic to contest his decision. The notion of paying a minor fine for running a red light, should there be a traffic camera, was a fleeting consideration.
But the mundane expectation of a traffic violation transformed into an unexpected spectacle. In a heartbeat, the traffic light erupted in a shower of sparks, the red lens splintering as if in defiance.
The pole itself seemed to shudder, then toppled with a resounding crash onto the street. The universe conspired with an uncanny precision, the fallen pole creating an insurmountable barrier, slicing his path in two like a surgeon's scalpel.
Reacting with split-second reflexes, Evan's foot instinctively slammed onto the brake pedal. The screech of rubber against asphalt rent the air as his Porsche came to a jarring halt.
The abrupt cessation seemed to suspend time for an instant. The scent of burning rubber mingled with the acrid tang of electrical sparks, a sensory mélange of the unexpected.
In the hushed aftermath, Evan's pulse echoed in his ears, a rhythm of adrenaline that mirrored the scene's sudden intensity. He cast a glance towards the fallen pole, a seemingly mundane structure that had wielded its power with precision. The broken traffic light, an emblem of order disrupted, lay amid the remnants of its own defiance.
The sight of the fallen traffic light left Evan momentarily befuddled, his mind struggling to reconcile the mundane with the extraordinary. Yet, his mental gears shifted with the urgency of a well-trained mind. He swiftly unfastened his seatbelt and swung open the car door, his steps carrying him towards the disruption across his path.
While the inexplicable event might have been dismissed as a random occurrence in his previous reality, his immersion in the intricate tapestry of the Marvel universe had taught him that such events rarely happened without reason. The boundaries between chance and orchestrated intent were often blurred, a distinction that now left its imprint on his consciousness.
Evan's gaze swept across the deserted street, the glow of streetlights casting elongated shadows. He raised his voice with a mixture of command and curiosity, the words carrying into the night, "Whoever, whatever, you are— you have my attention. Show yourself."
A response, almost too timely to be coincidental, materialized from a nearby dark alley. Domino emerged, her presence a blend of calculated elegance and casual confidence. The enigmatic smile that curved her lips held the air of a secret shared with the universe. Evan's response was almost reflexive, a twitch of irritation that flitted across his features like a fleeting shadow.
"I should have known you had something to do with this," he remarked with a blend of exasperation and resigned understanding. Domino's powers, tethered to the capricious realm of luck, were among the few forces capable of manipulating reality to this extent. Evan's head shook in a mixture of bemusement and annoyance, the lines of his face carved with a wry acceptance of the situation.
As he addressed her, a single question held an undercurrent of curiosity, "How did you know to find me here, Neena?" The pieces of the puzzle were assembling, but the precise configuration of their arrangement eluded him.
Domino's smile played at the corners of her lips as she observed Evan's reaction. It seemed she had caught him by surprise, and she relished in it. Her words were laced with a playful tone as she spoke, "After our last encounter, I figured you'd pay a visit to our old tech-savvy friend." She shrugged nonchalantly, her demeanor casual and almost taunting. With a hint of mischief, she added, "Get him to whip up a little something to give you an edge next time we meet."
Evan's eyebrows slightly arched, his initial astonishment giving way to a more composed expression. He regarded Domino with an amused glint in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of her cunning move. A chuckle rumbled from her lips, her voice carrying the weight of a jest, "How do you like getting a taste of your own medicine for once?"
Evan's lips curved into a bemused smile, his amusement evident. He replied in a light-hearted manner, his tone carrying a hint of camaraderie, "Well, you've always proven to be more clever than I initially gave you credit for." It was a candid admission, the kind that came with a mixture of genuine acknowledgment and good-natured teasing.
Domino's expression shifted, a mock display of hurt crossing her features. "Ouch," she commented, her voice dripping with playful drama, "that's kind of rude, but I'll take it as a compliment." There was a certain ease in their banter, a familiarity that hinted at the history they shared.
Evan clarified, a hint of a smile lingering, "It was supposed to be a compliment. I don't work with idiots." His words were accompanied by a good-natured shake of his head, an acknowledgment that, despite the teasing, there was respect underlying their dynamic.
But then, with a subtle shift in his tone, he directed the conversation back to its purpose, "But that's besides the point... what do you want, Neena?" His gaze held a mixture of curiosity and guardedness, his stance a blend of readiness and caution.
A roll of her eyes accompanied Domino's response, a gesture that oozed exasperation as she faced Evan's guarded stance. Her words were tinged with a mixture of sarcasm and straightforwardness, "Then you should know I'm not dumb enough to ambush you on my own." With a nonchalant wave of her hand, she added, "Even if I were, I have no reason to fight you anymore."
Evan's skepticism was palpable, his voice laced with a touch of disbelief, "What? Shaw gave you the boot or something over one failure...? I know for a fact he's not that foolish..." His words carried a note of cynicism, a testament to his understanding of Sebastian Shaw's calculated approach.
A chuckle escaped Domino's lips, her amusement evident as she clarified, "The opposite, actually. Shaw didn't care about the failed mission. He was even ready to sever ties with Robert Kelly." The weight of her statement seemed to settle in the space between them, a revelation that held implications far beyond the surface.
van's brow furrowed in response, a mixture of curiosity and concern flashing across his features. Before he could voice his thoughts, Domino continued, her words coming with an air of vulnerability, "That's why I left Shaw's service, and why I came looking for you."
A sigh escaped her, laden with a complex mix of emotions. The admission lingered in the air, the vulnerability of her position offering a stark contrast to the calculated persona she often projected. She added, her tone a blend of candor and urgency, "I need help."
...
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