Marvelous Twist #75

Sitting in his office at the Xavier Institute, Charles Xavier furrowed his brow as he watched the news broadcast on his television. The elegant anchorwoman stood before a throng of people at Washington's Dulles International Airport.

"We are here in Washington's Dulles International Airport," the anchor announced, her tone carrying a hint of unease. 

"As you can see, the same people who would usually receive presidential candidate Robert Kelly with cheers are gathered here again, but this time, none of them seem particularly happy..." She gestured towards the crowd, some of whom held signs denouncing Senator Kelly as a fraud, a liar, a bigot, and more.

The moment the anchor finished speaking, the crowd erupted in a cacophony of boos and jeers as Robert Kelly finally emerged from the airport, encircled by his security detail.

"You goddamn liar! You told us you'd protect us from mutants, but how many times have mutants saved your sorry ass?!" someone in the crowd shouted, voicing the sentiments of many, and thus began a barrage of insults and accusations hurled at the senator.

"That's right, you lying piece of shit! The Daily Bugle exposed you for the goddamn fraud you are!" Another protester shouted, his voice filled with anger and frustration.

Meanwhile, the anchorwoman displayed remarkable tenacity as she fought her way through the crowd alongside her cameraman, determined to reach Senator Kelly and get answers. After a struggle, she managed to close the gap and began firing questions at him.

"Senator Kelly, is it true that you've been covering up the good work the X-men have been doing, and going as far as emphasizing the terrorist attacks of the Brotherhood of Mutants, even attributing them to the X-men?" She pointed the microphone at Kelly, relentlessly following his entourage.

Kelly continued to ignore her, his face stern and unyielding, but the anchorwoman persisted, undeterred by his silence. She posed another question, her voice unwavering. "In the files and recordings that the Daily Bugle released, it is suggested that you've been going after mutants in general and the X-men specifically because of a personal grudge, rather than for the greater good. Is that true?"

Once again, Kelly remained stoically silent in the face of the anchorwoman's persistent questions. Xavier, observing the situation on the television screen from his office, couldn't help but sigh and shake his head. The sudden exposure of Kelly's misdeeds and the scandalous revelations in the Daily Bugle were undoubtedly orchestrated by Evan, and Xavier had mixed feelings about the situation.

He held firm to his principles, believing that the X-men should uphold a higher moral standard, refraining from resorting to underhanded tactics. However, he recognized the practicality of Evan's approach. In this world, ideals alone couldn't guarantee the safety and well-being of mutants. Sometimes, one had to step into the shadows, do what was necessary, and embrace a level of hypocrisy to achieve their goals.

Xavier couldn't bring himself to ask Evan to stop his clandestine operations. If it meant securing the future of mutants and fostering peace between mutants and humans, he was willing to be labeled a hypocrite. The ends, in this case, justified the means.

As the anchorwoman continued to press Kelly with questions, which he stubbornly ignored, Xavier's attention shifted away from the television screen. He glanced toward the door of his office, sensing someone approaching.

Xavier, having lost interest in the news, reached out to turn off the television, anticipating the arrival of his guest. It wasn't long before a polite knock echoed through the room.

"Come in," Xavier warmly invited. The door swung open, revealing a tall, muscular man with striking blonde hair and piercing blue eyes. He was dressed casually, a stark contrast to his more iconic Captain America attire.

"Captain Steve Rogers, it is a pleasure to finally meet you. Please, take a seat," Xavier said, gesturing toward the comfortable-looking couch in his office.

Steve offered a friendly smile as he approached Xavier's desk, bypassing the offer of a seat for a handshake. "The pleasure is all mine, Professor. I've heard nothing but good things about you and what you're trying to do here," Steve said, extending his hand toward Xavier.

Xavier reciprocated the handshake with a warm smile. "We are all striving to do what is right, Captain, the same as you, I imagine," he replied.

Steve's expression grew solemn. "I didn't want to come here, but I had no other choice, I'm afraid," he admitted as he released Xavier's hand and took a seat.

The Professor couldn't help but smile at those words, knowing they were genuine. It was shocking to suddenly find Captain America knocking on your front door with an injured companion, but despite his surprise, Xavier welcomed them with open arms. 

Xavier maintained his friendly demeanor. "Here at the X-Mansion, we protect and guide young mutants who face unique challenges. But we would never turn away a hero of our nation in his hour of need," Xavier reassured Steve. "There is no need to worry; we will help you in any way we can."

"I'm more concerned about Dugan right now," Steve admitted with a grimace, his thoughts filled with images of his injured friend.

Xavier nodded in understanding. "I'm certain Evan will attend to his wounds as soon as he returns. And as luck would have it, he's on his way back," Xavier assured Steve. "In the meantime, Professor McCoy will see to his injuries quite capably."

Steve sighed, the weight of his responsibilities pressing on him. "Just as well," he said, his voice heavy with concern. "I have a lot of questions that need answering," he added, his expression tense.

Xavier gave a solemn nod. "You and I both, my friend," he agreed.

Before the conversation between Captain America and Professor X could progress further, the room was interrupted by a sharp knock, followed by the swift opening of the door. Storm entered, her presence commanding attention.

"Professor, Evan has returned, and he's brought back the company," she reported to Xavier, her eyes fixed on him. "One of them requires your immediate assistance," she added, casting a meaningful glance toward Captain America. "You might want to come along as well, Captain," she suggested.

Xavier and Steve exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the urgency of the situation, and then both of them moved to follow Storm out of the room.

...

As they entered McCoy's lab, Steve's eyes widened in astonishment at the scene before him. Nick Fury leaned against the wall, observing intently as Evan held a man firmly in place on a sickbed while McCoy efficiently applied restraints around the captive's limbs.

Steve couldn't help but heave a sigh as he approached Fury, taking note of the director's battered appearance. He couldn't keep the bitterness out of his voice as he spoke, "You've definitely seen better days. At least I don't have to doubt your involvement with Hydra..."

Fury, in his usual cryptic fashion, raised an eyebrow and retorted, "Oh? So you've even doubted me? Good, you could do with a little paranoia," leaving Steve momentarily taken aback.

Turning his attention to the man on the bed, Steve inquired, "Who is this?" His view was obstructed, and he couldn't quite see the captive's face from his current angle.

"See for yourself," Fury responded with an enigmatic tone. 

Intrigued yet cautious, Steve swiftly moved closer to the bed. The instant he caught sight of the man's face, his eyes widened, and he uttered in a mixture of bewilderment and surprise, "Bucky...?"

"The one and only Bucky Barnes, cap," Evan acknowledged, stepping in front of Steve just as he was about to approach his long-lost friend. Evan's tone carried a somber note as he continued, "However, I'm afraid this would be a far cry from the tearful reunion you're imagining right now..."

Steve frowned, taking in Evan's words with a mixture of hope and apprehension. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

Evan sighed, shaking his head as he tried to convey the gravity of the situation. "I'm afraid your friend has been brainwashed and placed in cryo-stasis for many years. His mind is unstable, to say the least," he explained, his expression reflecting the seriousness of the matter. 

"He's more likely to bite your nose off than to give you a hug if you get too close." Evan stated with a hint of finality in his tone. "Though, there's no need to worry. I'm sure Professor Xavier will do everything he can to fix him up," he added, gesturing toward Xavier, who was already focused and deep in concentration as he worked on Bucky's mind.