28.
The Present
Chapter Theme Song: Tomorrow - Alicia Morton (Annie Soundtrack)
Dad!" she screamed. "Dad!"
"Hope!" Her mother's voice brought her frantic attention over to where the team had gathered around something. It soon became clear this was not something, but someone.
Nina knelt over Nathan, Hope rushing to his other side. "We need to stop the bleeding!" Nina cried. The ground beneath her husband was already soaked with the red liquid coming from the arm wound.
"Here-" Wade was holding a piece of cloth and pressed it against Nathan's bloody arm, causing him to wince.
"Dad!" cried Hope. "Oh no, oh God-"
"I-I-" Nathan was trying to speak, his breathing ragged. "I-I'm sorry I couldn't do better, I'm sorry I couldn't keep you both safe. I'm sorry that I failed you again."
"Shh, stop, don't talk like that," Nina fussed.
"Dad, no-" Hope was crying now. "We all just found each other again-"
"Nathan-" Jean and Scott came and knelt by his side as well.
"I-I'm sorry," he choked out again.
Meanwhile, still beneath the ruins of the mansion with Cerebro, Charles was still attempting to speak to Present Nina, though their telepathic bond was failing. She had sent the blast which had struck Nathan down.
Nina, this isn't you, you know that. Whatever's making you do this, you're stronger than that.
"It's me!" she cried. "My future self, who I'm becoming. This is me."
This darkness, it chose you Nina, because you are strong. You have always had the potential for this, and you've always fought it. You are also the only one strong enough power-wise to contain it.
Still kneeling over Nathan, Nina and Hope clasped hands, Nina trying, and failing, to hold back a sob. "We need to get him out of here, to safety."
"We'll do it," said Wade, nodding to Domino. The two helped guide Nathan to his feet and supported him, trying to get him to the edge of the battlefield. He only took a few steps before he stumbled and fell.
"Nate!"
"Dad!"
Future Nina turned to face the distant figure of her younger self, who had caused all this.
"Charles, may I try?" she said, reaching into the telepathic bond.
Of course.
"You go, we've got him," Jean assured her.
With a nod, Nina reluctantly left the injured Nathan's side and rushed over to where her younger, present conflicted self was. "I won't let you do this."
"It's better this way."
"You don't really believe that."
"I do."
"No, you don't. You're just afraid." Present Nina said nothing. "And that's okay. But you have no reason to be." With that, Future Nina reached out and placed her fingertips against her younger self's temple, transferring her some images of the future, her future, with the X-Men, X-Force, and her family.
Present Nina's mind was instantly flooded with various images, mostly including herself, and the future that awaited her, that which she was actively currently fighting. She was also instantly overwhelmed by a sense of happiness and contentment. Even if she didn't know the context of all of these future images - yet - they were good memories, that much she knew. And she didn't feel afraid either.
Future Nina lowered her hand, cutting off the connection, giving her younger self a moment to absorb what she had been shown. "You fear what the future holds for you. I understand, I've been there. But you'll figure it out. We both will."
"I-I feel so vulnerable..."
"And that's okay. And it's strong to admit that, and perfectly okay to do so."
"I-I'm just so scared."
"I know. I remember it, clearly."
"How do I stop? Being afraid of it all?"
"You learn to accept them for what they are, your powers, accept that you have as much control over them as you do and may not fully know what they are. And, as for the future, well... What happens is great. That's all I can say."
"And I'm happy?"
"Very."
"And not alone?"
"Never alone. What I've come to learn is that I didn't have to know where I came from in order to be going somewhere. I forged my own path and travelled it."
"Mom." Hope appeared at their sides. She faced Present Nina. "One thing you've taught me is that being true to yourself is the strongest thing you can be. It's difficult at times, but also totally worth it."
Future Nina nodded, very proud of her daughter. She turned back to her younger self. "Remember, you're not as strong as you think."
"No, I'm stronger."
Future Nina smiled. "Exactly. It takes a while for us to realize that, but we get there. And we have all the love and support to get there."
Present Nina was nodding. Then she looked around at all the darkness and destruction surrounding them. She looked down at her hands, both glowing with faint purple energy, and then back up at her future self.
"This isn't me. I decide."
"Don't be fooled so easily." Dark Nina was speaking to her again, her dark future potential self.
"This isn't what I want. All I can see is that I become a total bitch and I really don't want that."
"Your loss."
"My gain, I think."
"You don't understand the significance of who you are and what you can be!" Dark Nina seemed to be becoming desperate, trying to persuade her to choose the darkness, but Nina wasn't going to let herself be so easily swayed, not anymore.
"I know exactly who I am."
"Think of how lonely you are, how alone. How much you always have been. How misunderstood."
"You're right, I have been lonely. But you're also wrong, because I've never ever been alone."
"They don't understand you. You don't even understand - but you can. They never have and never will."
"Yes they do. They know me better than anyone. They're my friends, my family." She cast a glance back at them.
"They only hold you back, drag you down."
"No, they support me, hold me up. You're just using me, and my fears."
"You don't need them."
"I think I do."
"You don't-"
"Oh just shut up!" She turned back to her friends. "Wade - hit it!"
"Ooooo yeah!" Wade rubbed his hands together. "We know what this means! Oh, George Michael we are gonna dance again! Let's do this!"
Present Nina turned to face her dark self. "You pissed off the wrong people, the wrong family." Her eyes flashed with purple light. "Going dark."
The scene of Nathan losing his arm was inspired by an image I saw of Hope cradling her father's arm on Pinterest - so sad! It might have been from the comics, or a drawing, I'm not sure but credit to the artist and thanks for the inspiration! :)
And Nina's line, 'You pissed off the wrong people, the wrong family' was inspired by Lara's line, 'You messed with the wrong family' in 'Tomb Raider' 2018!
Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed this chapter (as always!) :)
