A/N: This could have been filed under an omake for Random Setups, but I decided to put just a bit more effort because it's my ship.
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Prover
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"I stepped on the shadowland, there is no paradise.
Sappy old remedies, uncertain, lost in the night."
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"Why so glum, chum?" A familiar voice mocked, drawing the prisoner's attention to the new arrival. "How does it feel to be proven right but left defeated?"
Abigail Brand stood across the prison bars with her arms crossed. It was clear to him she was studying him behind her distinct green shades, taking his state into account for whatever purpose brought her to his cell.
Scott Summers, face still hard as stone despite the turmoil the day had brought, replied in a rigid tone, "It doesn't matter. Only the survival of my people does."
"Excellent." She clapped, pleased at his response. "I wondered if defeat broke you. If it did, then I have no need of you."
Scott took no offense to the clear barb, and then cut through her niceties. "What are you doing here, Brand? I have a list of people I was expecting to visit, especially after what happened today, and you're not on it."
"Did any of them visit?"
"Brand…" Scott frowned at her.
"It's related to my purpose here." Abigail waved him off. "Humor me."
"No."
"Not even Logan?" She pressed.
"No."
"Erik?"
"No." Scott replied, a tad more forcefully. Abigail's shoulders relaxed, and Scott knew she understood.
He wasn't playing her game.
"Excellent." Abigail once more said. "Then I have a proposition for you, Scott." She paused, clearly, waiting for a response from the inmate and, when none came, she continued nonplussed. "I can get you out of here legally, albeit temporarily."
Scott looked at her suspiciously. "What is this about?"
She must have known he could break out anytime he wanted—he had just been contemplating if he should do so when she arrived. And if he chose to stay, he knew a trial was imminent and he'd be acquitted. Delayed, but imminent; neither the Avengers nor the X-Men had a way to prevent it.
So, why was Brand being hasty?
Abigail cleared her throat, before beginning her briefing.
"An individual fitting Mr. Sinister's description was spotted in the planet Sybas, purchasing corpses from the black markets of the frontier town of Roth. Yes, that's not a planet in our solar system, and yes, alien bodies. Don't act stupid."
His lips twitched in amusement. He wasn't going to say anything, but he could tell Brand was having fun at his expense, now that their roles had reversed. She was now in charge.
"Normally, I wouldn't act so swiftly without clearer intel." Abigail continued. "However, Mr. Sinister is the same threat that singlehandedly decapitated a Celestial and repurposed its head, nearly triggering another Host. He is not a threat I take lightly, even when the higher ups think otherwise."
"Higher ups?" Scott repeated. "What happened to your group?"
"S.W.O.R.D. is now fully under S.H.I.E.L.D. command. I'm not calling the shots. They don't find this a priority threat." Her lips thinned, betraying her veiled disappointment at her new position. "I do."
"So your mission hasn't changed despite the new management." He stated, respecting her resolve.
"Yes." She declared, "Earth is still mine to defend against extraterrestrial threats."
"Who is in our squad?"
"Just us two." He must've looked surprised, because Abigail suddenly smirked. "If we need reinforcements, I'll make that call. But as it is, this isn't an official mission. At best, this is an investigation."
Something itched at the back of his mind. "Then why."
"You need to be away and given new purpose."
"I need to be here." Scott rebutted. "And the safety of all mutantkind is my purpose."
"Not anymore. Not now." She waved a hand towards him, "Especially not when your skills are best suited elsewhere."
"A mutant died today, Brand." Scott reminded her of a fact she was no doubt aware of. "And more mutants, our children, will die and no one else seems willing to fight for them. Much less the establishment."
"Children will still die even if you get your way." Abigail pointed out.
"I know." Scott frowned; that was just the grim reality of the world. "But I can't just stand by."
Abigail shook her head. "And I'm not asking you to. But your skills are best suited elsewhere: stopping dangerous threats. You've accomplished your mission. You've averted the extinction of your people." Abigail sounded almost proud of the fact, and Scott found himself unnerved by it. "Let your people deal with the establishment."
Scott's lips upturned in doubt. "I don't know."
"Just leave it to them." She reassured. "You can't hold their hands forever, Scott. Not when your skills are better used elsewhere." When it seemed he was still hesitant, Abigail decided to take the sterner approach. "Face it, Scott. Your people have turned against you. Even if you get out now, they will not listen to you."
When his shoulders sagged, Abigail took it as her cue to press on. "I helped you accomplish your job. Now support me in finishing mine."
"I still don't understand why me."
"I trust your skills and judgment. Your abilities are best suited elsewhere." Abigail repeated.
And it was true. Dealing with Mr. Sinister, and whatever manner of evil that came with him, meant straddling a line that separated heroes from monsters. Scott had already proven to her that he could see that line, understand its gravity, and had the resolve to cross it when needed and come back.
She held no small amount of respected for the amount of character required for that.
"And like I said, you need a better hobby." She smirked at him knowingly. "Do this, and Emma will be released. The rest of your group will be kept safe—provided they don't do something stupid."
"That's a start, but-"
"Don't make me praise you any more, Scott. I might actually die." Abigail cut him off with a playful frown. "Nobody likes unwarranted humility. I need your skills. So, what's your decision?"
Scott took a moment to gather his thoughts.
He knew what he was about to do before her visit.
All his pent-up rage, all his frustrations at both himself and his situation- the grief from killing his father-figure and the burning fire to make his dream a reality- he wanted what was left of his life to mean something.
To bring justice, to bring equity for mutantkind.
To prove to himself that he wasn't a monster.
So what was he going to do with the remainder of his life?
Gradually, Scott straightened as his mind was made. He approached the bars until he stood face to face with the devil herself.
Abigail, the devil, remained quiet but attentive.
"There was a mutant that was murdered here today. His name was Jake. He was about to be released, and his murder was allowed because he was a mutant." Scott began, "In addition to your offer, I want justice to be delivered. I want your promise that reforms will be made to make sure mutants under custody will be treated better."
"Those are two separate requests, Scott." Abigail clarified.
"Can you do it?"
"Yes, I can."
"Very well." He reached a hand out to her. "Then we have a deal."
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"Don't you look back, all the footsteps you took are left in the past, afar.
Don't you forget or let go of the path that brought you to where you are."
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Omake: Another Bad Romance
"Why are you always angry at me?" Scott frowned, clearly insulted by her treatment of him. "Rough breakup with Hank?" He spat, knowing it was a low-blow.
"It's all your fault, Scott." Abigail fired back without thinking. Her eyes widened, but seeing as how Scott had heard her, she knew she couldn't take it back. Only double down. "Yeah, I said it. We broke up and it's all your damn fault!"
"What the hell did I do?"
"I don't know how you're living rent-free in that furry bastard's head, but you need to clear out. For his sake." She huffed.
Scott pinched the bridge of his nose. "You're joking."
"I don't joke." Abigail heatedly declared. "Seriously. Neglect, I can deal with. I understand prioritizing work. But everything else he does? On one of our dates, he kept trying to get me to wear red shades and kept dropping hints to get my hair cut shorter."
"That's… not too bad?"
"And then I found one of your old spandex in his suitcase." Abigail's brows furrowed in pain at the memory. Scott's did, too, not that she paid him attention as she continued, "Hell, he once cursed your name when he finished in me- before I even finished, too!"
Scott resolutely refused that imagery, and made a mental note to find brain bleach.
"If that's the case, then it wasn't meant to last." Scott surmised. He also made a mental note to be more cautious around Hank if they ever met up again, because the man clearly had issues.
And that was him saying it.
"Fuck you." Abigail cursed, before sighing. "No, you're right. I knew it wouldn't last."
"Is that an apology I hear?" Scott knowingly smiled, already fluent in Brand-speak.
"Yes," Abigail's shoulders sagged in defeat, even as she continued to glare at him. "But also, fuck you."
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Omake: Branding
"You do know Brand isn't my last name, right?"
"I heard something along those lines. But calling you Abigail makes me uncomfortable." Scott admitted. "So, what is your last name?"
"That's a secret." Abigail immediately replied with a mocking smirk.
"Fine. Then what do you want me to call you?"
A list of names flew through her mind, and Abigail fought the flush that crept towards her cheeks. She willfully turned away from him.
"Brand is fine." She finally said, ears aflame.
Scott was confused. "Then why bring it u-"
"I said its fine, you idiot!"
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A/N: Song choice is Prover by milet, with snippets of its English translation by mewsic on YouTube. It's the second ending song to F/GO: Absolute Demonic Front Babylonia. And pretty much the theme song of Best King. I highly recommend checking that anime out.
As for this piece:
Originally, I wanted to write a Made in Abyss-esque short horror story involving VoidClops and Brand going toe-to-toe with Mr. Sinister. But as I started planning it, I realized it's gonna be, like, 20ish parts.
And I'm just no longer as invested in Marvel or even the X-Men to give a fuck.
So, to the anthology this goes~ another mini-series that might get additional snippets if I can ever give a fuck again.
I'd then normally take this moment to write my monologue discussing why BrandClops was my ship back in the Utopia-era but, and you've guessed it, I just don't give a fuck anymore. –insert smiley face-
I'm not angry at DisMarvel- not anymore. I just reached the point of apathy, where nothing they do or announce gets me excited like it used to.
Anyways.
If you liked what you read, please leave a review. Take care all and always keep safe~
