A hearty dinner had been exactly what was needed for everyone. Sage had cooked up a massive pot of beef stew, with Arkady's help of course. Scott had taken note, as had everyone else, that Omega Red was not keen to be anywhere Sage wasn't. He could have sworn he heard her giggling as he whispered something to her in Russian as Scott walked past.
Rogue had quietly thanked both of them for the delicious meal, looking much better after having gotten some well-deserved rest.
Gambit, on the other hand, had been noticeably absent for most of the day, barely speaking to anyone as he took his dinner elsewhere.
Not sure what's going on with him, and I really don't have time for it.
Once everyone had a chance to eat, he ventured upstairs to see Magnus, a conversation they needed to have long overdue.
"Luna wants to talk to you." Pietro handed the phone that he was currently using to video chat with his daughter to Magneto, who was just finishing his dinner.
Magneto was going to protest, but considering it was his granddaughter, he accepted the impromptu request. He wiped his face with a napkin before taking the mobile device from his son.
He could see her face on the screen as he held the phone, and smiled.
"Luna….how are you, my dear?" He asked.
Her eyebrows creased. "Grandpa? Is that you?"
Normally, that phrase would not be so ironic.
"Yes, it is truly me, little dove. It is good to see you, even if it is virtually."
"You don't look so good." Her worried little face made him chuckle.
"I assure you that I am fine. Just a bit under the weather. But….I want to hear all about your time at Braddock Academy."
The change in subject lit up her face, and she told him all about what she had learned and her friends she had made. There was a fondness when Magneto spoke to her, and he couldn't help but think that his granddaughter resembled, in looks and in spirit, the daughter he had lost so long ago.
A knock on the door alerted him to a visitor, and he spoke to Luna.
"My darling, can I call you back later?"
"Sure, Grandpa. Love you!" She cheerfully spoke.
"I love you too, little dove." The call disconnected, and Pietro opened the door, finding Scott on the other side of the door.
"Is now a bad time?" Cyclops asked.
"Let him in, Pietro. We have some things to discuss. Privately." Magneto responded.
Literally seconds after she hung up with her grandfather, she was already on another video call, hoping the recipients would pick up.
Speed was apparently a family trait, as her twin cousins, Billy and Tommy, came on the line.
"Yo, Luna! Long time, no see." Billy grinned.
"Hey. So….I just got off the phone with Grandpa. I kinda need a favor."
The boys glanced at each other. "Okay? What kind of favor?" Tommy asked.
"I need you to go to his safehouse in New York. That's where he is now. Guys, he looks….old."
"Well, duh he looks old. He's like…..old." Billy tried to find the right word before he settled on it.
Luna rolled her eyes. "That's not what I mean. Dad said that he was resurrected a few months ago. They won't tell me details, but something happened and he looked like he was resting, like he was sick or something."
"So….you want us to, what? Spy on him?"
"You're his grandkids. Going to check on him is a built-in alibi." She explained.
The boys thought it over for a minute. "And you can't do it because….?"
"Because I'm halfway across the world, and I don't have Dad's powers, so you guys will get there way faster than me."
"...is Mom there?" Tommy asked.
"Yup. And Aunt Lorna."
"Say less! We'll check in with ya later!" Billy disconnected the call, and Luna shook her head with a chuckle.
"This family is so weird."
She didn't much care for being teleported without warning to some God-awful hole in the wall office, especially since she landed right on her rear as she fell through the portal.
"For fuck's sake, was that really necessary?" She barked.
"Control your temper, Astra. You know why I summoned you." That voice had been haunting her for weeks, that insufferable telepath who was just like her brother.
"Oh great….what is it now?" She stood up, leaning all her weight onto one hip as she crossed her arms.
"Your little plaything was playing double agent." The bald woman spoke from her seat.
"That's literally impossible." Astra retorted.
"Really? Because I got a look inside his mind before I pulled the plug."
Her eyes widened. "You…what? That's impossible! I'm the only one who can kill him, not you."
"Au contraire. You see, I found your little killswitch and flipped it when he told his old flame the truth. All of it."
Astra's face turned into a scowl. "Let me guess. That backwoods hillbilly whore."
"Spilled his guts to her. Apparently he tried to warn Magneto's son. No matter. The boy didn't take the bait. But I'm sure the X-Men are now aware that the clone known as Joseph was a crucial part of imprisoning the real Magneto. Which means they will come looking….for you."
Astra was suddenly unable to move, frozen to the spot. "What….what are you doing-"
"Wrapping up loose ends. They know that you convinced my brother to turn his school into a prison, that you used your little clone boy-toy to sit in as Magneto. They will come looking…"
There was a snap of bone, her head snapping violently to the side, her eyes going blank as her body dropped to the floor.
The bald woman wore a slightly bored expression.
"...and I'm not quite finished with my work yet."