A Necessary Evil (July 2012)

It was morning, still early but light bloomed through the windows in Serena’s room. She felt warmth beside her. Gambits warmth as he laid beside her. He wasn’t facing her like he normally did. His back was to her. She had such an odd dream. As if looking at it with someone elses eyes. She recalled everything she had done including hurting Logan before everything had gone dark. She also, unfortunately, recalled what she did at the dinner table and the feelings she felt toward another young man...Peter Parker. Her body wanted him and Gambit though she didn’t even know him. But everything was hazy in her head, as if she were remembering it all through a pane of dirty glass.

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Stephen appeared back at the tower. Only two people were up and about, Isabella and Kate. Tony and Peter had fallen asleep in the lab and Isabella had come in to force them both to bed. Stephen looked at them as they looked at him and he stepped up to them. “I could use a cup of coffee,” he said. Obviously he had not gotten any sleep last night. Everyone knew he had gone to see Dr. Doom. And he had just returned from that meeting.

Serena's eyes fluttered open and she blinked against the harsh light that streamed in through the window. Outside, she could see grass and trees and she knew then that she wasn't at the Tower. Slowly, the hazy memories of what had happened back in the Tower returned to her. It was all slightly muddy and it was almost as if she had been trapped inside her own body as someone else controlled her. She recalled everything that had happened though and the things she had done and said. She remembered approaching Peter...wanting him...and yet she didn't want him. She wanted Gambit and no one else.

She slowly sat up and she felt Gambit stir beside her. It was odd that his back was to her. She didn't understand why she was at the mansion, or even how she had gotten here.

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Kate was going to be alright. She still felt a little weak, but she would make a full recovery. Steve had been up all night with her and was now sleeping. Tony and Peter were sleeping as well. Logan and Natalya were asleep, but would probably be getting up soon. They both were early risers.

Isabella was making a pot of coffee when Stephen suddenly appeared. She got down an extra cup and then stood there anxiously a moment before finally asking Stephen what she wanted to ask him.

"Well...what did Doom say? Will he help us?"

Stephen picked up the cup and took a sip. He sighed at the taste and the warmth of the coffee. “Well, as you well know, Victor is never easy to bargain with. But, when our world and his is in danger, what choice did he have? I did not tell him about our...contingency. I feel he would just kill Serena and be done with it. So we will need to keep that part a secret,” he said and he didn’t need to say more.

“Even so, his price is high. He wants a large amount of vibranium,” He said. “And the only place I know to get that is Wakanda,” he said.

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Gambit shifted still mostly asleep and now he faced her. His arm was draped over her pillow. He didn’t feel her there and when he didn’t his eyes shot open and he sat up quickly. When he saw her there he sighed in relief. He settled back. “Jesus, you scared me.” He said sleepily and rubbed his face. He felt an awkwardness between them settle in and he didn’t like it. “How do you...uh, feel?” He asked. A simple question, a simple beginning he thought.

Kate was still feeling rather weak and she decided to sit down. Isabella poured two more cups of coffee and prepared one and brought it over for Kate before preparing her own.

"I'm assuming he did not tell you what he wants the vibranium for?

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Serena looked at Gambit when he woke up. She felt the awkwardness settle between them and she did not like that. "I feel...rather confused," she admitted. "I don't know how I got here or why I'm here. I remember other things, but they are extremely hazy. The best way to describe it would be that someone else was controlling my body and I was trapped inside my own mind. What did happen Gambit?"

“Does it really matter Isabella? This is your daughters life we’re talking about,” he said. And If I did know, you know I couldn’t tell you anyway. What you need to concern yourself with is procuring it,” He said as Logan and Natalya came toward them. “Procure what?” Logan asked as he moved into the kitchen. Natalya sat as she smiled at everyone. Logan always made her her coffee and either he or Isabella made her breakfast.

“Vibranium...for Doom,” Stephen said.

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“I think i’d just assume not think about what happened. It wasn’t really you anyway,” He said as he began taking off his clothes. He saw her look at him and he paused in taking off his boxer shorts. “Well? Take off your clothes,” He said. “I need to make love to you...right now,” He told her.

Isabella knew that if Doom wanted vibranium in large amounts then what he was planning wasn't good. However, procuring it for him would mean he would get them the Dark Matter Filament they needed to destroy the tablet and save Serena's life. They would then deal with Doom and whatever it was he was planning.

"Well, I guess we're going to Wakanda then. Good thing Tony and I know King T'Challa."

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Serena watched Gambit as he suddenly started to take off his clothes instead of telling her what had happened. She felt a strong feeling of anger and frustration come over her and she snapped at Gambit.

"Well I NEED to know how the hell I got here and why I'm here!"

It wasn't like Serena to yell at Gambit like that and she felt terrible as soon as the words left her mouth. Tears suddenly came to her eyes and she looked away from him as the tears began to stream down her cheeks.

"I...I'm sorry...I don't know what's wrong with me."

Gambit shifted to take her into his arms. He kissed her cheek and her forehead as he began to tell her all that had happened. All that he knew anyway. He told her that Nyx had re-emerged because of a Tablet left by someone who was not Bruce Banner. Stephen Strange was now helping them and that her family were devising a way to contact Doctor Doom in order to get what they needed to destroy the tablet. About how she acted, he explained that it wasnt her and she was given a sedative and brought here. Charles put Nyx back into her box and that she was now herself again...though her outburst was not common for her either.

“So cherie mwen, we are making love right now to get back to where we were,” he said. He saw that she was crying but he tilted up her head anyway and kissed her lips. “Come, make love to me Serena...my fiance,” He whispered into her mouth.

Hearing Gambit call her his 'cherie mwen' awoke a fire inside of Serena and she began to kiss him back deeply. Serena was extremely passionate during their love making and afterwards she lay in his arms.

"So, I guess our elopement is postponed then?"

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Isabella called T'Challa and informed him that she and Tony needed to speak to him and asked if they might come to Wakanda. T'Challa agreed and Kate and Natalya went to go ready the jet while Isabella went to go speak to Tony.

She walked into their room and sat down on the edge of the bed on his side and gently touched his arm to awaken him. She had brought him a cup of coffee and she waited for him to take a few sips before speaking.

"Doom wants large amounts of vibranium. I've arranged a visit to Wakanda with King T'Challa. I figured it would be better to speak to him about this in person. Kate and Natalya are readying the jet."

Tony was very tired but he never really slept much. He sipped the coffee and listened to his wife. Tony didn’t trust Doom, no one did and his bid for Vibranium sounded like something Victor would ask for. “You go, Peter and I have alot of work to do,” He said. “T’Challa will listen to you but they will not want to give up that much Vibranium. However considering what the world faces, he’ll cave,” He said. He saw Isabella’s expression and he knew how she felt. He set down his cup and took her face into his hands.

“I don’t like not telling them everything but what choice do we have? The more people we tell, the more likely someone will decide its a better path. I won’t put our daughter in any more danger than she is already,” He said. “And I know you won’t either,” He said.

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“I think we need to get Nyx out of your head first Serena,” He said. “But I want you to know something. Something I think you deserve to know. If you died, Nyx would die with you and the threat would end. Everyone is working toward getting her out of your head and to do that your folks are making a deal with Doctor Doom,” Gambit said.

Isabella was scared for their daughter and unsure of what all was happening. She was determined to help her, but also felt herself cracking. She didn't want to even think about having to kill Serena. She couldn't. She would do everything in her power to prevent that from happening.

She said goodbye to Tony and she, Kate, Natalya, Logan, and Steve boarded the jet and headed to Wakanda. The jet was fast, but it would still take hours to get there.

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Serena listened quietly to what Gambit told her. She looked away from Gambit when he told her that her parents were making a deal with Doom. "I'm not worth all of this Gambit. Whatever Doom wants is going to be for a very bad purpose and if my death will get rid of Nyx forever then..."

Gambit grabbed her arm roughly so she would look at him. His face looked angry. “Don’t you talk like that! We’ve been through too much, they’ve been through too much for you to dishonor their efforts or their love for you. You are their kin, their family Serena. I walked away from mine because I saw I wasn’t really one of them. But you are a Stark. Its in your bones Serena. And one day you will fight alongside them as an Avenger or here with me as an X-men. Or maybe not, but you are worthy of the sacrifices they make for you. So I won’t hear you talk that way, do you understand?” He said as he let go of her.

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Isabella sat in the back. Natalya was the pilot with Steve as her co-pilot. Kate and Logan were nearest to the cockpit, they were close enough to talk to them and Isabella spoke to Tony inside her helmet over Video conference.

“T’Challa is a reasonable man but they are fiercely protective of the Vibranium. It’s a resource that is not infinite so they will not part with it easily. Do what you have to to get it, even if it means taking it from them. Doom will not help us without it,” He said.

Serena felt tears come to her eyes as Gambit spoke. She didn't want to die. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with Gambit. She wanted to see what the future held for them. However, she was also fearful of what might happen to the world if Nyx was to escape. She slowly nodded in understanding to what Gambit said. She didn't want to talk about that anymore or even think about it. She moved closer to Gambit and felt his arms go around her. "Do you want children?"

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Isabella was dressed in a well tailored, knee length skirt, a silk blouse, and expensive pumps. Despite her maturing age, she still looked incredible and kept her body in shape. Isabella was still considered extremely beautiful and she was counting on T'Challa's playful attraction towards her to get this vibranium. She had no intention of telling him about their contingency plan and she hoped she could convince him to give it to her.

"I will not take it from him Tony," she told her husband over video conference. "T'Challa is a friend and ally. It would not be wise of us to make an enemy of him. I will make him see reason."

“Well I hope your right then, Isabella. You know the Wakandans play by their own rules. They have taken great pains to keep themselves separate from the rest of the world. Whatever it takes! We will not lose Serena!” He said forcefully. So loud in fact Logan twisted in his seat and glanced back at her then faced forward once more.

The jet was permitted entrance through the shield and Naalya landed just to the side of their main courtyard. T’Challa and a full entourage met them and he smiled when they disembarked from the jet. T’Challa was dressed in a very sharp, black suit with just a hint of violet embroidery on the collar, lepels and sleeves. He nodded a bow to everyone.

“It had been too long, Isabella Stark,” He said as he greeted them and he stepped up to give Isabella a warm hug. He had a musky scent, it was strong and mixed with a dark, heady scent that was all his own. He kissed her cheek and allowed her to do the same. Logan’s eyes grew at seeing the warm reception. It seemed a bit ‘too’ warm for him but he said nothing. Nor did Steve and Kate.

“Steve Rogers, Kate Blackwell. Logan and Natalya Sokolova, welcome to Wakonda. I take it this visit is not one of pleasure?” He asked and appeared to look around. “Where is Tony Stark? Did he not come?” He asked.

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Gambit’s eyebrows drew up at the question. “Uh…” He stuttered but then a response came to him. “Ofcourse, especially if having a couple keeps you out of trouble,” He said. Gambit could see that any children they had would be beautiful but he never really saw himself as a father. But that was his knee jerk reaction to her question. However with Serena...he could see that for them. He thought she’d be an excellent mother, especially after how the students had taken to her. Especially the younger ones.

It had been a few years since Isabella had seen T'Challa. Tony and T'Challa enjoyed showing off their newest technological advances and for a few years they had come to Wakanda every year. Their last visit had been almost 3 years ago now, but T'Challa hadn't changed at all. He was quite a strikingly handsome man and in that suit he was even more so. Isabella had earned T'Challa's respect and friendship and so there was little formality between them anymore. Thus, she was not surprised when he greeted her with a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek. She did the same and had purposefully worn the perfume she knew T'Challa liked, again in hopes in swaying him to give her the vibranium.

"No, unfortunately Tony was not able to join us. He is back in New York working on something important. I wish I could say that this was a visit of pleasure, but it is not. Something has happened and only you can help us," she said, playing into T'Challa's ego a little. Isabella knew how to negotiate with powerful men. In fact, she did it every day with Tony.

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Serena heard Gambit's reaction and she knew then that he had not yet considered children. However, his response was not negative so she considered that a good thing. "I'm not talking about having one any time soon...but I just didn't know if that was something you had ever considered."

“I think a man presented with a beautiful wife, someone he feels he can be with for his lifetime, well, It’s a natural progression. I never thought I’d ever get married and here we are. In fact, your ring was ready yesterday, did you want to go and pick it up?” He asked and then he smiled playfully at her. “I hope you aren’t one of ‘those’ women that as soon as I get a ring on your finger, you become less affectionate or...adventurous,” He said as he laid back casually in the bed. Serena had the bed sheet covering most of her but he still saw the side of her right breast where the sheet had hung low on her body. He was not so modest and was just there for her to see. He was confident like that in everyway. That’s part of what made him an excellent poker player. That inner confidence he had. He ‘knew’ he was good and was going to win. And usually he did.

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“Well, come, let us enjoy some refreshments. Take your ease and enjoy all that we have to offer,” He said with an extended hand. He took hers and walked with her inside. With his entourage in tow there was quite alot of people but the palace opened up and its beauty and elegance made the others heads turn.

Logan and Natalya were engaged with Princess Shuri who was very interested in examining Logan and taking a look at Natalya’s brain of all things. Isabella had given instructions for them to be diplomatic so the word no was not in their vocabulary for this visit. Steve and Kate were engaged by Okoye who did not like leaving T’Challa’s side but knew he had a thing for Isabella and so she let them go. There were many guards in the palace.

“I was wondering if you’d ever return Isabella, after what I did,” he said softly as they walked along one of the hallways. T’Challa had made a pass at Isabella and she had kissed him back but then realised what she had done and then stepped away from him. Now she was back and he held her hand as they walked. Obviously he was still quite into her and was hopeful.

“You left so suddenly I did not get a chance to apologize. I did not mean to encroach on your western sensibilities. We Wakondan’s do things...a bit different I think,” He said.

Thinking about picking up the ring was a welcome distraction for Serena. She smiled at Gambit and he would know that she would not turn down going to pick up the ring that day. It would be a bit of a drive to get back into the city, but they didn't have much else they needed to do. She laughed a little at what he said and she then turned over onto her side and grinned at him. "And I hope you aren't one of those men who will turn lazy...or become selfish in bed," she playfully teased.


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Natalya wasn't so sure she wanted to have her brain examined, but she knew she couldn't say no so she agreed to the scan. "What exactly are you looking for?" she asked the young princess as she and Logan followed her to her lab.

Isabella had been a little nervous about coming back to Wakanda after what had happened last time she was here. It had been late one evening and Isabella had had a little bit too much to drink at dinner and so when T'Challa had made a pass at her and kissed her, she had kissed him back for a moment. However, she had quickly realized what she was doing and had pulled back and made an excuse and left.

"I was rather embarrassed," she admitted. "My behavior was unacceptable and I feared losing our friendship. I hope you can forgive me."

T’Challa smiled. “As I said, your western sensibilities are still very strange to me. I thought I had offended you. And you are no less beautiful than you were then. As you said, you haven’t aged a day,” he said but then the silence stretched. This conversation was too much of an addendum from the last time they met. And he even let go of her hand not wanting to offend her. T’CHalla didn’t like the feel, the knowledge that Isabella thought that their kiss had been a mistake. He certainly didn’t see it that way. And he still didn’t.

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Gambit drove but had stopped and got them a couple of breakfast sandwiches. Serena fed him with her fingers and he sucked and licked at the grease on her fingers. Her smiles of delight and giggles made him think as if nothing at all bad had happened between them. She wore that short skirt he liked. Serena had very sexy legs and Gambit liked to see them as much as she would allow. That and he liked to touch her in very naughty ways while he drove and a skirt made it possible when she allowed it. Today she just held his hand in her lap and kissed it occasionally. Today Serena was just a young woman in love, going to pick up her engagement ring that would lock her and her man together forever.

“So how many? I always thought that three is a good number. The middle child would ofcourse be very much a momma’s boy,” He said as he spared a glance at her as he drove.

Isabella was quiet a moment before looking back at T’Challa and speaking softly. “It was a wonderful kiss,” she admitted. She let that hang between them for a moment before she spoke again. “I’m here because the world is in danger and you are the only person who can stop it.” She then began to explain everything to him. T’Challa was quiet and reflective as she spoke and she could see he was listening closely to everything she said.

“Doom will only agree to giving us the Dark Matter Filament we need to destroy the tablet if he gets vibranium...a large of it.”

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Serena was glad for the distraction Gambit gave her from the knowledge of what was going on with Nyx. She could only hope that things would turn out in the end. However she wouldn’t think of ‘what ifs’. She wanted to focus on the present. She laughed a little at Gambit’s comment.

“You know we cannot choose the baby’s gender, right?”

T’Challa stopped abruptly and turned to face her. His eyes were distant for a moment as he began to realize the scope of the situation. What he didn’t understand was that Why was Isabella sent? Was she sent to influence him into giving up the Vibranium. For over a century Westerners have manipulated the rest of the world to push forward their own agendas. He could not be certain but he sensed Isabella’s urgency. It was the way she spoke to him. How she tried to remain close to him. There was some personal motive in this for her but he didn’t know what.

“So once again we Wokandans must give of ourselves to save the rest of the world,” he said. “The vibranium is the cornerstone of everything here. Our technology, everything. Our supply is limited, finite. It could mean the decline of everything we’ve built here. I can not endanger my people, Isabella. What you ask, the cost is too high,” He said.

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Shuri looked at Natlaya’s brain scans. THere were all sorts of aberrations, as if memory links had been forced in and several of them forcibly removed. Her brain had created new memory and cognitive pathways to in a sense, repair the damage but even in the earlier stages of development, those aberrations were constantly introduced into her mind.

Logan stood near Natalya as the scanner was just above her head. She looked at him and he smiled back to her. It didn’t hurt but he could tell she didn't like it. “So there is a great deal of cognitive damage in your frontal lobe Natalya. I am amazed that you are still conscious of what you are doing. It appears there were great steps taken to remove your emotional awareness from your cognitive behavior. I can see that you have many nightmares. Your minds way or trying to reconcile the cap in your cognitive memory. I.E. A coping mechanism to try and rationalize what you’ve seen and done. Amazingly you’ve created a coping mechanism of your own..here,” She showed as she brought up a three dimensional scan of her brin. She pointed to a spot that had alot of red where the rest of her brain was mostly white. Twice this has happened, once a few years ago, and again recently,”she said, She didnt know it but those were the times that Logan had helped her recover. He was a catalyst that her brain used as a coping mechanism and do to this her attachment to him was strong.

“I could repair the damage...if you want. No more nightmares, no more aberrations. You would retain your skills and abilities but the forced memories would be gone. ‘All of the memories brought to her from the helmet’ Logan thought as Shuri turned off the scan and pivoted the chair for Natalya to sit up.

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“Well, that’s not exactly true. I’ve heard that you can ‘influence’ the gender depending on the sexual position during conception. Boy swimmers are usually a little bit more finicky...I think as it was told to me,” He said. So far they were pretty much either her on top or him on top. He liked looking at her face and her body but he could see her cheeks coloring when she thought about that. He laughed a good laugh. “Hey, it’s what I heard,” He said with a shrug.

Isabella could sense that T'Challa was hesitant at what she was asking. This was a delicate situation she was in and she needed to be careful...very careful. This was a business negotiation with a friend and those were always tricky. She didn't want to offend him or push him too hard, but this was extremely important.

"I understand that I'm asking a lot of you, but if we do not destroy the tablet then Nyx will be freed and Wakanda will not be immune to her destruction. No amount of technology then will be able to save you from a God. This is our only hope T'Challa. I would not be here asking you for this if it was not important. Please..."

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Natalya sighed as she considered Shuri's offer. It was a generous one, and the thought of not having any more nightmares was a pleasant thought, but Natalya was hesitant. "I...I don't know. I've already had my brain messed with a lot. I'm not so sure I want to go through it again."

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Serena smiled and laughed and then looked at Gambit. "Well, nothing has to be seriously discussed or thought about now in that area. I was more just curious if it was something that we would even want to possibly discuss in the future. For now though I just want you."

Shuri’s eyes grew wide and ignored Natlya’s insult. She doubted the woman meant it that way. “Oh Natalya, we would not be ‘messing’ with your brain. Only healing it, the damage that was done. Nothing more. Logan wondered if it would change how Natalya felt about him. Or their connection. Would she even know him or feel the same way about him? But those were selfish thoughts. This was Natalya they were talking about, someone he deeply cared about. Someone he loved.

“Could you...leave us to talk please?” Logan said. When SHuri nodded and left them he turned to Natalya. “I think you should do it Natalya. If all they want to do is remove the influence of the helmet, the SSB knew that they were harming your brain each time they did it. Imagine, no nightmares, you could be back to yourself,” He said though he didn’t elaborate on that. He loved who she was now. He loved that she needed him. ‘Would she love me if she didn’t need me?’ He wondered.

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“Once again events happen but we are the last to learn of them. You tell me that the world is in danger, would you if you did not need something from us? I think you are becoming more and more like those politicians who do not like Wokandans poking around into their business. We are not difficult to communicate with Isabella,” He said feeling more than a little irritated. Mostly because she had not bothered to see him in three years like they did not exist.

“You will tell me exactly how this Nyx has come to be, who she is and what you’ve done in order to stop her yourselves. Just because you do not know how to defeat her does not mean that we would not,” He said.

Natalya sighed and crossed her arms over her chest as she listened to Logan. She looked away from him and shook her head. "And who am I Logan? The life I had before you was with the SSB. I've never had another life. I don't know what would happen to me if those influences were removed. It's not like I ever had any happiness before I met you. I don't know who I would become...but I know who I am now. Yes, she is screwed up, but at least I know her and can deal with her...because I have you."

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Isabella felt like she was walking on a tightrope in this conversation with T'Challa. "You are not the last to know. We only just found out about the tablet and it's effect on Serena and Nyx. It's been 48 hours. No one else knows but us and now you."

They had reached the seating area where he had been leading her and they sat and some tea was brought. While they sat Isabella told T'Challa everything she knew about Nyx, which wasn't much. She told him how one of her children had disguised himself as Bruce Banner to bring the tablet into the Tower and how Dr. Strange had warned them that if two of her other children, Darkness and Dreams, brought the other runes that Nyx would be able to escape Serena's consciousness and would then destroy the world.

"We believe that destroying the tablet would end Nyx, but experimentation on the tablet showed that it will take a Dark Matter Filament to get the job done."

“But don’t you want to be independent? Your own woman who doesn’t need anyone? Would ‘that’ Natalya love Me? I wonder about that sometimes. Do you love me because of what I’ve done for you and only that? I doubt that you could know that,” Logan said. “And I know what you’d say next. Does it matter?” He said. “I’m not certain if it matters, I don’t want to lose you but that’s just me being selfish. You could feel better, be happy,” he said and then he did something he never thought he would have done. Brought up Malcolm.

“You could be everything Malcolm wants. Remember Malcolm? The only reason you’re not with him was because you couldn’t be what he wanted. What if you could be? Wouldn’t that be something?” He said.

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T’Challa listened but he was far from convinced. “Shuri is quite the scientist, before I give you anything I will have her examine what Tony and this Peter Parker are building. Where is Nyx now?” He asked.

Natalya looked sharply over at Logan and he would see that she was angry...very angry at what he just said. She began to tremble from it. "And what about what the hell I want Logan? Does that matter at all? Because it seems like it doesn't. It seems like all that matter is what you want and what Malcolm wants. Well I'm done being what everyone else wants me to be. I don't want to do this...and I won't."

She didn't let him speak and she turned and walked quickly away from him.

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Isabella nodded a little and looked at T'Challa. "Nyx is trapped in a box inside Serena's consciousness."

Logan followed her out and her outburst had made him a little bit angry. He grabbed her arm as soon as she made it through the doors. The guards looked at them but didn’t do anything when they passed by them. “Now you just wait a god damn minute You can’t admit it, can you? It would be easy for me to tell you that I don’t want anything to change. Easy and selfish. I get you needing me and you rely on me helping you. So that is what our lives, our relationship has been based on. THis is about that you’re afraid,” He said and poked her in the chest, pretty hard and his face was close to hers.

“You’re afraid to walk without your...crutch!” Logan growled. “Well, maybe I’m tired of being your fuckin crutch! Maybe I have ‘needs’ to!” He said. “How DARE you accuse me...I can’t even say it,” He said as he looked at her. His face was all a scowl and he shook his head at her then turned to walk away.

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Once Isabella explained the situation T’Challa had a renewed understanding of the exact situation. “So, this Nyx is inside Serena’s head...and, what if Serena dies? WIll Nyx be free?” He asked. When she told him that if Serena died, Nyx would die he narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head. “Isabella, I understand that she is your only daughter, but our entire race, our entire civilization could be in jeopardy if we give you that much Vibranium. My people will do what I ask but I have a responsibility to them as their King,” He said but then saw Isabella become upset. He stood, moved beside her then knelt before her.

“We will take a look at this weapon but I think I would like you to bring Serena here. Our technology might be able to separate Nyx from her mind. So...I’m afraid I must deny your request though it pains me to do so,” He said as he laid his hand on hers. “I would do anything to stop you from being hurt Isabella, but we must explore all other avenues first,” he said softly.