[76] The Morning After

Chapter 76: The Morning After

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Limbo's version of dawn cast a strange, reddish glow through the obsidian windows of the castle. The light played across the silken sheets that covered us, turning the fabric into rippling crimson waves. I'd never imagined waking up in a demonic dimension could feel so... peaceful.

Hope lay beside me, her silver hair spread across the pillow like moonlight. She was tracing lazy patterns on my chest with her finger, unusually quiet and contemplative. There was something different about her this morning. The hard edges of Charmcaster had softened, revealing more of the vulnerable woman beneath the sorceress facade.

I watched her for a while, enjoying the comfortable silence between us. It was hard to reconcile this gentle, almost shy woman with the vengeful witch who'd nearly gotten herself killed confronting a magical turtle god yesterday. Both were real, I supposed. Both were Hope.

"So," I finally said, my voice still rough with sleep, "what happens next for you? The Ancient One invited you to Kamar-Taj. You could train there, learn to control your powers better."

Her finger paused its tracing, and a strange expression crossed her face, something between amusement and yearning.

"Can't we just settle down and get married?" she replied with unexpected softness. "You definitely liked hearing me call you hubby, no? Or was that an act?" Her voice carried a mixture of teasing and something that sounded genuinely wistful.

I couldn't help but laugh, squeezing her waist under the sheets. "Well, I could make you my work wife. How's that sound?"

To my surprise, she laughed. A real laugh, not her usual bitter one. The sound made something warm unfurl in my chest.

"But nope, not Kamar-Taj," she said, propping herself up on one elbow to look at me better. "You fell for my evil charms. How can I give it up and become one of the good guys?"

I reached up, lifting her chin with my finger. "One of the good girls. Aren't you?"

A blush spread across her cheeks, and she looked away. "...You're so corny," she muttered, even as she leaned down to press her lips against mine. When she pulled back, she added in a whisper, "Yes, I am. For you."

The admission made me grin like an idiot. I tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, marveling at how much had changed between us in such a short time. From enemies to reluctant allies to... whatever this was now.

She cleared her throat.

"Kamar-Taj's approach to magic is vastly different from mine," she explained, settling back against my chest. "Their discipline is about harmony and balance. My magic..." She hesitated. "It comes from a darker place. It's fueled by emotion, by will. Trying to reshape that would be like asking a tiger to become a house cat."

I nodded, thinking about the diversity of magical disciplines in this universe. From what I remembered from my past life's knowledge, there were countless magical traditions. Kamar-Taj's mysticism, Asgardian rune magic, Wanda's chaos magic, Doctor Voodoo's practices...

"Oh right, do you know how to train Chi?" I asked, a thought occurring to me as I recalled the Immortal Iron Fist. "I'm interested in martial arts since my normal form isn't particularly strong."

She looked up at me, surprised by the question. "Chi? Like from Kung-Fu movies?"

"Yeah, it's a real thing. I mean, the Omnitrix gives me aliens with physical strength, but when I'm just human Ben..." I shrugged. "Don't call me greedy. It would be nice to have some skills that don't rely on the watch."

Hope's expression softened with something like affection. "I can teach you magic, baby.”

“I fear I don't have the talent,” I sighed.

“Mhm, I think I know where all your magical talent went,” she muttered as her hand slid down my abs, grabbing the hard mountain. I gave her a dry look, making her laugh. “Oh, you're so cute… Ahem, anyways. I've heard of Chi manipulation but never studied it myself. The principles are adjacent to certain magical practices, but not exactly the same."

"Damn. Worth a shot."

"But," she added quickly, tracing a finger down my chest again, "I could research it for you during my journey. Bring you some materials."

I raised an eyebrow. "Just looking for an excuse to see me again?"

"Maybe," she admitted with a small smile. "Is it working?"

I pulled her closer, enjoying the warmth of her body against mine. "Absolutely."

She shifted, sliding on top of me under the sheets, her silver hair falling around us like a curtain. Her lips found mine, soft and eager, her body pressing against me in ways that sent heat racing through my veins all over again.

Just as things were getting interesting…

"Ben, is Charmcaster awak–" Followed by those words, a startled "EEK!" broke the moment. We both jerked our heads toward the sound to find Kitty Pryde's head and shoulders phased halfway through the wall, her eyes wide with shock.

Kitty's words died as she registered the scene before her. Hope was straddling me, the sheet barely preserving our modesty, clearly caught in the middle of something intimate.

"Oh my god! I'm so sorry!" Kitty's face turned bright red as she started to retreat back through the wall. "Illyana sent me to tell you she's ready to create a portal back to the Institute. Whenever you're... um... finished."

Her head disappeared with impressive speed.

Hope buried her face against my neck, her shoulders shaking with embarrassed laughter. "Well," she murmured against my skin, "that's one way to make an impression on your friends."

"That girl is definitely sharing this with her friends. Ugh, they're never going to let me live this down," I groaned, though I couldn't help laughing too.

****

The portal snapped shut behind us with a sound like tearing fabric. The transition from Limbo's perpetual crimson twilight to the bright morning sunlight streaming through Illyana's bedroom window was jarring. I blinked, trying to adjust to the sudden change in both light and atmosphere.

My vision cleared to reveal that Illyana's room was unexpectedly crowded.

Gwen and Grandpa Max stood near the door, their expressions tight with a mixture of worry and disapproval. Professor Xavier sat in his wheelchair, his face serious. Colossus loomed near his sister's bed, his massive frame practically vibrating with protective fury. Jean Grey and Emma Frost observed from opposite corners of the room, the former concerned, the latter looking very amused.

The silence was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Before anyone could speak, Illyana raised her hand. Despite having returned to her human form, she still radiated the authority of Limbo's queen. "Everyone," she said, her accent thicker than usual, "no shame in entering a girl's room unannounced? We will not have this discussion here. All of you out. Now."

Even Xavier seemed taken aback by her tone. After a moment's hesitation, he nodded, wheeling toward the door. The others followed suit, filing out into the hallway.

The walk to Xavier's study felt like the longest walk of my life. Gwen refused to look at me, her back rigid with hurt and anger. I winced, knowing I owed her more than just an explanation.

We'd been avoiding a certain conversation ever since that day in the woods – the talk about my many "girl problems" as she would call them. This wasn't going to make things any easier.

Once the heavy oak doors of Xavier's study closed behind us, Colossus moved with surprising speed for someone his size. Before I knew what was happening, he had used his imposing presence to back me against a bookshelf.

"You endangered my sister and Kitty," he said, his voice dangerously low despite not transforming into his metal form. "After everything Illyana has endured in that place."

"Piotr, stop," Illyana said sharply, placing a hand on her brother's massive arm. "I chose to go. I am not a child."

"And I'm fine too, thanks for asking," Kitty added, crossing her arms. "Ben was trying to save someone who needed help. That's what we do here, right?"

Colossus looked between the two women, then back at me. With a heavy sigh, he stepped back. Even he wasn't willing to continue confronting a teenager with two women defending him.

I straightened my jacket, trying to regain some dignity. "I didn't blame the man. If some random dude came and took Gwen to some demonic realm, I'd be mad too. “Look, I'm sorry for the worry we caused. But my friend Charmcaster here was caught in a situation she couldn't handle alone."

At the mention of her name, all eyes turned to Hope, who stood near the door looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. After a moment's hesitation, she stepped forward, approaching Gwen who stood rigid at the oak table.

With visible effort, Hope removed the Archamada Book of Spells and the charms from her neck, placing them in Gwen's hands.

"They're yours," she said, her voice barely steady. "I... apologize, Gwenny. For the theft and betrayal." She added with a hint of her old defiance, "Technically, as Hex's niece, these artifacts should rightfully pass to me, but... whatever, he stole them anyway. You owe this to your cousin. He was willing to tear apart dimensions for m– for both of us."

Gwen's expression shifted rapidly between relief, confusion, and suspicion as she clutched the returned items. She shot me a sharp look that made me wish I could transform into Ghostfreak and phase through the floor. After a long moment, she simply said, "Well… Thank you."

Then Gwen began to check her charms and book, as if to make sure everything was alright.

"What's done is done," Grandpa Max interjected, his voice gruff but steady. "The consequences of this unauthorized mission can be addressed later." The way he emphasized "consequences" made me wince.

Xavier steepled his fingers, regarding Illyana with measured disapproval. "Miss Rasputina, while I understand your desire to help, the potential risks were substantial. Opening portals to Limbo without proper preparation–"

"Proper preparation?" Illyana repeated, raising an eyebrow. "What would that be, Professor? A committee meeting? A vote? While you all debated, Addwaitya would have killed the sorceress and absorbed the power of her stolen artifacts."

"She has a point, Charles," Emma Frost remarked from her position by the window. "Action often requires... impulsiveness." Her eyes flickered to me with an unnerving intensity. "Though young Tennyson seems to have quite the fate with brooding sorceresses. First Selene, then the witch, and now our own demoness. One might detect a pattern."

"It wasn't like that," I started, then stopped. What was I supposed to say? That while Illyana was just a guide and ally, while Hope was... something more complicated?

"I can't even read your mind, yet your thoughts betray you, darling," Emma said with a smirk. "Though I must admit, I'm rather impressed. Few can claim to have bested Selene in a battle and captured the interest of Limbo's queen."

Illyana rolled her eyes. "Don't make it weird, Frost."

“Has he truly defeated Selene?” That was the more important part of what she'd said, and Professor Xavier had noticed it. He turned me slowly, and an assessing expression crossed his face.

“Well, the fight was interrupted, but the way she told me the story, it seemed like that,” Emma admitted. “This boy is a lot bigger than he looks.”

I rubbed the back of my head, suddenly embarrassed to be the center of attention.

Xavier cleared his throat. "Illyana, can you tell us everything that happened in Limbo and Ledgerdomain?”

What followed was a quick but detailed report of the events that transpired there. Thankfully, it didn't include the incident of Hope and me ruining the castle’s bedsheets.

Charles hummed. “Perhaps we should focus on the more pressing issue. If Addwaitya has been provoked, there could be repercussions beyond just Ledgerdomain."

"He won't come after us," Hope said with surprising conviction. "He's too arrogant. In his mind, we're insects who got lucky, not worthy of pursuit. Plus, he's a scaredy cat. He won't risk coming here himself after having seen what Ben can do. Any minion he might send won't be that dangerous.”

"How reassuring," Gwen muttered, finally speaking up. "So we only pissed off an all-powerful magical tyrant who might not bother with revenge."

I met her gaze across the room. "When have we ever played it safe, Gwen?"

A ghost of a smile touched her lips before she forced it away. "That's not the point, Ben. You left without telling us. Without telling me." The hurt in her voice was unmistakable. “Those were my items. Somehow, I wasn't present to retrieve them.”

"I know," I said quietly. "And I'm sorry for that."

"As touching as this family reunion is," Emma interrupted, "I believe we've established that everyone is safe, the items are returned, and no immediate threat looms. Perhaps we can move on to more productive matters?"

Xavier nodded reluctantly. "Emma's right. What's done is done. However, I would ask that in the future, any interdimensional excursions be discussed beforehand."

"No promises," Illyana muttered under her breath, though loud enough for everyone to hear.

As the tension in the room gradually eased, I found myself wondering what would happen next. Hope stood awkwardly to the side, clearly unsure of her place now that her mission of revenge had failed and the stolen items were returned.

"What will you do now?" Gwen asked her directly.

All eyes turned to Charmcaster, who seemed to shrink slightly under the collective gaze. Then, with visible effort, she straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.

"I don't know," she admitted, vulnerability and defiance warring in her voice. "I've spent so long focused on fixing the past and vengeance that I never planned for after."

"The offer of Kamar-Taj remains open," Grandpa Max said gently. "The Ancient One spoke highly of your potential. Last time, she really wanted to bring you with her.”

Hope's eyes found mine across the room, a silent question in them. I gave her the smallest nod of encouragement. She'd already told me she won't be going to Kamar Taj, but it was probably harder to admit to everyone that she wanted to keep pursuing her own path, which meant more evil magic.

"I... need time to think," she finally said. "But thank you for the offer."

And that, I realized, was progress.

The old Charmcaster would have rejected the idea outright, scoffing at the suggestion of following anyone else's path. This Hope, who had shared my bed, who had returned Gwen's artifacts, who was considering a future beyond revenge, was someone new.

Someone I wanted to know better.

“No worries,” Charles said. “Since things have come to this, I think you guys would like what I have to offer. Shall we discuss this over tea, in a less tension-filled place than this?”

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Author Note: Who mentioned my goat Iron Fister ????