There was a silence that filled the room following the sound of the gun dropping to the ground.
No one dared move or make a sound.
Each stared upon the figure of Scott Summers who remained calm and collected, standing tall with his arms still clasped behind his back. His gaze however was focused upon Winston Frost who matched it, neither man giving away any indication of their innermost thoughts. Even as the guard clasped his broken wrist, the other guards resting their hands upon their holstered guns, Scott did not blink.
None of the guards unholstered their guns though.
Each of them was hesitant to do so.
'My father will never listen to what you have to say now.' Emma told Charles, frustrated at being unable to read Scott's mind having tried to grasp what thoughts were held within. Yet she had gotten nothing, even her father whose mind was unreadable to her usually, gave away more than Scott's. She could tell he was shocked at the display, but he was also angry.
When angered, her father had only one thought going through his mind.
She knew that Charles and Scott would not only leave her empty-handed but with a target on their backs courtesy of Scott's actions.
'I know.' Charles was not unaware of this, staring upon the young man he had chosen to be the leader of the X-Men he had formed. Not for the first time since Scott had left for New York, Charles was beginning to question that choice and wonder if perhaps he might have made a grave mistake. If perhaps, Amelia in their earlier discussions about the X-Men about Scott was perhaps right.
Even Logan had said something similar.
Scott was not someone he could control.
He was experienced and highly skilled.
That alone made him dangerous.
But he was also driven and determined.
Scott had a goal and possessed all he needed to pursue that goal to its fullest extent.
As Amelia and Logan had told him, he and Scott's goals may share some similarities and even be interlinked. But where they differed was in the means in which they would pursue said dream and now Charles was beginning to realise what they meant. Scott was not afraid to make enemies out of anyone should they stand in his path. Perhaps it was arrogance, Charles could not tell but he knew that Winston Frost was a man the X-Men at this time could not afford to face, nor was Oscorp.
The former possessed close ties with the Hellfire Club, Winston was even a part of its upper echelons possessing the title of White King.
The latter was leading the arms race against Mutants and superpowered individuals.
Both men possessed vast resources and connections that as the X-Men stood right now, would be impossible for them to defeat.
Yet Scott did not care.
Why was what Charles could not figure out?
"Forgive us for what has happened, Winston." Charles beseeched sincerely. "It is clear that while having made progress in the development of his powers, Scott is still lacking in many other areas. I promise you, Scott's actions do not reflect..."
"Do not speak for the boy," Winston interjected, dismissing Charles' words with a wave of his hand. "He spoke his mind and nothing but the truth. Yes, I use my family as tools, just as is expected of a family of our prestige. Wealth brings with it responsibility, that is how I was raised and how my children have been raised. They know their place and what is expected of them. And my company has indeed stagnated, but every company does not experience constant growth. There are always periods of stagnation it is whether a company can navigate that period and return to growing that determines their standing."
Despite this, neither Scott nor Winston's gaze strayed from one another.
"Perhaps we might speak alone?" Charles questioned, hoping to rectify this situation to some extent.
Winston nodded his head. "I suppose I can entertain that. Emma, show Scott around the house."
Restraining the urge to frown, Emma nodded her head. "Of course, father." She knew what was really expected of her, Winston knew of her gifts and what they entailed. He wanted her to read Scott's mind and understand everything there was about him so that he might use it to crush him later on. Though currently possessing a mask of civility, her father had already determined that Scott would die and no doubt everything connected to him.
A shame really.
It was the first time she had seen someone stand up to her father in that way.
But then again, it was precisely what she had expected of her father.
Anyone who stood against him, so long as they did not stand above him, he would seek to crush them quickly in order to send a message.
Scott would be a reminder of that fact to no one but her.
So long as her father was alive, she could not rebel against him.
-X-
Stepping out of the room, Emma watched the door close behind her, vaguely listening to the sounds of Charles speaking with her father. He was charismatic in the way he spoke, but there was an undertone of panic and pleading. Scott's actions had thrown Charless off-guard and now he was scrambling to try and rectify the situation though he knew it was a hopeless endeavour.
He was determined though, Emma would give him that.
Turning away from the door, she then looked upon the figure of Scott who was leaning against the wall looking toward the large staircase leading to the first floor. "Why did you say those things?" She wondered, coming to stand before him, his gaze turning toward her. Yet his gaze did not linger upon her body as many did, he was instead looking directly into her eyes and Emma felt herself unable to return his gaze as she looked elsewhere quickly.
"Because it was the truth."
Emma doubted that was purely why Scott said what he said, if so perhaps she had misjudged him massively and he was nothing more than a fool. "You do realise what kind of man my father is, right?"
"Are you concerned for me?" That question made Emma blink, a rush of heat flushing her cheeks.
"No!" She said quickly. "I'm just trying to understand why you would attack my father like that."
Scott hummed slightly. "So, you simply want to know why?"
Emma nodded her head. "My father is a powerful man and he does not take being insulted lightly. You've made an enemy out of my father, you do realise that, right?"
"Of course." Scott's response was quick and that only served to confuse Emma more.
"Then why?"
"Why did I make an enemy of your father?" Scott asked and Emma nodded once more. "I did not do it to make him my enemy. He simply asked a question and I responded. He showed a lack of respect toward Professor Xavier and therefore, I felt no need to show him respect simply because of the power he holds."
"But why?" Emma was not satisfied with that though.
"Why what?"
"Why do you not fear my father?" That was what it boiled down to and that confused Emma the most of all. She had seen how her father dealt with those that threatened or angered him. If they were weaker than him, he crushed them instantly in order to send a message to anyone else who might think of doing the same themselves. The only ones he did not act this way toward were those who stood at a greater or equal standing to himself, yet even then Winston would be planning to bring about their downfall.
Scott stood firmly in the category of those weaker than her father, even with his powers.
Emma knew that the moment Charles and Scott left, Winston would already be putting things into place to remove Scott for good.
So, why?
Why did Scott say what he said and attack the guard the way he did?
He insulted her father and that was enough for her father to decide his fate.
Yet an attack upon her father's guards?
They were an extension of her father's will and an attack on them was viewed as an attack upon him.
Scott had signed his death warrant whether he realised it or not.
So again, why?
"Your father is certainly powerful." Scott admitted. "But that is all."
"W-What?" Emma muttered in utter bewilderment.
"We are Mutants. Even as things are right now, humanity's perception of us is rocky and while at the moment things have not developed further. It is clear to see that should things not change soon, humanity will turn against Mutantkind." Scott told her, a certainty in his belief of what he was saying that Emma felt she could not refute him. "As is always the case, your father will not stand to be threatened by someone he views weaker than himself. Humanity is much the same and currently, Mutants are weaker."
Emma was surprised to see that Scott did indeed have an understanding of her father and that only confused her further.
"In order to listen to us, we need to speak from a position of strength. In order to make meaningful change, it needs to be from a position of strength. In order to prevent Mutantkinds extinction, it needs to be from a position of strength. Humanity will listen to no one who is not from a position of strength. Nor will they listen to those that stand in a place of superiority as they will resist with a desperation that will cause just as much damage." Emma listened closely, unable to disagree with what he was saying. "Ultimately, Mutants will have to face the world head-on and claw their way into a position of strength."
Scott stood up fully then as the door opened and out came Winston and Charles, the latter looking noticeably down.
"How can I be ready to face the world and all of humanity's strength if I bow in fear of your father?"