"Actions speak louder than words. So, I shall allow you inside; whatever happens next can be discussed slowly." Magneto wasn't afraid of these people; in fact, he cared not for them.
At the beginning of all this chaos, he might have even killed them on the spot for not being human, but he couldn't disagree with the facts.
The Sentinels had used cold logic to shatter his beliefs. Humans, something he had once seen as lesser, something he hadn't thought was needed. He was wrong, he needed them, his people needed them,
Humans gave birth to mutants; this was the undeniable truth; mutants were humans, just better and stronger. But mutants couldn't really survive without humans, not yet.
The number of mutants out there able to survive on their own in his crisis was tiny, and just those couldn't fight back against all the sentinels and their drones; numbers were needed, and even normal humans could do something useful.
And so he and his people had taken over his town, taken in humans from all around, taken military equipment, built this fortress, and from here he would make his kingdom. But he couldn't disagree with the man in the metal suit, there were some people he could do without.
Once he might just have killed them, but he couldn't do that now, not in this situation. He didn't like shady, mysterious organizations that claimed to want to protect humanity; it sounded far too much like the kind of organization that made this whole mess.
But he also had some people that he could do without, so getting rid of those wouldn't hurt, and what happened to them at that point didn't really matter to him, and as such, he decided to allow him inside.
With a flick of his hand, Magneto caused some metals he had hidden under the ground to rise up, making a large platform under the group and lifting them up into the air. At the same time he took control of the metal suits three of them were wearing, showing off his power as he brought them into his kingdom.
The sudden lift of the platform startled the group, but they quickly steadied themselves, understanding that this was Magneto's way of asserting dominance. The captain and the others exchanged wary glances as they felt the subtle pull on their metal armor, a clear reminder of who held the power in this situation.
As they ascended, the walls of Ironwood came into clearer view, revealing the intricate details of the fortress. From this vantage point, they could see the full extent of the town's transformation—a place once ordinary now bristling with the defenses of a world at war. The streets below were filled with people, both human and mutant, working side by side, their lives intertwined by the shared struggle against the Sentinels.
Magneto's control over the metals was effortless, his focus unwavering as he guided the platform over the walls and into the heart of Ironwood. The platform descended slowly, coming to rest in a large open courtyard. Around them, dozens of people stood around watching the newcomers with suspicion.
Steve, Peggy, Bucky, and the others too watched the group with interest; they were clearly not normal humans, some of them at least. It was hard to tell, clearly mutants were just humans with superpowers,
Magneto looked normal enough, as did many of this group, but some clearly weren't normal. A woman with blue scaly skin stood, and two men looked like demons, one red and one blue.
A gruff man who looked no weaker then Steve or Bucky was the first to step forward. "So these are the new bloods, eh?" He said, at which point everyone recognized the voice as one of the two who had sounded over the loudspeaker.
"Whatever they can be useful in a fight remains to be seen." Magneto answered. "Apparently, they belong to some surviving organization out there, wanting to offer support."
His words caused a mix of reactions between the group surrounding them. some seemed excited, other more warry.
The gruff man eyed them with a mix of curiosity and doubt. "Support, huh? We'll see about that. We've had our fill of promises."
The captain, sensing the need to assert their position, stepped forward. "We're here to help," he said, his tone firm but diplomatic. "We know what you've been through, and we're not here to make empty promises. We have resources, intelligence, and technology that can aid your fight against the Sentinels. But we understand that trust is earned, not given."
Magneto watched the exchange with a calculating expression. "Trust is indeed earned," he said slowly, his gaze sweeping over the group. "You may have your chance to prove yourselves. But know this: in my domain, actions speak louder than words. We are at war, and there is no room for weakness."
Steve nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "We're ready to do what it takes. We want the same thing you do—an end to this war."
Magneto held his gaze for a long moment, then finally nodded. "Very well. You'll have your chance to prove your worth. But understand this: if you betray us, there will be no mercy."
The captain met his gaze evenly. "We understand."
With that, Magneto turned around. "lose the suit and come with me; we will talk about what you can offer inside with some of my most trusted." He said, hardly giving the captain a chance to speak before walking off.
The captain in turn quickly opened the suit and effortlessly stepped out of it. "2 watch the suits, 3 you are with me, the rest of you, start earning that trust, Banner, you are allowed to help in the defense if this place is attacked, the rest, ensure the safety of Dr Morries before you go into the fighting yourself."
At his words, one of the other two members of Alpha-1 stepped out of his suit and followed the Captain closely while the last remaining member stood to watch silently at the suits.
The rest of the team, including Steve, Peggy, and Bucky, exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. They were in unfamiliar territory, surrounded by people who had every reason to distrust them. But they had a mission, and they would see it through.
"Stay sharp," Steve muttered to the others as they watched Magneto lead the captain and his chosen companions away. "We don't know what we're walking into."
As the group followed Magneto, they were acutely aware of the eyes on them—mutants and humans alike, all watching the newcomers with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with unspoken questions.
The gruff man, who had spoken earlier, stepped up. "Name's Logan," he grunted, introducing himself with a nod. "You make one wrong move, and you won't live to regret it."
Steve nodded, acknowledging the warning. "Understood," he replied calmly. "We're not here to cause trouble."
Logan gave a noncommittal grunt but didn't press further. Instead, he turned his attention towards Bruce Banner. Bruce clearly didn't look like a fighter. Instead, he looked like the researcher he was.
Steve, Peggy and Bucky all looked like people Logan could see doing well in a fight, the two men were clearly strong, and even the woman smelled like a beast, much like his brother. "So you special?"
Bruce glanced up, his calm demeanor belying the underlying tension. He knew that in a place like this, filled with warriors and survivors, his appearance as a mild-mannered scientist might not inspire much confidence. But appearances could be deceiving.
"I guess you could say that," Bruce replied carefully, his voice steady. "I'm here to help, just like the rest of the team. My skills might be different, but they're just as valuable in a fight."
Logan's keen eyes narrowed as he sized up Bruce. "Different, huh? I've seen all kinds of 'different' around here. Just hope you can keep up when things get messy."
Bruce gave a small nod, not rising to the implied challenge. "I'll manage," he said simply, leaving it at that.
Logan grunted in response, seemingly satisfied for the moment, though the skepticism in his gaze didn't entirely fade. He turned his attention back to the rest of the group. "And what about the rest of you? Something about you seems… less then normal, like you aren't a normal human like she is." He said pointing at Lena.
Steve exchanged a glance with Peggy and Bucky, a silent understanding passing between them. They had dealt with situations where their abilities set them apart from the ordinary, but this world was different—there was no telling how their enhancements would be perceived.
"We've had our share of upgrades," Steve replied cautiously, deciding to give a partial truth. "But we're here to help, not cause trouble."
Logan's eyes flicked over Steve's broad shoulders and the way he carried himself, clearly picking up on more than just the words. "Upgrades, huh?" he echoed with a hint of a smirk. "Guess we'll see what you're made of soon enough."
Peggy stepped forward, her posture confident and composed. "We're all on the same side here," she said, her voice firm. "The Sentinels are the real enemy, and that's where our focus should be."
Logan gave a slow nod, though his eyes remained sharp. "Fair enough," he muttered. "Just remember, we don't have time for anything but the fight. If you can pull your weight, you'll find a place here."
A/N
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