Black Widow's response to Evan's refusal was unexpectedly light-hearted. "I see-- well, that's too bad," she said with a nonchalant shrug, clearly unoffended. "Enjoy then," she added, offering a parting smile before gracefully walking away.
Evan watched her departure with a contented smile, his attention swiftly shifting to Ororo. Closing the distance between them, he approached her, a genuine warmth in his eyes.
She noticed his approach and welcomed him with a warm smile of her own. "I was wondering if I'd be able to see you before the big battle..." Ororo admitted, her gaze filled with a mixture of fondness and concern.
Evan's reply held a touch of playful humor as he leaned closer to her. "Even if the earth collapses, I'll always make time for you," he quipped, his smile reflecting the affection he held for her.
Ororo responded with a chuckle, her laughter carrying a sense of shared intimacy developing between them. "Let's hope it doesn't come to that..." she replied, her eyes meeting Evan's with a mix of hope and optimism.
In the aftermath of their brief yet treasured exchange, Evan and Ororo found a moment of quiet amid the impending chaos. It was a chance for them to reconnect before the trials that lay ahead.
Ororo, her curiosity piqued by the recent meeting, couldn't contain her inquiry any longer. She turned her attention to Evan, her voice a gentle cadence in the midst of uncertainty. "So... what happened in the meeting?" Her eyes held a mixture of concern and anticipation as she awaited Evan's account.
With a sense of purpose, Evan began to relay the meeting's events, offering a comprehensive overview of the discussions and plans that had transpired. He explained the strategy devised to combat the formidable Master Mold and the harrowing contingency plan that loomed ominously on the horizon.
As he spoke, Ororo's brow furrowed in contemplation. Her gaze remained steady on Evan, her thoughts delving deep into the gravity of their situation.
She voiced her query, the question hanging like a looming storm cloud. "Do you think we'll be able to destroy it before we run out of time?" Her words were laced with doubt, reflecting the arduous task before them.
Evan's response was marked by a somber honesty. He shook his head, his expression mirroring the weight of their uncertainty. "I don't know," he admitted, the admission heavy with the burden of reality.
"But in the worst-case scenario, I've arranged for someone to take you and the students out of the city..." His tone grew grave, revealing the depths of his concern for her safety and that of the students.
Ororo's displeasure was evident in her response, her voice tinged with resistance. "You expect me to turn back on the battle and run again?" Her pride and sense of duty shone through as she questioned the idea of abandoning her comrades in the midst of a crisis.
Evan, however, offered a measured perspective grounded in the practical necessities of their situation. "The X-Men will need a leader, and the students will need someone to guide them..."
Her resolve unwavering, Ororo spoke up first, gently but firmly asserting her perspective. "That is Professor Xavier's role to play, not mine..." Her words carried a sense of duty and loyalty to her mentor and leader.
Aware of the professor's steadfast commitment, Evan couldn't help but interject with a hint of cynicism. "I'm sure you know how stubborn the professor could be. He's incapable of running away..." The irony of his statement hung in the air, and he chuckled bitterly, realizing his words sounded.
Ororo, her gaze fixed and resolute, responded with a frown, her determination palpable. "And you think I can so easily run away?" She asked, her tone pointed and devoid of amusement.
Sensing the need to clarify his intentions, Evan offered a rationale he hoped she would understand. "No. But you can see the wisdom in it..." His words bore the weight of careful consideration, reflecting the grim possibilities they faced.
Seeking to reassure her and shift the focus away from the prospect of retreat, Evan redirected the conversation to their primary goal. "In any case, there will be no need for anyone to escape as long as we manage to defeat the Master Mold." His voice held a glimmer of hope and determination.
Evan went on to elucidate the necessity of leadership in the event of failure, a scenario neither of them wished to confront. "In the event that we don't succeed, someone needs to lead the survivors, and no one would be better than you..."
"You're asking too much of me, Evan..." Ororo acknowledged the complexity of her emotions. She knew herself well—her strength, leadership abilities, and unwavering commitment to the X-Men's cause.
But she also knew the deep connections she had forged with the people gathered here. Nearly everyone she held dear and fought alongside was present in this pivotal moment. Could she reconcile to walking away, knowing she would leave them to face their demise alone?
Recognizing Ororo's internal struggle, Evan gently took her hand into his own. His touch conveyed understanding and empathy. "I know, and you don't have to give me an answer right now..." His words were comforting, laced with a sense of assurance.
He offered her a warm smile, seeking to alleviate the weight of the choice she faced. "Just promise me you'll think about it..." Evan's request was earnest, his gaze locked onto hers, inviting her to contemplate the difficult decision that loomed on the horizon.
"Very well... but I can't promise you anything more than that..."
...
Around the barricades enclosing the looming threat of the Master Mold, a somber atmosphere prevailed. Heroes, soldiers, and police officers, knowing that victory was far from guaranteed, took moments to contact their families and loved ones.
Among them, Spider-Man stood hesitating, his masked visage concealing a complex expression as he held his phone. Uncertainty gnawed at him, causing him to pause in reaching out to his family.
Abruptly, he snapped to attention as a voice broke through his contemplation. Tony Stark, in his Iron Man suit, appeared beside Spider-Man.
He quipped with a playful tone, "You do realize those phones aren't telepathic, right?" A wry smile played on Stark's lips. "You should hurry up and call your family while you still have the chance..." He offered a piece of advice grounded in the urgency of the situation.
Spider-Man's masked head shook slightly, revealing his hesitation. "They're probably in a hurry to leave the city... I don't want to bother them..." His voice conveyed a sense of concern for his loved ones.
Stark, however, sought to assuage the young hero's worries. He delivered his words with a calm and reassuring demeanor. "There's no need to worry about that, kiddo. I already had my people get your aunt out of the city..."
Stark's revelation was met with widened eyes under Spider-Man's mask, a complex mix of shock and curiosity playing out in his concealed emotions. How had Tony Stark known about his aunt?
"You're probably wondering, how does the genius billionaire with unlimited resources know about my aunt, aren't you?" Stark inquired with a chuckle, his tone lighthearted. "Well, that question is its own answer. Not to worry, though; your secret is safe with me..." He nonchalantly shrugged his armored shoulders.
A bittersweet smile played across Spider-Man's lips. "Fair enough, I guess..." he conceded.
Stark, ever the pragmatist, sensed the young hero's uncertainty. "Anyway, you probably don't know what to say to your aunt, right?" he asked, anticipating Spider-Man's predicament.
Spider-Man simply nodded, a hint of gratitude in his masked expression.
"Then just tell her you're on a bus that will take you out of the city. Tell her you'll be okay and to take care of herself..." Stark advised, offering a simple yet heartfelt message.
Spider-Man contemplated the advice and found solace in its simplicity. "I guess you're right... I've been overthinking it for nothing," he admitted with a nod.
Stark, confident as ever, couldn't resist a smug quip. "Of course I'm right, kiddo. I'm always right," he remarked with a smirk. With that, he turned to leave Spider-Man to his call, knowing that sometimes, the most difficult conversations were the ones that needed the simplest words.
Left to his thoughts and emotions, Spider-Man dialed his aunt's number, hoping to convey both reassurance and love in a few brief words.