Different

Chapter 17

"I think that dummy's had enough, don't you?" Charles looks at the target, which is missing several limbs and has multiple cuts and scratches across it. He nods to step outside the bunker and I follow him up the stairs into the main house. "You've accomplished a lot this week," He observes. "You've done well."

"If I'm going to be able to kill that doctor I need to b-"

"Kill?" Charles stops and looks at me. "Kill...you're going to kill Aston?" He clarifies.

"That's part of why I'm doing this."

"You're talking about murdering-" He starts to protest.

"He killed my family." I interrupt through gritted teeth, holding back my anger. "Experimented on me. Tortured me. Used me, made me fight and kill other mutants in a ring. Why wouldn't I kill him?"

"Ilsa, listen to me, very carefully," He locks eyes with me and steps closer, his tone serious. "Killing that doctor will not give you whatever closure you think you want."

"When this is over, I'm going to find him, Charles. I'm going to kill him."

He blinks and looks away, knowing he can't change my mind. I walk away, unclenching my fists as the electricity, as well as my annoyance, starts to fade away.

. . .

Erik steps inside and shuts the door behind him.

"Any luck with finding something to calm you down?" He asks.

"I've practised some, but not much luck." I admit.

"I overheard some of your conversation with Charles." He says. "Seems like we have a similar goal." He steps forward. "You want to kill the man who hurt you, and so do I."

"Does Charles know this?"

"I assume so," He shrugs. "Regardless, you're going to panic when you see Aston again, and your powers can't lash out."

"I'm not going to panic."

"Yes, you will. I did when I tried to kill Shaw last time."

"The night you met Charles."

He nods. "You can't control your powers when you're excited, we already know that," He steps closer. "So let's try something new." He indicates for me to make a ball of electricity with a simple nod of his head, and it forms in my palm. "Split it."

I look up at him.

"Go on," He nods. "Tell it what to do."

I look back down and bring my hand to the other, then spread them apart slightly. The ball hovers in between my hands.

Split.

Slowly, the ball tears itself in half and the pieces stick to my palms.

"You got it?"

"Not really." My fingers strain to keep the electricity within my palm.

"Don't think about containing it. That's what you're doing wrong. Tell it what to do," He reminds me. "Tell it to stay where it is, and do nothing until you say so." He's standing inches away, he brings the palm of his hand until it's nearly touching the ball. I look him in the eye. "If you don't want it to hit me, then tell it not to."

"I'm going to kill you." I warn.

"No you won't." He brings his hand to rest on the side of my face and presses his lips against mine. I kiss him back and lean into him, and as I do, he pushes his other hand against mine, intertwining our fingers, but the lightning in my palm doesn't touch him.