… Ororo Munroe (Storm)
The jet cut through the New York sky with silent grace, sunlight gleaming off its sleek metallic frame. Inside, though, the mood was anything but refined.
Ororo sat beside Charles, who wore his usual calm — hands folded in his lap, eyes closed in a light meditation. Logan, in the row behind them, was chewing on an unlit cigar, wearing the face of a man who would've rather run here than share the ride with him.
And he, of course, was…
Leaning against the cabin wall, one leg crossed over the other, totally relaxed, radiating that annoying confidence of someone who genuinely enjoys being the center of every storm. But the real attention-grabber?
The white T-shirt he wore, proudly printed in bold letters: "I <3 Invisible Woman!"
Ororo let out a slow sigh, rubbing her temple.
"You're going to get examined by one of the brightest minds on the planet. And that's how you chose to show up?"
Aidan smiled, totally unapologetic.
"It's not about appearances, Ororo. It's about transparency. Just ask the Invisible Woman herself."
"She's gonna see that", Logan growled from the back. "And if she's got even a shred of self-respect, she'll rip your tongue out with a force field."
"Well, then I'll die happy", Aidan said, resting his chin on his hand. "Imagine being murdered by invisible energy. That's practically poetic."
Charles didn't open his eyes, but his voice was calm.
"Just stay focused. Remember why we're here."
"I remember", Aidan said. "To find out if I'm a mutant. And if the universe is feeling generous… to hear Sue say my name with a little smile."
Ororo turned toward him fully.
"She's a serious scientist. Reserved and elegant."
"And hopefully single", he added without missing a beat.
Logan let out a loud grunt. For the first time, Charles looked like he might be hiding a smile.
The jet began to slow, sensors locking onto the landing pad of the Baxter Building. The place rose like a monument to genius and ego — energy panels, observation towers, every inch humming with cutting-edge tech.
They touched down gently. The doors slid open with a soft mechanical hiss. Ororo stood, smoothed her clothes, and took a deep breath.
Aidan joined her, shirt stretched proudly, chin held high.
"Aidan…" she began, already bracing for the disaster ahead.
He raised a finger to stop her.
"Relax. I'm polite and if that fails… at least I'm good-looking."
She closed her eyes for a beat.
"May the gods give me patience."
And with that, they stepped out together, walking into the heart of the Baxter Building.
… Susan Storm
The soft chime of the landing pad sensors echoed across the top of the Baxter Building. Sue, already in a white lab coat over her blue blouse, brushed a few strands of hair back with an automatic gesture as the console displayed the names of the arriving visitors.
Charles Xavier, Ororo Munroe, Logan, and Aidan Quinn.
The last name was still new. Barely anything in the system. No full file yet, but already drawing attention from some of the top genetic and energy specialists in the country — mostly because of Professor X's questions. And of course, Reed had been in "frantic theoretical analysis mode" since the name first came up.
Johnny… well, Johnny thought the whole thing was hilarious. And Ben just wanted nothing broken.
Sue, as usual, stayed balanced — between science, elegance, and very carefully measured patience.
The side elevator opened with a soft ding, revealing their visitors. Charles stepped out first — courteous, dignified, an old friend of the house. Ororo followed, and Sue smiled naturally at her. Mutual respect, always had been. Logan, well… he looked as uncomfortable as ever, but dependable.
And then came the new guy.
Tall and confident. Walking way too casually for someone about to get a genetic screening in one of the most advanced research facilities on the planet. And of course… wearing a plain white T-shirt with bold letters across the front: "I <3 Invisible Woman!"
Sue stopped, one brow arching.
"…Seriously?"
Aidan smiled, completely unfazed, with a glint of mischief in his eyes.
"Transparency is key to any healthy relationship, Dr. Storm. Just being honest."
She huffed, arms crossing, but the smile came easy.
"Honesty and audacity. Great. We're off to a strong start."
"I was hoping to make a good impression."
"Well, you did", she said, turning. "Though maybe not the kind you think."
Ororo walked up beside her with a discreet smile.
"He's like this all the time."
"How fun", Sue said. "Like adopting a walking disaster with good hair."
They walked together through the building's sleek hallways, past glass walls that revealed active research sectors. Ahead, the rest of the Fantastic Four were already waiting. Reed, hunched over a holographic projection, didn't even look up — but he was definitely listening. Ben stood with arms crossed, looking like his patience was already thinning. And Johnny… well, Johnny spoke before they were even close.
"Hey! Shirt of the year", Johnny said, pointing at Aidan's chest. "Finally, someone said what we're all thinking!"
Sue rolled her eyes, letting out a low chuckle.
"Including you?"
"Especially me."
Jennifer was leaning against a nearby counter, arms crossed and a sly smile on her face.
"So this is the famous Aidan, huh?" she said, tilting her head. "Well… at least he's hot. That helps."
"And polite", Aidan added. "Most of the time."
Sue turned slightly, opening the lab door.
"Alright, then. The test's simple— a few samples, an energy scan, and maybe a little talking… if you can manage to keep your eyes off my suit."
"It's a very nice suit," he said instantly.
She let out a quiet laugh as she guided him inside.
"I'll pretend that was a technical compliment."
"Pretend whatever you want, Dr. Storm. I'm flexible."
And then he winked. Ororo smacked his shoulder lightly. Charles sighed. Logan grunted.
And Sue? She just shook her head, smiling.
"Let's see if you're as interesting on the inside as you pretend to be on the outside, Mr. Quinn."
And for just a second, she glanced over her shoulder — just to see if he was still looking.
He was.
Of course he was.
And Sue, even with all her calm… found that just a little bit charming.
...
Sue had seen the impossible more times than she could count. Getting superpowers from cosmic radiation wasn't even the craziest of them. But she'd never met someone who wore that kind of impossibility with such a casual smile.
Aidan was lying on the exam table at the Baxter Building like he was waiting for a cocktail at sunset. Shirt pulled up to his chest, arms behind his head, feet swinging lazily back and forth in a performance of boredom.
"Do you guys have a loyalty program for visits?" he asked. "If I come in two more times, do I get a free coffee?"
"You get a free dose of silence, if you want", Ororo replied from the corner of the room, arms crossed, gaze sharp.
Sue let out a small smile. She was focused on the data — and the data was screaming.
"This structure here…" Reed said, expanding the floating hologram. "It runs from the base of the spine through the peripheral nerves. It's not organic. But it's integrated into the body like it's always been there."
"That's the Limitless", Sue said. "The technique. The framework."
She watched with fascination. It was like a network of pathways — shaped to manipulate variables that normal human bodies couldn't even perceive: distance, density, real-space vectors.
"It doesn't produce energy", Reed emphasized. "It just defines how forces are manipulated."
"A processor", Sue concluded calmly. "Waiting for its power source."
And there it was. The second layer of the scan revealed a dark, pulsing flow — like black magma — surrounding the structure.
Cursed Energy.
"That's the fuel", she said. "Dense, hostile-looking, but… functional."
Ororo stepped closer, studying it.
"It doesn't damage his body?"
"No", Reed said, genuinely surprised. "No signs of decay. No cellular necrosis, no energy rupture, no expected side effects."
Sue examined the interaction between the two layers. The cursed energy flowed… and the Limitless responded. It was like Aidan's body had been designed for this symbiosis from the beginning.
"It's as if… despite the destructive nature of this energy, it's been tamed. Invited to exist inside him."
"I'm a good host", Aidan chimed in, still lounging. "I don't let my energy wreck the furniture or scare the guests."
Johnny let out a quiet laugh.
"You're ridiculous."
"And fully operational. Don't forget that."
Sue turned to him, arms crossed.
"You've got a technique that breaks space. And a fuel source that breaks biology."
"All in one tidy package", he said, spreading his arms. "And still easy on the eyes."
Ororo raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Charles moved closer to the projection.
"This is a gift. Not triggered by external events. His body shaped this willingly."
"Exactly", Sue agreed. "It's a technique built to contain raw force. And it doesn't just contain it… it refines it."
Reed nodded, fingers flying over the console.
"This isn't a traditional mutation. And definitely not from the X-gene. But it's also not mystical or technological. And aside from the unique joint structure in his pinky, there's no other anomaly."
How fascinating, Reed didn't say — but Sue could see it all over his face.
"A functional anomaly", she added. "But without any drawbacks. No signs of instability or collapse."
She turned back to Aidan.
"You seriously don't feel anything weird when you use that energy?" Ororo asked.
"Nothing but power… and an almost poetic urge to strike a dramatic pose."
Sue powered down the panels, unfazed by the theatrics.
"Tests are done. But the data's going to keep us busy for weeks."
Aidan hopped off the table with an over-the-top spin, like stepping off a stage.
"Glad I could be today's mystery. Hope you had fun, Dr. Storm."
"I did. But I'll enjoy breaking you down into charts even more."
"Promise you'll use nice colors?"
She smiled.
"Only if you stop making science jokes."
"Impossible. It's my best feature."
He passed by her, and — like always — left a subtle provocation hanging in the air.
Charles murmured to Ororo as they studied the lingering hologram: "He's not a mutant. But he's not normal either. He's… too efficient to be an accident."
Ororo replied softly: "And way too comfortable with it to be innocent."
...
Sue always had a sharp eye. Not the kind that needed a lab coat, but the kind that noticed the things people thought they were hiding. A pause in the wrong place, a glance that lingered half a second too long… the little things that said everything without subtitles.
And Aidan… was a walking parade of mixed signals. He talked to Johnny like they'd grown up sharing bunk beds, cracked jokes with perfect timing, and flirted with her... constantly.
But he wasn't the one Sue was watching now.
It was Ororo.
The white-haired woman sat perched on the arm of the couch with the kind of effortless elegance that said she knew exactly the effect she had. She crossed her legs with calm grace, acting disinterested — but her eyes followed Aidan with a kind of dangerous calm.
When he drifted off with Johnny toward the balcony, laughing at something stupid, Sue didn't waste time.
She approached with the quiet confidence of someone who knew the right question was worth more than a hundred guesses.
"How long have you known him?"
Ororo raised an eyebrow. The question was too obvious not to have another layer beneath it.
"A few days."
"Already feels like you've known him for years."
The answer came in the form of a sip of blue drink. The Storm didn't speak. She just looked at the sky like it might answer for her.
Sue leaned against the railing, arms crossed. She watched Aidan gesture dramatically — Johnny burst out laughing beside him. They looked good in the sunset glow. Like two rich kids pretending to be grown-ups.
"You slept with him, didn't you?"
No drama, no shock. They were way too grown for that. Just a casual statement tossed into the air.
"Yeah."
Simple. Like admitting she ate the last slice of cake.
Sue turned to look at her, mildly impressed by the honesty.
"Was it like... scientific curiosity?"
Ororo smiled. Not a full one — one of those small ones that came with ellipses.
"Started that way. Just a 'why not?' kind of impulse."
"And now?"
"Now I know it wasn't just that", she met Sue's eyes. "I don't regret it. But I know myself well enough to admit it got under my skin more than I expected."
Sue studied their reflection in the glass. Two strong women. Warriors with a history of cosmic and emotional explosions. Not the type to fall for cheap charm.
The problem?
Aidan was definitely not cheap.
"If you want some advice…"
Sue tilted her head slightly, ready for a sarcastic jab.
But what came next was... sincere.
"Stay away. Even if he seems like fun. Even if he makes you laugh. Because he'll keep pulling, and you'll keep following. And before you realize it... it's not just fun anymore."
Sue was quiet for a few seconds. She thought about it. Then gave a small smile.
"Was that a sisterly warning?"
"That was a heads-up", Ororo spoke like she was commenting on the weather. "What you do with it... isn't mine to worry about anymore."
And right then — almost comically on cue — Aidan turned to them and flashed a smile that really should've come with a warning label.
"Are you two conspiring? I like to think I'm the topic."
Sue beat Ororo to the punch.
"If the topic is 'trouble with a pretty smile'… you're the poster boy."
He gave a theatrical bow, like he'd just won an award.
"I work hard to earn that title."
Ororo stood up, and Sue noticed something curious.
She was looking at him.
Not with the scientist's gaze that dissects atoms with one raised eyebrow, and not like the big sister who spots trouble from miles away. It was a different kind of look. The kind you give when someone says "don't look at that"… and you look anyway.
The automatic door slid shut with a smooth shhhk, leaving just her and Aidan there — standing in front of the city bathed in golden afternoon light, like New York had slipped into the perfect Instagram filter. Sue stayed by the glass, arms crossed. She knew he was watching. Not just with his eyes, but with that inner radar of his — the one trained to sniff out intentions like an emotional support dog trained in sarcasm.
"Out of all the reactions I thought I'd get today…" Aidan said, leaning casually against the railing next to her, "...didn't expect a 'stay away' to be one of them."
Sue let out a short laugh — the kind that sounds like a sigh in disguise.
"You look like someone who collects those. I'm betting it's the fourth time this week."
"Third, actually. The fourth was more of a 'run while you still can'— came with dramatic hand gestures."
She glanced at him sideways. He was still wearing that ridiculous I <3 Invisible Woman shirt. Childish. Dumb. And — of course — effective.
"Do you flirt with everything that breathes?"
"Only with what shines", he said with a smirk. "Or what threatens to throw me off balance. I like living dangerously."
Sue raised an eyebrow.
"So… you're a masochist?"
"Nope." He smiled easily, not even a little offended. "I'm saying I'm honest. The kind of guy who looks at you and thinks, 'this is gonna end badly.' And still goes all in."
Sue bit the corner of her lip, hiding a smile.
"You know Ororo called you a ticking time bomb, right?"
"Did she say it while smiling?"
"With that little smirk people get when they've seen the damage firsthand."
"And you're still standing here."
"Because I like to analyze bombs before they go off. Scientific curiosity, let's say."
"Then let me give you something to study."
She raised a hand. "Aidan, I'm a scientist. Charm won't work on me."
"Perfect. Charm's just the intro to the experiment. Then comes the hypothesis, the data collection… and, if you're interested, some hands-on demonstrations."
That got a real laugh out of her — and dropped her guard just a little.
He took advantage.
She knew he was watching her — and not like some lovestruck idiot. He looked at her like an equal. A challenge. And that was… rare.
"You don't scare me", she said at last.
"Wasn't trying to", he said, with that signature side-smile that looked custom-made to give people goosebumps. "I came to fascinate you."
She hesitated. Just for a second. Then she smiled too, slow, like she wasn't sure if she was giving in or just playing along.
"You're an impressively annoying man, Mr. Quinn."
"And you're the reason this shirt is now a permanent part of my wardrobe."
She rolled her eyes. "You heading back to the mansion?"
"Eventually. But for now, I'm still studying…"
"Oh no. Here we go again."
"… the building's architecture."
"Of course. The building."
"Or maybe… whoever runs it."
She crossed her arms, not even trying to hide the smile. "Careful what you choose to study."
"I'm always careful. But sometimes… getting a little lost is worth it."
She didn't answer. Just stayed there next to him, letting the silence speak all the words she wasn't ready to say.
And he respected that.
But between looks and teasing, both of them knew: the flirting was just the tip of the iceberg. And Sue Storm, on that golden afternoon, didn't throw herself in.
But she didn't walk away either.
And that was enough to make Aidan smile.