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"Let me at least see them," Magneto said. "I just want to see them. I'm not looking for a fight." And he was well aware of Wolverine trying to circle around behind him.
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"It's their choice whether or not to come out and meet with you," Autumn replied. "I don't make them do anything they aren't comfortable with."
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"Then let me go tell them I want to see them," Magneto said, holding up a hand and halting Wolverine in his tracks.
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"Can't let you do that," Autumn said, hand slowly going for her weapon. Not that a gun would do her much good, but it made her feel a bit better.
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Magneto's eyes narrowed. Charles shook his head a bit.
"He'll do it either way," Charles murmured to Autumn. |
"Shouldn't let him," Autumn murmured back. "Not sure if you saw Wanda and Pietro earlier, but they aren't exactly jumping for joy." She watched Magneto carefully, although she didn't draw her weapon just yet.
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"It might be wiser to let him see them for himself, I doubt he'll leave before he sees them." Charles kept an eye on Magneto, but he seemed content to let them talk.
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"Charles, they don't want to," Autumn said. "And I won't make them. I don't know what he did to inspire that kind of fear in his own children, but whatever it was, it was bad, Charles."
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"I know," Charles agreed. "But you won't get anywhere by standing against him and telling him he can't see them. He won't accept it from you."
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"Then back me up," Autumn said. "Because I'm not standing down, Charles, and I won't apologize for it."
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Charles sighed but called for the rest of the group mentally. Fortunately no one but Logan and Autumn had metal on them, so the rest of the team would be fine.
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A few more X-Men assembled behind them, which put Autumn a bit more at ease. She felt better with allies at her back, especially when Magneto was setting off all of the warning bells in her head.
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"So that's how you're going to do this," Magneto said. "I see." He threw Wolverine at the rest of them, forcing them to scatter.
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As soon as Autumn had her feet under her again, she had her gun up and pointed at Magneto. She knew it was pretty much useless, but she wasn't going to let him past her without a fight.
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Magneto took the gun from her and aimed it at her again. Kitty grabbed her and moved to another part of the room while Wolverine tried to not get thrown around.
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As soon as she was out of the way, Autumn shed all the metal she could think she was wearing, and waded back into the fight. She was decent at hand-to-hand, at least. She had forgotten, however, that she was wearing a thin silver chain around her neck with a simple religious symbol dangling from it.
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Magneto, of course, knew. Instead of using the chain, though, because it was too thin to do anything with, he took a bullet from her gun and shot it through her calf. Everything stopped for a moment.
"I told you I wasn't looking for a fight," he said, looking at Charles now. |
"You had every opportunity to back down, Erik," Charles replied. "It did not need to come to this."
Autumn huddled on the ground, trying to put pressure on the bullet wounds and doing her best not to cry out in pain. |
Magneto was quiet for a moment. "I'll leave for now," he said. "Tell Pietro and Wanda I wanted to see them." He turned and swept out.
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Charles watched him go, just long enough to make sure he wasn't coming back inside. Then he turned to the others.
"Hurry, get Autumn inside to the infirmary," he said. |
Logan got to her first and picked her up easily, carrying her to the infirmary. The others were quick to help, putting pressure on the wounds and getting everything they'd need.
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Autumn clenched her teeth to keep from shrieking when she was picked up, but a few whimpers still escaped. Her leg felt like it was on fire; every nerve seemed to light up with pain at the slightest touch or movement.
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"Easy does it," Logan said as the others started to bind the wound. "You'll be fine." Hank gave her a mild sedative and painkiller to help.
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"I know I'll be fine," Autumn retorted, gritting her teeth as they moved her leg. "Doesn't make it hurt any less."
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"Well, that will," Hank said cheerfully as he tossed the empty needle off to the side. "Might take a few moments, but it will."
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