Marvel: Father of Superheroes

Support me and be 30 chapters ahead of webnovel:

patreon.com/Draco_

*****

Carrying Gwen in his arms, Mike flew silently through the air, tailing Logan's car. After parting ways with them, Logan had gone to a superm

Carrying Gwen in his arms, Mike flew silently through the air, tailing Logan's car.

After parting ways with them, Logan had gone to a supermarket and a hospital, buying food and medicine. Now, he was heading toward the border.

"Pfft!"

Gwen giggled softly and asked, "Dad, doesn't this make us paparazzi?"

Mike's face darkened. "No, at most it makes us creepy stalkers."

Gwen: "…"

No thanks. I'd rather be paparazzi than a creep.

She muttered her protest under her breath, then, noticing Logan's car pulling farther ahead, urged, "Dad, hurry up and catch him!"

"No rush—I'm keeping an eye on him," Mike said quietly, though his expression was complicated.

With his super vision active, he could already see Logan's destination—a long-abandoned smelting plant.

He could even see Charles, locked inside a derelict water tower.

Thin beams of sunlight pierced through the holes in the rusted structure, scattering patches of light across the floor, over rows of hydroponic plants, and onto the frail figure of an elderly Charles.

Charles' eyes were clouded, his expression vacant. Sitting in a wheelchair, he alternated between giving impassioned speeches, weeping in despair, and—like reciting a menu—listing random foods in incoherent rambling.

This was Professor X—the world's most powerful telepath, a wise headmaster, a leader of mutants—reduced to this state.

A faint sadness welled up in Mike's heart.

Perhaps it was because, in his own world, Charles was connected to his children. For reasons he couldn't quite explain, the sight filled him with melancholy.

"Dad? What's wrong?"

Seeing his shifting expression, Gwen asked softly.

"Nothing… just a little sad," Mike replied quietly. Looking toward the smelting plant, he said, "When Uncle Logan leaves tomorrow, we'll come back."

"Why?"

"Now's not the right time."

With that, Mike turned and carried Gwen away.

…

Logan arrived at the abandoned smelting plant, unloading the food and medicine from his car before heading inside.

At the sound of footsteps, a pale-skinned, bald mutant emerged. When he saw it was Logan, he exhaled in relief.

Avoiding the sunlight streaming through the windows, he approached, grumbling, "If you'd been any later, Charles would've run out of medicine."

Caliban—mutant tracker.

His skin burned when exposed to sunlight, and prolonged exposure could kill him outright.

Now, he lived here with Logan.

Because he couldn't go outside, he stayed behind to care for Charles while Logan worked.

Logan silently tossed the medicine to Caliban.

Caliban caught it, counted the pills, and then noticed the large quantity of food Logan was carrying in his other hand. "You didn't… rob someone, did you? That would cause us a lot of trouble. You—"

"I landed a big job and made decent money," Logan cut in. "Where's Charles? Has he taken his meds?"

"He's due for them now."

Caliban handed the medicine back. "His condition's getting worse—he needs a higher dose."

Logan frowned at the pills.

Caliban shoved them into his chest. "Your turn."

Logan grunted and headed toward the water tower.

Inside, Charles was in his wheelchair, speaking loudly to no one. Logan walked over in silence, preparing the injection.

The medicine would help him regain his senses—at least temporarily.

But when Charles saw him, he panicked, falling out of his chair in a struggle.

A fit seized him.

With each convulsion, his terrifying psychic energy radiated outward like a tangible force. Caliban froze in place like a puppet, and the water tower—and even the nearby plant—began to tremble violently.

Logan alone could withstand it, though even for him it was a struggle.

Finally, he managed to inject the medicine, halting the episode.

Lifting Charles onto the bed, Logan waited for him to swallow the pills before chatting briefly and leaving.

In the water tower, Charles gazed at the shafts of sunlight spilling from above. Now clear-headed, his eyes shone with hope.

He had heard it. He had seen it—new mutants.

No one believed him, but he knew—he was certain—it was true.

The problem was convincing anyone else…

Who would believe the words of a senile old man?

His gaze lingered on the opening above until the golden sunlight turned to silver moonlight. With a soft sigh, he closed his eyes.

When he awoke the next morning, Logan brought him breakfast. Upon hearing Logan was going out to work, Charles merely nodded and lay back down.

He expected another dull, uneventful day—until a spinning golden portal opened before him.

As he stared, two figures—one tall, one small—stepped through.

Though the sight was strange, Charles showed no fear. He simply watched them, even smiling faintly.

That power… could they be mutants?

Then his eyes fell on the little girl. She glanced at him, and her eyes instantly reddened with pity and heartbreak.

"Hm?"

Charles was puzzled.

"Charles… brother!"

Gwen's voice trembled, and tears rolled down her cheeks.

She had never expected to find him like this. Seeing his bald head didn't bring the joy she'd imagined—it brought only sorrow.

"Brother?"

Charles blinked in surprise, raising a hand. "Who are you?"

The medicine still kept his mind clear.

Mike stroked Gwen's head, and she turned away, sniffling quietly.

"Mike Kent," Mike said flatly, then gestured to the girl. "Gwen Kent—my daughter."

"You're… mutants?" Charles asked, struggling to contain his excitement.

If his telepathy still worked, he could have confirmed it instantly. But now…

"Something like that," Mike replied vaguely.

He had no intention of revealing they were from another world—not yet.

"That's wonderful! I knew there would be more mutants!" Charles exclaimed, patting the bed beside him.

Just then, a puzzled voice called from the water tower entrance.

"Charles? Who's in there?"

(End of Chapter)