A few peaceful days passed.
Until this morning.
Soren, fresh from washing up, sensed a familiar presence lingering outside his medical hall. His sharp perception immediately locked onto the hesitant figure standing just beyond the entrance.
"Jean?"
Outside the doorway, Jean Grey stood still, her face pale, her posture uneasy. She seemed caught in an internal struggle, hesitating on whether to knock. The lost and exhausted look in her eyes stirred Soren's curiosity.
Before he could think further, he teleported outside.
"Ah!"
Startled, Jean spun around… only to collide into a warm embrace.
Her heart leaped. Lifting her head in a daze, her eyes met his.
"Soren…"
A soft gasp escaped her lips as she realized just where she had landed. Heat rushed to her cheeks, staining them a deep shade of crimson. Hastily, she stepped back, gripping the hem of his shirt with slender fingers.
Soren watched her flustered reaction and let out a small, helpless smile.
"Jean, what brings you here? And since you came all this way, why didn't you come inside?"
"I… I…" Jean lowered her head, her voice faltering.
Seeing her hesitation, Soren didn't press. Instead, he gently took her hand and led her inside.
Jean's blush deepened, but as she followed him in, a small sense of relief washed over her.
Once inside, Soren guided her to the living room, setting down a simple breakfast he had prepared.
"Eat first." He said. "You look like you haven't been taking care of yourself."
Jean hesitated, then picked up a piece of toast. As she took a small bite, some of the tension in her shoulders eased.
Soren watched her closely. Her complexion was unusually pale, and there was fatigue in her eyes.
"Jean, you look worn out. Haven't been sleeping well?" He asked casually. "Or is something wrong at Xavier's School?"
Jean paused mid-bite, her fingers tightening slightly around the toast.
"The school is fine." She finally said. "It's been rebuilt, and classes have resumed, but… I…"
"Something bothering you?" Soren noticed the way her expression darkened.
Jean let out a slow breath. "I've been having nightmares. Over and over again, I see the world burning… and I'm the one destroying it."
Soren's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's not all," she continued. "Lately, when I sleep, my powers go out of control. I've been disturbing the others at the school. The Professor thought it'd be best if I left for a while to clear my mind."
She lowered her gaze. "He wanted me to go home for a few days, but I… I didn't want to see my parents. The way they look at me…" Her voice trailed off.
Soren fell into thought.
Jean's body appeared normal, at least physically. But through his system, he could tell what was happening. The Phoenix Force had awakened within her during the battle against Apocalypse. Such overwhelming power was beyond her current ability to control.
He quickly consulted his system.
System, can I seal the Phoenix Force inside Jean while she's in my medical hall?
[Yes, but the seal will weaken over time. It will need to be reinforced approximately once a month.]
Soren exhaled in relief. This was good news. If he could suppress the Phoenix Force temporarily, Jean wouldn't have to live in fear of losing control. In time, as her body adapted, he could gradually release the seal, allowing her to master her power instead of being consumed by it.
He looked at Jean and said, "Your nightmares aren't just dreams, Jean. The Phoenix Force inside you is too strong, and right now, you can't control it."
Jean's face paled at Soren's words. She knew just how terrifying the power inside her was… even Apocalypse couldn't stand against it.
If she ever lost control…
"If I really lose myself…" She murmured, her fingers clutching at her sleeve. "Will the world end, just like in my dreams? This power… it feels unstoppable, Soren. It feels evil."
Soren, however, only smiled, his confidence unwavering.
"Don't overthink it."
"You're not alone in this. And besides…" He tilted his head, his gaze teasing. "Did you forget? I'm the doctor."
Jean looked up at him, startled, before letting out a small breathless laugh.
"Doctor…" She whispered, hope flickering in her eyes. "Then… can you help me?"
The way she looked at him, like a drowning person clinging to a lifeline, made Soren's heart soften.
"I can… but it won't be permanent. The Phoenix Force inside you won't simply disappear. I can suppress it, but the seal will weaken over time."
Jean's relief faltered. "So it's not a real solution…"
Soren shook his head. "Not yet. But with time, as you grow stronger, I'll gradually weaken the seal. If we do this properly, one day, you'll be able to control it on your own."
"So… how often?" Jean blinked, processing his words.
"Once a month should do for now." He said with a grin. "Consider it a regular check-up."
Jean hesitated. The idea of coming here every month, seeing Soren regularly, made something stir inside her.. a ripple she wasn't sure she wanted to acknowledge.
"Alright…" She finally agreed, her voice softer than before. "Then… what do I need to do?"
Soren gestured toward the treatment room. "Come with me."
She followed him inside, her steps uncertain. The room was dim, quiet, filled with a strange sense of calm. Soren gestured toward the operating table.
"Lie down."
"The sealing process might make you feel weak for a while, but it'll keep the Phoenix Force in check."
Jean swallowed, nodding. She hesitated only a moment before climbing onto the table and lying down. To avoid meeting Soren's gaze, she simply closed her eyes.
Soren watched her for a moment before taking a slow breath, steadying himself.
Focus.
He reached out, activating the power of the medical hall. Infinite energy surged around him, flowing toward Jean.
The moment his power made contact, he felt the wild, unyielding presence deep inside her.
Phoenix.
The force within her stirred, ancient and unwilling to be tamed. It pushed back, resisting him, lashing out in fiery waves.
Jean's body tensed. A sharp, pained breath escaped her lips, but she didn't move, didn't complain.
The energy in the room crackled. The walls trembled slightly under the pressure.
Soren gritted his teeth. Stubborn chicken, huh?
Bit by bit, he tightened his control, weaving the seal carefully around the Phoenix Force. The resistance was fierce, conscious. It didn't want to be contained.
But here, in his medical hall, Soren Macaluso was god.
Slowly, the seal took form, pressing down on the chaotic power within Jean's body. Sweat formed on his forehead, but he didn't stop.
Minutes stretched into what felt like days.
Then finally… It was done.
The room went silent. The powerful waves in the air faded. Jean's body went slack, her breathing evened out.
Soren exhaled, swiping a hand across his forehead. That was rough…
System, does this treatment give me anything?
[Host, there will be no additional ability extraction for treating the same character again.]
Soren's face fell. "What? That's a rule?" he muttered under his breath.
The system remained cold and unyielding. [Yes.]
Soren sighed in disappointment. "Tch… figures."
Shaking his head, he turned back to Jean. She was fast asleep, her face still a little pale but far more peaceful than before.
Soren hesitated. There was only one bed in Everlife Medical Center. Damn it.
After a moment's deliberation, he carefully lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed. He covered her with a light quilt, watching as the tension in her features eased.
For the first time in what felt like forever, Jean slept soundly. No nightmares. No visions of destruction.
Peace.
She didn't know how long she had slept.
The first thing she noticed when she woke was the soft, warm weight of the quilt over her body.
The second was the scent of something rich and familiar drifting through the air.
Her stomach grumbled.
Jean's eyes fluttered open, blinking groggily. She slowly sat up, rubbing her head. She froze, looking down at the quilt wrapped around her.
Wait…
She stared at it, her heart skipping slightly. Did Soren…!?
꧁𓊈𒆜༺⚜༻𒆜𓊉꧂
Fellow Phantoms and aspiring Phantoms to be, if you seek to access advanced parts of this story procced to my shadowy realm of p@treon.
PhantomDream