C3 Bloodline

In the blink of an eye, Warren thought he had glimpsed an "angel."

It took a full second before he snapped back to reality.

The wings weren't feathers but metal, and the halo wasn't light but a colored metal creation.

"Who are you?"

Qi Ann wasn't in the mood for small talk. After all, her "angel" ability, "Guardian Angel," only allowed her to fly to her teammates, not just anywhere. She quickly said, "I'm deeply grateful for your help, but right now, we need to focus on landing safely, don't you agree?"

Warren Worthington III nodded, his mind swirling with questions and curiosity as he led the way to the ground.

News traveled fast at Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters, a place teeming with mutants blessed with extraordinary talents. With telepaths like Jean Grey and others with heightened senses, even the slightest whisper of news would ripple through the school in no time. Soon enough, a crowd had gathered on the field, eager to see what the "angel" was up to.

In just thirty seconds, the field was bustling with onlookers.

The teenagers craned their necks, curiosity written all over their faces. As they made out the figures in the sky, exclamations of wonder erupted.

"Wow! Is that another 'angel'?"

"Could that be the 'angel's' sister?"

Two winged angels soared above, their golden hair glistening in the sunlight, their flight patterns strikingly similar, prompting the onlookers' questions.

Warren Worthington III touched down first, folding his wings as he curiously awaited the newcomer's response.

Qi Ann followed suit, landing gracefully. Once her feet were planted firmly on the ground, she retracted her ion wings and the white metal framework. After catching her breath and straightening her "Valkyrie Combat Suit," she bowed to her rescuer.

"Thank you once again for saving my life. My name is Angela Ziegler. You can call me 'Angela' or 'Angel,' as my former teammates did."

Warren stood there, momentarily taken aback.

The air hung with an awkward silence.

Puzzled, Qi Ann observed him. The blond young man's face was a tapestry of unanswered questions, yet he remained silent. She glanced to the side, seeking someone who could take charge of the situation. Naturally, her eyes followed the collective gaze of the youths to the middle-aged man seated in a wheelchair.

A burly man with a fierce expression wheeled Charles Xavier into the midst of the crowd. Seated in the wheelchair, Charles greeted Qi Ann with a warm smile, promptly clearing up her confusion.

"Hello, Ms. Angela. I am the headmaster of this institution, Charles Xavier, but you may also refer to me as 'Professor X'," said the professor, his striking blue eyes twinkling as he spoke. "This is Warren Worthington III. He goes by a nickname, which I'm sure someone of your intellect has already deduced, right?"

Qi Ann's gaze drifted to the wings unfurling behind the blond young man, recalling his sudden rigidity after her earlier words, and she couldn't help but feel awkward.

What if she had inadvertently stepped on toes upon her arrival?

"Could it be 'Angel'? What a remarkable coincidence," she ventured.

Warren finally regained his composure, managing a strained smile as he nodded.

"Hello, I'm Warren, Warren Worthington III."

He fell silent after the introduction.

Qi Ann turned her attention back to the man known as "Professor X," Mr. Xavier.

Ever empathetic, Charles Xavier smiled and steered the conversation forward.

"Ms. Angela, if it's not too much trouble, could we talk? I'm intrigued by your unusual arrival... Of course, you're entitled to your secrets."

Finding the other party so approachable, Qi Ann felt a twinge of guilt. The fabricated story she had rehearsed mentally took several turns, and by the time she was seated in the headmaster's office, her response had morphed into something else.

"As you've seen, I fell from the sky due to a massive explosion," she began, artfully omitting the cause of the blast while maintaining her composure.

"After the explosion, I found myself airborne. I suspect that the blast's energy may have breached the 'walls' of space-time, depositing me into this world. Should you choose to look into whether an 'Angela Ziegler' exists here, I believe you'll quickly find your answer."

Charles Xavier chose not to pursue Qi Ann's lead but instead responded with a soft, reassuring smile, "I believe you, Ms. Angela."

Caught off guard, Qi Ann blurted out, "Mr. Xavier, isn't it rather rash to extend your trust so readily?"

In her years with Overwatch, she had grown accustomed to the agents' thorough vetting and trials before trust was established. Not everyone would entrust their life to an 'angel' upon first meeting, and many would harbor doubts about whether a woman armed with a cane and a compact assault rifle could fulfill the crucial role of support healer in a team.

Charles couldn't help but chuckle.

"Ms. Angela, would you prefer it if I locked you in a room for an interrogation?"

"Of course not, it's just..." Qi Ann faltered, struggling to articulate her emotions.

Back when she sought to join Overwatch, the two leaders had scrutinized her thoroughly. Morrison, ever tolerant and upright, courteously invited her to demonstrate her skills, whereas the serious and stern Reyes bluntly furrowed his brow and expressed his skepticism about a surgeon's suitability for an Overwatch agent. It wasn't until she drew her gun and engaged in a fierce confrontation with him from the top floor to the bottom, both ending up significantly wounded, that Reyes finally conceded.

And here was Charles Xavier, another school leader, in a place where even winged individuals roamed the halls, signaling that the other students were far from ordinary. Yet, in his role, he exhibited such remarkable tolerance and naivety. Wasn't he concerned she might have malicious intentions?

Charles Xavier nearly laughed again as he tuned into her thoughts.

"Ms. Angela, I trust in your goodness. Until you find a new destination, please consider staying with us for a while."

Caught off guard, Qi Ann replied with a touch of embarrassment, "I wouldn't want to impose. But if there's anything I can assist with, do let me know—especially if it's related to medicine or biology. I believe I can be of some assistance." To bolster her credibility, she cited her credentials. "I hold doctorates in clinical medicine and nanobiology, with insights in both theory and practical application."

Charles Xavier's curiosity piqued. "Nanobiology?"

"It's the application of nanotechnology in biology, capable of significantly enhancing treatments for diseases and injuries." Glancing once more at his legs, Qi Ann ventured, "For instance, I presume your condition isn't congenital but the result of an acquired disease or injury... Perhaps I could treat it."