Marvel: NIHILITY

David found himself wandering through the streets of the city, the weight of the past still pressing on him. His emotions felt like an unstable storm brewing inside, and the only thing that seemed to help him find some semblance of relief was the promise of a drink. It had been a while since he'd sought solace in alcohol, but tonight was different. Today, he was going to find someone who could match his mood.

Logan. The old, grizzled mutant with a penchant for whiskey and violence. David hadn't seen the man in what felt like ages, but he knew that if anyone could help him forget his troubles, it would be Logan. There was something about Logan's no-nonsense attitude that always made David feel less… well, insane. Besides, who else could understand the emotional mess he was in better than a guy who'd lived through a whole lifetime of pain?

He made his way to the famous Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. The massive mansion sat like an oasis of hope in a city full of chaos. David had visited a few times before, but it had been a while since he'd last stopped by. He approached the front door, hesitating only for a moment before ringing the bell.

A few moments later, the door opened to reveal none other than Kitty Pryde, the ever-optimistic and always curious mutant who seemed to pop up out of nowhere.

"Oh my god!" she yelled, her eyes lighting up at the sight of him. "It's the most freaking popular dude on earth ! What brings you here?"

David, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly, let out a small sigh. "I'm looking for Logan. Got some... things I need to talk through, if you know what I mean."

Kitty raised an eyebrow, then smirked. "I'm sure he's around somewhere. But you should probably be ready for a lot of 'grumpy old man' vibes." She stepped aside, motioning him in. "Come on in. Let me take you to him."

As they walked through the hallways of the mansion, David couldn't help but notice the wide-eyed stares of the younger mutants. A few of them even gasped when they saw him.

"Is that... him?" one of them whispered, eyes practically sparkling.

"Superman?!"

David froze mid-step, glancing at Kitty. "Did they just call me Superman?" he asked, his tone incredulous. "I thought that stuff was cleared up!"

Kitty laughed. "Yeah, apparently you're a big deal around here now. The whole invincible and flying, not to mention countless other unknown powers like turning old ladies into milfs, you know. They think you're some kind of unstoppable hero or something. I'd prefer you as All might though. I can picture you yelling 'I am here!' with a grin."

David grimaced. "I don't even know who this 'Superman' is. I'm not Superman. I'm just... a guy who has made some questionable decisions. And I'd rather be all for one," which made Kitty gasp, "You heretic!"

But the kids were already flocking to him, looking up at him with awe. One little mutant, no older than twelve, with short black hair and a goth look, walked up to him with wide eyes.

"Can I get an autograph?" she asked eagerly, holding out a piece of paper and a pen.

David stared at the pen in her hand as if it were some sort of alien device. "I don't really ... do autographs, but sure. Just don't use to to steal my money kiddo." he muttered, feeling more and more uncomfortable by the second.

Another kid, this time a teenage boy with spiky white hair, stepped forward. "Wait! You're David, right? The guy who one punched Abomination ? That's like, totally badass!" His eyes were practically glowing with excitement.

David ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "Yeah, that's me, kid. But look, I'm not a hero. I don't want to be a role model or some legend. I just came here for a drink with Logan. That's all." He thought to himself, ' What kind timeline is this? Why is Magneto's kid here? Is it really true that Eric was the daddy and Xavier was the mommy in a weird fucked up relationship?'

A shy girl with brown hair and eyes, with a tanned skin , nervously ask, " Can you really lift up mountains with one hand?"

David chuckled and patted her head, " Sure, why not. I can carry the planet on my palm if you want a better comparison," which made the kids gather around him and bombarding him with other wuestions.

But it was no use. The kids were already piling on, asking him questions about his "superpowers," how he could destroy entire universes, and if he could "really bench press a planet."

David felt his face flush with embarrassment, and he did his best to slip away from the swarm of eager mutants.

Kurt, who just popped up behind them sheepishly , " Hello sir, could I take a selfie with you?" Bobby aka Iceman who was walking towards them also ran up. " Yeah dude, It'd be so cool to have a pic with you. You aren't really a photo session with fans kinda guy." 

He shrugged, " Sure, why not. Nobody really asked me, and I don't want to be a hollywood celebrity . I like to keep my soul, thank you."

Pyro, the flaming maniac also chimed in, "Yes. Their souls will burn in hell forever, while devil roasted them over a bonfire."

"Wow dude, you really need help." Bobby remarked dryly. 

"Shut it freezer with no electricity." Pyro immediately retorted.

David curiously asked, " So, where's the principal? Usually he'd be rolling by now, giving a recruitment speech. right?

Kitty, barely holding back her laughter, replied, " The professor is away with Hank and the others to Washington for some meeting about some solar flare stuff. They would be coming back tonight.

She led him down a few more hallways until they reached the familiar scent of cigars and whiskey. Logan's den. She knocked twice before pushing the door open.

"Logan, we've got company!" Kitty called, stepping inside.

Logan, as expected, was lounging in his chair, a half-empty glass of whiskey in his hand, his gruff expression unwavering. When he saw David, a smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Well, if it isn't the man who thinks he can erase a universe and still have time for a drink," Logan said, setting his glass down and standing to greet him.

David walked into the room with a sigh of relief, finally escaping the throngs of adoring young mutants. "You don't know how much I needed this," he said, collapsing into the chair across from Logan. "There's a whole bunch of kids out there thinking I'm some kind of god. It's insane."

Logan raised an eyebrow. "Well, you did beat Abomination like a toddler, not to mention the dark dimension crap. They've got a point. Who knew the random boy I met in the park would be the earth's strongest hero. "

David groaned. "I don't care! I'm not Superman or some 'unstoppable hero.' I'm just a guy trying to deal with his issues without the world thinking I'm their personal savior."

Logan chuckled darkly. "Yeah, kid. That's the problem with power. Everyone thinks you're the answer to their problems. But it's a lot more complicated than that."

David rubbed his temples. "I just wanted a drink."

Logan leaned back in his chair, eyeing David with a mixture of amusement and understanding. "Well, you've come to the right place." He poured two glasses of whiskey, sliding one across the table to David. "To not being Superman."

David smirked, accepting the glass. "To not being Superman."

They clinked their glasses, and for the first time in what felt like forever, David allowed himself to relax, letting the warmth of the drink chase away the tension that had been building inside him.

"So, what's the deal with you and the government? Are they still bothering you?" Logan asked.

"Nah, they decided to sanction Emma's company though, which didn't work really. People are more afraid of a meteorite falling on their house than the government," David took chug of his beer. 

"What are you planning to do now? I heard you mentioning some stuff about me and cap's serum, how did you know all that ?" 

David shrugged, " Call it partial omniscience. I can also tell you you'll have a kid in the future," to which Logan scoffed. 

"Yeah , that won't ever happen, I'm sterile. Otherwise there would be hundred of rabid kids roaming across USA." He smirked.

David laughed, " You'll see when it happens."

Meanwhile, outside the room, the younger mutants were still buzzing about him, discussing the "legendary" hero who could erase entire universes with a flick of his finger. Somewhere in the distance, one of them shouted, "David for President!"

David sighed into his drink, muttering under his breath. "I should have stayed in the other universe."

Logan's laughter rumbled in his chest as he took a long sip from his glass. "You're stuck with us now, kid. Might as well enjoy the ride."

David slouched further into his chair, the corners of his lips twitching. Despite everything, despite the chaos and the weight of his past, maybe—just maybe—this was where he was meant to be for now. And as long as there was whiskey, there was hope for a little peace.

But just to be clear, he was not Superman.

As David left Logan's den, feeling slightly better from the drink and the blunt honesty of the conversation, he made his way down the hallway towards the door. The younger mutants were still chatting about him in awe, but David was in no mood to entertain them further. He needed space, solitude to process his thoughts—maybe even find a quiet corner to relax in. He was so wrapped up in his mind that he didn't notice her at first.

Jean Grey.

She stood at the far end of the hallway, her vibrant red hair flowing like a river of flames. Her posture was calm, but there was something in the air that made David pause. It was like an electric current, a quiet warning he couldn't ignore.

"Hello miss Jean," David said, offering a polite but distant smile. He had no desire to engage, not after everything he had just gone through. His memories of her—of his Jean—still lingered like a wound that refused to heal. Her face, the laughter, the love... it all felt like a cruel reminder of what he had lost.

But Jean didn't seem to acknowledge his hesitancy. She stepped forward, a faint smile appearing on her lips as she gazed at him. The air around her seemed to shift, charged with an unsettling energy.

"Hi David…" Her voice was soft, almost too soft. "I've heard so much about you. It's an honor to finally meet you. The kids here adore you."

David forced a smile, trying to keep his composure. "Likewise, Jean. I… uh, I really should be going. I'm running late for a coffee with batman...."

He turned to leave, but as his back was turned, the temperature in the hallway seemed to drop. His instincts flared, and he turned around just in time to see Jean's eyes glow an intense shade of red. Her entire demeanor shifted, as if something far more sinister had taken over.

The energy in the room was thick, suffocating. A presence, dark and otherworldly, filled the space. Jean's body trembled as if she were fighting against it, but the entity within her was far stronger.

David's hand instinctively clenched , ready for another fight with a cosmic force. It wasn't the first time he'd had to deal with something like this, and he fully expected this to be another violent confrontation.

But then, the voice that came from Jean's lips wasn't hers at all.

"I have finally found you, my love. hehehe"

David froze. His blood ran cold. He could feel it—the wrongness in the voice, the overwhelming power, the absolute certainty that this was no random attack. The entity wasn't just a cosmic force—it was someone, or something, that knew him. That knew his heart, his soul.

"Jean?" David asked cautiously, stepping back but not raising his sword. His mind raced. The only explanation that made sense was that this wasn't the Jean of this universe at all.

He wasn't facing Jean Grey; he was probably facing a manifestation of his Jean from Earth 2149—his Jean who had somehow found her way here through dark means. The Darkhold's magic. Dreamwalking.

David swallowed hard, memories of his Jean flooding back—her love, her sacrifice, their tragic goodbye. He refused to be caught in the same cycle of pain again, but the voice, the entity, was undeniably hers. Was this truly Jean, or something else entirely?

The entity—the familiar yet unfamiliar voice of his Jean—spoke again, more urgently now. "Don't leave me. Please… I can't lose you again."

David felt his stomach twist. He could hear the desperation in her voice, feel the pull of her longing. He knew this would be a delicate situation—if he wasn't careful, he could end up making everything worse.

If this was his Jean, from that universe, using the Darkhold's magic, there was a need to stop her, a way to help her.

He stepped forward, his voice calm but firm. "Jean… I understand. But you have to listen to me."

Her glowing eyes flickered for a moment, a shadow of confusion passing through them.

"I don't care whatever methods you chose , what spell you used to get here," David continued, his tone softening.

"I know you're scared and alone. I can feel it. But you need to let go. You don't have to hold on like this. I won't abandon you, but this isn't the way. This power will corrupt you, turning you into someone I no longer know."

Jean's voice trembled, the entity inside her growling in frustration. "I can't lose you again, David. Not after everything. I, love you."

David cut her off, his voice steady but full of quiet resolution. "I love you too, Jean. Ican't promise you that I'll be with you forever, but I can promise you that I'll find a way back. I'll find you again. But you have to trust me. Let go of this darkness that'll corrupt you."

There was a long silence between them, and for a moment, David wondered if the entity would listen. The tension crackled in the air as Jean's red eyes blinked slowly, the intensity of the energy around her seeming to waver. But she wasn't giving up. Not yet.

"I need something," David said, an idea forming in his mind. "If I'm going to find you—the real you, in your universe—I need you to mark me. Plant something on me. A psychic mark, a trace of your energy. So I can find my way back to you."

For a moment, Jean seemed to consider it. Her eyes softened, the glow fading just a fraction.

"Are you sure? You could be... lost forever," she warned, her voice filled with sorrow.

"I won't be lost," David said. "I'll find you. But only if you trust me and keep yourself safe. Please."

There was a pause, as if Jean—or whatever had taken over her—was weighing his words. Then, with a soft, almost imperceptible nod, Jean's body relaxed, and the pressure in the air seemed to ease.

She reached out, her lips brushing against his for kiss full of longing , sending a surge of psychic energy through him. David closed his eyes, feeling the imprint of her presence, the connection being forged between them.

As the psychic mark settled into his mind, a brief vision flashed in his head—images of Earth 2149, a world in ruins, a desperate love, and a soul willing to do anything to hold onto the one person who could fill the emptiness.

"You won't forget me, right ?" she asked softly.

David gave her a sad, knowing smile, his voice heavy with the weight of his promise. "No. I'll find you. I swear it."

He turned away, his steps heavy, but his heart a little lighter. The connection was there now. Jean was out there. Somewhere. Now, he had to find her before she does something crazy.

When it was over, Jean's eyes returned to normal, the red glow fading completely. She stood before him, breathing heavily, her expression confused as she touched her lips. "What just happened? Why do I feel like that? It's as if I just kissed someone. " 

She shook her head to clear the thoughts and walked away, not knowing what fate had in store for her.