Title: and of that second kingdom will I sing
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Rating: Teen
Length: ~400
Content notes: discussions of misogyny and sexism
Author notes: In sort of tribute to International Women's Day...
Thanks to ninemoons42 for the quick beta help.
We’ll count this towards the following badges: beta boss, female characters, lightning streak, and governor of gen
Summary: We all make choices and those choices define us, whether we want them to or not.

Just before she sleeps, she remembers flashes - only flashes - of what was taken from her.

Tonight, she remembers huge expanses of green and the sound of glass shattering.

She dreams of walking through grass as small shards of glass cut her feet.

There is no relief to her memories, nor is there anyone who will listen to her stories.

Everyone in the office already thinks she is crazy. There is no need to add another reason.

Each weekend brings her sanctuary - the quiet of her garden - and that is how she muddles through.

-

Despite her decision to leave, she misses so much about Westchester.

It is not only Charles - he is part of it - but it is the sense of place and belonging.

In her new “home” she is surrounded by people who were responsible for killing her friend, for showing her that life is not as simple as it seems when surrounded by books and pubs. By their work, though, she knows that they open her eyes to the cruel world that exists.

She will not hide anymore, though in the solitude of her bedroom, she finds her brain reaching back towards the blonde girl - the last sign of who she was.

She cries herself to sleep, worrying through their new plans. She has not known much violence, but it sounds like she will become intimately familiar with it now.

She falls asleep craving to fight and to set herself apart from all that she has known.

-

One more reminder of what she was is all that it takes for her to try and crawl in on herself.

She is happier here than she was there - there is no question of that - but as blue scales walk past her, all she remembers is hope and a promise.

Now she lives with a new promise, though she has no idea if this one will be better than the last.

-

With his plan left in ashes, dead before it could be born, everything feels like limbo. She is trapped. She has no power. She is helpless.

A sharp crunch in her cell awakens her and she looks at him, truly looks at him, and wonders if their old plan was worth it.

He has a gleam in his eye that speaks volumes about his mission. His mission will, no doubt, not involve the overthrow of all governments and human institutions, but from what she remembers of his mind, it will involve some creative destruction.

She will happily take creative destruction over boredom anyday, even if she should be forced to work for the man who killed her lover.

Sacrifice is always about give and take.