Months had passed since Genosha, but the X-Men were still carrying the weight of Gambit’s death. The mansion felt quieter, missions felt heavier, and everyone was still grieving. But they couldn’t stop. Mutants still needed them, and Scott Summers made sure they kept moving.

As always, Scott carried the responsibility of leading them. The plans, the strategies, the impossible choices. Yet to the rest of the team, it often felt like that was all he cared about.

“Do you ever take a break, Summers?” Logan asked after another long mission. “Or are you just programmed to give orders?”

Scott barely looked up from the report in his hands. “If you have a better plan, Logan, I’m listening.”

Rogue sighed. “That’s the thing, Scott. Sometimes it feels like you ain’t listening to us at all.”

No one had much to say after that.

Jean understood him better than anyone. Their relationship had always been complicated, but she knew Scott wasn’t cold because he didn’t care. He was cold because he cared too much. The rest of the team, however, never really saw past the leader.

Not until their next mission.

The team was captured, trapped with no clear way out. Every escape plan failed, and the situation became impossible. Scott looked over the team, already knowing what had to happen.

“We’re leaving,” he ordered.

Logan immediately noticed. “What are you planning, Slim?”

Scott didn’t answer at first. Then he looked at Jean.

The others escaped through the opening Scott created, fighting their way out while he stayed behind. They were angry, confused, and certain he would catch up.

After all, he always did.

Until he didn’t.

A Sentinel grabbed him before their eyes.

“SCOTT!” Jean screamed, but the collapse separated them.

When they finally returned, there was nothing left. No body. No sign of him. Only the realization that Scott Summers—their leader, their teammate, the man they thought cared more about missions than people—had sacrificed himself for them.

The flight home was silent.

Rogue stared down at her hands. “He knew, didn’t he?”

Kurt lowered his head. “Ja… He did...”

Logan said nothing, his jaw clenched.

When they returned to the mansion, Charles Xavier immediately knew something was wrong.

“Where is Scott?”

Jean couldn’t answer at first. Then, quietly, she said, “He’s gone professor….”

Charles froze.

“He stayed behind so we could escape.”

For years, everyone had believed Charles and Scott had a mentor-and-student relationship. They never realized it was something much deeper.

Scott Summers had been Charles’ son.

“I found him when he was fifteen,” Charles whispered, his voice breaking. “He was a frightened child who had lost everything. I took him in. I raised him. I watched him become the leader this team needed.”

The Professor’s eyes filled with tears.

And finally, the X-Men understood.

Every argument. Every strict order. Every impossible decision.