Too Late, Baby (X-Men: First Class Drabble, PG-13)

[browngirl]

Title: Too Late, Baby
Fandom: X-Men: First Class
Rating: PG-13
Pairing Characters: Angel Salvadore; Darwin, Shaw
Summary: No point to changing her mind now.
Content Advisory: Canon violence, a curse or two, movie spoilers.
Acknowledgements: Written for firstclass100's "Change" prompt.
Disclaimer: This fanwork has been created for pleasure only and not for profit.



Darwin's gonna die.

Angel stumbles backwards, Mr. Shaw's hand encasing hers, unable to watch where she's going. Darwin shivers, choking on the ball of energy Mr. Shaw shoved down his throat, flashing desperately from one material to another.

He tried to stop her from going with Shaw, which was stupid, which was fucking noble bullshit, but the curdling in Angel's guts isn't anger at all. She almost pulls forward when Darwin starts to disintegrate before her eyes, but red smoke curls around her and with a thunderclap she's standing on creamy carpet in an enclosed room. Inside a submarine.

Shaw squeezes her hand, just barely, but her fingers creak. The choice is made, there's no point to changing her mind now. Taking a deep breath, she exhales the last of the CIA and puts Raven and the boys from her mind; as she looks up at Mr. Shaw, Angel makes herself smile.

Comments

[realpestilence.livejournal.com]

I thought she was incredibly stupid, to trust Shaw on his say so and go anywhere with these men she'd just watched slaughter many dozens of agents. The agents, who died trying to protect "the mutants"-remember them, Angel? Humans, who were "just following orders".

Very true that once she'd gone with him, she wouldn't be able to leave without his permission-she saw proof positive of the kind of thing he'd do if he felt betrayed. D:

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Mmm. I don't think Angel made the right choice, of course, but I can actually understand why she did -- I have been faced with choices that hers is a metaphor for (though mine were far less dramatically and bloodily posed) where I was told that I would never be accepted in wider society because of who I am and I had to decide whether or not to believe it. I have more to write about that.

I do think she started regretting it pretty soon, though, which is part of why she got so thoroughly won over by Shaw, if that makes sense. Sometimes the sunk cost of a bad decision can be so high one throws all the rest one has in too.

As you can guess, I have Thoughts on Angel. :)

[thistlerose.livejournal.com]

Oh, Angel. I understand why she went with him (she does what she has to do to survive), but I like to think she regrets her choice after her anger and fear has cooled. Oh, DARWIN. So tragically heroic. *sniffle*

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

*nod* I just blathered at length in the comment above about my thoughts on Angel, but I definitely agree that I think she regretted it as soon as she saw what Shaw did to Darwin. Which is why I wrote this.

[hoosierbitch.livejournal.com]

Ooooh! I love this so much! Love the way this ties in with the first time we saw Angel, putting on a smile and performing. And I adore how angry she is at Darwin for trying to stop her. GAH. There's just too much emotion in this hundred words. And it makes that tiny scene SO MUCH better.

*loves*

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

*beams* Thank you, brighteyes! I really loved the young mutants, though we saw relatively little of them, and I have Lots of Thoughts about Angel, and Darwin too.

[stormkpr.livejournal.com]

I do agree; you packed a ton of emotion into these few words. You packed a punch. What a pivotal and sad moment for Angel (and of course Darwin). I'm so glad you write in this fandom!

[rubynye.livejournal.com]

Thank you so very much! I am absolutely blushing and delighted. :)