This article contains spoilers for X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1, on sale now from Marvel Comics.
Tensions run high between the mutants, Avengers and the Fantastic Four in the days leading up to and during the second Hellfire Gala. The scrutiny is heightened after the Daily Bugle published a front-page exclusive in which Scott Summers/Cyclops revealed the secret of mutant resurrection to the world. When Emma Frost found out, she gave Scott the cold shoulder at the gala, driving yet another wedge in their complicated relationship.
Their reunion in X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 (by Gerry Duggan, Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli, CF Villa, Rain Beredo, Frank Martin, Matt Milla and Matthew Wilson), set up what could be Emma and Scott rekindling their romance. Emma and Scott have had a long history of hot and cold affairs. When Scott realized he deserved more than Charles Xavier's idea of mutantkind in Uncanny X-Men and New Mutants, he forged a relationship with Emma and decided to leave the school. Emma admitted Scott was the only man she ever loved in the Death of X miniseries (by Jeff Lemire, Charles Soule, Aaron Kuder and Morry Hollowell). Their affairs often stem from providing each other the emotional support they seek at the time.
Part of the reason why Emma and Scott's relationship has always been rocky was because they both have strong insecurities. For years, Emma believed she did not deserve her place in the X-Men and Scott worked hard to constantly earn Xavier's approval. Jean Grey posed an additional external barrier to their relationship, but Jean and Emma formed an unlikely friendship on Krakoa. During a rough patch in his marriage to Jean, Scott leaned on Emma for support.
The pair's interaction during the latest Hellfire Gala showed how Scott was able to let his guard down around the White Queen. Emma was visibly upset with Scott when he approached her for the first time that night. She instead turned her attention to Jon Hamm, who made a surprise cameo at the gala. Making the moment even more awkward, she planted a kiss on Jon's cheek in front of Scott as he was joined by Jean.
At the Hellfire Gala, it's Jean who played mind tricks on Emma in order to get her and Scott to have a solid conversation. During their dance, Scott allowed Emma to see into his mind. He shared Dr. Stasis was the true reason behind why he revealed the mutants' secret. Emma, in turn, told Scott about Moira MacTaggert's plan to come for Krakoa. Choosing to let Scott give her permission to look inside his head first illustrated the amount of trust and safety felt in their relationship.
Emma, like Jean, is able to read the minds of anyone around her, so she had the option to read whatever was on Scott's mind before he can approach her. It seemed this scene was more than just an exchange of information, but also a chance to reconnect intimately. Sharing information on a psychic and physical level, rather than verbal, speaks volumes about their connection. Emma leaned in to lay her head on Scott's shoulder, and Scott later kissed her hand. When the dance ended and Jean came back to his side, Scott told her he needed some air.
This was the moment that needed to happen between Emma and Scott in order to rebuild their partnership. This time, Scott does not have anything to hide, and he had Jean working alongside him the entire time, giving him council. Now that Emma is in on the secret, it will be interesting to see how future events play out for the three of them on Krakoa.