OF LOVE AND HATE
SUMMARY: AU No powers! Erik and Charles in the 19th century background. A story filled with romance, action and many more.
P.S. I know, Logan's surname is not Wolverine but in this story it is and the most places are made up.
P.S.2. A new chapter every day.
thoughts
age: Erik Lensherr– 26, Sharon Marko (Xavier) - 45, Jean Grey– 28,
Charles Xavier– 22, Moira MacTaggert– 29, Ororo Munroe – 35,
Raven Xavier– 19, Sean Cassidy– 17, Armando Muñoz - 27,
Cain Marko– 24, Logan Wolverine– 33, Alex Summers – 17,
Kurt Marko - 49, Scott Summers – 29
AND A HUGE THANK YOU to my awesome beta-reader CAPTAINGEEK!
X-MEN – 19th CENTURY / X-MEN – 19th CENTURY /X-MEN – 19th CENTURY
Erik Lensherr is the owner of many huge estates; just recently he bought a new one in Westchester. And he is also the most desirable bachelor in the whole country. A very rich handsome desirable bachelor. But he was not always rich. Ten years ago he, his sister and his parents had just very little money but that didn't matter, they had themselves and were very happy. Erik even sometimes got to do the trades and his father believed that he was a nature talent. But suddenly his father began to lose trade partners and they had even less money. His father worked even harder but the situation got only worse. Mr. Lensherr senior got eventually sick and died after few months and then everything changed.
Erik tried to step into his father's footsteps but failed. His intuition was good but it was not enough and even the few partners they had, left quickly. For a year he, his sister and mother battled their way through life and on some days Erik didn't even believe that they would make it. On an especially bad day, when they had hungered for a week, Mr. Sebastian Shaw found them and took Erik, his sister and sick mother under his protective wing. But for Erik's mother it was too late. She died after a month as Shaw found them.
Shaw then used Erik's pain from the loss of both parents to continue Erik's education in trade - he taught him everything about trade and industry. He showed him how to crush the weak ones, as Shaw called them, and earn even more money – that meant many illegal activities. Erik was soon the best among the best but he always used lawful activities and Shaw often criticized him for it. Shaw then introduced him to the higher society and Erik soon gained a very high status among them. Shaw even considered making him his adopted son. He even took good care of his sister Angel and sometimes he spoke about adopting her too. This lasted for five years. Then, one evening, behind closed doors Erik heard Shaw talking about his parents and how he needed to get rid of them to unlock Erik's true potential. Shaw was even making plans on how to get rid of his only remaining family member. Erik couldn't have controlled his rage and anger, even if he wanted to and stormed into the room. He would have killed Shaw if not for Riptide and Azazel - Shaw's personal servants that never left his side. They pulled him away from Shaw and banned him from all Shaw's mansions and activities.
Erik and Angel would have found himself on the street again if not for their friends Mr. Logan Wolverine and Mr. Scott Summers. Both came from very rich, proud and superior feeling families, but Scott and Logan were nothing like that, in fact they were very humble, fair and nice. Well, Scott more than Logan. He even considered them as brothers and as such they behaved. With their help, Erik bought then a new home and continued in the activities Shaw taught him. After just three years Erik earned more money as he has ever earned for Shaw while he was working under him. Erik could stop working and start enjoying life with glamour but he did not. The only reason he was still working was that in the working circles he got information about Shaw that he could use to destroy the man – professional and personal. But his sister and his friends had other plans with him and they were constantly trying to pair him up with a woman or man, but till now nobody succeeded in warming Erik's heart up. And so the life of Erik Lensherr mostly consisted of making money, rejecting hopeful love-candidates and planning a revenge on Shaw. He namely swore to himself that Shaw would pay for everything but when spoken about it he declined everything.
Erik was currently on his way to one of his customers that didn't pay back his debt. He was thinking about the man behind the name and thus wasn't paying much attention to the road and so he nearly fell from his horse, when it abruptly stood up.
"Shhh," Erik tried to sooth it down and looked down to see what distracted the horse so. On the road were two people, one – a boy had his arms around the other. The other –a girl seemed to be stuck in a tree branch lying on the road, but Erik wasn't sure.
"Good morning," Erik greeted in a low voice and jumped down from his horse, "Do you require any assistance?"
The boy loosened his hold on the girl and looked up to the stranger. Erik was stunned; firstly, the boy was not a boy, but a boyish looking man and secondly, he had incredible blue eyes that could see right into his very own mind, at least Erik felt so.
"Thank you very much sir, but your assistance isn't necessary. I was helping my sister out, when suddenly you came ridding your hose in a fast gallop, so I threw myself onto her, to protect her. Please, accept my forgiveness for causing you trouble and delaying you arrival," the blue eyed man answered with a smile on his lips.
Erik found himself smiling back, "The fault is all mine, noble sir, I should have kept my eyes and mind on the road. Please, do forgive my reckless behavior."
The man's smile widened even more and Erik found himself magically drawn to these full red lips, "I do believe we are both to blame, Mr. …"
Erik suddenly remembered his manners and bowed his head, "I apologize; I once again have forgotten my manners. My name is Erik Lensherr, and may I ask yours?"
Erik looked deep into the young man's eyes and was satisfied to see that a blush crept up his neck. A cough from behind interrupted the moment. It came from the girl, whose foot was still caught in the tree branch.
"You are not the only one, who has forgotten his manners Mr. Lensherr," the boyish man, who obliviously regained his composure, answered in a sweet voice as he was helping his sister getting unstuck. "My name is Charles Xavier and this is my sweet sister Miss Raven Xavier," both bowed they respects.
Suddenly Erik remembered what time it was and excused himself, "It was a pleasure meeting you both, Miss Xavier, Mr. Xavier, but I really must be going now. Have a nice day."
They all bowed the goodbyes and Erik jumped on his horse and rode away. He has never felt like this in his life before and decided that at the next opportunity he had with Mr. Xavier, he would find out what the feeling meant.
X-MEN – 19th CENTURY / X-MEN – 19th CENTURY /X-MEN – 19th CENTURY
"He seemed nice," Raven was the first to speak up as they resumed their walk.
"Yes, he did," Charles answered shortly.
"You do know, it is all right, when you like men? The indiscrimination law has long been passed."
"Raven," Charles warned but his sister has already changed the topic.
"I wonder why he was in such a hurry. Maybe something happened to his family and he went to investigate the situation, or he already saw what happened and now is trying to find a doctor! Charles we should have told him about Dr. McCoy! Charles? Charles! Are you even listening to me?" The last sentence was nearly shouted.
Charles let out a small sigh. "I'm listening to you, my dear, but you should allow me to answer, before you ask another question." Raven blushed a little at the subtle comment. "I do not think that he was in need of a doctor or he would have asked us for one nor do I think he was hurrying towards a family accident or he would not converse with us. Don't you think?" Charles mildly asked.
"Yes, of course brother. You are right, as usual. Well, when I think about it, he seemed pretty interested in you," Raven fluently returned to the previous topic.
This time it was Charles turn to blush. "I.., no, I.., er… He was just being nice, you said it yourself."
"Charles, you are stammering!" Raven said with mischief in her eyes. "The almighty, all-knowing Charles lost his composure!"
"That is just because you are mocking me!" Charles said with false anger in his voice.
"And? What do you want to do about it?" Raven showed Charles her red tongue and ran back to their home.
"I'm going to catch you and then tickle you till you show me some respect!" Charles said with laugher in his voice and started running after her.
Not half a mile before the Xavier mansion Charles caught Raven and they both were rolling in the grass and tickling each other. Charles was more immune to tickling than Raven thus after a few minutes Raven was literally gasping for breath and surrendered. "I surrender, I surrender, no more tickling, please."
"So?" Charles stopped his action but did not remove his hand, "What do we say?"
"You won, I lost and you, big brother, are the best," Raven recited her well-known sentence. Till today she spoke it about a millionth time after every lost tickling duel with Charles. "But one day you will be the one to say it! Well, not the exactly the same sentence," she exclaimed with false annoyance.
Charles just laughed from all his heart but stopped when he saw Raven seriously looking at him through the grass. "What is it?"
"You really are the best brother I could imagine Charles. The best brother on the whole world. You are loving, carrying and you are helping me all the time with literally everything. And I love you so much for it, for the person you are. What I am trying to say is that I will deeply miss you when you leave for your studies. But I am very happy for you that stepfather allowed it at last. And no matter what happen I will always love you and be there for you. Do you know it?"
Charles got Raven in a bear hug and kissed her on her forehead. "Yes, I do and I love you, little sister, much more than you can imagine. And believe me, when I say that no matter what the world will bring us, I will always be there to help you, even when I am away. You can always count on me."
"Will you write to me often?" Raven asked in a teary voice.
"Every day and I will visit you as often as it'll be possible. And you have to come and visit me often!" Raven smiled softly and hugged herself closer to her dear brother.
They both stayed in comfortable silence till the yelling of their stepfather reached their ears. "I must insist that you leave my house immediately." Both siblings stood up and looked at the doorway, where Kurt Marko – their stepfather was standing. A tall man with a quick step emerged from their home and stood face to face with their stepfather.
"For the time being. Mr. Marko, as I am a reasonable man, I give you time till tomorrow eight o'clock in the evening to bring me my money back. If I don't hear about you till then, then the next time I'll come, I won't be alone and as nice as I was today." It was the voice of Mr. Lensherr. Cold and dangerous but unmistakable his. Charles took a sharp intake of breath and Raven let out a small gasp.
Mr. Lensherr bowed his head in goodbye and swiftly saddled his horse that was already waiting for him in the front garden. He left the ground quickly without noticing either of the siblings.
Both – Charles and Raven were in a trance like state and just the slam of the front door woke them up. They slowly made their way into the house. Charles went in first, he saw his stepfather sill panting heavy after the yelling and his mother was crying in a far corner. Raven was next to step in but froze immediately at the doorstep, unsure what to do next.
"Mother," Charles said lovingly and kneeled down beside her. "Mother, please, tell me what has happened?"
"This man, this horrible heartless man wants to take our house away! Our very own home!" it was an almost hysterically yell from his mother Sharon Marko.
Charles looked shocked. "Why should he want to take our home away? Surely, you must have misunderstood him. He…," but Charles could not finish because he was interrupted by his stepfather who had calmed himself.
"He is the person we owe 30,000 pounds."
Charles looked bewildered at his stepfather, then at his mother and again at his stepfather. "30,000 pounds? Even when we spent all our money, it still will not be enough!"
"That is why we will probably have to sell this mansion to pay it back," Mr. Marko answered as matter-of-fact.
"How? How could we owe so much? How could it happen?" Charles asked disbelievingly.
"That is no longer important," Kurt Marko answered in a low threatening voice, and if Charles was not so shocked, he would recognize it.
"I strongly object, if father was still living, he would have n…"
A slap across his face shut him silent. He could hear Raven shriek up and mother started crying again. Marko's face was dangerously near; Charles couldn't remember that he moved, but he obviously had to, or the slap wouldn't happen.
"I am your father now," Marko hissed, "And you will show me some respect or, Lord is my witness, I will disinherit you!" Marko turned away from Charles and looked with disgust at Raven. Charles, for the very first time since the conversation began, felt fear but not for himself but for his sister. But Marko showed no longer interest in Raven and turned back to Charles. "It is enough that I allowed you to keep your father's name, I will not allow further signs of non-respect in this house!"
Charles bowed his head and remained silent. His cheek still burned from the slap.
"Raven, tell the servants to prepare Cain's room, he'll arrive in the evening and were you playing in the garden again? Lord help me, you are a young lady Raven and as such you should behave or none will want to marry you. Go and wash yourself!" Mother, who composed herself, was barking orders left and right. "Charles, tell the cook to prepare beef and pork, Cain will surely be hungry when he'll arrive, and make yourself presentable! You look like you were just in a fight!"
"Yes, mother," both answered in union bowed their respects and left the room.
After Charles did, as he has been told, he was left alone in his room to think over the whole thing.
Mr. Lensherr, who nearly stamped us over today and was so nice to us afterwards, is the very same person to whom we will now lose everything. Literally everything – not just our money, but probably our home, too. I hate him. I hate him with every fiber of my being. Lord help me, if I see him again. And Marko, I hate him even more. He is as much as Lensherr responsible for our situation. I do not know what mother sees in him. Oh father, if you were still living, none of this would have happened. Father, I miss you. Why did you have to leave us so early? I need you, Raven needs you! Raven! What will happen to her, if I leave for my study voyage? I can't abandon her! She has no home here anymore and, Lord knows, Marko is able to sell her to slavery, if not for mother's reminders that as long as this is a Xavier mansion, Raven is here to stay and to do what she wants. Oh Raven, how will mother protect you, when it isn't anymore father's roof over our heads? I fear for the worst…
X-MEN – 19th CENTURY / X-MEN – 19th CENTURY /X-MEN – 19th CENTURY
Dinner arrived quickly and the Xavier-Marko family was dinning at the biggest table in the biggest room. Marko was on the head; mother opposite him, to his right was Charles and to his left was Raven.
"We came to a conclusion to our problem," Marko said in a bored tone, as if he was just speaking about the weather.
Charles and Raven looked from their plates at each other and then at their stepfather.
"We'll sell the mansion to the Summers family, they once were very interested in it. From the sell we'll pay back our debt and we will move to live with my cousin Mister Sinister in Publishire," Marko continued in the same bored voice as before, "In fact, I already have sent Cain with an offer to the Summers. I expect him back any time soon with an acceptance letter of course."
Raven's eyes have widened. "But," she stammered, "t-this is our home!"
Marko turned towards Raven and his gaze darkened. Charles, who was sensing the danger, quickly interrupted, "Raven, don't worry, we'll make ourselves a new home." Charles smiled encouraging. Behind his eyes was something that Raven couldn't place.
"Charles, there is a thing I wanted to discuss with you." Marko was now studying Charles. "There won't be enough money to pay your studies. I apologize, my son, but you either have to find another way to finance it, or just postpone it," Marko said with a false sadness and false kindness. One didn't need to have telepathic powers to see that it secretly pleased him.
"What?" Raven just couldn't stop herself, "Oxford is Charles' dream! He loves studying! You can't take it from him!"
"Raven! Calm your mind!" Charles said in a low tone.
"No, Charles, I won't. Everyone who knows you can see that you are made for the university!"
"Raven," Charles tried again.
"Don't try to hush me, Charles, you worked so hard to get there!"
"Raven that is enough!" Charles shouted and Raven went immediately quiet. Charles has only on very rare occasions shouted at her and only when she was in immediate danger, not when she was right. She felt somehow humiliated by this and wondered why he wasn't fighting for his dream.
"Listen to your brother and behave," Sharon said uninterested in the small debate that was over before it even started. If she was before disturbed that they were losing their home, now she was a living example of an emotionless being.
After a few more minutes of silence Cain Marko, the son from first marriage of Kurt Marko, returned with an accept letter as Marko predicted. The meeting was settled on tomorrow noon, when they would exchange keys of the mansion for money. The Summers would send multiple servants to protect the money. Then Marko with mother and some servants would ride to Mr. Lensherr, pay back their debt and return to them. Afterwards they would make their way towards their new home.
After hearing the plan, both Xavier siblings excused themselves from the table and went up, to their rooms.
When they were far enough from the dining room, Charles tried to speak to Raven but she interrupted him immediately.
"What, Charles? I defended your dream and you hushed me like a stupid little girl. I thought that you always stood up to the right but as I see, I was mistaken. And to think that I looked up to you," Raven flew with tears in her eyes into her room.
"Raven!" Charles chased after her but found the door locked. "Raven! Let me in!" Charles drummed with his fist against the door but it remained closed. For ten minutes he kept trying but the only response he got was a muffled 'get away'. With a sigh he left her as she requested and returned to his room.
It was a restless night for both of them.
