Authors Note: So...story idea! I've actually been working on this for years. I edited it as best I could but if someone spouts an extra limb or something let me know XD.
"How much is this one?" Charles picked up an apple, "This one, with a bruise on its side, three?"
The vendor nodded. Charles put the apples he'd picked out into his basket with a relieved sigh. He didn't want to be the one to tell Raven that the apple pie he had agreed to make for her baby shower had no apples in it. He paid the vendor, turning his attention back to the bustling market. What else did he need? Flour, definitely. He had used up the last of it the night before on biscuits for Kurt. Eggs? No, he couldn't afford them. A pity really, he didn't have anything to substitute them with either, and without something egg-like, the pie would be rather lacking. Not, Charles mused, that anyone would notice. No one in Raven's group had so much as seen an egg.
Charles' breath caught, a sharp flash of pain scattering his thoughts. The next moment he heard the crier, a mind hurtling down the street, panic oozing from it and infecting everything it passed. He heard the cry last. "The Pharaoh is coming!"
Charles stumbled as people rushed to the ground around him, bumping him back and forth. His feet buckled under him and he tumbled down with a pained cry, his back exploding in pain. He had to put his head down. At least make a semblance of a bow before–
"You!"
Charles blinked, trying to see through the pain as a guard stopped in front of him. "Bow before Apocalypse!"
Charles bit his bottom lip to keep from groaning as he leaned forward, trying to press his forehead against the ground. He wasn't fast enough. The guard brought the flat of his spear down on Charles' back, sending another wave of agony down his spine.
"What's going on?"
Charles looked up, blinking away the pain. A man stood in front of him, dressed in red armor. His mind was impenetrable thanks to the irritating red helmet on his head. It was Erik Lehnsherr, one of four of Apocalypse's most feared followers–the horsemen.
"He didn't bow, my lord." The guard growled, slamming the flat of his spear down on Charles back again. Charles groaned and looked up, catching Lensherr's gaze before averting his eyes.
Lensherr's eyes narrowed, "Then make him bow." He raised his hand and Charles hissed in pain as he was dragged down to the ground.
He didn't know how long he stayed like that. It was only when the caravan was out of sight that the metal pinning him to the ground melted away, dissolving back into the dirt. It took him longer to stand, his back throbbing and threatening to lock up from being forced to bend so quickly. No one would look him in the eye, and he could hear their thoughts echoing through his head.
Tainted…Don't look at him…Stay away, they might think you're in league with the rebels.
Charles moved away slowly, trying to keep his balance as his feet dragged and shuffled against his will. It took him longer than he liked to get to the stall selling flour. The merchant didn't spend a lot of time bargaining, wanting him gone before the guards returned. Charles didn't mind. The faster he got home, the quicker he would be able to lie down and take some more of Hank's meds.
Charles forced himself to rest outside the alley that led to his house. His back was aching too badly to continue. He put down his basket, leaning against a wall. A sharp pain that was not his own cut into Charles' thoughts. Someone was crying ahead of him, grief pouring from them in waves. He looked up and saw them, two people sitting in the street. He could only feel one mind, the one of the crying boy. People passed by them, moving around as if they didn't exist.
"What happened?" Charles knelt down next to the boy, ignoring the agony tearing through his back. He could hear the boys thoughts, a mixture of grief and panic.
"They killed him!" The boy whispered, his eyes glazed over with shock. "I dropped my apple and it rolled in front of….it rolled in front of the coach. They…they thought my papa had…the girl…"
Charles could see it in the boy's mind, the lightning coming down from the sky, the scream of agony, the charred stench of burnt flesh.
"What's your name?" He asked quietly.
"Everyone calls me Bobby," The boy sniffed.
"Bobby," Charles reached out with his power, sending a soothing wave of safety and comfort towards the boy. The boy looked up at him, the pain radiating off of him easing some. "Do you have anywhere else to go?"
The boy looked down at his father's body, his pain sharpening again. "No," he whispered, "it's…just me now."
"I have a friend named Raven, she has a child of her own, about your age. She can keep you safe until you get back on your feet. Do you want me to take you to her?"
Bobby looked up at him, his eyes narrowed and cautious. Charles could feel his suspicion and quickly sent a wave of soothing and calm towards him. He knew what would happen to the boy if he was left on the streets alone.
"Okay," Bobby nodded, his forehead crinkling in confusion for a moment before clearing. "I'll go with you…Mr…"
"Charles Xavier," Charles held out his hand and Bobby took it, letting the telepath pull him to his feet. Charles wished they could give his father a proper burial, but as it was that had been loitering for too long. Much longer and the guards would come to see what the fuss was about.
Raven's house wasn't far from his own, deep in the confines of the ghetto. It was where all humans were placed, and Charles had known enough when they were being sorted to place him and Raven in the latter category. Being a human was much harder, but worth it. Charles knew what Apocalypse wanted, and both Raven and he were in danger should the pharaoh ever discover them.
Bobby walked quietly next to him most of the way, keeping pressed against Charles side as if he was terrified he would vanish. Charles tried to keep him calm with his ability, but there wasn't much he could do against the raging torrent of the boy's grief.
"Now I live just around the corner. There." Charles pointed as they passed by one of the more better off streets. "See that tree there? My house is right next to it. If you need anything, come over and I'll see if I can help."
Bobby nodded, pressing closer to Charles' side. At this point, Charles knew he wouldn't be able to walk for the next few days, but what was he to do? Leave the boy alone? No, better he was not able to walk than risk Bobby getting hurt again.
"This is it," Charles stopped at the steps of Raven's house. Bobby looked up at it curiously. It was one of the better houses, Raven and Azazel were merchants by trade and Azazel was registered as a mutant, allowing him certain benefits, though he'd sacrificed many of them by marrying a so-called human.
"Hello!"
Kurt grinned at him from the doorway, vanishing in a flash and reappearing with his arms wrapped around Charles' neck. "Uncle Charles! Are you here for dinner?"
"Not this time, I'm afraid," Charles smiled as he saw Bobby's disconcerted expression. "Bobby, this is Kurt, Kurt, this is Bobby. He's going to stay with you for a little bit."
"Really?" Kurt brightened, "Do you like marbles? Papa's been teaching me!" He held out his hand, showing three blue marbles cupped between his two blue fingers.
Bobby's mind was racing with terror. Charles frowned, the boy didn't seem terrified because Kurt was a mutant so much as….ah, he saw now. Carefully, Charles disentangled himself from Kurt and knelt down next to Bobby.
"You don't have to be afraid," He said softly, "I'm a mutant too, see? I can read your mind. Raven and Azazel are as well, they can show you how to manage your power, and trust me…" He added, sensing the boy's fear, "Raven knows how to handle herself around dangerous mutations. She can help you."
Bobby's eyes were impossibly wide. Kurt was chattering on obliviously, as children tended to do, teleporting to the top of the stairs. Charles smiled. He could still hear Kurt talking inside the house. The child trusted him to listen, even if he was far away. Charles had placed a mind marker of sorts in Kurt's mind so at any given point the child would know wherever he was. He had saved Raven and her husband more than a few sleepless nights when Kurt woke up with nightmares and teleported to Charles house to sleep next to him instead. It had caused more than a few awkward interactions between Kurt and whoever Charles significant other of the time had been. After all, most people didn't take kindly to waking up and finding a wailing blue toddler in their bed screaming about monsters and quite possibly drooling. Those who had made a scene about it had promptly found themselves out on the street, and Charles had made it a point to both never invite them over again, and to remind Kurt that it was both prudent and polite to mentally knock, as he had taught him to do several times, before barging in.
"Charles?" Raven smiled as she came outside, a hand rested on her very pregnant belly, "Is this Bobby?" Obviously, Charles hadn't been the only one listening to Kurt.
Charles nodded as Kurt teleported outside, chattering excitedly to his mother about playing marbles with Bobby.
"I do like marbles," Bobby scuffled his feet against the ground, "could I come in Mrs. Raven?"
"Come in," Raven smiled as she moved to the side, letting Kurt drag Bobby inside. She turned back to Charles with a decidedly less amicable look on her face. "Really Charles? Here?"
"I didn't know who else could take care of him," Charles stepped forward, "you will take care of him?"
Raven scoffed, looking away, "Of course I will! Is he a mutant?"
Charles nodded, "He can summon ice." He groaned as he shifted from foot to foot, he had to get back home, quickly. Raven's eyes softened. She walked down the steps, pulling him into a hug.
"I'll take care of him, he'll want for nothing. Just take care of yourself."
Charles smiled tightly as Raven pulled back and made her way up the stairs, quickly patting a wisp of blond hair back into place. He sighed as he looked up, noting the stars starting to peek through the clouds. He still had to bake that pie.
On the nights the Pharaoh was inside his pyramid, the bell rang at nightfall, signaling the beginning of the curfew. The curfew was strictly enforced by the guards. If you were caught outside, they would kill you, or worse. Tonight, the Pharaoh was outside the walls of the city. Though there still was a curfew, most of the guards were with the Pharaoh, and could not enforce it. Hence, there was a sort of silent agreement between the guards and the people. If one was not overtly obvious about being outside, the guards would let them be.
Charles eyed the steps up to his house warily. They were simple concrete, with no rail to lean on. Charles sighed. Get your head out of your ass, Xavier, else you're going to be here all night. He flinched as he took the first step, then the next. One at a time. He groaned as a low throbbing began to form at the base of his spine, threatening to seize up and render him motionless. The fourth step was the last. Charles groaned with relief, stumbling to his door and yanking it open.
"You're late."
Charles stumbled back in surprise. Erik lunged forward, seizing his flailing hands before he could fall and, according to Erik's sharp thoughts, hurt himself further like the idiot he was. Erik jerked him forward, pulling him close so that he could wrap his arms further around him.
"Did I hurt you?" He murmured, brushing his nose against Charles' affectionately. "Why didn't you bow?"
Charles pushed Erik away, moving past him into the kitchen. Erik closed the front door, trailing after him.
"I couldn't bow." Charles hissed as he eased himself into a chair, "Every bloody time that caravan passes if someone bumps into me, or my back is hurt, I can't bow."
Erik hummed, massaging his thumbs into the crook of Charles' neck soothingly. Charles groaned, letting his head fall back against Erik's stomach. He could hear Erik's thoughts and emotions, worry, anger, fear, but overall contentment. He always felt like that whenever he came over, content. Charles was careful to stay at the edge of Erik's mind. Erik had only taken off his helmet and actually trusted Charles when the telepath had sworn to never go past the surface of his thoughts.
"You should come with me to the palace," Erik murmured once he had turned Charles into a malleable puddle under his hands. "Apocalypse would love your power, you could become one of his closest advisors."
Charles sighed. This was not the first time they had talked about this. "And when Apocalypse decides it is not enough just to have another telepath? What then?"
"He wouldn't take you," Erik slid down to his knees and pressed a kiss to the side of Charles' throat. "I would make it clear…" He nipped Charles slightly, making the telepath hiss, "You're mine."
"That might not stop him," Charles pushed Erik back so he could stand, a pained groan escaping him, though the pain had eased some since Erik had begun working his magic, "I need to bake the pie."
"You're in no condition to move about!" Erik said sharply. Charles arched an eyebrow at him. Honestly, they'd only been dating for a few months. If anyone else had tried that…
Erik didn't back down, instead matching his gaze. "I'll bake the pie."
"Erik…" Charles didn't want to insult him, but he wasn't exactly sure about Erik's cooking abilities.
"I can bake a pie, Charles," Erik waved him off. "Go upstairs!"
Charles smiled as Erik's thoughts broadcasted across the room. Apparently, it was a matter of pride and his safety. Erik wasn't going to budge. "If you're sure…" Charles said teasingly.
"Go upstairs!" Erik growled, grabbing the basket off of the kitchen table. "I'll be up as soon as I finish."
Charles smiled as he turned away. "Could you heat up the pipes for me, love?" He called. The groaning of the pipes was his only answer.
Charles was very lucky to have indoor plumbing. Erik had installed it one day when he had woken up and grumpily discovered that the only way to take a bath was by walking a whole half mile to the pump and bringing the water back bucket by bucket. Charles was actually very lucky to have his house at all. It was one of the best in the area. He had poured most of his inheritance into it. It had two stories, the upper story being solely the bedroom, while the downstairs was a small kitchen. Charles had only just been able to fit a small couch in the corner and whenever Raven asked him to take care of Kurt, he made him a bed there. In between the two stories, accessible from the stairwell, was a small bathroom with a metal tub (also, Erik installed) that Charles loved to bathe in, even when Erik wasn't there and the water was freezing cold.
Charles smiled as he got into the bathroom and saw the steaming hot bath. He could hear Erik banging around downstairs and, figuring the metalbender wouldn't be done for a while, he eagerly slid into the bath.
Charles must have fallen asleep at some point, because when he woke up the water was tepid and Erik was sliding into the bath next to him, sending water splashing everywhere.
"Your pie is downstairs," Erik mumbled, pressing a tired kiss to Charles' lips. The annoying itch of truenottrue rang through Charles' head, but he pushed it away. It was pie for god's sake, what could be the harm of lying about pie?
"Thank you," Charles purred, leaning forward and giving Erik a kiss, the kind he knew the mutant liked with lots of tongue and teeth. Erik groaned and surged forward, pinning Charles against the tub and sloshing water everywhere.
"Erik!" Charles hissed as Erik kissed his neck and nipped it, deepening the already dark bruise there. "Erik, there's a perfectly suitable bed upstairs…"
Erik grumbled in annoyance as he pulled back and rose from the tub, giving Charles a wonderful view. The view was spoiled, however, when Erik leaned down and plucked Charles from the tub as if he were a child. Charles yelped and wiggled uncomfortably in his grasp. Erik chuckled, pressing a kiss to the top of his head as he carried him up the stairs, kicking open the bedroom door.
"You're a brute," Charles said scoldingly as Erik threw him down on the bed.
"Yes," Erik gave him a toothy grin, "You're brute." He then proceeded to attempt to seduce his way back into Charles good graces, which he did, fantastically.
Authors Note: Ta Da! What do you think? Should I continue with it? Is Erik EVIL? IS STORM EVIL? iS BOBBY SECREtlY EVIL? Apocalypse is definitely an asshole. Remember: Comments. Kudos. Author Cocaine. I'm just saying. Definitely more likely to update if I know people like it. XD Anyway, hope you have a good week!