Disclaimer: I don't own X-Men, if I did, Erik and Charles wouldn't have split and the bullet wouldn't have maimed Charles. Don't care if it messes with the other movies.
Charles
One of my earliest memories is of a beach front and a flag pole, and of lightning flashes heading for the shore. As grown-ups ran around, frantic, gathering beach towels, flip-flops, and five year olds; one kid in particular went racing toward the storm. I watched that five year old at the beach front, clinging wide-eyed, to the flag pole. As pretty bolts of lightning filled the sky. Then as mom ran up, or a lifeguard or an aunt, and pulled him down to groundedness, to live another day. As with most things, hanging on to flag poles is in the end, a matter of balance. They're good to keep you steady, while you stay alert for lightning. As it storms across the sea. And here I sit, on the same beach my mother took me to before she died. The waves crashing on the shore, the wind gently whipping through my hair, the sea gulls flying around, as I pulled my knees tighter to my chest. Closing my eyes and letting the memory flood over me; my toes digging into the cool sand. The flag pole still stood a few yards away, not as silver as before, showing the affects time had caused. I looked out across the deserted beach, I could almost see my mother, smiling as she looked at my sand castle I was creating. Soft foot steps echoed loudly across the sand, taking a deep calming breath before being pulled back into my thoughts. I felt more than saw, the man sit next to me. Subtly reminding me how long ago this memory actually took place. Strong arms wrapped around my shoulders and I leaned into the embrace. The warmth making me consider how long I have been sitting on the beach front. I needed to be alone, where other people's thought couldn't pry their way into my skull. But this was different, I need this contact with another person, to hold me in reality, as the flag pole did to the young boy so many years ago. This man, this single man served as my flag pole, my anchor to reality. This man kept me from being swept into the storm. Preserving my innocence. I smiled as he gently stood me upright, his knowing smile soothing my thoughts. And we walked, walked to the place I just escaped from. On the way his face filled with such raw emotion, not the emotions of anger or pain that usually commandeer his face, but the emotions of love and concern. I smiled even wider as we walked to my house, waiting for the waves of thoughts that was sure to wash over me.
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