So... Yeah... I don't like sharing my work but here we go.

This is based roughly in the middle of First Class, before they meet Shaw. It's sort of AU.
In this, the human population freaked out after what Shaw did to the CIA, and have been rounding up Mutants. They've been locked away in one of about four camps that reside in America. Nobody knows what is going to happen to the mutants, because even the humans haven't decided what to do with them.

And yes. I fail at summarizing things... But yeah...

This story will involve CHERIK (ERIK / CHARLES) in the future and maybe even a little Hank/Alex. Dun like slash? Dun read it.

Erik still didn't know how the camp worked, how they found mutants, or how the buildings kept them mundane. All he knew was that every day more new, soft and scared faces appeared to replace those hard, cold and distant ones that vanished. Erik had seen all of this before - the lack of food, the lack of clothing, the lack of rest and the cold dread that came from being locked behind the cold iron bars. He had been younger then and, in that time, had been as scared and hopeless as those that currently surrounded him. But now... Now he knew what to expect, how far he could push and what it took to live.

It was quiet, as it always was after breakfast. Erik scoffed. As if it could be called that. Water and bread hardly counted as breakfast. The metal bender's pale green eyes turned downward, eyeing his sides and ribs with a frown. He was bigger than most, but had also come in later than most. Why? Only because he'd left Xavier mansion on an errand… He'd come back to find nobody there. He'd hunted them down and found this… Compound. Once inside that fence all mutants were powerless. All but human. Some, like Angel who had physical abnormalities still had their powers… But they weren't any luckier. Erik had seen Angel actually, a few days prior on the woman's side of the camp, wings duct taped together behind her. He wondered if she would ever get the tape off without shredding the fragile structures. Not that he cared for her. She'd left them for Shaw, who he had heard died before being taken into the camp. The silent moment of victory was quickly removed from his mind as he had been forced past the walls, into the hell of his past.

Angel wasn't the only familiar face Erik had seen. He'd seen Alex a few times upon passing. The blonde boy had almost always been bruised and beaten. Erik was proud. The two matched in those features because they didn't listen. Alex hadn't seen Sean, Hank or Charles since the first day there, but he had seen Raven with Angel across the divide. It had been days since Erik had seen Alex, however. The thought alone, especially with the knowledge of what could happen… It was something that Erik could not imagine forcing anyone that he knew through.

It was shocking really, how big the camp was. There were four different sections from what Erik had heard the guards muttering about. Two male parts and two female. The rowdy, less co-operative Mutants were separated from the tame ones. Once the rowdy ones (such as himself) were broken, they moved to the other section. Erik certainly hoped that Alex hadn't given in. But he guessed that Charles, Hank and Sean had given in quickly. They were stubborn, but not as tough as he and Alex were, not everyone could live in these conditions and continue to fight.

He'd really gathered that the two sides were the same in the abuse and living status… The only difference was that those on his side still fought back. The others just followed the routine like puppies. They ate when they were supposed to; they slept when they were supposed to. Erik figured they kept them separate so that they could try and tame them all without those like him turning the soft ones hard.

It was all so stupid. Erik hated to admit that Shaw had been right all along. The humans did fear them. They feared them enough to lock them away like animals. The metal bender shifted a little, his bare back sticking to the cool wall behind him. He was in a room full of other male prisoners, most only wearing pants, most bore bruises, and most looked rather lean and hungry. This was only some of the mutants, a handful really. There were multiple holding rooms for them during the day, outdoor and indoor. It was the luck of the draw and the bumping of the crowd that decided where you went each morning.

"Erik…?" came a low voice. Erik blinked, looking up from the floor for the speaker. He knew Alex's voice like a siren now, one familiar tone amongst strangers. "Erik!" The blonde pushed by two mutants arguing, and flopped heavily down on the floor. Erik eyed the kid with concern. He looked fairly good, which was a pleasant surprise. His pale skin was still blotched from bruising and he was dirty, his hair messy, but his blue eyes were alight. The light that still flickered there was a shock, something that had left the eyes of most men after a few days in the camps.

"What?" Erik asked quietly, lifting his gaze to the guard that was seated a little ways away, smoking as he read a newspaper. He seemed oblivious. "Wait, come." Erik said quickly, cutting Alex off before he could speak. He pushed to his feet, gesturing for the younger mutant to follow him as he moved to the furthest corner from the guard. The sound of low murmurs and slapping bare feet were the only sounds in the room, which didn't do much for private conversation. However, the fire in Alex's eyes suggested that their conversation was better off far from prying ears.

"We're breaking out." Alex mumbled breathlessly when Erik cornered him against the cold white wall. Erik blinked, furrowing his brows. He hoped this escape attempt was better planned then the last ones he had seen… Well, was fail to harsh of a word? As much as he wanted out, the plans were always half-cooked, and desperate. They were destined to fail and those that tried to escape rarely made it back inside alive.

"Alex…"

"No, no, just listen. They're doing a move tonight. I've been trying to find you for days. I swear these bastards are keeping friends apart," Alex continued on, excitement still burning in his eyes. "If we can get to the other side, it's less guarded. There're more guards here for, well, obvious reasons."

"Go on…" Erik replied. He might as well listen to the idea before bashing it.

"There are some of us that are going to get through during the move; we'll swap places with some of the softies, because the guards don't pay attention to who's who. Once we're there, those that are left here will start a riot. With all the guards here, there'll be nobody from stopping us from getting out on the easier side. We can get the others out-"

"Alex, this is stupid," Erik cut in.

"But-"

"Alex. I've been here before. That won't work," Erik interrupted again calmly. Alex's face fell, the excited glitter in his eyes falling away. A slight twinge of regret twisted Erik's stomach, but he quickly pushed it away. Besides, Alex was better disappointed than dead.

"R-really?" He said, his tone second guessing the whole plan. Erik turned his arm slightly, his eyes flashing downward to the tattoo etched in his flesh. Alex caught the movement and looked down, his face paling a little.

"Are you sure? I mean…" Alex drifted off, his whole body shrinking. Erik felt bad, his chest squeezed a little. He hadn't meant to smother the one hope Alex had in his sights… But the boy needed to know what was happening.

"Oi. You two, what'er you doin'?" The guard called, looking towards them suspiciously. Erik turned almost rolling his eyes. The mutants were all grumbling amongst themselves, stepping deliberately in the man's way as he headed towards them. They might not all be on first-name basis, or even remotely like a family… But they didn't stand for the abuse each other received.

"Just talking. Is that against the rules…?" Erik asked civilly. The guard shoved his way through the crowd, stopping a foot before them, gun in his hands at the ready. Erik hated feeling so vulnerable around a weapon that he would normally have turned on its owner in a moment.

"Don't sass me. What are you two talkin' about?" The guard asked suspiciously. Erik particularly disliked this guard. For a few reasons; one being that he liked to blow his cigarette right in his face. Mocking. Erik hadn't smoked in years, but being in this hellhole had his fingers twitching for nicotine. The other being that though he was shorter then Erik, he liked to get up in his face.

"About breakfast."

"Don't lie to me, freak," The guard said, pointing the muzzle of his rifle at Erik's chin. From behind him Alex stepped forward, but Erik threw out an arm to hold the kid back. "You get back, blondie!" The guard snapped, turning the gun towards Alex. Erik's eyes flashed. That was mistake number one of the management for that morning. It took only a second for Erik's hand to grab the barrel of the gun, ripping it out of the man's hand. The guard barely got a gasp out before the end of the gun smashed into his nose.

"Don't threaten my friends…" Erik snapped, smacking the man with the gun, this time sending the guard to his knees with the blow, as well as spraying the white, streaky floor with red droplets.

Despite his fast reaction, Erik was disappointed not to get more than a third hit in before a loud whistle went off. The doors to the room slammed open and a swarm of gun wielding men burst in. With six guns aimed at his head, Erik had no choice but to drop the rifle in his hand, lift his arms and hope they wouldn't shoot. Erik didn't even get his hands in the air and the butt of a rifle hit him under his ribs, upwards to force the air from his lungs. A fist collided with his head a second later, followed by the hard butt of another gun into the side of his face. The force made the weakened man stumble, falling to his knees. He could hear Alex behind him, fighting against who Erik assumed were the guards. Erik pushed off the ground to stand, turning his head just in time to see a guard swinging his gun at him like a baseball bat. Erik's instincts turned his head, but the barrel still caught him and sent him to the ground instantly. The floor was cool against his cheek, but it did little to block out the shouts around him and pain. Erik had to give them credit, as a foot hit his side, causing him to cough and curl into a ball. They knew not to let him get his hits in anymore.

And so ends chapter one. R&R if you want... I'll probably get another chapter up eventually.