AN: The story features a much younger Emma Frost so that aspect is not entirely in line with First Class. The rest of the events in the movie have happened, except without Emma Frost, so Shaw probably had another telepath (insert whoever you want) to assist him in her stead. Emma is also already able to shift into diamond form.
Isolated Isle of Wonder
Day one
Charles is on vacation, on his own, away from everything for a few days. He has precisely a week to enjoy all the good the tropical island has to bring. The school is running well and in safe hands. He has told them not to contact him unless it is absolutely necessary. The palm trees, the soft warm breeze; Charles is enjoying himself tremendously. He is sunbathing in a hammock, a delicious cocktail within reach. The resort staff is at his back and call because of his situation and his generous tips. Tomorrow he will enter the water, but today, the first day, just relaxing, listening to all the spoken and unspoken voices is enough.
Unknown to Charles, and unknown to Erik as well, they reside at the same island, though not the same hotel. Erik has rented a small cottage, much more private. He has sent his team on various missions and is on one himself. A young and sullen teenager has recently discovered her potential. He wants to recruit her for the Brotherhood but has to be careful. Her parents are rich, powerful and high profile. A missing runaway could seriously harm his cover if the parents contact the authorities. He wants to decide if she is worth the effort first. But he has to take it slow, stay in the shadows, watch her from a distance.
Later that afternoon, Charles is engaged in a conversation with a nice teacher from an inner city school, comparing notes while Erik is swimming in the ocean. The girl is nearby enough listen to her conversation with strained ears, but not close enough to gain her attention. Her parents are on the beach hardly talking to each other. He is checking out other women and she is rummaging in her bag looking for her medication. Not the happiest of families. The girl is arguing with her sisters about bathing suits, bikinis' and if they are skinny enough for the latter. Apparently the older sister wants to become a model. Erik is totally bored by the conversation and soon realizes that she will not show any powers in front of her family and a packed beach. A lost afternoon then, although the water is nice.
It is not her telepathy that is so very interesting. He had recruited Shaw's telepath after all, but it is her ability to change into another form, almost like Mystique. Except that she could not become a diamond lady. This young girl could be quite valuable, maybe even worth the trouble of spending an entire week on his own amidst all sorts of homo sapiens.
As he rises out of the water, a face in the corner of his eye catches his attention. It can't be... It is! Charles in a hammock talking to someone. Erik can't help but stop and stare. Someone bumps into him, telling him to watch out. His first instinct is quickly suppressed. He can't create a scene. Erik takes one last look and quickly runs into the other direction, hoping Charles hasn't noticed him. The last time they talked was on a beach as well, not unlike this one. The woman Charles is with didn't seem to be an X-man, not one that he knew of anyway. Whatever would Charles be doing here? Unless he was after the same thing….
Charles is still blissfully unaware of Erik's presence. He did at one point feel the presence of another telepath, or so he thought. He sensed her, but had seen no need to trace her. Besides, he was on vacation, not a recruitment trip. If chance would let them meet, he might convince her to join them.
Erik is deliberating to himself. Should he make his presence known? A part of him longs to. He has only seen Charles from afar all these years, never having the chance to say or do something. With his helmet on most of the time, obviously not here, in this sun lit place, he was unreachable and unobtainable for him. He wanted to be, of course. He needed to, for the cause, for his sanity. Charles had invaded his mind a few times, with and without permission, touching lost memories, both good and bad. Each time had created a shockwave of emotion that he'd rather not be subject to.