Zombie Hazzarh!
Let's just say the world's gone to hell in the last few years since Cuba. But there's a wonderful thing about a common enemy. c/e make a final stand at the mansion BAMF kind of with the undead. A little blood/gore/swearing. Not much.
After div. c can walk.
This was supposed to be slash, but then Raven showed up. e/c relationship is a little unclear could be slash if you squint, or quiet possibly at least one of them was bi. Or maybe just friendship. Sorry about that. Read it how you see it.
How the power stays on at the manor? Ask Hank.
This is the first time I've ever posted. So my formatting probably sucks and editing too. Apologies for that.
-Reviews- Please feed the Zombies.
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"Charles! I came as soon as I heard!" Erik's statement dies in his throat as he tries to speak to Charles across a wall of walking, talking half panicked students.
"What?" he ignores that voice he knows too well and the other mind that he has known almost always. He buys time. "Children this away. Follow Sean and Alex." The crowd quickly thins. Charles stops amid the evacuation of Xavier manor to actually look at Erik. Beside him stood Mystique, blue wrapped in a cream jacket. Sorrow and regret was written through her posture that was too close to Erik. Mystique knew well Erik was not a safe place to hide. Eric would bear no hiding. Almost as if she sensed it too Mystique stepped out of Erik's shadow into the warm light of the parlor. Charles smile twitched up at the thought that the jacket was just for him. She knew he preferred her in clothes, foolish prude that he was. A few more students hurried past. He frowned again, that they should be reunited now of all times. Mystique felt the waves of soft calm that rolled off Charles into the frightened students. He had been too busy to sense their arrival.
"Hello Raven." Charles crossed the entrance to greet them. Soft serious blue eyes met her amber gaze. She smiled a small tight frightened smile. Would he accept her still? The question haunted her eyes. Charles hated the thought that she should even wonder; when he had wronged most.
He wanted to hug her. Did she resent him? He took her hand and then unable to resist, pulled her into a hug.
"Oh how I've missed you." Mystique felt the strength of his love as if she had never left. Always Raven. Always my sister. He whispered to her mind.
They broke apart. Charles stepped back.
"Well Erik. What brings you here tonight?" A small amount of barely concealed tension in that question. Erik was not sure about the reception they would receive. Or that he would receive at least. In answer to Charles, Erik floated a large skip into Xavier's main hall. Charles raised his eyes brows. "Why don't you follow me into the kitchen. We can have some tea." Erik seemed lost for words, momentarily losing his poise, tea?, now? Honestly Charles. Charles walked away toward the kitchen, glancing curiously into the skip as he went. Weapons? Charles wondered as glanced into the skip. That could help. Erik wanted to help. Charles smiled to himself, after all this time.
Magneto suddenly found his voice. "To make a stand together." Charles stopped mid stride, using his cane to pivot around on his heel. A million thoughts whirled through his head, but the one that stuck was 'together.' Charles tried to bite back a few choice words, but they came out anyway.
"Shouldn't you be with your precious brotherhood?" Charles knew he sounded bitter. What a night they in for. He was angry and magneto was lost for words.
"You were my brother Charles. More than they could ever be."
"Oh has been a long time since we were that my friend." Charles kept on for the kitchen. Not caring how bitter that sounded.
"Charles we want to help." They followed him into the kitchen.
"Oh for the love of god Erik take off that damn hat." It was like having Shaw in his kitchen. Not that there was much difference in the recent past. No that was not true, and not fair to Erik.
Charles ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry." Half of his mind was still in the basement with Hank, who was rapidly preparing the rebuilt black bird, to spirit the children to safety. Alex and Sean were reading them stories in the hanger.
"Mystique, would you mind making the tea? I have to attend to some business with hank". He had to say goodbye. He wasn't even sure he could keep them safe. That was the real reason he was angry. Charles stalked out of the room.
Wordlessly Erik took off Shaw's hat. Tired. Already he had carried Mystique though the cold night air of wailing death and horror. The teleportor had vanished with rip tide, not offering any help. Frost survivalist that she was had had the sense to flee months ago.
"I'll have coffee Mystique, if there's any."
"I'll check." She replied almost absently as past memories of this kitchen threatened to engulf her. Erik sipped on his coffee. 1962 was the last time he had stood in this kitchen. This time seemed likely to go just as well. Magneto smiled at his own dark humor.
XxX
Charles climbed with some difficulty into Hanks lab, after taking his leave of Alex and Sean, as he caught his breath a little, Hank looked up at him anxiously.
"How's the leg? I've got some.."
"It's fine Hank." Charles interrupted, "Did you?"
Hanks expression darkened.
"No. I can't make it work, we just didn't plan to use the bird for so many" The members of the school had swollen recently as they had all worked tirelessly to save as many mutant children as possible in the last few daunting months.
"Hank, it's okay. You are right we never planned for this. No one could plan for this." Charles paused to let Hank take whatever comfort from that statement he could. "How many?" He couldn't bear to look in Hanks mind.
"22 maybe 23, if the weight limit holds." Charles released the breath he had been holding and smiled.
"Hank that's double her normal weight limit isn't." Hank nodded. "Well done. " Charles enthusiastically clapped hank on the back trying to distract Hank with praise, smothering his own heartbreak in an instant.
"It's seven short." No luck with distraction then. Actually it was nine if he counted the visitors in the kitchen, Charles thought grimly to himslef, as he proposed the only unfortunate alternative he could think of.
"Two trips then; take the smallest and the youngest first. You and Sean will need to fly the bird and Alex in the back to cover your tail."
"And you'll stay here." Pause. " With the ones who are left." Behind. Hank found he could not say that last word. Instead he was staring at Charles with fiercely sad eyes. "There won't be time for a second trip professor."
"You don't know that Hank.' Hank was fairly sure he could actually calculate the odds on that.
"I won't leave you alone Professor." Tired blue eyes looked over Hank fondly.
"Who would you ask to stay hank?"
"I will. I will defend those left." It was not impulsively said. Charles knew Hank meant every word.
"Oh my dear brave boy." Tears sprang to his eyes.
"Take Alex with you at least."
Charles chuckled at that, whipping his eyes. "You never really liked Alex did you?"
"No." Hank said, knowing he had failed twice in one evening.
"Besides Hank would you really let Alex fly the black bird?" Charles smirked.
That earned him a half, almost smile from Hank. Good . Charles put his arm around Hanks.
"And I won't be alone as it turns out. I know we're short on time, but come there's someone in the kitchen you should see." Beast gave him a wondering look. Charles grinned, "shall we." He said tapping the much hated ladder with his cane.
They climbed out the lab and crossed the lawn. Cool dew on the grass. Charles limped.
"Professor here." Hank pushed a bag of pain killers into his hands.
"I am alright Hank, but thank you." Charles pocketed the bag.
Charles lagged just behind Hank and took a moment to look across the park. The rose's sent still hung in the night air. The white of the infamous satellite dish was just visible.
"Professor?"
In the kitchen Hank, I'll just be a moment. Hank went inside.
Charles took a shuddering breath of the gentle evening air, and then gave in, dry swallowing one of the little pills. The dish blinked into life. One tiny red shining light at the top winked reassuringly in the distance. They could do this. Charles looked again. Wink. They had saved the world once before. Charles took courage and caught up with Hank who waited for him in the parlor.
Gently Charles put his arm around Beast and guided them into the kitchen.
Blue Raven sat where she had once as a child. Charles blinked and found yellow eyes harder than before, eyes that now focused on Beast.
"Hank!" They hugged awkwardly.
Magneto smiled from the corner of the room. A small and judgmental smile.
Hank growled.
Hank./ Warning./ Calm.
"Erik is here to help. Yes?" Charles looked to Erik for confirmation. Magneto just smiled wider into his coffee, he knew this wasn't the time and place, but he couldn't help himself, Hank had always been a little too protective.
Charles sighed audibly. Magneto checked his smirk, just a bit.
"Of course I am here to help." He acknowledged with a nodded, from the corner.
Hank was rather a quick thinker and he was surprised Charles had not suggested it before. "If you're here to help Magneto, do you think you could lift the black bird for us like you did in Cuba."
Oh good Cuba. Mystique thought a bit too loudly. Charles grimaced at her. Erik eyed Hank with his dark serious eyes.
"Why would you need that?" Hank did not like admitting when he had failed. A pause. Charles answered. He was the one responsible. His voice softly drifted across the room.
"Because there are seven children who cannot fit on the bird. " He too wondered if Erik would be able to help in this way. His words seemed to hang in the air, as they all imagined the implications of that. Seven left behind. Children.
"Actually professor where nine short if you count us. You see the black bird was built for speed, not cargo and even though I have stripped as much weight as I can, with 30 people there is no way to flier her." Hank, now in scientific problem mode rather than life or death choice mode.
"How far ?" Erik's eyes now distant calculating.
"250 miles" Charles answered again, knowing even as he spoke Erik's answer. Erik could feel the fragile hope that had just kindled in the room, he hated that he would be the one to crush it.
"Too far Hank. Even for me. I am sorry." Hank looked completely crest fallen. Charles held Hank by his shoulder and looked into Hanks eyes, blue eyes fiercely determined. You have not failed. We will not fail. You Hank are brave and strong and intelligent. We can do this.
" Two trips like we said. Okay." Charles said out loud.
Hank nodded and took courage.
"Two trips Charles? " Erik's voice a concerned rumble.
"I am sorry Erik, Mystique, if you came here looking for help; but that's just the way it will have to be, the children must come first." Charles's voice tense and uncompromising.
"What kind of monster do you think.." Cuba , Charles projected, interrupting Magneto's indignation.
Cuba Charles projected to Magneto a picture of three frightened boys alone on a beach. AuschwitzCharles. Magneto thought very hard. They made a choice Charles. Old anger bubbled up. The tension in the room rose. Charles looked away. Auschwitz . Yes. Right. Sorry. Cuba was really nothing compared to that.
As a peace offering and to break the nasty silence that had fallen across the room, Charles picked out of bottle of scotch and some glasses from top shelf in the pantry. "Here." He filled a glass for himself and a glass for Hank, then passed the bottle to Mystique, who poured another for herself and Erik. Alex and Sean should be here too, Charles thought wistfully, as he raised his glass.
"What shall we toast to?"
Mystique raised her glass, a knowing smile on her lips.
"Us against the world."
Hank had thought she would say something else. Mystique tried to catch her brother's eyes as she raised her glass; he tried to give her a smile but it never quiet reached his eyes. Mystique felt her stomach turn.
"Mutant and proud. Mystique." Hank replied to her alone. She did not miss the complement veiled in those words.
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