A/N: We're not at a specific point in the timeline of the show simply due to the fact that I'm placing people where I want them to be placed.

Chapter 1: To each their own

Erik Lehnsherr much preferred his helmet and cloak for every occasion. But alas, to fit into an average human society you must dress yourself down like a homo sapien.

He currently found himself wading his way through a hotel lobby full of average humans with a severe look of disgust on his elderly features. And to make matters worse he was dressed like an average elderly human, wearing a casual suit and a warm winter coat instead of his cherished master of magnetism attire.

Just to top off his horrific misfortune, Erik found himself stuck in a long line of people waiting to be assisted by the single desk worker that was having trouble keeping the rowdy customers at bay during the busy hour.

"Quite the queue, isn't it sir?" An energetic middle-aged man said from his spot behind Erik in the line.

The mutant turned his head slightly in annoyance, glaring at the man who now stood rubbing his hands together after spending a long time out in the winter cold.

"Indeed it is." Erik commented bluntly, hoping that the younger man recognised a dismissal. Sadly however, Erik's wishes were not granted.

"Are you looking for a room?" The man asked him. "Because I've heard this place is booked full for the next month at least."

"I'm not looking for a room. I'm looking for a friend."

"Well hey, look," The chipper man continued. "I've been staying here for quite a while now. Maybe I know who it is you're here to see."

"I'm here to see a man called Joseph Price." Erik relented, accepting that this man would be his way out of the tiresome queue. "Do you by any chance know which room he is staying in?"

"You're here to see Joe? Are you his grandfather or something?"

"No," Magneto stated in agitation. "I'm most certainly not his grandfather. We are simply old friends."

"Oh. Sorry."

"Do you know what room he is staying in or not?" Erik questioned as his level of impatience rose high enough to the point that a few metal objects in the room began to subtly vibrate under pressure.

"He's staying in the penthouse-"

"Of course he is." The master of magnetism couldn't help but mutter under his breath, momentarily blocking out the irritating human.

"-top floor. You can't miss it." The man finished, none the wiser.

"Thank you." Erick grumbled.

Refusing to waste a second more in the painful line of people, Magneto strode purposefully towards the only free elevator and quickly entered, pressing the button for the penthouse before he even came to a stop.

Once the agonisingly slow trip in the elevator came to an end, Erik stepped out and looked down the hallway to see a single door at the end. Upon reaching the door he knocked three times and took a step back, clearing his throat as he waited.

A few moments later the wooden door clicked open, revealing a perky blonde dressed in red lingerie with only an open black silk robe to cover herself. Erik's eyebrow twitched as he kept his eyes on her face and nothing else, and he couldn't help but notice that the girl had no shame showing off her body in front of an elderly man.

The blonde looked Erik up and down multiple times before twisting her body round so that she could yell at the top of her lungs, "JJ!" Magneto winced at the ear splitting screech. "THERE'S AN OLD MAN AT THE DOOR! I THINK HE'S YOUR GRANDFATHER OR SOMETHING!"

"WHAT?" A male voice shouted back from inside, making Erik sigh and pinch the bridge of his nose. He truly was getting too old for this.

"THERE'S AN OLD MAN AT THE DOOR!" She screeched once more before turning and giving Erik a fake smile in apology.

Magneto stood silently, listening to the sound of movement within the penthouse. Just as the blonde was about to turn and yell again, Joseph Price appeared behind her in nothing but a pair of Calvin Klein boxers and a black bathrobe. He looked no older than he was all those years ago in Auschwitz, and one of the only changes was the fact that he now had longer chestnut hair that was cut into a modern style.

"Erik," Joseph greeted with wide eyes as he carelessly shoved the blonde back inside. "It's good to see you old friend, it's been a while." He said, pulling Magneto in for a brief hug.

Erik returned the embrace slowly, patting Joseph on the back a few times as he wondered what had happened to his old friend. Joseph Price was a man that he once looked up to and respected more than any other living being on the planet. He was once somewhat of an older brother figure back in the day, and was even the godfather to the child that Erik had lost so long ago.

But now Joseph appeared to be wasting away in an expensive penthouse with irritating brainless women. The once intelligent, respected omega level mutant had been reduced to the life of an average human playboy…

"It's been too long." Erik commented, releasing the younger looking man. "So long in fact, that you go by JJ now." He said with the tiniest of smirks.

"Joseph got old." The mutant said in return. "I figured Joseph Jacob Price needed a change and thus JJ was born."

"I'll still be calling you Joseph." Erik deadpanned as he two entered the apartment. Both men turned at the sound of heels clattering on wooden flooring, and saw the blonde wearing a dress from the previous night almost running towards the door. Joseph couldn't help but chuckle as he watched her leave and embark on the walk of shame.

Once the door had shut behind her he turned to his old friend, and gestured for them both to take a seat on the nearby armchairs.

"What has happened to you, Joseph?" Erik asked, breaking the silence.

"What do you mean?"

"This isn't you old friend." He replied without hesitation. "The penthouse, the robe; the mess." Joseph looked around the room to see leftover drinks and plates scattered all over the place, along with clothes of his that required washing and also women's clothes that would not be returned. The omega mutant opened his mouth to argue, but Erik beat him to the punch. "And that woman Joseph. I have known you for years and I know that she is certainly not your type."

Joseph stared at Erik for a moment, then leaned towards the nearby glass coffee table. There was a small glass that looked to be almost full, and Erik watched on quietly as his friend brought it close to his nose and sniffed a few times.

Once he had determined that it was okay to drink, Joseph downed the day old shot of tequila and shook his head to clear the cobwebs.

"I think I'm depressed." He said suddenly; seriously. "Either that or I'm bored. Bored and tired."

"You're not depressed. That stuff is all in the head." Erik replied in a no-nonsense tone.

"Was that your attitude when it came to Wanda, too?"

Silence.

Tension suddenly hung in the air like a deep fog. Joseph stared at Erik with an expressionless face as he watched a vein in Erik's neck jump repeatedly to the surface.

"Wanda is with Pietro now, so it turns out I made the right decision. She and I may not be on the best of terms as of now, but my daughter is safe and has a decent amount of control – that is all that matters to me."

"Yes, because loving a child and having that child know they are loved means nothing." Joseph retorted satirically as he began checking the rest of the glasses on the table.

"You may have lived a long life Joseph, but you know nothing of being a parent." Erik said calmly. The master of magnetism watched with hints of both sorrow and anger in his eyes when his old friend knocked back another glass of god knows what.

"Erik," Joseph raised his right hand in a placating gesture as he leaned back and rested his arms on the sides of his chair. "You're too busy of a man to come to England to argue with me."

"Indeed." Magneto nodded slowly in agreement.

"Which means that you're here for something from me. Likely a favour of some sort or advice that you cannot hear anywhere else."

"Mystique has-"

"Done a runner again." Joseph finished.

Magneto chuckled in surprise but nodded his head nonetheless.

"Yes. Mystique has pulled another one of her disappearing acts."

"And what do you want me to do about it?" Joseph questioned sceptically. "If you want her found send Sabretooth – and the rest of your merry men if you're desperate – because I don't do track downs. I'm too old for that crap."

"You certainly don't look too old, but that's irrelevant. Mystique is unreliable and she's a traitor, and therefore I'm allowing her to come crawling back once she gets bored."

"Still not seeing the point of this visit Erik…"

"The point is, is that Mystique was in charge of training and keeping the Brotherhood in check. And now she has disappeared, leaving six teenage mutants to their own devices in a home that I'd rather not see destroyed within the next week." Magneto clarified. "That, old friend, is where you come in. Wanda and Pietro will require guidance, along with the other teens-"

"I'm not a babysitter Erik, and I'm definitely not a teacher. If that's what you came here for, then you've wasted your time." Joseph snapped, rising from his chair in search of another drink.

"I'm not looking for a teacher." Erik said as he stood and followed Joseph around the penthouse. "I'm here because you are the person I trust most in this terrible world. I trust you to look after my children, and I trust you to keep all the teens in line. They often pick unnecessary fights with the X-men, and it would be best for you to be there to control the inevitable situations when they arise."

Slamming an empty bottle of vodka down on the table, Joseph turned and looked at Erik in annoyance, stating, "I'm not a peace keeper between yourself and Charles anymore. Been there, done that, got not just the t-shirt but the whole fucking outfit-"

"I'm not asking you to get between myself and Charles. I'm asking you to watch out for a couple of kids."

"Which is exactly why I'm going to end up booking a flight to Bayville after you leave, you manipulative bastard." Joseph sighed, running his hands over his face tiredly.

Erik's face lit up, knowing the name calling was all in good jest.

"Excellent," Erik grinned. "I'll have files on both the Brotherhood kids and the X-men delivered to you before you get on the plane. Oh, and just so you know old friend, to make sure nothing seems suspicious you'll be posing as a new student and member when outside the walls of the boarding house. I'll have you enrolled in the nearby school as soon as you arrive."

"SCHOOL?" Joseph bellowed in horror. "I haven't been to school for about eighty years you dick!"

"It's all part of the cover, Joseph. It doesn't matter if you don't apply yourself because I just want you watching over the Brotherhood." Magneto stated reasonably.

"I can't believe I'm doing this for you. I hated school back then and you know that what they teach is different now – I'll fail every class."

"Are you afraid of school?" Erik asked with a smug expression. "You are an omega level mutant with impenetrable skin that even telepaths cannot bypass and you are afraid of a simple school?"

"Of course I'm not afraid." Joseph glared.

"Perhaps you are…"

Irritation clouding his judgement, Joseph couldn't help but state, "I'm not scared of anything. I'll be in Bayville by next Monday."

"Good." Erik smiled victoriously, knowing that his friend once more had a reason to live. "Thank you so much for doing this my friend. Knowing that my children and the Brotherhood are in your capable hands gives me a certain comfort that I cannot replicate."

And with that the two shook hands, sealing the deal.