Hey guys! Back for another story! Sorry I neglected to add an Author's note in the last chapter! I had way too many words in the last one compared to a normal chapter by me!

Anyway, I hope you're enjoying this! Please note I did start out writing this story BEFORE Dark Phoenix came out so it won't include any moments from that movie.

Anyway, i would love it if you added a review at the end of your reading session! I want to know what you think of the story!

Chapter 2

His head hurt. It hurt more than he remembered it ever hurting before. Considering his gifts, one would think this would happen more often. But when it did happen, it would take Charles so off guard it was often strange.

But despite the pain, he decided to push through it and reach out with his mind to try to figure out what was going on and where he was.

He at first felt nothing. No minds in at least the general vicinity anyway. But then almost all at once, there were several minds that flashed through to his.

"I'm bored." One of them said

"When's lunch?" So it wasn't lunchtime yet which gave Charles an indicator that it wasn't quite yet noontime.

Out of all these voices there were two that peaked his interest.

"Doctor, are they awake yet?" The second voice seemed very demanding.

"Patients General! This takes time! If this process is rushed, it could produce some negative effects that we don't want."

"General? Hmm that was interesting." That would also explain the military personnel there in the back of the bar when himself and Erik had been captured.

"How long do you think it will take?" The General seemed agitated for some reason.

"Maybe a few more hours. Depends on how long you would prefer me to make sure their powers aren't working."

That was an interesting tidbit of information he wasn't expecting to overhear.

"The telepath, I don't care how long he doesn't have his powers. But the metal bender, I want him out as long as possible. His powers are too great to allow him to be free to use them."

"Point taken. Then I will keep Magneto under sedation and let the other do what he wishes. But I must warn you, Magneto was able to quickly get out of the concoction I made up the other day."

"Just make sure that whatever you do, make sure that there will be consequences if they make one wrong move."

"Understood. Now if you will excuse me, General, I've got patients to tend to," Charles was then abruptly cut off from the conversation.

Charles couldn't believe what he just overheard. This wasn't just any random event where the two of them were captured. Apparently, they , or at least Erik was here for a very specific reason. What reason remained to be seen or heard, or whatever one would call that, but it was reason enough for Charles to be worried.

Speaking of Erik, Charles then reached out with his mind again to try and see if he could locate Erik. Of course it was fairly easy. If what the this doctor and General were saying, then Erik would be unconscious. And unconscious minds were the easiest for Charles to find.

But he couldn't find him. At least not right now.

Charles opened his eyes to find that he was in a dimly lit room. It wasn't too bright that it would hurt his eyes, but it wasn't too dark to where he couldn't see what was going on around him.

He found himself in a sterile white room. filled with all sorts of equipment. There was a wall of cabinets and counters to his left and in front of him, but then on the wall to his right, there was a giant glass wall leading to another room which was currently pitch black.

"Look who's awake!" Before Charles opened his eyes, he felt a sharp prick in the crook of his right elbow. All of a sudden he couldn't access his powers.

He opened his eyes to find himself in a sterile white room filled with all sorts of equipment ranging from microscopes to medical monitoring devices.

"Where am I? And what was that sharp prick I just felt?" Charles attempted to rub the sleep out of his eyes but only succeeded in blurring his vision more.

"I can't tell you where you are. But what I can tell you is that I injected you with an inhibitor serum. It will stop you from using powers."

"To...today? What day is it?"

"Today is Wednesday," the man was different than Dr. Risenek, "You and your metal bending friend were captured two days ago."

"Two days?" Charles say straight up, despite the headache that he had.

"My master has ways of persuade people into long sleep."

"And what of my friend?" Charles clamped his fingers on the bridge of his nose to stave off the headache and then laid back down as the dizziness set in.

"Erik Lensherr?" The lan smiled sinisterly and looked over to a large glass window to Charles' right, "He's right in there."

The lights came on in an adjacent room separated by the glass. The set up was very much the same, except there were four armed guards standing around at various points with guns drawn.

Then Charles spotted Erik who was still unconscious. Erik was shirtless and his right shoulder was bandaged with stark white gauze stained red by his blood. Bruises covered his chest and some of the rest of his exposed skin. It looked like he had been beaten into submission.

Charles sat up again, not believing what he was seeing. All of the armed men turned their guns toward Erik as the door opened up revealing Dr. Risenek on the other side of it. The doctor walked in and dismissed the guards. Charles watched as the man walked over to a chair that was situated on the other side of the bed that Erik was sleeping on. The "good" doctor's gaze gave way to belief that he was a predator looking at his prey, ready to strike it down at any given moment.

"What is Risenek doing?" Charles turned toward the man in the room with him. Charles watched as a smirk appeared on his face.

"He's just going to make sure that your friend remains asleep for a little while longer."

Charles turned back to watch Risenek place one hand on Erik's forehead and then the other on Erik's chest. The man closed his eyes and soon the room stilled. Charles was caught off guard when a small whimper emanated from Erik's mouth. Erik hardly, if ever showed weakness to anyone, but Charles knew that in the fragile state of unconsciousness a psychic could wreak havoc on another mind.

It seemed like Erik was reliving something. As Charles looked on, he saw Erik's face several times scrunch up in something he could only assume was pain. He could see Erik's breaths start to quicken and small cries for the man to stop hovered on Erik's lips.

And this went on for several minutes. This was one time where Charles really wished he had his legs. He longed to walk over to the window and demand that Risenek release whatever hold he had on Erik.

Just as quick as it started, Risenek opened his eyes and it was all done. All Charles could do was glare at the doctor as the two made eye contact. Risenek smirked and then turned to walk back through the front door.

"Dr. Risenek has been doing that for the last twenty-four hours. Says it's keeping him subdued," Charles thoughts went immediately back to the night they were both captured. He had a sneaking suspicion that it probably had something to do with the way Erik reacted to their attempted and subsequent capture.

All Charles could do was glare at the spot Dr. Risenek had just occupied moments before. The man was a monster and didn't deserve to lay a hand on either of them let alone Erik.

But that display of aggression was short lived when all of a sudden Risenek was on Charles' side of the glass.

"Good morning Charles Xavier!"

Charles remained silent for fear of the anger he now harbored against the doctor would come out in a way that wouldn't end well for him.

"Not going to talk?" Risenek turned his back to Charles and started to walk away, "Well then tha..."

"What did you just do to Erik?" Charles felt like he had to keep this guy talking. He was through with all the charades and honestly wished that for once Risenek would be motivated to tell him something even without his powers. He wished he knew why he was caught in the middle and what exactly was Erik's role in all this.

"Oh him?" The bed shifted slightly as Risenek sat down at the foot of the bed, "I'm just curious about him is all.

"So all that turmoil I saw you just put him through was what? Some sort of sick twisted game you're playing?"

"He was too stubborn to let me in, so I had to cause him some discomfort to lessen the blow some."

Charles couldn't believe what he was hearing. His friend was being tortured all because he was being stubborn? What kid of sick twisted guy did you have to be to do something like that to a man who had done you no harm?

Unbeknownst to Charles, a tear fell free from his eyes and started trailing down his cheek.

"Aww! Does the great Charles Xavier have a soft spot for Erik Lensherr?"

Now he had done it.

"You listen here! I don't know who you are or what you're going to do with the two of us. But lay another finer or your mind on him, and I will kill you!"

The tension that followed was so palpable, one could cut it with a knife. Charles stared long and hard into Risenek's eyes, wishing that he had his powers to persuade this guy to leave him along, but it was broken when all of a sudden, Risenek burst out laughing.

"Ha! You are in no position to negotiate my friend," Risenek tapped Charles' foot hidden beneath the blanket.

"And what if I actually did?"

"Then it looks like I might have a decent fight on my hands!" Risenek chuckled for a brief couple of seconds before growing serious once more, "But I'm not anything if but a good host. So, here's my proposition for you."

All Charles could do was remain silent. Hoping his silence was an invitation for the man to continue on his verbal tirade.

"Since out of the two of you, Charles, you have been the most cooperative, here's my deal. If you do everything I ask of you, I won't touch him. If you act like your friend in there," Charles followed the gesture of the doctor toward the wall, eyes landing on Erik, "I'll make sure to torture him in the worst ways imaginable. Plus, as an added bonus, I'll be generous and stop inhibiting both you and Mr. Lensherr's powers."

Charles looked between both the doctor and his friend on the other side of the glass. From what Charles knew of Erik, the man had been through a lot as a kid. When his powers manifested, the work of a madman, much like Risenek, had broken through and experimented on Erik. Not saying that Erik was being tortured now, but it was close enough to make Charles cringe at the thought. He knew deep down that if he didn't accept this deal, Erik might relive some of the worst moments of his life.

"So, do we have a deal?" Risenek leaned on the edge of the bed Charles was occupying. His gaze was one of a man who had achieved his goals. Smug and victoriously arrogant. Charles quickly vowed to himself that he would wipe that grin right off of the man's face when given the chance.

"Doesn't look like I have much of a choice," Charles shook the doctor's hand as it was extended out to him.

"Good," Charles watched as Risenek turned around and began making his way out of the room. But he quickly halted, "Oh I almost forgot."

Charles instinctively cringed when Doctor Aaron Risenek drew so close to whisper into his ear.

"One wrong move, and I'll make it my personal mission to make sure neither of you see the light of day."

The man backed away and smiled. Not the usual friendly smile, but one of a man who was like a snake readying itself to strike.

"Good day Mr. Xavier."

Charles let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"At least he bought himself and Erik a much needed respite," Charles thought, looking back through the glass at his friend. He longed to be in the same room as his fellow mutant. He wanted to ward away any dangers that may come up as a result of the issue.

But Charles could only hope, was that whenever Erik woke up, he would be ok.