AN: More scientific Lingo. (Wikipedia for one part...the rest is my own knowledge :3 ) Um...it's set in this year (2011) and the next characters that pop up are really X-men characters. Doug is codenamed "Cipher" if ya' want to check him out. And WOW this chapter became a monster! TT^TT I'm proud...but annoyed XD I just had to build up for the most important part! :D D: ((And I love Poison Ivy. Don't judge me that She's DC and this is Marvel.))
Erik really couldn't find any words to describe the wave of fear and anger and desperation that overcame him at the message. This person, this beast that had brutally murdered a man and his wife was out there. Out of control. Begging to be stopped, because they couldn't stop themselves.
And all they had to go on was a vial of blue liquid, some microscopic shards of metal and two dead bodies.
"That is why I have to help you, Detective Lehnsherr," Charles tapped the napkin with the tip of his pen. Erik looked up and their gazes locked, determination met with determination. "I won't stand by as this person continues to kill." Charles sighed as he handed Erik one of the small folders that where in his book bag. "And I most definitely don't need this." Erik looked at the fairly rumpled manilla folder, his name lining the top portion. "Tell Stryker that I don't need to know my partner's past to work well with him." Erik looked at the folder blankly for a few seconds before placing a few loose bills on the table. Charles looked at him quizzically before being jerked out of his seat by Erik's firm grasp on his hand.
"Bloody hell Detective Lehnsherr, what are you-"
"Erik." Erik cut Charles off. Charles looked at him, one eyebrow raised, and Erik evaluated. "My name is Erik. Since we're going to be partners it's best that we leave out the formalities, yes?" Erik continued to storm out of the Diner, a light flush on his cheeks as his hand tightened around Charles'. Charles smiled as he stumbled behind the taller man, trying to keep hold on his book-bag.
After one short, very awkward and tense car ride (after vain complaints of "I drove to the scene, Erik, how will I get home!") the two arrived in the parking lot of the police department. Charles was fairly sure of two things: one, he was never ever going to take a ride with Erik, ever; and that there was something unnerving about the time he spent with Erik. This was a bloody murder they where solving.
They had no time for futile, one-sided romances.
So Charles swallowed thickly and turned to the building. Last he had checked, it was somewhere between three and four in the afternoon; at six he had to pick up Raven from her latest class and then go to the lab, file away some paper work and go home for some much deserved is, of course, unless Sean needed help with his calculus. Or if Angel missed her ride. Or if Raven needed help, too.
Charles really, really missed sleep.
"C'mon, we're going to get you that vial and try to get me clearance into Division X." Erik said carefully as he steppe out of the mustang, boots skidding against the concrete. Charles, still a little car-sick, swayed a bit and stumbled forward before catching his step and matching Erik's entered through the main entrance, catching the eye of some of the woman (an men) of the main room. Erik only nodded at the receptionist and the door swung open for them. They went down a long hallway filled with various doors with names painted on the small label beside them.
Then there was the door. It was without label, to the right of the hallway where the two had their slight squabble the day before.
Stryker's door.
And from the tensing of Erik's shoulders, the slight heaviness to his step, it was apparent that Erik didn't like the man. In fact, Charles didn't have to know anything about psychology to know that Erik didn't like Stryker.
Moira had told him a long time ago, about how Stryker had once taken Erik into custody and appeared only hours later, bruised and bleeding but no less determined to continue on his search for the one responsible for the deaths of two young teens. The drug ring in the city became involved; and with that little stunt it was clear that Stryker wasn't one with his hands cleaned.
There was no evidence, but it was clear.
The door opened and lightly taped the wall, despite the power used to throw it open. Charles followed Erik as they entered the office, unbidden and unannounced. Stryker was hunched over his desk, looking over some paper work when they had barged in, and the two stood before the large mahogany desk. They simply stood and waited before Stryker glanced up at the two.
"What do ya' want?" He grunted.
"We need permission for all of the evidence taken from the scene of the crime to be transferred to Division X." Erik stated plainly, sounding bored if not slightly annoyed. Charles glanced from Erik to Stryker and back before breathing in slowly. The two where the epitome of tense, and the underlying aggression was smoldering to the scientist. "And I need clearance to enter the catacombs there." Erik finished.
"Go to the others for the paper work and have that girl Moira sign it out to you." Was all Stryker said. He made no reference to the clearance and sure wasn't making any move to, so Charles dragged Erik out of the office and back into the space outside the office. Erik looked like he wanted to say something, maybe curse his superior but didn't, and instead chose to bite at his lip.
Erik turned and walked into the connected room, silently fuming. Charles was still behind him when a voice spoke up.
"I knew you two would end up together!" Charles and Erik both turned quickly in time to see Moira jump over a desk and run towards them. It was too late to dodge the woman's jump and Charles soon found himself being squished against her rough uniform and Erik's soft turtleneck. "I KNEW it! Sean totally owes me!"
"Moira dear, I have no idea what you mean but if it is what I think then you're surely mistaken." Charles fumbled around, trying to pry himself away from his dear friend.
"There's no shame!" Moira laughed, still pressing the two together. "It's about time because you both have been very terse since that night at the part and-"
"Moira! We're partners for this case!" Charles squeaked indignantly, feeling his face flair. Moira backed away instantly, a strange combination of awe and shock and a wee bit of sadness crossing her features.
"You mean you guys aren't-"
"No." Both Charles and Erik stated in unison.
"Ah. Ahhh, I'm sorry about that guys. And um, there is definitely no bet between Me, Raven and Sean. Of course not." Moira nodded, biting her bottom lip. "Uh, so what are you guys doing here then?"
"We need the evidence taken from the Site of the Greys' murder transferred to Division X as soon as possible" Erik told Moira, who was given Charles an apologetic look. "Can you help us with that?"
"Of course." Moira nodded. "Please come with me and we'll get it all signed over to Division X." Moira motioned to Charles. "You can stay here, it'll only be a second." Charles smiled and nodded. The two left in a brisk stride across the room, leaving Charles in their wake. Leave it to Moira to make Charles feel so insecure when he had barely started feeling empowered in the situation. Charles sighed and tilted his head back, leaning against the wall.
"About that clearance" A gruff voice spoke beside Charles. Charles, clearly startled jumped back and stared at Stryker. "Are you sure you want ta' give a guy like Lehnsherr clearance into your division? I mean, no offense but the guy has some wires crossed. Arrogant, violent, a bit of a psychopath and-"
"Listen here, Stryker" Charles growled in pure and utter frustration," You can't dare to stand here and lecture me on sociopaths and hypocrites. Among all the people here you are like the black sheep, so coming here to tell me not to trust the partner you assigned for me is a sign of a man who isn't all there." Charles took pride in the shocked expression that befell the man's face. "Erik Lehnsherr may be a tad violent, a bit sardonic, but he's more of a man than you could ever dream to be. If he had been out for your job, like you suspect he has, he could have it by now."
"How did you-?" Stryker gasped.
Charles smirked and tapped two fingers against his temples before continuing.
"If you even hinder us in our investigation I know of many things people of your stature couldn't even think of, so before you decide to stick your nose into other people's lives, I suggest you tidy up your own because, not only are you on the very precipice of your career, but your son is falling into a bad crowd, the kind of which you've based your life work to put away." Charles grinned mischievously now. "So please, I usher you to continue to dissuade me. Just try it."
When Erik returned with Moira a few seconds later, Charles was sitting on the floor, leaning against the wall with his eyes closed. Erik traded a glance with Moira and they rushed over to the scientist. Moira carefully knelt down beside Charles, casting Erik a cautious glance, before whispering to the scientist.
"Charles?" She asked slowly. "Are you okay, hun?"
Charles tilted his head back and breathed in slowly, his eyes barely opening before widening all at once. "Um... you said a few minutes?" Charles drowsily whispered back. Moira laughed gently as she tried to comb Charles' hair back into a suitable disarray. Charles smiled wearily and glanced at his watch. "Shit, it's four fifty." Charles mumbled and Moira smiled apologetically.
"How much paper work do you have left?" Moira asked gently, helping Charles up.
"A lot" was the sleepy reply.
"Hn, well I'll pick up Raven if you like, we haven't had a girl-chat in a while." Moira grinned. "And you go finish your paper work and go home and sleep for once." Moira jokes, handing the dazed and more than half-asleep Charles to the silent Erik beside her. "Erik, take him back to Division X. I think that, as long as you're with him, you'll be able to enter. Do not let him fall asleep on the ride there." Moira emphasized, glaring at the taller detective. Erik only raised an eyebrow and nodded.
Erik began the slow procedure of moving them both out of the room when Moira's voice called out from behind them.
"And if you meet a tall, rugged guy there, that's probably Stark: don't laugh, don't acknowledge his jokes, and whatever he says, he and Charles are nothing other than friends!"
Keeping Charles awake in the ten minute ride to Division X was harder than Erik thought. First of all, he had to literally drag the scientist out of the building, seeing as he was well past the point of dazed walking. It was hard to ignore the all-too close face by his neck, taking deep breaths and murmuring little nothings against him. His hand was tight around the scientist's waist, hauling him here and there, to and fro until they finally, finally made it to Erik's busted up black mustang.
When they had entered, Charles was leaning against the window, making as if to sleep against it.
"So tell me, Charles," Erik cleared his throat, glancing at Charles and back to the road. "What is the strangest case you've worked on?" There was a moment of silence before Charles yawned and stretched, fixing that dazed, mostly sleepy blue gaze on the detective.
"What?" Charles was the epitome of innocence and sheer confusion; his eyes where half lidded and glazed over with sleepiness, hair tussled and clothes untidy, a light flush on cheeks and his pink lips twisted into the cutest pout.
Erik focused all his energy on staring at the road.
"I asked you what the strangest case you've ever worked on was," Erik retold," I hear your division constantly takes on...strange and unusual cases. So, what's the top one? Or at least weird enough." Erik spared Charles another glance before clearing his throat and staring straight ahead at the road. Charles had rested back against the seat and slipped off his sweater, his shirt hiking up slightly with the movements.
"About...three months ago," Charles mumbled, trying to untangle the sweater from his arms. "A girl was kidnapped, Katherine Pryde, or Kitty, and the police had no leads, no anything really. Odd case, she disappeared from the car as it was speeding through the road. The driver said that when he looked back, the girl had actually been sinking into the seat." Charles yawned once more, covering his mouth with the palm of his hand.
"They tested the driver for any drugs and things like that but he was clean. He was the only one awake in the van at the moment and there were no leads or anything." Charles folded the sweater on his lap and shook his head. "It was hard for them to even think of what happened and when they duped the case on my division they had the fucking nerve to tell us to solve it in a week. A week, Erik!" Charles whined, the pout returning to his lips. "Idiots." Erik bit back a snort of laughter.
"Apparently the girl had somehow diffused through the car, hit the road at speeds of at least sixty miles per hour and was knocked unconscious, actually kidnapped and then diffused through the bonds on her hands and feet, through the wall of the wooden shack she had been hidden in and met up with the newest member of Cerebro, Douglas Ramsey, a brilliant young man with the knowledge of every language available, I mean, he can speak Sumerian, Erik. That's just incredible!" Charles noticeably brightened up.
"Oh, well they met, he drove her for a while before realizing she was Kitty and then he brought her here, case solved." Charles shrugged.
"That doesn't sound unusual. How is it that she got lost in the first place? How did she 'diffuse' through these solid objects?" Erik asked, noting the way Charles was finally waking up.
"Ah, it was a theory in Quantum physics, since molecules of solid objects are always vibrating, what we touch and feel is the force pushed back at us from the vibrations, what I theorized was that her cells and body had managed to find the right frequency of vibration so that her molecules passed through the small spaces between the vibrating molecules of the car seat, the ropes and then the wood." Charles rubbed his eyes and grinned at Erik. "It's quite incredible, the mutation she carries, she allowed me to sample her DNA and it was...amazing. It's quite the groovy mutation."
Erik laughed, unable to repress the warm chuckle that had been bubbling in his chest. "Groovy, really Charles, you're a few fifty years behind on slang there, my friend." Charles laughed, too, and Erik found himself drawn by the hearty sound.
"Yes, well I was really, really happy they had handed us the case, the police department wouldn't have been able to solve this case otherwise." Charles tilted his head back, hands fidgeting on his lap. "It did take us eight days, and Stryker was fussy about that. I guess it's another thing to add to the list of reasons why I dislike the man." Charles' demeanor became stern before lighting up once more.
"Oh? You're not quite taken with the Sergeant?" Erik teased lightly, raising a brow. Charles flushed an adorable pink before turning his head.
"No. He's an ass and a deplorable man that doesn't deserve his rank." Charles mumbled, still looking out the window. They had just entered the parking lot into the Facility. "He tries to control everyone with fear-induced respect and does what he wants, when he wants. He's like a level one Megalomaniac." Charles sighed. "He tried to convince me not to give you clearance today." Charles whispered. He saw Erik's hands tighten on the steering wheel before Erik grated out a low 'oh'. "Yes, well given what I told him I doubt he'll be bothering either of us for a while."
Erik turned, clearly surprised. "What did you tell him?" Was the incredulous question.
"Nothing too bad, I admit, but I do believe he's under the impression that I read minds."
Erik was more than impressed at Division X. Charles had managed to get him instant clearance, past the Labia and there they were, standing side by side the the large room, waiting for any of the twelve doors to open with that familiar ding. Charles found himself, once more, bothered by the time spent waiting for an elevator, any of twelve to rise through three stories. Really, it was ridiculous. They were silent out of the car and the quite had seemed to follow the two into the building. Charles felt his usual curiosity piqued at the box Erik held in his hands, obviously lacking any metal with the passage through the detector.
The elevator beside Charles opened, occupied by one man.
'Oh god' Charles mentally groaned as they entered the small compartment, trapped between Erik and Tony. "Tony, I thought you wanted to day off?" Charles asked, tense as Tony smirked in Erik's direction."It's already past five, you don't tend to stay here so long."
"Ugh, don't remind me. Pepper was nagging me back home, so I came here instead." Tony turned to Erik, his eyes glinting mischievously. "Still hiding out that warrant."
"You say this with a law officer in the vicinity." Charles quirked a smile. "Your know-how never ceases to amaze me." Erik smirked beside him.
"Well, there's that and I wanted to meat the infamous Erik "The Shark" Lehnsherr. You have garnered quite the hard-boiled cop reputation amongst the workers in the Hive. I'm quite surprised they didn't frisk you. I think I heard some of the female employees claiming that they'd give a small fortune to give you a very thorough cavity search"
Charles cursed the extremely slow elevator. Really, it's just going down two bloody floors. It shouldn't take this long.
"Ah. I take it you are Tony Stark." Erik nodded to himself. Tony raised a brow and looked at Charles, who was staring at the elevator doors, as if willing the contraption to go faster. "I heard a lot about you."
"All good I suppose."
"They sell your sarcasm and arrogance short, Stark." Erik's smirk returned.
Tony looked at Charles, surprised, and grinned madly. "You've got yourself a good one here, Charles."
Charles had the self-respect not to face palm then and there.
The elevator couldn't have stopped at such an opportune moment, and Charles rushed out of the elevator, Erik not far behind, and Stark rushing to catch up. He was almost out of breath when he finally made it to his desk, only to gawk at the lack of paperwork. He could have sworn to have had at least three dozen stacks of demonic files to sign and file but alas! They had all gone away.
"A problem, Charles?" Tony purred, slipping on his lab coat. "I took the liberty of helping you out, and in return-"
"In return I don't fire you for all your slip ups? And the 98% probability that something exploded in the danger room because of you?" Charles retorted, amused. Tony's grin fell and he sighed, rolling his eyes.
"Yes, well it wasn't exactly my fault, per se, me and McCoy where testing out a droid and apparently something in the chemical foundation for it's energy capsule was missing or I don't know what and it maybe...sort of...just slightly imploded on itself."
Charles simply stared.
Erik raised a brow from beside Charles.
"Just a wee bit." Stark added with a slight nod, his finger pinched almost together.
"Well clean up your mess and you can stay in the back room until the heat dies down and you can walk the light of day." Charles amended, and Tony let out a sigh of relief. He took his leave, walking in a brisk pace to the small hallway before opening the first door on the left.
Erik didn't comment on the shouts and smaller explosions that rang through the lab.
"Well this was a waste of time." Charles sighed, turning to Erik. "Sincerest apologies."
"Not at all" Erik nodded, shifting the box in his hands before remembering why he had come along. "Yes, right. Here's the vial of the blue liquid found in the scene." Erik handed Charles the box, who only reached forward and quirked a brow.
"It's a box, Erik." Erik rolled his eyes.
"It's a glass vial, Charles, and fragile. It's in the box." Charles grinned as he opened the box. He slipped the fragile glass vial out and placed it on his desk.. It was about four inches long, an inch in thickness with the pristine blue liquid filling it almost completely. The sweet fragrance was filling the space fast, and Charles turned to slip on some latex gloves before moving the bottle, inspecting the thin yet strong capsule."It was inspected for prints but forensics couldn't find a thing. Can you figure out what it is?" Erik spoke up, standing closer to the desk than before.
"Of course."
They walked briskly down the small hallway until they met a dead end with a door. Charles held the vial in his palm as he turned to Erik.
"This is the Gardens, where our Botanist works." Charles nodded towards the door. "Miss Pamela Isley is known around here as Poison Ivy, her skills with plants are incredible, and she's on the brink of creating a kind of that never loses it's minerals and vitamins, changing it's composition in order to have any plant thrive." Charles grinned widely again. "If this really is nectar, or some kind of plant extract, she'll know."
Charles opened the door, and Erik gasped in surprise.
It was like a wide jungle, full of lush, green trees, long grass and blooming flowers of various colors and tints. He followed Charles wordlessly, gaping at eh amount of life that was flourishing around him.
It was beautiful.
"Miss Isley!" Charles grinned as they approached the hidden desk deep into the Garden. "I have something I would like for you to look at, if you would, please." Pamela Isley looked up from her writings and looked at Charles with deep emerald green eyes hidden behind reading glasses, tucking a strand of fiery red hair behind her ear. She was wearing a form-fitting aqua dress beneath her standard lab-coat. She stood up quietly and embraced Charles, much to Erik's chagrin.
Wait-what?
Charles laughed and handed Pamela the glass vial, and the young woman shifted the glasses before her eyes before glancing up at Charles.
"It's a Centaurea cyanus, commonly known as Cornflower, Bachelor's button, Bluebottle, Boutonniere flower, Hurtsickle, Cyani flower, it's endangered in it's most typical enviroment because of pesticides" She spat out the word like acid. "It's on the endangered list; this here," Pamela shook the little glass vial,"is extract of a combination of the pigments found in the actual buds and pollen; it's generally believed that Cornflowers hold some kind of secretive ailment and is commonly used in teas and such." Pamela eyed the glass vial critically. "It looks just about ready to be used in some kind of experiment..."
"Thank you so much, Miss Isley, and if you want you can keep the vial" Charles smiled at Pamela's excited expression. "When you have more info on it, come find me."
"Of course, Professor." Pamela teased, watching the two leave before returning to her notes.
"So it's-cornflower extract?" Erik surmised, following Charles back to his desk. Charles nodded and sat in his chair, fixing Erik with an unreadable stare. "That doesn't help much, does it?"
"Quite the contrary, it helped quite a bit." Charles nodded, opening his desk and removing the case's folder form the mess in the drawer. "You see, if the flower was endangered then it lowers the number of places it can be found; and the killer is clearly a man of science."
"Clearly? Charles, just how did you come to that conclusion?" Erik asked complacently, bending to meet Charles' eye level.
"Well, the way the vial was made, and how it had been heat treated, treated with the knowledge that it would be met with high tension, made it clear that the vial would be needed in an experiment-and dangerous at that." Erik almost gawked; Charles had gotten all of that with just a look at the vial? Incredible. Erik found himself somehow drawn to the other man's wise ways. It was a little unnerving how...attractive he found that. " And the Greys were professors, but John Grey was a history professor, and Elaine Grey was an ex-art professor. The people that lived around them have no means of gaining such a thing like the evidence, it must have belonged to the killer."
"So he's a scientist." Erik nodded, his heart racing at the revelation.
It wasn't a main suspect.
But they had narrowed it down.
"I spent the night getting information on the victims" Charles admitted, almost shyly. "Which resulted in lack of sleep. My sister was furious." He could almost hear Raven shouting at him to wake up that morning. He cringed and continued. "Um, thank you, by the way, for helping me." Charles blushed koily, and Erik found himself leaning forward almost unconsciously.
Their eyes met.
Charles' breath caught in his throat.
Erik leaned forward, eyes glancing between the clear blue eyes and those delicious pink lips.
Inches apart, their breaths mingled, scents tangling into an odd but sinful mixture.
Charles sighed.
Their lips brushed...
There was a clatter, a loud crash and the two turned around, wide eyed, blushing and wondering what the hell they were just doing before they caught sight of a shadowed form, broken glass and various fluids on the ground.
The alarm sounded at the hint of dropped chemicals, the lights turning into a bloody red. Erik hefted Charles up and they followed a battered and dirty Tony, Pamela, Doug and a few nameless faces following behind them. Through all of the turbulence of clearing out the area until hazmat arrived, Erik and Charles stood, stock-still and serious-faced in a crowd of murmuring scientists, thoroughly confused and worried at once.
Was it the killer?
What where they doing?
They were in danger. Everyone.
What were they doing?
The chemicals were dangerous, but thankfully they didn't react until all three had mixed together, a few minutes as the workers in Cerebro were examined by the Atrium workers. They were all safe, save for a pair of them that had gotten only slight cuts on their body.
What were they doing?
It would be at least three days before they could enter the main lab; Pamela was glad her Garden was air tight against the lab and had an extra entrance. Charles glanced at Erik, their minds in sync. The scientists went home soon after; it was a few hours until they were free to go. The only one's who remained where Erik, Charles and Tony. Tony was already making plans for bunking at Charles' house, inviting Erik to come along, spewing things about 'teasing Raven', 'getting Sean drunk and in a dress again' and such, but when Erik and Charles' eyes met, they only had one thing in their mind.
Was it a coincidence? Or was the killer on their trail?
