Disclaimer: I OWN NOTHING! This is just for giggles.
Unknown
Xavier wasn't sure where he was. It was dark and the place was full of dust and cobwebs. They were in a room with a large fireplace and moth-eaten and broken furniture. Pictures hung on the walls but they were covered with such a thick layer of grime that Xavier could not make out what they frames contained.
Thinking back to what had just occurred, Xavier thought he would be dead by now but the Grim's presence assured him that he was still somewhat alive. But where they were was another matter entirely.
Looking over at the Grim who was laying next to him on the floor where they had landed with a pop, Xavier wondered how he could still be alive, even with the Grim's healing abilities.
The Grim was in bad condition, much worse than his own. The Grim was missing an arm and part of a leg as well as much of his skin. The only indication the Grim was even conscious was the fact that the Grim was examining Xavier's injuries with darting eyes.
The Grim tried to speak but coughed instead before trying again. "Death. Please come here." The Grim's voice was raspy and weak.
A dark shadow flowed into the room and kneeled next to it's master. "What is your wish?" Death's voice was surprisingly gentle for its general lack of tone. It gingerly raised the Grim into a sitting position.
"I need your help. I do not think I can get us back to the Xavier Institute on my own."
"Master, you need to heal."
"No, I'll heal later. I need to get back to track down the Dark Phoenix. They won't have a chance of taking her down. She is much too powerful."
"They said the same about you once." Death reminded him.
"True but I had a prophecy to back me up. I think they will need all the help they can get. Which means getting Xavier home to lead them."
Xavier followed the exchange and noticed that Death was actually very tender with the Grim's injured body. Its tone wasn't as emotionless as it originally had seemed nor its appearance as frightening. Xavier wondered why there was such a difference. HIs thoughts were interrupted by Death.
"Very well Master. I will assist," Death said before turning its gaze to Xavier, "Mortal, when I have returned you to your home you must insist that my Master remain untouched except to place him where he can recover."
"I do not understand."
"My Master is requiring me to use some of his core to get you both to your Institute. He will not survive the initial trip. But do not allow them to bury him or burn him or perform any funeral rituals upon him. He will return to his body when it can support life once again."
"I know this is a lot to ask but I do not want to dig my way out of another grave. It was rather unnerving," the Grim said with a bit of a grin that look more like a grimace due to the extreme pain he was in.
"I promise that you will not go through something like that again," Xavier said, horrified at the thought of the Grim finding himself in a casket under six feet of dirt.
With a nod of thanks, the Grim turned to gaze at Death. "Well, old friend. Might as well get started."
Yes another short chapter. I'm sorry. I'm working on the next chapter which will be longer (I hope). Still looking for a beta or two if anyone is interested.