Erik didn't say anything for a few minutes. There were veins in his neck and his face was red. He was calm externally, but internally, all Erik was feeling inside was rage.
"That bastard did that to you?" Erik's face was menacing.
"He, um, didn't hurt me directly. But, yes he gave me these bullet grazes."
"Wha-why didn't you come to me, Lydia? I could've taken care of you! I could've taken care of Trask. We could've been together." Erik didn't understand why she didn't come to him. He would do anything to help her, protect her.
All Lydia did was scoff and rolled her eyes. "Are you kidding me? I was terrified. I knew he was American. I didn't know what had happened in the states since I left. Even though it was only six months, things could happen fast. I didn't know the amount of power Trask had here. I assumed he was just hunting mutants left and right, which meant I could be next on the list. I just stayed in Europe and survived on my newly enhanced powers and wits. I really didn't want to risk it, and besides..." Lydia's eyes averted from Erik's gaze.
"Besides what, Lydia?"
"Besides you were with her." Lydia locked eyes with Erik, who felt a bit guilty, but nonetheless responded.
"You know why she was with me, Lydia. It wasn't out of spite to hurt you just because you went with Charles, but because you chose his side, Mystique was my loyal ally throughout all of that." He softly touched Lydia's turned down cheek. "Darling, that doesn't mean I loved you any less. Compared to you, she's nothing but a soldier and you're my queen. You are the one I love and want to be with."
Erik's weary blue eyes looked at her. "You know that, right?"
"Do I, Lehnsherr? Do I really?" Lydia looked at him with a half-smile. She softly pressed into his palm, Erik pecked her on the lips.
Lydia sighed and looked out the window. The sun had gone down, and was replaced with the luminous moon. Suddenly she got tired, lying down on Erik's lap. The man hummed as he ran his fingers through her coily locks.
It reminded Erik how they were when it was just the two of them, before they had met Charles and the others.
He loved it that way.
Later in the night, when Lydia was fast asleep, Erik got up and got the chessboard and sat in front of Charles.
All the ex-telepath did was laugh at the sight of the board.
"Erik, what are you doing? Put that away. I haven't played in years."
Erik chuckled as he sat down. "Then maybe it'll be a fair game for the first time."
Charles smiled and looked at the board, thinking about his first move, when Erik stated, "I didn't really kill the president, Charles."
"Erik, I saw the bullet curve-"
"He was one of us, Charles. I was trying to save him and I-I couldn't." Erik felt so devastated knowing that he could've stopped the assassination.
Charles was taken aback. Really? The president was a mutant? Charles had surely seen everything now.
"Really, Erik, I-I had no idea."
"It's okay, Charles. I didn't think you would, but now you must see why I'm so passionate about my plan for the mutants. People are killing us, and I can't let that happen anymore."
Charles didn't respond, and Erik paused.
"And Charles, I just wanted to say I'm sorry for what I did. I regret it everyday for what I did to you." No matter what way they felt about each other at the particular moment, the metal bender could never forgive himself for what he did.
Charles had slight tears in his eyes from Erik's apology. He could tell Erik was still hurting inside from all those years ago. But, speaking of the past, Charles thought he should bring up Raven.
"How is she, Erik?" A smile appeared on Erik's face at the mention of her.
Erik took a minute to think about it. "She's strong, determined, diligent, and so willing to help the cause." He looked at Charles. "I can see why you cared so much about her." Erik looked over to Lydia, who was glowing as she slept. One of the quirks he liked about her mutation. "But Mystique only filled a sliver of what was left by Lydia."
"Ah, yes, I could imagine how that felt with how close you to are," Charles commented. "When she left the mansion we were all sad for a couple of days. It was like when she came back from Cuba without you, she lost a piece of herself."
"With her, she has her emotions on a sleeve, and me? Well, I keep them all bottled up inside and save them for when I'm alone."
As Erik made his first move, he could hear Lydia mumble his name, her glow turning into a soft hue of red. He knew a nightmare was coming on.
Erik went to the couch and place her head on his lap, soothingly smoothing out her hair. From the couch, he moved the chess piece on table.
"Don't worry, Charles. I can play from here. Just say where you're moving the pieces."
As Charles said aloud where he's moving the game piece, all Erik could think about was what Lydia would do to Mystique, or vise versa.
A/N: Hey guys! I hope you enjoyed this new entry after a couple days hiatus. But I have wonderful news: I'm a high school graduate! Yes, I graduated on Friday and I cried. I didn't think I would, but I was like a little baby x) And now I can't wait to start college and journey into a new path in my life c: Anywho, as always, leave feedback, and don't forget to put me on your alert list and favorite stories/authors!
Until next time, darlings. Ta-ta!
