9) Abandoned

Erik had to make this right. He had to convince her to stay with him, even after all he has done.

He watched those huge, innocent blue eyes pull him in, into the guilt, into the shame. Erik never imagined that such a kind person could make him feel so rotten. Then again, this was not just any woman. She was a mutant, like him. She belonged with him. They belonged together despite their differences. Erik was her protector. She was his healer.

She has to need me like I need her.

"Us turning on each other, it's what they want. I tired to warn you, Charlotte." The telepath stared up at him with sad, grieving eyes. He found himself shaking her as he held her.

"I want you by my side," Erik continued desperately. "Meine liebe, please..." He could see her doubting and gestured to the others. "All of us...together, protecting each other. We want the same thing."

Charlotte blinked away tears. "Erik... I'm sorry, but we do not." She glared fervently as pain overwhelmed her. "H-How can we be together after what you tried to do to them... And after what you did to me?"

Erik felt tears brimming in his eyes as he lovingly stroked her cheek. "Meine liebe, please..." His begging broke her heart, but her mind knew what was best.

"Erik, I love you." He did not, could not believe that. She winced as she used all her energy to lift up her arm and grasp the hand on her nape. "But... But that doesn't mean this will work out like we want it to. Please. Let me go."

They stared at each other for a few minutes, one panting and one in pure disbelief, both reluctant. Then, Erik stoically beckoned Moira to where he was, stood up, and addressed the other mutants.

"This society won't accept us. We form our own. The humans have played their hand, now we get ready to play ours. Who's with me?"

Sean, Alex, and Hank looked disgusted. Angel looked ready to consider. Azazel and Riptide turned to each other questionably. Raven stared longingly at him, thinking of the freedom his proposition promised. Erik offered his hand to Raven.

"No more hiding."

Raven found herself approaching Erik. But then, she glanced back at Charlotte, her sister, lying helplessly in the sand with the human by her side, and knelt to her.

Charlotte could barely concentrate on a thing, but she sensed something wrong and delved into her sister's longing thoughts and looked up. "You should go with him. It's what you want."

Raven tenderly embraced her sister. "You promised me that you would never read my mind." Charlotte just shook and sniffled helplessly in her arms.

"Raven, I promised you a lot of things. I- I'm so sorry -"

"Hush. It's okay. It's okay. Everything's fine."

"But I will keep this promise," Charlotte whimpered, "you're my sister and I'll always love you."

Raven bit her lips as her yellow eyes glistened with tears. She kissed Charlotte's forehead, trying not to show any emotion. If Raven cried, then Charlotte would cry, and they all knew Charlotte was in enough pain.

Raven turned to the brunette beside her. She was gazing at Charlotte with as much raw emotion as Erik just did, and Raven immediately knew enough.

"Moira?" The brunette aimed a fierce glare at her, but the mutant just shrugged it off. "I'm only asking this: take care of my sister." Moira nodded determinedly, and Raven stood up and accepted Erik's hand.

Raven, Riptide, Azazel, Angel, and Erik all joined hands, ready to leave. Then, Raven turned to Hank and suddenly thought of something.

"Hey, Beast!" The furry mutant turned to her. "Mutant and proud!" Hank just snarled at her and turned away.

Erik was about to order Azazel to transport them out of there when Charlotte's weak voice startled him.

"Erik? Erik? A word... please..." She grimaced as her request came out like a croak, but she did not care enough. She needed Erik.

The metal bender hesitated. He had hoped he could have left her as soon as possible. The sooner he left her, the sooner he was numb again.

Damn those eyes... He knelt to her side, staring down at her expectantly. He expected a small goodbye, a bit of optimistic advice, or maybe even an insult. What he did not expect was her hands on his and her eyes to water even more.

"I wish I could get inside that head of yours right now," Charlotte whispered bitterly. "It would've made this less embarrassing. Erik? Don't leave. Do you hear me? Don't leave me just yet. You can leave when it's time to leave but now..." Charlotte hated begging, but she saw no alternative.

Erik grinned sadly and released her hands. "Charlotte, it's all or nothing. We must start our paths from now on, and our paths are too different from one another. This is where we depart. You know that. Besides, you don't need me." And you don't love me. If I don't leave you now, I'll never be able to leave you again.

"Erik, I do! I can't feel my - "

"Goodbye, Charlotte." And with that, Erik joined hands with his new Brotherhood, and they vanished.

"ERIK, NO! NO, DON'T LEAVE!" Charlotte twisted and writhed, clawing the sand beneath her.

"What is it?" Moira took Charlotte's hands. "Charlotte, please tell me -"

"I can't feel my legs."

"What?" By that point, the three other mutants left on the beach had joined the two women. Charlotte repeated herself, and Hank and Moira hoisted her up.

"The h-hospital..." Charlotte had hoped Erik could convince the teleporting mutant to help her. "I - I need..."

"Charlotte, relax. Boys! Get a blanket from the plane!" Alex and Sean nodded and rushed back to the fallen aircraft. Once they returned with the blanket, they laid it on the sand as Hank gently laid Charlotte down.

"I'm going to call for a ride back," Moira announced, rushing towards the plane.

"No!" Charlotte weakly gripped her wrist. "Moira, don't. Moira, don't leave." Charlotte was almost hysterical, frightening them all. They had never seen the usually calm, collected professor so broken.

Moira shut her eyes, trying her best to block out all the anger. Erik had left someone so important, so special to Moira, and the CIA agent swore to herself that she would never do the same.

Therefore, she made Hank get her stuff and waited by Charlotte's side, soothing her with soft words. "Charlotte, don't cry. Please. I'll never leave. I'll never leave."

Moira swore to herself that one day she would get back at the metal bender for hurting this woman, this woman whom she unintentionally loved. Meanwhile, Charlotte swore to never love anyone like she loved Erik again, including Moira.

Unfortunately, they both swore in vain.