(A/N) Heheh, and now I give you all what you want…sort of.
The Key To My Heart
Chapter 10: Locksmith
As Erik walked through the deserted streets of the camp, it seemed almost that those eighteen long years had never passed. When had he known anything but this? Thoughts of the day his mother was killed flooded his head, bleeding together with the nightmares of Charles in her place.
…have to stop it…have to save him…can't let Herr Doktor have him…
Since the complex was now a museum, Shaw's base was almost certainly underground…and there was really only one place the entrance to this base could be…Schmidt's old lab. Shaw would do anything to remind him of those days…to unhinge him.
When Erik finally reached the building where the lab was located and made his way up, he found that most of Shaw's own effects had been removed, replaced by generic wartime memorabilia. Trying not to shudder too much as he stepped over the place where his mother had fallen, he sent his senses into the room, searching for something that didn't belong. He eventually found that something in the old trash shoot. Normally, the shoot just led down to an incinerator, but his powers told him that the shoot now had a false metal back. It slid back easily enough, revealing a slightly larger shoot.
"Tempt not a desperate man," he whispered, suddenly remembering his words from before and feeling very much like Romeo at the mouth of the Capulet crypt as he stared down into the darkness below.
Thou detestable maw, thou womb of death, gorged with the dearest morsel of the earth, thus I enforce thy rotten jaws to open, and, in despite, I'll cram thee with more food!
It was simple. Either he was leaving with Charles…or he wasn't leaving at all.
XxX
The others, of course, hadn't even realized Erik was gone. Their strategy meeting was just wrapping up when Azazel suddenly appeared in their midst.
"Good evening, comrades," he said to the shocked circle. "Excellent night for an offensive, isn't it."
Before anyone could react, he seized Havok and Banshee and disappeared with them. When he came for Beast, Alistair made a beeline for the plane, quickly finding that Erik had vanished.
"Blast!" he cursed, snagging a spare handgun before heading back. Azazel captured him mid-run.
"He got him," Raven reported tensely, her gaze darting all around, searching for the teleporter.
"Left!" Moira warned her. Raven responded instantly, turning and blocking the newly appeared teleporter's attempt to grab her.
This went on for several minutes: Moira shouting instructions and Raven striking, preventing Azazel from taking them. Moira was new to her power, though, and couldn't catch all his movements. Azazel captured them eventually. When they were reunited with the others, they found themselves in a large, dimly-lit chamber. Havok was unconscious.
"Azazel knocked him out," Banshee reported.
"Where's Erik?" Moira asked.
"Gone. Wasn't on the plane," Alistair explained, clearly angry. "He's run off."
"No…he's gone after Charles," Moira said, not sure whether to feel relieved or worried.
"Never mind him. Where are we?" Beast asked, glancing around. The question, however, was soon answered when Azazel appeared on a catwalk overhead.
"Enjoy your shower," he said, sneering down at them before vanishing. At this, several spouts all over the walls began to spew tiny pellets, which soon dissolved into gas.
"Oh, my God, it's a gas chamber!" Beast shouted. "We're trapped in a gas chamber!"
"That…that can't be," Raven whispered. "These things shouldn't be active."
"This is Shaw's game. He can do whatever he wants," Alistair said, quickly going to search for a door.
"Havok! Come on, man! Wake up!" Banshee shouted at his unconscious friend, shaking him fiercely. He was the only one who might be able to get them out. It wouldn't be long before they breathed too much of the poisonous air.
XxX
It wasn't all that difficult for Erik to find the cell where they were holding Charles. In the moments before he ripped the thick door from its metal bindings, he was too relieved to think it might have been too easy. That relief, however, evaporated the moment he entered the room.
He had seen Charles' condition in Emma's mind, but it simply didn't compare with actually seeing him in such a state. His uniform was badly torn and this revealed the damage underneath. There were several tears and scrapes along the skin from contact with Emma's own diamond skin. He wasn't sure what had happened to his legs, but they appeared to be badly bruised and swelling in places. Erik's heart just about broke when the telepath gave several weak coughs.
"Charles!" he cried out, quickly running toward him and ripping away the restraints that held him down. At first, all Charles could manage was a groan. Laying a hand on his forehead, Erik found he was burning up with fever. "Charles, it's me. It's Erik. Please wake up!"
Slowly, Charles opened his eyes, blinking up at him. "Erik?" he whispered.
"Yes, Charles. I'm here," he said quietly, gently running his fingers through the younger man's hair.
For a moment, Charles smiled, but then he closed his eyes and sighed. When he opened them again, they were bright with tears.
"This is a dream," he said bitterly.
"No. No, it's not. I'm really here. I found you. I came for you…just like I promised."
"It's…it's really you?" Charles asked, several tears slipping from his eyes as he reached a hand up to touch his face.
Nodding, Erik turned his head to the side and gently kissed the palm of Charles' hand. Holding that hand against his cheek, he reached his free hand down to wipe the tears from the telepath's face. "I do have an answer for you, Charles. I love you. I love you so much, and I'm never going to lose you again," he swore, pulling Charles into his arms and slowly helping him to sit up. Once he had him in a sitting position, Charles leaned away, dry heaving, as there was absolutely nothing in his stomach to throw up. Erik had to fight the urge to ask if he was all right, as he was clearly not. Before Charles could say anything, Erik continued with, "We need to get you to a doctor. Can you stand?"
Grimacing, Charles shook his head, leaning against Erik for support. "I…I can't walk, Erik. Shaw, he…he broke my legs. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault," Erik said, slowly tearing Shaw's head off in his mind. "I'll just have to carry you out of here," he added, sliding an arm beneath Charles' knees; but the moment his knees began to bend, Charles cried out in pain.
"What is it?" Erik asked, freezing in place.
"It's…my knees. Shaw twisted them. There're probably some torn ligaments. They're going to hurt no matter what you do, so you may as well get it over with."
"A-all right."
"Do it fast," Charles ordered, gritting his teeth together in preparation.
Erik did so, swiftly scooping Charles up in his arms, but even as Charles sobbed quietly in pain, he sensed another presence entering the cell.
"Oh, no."
The very next moment, Erik dropped to his knees, screaming in agony. Every nerve in his body felt like it was burning with pain, but he held onto Charles for all he was worth.
When the screaming pain finally stopped, Erik was on his knees, hunched over Charles, still clutching him protectively in his arms.
"You are different," a little girl's voice said from behind him. "You have known pain."
"Pele, I take it?" he asked, slowly turning his head back to look at her. He recognized the child from Emma's and Charles' memories.
"Very good, and you must be Erik Lehnsherr…the man who will awaken Charles."
Being as gentle as he possibly could, Erik laid Charles down on the floor, then slowly stood and turned to face Pele.
"Erik, be careful," Charles warned him.
"You hurt Charles," the metal-kine said coldly as he locked eyes with the little girl. "I should kill you now."
"Could you, though?" she asked, her eyes wide and ready for mischief.
"Erik, no! Please don't!" Charles cried out, reaching out to grab his ankle. "She's only a child. Shaw's abused her for three years. She's just like you, Erik."
As he listened to Charles' words, Erik maintained eye contact with the girl, really looking…and seeing that at such a tender age, Shaw had already made her a killer. Did his eyes look like that?
Please. Charles was speaking directly to his mind now. I don't want Pele to keep suffering like this…and I know you feel the same way, deep inside. I know it!
Sighing, Erik finally nodded. You're right. After all…you saved me. Maybe even this one can be saved.
"Save me?" Pele asked, tilting her head to the side. "Just what do you think you can do?"
Coming to her and kneeling before her, Erik gave her the one thing he'd always wished for under Shaw's care: he gave her a hug.
Horrified by the sudden close contact, Pele did the only thing she knew to do.
"Burn!" she shouted.
The reaction was typical. Erik began to scream as his nerves were set on fire, but he did not release his hold on Pele as she'd expected. He held fast, holding her securely against his chest.
I'm not letting go, Pele, he held the thought in his head even as he screamed.
Do you feel this pain? She asked him, projecting something else into his mind as she scorched him.
This…pain? No…it's different. Loneliness, he clarified for her. At this, the pain subsided.
What is loneliness? She asked, not looking up at him.
I didn't understand it before, but I think I do now, he answered, projecting an image of himself on his never-ending quest for revenge…before Charles.
And…what is happiness?
I was never aware of it before, but…now I think I know what it is. With this thought, he conjured up the mental picture of Charles he carried…and all the feelings that went with it. With the sudden rush of emotion from him, Pele finally looked up at him. It wasn't confusion in her eyes…not yet.
"Very good, Erik."
Erik's head snapped up at the sound of Shaw's voice. As he and Emma entered the cell, Erik secured his arms around Pele and rechecked his position, placing himself directly between Shaw and Charles.
"It isn't them you should be worrying about, liebkind. It's your own health you ought to be concerned with."
"If anyone here should be concerned with their health, it's you," Erik hissed at him. "I'll destroy you for what you've done to him."
Shaw chuckled at this. "What I've done to Charles is of little consequence at this point. What's ultimately going to happen to him…will be because of you."
"No. I'm not going to let that happen…not ever."
Shaw's smile never faltered. "It's already begun. Pele, it's time."
Seeming like the child she really was for the first time, Pele peeked up from where she hid in Erik's arms. "Are…are you sure?"
"Yes. Exactly what we discussed."
Turning back to Erik, Pele looked into his eyes with real confusion this time.
"I…I think I'm sorry," she said before whispering, "burn."
The whispered command seemed to carry even greater weight than any of them had witnessed heretofore. Erik quickly dropped to the cell floor, his body contorting as he shrieked in agony. He was on fire…and the flesh was being slowly ripped from his body as boiling liquid filled his lungs.
"ERIK!" Charles cried out, trying to crawl to him, but unable to move. He tried to break into Pele's mind, but he couldn't manage it.
"Don't stop," Shaw urged her. "Keep going."
"NO! Pele, please!" Charles begged as Erik's screams grew worse. "Hurt me instead! Just leave him alone!"
"NO!" Erik screamed right back, somehow hearing him through everything else.
"Pele, you'll kill him!" Charles cried. "Please don't kill him!"
You can't leave me now! I need you. I need you in order to live.
Briefly, Erik smiled, even through all the pain. He met Charles' terrified gaze one last time before his body went limp and his eyes closed.
For a moment, Charles stared at him in shock, but then his mind began to go blank with fear when he reached out to try and touch his mind…and felt nothing.
I…I can't…feel him…can't sense his mind…nothing. No! He…he can't be gone.
Release me. Set me free and I will save his life for you.
Yes.
Give yourself over to me…and become the onslaught.
Yes! Whatever it takes!
At that moment, something inside of Charles snapped. He threw his head back and gave a cry of such utter anguish it raised the hairs on even the back of Shaw's neck. Instantly, the fire of power flared back to life in the telepath's eyes. This time, that fire spread, seeming to engulf him in a corona of energy as his power grew. Slowly, Charles' maimed body rose from the floor, supported by telekinetic energy, despite his injuries.
"What have you done? You dare touch Erik? You dare harm what's mine?"
XxX
"Banshee, stop! You'll scramble our brains before you get through that door!" Raven shouted at the younger mutant, who was trying to break through the metal door. Alistair had tried his gun, but the bullet had only ricocheted. The Scotsman had already dropped to his knees, coughing heavily. Banshee now fell, as well, having wasted good air trying to use his power. Moira was barely conscious and Raven was holding her in her arms as her own world started to darken around the edges. Beast was the only one left to try…and while he did seem to be managing to make some dents in the door, it still wouldn't open. Raven was starting to think they'd really bit the big one this time…when she heard a voice somewhere off to her left.
"Hey…Bozo…get back!"
Raven looked toward the source of the voice. Somehow, Havok had managed to come around and he was struggling to his knees. Once Beast was clear, Havok took aim and fired several blasts at the door, blowing it free. Getting the first few breaths of clean air, Beast quickly rushed back in to help Havok up. Alistair moved in to help Banshee out, and Raven actually lifted Moira in her arms and carried her out. The group ran through the rest of the facility, desperate to get out into the clean night air. When they found their way out locked, Havok made short work of the door and they all spilled out into the night.
Moira, are you okay? Raven asked, directing her thoughts to her friend, as she didn't want the others to know how worried she'd been. She had to keep it together.
Still breathing. It's…hard, though…she reported, her hand weakly gripping Raven's arm.
"Beast, Moira's in pretty bad shape. What can we do?"
"It's cyanide poisoning," Alistair explained, quickly coming over to check Moira's pulse. "That's what they used. I've got antidote kits back in the plane, though."
"Good. Beast can help you with that. You two can get Moira and Banshee back to the plane. They need it the most. What about you?" she asked Havok.
"My head's killin' me, but I can stand a little more."
"Good. You're with me, then."
"But…Raven…the cyanide's still in your system. If you and Havok don't get the antidote soon, you'll-"
"Then we'll just have to work fast," Raven said, not allowing Beast to finish before handing Moira over to him.
"Wait," Moira tried to protest, her voice barely a whisper. "You might need me…"
"Don't worry," Raven reassured her, tapping her fingers against her temple, as Charles was prone to doing. "You're still in here."
"You still…need to get to Block 10."
"I remember," she said before turning her gaze up to Beast. "Take care of her."
"I will."
With that, the two groups parted ways: Beast, Moira, Banshee, and Alistair heading back to the plane…and Raven and Havok heading toward the infamous medical experimentation block.
XxX
Pele never really had a chance to behold what she'd helped to create. The moment Onslaught was in control, he was in her head.
Try keeping me out now, girl! He snarled, forcing his way inside and raking telepathic talons through already painful memories. Again and again, he tore into her. I will teach you to go where you're not wanted!
As he slowly burned through her mind, he lifted her body into the air; then, when he'd finally finished with her, he flung her across the room. Her head cracked audibly as it connected with the wall. Then her body tumbled to the floor like a rag doll and she lay completely still.
Once again, Emma tried to step in, but the maddened telepath turned on her next, slamming her diamond body hard against the floor. It wasn't at all difficult for him to break through her diamond shield in his heightened state.
Do you care about the girl, Emma Frost? He asked, taunting her. Somewhat at odds with what you've been trying to teach her, isn't it?
"Charles?" Shaw's voice suddenly broke in. "I believe I'm the one you want."
Shaw…
"Do you think I won't hurt you?" he hissed, slowly turning to face the older mutant. "Do you think because you brought this about I'll see you as some kind of ally?"
"No…in fact, I'd be most pleased if you'd kill me. It would mean you'd evolved past your bleeding heart. I'd welcome it. So kill me…and we'll see who you really are."
A smirk of anticipation lit the telepath's face as he began to move toward Shaw.
"As you wish."
Then, relishing every move, he used his telekinesis to lift the helmet from Shaw's head. Instantly, Shaw froze in place, standing in a relaxed position…the same smile fixed on his face.
What none of the others seemed to have noticed was that the moment Pele had lost consciousness, Erik had woken up. In the instant Charles had lost contact with his mind, Pele had shielded it with her own, keeping him prisoner in a cocoon of psychic energy…and rendering him unable to prevent Onslaught's awakening. As such, when he was suddenly set free, and he saw what Charles had become…all he could manage for several minutes was to stare at him in shock.
"Mein Gott," he whispered in horror. Charles was beautiful in this moment, resplendent with power…but it was also in this moment that Erik was faced with the understanding that an angel is both beautiful and terrible to behold…perfection and terror together as one.
Erik knew he was looking at the power to defeat the humans. They could do it…all of them, together…but Charles' precious life would be the cost, and Erik was no longer willing to pay such a price. Not for anything would he pay that price…not even to see Shaw dead…his only drive for so many long years. Charles would never forgive himself if he killed anyone while he was like this…even Shaw…so Erik couldn't let that happen.
This…transformation…had occurred because Charles had thought him dead, or at least mortally wounded. Therefore, he could think of only one way to reverse it.
As Charles faced down Shaw, salivating to make him pay for his crimes, Erik flung himself at him, wrapping his arms securely around his torso as he tackled him to the floor.
"Come back, Charles! I'm all right! I'm all right!"
Expecting a struggle, Erik hugged Charles to him as tightly as he was able.
"No!" Onslaught growled, briefly attempting to flay Erik's mind, as he'd done with Pele's. "You won't send me back!"
Erik ignored the voice in his head…reaching out to Charles. He knew he was still in there somewhere. He had to be!
Please…come back to me. Don't let him win. Don't go to that place. Come back…before it's too late.
For a moment, Erik caught a glimpse of the real Charles amidst Onslaught's blazing blue eyes.
"Erik…"
Then he received a very clear mental image of the telepath, his eyes sick with fear.
I'm scared.
"I'm here," Erik whispered to him, kissing him gently on the lips.
In the moment their mouths met, Erik felt his embrace returned…not the struggling, but an honest-to-God embrace. Charles was clinging to him like he was the last solid thing in the world. When he finally pulled back, he could see that Charles was crying.
"What…what did I-" he struggled to get out.
"Later," Erik said tensely, scooping Charles up yet again. He could deal with Shaw later. Right now, he had to get Charles out of here.
"No," he heard Shaw saying to Emma. "Let them run. It makes the game more interesting. How's little Pele?" Erik didn't hear her response.
"Dead," Emma reported, her face unreadable as she checked the girl's vitals over and over again, finally seeming to admit defeat.
"Oh, poor child," Shaw said, shaking his head. The seeming display of sorrow was, however, completely counteracted by what he said next. "This is almost better than we could have hoped for, though. Charles will have no choice but to submit to me now. He's killed a child. You'll take care of the disposal, won't you?"
"Of course," Emma said, gently lifting Pele's small body into her arms. "Would you like me to do that now, or do you want to show him the body?"
"Ooh, wonderful idea, my dear."
"I suppose that means you'll want that back," she said, nodding toward his fallen helmet.
"I don't think so. Charles is in no condition to resist me."
XxX
When Erik burst out of the cell and started to run back the way he'd come, he soon found his way blocked by an all-out war between Raven, Havok, Azazel, and Angel. While he was slightly irked to see the younger mutants, he was most dismayed to learn that the escape shoot had been accidentally demolished by a stray blast from Havok.
"Dummkopf!" he shouted at the boy, who was still fighting a furious battle with Azazel. "We need to get out of here now! Charles needs a doctor!"
"There's got to be more than one way out of here," Raven insisted, having no time for worry over her brother for her battle with Angel. "You'll have to find it!"
"Verdammt," the metal-kine growled, turning and heading off into what he was certain must be a veritable maze of underground passageways. Charles was weeping silently in pain all the way and Erik desperately wished there was something he could do to ease his suffering, but he knew the best thing for him would be to get him out of this place. He might have asked Charles to access someone's mind…except he didn't believe he was in any condition to right now. The transformation had weakened him significantly…much more so than he already had been by his ordeal, which was already considerable.
Charles was hanging on to life and sanity by a thread.
"Erik…Erik…?" Charles had to whisper several times before he heard him
"Hmm?"
"You should…leave me here. I'm not going to last…"
"Leave you here? Like Hell I'm leaving you here," he snarled quietly. "May as well just lay down and die."
"Erik…please…please listen to me," he begged, the weak grip of his hand on his arm stopping Erik in his tracks. "There's something I didn't get to tell you…and it might be my only chance to say it…"
"Why are you saying this?" Erik asked, not meeting the telepath's eyes.
"If he finds us…I won't be able to resist him. So I wanted you to know…incase I never get to say the words again…I love you…Erik Lehnsherr. Promise me you'll remember that…no matter what happens."
"Charles…" Erik tried to speak, but found he couldn't through the lump in his throat. In response, he simply leaned down and kissed the crippled telepath.
"Well, if you've got time for that, you've certainly got time to hear what I have to say," Shaw's voice suddenly interrupted. Glancing back down the corridor they'd just come, Erik saw him and Emma heading toward them. The other telepath, not diamond at the moment, was carrying a small white bundle.
Briefly, Erik glanced around, finding only two other options: a corridor to his left and to his right.
"Don't bother," Shaw said, seeing what he was plotting. "They're both dead ends…only storage."
Growling low in his throat, Erik's only response was to hold Charles a little tighter against his chest.
"Can I ask you something, Charles? Even if our Erik does take you out of here tonight…where will you go? You're a danger to yourself and everyone around you. Look," he said, gesturing harshly toward Emma, who laid out her bundle, unwrapping her fine white cloak to reveal Pele…broken.
"Pele…?" Charles whispered, knowing what he was looking at, but unwilling to accept it
"She's dead. You killed her. You killed a little girl, Charles Xavier."
Charles' cry of anguish had no sound or words. It simply filled their heads…a psychic scream of such despair and self-loathing, it brought Erik and Emma to their knees. Only Shaw remained upright.
Murderer! Erik heard Charles scream over and over again. Murderer! You're a murderer!
"Who else might you kill if you're allowed to leave here? What other lives will you destroy? Where does it end? What about Erik? Will you kill him, too…someday?"
Horror-stricken, Charles turned his gaze up to Erik.
"Erik…my Erik…?" he whispered, his blue eyes consumed by terror.
"Stop playing with his heart!" Erik shouted.
"Playing with his heart? Nothing of the sort. I'm only…telling it like it is. You see, Charles, a wildfire destroys everything in its path. It will be the same for your powers unless you learn to control them. I can help you do that…unless you…don't want this power, of course. In which case, I can just help you…end it here," Shaw said, extending an inviting hand out to the two of them.
It was no use, Erik realized as he looked down at the torn expression on Charles' haggard face. Shaw was relentless, and it seemed he wanted the young telepath's life…
…or worse, his fragile soul.
XxX
The battle with Azazel and Angel was not going well, to say the least. Raven and Havok were both getting dizzy, starting to choke on their own breaths. Azazel was only toying with Havok now, dancing about him with his powers while the boy struggled to use his properly.
Raven was fairing only slightly better, barely a step above being toyed with as Angel flitted around her, burning her. As she watched Angel teasingly flutter about with a smirk on her face, a great rage rose up inside the shape shifter. Darwin had died trying to save this girl…and she didn't even care! She was nothing but a vile traitor and she deserved every inch of what was coming.
"Maybe you should have learned to fly a little better, Raven," Angel taunted her, slowly coming in for the kill.
At the last possible moment, Raven shifted into Azazel. She couldn't teleport, of course, but she still had the tail. Whipping it forward, she wrapped the versatile appendage tightly around the former dancer's throat. As Angel clawed desperately at her tail, struggling to get free, Raven pulled her in close. Then she easily shifted back into her own naked, natural form, keeping only the tail.
"Hey, Angel? The name's Mystique."
Then, with a quick flex of muscle, Mystique tightened her tail and Angel's neck snapped.
As she allowed the dead girl to collapse on top of her, the tail slowly melted away and Mystique fell back, breathing heavily.
XxX
Before Charles really had a chance to react to Shaw's offer, Azazel appeared beside his associates, flinging Havok and Mystique onto the floor between them and Charles and Erik.
"Angel is dead," he reported. "The girl killed her."
"Raven?" Charles whispered, staring at his little sister in shock.
Briefly, Mystique looked guilty, but then she closed her eyes and shook her head, looking back at him with eyes as hard as flint.
"I'm not sorry, Charles."
"You see? This is what your training does. You teach them to kill each other. If you can't do it yourself, you'll just have them do it for you. Is that it?"
"No," Charles whispered, still staring at Mystique.
"It doesn't have to be like this, Charles. I can help you," Shaw reminded him, extending his hand yet again.
Erik knew Charles had been right before. He wouldn't be able to resist this. The two deaths had sealed his fate. Even now, he was looking up at Erik, his expression pleading.
"Erik…Erik, I have to."
"I won't let you," Erik ground out, still glaring down Shaw. "He'll destroy you. You won't be the same anymore."
"But I…don't want to hurt you…or the children," he said, smiling, though his eyes were red from crying.
"Mystique, is it?" Shaw asked, suddenly turning his attention to her. "Where's your precog friend?"
Mystique's first thought was to ask how he knew, but of course he knew, because Emma was right there. She'd brought the whole thing about.
"She's safe," she said, getting slowly to her feet, swaying on them for several minutes.
"Really? That's too bad. I could find all manner of uses for a precog."
"Don't touch her!" Mystique warned, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"Ooh…I like this one, Charles. She really is vicious."
"ENOUGH!" Erik roared. "I won't let you have him…not this time."
With that, Erik focused his powers on the walls around them, tearing through the structure and drawing it inward, creating a solid metal barrier between the two groups.
You really make me laugh, little Erik, Shaw's voice sounded in their heads, projected by Emma. Just because you escape doesn't mean you ever really leave here. You should know that better than anyone.
We can damn well try, Erik shot back through the connection as he gently laid Charles on the floor, apologizing as he went. I'm sorry, but I'm going to need all my focus for this.
What if…I can't control it?
Even if Erik had had an answer for Charles, it would have been drowned out by Shaw's parting words.
You cannot escape it, Charles. Pele and Angel are dead because of you.
Oh, God…
"What are you doing?" Havok coughed, not standing in order to avoid the dizzy episode Mystique was having.
"Getting us out of here," Erik explained, using his power to do what he'd just done to the other two corridors, creating a small capsule for them. "What happened to you?"
"Cyanide," Mystique explained, stumbling over to her brother. "Azazel trapped us in the gas chamber. Beast is working on an antidote, but we need to get it soon."
Not yet sure how he felt about that, Erik just nodded, methodically blocking out the world around him and taking in only what his mutant sense could perceive. In order to get out of here, he was going to have to fight against the weight of the Earth pressing down on them. Smiling tearfully as he did so, he summoned up his image of Charles.
I love you…and now I know you love me, too…but you're going to die if I don't get you out of here.
As he held the ultimate pain and the ultimate joy balanced in his mind, the metal vessel slowly began to push up through the Earth.
Erik had no idea how long he worked at it, forcing his way up through the barely yielding layers, but when he finally felt the makeshift craft break the surface, he tore the hull open, letting in fresh air as he collapsed to his knees.
Are you all right? Charles asked him, worry in his eyes. Erik nodded.
Just tired.
As Erik worked to pick Charles up as gently as he could, Mystique and Havok also had to work to regain their footing and climb out of the small vessel. Even though Charles managed to keep quiet this time, Erik could still see the tears squeezing from his eyes as his knees bent.
"It'll be okay," he soothed. "I'm going to get you some help."
Charles didn't respond. All he did was cling to Erik a little tighter.
"Erik!" Mystique shouted. "You might want to get out here!"
Hearing the worry in her voice, Erik quickly followed the younger mutants outside…only to find them face to face with Emma Frost, holding Pele's shrouded body.
"You're a little late."
"You try pushing straight through twenty-five feet of dirt sometime and see how much you like it. Why are you here?"
Her face as unreadable as ever, Emma held the little girl's body out to Mystique. "Take her with you."
"What? Do you want us to bury her for you?" Erik asked, his voice low with rage. He couldn't deny he was angry that they'd just written the girl off as they had…but neither could he say he was surprised.
"She isn't dead. Take her with you," the telepath repeated.
"Not…dead…?" Charles whispered, his eyes slowly opening.
"Why did you tell Shaw she was?" Erik asked suspiciously.
"Her injuries are severe. If she stays here, she will die. Because of what she is for Xavier, Sebastian would have let her die anyway."
"Why?" Mystique asked, finally taking Pele from Emma. "Won't you get in trouble for this?"
"Only if he finds out," she replied, wasting no more words before turning and disappearing into the darkness.
"Where are we?" Havok asked.
"Outside the camp. This complex is large," Erik explained.
"Do you think you could find your way back to the plane from here?" Mystique asked.
"Yes," he said, setting off immediately, confident the others would follow. He nearly shuddered to think of just how well he knew this area.
There were things the other two wanted to ask him; he could tell, but he didn't really know how he'd answer them, so he was grateful they remained silent. All he could seem to concern himself with as they moved through the darkness was how disturbingly light Charles felt in his arms…the hopeless way his head rested against his chest. He wanted to talk to him…to hear his voice again after what felt like months…to be reassured that he was okay…except there was no such reassurance. He was not okay. Erik couldn't be certain if he would ever be okay again. Pele's survival would protect a part of his sanity, but he couldn't be sure how much…if it would even be enough. He couldn't really think about anything that had happened tonight. If he did, he would surely go mad himself. All he could do was focus on Charles…on getting him to safety…getting him stabilized.
Hold on, he urged in his mind. Just hold on a little longer.
He never got the words directly from Charles' mind. What he got instead were images…impressions…feelings…the two of them together…smiling…happy…the night before Cuba…
I love you.
Please…please don't give up!
He was so wrapped up in anchoring Charles to him with the strength of the mental connection, he very nearly walked past the plane. Only the sound of the others rushing toward them made him realize they'd arrived. Alistair came to take Pele from Mystique and she collapsed gratefully into Moira's waiting arms. Blind as she was, she managed to lead her friend into the aircraft. Banshee came to help the staggering Havok aboard, and Beast tried to take Charles from him, but he wasn't having any of that.
"I've got him," he insisted, carrying his telepath onto the plane.
"Erik, I need to examine him. He looks like he's in pretty bad shape," Beast tried to argue.
"Not until we're in the air," Alistair said firmly. "We're taking off the moment that antidote is administered."
"What's wrong with the kid?" Banshee asked, looking at the little girl in Moira's lap.
"Head injury," Erik answered tersely. "Keep her stable if you can."
As Alistair had promised, the plane was ready for takeoff the moment Beast had given Mystique and Havok shots of the antidote. Erik was the only one who didn't bother with any sort of restraints, as he knew he would have had to let go of Charles in order to do that. He simply magnetized himself to the seat, holding Charles securely in his arms. The telepath hadn't acknowledged anyone else. He simply let Erik hold him, clinging to him with his face buried in his chest. He made no sound as he cried, but Erik could feel the salt water soaking through his shirt.
The takeoff was much bumpier than any of them were used to, but there wasn't a whole lot to be done when the only strip they had was a section of bare field. Erik held Charles stable all the while, stroking his hair and rubbing his back, whispering soothingly to him. He really didn't care if anyone else saw at this point.
"It's okay. It's all right. It's over now."
It was a blatant lie, of course. It could never be over…not really. They would both carry it with them for the rest of their lives…but if Erik knew how to do one thing, it was survive. Now he had to teach Charles to do the same…to survive…no matter how much you might wish you were dead.
I should be dead, Charles' despairing voice was suddenly in his head. Erik…I love you…but I should be dead.
"Nein," he whispered fiercely, burying his face in Charles' dark hair. "Nein! Ich liebe dich! Ich liebe dich! Bitte stirb nicht! Bitte!"
XxX
(A/N) Yeah, this chapter's a bit longer than the others, but I'd been thinking of cutting off before Mystique killed Angel…and ultimately decided that would be cruel.
(looking guilty) So…did I go too far with the gas chamber? I guess I just figured…battle in Auschwitz…what else are you gonna do?
Translations: Liebkind = loving child (essentially the equivalent of calling someone 'little one', as I understand it), Mein Gott = My God, Dummkopf = idiot, fool, stupid-head (you get the idea). Ich liebe dich! Ich liebe dich! Bitte stirb nicht! = I love you! I love you! Please don't die!
So…after being thoroughly broken, what's next for our heroes?