Last chapter guys - thanks to everyone who has reviewed and followed...I'm not quite sure when this turned from a one shot into a bit of a book...
Disclaimer - again these guys belong only to Marvel and Associates...I am just borrowing them for a while...
Chapter 10 - Family
Erik is the first to waken, and is aware only of the needed reassurance of Charles by his side, their fingers entwined, and binding their arms is a rope like coil of metal - tying them together. Had he done that? Confused he looks up at the delicate cough. Raven. She cautiously embraces him. Tears in her eyes. "You make quite a pair you know." She murmurs softly, her gaze shifting to her brother tenderly. "He took the Wolf's claws for you…" Then quite fiercely she punches him, "See to it he gets better." Erik blinks, still feeling slightly scrambled, "You'll remember." She notes sweetly, "You left with Logan to call the shots, like a lone ranger and ended up getting caught. We all had to come and rescue you. Charles got stabbed, then poisoned which sent him crazy, he sent Stryker insane and knocked out Emma who had been torturing you."
Seeing his concerned look Raven nodded, "He must be totally in love with you, I've never seen him do that for anyone before…" Before he can answer any of her questions or statements she inclines her head towards a metal tray of food nearby. "For you guys - and I also have to tell you to take it easy." She shifts into Beast's form, followed by an unknown image of a doctor, re-enacting the missing scenes of the past 2 days…how Charles had lost so much blood they had not thought he was going to make it - until Logan generously agreed a blood transfer…and it had miraculously worked, conveying his healing properties to the telepath - and Erik. Erik's eyes widen at this, and Raven smirks. "You weren't the only one poisoned." She puts a thoughtful hand to her face. "Hank did mention there may be a few side effects - as with anything...but he doesn't think they will last..." She laughs at his horror stricken face blowing him a teasing kiss.
Raven is that you? Charles's voice echoing in both their minds. "Yes." She answers aloud. He murmurs something not quite intelligible, but Raven leans forwards brushing the hair off his face. "Charles, your instructions today are to rest. Nothing else. No coaxing Erik into any strenuous lovemaking…I had enough of a nightmare when I had to cut you free from those metal ropes - " She began before breaking off with a grin at Erik's suddenly red face. "Ah, ha…yes…I think you were in the midst of something, before you ran off with Logan." She grins. Erik breathes deeply. "Who is in charge?" Raven considers a long moment, "I am of course." Erik sighs, attempting to get up when another voice pipes up, "I am." Low gruff, feral almost. "Logan?" He observes the man, standing in the open doorway.
"I decided to stick around a bit - besides someone needs to control these kids - they are the most dangerous people I know." A snort of humour rises from the pillow beside him, and Erik stifles a grin. You're very welcome to stay Logan. Charles murmurs sleepily, Though please don't encourage Erik's sadistic ways any further, he doesn't need any encouragement. "Charles, go to sleep." Erik instructs softly, brushing his fingers through the long hair. "Perhaps I will for a while." Logan agress easily ignoring the by-play. "Besides I need to find my errant brother, who was mixed up in the whole scheme, and came to pay me a little visit whilst I was in Stryker's care."
"You have a brother?" Erik asked in surprise. To which Charles supplied him with the image of Victor, and an over exaggerated swagger and beastly scowl. He found himself laughing, and also Logan who had picked up on the projection.
Are you any good at teaching? Logan scowls at the question asked, As the answer to my first meeting - go fuck yourselves! Erik grinned, whilst Logan realised abruptly the truth of that. Are you also psychic - maybe a bit of a fortune teller? Logan grinned, You're lucky I have my claws retracted at the moment…Before heading out the door, he pauses..."Oh by the way, you have a few new faces to meet - when you feel up to it...Stryker had a few captives we managed to rescue."
Charles jerks upright at this, staring at his retreating back, "Wait - Logan - what - " He begins in panic, mind racing at the thought of the newcomers - the shock they will be in - what they will need - oh they'll need some more supplies. "I'm sure they'll manage for the time being..." Erik murmurs softly, a firm hand pressing against his chest and pushing him back down against the bed. "But they'll need -" He breaks off as Erik's lips press against his own... I seem to recall I left you a little tied up...
He smirks as Charles shoves him back, embarrassment flushing in the telepath's features. "Yes- and poor Raven - " He swallows indignantly. Its nothing to laugh about - and we had to - " Erik tears the covers back, "I know - you did rather well - other than attempting to kill yourself."
"I did no such thing - you were the one who was mentally retarded - and had to go and fall into Stryker's trap - Azazel was almost killed - you were going insane - and Moira..."
Charles swallows, leaning back against the head board as he recalled her actions. "She saved Raven...saved us..." Guilt stricken he meets the metal manipulators unrelenting gaze. "She was an idiot. If she had not released Logan - I wouldn't have been able to control him against any of you."
You - you're insufferable! Charles yells into his mind. "I'm not saying she wasn't noble - in fact I am rapidly revising my opinion of her. But she was stupid. Who else would release a mutant filled with metal when you have a metal controlling mutant on the other side? Its like handing a puppet to a puppet master..." Charles swallowed, "Yes well - she was only trying to help - and its not half as stupid as someone else attempting to take on Stryker alone. A man I might add who has known about mutants for years and has had ample time to build defenses against our abilities."
Erik flicks his fingers, a scowl on his lips. "He had her on his side." Charles sighs closing his eyes. "Erik - he was controlling Emma." For a long moment the metal manipulator does not move, stunned into silence. "He was?" Charles sighs, "He was controlling her, before Shaw, and had been using her as a test subject - as a way to find a control for telepaths." Erik's fingers grip his chin, "A way to control you...?" The telepath nods at this. "Yes..."
Erik is silent for a long time, and Charles can't bear the recrimination he is sure to see in the other's eyes. Startled when he looks up to find Erik working at something with his hands. "I asked Logan - and he let me take a small bit of the refined metal..." Charles peered closer, "That's adamantium?" He asked curiously. Erik nods, "You know it has quite a unique signature - I could probably detect Logan a few miles away its that different - and so strong within him."
Erik extends his hand, and Charles feels his wrist jerk forwards of its own violition. The golden bracelet on his wrist shimmers, he can feel the heat of the metal against his skin - not burning - simply - moulding - as Erik's fingers close around it. "What are you-" Charles gasps as Erik's lips brush against his own, and the metal manipulator straddles him suddenly, capturing his free wrist pulling the telepath forwards into his lap. Feeling the warmth - Charles attempts to move, but Erik's lips are against his own, and his weight is holding him down. I will always know where you are now...He notes in victorious triumph.
Charles sits up, regarding the bracelet - bracelets on both his wrists. They are a matching pair, the golden one has been modified with shimmering streaks of silver in a beautiful coiling pattern, much like celtic knotwork, only much more refined...like a DNA helix... "They're...beautiful..." Charles murmurs in quiet surprise, and Erik's arms coil around him. "Like their owner..." He breathes against his ear... "I will say this only once more Charles..." His voice becomes deeper, "You are not responsible for Stryker's actions - anymore than I am for Shaw's. If anybody is at fault it is his father."
He senses the guilt still within the telepath - his strong denial of this. And pushes him back against the headboard. "I suppose Shaw had some method in his madness." He notes darkly. The telepath's eyes widen as he feels the metal coil around him - as his wrists are drawn up above his shoulders, beyond his control.
Erik leans over him, examining his work and ignoring the furious voice in his mind - as he draws the metal bands tighter. Charles's scowls. "Erik - stop what are you-" Listen to me very carefully Charles - you are not at fault. The telepath gasps - "Erik - stop - I - " Lips descend against his neck, biting down agressively, silencing his protests. So do you agree? Mute silence meets him, and Charles observes in silent surprise as Erik's eyes shift colour to a golden green. Still resistant hmm..."Erik I killed a man - I shouldn't feel no consequence for that - I can't."
You heard Logan. If Stryker's father had lived - what would have become of us all now? Likely a worst culling than what happened in the war in the camps...and you would be at the heart of it. Can you feel guilt over taking the lesser evil of two paths - of stopping yourself becoming that? Of stopping such events happening? Charles stills, "I-" Stryker did all that work on his own - what would he have done with the full resources - encouragment and backing of his father behind him?
The telepath is silent, thoughts swirling, and Erik presses his advantage, biting down on his lips. The only one you should ever feel guilt over is me. He pronounces smugly. You? "You?" Charles demands - Yes - me. Erik afirms teeth sinking once more into his neck, his tongue sucking enough to leave a mark. So they know you are mine. Charles flushes...I think they already know Erik.
The metal manipulator leans back examining his work, I wouldn't want them to forget it. He sends a spike of light energy coiling through the metal binding the telepath, and watches the sharp catch in his breath. What are you - oh - Careful, ever so careful of his torn chest he works his lips lower, breathing in every jolt, and jerk of the body the metal kinetic teases beneath him. Erik-
Afterwards both gasp, drawing in deep ragged breaths. Erik tugs Charles down into his arms, massaging his stiff shoulders drawing circulation back into his arms. "Raven said there may be side effects - that was definately wolfish behaviour..." Erik smirks, "I'll ask Logan for some comparisons in the morning.
Logan observed the kids as he was drawn into their midst. "Hey I picked Logan!" Alex yells at Beast, arguing over the team members for the game. Beast growls softly, as Angel, Sean, and Raven look on at the pair. "Hey Logan." Raven smiles sweetly grabbing his arm. "You can join our team..."
What surprised him most of all was the fact that they were not wary of him. Not even after everything he had done - they had seen him stab Charles - and Moira...he blinks moved beyond words he can voice. Raven drawing him forwards. These kids - these people were something else. A guy could get used to living here...
Hank read the readouts from his tests in some surprise...certainly the wolfish aspects would fade as to be expected...but the others - it was simply incredible...if it worked as Raven's DNA...The advantageous effects of Logan's blood donation had settled permanently into Charles and Erik's DNA coding...Perhaps the professor would understand it more...It was as though the mutants DNA had recognised the more advanced adaption - and then adopted it.
He drops the plate he is holding when he feels the startled brush of a familiar mind against his own. Had he been projecting that loudly? He is jolted out of his query when Raven's arm grips his own. "Come on - breakfast time!" And he allows her to pull him along. His discovery could wait - it wasn't like it was going anywhere...
Charles jerks upright - "Oh." Erik eating the remainder of the cool toast stills in his motion. "What is it?" He asks softly. Watching the red flush sweep through the telepath's face. "I just - I picked up on Hank's - I shouldn't have -" He swallowed as Erik's hands encircled his wrist. Yes...? "He's finished the tests on Logan's blood - on the potential side effects..."
With a wave of Erik's hand the metal tray landed lightly on the floor, and he pulled the telepath closer to him. "Charles what is it?" The telepath swallows, "He - the 'wolfish' elements will likely fade in a few days...but the - the other aspects - have been adapted into our DNA..." His voice trails off, his mind whirling with the genetic implications this could have. "Other aspects being?" Erik queried in quiet worry. "Oh - um...advanced healing, sharper reflexes...reduced aging..." He swallows, as Erik's eyes flare..."Reduced aging...just what does that mean?" The telepath's eyes light up in suspicious laughter, "Well going off Raven's - about half the rate of normal...but then Logan has lived over 200 years...and he barely looks in his 40's...so I don't know..." Erik smiles, a gentle reassuring smile. "I think I can live with that - with anything that gives me more time with you..."
AN: So here is the last chapter...still a few loose ends to tie up - such as Victor, but these may just be one shots...
Please let me know what you think...