AN: Sorry again for the long delay. For those of you still persevering here is the next part.
Few changes due to review by my wonderful beta. :)
Chapter 11 – Battlefields
Erik is speaking softly with a professional if somewhat subdued Moira when he picks up on a very familiar presence.
No.
He purposely ensured that Charles would not get himself free in time.
Moira stills and her face pales as though she has seen a ghost, and for herself she has. For a moment Erik is concerned that she may faint, but instead she turns to him and for the third time in as many days he is slapped across the face.
"Oh he deserves much more than that," Charles smiles as he saunters forwards looking non the worse for wear, nor even slightly out of breath. Erik frowns in displeasure, which deepens as the agent dares to enfold the smaller man in a hug. "Charles...I thought you were dead!" She steps back her gaze raking over the telepath in disbelief, "I saw you bleeding out..." she trails off her voice breaking in remembrance. "I'm sorry for putting you through that, trust me it was necessary," he explains quietly. "I don't appreciate being used like that," Moira responds after a moment, "but I can't say it's not a relief you're here now."
Erik cuts off the heartfelt greetings by grabbing the smaller man's arm, and stalks back towards the hanger building. "I thought I left you a little tied up," he growls fiercely, "surely that gives you some indication that I don't want you on this mission." Charles stops, and pulls Erik to a halt with him, "Yes, thank you so much for that. Though I should say it gave me ample opportunity to practice my metal bending skills. Have you no sense? What if she is there? What if she did manage to get into your mind? You were lucky enough the first time. She will be expecting you now and I won't let you near her alone."
Green eyes meet unrelenting blue.
On the runway Moira is privy to the silent battle of wills, watching with growing trepidation. The tension in the air is taut enough to incite electricity, and one of them is certainly more than capable of it. "Guys we need to work together here," she announces sharply. Erik snaps round a murderous glare in his eyes and Moira fights the reflexive ache to curl her fingers round the gun slung at her hip - stupid for all the good it would do her in a direct confrontation with the very man who can wield metal.
Then he casts an annoyed glance over his shoulder, and throws up his hands in seeming defeat, stalking back towards the waiting jet.
"Don't mind him," Charles announces softly, "he is so used to relying only on himself he forgets there are others watching his back now." She frowns, "Lehnsherr seems like a loose cannon to me." The telepath looks at her with genuine surprise in his eyes. She leans closer, "Charles can you trust that he will make the right choice when it comes to it?" The younger man frowns closing off so abruptly that she feels a chill down her spine. "You have it backward Moira," he responds softly, it is your agency that has proven they cannot be trusted. Do you really think that Stryker's actions have not been planned for some time? Just how long has his division known about mutants?
"Charles..." she falters, "believe me I did not know."
"I know but now you do," Charles responds softly, and the question is what choice will you make? She is unable to look away from those blue eyes until he turns and walks in the metal manipulator's footsteps. She takes a shaky breath unable to deny Charles's truth. The agency was corrupt, plans within plans, secrets within secrets. Stryker's actions hinted at something she could only guess at. The Director's work and theories had been ridiculed for years...and all along Stryker's division had known he was right about mutants.
You have it backward Moira. Yes, not just in her faith in her employers but also perhaps in her assessment of the two mutants before her. She watches the embarking soldiers give respectful nods to the metal manipulator as he waits for the smaller man to catch up. Charles however is ignored.
The others did not see him.
Charles was clearly much more powerful than he initially revealed. How could telepathic parlour tricks compare visually to Raven's shocking blue form? It was so easy to believe Charles was just a harmless bumbling well meaning professor, yet he had the ability to freeze people, and now he passed by unseen. Even now it was Erik who stood out in the pair, the one who physically appeared like the greatest threat...but what if that was just another illusion?
The plane journey is interesting enough in its own right. A perilous journey into the heart of enemy territory under the cover of night. A journey of stealth, and secrets, and survival. When she gets up to stretch her legs she realises two of the group are missing. Quietly she heads towards the rear of the craft, and slips into the cargo hold. What she sees there both ignites and breaks her heart stealing the breath from her lungs.
Her missing mutants are entwined together upon the floor.
On take off the metal manipulator had prowled the length of the craft agitation visible in every rigid line of his being, possibly due to the mission, being so close to his nemesis at last, or something to do with the dynamic of the jet and its metal. Now however Erik is relaxed to the point of being comatose - dosed no doubt with a particular telepathic brand of sedative. His head is resting in the smaller man's lap, and his eyes are closed in tranquil repose adorned with an expression of peace that seems almost surreal on the metal manipulator's features. Charles's fingers are gently weaving through Erik's hair, and if the telepath were a cat she is most certain Charles would be purring.
She sighs softly, and Charles's eyes flicker up to meet her own. Of course he knew she was there - so he wanted her to see this. Well? She asks. He wears a weary smile on his lips, love cannot be boxed into its own categories. He is my heart, the anchor for my mind, and the other half of my soul. Never will I regret or feel shame for him.
Nor should you, she responds after a contemplative moment, but that does not mean you should flaunt the law so brazenly. Whether outdated or not. A frustrated almost desperate look lights his features, why should we wait until our own youth is wasted and but distant memory? She steps closer and grasps his hands, I do not make the laws Charles but they can be changed and it seems to me that you could be a force of much good in many arenas.
Erik fights to keep the edges of his mouth twitching up in amusement. God damn it - it was not funny. Not at the time and certainly not three Godforsaken pothole road ridden hours later.
Charles is humming softly to himself. The telepath's wicked delight is still curling at the edges of Erik's mind. This had been immediately preceded by Erik's harsh return to reality and the undeniable turbulance of the plane landing and the realisation that he was lain in Charles's lap. Over three hours ago!
Not all telepaths want to play nice Erik, Charles had pronounced smugly leaving him several gaping steps behind and scrambling to catch the telepath up.
It was still not funny but after several hours riding in the back of the godforsaken farmer's truck the metal manipulator was very tempted to ask Charles to knock him out again until they got to their destination. If they went over just one more pot hole.
The trickle of amusement on the fringe of Erik's mind falters. He looks down at Charles noting the sudden tension in the younger man's taut grip on the edge of the bench. The truck jerks to a sudden stop, and Moira peers urgently into the back. "I'm sorry this wasn't on the map," she murmurs anxiously. Charles peers up behind her making out the checkpoint, "don't worry act normal. I'll handle it."
The guard's mind is easy to convince - he doesn't even get out of his tower - simply lifting up the barrier and accepting the blank bit of paper which Moira waves in front of his eyes as a pass.
Erik feels a warm surge of pride and claps Charles lightly on the leg in support as he stumbles back down. "Well done," he praises and grins at the pleased flush that tints the telepath's cheeks. Could you prevent them seeing this? The metal manipulator teases softly, projecting his intent to press the smaller man back down against the bench in a steamy possessive kiss. All these men around you...I feel a sudden need to stake my claim. Charles exhales sharply, I always knew you were part cave man.
Then they are at the house, and suddenly stepping out of the helicopter is a lone woman - the diamond telepath, but unfortunately she seems to be alone, and Charles listening in from one of the guards realises that Schmidt is not coming. Hearing this Erik is up and running forwards ignoring Moira's shouts. Charles looks down at her stricken features, but pulls out of her grip, "I'm sorry but I can't let him go alone."
Then he is following in the metal manipulator's footsteps, slowed by his own compassion in putting to sleep the guards tangled up in wire. A deliberate move on Erik's part to slow him down, knowing Charles would follow. Granting enough time for the metal manipulator to clear the way of any immediate danger to the telepath.
Emma is sitting in a chair, filing her nails when Erik storms into the room. She grins, rising to her feet, "Hello again-"
A startled gasp announces Charles's arrival, and Erik follows the younger man's gaze to the bed, where the General appears to be fondling air. "Nice trick," Charles notes with a frown. Emma shrugs, her smile widening, "I thought so." As Charles sends the startled General to sleep Emma shifts into a familiar diamond form, and Charles gasps. Erik catches his arm, "What is it?"
Its like she isn't there... Charles responds faintly. "Don't bother - you won't be getting anything from me - not like this," Emma gloats clearly enjoying Charles's pain. Erik snarls, and lunges towards her as she tries to run. Charles moving in tandem, and together they tackle her to the ground and then Erik is binding her with the metal bed frame.
Emma gains some breath, "Schmidt was quite furious on learning of the telepath's death. He will be pleased to see you're still alive." A strangled sound escapes Charles's lips, and Emma grins. "Oh yes darling, my coming here was not an accident. Who do you think let the CIA know of Shaw's plans? So we are all here...and just who is at your little base?"
Erik laughs, "You think we didn't realise that?" Emma's expression falters for just a moment before her gaze hardens, "Schmidt was anticipating meeting you there but it won't take him long to realise you are here," she taunts. Erik stills from the dreadful realisation she was right. Internally his mind begins to race, analysing hastily made escape plans, for under no circumstances could Schmidt get his hands on Charles again.
Emma gasps suddenly back in her human form - and Charles's fingers rest upon his brow in grim determination. Erik is powerless to intervene in the telepathic battle going on, he can only watch, and hope that it finishes soon enough for him to drag Charles out. Then the younger man's blue eyes are tearing open - filled with utter despair. "It's worse than we ever imagined," Charles swallows as Erik drags him to his feet, and towards the door.
"My my...leaving so soon?" Emma chuckles, and Erik stills hearing a strange popping sound accompanied by a vile sulphuric smell.
A grey suited man, the red skinned teleporting mutant, and someone whose face is all too familiar.
Herr Doktor Schmidt.
"Ah…I thought perhaps your absence was a little conspicuous my dear Erik," Schmidt's voice drips with the same cool amusement as on the Caspartina, as though this were merely some game. The metal manipulator stills, feeling the undeniable surge of fierce anger begging to be unleashed like a tide. Schmidt. Herr Doktor, his mother's murderer stands before him. He needs to -
Erik you are not alone.
Charles. The younger man is standing right beside him. Yes, I am here you are not alone darling. Charles sends and Erik feels an abrupt calm settle through him. A deep peace within his soul like taking the very first breath after a storm as he meets sky blue eyes.
"You'll have to forgive me for being late," Schmidt continues softly, "I see you have already 'met' Emma again, allow me to introduce Azazel and Riptide," he announces casually. The teleporter lowers his blades tail twitching as he watches Schmidt's gaze fall upon the man standing beside the metal manipulator. A young man, human looking on the outset but for his eyes - a deep radiant sky blue.
Schmidt's smile sharpens into swift recognition, "Hello Charles Liebling."
The calm shatters.
Some Time Earlier
The men at Villa Gesel are too easy to kill, almost like pawns dangled before Erik's nose. It is as though Schmidt knows Erik is coming, and is deliberately leaving this trail to taunt him. Erik cannot shake his own paranoid suspicions - until he almost collides into a small boy in the midst of the milling station crowd. The metal manipulator is shocked out of his musings by the fierce bright blue of the child's eyes.
Charles's eyes.
Erik is on one knee, staring after the boy - until he realises just how unseemingly his postion is, and the boy's mother is staring at him.
No this is not Charles. Charles is if anything a young man by now preferably in college and far away from the world of intrigue and menace that Erik must navigate. Yes. That is what keeps Erik going, the thought that Charles, and Raven are safe and kept far away from Schmidt's reach.
Schmidt must never be allowed near Charles again. Erik will do anything to prevent it.
He cannot predict that barely two weeks later their worlds will collide again.
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