Chapter 24

They walked through the empty city, hand in hand, and for Erik it felt like they walked forever. He could not tell how long they actually walked, but then Charles stopped, and Erik stopped as well. "Do you have a plan?" the telepath asked , his voice curious and stern.

Erik licked his lips. He could taste the slightly bitter taste of the rain on them, I am going to get Shaw killed. That's my plan. Charles sighed, his brow furrowed and his eyes bright with concern "Erik, killing him will not end this. This is no solution. "

Erik snorted, drawing his head back to look somewhere else than at Charles ,And? What are you expecting me to do then? Ask him nicely if he let's you go? And after that, I just forgive him for killing my parents?

Charles sighed again, shaking his head "No,of course not. It's not that easy, I know. But, killing him will lead you on the wrong path, it will make him win. Then you are truly his creation. I..just think that there are other ways to get rid of him than killing him.."

Erik laughed his hollow laughter, not amused or satisfied at all, Of course. Like, getting him into the CIA-quarters? Really, Charles; this man deserves the death more than anyone else.

Charles wasn't looking at him anymore; he seemed to look into the far distance, lost in thoughts. This talk wouldn't lead to anything, and they both knew it. It was on of the points were their thoughts began to lead into different directions. "You won't be able to do this without a plan." Charles finally said, his voice low and stern.

Don't worry, Charles, Erik smiled, but it didn't look warm at all, I'll do it. With or without a plan. Shaw will die today.

Charles gave him one of those sharp looks; one of those knowing glances, those that made you feel unconfortable, as if he knew everything. He didn't say anything though.

They continued to walk in silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts. The rain was still falling, falling down on them. Erik was glad that the suit seemed to be waterproof as well as bulletproof. He wasn't that wet, at least. Charles let go of Erik's hand, but they continued to walk.

Then Erik saw them. Shaw, standing on the empty street, his hands folded in front of his chest, a smirk on his damn face. He wore the stupid helmet, his noble like clothes, standing up stright and tall. He was looking at Erik and Erik alone. He wasn't able to see Charles. One good thing , at least.

Then there was the phoenix, pale like a stature of marble, dark veins under his eyes, which looked like deep cracks in the too white, porcelain- like skin. His eyes were red, fire red, and his hair not wavy anymore. It seemed to be smooth, like silk, and it gave him a whole different appearance. Erik noticed that it was a way longer than he had always thought. It was the outfit he wore that startled him; it was the same outfit that he and Charles wore, the same suit, but in dark-red and yellow. Erik did not know where Shaw did get that suit, if he stole it or made it himself, or if that suit was real or just an illusion. He knew just one thing - this man in front of him, wearing this suit, looked like a doll, like perfection itself,as if his body was made for it, and it made him sick.

It was Charles , who was wearing it, but at the same time it was not Charles at all. At the same time, this, in front of him, was not the Charles he knew. "Calm down." Charles voice next to him was calm, soothing, and Erik could feel a hand on his shoulder; Charles' hand. Right..He had to stay calm. Rage wouldn't be usefull now, not now. He needed to stay calm, no matter what. Charles was with him. He would do it.

"Ah,endlich sehen wir uns wieder, Erik." Shaw held out his hand elegantly, as if the take Erik's, as if he wanted to welcome him in a warmly.

"Just shut up!" Erik growled, fully aware that he spoke English. He had no need to speak German, not with this man. He did like his native language, but sometimes he just hated it. Like now.

"Oh,you would like to speak English? Well,okay then. " Shaw gave him one of those patronizing smiles and let his hand fall back to his side. Erik growled again, his anger becoming greater. He was so close to Shaw, so close to kill him.. "So,Erik. What will you do now?"

"You were the one who wanted to meet me here." Erik spat, his eyes narrowed. Shaw nodded thoughtfully "Sure ,sure. But, don't you already know what I want to ask you?"

Erik laughed, it was a cold and bitter laughter, and his hands tightened into fists. After all that had happened, after all that he had gone through, after all that, Shaw had the guts to ask him, to expect him, to join them? That was laughable, stupid, and it made Erik angry; Shaw played with him, did not take him serious.

"I thought you know my answer already!" he snarled, his face an arrogant mask "And I have to admit, I thought you are smart enough to know that I will kill you!"

Shaw looked at him, thoughtfully again, but then he started to laugh. He laughed, clearly amused, and clapped his hands "Wunderbar!" he laughed "Wunderbar! You really want to kill your creator, Erik? Your father? Really, that's not nice, after all the things I did for you-"

"YOU!" Erik screamed, pointing with his index-finger at Shaw, anger clearly written on his face "YOU did NOTHING for me! You made me into a monster, you've killed my family and you've shattered my hopes! YOU are my creator, yes, but not my father! Don't you dare to ever say that again!" rage was boiling inside of him, rage and hate and anger, and he wished he could just kill Shaw already. He couldn't bear to look at this man. He hated him with all his being. "You've taken everything from me.." he whispered. But not my pride. Not my power. Not my will.

"Oh ,really, Erik; I am disappointed." Shaw said, playing hurt " I thought you know that I only did it for your well-being." He raised his arms, one hand sneaking around the phoenix' waist to bring him closer to his body "See, Erik, I took everything from you to make you the man you are now. But,see; I can't give you back what I've taken, but I can give you something else." He smiled, a smirk on his lips "I can give you power. Together we can rule the world." his gaze wandered from Erik to the phoenix, who was quiet, not moving "And so much more."

Erik took two steps forward, but was held by Charles, who tried to calm his angry friend down "Erik!" he whispered, even if he didn't had to "Erik, calm down! Don't you see? He tries to make you lose control!" "How dare you to say such bullshit! Are you really so stupid to believe I would fall for your trick, that I would become your toy again? Not again, Herr Doktor!" he spoke the last sentence with so much hate that Charles behind him cringed.

Shaw's eyes narrowed, his amused expression turned into an almost angry one "Du bist naiv, Erik Lehnsherr!" he smirked "Oder sollte ich besser sagen, Max Eisenhardt?" he almost purred, full of satisfaction as he saw Erik's face turning pale.

"Erik?" Charles asked, his voice full of worry "Erik, what does that-" He never got an answer.

Erik jumped forward with a roar, his eyes almost glistening with pure hate. "Ich bring dich um, du verdammtes Arschloch! Ich bring dich um!" He reached for Shaws throat, blinded by his hatred, but was stopped by Shaw's fist, which grabbed Erik's hand rougly. "Naive as always." Shaw purred, a wicked grin on his lips, as he threw Erik over his shoulder.

Erik grunted in pain as he hit the hard asphalt, but quickly got up to his feet again. He did not notice the pain in his left shoulder, too great was his hatred and fury. He started another attack,but was suddenly stopped. He couldn't move any further. His gaze swept to the phoenix, who stared at him with his red eyes, his bright red mouth formed into a thin smile of malice.

Damn, he thought, I forgot about your abilities, Charles.

"I am sorry!" Charles voice rang in his head "I am sorry, my friend! I try to loosen his grip, but after that you have to run."

What? I-

"No,Erik!Trust me, after that, you have to run! I think I got a plan."

Shaw made a step towards him, the grin of triumph already written on his lips, as the phoenix suddenly flinched. Erik felt the hold slip, and suddenly he was able to move again. "Was zum-" Shaw turned around to the phoenix, anger and astonishment in his eyes. The phoenix, however, gave him a smirk, blue eyes sparkling back with joy. "You!" Shaw hissed, but the phoenix, or better, Charles, just stuck out his tongue. He gave Erik a nodd, and Erik began to run. He heard Shaws laughter, but he was sure that the man was annoyed. "You're running away, Erik?" He screamed "You want to play? Fine, we play!"

Erik turned around a corner, and nearly screamed in surprise as he saw Charles standing there. "Come on!" Charles breathed, grabbing Erik's arm and began to run down a side street. What the fuck is going on here, Charles ! Erik hissed in his thoughts, stumbling after Charles, who ran faster than Erik had ever seen him running. "We're playing." Charles answered, not looking back "You would not have a chance on the open street. It's a too wide area. We need more closeness to get him. To get rid of the helmet. If we manage that, I can control him."

But, Erik said, as they turned around another corner , but, I don't get it! The phoenix-

"I know what you think." Charles answered, sounding a bit breathless "The phoenix won't be able to locate or control you,not as long as I block your mind from his view." They ran along the empty street, rain hitting Erik's face, while Charles wasn't wet at all. He was just an illusion,after all. It was weird, but for all the others he was running alone through the street.

And, how long will you be able to block my mind from his view? Erik asked, as they both were running towards an new built building, which was still under construction.

"I don't know." Charles answered honestly. "But I hope long enough to get into the building." Iron pipes, wires, metal bellows,steel ingots.. The building was a dangerous ground for Shaw, a perfect trap.

Erik could hear Shaw's screams. They were close on their heels, Erik was sure they would get them soon. They had to get to the building, though , he was not sure what to do next. It made him wonder that no people seemed to see them, nor that anyone was on the street. True , it rained, but Erik couldn't shake off the feeling that it was the phoenix' doing. "Lauf nur Erik, lauf nur. Am Ende weisst du sowieso nicht wohin!" Erik gulped, running faster. He was not out of breath, but neither did he believe that he was able to run much longer. He needed his strength for the final fight, not for running away..

Finally they reached the building. The ground-floor was almost complete built, only the lights were missing.

What now? Erik thought, searching for a perfect hiding place. He would attack from ambush; that was not very noble, but all that Erik wanted was to kill Shaw, and he really didn't care how.

"Upstairs!" Charles pointed at the elevator several steps ahead, in the middle of the building. He winced, then, gripping his head in pain. "Charles?" Erik coudln't help but ask out loud. "M' okay." Charles hissed, though his mental-image was flickering like the broken television broadcast. Erik had no time to argue , they could already see the light of the phoenix' aura. "C'mon, Erik!" Charles grabbed his arm again, and both hurried to the elevator doors.

It doesn't work. Erik pointed out as he looked at the elevator-buttons. Charles snorted, amused, giving Erik a side-glance "Does that matter for you?"

The elevator-doors slid open with one swift movement of his hands It was one of the new elevators, roomy and with mirrors as walls. Erik was sure that annoying music would play if they had electricity.

I hope this will work, he murmured but Charles just gave him an encouraging nodd "Sure it will. " he said " You moved the satellite." Erik snorted, shaking his head, this is something eles. But he didn't want to complain now, they had to act, the time was running out.

He lifted his hands, the doors of the elevator closed, and it was dark. Then he concentrated, felt the metal, his powers. It was easier to move the damn thing than he had thought, and soon the elevator was on his way upwards. He had to grin at the thought that Shaw had to use the stairs.

He didn't count the floors, he just stopped the elevator. The doors slid open, and he was ready to take a step out of it, as suddenly several construction worker tried to grab him. Erik made a grimace, surprised by the sudden action of the strange men, trying to get rid of their hands on him, but they continues to drag at his suit. Their eyes were blank, wide, and their faces emotionless.

Charles !, Erik turned his head to the side to look back at his friend, but instead he looked at the phoenix. His heart made a jump, his eyes widened in shock. How was this possible? It was still just an illusion, he realized that as he saw the flickering. Damn, the phoenix must have noticed that Charles tried to help him!

He was dragged out of the elevator by the men, still trying to push them away. The master of metal saw no other option then; he balled his hands into fists and ordered the steel ropes to wrap around the bodies of the men.

The men where held in place now, the ropes tight around their bodies, as Erik turned back to the illusion of the phoenix. His eyes met blue ones; Charles, who was still struggling to get the control over the small part of his own mind that was still able to create the illusion. "Charles!" Erik said out loud, stepping back to the elevator, but Charles desperatly shook his head , eyes wide "Erik, they're coming,they're coming!"

Erik knew that he had to act now. But how? But how?

He turned around to the men, who were unconscious now. Charles must have done it. His gaze wandered to the glass door which lead to the stairs. He could hear them coming. His gaze wandered over the unfinished floor, over metal ropes and thick beams, over wooden boards and cables.

"Erik, Erik, wo bist du-uu?" Shaw's voice a singsong "Erik, Erik wo hast du dich verste-eeckt?" Erik pressed his lips together, his eyes darting back to the image of Charles, who still struggled with himself. No help from Charles for now, so he had to come up with an own idea.

He hurried to the next best iron pillar, pressing his body against it, trying not to breath too much. Shaw would find him anyway, but Erik could be faster. This was his hunting ground. Here was enough iron for him to win this.

He heard the steps of Shaw, heavy on the wooden floor. Each step was carefully placed, with force ,louder than it had to be. "Komm herraus, Erik! Du hast keine chance!"

Erik pressed his lips even tighter together, pressing himself further into the iron pillar. The phoenix couldn't sense him, it meant that Charles had still some control. The steps stopped, and Erik's heart was pounding wildly in his chest. Where was he? He had the urge to take a look, but that would be too risky.

Just when he was about to take a look, a sudden pain shoot through his back, and he hit the floor, hard, somersaulting several times until he hit the wall with his head. He groaned in pain, trying to push himself onto his hands and knees, when he felt a hand on his nape, grabbing him rougly.

He made a noise between grunt and growl, his hands trying to loosen the hand on his nape. "Ich hab's dir gesagt, Erik." Shaw purred, pulling him upwards to slam him face first into the wall. Erik was sure he heard his nose crack, and he felt the blood dripping down his chin. His head was spinning.

The hand on his nape wandered upwards, gripping his hair tightly and yanking his head back. He hissed in pain, but Shaw only laughed.

He stopped struggling against the grip, instead he rammed his ellbow into Shaw's side, but that just earned him more laughter. "Oh, Erik, lernst du denn nie dazu?" He was spun around, his back pressed against the wall, Shaw grinning down at him. "Fuck you!" was all he managed to hiss. Iron wires snaked over the floor and down the walls, up to Shaw, but Shaw just hit Erik's head against the wall again, making him lose the focus. "Pass auf was du mit zu mir sagst, Junge!"

Erik grinned as spat into Shaw's face, clearly pleased with the disgusted expression on his face. "Ich sage, was ich möchte, zu wem ich möchte."

That comment made Shaw's face darken, and the next thing Erik felt was a hot pain in his cheek as Shaw slapped him. It made Erik laugh.

"Ich möchte dir nicht unnötig wehtun, Erik." Shaw let go of him, though he still stood very near to Erik. Where was the phoenix? "Komm mit mir."

"Sorry.." Erik spat "I don't understand you. Would you be so kind to speak English?" He was sick of hearing this man speak German; it reminded him too much of their older times. Shaw made a grimace between amusement and annoyance. "If that makes you join us."

"Never!"

"Nun,dann sehe ich keinen Grund dazu."

"Asshole!"

Shaw gave him an condescending smile. Erik didn't listen to the words he said, his gaze wandered to the person which approached them slowly, carefully, without making a sound.

The phoenix.

But , no, no, it wasn't the phoenix. Bright, intellegent blue eyes looked into Erik's, the colors of the suit a bright yellow and blue. Charles nodded, slowly, his finger pressed against his lips. Erik could see that he raised his arms, his hands directed at the helmet, slowly stepping towards Shaw, who was still talking to Erik, but Erik did not listen. He tried to focus on Shaw, so that Shaw wouldn't see that Erik was distracted, but it was already to late. Shaw had noticed.

Shaw spun around, pressing Erik's body into the wall as he grabbed the nearest iron rod, which was at least two meters long and two inches broad. Charles had no time to react or to use his telekinesis; Shaw made a swipe and the iron rod hit Charles' side, sending him flying over the wooden boards. He made a surprised and pained yelp, staying huddled on the floor,his hands pressed on his side.

That was when Erik saw red. No one was supposed to hurt Charles! How did he dare? As Shaw turned back to Erik, his face met the fist of Erik, making him stumble backwards. The metal in the room began to creak, the metal-piers bending dangerously as the iron wires shot up from the ground and wrapped around Shaw's body. The iron rod in Shaw's hand began to turn into liquid, dripping down to the floor and over his hand. He just laughed.

Erik turned his gaze back to Charles, and he could see the convulsions that ran through the telepath' s fragile body while he tried to stay in control,trying to handle the pain. It didn't seem to be easy. He could already see that the suit began to change its color again, but it was like a wrangle, like an on and off. They seemed to fight inside. Erik only hoped that Charles would be alright, that he would get the grip on the body again. Stay strong, Charles! he said via mind, hoping that Charles would be able to hear him, you are stronger! He couldn't help him now.

The sound of tearing could be heard, and as Erik turned his head back to Shaw, he saw that the iron wires were ripped. Hastily he raised his hands, the metal rods around him flying up into the air, as Shaw's foot collided with his stomach. Erk was thrown backwards, grunting in pain and grabbing his belly. He felt like throwing up.

He had no time to recover from the pain in his abdomen, because Shaw was already by his side and grabbed his chin forcefully. Erik could see no emotions in those cold eyes, and it made him shiver. It had always made him shiver. The grip on his chin tightened, and the sudden push of energy that ran through his body made him squirm in pain. He did not scream. He wouldn't give Shaw the satisfaction of hearing his screams.

"The helmet, Erik! The helmet!" he could hear Charles voice in his head. Hah, that wasn't easy, not at all. Shaw would notice his movements, it would cause him even more pain. But he had to try..He grit his teeth, trying to get a grip on the helmet, but his hands were grabbed and the pain in his body began to grow into a steady pulse. It made gim groan, his head began to spin and he felt as if his inside began to rip open. He was used to this treatment , but still it felt as worse as it did years ago. Shaw grinned, a smug and evil grin, and Erik glared up at the man with narrowed eyes, wishing he could tear him into peaces.

"Du widersetzt dich mir also immer noch..." Shaw hissed, but was still smiling "Wie schade, ich dachte, wir könnten zusammen arbeiten.." he sighed, playing disappointed "Nun, dann habe ich keinen Gebrauch mehr für dich. Wie schade, ich wollte meine erste Kreation eigentlich behalten..." Erik felt his stomach tingle in a bad way. No use anymore?..So, he was going to kill him? No way, he thought grimly to himself, not if I kill him first!

Shaw grabbed him by the hair again, dragging him towards the big window. Was he going to throw him out of it? Erik tried to struggle, but the grip in his hair tightened painfully and he winced, trying to lean back, his heels digging into the ground, searching for halt. It only made Shaw grin, tugging at his hair with a jerk, and Erik fell forward on his knees. His scalp did hurt and he was sure that Shaw had ripped out some strands of hair.

"Hör auf dich zu wehren! Am Ende führt es doch eh zu nichts!" Erik growled as he was dragged up again, but he froze when he saw the phoenix next to Shaw. The phoenix, not Charles. No blue eyes, no blue suit, no pureness, just darkness. He felt as if his heart and stomach turned into ice. Had Charles lost? Those eyes were cold. "Ich gebe dir noch eine einziege Chance, Erik.." Shaw said, slowly, so that Erik would understand him. How ridiculous; he wasn't listening anyway..One more chance? He had never need another one.

With a swift movement he managed to free himself out of Shaw's grasp, even if that meant that he lost some more strands of hair, but he would moan over that later. Shaw already lunged for him again, but Erik dodged to the side and grabbed an iron rod. Shaw's hand came down, breaking the iron into two, and Erik stumbled backwards, the metal in the room creaking and moaning under his powers. Every loose metal thing in the room turned itself against Shaw, but it was hopeless. In his current state, Shaw was stronger than him. He defended himself with his arms, throwing away the pieces of metal, the iron rods and metal wires. Erik pressed his lips together, taking several steps backwards, and forced the iron pillar to bend under his will. If he had to bring the ceiling down to end this, finde, if he had to destroy the whole buliding, fine! He did not care. He did not care if that meant he would end his own life as well.

"Sei nicht dumm, Erik, das funktioniert nicht!" Shaw's fist met his face, he stumbled backwards. New blood flowed down over his lips and his chin, and he was sure that his nose had been broken twice today. He stumbled over some loose wooden plates , nearly falling backwards, but Shaw grabbed him by the collar of his suit and yanked him upwards, roughly, only to throw him back over the ground. His back hit the glass window, and he could hear the crack of the glass. He didn't want to know how high the building was. His head was so dizzy, and he could taste blood in his mouth. Probably from his nose, but maybe he suffered from inner injuries. He coughed,running the back of his hand over his dry lips and smeared the blood over his hand and cheek. He tried to push himself upwards, but Shaw was already on his way towards him, and Erik knew, even if a lot of metal was in this room, he would not be able to stop the man. Maybe he could stop his own fall, but he never had been good in flying. He should have trained more. Shaw had a grin on his lips, his steps unerringly,confidently. "Oh Erik, wir haben beide gewusst, dass-" he was cut off as he was stopped by a gloved hand on his arm. The phoenix.

"Now Erik, Now !" Charles. It was Charles voice! He was still there! Erik jumped up and ran towards Shaw, who turned towards the phoenix , surprise and anger in his eyes.

The metal ropes from above wrapped themselve around the helmet, yanking it off of Shaw's head, throwing it towards Erik, who caught the piece of metal with both hands. His gaze wandered from the helmet in his hands to Shaw, who stood in front of him, his arm outstreched, his eyes wide. He was not moving. Charles had his grasp on his mind. A smirk crossed Erik's lips, and suddenly everything around him didn't matter anymore. There was just him and Shaw. Him and his revenge. His right hand wandered into his left pocket, tugging out the silver coin, which he now held between his middle and index-finger,pointed at Shaw. "You see this, don't you? You know what's going on,I know you do, and believe me; I never felt this much satisfaction in my life before than now." Was there a pleading gleam in those cold eyes?

"Erik!" Charles voice was unfamiliar outside his head, sounding almost hoarse and dark. Maybe because he hadn't used it for a while. "Erik, I beg you, don't kill him!"

Erik wasn't listening anymore. He was lost in his own little world now. In his world where only he and Shaw existed. His little world of vengeance. "Your own weapon will be your doom." Erik raised his hand, his arm outstreched "We will play a little game now, shall we? I count till three, and if you are not able to move you will die, through this coin." his smirk widened, and he looked scary; blood smeared across his face, his hair loose and ruffled, his shark-like grin wide and scornful. "What a nice game."

He didn't wait for an answer. He didn't listen to Charles desperate screams inside and outside his head. He was lost. Maybe he had been lost from the start.

"Eins.." he said, slowly, and the coin moved forward, floating through the air, gleaming slightly in the dull light from outside. It was still stormy. There was a flash outside, brightening up the event. Erik was just a dark silhouette against the light from outside, while Shaw's wide eyes reflected the light of the lightnings, wide and scared; almost like a child. Charles stood in the shadows, his hand against his temple, his suit red, a contrast against the greyish-blue shades of the lightless room. He seemed to glow. He was mumbling,the only sound that was heard in this room, besides the rumbling of the thunder, but he was unheard.

"Zwei.." Another lightning, another thunder. The room was dark. It was too quiet. The coin moved forward, forward, till it was near Shaw's forhead.

Charles knew what would come next, while he saw the coin, directed towards him but still not. He was inside Shaw's head. He could see it all through his eyes. Shaw was not afraid. He almost seemed to accept it. Charles didn't want the man to die. Not because he liked him,but because it was wrong. Erik made himself to Shaw's highest win, and Shaw knew it. With his dead, he would made Erik whole, perfect. He was completly his then, because Shaw had achieved his goal; rage as means to an end. "Erik, god, please!"

"Drei." His voice was so calm, so steady. There was no smile on his lips anymore, just a frown. He looked so stern and old. The pain was horrible. He could feel it , the coin, through his head, ripping apart the skin, the bones, the muscles, through his brain, slowly, to slowly. White hot pain. He knew he was screaming. No one heard him. Erik wasn't there with him now. Was he crying? He could feel the tears, but the pain was to great. His defense broke. He couldn't block the phoenix' mind anymore. His mental shields broke, broke and broke until they were shattered, completly. He cried. He screamed. He gripped his head and sank to his knees. God this pain. God, this fire inside, eating him up. He didn't know where he was anymore. He didn't know who he was. Too many minds outside, to much pain here. He was lost. He couldn't feel Erik anymore, god, he couldn't feel him!

He couldn't feel himself anymore. He was lost. He was lost. Who was he , who was he? Pain, pain, becoming something else, becoming, becoming.. "Erik.." he sobbed, his head in his hands.

Erik blinked as the coin hit the ground, satisfied. Shaw's body sank to the ground with a thud, lifeless, dead. It was over. Erik took a deep breath and closed his eyes, his head drawn back. Over.. "Erik.." His eyes shot open as he heard the faint whimper inside his head. The satisfaction was blown away. "Charles!"

Charles kneeled on the ground, his head in his hands, the air around him gleaming red, like fire. God, Charles! He hurried towards Charles, but was stopped. Charles stopped him.

The color of his suit began to change again,from blue to red , from red to blue, back again, violent surges of pain ran through his body, making him shudder. He raised his head, his eyes glowing red, his nose bleeding and bleeding, his lips darker than black, his skin deathly pale. He was crying crystal clear tears. The expression on his face made Erik's heart bleed; it was full of pain, of anguish and despair. It hit him like a fist into his stomach. He had done this. He had caused this. Because of Shaw's death. And suddenly, he felt pain as well. Stinging, hot pain inside his head, a monotonous, shrill beeping in his ears; his brain felt like melting, making him scream and gasp, falling to his knees, clutching his head.

Then he heard the other men, the construction worker, who were still there; they gasped and moaned, screaming in pain. Charles would kill them. He would kill them all. God, and it was Erik's fault, because he had been so selfish. He should have listened to Charles. "Charles!" he croaked, his hands pressed against his ears, trying to ignore the pain and the beeping. It was as if he had a time-bomb inside his head, one that would explode any moment.

Charles wasn't able to see him. He looked right through him. Erik crawled on his hands and knees, grabbing the helmet, and put it on his head. The pain stopped immediately. He pushed himself up on shaky legs. Charles stood now as well, crying and bleeding and looking so lost. "Charles!" Erik said, again, walking towards Charles, but that seemed to difficult suddenly. He couldn't reach Charles.

And there he stood, in the middle of the room, pale like a ghost,looking like a fallen Angel, loose things floating around him, his hair swirling around his head like a halo. His eyelids fluttered, his lips parted slightly "Erik.." he gasped through the silent athmosphere. Not even the screams of the men could be heard anymore. "Erik.." And he seemed to remember, for a spit second, who he was, what he was, and he smiled, with tears in his eyes.

Something felt wrong.

Charles lips trembled as he spoke the next words "Erik..I am so sorry.." And Erik wanted to ask ' for what?'. He wanted to run up to him, he wanted to embrace him tightly and never let him go. Shaw was gone. They could manage it now. He and Charles. They could lock the phoenix away, somehow, Erik knew that Charles was able to do so, and then they could live together happily..

But then Charles began to run. Not towards Erik, no. He began to run towards the big window, towards the rain and the storm outside.

It was like in slow motion.

Erik couldn't move, it wasn't Charles' doing, it was the shock. He tried to reach for Charles. He tried to scream, but he couldn't. Charles turned his head, and he was crying so badly, looking so helpless but yet strong and..And then he crashed through the window.

Glas was floating through the air, floating, and Charles turned around , facing Erik, a smile on his lips. Then he fell.

The thunder roared and the lightning lit the sky.

"CHARLES!"

Sorry for the long lack of update; I hate a lot to do, then I became ill, and then a slight writers block... D:

Now , I left this chap open a bit,right ;D? Reviews are welcome!

See you next chap ,guys! And I luve ya all! :)