Charles tried to leave his office as much as possible during a work day. While he knew that he spent more time there than any other room in the Institute, including his bedroom, he still tried. Too often the walls could feel like a prison, the desk a barrier.
The feeling was always strongest after a day like today. While no student of his had ever, either intentionally or unintentionally, hurt a teacher before, there had been days when students had been injured or property destroyed. The student in question would always come to his office, head bowed, ashamed, and frightened.
Scott had been the worst case. To go from being completely normal one day to having lasers shoot out of your eyes was possibly one of the most traumatizing things Charles could think of. His own experiences aside, he found that many mutations with visibly destructive properties came out in traumatizing ways. Ororo had once caused a small flurry in an office when she'd gotten upset, leaving her shaken for days. There were other examples, and they all led back to his office.
At least there was someone who truly understood what Scott was going through. Alex had created small-scale destruction several times as he learned to control his powers, and his frustration and anger at his failures caused him to lash out. He would take care of Scott, make sure that the same thing didn't happen to him.
Not that the school wasn't full of people who wouldn't. Charles had built his school on the premise that mutants would have a supportive, safe environment to grow and learn in. Xi'an, Sam, and Hank were likely to be highly protective of Scott after what had happened. They had always been fond of the boy, and his connection to Alex made him a kind of family. Several other teachers were also sensitized to the special needs of mutant children, and they would know that Scott needed to be handled with care.
Then there was Lorna. The best thing that she could do for Scott was to be up and about as soon as possible, but Hank told Charles that she would likely feel groggy for the next few days. After Lorna's personal experiences with the fear and anger that destructive mutations could lead to, he knew that she would be supportive. Scott was one of her students, and Charles hoped to arrange a time where they could talk about what happened. He would be there, as would Alex. They needed to make sure that the environment was as comfortable as possible.
All of this, however, needed to be arranged in his office. So, Charles wheeled himself back, slowly feeling exhaustion set in. It was nine o'clock at night, early considering everything that had happened. It was late for the school and a majority of the students, including Scott, were asleep.
Charles wished that he was asleep too. He'd learned to fight any sleepiness through willpower helped by generous amounts of tea and coffee. He'd file a report on the incident for the school's files and get together a mediation agenda. Charles would also have to draft a letter to the other teachers informing them of the situation. He could be in bed in two or three hours.
He opened the door to his office and let out a frustrated sigh. He was going to be there for a lot longer than two or three hours. Charles shut the door as quickly as possible and, making as little eye contact as possible, wheeled himself to his desk. Once there he turned around and faced Magneto and Wanda.
Erik's expression was cold and Wanda looked furious, but this was getting ridiculous. He sent a quiet message to Alex informing him of the situation and to come to his office. If Erik wanted to conduct all their audiences with a member of the Brotherhood, than Charles could return the favor.
He deliberately waited a minute before speaking.
"I miss the days when you let Hank escort you to the office," Charles said, "Erik, we've been over this. Some of the children here are as young as five, and you know what'll happen if Alex catches you and isn't informed of your peaceful presence beforehand."
"And I thought you had security cameras," said Erik.
In the aftermath of what had happened with Scott and Lorna most of the cameras had been abandoned. For the most part, it had been all hands on deck. He'd have to work on improving the security systems, but he wasn't about to let Erik know about any deficiencies. He trusted him, for the most part, but he didn't like the look that Wanda was giving him.
"It's the courtesy that counts," he said, "And, if Hank's the one on cameras, then we can't exactly alert all of the X-men instantaneously unless he picks up the phone and calls me. That's two minutes you might not have."
"Yeah, we already know about the stupid things Alex does," Wanda snarled.
Charles furrowed his brow and Erik crossed his arms.
"Charles, we have to discuss something, and I felt that a phone call wouldn't do," Erik said, "In the course of the last altercation between the Brotherhood and the X-men, Havok injured Quicksilver."
Charles wasn't surprised. He thought back to Alex's debrief of the mission. He'd mentioned that he'd burned Quicksilver's foot, but that he didn't think it was too severe. At that point Charles had honestly been more concerned about Xi'an's ribs, Sam's arm, and Alex's back to delve too deeply into the particulars.
While Charles understood that Erik was likely to be a little protective of Quicksilver, he was his son, a foot burn was nothing to come to the Institute about. A phone call with an admonishment to reign Alex in would have done the trick. It would've been a useless phone call, given that the Brotherhood certainly weren't reigning themselves in, but it would've made sense. Coming to the school over a burnt foot didn't and, while he operated on a twisted train of thought, he always made sense.
It was why Charles was starting to dread this meeting.
"I suppose that there's something you're going to add to that," he said.
"The burn is not behaving normally," Erik said, "It started...blistering strangely and swelling. A day ago he developed a fever and in the past few hours he's starting to experience nausea and vomiting."
Now that would warrant a visit to the Institute.
"So what did your pet do to my brother?" Wanda demanded.
Erik winced and Charles shook his head.
"Wanda, while Peter's condition is unfortunate, Alex's powers are based in heat," he said, "I think that it's highly unlikely that he caused any of that."
"So it's just a coincidence that his foot swells, blisters, and he gets sick?" Wanda demanded.
"I did not say that," Charles said, "But I do find it unlikely that Alex's powers cause illness."
Wanda looked like she wanted to kill him and Charles wondered why Erik had brought her. He'd always preferred Quicksilver, but obviously his present illness prevented him from coming. From what Charles could tell, Wanda's temper had taken a nasty turn in the past few years, and now that her brother was ill, he suspected that any restraint she might have had was long gone.
"Erik, in the past, Alex has shot at you, shot at Quicksilver, probably shot at Wanda as well," he said, "But I have never once seen any of you get sick in the past. If we had to blame something, then personally I would blame the large amount of dangerous materials that you were transporting possibly infecting his injury."
"It was Agent Orange, and we were not transporting it," said Erik, "Agent Orange doesn't do that."
Unlike Wanda, Erik's tone wasn't accusatory. At least one person was interested in ferreting out the truth.
"If you weren't transporting it, then you certainly did a very good job of making it look like you were," Charles said, "But we have reason to believe that it was more than just Agent Orange, and that it was designed to be radioactive."
Erik nodded, understanding, but Wanda still looked angry. Was she so determined to blame Alex for what had happened to her brother?
"We were doing a favor for our formal financial backer," Erik said, "We didn't know what was being transported, and we have since cut ties with Emma."
"I'm glad to hear it," Charles said.
He chose to ignore Wanda's snort.
"But we're not here to debate such trifles," said Erik, "Quicksilver's condition is rapidly worsening. We don't know what the next few hours will bring."
Charles folded his hands on his desk.
"So you brought him here, didn't you?" he asked.
"In the car outside with Toad and Lance," said Erik, "Hank is the only doctor I know of with extensive knowledge of metahumans, obscure conditions, and one who, if asked by the right person, won't alert the authorities."
Charles took a harsh breath.
"Erik, you are asking me to knowingly house a fugitive," he said.
Erik gave him a long look.
"It's nothing you haven't done before," he said.
"True," said Charles.
While Lorna had not technically been wanted, it was much the same thing. The silence continued. Wanda looked like she wanted to say something, but Erik had his hand up, silencing her.
"We need to talk privately," said Erik.
"She can't wait in the hall," Charles said, "Alex is there."
Erik sighed, so Charles figured that he understood why that wouldn't work. But then he did something that Charles didn't expect. He took off his helmet and, quickly, placed it on Wanda's head. She gave him a quick, surprised look, and Erik stared at Charles.
"Let's 'talk' Charles," Erik said.
Charles blinked a few times.
You haven't told Wanda you're her father, have you? Charles asked.
No, thought Erik shortly, I haven't told Quicksilver either. And I would prefer that that information does not come out as a result of a forced confrontation.
Charles nodded, resting his chin on his hands.
Magda still works here, meaning that she is still under my protection.
I know, Erik thought, I wasn't going to harm her if that's what you were worried about.
It's not, thought Charles, It just means that Lorna is under my protection too, and the last thing I want is some sort of custody battle. You owe it to her, and to Wanda and Peter, to do this right.
Erik gave him a harsh look.
Which is what I'm doing, he thought, Magda isn't some saint in this-
I'm not saying she is, Charles thought back, I don't approve of her method Erik, but my primary concern is not turning this into some sort of circus.
His friend gave a dark chuckle.
Our lives are a circus, he thought, But don't worry. I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just here for my son.
Next to Erik Wanda was getting antsy. Charles also thought that he heard noises from outside the door. He ignored them both.
Charles, please, Erik thought, I just want...I don't know where else to go for him. Please help my son.
Charles closed his eyes. If Peter got better, than he would take to the field again. One day Charles might find himself watching the news, seeing people Quicksilver had killed. One day he might look at the body of Alex, Xi'an, Sam, or Hank, and wonder if he could do things differently, if he could have stopped things now.
But he'd wondered that before, and Erik knew it.
"Toad and Lance are not to come in," Charles said, opening his eyes, "Wanda can stay because she's his sister, and you can oversee the process."
"Agreed," Erik said.
Charles reached for the phone, ready to call Hank to tell him to move Lorna to her room if he hadn't already and inform her of the situation. He was starting to dial Hank's room line when the door burst open and Hank walked in.
Hank glanced at Erik and Wanda and turned away from them.
"You need to tell Alex to come with me," he said.
"I'm not leaving here, okay?" asked Alex, coming up behind him.
When he came in, Wanda shot Alex a withering look. He rolled his eyes, which only seemed to infuriate her more. Charles needed to get him out of the room, and he was about to tell him so, when Hank tapped his head.
Wondering what Hank was so upset about, Charles reached for his mind.
Lorna's showing early signs of radiation poisoning and I need to draw blood from Alex for tests. It's either that or wake Scott up.
Charles's eyes widened.
"Alex go with Hank, right now," he said.
Alex rolled his eyes again and Hank grabbed him by the shoulder. He hastily closed the door behind them, no doubt getting ready to explain to Alex that his cousin had somehow given his girlfriend radiation poisoning.
"What was that about?" Erik asked, taking his helmet from Wanda and putting it on.
Charles sighed, fighting the urge to sink back in his chair. There was worry now, worry that Lorna and Peter were going through the same illness. He was worried for his former student and current employee, for her brother, for her sister and father's reactions, for Scott and Alex.
But Lorna was in Hank's hands now, and there was little he could do about that. There was something he could do for her brother though.
"I'll explain it later," he said, "But for now, I'm calling Karma and Cannonball. We're going to need help bringing Peter in."
One thing at a time. One thing at a time.
