"Two households, both alike in dignity, in fair [Krakoa] we lay our scene. From ancient grudge break to new mutiny, where civil blood makes civil hands unclean." (Romeo and Juliet)

At least that's how David remembered the quote as he watched his neighbors over at the House of M. Wouldn't you know it, his father chose to live nearby his old friend who also happened to be his old enemy. No wrong could come out of that.

None.

Alright so maybe David and little Charles had already got up to throwing tin cans at Magneto whenever they saw him exit. He was the Master of Magnetism, so what was the harm? Of course, their father only blamed David because little Charles has horns holding up his halo. Like Xandra, Charles II can do no wrong in his eyes. Everyone who was at the Jean Grey and New Xavier Schools would beg to differ. Or anyone who opposed him in his future for that matter.

This time David was sent inside on his own as some sort of punishment. Apparently his father didn't realize that David was a grown man, or maybe he simply refuses to acknowledge it. Which is ironic because this is a child's punishment, and Charles has never known David as a kid child.

These were the kinds of things David audibly complained about whenever Charles wasn't in the room (and in the House of X, there were a lot of rooms. Go big or go home as they always say.)

Sometimes his uncle Cain complained with him. Granted, most of Cain's gripes with Charles were provoked but it didn't stop him there. Once, while Charles was having a meeting with the Council, and everyone else was having dinner, he shared how his brother used to use his powers to cheat at sports.

"Pff- him? Playing sports? I can hardly believe it." came David's reaction as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"I'm more surprised that he cheated." little Charles remarks dully. The boy held a cup of tea in his lap. It was quite obvious why he was named Charles the Second.

"Well yous two better believe it." Cain states. "Charlie would come home with a trophy he didn't even deserve. You should've seen the case, stock full of lies. Polished so that it almost shined bright as that bald head of his."

David started to laugh before realizing that it was inappropriate considering the company in the room. "Ha- wait, that's not funny…" His eyes darted to look at little Charles. "S'not funny at all…"

Charles II sniffed and raised his nose to the ceiling.

David gave a sheepish grin and put his hands up in self defence. "Ooh… sorry." he said. He wanted to be a good brother to make up for all the wrongs of their absentee father. Besides, he never had siblings before now. He at least had to give them a chance.

Charles II only peered at David from behind his nose without another statement.

"Well I'm not sorry." Cain states.

In an attempt to avoid conflict between the two, David brought the conversation back toward the story. "For someone who's uptight for not using their powers for selfish gain, I'm surprised he had done so himself."

Cain snorts in response. "Don't ya know that he's a hypocrite?"

David opened his mouth to defend his father but realized he had nothing good about him to say in that regard. He simply sighed and voiced his agreement.

"Even now he could be lying to us."

Silence ensued as the three traded glances with one another. Charles II in particular felt the most uncomfortable. Growing up, he was conditioned listening to the good things Charles Xavier has done. Now he was hearing all of this naysaying and didn't know how to feel about it. These were people who knew Charles better than he did. Who the hell is this man?

David was the first to break the silence. "Well if he were lyin' ta us, certainly someone on this whole island would know. Right…? Everyone here is so happy. Our neighbors are the goddamned Magnus Family! Maybe he's finally done it for mutant kind."

"I think so." agrees Charles II. "Why else would we all be here?"

More silence.

Why exactly were they here? David at least had a job to do. Except, Charles hadn't told him what that job was supposed to be. Instead, David just watched The Five do their thing every now and again.

Cain shifted his massive weight. "I still don't completely trust him."

David knits his brows together in consideration. "Think someone oughtta follow 'im around?" he asks, looking to the others."

"No!" Charles II protests. "Are you mad?"

"Yes actually," David replied, without missing a beat. "Now I think-"

David gets cut off by the sound of Charles entering the household. The man himself was greeted with a gaggle of expressions.

"Hi, hello. We weren't talkin' about you." said David, ever the inconspicuous.

Charles narrowed his eyes from behind Cerebro, tempted to probe David's mind, but he didn't. It went against his morals. Besides, it was kinda a mess in there. "Right…"

David slumps his shoulders in mock defeat. "Okay, so you caught us. We were talkin' about how you apparently played sports back in the day."

"I did, actually." Charles replies. "It's important to keep a balance between mind and body…"

He goes on about physical and mental health, carefully keeping out the fact that he cheated. It was a long and boring speech, in which Cain gave David the death glare for spurring this on.

But it didn't matter anyway, David was too busy formulating a plan to shadow his father the next day. And with Charles going on like this, he wouldn't have a clue.