Author: Bedlam's Bard
Summary: An old friend pays a visit to the school.
Pairing: Many, many within. Each chapter will contain its own headsup for you lovely people.
Rating: PG for this bit at least.
Universe: Set in the movie universe, after the movie. With the second movie coming up fast, I'd also say that it's more than a little AU. So, movie verse with a little of the comics and my very own madness thrown in for good luck.
Disclaimer: Insert your own sarky disclaimer here. They aren't mine but the things they do are. Especially the downright stupid things.
Feedback: Yes please! Send anything helpful to absurdissimum@aol.com. Feed the plot bunnies!
Notes: Well, this is the first part of something much, much longer. Consider this a it of a teaser, there was a trailer but I'll save that until someone actually shows interest in it. Also, "_" mean conversation and ~_~ telepathically sent conversation.
Prologue
The car crunched to a halt on the gravel drive right in front of the house.
On the steps they waited as patiently as they could, all bristling with
tension and a distinct edge of fear. Logan growled deep in his throat,
restrained purely by the firm hand of Storm on his shoulder. None of them was
happy about the arrival of the sleek, black Jag, but it seemed that some of
the older students could at least understand its significance.
Then with infinite slowness the driver's door opened and the man whom Logan had loathed ever since their first meeting stepped out. Magneto. Unable to help himself Logan stepped forward, only to be pulled up sharply by Scott who had an inexplicable expression. No one spoke. They merely stared as the tall, arresting figure stepped around the car, pulled off his dark hat and stood directly before them all with a brilliantly magnanimous smile.
"Hello Charles." He said lightly, turning his hat in his hands with distraction. His lightly accented voice, speaking so clearly of his Eastern European heritage, clear and precise.
"Erik." Came the rather stiff reply, as the professor sat staring not just at his old friend but also at the car behind him. He couldn't believe his eyes. It was his car, the car that Erik had driven off in years before after their last tumultuous argument. The one Erik had effectively stolen, but Charles had never reported, as he'd sat in almost exactly the same place and watched him drive away. Now, so many years later he returned in the same car to the dream that they had conceived together. The gesture was far from lost on the professor.
"I've kept it in storage for a long time…" Erik said slowly, looking directly at Charles and ignoring the menacing stares from the students.
~There's still a space for it in the garage~ Charles sent telepathically, unable to keep his surprise and slightly sentimental pleasure out of the thought. "It's good to see you again, old friend."
It was true. For standing before him Charles did not see Magneto, here was Erik and solely Erik. It was a thought that brought a smile unbidden to his lips. A smile that Erik returned without thought.
The poignant moment did not go unnoticed amongst the others and even Logan was given pause for a moment as he watched the big bad Magneto look down at his feet, seemingly lost for words. But not for long. He tried to push past Scott but the two women closed in around him also, and the wall of bodies kept him back.
Erik glanced at the others and it seemed as though he was reconsidering whether he had made the right decision. Charles was pained by his expression and the thought that they might both loose everything again when they were so close to finding some reconciliation.
~Storm, take Logan inside for me please. The others will go with you~
Whilst they dragged the protesting Wolverine inside Erik simply stared at Charles. It seemed to him to be years since they had last spoken without letting their conflicting views drive a wedge between them. There was a great swell if sadness in his breast as he reached out to Charles' delicately probing mind.
~Perhaps this was not such a good idea, Charles. I should not have come~
~Please, Erik, you've come this far to talk with me…will you not at least come inside?~
There was an awkward silence as both men tried to keep up his stoical stance, but wanted desperately for the other to admit defeat. They were both too proud.
~Will you invite me in then?~
~Will you join me inside, old friend?~ the professor asked expectantly. There was another tense moment as neither moved and it seemed as though things could go either way. Then at last Erik nodded and slipped his hat back on. Together they both crossed the threshold.