Chapter Nineteen:
Several hours after the incident in the living room, Erik Lensherr wandered up a short flight of stairs to the same deck Pyro had discovered earlier. The difference was that Erik had not needed to search for the roof's entrance. Unbeknownst to all except himself and Sebastian, this building had once been part of a larger complex that the Council had used for its New York City headquarters. The facility had been abandoned, however, after the Council acquired newer, and more luxurious, flats downtown.
Erik wondered what had prompted Sebastian to purchase this house and keep it so well maintained for so many years. Perhaps it was to have some sort of connection or memory of his former life before the unfortunate circumstances that lead to his current (undead) state. Before the responsibility of raising the twins was handed to him...before his old life...and his old conscience...caught up with him.
As Erik stepped out into the night air, he spotted Sebastian standing on the other side of the roof and staring out over the twinkling landscape of Long Island. On the ledge to his left was a tall bottle, and Sebastian held a short glass in his hand. Erik approached quickly, making no effort to keep his presence as secret.
Sebastian did not react as the powerful mutant stepped up beside him. Erik clasped his hands behind his back and also stared forward across the city. By the coppery smell wafting from Sebastian's glass, he guessed the vampire was indulging a bit more tonight than usual. Then, as if to confirm Erik's suspicions, Sebastian took a long draught before he began to speak.
"Erik..." he said in a greeting, though unenthusiastically.
"Sebastian..." Erik said, mimicking the tone, and then continuing pleasantly, "This area is quite beautiful. On the Island, the ground and ocean are dark, and the stars are what shine at night. Here, however...humanity has drawn the heavens from the sky and taken the stars for their own."
"Very poetic, Erik...I'll drink to that," Sebastian replied and poured himself another glass of the crimson colored liquid, "I'd offer you to toast with me but I doubt you'd want what I'm drinkin' tonight..."
Erik laughed quietly, "No, I don't think I would. Is it...the real thing?"
Sebastian glared at the other man for a long moment before replying.
"As real as any other product that comes from a cow," he shot back, and then he stared into the glass and chuckled, "Becca's broken into the basement cooler a few times to label the bottles with things like 'O-Positive' or 'Very, Very Rare Steak'..."
"But never human blood?" Erik asked directly and Sebastian glared at him again.
"No, never," he replied firmly, but then added, "Not anymore..."
"I suppose the source of your sustenance would be of concern to your family," Erik said, "Though the twins seem quite desensitized to such things as...well, vampires, for example. They handled themselves very well during the Sentinel's attack and our escape from Stryker's base. They are well trained in the use of their powers...in most cases..."
Sebastian dropped his glass next to the bottle and turned to face Erik.
"Most cases?" Sebastian replied, and then laughed sarcastically, "You mean aside from the occasional instances of gunshot wounds when defensive instincts take over. Or the more frequent temper tantrums..."
Erik smiled, "I've come to learn a thing or two about pyretic mutants over the past few months. Pyro can be...overzealous...about his gift at times as well. Fortunately for the Brotherhood, the boy's emotions cannot spark fires such as Charlie's could..."
"You mean, as Rebecca's can, right?" Sebastian said darkly, almost suspiciously. He was weighing every word Lensherr spoke carefully, having first hand experience with the man's convincing speeches.
"Of course," Erik replied with an apologetic smile, "Unfortunately for you, Sebastian, it seems Sid is the one who inherited his mother's cool temperament. If your arguments with Rebecca are anything like those I witnessed between you and your brother...I will make sure I am not in the immediate vicinity when they occur."
Sebastian returned an honest smile to Erik's musings, though he still remained cautious. He had been thinking for the past few days about what might have prompted Magneto and his Brotherhood to seek out his niece and nephew. The true reasons why. But finding Erik Lensherr's real motivations for his actions was always a challenge. Sebastian knew the obvious facts, that their connections to the Council could be useful to any former Watcher, that the Malloy family (as mutants or otherwise) was quite powerful, and that the Brotherhood needed to make allies in order to further their cause.
However, Sebastian knew more about Magneto's past than most other people...and after tonight, he was considering another goal the mutant leader may have in mind.
"Tell me why you're here," Sebastian said finally after a long silence, "No bull shit, as Erik the Watcher or as Magneto the messiah of the mutant race. Who are you really looking for?"
Erik stared at the younger man for a moment and did not reply.
"You're so interested in Becca and Sid," Sebastian continued, "Charlie and Jay's kids, right? But were they really the twins you were originally looking for?"
Erik still did not reply, but his normally unwavering confidence faded slightly from his face. Sebastian had been clever as a young man...but Erik knew immediately whom the vampire was referring to...a possibility Mystique did not even know of.
"The Council has many resources...and keeps tabs on all of the family lines..." Sebastian said, "Even of certain families who are no longer considered qualified to be Watchers because they are mutants..."
"Enough, Sebastian," Erik said wearily, and turned to sit against the tall ledge of the roof. In that moment, the younger man saw Erik both has he had been twenty-five years before and as he was now, much older and more careworn, despite the confident presence he upheld. After all, Erik had spent six months in the custody of William Stryker following the Liberty Island incident, and the deep scar on the back of his next testified to the torture he suffered during that time.
"I'm sorry," Sebastian said picking up the bottle next to him again, "You know me...I just want to do what's best for my family. And...I figured you would want to do what's best for yours..."
"Very perceptive," Erik replied and then sighed, "And...I would be lying if I said the thought of finding my children...had not crossed my mind...more than a few times..."
"I can sympathize," Sebastian said honestly, "Believe me. And I wouldn't care if you and your followers invaded the fucking Council to find the records you need. Shaking them up a bit might be good for them. But I'm not going to let you put the people I care about in jeopardy again for any cause or personal crusade you might have in mind."
Erik regarded him curiously for a moment, "You don't think that humanity's current perception of mutants puts the twins in danger?"
"They can take care of themselves," Sebastian replied quickly, "Most of the time, anyway. You were right about that. But I don't think responding to violence with only more violence is going to help make life any safer."
Erik chuckled, "Now you sound like Charles..."
Sebastian shrugged and grinned, "Yeah, but even he still trains his people for combat. The Council may not encourage mutants to train with their powers, but I've made sure the twins can hold their own in a fight. However...from my experience, the only beings on earth that respond to pure violence are demons. Human beings, whether they've got the mutant gene or not, still have a soul."
"Souls can also be damned," Erik replied darkly, "Go see the mobs that gather outside the White House sometime. Read their signs and listen to what they think should be done with mutants...and then tell me that humanity doesn't respond to violence."
Sebastian stared down at the half drained bottle in front of him.
"And you really don't think there's any possibility of redemption for them?" he asked.
Erik glanced over at him, the boy he once knew, now one of those souls damned to an immortal life.
"For some..." he replied, "Perhaps...but not for all of them."
"And the ones who will never accept mutants?" Sebastian asked, "How do you plan to address those people?"
Erik stood and turned to look out over the city again. His eyes were cold, glinting like steel in the low light. The memories of past injustices and torments created the carefully controlled hate Sebastian saw in the man's face.
"We shall see," the older man said calmly.
Then God help them, Sebastian thought.
Erik glanced at him again, his expression changing quickly to a polite smile.
"Though that does bring me to another point," he said, "Actually, more of a favor..."
Sebastian frowned, but looked slightly amused, "Oh, really? Replacing the house and cars and everything else isn't enough?"
"I'd like your permission for Pyro to stay here for a while," Erik continued quickly, "While the boy is becoming a useful member of the Brotherhood, he is still a boy. I'm afraid the Island is not the most ideal place for a growing young man to learn about the world..."
He was interrupted by a sudden explosion of laughter.
"Lensherr..." Sebastian said, "You're askin' me to take in another adolescent with power over fire? I just got Rebecca to stop throwing fireballs at her brother a few years ago! And Sid still instigates her to do it! He's figured out how to make these glass shields that are fireproof or something. And they're adults...technically. And you think I want another kid to deal with!"
Erik nodded, "You've done well with the twins. Plus I believe it would be beneficial for Pyro to train with an older mutant who has similar powers."
Sebastian looked at him cynically, and paused a moment before replying, "He blew up your training room...didn't he?"
Erik sighed and the vampire laughed again.
"Yeah, that happens," Sebastian said, and found himself actually considering the option. There would be benefits for his niece as well if she could train with another pyretic. But...should he risk having one of Erik's Brotherhood in his home, no matter how young and naive the kid was?
"I'll talk about it with Sid and Becca," Sebastian said finally, "I'll let you know what we've decided tomorrow. I know there's probably some other reason you have for having that kid here but...I really don't feel like wracking my last few brain cells to figure it out. Just remember what I said...I will not allow you to put this family in danger."
"And I wouldn't want you as an enemy, Sebastian," Erik said and then walked back toward the staircase that led back into the house.
Sebastian sat for a while longer on the deck, and watched the night pass by as only an immortal could, trying to decide whether or not to agree to Erik's request.
Magneto, he though, almost sadly, He calls himself Magneto now...