Title: Reichenbach
Category: Drama
Season: Post-S4
Pairing: (barely mentioned) Scott/Jean; Roberto/Amara/Ray; Kurt/Wanda, Sam/Rahne; Forge/Mystique; and Lance/Kitty
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Character Death, minor language
Summary: There are so many words that can only be said when it's too late.
Disclaimer: I own nothing
Reichenbach
By the Hog of Hedges
Dedicated to everyone who has passed, and those who loved and remember them.
"Friends. We are gathered here today to mourn the passing of beloved friend and mentor Charles Francis Xavier…"
It's funny how things can change in the blink of an eye. That's how long it took for the Professor to fall from the cliffs into the raging Reichenbach River. That's how long it took for a gaping hole to be formed in all of our lives.
The guest book had been nearly filled. Most of the names were new to me. "Christopher North". "Emma Frost". Brian Braddock", "Elizabeth Braddock". "Dr. Cecelia Reyes". An Aboriginal name very complicated to pronounce. "Irene Adler". "Moira MacTaggart", "Sean Cassidy", "Theresa Rourke". Some were familiar, like "Warren Worthington" and "Gabrielle Haller". All of us X-Men were there. The new kids too, even Mystique and the Brotherhood. They felt the most at fault. After all, they were the ones on deck.
It was a sunny day. His plot was under a great oak tree, in the Xavier family cemetery, in Massachusetts. He wanted just a simple white cross on a hillside near his home, but the remaining Xaviers, offshoot cousins of his, wanted him with his family [1]. It was a public ceremony, very formal. Even the Brotherhood wore suits and ties.
"We will now hear words from Doctor Xavier's [2] ex-wife, Ms. Gabrielle Haller."
"I met Charles in Israel. He was so full of caring and energy, and he was already extremely used to his, well, his gifts. He brought me out of a coma, and helped save me from ex-Nazi militants after a gold stash. If there's anything I regret; it's that I left him, and that he never knew his son." She was on the verge of full-blown tears as she said all of this, and the mention of David, now known as Lucas, caused her to cross that line. I helped escort her away from the father, who gave her a benignly sorrowful look and called up the next person.
Unbeknownst to anyone, another suited figure had walked up to the grave. Standing near a different tree, Ray Crisp, his haircut much more subdued, looked upon the assembled masses solemnly. Jean and I were standing together, of course. Rahne was holding onto Sam as if she would fall down without him there, and Wanda's head was on Kurt's shoulder. Lance and Kitty were together again, and even Mystique was there, standing next to Forge of all people. The worst part for him, I imagine, was seeing Amara, her face buried in Roberto's chest. I don't know how we all noticed him, maybe it was the way the wind was blowing, but all eyes turned to him. I felt a rage growing in me. Who was he to show up here? Didn't he know he had caused all of this? If he hadn't- No. I won't go down this road again. It wasn't entirely his fault. After all, if it was, there wouldn't be room for the Sentinel, or for Magneto, or for the stupid, fucking rock bridge!
Logan growled at him. "What the hell do you think you're doing here, Spark Plug? Go back to your own. You chose them after all, traitor." Ray's hands sparked a little, but he was hurt more than he was angry.
"It's a public funeral. I came here to mourn. And to apologize to the Professor."
"It's a little late for that, don't ye think, laddie?" said Cassidy, who had been apprised of what happened. He was glaring daggers at Ray with everyone else. Ray didn't falter one bit as he replied "Xavier always said there's always time. And I can't think of a better time, since I wasn't allowed a chance to while he was alive." The last comment was directed at Roberto, who had prolonged the fight with the errant Berserker too long and too late. Too late, just like Ray's hopes for an apology.
"Get out of here, Berserker! You aren't wanted here," I yelled out in anger.
"Shove it, Summers! This isn't the time for your little grudges!"
"I agree." Everyone looked at the dapperly dressed man coming up behind Ray. Magneto. "We are here to honor Charles, not to bicker over what killed him. I think that goes to the Sentinel that actually did the deed. Now, who has the next eulogy?" I walked over to the priest, and delivered my eulogy. I talked about all the good the Professor had done, for me and for everyone, and, staring straight at Magneto, I told everyone that his dream would live on in all of us. All he did was walk up next to me.
"Very touching. I've known Charles longer than any of you here have. He and I met in Israel about seventeen years ago, in a hospital for war victims, most notably for those still suffering from the Holocaust. I was there volunteering my time after the death of my first daughter, Anya and my discovery of my powers. He helped me through that rough time. When he and Gabrielle got married, I was his best man. Those were some of the happiest times of my life. He told me of his dream. I wanted to believe in it for so long, but the events I had been through, first the Holocaust, and then my daughter's death, I realized that humanity would never accept what they didn't like, or understand. But after the Horseman ordeal, I came to realize that genocide and force were not the best ways to accomplish a goal.
The destruction of the Sentinel factory at Reichenbach was my last mission as a "villain". I would now like to announce the peaceful dissolution of the Acolytes at this time. I am transferring the resources at my disposal to the Massachusetts Academy, where, alongside young Ms. Frost, I will attempt to instruct the younger generation in Charles' style. As the executor of his will, I would like to read this, made two days before his death. Ahem: 'My new students (Amara Aquilla, Raymond Crisp [I was shocked at his inclusion, two months after his leaving the fold], Roberto DaCosta, Robert Drake, Samuel Guthrie, Jubilation Lee, Jamie Madrox, and Rahne Sinclair) are to be sent to the Massachusetts Academy, where they will be taught both in the usage of their powers and skills needed for life out in the world, by headmistress Emma Frost, and also by Erik Lehnsherr, should he chose to do so.' I would also like to extend my heartfelt sorrow towards Mrs. MacTaggart and Ms. Haller for their losses."
He turned to the casket then. "You once told me that nothing is impossible," he whispered, not quiet enough to where I couldn't hear it, "For their sake, I hope you were right." He stepped down, but before Logan could step up, Ray had walked over.
"The Professor and I weren't as close as he was to his other students. I blame that on myself, rather than his lack of trying." He and Amara looked at each other as if they were the only two people in the world. "I was born in an orphanage [3]. Until I was twelve, I lived off of what the State of New York provided for us, but it wasn't enough for all 80 of us there, once the employees got paid. After my sister died of malnutrition, I left.
I was lucky enough to be found by Callisto, just a few days after my powers manifested and I blew up a bunch of TVs in the window of an electronics shop. For the next four years, I lived off of the state of New York again, this time as a thief. There were times when it was worse than the orphanage, but I had people relying on me this time. And for the first time, I felt like I was doing the right thing. Even after Xavier caught me when I was overloading an ATM, all I could think about was getting back to the people counting on me. He told about his dream though, and I knew I couldn't go back. There was something about him, it drew you to him. I made a mistake though. I forgot about the people who needed me, some who even loved me. I abandoned them in exchange for living in the sun for the first time in four years.
The past year has been the second time I've lived off of someone, but this was different. It's like a blending of the past two experiences, I was earning my right to stay, and I didn't have to all at the same time. When one of my old contacts from my Morlock days said that Magneto was recruiting for a mission against Sentinels, I told Xavier right away. The fight everyone witnessed was him telling me not to get involved. He said that what Magneto was planning had a chance of not working. I had a chance to help the people who took me in, and to help the people I've come to love recently. I had to go. Magneto took me in, made me an Acolyte. In a way, it's my fault that the Professor isn't here. I called in for help. But by the time it got there, the bombs had been placed. Instead of helping, the amount of mutant energy while we tried to escape awakened one of the Sentinels." He turned completely around then, and spoke to the casket. "It's my fault you're here. I don't regret my decision. What I regret is neglecting the people I loved yet again. Goodbye, Professor."
The rest of the funeral went in a blur after that. His words are the only things that stick out indelibly in my mind. When Magneto left, Ray moved to follow. Amara broke away from Roberto, but words couldn't leave her mouth. Her eyes said something like "Come back with us, everything will be fine." They weren't, and they wouldn't be for a long time.
Many people came and went. I don't know if Ray ever joined the first mutant class of the Massachusetts Academy, but there were others. Eventually, that school was closed down, and the Institute grew bigger. Magneto tried to stay good for a long time, but eventually he took control of the island of Genosha, where he recreated the Acolytes. Ray was still among them, the only one left of the first six that were there that day at Reichenbach. Gambit and Colossus were X-Men. Mastermind was with the Hellfire Club, one of the New Mutants' greatest rivals. Sabretooth was at large, and Pyro joined the Brotherhood, currently SHIELD agents known as Freedom Force. No matter what happens to us though, Xavier's dream will live on in future generations. I think that's what he really wanted.
[1] I visited Washington D.C. recently, and on a tour of Arlington National Cemetery, they said Bobby Kennedy only wanted a white cross on a hill in his native Massachusetts, but his family wanted him with his brother. His is the only white cross in the entire cemetery.
[2] Since he's a Professor, he should at least have a PhD, and I didn't want to keep calling him 'Professor Xavier' every five lines.
[3] Are there still orphanages in New York, or is there a more politically correct term for them?