X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Ten
Author's Word: You guys are absolutely wonderful! Thank you so much for that excellent feedback. I'm thrilled myself because my oldest cat celebrated yet another birthday yesterday. I hope you all enjoy this latest installment.
Sights and sounds of sheer excitement seemed to light up all of Westchester. The Street Fair proved more successful than anyone had been expecting. Erik reclined on a bench, enjoying a box of popcorn while the undercover sugar bandit known as Charles Xavier sat next to him, devouring the remints of cotton candy and a large cola. It was the first rest period the two men had been allowed since arriving with their group of eager youngsters two hours prior.
Sean soon headed their way with Joey in tow.
"Charles!" The youngest boy ran to the telepath. "I rode on a burro! A real one."
"Did you?" Charles beamed at him.
"Yeah, he did," Sean confirmed, not looking too happy. "They said I was too big."
Erik let loose an amused snort at that.
"They let you pet 'em," Joey pointed out.
"I guess." Sean sulked then perked at Charles offering him some of his cotton candy.
"Charles," Joey said sweetly, playing with the man's watch, "I've been feeling good all day. Do you think I could maybe… maybe go on the rollercoaster now?"
Charles sighed inwardly. It had not occurred to him until they got to the fair that there would be rides Joey could not get on. For the same reason Charles had forced the child to sleep through his first plane ride when they'd left Illinois together, Joey had not been allowed near the rollercoaster because the experience would be too frightening and would most definitely cause his powers to go off. Unexpected electricity combined with a rapidly moving rollercoaster did not sound like a positive mix.
"I'm afraid not, little one," Charles finally responded then felt his heart sink right along with the disappointed little face. "At least not this time. After we've spent more time working with your abilities then you'll be able."
"Okay," Joey replied quietly. He brightened a bit when he saw Alex coming over with something behind his back.
"Hey, check out who I found at the balloon pop." Alex lowered to Joey's level and pulled out a stuffed yellow and white puppy. "This is Scottie. He told me he wanted to meet the coolest kid on earth."
Joey grinned from ear to ear as Alex handed him the plush toy.
Charles smiled as well. Though well aware of Alex's surface level rotten streak, Charles knew quiet well that the young man had a far more endearing side than many cared to notice.
Hugging Scottie close, Joey asked, "Charles, will you ride the merry-go-round with me again?"
Charles started to say yes then thought of another idea. "I'm a bit tuckered out, pet but maybe Erik would like to ride with you this time."
When Erik held a hand out to him, Joey inched away a little. "I really want to go with you," he said to Charles.
Between Erik's split second dejected countenance that the stoic man quickly wiped away and Charles' apologetic expression, Alex decided to intervene. "Come on, Joe. I'll ride with you."
Joey nodded. "Hold Scottie please, Sean." He gave the stuffed dog over to the redhead.
Charles watched Alex leave with Joey before turning to the man next to him. "Erik, I'm sorry. He's still so timid."
Erik just shook his head dismissively. "I think I'll go check in with the rest of the brood." He stood and handed his popcorn tin to Sean, who happily sat next to Charles now to devour the remaining kernels.
IIIIIII
Hank looked up from the blue raspberry snow cone he shared with Raven in time to see the smaller pair with them prepared to slink off.
"Becca, Frank, stay where we can see you," Hank instructed.
They turned back and Frank said, "We just want to check out the haunted house. It's right down there." He pointed a few yards from their present location. "We'll come right back."
"We'll go with you," Hank said.
"Please, Hank," Becky piped up. "We really want to go in by ourselves."
Hank gave his close-enough sister a playful look. "Are you trying to become a big girl on me?"
"Oh, Hank, just let them go," Raven said, giving Frank a wink. "They'll be fine with Frankie there."
Frank smiled brightly and put an arm around Becky. "Don't worry, Hank. I won't let anything happen to Becky."
"Don't let anything happen to you, either," Raven called after the hastily departing two.
The pair of adolescent mutants made fast tracks to get in line for the haunted house. They only endured a five minute wait to get inside but by the end of it, Frank appeared all but ready to burst. He and Becky walked close with each other into the spooky themed attraction. Papier-mâché ghosts and ghouls flew out at them, followed by a vampire rising in a coffin, which startled them both for a moment.
They made it to the middle of the exhibit without anymore major scares until a figure in black leapt out at them from the shadows. Becky's eyes almost exploded out of her head at the sight of the red devilish mask that cackled evilly at them. Taking off in a sudden sprint, she raced for the exit.
"Becky, wait up!" Frank called after her but for once could not outrun the girl as she sped right by the confused mummy and Frankenstein that came next.
When she finally made it outside, Becky continued to run.
Don't see me, her mind screamed, don't see me!
Frank met up with Hank and Raven at the concession stand, hoping that's where Becky had taken off to.
Seeing him alone, Hank immediately demanded, "Where's Becca?"
"I don't know," Frank replied, completely bewildered. "She got scared in the haunted house and took off like a bat. She was right in front of me but by the time I made it out, I couldn't see her anywhere."
Hank frowned. That did not sound remotely like something Becky would do.
"She has to be over there somewhere," Raven reasoned. "Come on."
The three of them took off back towards the haunted house.
IIIIIII
Somehow making it through the throngs of people, mostly enthusiastic children pulling on their rather weary parents, Erik gazed about his rather colorful surroundings. His eyes suddenly zeroed in on a tiny head of curls, sitting on the sidewalk beside a mailbox.
Erik jogged over then knelt down beside her. "What are you doing over here by yourself? Where are the others?" Seeing her with that dead open eyed expression on her face, he shook her vigorously. "Rebecca!"
Becky gasped, seeing who had jostled her so. "Erik." Upon recognition, she immediately reached out for him.
The man lifted her into his arms as he got back to his feet. "Why are you over here alone? Are you all right?"
"I'm fine," she replied, glancing around as another realization hit her. "Where's Frank?"
"Here I am," the boy announced himself, running up with Hank and Raven. "There you are, Becky."
"I was worried about you," Hank told her.
Staring accusatory at the young couple before him, Erik wanted to know, "And exactly where were the two of you while she somehow made it over here?"
Raven replied in a strong tone, "Frank and Becky went to check out the haunted house together but Becky got scared and lost Frank in all the chaos. That's it."
"You shouldn't have let them go off alone," Erik retorted. "When we tell you to watch the kids, you're to do exactly that. Not devote time to "making time"."
Raven looked to Hank, expecting him to say something but the Harvard grad had no words. Raven could see the mixture of anger and inner disappointment forming on his face and she knew he blamed himself as much as Erik did.
"It's not their fault, Erik," Becky spoke up, getting the tall man's attention. "J shouldn't have been so afraid. It was stupid."
Erik eyed her. He could not begin to phantom what had gotten the normally collected child to fear to the point of running away from the group.
"Let's find the others," Erik finally spoke.
When he started to walk, Frank and the teens went after him. Raven took Hank's hand and held it reassuringly. Becky nestled down into Erik's sweater, fully calming down from her previous hysterics.
IIIIIII
A few hours after they made it home that evening, Charles went looking for Hank. He met with no surprise at discovering the highly gifted young man in the lab, reviewing some scrap work.
"Another late night ahead?" Charles spoke.
Hank glanced up at him. "Oh, Charles. I didn't hear you come in. No, I'm just taking a look at these new supplies for Cerebro. I know it's been quite some time since it's been online but I'm hoping things will look up soon."
Charles nodded before taking a seat on the table, facing the younger male. "Erik told me about what happened earlier at the fair with Becky. I spoke with Frank as well. I have to say I'm honestly surprised."
"Listen, Charles," Hank began, "I'm really sorry. I only let them go for a few minutes. I would never let anything happen to them. I swear to you."
After taking all of that in, Charles replied, "Actually, I meant I'm surprised with Becky. I can't understand what would cause her to exhibit a reaction far closer in line with Joseph's nervous behavior."
"I know," Hank concurred. "And I know Becca. She's not exactly introverted but she's not a kid who yells and causes a scene, either. I can't imagine what made her go off in that way."
Charles appeared thoughtful for a minute. "Hank, have you noticed any other changes here and there in her behavior? How is she doing in classes with you?"
Hank toyed with his glasses. "You understand that by answering you, I'm breaking several brother-sister confidentiality agreements?"
"Yes," the telepath said, "but speaking as a fellow older brother, when the sister's personal welfare becomes an issue, such confidentialities are considered null and void."
Hank considered this before speaking again. 'She's been spacing off in class. She missed a couple assignments here and there but I let her make them up. Has she missed anything with you?"
"No," Charles answered, "and certainly not with Erik. However, that spacing you spoke of is a frequent occurrence, in and out of the classroom. I can't tell you how many times I've seen her in a daze, as if frozen."
"Have you tried…?" Hank gestured towards his own head.
"No," Charles repeated. "I have not read her mind of late. I've been working with her during training but I try to give her as much space there as possible. She's faced so many sudden changes, the last thing I want to do is overwhelm the poor girl."
"Me, too," Hank nodded. "But after today— what if something like this happens again?"
Staring ahead, Charles did not quite have an answer for that just yet.
IIIIIII
Taking the brush through Eliza's soft hair once more, Becky did not look up when a knock came to her door.
"Who is it?"
"It's Erik," replied the European accented voice from the other side.
Becky smiled. "Come in."
Accepting the invitation, Erik entered the pleasantly decorated room. "Is there something you want to tell me?"
She hummed cheerfully, focused on her doll.
Taking a seat near her on the bed, Erik reached out and gently gripped the child by the wrist she held the hairbrush in.
"Rebecca, look at me." The command instantly got her eyes up. "I need you to be completely honest with me. Is anything troubling you? Anything at all?"
"Uh uh." She gave off a shake of her head.
Still not convinced, Erik said, "So whatever frightened you so terribly today is gone and forgotten? Right?"
"It was just being in the haunted house," Becky told him. "It's so silly now. I can't believe I just left Frank like that. I heard him telling Sean earlier that I ran off like a crazed chicken. I do not run like a chicken."
Taking the small hairbrush from her now, Erik played with it expressively as he spoke. "That was a very good attempt at not answering my question while still remaining on topic." He tapped her nose with the pointed tip of the brush. "You have a ways to go before you master mind games, young telepath."
Hugging her knees, Becky insisted, "I'm fine now, Erik, really. I'm safe with you, right?"
"Safest," he reinforced. "And I'm going to trust you. However, if I find out you've been less than honest with me this evening, you and I are going to have a conversation neither of us will enjoy. Do you understand?"
She cradled her doll in her arms. "Yes, Erik."
Erik nodded. "Good. Now," he sat the toy brush to the side, "it's time for bed."
Letting off only the slightest breath of protest, Becky lowered down under her blankets while Erik spread the lavender comforter over her.
He tucked her up to her shoulders then leaned in and kissed her cheek. "Good night, Sweet Imp."
"Good night, Erik," she said back, returning the peck. As he stood and headed for the door, she called after him. "Erik?" He looked back at her. "Please don't be mad at Hank. Please."
Erik did not speak for several seconds. "That's no concern of yours," he said at last. He clicked off the light but she could still make out his less than firm expression by the glow of the hall lamps that trickled in from her ajar door. "To bed with you, Miss Douglas."
Settling again, Becky soon drifted off as he left her to sleep.
IIIIIII
People screaming, some in panic but many others in agony, reverberated in her ears.
Rolls of fear and hopelessness swept through unrelenting, as if trying to consume her. She could not make it stop. The feelings— they kept coming and she had no way to turn it off. A pair of crimson hands crawled across her waist, inching closer and closer.
Before they could make contact with her face, her eyes opened and it all vanished at once; every disturbing sight and sound that had stalked her throughout the night. Becky quickly clicked on the lamp by her bed and had to train her eyes against the sudden light to get a good view of the clock; nearly six. It had stopped coming for a few nights but this time around had been the worst experience yet.
Not bothering to change out of her pajamas, Becky jumped from her bed like a survivor escaping a flaming ship and ran out of her room. She raced across the hall and down one to Erik's, flinging his door open. To her surprise, she found the bed unoccupied and made up for the day.
"Erik?" she called, hurrying over into his private bathroom next, only to see it empty as well. "Erik!"
Closing her eyes to shut out everything else, she did a quick mental sweep of the house. With her head so dazed and foggy, she could not locate the metal wielder anywhere.
Feeling utterly hopeless in that moment, Becky dashed out of the room altogether and right down the nearest staircase. She raced outside through the back way and continued on across the grounds with no destination of any kind figured out.
IIIIIII
Erik!
Still somewhat adjusting to Charles' favorite form of communication, Erik stopped his sprint long enough to respond.
What's going on, Charles?
It's Becky. Her mind is in severe distress. I only just awoke but I could feel it instantly. You must go after her.
Go after her? Erik echoed, feeling a surge of panic in his chest. What do you mean? Charles, where is she?
She's down by the lake. I've tried calling out to her but it's no use. You must get to her.
Erik took off towards the back of the house before Charles could complete his explanation. Déjà vu of the previous day hit him hard and fast at the sight of Becky curled up near a tree stomp, a mere foot or so way from the water.
"Rebecca!" Erik shouted.
As soon as he got close enough, he dropped to his knees and gathered the girl in his arms. She never looked so pale and Erik could feel the shivers coursing throughout the small body. He rocked her gently in his hold until she stirred away from the blank look present on her adorable face.
"Erik." She managed a smile. "I-I tried to find you…"
"Shhh." He stood and hurried back to the mansion, holding her as close to him as he could. "My God, you're freezing…"
When Erik made it back inside with the delicate cargo, Charles had already made it to Becky's room. Erik laid her down on the bed and went to work gathering the discarded blankets and wrapping the cold young one up into a snug cocoon. Charles, knowing he couldn't get the girl anywhere near a cup of tea no matter how frightful the weather, handed her a mug of piping hot chocolate.
"Feeling better, love?" Charles asked several minutes later when her color started returning.
Becky nodded hard, placing the mug on her night table then promptly snuggled back against Erik. "A lot better. Thanks."
"That was quite the scare you gave us," Charles said with the slightest trace of a smile on his friendly features. "But it appears that you're the one who's been experiencing the most fear, especially at night."
The curly headed brunette bit her lip, knowing he had already skimmed through her mind. "Yes…"
"How long has this been going on for?" Erik asked.
"Two or three weeks," Becky replied softly.
"Two or three weeks?" Erik repeated, having to keep his growing temper in check.
"Becky, just look at your eyes," Charles observed. "You've barely slept because of these night terrors. With our mental abilities, sleep is an ally we cannot afford to lose, darling. Now, why didn't you come to one of us the moment these nightmares began?"
"I don't know," Becky answered honestly. "I don't know what I was thinking."
Erik stated matter-of-factly, "You were thinking that if you never spoke of these things then they never really happened. That they don't really exist outside your head and come daylight, you wouldn't have to face them."
Charles stared at Erik. Without a doubt, the metallic wizard had just described his own means of coping with trauma.
The Englishman returned his attention to the child in the room. "We can fight these monsters together, Becky. I can help you if you let me."
Appearing unsure still, Becky listened as Erik spoke closely into her ear. "Rebecca, you're to do whatever Charles tells you."
"Okay." Becky's voice still carried uncertainty but she was not about to be disobedient.
"Relax," Charles instructed gently.
Placing finger to temple, he carefully dove into the adolescent mind. The screams, the pain, the agony— he felt them all at once at the same level of intensity Becky had been enduring for so long. The images of red and black devils with horns danced around before him. Despite the harsh force, Charles continued on but remained wary not to harm Becky's developing psyche in the process.
Feeling a surge of fear from the girl, Charles spoke to her mentally to keep her from retreating and breaking their telepathic link.
Rebecca, please. I know how difficult this is but you must hold on just a little longer.
I can't, Charles. Please, please! I can't!
Yes you can! You're my princess, Becky. Allow me to slay these dragons for you once and for all.
Okay, Charles. I understand.
With their link now stronger than before, Charles took hold of every dark image that had plagued her since the attack back at CIA and imprisoned them deeply into the furthest corners of Becky's mind. With his work completed, Charles released his psychological hold on Becky.
Erik, who had been holding onto her tightly throughout the process, held on as she went slightly limp against him.
Searching her head for something no longer present, Becky wanted to know, "Charles, is it really gone?"
"Not gone entirely but locked away somewhere where it can never harm you again," Charles assured her.
Not knowing how to react to it finally being over, all she could say was, "Thank you, Charles."
Taking her hand, Charles planted a kiss to the back of it. "At your disposal, Princess. Always."
Becky smiled as she was able to at last remember the good that emerged from that horrible day; Charles and Erik.
The two men exchanged a look and Charles knew Erik needed some time alone with the girl. "I'll see the two of you later on for breakfast." He gave Becky's hand a firm affectionate squeeze before he walked out, closing the door after himself.
Settling Becky so that she now lay beside him in her warm bundle, Erik could feel her go completely at ease in his clutch. Erik had never imagined his touch being able to bring comfort to another living being again, let alone one so small and precious. Coincidence was a fool's belief in Erik's opinion. The day he crossed paths with Rebecca Douglas, becoming joined by separate tragedies brought along by the same depraved man, he knew it had been for a reason. He had a duty to protect her; not only from the physical dangers the world brought them but from the inner anguish that had crippled Erik himself for so long.
They stayed lying together comfortably until Erik broke the contented silence with, "You were dishonest with me, Becky."
"I know," she sighed softly.
Erik continued despite her interjection. "Not only did you not tell me the truth last night but you've spent weeks hiding this from me." He took her by the chin, raising it up so that they now had eye contact. "You could have been hurt or worse yesterday, not to mention this morning.
"I didn't mean to tell you a lie, Erik." Her voice cracked a bit as she spoke. "I would never lie to you but it was so scary and I wanted it to go away. I didn't know all this would happen."
"Exactly. You didn't know," Erik rationalized with her. "You're too young to make these grownup decisions, Rebecca. You can never hide anything from Charles and you had better not hide anything from me again." He took immediate note of her rapid blinking. "You're holding back tears." His countenance went sharply stern. 'Stop it right now."
"I don't want to cry…"
"You are a little girl; a child," Erik emphasized. "You are not supposed to be courageous or strong. I am supposed to be those things for you. If you feel the need to yell or cry or scream, you aim it here." He indicated the middle of his chest. "I will be your target. Cast it all on me. All day and every day. I once made a vow to you to destroy the man who took your father away. Today, I make another vow, as your protector for life. That is a commitment I will never take lightly, Rebecca Douglas."
As if Erik's words freed her from some sort of invisible chain, Becky's tears spilled over, dripping all the way down to her bedspread. With no voice currently, she only nodded her understanding.
Wanting nothing more than to take her to the bathroom to wash her face then to the kitchen for those smiley face pancakes she loved so much, Erik knew they were not quite done yet.
"I warned you about not being honest with me last night, didn't I?"
"Yes," Becky whispered.
Erik nodded. "And you know never to leave this house nor wander off into the woods by yourself, especially so early in the morning. Right?"
"… Yes," she said again. "I'm sorry."
"Bring me your hairbrush."
Despite the circumstances, Becky just had to ask, "Why?"
Erik answered her with, "Because I'll need it for your punishment."
Becky knew it was coming but she felt her heart drop down into her stomach at the use of that last word. As she detached herself from her army of blankets, Becky thought about how much things really had changed. Had her father stood in Erik's place in that same moment, she would have wasted no time in getting into his mind and forcing him to forget whatever misdeed she had committed. She frequently made her father change his mind at the drop of a hat.
Though she had never tried it on the older mutant before, Becky did not see any reason why her abilities would not work on him the same way. However, Erik had made not one but two vows to her and had ordered her not to go into his mind. Something she did not understand propelled Becky to follow that rule and never toy with Erik's head.
The small one picked up the wire bristled brush used specifically for her unique hair texture and returned to Erik with it.
He took it, putting it to the side for now so that he could hold her hands with his own. "Are you nervous, Sweet Imp?"
"Yes," Becky responded.
"And you have every right to be," Erik told her kindly. "I'm going to put you over my knee and spank you. When I'm done, the slate will be wiped clean and it'll be as if none of this ever happened. Do you trust me?"
"Yes, Erik."
Erik could not resist giving a kiss to the cheek of his brave little miss for the response that held one hundred percent sincerity.
Before he could talk himself out of moving forward, Erik placed the child over his lap in a comfortable position where her upper body stretched out across the bed. Allowing her as much dignity as possible, Erik kept her pajama bottoms in place and started to spank over them with his hand.
It did not take long at all for Becky to become a mess of tears once again. Erik himself had to keep from wincing on her behalf as every cry she emitted made him want to cease immediately. He gladly would have switched places with her if it meant he took on all the pain while the lesson remained with her. Erik had become so used to pain that it seemed almost a close friend at points. The child over his knee would never be subjected to such torment. Causing her minor discomfort now to prevent something worse in the future seemed a fair bargain but it did not mean Erik had to like it in the slightest.
Withdrawing his hand when the count reached twelve on her behind, Erik now lifted the brush. He gave a fairly reasonable pop to each of her small thighs with it before practically tossing the implement to the side.
Gathering the weeping lass in his arms again, Erik stood so as to make it easier on her smoldering behind. He had no words for her right now, only allowing her to cry openly against his already sweaty workout shirt. After a couple minutes, Erik pulled back to gaze into her face but found it cloaked by a mess of curls.
"Where are those pretty green eyes?" he asked her benignly, tucking stands of hair behind her ear to reveal them. "Ah, there they are."
Managing a very small watery smile, Becky said, "I'm so sorry, Erik."
"It's no fault of your own," Erik replied, rubbing her back. "We'll just have to find something to do with this hair. I simply can't allow it to cover such a beautiful face."
Becky shook her head. "No, not that." She sniffed. "I mean for what I did."
Collecting a few tissues from the box on her dresser, Erik instructed, "Blow," before he reminded her, "Didn't I say the punishment would wipe the slate clean? You have nothing more to apologize for, my dear."
She blew her nose and wiped her eyes with the Kleenexes.
Erik noticed her silent cringe. "It hurts, doesn't it?"
"A lot," the small female responded.
"I know it." He kissed her forehead. "It hurt me to do it."
Becky took possession of the large hand he had used to inflict the punishment on her and pecked the reddened palm. The kind action only left Erik to wonder what being on high had sent the young lady to him. Perhaps someone up there had not forgotten him after all…
Careful of his actions so as not to jostle her, Erik laid back on her bed and rested Becky stomach down on top of him. He spread the nearest blanket over them, ignoring the extremely feminine color patterns on it.
For a moment, Erik thought he had somehow become delirious when what looked like… bubbles started floating up towards the ceiling. At the mischievous giggle that sounded next, he quickly remembered he currently held what Charles had described as "a brilliant illusionist".
"None of that," Erik admonished lightly. He rubbed her back. "Settle down now and get some rest before breakfast."
Becky laughed softly again before relaxing and closing her eyes.
Despite everything, Erik had to give the fledgling mutant credit; his little girl had a great deal of potential.
Even though the metal wielder could never admit it before an audience, he knew it to be true. To Hank, she was his sister. To Charles, she was his protégé. For Erik, however, she was his little girl.