X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall

Chapter Twenty Four

Author's Word: Hi, guys. As always, thanks for reading and reviewing. I hope everyone had some level of well-behaved fun this Superbowl Sunday. Consider this chapter a post-halftime show.

The rigorous special training in the field of mystic prowess had taken a great deal of time; nearly one whole day. Armed with his enchanted clothing and, most importantly, his fierce weapon, the novice wizard went to work to combat his foes. Hiding under the stairway, he waited with a quiet patience while Wiley the Red walked by. Once he had enough clear space, he gripped his weapon tightly and charged for the treacherous scoundrel.

"For the Flying Kitty!"

Sean turned around at the outcry, but did not have time to react before the attack hit him. He landed flat on his back, which would have been significantly more painful if not for the plush carpeting of the mansion.

"Joey," the indignant redhead spoke, "what are you doing?"

The tiny blonde replied strongly, "Thwarting you!" He then used his weapon to pop him on the forehead.

Sean used his forearm to block his head. "Cut it out, kid."

Approaching the scene from behind, Erik stopped just short of the boys. "Hold on a moment, Kangaroo." He lifted Joey up to his own feet and off of the currently defenseless Sean. "What seems to be the trouble?"

"Wiley the Red took the Flying Kitty," Joey explained in urgency, pointing an accusatory finger at Sean.

Erik raised an eyebrow. "The Flying Kitty?"

"Yeah, and I'm under orders from Merlin to get her back," Joey continued.

The metal wielder took a moment to gauge the little boy's full appearance. He had a blue cone shaped hat on his head made out of construction paper and strapped on by a rubber band. He also wore a dark blue dress shirt that most likely belonged to Charles. The thing that caught Erik's attention the most was the long sword designed out of cardboard and painted silver with a multitude of sparkles for effect.

"Did you make this yourself?" Erik asked with intrigue, taking the sword for closer observation. It looked quite impressive.

"No, I forged it with magic," Joey told him. "It's the mighty sword Xavier."

"You mean Excalibur," an annoyed Sean corrected, getting back on his own feet.

"No," Erik countered, "believe me. He means Xavier." He got down on one knee to Joey, holding the sword out. "Tell me, good wizard. If you truly are a sorcerer, why do you carry a weapon of man?"

"It's a magic sword." Joey placed a great deal of emphasis on the third word. "It's a wand, too."

"Ah." Erik displayed intrigue. "Well, it has to be magical. My magnetism seems to be utterly useless against it."

"Uh huh. I told you." Joey took the sword back. "Look what else it can do." He raised it up, pointing it at Sean. "Wiley the Red, disappear!"

Sean stared back at the child disparagingly. After that ambush, he wanted to take that makeshift sword and use it in a manner that would leave the little wizard quite sore for a while.

Joey watched him walk off and looked at Erik again. "See? He vanished."

"Nicely played," Erik responded. "Clearly, you're well advanced in these arts."

"Merlin taught me everything. He and Arthur are gonna show me how to rain candy from the sky."

"Are they? Well," Erik went over to foyer closet and removed a small green coat from it, "I feel the need to let you know what extreme cold can do to magic. Causes it to go haywire."

Joey started taking off the dress shirt, which acted as his magical cloak. "Really?"

Erik nodded and helped him into the coat. "Warmth helps it channel much better." Joey took the red mittens out of the pocket and extended them to the man. After a second's confusion, Erik got the indication and slipped them onto the small hands. "I do believe you're all set now. Have fun, Kangaroo."

Taking hold of his sword once again, Joey saluted him with the weapon. He then turned and headed out through the back exit. He spent twenty minutes out in the yard, pretending chocolate, caramel clusters, and other sweetened delights poured down around him right from the cloudy sky above.

Soon, the tall trees caught his attention. He remembered the grownups' words of caution to never venture into the woods alone. Then he also remembered that he had not only the great King Arthur backing him up but also Merlin.

With his two currently imperceptible comrades along, he advanced into the woods. He had not gone in too far before a sudden noise made him jump. Sword bared, Joey whirled around. Only barren trees and fallen leaves met his eyes. Hearing the sound again, Joey stopped to listen for its source. He noticed a rotting log and walked a few steps over to it. Crouching down, he gazed into the hollow opening.

A pair of shiny eyes peered back at him. The furry figure crawled up closer towards its unexpected visitor. Joey smiled widely upon realizing it to be a small wolf puppy. He laid his sword down and reached in and carefully lifted it free from the log. Joey and the puppy held each other's gaze for nearly a full minute, each seemingly fascinated by the other. The puppy made Joey laugh by grabbing at his left mitten and nibbling on it.

Recollection, along with a growling stomach, hit the young mutant hard. Promising to return, he placed the puppy back inside the log and gathered together leaves to create a bit of a door to keep anyone else from discovering him. Jumping up, Joey quickly ran back towards the mansion.

IIIIIII

A couple minutes after the last arrival to the table, Charles asked, "Has anyone seen Joey?"

"Not in a little while," Becky replied.

"Dude, where's your clone?" Frank said to Alex.

The blonde teenager felt the sides of his jeans. "He fell out of my pocket again."

"He's probably planning another attempt on my life," Sean tossed out bitterly. "Or Wiley the Red's life, anyway."

"You too?" Hank chimed up. "Earlier he attempted to mix together so-called potions in my lab. Thankfully he didn't get a hold of anything toxic."

"Can't say the kid's not creative," Alex remarked.

Sean scowled at him. "You say it because he'd never try to attack you."

Alex stated, "He knows better."

Joey came flying in. He came to an abrupt stop by his seat, panting heavily.

While Alex leaned over to remove the boy's coat, Charles frowned slightly. "You're late."

"I know," Joey breathed, holding his arms back for Alex to slide his winter garment off. "I'm sorry."

"What kept you?" Charles asked him.

Joey told him, "I was busy with the lost puppy."

At Charles' bewildered expression, Erik said, "I take it that's a friend of the Flying Kitty."

"Hmm," Joey considered this. "Probably."

"Merlin and Arthur's been by to see him," Erik clarified for his co-headmaster.

"Ah, right," Charles nodded, looking at Joey's cone hat with a smile. "Well, don't just stand there. Sit down. And do watch the time in the future."

"Yes, Charles," the little boy said, obediently taking his place at the table.

Raven started passing the food around. "You made it just in time, too. Looks like we're about to get a storm."

Frank grinned excitedly. "A storm? Can we watch a monster flick on the late show tonight?"

Charles exchanged a glance with Erik then nodded. "Just this once."

A pleased Sean and Frank hand slapped each other.

Joey went slightly stiff at the mention of rain.

Erik caught the worry in the small one's eyes. "Everything all right, young wizard?"

"Uh huh," Joey replied vaguely, his eyes never leaving the darkening windows.

"What's become of your sword?"

Joey realized it. "I guess I left it outside." He distractedly ate his steamed carrots, an orange substance he normally detested.

Erik kept an eye on the boy, but let the issue drop for the duration of dinner. If it got him eating his vegetables without complaint, it could not be altogether horrible.

IIIIIII

Rain poured down in buckets only a few minutes after the meal ended. After the dining table and kitchen were cleaned, everyone herded towards the den to get to the TV.

Alex stopped walking when he saw Joey headed for the stairs. "Hey, don't you want to watch a movie?"

Joey shook his head. "I don't feel like it."

Alex extended a kind hand to him. "Come on. You can sit with me and I'll punch anybody who makes fun of you for getting scared."

"I'm not scared," Joey said. "I just want to do something else."

"If you say so," Alex finally shrugged.

Once the older boy went into the den, Joey hurried upstairs. He went into his room and got on his boots, hat, and raincoat. Fully equipped now, he tipped back down. As quietly as he could, he slipped out the door.

As soon as he got outside, Joey ran as fast as his legs could carry him out into the woods. Praying and begging silently, he felt complete relief at finding the puppy safe and sound in the log. Except for being wet and obviously frightened, it seemed okay. Joey gathered him up and started back for the house.

Before he could make it all the way, he stopped and let off a screech as he almost ran into a thoroughly drenched Erik.

Having been suspicious of Joey's behavior over dinner, Erik had grown more so when Alex mentioned the child not wanting to take part in the horror fest on television.

Seeing the fragile creature in the boy's arms, Erik understood completely. "Give him to me," the man ordered gently.

After a bit of hesitation, Joey handed the puppy over.

On his way to fill requests for popcorn, Charles stepped out of the den in time to see the three of them re-enter the mansion.

The Professor stated dryly, "Who needs television when one lives here? Erik, what is going on?" He narrowed his eyes for a closer look. "Is that a wolf?"

Erik answered him with, "I don't have much idea myself. I watched Joey leave so I followed him out. Next thing I know, I see him with this little nipper." He patted the back of the squirmy puppy.

"I found him earlier," Joey explained. "He was all alone in the woods then it started to rain and I got scared."

Charles went and knelt down before the boy to remove his wet gear. "Joey, you had no business going out into that storm all by yourself."

Joey's lips puckered out. "I didn't want anything to happen to him."

At the innocent face looking back at him combined with the saddened tone, Charles could not go on scolding him. "Go on up and take a hot bath. We'll talk about this in a little bit."

"Yes, Charles." Joey started for the stairs but turned back. "What about my friend?"

Erik said, "We'll get him cleaned up and fed. Then we'll see about finding him a good home."

Joey looked at the wild dog fondly, not wanting to deal with the thought of letting him go. He went up with dragging feet.

IIIIIII

After a brief shower on his own part, Erik put on gray sleep pants and his black robe. He came back downstairs and saw Charles in the kitchen, feeding chunks of meat to the wolf pup. Judging by the creature's size, Erik guessed it could not have been more than a few weeks old. How very strange for it to be separated from its mother.

"You know we can't keep it."

Charles glanced up from allowing the puppy to chase his fingers back and forth. "To quote the rest of you, stay out of my head."

Erik said reasonably, "Charles, it's a wild animal. It wouldn't be fair for us to try and keep it."

"I kept Raven," Charles attempted to counter. "That was certainly a trial." He sighed. "Well, I do have an old contact at the zoo I could call. It's only a few miles from here."

The metal wielder chuckled at the statement about Raven then nodded. "It's for the best. Now, what are we to do about the boy?"

"The idealistic side of me wants to make him a hot chocolate and read him a story."

"And the realistic side?" Erik prompted.

Charles said, "He could have been hurt or gotten lost in that downpour. He certainly should not have been off in the woods alone." The telepath stood from the puppy, who watched him with interest. "I'll have to punish him."

Knowing this next part would be difficult for all parties involved, Erik decided to simply come right out with it. "I think I should be the one to do it." At Charles' stunned expression that followed, Erik elaborated. "I was the one who found him out there, therefore it's my responsibility."

Having to admit he had a point there, Charles still could not imagine leaving Erik to chastise his little one while he simply stood by and waited. Not sure when this had happened exactly, somewhere along the way the children had become sectioned off between the two men. Whenever something happened with Becky, Erik took care of it. If Sean got into trouble, Charles tended to hand him consequences. It did not feel so much like a separation, but more of an unspoken understanding between the brothers. Charles had noticed it and he did not have to read Erik's mind to know that he had as well.

"You know he's likely to come running to me afterwards?" Charles was not trying to hold it over him, but merely wanted to bring the fact to his attention.

"I know," Erik said. "But if I'm ever to have that child's trust in full, I have to step up more. That includes discipline. It's also not fair that you should carry that weight alone."

"You're right," Charles had to admit. "I for one trust you, Erik. I only ask that you remember his feelings."

"I know how much you love him," Erik stated. "And if I thought for a moment about truly hurting him, I'd sooner slice off my own hands."

Not needing further convincing, Charles gave him a nod.

With no more words necessary, Erik headed out of the kitchen.

Charles glanced down at the puppy, who appeared to have been following the conversation quite closely.

IIIIIII

Joey sat in his bedroom in fresh pajamas, trying to dry off his still damp hair.

Erik knocked once then entered. "Well, after today I don't think either of us will need to bathe the rest of the week."

The child smiled slightly. "Is my friend okay?"

"He's fine," Erik assured. "Charles is making him nice and plump even as we speak." He came over and took out the desk chair, sitting in it. "We need to talk, Kangaroo."

Staying in tune with the adult's movements, Joey placed the towel to the side. "Okay."

"Joey," Erik began, his tone carefully even, "you know you shouldn't have been out in the storm, let alone in the woods."

"I know," the boy sighed. "I wasn't trying to be bad, really. But he didn't have a mom or anybody. I couldn't just leave him."

Erik listened to every word he had to say and felt nothing close to anger. To the contrary, he could grasp his thought process completely. He saw so much of Charles in the little boy it seemed unreal; all of the kindness, warmth, and sense of needing to help others that it almost cancelled out his own self-preservation. If not for his fellow mutants, Erik himself would never have rediscovered these concepts.

"You did the right thing," he told Joey with a strong sincerity behind the words. "You only went about it in the wrong way. If you'd gotten hurt outside, it would not have done you or your little friend very much good. Even when it's difficult, Joey, you cannot be afraid to come to us with a problem."

"Yes, sir." Joey stood from his bed and walked over to Erik's right leg. "You're gonna spank me, aren't you?"

Smart boy, the metallic mutant thought.

"Yes, I am," Erik replied honestly, bracing himself for any electrical outburst that would ensue.

"On my bare bum?" the eight-year-old asked next.

Erik tried to hide his small smile. He could almost hear the English accent float off the adolescent tongue. "No," he said, "I don't think that will be necessary." He looked on as Joey grasped the hand that would soon deliver his punishment. Looking into the blue eyes that held no manner of ill-will, Erik silently wished he had let Charles come up instead. "Do you trust me?"

Joey thought it over before nodding hard. Then without being asked, he bent over the man's lap.

Erik adjusted him carefully. He took note of how small the body looked across his knee, even when compared to Becky. With his heart weighing him down, Erik raised his hand and brought it down four sharp times over the tiny bottom.

He braced himself again as he stood Joey up, trying to ready himself for any reaction.

When imploring hands reached out for him, Erik did not hesitate to pick up the young mutant and hold him in his lap. Joey buried his face in Erik's robe. He whimpered at his stinging bottom, but that mostly came from being so freshly bathed.

Erik embraced him tighter, rubbing his back with as much comfort as he could offer. "If anything had happened to you, Kangaroo, I don't know what I would have done."

Joey tried not to sound so surprised as he looked up. "Really?"

"Of course, silly boy," Erik responded wholeheartedly. "I've held solid gold in my hand that does not have near the worth that you do. You're my little one, too."

Joey started to smile, but could not help the frown at the thought that came to him next. "Erik?"

"Yes?"

"Would you be mad if I said Charles is like my dad?" the little blonde put forth. "I know he's not really, but it feels like he is. I love you, too, but you're like my uncle."

Erik responded to that with, "Mad? Not in the slightest. The reason Charles feels so much like your dad is because he is, in every way that matters. It gives me great honor to be Uncle Erik for you."

Filled with glee, Joey sat up a bit to hug Erik around the neck. "Can we go find Charles?"

"Yes, of course." Smiling himself, Erik stood with the boy safely in his clutch.

IIIIIII

Trying to distract himself from the goings on of upstairs, Charles took the puppy and brought them both into the parlor. He tried to ease his nerves with a book, but could not retain anything without having to jump up to chase the small wolf away from the fireplace, from clawing the chairs, then from running about and scattering the papers on Charles' desk.

"No, no, no," the Professor reproached when the puppy moved on to nipping at the rug. "That is not a chew you, you naughty thing." He picked the little scamp up and applied a series of firm taps to its read end with the tips of his fingers. "Now," Charles held the dog up over his head, "you behave yourself or you'll find a rolled up newspaper in your immediate future. Understand?" The puppy responded by sneezing and raining down residue right on Charles' face. "Ah! Delightful."

Getting down to the couch, Charles sat the dog next to him while he retrieved a Kleenex to wipe himself off with.

Erik walked in with Joey in tow. "Here we are." He placed the eager Joey into Charles' waiting arms. "Back to Daddy."

Joey pouted and tugged on Charles' shirt. "Daddy, Uncle Erik spanked me."

Surprised by the term the boy used, Charles glanced up at Erik, who winked secretively. "Did he? Aw, you poor thing." He kissed Joey on the top of the head. "Well, you aren't alone." He gave the puppy a rub. "Your little mate here earned himself a bit of a spanking with his own mischief."

"Oh no." Joey started to pat the puppy to comfort him, but stopped his hand. He looked up at Charles, mutely asking for permission.

"Go on," Charles consented. "But do not get too attached, love. He's going to the zoo in the morning."

Joey, of course, did not like this. "Does he have to go?"

"I'm afraid so," Charles said gently. "I know he's very cute, but he's still a wild animal. He wouldn't be very happy here when he got much bigger, but I'll see to it that you get the chance to visit him as often as you like. Does that sound all right?"

"I guess," Joey whispered sadly.

Erik came over and sat on the arm of the couch. "You're very fortunate the mother wolf did not come out and attack you."

Joey patted the puppy absently as he spoke. "His mommy wasn't out there. She probably went away because he wasn't born right and 'cause he has the devil in him."

Charles and Erik both glowered at this.

"Joey," Charles said, "this puppy certainly does not have the devil in him. Why would you say that?"

"I do," the child claimed faintly. "That's why Mommy left me. She hardly ever touched me at all and she never ever spanked me like you two do. Nobody ever liked to touch me." He let off a tiny spark from his fingers. "'Cause of this."

Erik placed a hand on the younger mutant's shoulder. "You listen to me, young man. I have known men who walk hand and hand with Satan. You are nothing like them. The people who turned away in fear of you were ignorant cowards."

"That's absolutely correct." Charles took Joey's hand and gripped it tightly. "I never want you to dwell on those unhappy memories. You are a very good boy and no matter what, we love you very much."

Joey smiled. "I know it. That's why you spank me."

"Yes, well, hopefully you learned your lesson tonight," Erik said. "Because should this happen again, you will see just how far that love goes."

Charles tacked on meaningfully, "From both of us."

Appearing the picture of innocence, Joey said, "Don't worry. I learned it." He lifted up the puppy and held him close. "Will you read us a story?"

"I will," Charles replied. "How about we pop in on our friends Merlin and Arthur?"

"Yeah!" Joey cried excitedly while the puppy let off a concurring bark.