X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Thirty Two
Author's Word: My readers, my friends, my apologies! The last six or more days have been positively exhausting. I have been so tired from working and now I'm taking a three day class, which I have a random quiz in today. Now I really, really know how Alex feels with this GED. Please send me positive whispers, my people! I wanted to have this up sooner but the chaos prevented it. I will make it up to you as quickly as possible, especially if the feedback is good. Enjoy!
Twirling the chain around his pointer finger, Charles started to slip the key into the left hand side of his rental. Erik reaching across the hood with his hand out gave him pause.
"I'm driving."
"It's my car," Charles reminded him.
"No, we agreed," Erik said. "If we take your car, I drive."
Raven's hazel eyes danced back and forth between the debaters.
"It makes no sense for you to drive," Charles reasoned. "You don't know the way and I'm hardly in the mood to point out landmarks when it's far more sensible for me to drive."
Erik sighed in mild annoyance. "We should have flipped a coin."
Charles let off a snort. "As a living magnet I'm sure you would have preferred that."
"Says the telepath," Erik immediately came back with. "I cannot believe I fell for that suggestion of rock, paper, scissors. How do I know you and that conniving mind of yours didn't pry to find out which move I would use?'
"Erik, really? That would be sheer laziness on my part," Charles said haughtily. "As if your actions were not so very predictable. Scissors. I just knew it would be the scissors. Anything involving metals…"
"Guys," Raven finally cut in, getting their eyes on her. "If we miss out on a club that doesn't close until one AM that would be very sad."
"Right." Charles looked to Erik again. "I'm driving."
Erik, choosing the mature route, opened the passenger side door for Raven before getting into the back. He only hoped they could make it through the evening without him having to clamp down a trap on a certain brown haired Lab Rat.
IIIIIII
Frank grunted as his back made contact with the throw rug, compliments of Sean flipping him over. Rolling over onto his stomach quickly, Frank crawled under the wide space between his legs. As soon as he got through far enough, Sean sat down lightly on Frank and began to pull at one of his ankles.
"Give up yet?" the redhead asked him.
Groaning, Frank replied, "You wish!" He wiggled as best he could until his teeth managed to clamp down on Sean's t-shirt covered side.
The move made Sean jump with enough surprise for Frank to scramble free. "Okay." Sean spun around on his behind. "You want to fight dirty, huh?" He lunged.
Frank laughed and hurried out of the way.
Hearing the commotion, Becky headed towards the foyer. She stopped for several seconds to take in the two shifting about very much in the style of monkeys.
"Frank," Becky addressed, "want to shoot marbles?" She held out the glittery decorated box that contained her collection.
"Later," Frank answered shortly, ducking out of grabbing range. "I can't stop until I kill Sean."
"Don't bet on it, Frank N' Beans," Sean challenged.
"Oh yeah?"
As their show of jungle creature behavior went on, Becky shrugged them off before going in search of other activities.
IIIIIII
After parking the Cadillac in a spot, Charles, Erik, and Raven exited the vehicle and started down across the street then down.
"You are going to love this club," Charles told Erik undoubtedly. "H2O is the largest hotspot of this entire area."
Erik nodded, feigning interest. He had never been one for crowded meeting grounds filled with overly enthusiastic intoxicated individuals. However, Raven and Charles had been so adamant about sharing one of their old stomping grounds with him that he had been unable to refuse.
Charles stopped suddenly in front of one building, causing Raven and Erik to come to a halt right along with him. Charles stepped back a few paces with the other two mimicking his movements.
"This is H2O. " Charles studied the building they had arrived in front of again, finding a florescent sign that read Merry Lounge in cursive blue letters across the top of the entrance. "Isn't it, Raven?"
"This is where it used to be," the girl recalled, hands in the pockets of her small jacket. "Looks like they fell under new management."
Erik gave off a slightly contemptuous smile. "I see why it was called H2O. It certainly went under."
"Oh drat," Charles reacted. "I suppose a lot can change in a couple years. It's a shame. I very much wanted you to see it, Erik."
Raven noticed a small poster in the window. "They're having a poetry smash. Let's check it out."
Charles perked up at the suggestion and Erik thought it sounded better than what they had originally planned.
Led by Raven, the three went into the dark lounge. Dim blue lighting from small lamps provided the sole illumination for the establishment.
"Cocktails all around," Charles put forth, spotting the bar.
"Sounds good," Raven said.
Charles gave her a pointed look. "It's cola for you. You know that."
"Charles, come on," Raven urged him. "My control is so much better now." She lowered her voice a bit. "If I could stay in my normal form during all of that destruction at the CIA facility, I think I can handle a little vodka."
Before Charles could disagree, Erik chimed in with, "I don't think one drink will do her remote harm."
Raven gave him an adorable smile. "Thank you, Erik."
"Fine," Charles gave in.
"And your limit is three," Erik informed him.
"Beg pardon?" the surprised telepath responded.
"I'm not having you get bombed," Erik said. "I have no interest in having to practically carry you out to the car like that incident from last year."
At Raven's laughter, Charles said pointedly, "Do not forget who controls your charge cards, Miss."
IIIIIII
Fully ready to pin press Frank onto the floor, Sean's purposeful dash came to an abrupt end as the plastic sword swiped at his long legs. The teenager fell forward with a groan. Glaring and not at all in a playful sense, Sean peered over his shoulder at the infamous little wizard.
"I caught you," Joey declared giddily, raising his sword up over his head.
Sean stated matter-of-factly, "The only one who's going to catch it is you."
Frank completely hung back during the proceedings. If Sean had ever not been bluffing about the whole BBS thing, the light producing child did not want to be trapped in the crossfire.
Before so much as a finger could be laid on Joey, Alex seemed to instantaneously appear from around the corner. Seeing the look on the normally calm redhead's face, he right away went to stand between him and Joey.
"What's your problem, Banshee?"
"I'm sick of being a target for this kid every time he wants to pretend he's a wizard," Sean replied in irritation. "He just knocked me over— again!"
"Would you relax?" Alex glanced down at the youngest member of their mutant lineup. "Joe, tell Sean you're sorry."
"I'm sorry, Seanie," Joey said meekly.
"Go upstairs," Alex instructed. "I'll come play with you in a sec, okay?"
The small child nodded and hurried off.
"Pint-sized pain," Sean remarked.
"Hey, you lay off him," Alex ordered. "In case you haven't noticed, there's not a pack of kids his age running around here. We're all he's got. He wouldn't try to get you to play so much if he didn't like you. Can't fault him for bad taste."
Sean scowled. "He thinks I'm easy prey. He'd never go after you or Hank like that."
"He just—" Alex had more to say but a sudden upward crash silenced him. "I got it." He rushed upstairs. "Joey? Joe?"
"Here, Al…"
Alex followed the tiny docile voice to the end of the hall nearest the main master suite. Joey stood gripping his sword right beside a very broken window.
The older blonde started checking Joey over. "Are you okay? You didn't get cut, did you?"
"No," Joey replied, unable to take his eyes off the off the shattered glass.
"What the heck happened, kiddo?" Alex wanted to know. "I only left you alone for a minute."
Joey began the explanation. "I was playing Merlin and King Arthur. I tried to use my sword— 'cause it's a wand, too, you know— to call down thunder and then," he waved his sword a bit, "I shoved it right through the glass. I didn't mean to do it. I swear."
After hearing it all, Alex responded with, "Aw man, Joe. You called down the thunder alright. Wait until Charles sees this. You know you're supposed to be careful when you play with that thing inside." He pointed at the sword.
"I'm sorry…" Joey dipped his head.
Naturally, Alex softened faster than butter under a light bulb. "Hey, don't get upset." He lowered down, touching the tiny one's shoulders. "I'll take care of this. Just give me time to think. But first, I need to get this mess cleaned up."
"Let me help," Joey volunteered.
"No," Alex turned down. "I don't want you getting cut. Just go to our room and play." He then added on, "Calmly and quietly."
"I will," he promised, heading off in the direction of their quarters.
Surveying the glass spill again, Alex went to retrieve a broom and tried to devise some sort of plan to explain the whole pesky situation away.
IIIIIII
" We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries
To thee from tortured souls arise.
We sing, but oh the clay is vile
Beneath our feet, and long the mile;
But let the world dream otherwise,
We wear the mask."
A round of soft applause went off at the conclusion of the fourth recitation.
Raven beamed at the lanky young man as he stepped down. He could not have been much older than her but his chosen poem had made him sound so sophisticated.
The last two speakers had been men and they made her think about Hank and secretly wish for his presence. Raven could just picture her devoted beau up there, reciting poetry right at her in front of everyone. Of course, she had his private Shakespeare narrations to always look forward to. Combined with late night kissy cuddles, it made the girl feel a lot better.
The MC, a round woman who looked to be in her early thirties or so, returned to the microphone. "Thank you for that sharing of The Mask by Paul Laurence Dunbar. Who's ready next?" At the severe lack of responses, the woman put a hand on her hip. "Come on now. We're doing good tonight. Don't try to play shy now."
When a hand close to them went up, Charles and Raven very nearly fell out of their chairs upon realizing that the raised limb belonged to Erik.
The MC smiled. "Come on up here, sir."
Encouraging applause sounded as Erik stood and took to the stage, leaving behind a pair of very confused younger siblings.
Gripping the microphone, Erik cleared his throat before gazing out over his waiting audience.
"I have searched for many years,
Lived through tunnels of fears,
Reminiscing on what could have been,
The conqueror I always saw within.
A couple of months ago my search finally came to an end,
A family amongst the best of friends.
What you mean to me I cannot express,
You're more than someone I call when I am in distress.
This is a fresh start, a new road,
Let us sit back and watch it unfold."
The moment the silence lingered, indicating the poem had reached completion, roars of claps went off. Charles sat back, unable to find words while Raven's eyes hinted at moisture.
Returning to their table, Erik prompted, "Well? Opinions?"
Raven jumped right into his arms and Erik had to take a few steps back to keep them both from going to the floor. He started to say something but Charles could not even contain himself and rushed into the embrace next. The added English weight made them finally lose stability and topple right over.
IIIIIII
Putting his hand out, Hank pushed the ajar door fully open and went in. He quickly lost the smile he wore at the sight of Becky on her knees on the bench of the balcony. She bent forward, staring deeply into the mirror as she worked. All Hank wanted to know was what evil unseen force had swapped out his precious little sister for the currently pasty faced, red cheeked, pink lipped creature.
"Becca?" he addressed, partly wondering if it really was her.
"Hi, Big Bear." She looked over with a grin, putting the lipstick down. "How do I look?"
"No, no, no, no, no." Hank repeated the word over and over as he came over. "Becca," he plucked up a few tissues from the box, "why are you in Raven's makeup?"
Becky moaned as he went over her face with the thin white cloths. "She showed me how to put it on. Well, just lipstick. For the rest I just watched her. I guess I put on a little too much."
"More like a savage kindergarten army finger painted you," Hank commented.
"Ow!" Becky hissed as he rubbed at her cheek a little too hard.
"Sorry, but this crimson substance is hard to get out." He tried to think of what Raven called it. Rogue? Or was it rouge? "You're too young for this."
"I was just having fun," she told him. "I played dolls all day and I didn't want to wrestle."
Understanding now, Hank sat beside her on the bench in a position that allowed him to look at her now clean face. "Well, why don't you and I have a long round of checkers?"
Becky shook her head. "You don't have to play with me. I know you have more fun with the boys."
"You mean when I'm not ready to smother one of them?" He smiled at the laugh he got out of her. "No one beats my sweet perfect little sister. Who is even more perfect when she's not covered in unnecessary cosmetics." He tossed away the used tissues.
"You like them on Raven," Becky pointed out.
"Raven's a big girl."
"So am I," she countered importantly.
Hank indicated the messy vanity with a wave of his hand. "Big girls clean up after themselves."
She smirked, "Sounds like a big brother job."
Unable to dart away before Hank snatched her up, Becky fell under the torment of his tickling fingers.
IIIIIII
Alex placed the last of the glassy contents into the kitchen trash can. After seeing to it that the last of the shards had been discarded, he brought the broom and dust pan back into their thin closet.
"Got it all covered up for him already, don't you?"
The blonde glanced over at the doorway to Sean. "Would you come off it? It's not like he meant to do it. I'll just tell Charles and Erik we were throwing a ball around outside and lost control of it."
Sean shook his head critically. "You're always shielding him."
"Don't even," Alex said briskly. "As much bull as Frank pulls around here, I don't want to hear you a word about Joe. He's the nicest kid here."
"I know that," Sean agreed. "I just don't think you're really helping him."
"Look, I know he gets on your nerves sometimes, but that doesn't mean you have to root for him to get into trouble."
"I don't want to see Joey in trouble. I just can't help thinking that you've been going out of your way for him even more lately because you think you owe him."
Alex got into Sean's face. "I do owe him. Newsflash, red. If it wasn't for that kid saving my ass, you'd be standing here talking to yourself right now."
Lowering his head at that, Sean whispered, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean anything. But I feel like it's a bad idea if we basically tell them it's okay to lie to Charles and Erik over petty stuff. I've been there. It doesn't turn out well."
Looking in the direction of the refrigerator, Alex believed the younger teen to have a valid point.
IIIIIII
Fifteen minutes after the poetry smash broke out, Charles, Raven, and Erik lingered behind in a round booth with Raven tucked between the two males. The owner did not seem to mind their loitering as her staff clean up; most likely due to Erik getting up to recite so voluntarily.
"I'm still not over this," Raven said, smile never leaving her face. "That was incredible, Erik."
"Well done, old man," Charles praised. "So off the cuff."
"I've been told my abilities towards "opening up" leave something to be desired." Erik put his long empty glass down. "I needed you to know how I felt. Those verses have been in my head for quite some time. I thought this way would be as best any to express things."
Charles nodded. "We should all make it a point to talk more."
"What was it like watching Shaw die?" Raven put forth.
Erik stared at her. "Where did that come from?"
"I've been meaning to ask but it's not the kind of thing you bring up casually," Raven rationalized. "But it's what you wanted forever. When it finally happened, what did it feel like?"
Erik considered the question carefully. "Like a hundred-year-old bottle of wine, it had its temporary thrill. Then it fell short to me rising from the ground to find you two awaiting me with open arms." He toyed with a stray toothpick on the table. "As if a sign that the nightmare had truly ended."
"I think it did for us all that day," Charles concurred before landing his eyes on Raven. "Now, let us discuss Hank for a moment."
The golden haired girl sprang to life. "What about Hank?"
"What about the two of you in the same bed?" Erik hinted.
"Oh guys, come on." Raven banged her forehead against the table lightly. "We already talked about this. Nothing happened. If something was going to happen, we've had enough chances."
"We know," Charles told her. "As far as honorability, Hank is the highest possessed of that quality."
"However," Erik brought up, "hormones have a tendency to turn the most rational mind into putty. Do not let them cloud your judgment." He touched Raven's shoulder. "Take that from the one who has been around the park."
"Yes, there will be no milk sampling in this family," Charles stated. "Hank will have to purchase the cow." Raven's mouth dropped wide open and Charles flustered. "Oh, you understand what I mean. As wonderful a catch as Hank is, we all know he's the lucky one in this scenario. You're a one in a million girl, Raven."
"Make sure he knows it," Erik added meaningfully.
Raven kissed each of their cheeks. "You guys are pretty good catches yourselves."
Charles smiled then stretched tiredly. "Perhaps we should be getting back."
Erik gave the bartender a final tip and the mutant trio walked out of the dark lounge and into the numerously lit streets of the outdoors.
"How could it have possibly gotten hotter out here?" Raven undid her jacket.
Charles noticed two boys across the street at a fire hydrant with a wrench. "Seems it became a tad too human for those lads over there."
Seeing the children struggling so, Erik brought up his hand. He jerked the appendage in such a way that the metal seals on either side of the hydrant popped off. A wild burst of moisture let loose from the red object.
Raven yelled excitedly and hopped up and down as the water streamed their way in gushes.
Charles chuckled as they approached the hydrant further. "Good show, Erik. Although a tad mischievous…" He slyly kicked out a leg, making the older man trip over into the river he had helped to create.
Putting her hands to her mouth, Raven tried to sustain the burning laughter she felt at the sight.
Erik, drenched to the bone, rolled over with a strong glare for Charles. "I assume you think this is funny?" The metal wielder attempted to get up but slipped and had to use the nearby sidewalk to steady himself.
"A trifle amusing," Charles responded then spotted a stray piece from a broken two by four floating by and took hold of it.
Between Erik's arched over position and the gleam in Charles' eyes, Raven knew what he intended to do. "Charles…" She tried to caution him but could not stop grinning.
"Ah!" Erik cried out painfully as the formerly discarded wood connected with his soaked behind. "Charles Xavier- Ah!" Another whack came. "When I get up- Ahhh!"
"I'm sorry." Charles feigned deafness. "I'm unable to hear you over the water."
Before he could continue the good-natured paddling, Erik veered around and grabbed the cheeky telepath by the ankle. He brought him down with a strong yank.
At the splash fest that ensued, Raven came to stand over them. "So I guess I'm driving back?"
IIIIIII
Hearing the footsteps quickly approaching, Joey moved over closer to Alex.
"It'll be okay." Alex placed a secure arm around him. "Just remember what I told you."
Joey nodded then sat up on his knees as Charles came in. "Hi, Daddy!"
"Hello, little one." Charles kissed the top of his head then rubbed Alex's hair. "And significantly bigger one of course."
Alex took in Charles' frazzled appearance. "Uh, what happened to you?"
"Oh, this?" Charles looked himself up and down, shaking out his gray jacket. "Just a small accident. Speaking of which," he pointed out into the hall, "would either of you happen to know what became of that poor window?"
"Daddy?" Joey spoke up slowly. "It was me. I got too close to it when I was playing with my sword."
Charles frowned at this. "Were you hurt?"
"Nuh uh." Joey shook his blonde head hard. "But I'm really sorry."
"Well then, I suppose it's no real harm done," Charles decided. "And you did come forward with the truth. I know that took a lot of effort on your part. However, in the future be more careful or I'm going to have to ask Uncle Erik to take your sword back for a little while."
Joey felt like jumping to the ceiling as the relief washed over. "Okay! I'll be more careful. I promise."
When the little boy reached his arms out for a hug, Charles gladly reciprocated it. Joey giggled and took the opportunity to play in his guardian's still damp hair.
IIIIIII
With the aid of his powers, Erik carried the utensils from the dishwasher to their proper drawer. Hearing the sounds of padded feet coupled by a long masculine yawn, Erik did not have to turn around to see that Charles had just joined him in the kitchen.
The worn out telepath draped the wet towel across his shoulders and shook out his hair. "Rounds all done for the evening?"
"All are sound asleep," Erik reported, keeping his attention with the dishwasher.
"Tonight was simply smashing," Charles stated contentedly. "I'm only sorry I didn't get a chance to show you a proper Los Angeles club scene."
"Trust me," Erik responded. "I much preferred the scene of sharing the written word with the two of you. We must do it again."
Charles nodded. "Quite. Well, good night, brother."
"Good night," Erik returned then asked, "You just got out of the shower, didn't you?"
"Not five minutes ago actually," Charles answered. "Why do you ask?" Then he watched as a spatula magnetically hovered up into the air. He took multiple steps back. "Now, Erik, let's— let's be reasonable. You must know that I meant nothing from earlier. It was all in fun and games."
"Don't worry." Erik snatched the spatula up, pinning the younger man with a foreboding smile. "This will be as well."
Short on words, Charles whipped around and took off at a speed he himself did not known he possessed. Erik shot after him, calling out "Lab Rat" in a singsong yet menacing tone every so often.