X-Men-First Class: Rise or Fall
Chapter Forty Four
Author's Word: Thank you for the immense amount of feedback from the last round. Now, proceed with caution ahead.
Placing the renovated model in the center of the lab floor, Hank then held its controller out to Frank.
The boy gave off surprised eyes. "You want me to do it?"
"You came up with the design," Hank reminded him. "As well as the equal work you put in. It's only fair you should power it up."
Grinning, Frank took the handheld device. "Ready?"
"All systems are a-go," Hank responded.
Using his index finger for the ON button, Frank wiggled the joystick upward. The lower internal propeller came to life, allowing the small plane to float up towards the ceiling. With two fingers attached to the joystick, the aerial vehicle glided around the lab in multiple circles.
Hank nodded encouragingly. "Well done. Now, let's see if you can land it."
As carefully as he could, Frank aimed the stick downward. With some precision, the plan landed just a short distance from the edge of one of the black tables.
"Alright!" Frank reacted, approaching the table.
A couple days back, he had gone to Hank for help with repairing his toy World War I signal plane. It had quickly evolved into a much deeper project.
"Congratulations, Frank," Hank commended. "You may have just designed the base model for our next jet." The tall young man gave him a hug from behind.
Frank smiled, touching Hank's long arms. "What's this for?"
"Being the best little lab assistant I have ever had." Hank ruffled his hair before letting him go. "Along with the coolest of course."
"Oh yeah?" Frank smirked. "What about Rae?"
Then it hit Hank like a brick to the head. "Raven… is going to kill me." He then spotted someone walking by the double doors. "Erik!"
The Poland native stepped in. "You rang?"
"If you're headed out, could you pick Raven up from the 24 Café? We're still doing testing in here."
"Could I?" Erik pretended to consider it. "Hm, I suppose it wouldn't be too painfully troubling."
Frank went over, leaning against him. "I want something sweet."
"Do you?" Erik pressed a hand to his back. "Some fresh fruit perhaps?" At the adorable scowl sent his way, he chuckled. "I'll see."
Erik took his leave of the lab, continuing on downstairs.
IIIIIII
As another Beatles hit sounded from the jukebox, Raven nursed her empty white mug that once held hot chocolate. She gazed out the window, taking time to study her blonde reflection every so often.
"Anything else, hon?" a waitress asked, coming to the girl's table. "We're closing up pretty soon." She noticed the squint in Raven's eyes. "You okay?"
"Yeah, fine," Raven smiled. "Just getting tired." She put her two books back into her purse and got up.
Raven walked out of the café and propped up against the glass shelter of the bus stop a few yards away. Her eyes darted up and down the street expectantly.
At the sound of an engine, she grew excited. She then sighed once she realized it to be nothing more than a truck filled with four guys that in no way belonged to her household.
Hank McCoy, where are you?
"Hey, Miss Lady, you waiting on somebody?"
Raven turned her head, seeing the driver of the truck. "My boyfriend," she told him pointedly.
"So-called boyfriend," he commented. "Listen, I'm Ricky. I don't leave my women at the bus stop."
"Lucky them." Raven looked away again.
"Let me take you home." He slid a hand across her cheek.
Feeling immediately intruded upon, Raven bit down on the unwanted appendage.
"Ah!" Ricky cried out, glaring daggers at her. "Little bitch!" He backhanded her hard.
"Leave her alone, Rick," the youngest of the group spoke up.
"Shut up, Jack," Ricky ordered.
Raven grunted sharply as she made firm contact with the shelter's thick back wall. She banged her forehead loudly. The pain echoed throughout her head so badly, she lost concentration. Her light peach skin shifted into blue.
"What the hell?" one of the group exclaimed at the sight of her.
"What is that thing?" the last one demanded.
"Bitch is some kinda alien," Ricky put forth.
"Don't touch me!" Raven ordered, trying to fight off his arms. She yelled out as he flung her right out into the middle of the street.
One of them climbed inside the truck, starting it up. Raven froze in absolute horror as the machine made a path for her.
Before the truck could come within a foot of her, it split cleanly in half right down the middle. The driver went soaring, landing on top of the bus shelter.
The other three turned to see a man in a leather jacket coming up purposefully. Pieces from the destroyed car circled around the furious figure, who seemed both ready and able to rip any matter of man's limbs off. After their initial stun wore off, the three ran as fast as they could the opposite direction. The one on the bus shelter fell down then quickly scrambled away.
Erik wanted nothing more than to give them chase, but his legs led him over to his fallen sister. He dropped down to his knees, carefully guiding Raven into his arms. She clung to him, her yellow eyes radiating a cold shock.
IIIIIII
Flinging open the doors of the lab, Charles zeroed in on the young woman on top of the exam table. He had just gotten home from the city. The news Erik had given him upon his return had made him violently sick. He managed to push it back for the time being.
"Raven." Charles jogged over to her for a strong embrace. She hugged him back, ignoring the ache in her chest it brought her. "How is she?"
Hank brought his gaze up, revealing reddened eyes. "I gave her ice for her head and there doesn't appear to be a concussion. Outside of some bruises and cuts, she's fine."
"Are you alright, my sweet girl?" Charles wanted to know, cupping a blue cheek.
She said nothing as she tossed arms around his neck.
From the crack in one of the doors, Frank watched the proceedings. He leaned against the wall, slowly sliding down until he reached the floor. Staring at the opposite wall, he felt a burning build up in his eyes until tears finally spilled.
A pair of shoes walked out in front of him and Erik squatted down. "Why do I see tears on my boy?" He tried to wipe them away.
Frank's voice quivered as he managed to speak. "This is my fault. I distracted Hank with my stupid plane. He could've gotten Rae on time if not for me."
Erik moved forward, sending a firm but gentle hush into the boy's ear. "Shh, boychick." He lifted him under his arms to hold near his shoulder. "No, no. There are many faults at play here, but none of them fall on you."
"I wanna kill those guys, Erik," Frank declared. "All of 'em. I want 'em dead."
"Don't you worry about that." Erik rubbed his back. "Don't you worry."
IIIIIII
When the hot water at last gave out, Raven shut off the valves. After a full minute of doing nothing but standing, she stepped out of her shower. She took hold of her white towel to begin rubbing herself dry. She released pained groans for the numerous sore areas she touched upon.
Hanging her towel back up, Raven turned around to face her full bodied mirror. Purple bruises covered her chest, stomach, and portions of her thighs and ankles. She touched her upper arm, still able to feel the tight grip. Raven then stared closely, getting a good look at her blue scaled figure.
"What is that thing?"
"Bitch is an alien!"
Raven picked up her shampoo bottle. "You disgusting waste!" she accused before flinging the bottle at the mirror. The glass broke and crumbled to pieces on the tiled floor.
IIIIIII
Sean stopped in front of the lab at the enormous commotion taking place from within. He cautiously opened one of the doors and peeked inside. To his astonishment, he saw Hank hysterically turning the place upside down. Torn apart papers and broken glass completely carpeted the floor.
"Hank," Sean called as the ballistic scientist flipped over a table. He walked in, grabbing him by the bicep. "Hank!" He became startled at the ravenous eyes Hank turned on him.
At Sean's disturbed countenance, Hank released a calm breath. "Seanie…"
Thinking it to be a dumb question, Sean still asked, "Are you okay?"
"No," Hank answered honestly, walking off a few paces.
Sean said, "We're all pissed about Raven."
"I could have prevented it!" Hank shouted suddenly. "I was supposed to pick her up, but as per the usual, I allowed this pitiful research to get in the way." He gripped a beaker.
"Hank, stop," Sean urged before he could throw it. "This isn't you. You're letting these guys make you crazy. They were a bunch of dicks. They're not worth trashing your work over."
Hank slowly lowered the beaker. "I should have been there…"
"You can't be everywhere at once," Sean reasoned. "You come close, but you're not Superman."
While Hank knew the younger male's words to be true, it could not help his feelings entirely. He needed to be in a position of constant security over Raven's well-being. That he knew to be true as well.
IIIIIII
Completely indifferent towards the cold winter night, Charles sat on the bench closest to the front entrance. He carried his gaze heavenly to the cloudy sky.
"Emma," he sensed after a moment.
The acknowledged blonde stepped forward. "I had to come."
Charles stood, spreading his arms. "Thank you," he whispered as she hugged him.
Emma stroked his hair. "How is your sister now?"
"Recovering," was the only way Charles could describe the present aftermath.
She touched a hand to the side of his face. "And you?"
"My worst fears saw light tonight, Emma," Charles stated. "I looked away for a moment's time and I nearly lost her. If not for Erik—"
"Stop this." Emma brushed at his eyebrow with her thumb. "She wasn't lost to you. She's here. She is safe." Emma reached forward and kissed him.
Charles started to return it but arched his head back. "No. I'm sorry, Emma. I can't do this right now. My family needs me."
She blinked back wounded eyes. "Of course." She stepped back. "You know how to reach me." Turning, the woman started off.
Charles watched until Emma journeyed out of his line of vision before going back inside his house.
IIIIIII
Despite everything, Raven managed to sleep through the night without difficulty. Feeling something, she turned her head to the left. There sat Charles in a chair facing her bed, half-awake, and holding onto her hand with both of his.
"Charles," she acknowledged.
He became alert to the sound of her voice. "Good morning, Baby Blue."
"Have you been up all night?" She propped up a bit.
"On and off," the Professor brushed off. "How are you feeling?"
The shape-shifter transferred over to his lap. "You were right. All these years, you were right."
"Right about what, sweetheart?" Charles wrapped her comforter around her for warmth.
"I slipped up big. Really big," she emphasized. "When I saw that car coming, part of me couldn't help thinking that maybe it would have been better if they had…"
Charles frowned angrily. "Young lady, finish that sentence and you will go straight across my knee." He took her face with his hands, forcing eye contact. "Yes, it is true. You look completely different from the rest of us. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, Raven. Those wanks from last night were common hateful thugs." He kissed her forehead. "Had I lost you, no destination on earth could have hidden them from me."
Raven felt tears rolling down her cheeks. She buried her face in his shirt. He rocked with her slightly, humming a familiar lullaby into her ear.
IIIIIII
Due to the low spirits and overall darkness looming over the day, Charles and Erik cancelled classes. No rejoicing came from it, though.
Early that evening, Alex found Becky and Joey in the living room. "Move it, shrimptoids. I'm driving you today."
"I don't feel like going to art class," Joey told him, remaining in an arm chair.
"I told Frank I'd help him with dinner." Becky got up and walked out towards the kitchen.
Standing next, Joey went over to the teenager in the room. "Al, Raven's not really sick, is she?"
Alex got down to his level. "What makes you say that?"
"I heard Daddy and Uncle Erik talking."
Alex lightly pinched one of Joey's earlobes. "That's called eavesdropping, squirt."
Joey wiggled his face a little. "But why would anybody try to hurt Raven?"
"It's because she looks different," Alex replied carefully. "They were as- buttholes who don't like blue skin."
The little boy appeared thoughtful. "Where I'm from, nobody liked black skin. Now it's blue, too? What's the right color then?"
"Look in the mirror," Alex said. "According to the ignorant rules, we're the only right color."
"White?" Joey wrinkled his nose at that. "But white's not even a real color. It's the absence of color. I thought everybody knew that."
"Okay, forget art," Alex put forth. "We're gonna find you your own class to teach."
IIIIIII
Exiting the café, Jack zipped up his coat and headed off up the street. After a few seconds, he thought he heard distinct crunching in the snow behind him. The young teenager glanced back at the absolutely clear sidewalk. He then looked forward, jumping back at the black adorned figure who stood there now.
Erik placed a lock on his belt buckle, keeping him in place. "Whatever is the matter, young man?" He came close upon him. "You're shaking like a leaf. A weak, brittle," Erik plucked a strand of hair from his head, letting it fly off with the wind, "leaf."
"Please don't hurt me," he pleaded.
The man's face turned stormy. "Had I the desire to hurt you, there are endless ways I could have accomplished it by now. You were among the bastards who touched my sister last night. And now," he grabbed him by the front of his coat, "you're going to tell me where to find them. In step by step directions."
Jack shook his head hard. "I can't."
"Oh, you can," Erik countered. "And you will. I have strict policies regarding children, but if you lie to me or send them any warning, you will feel pain you have never known. That you'll never forget."
On shallow breath, the boy gave out the details of the address.
IIIIIII
"Where's your brother tonight, Rick?" Tate asked, removing a beer from the ice box.
"Minding his own business," Rick answered indifferently from where he lounged on the worn sofa.
"Maybe he ran into another alien chick," Von joked.
Tate started to laugh until the bottle cap he held flew right out of his hand. The other two silenced as bolts, nails, and numerous tools danced around them.
Erik walked inside their garage, lowering the metal opening after himself.
"You," Ricky quickly recognized, getting to his feet.
The three of them clustered together.
"The wolves den." Erik hummed, rethinking that assertion. "More like a den of thieves. Cowardly, dishonorable thieves." Erik took slow precise steps, making them back up. "On your knees." At their lack of movement, he made a crowbar hit Von in the back, creating a howl from him. "On. Your. Knees."
They complied now.
"Hey, man," Tate attempted. "We didn't mean— ow!" Erik slapped him across the face with a broken piece of scrap metal.
"Do not speak unless you are spoken to." He looked squarely at Ricky. "How old are you?"
"Nineteen," he answered promptly. "We all are."
"Nineteen," Erik echoed. "My oldest boy will be nineteen this year. You have him to thank for the fact that you will live through this night." He looked at them all again. "Hands in front of you."
After they did as told, Erik used different pieces of metal to mold makeshift handcuffs around their wrists. He next used his power to summon the belt through Ricky's pants loops and into his hand.
"Gah!" Ricky reacted when Erik magnetically yanked him forward then spun him to face his equally terrified friends.
"Are you afraid?" Erik asked patronizingly. Ricky nodded hard. "Imagine being a frightened young woman, terrorized solely due to her appearance."
"I'm sorry," Ricky ground out.
"No, you're not." Erik raised the belt. "But you will be."
Ricky hollered as the belt came down like a lash of fire. Erik continuously sent it over his lower back, behind, and thighs. He would never invoke such intensity over his own charges. However, this had no love or plans of atonement behind it. Retribution alone reigned here.
The last whack he gave Ricky sent him to his stomach. He sobbed uncontrollably into the floor.
Erik left him that way, magnetically bringing Tate over next. Tate's cries equaled those of Ricky's, clearly made worse by having to witness his friend's torment.
"Weak," Erik commented as Tate also dropped to the floor. He focused in on Von, who looked more than a little nauseous. "I remember you. You're the one who actually tried to murder my sister."
"Please." Von barely had a voice with which to grovel.
"Yes, that's going to change my mind entirely."
With an eye roll, Erik started in with his sharpest wrath yet. Von bellowed, pleading for it to end. Erik proved deaf to this as visions of Raven laying in the middle of the street like someone's discarded trash played over and over inside his mind. By the time he let up, Erik's wrist felt ready to snap clean off. That mattered not, though.
Glancing around, the wizard of metal took in the crying trio. The once heartless attackers had been reduced to their truly weak miserable forms. Erik felt like a painter surveying his masterpiece.
Dropping the belt, Erik started out through the side entrance.
Unknown to him, Jack lurked in the bushes, two by four in hand. Just as he lunged, alerting Erik, the boy completely froze.
Erik looked forward, seeing Charles approach.
"He won't remember your face. None of them will," said the telepath, hands in pockets. "The last thing we need is a vengeance cycle."
"How did you know?"
"I felt your distressed mind in waves." Charles indicated Jack. "Seems I arrived just in time." A brief silenced passed over the two men before Charles turned to go. "Let's go home."
Erik wordlessly caught up, walking alongside him.
When they arrived home, they went straight to the parlor. Charles sat in a chess chair while Erik stood before him.
"With no notice whatsoever you ventured forth to exact restitution. You gathered information from an unreliable source to enter a situation where you were outnumbered," Charles recounted.
"I did," Erik responded. "I suppose you think my actions wrong. Misguided."
"Foolish and reckless," Charles corrected. "Last night I almost lost my sister. What would have become of either of us had we lost our brother?"
With those words, Erik felt his first guilt of the night. "You're right. Yet again I came close to the death of a family member and rational thought fell to the wayside."
"We are a team in this house. You must never choose to stand alone again." Charles touched his fingertips together thoughtfully. "You must face punishment for this, Erik." He moved his hands to clear up his lap space.
The stoic man concurred, bending over.
After working Erik's pants down, Charles wrapped a tight arm around his brother's middle, though he knew such a move to be unnecessary. Without Erik's compliance, they would not be in this position. He lifted then brought his hand down firmly. Erik carried a higher pain tolerance than any of the young ones and Charles knew the older man would not accept anything half-done from him.
It amazed Erik to be draped over a lap and accepting of physical pain being delivered. Normally, he held the sitting position for such an act. Clearly, the mutant household had changed a great many things for him.
Charles spanked for close to five minutes. Not until he heard the audible grunts did he readjust Erik's pants. He then rubbed his back before allowing him to stand. Charles stood after him, giving him a hug whether he wanted one or not.
Erik took the time to pat Charles' back comfortingly, knowing the fear he had put him through. "I'm sorry, Lab Rat."
"It's alright now," Charles assured. "I'm only thankful to have you and Raven here with me."
"You simply have no idea, brother." Erik used a thumb to wipe his face clean of the trickle of tears in one eye. They came more from the knowledge that he had put Charles through any kind of emotional trauma than actual agony from his aching rear. "Though I did notice one thing. You said nothing about what I did to those boys. Almost as if… you agreed with me."
"That's a theory," Charles replied vaguely. "Such as the way you could have easily killed those three. Yet you chose not to."
"Touché," Erik conceded after a moment. He hugged Charles again. "Also, don't allow this to go to your head. I'm still the elder brother."
Charles' lips tugged upward into a smile. He would not have it any other way.
IIIIIII
Raven sat before her vanity, locked in a daze until she heard a knock. "Come in."
Erik poked his head in. "Just wanted to see about you before I turned in."
"I'm great actually." She stood, walking the few steps over to him. "I talked to Charles a minute ago. He told me what you did. For me. Erik, you didn't have to go in like that."
"Like hell I didn't," the tall man countered sharply. "They would have killed you before my own eyes had they been able." He touched her chin gently. "Your worth is greater than you realize."
Raven stepped forward and hugged him. "Thank you, Erik. I love you. Do you know that?"
He kissed the top of her head. "So long as you know I love you, little girl, that's what matters."
Another knock sounded. "Hey."
Raven smiled at Hank's presence and went over to him. "Hey."
Watching as the mansion's mutant couple took hands, Erik said, "Try to pry away at some point." He pointed a finger at Raven. "You need sleep." He looked at Hank. "As do you know from what I've been told."
"Right," the adoring eyed pair responded in unison.
Trusting that they had not heard a word he said, Erik left the two alone.
Hank closed the door then held up his black leather medical bag. "I need to check you over again. I only thought you'd be more comfortable here than in the lab. But if you want to move this over there…"
Turning away, Raven untied her robe and left it in a chair. She walked to her bed and stretched stomach down across it.
Bag in hand, Hank came up and took up some space near her. Before anything, he used his hand to feel along her bare back to see if any new problems had developed. He did the same thing with each of her arms and legs.
The blue skinned woman hugged a pillow close to herself. She breathed into the soft material as her boyfriend reached underneath to get to her stomach. A chirp escaped her lips when he made it up to her breasts.
Hank's brow knitted in worry. "Did I hurt you?"
"No." She turned her face slightly to peck his arm.
Hank took the rubbing alcohol out of his bag. He splashed a generous portion into his hand. As he massaged the clear liquid into the bruised portions of her skin, Hank had to work to keep his instincts together. Inspecting the unique body closely, he saw a finely molded sculpture that could destroy any appreciation he had for ancient Greek statues.
Removing the no longer necessary bandages he had put on her yesterday, Hank used his fingertips to spread the alcohol over the remaining cuts. He felt her squirm under him from the sting. He offered a slow massage to her shoulder blades to apologize.
The scientist's hands work down to her nicely round rear. It acted as the only presently covered part of her body, shielded by soft pink satin panties. He felt his blood begin to boil at the low creatures who dared to touch his scaled magnificent beauty. He moved down, hovering barely an inch over her body. He buried his nose in her red hair, taking in her scent.
Raven managed to flip over so that their lips joined. After their kiss, Hank moved his lips all the way down to her bellybutton. He finished reclaiming his territory by giving her a pair of swats. The strikes to her bottom provided her with a fast and much wanted calm.
Hank wanted to do more, so much more, but sat up abruptly. "Get dressed."
She frowned. "What?"
"Meet me out front." He said nothing more as he walked out.
Completely confused, Raven got up and put on a pair of jeans, a thick sweater, and boots. When she made it to the front of the house, she unsurprisingly found Hank out in his coat already.
"Do you remember this?" Hank indicated the area around without turning around.
Thinking for a moment, Raven recalled, "You asked me to the Shakespeare reading. Right here."
"That feels like ten years ago now," Hank spoke.
"You could barely get the words out," Raven laughed. "Hard to believe coming from he who recites poetry better than the original authors." She went to stand at his side, staring ahead with him. "I know how I've gotten through all of this. We can do anything together."
Hank took a breath. "I can't date you anymore, Raven."
A scream exploded in her ears but her voice carried very little sound. "Wh-what?"
He turned around to finally face her. "I want to marry you." She stood in astonishment as he lowered to one knee. "I've been gone all day, searching for this." He pulled a diamond ring from his pants pocket. "Raven Xavier, will you allow me to protect and cherish you as your husband?"
Unable to move at the sight of the ring, Raven suddenly fell forward. Hank quickly spread his arms to catch her. He tumbled back against the snow with her safely on top of him.
"Are you—" Before he could complete the question, she took possession of his lips with hers.
"Are we married yet?" she asked excitedly.
Hank chuckled. "I believe there's a bit more ceremony to it than that."
She pouted then held out the fingers on her right hand. "Gimme, gimme."
He slipped the ring onto the designated finger closest to the pinky. "You do plan to marry me, right? You're not going to take the ring and run?"
"Hmm…" A glimmer of mischief filled her yellow eyes before she sprung up and darted off.
Hank growled and shot after her. He wrapped both arms around her waist and hoisted her up.
"You are in big trouble now, ma'am." He leaned in to kiss under her scarf.
"Hank," she said, melting away, "I'll marry you by the way."
He paused just long enough to say, "I have never been happier by the way." He then readjusted her in his arms and carried her into the warmth of their home.