Westchester, 1973. Two weeks since DOFP.
"So Charles, I see you're starting up this school of yours again."
Hank jumped but Charles just rolled his eyes. It appeared he had sensed his presence.
"What are you doing here, Erik? You know you aren't welcome here."
Hank let out a beastly growl, "Damn right he isn't. After the shit he pulled in DC? How could you even let him in, Charles?"
"I wasn't going to but, then I caught his line of thinking and now I must say I'm intrigued."
"What did I say about staying out of my head, old friend?" Erik grumbled.
Charles rolled his eyes again, "Please, Erik. You lost that privilege a long time ago along with my respect. But still, we were friends once. Once again you disappointed me at DC, but I've come to expect that of you. But do please tell, why is it you want to find Peter Maximoff of all people?"
Surprise unfurled over Hank's face whilst Erik shrugged, nonchalant, "Just to say thank you for getting me out of that hellhole, I suppose. I'm nothing if not gracious."
Charles snorted, "Do you really think me that naïve, Erik? I know you think I'm an idealist, but an idiot?"
"You're an idiot because you're an idealist, Charles. But that's besides the point. I need to find the boy and the reason why is a private matter. And by private, I mean none of your business, something you've always struggled to comprehend, old friend."
Charles frowned, "He's a minor, Erik, and you wouldn't know him if it wasn't for my putting him in that position in the first place, so I rather believe it is my business to know why you want to seek him out. You're a wanted criminal, Erik. It's my responsibility to make sure he isn't put in danger again because of you."
"Let's just say, he said something to me that makes me think I knew his mother. I want to, no, I need to know if I did or not," Erik sighed and raked his hand through his hair.
"Are you trying to imply what I think you're trying to imply…?" Hank said, slowly, tiptoeing around the sudden appearance of a large Peter-shaped elephant in the room.
Charles looked equally concerned, "What do you mean, Erik? Speak plainly, we have a school to rebuild and we don't have time for this."
"You really want me to spell it out for you? Fine. I think the boy may be mine and I want confirmation of this. I don't really see the need for any more details than that."
"Jesus Erik, on top of the long list of awful things you've done, now you can add absentee parent to that?" Hank glowered.
Erik glared in response, "You think I wouldn't have been there for him if I had known?"
"I think it's strange we didn't think that this could be a possibility sooner. I mean, you're the most irresponsible person we know, so yeah, why not have some accidental kids along the way?"
"Accidental kid," Erik corrected. "And technically speaking, if his mother is who I think she is, then he wasn't that much out of an accident."
Hank and Charles looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to finish his line of thought.
Erik sighed again before grumbling, "You'll be surprised to know I was once married, McCoy. I haven't seen his mother in just over 17 years."
Charles breathed in sharply, "Ah. And Peter is 17. I see now why you want to seek him out."
"So the penny is finally dropping, old friend?"