Chapter Seventeen: Raven Makes a Discovery

Raven sat a little straighter in her chair, feeling as if something of the easy atmosphere in the room had been ruined. Charles' mother had retreated to her own room for a rest, shortly after Charles had left leaving only awkward silence in her wake. She was used to hearing her son and Raven arguing, and become adept at ignoring them. But Raven wasn't able to settle. She wasn't sure what had made Charles leave, but she had the sense that something had happened to give her this uneasy feeling. But with no one else apparently feeling like she did, Raven knew all she could do was wait until she could see Charles again.

Another thing that was feeling uncomfortable was Shaw's arm, which was wrapped around her shoulder in its what had become its usual place. It appeared as if he was going to pretend that nothing had happened, and if that was how he was going to play it, and then Raven wasn't going to argue. Of course… maybe nothing had happened, but Raven's feeling of dread was growing ever more deep.

Raven smiled as Shaw's phone rang, and assured him that she didn't mind him taking the call. Whoever was on the other line was someone Shaw was obviously very excited to be talking to, as his whole posture became more alert, and a few seconds later he was busy making his apologies about having to leave. Raven was more than intrigued and let him kiss her on her cheek, not even caring that he was running out on her. For some reason she felt she needed him to leave as soon as possible, because she couldn't get Charles out of her mind.

Once he had gone, Raven waited a few minutes feeling uncomfortable, and then followed him. She didn't know why, but all she could see in her mind was Charles' broken and pleading expression. But as soon as she walked out of the door, the memory hit her and left her gasping. Feeling confused and angry, Raven remembered how she had shouted at Charles and the guilt of it was eating at her.

There was nothing left to do but find out the truth. Knowing that Charles had caused this loss of memory and sudden remembrance. She wondered if he had done the same to Shaw? But the fact remained, that Raven didn't know what he was up to, and it made her nervous.

But there was one way that she might be able to find out the truth, and if Charles wanted to fight dirty, then so could she. Apparently it was gloves off when it came to using their powers.

As soon as the door had closed and Erik was gone, Charles had scrambled for his phone and had searched his contacts. The number he had never expected to be dialling again rang only for a moment before Shaw's voice answered. Charles stuttered a hello, and heard the surprised silence on the other side of the line. Charles didn't know what had made him he do it, he hadn't planned this. One moment he had wanted to be with Erik, then next he was going crazy. With his heart hammering, Charles listened to Shaw make his excuses to Raven and agree to meet him outside the main restaurant.

Charles knew he was making up his plan moment by moment, but for some reason he couldn't stop himself. He could barely believe he was now running down the hallway, and skidding to a halt at the lift. Why couldn't he just turn around and go back? Instead of listening to what he assumed was his conscious, he furiously jabbed at the lift call button, and waited impatiently.

The journey to his agreed destination seemed to last forever and all the while Charles continued to look over his shoulder, waiting for something to go wrong. He knew Erik would be angry if he saw him here, and even more so if he saw him here with Shaw. He knew that he was risking everything he had with Erik for a farfetched shot at saving himself and Raven from this obsessive man, but Charles could see no other way out. Until Raven had gotten involved, there had been a chance that Shaw might have eventually given him up, especially if someone else arrived on the scene. But now Charles couldn't take the chance. Even if Raven knew the truth, it wouldn't stop Shaw from trying to ruin her life too.

"Well, come to your senses at last then Charles?" Shaw asked as he appeared at Charles' left, having followed a small crowd of people towards the impressive dining room. "Or am I going to have to argue with you again?"

Charles didn't bother answering the question. He was against the clock right now, he didn't know how long Erik would be, and he didn't want to be missing if he changed his mind about exploring and returned to the room. So instead, he stepped out of the way of the people on the search for fine dining, and brought the conversation straight to the main point.

"Were you being serious, when you said you would leave Raven for me?"

Shaw was taken aback. He hadn't for one moment supposed that it would be this easy to get under Charles' skin. Maybe he was just jealous? He might not want to be available right now, but he obviously didn't want to see Raven in his place. Shaw considered whether Charles was joking, or just trying to tease him like he usually did, but this didn't seem the same. Charles wasn't smiling, and his question had been in earnest.

"Of course," Shaw replied warily. If something seemed to good to be true, it usually was.

"And I can keep seeing Erik?" Charles pressed.

Shaw gritted his teeth. He hadn't wanted Charles to remember that part of the offer. Not that Shaw considered Erik to be much of a threat. He wouldn't be able to keep a man like Charles' attention for very long. He'd soon grow bored of being messed around and annoyed by the contradictions of how Charles lived his life. Contradictions that grew even more complex the more Raven had let slip to him during their time together. Shaw had always known that Charles wasn't an ordinary man, but just how extraordinary, he couldn't have guessed. The family fortune would one day all fall upon Charles, and even Shaw had been forced to suppress a wince when he had learnt how well the Xavier's lived.

For some reason Raven had spoken of herself as a separate entity in all of this, which remained an unclear mystery to Shaw. He was also uncertain as to what Charles actually did with the rest of his time, when he was not out drinking himself into an early grave. There had been several mentions about science and students, but nothing concrete. He hadn't wanted to press Raven and make his questions suspicious. But what was certain was that something was changing Charles' mind. Maybe all he'd really needed was time after all, and some patience.

"If you must," Shaw conceded.

"He can't know about this," Charles said, establishing this as a clear fact. "He wouldn't understand."

"I know."

"But you have to promise…" Charles said.

"I promise. I wont fuck your sister. Hell Charles, making a deal with you is torture. Should I get my secretary to type up a contract, shall we sign it in blood?" Shaw joked. He took a step nearer to Charles, to see if Charles would shy away from him like he usually did.

Charles shook his head with a smile, he barely registered what Shaw was saying now, as he lifted his powers from where they had been lying dormant and let them move beyond him. They touched Shaw immediately and without any warning Charles found himself once more inside of Shaw's head.

"Alright, no contract. But if you want me to hold up my end of the bargain, then you will have to give me some advancement on yours," Shaw announced. Charles saw in Shaw's mind exactly what he expected Charles to do for him; he could feel Shaw's body responding to the image of him on his knees.

Charles pulled back slightly, he was too close to Shaw's imagination, and was becoming confused by the feelings of lust he found there. He couldn't afford to lose the precious little control he had over this situation, by actually giving in, that had never been part of the plan. Only something was still calling him to Shaw, and Charles still couldn't decide what it was. Something akin. But he kept half of his attention inside of Shaw, as he came back to his soundings.

"Alright, I'll give you ten minutes, I have to get back upstairs," Charles replied, trying to keep his voice steady and not let anything seem amiss. "Take it or leave it," he paused, knowing Shaw wasn't going to argue with him. "Come on then."

The hold over Shaw's mind tightened, and Charles knew as sure as he knew anything, that this was going to work. Shaw smiled at him. Finally, after so long Charles could smile back at him, knowing that he was finally the one in control. After so long of hiding what he could do, it was time to give up on trying to be a victim.

Erik hadn't managed to get far before he had been surprised once more. Charles was standing in the hotel lobby, gazing around as if he was looking for someone. When he saw Erik, he froze like a rabbit in the headlights. He smiled guiltily and waited for Erik to walk towards him.

"What are you doing down here? I thought you promised to stay upstairs?" Erik demanded. What if he ran into Shaw, or even Raven? He'd be completely at a disadvantage. Charles needed to straighten everything out with Raven before he could do anything else, and in a hotel lobby on the day of the argument, wasn't the right time or place.

"I was looking for Shaw," Charles replied.

His answer threw Erik completely, why would Charles promise one thing to his face, then completely disregard everything?

Erik stared at him open mouthed, before he swiftly took hold of Charles' arm and pulled him in the direction of which he'd just walked from. There had been a bar, which had been quiet; it was off the main path and hopefully away from Shaw.

"I honestly don't know what to say to you," Erik said, sounding completely exasperated. "Alright, fine when you find Shaw, then what? He'd just going to say, oh hello Charles, shall we get a drink and talk about old times? You know what he wants you to agree to. He's already said he's determined to have either you or your sister, the only choice you get is whether or not you trust him to leave Raven alone afterwards."

"I think he might genuinely like Raven," Charles said after a while.

"Yes, I'm pretty sure it isn't hard work for him to like her. But you know what happens to everyone he meets, she'll end up just being one of many, like all of Shaw's conquests always are. He'll destroy her, you know this. For God's sake Charles, we've been through this already."

Had someone drugged him? Why were they having this conversation once again? Erik had thought they were over all of this. He had thought Charles had said he had a plan? Now he was wavering again? Erik wasn't sure he could go through another Charles Xavier drama.

"I don't know," Charles replied. He looked around anxiously, as if he expected Shaw to pop up out of the nearby plant pots, or emerge from the crowd of old ladies.

Erik shook his head. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was Charles just going to walk away and leave Shaw to it? It would be a huge gamble on his part and not like him at all. Yes Shaw might be genuine about Raven, but as far as Erik was concerned, he wasn't. Shaw might give her up if it appeared Charles wasn't interested, but he wouldn't. But for a selfish moment, Erik realised that if Charles walked away from this, then he would be completely his.

"So you're going to take him up on his offer then? Apparently you can keep seeing me at the same time. Shaw is so magnanimous, he doesn't mind sharing you," Erik said cuttingly. "Don't do this Charles, there has to be another way."

"Like what?"

"I don't know, but I don't want to see you with him. I want…" Erik trailed off. He looked away from Charles' pleading face and stared at the floor. They hadn't even made it to the bar yet to have this conversation. "I don't know what I want."

"Yes you do," Charles prompted, his hand touched Erik's arm. "Tell me."

Erik sighed. The expression in his face said he was grappling with something painful. Something he wasn't comfortable about sharing.

"I want us to be together. Just us. I don't want to see you with anyone else. I know it's probably the last thing you want to hear right now, and you're going to tell me it's too soon. And I know I promised I wouldn't try and pin you down, but I can't help what I'm feeling," Erik confessed, his voice low and only for Charles. The world around him continuing to move, not knowing what had just been said.

"No, Erik, you…" Charles began, but Erik pushed him roughly into the wall. A few of the passers-by stared at them with surprise and muttered to each other appalled. "This isn't the right time… I…" he stopped with a wince, as brain finally caught up with the nerves in his arm.

"Shut up Charles! Don't you dare act like this is easy for me! I've put my whole life on hold for you. My friends think I fell off the radar. You constantly drive me crazy. But I can't stop thinking about you," Erik paused, suddenly realising what he'd just done. "You're making me as bad as he is!"

Charles was rubbing his arm. Erik had pushed him harder than he'd needed to, and his arm ached from where it had hit awkwardly against the wall.

"No, Erik you don't understand. You can't tell me this."

"Why not?" Erik demanded.

"Because I'm not Charles!"

Erik stared at him, the expression in his eyes turned from confusion to pure fury. His hand unexpectedly slammed into the wall making Charles' visibly flinch.

"That's it. I have had enough of this. I'm going back to the room to get my stuff, and then I'm going home. And I don't care if my home is full of your students, at least I know where I stand with them."

Erik walked quickly, knowing that Charles was following him in silence. The lift ride back to the room was suitably painful, and even the lift attendant kept looking at Charles with a confused look on his face. Erik couldn't even care anymore. He was always the one putting himself on the line, and Charles was constantly messing everything up. Well Charles could sort his own mess out this time, and Erik would go back to actually have a life of his own. If Charles ever got over himself, then maybe Erik could be brought to listen.

But upon opening the room door, Erik was greeted by another shock. Not only was Charles stood next to him; he was also inside the room, waiting for him. Erik simply stepped into the room and let the Charles at his side close the door.

"There had better be a good explanation for this," Erik said after the moment of surprised silence started to grow weird.

Suddenly the Charles by Erik's side began to change, and then there was Raven looking sheepishly up at him. Erik noticed that there appeared to be tears in her eyes.

"Shaw's just using me, isn't he," she said, her voice cracking through the tears threatening to spill. "I know now."

"Raven, what did you think you were doing?" Charles demanded, his voice furious. Erik was glad that he was speaking, because he was still shocked into silence and wondered if he would ever be able to speak again.

Raven was crying now. What she had written off as her brother's lies first of all had slowly crept into her mind. To have Erik retell the story to her, when he had no need to be lying, or continuing a false tale, had almost been too much to hear. Her brother did have a history with Shaw, and it was clearly not a pleasant one. Raven wasn't sure what she was most upset about, being used, being lied to, being made to feel worthless… but there was something else too, that would be destroyed too, and this time it was of her doing. Lifting her eyes back to meet Erik's, she knew without a doubt that she should never have tricked him.

The confession that he had made to her downstairs replayed in her mind. She'd heard something that was never meant for her, and now was as if it had never been.

"Please don't leave Charles," she begged. Erik needed to say those words again, only this time, Charles needed to hear them.