They had taken a time out from the school and Westchester in general. At the urging of several of their friends, and some not so subtle ass-kicking from Raven, who had been fed up with the ups and downs of both men's tempers.

"Go. Anywhere but Shadowside Creek! If you're back before the end of next week, I'll personally beat your asses back there!"

Erik had taken the hint and dragged his lover away. Charles had protested, claimed there were appointments he had to keep for the school, as well as other things to do. It had fallen on deaf ears. Especially since Raven had told him in no uncertain terms that she was perfectly capable of doing it, with the help of the others. New mutants had to wait. They could go out and meet whoever he wanted to next months, but right now they both had to be away. Nothing to distract either man.

So they had gone.

Erik had to hold back a smile when he looked around the luxurious penthouse suite Charles had claimed had been the only free room at this five-star New York hotel in mid-town Manhattan. Erik knew a lie when he heard it, and that had been a very outrageous lie. But who was he to complain?

One bedroom with a kingsize bed, an entertainment room, a bathroom with a circular whirlpool tub, their own kitchen, an open fireplace… and the front was windows only, giving them an unrivalled view of the city and Central Park. No one could look in.

Erik felt something primal inside of him claw its way out of the depth of want and need. The way Charles suddenly looked over his shoulder, blue eyes darker than normal, he had caught the gist of things. He licked his lips and Erik was close to just throwing him against the wall and having his way with him.

Privacy was the hotel's uppermost service. They would be on their own unless they sent for housekeeping. The fridge was full, the fireplace stocked, and – Erik checked and grinned toothily – the door locked and secure.

"I thought we could sight-see a little," Charles said, the words not really registering with the other mutant.

It had been too long. Too long reaffirming what they were. Too long that he had been able to move freely with his shoulder and stomach. The few times they had been together had been marked by careful moves and holding back.

Not this time.

"Fuck sight-seeing," Erik growled and pulled his lover close, feeling the slender form flush against him. "We're not leaving this room."

"No?" Charles teased, brows rising playfully.

"No," was the decisive reply.

Erik dipped his head to playfully nip at Charles' neck and it drew an appreciative sound.

The telepath caught his lips in a hard kiss. Those lips shot fire through him. The need was rising like a tidal wave and while he tried not to drown in it, it was impossible to escape. Erik let himself be pulled in, his hands roaming over his lover, and he lost himself in the warmth that rose with it.

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

Erik tried to hide his amusement when they found a mutant among the hotel personnel. He had seen him while taking a swim early in the morning. Charles had been asleep, mumbling about godawful hours and Erik's unhealthy need to train his body, but he did enjoy that body, as Lensherr reminded him.

::I do:: had been the sleepy reply.

And Erik had to get his mobility back.

::Flexible:: Charles sent, satisfaction and pleasure and eddies of last night lapping at Erik's mind.

He had nearly not gone then. But looking at the still so red marks, the scars on his mauled shoulder, had convinced him that he had to work on rebuilding more than just one kind of flexibility.

Early morning sex got a rain-check since his telepath lover wasn't even really awake and showed no intention of rousing. So he had gone down to the hotel pool and swam his laps. His shoulder had protested at first, but he had bit through the faint pain, had ignored the stiffness, and soon things had been more fluid.

When he had finally left the pool at seven he had seen the young man picking up left behind towels and straightening chairs. He had been checking him out secretly and Erik's amusement had risen with each look.

Charles had picked up on that when he had returned, hair still wet, smelling of pool water.

"Not my type," Erik had replied playfully. "Too young, not geeky enough."

"You're saying I'm old?" had been the outraged response.

"Hm, interesting what you find important in one sentence. And no, you're not old, Charles."

The shower sex had been far from sleepy. Actually, Erik mused, riled-up, slightly jealous Charles was frighteningly sexy and teasing. That blow-job had left him weak-kneed and out of breath.

That Charles had discovered that the young hotel employee was actually a mutant came two hours later when they had run into him again outside the hotel. Charles had insisted that they at least take a brief sight-seeing tour and Erik had caved.

The moment Charles' eyes had widened, settled on the young man, Erik had scratched sight-seeing off their list. They wouldn't get anywhere today.

x x x x x x x x x x

Brian Helfert was twenty-two, a New Yorker born and bred, and he had the ability of super-sight. He could see tiny particles, right down to the components of a blood drop or a chemical. His smell was enhanced as well, but not as incredibly as his sight. Charles had been excited to meet him and the rest of the day had been spent talking, explaining the Xavier Institute, inviting Brian to come by if he wanted to.

With the Institute's business card in hand, Brian had parted ways and gone home. Charles had been smiling with the pleasure of their discovery and the excitement of the mutation all the way back to their room, sight-seeing tour long forgotten. It was too late today anyway and Erik wasn't in the mood to handle the NY night crowd.

"He has one enhanced sense that he can control and another that is above average!" the scientist gushed. "I'm sure he has the ability to enhance all senses! He only needs training, a way to focus on his potential…"

Erik, who had only been there as a silent listener, trying not to scare off Brian who had been shooting him little glances, only smiled at his enthusiastic partner. Charles rambling on and on about abilities and senses gave him a warm, fuzzy feeling. He was adorable when he was in full science mode.

Hell, he was always adorable.

"Heard that?" he chuckled when Charles stopped talking and cast him a side-long glance.

"Hard not to. You are very focused on me, my friend."

Erik kicked the door shut behind them, pulling Charles toward him, hands curled into the woolen jacket.

"In a good way," Charles added, voice low. "So, that's the boy who checked you out?"

"Hm," Erik answered, busy peeling Charles out of his clothes.

"Can't fault his taste."

A woolen sweater was tossed across the room and Erik frog-marched Charles toward the couch that stood right in front of the large windows.

"You're a mutant magnet," Erik rumbled and pushed Charles onto the wide couch, kneeling over him. "Can't take you anywhere."

Charles pulled him down, devouring his mouth. It made Erik's toes curl.

::You can take me everywhere:: the telepath said and the images accompanying the ambiguous words were crystal clear.

Erik cursed, his reaction immediate, and the sudden surge of wantlustneed almost overpowered him. That Charles looked smug and half-undressed, showing enough skin to tease, not enough to be enough, didn't help.

::Playing with fire:: he managed, mind-voice harsh and sharp.

::Let it burn:: Charles only said.

x x x x x x x x x x

Later Erik was glad that the penthouse was taking over the whole floor because they weren't bothering any neighbors. Things had gotten rather… loud and exciting. He felt sore and from the looks of it, Charles wasn't inclined to move any time soon. Room service it had to be.

Tracing lazy lines over the smooth back, stopping to caress the bumps of the four year old scar, Erik listened to the hums of pleasure through the bond. He didn't ask if Charles was okay. He knew it. They hadn't been rough, just intense. Very, very intense.

Which was the reason for the soreness.

Charles cracked an eye open, smiling as he caught eddies of Erik's thoughts. ::Pleasurably sore:: he murmured.

Erik leaned closer, kissing and nipping a line from the back of his lover's neck down the spine, long fingers spreading over his lower back.

::I hope you don't expect another round?:: Charles sent, amusement tingeing his mind-voice.

Erik stretched out half over the other man, left arm curled over the ribcage, resting his face against one shoulder.

::Not now. Later::

Charles only hummed, eyes sliding shut, a warm weight of comfortable presence in Erik's mind. The anchor line was back to its old strength and it was like finally being able to use his injured shoulder again.

x x x x x x x x x x

Later it was.

Reaffirming themselves, their connection, their emotions. Everything. Erik looked into the liquid blue eyes, intense and deep and filled with such raw hunger for him, he wanted to sink into Charles and stay there forever.

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

They came home two days later, well-rested, completely at peace with themselves, and one look at them had Raven smile widely.

"I don't want details," she said, hugging her brother.

"I never kiss and tell, Raven."

Erik snorted, suppressing his laughter.

"But I want to know how you managed to find Brian," she finished.

"He called?" Charles asked excitedly.

"He actually arrived late last night, handing over your business card, and we gave him a room. Said he was at the hotel you two stayed in."

"Yes, that he was. I'm surprised he made up his mind so fast. He's an extraordinary young man."

"Charles met him after Mr. Helfert checked out my ass," Erik supplied unhelpfully.

Raven stared, eyes wide, then burst out laughing. Charles shot his lover a scowl, but Erik simply grinned widely.

"Hey, what? It's the truth. The kid was checking out my ass."

Xavier only shook his head and pushed past his still laughing sister. He had a new school member to greet.

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

The return to Shadowside Creek was subject to long and hard arguments, telepathic, vocal or otherwise. Erik was making a good case against it, but so was Charles for it. In the end the metalbender threw up his hands.

"Fine! You get sliced up this time!"

Charles fought to calm himself. He had gone up against a lot of people, politicians, military, CIA, other mutants, but only Erik got him so worked up. Maybe it was their closeness. Maybe it was just the fact that Erik knew which buttons to push.

And he pushed them hard.

"It won't come to that!" he said with forced calm.

"Because we did so brilliantly last time?" Erik's whole body radiated contained fury. "That thing came out of nowhere and attacked for no reason, Charles! I have never, NEVER, seen anything like that. Ever! Azazel couldn't harm it either! I doubt an explosion would rip it apart!"

"And I'm just a simple telepath with no offensive powers?" was the quiet reply.

Erik froze, staring. He clenched and unclenched his hands.

"Erik, I felt something there. Not the creature. It's a projection, a protection against… us."

"So we take the hint and leave this one alone, Charles!"

"You saw the little girl…"

Erik hissed and Charles became aware of the letter opener spinning wildly.

"I saw her, yes. I saw her and if she's the one who did this…" The letter opener swooshed past them and buried deep into the wood paneling. "If she is the one, leave her there, Charles!"

"If it was you, scared and alone, wouldn't you want to know someone out there wants to help?" Charles asked softly.

Erik bared his teeth and slammed his hands down onto the desk. "I was that kid, Charles! No one came!"

The lamp and chair buckled as if someone had stepped on them and Erik drew back, forcefully reigning in his powers. He raked a hand through his hair, leaving it tousled.

"I was there, Charles," he repeated.

"I know. And if I had known back then, I would have come."

"You were just a kid yourself."

Charles closed the distance, uncaring of the dangerous vibes rolling off his lover. Erik had never hurt him and he trusted him completely.

"You know what I mean," he said softly, reaching out to squeeze one shoulder. "I want to try this. One more time. Maybe the girl is just another illusion and the mutant is someone completely different. But whoever it is, he's afraid of strangers. He hides…"

"And wards off all attempts at contact!"

Charles watched as Erik unconsciously held his scarred abdomen, curling his left arm around his stomach area. He placed his hand onto the left wrist, squeezing gently.

::We won't be unprepared this time::

::Planning to take a whole army with you?::

The telepath smiled. ::No. More force means more fear. But I can find the mutant from a distance. I don't have to go inside the cabin.::

"And you're not going alone," Erik insisted. His voice held a sharp edge.

"You don't have to come."

"And you can't keep me here."

Charles smiled. "No. I already asked Azazel and Riptide. They agreed to come. No aggression, only defense."

Erik snorted. "Big red guy with a tail and swords. Yeah, right."

Charles interlaced their fingers. "We'll be fine."

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

The trip to Shadowside Creek had actually taken no time at all. Azazel had teleported them to the still deserted ski resort. Erik had more knives and other metallic weapons on his body than ever before. He felt each blade against his skin, like an extension of his very self. Charles had not commented on his arsenal, but he also hadn't told him to leave the weapons at home.

Standing between the ski cabins, Charles looked into the direction of the place where Erik had nearly died. He had two fingers pressed against his left temple, concentrating. Erik watched him, saw the brief flare of pain in his eyes as he closed in on the location of the creature.

"It's still there," the telepath said after a moment. "The mutant. I can feel the presence."

"And the creature?" Azazel wanted to know, blades ready.

"I couldn't see it before either. But the mutant is there."

Erik nodded at the red-skinned teleporter and Azazel disappeared, rematerializing in a tree high above the cabin.

Charles squared his shoulders and looked at Erik. "Let's go," he said.

He would keep scanning, broadcasting their good intentions, that they weren't the enemy. Erik flexed his fingers, again touching all those metal objects on his body, cataloguing everything around him, on Charles and Riptide, as well. Riptide was carrying a few hidden weapons as well and he gave Erik a knowing grin.

Then they were off.

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

The cabin hadn't lost anything of its horror movie charm. In daylight it looked no better than at dusk or at night. Now you could see just how much in disrepair it was. Anyone who might ever consider buying this land would have to tear this thing down.

Charles was looking hard at the wooden ruin, two fingers again at his temple once again. Erik placed a hand on his shoulder when the telepath suddenly grimaced as if in pain. Then Charles hissed, doubling over.

"Charles!"

The telepath grabbed the offered arm and straightened up.

"It's incredible," he breathed. "Like fractured. Into parts. It's one person, but… different energies. Auras…" He shook his head, annoyed at himself. "It's hard to describe. I feel like I'm bouncing around one mind, always deflected because it's spreading and contracting."

"There's only one?" Erik clarified.

"Yes."

"And you can't tell who it is? Man? Woman? Really a child?"

"No." Charles' annoyance rising. "It's there. And it's… apprehensive. Afraid."

Riptide flexed his fingers, at the ready.

::We mean no harm:: Charles sent, again having the eerie feeling of his words getting fractured inside the mind of the mutant he was reaching.

Multiple personalities? Schizophrenic?

"I have to try to go around this," he murmured, reaching for Erik to anchor himself.

The reestablished connection felt still new and too thin for his liking. But he had to do it.

"Erik?"

His lover looked far from happy. Actually, he looked ready to kill something should anything come out of that cabin.

::It'll be okay:: Charles tried to soothe him.

::No. It isn't. This thing's here and it's waiting::

Charles inhaled deeply, trying to center himself, then brought up his focus once more. Two fingers against the temple. His eyes fixed on the cabin while his mind raced toward the mutant inside, dodging the many one-way streets it tried to create. He felt like a pin ball.

::Please:: he begged. ::We only want to help. I know you never meant any harm, that you defended yourself against a threat. Let's just talk, okay?::

But the presence was evasive, throwing up blocks, never staying still. For a fraction of a second he caught sight of the girl again, then…

"Charles!"

His concentration was shattered when Erik grabbed him and pulled him aside. Charles was thrown to the ground and rolled over wet leaves and sharp stones. He heard the roar and knew he had made a mistake.

Riptide let lose two miniature tornados before Charles could tell him not to. The creature was picked up and blown back, crashing into the trees.

And it was back. Suddenly. Like popping into existence. It swiped at them and Erik threw his hands forward, knives cutting into the thing, making it snarl and lunge at him.

::NO!:: Charles screamed. ::DON'T!::

Erik buried two knives into the eyes of the thing, but it only stopped it for a second.

A second was all Azazel needed, grabbing the other mutant and teleporting him away while Riptide again lifted the monster.

Charles scrambled back, then got to his feet and made a run for the cabin.

::Charles, no!" Erik yelled in his head.

He dove into the stench and rot and dampness, looking around.

And the monster howled, suddenly right there and impossibly fitting into the small room.

"Please!" Charles shouted. "Please, listen to me! We don't want to hurt you!"

Azazel appeared behind him and he felt the nearness of Erik, sensed his fury at Charles' stunt, felt the terror creeping into his lover's mind at facing what had nearly killed him.

::PLEASE!::

The monster growled, briefly freezing like a bad TV picture, then its head turned, snarling at Charles.

"Please," Charles repeated. "We only want to talk."

And he saw her. The girl. Maybe ten, maybe even younger. Straight hair, dark blond, falling to her waist. Her face was expressionless, her eyes huge in comparison, and she was dressed in worn clothes. No holes, no rags, but old. She was holding… a rabbit. It looked almost like a plush toy, but it was moving. The ears, floppy and soft looking, twitched and the button eyes moved. It hung in her grip as if it weighed nothing.

And it was impossibly real and surreal in one.

Erik's hand touched the small of Charles' back, supportive, but also the connection Azazel needed to get them out of here.

"Hello," Charles said softly.

The girl looked at them. The monster growled, flexing its talons.

::I… I can't focus on her:: the telepath whispered, shock and awe mingling in his voice. ::She's there. But she's also in those two projections::

Erik curled his fingers into the fabric of Charles' coat. ::Charles…::

::No, please, wait::

His lover made an unhappy noise.

The monster bared long, razor-sharp teeth.

"Can you talk?" Charles asked. "My name is Charles. These are Erik and Azazel."

No reaction. The face remained that of a puppet; expressionless.

The monster ducked down, rumbling more.

"Charles…"

"Not yet."

He raised his left hand to his temple, focusing again. The girl was clearly the mutant, but she was slipping through his grasp like water.

::She protects herself, Erik. With these projections. I believe they are her fear and comfort::

::Those things are very real, Charles::

::I know!::

And he was fascinated. The scientist in him was trying to find the reason as to why she was able to do this, what her abilities entailed.

"Do you live here? Are your parents here?" Charles wanted to know.

It was the wrong thing to say. The monster roared and then lunged at them. It only sliced into red dust dissipating in thin air as Azazel had reacted within a split second.

They rematerialized outside and Charles looked pale and shocked. Again he cast out his psychic powers, trying to reach the girl, but the surge of her own gift slammed right back into him, making him double over with a cry.

The creature was in front of them and Riptide's defensive move threw up rocks and ground and uprooted trees, battering the monster with it. It was driven back and the cabin rattled dangerously.

Charles blinked tears out of his eyes, became aware of strong arms around his waist, holding him against the hard body of his lover, and he tried it again. And again.

"Charles, stop!" Erik commanded sharply, voice cold and furious. "She doesn't want to talk. She'll kill us!"

"She's a child!" he argued, tears staining his face.

"You don't know that!"

The screech of the creature was ear-shattering and Riptide was hard pressed to fend it off this time.

It was adapting.

"Damn!" Erik snarled. "We're leaving! Azazel!"

"NO!"

But he couldn't struggle out of the tight hold. Erik's embrace was like a steel brace holding him in place.

::Erik, no!::

::Stop it!:: the other man commanded, voice so cold it washed over Charles with a sobering clarity. ::She doesn't want us here. Get the point, Charles!::

He stilled, gripping the arm holding him. If he wanted to, he could command Erik to let him go, but he had never done this to his lover and he never would. Closing his eyes, Charles took a steadying breath, felt along the anchor line and found the tightly coiled fury rushing through Erik, wanting to break free, wanting to tear the creature apart.

But nothing could destroy the projection.

"We're leaving," Erik told Azazel, who had dropped down in a crouch next to them.

Charles reached for the teleporter's mind, sending the request as to where to take them. Azazel's unnaturally lightly colored eyes narrowed, but he did as requested.

Erik's anger was like a living, breathing thing when he realized they had only gone as far as the edge of the trees.

"Charles…!"

He squeezed the other man's arm, stilling the protest. Charles got to his feet, swaying a little. His head ached, but it was so normal, so expected, he didn't care.

There was a dangerous rumble and they found the monster staring at them from among the trees. The girl was next to it, still holding the rabbit.

::We're leaving:: Charles sent, looking into her large eyes. ::If that is what you wish. But we never meant any harm. There are others like you at my school. Don't you want to meet them?::

She hugged the bunny close and showed the first sign of understanding. She shook her head.

Charles fought down a wave of disappointment.

::Can I come back one day? I would like to get to know you better::

The monster growled and moved between the girl and the four men. Erik tensed, his hold on Charles never wavering.

"Charles, we're leaving now," he whispered harshly.

He didn't argue. Riptide grabbed Azazel's hand, the teleporter clamping a hand on Erik's shoulder. Before they blinked out of existence, Charles saw the monster turn into what looked like a plush pony with wings, then there was nothing any more.

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x x x x x

Erik watched his lover as Charles sat at his work desk, staring at the same piece of paper he had been staring at an hour ago. Arms crossed in front of his chest he shook his head.

"Charles."

The other man looked up, startled.

"You're doing it again," Erik chided.

"I was just…" He looked at the page and sighed, pushing whatever it was he had been reading away.

"You were thinking about the girl."

Charles shrugged.

Erik walked over to him, perching himself onto the edge of the desk. "Not every mutant wants to be found. Not every mutant we find wants to listen. You know that, Charles."

He nodded.

"And she isn't the first to decline an invitation. She's just the first who reacted this badly."
Erik just about caught himself from curling an arm around his stomach again. It was still an unconscious gesture that he couldn't quite control.

"I know that, Erik."

"But…?" he prodded, already knowing the answer.

"She's a child!"

"You don't know that."

"If she is, she's all alone out there, Erik!"

"She chose that life. She doesn't want anyone, Charles. You saw it. You tried and it didn't work."

The blue eyes reflected an infinite sadness. "Yes."

"It's one failure, Charles. Don't let it get you down. It won't be your last."

Charles smiled crookedly. "Not much of a pep talk, Erik."

"Wasn't aiming for one. You can't save them all."

The telepath pushed away from the desk and stepped between Erik's legs. The kiss was warm and explorative, relaying so much without many words. Erik trailed a gentle path of kisses across his eyes, his forehead, then found that special spot at his neck.

Charles grabbed his shirt and tilted back his head. Erik chuckled and teethed the spot, then went back to kissing him senseless.

::Nice technique:: Charles sent.

Erik chuckled, gray eyes filled with warmth.

The sound of the door opening had Charles glance over his shoulder.

"Uh, okay," Hank stuttered. "I guess…" He frowned. "Lock the door next time!" And he pulled it shut with a lot more force than necessary.

Charles buried his head against Erik's chest, muffling his laughter. Erik snorted, amusement reflecting in his eyes.

"I think he has a point," he commented, locking the door with a flick of his finger. "Now, where were we?"

fin!

... and yes, there will be more. We have yet to tackle the identity of the girl and so much more... The sequel is still in the works.