Charles! Erik's mind screamed, Freeze them Charles!

Charles quickly obliged, attempting to worm his way into their heads. But each time he tried it was like running headlong into a brick wall whilst underwater.

I can't Erik! Charles exclaimed, sounding slightly panicked, Something or someone is blocking me! I'm sorry my friend, but there's nothing I can do.

Dammit Charles! Erik yelled back in frustration, glowering at Stryker, "Release the boy."

"Why, so you can catch up on all those years of fatherhood you missed and raise him into your brotherhood?" Stryker asked with a smirk, pressing the gun harder against Peter's head, "You must be more stupid than I thought if you think I'm going to let you turn him into a monster like you, into a mini Magneto."

"As opposed to the monster you are? Kidnapping teenagers and torturing them? Why, to understand their abilities? To unlock them and to use them? Sounds an awful lot like a man I once knew, the very man who attempted to start world war three were it not, might I remind you, for me. This monster stood right here." Erik was stalling and they both knew it. What do I do Charles?! Erik yelled mentally, attempting to direct the thought towards Charles as best he could.

Peter seized his opportunity as Erik finished his speech and clenched his bloody fist, bringing it down hard on Stryker's balls. The man doubled forwards, grip loosening just enough for Peter to squirm out of his grasp. Enraged, Stryker fired the gun, bullet soaring through the empty air Peter's head had occupied mere moments ago. The second the first shot was fired the other two doctors followed suit; Alves aiming right for Erik's head, a murderous look of pure rage etched upon her face, and Taylor, hand shaking in fear and unintentionally tapping the trigger from the shock of the initial gunshot. The bullet eased its way through the air as Peter watched. He wasn't able to move as fast as he would have liked on his bad leg, but he'd have to make do. He picked up the notebook and threw it towards Taylor's bullet, sending it spiralling of towards the far corner. Alves' bullet was moving uncomfortably close to Erik's head so Peter reached up towards it and pulled it away to the side, so that it would miss Erik and embed itself in the wall of the corridor behind him. He jogged into the wall beside Erik as time for Peter moved back to regular-person time. He leaned against the wall pulling all the electrodes off his nearly naked body. Before anyone had the chance to fire again, Erik reached out towards the metal table with his powers, holding it up as a shield as plastic bullets careered into it. Once he heard that satisfying click which indicated to him that the guns were empty, he flung the table forwards, slamming it straight into Stryker before swinging it to the side, causing it to collide with Alves' skull. A sickening crunch could be heard as her head collided with Stryker's on the ground.

"Please don't hurt me!" Taylor squeaked as the table swung towards her, "I never wanted to hurt him I was just…"

She was abruptly cut off by Erik slamming the table against her, knocking her into unconsciousness, "Just following orders." Erik muttered before picked the three guns up off the floor, two empty and one missing only one bullet, and moving back over to Peter. He cupped his cheek with a gentleness that was simply unheard of as he peeled off the tape, as painlessly as he could, and pulled out the rag, "Can you walk?" he asked stowing the guns into his belt.

Peter stared at him wide-eyed before nodding, "Well enough." he said, "What the hell are you doing here?" he asked as Erik ushered him out of the room.

"Saving your skin." Erik replied raising an open palm towards the room. He clenched his fist tightly and tore the iron supports out of the walls and the ceiling, causing the concrete to crumble and collapse, crushing Stryker and the doctors beneath it.

Erik, I'm so sorry. Something was blocking me.

Save it for the plane Charles. I need to get Peter out of here. Where do I go?

Charles quickly rattled off a set of instructions to him and Erik nodded, though to Peter it looked as though he was agreeing with thin air.

"You okay man?" Peter asked looking gleefully at the remains of the room, "You kinda spaced out." he said, voice coming out all harsh and hoarse.

"Telepathic conversation." Erik replied, because of course it was a perfectly normal thing to do and didn't weird Peter out in the slightest, "This way." He said leading him towards the flight of stairs he hadn't destroyed and jogging up them, Peter followed behind quickly but each step pained him more than the last.

"I would say I owe you one, but this is basically pay back for the Pentagon." Peter said, his usual light-hearted cheek slowly returning as he limped to freedom, "And also, since when were you a telepath? I thought you controlled metal."

"Charles is the tele - Shit." Erik muttered, drawing to a halt. Their path to the doors was blocked by more soldiers, this time with plastic guns, not metal. "Charles!" he yelled, but before Charles or Erik or even the soldiers had the chance to react, Peter had placed a hand on the back of Erik's neck and started running. He ran with him, through the barricade of soldiers, the guards sent flying as he ran, none able to react in time to pull the trigger or even register what had happened. The pair stopped just within the forest and Peter practically collapsed onto Erik's back, hand still resting on his neck - it seemed the only thing keeping the kid upright. The bandage around his leg was becoming increasingly more crimson than white, perhaps running hadn't been the best plan.

"Bad idea. Tore m' stitches. Tired." Peter mumbled tiredly as Erik tried to ignore the wave of nausea that passed through his from the run and tried to focus on keeping the boy standing.

He looped the kid's arm over his soldier and helped him through the forest towards the plane, with each step they took it became clear that Peter wasn't putting a lick of effort into walking and was completely counting on Erik to get him to the plane, although Erik wasn't complaining, as far as he was concerned Peter had earned the right to be as useless as he wanted.

Erik? Charles asked sounding worried, Are you both okay?

Yeah, the kid got us out of there. But he's bleeding pretty badly. Did you get the others onboard?

Everyone's fine Erik, I'll grab the first aid kit. You focus on getting back to the jet.

Erik nodded as he took more of Peter's weight, the fact that the kid was almost the same height as him didn't help much. After what felt to Erik like far too long, they finally reached the plane and Erik lifted him onto his shoulder in a fireman's lift as he carried him up the stairs.

"Fucking put me down. 'M a grown man. Don't like being carried." Peter muttered, though he didn't really have enough energy to fight the man's grip. soon enough he got his wish and was dropped down into a comfy armchair.

"Let's leave, Hank!" Erik said sternly as the door closed and he turned back to Peter and sat down opposite him, lifting his leg onto his knee, ignoring the looks he was getting from the ten or so other new passengers.

"Get off." Peter snapped, jerking his leg protectively back.

"Peter, I'm not them. You need to let me look at this."

Peter looked up at his with a frown, eyes softening slightly as he nodded, "But get this freaking thing off me first. And I want some clothes too. And food. Lots of food. I could literally eat a horse. Not even kidding, give me a horse and its be in my stomach in a flash."

"Fine, but you'll have to put up with my clothes." he said as he broke the padlock off of the collar, "Charles. I need the first aid kit and a pair of scissors." he said frowning at the zipties.

"Don't want your prison pyjamas." Peter mumbled.

"Stop talking and let me work."

"You're so bossy. You could be someone's mum."

"Peter you're completely out of it. Stop talking."

"Alright... Alright... Untwist your knickers oldie."

Unbeknownst to any of them, Stryker had awoken. He gripped the remote for the collar tightly in his hand as he stood up, not caring if the button was being pressed or not. He was furious, Magneto would pay, and so would his kid.

Before Charles had the chance to hand the kit and scissors over to Erik, a gut wrenching scream was torn from Peter's lips as electricity coursed through the collar. He flailed about wildly, clawing at his neck in an attempt to remove the collar, "Get it off get it off get it off!" He yelled, thrashing about like crazy. Erik was instantly on his feet and tore the plastic box from the back of Peter's neck, making sure not to touch the kid so as to not be electrocuted himself. As soon as the collar had been deactivated, and crushed beneath Erik's foot, Peter sagged back against the chair, eyes squeezed tightly shut and breathing heavily.

"Is he okay?" piped up the girl with the diamond-like skin from the back of the plane.

"He'll be fine Miss Silverfox." Charles said, pressing two fingers to his temple to discover her name, "Now I recommend you all try to catch some sleep." he said kindly before mentally knocking them all out and wheeling himself over to Erik and Peter.

The scissors flew into Erik's hand and he cut the collar from around the kid's neck, "I'll see to his leg Charles, you see to his neck." he instructed, discarding the offending object to the floor.

"Thanks man…" Peter said weakly.

Charles looked sadly at the boy before tapping two fingers to his temple and putting Peter to sleep, "We don't have any anaesthetics. I wouldn't want him to be in any more pain than need be. I do hope he wasn't awake when these were made." he said with a frown, glancing at the jagged stitches on his arm and chest.

Erik shook his head as he unwrapped the bandage around Peter's calf and carefully began to redo the stitches, "I highly doubt they would have let him sleep." he said, his powers keeping the needle steadier than his hands would have been able to.

Once they were done, Charles draped a quilt over him and invited Erik to sit across from him, "Stryker said he was your son." he stated.

"Believe it or not, I heard Charles."

"The other doctor, the blonde. I was able to read her mind before you knocked her out, the block must have been destroyed when you knocked the first unconscious. They had your DNA, Erik, presumably from when Raven shot you."

"And…?" Erik asked rubbing the scar on his neck, he didn't like where this was going.

"And she matched Peter's DNA to yours."

"There has to have been a mistake." Erik hissed, "I'm not a father."

"How did you know Magda Maximoff?" Charles pressed, "I'm not going to stop until I get an answer, Erik."

"When I knew her she was Magda Lehnsherr." Erik snapped, "She left me eight years before I first met you."

"You were married?" Charles asked in disbelief, "I… I didn't know…"

"Because you stopped poking around in my head as soon as you encountered Shaw and memories of my mother."

"Erik…"

"I am grateful that you left those memories alone though Charles." Erik continued, "But I can't be his father."

"He shares your DNA."

"Magda wasn't pregnant when she left me…" Erik shook his head.

"Unless she was, and she didn't tell you." Charles pointed out, "What happened?" he asked kindly.

"That's a discussion for another time, Charles." Erik shook his head, "You have more important things to focus on."

"True. But right now those more important things are all asleep." Charles reminded him, "Although, there is one thing you out to know. Riptide, Janos, is among them."

"I thought he was dead…" Erik muttered, "Are you sure?" he asked.

"I'd hope you'd be able to recognise me for yourself, boss." Janos said standing up with a yawn as he walked over to the pair, "But I'm fairly sure I'm not dead."

"You vanished, have you been with Stryker the whole time?" Erik asked.

"My younger sister developed powers. I was with her until I got taken. I should have said, I know. But I'm sure you can understand boss, I didn't want anyone else knowing about her."

"I understand perfectly." Erik said relaxing back into his chair.

"As soon as we are grounded once more, I will be taking my leave. I need to find her again."

"Of course." Charles nodded, "And we both wish you the best of luck with her." he said, Erik nodded in agreement.

"Thank you." Janos said with a polite nod before returning back to the armchair he'd claimed for himself.

"Boss?" Charles asked with an amused grin once Janos had retreated back to his seat.

"He picked up the habit from Azazel." Erik explained without explaining much, "Before he died."

"Trask." Charles nodded, "I know I should have done something Erik… but I…"

Erik held up his hand to stop him, "This isn't the moment." he said shaking his head as he observed the mismatched group of mutants in the plane, "For now. How do you feel about a game of chess?"

Charles chucked, "I would be delighted. Even though you are avoiding all of my questions."

"Then chess it is." Erik smirked, floating the board over to the table between them, "Tea, vicar?" He asked with a smirk as two silver rimmed glasses and a silver based decanter of scotch floated through the air towards them.

Charles chuckled, shaking his head with a small grin as he plucked a glass out of the air, "Don't mind if I do."

True to his word, as soon as the plane had landed, Janos was gone in a whirl of wind.

"He really is an interesting fellow." Charles remarked to Hank as he helped him down the aircraft's stairs.

"Interesting's one word for it." Hank muttered with a nod as he ushered the remaining eight mutants down the steps of the plane, "Just follow the professor." he told them, "He'll get into contact with your families and make arrangements for you to either stay or return home.

"What exactly is this place?" The purple haired Elizabeth Braddock asked sounding slightly pissed, though for the life of him Hank couldn't figure out why, they'd just saved her life.

"It's a school, Elizabeth. A school for mutants." Charles explained.

"I already dropped out of school so…" Elizabeth trailed off with a shrug.

"No one's forcing you to stay." Charles told her, "But those of you who wish to stay, know that I will do everything I can to help you reach the true potential of your powers. Now, if you would all follow me, I'll set you up with some food and see about contacting your families should you want me to." he said warmly to the rest of them and wheeled himself around, leading them towards the lifts up to the main part of the mansion.

Soon only Peter and Erik were left on the plane and, a few minutes later, Peter began to stir.

"Charles put you to sleep." Erik explained as the kid gave him a sleepy confused look, "Don't touch the bandages around your neck or on your leg, or your chest or your arm for that matter, you need time to heal. Oh, and you might want these." he added, floating his suitcase over with a shirt and pair of trousers.

"Thanks." Peter said pulling the clothes on in a blur, careful not to rip his stitches again, "I look like someone's dad." he said looking down at himself, "Don't you own a pair of jeans?" he asked.

"Would you rather walk in still in your underwear?" Erik asked raising an eyebrow.

"Alright, alright." Peter said shaking his head, "Why did you come and get me though, man? Not that I'm not grateful or anything, I am, but… how did you, of all people, know where I was? I thought you'd be plotting assassinations or something evil." he asked curiously.

"I'm not evil... But it was Charles." Erik replied, "Your mother called him. He contacted me, told me you and a bunch of other mutants were missing, so naturally, I came right away. And I did owe you for the Pentagon. I didn't intend to kill him, you know that right?" he asked, "They took me out before I could save him. I don't kill for no reason." he explained, turning a plastic gun over and over in his hands.

"I… uh… listen. Back there. Colonel Bitchface said something to me. Something about you…"

"He told you I was your father. I gathered when he called you my son..." Erik nodded, avoiding eye contact.

"You know, when you start a sentence like that you don't just leave a guy hanging!" Peter said trying to keep the conversation light hearted, "So, am I? When my mum said she knew a guy who could control metal, did she mean… uh… more than know?"

Erik sighed, running a hand through his hair, "Yes."

"Gross."

"You did ask."

"Then how come you were never there?" Peter asked as he stood up, "I grew up without a dad! Scared my mum half out her mind when my powers started showing up. Drove her crazy with 'em! I grew up with no idea what was wrong with me until Claws, the Professor and Big Blue showed up in my room and explained to me what I was. Why weren't you there?!"

"Peter calm down! I didn't know you existed!" Erik countered, but he couldn't help but feel a burst of pride as the kid called Hank by the same nickname Erik used, "Your mother didn't even tell me she was pregnant with you before she left!"

"She… she wasn't just pregnant with me." Peter said scratching the back of his head.

"What do you mean it wasn't just you?" Erik asked frowning, although he had an idea where this was going.

"I have a twin. A sister. Wanda, she's at college. She got the brains. I got the... The speed I guess." Peter joked.

"Is she…?"

"A mutant? Yeah. The only other one I ever knew. She's got these snazzy probability powers. Kinda like magic. But not magic. It's pretty cool." he babbled as his stomach growled.

"Hungry?" Erik asked raising an eyebrow. His mind was still racing, he had a daughter too? A mutant daughter? Shit just wouldn't stop getting stranger.

"Like you wouldn't believe." Peter grinned, "Lead the way to the kitchen old man."

"I'm not that old." Erik shook his head as a small smile crossed his face.

"If you're my dad then it means you're my old man. Old man." Peter smirked, limping towards the stairs leading out of the plane.

"Need a hand there kid?" Erik asked grabbing his helmet and suitcase with his powers as he followed on behind.

"I don't need help." Peter protested as he hobbled down the stairs.

"Of course you don't." Erik shook his head with a chuckle before reaching out to a few metal scraps in the corner of the hanger, forging them into an expertly crafted and intricately designed metal crutch, "Take it." he said walking down the stairs behind him. Peter opened his mouth to protest but Erik shoved it into his hand with his powers, "Take it, go call your mother, then meet me in the kitchen. I'm not much of cook but I'll see if I can whip up something."

"See ya there Magneto. Or, am I supposed to call you Dadneto now?" Peter said before disappearing off in a limping blur.

Erik was in the kitchen, sat back in a chair relaxing as knives moved through the air, chopping and dicing vegetables and dropping them into a pan.

"Since when were you all domestic, Erik?" Charles asked announcing his presence as he rolled into the room.

"Since you decided to not own the menus of any takeaway restaurants in the area. Where are the others?" Erik asked.

"Hank is making arrangements for Elizabeth and Christopher to return home. I sent the other to go get settled in their rooms before lunch." Charles explained, "How did things go with Peter?"

"Better than I had expected." Erik told him with a shrug, "But I expect that was partially due to me having saved his life and him having saved mine."

"That certainly is something which would put you in someone's good books."

"There was one other thing."

"Yes?" Charles asked, although he couldn't help but know already, Erik's thoughts had been practically screaming it out since he'd spoken with Peter.

"I have a daughter as well. Wanda."

"And she's a mutant too?"

"Probability powers according to the kid." Erik replied with a nod, "Do you think you could find her, through cerebro?"

"I could. But I think Peter ought to explain the situation to her first."

"Annoyingly enough Charles, you may be right." he said adjusting the knobs on the cooker.

The pair sat in silence for a few moments longer, listening contentedly to the flurry of movement that the mansion hadn't seen in a very long time.

"Erik, I want to thank you."

"For what?"

"Not killing anyone."

"I should have killed Stryker. I was just a tad preoccupied with the kid to make sure I'd caved in his skull." he said bitterly.

"The Doctor, Sophia de Sousa Alves." Charles said, attempting to pronounce the name correctly, "She was one of the people I suspected had been taken by Stryker."

"So he wanted to… what, create a mutant army?"

"From what I could gather, yes." Charles nodded with a frown, "And he wasn't working alone. After you destroyed his facility, I fear he may return for you. And possibly for your son too."

"Then let him come, this time I'll kill him. I'll finish the job." Erik said determinedly.

"Erik, he had weapons that can kill you! You need to be more careful!" Charles shook his head, "Your responsibility isn't just to yourself anymore, it's to your son also."

"Charles..."

"Stay until he's healed Erik. Then we can discuss our next move."

"Our?"

"I made the mistake of sitting on the sidelines last time. It's not a mistake I'm willing to make again."

Peter zoomed into the kitchen in a blur of worry, "I can't get ahold of my mum."

To be continued...

Please let me know how you're finding the story so far!